OXNARD — 3H Custom Farming Inc. in Oxnard has paid $17,505 in lost wages and agreed to reinstate two agricultural workers to resolve a Complaint filed by the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (“ALRB”) that the workers lost their jobs…
VENTURA COUNTY — The County of Ventura officially proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Latino Heritage Month at its regular board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
The motion was presented by District 5 Supervisor Vainly Lopez.
A Chumash cultural burn reignites ancient practice for wilderness conservation
Reviving a practice that had been lost for generations, the Chumash community and the university partner on a cultural burn at North Campus Open Space.
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County has been awarded $5,000,000 from the Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) program by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). This is a result of the nonprofit’s ability to raise $5M in local funding to receive this 100% match from the California State Prop 1 matching grant program. This brings Housing Trust Fund Ventura County’s Prop 1 award total to just over $14M, which, through the development of safe and affordable housing, will positively impact the lives of farmworkers, veterans, low-income seniors, cognitively impaired individuals, people experiencing homelessness, transitional age foster youth, and extremely-low and low-income individuals and families.
SANTA PAULA — On Friday, September 29, the City of Santa Paula officially launched its recruitment for a Chief of Police. The recruitment process, spearheaded by Bob Murray & Associates, will identify a distinguished leader who embodies the values and principles of the diverse needs of the Santa Paula community.
Interim Chief of Police Donald Aguilar has been leading the Santa Paula Police Department since November 7, 2022 and will continue serving until the recruitment process is complete.
“Chief Aguilar has provided stability and effective leadership to the Santa Paula Police Department during this transitional period, and we appreciate his dedication to our community,” said Mayor Sobel. “Engaging a third-party recruiter ensures an unbiased selection process, highlighting our unwavering commitment to a fair, transparent and community-driven recruitment process. We are looking forward to taking this next step and selecting a candidate who reflects our values.”
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Lumina Alliance is recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October, and inviting all of SLO County to join us this month in shining a light on domestic and intimate partner violence.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched in October of 1987, with the goal of uniting and connecting organizations and people working to end domestic and intimate partner violence across the country. Over 30 years later, DVAM continues to be a time for collaboration, advocacy, and connection with the goal of raising awareness of the impacts of domestic and intimate partner violence. Lumina Alliance is proud to participate in DVAM, and to continue shining a light on intimate partner violence in our community.
Maripas Jacobo, member of the Coastal Keepers team, will be identifying categorizing, and mapping trash and litter found upstream in Tsumas Creek and Ormond Lagoon. Maripas is focusing on areas that have been ignored in order to identify the ways in which trash and litter impact South Oxnard and Port Hueneme. They will educate the community on their findings and present these findings to local policymakers.
CHECK OUT EL VIAJE DE LOS ESQUELETOS ONLINE
Visit our website and online box office!
El viaje de los esqueletos
Presented By Teatro De Las Americas
Oct 27th 2023, 7:00 PM
Oct 28th 2023, 7:00 PM
Oct 29th 2023, 2:00 PM
Nov 2nd 2023, 7:00 PM
Nov 3rd 2023, 7:00 PM
Nov 4th 2023, 7:00 PM
Nov 5th 2023, 2:00 PM
Nov 10th 2023, 7:00 PM
Nov 11th 2023, 7:00 PM
Nov 12th 2023, 2:00 PM
PORT OF HUENEME — Yellow banana wigs, boat rides, sounds of a tropical steel drum band and perfect late summer weather got the party started at the Port for the 10th Annual Banana Festival! Welcoming people inside the Port, Oxnard Harbor District President Jess Herrera stated, “The Banana Festival is a way for us to say thank you to our community partners and stakeholders. We are grateful for the wonderful partnership we have with all of you. This festival shows the interest level about the Port of Hueneme is at an all-time high and we can’t wait to celebrate your local Port with you today! The reason we exist is for you- to improve your lives.”
Día de los Muertos Community Celebration
Sunday, October 29
12 PM to 3 PM
Free for all ages
150th Exhibit Opening: Ventura County, The Place We Call Home
Saturday, October 21
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
@Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula
You are cordially invited to attend the opening of Ventura County, The Place We Call Home, an exhibit celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Ventura County. Doors will open promptly at 11 am followed by remarks and dedication by Elena Brokaw, The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director at 1 pm.
