Category: En español

Bilingual report — Students in Allan Hancock College’s noncredit programs recognized

SANTA MARIA — Students from Allan Hancock College’s noncredit programs were recognized for their accomplishments at a special ceremony on May 17 at the college’s Santa Mara campus. 

More than 120 students from a variety of noncredit programs celebrated a diverse range of achievements, including completing English as a Second Language classes, earning their GED or passing their tests for United States Citizenship. Others celebrated earning certificates in computer skills, job training, and classes designed to help them prepare for careers in childcare, tax preparation, and commercial truck driving.   

The event’s keynote speaker was Mayte Solis, a chemistry instructor at Santa Maria High School, Hancock alumna and the former coordinator for the college’s AIM to Dream Center.   

Bilingual report — Ventura PD urges California Strawberry Festival attendees to utilize alternative forms of travel

“Ventura PD is fully committed to community safety, particularly during large-capacity events,” shared Traffic Unit Supervisor, Sergeant Mark Knackstedt. “Our focus in encouraging ride-sharing options is to ensure smooth traffic flow and minimize the potential for traffic congestion and collisions. We must work together to create a safer environment for pedestrians and drivers, recognizing that while the City does not directly organize this event, it impacts our community.”

Bilingual report — Ventura Police Department recognizes exemplary service during National Police Week

VENTURA — During National Police Week, happening May 12-18, the Ventura Police Department proudly acknowledges the valor of its 135 dedicated officers, who pledge their lives to safeguard Ventura. Amidst the commendations, Ventura PD honors Detective Stephanie Avila as Officer of the Year.

“I am incredibly proud of our officers and deeply grateful for their families’ steadfast support throughout the challenges they face,” said Police Chief Darin Schindler. “Leading a team of compassionate professionals who serve with integrity is an absolute privilege.”

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Happy World Trade Month!

The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize World Trade Month. Observed annually in May, World Trade Month celebrates how international trade unlocks new business opportunities, creates jobs and helps strengthen the United States and global economy.

The EDC is proud to support our community by providing professional technical assistance through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:

Cadets graduate from Allan Hancock College’s Fire and EMS Academies

The graduates were honored during two ceremonies at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc.  

“These cadets represent the next generation of first responders,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “They are highly trained and prepared to serve their communities.”  

Bilingual report — Share the Road and Look Out for One Another During Bicycle Safety Month

VENTURA — May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and The City of Ventura is encouraging everyone to get active and safely take bike rides while at the same time reminding drivers to be on the lookout for more people biking and walking.

“Everyone deserves to reach their destination safely,” Public Works Director, Charlie Ebeling said. “Unfortunately, there has been an increase in bicycle fatalities and injuries over the last few years. Bicyclists do not have the same protections as people in a vehicle so if you see a bicyclist — slow down.”

Bilingual report — Ventura County Probation Agency recognizes National Correctional Officers Week

VENTURA — For 40 years, the first full week of May has been recognized as National Correctional Officers Week. This week provides a platform to recognize the sacrifices and dedication of these unsung heroes. As a 24/7, 365 days a year operation, Corrections Services Officers for the Ventura County Probation Agency serve a vital role in public safety.

“Corrections Services Officers serve a vital role in public safety, one that often goes unnoticed,” shared Chief Probation Officer Gina Johnson.  “Their responsibility of caring for youth and young adults at our Juvenile Facilities is monumental.  They have an unwavering dedication to their jobs, to the youth and young adults, and to each other.  It is befitting that they have a week dedicated in their honor!”

El Consulado de México en Oxnard y el Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos colaboran para localizar a trabajadores mexicanos con visa H2A con beneficios pendientes por recibir

OXNARD – – Como parte de los esfuerzos conjuntos entre el Gobierno de México y el Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos, para localizar a personas mexicanas trabajadoras que laboraran en territorio estadounidense a las cuales se les adeuda algún salario, el Consulado de México en Oxnard informa lo siguiente.

Si has trabajado o estás trabajando con una visa H2A en Estados Unidos, te invitamos a visitar el Consulado de México en Oxnard, California.

Bilingual report — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! Presents Final Three Free Performances of the Season with Jarabe Mexicano — May 17, 18, 19

SANTA BARBARA — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) returns with its final installment of the 2023-2024 season. Enjoy three free eclectic and upbeat performances by bordeño-soul music group, Jarabe Mexicano. 

