Join us in celebrating United Way of Ventura County’s Spirit Award recipients and our 80th Anniversary!
Only one more day to take advantage of the early bird ticket price! After Friday, August 8 the ticket price is $250.
In our ongoing effort to foster a safe and inclusive platform for artists and the community, we invite you to our second Assembly on August 9, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. This gathering will build on our previous conversations, with the goal of developing tangible projects that strengthen connections between the artist community and the broader public.
Given the current political climate, which disproportionately impacts the arts and immigrant communities, we recognize the urgent need to address these challenges. As part of MCASB’s commitment to accountability, this Assembly will focus on the unsafe conditions faced by our immigrant community.
Sept. 4 — Join us for a cocktail hour and three-course fundraising dinner on the Plaza, followed by an oral history presentation from Elena Brokaw, the Barbara Barnard Smith Chief Executive Officer.
Step into a captivating journey back to the Gilded Age, a time of remarkable transformation in Ventura County. All proceeds support the museum’s educational and history preservation initiatives.
DRESS CODE: The Gilded Age/Cocktail Attire
CLICK TO REGISTER FOR TICKETS!
On the menu Thurs, Aug 7th:
Rice Balls of Fire
Passion Empanadas
Coyote Elote
Little Tony’s Wood Fired Pizza
Wrapped California
Juarez Tacos
Takumi
Happy Place
El Maíz
Cheesecake Plugg Caffe
J&K Catering
Pupusería La Llama
Jimbo’s Funnel Cakes
SANTA BARBARA — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated 2025-2026 season, marking 20 years of celebrating community, culture, and connection through the arts. This milestone season features an outstanding lineup of Latine performers guaranteed to captivate audiences throughout Santa Barbara County.
Viva will present five acclaimed acts that exemplify the vibrant and diverse cultural heritage of Latin America, in a special year commemorating Viva’s 20th season, with multiple opportunities for the community to celebrate together throughout the year.
Upcoming artists include: Grupo Bella, Gabby Moreno, Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles, Las Cafeteras, Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande
MOORPARK — This fall, the Moorpark College Theatre Arts Department will present Angels in America: Part One — Millennium Approaches, Tony Kushner’s landmark play exploring politics, identity and the AIDS crisis in 1980s America. Auditions will be held August 12-14 at the Moorpark College Performing Arts Center.
The production calls for a large, versatile cast and offers a range of challenging roles that span gender, race, and age. All lead roles will likely be double cast, and auditions are open to Moorpark College students and the wider community. Rehearsals begin August 18, with evening rehearsals held Monday through Thursday.
SANTA BARBARA — The Music Academy of the West is proud to announce the winners of its two premier summer competitions: the Duo Competition and the Marilyn Horne Song Competition, recognizing the extraordinary artistry and collaboration of its 2025 fellows. These cornerstone events of the Summer Music Festival & School offer young musicians a platform to shine through world-class performance, interpretation, and musical partnership.
Fine Art Auction Fundraiser
?
Saturday, August 16, from 3 PM to 5 PM
$15 SPAM Members • $20 Non-members
Take home a rare piece of California art while supporting the Santa Paula Art Museum’s arts education programs during our Fine Art Auction Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16. Bid on stunning artworks by historic and contemporary California artists, including Meredith Brooks Abbott, Jessie and Cornelis Botke, Robert Clunie, Paul Grimm, Douglas Shively, and many more.
The silent auction runs from 3 PM to 4 PM. The live auction runs from 4 PM to 5 PM led by professional auctioneers from California Auctioneers. Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres catered by Parque 1055while you browse! All proceeds benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum.
BROWSE LIVE AUCTION ITEMS
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is taking signups for its Adventure Guides programs in Simi and Conejo valleys and Moorpark for the 2025-26 school year.
Adventure Guides (for Kinder-6th graders) is set up into parent-child groups called Circles. Parent-child pairs join a Circle with families in their neighborhood or the school in which their children attend. They usually meet once a month for games and crafts and other activities. Also planned this year are a Pinewood Derby, a trip to Descanso Gardens, camping at Big Bear and Lake Casitas, and taking part in a plant restoration community service project.
