It is a troubling statistic! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. Additionally, about 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year – that is 1 in every 4 deaths.
With February being American Heart Month, Kaiser Permanente reminds everyone about the importance of caring for one’s heart by taking steps toward lifestyle changes that can lead to a healthier life.
February is Children’s Dental Health Month and it’s the perfect time to encourage and educate the benefits of good oral health. This year’s theme is “Sealants Make Sense.” There are many ways to maintain your oral health. Consistently brushing and flossing are excellent ways to add a sealant for extra coverage.
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard is reopening its facilities for in-person services starting Monday, February 14, 2022.
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OXNARD – – La ciudad de Oxnard reabrirá sus instalaciones para servicios en persona a partir del lunes 14 de febrero de 2022.
The Museum of Ventura County is thrilled to present the next Ivor Davis: Up Close and Personal with famous photographer Harry Benson. In this popular series, author, journalist, and investigative reporter Ivor Davis speaks with a rotating guest list of extraordinary individuals. Click here to watch the trailer for the documentary Harry Benson: Shoot First now available on Hulu.
The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 Ventura County Academic Decathlon, which was held virtually over the past few weeks. The three teams with the highest overall scores this year are:
1st Place: Westlake High School Team A
2nd Place: Westlake High School Team B
3rd Place: Adolfo Camarillo High School
In response to our nation’s mental health crisis, Family Service Agency (FSA), Mental Wellness Center (MWC), and Youthwell have secured funding that will continue to bring Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) trainings to Santa Barbara County. In the next five years, the coalition expects to train 2,800 adults to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in youth, provide initial response, and safely connect youth with appropriate services. The funding also includes training 2,000 high school students to recognize and respond to the signs of mental health issues in their peers.
Virtual YMHFA classes start this February and are offered at no cost to Santa Barbara County adults thanks to funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
HOW TO CREATE A 2022 SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CALENDAR
February 11 @ 12:00 pm
Who’s ready to get organized this 2022!? Let’s be honest, we all get overwhelmed by Social Media because we often wear too many hats and think we need to be on every platform. The fact is we only need to be posting on the platforms where our target market is spending their time. The best way to get organized and efficient is to create a social media calendar. Deborah has a saying: schedule it in your calendar, see it in your life and she will show you how to do it to save time, energy and make you money.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Want to receive California Arts Council funding? Ventura County Arts Council & Oxnard Performing Arts Center (OPAC) can help!
We are so grateful for the steady support of our Emergency Medical Services Agency throughout the course of the pandemic! They have been involved in almost every aspect of our county’s response – testing, vaccines, personal protective equipment, you name it. Thank you EMS for your heroic efforts in serving our community!
COVID-19 Update
Since Wednesday, there have been 901 new COVID-19 cases reported and 18,345 new tests completed. There are 213 people hospitalized and 35 in the ICU. There have been 16 additional deaths, 8 females and 8 males between the ages of 50 and 94. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the community members who passed away. The R-effective for Ventura County is 0.66, meaning that the spread of COVID is likely decreasing.
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Granted Full FDA Approval by the FDA
Cal Poly’s Center for Health Research and ASU’s College of Health Solutions are seeking participants to conduct a 16-week NIH-funded project aimed at reducing sedentary screen time among adults.
The research study uses cutting-edge technology to identify the best strategy for changing sedentary screentime habits & improving health.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has announced a new, comprehensive sexuality education series with Planned Parenthood California Central Coast created to ensure teenage girls have the knowledge and skills they need to stay healthy. The weekly series, called ‘Teen Talk,’ will be offered virtually to members of the Eureka! program for college-bound girls and is part of the organization’s ongoing outreach efforts around healthy sexuality.
An evidence-informed and LGBTQ+ inclusive program, Teen Talk will educate girls about sexuality and sexual health, while providing information about healthy relationships, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), birth control, anatomy and physiology, and encouraging parent and trusted adult communication.
Distinguished professor emeritus Benjamin Cohen shares insights on potential economic impacts of Russia-Ukraine conflict for the European Union and the United States.
The Santa Barbara City College District (SBCCD) Board of Trustees seeks the public’s input as it moves forward with a process to evaluate and adjust the boundaries of the seven trustee areas of the district, a process known as redistricting. Redistricting is required following the release of data from each United States census, conducted every 10 years.
SBCCD has contracted the services of Cooperative Strategies to assist it with this process. Based on their analysis, it has been determined that the boundaries need to be adjusted due to substantial changes in population growth in the areas served by Santa Barbara City College.
Shout out to our Public Health lab! They have gone above & beyond during the pandemic, especially during this surge, to help us move forward. Their efforts studying communicable diseases often go unseen, yet they are so valuable. Thank you to this incredible team for their dedication to our community!
