VENTURA — The City of Ventura will resume hosting City Council meetings in Council Chambers beginning Tuesday, April 14, following the completion of accessibility upgrades.
Council Chambers had been temporarily closed to allow for improvements that enhance access and usability for all participants. Since August 2025, meetings have been held at the Wright Event Center at Ventura College.
Hoy honramos a los hombres y mujeres trabajadores que mantienen a nuestras comunidades alimentadas y prosperando. Tu dedicación, resiliencia y fortaleza no pasan desapercibidas.
Why Equity Matters in Our Schools
Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
Despite what you may have heard, equity in education is a straightforward, commonsense idea. It’s simply acknowledging that some students face more challenges than others. These can range from poverty and disabilities to language barriers or trauma at home.
Whatever their struggles, all students deserve the chance to succeed in school – and that’s what equity is all about. As you can see in this graphic, equity and equality are not the same thing.
County of Ventura appoints new Director of the Health Care Agency
Dr. John Fankhauser has been appointed Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency. Fankhauser has served as the Interim Director for the Health Care Agency since January 2026. Prior to his role as Interim Director for the Health Care Agency, Fankhauser served as Chief Executive Officer for the Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) and Santa Paula Hospital since 2019, a role he continued to hold while also serving as the Interim Director.
“Dr. Fankhauser has consistently shown a deep commitment to public service, paired with the depth of expertise needed to lead complex medical systems,” said Dr. Sevet Johnson, County Executive Officer. “His leadership in managing large-scale health care operations and his deep commitment to addressing community needs positions Dr. Fankhauser to make a meaningful and continued positive impact on our health care system. His record of strong health care leadership and experience make him exceptionally well-prepared to serve as the Director for the Health Care Agency.”
In partnership with the City of Camarillo, the Economic Development Collaborative has launched the City of Camarillo Business Assistance Loan Fund. This low-interest program is specifically designed to prioritize the vibrant business community in the City of Camarillo. Start-ups can get the necessary capital to launch their ventures and established businesses can secure funds to fuel their growth. With abundant opportunities for collaboration, a diverse customer base and an environment of innovation, Camarillo is a perfect place to start or grow your business.
Click here for the entire media release en español SANTA MARIA — An Allan Hancock College piano faculty member is taking her talents to one of the world’s most prestigious stages after winning an international music competition with a fellow…
We are thrilled to announce that Arte del Pueblo is returning to the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara for its third year and this summer, we are going bigger than ever.
Estamos emocionados de anunciar que Arte del Pueblo regresa al Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Santa Barbara para su tercer año ¡y este verano lo haremos más grande que nunca!
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, on Tuesday, March 24, received an update from County agencies on a series of measures to improve customer service, modernize policies, and streamline the County’s permitting process. The goal of the improvements is to make it easier for residents and businesses to complete building projects while reducing delays and confusion. The report to the Board reflects an ongoing commitment to improving how the County delivers services that directly affect daily life.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of a new program during its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24, with The Veteran Mentor Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides peer support and transition services for veterans and first responders. Ventura County Behavioral Health, in collaboration with The Veteran Mentor Project, will lead the program, with services scheduled to begin April 1, 2026, and continue through March 31, 2029. The partnership will support local veterans and first responders as they transition to civilian life through the Veterans Mentorship Program.
One of the great privileges of my work is the chance to speak with service members and military families. Each conversation reminds me just how often they are asked to uproot their lives: moving from base to base, state to state, sometimes across the world. Beyond the logistics of finding a new home, packing and unpacking boxes, the real disruptions run deeper. Every move means enrolling children in new schools, locating the nearest grocery store, finding a dentist who is taking new patients, discovering a new congregation, meeting new neighbors, finding where to get a haircut, identifying a reliable plumber, even deciding, once again, where to put the Christmas tree. Individually, these tasks may seem small, but repeatedly layered together, they can create isolation, instability, and lost opportunities. But these moves, at least, come with the support structures of the military.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Continuum of Care (VC CoC) has reported preliminary results for the 2026 Ventura County Homeless Point in Time Count. Conducted on January 28, 2026, the count identified 1,755 individuals experiencing homelessness – a decrease of 235 people or 11.8% from 2024. Since 2023, homelessness in Ventura County has decreased by 28%.
