Donating the Fire District’s surplus heavy-duty utility truck to the Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD) will provide them with the ability to carry needed equipment to the scene of an emergency safely and expeditiously and is an effective use of County and Simi Valley Police Department resources.
You’re invited to the Santa Paula Art Museum’s Fourteenth Anniversary Gala and Fundraiser on Saturday, April 20! In honor of the Museum’s Limoneira Building turning 100 this year, we’re going to party like it’s 1924! Join us inside the Museum for a Roaring ’20s evening of art, live music by Sophie Holt and Studio C, dancing, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and more.
Our community’s collective heart breaks every time we hear of yet another death of an inmate in custody. Moreover, delays in medical care have caused costly delays in booking inmates, taxing our law enforcement resources. The Board of Supervisors has recently voted to establish the Jail Health Monitoring Unit under the Public Health Department to ensure County health experts are a part of the medical policy-making and quality assurance.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Lumina Alliance is proud to announce this year’s Shining Light Award winners ahead of our Lumina Nights event on April 12th and 13th at Thousand Hills Ranch in Pismo Beach. This year’s recipients come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but have one thing in common: they have chosen to stand in support of survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and their actions have made SLO County a brighter place to live.
VENTURA — On Tuesday, March 26, during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting, the County of Ventura honored 27 employees for decades of continuous service across county agencies. The quarterly awards are part of the County of Ventura’s Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program which honors staff who have reached career milestones with 25 years or more of service to the residents of Ventura County.
LOMPOC — Lompoc’s outdoor mural gallery is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. With more than 40 murals on street corners, in alleyways, and on the sides of prominent buildings, murals have transformed our downtown spaces into one of Lompoc’s top attractions.
As you wander through the streets, you’ll encounter murals celebrating our agricultural heritage, paying tribute to our brave veterans, capturing the natural beauty that surrounds us, and even celebrating the space program.
Many of the murals are curated by the Lompoc Mural Society, a local non-profit dedicated to revitalizing historic old town. Each mural tells a story that preserves Lompoc’s history through art.
Ventura County is home to three military bases located within 8 miles of each other, namely the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station with 12,000 ppt, the Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme with 1,080,000 ppt, and Point Mugu Naval Air Station with 46,343 ppt PFAS detected in their soil and groundwater.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara will honor 17 graduates who have completed the organization’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program with a ceremony and dinner.
36-year-old Cindy Abrajan, who has lived in Santa Barbara her whole life, is one of the FSS graduates and is grateful for the support she has received with her financial and career goals.
CAMARILLO — A Chumash dialect spoken by the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians thousands of years ago is alive and thriving with a new online Chumash language dictionary hosted by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI).
Ventureño Chumash, also called mitsqanaqan, is one of six (some say seven) documented Chumashan languages, each named after a mission. There have been other Chumashan dictionaries, but this is the first online dictionary specific to the Barbareño/Ventureño Chumash. These are the indigenous people who lived in Ventura County and the northern Channel Islands for thousands of years.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce that a Ventura County team won first place in the 2024 California Mock Trial Finals that were held over the weekend in Los Angeles. Trinity Pacific Christian School in Thousand Oaks was named the 2024 California Mock Trial Finals Champions after the competition that included schools from throughout the state.
This is the second time in three years that Trinity Pacific has come in first at the state level. They last won the state competition in 2021 when it was held virtually due to the pandemic. The Trinity Pacific team (pictured) will now advance to the National Mock Trial competition to be held from May 2 – 5 in Wilmington, Delaware.
LOMPOC — Reconnect with your besties and embark on the ultimate Girls’ getaway to Lompoc, California. From a leisurely breakfast to heart-pounding adventures and serene spa sessions, this itinerary promises a day of joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
“This new app will help improve the community’s knowledge and understanding of farming, food, and wine in our region, and connect them with the people who grow and produce these crops and wines,” said Hancock viticulture and enology instructor Alfredo Koch. “This will also help the county’s growers and winemakers by increasing awareness of their businesses and products.”
SANTA BARBARA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria proudly announces Fuel Her Fire, previously known as Women of Inspiration, to be held on April 4th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Girls Inc. campus. Fuel Her Fire is a fundraising and mentorship event designed to champion Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s STRONG, SMART, and BOLD mission, celebrating the remarkable contributions of community leaders who have ignited the passions and fueled the futures of girls in our community.