COVID-19 Update
Since Monday, there have been 1,241 new COVID-19 cases reported and 13,579 new tests completed. There are 245 people hospitalized and 38 in the ICU. There have been 16 additional deaths, 3 females and 13 males between the ages of 43 and 94. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the community members who passed away. The R-effective for Ventura County is 0.64, meaning that the spread of COVID is likely decreasing.
Want to catch Jessica Bruder’s pre-symposium chat with KCLU’s Lance Orozco?
Tune into 88.3 FM tomorrow morning at 7:45 a.m. or at 8:45 a.m. as a warm-up to Friday’s symposium!
Branches of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA are taking early registrations for their summer day camps. Camp is from June 13 through August 19 at the Yarrow Family YMCA and June 6 through August 5 at the Simi Valley Family YMCA. A travel camp will be held at the Conejo Valley YMCA. Discounted weekly rates for those who register early are in effect until March 1.
Campers can attend full-time (five days a week) or part-time (three days a week) for the entire camp session or selected weeks. YMCA summer camp is offered to TK to 5th graders with a Leadership-In-Training camp for 6th to 8th graders.
Onsite activities include sports, arts and crafts and in-person shows. Each week will focus on a different theme including space, Olympic sports, traveling back in time, Disney adventures and exploring the outdoors. Camp activities are based on age group.
This month, celebrate Black History Month by learning about the contributions of African-American scientists and doing your own fun experiments: commemorate one of the first African-American female chemists, Bettye Washington Greene, by making your very own slime. You can make your slime glitter, glow-in-the-dark, foam, or maybe even a combination! Then, test how fast your eyes adjust to different images thanks to the discoveries of ophthalmologist, inventor, and UCLA professor, Dr. Patricia Bath.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is still accepting requests for increases, reconsideration and appeals for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program:
Increase Request: Borrowers can request increases up to their maximum eligible loan amount for up to two years after their loan origination date, or until the funds are exhausted, whichever is soonest.
Reconsideration/Appeals Request: Reconsideration and appeal requests for applications received on or before December 31 will be accepted and reviewed if the reconsideration/appeal is received within the timeframes in the regulation. This means six months from the date of decline for reconsiderations and 30 days from the date of reconsideration decline for appeals – unless funding is no longer available.
For more information CLICK HERE .
Ventura County education employees are going above and beyond to keep schools operating during the pandemic. And “thank you” is something they don’t hear often enough.
That’s why Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. César Morales, is encouraging everyone in the community to send a message of thanks to a school employee and email it to news@vcoe.org. We’ll highlight some of the messages on our website and social media. So please take a minute to write a note to that special someone who’s making a difference for kids.
You can also read Dr. Morales’s own message of gratitude to school employees at this link.
The Best Drama in Town
Join Ms. Alina for an 8-week after school drama class.
NO CLASS MARCH 9
FEE $50
Ages 7-12 / Capacity: 16
For questions call Alina
805-341-3837
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Richard Yao, Ph.D., to serve as the fourth president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). Yao, who identifies as a Chinese Filipino American,currently serves as interim president of CSUCI, a role he has held since January 2021.
“This is such an exciting time at CSUCI, especially as we approach our 20th year. Our university is primed for growth as we continue to increase graduation rates and confer more high-quality degrees that enrich the lives of the residents and the communities throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties” said Yao. “I am so thankful for the dedication and expertise of our faculty and staff, who are continually striving to improve the success of our talented students. I look forward to working collaboratively with our faculty, staff, students, and community partners in leading CSUCI into our third decade.”
Since Monday, there have been 4,975 new COVID-19 cases reported and 19,054 new tests completed. There are 302 people hospitalized and 46 in the ICU. There have been 8 additional deaths of a 60 year old female, 69 year old male, 84 year old male, 84 year old male, 90 year old male, 94 year old female, 94 year old female, and a 98 year old male. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the community members who passed away. The R-effective for Ventura County is 0.58 which indicates that the spread of COVID is likely decreasing.
The Gene Haas Foundation has made a $25,000 grant award to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) to support SEEAG’s STEM Career Pathways in Agriculture programs. The programs are provided at no cost to schools and are designed to teach middle and high school students about technology and science-driven agricultural careers.
SEEAG staff members give presentations at schools throughout Ventura County providing an overview of agriculture, ag career opportunities and the latest technologies and innovations that are impacting the industry. Online presentations are also available.
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Clews was 15 years old when, after multiple attempts to escape a toxic home life, she was placed in out-of-home care (formerly foster care). Without a stable home environment, Clews attended 13 different high schools leaving her feeling vastly disconnected. It was not until she was 17 and living in her second group home that Elizabeth met Damon, a mentor that completely changed the direction of her life. Now Elizabeth helps others in care.
