VENTURA — United Way of Ventura County’s 14th annual Spirit Awards Gala presented by Procter & Gamble will take place on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at The Padre Serra Center in Camarillo, from 6:00-8:30pm. An exclusive VIP Sponsor Reception will be…
Category: Business
Sept. 25 — Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) hosts free estate planning workshop
VENTURA COUNTY — Approximately 50% of Americans do NOT have a will or other estate plan. This can cause major emotional and financial burden for loved ones left behind. Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) will host a free educational workshop…
Solvang 50 Home Challenge initiative wraps up but home improvement savings remain
SOLVANG — Since launching in fall 2017, the Solvang 50 Home Challenge provided residents with education and opportunities to reduce wasted resources and make home energy efficiency updates more affordable. The community outreach activities have ended, however a selection of…
Gold Coast Transit District Service Changes Take Effect on July 29
OXNARD — Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) will make schedule changes to its weekend schedules effective Sunday, July 29, 2018. GCTD typically makes bi-annual schedule changes each year in July and January, based on analysis of ridership as well as community feedback.…
Bilingual report: Input Needed. Oxnard Seeks Participation from Businesses, Institutions in Broadband Internet Survey
OXNARD – How is broadband internet access working for you? The City of Oxnard wants to know. It is inviting businesses, institutions and other commercial organizations in Oxnard, Port Hueneme and the surrounding area to complete a broadband survey in order…
Ventura Residents Rally in Camarillo on July 26 for Safe Alternatives to Brain-Harming Pesticide Chlorpyrifos. See related news here
Diverse coalition calls for county protections and statewide ban CAMARILLO — There’s a better way to grow food in Ventura County that doesn’t risk damaging the brains and health of local children. That’s the message brought by a diverse group…
Local PODS® Lends Support to 26th Annual Ventura County Stand Down
VENTURA COUNTY — For many veterans, daily amenities and other services can be hard to come by, but combining that with trying to assimilate back into a regular routine can be the biggest hardship of all. On July 27-29, local…
Channel Islands Harbor Earns TripAdvisor’s 2018 Certificate of Excellence
OXNARD — Channel Islands Harbor has been awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, the Ventura County Harbor Department announced. The achievement celebrates businesses and destinations that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. This marks the…
CSUCI Community liaison credits being ‘a child of the village’ for her PCBT award
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Celina Zacarias believes growing up in Oxnard’s La Colonia gave her the sense of community that helped earn her the 2018 Latino Leadership Award from the Pacific Coast Business Times. Zacarias, who serves as the Senior…
CSUCI Nursing Program receives award to expand participation in Los Angeles’ ‘Care Harbor’
CAMARILLO — When asked about her experience “Care Harbor,” a massive free clinic held annually in downtown Los Angeles, 2018 CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Nursing graduate Alysha Payne is at a loss for words. “It was absolutely phenomenal,” she said. “They have dentistry,…
SoCalGas to Begin $41 Million Natural Gas Pipeline Improvement Project in City of Ventura on July 23
Multi-million-dollar investment to support safe, reliable and affordable natural gas service for homes and businesses. Project is part of a multi-billion-dollar safety enhancement program LOS ANGELES — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced it will replace a 4.5-mile section of a natural…
VCMC accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
VENTURA ? The Ventura County Medical Center has been accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as a Community Cancer Program. Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons, demonstrates…
Bill to Address Repeat Sexual Harassers in the Workplace Signed by the Governor
SACRAMENTO – An important piece of legislation authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) was signed into law by Governor Brown. This bill (AB 2770) helps protect victims and employers from frivolous lawsuits and will address the issue of repeat sexual…
Gold Coast Transit District Offers Free Summer Saturdays
OXNARD — Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) will be offering free rides on its fixed route service every Saturday beginning on July 21, 2018 and ending on August 25, 2018. This will be an opportunity for more people to experience the…
Area high school students learn engineering basics at CSUCI Summer Bridge program
CAMARILLO — Twenty-eight students from five Ventura County high schools are learning to program robots and other engineering basics during CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s four-week Mechatronics Engineering Summer Bridge Program. The students will wrap up the program from 11 a.m. to 12…
Ed Williams appointed as Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner
VENTURA — By a unanimous vote on July 17, the Board of Supervisors concurred with the recommendation of County Executive Officer Mike Powers and appointed Edmund (Ed) Williams to a four-year term as Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner. The appointment follows…
CSUCI’s Institute for Global Economic Research gets a new director and a new direction