This year’s event will honor three outstanding individuals whose commitment and dedication have significantly impacted the lives of young girls in Carpinteria: Sonia Aguila, Tim Cohen, and junior honoree Ellie Lou Olvera.
Are you intrigued by the concept of “seasonal living”? It captured my interest when I read about it on The Smallest Light, a website dedicated to marketing services. One of the articles on this site, written by Laura McMahon, describes ways to celebrate the arrival of spring in our homes.
This article reminds us of the psychic power of a celestial turning point: the occurrence of the vernal equinox. On this day, just as on the autumnal equinox in the fall, day and night are of equal length. This astronomical, seasonal, and spiritual event occurs at the tipping point as winter morphs into spring, the season that contains the promise of renewed life.
Imagine your reaction if your employer slashed the wages of workers by fifty to sixty percent. Why would a business do such a thing?
This spring, 121 years-ago, Japanese and Mexican sugar beet workers experienced this injustice in 1903. Reduced to a condition of wage slavery, in response they united not only amongst themselves but also with contratistas, labor contractors, traditionally utilized by agricultural lords to divorce themselves from the costs and responsibilities that came with being employers directly.
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Lea en español | Received this from a friend? Subscribe! eNewsletter | March 2024 Last month we celebrated the groundbreaking of Cleaver & Clark Commons – new affordable housing coming to the City of Grover Beach! This development will bring 53 new,…
SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County and Youthwell are pleased to announce a free mental health training called QPR that will help participants learn three steps to help save a life from suicide.
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn. Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis. In the two-hour course, participants will learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to offer hope, and how to get help and save a life.
VENTURA — A public hearing, as provided by law, will be held by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., at 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura CA 93009, County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, to consider and decide the Planning Director’s request for revocation of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 960, as modified by LU06-0011, that authorizes a wastewater treatment facility, commonly known as Santa Clara Wastewater (SCWW) Treatment Facility or also as “RI-NU,” Case No. PL23-0121. The Board will consider the related California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination for the project at this hearing.
The library has acquired the Cedric J. and Elizabeth P. Robinson Archive, comprising research and teaching papers, ephemera and digital materials reflecting their seminal scholarship and activism.
Bonita McFarland in Dahlia Garden. Identifier – 28456. From the Museum of Ventura County Research Library Digitized Photographs. MVC PROGRAMS NOWRUZ Saturday, March 23 11:00 am – 2:00 pm @Museum of Ventura County 100 E. Main St., Ventura Celebrate Nowruz…
“The addition of our new data science program allows us to address student demand and meet workforce needs,” said Lori E. Varlotta, president of Cal Lutheran. “Our faculty have designed the curriculum to ensure that students will not only develop their technical skills but the ethical orientation of being good data stewards — professionals who will understand and seek to protect the sensitive data we all seek to safeguard.”
A Santa Barbara native, the first in her family to go to college, a tour guide during her UCSB days, and a 20-plus-year veteran of the admissions office, Acosta is an expert in her field.
The grants available are designed to revitalize and encourage the arts community in Ventura County. They aim to foster creativity, cooperation, and a greater involvement in the arts throughout the county. Whether you are an independent artist or part of an organization, you may be eligible to apply for these grants. The grants can be used to cover general expenses and to support new or existing projects.
SBA: WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM WORKSHOP
March 20 @ 10:00 am
Join the Small Business Administration (SBA) Los Angeles District Office for a virtual workshop to increase your potential for federal contract opportunities through the WOSB program certifications. This virtual workshop is targeted to small businesses located in the SBA Los Angeles District Office service area — Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize Women’s History Month. Since 2010 the EDC has counseled over 3,000 women owned businesses and has helped generate over $22 billion in revenue. The EDC is dedicated in supporting women with achieving their business goals.
The EDC is proud to support the community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
Start-up Guidance
Marketing & Branding
International Trade
E-commerce & Social Media
Manufacturing Assistance
Legal Compliance
Strategic Planning
QuickBooks & Accounting
And MORE
Purchase tickets online today—it’s quick and easy!
Adán, Eva y la otra
Presented By Teatro De Las Americas
Apr 5th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 6th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 7th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 12th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 13th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 14th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 19th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 20th 2024, 7:00 PM
Apr 21st 2024, 7:00 PM
BUY TICKETS
In December, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to take the first step by adopting the Housing Element Update, which contains over 30 programs and policies designed to create more housing opportunities. Some of them include:
Work to develop a local preference program so that those who live and work here have first priority for new housing
Requiring affordable housing in new rental projects
Creating housing for farmworkers and other local employees
Increasing housing and emergency shelters for the homeless
“Through the commitments outlined in this MOU, our graduates will have a chance to access a high-quality, affordable college education close to home,” said Fillmore High School Principal Keith Derrick. “We are excited to work with CSUCI to enhance our students’ success and future options. This agreement is an important investment in the young people of our community.”