VENTURA — Lights. Camera. Coastline! Evenings on California’s Central Coast at Ventura Harbor Village just got a lot more fun, as the waterfront destination unveils its highly anticipated 2025 Seaside Movie Nights – a
cinematic experience that fuses beloved throwback films with coastal charm. This free movie series spans from Summer to Fall 2025 at Ventura Harbor Village. www.VenturaHarborVillage.com
IN-PERSON EVENT: INSURANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
August 13 @ 8:30 am
Join SCORE Ventura County, City of Thousand Oaks and Economic Development Collaborative to learn about insurance from somebody who is not trying to sell you something! Insurance contracts are written by attorneys, but not all insurance agents can explain them in simple terms. In layman’s terms, this workshop will briefly overview the types of coverages available and what most businesses need. Address: Thousand Oaks City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate El Concilio Family Services’ 50th Anniversary—a legacy of empowering families, bridging communities, and building brighter futures through citizenship, immigration services, and youth leadership development. This special night will also honor the outstanding 2025 Latino Leadership Awardees who exemplify the spirit of service and leadership in our community. Good news! We’ve extended the Promotional Individual Ticket Price through August 18th—don’t miss this opportunity to be part of this milestone celebration.
SANTA BARBARA — Since the start of the year, members of our indigenous community across the Central Coast, our relatives, friends, and neighbors, have been taken by ICE. The joy and vibrancy of community life were replaced by fear and silence. However, as indigenous people, we know that our simple act of existence is resistance.
At MICOP, we remain rooted in our mission to organize, support, and empower our indigenous migrant community. Night in Oaxaca will continue to honor the beauty of indigenous existence, and of our resilient communities. We are descendants of warriors, healers, and protectors. We speak the languages of the rain and the clouds. Our spirits carry the songs of the mountains and rivers, and the courage of ancestors who never surrendered, and neither will we.
OXNARD — The Port of Hueneme announces the”‘Sustaining the Seas Summit” to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard.
More details to come.
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announced that its 6th Annual Compassion Campaign will feature two guest speakers Dr. John Nunes, President of California Lutheran University and Giorgio Angelini, Director of OWNED: A Tale of Two Americas. Angelini is currently developing a documentary adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted, produced by actor Chris Pine. The event will be held at Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms in Moorpark on September 4th, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities please visit, www.housingtrustfundvc.org
VENTURA — The City of Ventura is excited to announce the release of its Fall Parks and Recreation Activity Guide! Registration begins Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. and will be available online, over the phone, or in person at City Hall, located at 501 Poli Street in Room 226. Registration information and policies are on page 43. Discover hundreds of upcoming classes, programs, and events scheduled from September through January at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ActivityGuide
Assanis comes to UC from the University of Delaware, where he has served as president since 2016. He will assume his role at UCSB on Sept. 1, 2025.
The Ventura Music Festival is officially only ONE WEEK away! Now is the time to secure last-minute tickets as many of the concerts are filling up fast. Learn more about the upcoming shows below.
Can’t wait until next week? Join The Schwab Summer Orchestra this Saturday the 19th for Mahler Symphony No. 1: “The Titan” to get ready for our weekend of music.
The VMF July series will take you from the swing-revival rock of Ventura legends to smooth jazz shores, then around the world with piano, guitar, violin, and vocal artistry. There’s music for everyone, so don’t miss out!
Five hundred fifty backpacks will be distributed to participants in the Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s Find My Genius, a free five-week summer program to support academic and social-emotional learning for low- and moderate-income students who are not reading at grade level. One hundred backpacks will be given to children affected by the California wildfires identified through the YMCA’s California Strong initiative.
View this email in your browser Congratulations to the 2025 Artists! Left to Right: Gabriela Ruiz, Manjari Sharma, Mary Heebner, Dr. JoAnn Kuchera-Morin, Diana Thater. Photo: Ingrid Bostrom Photography. Thank You! Whittier Trust, Carter W. Thicke Sofia & Mark Greif…
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon at the Santa Paula Art Museum’s 15th Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16! Dozens of stunning artworks by historic and contemporary California artists will be up for bid, including museum-worthy pieces by Meredith Brooks Abbott, Jessie and Cornelis Botke, Robert Clunie, Paul Grimm, Douglas Shively, and many more. Plus, enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres catered by Parque 1055 while you browse.