The results reflect positive outcomes based on investments in permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention programs, and encampment response efforts. The Ventura County Homelessness Plan (Plan) presented to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in December 2023 provides detailed action areas, goals, and objectives that support this continued progress in reducing homelessness.
Imagine a government that insists that we make America great again by driving updated, fancy versions of 1950s vehicles. By sabotaging the push to convert our transportation to electric-powered vehicles, the current administration in Washington, D.C., has, in effect, handed the keys of a prosperous kingdom to international competitors.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are not just a “green fad” dreamt up by radical liberals. While the U.S. demurs, the rest of the world realizes that the future of the planet, and of industry, rests on its ability to advance in the production of reasonably priced EVs for the masses.
VENTURA — Ventura County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson has been honored as the 2026 Woman of the Year by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. She was recognized by the 42nd District Assemblymember for being part of “Women Making History”.
OXNARD — On Sunday, May 3, 2026, OPAC (the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Nonprofit) in partnership with Raising Mami Alchemy, Inc., will host Rooted: A Wellness Summit, a first-of-its-kind immersive gathering designed to bridge indigenous culture, mental health, and somatic healing. The summit is co-led by Ana Maria Lugo, a wellness educator and holistic practitioner whose personal journey from 9/11 survivor to community healer has transformed wellness access for thousands in Ventura County.
VENTURA — The Parks & Recreation Summer Activity Guide is available online at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ActivityGuide. Registration begins Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. and will be available online, over the phone, or in person at City Hall, Room 226, 501 Poli Street. Registration information and policies are on page 7.
VENTURA — A partnership between the County of Ventura and Naval Base Ventura County has led to the successful relocation and installation of the Military Order of the Purple Heart monument to the Veterans Memorial at the Ventura County Government Center, creating a prominent public space to honor service members wounded or killed in combat.
The monument, originally located on the golf course at Naval Base Ventura County, recognizes Purple Heart recipients, however the location of the installation provided limited visibility to the broader community. To expand public access, the Military Order of the Purple Heart offered to donate the monument to the County so it could be relocated to a more accessible location.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Probation Agency and the Ventura County Library have launched an innovative partnership to bring tailored library services directly into the County’s Juvenile Facilities through the new Next Chapter Library. This pilot initiative marks a significant step toward expanding educational access and literacy opportunities for youth under custodial supervision.
SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula marked an important milestone on March 3 with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Santa Paula Creek Bridge, a project that will improve access, connectivity, and safety while establishing a connection over the Santa Paula Creek.
Mayor Carlos Juarez, Vice Mayor Jenny Crosswhite, Councilmember Pedro Chavez, City Manager Dan Singer, and Deputy City Manager Aminah Mears were in attendance to celebrate the start of construction, along with City of Santa Paula department directors, staff members, project partners, and community members.
Have you heard the buzz about Teatro De Las Americas’s spectacular production of Manifest Destinitis? (The political comedy satire) is an event you absolutely can’t miss! Secure your seat today by grabbing your tickets online. Join us for an unforgettable experience!
I used to enjoy most of my classes in college. But I also found myself sitting through some agonizingly dull 50-minute lectures on obscure topics. John von Neumann, a Hungarian and American mathematician of prodigious talent and insight, coined a name for that measure of time. He stated that the average college lecture lasted 52.6 minutes, which is a millionth of a century—that is, a “microcentury.”
No boring minutes and seconds for us (except for math and physics homework)! This comical chronometry allowed my nerdy engineering classmates and I to go around saying things such as, “I saw a movie that lasted four and a half microcenturies.” After all, we were used to doing time conversions in our head. But students in other majors who overheard us would just shake their heads and roll their eyes.