VENTURA — With the Medicare Open Enrollment period about to begin, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) – part of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the Human Services Agency – will again be providing countywide resources and help.
Medicare Open Enrollment begins on October 15 and runs through December 7. HICAP provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling to the public.
In October, November, and December, HICAP counselors — who are registered with the California Department of Aging — will be all around the county, hosting 37 One-Stops to provide individual counseling sessions, as well as 13 “2024 Medicare Changes” presentations.
In “The Virus Touch,” the global studies professor explores relationships between viruses, humans, animals and the environment to show how various forms of media — from news content to lab test results — create our understanding of epidemics.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura’s Office of Arts and Culture is honored to be a recipient of a $25,000 Humanities for All grant from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This grant will support programs and projects connected to the County’s 150th Anniversary events, celebrating the theme of “Our History, Our Future, Together,” and planned by the County of Ventura, the Museum of Ventura County, and other community partners.
This funding will support a variety of 150th Anniversary activities throughout Ventura County, which will culminate at two communitywide events: the Mountain to the Sea Jubilee in Santa Paula on October 21, 2023, and the State of the County at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley on November 2, 2023. In addition to these capstone events, funding from California Humanities program will support these 150th Anniversary events:
VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON
Homebuyer Workshop
Saturday, October 7 – Simi Valley
Saturday, October 14 – Port Hueneme
Friday, October 20 – Ventura
Join us for one of our in person workshops this month! We will be in Simi Valley, Port Hueneme and Ventura. We’ll talk about boosting your credit, tips on how to manage your money to meet your homeownership goals, mortgage products for first time homebuyers, how to hire the best Realtor for you and how to access up to $167,000 in down payment assistance! Register for FREE today!
LOMPOC — Lompoc may seem like your typical charming Central Coast town at first glance, but for those with an eye for the unconventional and a taste for the eccentric, Lompoc holds a treasure trove of quirky and unique attractions. From intergalactic exploration to a ghostly mission, here’s your comprehensive guide to the quirky and unique in Lompoc.
Upcoming Latinx Heritage Month Events
Oct. 5 at 11:30 a.m. in Swenson Science Center, Room 101: “Untold Legacies: Re-Envisioning Ventura Country through an Ethnic Studies Lens.” Jose M. Alamillo, PhD, professor of Chicana/o studies at CSU Channel Islands, talks about the untold stories of resistance and the hidden legacies of racialized communities in Ventura County.
Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Preus-Brandt Forum: Ballet Folklórico Mestizo is a dance troupe that celebrates the culture and dance traditions of Mexico; featuring students and faculty from Cal Lutheran’s Oxnard campus. (Photo attached courtesy of Oxnard College.)
Oct. 12 at 12:30 p.m. in Lundring Events Center: Latinx Heritage Month Lecture Lunch, hosted by the Office of Campus Ministry. Resources will be available to attendees regarding real-world learning opportunities and creating community. Reservations are required.
Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. in Ullman Conference Center, 100/101: ASCENSO Hispanic Fellowship Poster Presentations. Undergraduate fellows present projects that showcase their growing knowledge of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
Oct. 17 at 12 p.m. in Ullman Conference Center, 100/101: “What Does it Mean to Be a Hispanic-Serving Institution at Cal Lutheran?” This event is an educational lunch that explores how a Hispanic-Serving Institution is more than a Hispanic-enrolling one.
This article, in its original form, was first published in Amigos805 on September 1, 2015. It is as relevant today as it was eight years ago.
On those difficult days that we all have, we can feel that “something” in the air as we drive our cars through traffic, walk along the street or the corridors of the office building, read editorial columns or letters to the editor, or as we take a daring plunge into online comments about any news item.
That “something” is unmistakable. It’s that suffocating, toxic, deadly anger that lingers and permeates all levels of our society. From impoverished neighborhoods to elegant offices, from busy highways to quiet campuses, from our homes to boisterous marketplaces and busy factories, the anger simmers. It too often explodes in this most abundant nation on the planet. But that “abundance” is material; our national soul is crying for some semblance of healing, but that healing is elusive.
