Category: Commentary

United Way’s Fun in the Sun Scholars join the Music Academy of the West

by Community Contributor • August 5, 2026 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — More than 350+ elementary school students enrolled in United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Fun in the Sun summer learning program participated in an arts education experience this week with a live performance of Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by the Music Academy’s Chamber Orchestraconducted by William Long and featuring acting troupe Really Inventive Stuff, plus an instrument exploration station hosted by the Santa Barbara Symphony.

The field trip was made possible by the Music Academy of the West and sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust and all partners of Santa Barbara County’s arts and education programs.

Ventura Harbor Village celebrates the Summer with waterfront & island adventures, live entertainment, whale watching, coastal dining, shopping & relaxation

by Community Contributor • August 5, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Summer is in full swing at Ventura Harbor Village, Southern California’s premier seaside destination where visitors can savor ocean breezes, fresh coastal cuisine, boutique shopping, family-friendly entertainment, and unforgettable adventures on the water. Whether planning a day trip or weekend getaway, Ventura Harbor Village offers the perfect blend of relaxation and recreation along Ventura’s picturesque waterfront. www.VenturaHarborVillage.com

Music Academy of the West — Announcing the Mariposa Concert Series 2026-27

by Community Contributor • August 5, 2026 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — The Music Academy of the West proudly announces the 2026-2027 Mariposa Concert Series, a collection of intimate musical experiences held in Hahn Hall on the Academy’s Miraflores campus in Montecito. The series furthers the Academy’s mission to bring exceptional music to the community throughout the year by showcasing the artistry of esteemed Music Academy alums and world-renowned musicians.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Christopher Costello recognized for his pioneering work in environmental markets’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • August 5, 2026 • Comments Off

The Distinguished Professor and emLab Director was just named a Fellow of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE), the highest honor bestowed in the field of environmental and resource economics.

Guest commentary — Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) — Should you be concerned by the clear slowdown in labor force growth in Ventura County?

by Community Contributor • August 5, 2026 • Comments Off

The labor force represents all residents in the jurisdiction who voluntarily seek employment. Not all residents seek employment because they (1) are not of age, (2) are retired, (3) are not capable of working, or (4) simply choose not to participate in the workforce.

Bilingual report — Astronaut Dr. José Hernández will be the special guest at the South Oxnard Library Block Party and Mural Celebration on Aug. 22

by Community Contributor • August 3, 2026 • Comments Off

Come celebrate South Oxnard’s newest mural.

Teatro de las Américas announces — Nube Obscura | Jumpers | Patty Soria En Concierto | Nos Traen Cortitios 2026

by Community Contributor • August 3, 2026 • Comments Off

Nube Obscura ¡El cortometraje realizado durante el Taller de Cine del Teatro de las Américas 2025 ya está disponible para verse en YouTube! The short film produced during the Teatro de las Américas 2025 Film Workshop is now available to…

Bilingual commentary — American Exceptionalism on the Soccer Field

by Community Contributor • July 31, 2026 • Comments Off

The results of Donald Trump’s latest venture as head referee at World Cup soccer matches prove that American soccer knows how to get tired of winning: just get the ref to issue an executive order when it looks like the American team is “being treated unfairly.” When your preferred team doesn’t like a lower referee’s call, all the head ref has to do is threaten to tariff the opponent’s soccer equipment and uniforms. This audacious merger of assertive diplomacy and international sports guarantees that if we can’t win on the field, we can at least tie things up in court for decades.

Friendship Adult Day Care Center in Santa Barbara — You Helped Us Surpass Our Goal—Thank YOU!

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2026 • Comments Off

Thank you for making Friendship Center’s 50th Anniversary Summer Polo Soirée an incredible success!
?
Together, our Summer Polo Soirée and Summer Campaign raised over $75,000, exceeding our fundraising goal and helping provide compassionate daytime care for older adults living with dementia in South Santa Barbara County.

Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Building a More Circular Central Coast. See upcoming events

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2026 • Comments Off

Discover how CEC is reducing waste at the source, and how you can help create a circular future.

