Category: Cultural

Music Academy of the West names Nicholas Walls as Chief Advancement Officer

Beginning on March 31, Walls will lead the Academy’s advancement efforts to support its mission of training the next generation of great musicians and engaging the community through innovative musical experiences.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nicholas to our leadership team,” said Shauna Quill, President & CEO of the Music Academy. “His deep expertise in philanthropy, donor engagement, and strategic fundraising will be invaluable in advancing the Academy’s vision for the future and ensuring the success of our programs and initiatives.”

Ventura Land Trust announces name for new preserve

Last year, VLT embarked upon a community conversation to engage residents in the search for a name for an area that has held many names throughout history. It was once simply called “the hills” by the Chumash people living in the village known as Shisholop. With the arrival of the Spanish and subsequent colonization of the region, the hillsides were part of the Rancho Ex Mission San Buenaventura land grant. More recently, the hillsides were referred to as Mariano Rancho.

REACH in Santa Barbara welcomes largest cohort to date

SANTA BARBARA —  REACH, a leading organization dedicated to empowering first-generation, low- to mid-income students in Santa Barbara County, proudly announces its largest cohort to date. With 60 Fellows, their Cohort 2025 (Class of 2026) reflects REACH’s commitment to transforming lives through academic preparation, outdoor experiences, and personal development.

Bilingual report — Ventura Fire Department announces release of new Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for public input

The draft Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for Ventura provides an updated assessment of local fire hazards and will help guide local fire prevention efforts, inform building regulations, and support emergency response planning. The map updates previous version approved in 2011 to reflect current fire risk conditions and new data. Hazard areas are rated moderate, high, and very high depending on the factors that contribute to fire behavior, like historical fire patterns, vegetation growth, weather, and terrain, among others. 

Spring Guide to visiting Lompoc on California’s Central Coast

LOMPOC — Spring has is in the air in Lompoc, California, and with it comes welcoming warmer weather and a wide array of activities sure to satisfy the outdoor adventurers, wine lovers, history buffs and thrill seekers.  From Insta-worthy flower fields to scenic hiking trails and breathtaking vinewyards, travelers discover that Lompoc is the place to explore.

Runners Dash to the finish in year two of the Port/City 5k, highlighting fitness and wellness with free community fair

PORT HUENEME — Building on the success of its inaugural year, the City of Port Hueneme and the Port of Hueneme once again teamed up to host their second annual 5k race over the weekend.  

Organizers introduced a fresh look for the event, now called the Sea Splash Color Dash. The update brings exciting new features including a 1k kids’ run and expanded offerings to the free health and wellness fair.

 Jess Lopez, Port Hueneme Mayor Pro Tem, stressed how this new tradition, which attracted more than 750 participants, helps encourage residents to prioritize their health. “I’m inspired to see so many people come together to enjoy the sun and get in some exercise,” he said. “Spending time outdoors, moving our bodies, and being by the beach boosts both our physical and our mental health. It’s a win on every level.”

Bilingual report — Santa Paula Cruise Night is back! 2025 Season kicks off in April

SANTA PAULA — One of Santa Paula’s most cherished traditions, Cruise Night, is officially set to return for the 2025 season, bringing classic cars, great food, and community spirit to the heart of downtown. The Santa Paula City Council recently approved a sponsorship to help cover a portion of event costs, ensuring the continuation of this signature event.

Hosted by the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, Cruise Night will take place on the first Friday of each month from April through October along Main Street between 8th and 10th Streets. This event, which attracts thousands of visitors from across Southern California, has been a staple of the community since 1998 and continues to provide a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.

Santa Barbara City College hosts acclaimed poet Juan Felipe Herrera for National Poetry Month event on April 2

“We are honored to welcome Juan Felipe Herrera to SBCC. Juan Felipe Herrera’s work exemplifies the profound power of storytelling and the resilience of the Latino experience, an especially significant contribution in today’s political climate. Storytelling has long been a cherished tradition in Latino culture, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in our ancestral heritage.

Bilingual commentary — That Special Morning Cup of Coffee

There are retirees who believe that after decades of getting up before the sun rises to battle traffic and contend with the boss and other people at work, they deserve to awaken whenever they please, whether that means 8 a.m. or 12 noon. And if that is their choice, they’ve certainly earned it.

But I’m sure there are many like me for whom early rising is a lifetime habit that does not change. Even after several years of retirement, I look forward to rousing myself from sleep well before the first light of dawn can be discerned across the east horizon.

