By organizing and selling access to their fisheries as a unit, African nations can make more from their fisheries on the global market, while protecting their seas’ biodiversity.
This Veterans Day, as our nation comes together to recognize the men and women who have served our nation in uniform, I want to take this opportunity to thank our servicemembers, veterans, and their families for their service.
In Congress, I am so privileged to represent Ventura County and the Conejo Valley, which boasts a proud and rich military history. In fact, over 40,000 veterans and their families call our region home. In Congress, I have made it my priority to ensure that we fulfill our solemn promise to serve our veterans as well as they have served our country. This is the duty that has guided my work as your Member of Congress and as a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
CAMARILLO — The fire agencies of Ventura County will come together to pay tribute to the firefighters who have lost their lives in service to community members. The annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial remembrance will be hosted on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ventura County Government Center, located at 800 S. Victoria Avenue.
This year, the name of Ventura City Firefighter-Paramedic Matthew Clapsaddle will be added to the roll call of the fallen.
Clapsaddle, 59, passed away on August 20, 2022. He served the Ventura City Fire Department for 28 years. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and son, Tanner.
“As Matt’s name is etched in stone, our hearts continue to ache at losing our teammate and friend. Matt was an energetic mentor, infusing our fire family with his boundless joy and unwavering excitement for life,” shared Fire Chief David Endaya. “Matt’s sacrifice and dedication serve as a lasting testament to the valor of our firefighting community.”
VENTURA — Ventura Charter School of Arts & Global Education – a tuition-free Ventura County public school – welcomes students’ home as they return from a school-wide campout adventure in October. The expedition spanned three days in the local Ventura County wilderness where students, families, and teachers gathered at Steckel Park in Santa Paula to prepare for the school year by building solid connections while creating a strong sense of community to last throughout the school year. This year nearly 400 students and 300 families attended the campout, which is the only such school-wide activity of its kind within Ventura County’s public schools.
“The Campout, has allowed our child to slowly come out of his shell and meet new people. With each passing year we have been blessed to watch our child flourish and grow during this event,” said Jaret and Jackie Flowers, parents of Ventura Charter School students for 6 years, “This school is full of loving and caring parents, teachers and faculty.”
CAMARILLO — The Fire Departments of Ventura County, in collaboration with ABC7 and local sponsors, are rekindling the holiday spirit with the 31st annual Spark of Love toy drive. This cherished tradition has evolved into Ventura County’s most significant community toy drive, bringing happiness and joy to local children and teenagers every year.
VENTURA — New Art City Theatre (NACT), a Ventura, California pioneering theatre company dedicated to the development of new theatrical works, is accepting original plays and musicals from playwrights for NACT’s inaugural playwright’s festival to be held in April 2024. Submissions will be accepted beginning October 31 through November 30.
Submissions must be full-length plays or musicals (two acts or at least a 75-minute one act). Projects must not be published or have received any fully produced productions, either amateur or professional. Submissions will be reviewed by the NACT reading team comprised of theatre professionals and community volunteers. Up to four plays/musicals will be selected from the entries. Selected writers will receive a stipend and an opportunity to engage in a week-long residency, collaborating with professional directors, actors, and dramaturges. At the end of the week, all projects will be presented to live audiences who will provide positive and structured feedback.
“It’s a place where talent meets opportunity,” adds NACT cofounder Beverly Ward, “There are no rules or magic formulas when it comes to creating compelling theatre. It’s all about getting the opportunities, trusting your instincts, and getting good feedback from colleagues and audiences along the way.”
Premiere Party: “The 15th Annual Art About Agriculture Exhibition”
Saturday, November 11, 2023 • 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM members • $10 Non-members
Join us at the Santa Paula Art Museum on Saturday, November 11, for the premiere of “The 15th Annual Art About Agriculture Exhibition,” featuring 55 fresh works of art. “Art About Agriculture” is presented by the Ag Art Alliance to promote awareness of agriculture through art—from workers to water, from machinery to fields, to the food that goes on our plates. The exhibit will be on view from November 11, 2023, to March 3, 2024. All of the artworks will be available for purchase.
“The 15th Annual Art About Agriculture Exhibition” is sponsored by Brokaw Ranch Company.
