Seasons Catering began 2020 celebrating its 20th year in business. It was to be a big year with many caterings booked for weddings, corporate events, premieres, and more. Then COVID hit and changed everything. Not one to let herself fall victim to her circumstances, Gabrielle Moes, Founder and CEO of Seasons Catering quickly pivoted, at a time when events and catering were temporarily shut down, to launch Good2Go heat and serve meals, available at www.thegood2go.com
More than 400 RHS students picked up materials for their Ag courses during a recent drive-through event thanks to FFA leadership students.
The supplies, distributed by FFA leadership members in face masks and uniforms, were for Floral Design, Woodshop Construction, and plant materials for their Agriscience research projects. Freshman also received activity booklets for this week’s virtual Greenhand Bootcamp (freshman are known as “Greenhands” attend the camp to learn about opportunities in the FFA) that will take place live on Zoom every day this week.
Computer science researchers are developing new techniques to address the vulnerabilities of smart devices.
An intergovernmental support agreement (IGSA) on Oct. 21 signed by Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) and the County of Ventura is expected to save government money, increase Navy operational efficiencies, and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the local Navy installation.
The IGSA is an on-going program with Ventura County Public Works Roads and Transportation (VCPWA-RT) to provide road maintenance services to the installation. The program will provide up to $1 million of reimbursable road maintenance services to NBVC annually, reducing costs and enhancing mission effectiveness.
This year marks the 28th Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive, and The Collection at RiverPark is partnering with the fire departments of Ventura County and ABC7 to help safely collect toys and distribute them to children in need.
Each year, Spark of Love brightens the holiday season for local families by providing presents for children who might otherwise have nothing to unwrap. Last year, over 60,000 toys were donated to Ventura County’s Spark of Love Toy Drive, supporting more than 6,000 local children and over 30 nonprofits. This year, due to the pandemic, donations are needed more than ever.
Santa Barbara City College is pleased to present the 2019-2020 Report to the Community, an informative and beautifully illustrated account of the college’s events, activities and accomplishments during this past academic year.
Everyone in the community is invited to flip through the online version to learn more about student success, athletic highlights, artistic triumphs, outstanding faculty and staff, awards and accolades, community connections, and how the college adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic and conversion to delivering instruction and services remotely.
Lupe Juarez recently logged 40 years as a Bus Operator for Gold Coast Transit District, the largest public transit operator in Ventura County. She is also part of the prestigious Two Million Mile Club, as determined by the National Safety Council. This designation recognizes operators who have driven 50,000 hours of drive time without a preventable accident.
COVID-19 Testing Available – No cost. No appointment needed.
Weekday Drive-Through Sites – Monday through Friday 10 am to 7 pm
Moopark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark
Weekend: Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The site is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Santa Paula, City parking lot corner of E. Main Street and N. Ojai Street, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 10 am to 7 pm
Walk-In Site – Monday Through Friday 9 am to 6 pm
Ventura County Fairgrounds,10 W. Harbor Blvd in Ventura, Enter Gate 2.
Urgent Care locations require an appointment. Please call 805-652-7660 for an appointment at any of the Urgent Care locations.
By a unanimous vote on October 20, the Board of Supervisors accepted the recommendation of County Executive Officer Mike Powers to appoint Claudia Bautista as the County’s new Chief Public Defender. Bautista will take over the position after the retirement of Public Defender Todd Howeth.
Santa Barbara County Firefighter, Sam Dudley shared emotional stories of tragedy and hope as well as how Hospice of Santa Barbara counseling has helped him after experiencing grief and loss on Wednesday, October 7th during Compassionate Care of Carpinteria (CCC)’s virtual event, “The Light Shines ahead.”
When the COVID pandemic prompted Santa Barbara City College to transition all classes to remote instruction last Spring, “Evening College” – part of the “Student-Ready: Degree Completion for the Flexible Learner” program – was no exception. In order to accommodate student learning in the online instructional environment, Evening College has been recently re-envisioned as the “College for Working Adults.” Designed for new-to-college working adults and part-time students with few credits, SBCC invites the public to learn more about the College for Working Adults by attending one of four informational sessions via Zoom: Oct. 23 (in English), Oct. 24 (in Spanish), Nov. 20 (in Spanish) and Nov. 21 (in English).