Ventura invites the public to attend a Planning Commission hearing on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. at 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, in the County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza Assembly Room. At the hearing, the Planning Commission will consider a General Plan amendment to implement updates to the County’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Implementation Manual and the Initial Study Assessment Guidelines (ISAGs). These two key documents guide how the County evaluates environmental impacts of proposed projects in the unincorporated areas of the County.
The patterns captured in a newly developed non-linear model reveal whether plants are ‘water savers’ or ‘water spenders.’
VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County (Museum) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Richard Rush as chair and Al Lowe as vice-chair of its board of directors. Both esteemed community leaders and longtime Camarillo residents have served on the Museum’s board since 2017 and played instrumental roles in the organization’s recent strategic repositioning.
Dr. Rush, president emeritus of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), brings a deep legacy of educational leadership and civic engagement to his new role as board chair. A visionary administrator, Dr. Rush was the founding president of CSUCI, where he forged lasting connections between the university and the broader Ventura County community. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in English Renaissance Literature and a master’s degree in English Literature from UCLA.
Ry Rocklen (b. 1978, Los Angeles, CA) is an American sculptor. His sculptures, born out of an array of found and readymade objects, reflect his pursuit of the sublime in the things we take for granted.
Rocklen participated in the critically acclaimed MCASB exhibition Home Show, Revisited in 2011.
Ancient Art Award (Cup from a torch-holder, Cyprus, 6th century BCE from The Met Collection)
2025
6 x 8.75 x 2.75
Ceramic, glaze, glaze decal
Edition of 5
Exclusive to the Art Award recipients.
VENTURA — A summer road trip to California’s Central Coast isn’t complete without a stop at Ventura Harbor Village—a sun-kissed seaside escape offering postcard-perfect sunsets, salty breezes, and a lively mix of coastal experiences. This July and August, Ventura Harbor Village invites locals and travelers alike to soak up the season with a vibrant array of mid-week events, live music, dining, and seaside adventures. https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/
Plan a perfect summer day and beat the heat to enjoy unforgettable moments along the waterfront. Guests can indulge in fresh coastal cuisine, wine tastings, one-of-a-kind boutique shopping, and ocean activities like paddle boating, electric boats, and kayaking. Free midweek parking and engaging events make it even easier to plan a visit.
Reuniones de la Junta de Supervisores en español
(Board of Supervisors’ Meetings in Spanish)
El Condado de Santa Bárbara está ofreciendo interpretación en español de las reuniones de la Junta de Supervisores. Véalo en vivo en nuestro canal de YouTube en español, o las personas suscritas a la televisión por cable pueden acceder a la programación secundaria de audio (SAP) en los ajustes de idioma.
Aún se requiere pedir con anticipación la interpretación de los comentarios públicos en español. Para proporcionar comentarios públicos en español, póngase en contacto con la Secretaría de la Junta llamando al (805) 568-2240 antes de las 4:00 p.m. del viernes anterior a la reunión de la Junta.
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.
SANTA BARBARA — Please join the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) on three Friday evenings in July for our sixteenth-annual Asian American Film Series at the historic Alhecama Theatre.
The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 Asian American Film Series (AAFS) features four recently released, captivating documentary films that were carefully selected by SBTHP’s Asian American Affinity Group. Whether you’re a film enthusiast, a supporter of lifting AAPI perspectives and voices, or just looking for an inspiring and entertaining cinematic experience, this year’s AAFS will not disappoint!
Book Your Holiday Event at the Museum!
Join us at the Museum of Ventura County or the Agriculture Museum for your holiday events. Spend the night enjoying delicious food from DJs catering, dancing the night away with In The Mix Djs and lighting, set in one of two exciting venues. Party Package includes: Gourmet Buffet Dinner. Venue rental. Tables, chairs, linens, dinning needs. DJ with lighting package. No host bar (drink tickets available for additional fee). 100 person minimum. $150 per person
Book today – August 31 for the month of November, December, or January and receive a 20% discount on a Membership! Contact Kristy Rogers at krogers@venturamuseum.org to book today.