Last week I had the honor of cutting the ribbon on one of the County’s largest bridge projects in 40 years. Cuyama deals with a lot more extreme weather than the rest of us in Santa Barbara County, and this bridge creates an important connection for emergency access during storms. This area also has a higher poverty rate than the rest of the County, and Cuyamans have been at the mercy of two multi-national corporations over access to water. That one of the most significant bridge projects in County Public Works history was completed in Cuyama shows that we’re here for them.
The religious studies professor turned politician will be remembered in a special event hosted by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life.
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is proud to announce Recess Club within the Carpinteria School District!
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is committed to promoting physical and hands-on activities while fostering an inclusive environment for children. The organization is thrilled to introduce Recess Club in elementary schools across the Carpinteria Valley. Recess Club’s mission is to create a secure and welcoming haven for students during school recess, providing engaging and interactive activities to enhance enrichment opportunities, teamwork, and social connections.
Editor’s note — While Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 (all Saints Day) and Nov. 2 (all Souls Day), a variety of organizations in the 805 region will be extending the celebration through this upcoming week. Here’s a sample of some of the upcoming events:
CAMARILLO — The 42nd annual “Día de los Muertos — The Grand Fandango De La Muerte” celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home, Memorial Park & Crematory at 2052 Howard Road, Camarillo.
A conversation with Chat GPT, led by digital humanities scholar Fabian Offert, raises questions about how large language models think.
Este jueves 2 de noviembre ven a la función especial de El Viaje de los Esqueletos como parte del Paseo de las Artes de Oxnard (Oxnard Art Crawl)
Pre-show con: Rudy Razo (poeta chicano) y Araceli Collazo (cantante) a partir de las 7:00 p.m.
¡Deliciosos buñuelos y champurrado a la venta!
Presentación en exteriores en la parte trasera del teatro. Ven preparado con ropa invernal o tu cobijita, sarape o poncho favorito.
Our Dia de los Muertos celebrations kick off our year end giving campaign, and we would be so grateful and honored to have your support. It has been just over 10 months since a new leadership team reopened the Museum. We ask for your much needed support to take us into the new year. We are so incredibly grateful for the many individuals, foundations, and business that have been early adopters.
CMTC: PRODUCTIVITY AND COST REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS
November 1 @ 11:00 am
Changing environments requires efforts to enhance productivity, reduce errors and evaluate automaton to free up valuable human resources for higher-value initiatives. Enterprise Resource Planning has evolved to more than a financial or manufacturing system. Businesses are now able to improve their business insights, increase levels of efficiency, and enable reduction in operational costs. With centralized data, businesses can identify improvement opportunities and mine their data to achieve market advantages.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
CAMARILLO — Nicknamed “Gabby” when she and her friends hung out on the streets of Santa Barbara, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) 2023 Distinguished Alumni “Gabby” Vignone believes her formal name, “Gabrielle,” now suits her better.
“I think I’ve gotten to that ‘change’ point in life,” said Vignone, who graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in English. “I think we don’t know who we are for a while as we go through different changes and experiences that bring us to where we are now.”
Vignone will share the story of her evolution with the 350 guests expected to attend CSUCI’s 21st Annual President’s Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 28.
For Vignone, those experiences have included giving birth at 15, having her best friend killed by a train, falling in love with a man, raising four children with him, and having him die in prison.
In Professor Nancy Collins’ Close Relationships Lab, graduate student Paige Harris is exploring how physical activity and sports may impact romantic relationships and friendships.
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize National Women’s Small Business Month. The EDC has supported over 875 Women owned small businesses this year alone and has helped generate over 100 jobs. The EDC is dedicated in supporting women with achieving their business goals.
The EDC is proud to support the community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) student empowerment program ¡Raíces: First Year and Beyond! is hosting a talk with internationally acclaimed artist Manuel Unzueta on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. at the SBCC East Campus Center.
Unzueta will discuss his career as a muralist, educator, and community activist by highlighting “Metamorphosis of Reality,” the mural painted at East Campus Center with SBCC students in 1976. The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. outside the Campus Center near the mural. A talk with Unzueta will follow at 6:45 p.m. inside the Campus Center.
According to his longtime friend and colega, Mark Alarado, “Unzueta is a Chicano muralist, and his work spans six decades to include masterpieces that live in La Casa de La Raza, along with other works at educational institutions throughout the South Coast, the Smithsonian Institute, Paris, Mexico City and El Paso, Texas.”