The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a COVID-19 Hospitals Assistance Program for local not-for-profit hospitals, in the amount of $10 million to be funded by the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund, to provide financial support to local hospitals for COVID-19 costs.
Top health professionals on the Central Coast have joined CenCal Health, the local Medi-Cal health plan, in encouraging the public to return to their doctors, clinics and hospitals for vital health care services, especially immunizations, cancer screenings and other preventive care evaluations. A bilingual public awareness campaign began this month to persuade area residents to go back to regular medical care – care that has slowed up to 50% in some service categories since the national health emergency was declared in March. Disruptions occurred in routine preventive and other non-emergency care due to stay-at-home orders to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and public fear of coronavirus contagion.
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) has launched a series of Financial Education webinars to empower small business owners and increase their financial literacy during COVID-19.
The series focuses on both personal and business finance and each session will offer simple tools and strategies to help participants manage the pandemic’s impact on their finances. The free webinars will be available in both Spanish and English. For information and to register for the upcoming webinars:
BENEFICIAL WASPS RELEASED IN LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, RIVERSIDE AND VENTURA COUNTIES TO HELP FIGHT DEADLY CITRUS TREE DISEASE
California Department of Food and Agriculture is Releasing Thousands of Insects This Week
Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) has announced the addition of Mary Solis to its Board of Directors. Solis recently retired from the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center after 34 years as an oncology social worker and department manager. During her time at the Cancer Center, Mary expanded services to include 12 support groups, case management, financial assistance, and individual & family counseling services.
Prior to working with the Cancer Center, Mary spent 2 years at Catholic Charities as a caseworker. She also developed a wig & hat closet, a lymphedema clinic and worked collaboratively with other community organizations to create a Community Palliative Care Program.
Thank you to all those in the 805 region who have completed their U.S. Census surveys.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that the census count officially ended on Oct. 15. …
The high response rate will help the 805 region receive more federal funding for education, roads, health care, public safety and other projects and increase the number of representatives we have in Congress.
Congratulations.
Now, time to register to vote
In celebration of Días de los Muertos, the Museum of Ventura County invites you and your family to pick-up a Grab ‘n Go Day of the Dead Craft Bag at the Ventura Museum (100 E. Main St., Ventura) on Saturday, October 17, 2020 @ 10AM (while supplies last) and at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula (926 Railroad Ave.) on Sunday, October 18, 2020 @ 12PM (while supplies last).
The MVC and AG Grab ‘n Go Day of the Dead Craft Bags include:
• Día de los Muertos mask-making kit
• Instructions on how to build your own at home altar (English and Spanish)
• Materials and instructions on creating Papel Picado
• Materials and instruction on creating tissue paper marigolds
• Recipe for baking Pan de Muerto
Drive-ups only, please. You will be met curbside by our friendly staff members. Gloves, masks and social distancing practices will be in place.
Ventura County 2020-21 Secured Property Taxes are due November 1, 2020. Property taxes not paid on or before December 10, 2020 will become delinquent, and property taxes paid after December 10, 2020 will be assessed a late payment penalty fee of 10%. For more information, go to https://www.ventura.org/ttc/. During this challenging time, your patience is appreciated while our COVID-19 environment changes almost daily.
The Ventura County Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business (VCCoLAB) and the Ventura County Agricultural Association (VCAA) on Oct. 15 jointly filed a lawsuit against the County of Ventura in response to the adoption of the County’s 2040 General Plan. VCCoLAB and VCAA assert the County did not meet the basic standards demanded by law for both public review and engagement and environmental impact analysis, resulting in a Plan that detrimentally impacts the agricultural industry, local businesses, and vulnerable populations.
Like many other things in 2020, Halloween will need to be celebrated differently this year to keep people safe. Trick-or-treating is strongly discouraged by the state this year to prevent household mixing amid the pandemic. Alternative activities for Halloween and Día de los Muertos include:
View the list of ballot drop off locations at the following link: https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/List-of-Drop-Off-Locations-9182020.pdf
View the list of in person voting locations at the following link:
https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IPVL-Insert-FINAL-1.pdf
Dear Friends,
October is one of my favorite months of the year. I love the cooler air, the festive spirit of neighbors decorating for Halloween, and knowing that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. While this fall looks far different than most, our community’s resilience and generosity is stronger than ever.