Jarabe Mexicano captures the nostalgic spirit of their border roots with their brand of “Bordeño-Soul,” which honors the musical tastes and cultural influences of its members. Jarabe, which translates to ‘concoction,’ highlights the eclectic mix of genres they perform ranging from Mexican Folk, Rock & Roll, and Norteño/Tex-Mex to Latin Rock, Trio Romántico, and popular Cumbia. Their traditional Mariachi string instruments and Norteño-inspired drums complement dramatic vocals in English, Spanish, and Spanglish, and show how this multi-generational ensemble embraces change while still honoring the past.

Bilingual commentary — Should Prospective Writers Be Discouraged by AI?

We cannot deny that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a threat to the livelihoods of writers. How concerned should writers, or prospective writers, be?

The frustratingly simple answer is, “It depends.”

Writers who devote themselves to creating content for publications are particularly vulnerable because AI is remarkably adept at content creation. It scans the universe of language and generates literary content in a flash that is nearly as spirited as that of the human mind.

There are already books sold on Amazon that are generated by AI. Any books that we might write and place on the Amazon marketplace will be competing with a superabundance of books that may or may not have been written by humans. 

Bilingual report — Ventura River Trail Improvements Project breaks ground

VENTURA — Construction has begun on the Ventura River Trail Improvements Project (VRTIP), a rails-to-trails amenity originally constructed in the late 1990s. The project, funded by a Caltrans Clean California grant of nearly $5 million, will revitalize approximately 1.8 miles of this highly used corridor.

The City of Ventura, joined by local elected officials, staff, and community groups, gathered on Thursday, May 2, 2024, for an official groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of this long-awaited project.

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College seeks students for California College Corps program

Students who are accepted into the program as?College?Corps?“fellows” will?work with K-12 schools, food banks or climate action organizations to build healthier and more equitable communities across California. In exchange, they can receive up to $10,000, including a living stipend throughout the service term and an Education Award upon completion of 450 service hours. The program also provides students with valuable job experience and skills, as well as access to training, networking, and professional development opportunities. 

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Economic 411 Labor Market Report

The California Labor Market Information Division released its March 2024 report, displaying a strong improvement in the Ventura County unemployment rate, from an adjusted 5.1% in February down to 4.6% in March. Job creation was more moderate in improvement, with a net increase by 2,900 payroll jobs, driven primarily by an increase in Farm jobs, up 1,800 in March.

Looking year-over-year, Ventura County added 7,200 jobs across all industries, 5,000 in the private sector, 1,200 in the public sector. 

Bilingual commentary — A Glimpse into Autism

Decades ago, I had a student in my college classroom who was mathematically brilliant. His behavior, however, was sometimes a bit “unconventional,” and he seemed to have no desire (or ability) to interact with any of his classmates.

Recently, I decided to try to fathom this segment of our population, about which I knew little. I embarked on an exploratory journey that took me to a new, fictitious series, Astrid, on PBS Passport. This French-language program (with English subtitles) teaches viewers about the strengths and challenges of people who struggle with autism. 

Astrid opens our minds to the varied tapestry of human experience. It invites us to explore with empathy and understanding the diverse ways in which individuals perceive and interact with the world around them.

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

I invite you to revisit the history and the content of The Fair Housing Act here and reflect on what has been and can be achieved. Though we are tired of seeing the conditions still experienced around our communities that have not yet been righted, I trust you will stay encouraged, not growing weary of doing more and better. 

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

SBA: HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH NASA

April 24 @ 10:00 am

Discover the roadmap to federal contracting success. Join SBA for an in-depth discussion on FY24 goals and building rapport with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Bilingual commentary — Using Science to Scare, Intimidate, and Control Americans

The methods used to frighten and manipulate the ancient Mexicans are still being used today, for the same purposes, in modern America.

In the seventh and eighth centuries, the Mayan priests used their profound knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and politics to control and subjugate the masses within their jurisdiction. American politicians who understand politics and social media, but who have no apparent understanding of mathematics or astronomy, are attempting to do the very same thing.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

IN-PERSON EVENT: SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: STARTUP BASICS: FUNDAMENTALS OF STARTING A NEW BUSINESS

April 17 @ 8:30 am

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business but don’t know where to start? Do you have the passion and work ethic but need education and guidance? Being a small business owner is exciting but understanding the lifestyle will clarify if it is right for you. Join SCORE Ventura County in this informative workshop and learn what it takes to be a successful business owner. Address: Thousand Oaks City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Bilingual commentary — The Blessings and Ravages of Time

The 18th-century French writer Nicolas Chamfort had an arguably perceptive view of the effects of time on our human lives. He wrote, “In order not to find life unbearable, you must accept two things: the ravages of time and the injustice of man.”