Guest commentary — Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) — ‘Why Ventura County Must Vote Yes on Proposition 43’

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2026 • Comments Off

For nearly half a century, Proposition 13 has served as California’s bedrock defense against unsustainable taxation and fiscal overreach. By capping property tax rates and establishing clear supermajority vote requirements for special taxes, voters created a stable framework designed to keep homeowners in their homes and ensure local governments live within their means.

However, over the past decade, judicial rulings have eroded these core taxpayer protections.

Guest commentary — Trump Administration proposal would slash oil industry cleanup protections and put public lands at risk

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2026 • Comments Off

Proposed rollback comes as BLM considers leasing 36,000 acres in California, including lands bordering Carrizo Plain National Monument. (Public comment due Aug. 24).

CENTRAL COAST — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing changes to federal oil and gas leasing regulations that would sharply reduce the financial assurances, or bonding, requirements for drilling companies and expand opportunities to lease public lands for development.

Bilingual report — People’s Self Help Housing July 2026 e-newsletter

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2026 • Comments Off

The overwhelmingly bipartisan supported and much awaited 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law and with it comes a raft of improved regulations and access to financing fit, as the name implies, for this century. Those provisions include:

Billions of dollars of unlocked bank equity allowed to invest in low-income housing tax credit funded projects

Reauthorization and reforms of housing production programs.

Increases to FHA multifamily statutory loan limits.

Bilingual commentary — A New Economic Weapon: Taxing Natural Disasters

by Community Contributor • July 24, 2026 • Comments Off

Finally, Mother Nature will be held accountable for not respecting international borders. The White House, never one to accept “unfair treatment,” has decided to launch a courageous new economic weapon against our former friend, Canada. Since “meteorological” is a big word, Trump is calling this weapon “weather tariffs.”

A recent series of blistering Truth Social posts excoriated Canada for “actively wafting” filthy, polluted, unhealthy air from their wildfires across the border into the U.S. Never mind that the Canadians “wafted” their soldiers into Afghanistan to help us with the war on terror in 2001. Never mind that when we have wildfires, Canada sends help.

Bilingual report — The latest news from the County of Ventura

by Community Contributor • July 24, 2026 • Comments Off

Looking for your next career opportunity? Join us for the 2026 County of Ventura Career & Resource Expo + Candidate Connect on Wednesday, August 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Government Center Courtyard between the Hall of Administration and the Hall of Justice.

This free event is open to everyone and offers the chance to explore careers in technology, public safety, healthcare, engineering, environmental services and many other fields.

Meet representatives from County departments and agencies, learn about current job opportunities and, new this year, visit the Candidate Connect booth to speak directly with County recruiters and get your questions answered.

Whether you’re considering a career change, entering the workforce or looking for your next opportunity in public service, this event is a great place to start.

Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) — Power of Purpose — July 2026 Newsletter

by Community Contributor • July 24, 2026 • Comments Off

I am reminded every day just how much we are all part of the fabric of our Ventura County community, and how much good happens when we support one another and do it together.

In May, I attended the League of California Community Foundations’ Spring Convening along with VCCF President & CEO Vanessa Bechtel. There, we met with legislators on topics like access to highest-quality early childhood education through the Isabella Project, disaster resilience and support for our neighbors through the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund and more. I also got to exchange ideas with other community foundation board chairs, learn from their experiences and see what is applicable here in Ventura County.

Bilingual commentary — Can AI Help Our Children Discover a Career Path?

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2026 • Comments Off

Over the past few years, I’ve been watching my two older grandsons agonize over their career decisions. One of them has not quite settled on a choice. I see him pursuing one objective, and then another, only to change yet again.

The other grandson is just starting to focus on his path, realizing that the clock is starting to tick and that he’ll soon be making choices that will determine his initial foray into adult life.