This October, I’m excited to announce that the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation (VCMRF) has presented a $40,000 challenge grant for our homelessness initiative, which will support our Landlord Engagement Program. The goal of the program is to increase housing stock and utilize existing housing vouchers and subsidies to prevent and, ultimately end, homelessness. We are grateful to the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation for this generous challenge grant and look forward to all those who will join us in helping end homelessness in Ventura County.
The Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation (VCMRF) has presented a $40,000 challenge grant to United Way of Ventura County’s Landlord Engagement Program. The goal of the program is to increase housing stock and utilize existing housing vouchers and housing subsidies provided by local jurisdictions and community partners to prevent and end homelessness.
The grant will provide the activation for a funding mechanism designed to generate permanent supportive housing for chronic homeless individuals through a streamlined, one-stop funding collaborative comprised of public and private funders dedicated to ending homelessness.
Be-spooked, bewitched and bedazzled at Ventura Harbor Village! This popular seaside attraction offers five great ways to celebrate Fall and all things Halloween safely.
Spooky season may look a little different this year, but there is still plenty to get you in the spirit both virtually and in person at Ventura Harbor. Ventura Harbor Village is open Halloween weekend (and every day), so come show off your costume seaside with the little ones or your furry friends (complete with a mask of course)! There will be pop up photo ops to enjoy at your leisure as well. We ask that you keep a safe distance from others and follow seaside safely guidelines.
Below chronicles ways to uncover a safe time by connecting either online or on the waterfront at Ventura Harbor Village this October:
While Ventura County Public Works Agency’s? Engineering Services (VCPWA-ES) may not be familiar to the general public, their work managing capital construction, land development, and county surveying all contribute to many important community additions. Along with building the Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) Hospital Wing, their latest projects include working with the Health Care Foundation of Ventura County to build a Ronald McDonald Family Room at VCMC, a new conference room and computer lab for the Fillmore Library, as well as numerous construction projects for local fire stations and other facilities.
As part of this year’s activities for its 8th Annual Ventura County Farm Day, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is hosting a drive-in movie night on Sunday, November 1 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds featuring the award-winning, family-friendly documentary “The Biggest Little Farm.”
The evening includes a question and answer session with John Chester, farmer, cinematographer and co-founder of Moorpark’s Apricot Lane Farms where the documentary was filmed. “The Biggest Little Farm” chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature.
Today, is National Emergency Nurse’s Day! We appreciate our dedicated team that serves in the Emergency Rooms at Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospitals and those that serve at facilities throughout the County! Thank you!
Weekday Drive-Through Sites – Monday through Friday 10 am to 7 pm
Moopark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark
Weekend: Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The site is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Walk-In Site – Monday Through Friday 9 am to 6 pm
Ventura County Fairgrounds,10 W. Harbor Blvd in Ventura, Enter Gate 2.
For the tenth consecutive year, the Oxnard Harbor District, which owns the Port of Hueneme, is being recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). The award highlights the Port’s FY2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) which was strenuously reviewed by professional financial statement preparers, independent auditors, academics, and other finance professionals.
3C-REN, the Tri-County Regional Energy Network – a partnership to transform building efficiency to develop economic and environmental resilience in the region – is offering a range of programs during October in recognition of National Energy Awareness Month. 3C-REN’s ongoing, year-round programming offers residents and professionals in the building industry opportunities to learn about and adopt energy efficiency practices that save money, reduce energy use, and protect the environment.
In addition to stepping into the role of president of the board at The Foundation at Hearst Castle in January, longtime Hearst Castle benefactor Abe Marquez is a champion of a unique education program at W.R. Hearst’s former San Simeon estate. Now virtual, but no less impactful, the “STEAM Program at the Castle” aims to inspire and empower middle school students from underserved communities across California — including small agricultural communities like Gonzales, where Marquez was raised and still calls home.