We who are older are only too aware of the first “thing” that we are expected to accept: the ravages of time. We’ll save the controversial “acceptance of the injustice of man” part of the statement for another article. 

County of Santa Barbara April Newsletter

View this email online Hope Village Ribbon Cutting in Santa Maria The County of Santa Barbara hosted the grand opening of Hope Village, an interim, supportive housing community in Santa Maria, CA. This project provides safe housing for unhoused individuals,…

Bilingual commentary — Why We Need to Take Our Medications

The reason many Americans are not benefitting from our health system is because they do not take seriously the advice given to them by their doctors.

To understand this unfortunate situation, let’s consider for a moment the scenario in which a couple of mischievous teenagers are left “home alone” while their parents go out for a weekend vacation. The teenagers decide, naturally, to throw a party. After all, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” The teens are the proverbial “mice” while the parents are the storied “cats.”

Bilingual report — Our Collective Impact: 2024 Community Report Presented by CenCal Health

“Together with our partners, CenCal Health is now one year into carrying out the transformative priorities of our Strategic Plan,” said Marina Owen, CenCal Health CEO. “As a tribute to the efforts of so many, we have dedicated this Community Report to highlighting the collaborative accomplishments essential to improving the well-being of our members. I am confident we will reach new heights through local innovation and build healthier communities.”

Bilingual report — Rep. Julia Brownley presents $963,000 to the County of Ventura for Regional Public Safety Radio Project

“The importance of ensuring our law enforcement and public safety entities in Ventura County have access to high-quality, reliable communications equipment cannot be overstated,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “Not only will this state-of-the-art communication system facilitate better communication and coordination between agencies, but all of our cities and residents will benefit from streamlined services that will lower costs and redundancies. …

Bilingual report — Santa Paula Beautiful Day Returns, Calling for Volunteers to Beautify the City

The upcoming Santa Paula Beautiful Day presents a chance for residents of all ages to make a meaningful impact. From 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in various beautification projects throughout Santa Paula. Whether it’s cleaning up popular bike trails, sprucing up neighborhood parks, touching up city landmarks, or helping maintain downtown Santa Paula, every volunteer effort counts towards creating a cleaner, more vibrant community for all.

Bilingual report — Official Final Results and Certification Announced for Ventura County March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election

VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced today the official election results certification for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election. A total of 196,415 ballots were cast in this Statewide Direct Primary election: 89.84% of voters cast vote-by-mail ballots and 10.16% voted in person, resulting in a 38.51% voter turnout in Ventura County.

Bilingual commentary — How to Study for College-Level Math

You may be a college math student, or you may know someone who is currently pursuing a math class at the college level. For those who are prepared, college math is simply a continuation of the material and methods that one has learned prior to entering college. 

Some college students are only faintly interested in math, if they are interested at all. But these students fail to understand the enormous importance of math in their lives. They reject math at their own peril. 

Bilingual report — County of Ventura employees recognized for decades of public service

VENTURA — On Tuesday, March 26, during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting, the County of Ventura honored 27 employees for decades of continuous service across county agencies. The quarterly awards are part of the County of Ventura’s Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program which honors staff who have reached career milestones with 25 years or more of service to the residents of Ventura County.

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College students help with new Santa Barbara County Food & Wine app

“This new app will help improve the community’s knowledge and understanding of farming, food, and wine in our region, and connect them with the people who grow and produce these crops and wines,” said Hancock viticulture and enology instructor Alfredo Koch. “This will also help the county’s growers and winemakers by increasing awareness of their businesses and products.”  

Bilingual commentary — The Transformative Power of Seasonal Living

Are you intrigued by the concept of “seasonal living”? It captured my interest when I read about it on The Smallest Light, a website dedicated to marketing services. One of the articles on this site, written by Laura McMahon, describes ways to celebrate the arrival of spring in our homes. 

This article reminds us of the psychic power of a celestial turning point: the occurrence of the vernal equinox. On this day, just as on the autumnal equinox in the fall, day and night are of equal length. This astronomical, seasonal, and spiritual event occurs at the tipping point as winter morphs into spring, the season that contains the promise of renewed life. 