Bilingual report — Extreme heat warning within Ventura County

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard has issued a widespread extreme heat warning for … through Thursday, July 16, 2026. Temperatures in the interior valleys and mountain areas are expected to exceed the 100-degree mark for a prolonged period, with relatively poor overnight recovery in the mountains and foothills. A heat advisory has been issued for the coastal plains, where temperatures are expected to reach between 90 and 100 degrees.

High temperatures may create a dangerous situation in which heat-related illness is possible. Residents are encouraged to: drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, check on relatives and neighbors, take extra precautions if working or spending time outside, and wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.

United Way of Ventura County — The latest news for you

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2026 • Comments Off

We got an extension until July 21! You can still be a part of something big!

My Way Home — Join us in Simi Valley this Saturday!

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2026 • Comments Off

With rising home prices and changing interest rates, buying a home can feel challenging, but there are programs and strategies that may help.

Join My Way Home this Saturday for our free HUD-approved Homebuyer Workshop in Simi Valley to learn about the homebuying process, financing options, and resources that can help you prepare for homeownership.

During the workshop, you’ll learn about:

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Psst… it’s not too late to be part of the silent auction and get exclusive tickets

by Community Contributor • July 14, 2026 • Comments Off

Support MCASB!
Be part of the silent auction or
buy a ticket to an exclusive event!

Friendship Adult Day Care Center — Last Chance to Purchase Tickets

by Community Contributor • July 14, 2026 • Comments Off

Ticket sales end this weekend for Friendship Center’s Summer Polo Soirée. Purchase your ticket or become an event sponsor for this fundraiser of the season before it’s too late!
Friday, July 17, 3PM

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC — Get the Capital You Need to Move Your Business Forward

by Community Contributor • July 13, 2026 • Comments Off

Designed to pair you with the financial expertise and right amount of capital you need to move your business forward, the Economic Development Collaborative works with more than 30 professional advisors and a full-time loan fund director, available to local businesses at no cost.
The EDC’s Business Development Loan Fund stimulates job creation and economic activity by providing small businesses with greater access to capital and specialized technical business assistance. The fund is open to businesses in all industry sectors and is supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the cities and County of Ventura, and private capital. This loan fund makes available long-term, affordable financing to new and existing businesses throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara County.

Bilingual commentary — Mount Trumpmore, or Mount Trumpless?

by Community Contributor • July 10, 2026 • Comments Off

We can never accuse President Trump of having small ambitions. After all, he recently sought a Nobel Peace Prize, though to no avail. But even more monumentally, so to speak, he has not denied seeking to have his visage carved into and enshrined forever on Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota.

In 2018, Trump undertook what he considered a serious conversation with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem about that very possibility. That friendly chat has blown up to become one of MAGA’s highest aspirations.

805UndocuFund to present ‘The Glass House Raids, One Year Later: A Vigil honoring the families and communities impacted,’ to be held July 10

by Community Contributor • July 10, 2026 • Comments Off

CAMARILLO — “The Glass House Raids, One Year Later: A Vigil honoring the families and communities impacted,” will be held from 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 10 at 645 Laguna Road, Camarillo.

The event will publicly gather the community to mourn the loss of our community one year ago, to remember the efforts of our community to defend itself, to remember that we are still supporting our community after the events of that day. (Spanish Interpretation Available).

Central Coast United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — Raising Justice is Back on Sept. 17th! — Join Us for Our 25th Anniversary Celebration

by Community Contributor • July 9, 2026 • Comments Off

For the past 20 years now, you’ve created a Raising Justice that continues to bring together hundreds of our movement friends for a fun early evening of food, drinks, music, and community rooted in our shared organizing for a more just region. It’s free to attend with an invite to donate any amount that feels right to you.

Today, we invite you to join our growing circle of Early Event Sponsors. Sponsors not only underwrite the event, but also allow our work throughout the year to stay community supported and here for the long haul — it’s one of the ways you can ensure our event’s success.