The deadline for the Census has been extended to Saturday, October 31. If you haven’t already, please participate today by completing the Census online at my2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020.
FREE WEBINAR: REINVENTING YOUR BUSINESS DURING COVID-19
Thursday, October 15 @ 5:30 pm
Have COVID-19 disruptions left you in a position to rethink, or reinvent your business or business model? Join the EDC’s Small Business Development Center Advisors and Startup Simi this Thursday in their free Inspire Entrepreneurship- Startup Speaker Series.
We are so excited to announce that the Santa Paula Art Museum will reopen Wednesday, October 14, 2020, as part of Ventura County’s reopening plan! Both of our summer exhibitions have been extended. Visit the Museum to enjoy Inspiration and Influence featuring sculptor Duane Dammeyer and painter Rima Muna, and Santa Paula Sojourn, a solo exhibit by painter Shannon Celia. Guests will also be able to preview the 20 gorgeous works of art that will be available in our November online art auction, including artworks by Jessie Arms Botke, Cornelis Botke, Douglas Shively, Susan Petty, Gail Pidduck, and more.
COVID-19 Testing Available – No cost. No appointment needed.
Weekday Drive-Through Sites – Monday through Friday 10 am to 7 pm
Moopark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark
Weekend: Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The site is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Walk-In Site – Monday Through Friday 9 am to 6 pm
Ventura County Fairgrounds,10 W. Harbor Blvd in Ventura, Enter Gate 2.
The City of Oxnard today announced a partnership with Amazon, the global internet retailer, to open a new fulfillment center at the Sakioka Farms Business Park in Oxnard. Located just off the 101 freeway between Rice Avenue and Del Norte Boulevard, the Amazon project will bring more than 1,500 jobs with benefits to Oxnard when the company launches the facility next year.
“This is a transformational project for the Sakioka property and highlights the strong economic opportunities in Oxnard,” said Mayor Tim Flynn. “We have been engaging with Amazon in a variety of ways and it’s exciting to see the company now come to build and hire in the City.”
The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors has appointed Michael Walker to serve as Acting County Counsel effective October 11, 2020. Walker has served in the County Counsel office for thirteen years including the last ten years as the Chief Assistant County Counsel.
“The County Counsel’s office will be in good hands with Michael Walker as the Acting County Counsel,” said Leroy Smith.
On Tuesday, October 6, Ventura County moved into the RED Tier on the State of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. This means the following activities can open or resume.
With a strong background in business and educational leadership, Dr. Cynthia Herrera has been named the Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Partnerships, Enrollment, and Advancement at the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD). In her new role, Herrera will oversee all aspects of workforce development programs, grants and other academic and student support initiatives.
Don’t delay! Take the Census today!
The deadline for the Census has been extended to Saturday, October 31. If you haven’t already, please participate today by completing the Census online at my2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020.
At (Oct. 6’s) Board of Supervisors meeting, we received an update on COVID-19 and we are still in the Red Tier according to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics. Currently we have 4 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 11 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 118 active cases County-wide. This is a significant reduction compared to the peak of nearly 450 active cases County-wide during the spike in July. As you can see from the graph below, daily hospitalizations are decreasing overall as well.
Summer may be over, but the weather is still beautiful, and The Collection at RiverPark is offering a safe place for the community to shop, dine and enjoy the fresh air. As Ventura County moves into the red tier, even more businesses will be open at the shopping center for visitors to enjoy.
For those interested in dining out, many of The Collection’s restaurants are reopening indoor dining at 25% capacity. Restaurants will also be offering outdoor dining with extended patio space, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy a meal and the warm Southern California weather, while safely social distancing. Additionally, The Collection’s Park View Court area is open for the community to enjoy. Visitors can grab their food or coffee and sit in the courtyard for an outdoor picnic.
Thanks to recent progress being made in the fight against COVID-19 in Ventura County, businesses such as restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, massage businesses and places of worship may now open indoors, following California Department of Public Health sector specific guidance for reopening, as of 12:01 pm today. The changes come after the County qualified to move into the less restrictive red tier of the State’s four-tiered, color-coded reopening system. Until today, Ventura County had been in the state’s purple tier, the most restrictive tier.
The Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program gave awards to 15 shipping companies for reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Santa Barbara Channel region in 2019. The voluntary program is an initiative to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales. The 2019 program ran from May 15, 2019 through November 15, 2019. Although COVID-19 public health guidelines prevented an in-person awards event, the companies received trophies, plaques, and certificates according to their levels of achievement.
Don’t delay! Take the Census today!
The deadline for the Census has been extended to Saturday, October 31. If you haven’t already, please participate today by completing the Census online at my2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020.
The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Corey A. Pahanish will be joining the organization as its full-time Executive Director starting on October 19, 2020.
As Executive Director, Dr. Pahanish will oversee all programs and operations of the organization.
Protecting the whales and our local air quality is not only a top priority for the Port, but also its ocean carriers. Maersk, GLOVIS, K Line, and NYK Line all earned recognition for participating in this voluntary program. This vessel speed reduction initiative aims to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and San Francisco Bay through incentivizing shipping lines to reduce speeds to 10 knots or less in these sensitive areas.
The team at Visit Oxnard has been recognized by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce 70th Annual Community & Business Awards Selection Committee as the “Best Place to Work.”
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Nancy Lindholm affirms the win as deserving. She says, “Visit Oxnard has been recognized by numerous organizations for the accomplishments they have achieved as a team. It is clear they work together very well to get Oxnard’s name out there. It’s also apparent they have fun doing it!”
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) announced a goal of achieving one megawatt of solar on regional nonprofit agencies by 2023, and has expanded their successful Solarize Nonprofit program to Ventura County to support this move toward a carbon neutral community. Nonprofits that own their buildings or are in long-term leases are encouraged to see if the no upfront cost program fits for them at SolarizeNonprofit.org.
Back on March 16, when we had to close our physical doors in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Friendship Center staff immediately began finding ways to reach out and support our community from a distance. Considering ourselves warriors against isolation within our group of senior friends, staff have worked hard on creating unique forms of engagement and inclusion for our members. These activities include our robust schedule of ten daily Zoom classes, weekly tele check-ins, letter writing and supply delivery, Take Care Totes, Drive-In activity hours, porch visits, resource referrals and more.
With a vision and a plan, Gerardo Aldana steps into his new role as dean of the College of Creative Studies.
As women and people of color are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and its economic challenges, legislation by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) to address the race and gender-based pay gap was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom (on Sept. 30).
Good evening, there are 80 new cases today (3 (3.8%) of which have a lab collection from September 23rd or earlier), 1,174 additional people tested, and 2 additional deaths (60 year old male, 87 year old female, all with comorbidities). The current doubling time was 157.7 days. There are 48 cases that are currently hospitalized, and 11 cases are being treated in the ICU.
On September 23, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-80-20. The Order extends to March 31, 2021 the time frame for local governments to provide commercial eviction protections due to COVID-19. The additional protection is not automatic, however. Commercial landlords and tenants will have to wait and see if local governments in Ventura County, Santa Barbara County or surrounding areas enact or extend the protections authorized by the Order.
At the (Sept, 22) special Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. According to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, Santa Barbara County has met the State’s red tier case rate and positivity rate criteria for two consecutive weeks. As a result, the risk of COVID-19 spread in Santa Barbara County has been downgraded, effective immediately, from widespread to substantial, allowing movement from the purple tier to the red tier. Currently we have 3 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 13 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 170 active cases County-wide.
Reimagining Instruction for the Student Experience, a recent seminar for faculty, set the stage for a robust and rigorous fall quarter of distance learning.
The prospect of students returning to their classrooms is getting closer to reality as the coronavirus situation in Ventura County starts to improve. Before schools are allowed to reopen to all students, Ventura County must move off the most restrictive level – the purple tier – on the state’s coronavirus watch list and stay off of it for two weeks.
The Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG) Board of Directors announced today that Liz Beall has been selected to serve as CFROG’s new Executive Director, effective this Thursday, October 1st, 2020. “CFROG’s Board is excited to welcome Liz Beall as our new Executive Director.” said John Brooks, President of CFROG’s Board. “Liz is an outspoken advocate for environmental justice and has the vision, perseverance, and knowledge needed to achieve CFROG’s goals.”