People’s Place is a new construction development of 68 one-, two- and three-bedroom units, which will serve families and farmworker households earning 30-60% of the area median income. On-site amenities include a community building and kitchen for resident events, a multipurpose room, outdoor courtyards, BBQs, and playgrounds. All residents will have access to free, confidential supportive services.
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain: An evening of music & comedy in Ojai!
Thursday, April 18, 2024
7:00 PM – Doors Open 6:30
Libbey Bowl
210 S Signal St, Ojai
GET TICKETS
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain brings us popular songs and interpretations from a wide variety of musical genres. A British musical ensemble founded in 1985 by George Hinchliffe and Kitty Lux as a bit of fun, playing around the world to sold out audiences ever since.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Uplift Central Coast Coalition (Uplift) is thrilled to announce it has been awarded $14 million from the California Regional Investment Initiative of the California Jobs First program (formerly known as the Community Economic Resilience Fund or CERF). Launched in 2021 by Governor Newsom, this initiative supported the establishment of Uplift, a coalition convened by three economic development agencies: REACH, Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), and Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP). The $14 million in funding, known as the “Catalyst Program,” will bolster Uplift’s ongoing efforts to craft strategic roadmaps and recommend investments for the 6-county Central Coast region.
The conference “Separating Myths from Realities” footage is now available! The recording is divided into various segments to match the conference agenda, making it easy to explore. Additionally, you can view and download the study and slideshow that capture the conference’s themes and ideas. The ultimate objective is to understand better the challenges undocumented immigrants face in California and their positive economic impact. We hope you will join efforts to integrate undocumented immigrants in California as a moral imperative and a sound public policy.
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) first-year experience and student empowerment program ¡Raíces: First Year and Beyond! is hosting a Rally and Campus Unity March across campus on Thursday, March 21, from 1-2:30 p.m. The rally will be held outside the West Campus Center, where the march will commence. From there the marchers will cross the SBCC campus bridge and make their way to the Winslow Maxwell Overlook on East Campus.
This event is part of the ¡Sí Se Puede!: Student Advocacy Series during March 2024 to honor el Movimento and the liberation grassroots activism can manifest.
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) and the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) recently organized the second Dual Enrollment Community of Practice, emphasizing the importance of designing college pathways for high school students in Ventura County. Held on March 4, 2024, the workshop brought together educators and leaders from both school systems in a dynamic meeting of collaboration and inspiration.
The workshop, titled “Empowering Futures: Building Intentional Pathways for All Students,” highlighted the increasing opportunities available for the county’s high school students. These dual enrollment programs allow students to complete college-level courses while still in high school, providing them with a head start on their higher education journey. This event marked the continuation of efforts initiated during the first meeting in November 2023, where educators from both systems collaborated to envision dual enrollment opportunities across the county.
“We are excited to bring the Ventura County WORKS program to our community’s America’s Job Center of California. The America’s Job Center of California network brings workforce partners that leverage funding and resources across the region to job seekers and local businesses,” said Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County. “By providing comprehensive resources and support, we aim to empower individuals to achieve their career goals and contribute to the economic vitality of Ventura County.”
Every four years, we get to experience a phenomenon known as “leap year.” This occurs when February has 29 days rather than its usual 28. The “leap” refers to the reoccurrence of days from one year to the next. Normally, a given date that occurs during a given year will occur one day later in the subsequent year. For example, January 1, 2023, occurred on a Sunday whereas January 1, 2024, occurred on a Monday of the following year.
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is transforming the health care system in Ventura County with a groundbreaking $75 million investment in its provider network. Through the development of innovative incentive and grant programs, GCHP is on a mission to connect members with high quality primary, specialty, and behavioral care and empower providers with the vital resources they need for service expansion and to create efficiencies. This strategic investment includes a drive to recruit providers, expanding access to quality health care services. With the scale and ambition of these initiatives, GCHP is setting a new standard for quality care and blazing a trail in community investments.
