Category: Commentary

Bilingual report — County of Ventura — Important information as voting for the Nov. 3 Gubernatorial General Election approaches the last day: NOW’S THE TIME TO VOTE!

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — Voters are encouraged to take advantage of the last few days of early voting ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, to avoid the last minute pressure and potentially long lines at vote centers on Election Day.

“People should think of Election Day as the LAST day to vote, not THE day to vote,” said Michelle Ascecncion, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters.

“So many unforeseen things can happen – a rainstorm, a flat tire, an illness or accident – that can derail your plans to go vote on Election Day,” Ascencion continued. “VOTE EARLY and check it off your list of things to do!”

Bilingual report — Mysterious Madness and the Santa Ana Winds

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

I’m writing this article, irritated for no obvious reason, in the middle of a “Santa Ana event.” During these episodes, as if gridlocked traffic and social and political turmoil were not enough, Southern Californians must also deal with a veritable force of nature over which we have no control whatsoever: the hot and dry Santa Ana winds.

Bilingual guest commentary by Kaiser Permanente — Halloween Safety: Simple Steps to Keep the Holiday Fun and Injury-Free

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

As Halloween draws near, children across Southern California are eagerly preparing for a night of costumes, candy and neighborhood adventures.

While the excitement of trick-or-treating is hard to match, parents can take a few simple precautions to help ensure the holiday remains both memorable and safe.

According to Dr. Kristina Kang a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente in Camarillo, a little preparation can go a long way toward preventing common Halloween-related injuries and health concerns.

Among others, she recommends:

Museum of Ventura County — Your Museum, Your Community | Quarterly Update from the Development Team

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

I want to begin this quarterly update with what may be one of my favorite things I have ever had the opportunity to report.

Our longtime Facilities Manager, Miguel Aguiar, recently purchased a commemorative Museum tile, not for himself, but in honor of the people he has worked alongside throughout his years at MVC.

Miguel held a small unveiling ceremony with staff and volunteers to recognize four people he affectionately referred to as “my blessings”: Shanon Rice, David Bayer, Clyde Hofflund, and John Treuer. These are people who have worked alongside Miguel and the Museum over the years, giving their time and talents to help make so many of our events and gatherings possible.

Bilingual report — The latest news from the County of Ventura

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

Help Shape Ventura County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan

Ventura County is inviting residents, businesses, and community organizations to help shape the County’s next Hazard Mitigation Plan by reviewing the draft plan at a public workshop on November 18, 2026.

Guest commentary — AMR Ventura County urges drivers, riders and trick-or-treaters to stay alert this Halloween

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — Halloween brings more children, pedestrians and riders onto streets after dark. To understand the risks, AMR Ventura County and Gold Coast Ambulance reviewed its call response data from previous years. Alongside routine medical calls, crews responded most frequently to traffic collisions, fall injuries, behavioral emergencies and suspected intoxication-related calls during this time of year.

“This year, Halloween falls on a Saturday, which typically means more people are expected to be out celebrating throughout the day and into the evening,” said Mike Sanders, AMR’s regional director for Ventura and Santa Barbara. “Halloween is always a busy night for first responders, but weekends can bring additional traffic, larger gatherings, and increased alcohol and substance use, making it important for residents to plan ahead and celebrate responsibly.”

Massive Los Padres National Forest vegetation-clearing proposal reduced by 200,000 acres due to environmental concerns, public input

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

“The Forest Service made real changes in response to environmental concerns and public input, and the project is far more focused than when this process began,” said Los Padres ForestWatch Director of Advocacy and Field Operations Benjamin Pitterle. “While we appreciate those improvements, this remains a large and complex project, and there are still important areas where further refinement is needed.”

Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) — VCTA – Unchecked Power, Sticky Notes, and a $1 Million Merchandise Bill

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2026 • Comments Off

Under Ventura County’s current structure, voting for the Ventura County Superintendent of Education hands virtually unchecked power to the winner. Because the position is independently elected rather than appointed, the Ventura County Board of Education lacks direct oversight over the Superintendent’s day-to-day administrative and financial decisions. This structural loophole leaves taxpayers vulnerable to unchecked administrative spending—with no real institutional watchdog inside the office to rein it in.