To complement the hundreds of FREE resources available through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, Verizon, in partnership with LISC, is awarding $5,000 grants to 25 small businesses based in California to help them sustain and grow their businesses. The grant will be awarded directly to selected business owners and does not need to be repaid.
Who Can Apply?
Help increase opportunities and remove obstacles for students by attending the 6th annual Equity Conference at the Ventura County Office of Education in Camarillo on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Educators, families, and community members are invited to register today for this free event, which will feature a variety of speakers and workshops in English and Spanish. Food, drinks, and language interpretation will be provided.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura and the Ventura County Continuum of Care have been awarded $5.6 million through Round 6 of California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program, a statewide effort to support regional strategies that prevent and end homelessness. The award was announced on March 2 by Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The County of Ventura was among 20 regions statewide included in this latest round of awards.
Community feedback will help inform the development of new arts and culture policies, updates to City grant programs, and a five-year plan to implement the goals of the Arts and Culture Element. Residents are encouraged to participate by attending a public meeting, joining a pop-up activity, or completing an online survey.
VENTURA COUNTY — Rain didn’t dampen the spirits in Camarillo this past Thursday as the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) officially cut the ribbon on its most ambitious project yet: Workforce on Wheels (WOW). This state-of-the-art mobile career training lab represents a pivotal shift in how our community tackles the healthcare labor shortage—by bringing the workforce services directly to the neighborhood.
VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the extension of the nomination period for the following County offices that are scheduled to be voted on in the June 2, 2026 Statewide Primary Election.
Seventy years ago, my father invited me to sit down with him to assemble a simple jigsaw puzzle of maybe about 50 pieces. It was the first of many. He eventually graduated me up to the 500- and then 1000-piece puzzles. The images on the boxes for these puzzles consisted of things like people, houses, skies, forests, farms, waterfalls, plants, and animals.
He was very logical when it came to puzzles. He taught me that the first thing we had to do when starting a puzzle was to spread out the pieces and ensure that they were all face-up. Once that was accomplished, our mission was to establish the frame—that is, fit all the pieces that make up the perimeter of the puzzle. This was serious business. We finished the frame together with the gravity of two men diffusing a bomb.
(The political comedy satire) is an event you absolutely can’t miss! Secure your seat today by grabbing your tickets online. Join us for an unforgettable experience!
“This investment by the Cloverlane Foundation will make a real difference in how we prepare students for the field,” said Fire Academy Coordinator Leonard Champion. “Access to professional-grade equipment like this elevates the quality of our program and gives our students a meaningful advantage when they enter the workforce.”
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, during their regular meeting on March 3, adopted a resolution establishing overnight parking restrictions along a portion of Santa Susana Pass Road in the unincorporated Simi Valley area. The new regulation prohibits parking between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on both sides of Santa Susana Pass Road from 220 feet northwest of Katherine Road to 75 feet east of Lilac Lane.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, during their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 3, unanimously approved the acceptance of a $250,000 donation from the Ventura Friends of the Library (VFOL) to support the E.P. Foster Library Building Forward Grant Project. The donation will help meet required local matching funds for the state-funded renovation project at the E.P. Foster Library in downtown Ventura. As part of the action, the Board also authorized the necessary budget adjustments to formally receive and allocate the funds, with no additional cost to the County’s General Fund.
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March 5 @ 5:00 pm
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Emprendedoras de Guardería is Women’s Economic Ventures’ (WEV) NO-COST 8-week Spanish business training program designed for licensed, home-based child care providers in Ventura County. The program supports providers in growing and strengthening their businesses through culturally responsive training, coaching and peer support.
Participants will also have the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 stipend to invest in their child care business.
WEV is currently inviting interested providers to complete their Spanish interest form HERE.
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) today announced that applications are now open for the second year of its Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability & Equity (RISE) Grant Program. GCHP will award one-year grants of up to $400,000 to help providers and community-based organizations support Medi-Cal members in navigating federal changes to coverage requirements.