This Monday October 24, at 1:00PM, our County Planning Commission has invited public input to discuss a project that will allow People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) to develop 104 units of affordable rental housing within the overall Dana Reserve master-planned community.
This is so YOUR opinion can be voiced, in addition to the group who have already expressed their point of view.
Located west of US Highway 101 in Nipomo, and named the Dana Reserve, the overall project includes 104 units of deed-restricted affordable housing that would be developed and operated by PSHH. If approved, the developer will gift this land to our organization, which will bring much-needed affordable housing for Nipomo, a welcoming community that is key to so many who live, work, and recreate along the Central Coast.
On view now through Sunday, November 5
“The California Scene” is a group exhibition presented by California Art League (CAL) featuring 59 quintessential California scenes in a variety of media by 44 artist members of the long-established league. CAL was originally founded as The Valley Artists Guild in 1948 with the purpose of uniting artists in the San Fernando Valley area to form a strong fine arts community. CAL operates on the belief that when individual artists join together in creating their destinies, their growth and impact are multiplied in their own lives and throughout the world.
While we highly recommend viewing “The California Scene” in person, we hope you enjoy this abbreviated look at the exhibition in your inbox!
Biologist Cherie Briggs and geographer Ian Walker receive University of California Climate Action Grants to advance their respective efforts in restoration and conservation.
Mountains to Sea Jubilee
FAMILY FESTIVAL
?Saturday, October 21
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
@Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula
Celebrate Ventura County’s 150th Anniversary at the Mountains to Sea Jubilee, a FREE all-day family event! The Family Festival features food trucks, a kids’ zone, community stages, pumpkin patch, exhibit opening: Ventura County, The Place We Call Home, and MORE. Check out the Family Fair interactive map HERE.
CAMARILLO — Four million Americans turn 18 each year, and we have a presidential election coming up. This is one of the reasons we need to be concerned about voting inequities as well as the quality of education in the U.S., according to Dr. Michael Baker, a scholar and retired military surgeon.
Baker will be discussing America’s strengths and problem areas in “How America Became Great – and Can Be Great Again,” one of 10 classes being offered in the Fall II Session of CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI)’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), university-level classes for those ages 50 and up.
Registration is now open at go.csuci.edu/olli. Classes begin Oct. 23 and run through Dec. 8, with current events, science, politics, art, entertainment, history and even a little magic making up the Fall II selection of classes.
THOUSAND OAKS — Events occur on the California Lutheran University campus in Thousand Oaks and are free to the public.
Performances
Nov. 9-18 at 8 p.m.; Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. All performances in Preus-Brandt Forum: “Radium Girls,” directed by professor of drama Kenneth Gardner, tells the story of Marie Curie. For more information, visit the website. Free.
Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Samuelson Chapel: An Evening of Symphonic Music, conducted by Michael Hart and Breanna Thornton, and performed by the CLU Wind Ensemble and University String Symphony. Free.
OXNARD — In an effort to make its special events and programming more equitable and accessible, Oxnard Recreation is proud to debut its new Sensory Tent during the upcoming Fall Festival.
The Sensory Tent initiative is led by the Oxnard Special Populations (OSP) program in conjunction with Oxnard City Corps (OCC), who work closely to provide high quality recreational opportunities for those with disabilities. The Sensory Tent includes games, fidgets, soothing sounds and comfortable seating, creating a welcoming and relaxing environment for those who need it.
Curated by art history graduate students Graham Feyl and Sylvia Faichney, the exhibition — now on view at UCSB’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum — reimagines spaces such as discos, dive bars, living rooms and bathrooms through the lens of queer placemaking.
LOMPOC — Travel often uncovers hidden treasures in the most unexpected places, and Lompoc’s outdoor mural gallery is one of these delightful finds. If you’re a fan of art, history, and exploration, you’re in for a treat with this self-guided tour of Lompoc’s murals. Join us as we wander through the streets and unveil the captivating stories and creativity that adorn the city’s walls.
Mountains to Sea Jubilee – Celebrating 150 Years of VC!
Join us for a FREE family festival celebrating Ventura County’s 150th anniversary! The festival will take place in Santa Paula on Saturday, October 21 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Activities will include live entertainment on multiple stages, a kids’ zone, food trucks, arts & crafts stations, and more!
