Participating in the 2020 Census helps our community! The Census helps determine how billions in federal funding is distributed to our community over the next 10 years.
There are three easy ways to complete the Census survey:
By phone at 1-844-330-2020
Online at www.my2020census.gov
By mail – you can send in the paper form that you should have received in the mail if you still have not completed the Census.
An introduction to Righetti High School agriculture came with a free plant this week.
More than 200 freshman picked up a variety of succulents, rose plants, small house plants and lavender. Ag teachers and FFA officers handed out the plants.
The Greenhand Plant Distribution is the first step for the Ag students Supervised Ag Experience project (SAE). The students are tasked with doing research on their plant in order to successfully care for it. All Ag students are required to have an SAE project as part of the Ag education curriculum.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is listed among the top 20 “Best Bang for Your Buck” Colleges in the West in Washington Monthly’s annual college guide.
CSUCI was ranked the 19th “Best Bang for Your Buck” college in 2020, up from last year’s ranking of No. 22. CSUCI has been rising steadily for years, up from its No. 26 ranking in 2018 and 2017.
From children performing from the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center and email messages from El Concilio Family Resources, both in Oxnard, to a commentary by the co-founder of the Acuna Art Gallery and Community Collective, the Latino community is coming out to support the twin goals of completing U.S. Census forms by Sept. 30, 2020 and doing everything possible to make sure your vote counts in during the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 general election.
“… So we must all vote, and get every one that is of voting age to vote. We must be guardians of the poll booths to assure that no intimidation of our people is taking place. Must by any means necessary be present at the poll booths to assure that any one that has the right to vote, can exercise that privilege! If you vote by mail it is, of course, imperative that you mail your completed ballot as quickly as possible so that every vote can be counted,” wrote Armando Vazquez, of the former Café on A Street / Acuna Art Gallery, in a column this week on Amigos805.
Oxnard College has received a $3 million federal Title V grant to provide support for equitable student outcomes among Latinx and low-income students as they pursue their career and transfer goals. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) throughout the country applied for this competitive grant, which will begin Oct. 1 and be distributed over a five-year period. The grant is directed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program (DHSI).
“It is both a privilege and a tremendous opportunity for Oxnard College to receive and invest these funds in our students,” said Oscar Cobian, the college’s vice president of student development. “For decades, Oxnard College has proudly served the hardworking Latinx families of Ventura County. Step into any of our classrooms and you will find that our students facing the greatest adversity often show the most dedication and demonstrate tremendous potential. With this grant, we will tap into that potential and help our students build better lives through the transformative power of higher education.”
The Museum of Ventura County is pleased to present the first installment in its series of conversations with Changemakers: Dolores Huerta, Founder & President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, civil rights activist and community organizer, will join longtime activist and civic leader Jorge Corralejo, documentary film producer and farmworker activist David Damian Figueroa, and Chief Curator Anna Bermudez for a Zoom Conversation onMonday, September 21, 2020 @ 6:30—7:30PM.
Admission to Changemaker Series: A Zoom Conversation with Dolores Huerta, Jorge Corralejo, David Damian Figueroa, and Anna Bermudez is free with registration.
RSVPs must be received before Monday, September 21, 2020 8AM.
As promised last week, here are some highlights of the biographies for the racial-minority professors of mathematics at our local university, California State University, Channel Islands, right here in Camarillo. These biographies are available online at the university website. Their role in the community is outsized because of the example they set for the second largest population sector in Ventura County, which is Hispanic/Latino.
DRIVE-UP FLU VACCINE EVENT
Ventura County Public Health Immunization Program and the Emergency Medical Services Agency are offering Influenza Vaccine at no charge.
WHERE: Oxnard College – North Parking lot
4000 S. Rose Ave, Oxnard CA 93033
WHEN: Wednesday, September 30, 2020
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Report no. 9 of UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture (CESLAC).
Farm workers provide a good example of how age, citizenship, essential jobs, and COVID-19 intersect to deadly effect. We provide a demographic profile to give context showing that the largest number of Latino non-citizens in California are concentrated in the age groups 35-49 and 50-64. They are more likely to be employed as essential workers, and therefore are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19.
This week, three AmeriCorps VIP Fellows will be sworn in to serve United Way and our partner sites. Partner sites for the upcoming year include the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging and Westminster Free Clinic, a brand new site. These VIP Fellows are part of a cohort serving sites across 17 California counties. United Way of Ventura County has served as the Supervising Organization for the AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) in our county since 2016.
