Category: Cultural

The 805 Marker Project – Our Community Disappeared — A community-led act of remembrance, resistance, and protection. Please see related Central Coast stories

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Please see related Central Coast stories:

• Bilingual report — 805 UNCOCUFund — Help Sustain Life-Saving Community Alerts/Ayúdenos a Sostener Alertas Comunitarias que Salvan Vidas
• Escalating enforcement violence across the Central Coast underscores the critical role of community-based alert systems and rapid response networks
• SBCC’s Statement on recent (ICE) law enforcement activities on campus

CENTRAL COAST — 805UndocuFund announces the continuation of The 805 Marker Project – Our Community Disappeared, a series of public art installations across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties that bear witness to a painful truth: our neighbors are being taken, and our communities are being torn apart.

The 805 Marker Project was born from the urgency and grief felt by 805UndocuFund volunteers and community members who refused to allow ICE kidnappings to happen in silence. Each marker is placed at the exact location where a community member was taken—transforming ordinary streets, sidewalks, and public spaces into sites of memory, truth, and collective accountability.

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Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free event and webinar schedule including Dec. 30 event

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SCORE: INCREASE SALES AND PROFITS WITH PRICING AND DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES

December 30 @ 1:00 pm

You’ve developed a wonderful new product or service and understand the costs, but how should you price it? This workshop is part of SCORE’s Small Business Essentials series. SCORE will start by reviewing different distribution and channel strategies and help you choose the method that best gets your product or service in front of your satisfied customers. The rest of the workshop focuses on pricing and will begin by covering some basic pricing concepts. Then SCORE will review a detailed process to help you determine the price of your product. Since pricing a service differs from pricing a product, there will be a special section that covers the separate process for pricing your services. Price: $10.00. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Season’s greetings: Together, we power hope

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Thanks to your support, we’ve continued making a real difference for our communities and the environment. Even amid federal rollbacks and new proposals to expand offshore drilling along our beloved coastline, your generosity helps us fill the gap and protect what makes the Central Coast home.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County launches “100 Big Brothers” volunteer recruitment campaign with the California Men’s Service Challenge

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“This campaign is about uplifting young men in Ventura County by connecting them with a Big who represents a healthy, connected village of support,” said Danica Selvaggio, CEO at BBSVC. “Through mentorship, we create safe spaces for Little Brothers to build confidence, develop healthy relationships, and receive the consistent encouragement that helps them discover their potential. Our 100 new volunteers will help shape a brighter future for the next generation.”

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Museum of Ventura County — Last-minute gifts, inspiring events and upcoming exhibitions

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As 2025 comes to a close, I want to sincerely thank everyone who supports the Museum of Ventura County.

Throughout the year, I was continually reminded that connection is at the heart of everything we do. We supported local students through meaningful educational experiences that inspired curiosity, welcomed our community through public events that celebrated shared stories, presented exhibitions that explored Ventura County’s diverse cultural history, and continued vital work behind the scenes to preserve our collections for future generations.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our members, donors, sponsors, board members, committee advisors, community partners, volunteers, and visitors. This work is truly a shared effort, and on behalf of our entire staff, thank you for believing in the Museum.

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Happy Holidays from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art!

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As we reach the end of the year, we are filled with gratitude for the community that surrounds and sustains the Museum. Your curiosity, your presence at our exhibitions and programs, and your belief in the power of art to deepen our lives have made 2025 a year of connection, discovery, and joy.

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Bilingual report — Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Report: Potential storm water runoff contamination

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VENTURA — As part of the Ventura County Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program, the Environmental Health Division (Division) is providing the following precautionary information to the public.?Rainfall that is significant enough to result in runoff can flow into storm drains, channels, creeks, and rivers that empty onto the beaches of Ventura County.?In general, 0.2 inches (2 tenths of an inch) of rainfall may be enough to create significant runoff conditions.? 

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SYV People Helping People fulfills a holiday wish for vulnerable families

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SOLVANG — People Helping People (PHP) teamed up with generous local businesses, volunteers, and community members to create the 31st annual Fulfill-A-Wish Boutique, bringing relief and joy to 144 low-income households. 

The festive boutique at Veterans’ Memorial Hall in Solvang on December 10th and 11th supplied everything parents needed to create a warm holiday memory for their children from presents to wrapping paper. 

All recipients are clients of PHP who live, work, or go to school in the Santa Ynez Valley or Los Alamos. 