Social Justice Fund for Ventura County — Passion to Progress, and Fellows on the Move!

by Community Contributor • July 9, 2026 • Comments Off

PASSION TO PROGRESS

Call for Fellows 2026 – 2027

Trump Administration to auction lands near Carrizo Plain in SLO for oil drilling

by Community Contributor • July 7, 2026 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — Last week, the Trump administration announced plans to auction nearly 36,000 acres of federal public land and mineral estate in four California counties to oil companies. The parcels cover thousands of acres adjacent to Carrizo Plain National Monument in San Luis Obispo and western Kern counties.

A public comment period on the proposal closes on August 1.

Guest contribution — Cancer-Causing Pesticide (including Santa Maria )exceeds California’s Own Safety Trigger, requiring state to act

by Community Contributor • July 7, 2026 • Comments Off

“Once again, DPR is sitting on bad news instead of telling the people breathing this air,” said Angel Garcia, co-director of the statewide coalition Californians for Pesticide Reform. “The Department loves a press release when a number goes down. When a number blows past their own safety trigger, they bury it in a spreadsheet and hope nobody notices. That’s not regulation — that’s public relations for the pesticide industry.”

Guest contribution — Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) — A Declaration of Independence

by Community Contributor • July 6, 2026 • Comments Off

… At VCTA, we believe it is time to declare our own independence—not from individuals, but from habits that no longer serve taxpayers, students or our community.

Bilingual commentary — Are Latinos “White”?

by Community Contributor • July 2, 2026 • Comments Off

I had a moment of angst three years ago as I filled out the 2020 U.S. Census form. I froze in my tracks, just as I had with employment forms in the past, when I saw a question asking me to denote my race. I am thoroughly aware that much of the U.S. population, especially in the more conservative states, would not consider me “white.”

Their assessment is based solely on my appearance. I’m not particularly dark, but neither am I of “fair skin.”

In light of recent developments in our country, I am now less willing to declare myself as of the “white” race on any form inquiring about my ancestral background. However, in the following Census question inquiring about my ethnicity (as opposed to “race”), selecting “Hispanic or Latino” was an obvious choice.

Bilingual guest commentary by Kaiser Permanente — From fireworks to heat waves: Health expert outlines July 4 safety MustKnows

by Community Contributor • July 2, 2026 • Comments Off

As Fourth of July celebrations approach across Southern California, families are preparing for a day filled with barbecues, pool parties and fireworks—traditions many look forward to all year.

But health experts are reminding the public that the holiday also brings a spike in preventable injuries.

“People love this holiday because it brings everyone together,” said Dr. Kimberly Petrick, a family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Still, a little caution goes a long way in keeping the day festive instead of stressful.”

Guest contribution — Trump administration scoffs at Federal and California law and public process to hand public lands to big oil

by Community Contributor • July 1, 2026 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — Environmental organizations across California are condemning Trump’s Bureau of Land Management’s approval of oil and gas leasing and development plans for both the Bakersfield and Central Coast field office regions—a decision that critics argue was a rushed, legally deficient move that ignores California law, bypasses the public, and offers some of the state’s most beloved public lands over to the fossil fuel industry.

The BLM issued the approvals without allowing the standard 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review period required before a federal land use decision affecting California can be finalized, and without responding to formal administrative protests filed by community organizations. That review exists precisely to ensure federal actions do not conflict with state law and policy—and this decision is in direct, flagrant conflict with both.

Bilingual report — County of Santa Barbara July 2026 Newsletter — Keep your Pets Safe This Fourth of July, more news

by Community Contributor • July 1, 2026 • Comments Off

Ventura County Health Care Agency reminds community to be aware of health care-related scams

by Community Contributor • June 29, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The Ventura County Health Care Agency (HCA) is sharing important information with patients, families, and community members about a health care payment scam that has affected hospital patients and families.

In these scams, an individual falsely claiming to be a representative of a hospital contacts a patient or patient’s family member and requests immediate payment for a medical service, patient transfer, or other health care-related expenses. These calls and situations can be stressful and may be designed to create a sense of urgency during an already difficult time for families.