Moorpark College is pleased to announce that it has received a five-year, $2.9 million Department of Education Title V grant for Project STEM Impacto. This grant, which creates and fosters student cohorts in biology, biotechnology and computer network systems engineering, will benefit Moorpark College students through September 2025.
The grant begins in October and will enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Career Education (CE) programs. Moorpark College is on the cutting edge of CE for new students directly out of high school or professionals looking for advanced skills in a new industry. The CE programs offer a sequence of courses directly related to employment in high-demand, current and/or emerging occupations. Many of the programs in the CE arena at Moorpark College offer certificates that can be completed in as few as 12 months.
State of the County at 1 p.m. Sept. 17. Register at http://stateofthecounty.ventura.org/
At (the Sept. 15) Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. Santa Barbara County remains in the purple tier according to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics. However, according to the graph below, we are getting closer to meeting the metrics of the red tier after recovering from the spike we endured in July.
As fall approaches families start to plan for the upcoming holiday season beginning with Halloween. Since some of the traditional ways in which this holiday is celebrated does not allow you to minimize contact with non-household members, it is important to plan early and identify safer alternatives. The Ventura County Department of Public Health would like to share information on how to take part in this holiday in a manner that reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19. Since some of the traditional ways in which this holiday is celebrated are not permitted this year, consider some safer alternatives that are listed below.
The Census helps determine how billions in federal funding is distributed to our community over the next 10 years.
There are three easy ways to complete the Census survey:
By phone at 1-844-330-2020
Online at www.my2020census.gov
By mail – you can send in the paper form that you should have received in the mail if you still have not completed the Census.
September is National Literacy Month and we’ve got books on the brain here at the Santa Paula Art Museum. You’re definitely going to want to book it to our next Art To-Go Bag giveaway featuring lots of fun art and bookmaking activities for the kids (see below). And be sure to read on for information about our upcoming, outdoor art classes. Speaking of reading, a few years ago we came across an article in the old Santa Paula Chronicle about the making of a very special painting, and we’d love to tell you the whole story.
Just imagine having a child with cancer during this COVID-19 crisis–a pandemic that is leading to job loss or insecurity, financial hardship, mounting health concerns, and an overworked and exhausted health care community.
Today, you can have a direct and meaningful impact on local families who have a child with cancer and need your help..
Meet Axel! We are honored to share his uplifting story, as told with the help of his mom, as a way of spreading some positive light during these frequently dark periods of COVID-19.
As part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America ALL STARS annual grant program, sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) has received 200 sport balls to help local Club kids participate in a healthy activity at home.
Both the WHO and CDC recommends a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity everyday for youth. With kids being at home and parks and playgrounds being closed, being active for 60 minutes becomes that much harder for some youth, especially those who are disadvantaged.
For the month of September, Avalan is going gold for Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF). TBCF is a non-profit organization serving families who have a child with cancer in the Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Their mission is to provide financial, emotional, and educational support to families battling pediatric cancer.
Each September, in recognition of National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation hosts their Gold Ribbon Campaign, and Avalan Wealth is a proud sponsor.
U.S. News & World Report ranks UC Santa Barbara No. 6 among the country’s top public universities.
Wednesday, September 23rd @ 9:00 am
This live interactive webinar is focused on answering your questions as they relate to the financial picture of your business. EDC SBDC advisor Juliana Ramirez can assist you in working with QuickBooks® or your other financial resources to understand, monitor, and improve the financial health of your company. This small group discussion provides personalized attention to develop “hands-on” bookkeeping scenarios.
Six CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Mathematics alumni are doing exceptional work with so-called “big data” out at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) in Port Hueneme.
So much so, that Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) Acquisition Support Manager Robert Howard would welcome any other CSUCI students interested in a career with the U.S. Navy.
“I love working with CSUCI,” Howard said. “Most of the students have roots here and are looking for a long-term career with the Navy. I love the fact that most of them are local.”
The Third California State-wide People’s Summit on Civil “Gang” Injunctions will be a virtual event, streaming live on the both, our Zoom link and Face Book from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020.
The People’s Summit will be a focused first-hand account and reflections on the historic 16 year fight and ultimate victory of CORE and the people in Oxnard in defeating the Civil “Gang” Injunctions. The unconstutional Oxnard Civil “Gang” Injunction is Dead!