UCSB Arts & Lectures presenting three new Spring Events — ‘Justice for All’

Illuminating a wide spectrum of systemic injustice, the Justice for All programming initiative looks to today’s great minds and creators and to the courageous leaders across the globe who are forging a new path forward. Join us as we learn from those confronting uncomfortable questions, solving difficult problems, and guiding us all toward a more equitable world.

Bilingual report — Kaiser Permanente awards $315,000 to support health initiatives in Ventura County

VENTURA COUNTY — Kaiser Permanente began 2025 on a high note by awarding a total of $315,000 in community benefit funding to 15 nonprofit organizations in Ventura County.

These grants recognize the organizations’ commitment to improving local health. The grantees were recently celebrated at a reception held at California Lutheran University where each of the funded programs was highlighted.

Guest contribution — 805 Immigrant Coalition condemns hate crime in Newbury Park

CENTRAL COAST — The 805 Immigrant Coalition strongly condemns the hate crime that took place (March 17, 2025), around lunchtime in Newbury Park, where an individual was seen wearing a jacket labeled “ICE” at El Sancho Loco. Concerned community members reported this incident to the 805UndocuFund social media page, expressing deep concern over this act of intimidation.

This type of intimidation is not only cruel and harmful — it is illegal. Impersonating a federal officer is a crime under 18 USC § 912, and impersonating a police officer is a misdemeanor under California Penal Code § 538d. These actions spread fear, confusion, and unnecessary distress among families already vulnerable to unjust enforcement threats. The 805 Immigrant Coalition stands firmly against hate-fueled scare tactics and urges community members to report these hate crimes to law enforcement.

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College hosts dance, rodeo, film and family events March 27 through April 11

These community events include a performance by the college’s Commercial Dance Team, a two-day rodeo event, movie screenings and a family-friendly “Spring Fling” hosted at Hancock’s Lompoc Valley Center (LVC) campus.  

SEEAG’s First Annual Spring Celebration Is Seeking Sponsors

VENTURA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is seeking sponsors for its First Annual Spring Celebration. The event will honor the farms and people of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties who create the food we eat. The celebration is Saturday, May 10 at the Stow House in Goleta from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Those attending will enjoy a curated farm-to-table brunch prepared by Seasons Catering featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients from SEEAG’s Ventura and Santa Barbara farm partners.

Bilingual report — New in-demand healthcare training program offered for 250 low-and middle-income Ventura County residents

VENTURA COUNTY — The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County is launching a groundbreaking initiative to train 250 low- and moderate-income individuals in healthcare occupations. The Ventura County Healthcare Employment Accelerator (VC Heal Healthcare Careers) program focuses on strengthening the county’s healthcare workforce and expanding career opportunities for residents. With nearly $7.5 million in funding, this program aims to improve healthcare infrastructure, support economic recovery after the 2018 wildfires, and promote overall community well-being.

UCSB — The Current — ‘In Sameer Pandya’s ‘Our Beautiful Boys,’ teenage secrets are the dark heart of suburbia’ and more news, events

The professor’s new novel weaves a tale where truth is slippery, race and class are in flux, and the past refuses to stay buried.

Read more about the book

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College Foundation welcomes new board members

SANTA MARIA — The Allan Hancock College Foundation announced the appointment of six accomplished community leaders to its Board of Directors.  

The new members bring a wealth of experience in healthcare, business, finance, real estate and community engagement, further strengthening the Foundation’s ability to support Allan Hancock College and its students.? 

The newly appointed directors include: Dr. Carolyn Baldiviez, Michael Boyer, Mike Brady, Michael Carroll, Katie Gorndt and Candice Monge. 

Bilingual report — March News from People’s Self-Help Housing

… Please be assured that in partnership with our esteemed colleagues in the housing community across the nation, we are staying informed and engaged, and making our voice heard to both our federal and state elected officials.  We encourage you to voice your support too wherever and however you can. Our newsletter The Blueprint is a great resource to learn more about what is happening to housing, and we continue to thank you for your advocacy.

Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West announces 2025 Summer Music Festival & School

The Music Academy of the West, now in its 78th season, offers an unparalleled blend of world-class performances and musical discovery with the 2025 Summer Music Festival & School themed “Soundtrack to Summer.” The Festival showcases international artists performing alongside 150 of the Academy’s gifted young musicians and 60 esteemed teaching artists in 120 one-of-a-kind performances, including orchestral and chamber performances, a full-scale opera, plus masterclasses, competitions, and groundbreaking new works — a must for classical music lovers.

Santa Paula Art Museum — You’re Invited to Our 15th Anniversary Gala & Fundraiser!