Ventura Fire Department — Today is National First Responders Day

by Community Contributor • October 28, 2026 • Comments Off

October 28 is National First Responders Day. We’re setting it aside for the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and correctional officers who show up when everyone else is at their worst.

Ventura firefighters run roughly 100,000 calls a year. Car crashes. Medical emergencies. The worst day of someone’s life, over and over, night after night. That weight doesn’t stay at the station. It follows them home, and their families carry it too.

We’re building the knowledge and tools to help local firefighters and the people who love them get through it.

You can help. Grab a limited edition t-shirt or hoodie, and every dollar goes to our mission of helping local firefighter families thrive.

Bilingual report — Ventura County residents urged to eliminate standing water following recent rainfall to prevent mosquito breeding

by Community Contributor • October 28, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Following last week’s rainfall and with warmer temperatures expected this week, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division) is urging residents to eliminate standing water around their homes and properties to prevent mosquito breeding and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus (WNV). The reminder comes as the California Department of Public Health reports West Nile virus activity at a five-year high statewide.

Standing water left in outdoor containers can quickly become a breeding source for mosquitoes. In as little as seven days, mosquito eggs can hatch, larvae can develop, and adult mosquitoes can emerge. With mosquito activity continuing into the fall, recent rainfall, and warmer temperatures may contribute to increased mosquito populations throughout Ventura County.

SB Museum of Art — Oct, 27-Nov. 8 — Sip & Celebrate at the Fall Opening Party

by Community Contributor • October 28, 2026 • Comments Off

Don’t miss out! Come celebrate the opening of four new exhibitions at the Museum: Cassatt & Friends, Stage Craft: Pictorialist Photography and Performance, Elegies of Abstraction, and the new Portraits Revealed.

People’s Self-Help Housing now accepting applications for Skylight Homes: New for-sale homes in Santa Maria

by Community Contributor • October 28, 2026 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has begun construction on Skylight Homes: a new, for-sale, single-family subdivision in Santa Maria. Interested buyers are encouraged to sign up for the interest list and attend a mandatory Agricultural Worker Project Presentation to begin the application process.

Located at 3170 Santa Maria Way, Skylight Homes will consist of 49 new homes, built over two phases of construction. The subdivision is surrounded by existing single-family neighborhoods, shopping centers, schools, and community parks. Each home will come with:

Ventura Music Festival — That’s a wrap on the Fall series. We’d love your feedback!

by Community Contributor • October 28, 2026 • Comments Off

The Board and Staff of the Festival value your feedback! If you attended any of the Fall Series concerts as a patron or a volunteer, please fill out our short survey. You’ll automatically be entered to win a pair of tickets to Chanticleer or a 2027 standard concert of your choice!

Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Moving California communities from climate vulnerability to resilience

by Community Contributor • October 28, 2026 • Comments Off

California communities become climate resilient?

CEC’s Senior Director of Climate Programs Em Johnson explored this question at the California Economic Summit and continued the conversation at last week’s Resilient California Summit.

Explore Lompoc — News from Lompoc: Explore Space Country at Vandenberg’s Space And Missile Technology Center

by Community Contributor • October 26, 2026 • Comments Off

LOMPOC — The countdown ends. Engines ignite. A rocket climbs into the sky, leaving a bright trail above the California coast.

For a few unforgettable moments, all eyes are on the sky. In Lompoc, this kind of space-age excitement is part of the destination.

Welcome to Space Country, where you can watch a launch, explore the technology behind the missions, and get an up-close look at space history at the Space and Missile Technology Center (SAMTEC).

Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — Years of organizing. A historic victory for Santa Barbara tenants

by Community Contributor • October 25, 2026 • Comments Off

The fight for rent stabilization in Santa Barbara has been years in the making, built by our community that keeps showing up, organizing, and building power together.Through long meetings, countless conversations, public comments, and years of organizing, we kept showing up and building power together. And last week, that persistence paid off: Santa Barbara City Council adopted the rent stabilization ordinance!

Make a one-time or monthly donation to help us keep building on this historic victory!