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Institute for Global Economic Research (IGER) will be examining economic issues closer to home under its new director, Assistant Professor of Economics Miguel Delgado Helleseter, Ph.D. “The main direction we’re taking is to give IGER more…
Pacific Coast Business Times to present 7th annual Latino Business Awards on July 19
VENTURA — Pacific Coast Business Times is having its 7th annual Latino Business Awards and for its second year, presenting the Pacific Coast Business Times Scholarship. The scholarship is a partnership between the Business Times and Ventura County Community Foundation. We…
Honorees announced for Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation’s (VCMRF) 25th Annual Fainer/Tauber, MD Awards
VENTURA — Honorees have been announced for Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation’s (VCMRF) 25th Annual Fainer/Tauber, MD Awards. The 2018 honorees include: Physician, Beverly Valles Torres, MD; Nurse, Rashidah Khan, RN; Community Service Award, Michael Boyko; Oral Health Specialist, Catherine Chien,…
Winners Named in Oxnard Salsa Festival’s Salsa Recipe Contest/Professional Division
OXNARD — Judges spent two hours sampling salsas before casting their votes for winners in the 2018 Oxnard Salsa Festival’s Salsa Recipe Contest/Professional Division. The contest took place July 12 at La Dolce Vita in Oxnard’s Heritage Square. The 11…
SBCC update for July 13
Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter Message From the President – July 2018 On a snowy winter evening in Reading, Pennsylvania, a small group of college students invented a movie game called the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” The general…
Voting begins for Oxnard Salsa Festival’s Dancing with Our Community Stars
Community leaders will dance for the greater good during the 2018 Dancing with our Community Stars Dance Contest and Charity Fundraiser taking place during the 25th Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival. The 2018 line-up will take to the dance floor to raise much-needed…
Senior Focused Technology Utilized by GranVida Voted Top Five Gerontechnology Product by Medtech Boston
CARPINTERIA — Society today is focusing on the quality of life among the fastest growing population—American seniors. According to the California Department of Aging, seniors will have an overall increase of 112 percent during the period from 1990 to 2020.…
Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Names Chair, Vice-Chair
VENTURA COUNTY — The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) recently elected Gregory Liu as chair and Tracy Perez as vice-chair. Both will serve one-year terms. Liu is president/CEO of JAXX Manufacturing, an electronics manufacturing company in Simi Valley.…
CSUCI among four universities awarded joint grant to tackle freshman year dropout rates
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) and three other universities will address a challenge they have in common with a $75,000 joint grant from the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Foundation. CSUCI, CSU Northridge, CSU Fresno and Portland State University all have…
Limón Bill Closes Chapter On Ojai Community Control Over Water System
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 1794, authored by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), was signed into law by Governor Brown on Monday July 9th. The bill removes references to the Golden State Water Company on the Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency Board of…
Third Annual Awards Put Spotlight on Local Contractors for Dedication to Home Energy Efficiency
CENTRAL COAST — As part of its third annual Contractor Recognition Awards, emPower Central Coast is pleased to recognize six local contractors for their commitment to helping homeowners throughout the Central Coast make energy efficient upgrades to their living spaces.…
Mark Sandoval named as Channel Islands Harbor Director
VENTURA — Mark Sandoval has been named as the new Channel Islands Harbor Director. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers and follows a nationwide recruitment that attracted applicants from across the country and internal candidates. Sandoval…
CSUCI online Business Administration degree ranked 16th best in the nation
CAMARILLO — A website devoted to researching the best colleges and universities in a number of categories has ranked CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s online Business bachelor’s degree program as the 16th Best Affordable Online Business Administration degree in the nation. The web site, “BestValueSchools.com,”…
Camarillo Hospice announces new groups in August
CAMARILLO — Camarillo Hospice has announced new groups in August. Healing Grief through Meditation: Mondays August 6, 13, 20, and 27 12:00 to 1:15 pm Meditation can help reduce the pain that comes with grief and loss. This class will provide you with…
Aug. 15 — CAPS Radio Community Meeting
KPPQ-LP – CAPS Radio Community Meeting August 15th from 5pm to 7pm in the CAPS Media Community Room What is community radio? Join us and learn about KPPQ-LP and how you can support the voice of Ventura County. Get information on…
Through Aug. 24 — Free Job & Career Workshops in Oxnard
Location: West County America’s Job Center 2901 N. Ventura Rd., 3rd Floor, Oxnard 805-204-5171 August 10- Winning Interviews, 8:00 a.m. – noon – You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This Career Shop will give you…
KCLU journalist wins 4th national award