No matter who you are, determining how to finance a college education is a complex decision involving many factors. For Hispanic and Latino students, specific considerations may include their citizenship and their parents’ citizenship statuses, their parents’ employment, and whether they’re the first in their family to attend college.
This guide is designed to help Hispanic and Latino students navigate the financial aid process, with a general overview of different types of financial aid, how to apply for federal student loans, and advice from college admissions counselor Dana Marvin.
It also includes information specific to Hispanic and Latino students, including grants and scholarships for different populations within these demographics, including Hispanic/Latina women, children of migrant workers, and first-generation college students.
SOLVANG —The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature (www.wildlingmuseum.org) is pleased to announce the winners of its third juried exhibition showcasing all nine of California’s national parks: Lassen, Joshua, Redwoods, Pinnacles, Channel Islands, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Death Valley all of which are featured in the show. California National Parks: Stories of Water features 37 artists and 39 selected artworks that were juried from a pool of more than 240 submissions by artists across the U.S., competing for $4,000 in awards. These artists reside in nine states including Georgia, Pennsylvania, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, New Mexico, Nevada, and California. The mediums represented in this exhibition are as varied as the art itself and include oil, acrylic, watercolor, graphite, textile, and photography. The exhibition explores various impacts of water – or the lack of water due to drought – in California’s national parks. Other works capture water’s abundance – particularly in the aftermath of this year’s heavy rains – through a range of waterfalls and rivers.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has announced their 2023 President’s Award and Employee of the Year winners. As an organization with over 220 employees, these awards recognize exceptional dedication to the mission of PSHH and this year have been presented to Aracely Barajas and Bianca Guillen respectively.
The President’s Award winner is selected from among nominees by CEO Ken Trigueiro to honor an employee who may not necessarily be highly visible, but continually makes a dramatic difference in support of the organization’s mission. This year Aracely Barajas, Social Worker in the Clinical Services team has been honored for her great ability to build relationships, not only within the organization, but far beyond into her community. Celebrating 10 years with the organization, Aracely has played a key role in collaboration between PSHH and outside agencies to implement new programs.
View this email online September 28, 2023 Top News Welcome, Gauchos! UC Santa Barbara’s annual convocation ceremony welcomes new Gauchos to the campus and serves as the official kickoff to the 2023-2024 academic year. Read more about convocation What…
CENTRAL COAST — In an expansion of existing programming, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has hired a new member to their leadership team: Yanitsa Buendía de Llaca is serving as the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisor.
With a PhD in Religious Studies and expertise as a qualitative researcher, Yanitsa brings both theoretical and professional knowledge to her role as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisor. Drawing on her background in higher education, her role is a collaborative effort to make People’s Self-Help Housing a more equitable workplace and community partner. Building on the commitment of her fellow team members, Yanitsa is passionate about advancing equity in all aspects of the PSHH mission. With roots in Mexico, Yanitsa has lived in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, today she is proud to call the Central Coast her home.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) Property Manager, Maria Serna, Director of Clinical Services, Rick Gulino, and Compliance Specialist, Chris Morrison are all celebrating fifteen years of dedicated service to the organization.
“Maria, Rick, and Chris have all been instrumental in their respective teams,” said Anna Miller, Chief Operating Officer. “We are so fortunate for the leadership and institutional knowledge these three have brought to the organization for the last fifteen years.”
A powerful memoir of poetry and prose, “Loving in the War Years: Lo que nunca pasó por sus labios” explores the author’s interconnected identities as a lesbian and a Chicana, coming of age in a turbulent era of American politics and social change.
VENTURA — On Tuesday, September 26, the Board of Supervisors voted to approve a $3.7 million multi-year funding plan to support programs that will address the opioid crisis locally. The funding will be used to create an expanded multi-agency plan to augment evidence-based strategies and resources that locally will reduce the supply of and decrease the demand for illicit opioids and, in turn, save lives.
“It takes a county-wide effort and everyone working together to make a true difference as we fight the impacts of fentanyl in our community”, said Supervisor Matt LaVere, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This plan accomplishes much of what we need to do to most effectively utilize this money. I fully endorse this and the efforts.”