Due to unforeseen circumstances outside of Ventura Music Festival’s control, the July 25th Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert and opening act from The Barrelhouse Wailers will now take place indoors at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center (PAC). While this new location means a smaller audience capacity, it also ensures a more comfortable and intimate show experience for everyone. Here’s what you need to know:
As families in Ventura County are looking forward to celebrating America’s birthday during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, it’s important to know that it’s OK to have fun under the sun, but without putting your health at risk and causing long-lasting injuries.
That’s especially true when it comes to fireworks, grilling and drinking alcohol, according to health experts.
“Celebrating the Fourth of July holiday is a special time many of us treasure dearly and look forward to every year,” said Dr. Juan Cruz, an internal medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente in Oxnard. “But I can’t stress enough the importance of celebrating responsibly and keeping safety in mind to ensure this festive holiday will be accident- and injury-free.”
The Santa Paula Police Departments reminds residents of the dangers of setting off fireworks leading up to and including the Fourth of July holiday. Extra patrols by police officers through the end of the holiday will be focusing on enforcement for those found in possession of any “safe and sane” or illegal fireworks.
Every year, the numbers of fireworks calls reported to the Santa Paula Police Department Dispatch Center rises significantly the days prior to and including Fourth of July holiday. Due to the increases in these calls for service, we ask for your patience as patrol officers respond to the high number of calls we will be experiencing.
SANTA BARBARA — The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) invites the community to celebrate Independence Day with a free, family-friendly concert featuring Santa Barbara’s beloved 80-member Prime Time Band on Friday, July 4th at 5:00 PM at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens (1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101).
Enjoy an uplifting afternoon of music that honors the spirit of freedom and the heroes who defend it. The concert program includes stirring tributes to military valor—with iconic themes from Band of Brothers and Top Gun—as well as fan-favorite selections from Wicked, How to Train Your Dragon, The Magnificent Seven, and classic patriotic sing-alongs.
Bilingual theater course for girls and boys during which they will create an original story inspired by the characters of El Chavo del Ocho
SANTA PAULA — Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC), 705 E. Santa Barbara St., will participate in Bissell Pet Foundation’s Summer 2025 National Empty the Shelters Event from July 5-19, 2025, offering no-cost adoptions for dogs and cats, six months and older. All adoptable pets will be spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated up to date.
BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelter, the nation’s largest funded adoption event – returns this summer from July 5-19, 2025. This lifesaving initiative helps make adoption more affordable by sponsoring reduced fees of $70 or less. Since 2016, Empty the Shelters has helped more than 324,000 pets find loving homes.
“Shelters across the country are once again at a breaking point. They are facing record intakes and limited space. Too often, loving, healthy pets are at risk, but our communities hold the key to their future,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Our Summer National Empty the Shelters is more than an adoption event—it’s a movement to support local shelters and save lives together. It’s an opportunity to change a pet’s life—and your own. Together, we can give every pet the future they deserve.”
We have come so far together! With you, we celebrate our 80th anniversary this year.Since opening our doors in April 1945, United Way has become a driving force for local impact — helping tens of thousands of residents rise above poverty, gain access to housing, education, and health services — all to build better futures.
To mark this milestone, we are hosting a special 80th Anniversary edition of our annual Spirit Awards Gala on Saturday, August 23, recognizing the people and partnerships that have fueled its mission — and inviting the community to shape its future. The more of you that are there, the more to celebrate!
VENTURA — This July, the City of Ventura proudly joins communities across the country in celebrating the 40th anniversary of National Park and Recreation Month. This year’s theme, “Build Together, Play Together,” shines a spotlight on the vital role that local parks, open spaces, and recreational programs play in creating a strong, healthy, and connected community.
Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM Members • $10 Non-members
Join us for the premiere of “Celebrating Nature: Paintings by Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore,” a vibrant exhibition that showcases the wild and breathtaking spirit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The show kicks off with a premiere party on Saturday, July 12. Mingle with the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and be among the first to view (and purchase!) stunning original artworks.
The exhibit features 42 original paintings by artists Robin Angelides, Ruth Askren, Liz Blum, Steve Brown, John von Buelow, Larry Deeds, Jessica Falcone, Karen Fedderson, Susan Flanigan, Marian Fortunati, Barbara Freund, Carole Garland, Russell Hunziker, Virginia Kamhi, Nora Koerber, Timothy Kitz, Monica List, Nathan Mellott, Jane Mick, Rachel Sylvers, Bonnie Taylor, Laura Wambsgans, and Sharon Weaver.