NPR station also received 6 regional reporting honors WASHINGTON, D.C. — KCLU Radio News Director Lance Orozco recently received his fourth national award for excellence in journalism. Orozco picked up the 2017 National Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Sigma Delta…
Paint Companies to Withdraw Ballot Measure That Absolves Corporations of Accountability
SACRAMENTO — At 5pm, June 28, the California Legislature, led by Assemblymember Monique Limón, (D-Santa Barbara), secured a major victory for millions of California taxpayers, guaranteeing the withdrawal of a paint company-funded ballot initiative that sought to hold California taxpayers accountable for billions…
Jackson Advances Statewide Industry-Funded Drug & Sharps Take-Back Program
Safe disposal of unused prescription drugs and medical sharps will reduce misuse and addiction while protecting water supply SACRAMENTO – To address a growing problem of prescription drug abuse, the devastating opioid epidemic, accidental poisonings, and traces of pharmaceuticals found in…
Island Packers’ Summer Schedule to Include Special Trips and Summer Whale Watching
VENTURA — With summer upon us, Island Packers is proud to announce the addition of specialty trips on selective dates to their already full schedule of summer excursions. Visitors to Ventura and locals alike can now explore select, seldom-visited destinations. In…
Housing Authority Announces Acquisition of Garden Court on De La Vina
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is pleased to announce its purchase of Garden Court on De La Vina, preserving the affordability of 97 studio units for low-income seniors in Santa Barbara. Located…
Ventura County budget sustains services: invests in capital projects, builds reserves
By the Ventura County News Channel VENTURA COUNTY — The Board of Supervisors passed a $2.245 billion Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget on Monday, June 18. The budget begins with the start of the fiscal year on July 1, 2018. “The budget…
Bilingual report: Alexander Nguyen Hired as New City Manager of Oxnard
OXNARD — The search for a new City Manager in Oxnard is over. The Oxnard City Council on June 19 approved an agreement appointing Alexander Nguyen as the new City Manager, effective July 9, 2018. “Oxnard offers interesting challenges and…
Bilingual report: Enroll Now for Fall 2018 at the D’Arezzo Community Center, Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA — Enroll Now for Fall 2018 at the D’Arezzo Community Center, Santa Barbara. Space is limited. The D’Arezzo Community Center is a weekday Home School Enrichment Activities Program and a Daytime and after School Resource Center. The Center provides…
Bilingual commentary: Images of the American Shopping Mall
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…
Fire Prevention Funding Prioritized in State Budget Approved by the Legislature
SACRAMENTO — The California Legislature has approved a balanced budget for the fiscal year 2018-19, Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) reported on June 19. The budget prioritizes funding for fire recovery and prevention, makes significant investments in K-12 schools, provides emergency aid…
Oxnard School District Assistant Superintendent of Ed Services set to retire
OXNARD — After 42 years of dedicated service in education, Ms. Robin Freeman, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at the Oxnard School District, will retire on June 29, 2018. Ms. Freeman has served as the Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services and…
Santa Barbara City College update for June 18
Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter SBCC Named #1 Community College Santa Barbara City College has been named Number One of the Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges for 2018. Value Colleges, an organization that provides prospective students with a…
Bilingual report: Jesús Nava Appointed Interim City Manager in Oxnard
OXNARD — Council has adopted a resolution appointing Jesús Nava, an Assistant City Manager for Oxnard, as the Interim City Manager, effective close of business on June 22. He will serve until a new city manager is appointed by the City…
Housing Authority Secures $21.3 Million for the Development of Affordable Housing for Veterans and Seniors
SANTA BARBARA — Two affordable housing projects being developed by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara have been allocated $21.3 million in tax credit financing to create 107 affordable rental units for veterans and seniors. The Housing…
County of Ventura publishes Thomas Fire Recovery Review
By the Ventura County News Channel VENTURA — On the six-month anniversary of the start of the Thomas Fire, the County of Ventura has published a review of its recovery efforts to date. The report, in English and Spanish, can be…
Jackson Applauds Passage of State Budget with Historic Investments in Wildfire Prevention and Recovery, Schools
SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), released the following statement June 14 about the passage of the California State Budget, which includes significant funds for wildfire prevention and recovery as well as the highest level of school funding in state history,…
Assemblymember Irwin secures $9.5 million in California budget for Oxnard wastewater treatment plant
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) announced she has secured funding in the California budget to make emergency repairs to the City of Oxnard’s wastewater treatment plant. A recent assessment from the city’s Capital Improvement Projects state that 40%…
State Senate Committee Votes to Hold ‘Big Paint’ Accountable for Toxic Lead in Homes