While you enjoy the fun, don’t miss the opening of the special 150th Anniversary museum exhibit! The Agricultural Museum in Santa Paula will host the opening for Ventura County: The Place We Call Home – a special reflection on our county.
SANTA BARBARA — If the past two months have been especially colorful at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), it’s largely because of the newly-painted mural at the Campus Center, dedicated to Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (AAPI+) heritage in the U.S. The mural will be officially dedicated in a celebration taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 4-6 p.m. at SBCC’s East Campus – Campus Center Patio. SBCC students and staff, community members, and members of the media are invited.
Día de los Muertos Free Community Celebration
Sunday, October 29, 2023 • 12 PM to 3 PM
Free for all ages
Guests of all ages are invited to celebrate Día de los Muertos at two locations in downtown Santa Paula on Sunday, October 29! This free, family-friendly community celebration at SPAM’s Cole Creativity Center and Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery offers traditional craft-making activities, music, altar installations, and much more.
Scholars from across the nation convened on campus to discuss how to sort news from the noise through public-facing research and classroom conversations.
Winners of the Music Academy’s Solo Piano, Duo, and Song Competitions return in 2024 to perform commissioned premieres in recital.
The Academy sends the 12 MAX (Music Academy Exchange) fellows to London this fall to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Winners of Alumni Enterprise and Fast Pitch Awards are recognized for their innovative endeavors
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS
Don’t miss the 2023 State of the County celebrating the County’s 150th Anniversary! Keynote speaker and County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson will share an update and unforgettable message followed by a networking reception under Air Force One.
2023 State of the County
The 2023 State of the County will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Thursday, November 2. Event cost is $50. Free Livestream will be available at https://stateofthecounty.ventura.org and on the County of Ventura’s Facebook page HERE starting at 5:30 pm.
When
Thursday November 2, 2023
4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
I want to provide an update to you on the potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event under consideration by Southern California Edison that may begin as soon as Wednesday, October 11.
?This event is due to predicted high winds and the increased risk of wildfires in parts of the South Coast. This outage may begin as soon as 10/11/2023, though it may occur earlier or later depending on actual weather conditions. If you live or work in or near this area, you should make preparations for a possible multiple-day power outage.
The current potential PSPS power shutoffs include some areas of Montecito and Santa Barbara. To find out if you may be affected, you can input your address on SCE’s map tool here.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., just as lawmakers were scrambling to prevent a government shutdown. I was there with several of my counterparts from throughout California to advocate for federal support of educational programs.
In the midst of the chaos, about twenty members of Congress made time to meet with us. We urged them to increase federal funding for special education and economically disadvantaged students, to support expansion of internet access for students and to address cybersecurity threats that are increasingly impacting schools.
While a government shutdown has been averted for the moment, the budget process is far from over and it’s not yet known how public schools will be affected. Whatever happens in Washington, we will never stop working to maximize educational opportunities for the students we are so proud to serve.
VENTURA COUNTY — The County of Ventura officially proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Latino Heritage Month at its regular board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
The motion was presented by District 5 Supervisor Vainly Lopez.
A Chumash cultural burn reignites ancient practice for wilderness conservation
Reviving a practice that had been lost for generations, the Chumash community and the university partner on a cultural burn at North Campus Open Space.
Día de los Muertos Community Celebration
Sunday, October 29
12 PM to 3 PM
Free for all ages
150th Exhibit Opening: Ventura County, The Place We Call Home
Saturday, October 21
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
@Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula
You are cordially invited to attend the opening of Ventura County, The Place We Call Home, an exhibit celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Ventura County. Doors will open promptly at 11 am followed by remarks and dedication by Elena Brokaw, The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director at 1 pm.
In “The Virus Touch,” the global studies professor explores relationships between viruses, humans, animals and the environment to show how various forms of media — from news content to lab test results — create our understanding of epidemics.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura’s Office of Arts and Culture is honored to be a recipient of a $25,000 Humanities for All grant from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This grant will support programs and projects connected to the County’s 150th Anniversary events, celebrating the theme of “Our History, Our Future, Together,” and planned by the County of Ventura, the Museum of Ventura County, and other community partners.