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Bilingual report — EVACUATION WARNING Issued for Identified Properties in Santa Barbara County Associated with the Lake Fire

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EVACUATION WARNING Issued for Identified Properties in Santa Barbara County Associated with the Lake Fire  

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ADVERTENCIA DE EVACUACIÓN emitida para propiedades identificadas en el Condado de Santa Barbara asociadas con el Incendio Lake

Read More | Lea Más

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Bilingual report — 805 UNCOCUFund — Help Sustain Life-Saving Community Alerts/Ayúdenos a Sostener Alertas Comunitarias que Salvan Vidas

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As immigration enforcement continues to escalate across the Central Coast, our community alerts have become one of the most critical tools we have to protect undocumented families. These alerts provide real-time information about ICE activity so families can take precautions, avoid harm, and connect to rapid response support when it matters most.

Since the beginning of this year, 805UndocuFund has spent $45,910.34 solely on sending alerts. On average, each alert costs approximately $600—and this amount reflects only what we pay our texting provider. It does not include staff time, verification of reports, coordination with volunteers, or follow-up support for impacted families. In December alone, we have already spent $5,779.00, underscoring how frequently these alerts are now needed.

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Bilingual report — Major Storm Forecasted for Santa Barbara County (Dec. 23-25)

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The National Weather Service is forecasting a major storm for Santa Barbara County that is expected to occur Tuesday, December 23, 2025, through Thursday, December 25, 2025. Light rain is possible on Sunday, December 21, 2025, and Monday, December 22, 2025. Flooding in low-lying areas, flash flooding, and strong winds are possible.

There are no evacuations in place at this time. If you are concerned that this storm may cause unsafe conditions at your home, leave the area before the rain starts.  Do not wait for an official evacuation notification to leave. 

Public safety officials are monitoring the incoming storm and will continue to assess if protective actions, such as an evacuation warning, evacuation order, or shelter in place, are necessary. 

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Escalating enforcement violence across the Central Coast underscores the critical role of community-based alert systems and rapid response networks

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CENTRAL COAST  — As immigration enforcement activity intensifies across the Central Coast, 805UndocuFund is raising urgent concerns about the growing normalization of aggressive enforcement tactics, the visible presence of ICE in public and private spaces, and the extraordinary courage demonstrated by community members, staff, and volunteers who continue to show up—often at personal risk—to protect immigrant families. Across the region, these individuals have stepped forward with clarity, discipline, and resolve to ensure families are not left isolated or uninformed.

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SBCC’s Statement on recent (ICE) law enforcement activities on campus

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SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College would like to take a moment to acknowledge the fear, stress, and anxiety experienced by the Santa Barbara and SBCC communities including students and employees (faculty and staff) regarding recent events with law enforcement/ICE on Cliff campus. We want to ensure that our SBCC campuses remain safe places that prioritize learning, with dignity and respect. 

The series of events that occurred last week at SBCC are very concerning. SBCC was not informed in advance of law enforcement activities on our campuses, including the Department of Homeland Security’s visit to Antioch University (who rents facilities at SBCC), ICE staging in the SBCC West Cliff Campus parking lot, or the dignitary training by the County of Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office.

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Bilingual report — City of Ventura activates Foul Weather Shelter on Dec. 23 due to inclement weather

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VENTURA — The City of Ventura, in partnership with River Community Church, has activated the Foul Weather Shelter Program on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in response to forecasted rainfall of at least one-half inch.

As part of this activation, 40 motel rooms have been reserved at a local motel for individuals 62 years and older and/or with those with chronic medical conditions. Rooms are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals who are not placed in a motel room will receive a stay-warm kit.

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Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) Board Elects Leadership for New Year

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“I’m honored to continue serving as Board Chair and to uphold our district’s commitment to student equity, inclusion, and access,” said Torres. “Every student deserves to feel a sense of belonging and to have the opportunity to thrive, and I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees and our community to support that vision. Our strength as a district comes from listening to and learning from the diverse voices we serve.”

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Biligual report — December News from People’s Self-Help Housing

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As we approach December 21, the longest night of the year, I am reminded of the profound significance this season holds for those of us committed to ending homelessness. The winter solstice is a natural pause, a moment to reflect on the stark reality faced by individuals who endure these long nights without the comfort of shelter.

While many of us live by calendars, alarms, and screens, the sun remains the oldest measure of time. In these days of deep darkness and cold, I encourage you to take a moment to consider what these hours mean for those without warmth, food, or safety.

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Homes & Hope, NPHS and CEDC selected for two state surplus land sites in Fontana and San Bernardino

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VENTURA COUNTY — Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), Homes & Hope, and Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services (NPHS) have been selected for two sites through the State of California’s Surplus Land Initiative, a key part of Governor Newsom’s announcement advancing six projects that will create 843 new affordable homes on state-owned land. 