Allan Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery showcasing the transformative power of art in ‘After the Cut,’ a new exhibition featuring works by artists Raphaele Cohen-Bacry and Juan Manuel Perez Salaza on display through Dec. 2

by Community Contributor • October 24, 2026 • Comments Off

Through a variety of artistic media, Cohen-Bacry and Perez Salazar use cutting both literally and conceptually to bring together fragments of materials, images and ideas. Their works reveal traces of what existed before while inviting viewers to consider how destruction, alteration and reconstruction can lead to new creative possibilities.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Office of Education Alternative Education honored with Golden Bell Award

by Community Contributor • October 20, 2026 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Office of Education is being honored with the prestigious Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for its Alternative Education program, which serves students who have been expelled, are involved with the justice system, or face serious obstacles in school.

Guest contribution — County of Ventura District 2 Supervisor Jeff Gorell — Holding Southern California Edison Accountable

by Community Contributor • October 19, 2026 • Comments Off

Ventura County residents should not have to choose between wildfire safety and reliable electricity. Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) have left families, businesses, and entire communities facing prolonged outages, often with little certainty about when power will be restored.

While preventing wildfires must remain a top priority, the frequency, duration, and disruption of these shutoffs demand greater accountability. That is why I have made it a priority to challenge SCE, secure meaningful improvements, and advocate for long-term solutions that better protect our communities.

Community Environmental Council (CEC) to present Free Youth Climate Workshop for Students on Oct. 24. More upcoming events

by Community Contributor • October 19, 2026 • Comments Off

The climate decisions we make today will affect our communities for decades to come. Young people deserve a say in shaping their future — and at the Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Youth Climate Workshop, students can learn how to make their voices heard and take action in their communities.

Co-hosted with 805 Action, this free workshop invites students in grades 5–12 to explore how they can influence local climate policy and help shape a more sustainable future.

Oxnard Performing Arts Center to present 7th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration on Oct. 25

by Community Contributor • October 19, 2026 • Comments Off

OXNARD — Join us for a mesmerizing and heartfelt celebration of life and remembrance at OPAC’s 7th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard.

For seven years, we’ve gathered in the heart of Oxnard to honor our ancestors and celebrate the rich traditions of Mexican culture.

Immerse yourself in a vibrant experience filled with colorful calacas, beautifully adorned ofrendas, captivating performances, local food vendors, and the warmth of community. Whether you’re new to this tradition or have celebrated with us for years, all are welcome to come together, honor those who came before us, and embrace the beauty of life, remembrance, and tradition.

Oxnard College will commemorate Día de los Muertos on Oct. 28

by Community Contributor • October 19, 2026 • Comments Off

OXNARD — Join us Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm in front of the Performing Arts Building (PAB) for a vibrant, family-friendly Día de los Muertos celebration at Oxnard College. Enjoy free food, cultural dances, live music, colorful altars honoring loved ones, and fun activities for children and families. Come celebrate our Hispanic culture, community, and tradition with us for an evening of connection, remembrance, and celebration! This FREE event is open to all!

Bilingual commentary — The Joys of Meal Preparation with Family

by Community Contributor • October 16, 2026 • Comments Off

Gathering around the dinner table is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but I recently discovered how I could make these events even more joyful.

For years, I carried the entire weight of these gatherings on my own shoulders. I used to shop, prep, and cook everything by myself, treating dinner as a solo performance while they hung around and watched me as their appetites grew. Eventually, I realized the true joy of a family meal isn’t just in the eating after waiting what must seem like an eternity to them—it is found in the beautiful, chaotic collaboration of preparing it together.

County of Ventura District 2 Supervisor Jeff Gorell — Community Alert: Red Flag Warning, Strong Santa Ana Winds & Potential SCE Power Shutoffs

by Community Contributor • October 16, 2026 • Comments Off

Ventura County is preparing for the first Santa Ana wind event of the season, with strong winds, hot and dry conditions, and an elevated risk of wildfires expected across the region. Residents are encouraged to prepare for potential Southern California Edison (SCE) power outages, take necessary safety precautions, and stay informed as weather conditions evolve throughout the week.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning from Thursday, October 15, at 6:00 a.m. through Friday, October 16, at 10:00 p.m. This wind event is expected to bring sustained winds of 25–40 mph, with gusts potentially exceeding 50 mph across our valleys, coastal communities, and mountain areas.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria stands ready to activate as resilience hub as El Niño brings uncertainty

by Community Contributor • October 16, 2026 • Comments Off

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is reaffirming the organization’s commitment to emergency preparedness and community resilience as El Niño brings uncertainty about unpredictable and potentially dangerous weather.