If you or someone you care about is in crisis there is help. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-8255. September is suicide prevention awareness month. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
Learn more about resources by clicking here.
The Connected Commerce Council (3C) this week released a report detailing the existence and importance of the small business “Digital Safety Net” to businesses in all 50 states. The report confirms that small businesses using more digital tools, technologies, and online marketplaces are doing better during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who embrace digital tools early and integrate them more are doing even better. 3C defines the Digital Safety Net as the free and low-cost small business services that include communications and workflow tools, digital marketing and advertising, websites and social media, back-office tools, and e-commerce and online payment tools.
When he was a child growing up in New York, actor/comedian Nicholas Santa Maria loved to listen to his parents laugh about the antics of Charlie Chaplin or the Marx Brothers.
“I realized they seem to enjoy themselves most of all when their friends and contemporaries would come over and they would talk about old movies,” Santa Maria said. “I always felt more comfortable in that old movie world.”
A history graduate student’s research and skill set lead to the discovery of Black nurse Biddy Mason in Depression-era murals in San Francisco.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) announced the launch of this year’s Solarize Ventura County – a community-led, group purchasing program for solar and battery systems open to residents of Ventura County through December 9. CEC’s 2020 program is offered in partnership with Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance, the County of Ventura, and the cities of Ventura, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo.
To take part in the program, homeowners can visit SolarizeVentura.org to submit an application. On the website, those looking for more information can also register for CEC’s free webinars:
Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees fully supports and is committed to serving its approximately 31,000 students by making the District the accessibility leader for the State of California and the California Community Colleges System.
Recognizing that succeeding in college is an important step in mobility, independence and career success for students with disabilities, the Board approved a resolution on Access and Accessibility at its August meeting. The resolution coincides with the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
September is National Preparedness Month and is a good time for your family and community to make sure they have a disaster plan now and throughout the year. As our community continues to respond to COVID-19 and we head into peak wildfire season, there is no better time to get prepared than now.
Make a plan today! Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
For more tips and to view a printable version of the Ready Ventura County Emergency Preparedness Guide, click on the link below.
On August 31, Governor Newsom signed the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020 (the “Act”), urgency legislation that immediately went into effect on September 1. The Act provides temporary relief for financially distressed residential tenants, homeowners and small landlords to avoid widespread evictions and foreclosures due to COVID-19 financial hardships.
Although the Act provides some relief for residential landlords and tenants, including mobile home tenants and assessor dwelling unit rentals, the Act does not include protections for commercial landlords and tenants, who must continue to rely on existing state law, local eviction moratoriums and legal advice for guidance.
Although we have not reduced our cases enough to move from the purple tier to red tier according to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, we are making significant progress. On August 31st, the county’s 7-day case rate was 9.0 per 100,000 population. Yesterday, the Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health released our first official report card number as 8.3 cases per 100,000 population. We need to lower our 7-day average positive case number to 7 per 100,000 population to move to the red tier. If we remain vigilant and maintain this positive momentum, we will likely be able to move to the red tier by the end of September. See more about which sectors can operate in each tier.
California Clean Air Day is October 7
TAKE THE PLEDGE! Join us in challenging yourself to create clean air in your community! The Clean Air Pledge allows individuals and organizations to commit to do our part to clear the air, through actions big and small.
Take the Clean Air Day Pledge!
National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. As our community continues to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved this September.
Make a plan today! Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect our area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
Visit readyventuracounty.org
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) announced Sept. 8 that a student has a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19). The individual was on the campus Sept. 3, 2020, is not a residential student, and is now in self-isolation at their off-campus residence. Any campus buildings visited by the individual have been closed until thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
As part of this year’s activities for its all-virtual Ventura County Farm Day, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is hosting a drive-in movie night on Sunday, November 1 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds featuring the award-winning, family-friendly documentary “Biggest Little Farm.” The evening includes a question and answer session with John Chester, farmer, cinematographer and co-founder of Moorpark’s Apricot Lane Farms where the documentary was filmed. SEEAG is seeking event sponsors.
Branches of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA are accepting sign-ups for their Youth & Government programs. The programs are an opportunity for high school students to learn about the legislative process and what it takes to participate in such roles as elected officials, judges, lawyers, advocates, legislators, county supervisors and city council persons.
The Economic Development Collaborative is proud to offer the following webinars at no-cost.