Join us inside the Museum for an afternoon of art, live music, a petite live auction, and the presentation of the 2025 Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson Visionary Award to David Schwabauer.
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Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $125 per person and include two complimentary drink tickets. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. All proceeds from the event benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum and its community arts programs.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Sharks are dying at alarming rates, mostly due to fishing. Retention bans may help’ and more news, events

A team led by UCSB researchers highlights the importance of monitoring shark populations and combining different strategies for managing their numbers.

Bilingual report — First Mountain Fire Properties Cleared for Rebuilding as Debris Removal Progresses

VENTURA — Just over 100 days after the Mountain Fire began, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division and the Mountain Fire Incident Management Team are pleased to report substantial progress in recovery efforts. A total of 100 properties have completed…

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara to Celebrate 24 Family Self-Sufficiency Graduates

SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) on March 17 celebrated the 24 graduates who have completed the organization’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program with a dinner at the Presidio Springs property, located at 721 Laguna St. Among the 24 graduates, seven have transitioned out of the Housing Authority program, and one graduate is a homeowner. 

The FSS Program is a voluntary five year program in which a plan is developed with each participant to design a clear path of specific goals and objectives in order to achieve living wage employment and gain economic self-sufficiency. 

People’s Self-Help Housing — Complimentary Edition – The Blueprint – March 2025

The cuts and changes directed by the current administration and the journey of the federal budget affects us all, whether as individuals or as in our case a nonprofit organization. The bumpy uncertainty has left many with feelings ranging from discouragement to dismissal.

Though our financing for development and operating is widely varied and highly diversified, People’s Self-Help Housing relies on numerous sources of federal funding, and decisions being made today will affect our work. The federal sources most affecting our work include funding from Congress through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD). It remains to be seen how extensively the current directives may negatively impact new affordable housing production.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors approve acceptance of grant to expand pet support program

VENTURA — On Tuesday, March 18, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the acceptance of a grant provided in partnership from the Humane Society of the United States and the Ventura County Community Foundation to support and expand the Pets for Life program, an initiative through Ventura County Animals Services (VCAS). This funding will allow VCAS to continue providing essential services that help families in need keep their beloved pets at home, rather than surrender them due to financial hardship or housing instability.

Bilingual report — California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) to launch new bachelor’s degree offerings at Allan Hancock College

SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo are partnering to significantly expand access to in-person baccalaureate degrees in northern Santa Barbara County.  

Beginning in fall 2026, Cal Poly will offer a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus, providing local students with access to a high-quality and affordable bachelor’s degree. Cal Poly is also committing to launching two additional yet-to-be-named bachelor’s degrees in 2028 and 2030.

Three Local Leaders Honored at the 6th Annual LEAP Awards in Santa Barbara

“We’re incredibly honored to celebrate these community champions today,” said Lori Goodman, Executive Director of LEAP. “Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons has been instrumental in advancing healthcare and medical education in our community. Ernesto Paredes has devoted his career to advocating for families and improving accessibility. Amir Abo-Shaeer, our first Distinguished Alumnus, continues to transform education through innovation. Each of these remarkable individuals embodies LEAP’s mission of supporting families and children across Santa Barbara County.”

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara announces Videoarte Latinoamericano screening on March 21, Los Tranquilos Mini Concert on March 29, more events

Description:
Artists born during the era of the Free Trade Agreement, amidst financial crises, and under the rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. Each of the creators featured here inhabit the rugged landscapes characteristic of the sacrifice zones in the global south. We will move away from the tropical paradise and the fantasy of ancestrally, focusing instead on a critique of hyper-consumption and the fetishization of the concept of nature.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Deadline Extended! Physical Disaster Loans for Recent Fires

Mountain Fire: SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s authorized representative, Director Nancy Ward, of the California Office of Emergency Services on November 25. The disaster declaration makes low-interest federal disaster loans available to residents and businesses the counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Kern who were affected by the Mountain Fire that began November 6.

Wildfires and Straight-line Winds: SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Southern California businesses, homeowners, renters and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations following President Joe Biden’s major disaster declaration. The declaration covers Los Angeles and the contiguous counties of Kern, Orange, San Bernardino, and Ventura due to wildfires and straight-line winds that began on January 7.

Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting of March 18 — Topics Include: 2025 Women’s History Month Service Awards, Santa Barbara Bowl Annual Report, Cannabis Odor Ordinance Amendments, Update on Cannabis Taxation, Compliance, and Enforcement

The next regular meeting of the
County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for 
9 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, 2025
County Administration Building
Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor
105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara
The public may participate virtually, or in person at the County Board Hearing Room in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria. 