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Bilingual report — Unmet transit need survey being conducted in Ventura County

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VENTURA COUNTY — We want to know if bus, paratransit, dial-a-ride, on-demand, or rail services are meeting your needs.

Your local transit operators are looking for comments and suggestions that will help to plan and improve transit services in Ventura County. You can share your comments in a few ways.

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District 216 — WEEK OFF: Happy Holidays from District216! (A perfect time to setup your Circle Account)

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We’re excited to share that District216 has officially migrated away from Mighty Networks to Circle, our new community platform built for connection, creativity, and seamless psychedelic exploration.

Circle offers a modern, social-media-style interface, richer chat and discussion features, and a beautifully organized video library with over 150 hours of District216 content. You’ll also find easy access to our Psychedelic Concierge Service, member threads, event archives, and more — all in a cleaner, more intuitive space.

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Bilingual commentary — Is It Worth Studying the Humanities?

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We are in the midst of an era of rapid technological advancement. As high school students and their parents sweat over the correct choice for a major, they may feel that they are engaged in a sort of life-or-death economic decision rather than the opportunity to pursue a passion. There are currently a whole slew of podcasters, influencers and politicians who disparage the humanities as “impractical” or outmoded, as if they were a musty remnant of the Renaissance.  

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Bilingual report — OPAC celebrates Downtown Oxnard’s designation as a California Cultural District

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OXNARD — The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Nonprofit Corporation (OPAC) proudly celebrates Downtown Oxnard’s designation as a California Cultural District by the California Arts Council, a prestigious state recognition honoring the district’s vibrant creative community, long-standing commitment to the arts, and growing role as a regional hub for cultural activity.

The designation is part of the California Cultural Districts program, established through Assembly Bill 189, which identifies areas of concentrated cultural activity that contribute to economic vitality, cultural preservation, and tourism. Downtown Oxnard was selected through a highly competitive statewide process, with 74 applications submitted and only 10 new districts awarded.

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CSUCI announces Channel Islands Tuition Promise for eligible California Students beginning Fall 2026

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“At Cal State Channel Islands, opportunity is within reach for every student. The Channel Islands Tuition Promise ensures that tuition and mandatory fees are fully covered for eligible students, reducing financial barriers to earning a CSUCI degree,” said Interim President Susan Andrzejewski. This program allows students to focus on the transformative learning experiences that define Cal State Channel Islands, strengthening our role as a powerful engine of social mobility for Ventura County and the state.”  

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New welding education and testing facility opens in Camarillo

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“Our new facility will prepare aspiring welders for high-paying careers that allow them to put down roots in Ventura County and contribute to the local economy,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “This facility is a perfect example of education and industry partners coming together to provide tangible solutions for job seekers in our community.”

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Santa Barbara Museum of Art announces 2026 Winter/Spring exhibition schedule

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In the new year, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art offers a sweeping look at how artists engage with time. Works grounded in personal histories, inherited traditions, and collective memory speak to the past while giving us new ways to access it in the present. Contemporary materials and lived experience illuminate the world as it is now, yet they also open space for reflection and reinterpretation. Digital experimentation and visionary forms gesture toward the future, and at the same time expand how we record, memorialize, and remember. Seen together, these exhibitions reveal art as a continuum—one in which past, present, and future coexist, overlap, and remain vividly alive today.

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CSUCI announces new Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences

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CAMARILLO — Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI) has announced the successful conclusion of a nationwide search. Dr. Philip Hampton has been appointed as the next Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Hampton has served as the Interim/Acting Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences since February 2024. He previously served as Interim Associate Dean (2020–2022) and Associate Dean (2022–2024). Hampton joined CSUCI in 2001 as one of the original faculty members as Associate Professor of Chemistry and was promoted to Professor of Chemistry in 2002. He began his academic career at the University of New Mexico after earning his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1989 and completing postdoctoral work at the California Institute of Technology (1989–1991).

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Ventura County Arts Council announces new Atrium Gallery Exhibition: ‘The Sound of Silence’ opening on Dec. 18

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“The Sound of Silence” opens to the public at the Atrium Gallery TOMORROW, Dec. 18, with a free opening reception from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The exhibition, featuring work by artist Cheyenne Proctor and other local artists, runs through January 23, 2026.

This show is part of a series of exhibitions addressing mental health as part of VibeWell Ventura County, a county-wide initiative that uses art and culture to raise awareness of mental health conditions.

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UCSB — The Current — ‘NIH backs UCSB virtual reality project to help older adults build real social connections’ and more news, events

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The $3.8 million grant supports professors Tamara Afifi and Nancy Collins in their research goals: extending lifespan and improving quality of life.