SACRAMENTO — The Senate Judiciary Committee on June 12 delivered a victory to the millions of California homeowners whose families are at-risk because paint corporations contaminated their homes with poisonous lead-based paint. The Committee passed AB 2803 (Limón), a bill…
Local PODS Moving and Storage Offers ‘Moving Bridge’ to Homeowners during the Home Staging and Selling Process
CENTRAL COAST — As homeowners are competing to sell their homes quicker and for a higher price, sellers and agents continue to turn to home staging techniques and storage solutions like PODS to declutter rooms and allow buyers to envision…
Channel Islands Harbor Announces Revamped Website Launch
OXNARD — The Ventura County Harbor Department announced June 8 the launch of its revamped website, www.channelislandsharbor.org. This mobile-friendly, redesigned site offers quick and easy access to essential information about events, programs, services, recreational and dining opportunities, and businesses in…
SBCC Career Skills Institute, State and County Partners to Help Local Job Seekers Gain Customer Relations Skills
SANTA BARBARA — Career Skills Institute at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) School of Extended Learning offered one of its most popular, tuition-free certificates at the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) Employment Office in Santa Barbara as part…
Jackson Honors Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade as Nonprofit of the Year
Hundreds of volunteers helped dig their neighbors out of mud following Montecito debris flow SACRAMENTO–Recognizing their heroic efforts to help their neighbors following the devastating Montecito debris flow, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) on June 6 honored the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade…
United Way of Ventura County update for June 4
Click here for the entire e-newsletter President’s Message Dear Friends, For the first several months of 2018, almost all of Gareth Williams’ meals came from just a crockpot and toaster oven. Since early December, he had been living out…
EDC-VC update for June 4
Click here for the entire e-newsletter President’s Message Bruce Stenslie May 10th was a red letter day as EDC-VC joined local officials, First 5 Ventura County and Gus and Alma Ferrel, owners of ABC Kids Preschool, to cut the ribbon at…
Assemblymember Limón Works To Pass Bill Opposing the Federal Administration’s Expansion of Offshore Oil Drilling Through The California Assembly
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) jointly authored Assembly Bill 1775 with Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) that passed the Assembly Floor on a bipartisan vote of 45-24. The bill, introduced in response to the Trump Administration’s announcement of their intention to expand offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters, will…
July 10 — Ag Museum Speaker Series Features Kyle Thille
SANTA PAULA — Kyle Thille of Ventura Coast Brew Company will be the featured speaker for the next Speaking of Ventura County Speaker Series, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 10, at the Agriculture Museum of Ventura County in Santa…
July 14 — Hospice of Santa Barbara Offers “The Five Invitations Workshops” to the Community
SANTA BARBARA — Last weekend, Hospice of Santa Barbara had the pleasure of hosting the second of its Five Invitations Workshops, “Welcome Everything, Push Away Nothing.” Since May 19, Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Community Education and Engagement Series has been…
July 24 — SBCC Career Skills Institute Offers Customer Relations Skills Courses to Local Job Seekers
SANTA BARBARA — This summer, the Career Skills Institute at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) School of Extending Learning is offering one of its most popular, tuition-free certificates, the Customer Relations Certificate. The certificate offers local job seekers the chance to…
July 27 — Free Job & Career Workshops in Oxnard
Location: West County America’s Job Center 2901 N. Ventura Rd., 3rd Floor, Oxnard 805-204-5171 July 27 – Job Search/Social Media, 8:00 a.m. – noon – This workshop provides common sense tactics to be more effective in finding employment when dealing…
July 31 — Free reverse mortgage workshops hosted by Ventura County Community Development Corp.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) will be hosting a free Reverse Mortgage workshop on Tuesday, July 31st at 11:00am open to anyone interested in learning about the basics of reverse mortgages. There are two ways to…
Bilingual report: City of Oxnard Notice of Data Breach
OXNARD – The City of Oxnard takes seriously the security and protection of its customers’ confidential information. Last week, the city was alerted about unauthorized charges on credit cards used by customers to pay their utility bills. The following information outlines…
Jackson Bill to Halt Trump’s Offshore Drilling Expansion Passes off Senate Floor. See more updates here
SACRAMENTO – State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) ’s legislation to thwart the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand federal oil drilling off the California coast passed off the Senate floor today on a 24 to 8 vote. Senate Bill 834 will ensure that pipelines…
As Newly Appointed Assembly Banking Chair, Limón Advances Multiple Bills Securing Critical Protections for Consumers Seeking Capital
SACRAMENTO — Merely an hour after passing major legislation across the Assembly Floor that protects consumers from auto title lending practices that commonly result in borrowers losing their cars (AB 2953), Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) advanced additional consumer protection legislation in…