“Just having that one solid person that I knew was always going to be there really motivated me and gave me a sense of confidence and just a feeling like I deserved to be loved,” said Clews. “It felt so good to have this person that I thought was successful also see that same potential in me at various stages of my life.”
kidSTREAM, a children’s museum based in Camarillo, continues to grow. While the organization is finalizing the work toward the slated expansion of the outdoor playscape on the property that the City of Camarillo is transferring to the nonprofit, key steps of growth are taking place within the organization, including board expansion.
“We are pleased to announce that six new directors are making an impact on kidSTREAM’s future,” noted board chair and founder, Kristie Akl, “especially due to the fact that we know it takes a big team to build something that will have the incredible impact that kidSTREAM will have on children and families throughout our region.”
With the final deadline for the current open-enrollment period quickly approaching on Jan. 31, Covered California announced that 1,744,000 people have signed up for coverage, which is a new record high for the start of a coverage year (see Figure 1: Covered California Plan Selections to Start a Coverage Year). The total represents an increase of more than 350,000 people compared to the start of 2020, as Covered California has used the increased financial help from the American Rescue Plan to expand coverage and meet the needs of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having quality coverage, and with a surge of COVID-19 infections across the state, now is the time to make sure you have health insurance,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California.
“We want to encourage anyone who is currently going without health care coverage to check out their options and sign up so they can be covered in 2022.”
Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one during the pandemic. This is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program recognizes the value children and teens receive from sharing their grief experience with their peers. Our groups provide support, connection and validation that they are not alone.
The Good Grief Club meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
The Young Teen Group meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County, also known as Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center and Guadalupe’s Little House By The Park, is pleased to announce the appointment of Santa Maria Police Lieutenant Paul Van Meel to its Board of Directors.
Paul has worked in various capacities within the Santa Maria Police Department since 1999 including in the Detective Bureau, oversight of the Special Enforcement Team, as Patrol/Watch Commander, and currently as the Administrative Lieutenant-Chief’s Adjutant.
HOW TO DEAL WITH PORT CONGESTION
January 25 @ 10:00 am
This panel discussion will examine the effects of port congestion with a special emphasis on the Long Beach/Los Angeles Ports and the Port of Virginia, and the impact this is having on small businesses from coast to coast.
MCASB’s Teen Arts Collective (TAC) is a hands-on program that makes the contemporary art world accessible for Santa Barbara students ages 15-18. Over the course of the program, TAC members develop visual literacy skills, strengthen leadership abilities, and begin cultivating their own creative networks through exposure to practicing artists and arts institutions in the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles areas.
This will be accomplished through:
Meeting with locally and internationally acclaimed leaders in the arts
Field trips to local galleries, artists’ studios, and distinguished regional arts institutions
Workshops and discussions in weekly, after-school meetings
Planning and curating a culminating exhibition of TAC participants’ artwork
The major gift to UCSB Arts & Lectures from UCSB alumnus John and his wife Jody Arnhold will support residencies with world-renowned artists, which in the 2021-2022 season include Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and more
Visit our website Make a Donation (Click Image to JOIN on MONDAY) ? Join Us! Monday, January 24, 2022 ? ? For our 23rd Annual Festival of Hearts Virtual Fundraiser! Please click the image above to join us at: www.friendshipcentersb.org/FOH22/…
We’re donating blood today and helping end the national blood shortage! Shout out to Adela Oregon with our Probation Agency, Robert Crawford of the General Services Agency, Leslie Cerda student worker with our Sheriff’s Office, and all county employees who made a lifesaving donation today! You can too: www.redcrossblood.org
Learn about the EMPRENDEDORES (Entrepreneurs), a small business training program offed by MICOP & WEV.
Last week, the new mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, quickly found himself embroiled in a self-inflicted controversy. At a press conference, he casually referred to cooks, dishwashers, messengers, shoe shiners and fast-food workers as “low-skill workers.” That got the attention of some powerful and influential people.
Liberal U.S. State Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired back via Twitter. She claimed that calling workers “low-skilled” plays into a “myth perpetuated by wealthy interests to justify inhumane working conditions, little/no healthcare, and low wages.”
But looking past the outcry over the mayor’s remarks, we might want to pause and consider the implications of the issues at hand.
Ever since the “OpenCI” initiative was launched at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) in the 2016/2017 academic year, the savings for students on textbooks has risen steadily. But the most recent report on this initiative shows the most dramatic student savings to date.
A mid-year report shows OpenCI saved CSUCI students almost $1.8 million —$1,769,569.73 — over the Fall 2021 semester alone. Since 2016, Open CI has saved students over $7 million total in textbook costs.