Guest contribution — Ventura County Taxpayers Association — A $30 million loan, a $314 million debt, and one simple question

by Community Contributor • June 29, 2026 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Taxpayers Association has been reviewing the proposed FY 2026-27 budget for the Ventura County Medical System (VCMS), and one issue stands out above all others:

VCMS continues to rely on borrowing to fund its operations.

Guest contribution — Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) — Legacy Items, Limited Oversight

by Community Contributor • June 29, 2026 • Comments Off

Legacy Items, Limited Oversight: VCTA Pushes for Structural Change at VCOE

Bilingual commentary — Why Latinos Must Embrace AI

by Community Contributor • June 26, 2026 • Comments Off

As a boomer who started working toward the end of the Industrial Revolution and then well into the digital age, I find myself fumbling my way into the AI Era that is suddenly at our doorstep. Now it occurs to me that although it behooves young people to get on board with AI for the sake of their futures, Latinos, specifically, should seriously consider the benefits that are possible for them.

For important reasons, Latinos stand to benefit enormously by upgrading their skills.

Bilingual report — People’s Self Help Housing June 2026 eNewsletter

by Community Contributor • June 26, 2026 • Comments Off

In 1970, when People’s Self-Help Housing was founded, our work began with a simple but powerful idea: as our name indicates, help people build their own homes. Through this mutual self-help model, we have worked alongside 1,200 amazing families who built their own homes. But as the needs of our communities evolved, so did we. In the mid-80s we moved into developing multifamily housing for rent and since then have constructed 63 vibrant neighborhoods throughout the Central Coast.

City Impact Inc. in Ventura County issues call for nominations for Thrive Together Awards

by Community Contributor • June 25, 2026 • Comments Off

OXNARD — City Impact, Inc., a Ventura County–based nonprofit dedicated to serving at-promise youth and families since 1995, is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the Thrive Together Awards 2026 — the organization’s signature annual celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation and community impact, targeting small businesses and start-up organizations in Ventura County.

The Thrive Together awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 5:00–9:00 PM at the Museum of Ventura County in Ventura, California — fittingly timed during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Small business nominations are open now through Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Ventura County Civil Grand Jury — Investigative Report: ‘Setting the Record Straight on Presumptive Workers’ Compensation Claims’

by Community Contributor • June 25, 2026 • Comments Off

For most Ventura County deputy sheriffs, every day is a risk, where they may experience the possibility of a serious work-related injury or illness, known in workers’ compensation terms as a “presumptive” injury or illness.

In interviews with the Ventura County Civil Grand Jury, deputy sheriffs with presumptive claims described their frustration with minimal communication, confusing delays, denials of claims that were later reversed, and long waiting periods.

Ventura County Animal Services announces Kitten Food Drive

by Community Contributor • June 25, 2026 • Comments Off

We’ve had so many kittens come into our care that our VCAS Foster Families are already running out of kitten food. To help keep our foster families stocked with critical food, we’re doing a quick Kitten Food Drive.

Food donated through our Kitten Food Drive – Amazon Wish List will be delivered directly to the Camarillo Shelter where our foster families will pick up from.

Community Environmental Council (CEC) — A Year of Active Hope: FREE community events all summer long

by Community Contributor • June 22, 2026 • Comments Off

What does active hope look like? It looks like learning new skills, meeting inspiring people, celebrating community, coming together around shared solutions, and discovering practical ways to create change.

This summer, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) invites you to join us for A Year of Active Hope — a series of free events offering a welcoming space for people to unite, find courage, and take meaningful steps for our planet.

Bilingual commentary — Dark Skies: Portals to the Cosmos

by Community Contributor • June 18, 2026 • Comments Off

There are several hundred thousand amateur astronomers in the U.S. I was one of them during my teenage years (my daughter, a mother of three boys, has made it a point to tell me that I was not a “normal” teenager). I had one big disadvantage: I lived in Los Angeles during those years and had never seen the Milky Way due to the massive amount of illumination from one of the largest cities in the world just north of the suburb where I lived.