“Gold Coast Health Plan is committed to supporting providers in innovative ways to achieve our mission of the best health and health care possible for our members,” said Nick Liguori, GCHP’s chief executive officer (CEO). “These programs reinforce GCHP’s ongoing commitment to driving meaningful quality improvements in Ventura County’s health care system and providing the necessary financial support for a much-needed infusion of equipment and technology that will provide needed care, along with additional providers to support our community.”
PORT HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme and City of Port Hueneme are thrilled to host the FIRST Robotics Hueneme Port Regional Competition in their vibrant coastal community. The Competition takes place over two weekends from March 1-3, 2024 and March 9 &10, 2024 located onsite at the Port of Hueneme in the FATHOMWERX lab — a collaborative space for innovation and technology transfer between the Port, the Naval Base Ventura County, the Economic Development Collaborative, and Matter Labs.
The exhilarating event brings over 1,500 high school students from across the world together along with their 51 life-sized robots to test the power of collaboration and measure the effectiveness of innovations and is made possible in part through the Port of Hueneme & City of Port Hueneme’s joint Community Benefit Fund. First Robotics is an exemplary partner as their mission not only fosters creativity and technical prowess but also focuses on strengthening community bonds. Support of their work is crucial as it empowers young minds, encourages innovation, and ensures a brighter future for our coastal community.
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a strong lineup of class offerings for the Spring II session.
Adult students whose tastes run toward current events, politics and history can sign up for classes like: “Eyeball to Eyeball: The Eagle and the Dragon Stare Each Other Down,” on U.S. Chinese relations; “Grasping Israeli Politics” or “Founding Friendship: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.”
Lichtenstein’s latest book examines the former president’s expansive agenda, revealing why it was such ‘a fabulous failure’ and why its demise still haunts us today.
SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is pleased to welcome new members and officers to its Board of Directors as it expands its bold climate action across California’s Central Coast.
FILLMORE — For the first time ever, Fillmore High School in the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) is being honored with the prestigious California Distinguished Schools Award. The California Department of Education announced last week that Fillmore High School is one of only 293 schools out of thousands statewide to receive the honor in 2024.
Fillmore High School was selected as a Distinguished School following its exemplary efforts to increase student achievement in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. “After the pandemic, instead of focusing on the challenges ahead of us, we focused on creating opportunities for our students,” said FUSD Superintendent Christine Schieferle. “We expanded counseling and social-emotional support and focused on developing the capacity of our staff. Additional academic and counseling supports were added to meet the needs of our students.”
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Santa Maria’s Asa Jacobo-Anaya has always had the desire to help others. At only 8-years old, he is constantly trying to give away his allowance money, food, snacks and anything he can think of to the local unhoused individuals he sees around town.
Aware of her son’s passion for helping people experiencing homelessness, Ana Jacobo-Anaya proposed Asa’s 4-H program participate in the Hope Village Adopt-A-Room campaign by local nonprofit DignityMoves, an organization that provides interim housing and supportive services for Santa Barbara County’s unhoused population with the goal of transitioning them to more permanent housing.
NOWRUZ
Saturday, March 23
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
@Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main St., Ventura
Celebrate Nowruz at the Museum of Ventura County! Enjoy Persian cuisine by Safir Mediterranean Cuisine, traditional dance by Sahlala Dancers, and live music by Illunis Music. Experience Farsi Calligraphy, cultural displays, and the thrilling Fire Jumping ritual. Join us for a day of cultural splendor, delicious cuisine, and lively entertainment! Free, no registration required. For more information, click HERE.
OXNARD — Eleven-year-old engineering wiz Gio Basile created the winning poster design for the 38th Annual California Strawberry Festival. Gio’s winning entry was revealed today to a group of dignitaries and festival sponsors gathered at Yolanda’s Mexican Café in Oxnard. The luncheon officially kicks off activities for the 2024 festival celebration taking place May 18 and 19 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Homebuyer Workshop
Saturday, March 9, in-person @ Thousand Oaks
Saturday, March 16, in-person @ Bakersfield
Saturday, March 23, online
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) welcomed community leaders to its Annual Meeting and “A Home for Education” symposium February 29th at the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus. The symposium was presented in collaboration with the County of Ventura, CSUCI, Ventura County Office of Education, Ventura County P-20 Council, and Housing Trust Fund VC to an audience of key decision makers in education, government, land use planning, and affordable housing development.
Rebecca Varney of the Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology helps to reveal the surprising origins behind mollusk eyes, shedding light on evolutionary processes.