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UCSB Arts & Lectures Justice for All programming initiative adds four timely speakers to its 2026 Winter and Spring calendars

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Illuminating a wide spectrum of systemic injustice, UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) 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.

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Central Coast United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — Our new website is here – Built to power our movement

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We’re excited to share some big news with you! Even in a year that’s brought no shortage of challenges, we’ve been working to launch a more accessible, user-friendly website – a digital home designed to help us stay connected, build grassroots power, and make sure our communities have the tools we need to know and defend our rights.

Our new site is built for you. When you have a moment, take a look around – and be sure you’re subscribed to our email list. If you’re on social media, follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you never miss an update.

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Bilingual report — Ventura Police urge responsible celebrations this holiday season

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VENTURA — As holiday celebrations ramp up, so does the risk on our roads. In December 2023, 1,038 people across the U.S. lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Ventura Police Department joins agencies statewide in urging drivers to celebrate responsibly and keep impaired driving out of their holiday plans.

Tthrough New Year’s Day, Ventura Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The high-visibility enforcement effort is part of a national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others at risk.

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Ventura County Credit Union concludes ‘Year of Giving’ with $75,000 donation to Museum of Ventura County

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“This gift from Ventura County Credit Union will help us fulfill our mission to engage the community in meaningful experiences with history, art and culture,” said Elena Brokaw, Barbara Barnard CEO of the Museum of Ventura County. “As we work to expand our programs and strengthen community partnerships, this support enables us to continue serving as a gathering place where diverse voices and stories come together. We are deeply grateful to VCCU for investing in our future and recognizing the vital role museums play in helping us understand our past and build a better future for Ventura County.”

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Ventura County Health Care Agency earns Gold Coast Health Plan’s top honor for quality care 

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Click here for the entire media release en español VENTURA — The County of Ventura Health Care Agency (HCA) has been awarded the prestigious Quality Hero Award 2025 by Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP). This top honor recognizes the HCA for…

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Allan Hancock College celebrates Nursing and EMT Program graduations in Lompoc

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LOMPOC — Allan Hancock College celebrated a new crop of first responders and healthcare workers as a combined 137 individuals graduated from the college’s fire, emergency medical technician (EMT), and nursing programs on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.  

The fire and EMT academy graduates were honored during two ceremonies at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc, while the nursing graduation took place at the Marian Theatre on the college’s Santa Maria campus.

A total of 30 cadets graduated from the fire academy on Dec. 11, marking the end of a rigorous 18-week program consisting of 624 hours of classroom and field instruction. Before the ceremony, the cadets gave a live demonstration of the skills they learned at the academy, including running fire hoses, dousing burning cars and extricating “victims” from vehicle wrecks outside the PSTC’s burn tower.

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Ventura Music Festival — Music gives so much more!

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This year, music lifted Ventura at an unprecedented rate.
It reached students who had never held an instrument.
It comforted those at Community Memorial Hospital.
It filled parks, schools, museums, and neighborhoods — ?much of it free and all of it accessible to all.

And now, as the year comes to a close, we ask you to help keep this music playing.

Your support today fuels the music tomorrow. Year-end gifts are fully tax-deductible and make an immediate impact across the programs that define our mission. Every dollar you give ensures that the Ventura Music Festival continues to reach more people, in more places, in more ways—especially those who need it most.

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Allan Hancock College’s SkillsUSA Community Service Team organizes blanket drive donation

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SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College’s SkillsUSA Community Service Team is collecting new and gently used blankets this holiday season to support individuals and families in need across the Central Coast.

Donation bins are available now through Dec.19 in the Mechanics Bank Student Center (bldg. G) at the college’s Santa Maria campus. Community members are encouraged to contribute if they are able.

The blanket drive serves as the team’s official SkillsUSA community service project for the year. Students on the team include Johana Diaz-Toscano, Alexandra Ramirez and Victoria Gama. The three students organized and launched the initiative entirely themselves. Diaz-Toscano said that blankets will be distributed to local shelters, many of which see increased need during the winter months.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County Welcomes New board director, Dennis Yai

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VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is proud to announce the appointment of Dennis Yai, Associate General Counsel at Amgen, to its Board of Directors. Mr. Yai brings extensive expertise in corporate governance, securities, and strategic legal counsel, experience that will strengthen the agency’s mission to ignite the potential of youth across Ventura County.

As Associate General Counsel at Amgen, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, Mr. Yai oversees a broad portfolio of corporate, securities, and governance activities. His responsibilities include advising on SEC compliance, executive compensation, ESG matters, stockholder activism, and high-level public disclosure. Mr. Yai also played a pivotal role in structuring, negotiating, and closing major financing transactions, including cross-border financing in support of Amgen’s acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics.

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