“I was genuinely surprised — shocked, in fact,” said Associate Professor of Communication Jacob Jenkins, Ph.D. “That number from just one semester is bigger than our savings from the entire 2020/2021 academic year. And we’re on pace to save well over $3 million for students this academic year with a student body of only 7,000.”
In response to the announcement and 2022-23 budget proposal from California State Governor Gavin Newsom, community-based health plan CenCal Health made the following statement:
“CenCal Health welcomes Governor Newsom’s health care expansion plan for California and is ready to support Medi-Cal coverage for eligible residents in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties – regardless of their immigration status,” said Marina Owen, CenCal Health CEO.
“Along with our Board of Directors, executive team and staff, I am gratified that our organization here on the Central Coast can help bring much-needed, long overdue health coverage to the region, and take this step towards health equity. In partnership with our network of dedicated doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers, CenCal Health is ready to deliver high-quality health care to all.” If the new budget plan is supported by the legislature, coverage would begin on Jan. 1, 2024.
The Day of Service this month, dedicated to volunteering in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, is especially germane for us to acknowledge and celebrate here at People’s Self-Help Housing. Daily, our organization and residents benefit from the numerous and compassionate efforts from volunteers throughout the Central Coast. They include those who serve alongside us at our learning centers, at events, support us in public settings, and serve to guide our governance.
You continually inspire and encourage us in your volunteerism, and that same spirit in turn runs through the personal lives of many of our employees. Team members volunteer on other nonprofits boards, support youth groups, and participant in community events. They serve on city councils, planning commissions, local service clubs, as well as in their places of worship.
VISIONALITY CEO Emily Barany says, “Take Small Steps, Daily: We are NOT going to solve all the world’s problems in one sitting. In 2021, I really focused on taking small steps towards big goals. In the moment, that small step doesn’t feel like much, but after a year of small steps, you’ll realize you’ve gone far.”
Barany recently sat down with Senior Project Manager, Kristiana Almeida to discuss 2021 reflections and 2022 predictions. While their complete two-part discussion covering their perspectives on business, leadership, development, and the much used term, pivoting, can be found on the company’s website – www.visionalitypartners.com/resources, they share a few of their top level take-aways from 2021 and predictions for 2022 below.
Alumna Holly Roepke has been named director of athletics at California Lutheran University.
A former soccer standout and member of the Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame, the Thousand Oaks resident had returned to her alma mater in July as senior associate director of athletics after serving in leadership roles at other colleges. She began serving as interim director of athletics at Cal Lutheran in October.
“What a thrill it is to see our very own Hall of Famer come full circle to lead athletics,” said Matthew Ward, vice president for enrollment management and student success. “Holly is an inspirational leader with a wealth of experience in Division III athletics. Moreover, she brings a champion mindset and will push us to elevate the student-athlete experience.”
A new exhibition at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum reimagines classical imagery for a multicultural America.
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Education Fund affiliated with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), and Grubhub, have opened applications for the USHCC & Grubhub Restaurant Small Business Grant Program to support Hispanic-owned restaurantsthroughout the country. The program is supported by proceeds from Grubhub’s Donate the Change Program.
Legal Issues for Artists:
Protecting Your Works from the Moment of Creation and Beyond
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 @ 12-1:30pm
On Zoom
Researcher Angela Pitenis receives funding from the NSF to study friction between soft materials.
The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees voted to retain the executive management firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC to lead a nationwide search for the selection and appointment of its new chancellor. The firm will begin work immediately to seek a replacement for Chancellor Greg Gillespie, who announced his retirement from the District at the end of June.
Greenwood/Asher has extensive experience with executive search, consulting and training in PreK-12 and higher education, both nationally and internationally. The firm’s founders and partners, Jan Greenwood and Betty Asher, have deep roots in higher education, having served as presidents and tenured professors in universities. VCCCD trustees voted to contract with the firm during its Dec. 20 meeting. Greenwood/Asher was one of several firms considered following a Request for Proposals for Executive Management Search Firm Consultant for Chancellor.
“Chancellor Gillespie has done an outstanding job of leading the District and its colleges, especially during the pandemic,” said Board Chair Dianne B. McKay. “We’re looking for someone of the same caliber who has visionary leadership capabilities and can continue to build and maintain campus services and community partnerships that benefit our students, provide for an equitable workforce and create economic development opportunities in Ventura County.”
DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR MEASURABLE RESULTS
January 28 @ 12:00 pm
A comprehensive marketing strategy leverages Social Media to make information more accessible by combining together technology, content, and social interaction across many platforms including websites, blogs, video sharing, review sites, email marketing, and event promotion. This session provides an overview of the 9 key areas of social media as defined by David Mitroff with examples from his work.