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

Lea en español | Received this from a friend? Subscribe! eNewsletter | March 2024 Last month we celebrated the groundbreaking of Cleaver & Clark Commons – new affordable housing coming to the City of Grover Beach! This development will bring 53 new,…

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors to hold public hearing pertaining to the Planning Director’s request to revoke the conditional use permit to operate the Santa Clara Wastewater Treatment Facility

VENTURA — A public hearing, as provided by law, will be held by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., at 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura CA 93009, County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, to consider and decide the Planning Director’s request for revocation of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 960, as modified by LU06-0011, that authorizes a wastewater treatment facility, commonly known as Santa Clara Wastewater (SCWW) Treatment Facility or also as “RI-NU,” Case No. PL23-0121. The Board will consider the related California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination for the project at this hearing.

Santa Paula Police Department Awarded Grant from the Office of Traffic Safety for Traffic Enforcement Program to Increase Safety on Roads

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Police Department was awarded a $65,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The grant will support our ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads.

“This funding will strengthen our commitment to public safety in our community,” Police Chief Don Aguilar said. “We will be able to increase our efforts in making our roads safer for everyone and focus on critical areas such as distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding.”

Bilingual report — Fresh Attacks on Migrants…and Citizens

Much of the population of this country is of migrant stock. Some are newly arrived, while others are the progeny of immigrants (such as I am). 

The newly arrived naturally favor speaking their native tongues until they gain proficiency and confidence in the English language. Their children and grandchildren who grow up here may turn out to be fully bilingual. On the other hand, they may, to one extent or another, lose the language of their parents and grandparents as they become fully assimilated into the American fabric.

Bilingual report — Pre-Applications Available Monday for People’s Place in Santa Paula | Pre-Solicitudes disponibles lunes para People’s Place en Santa Paula

People’s Place is a new construction development of 68 one-, two- and three-bedroom units, which will serve families and farmworker households earning 30-60% of the area median income. On-site amenities include a community building and kitchen for resident events, a multipurpose room, outdoor courtyards, BBQs, and playgrounds. All residents will have access to free, confidential supportive services.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Labor Market Report for January 2024

The California Labor Market Information Division released its January 2024 report on Friday, delayed as usual at the start of the year for the state’s annual recalibration or revision of the data. The purpose of the annual revision is to better assure alignment of the monthly data with on-going changes in the economy and labor markets. The result can be a bit of discontinuity to what we’ve been seeing in the prior months, particularly in the industry employment data (more on that below). 

Bilingual report — Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Teams Up with America’s Job Centers of California for Ventura County WORKS Program

“We are excited to bring the Ventura County WORKS program to our community’s America’s Job Center of California. The America’s Job Center of California network brings workforce partners that leverage funding and resources across the region to job seekers and local businesses,” said Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County. “By providing comprehensive resources and support, we aim to empower individuals to achieve their career goals and contribute to the economic vitality of Ventura County.”

Bilingual commentary — Leap Year: A Tale of Science and Conspiracy Theories

Every four years, we get to experience a phenomenon known as “leap year.” This occurs when February has 29 days rather than its usual 28. The “leap” refers to the reoccurrence of days from one year to the next. Normally, a given date that occurs during a given year will occur one day later in the subsequent year. For example, January 1, 2023, occurred on a Sunday whereas January 1, 2024, occurred on a Monday of the following year.

Bilingual report — Gold Coast Health Plan to Invest $75 million in Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Provider Network to Connect Members with Care

CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is transforming the health care system in Ventura County with a groundbreaking $75 million investment in its provider network. Through the development of innovative incentive and grant programs, GCHP is on a mission to connect members with high quality primary, specialty, and behavioral care and empower providers with the vital resources they need for service expansion and to create efficiencies. This strategic investment includes a drive to recruit providers, expanding access to quality health care services. With the scale and ambition of these initiatives, GCHP is setting a new standard for quality care and blazing a trail in community investments.

“Gold Coast Health Plan is committed to supporting providers in innovative ways to achieve our mission of the best health and health care possible for our members,” said Nick Liguori, GCHP’s chief executive officer (CEO). “These programs reinforce GCHP’s ongoing commitment to driving meaningful quality improvements in Ventura County’s health care system and providing the necessary financial support for a much-needed infusion of equipment and technology that will provide needed care, along with additional providers to support our community.”

Bilingual report — Updates on Fire at Former Sunkist Packaging Plant in Oxnard

OXNARD — Nineteen fire engine companies and four ladder trucks responded to a major fire in Oxnard that began on Tuesday, March 5 at approximately 10:30 p.m. at the former Sunkist packaging plant located at 245 E. Colonia Rd. 

Due to the dangerous conditions within the building, firefighters maintained a defensive position around the plant to extinguish the flames, which did not spread beyond the property. As of 10 a.m. on March 6, fire department personnel remain onsite to put out the fire’s remaining embers. The building is considered a total loss.