This Thursday, September 28, at 1:00PM, our County Planning Commission will be inviting public input to discuss a project that will allow People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) to develop 104 units of affordable rental housing within the overall Dana Reserve master-planned community.
So that everyone will have a chance to be heard, quite rightly the Commission has called for an additional public study session. This is so YOUR opinion can be voiced, in addition to the group who have already expressed their point of view.
Located west of US Highway 101 in Nipomo, and named the Dana Reserve, the overall project includes 104 units of deed-restricted affordable housing that would be developed and operated by PSHH. If approved, the developer will gift this land to our organization, which will bring much-needed affordable housing for Nipomo, a welcoming community that is key to so many who live, work, and recreate along the Central Coast.
Aunque desde Washington DC no se ve ningún apoyo presupuestal significativo para abordar la crisis de viviendas asequibles, este mes vimos venir una ayuda útil, variada y pragmática desde la legislatura de California.
No surgió una solución milagrosa, pero en conjunto los proyectos de ley enviados al escritorio del Gobernador, medidas que se someterían a votación en las boletas, hacen que la construcción de viviendas asequibles sea menos onerosa, más ágil y ayude a frenar sus crecientes costos. Las señales más positivas fueron que estas medidas experimentaron relativamente poca oposición, sólo algunos niveles limitados de discusión en el debate público, y que existe una sensación cada vez mayor de consenso en todo el estado.
Algunas victorias importantes para la creación de nuevas viviendas asequibles incluyen:?
CAMARILLO — Author Javier Zamora was just nine years old when he fled his native El Salvador to make a perilous journey through Guatemala, Mexico and into the U.S. after being separated from his parents during the civil war.
The memoir he later wrote about his journey – “Solito” – is the book chosen for this year’s CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Campus Reading Celebration, a two-week event that will culminate with a talk from the author and a book-signing on Sept. 30
CMTC: CONSIDERATIONS FOR ACHIEVING TOTAL PRODUCTIVE MAINTENANCE (TPM): A LEAN VIEW
September 26 @ 12:00 pm
In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, the quest for operational excellence is unceasing. This webinar offers expert guidance about Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) using Lean enterprise methods. We’ll explore how to take a systematic approach to achieve greater effectiveness, efficiencies, and competitiveness in today’s discreet and process manufacturing industries.
September 15 – October 15 is recognized as Latino Heritage Month. During this month-long observation, we celebrate the diverse cultures, values and traditions of individuals with Latin American heritage and who self-identify as Latino/a, Latinx and Hispanic.
We will share personal narratives from County employees as they reflect on their own unique experiences.
This national observation was first introduced in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, under President Lyndon B. Johnson. On August 17, 1988 Congress passed a law to extend it into a 30-day celebration during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
?Since then, government institutions have been honoring this national month-long celebration.
Ever wondered why the observation is celebrated during this time? The dates coincide with independence day celebrations throughout Latin America.
Don’t miss the special stories from County employees and follow the celebration on our social media channels!
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month. Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The EDC is proud to support our 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
My eldest grandson recently invited me to watch the blockbuster film, Oppenheimer, with him. He told me that he preferred watching it with me rather than with peers. This grandson knew that I had lived through the Cold War between the U.S. and the now-defunct Soviet Union. He understands that I have a perspective that his friends can’t possibly possess. I felt honored.
VENTURA COUNTY — Strengthening VC Families, an initiative of Ventura County Children and Family Services, is asking for families to help children in need by providing safe Emergency Shelter Homes (ESH) for children and youth who need an immediate place to go.
The ESH program provides children, youth, and families with a foundation of respect and support, from special people who can support children and youth by providing a safe place to stay, while birth families receive support so that they can reunify with their children as soon as it is possible.
“We all know the importance of a safe and loving home”, said Arturo Vargas, Manager of Resource Family Approval (RFA). “Folks who step up to offer an emergency shelter home understand how food, warm hearts, and loving compassion heals during times of trauma. All of us at Children and Family Services — through Strengthening VC Families — know that with our need of emergency shelter homes–this is an important community ask.” “It’s a big ask” but it’s an important ask.