The Girls Inc. of Carpinteria (GIC) campus, located at 5315 Foothill Rd. in Carpinteria, is well-equipped in the event of an emergency — with large indoor and outdoor spaces, an industrial-sized kitchen stocked with necessities, and basic supplies at the ready.

Under normal circumstances, these features equip GIC to serve the more than 700 girls and young women who access their programs each year. In the event of an emergency, they would allow the organization to respond to a crisis by offering food, shelter, and other resiliency resources.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Brain surgery by autonomous robot? It’s possible — and could save lives’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • October 16, 2026 • Comments Off

With a federal grant from the Advanced Projects Research Agency for Health, researchers are working to bring soft robotics to cardiovascular surgery with a method that combines maximum precision with minimal harm.

Central Coast joins 1.6 million+ voices calling for Roadless Rule protections

by Community Contributor • October 14, 2026 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — With the closing of the final public comment period last week, more than 1.6 million people—including more than one thousand Central Coast residents—voiced their support for keeping the Roadless Rule in place. The rule — which the Trump administration is proposing to repeal—protects some of the country’s last intact backcountry forests, including 635,106 acres across 37 inventoried roadless areas in Los Padres National Forest.

The latest comment period on the Trump administration’s proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule closed October 6.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Refugee studies meets environmental justice in new special journal issue’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • October 13, 2026 • Comments Off

Scholar Heidi Amin-Hong explores how systems of colonialism, militarism and global capitalism create displacement and treat people and environments as disposable.

The Welcome Room in Ventura publishes latest newsletter — Extra Extra! Read All About Us!

by Community Contributor • October 13, 2026 • Comments Off

We’ll be holding two shows over the next month at the Rubicon Theatre. Let’s keep the streak alive! Come out and support and share these events with your “peeps”.

• Thursday, Oct 27: Good Company. Hosted by Lachlan Patterson with Aida Rodriguez, Francisco Ramos, Chris Estrada and Chad Goes Deep. Benefitting Westside Community Development Corporation. Get tickets

• Monday, Nov 2 — The Line-Up of Extraordinary Women with Laurie Kilmartin, Aparna Nancherla, Beth Stelling and Emily Catalano. Benefitting Women’s Economic Ventures. LOW TICKET WARNING: Get tickets

Bilingual guest contribution — 805 UNDOCUFund — Operation Safe California targets the Central Coast-100 community members disappeared in five days

by Community Contributor • October 12, 2026 • Comments Off

Thank you for standing with us during these increasingly difficult times. At 805UndocuFund, our mission has always been rooted in protecting the dignity and safety of undocumented and mixed-status families across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Today, that work is more urgent than ever.

Central Coast United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — Our communities, our power

by Community Contributor • October 9, 2026 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — For nearly two years, immigrant communities across the Central Coast have faced kidnapping, family separation, and escalating violence at the hands of ICE. And now, as Californians begin to vote, ICE activity is surging – in an attempt to bring more fear and intimidation into our communities.

As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 32 of our neighbors in the region have been taken by ICE this week. Parents. Neighbors. Workers. Families torn apart.

But we are not powerless. We know how to respond. We know how to protect each other. We know how to organize. And we know that information is power.

Bilingual commentary — The Tragedy of Linguistic Decay

by Community Contributor • October 9, 2026 • Comments Off

At times I scan newsworthy social media notifications that appear on my phone. One thing has become abundantly clear to me: the posts I see are a window into the linguistic decay that has been settling into our American culture.

I am struck by the paucity of commentary that is written well. The overwhelming majority of the posts offer a glimpse into the atrocious grammar and spelling that are a regular feature of our national discourse. This widespread deterioration of the English language, by which we communicate with each other, raises a seriously unsettling question about our society: why have we allowed ourselves to embrace and normalize this consistently sloppy writing?