Space is limited. Register today!
SEPTEMBER EDC WEBINAR SCHEDULE
he Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 1 approved the program design of the Farmworker Household Assistance Program, providing up to $250,000 in county general funds to match private donations made through the Ventura County Community Foundation.
The program aims to provide farmworkers financial relief from the impacts of COVID-19. Farmworkers may apply for this funding assistance from September 1 at 5 p.m. through September 30, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. at www.vchsa.org/FHAP.
Libro de estrategias del COVID-19 para el Día de Trabajo: No hay reuniones. Use mascarillas. Manténgase a 6 pies de distancia de los demás. El fin de semana festivo es un momento crucial para controlar el coronavirus.
Por lo general, que marca el último fin de semana del verano, el Dia del Trabajo es tradicionalmente un momento para barbacoas y reuniones come el ultimo “hurra” del verano. Los líderes del Departamento de Salud Pública están ofreciendo una combinación de aliento y advertencia.
1,651 deaths were reported to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office during calendar year 2019. Jurisdiction was accepted for 826 of these deaths, requiring further investigation and certification. Postmortem examinations were performed on 585 cases. Of the cases investigated, 149 deaths were due to medications, alcohol and or illicit drugs.
Biologists discover a gene critical to the development of columbines’ iconic spurs, which promises new insight into key innovations in evolution.
Due to COVID-19 public gathering restrictions, the 2020 Senior Expo is canceling its traditional active aging fair for seniors and caregivers this fall. Instead, the Expo is collaborating with Santa Barbara County Public Health Department to provide free flu vaccines to low-income seniors at specific residential facilities and mobile home parks in South Santa Barbara County during the month of October. The flu vaccines will be provided by Sansum Clinic and administered by Santa Barbara County Public Health and Medical Reserve Corps nurses. Locations, dates, and times will be posted at SeniorExpoSB.com.
When the U.S. Department of Education first awarded CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) a five-year $6 million grant to launch Project PROMESAS (Pathways with Regional Outreach and Mathematics Excellence for Student Achievement in STEM) in the 2016/17 academic year, no one could foresee what would happen in 2020/21— the last year of the grant.
For 24 years, United Way of Santa Barbara County (USWBC)’s Red Feather Ball event has raised funds for United Way initiatives and programs.In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way has transitioned its Red Feather Ball event to a virtual and unique United | Together Red Feather Campaign to raise funds for thousands of students in Santa Barbara County.
There are 33 new cases today (19 (57.6%) of which have a lab collection from August 25th or earlier), 643 additional people tested, and 0 additional deaths. Current doubling time is 89.6 days
The State has changed the monitoring metrics to a tiered system. Learn more by clicking here. Additional information from the California Department of Public Health can be found by clicking here.
Your hard work is paying off! Thank you Ventura County. Please continue to wear a mask (your masks protects you and others), social distance and please only gather with members of your household. Let’s work together to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every voter will receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the November 3 Presidential General Election. Your ballot will be mailed to you on October 5 to promote safe voting at home. You do not need to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot.
Voters will not be assigned to a specific polling location. There will be 47 in-Person Voting Locations available throughout Ventura County open Saturday, October 31 through Election Day, November 3, for in person Voting Services and 33 secure ballot drop boxes open beginning October 6.
Arts & Lectures’ new season aims to educate, entertain and inspire with virtual events, digital exclusives and live performances.
African American actors Phylicia Rashad, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Roy Wood Jr., are among 34 renowned Black actors from stage and screen who will join in an online weekly reading marathon of W.E.B. Du Bois’ “Black Reconstruction In America” beginning on Friday, Aug. 28. “The ReadIn Series” is produced by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Performing Arts/Dance Lecturer MiRi Park with assistance from Associate Professor of Performing Arts/Dance Heather Castillo.
“African American history is American history and I think a lot of people don’t realize that,” Park said. “A lot of it has been written out of our textbooks and relegated to something that is ‘other.’”
The Economic Development Collaborative is proud to offer the following webinars at no-cost.
Space is limited. Register today!
Following Trump Administration Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s roll back of Title IX protections for student survivors of sexual assault on college campuses, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara), SB 493 to ensure California schools provide a transparent and fair process for all students involved in a sexual assault allegation, passed the State Assembly today. The bill will go back to the Senate for a final concurrence vote before heading to the Governor’s desk.