“When a child is separated from a parent, it impacts every facet of the child’s life in emotional, physical and financial ways,” said Silvia Rodriguez Vega, an assistant professor of Chicana and Chicano studies, whose new book considers hundreds of drawings by children living on the American side of the U.S.-Mexico border.
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) recently attained the titles of No. 1 “Best Community College Campus in California” and No. 3 “Best Online Medical Billing & Coding Certificate Program in the U.S.” in the top college rankings recently announced by Niche.com (for 2024) and OnlineU (2023).
In total, SBCC attained the following Top 10 rankings by the two college ranking surveys:
No. 1 Best Community College Campus in California – Niche.com (for 2024)
No. 3 Best Medical Billing & Coding Certificate Program in the U.S. – Online U (2023)
No. 3 Best Overall Community College in California – Niche.com (for 2024)
No. 8 Best Overall Community College in the U.S. – Niche.com (for 2024)
No. 10 Best Online Community College in California – OnlineU (2023)
“Feast or Flop” is an engaging online cooking show that combines the culinary world with the treasures of the Museum of Ventura County’s archives. Each episode takes viewers on a journey through our local history as the Museum’s Collections Manager Renee Tallent uncovers recipes that have been tucked away for years.
Working with regional chefs, Renee attempts to recreate these dishes to see if they are a delicious Feast or a disastrous Flop. Episode 1 features Renee working with Chef Adam from the Oxnard College Culinary program – see how they fare testing a recipe for Lima Bean Loaf! Watch it HERE!
SANTA BARBARA – – Acompáñanos en nuestra reunión en persona donde hablamos sobre negocios.
Estamos encantadas(os) de que Esperanza Vargas, clienta de WEV, sea la anfitriona de este evento gratuito de networking y comparta más sobre su viaje empresarial.
Ven a establecer contactos, inspírate y conoce a otras(os) dueñas(os) de negocios en tu comunidad. El personal de WEV Vanessa Valerio también compartirá los próximos cursos de negocios y seminarios web para 2023. Se proporcionarán aperitivos ligeros y bebidas.
Regístrate aquí y comparte con tus amistades.
SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: SHOPIFY VS. SQUARESPACE: CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLATFORM FOR YOUR BUSINESS
September 20 @ 10:30 am
If you’re looking for a new website platform, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of two big names, Shopify and Squarespace. They’re both excellent, but they have very different offerings, and choosing the wrong one could cost you lots of precious time and money. With this workshop, SCORE will weigh the pros and cons of each website platform to help you make a well-informed decision.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom (on Sept. 14, 2023) issued a proclamation declaring September 15 to October 15, 2023, as Latino Heritage Month in California.
PROCLAMATION
The more than 15 million Latinos who call our state home are foundational to California’s identity, success and future. During Latino Heritage Month, we recognize the countless contributions of Latinos to our state and nation throughout every chapter of our history, and their central role in our continued growth and prosperity.
Latinos are California’s largest ethnic group, with diverse roots throughout the Americas, Indigenous communities of Latin America and Africa, and beyond. Generations of Latinos have helped shape our society, economy, culture and values since our state’s beginnings. The leadership, service, and vision of Latinos continues to enrich all facets of American life.
Californians know that our diversity is our strength, and that our state is better off when all of our communities have the opportunity to thrive. Together, we have advanced transformative investments and actions that are empowering Latino communities across California and forging a brighter future for all of us. …
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…
After School Ceramics
(Ages 6-9)
Every Thursday in October
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
$40 per child for the month-long program
Afina tu garganta y ven a divertirte en la esperada Karaoke Night del teatro de las Américas. Organizado por voluntarios y amigos del teatro. Disfruta de un refresco o una copa de vino mientras escuchas las canciones favoritas de la voz de amigos que esta noche se convertirán en grandes cantantes y coopera con el Teatro de las Américas para que haya más teatro en español en Oxnard.