TOArts expands National Geographic Live 2026–27 season beyond the stage

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2026 • Comments Off

THOUSAND OAKS — TOArts is bringing National Geographic Live back to the Bank of America Performing Arts Center for the 2026–27 season, with four acclaimed explorers whose work spans wildlife filmmaking, ecology, photography and the science of sound. This year, with support from Bank of America, TOArts is adding on to the on the onstage experience with creative programming and expanded student access designed to bring audiences even closer to the ideas, stories and people behind each presentation.

Museum of Ventura County — October 8 is DAF Day

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2026 • Comments Off

Thursday is DAF Day—a national day encouraging donors to put their Donor Advised Funds to work for the organizations and causes they care about most.

If preserving Ventura County’s stories, celebrating its art and culture, and creating opportunities for our community to learn from the people and places that shaped our region are important to you, we invite you to consider making a gift to the Museum of Ventura County through your Donor Advised Fund (DAF).

Bilingual report — County of Ventura highlights winter storm preparations, encourages residents to get ready now

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — On Tuesday, October 6, the Board of Supervisors heard a report on the County’s inter-agency efforts to prepare for a potentially strong El Niño storm season. Staff from the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, Fire Department, Public Works Agency, and the County’s Public Information Office shared updates on work already underway to help ensure the community is storm ready ahead of a potentially wetter winter.

Pre-season efforts are focused on reducing risk and ensuring the County is ready to respond quickly if significant storms impact local communities. Preparations include inspecting and maintaining flood-control infrastructure, clearing drainage systems and debris basins, preparing swift water rescue resources, and coordinating emergency response plans for areas at higher risk of flooding and debris flows. The County’s Public Works Agency has already removed more than 235,000 cubic yards of material from detention basins and waterways in preparation for the winter storm season.

Friendship Center Adult Day Care Center in Santa Barbara — Special Edition Friendly Finch: 50th Anniversary October 2026

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2026 • Comments Off

We did it!

After months (well, years) of planning, our 50th Anniversary Weekend has officially come and gone, and we are all still buzzing.

There are a few things in my life that I am really, really proud of. Most of them have something to do with Friendship Center. One involves successfully teaching my pug to use a doggy door independently. But hosting our inaugural Dementia Care Conference alongside my teammate Shyra Jain, surrounded by some of the most remarkable people I’ve had the privilege of learning from and working alongside, followed the very next day by a Family Reunion filled with people who have been part of Friendship Center’s fifty-year story…that one is going to be hard to top.

Monica Tull launches Presidio Private, a Santa Barbara-based fiduciary, to help families prepare for the ‘What Ifs’

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2026 • Comments Off

“People are usually pretty good at planning for the life they expect to have,” Tull said. “It’s the things we haven’t thought through that can leave families scrambling. I want to help people think about those situations before they happen, rather than trying to sort everything out in the middle of a crisis.”

UCSB — The Current — ‘Three UCSB researchers recognized for contributions to the earth sciences’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2026 • Comments Off

Leander Anderegg, Kelly Caylor and David Valentine are honored by the American Geophysical Union for their work.

Casa De Vida in Port Hueneme publishes latest newsletter

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2026 • Comments Off

Join us for our Annual Dinner, support our Christmas Toy Giveaway, and discover ways to volunteer

UCSB — The Current — ‘Luis J. Rodriguez Papers at UCSB Library document life and work of the renowned author and activist’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • October 7, 2026 • Comments Off

Now open for research, the collection provides scholars, students and community members with a rich resource for studying Chicano literature, grassroots activism and social movements.

Read more about the Luis J. Rodriguez Papers

Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Last chance: Tell CEC what matters to you. Upcoming events

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2026 • Comments Off

There’s still time to share your perspective with CEC — but our community survey is closing soon!

We’re asking Central Coast residents to share how they want to hear from CEC and what would make it easier to connect with the climate action work happening in our communities. Your feedback will help us better understand how to reach more people and create accessible pathways to get involved.

Sponsors Wanted For National Philanthropy Day Celebration, Nov. 12

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2026 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Once a year, nonprofits come together to celebrate the people and institutions that give generously to the local community. This year’s National Philanthropy Day celebration will be held November 12 at the Rincon Beach Club in Carpinteria, and organizers are seeking sponsors.

The event is hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter (AFP), an organization that brings together those in the fundraising and nonprofit fields.