A worldwide virtual dance project is among the imaginative concepts that Associate Professor of Performing Arts/Dance Heather Castillo and Performing Arts/Dance Lecturer MiRi Park designed after CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) switched to online learning.
The project, called CORontine Corps, along with an online dance instruction guide they created earned Castillo and Park a 2020 Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award (FILA) honoring CSU faculty and/or staff members who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership that advances student success.
The State of California announced a new blueprint for reducing COVID-19 in the state with revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions and activities.
Learn more at: Blueprint for a Safer Economy Click Here
Learn more about County Monitoring Click Here
Salons, Barbershops and Malls are able to reopen for indoor services beginning Monday, August 31. These sectors must follow the state issued industry guidance.
This decennial Census has significant impact on our business community. The Census not only determines local funding for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, but it also allocates money for direct business resources. As a business owner, you can consult the Census data to understand where cities are expanding and strategize investing in your current business or opening a new location. We encourage you to check in with your employees, friends, and community to ensure everyone is counted.
The EDC believes in the importance of completing the 2020 Census to improve the economic vitality of the businesses we serve and the region we support.
Do your part today. Stand up and be counted!
For more information, please visit Ventura County Counts.
Report No.8 of UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture (CESLAC) addresses the increase in death rates of working-age Latino adults. These COVID-19?associated deaths are burning their way through the entire Latino working-age population. Over the three months from May 11 to August 11, 2020, there was a nearly five-fold increase in death rates in all three age groups: young adult, early middle age, and late middle age.
“In the early days of the pandemic, we worried about the skyrocketing death rate for the elderly,” explained David E. Hayes-Bautista, lead author of the report and Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Now the virus is falling on the working-age population, and the young Latino population is disproportionately represented in this demographic.”
The Chicano Moratorium March of August 29, 1970, in East Los Angeles, that was organized by Chicano anti-war activists, students from throughout the greater Southwest, the Brown Beret and various Chicano civil rights groups and organizations, drew over 30,000 peaceful marchers protesting their opposition to the Vietnam War, police brutality, and incessant universal discrimination and inequality for minorities, culminating that day in a murderous state-sanctioned law enforcement (the Los Angeles Sheriffs for the most part, with some LAPD reinforcements) riot.
For many of us actively involved in the Chicano Movimiento the Moratorium was/is a bloody and murderous reminder that the deadly and oppressive force of the state would come down hard and furious on any minority, individual or group, that in any way challenged their societal dominance and superiority.
¡Vota de forma segura desde casa este noviembre!
Debido a la pandemia del COVID-19, por ley, cada votante recibirá una papeleta de votación por correo para las Elecciones Generales del 3 de noviembre. Su papeleta de votación será enviada por correo el 5 de octubre para promover el voto seguro desde casa. Usted no necesita solicitar una papeleta de votación para Votar Por Correo.
Los votantes no serán asignados a ningún centro de votación. Habrá 47 centros de votación disponibles en todo el Condado de Ventura que abrirán el sábado 31 de octubre hasta el Día de Las Elecciones, el martes, 3 de noviembre. Las 33 cajas de entrega estarán disponibles el 6 de octubre hasta el Día de las Elecciones.
The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) on Aug. 24 marked the completion of the new the Mary E. Samples Education Services Center building in Camarillo. The 29,944-square-foot, two-story building at 5250 Adolfo Road was finished just over two years after construction began. The building is the new, permanent home of VCOE’s Triton Academy, which serves students with autism in 3rdthrough 12th grades. It also houses the administrative offices of VCOE’s Special Education Department and has space reserved for what could become a high-tech makerspace lab for middle school students throughout the County.
During the 1st Semester of Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s Distance Learning, August 17, 2020 – December 18, 2020, the Food Service Department will provide walk-up and drive thru pick-up breakfast and lunch meal service at the student’s nearest comprehensive high school – Santa Maria, Pioneer Valley, and Ernest Righetti as well as at various locations throughout the community.
Please note that your student’s meal eligibility from the 2019-2020 school year will carryover into the 2020- 2021 school year through September 28, 2020. Please make sure you submit a new application either online at https://family.titank12.com/ or a paper application – available from food service staff, school community liaison’s office, school administration office and at the main District Office. If a new application is not received, effective September 29, 2020, students will need to pay for meals until a new application is processed and approved.
Researchers partner with national labs in DOE-funded collaborations to expand research in quantum sciences.