Volunteers in Ventura County Help Those with Low-Moderate Incomes File for Available Tax Credits Through VITA Program

VENTURA — Tax season is upon us and low- to moderate-income Ventura County residents are encouraged to take advantage of ways to put more money back in their pocket with the help of United Way of Ventura County’s (UWVC) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). 

Throughout March to April 30, 2024, trained VITA volunteer tax preparers will help working families and individuals file their state and federal tax return and access the tax credits to which they are eligible. Households earning up to $67,000 are eligible to use the free services.

To have your return prepared and e-filed VIRTUALLY by a tax preparation volunteer visit GetYourRefund.org/vcunitedway to upload tax documents using either computer or cell phone. 

Women’s Economic Ventures hosts inspiring International Women’s Day event honoring Trailblazers and Women’s Economic Independence

“This event is about more than just celebration; it’s about action,” said Nicki Parr, WEV’s CEO. “Economic independence is not just a personal achievement—it’s a pathway to social change. When women build businesses, they change communities: generating revenue, creating jobs and contributing significantly to the local economy.”

VCCCD and TK-12 leaders unite to expand dual enrollment opportunities

CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) and the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) co-hosted their fourth Community of Practice on March 7. Held at Oxnard College, the event brought together TK-12 and community college leaders to discuss dual enrollment opportunities. With 7,000 local high school students already benefiting from dual enrollment this year, discussions focused on expanding access and creating seamless transitions from high school to college and careers.

Santa Paula Arts Museum — Anne Ward’s ‘Painted Seasons’ opens this weekend

Premiere Party: Anne Ward’s “Painted Seasons”
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?Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM members, $10 Non-members

Don’t miss the much-awaited premiere of Ojai artist Anne Ward’s “Painted Seasons” on Saturday, March 15! Ward, who grew up in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, is obsessed with light, color, shape, and pattern. It was while working in France as an assistant to the director on the film “French Kiss” that Anne realized her love of painting outdoors. Primarily self-taught, Ward has been painting and exhibiting her work for over 30 years. The exhibition features 55 paintings bursting with hope and joy and painted in oil, acrylic, and gouache. The majority of the artworks will be available for purchase.

“Painted Seasons” will be on view from
March 15, 2025, to July 6, 2025.

Classes on Southern California’s evolving mystique, dance, and medicinal plants all part of OLLI’s Spring II session

“California’s Coastal Imaginary: Management of Our Coast in Three Acts” – a class tracking the evolving image of Southern California through the years – is one of the offerings for CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Spring II session, which runs from March 24 to May 2.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Award-winning documentary explores the unfinished tale of DDT’ and more news, events

The film details Professor David Valentine’s discovery and investigation, with Los Angeles Times reporter Rosanna Xia, of toxic waste dumping off the Southern California coast.

Read more about “Out of Plain Sight”

Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West announces recipient of the Alumni Performance Award, sponsored by the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation

SANTA BARBARA — Now in its 78th season, the Music Academy of the West continues its commitment to supporting its alumni as they advance their careers. The Academy proudly announces the winner of the 2025 Alumni Performance Award, sponsored by the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation. This prestigious award offers a distinctive performance opportunity that honors the artist’s artistic journey while aligning with the Music Academy’s mission to foster meaningful alumni engagement.

The Music Academy of the West is proud to announce clarinetist Gerbrich Meijer as the recipient of the 2025 Alumni Performance Award. A three-time Music Academy fellow (’20, ’21, ’22), Meijer is rapidly gaining international recognition as a chamber musician, soloist, and orchestral performer. 

Bilingual report — City of Santa Paula Invites Community to Help Shape Council’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan during series of meetings from March 19 through April 2

The Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap, setting clear goals and guiding decisions that impact everyday life in Santa Paula. It ensures City resources are allocated effectively while fostering transparency and accountability. Building on the progress made through the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, which addressed key areas such as infrastructure improvements, public safety, and economic development, the new plan will reflect evolving community needs and opportunities.

“Santa Paula is growing, evolving, and planning for the future—and your voice is essential in helping us shape community priorities,” said Mayor Pedro A. Chavez. “The 2025-2027 Strategic Plan is more than just a blueprint: it’s a shared vision built by the community, for the community. I invite you to join the conversation, share your ideas, and help set the course for a stronger, more economically prosperous Santa Paula. The future starts with us—so let’s plan it together!”