“Celebrating Nature” will be on view from July 12 to November 9, 2025.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to celebrate our amazing 2025 Art Award Recipients! You will be able to ascend the iconic tile staircase in the heart of Santa Barbara to the Arts Terrace at Paseo Nuevo, in your most mythical and legendary look.
We will begin The 2025 Art Awards celebration with a reception at the museum followed by a short award ceremony in the Center Stage Theater, and an al fresco buffet dinner and open bar. Guests will have early access to new limited editions, silent auction, as well as after hours access to the museum and the wildly popular and critically acclaimed community exhibition Arte del Pueblo.
Purchase Tickets Here
Thanks to a student-led sports-waste recycling program, Gauchos and visiting community members can recycle their old sports gear in the drop-off bin at the Rec Cen.
Read more about the program
Thank you for staying up-to-date on news at the County of Ventura! Want to sign up for our newsletter?
Community members who are not already subscribed may sign up to receive our newsletter in English here and in Spanish here.
VENTURA — In celebration of Summer and its 57th Anniversary last month, Island Packers, the official concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, is expanding its non-landing schedule to include Summer Whale Watching excursions from June – mid-September, 2025 to view some truly extraordinary, magnificent mammals.
Join us for an unforgettable evening Sept. 25) as we celebrate the 50th anniversary
of El Concilio Family Services recognizing our legacy of empowering families, bridging communities, and creating brighter futures through citizenship, immigration services and youth leadership development. And recognizing the outstanding Latino Leadership Honorees for 2025.
The Downtown Oxnard Improvement Association presents “Re-Dial: In Memoriam of the Payphone,” a one-night-only art reception on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 519 South C St. from 6 pm – 9 pm.
This free public event celebrates the imaginative spirit of 11 local artists who reimagined abandoned payphones throughout downtown, turning relics of the past into striking works of street art.
In July we will be screening three films on consecutive Mondays starting with WHEN FALL IS COMING on July 7, a French mystery thriller. On July 14 a Special Screening of AMERICAN AGITATOR, the Fred Ross story, an American independent film with a Q/A post screening. And on July 21 THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, a British comedy. Screening August 4 will be NYTimes Critics’ Pick, CAUGHT BY THE TIDES, from Chinese auteur, Jia Zhang-ke.
LOMPOC — History lovers and cultural enthusiasts, don’t miss your chance to get up close and personal with one of California’s most storied regions! Long before Lompoc became known for its colorful murals and lush wine country, it was part of a vast territory (over 7,000 square miles!) inhabited by the Chumash people. These Indigenous communities thrived along California’s Central Coast for thousands of years, leaving behind a legacy of art, innovation, and resilience.
The Chumash were skilled artisans, engineers, and seafarers whose traditions and innovations continue to inspire today. Here’s how you can immerse yourself in their incredible history and culture while visiting Lompoc and its surrounding areas.
In the spirit of community and creativity, we warmly invite you to join us tomorrow for the Arte Del Pueblo Assembly, a gathering where artists and art lovers can connect, support one another, and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Come together in this open forum to reflect on the state of contemporary art today, share your voice, and uplift each other’s visions. Let’s build bridges through mindful conversation and collective inspiration.
Your presence and perspective matter, see you there!
View this email online The next regular meeting of the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2025 County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara The public may participate…
LOMPOC — Ready to make this summer unforgettablke? Lompoc is calling! From flower fields to fine wine, skydives to sunsets, this Central Coast gem is full of sunny advenfures. Whether your’re planning a weekend escape or a season-long staycation, this summer bucket list will help you squeeze every drop of fun of your Lompoc days.
Let’s dive in!
LOMPOC — Tucked between the Santa Rosa and Purisima Hills in western Santa Barbara County, the Sta. Rita Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area) is a world-class wine-growing region renowned for its cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Just minutes from downtown Lompoc, this unique valley offers visitors an immersive experience where maritime breezes, diverse soils, and passionate winemakers converge to produce some of California’s most celebrated wines.
Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or a casual sipper, this guide will help you explore the best of the Sta. Rita Hills wineries and tasting rooms—many of which are right here in Lompoc, with others tucked into the surrounding hills for unforgettable vineyard experiences.