Community members who are not already subscribed may sign up to receive our newsletter in English here and in Spanish here.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College is inviting the community to enjoy a series of live musical performances this spring featuring student musicians, faculty artists, and special guest performers in Boyd Concert Hall (bldg. F) on the Santa Maria campus.
These performances are open to the public on the following dates, times, and locations:
Argentine beef has been in the news a lot lately. President Trump recently issued an executive order allowing more Argentine beef to enter our country tariff-free. Presumably, this is a “win” for U.S. consumers who are agitated about affordability.
However, economists are skeptical. They are saying that the impact on consumer prices will be minimal, given that the tariff-free beef represents not even 1% of the total beef supply. So much for the “win.”
In addition, Midwest farmers are not at all thrilled with this gift to Trump’s friend, Javier Milei, president of Argentina, a flamboyant right-wing populist and libertarian. They see Trump’s directive as a slap in the face and a lack of support for the American beef cattle industry.
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ meetings are available in Spanish. Watch live on our Spanish YouTube Channel, or Cable TV subscribers can access Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) in language settings.
Advance requests are still needed to interpret public comment originating in Spanish. To provide public comment in Spanish, contact the Clerk of the Board at (805) 568-2240, before 4:00 p.m. the Friday before the Board meeting.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has declared a disaster for the late December 2025 storms, which occurred from December 16 to December 25, 2025. SBA now offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs, including faith-based organizations, with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
View SBA’s disaster declaration HERE
SANTA BARBARA — Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) and Sea League are partnering this spring break to offer the Big Blue Bridge Spring Break Camp, a week-long program designed to build water safety, swim confidence, and belonging for 24 students, ages 6-12, with priority registration for low-income families from Franklin and Adelante Elementary Schools.
The camp will take place March 30–April 3 and combines WYP’s small-group, nature-based mentoring model with Sea League’s beginner-centered swim instruction at the Santa Barbara High School pool.
“This project is more than just a bike and pedestrian path. It’s about connectivity, sustainability, and enhancing quality of life,” said Mayor Dr. Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios. “By investing in accessible transportation options, we’re creating dedicated corridors where residents can walk, bike, and roll through our city in ways that support their well-being.”
OXNARD — Opening night for Amorodio is almost here and we’d love for you to join us! Your support means the world to us, and we can’t wait to share this special moment with you!
Warm regards,
Teatro De Las Americas
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.
Much like the great religions of the world, the institution of classical music is rooted in centuries of tradition and culture. For me, attending a classical music event in some ways feels the same as attending a Catholic Mass.
The “priest” during a classical musical event is the conductor. We may not applaud during a Mass, or kneel during an orchestra’s performance, but we do rise, sit, and applaud at prescribed times throughout a classical music performance that conceivably dates back several centuries.
OXNARD — Food Share of Ventura County announces the launch of Feeding Our Future, a capital campaign project to build a new 85,000-square-foot food bank in Oxnard, CA.With a 12-acre parcel already secured, the new facility is designed to meet the growing demand and strengthen the region’s hunger-relief infrastructure for the long term.
Demand for food assistance in Ventura County has tripled since 2019. Food Share currently serves more than 250,000 neighbors each yearthrough a network of 200 nonprofit and community partners operating 335 distribution sites countywide. Today, Food Share operates out of three separate warehouses to distribute 21 million pounds of food annually.
VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the February 9, 2026 opening of the nomination period for the June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election. Those who are interested in running for office should make an appointment to obtain their candidate filing documents from the Ventura County Elections Division for the following offices:
Pre-applications due this Tuesday, February 3 at 5PM
La fecha límite para entregar las presolicitudes es este martes 3 de febrero a las 5:00 pm.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura is seeking artisan vendor applications for the annual 4th of July Street Fair. This annual event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the 4th of July in Ventura’s Downtown District and attracts more than 15,000 attendees. This year will feature additional events and activities celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence.