One summer, my father took all of us to the mountains north of Los Angeles for a few days. I took my telescope with me.

Bilingual report — Community invited to the 35th annual Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration on June 20

by Community Contributor • June 18, 2026 • Comments Off

“For 35 years, the Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration has brought together our Ventura County community to honor history, celebrate culture, and embrace the values of freedom and unity,” said Bruce Stewart, President of the Ventura County Juneteenth Celebration. “We are proud to continue this tradition and remain committed to ensuring that future generations understand the importance of Juneteenth and the contributions of African Americans to our nation and our community.”

Santa Paula Art Museum — Inbox Art Exhibit: ‘Cornelis Botke: Painter of the Western Scene’

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2026 • Comments Off

On view now through July 12, 2026

Santa Paula artist Cornelis Botke (1887-1954) is best known as a master etcher and as a supporting figure in the career of his wife, artist Jessie Arms Botke (1883-1971). His etchings earned international acclaim and entered the collections of the California State Library, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. Yet from childhood, Cornelis’ true ambition was to be a painter.

Botke was born in Leeuwarden, Holland, in 1887. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised and educated in a Mennonite orphanage in Haarlem. Although he longed to pursue painting, his guardians worried about his livelihood and enrolled him instead at the Haarlem School of Applied Art, where students trained for professional trades such as architectural drawing, engraving, and metalwork.

Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) Power of Purpose June 2026 newsletter

by Community Contributor • June 16, 2026 • Comments Off

Last month, I wrote about my experience at the Council of Foundations conference and the idea of connection being its own philanthropic cause, worthy of support, and how the work in front of us is not simply to gather with those who already affirm us. The deeper work is to break bread across difference and discover that we still belong to one another.

My email inbox was flooded with replies and messages expressing a shared concern for how polarizing and divided these times are. Your replies have stayed with me, and they fill me with hope. I really want to thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me, and please know how grateful I am for each and every one of you.

805 UndocuFund — One Year Later: Remembering the June 10 Raids and the Road to Glass House Farms

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

Dear Friends & Supporters,

June marks one year since Border Patrol carried out a series of immigration enforcement operations across Ventura County, reaching the Central Coast for the first time since the early 1990s.

Between June 10 and June 14, 2025, at least 95 community members were taken from their workplaces, homes, and families. Fear spread quickly throughout the region as workers stayed home, parents worried about their children, and entire communities braced for what might come next.

What many did not know at the time was that these raids were a warning of something far more devastating.

Together, we remember…

Guest contribution — Ventura County Taxpayers Association — Performance theater over statutory power

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, unfolded in a highly charged atmosphere. Faced with a packed room of over 100 disgruntled citizens and a profound break in institutional trust by Superintendent Dr. César Morales, the Board of Trustees responded to a political crisis with a unanimous 5-0 vote to launch an ad hoc committee. Chaired by Trustees Michael Teasdale and Richard Lucas III, this committee is tasked with hiring experts to conduct an independent investigation and full forensic audit into the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE).

Downtown Oxnard announces June events

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

View this email in your browser

Friendship Adult Day Care Center in Santa Barbara — The Friendly Finch: June 2026

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

“You like me, you really like me!”
-Sally Field, 1985
-and Friendship Center, 2026

I know Friendship Center is beloved by so many in our community; it would be impossible for us to have existed for 50 years otherwise. But May was one of those months where we really felt the love.

We were honored to receive our first-ever grant from the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, supporting the operation of our dementia-friendly transportation service. If you’re unfamiliar with the incredible research, diligence, and care that the Women’s Fund invests in every grant decision, let me assure you, this recognition is no small thing. Their team spent months getting to know Friendship Center, understanding our work, evaluating our impact, and determining whether we could deliver on the promises we make to our community.

Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s LEGACY Awards nominations now open

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The nomination period for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s LEGACY Awards is now open. These awards recognize the contributions of Ventura County residents and businesses dedicated to helping older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers to live optimally.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The winners will be announced in November. The nomination packet is attached.