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Practice your singing and come and have fun at the long-awaited Karaoke Night at the Teatro de las Américas. This event is organized by volunteers and friends of the theater. Enjoy a soft drink or a glass of wine while listening to the favorite songs of the voice of friends who will become great singers tonight and cooperate with the Theater of the Americas so that there is more theater in Spanish in Oxnard
In her forthcoming book, and with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Kate McDonald illuminates the key role of people in the evolution of transport.
OXNARD— Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program recently received the prestigious approval of the American Bar Association (ABA). Graduates from ABA-approved programs are highly sought after by legal employers and professional organizations seeking to hire paralegals. The ABA’s approval followed an intensive review and on-site evaluation during the spring semester, with final recognition coming recently from the organization’s House of Delegates, which acted on the recommendation of the group’s Standing Committee on Paralegals.
“Oxnard College’s Paralegal Studies Program is among our region’s finest and most reputable,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, interim president of Oxnard College. “We’re proud that our paralegal studies graduates will now be able to proudly point to the American Bar Association’s seal of approval while advancing their careers here in Ventura County and throughout the country.”
CAMARILLO — The pandemic scattered numerous obstacles onto Serena Palaroan’s road to college, but the Nursing major managed to maintain a solid 4.0 grade point average after dropping out at one point, then coming back with more determination than ever.
And now, the third year Nursing student is one of 23 students selected as a 2023-2024 CSU Trustees’ Scholar. The CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, which is the highest student distinction within the university, grants students scholarships based on academic achievements, financial need, excellence in community service and personal hardship. One student from each CSU campus is chosen.
Each scholarship awards a different amount; Palaroan’s will be $7,000 as a Trustee Emerita Debra S. Farar Scholar.
“I was so surprised and I’m so happy,” Palaroan said. “This takes so much of the financial burden off of me. This gives me some relief so I can focus more on my studies and not having to study, go to work, study, go to work.”
MONTECITO — AHA! (Attitude. Harmony. Achievement) is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with Montecito Union School. AHA!’s Littlest Little Farm, launched in Fall 2019, has moved from a private residence to MUS’s Nature Lab.
The Nature Lab at Montecito Union School (MUS) invites learners to imagine, build, and get messy in nature as they care for the planet and one another. They do this by creating and sustaining an experiential outdoor ecosystem rooted in 1) Biodynamic/Regenerative Agriculture, 2) Nature-Inspired Making & Arts Collaboratory, and 3) Environment as Agent of Challenge & Wonder. This provides endless possibilities to grow within a unique and ever-evolving natural setting. While Nature Lab is used by MUS students every school day, part of our mission is to share this resource with the larger community.
OXNARD —The City of Oxnard announced the appointment of Jeff Pengilley as Oxnard’s new Community Development Director.
A longstanding and committed Oxnard public servant, Pengilley joined the City in 2000 as a Plan Check Engineer and has held various key positions related to engineering services and building regulations. He most recently served as the Community Development Department’s Assistant Director for the past four years.
“Jeff brings extensive knowledge and experience within Oxnard to this leadership role,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “I am confident that he will continue to steer the department towards implementing solutions that bring greater efficiency and results for Oxnard residents and businesses.”
Our local transit service Santa Barbara MTD has began a new route serving the Eastside, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara City College. With only 7 stops in each direction, Line 19X is an express, car-free option to get around.
Taking public transit is not only convenient, but it’s an important step we can all take to address climate change. Across Santa Barbara County, we are not on track to meet our climate goals, solely due to gas-powered car usage.
What we need is more of us “choice” transit riders — folks who usually commute by car, but occasionally choose alternative transportation — to get back on the bus. The experience of being shuttled to your destination, rather than sitting behind the wheel wrestling with bumper-to-bumper traffic, is much more enjoyable. Plus, you can reclaim travel time to do some homework, answer that email, or catch up on your favorite book.
If you drive a car, join me in taking a pledge to ride the bus at least one day a week.
SANTA PAULA — “On the Ranch” is a joyful solo exhibition by Santa Fe artist (and longtime Ventura County resident) Andrea Vargas. Featuring 40 mixed media paintings and drawings, the exhibit honors the places at the heart of Vargas’ life and art: the ranches and valley of Santa Paula, and the open spaces near Ventura’s Arroyo Verde Park where her parents’ home survived the Thomas Fire in 2017.