Bilingual report — People’s Self-Health Housing May 2026 eNewsletter

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

To all who joined us for last week’s Cleaver & Clark Commons Grand Opening, thank you! Located in central Grover Beach, this new property is providing 53 affordable apartments to low-income households, farmworker families, and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura Public Health Department attains national reaccreditation

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) on May 29 announced it has successfully completed a rigorous process to maintain national accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). This announcement follows PHAB’s national release, recognizing 14 health departments across the country for achieving accreditation or reaccreditation. As the first local health department in California to earn PHAB accreditation in 2014, VCPH continues to lead ahead among the other local health departments by meeting national standards and demonstrating excellence in protecting community wellness and delivering high?quality public health services. In California, 29 out of 61 local health departments are accredited by PHAB. By maintaining its accreditation for another five years, VCPH has demonstrated that it meets or exceeds PHAB’s quality standards and continues to improve in its efforts to protect the health of all Ventura County residents.

Hearts & Hammers Dinner and Auction raises $113,000 as Habitat Ventura marks 40 years of service

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County (Habitat Ventura) marked a milestone on Saturday, May 16 at its annual Hearts & Hammers Dinner and Auction, held at the Museum of Ventura County in Ventura. The evening brought together more than 140 supporters, sponsors, and community members to celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary and raise funds for its homeownership and home repair programs throughout Ventura County.

This year’s event carried a here’s No Place Like Home theme, inviting guests to follow the yellow brick road through an evening of dinner, drinks, live music, and an auction. The heart of the evening was a short film tracing 40 years of Habitat Ventura’s history through the people who built it.

Bilingual report — Guidelines for Santa Paula 4th of July Fireworks Event

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

SANTA PAULA — In advance of the Fourth of July Holiday and Fireworks event, the City of Santa Paula and the Santa Paula Police Department are announcing schedule and guidelines for those making plans to attend the fireworks show at Santa Paula Creek Sports Park at Harvest.

Please be aware, as with any community fireworks show, there will be extended traffic delays upon exiting the event for those who choose to drive a vehicle and park it in spaces available at Santa Paula Creek Sports Park.

Reserve your seat for Field to Fork Today! Event to be held July 15 in Moorpark

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

“From Field to Fork” brings together farmers who produce Ventura County’s agricultural bounty, chefs who celebrate that bounty on their menus, and the farm workers whose labor makes it all possible.

Enjoy a multi-course gourmet dinner while helping promote affordable, safe, and stable housing for Ventura County farm workers and their familie

Bilingual report — Ventura Housing marks completion of the largest Homekey housing project in Ventura County history

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Ventura Housing, in partnership with the City of Ventura and the County of Ventura, is pleased to announce the grand opening and 100% occupancy of Valentine Road Apartments. The development transformed a former La Quinta Inn into 134 units of permanent supportive housing through a $32 million Homekey grant from the State of California. The Valentine Road Apartments represent the largest Homekey Project completed in both the City and County of Ventura and is a cornerstone of the regional and statewide effort to address homelessness through permanent supportive housing.

According to the Ventura County Continuum of Care’s 2026 Point-in-Time Count, homelessness in Ventura County declined 11.8% from 2025 and 28% since 2023. The report attributes part of that decline to the expansion of permanent supportive housing countywide, including the 134 units at Valentine Road Apartments.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Alex Fabros, 80, makes history at UCSB’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • June 12, 2026 • Comments Off

From farmworker fields in California to war in Vietnam to a doctoral degree in history, Fabros is UCSB’s oldest Ph.D. recipient.

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District — Fireworks cause noticeable increase in air pollution

by Community Contributor • June 12, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — As the Fourth of July approaches, people in sensitive groups should be cautious about elevated levels of air pollution caused by fireworks.

Fireworks emit fine particles including soot and ash that can cause serious health effects. Children, older adults and people who are pregnant or have respiratory or heart conditions are the most at risk.

Page 3 of 18

« 1 2 3 4 5 … 18 »