This funding will support a variety of 150th Anniversary activities throughout Ventura County, which will culminate at two communitywide events: the Mountain to the Sea Jubilee in Santa Paula on October 21, 2023, and the State of the County at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley on November 2, 2023. In addition to these capstone events, funding from California Humanities program will support these 150th Anniversary events:
LOMPOC — Lompoc may seem like your typical charming Central Coast town at first glance, but for those with an eye for the unconventional and a taste for the eccentric, Lompoc holds a treasure trove of quirky and unique attractions. From intergalactic exploration to a ghostly mission, here’s your comprehensive guide to the quirky and unique in Lompoc.
Upcoming Latinx Heritage Month Events
Oct. 5 at 11:30 a.m. in Swenson Science Center, Room 101: “Untold Legacies: Re-Envisioning Ventura Country through an Ethnic Studies Lens.” Jose M. Alamillo, PhD, professor of Chicana/o studies at CSU Channel Islands, talks about the untold stories of resistance and the hidden legacies of racialized communities in Ventura County.
Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Preus-Brandt Forum: Ballet Folklórico Mestizo is a dance troupe that celebrates the culture and dance traditions of Mexico; featuring students and faculty from Cal Lutheran’s Oxnard campus. (Photo attached courtesy of Oxnard College.)
Oct. 12 at 12:30 p.m. in Lundring Events Center: Latinx Heritage Month Lecture Lunch, hosted by the Office of Campus Ministry. Resources will be available to attendees regarding real-world learning opportunities and creating community. Reservations are required.
Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. in Ullman Conference Center, 100/101: ASCENSO Hispanic Fellowship Poster Presentations. Undergraduate fellows present projects that showcase their growing knowledge of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
Oct. 17 at 12 p.m. in Ullman Conference Center, 100/101: “What Does it Mean to Be a Hispanic-Serving Institution at Cal Lutheran?” This event is an educational lunch that explores how a Hispanic-Serving Institution is more than a Hispanic-enrolling one.
SOLVANG —The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature (www.wildlingmuseum.org) is pleased to announce the winners of its third juried exhibition showcasing all nine of California’s national parks: Lassen, Joshua, Redwoods, Pinnacles, Channel Islands, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Death Valley all of which are featured in the show. California National Parks: Stories of Water features 37 artists and 39 selected artworks that were juried from a pool of more than 240 submissions by artists across the U.S., competing for $4,000 in awards. These artists reside in nine states including Georgia, Pennsylvania, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, New Mexico, Nevada, and California. The mediums represented in this exhibition are as varied as the art itself and include oil, acrylic, watercolor, graphite, textile, and photography. The exhibition explores various impacts of water – or the lack of water due to drought – in California’s national parks. Other works capture water’s abundance – particularly in the aftermath of this year’s heavy rains – through a range of waterfalls and rivers.
View this email online September 28, 2023 Top News Welcome, Gauchos! UC Santa Barbara’s annual convocation ceremony welcomes new Gauchos to the campus and serves as the official kickoff to the 2023-2024 academic year. Read more about convocation What…
A powerful memoir of poetry and prose, “Loving in the War Years: Lo que nunca pasó por sus labios” explores the author’s interconnected identities as a lesbian and a Chicana, coming of age in a turbulent era of American politics and social change.
This Thursday, September 28, at 1:00PM, our County Planning Commission will be inviting public input to discuss a project that will allow People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) to develop 104 units of affordable rental housing within the overall Dana Reserve master-planned community.
So that everyone will have a chance to be heard, quite rightly the Commission has called for an additional public study session. This is so YOUR opinion can be voiced, in addition to the group who have already expressed their point of view.
Located west of US Highway 101 in Nipomo, and named the Dana Reserve, the overall project includes 104 units of deed-restricted affordable housing that would be developed and operated by PSHH. If approved, the developer will gift this land to our organization, which will bring much-needed affordable housing for Nipomo, a welcoming community that is key to so many who live, work, and recreate along the Central Coast.
VENTURA — Autumn is an ideal time to escape and enjoy an endless summer seaside at Ventura Harbor Village, an idyllic coastal enclave with an enticing lineup of cool September/October 2023 entertainment events.
Located on a spectacular stretch of prime Pacific coastline, this California “go to” spot is definitely worth the drive with its stunning backdrop of majestic yachts, brilliant sunsets, gentle ocean breezes, watersports, succulent seafood, refreshing wine tasting, hand crafted cocktails, and one of a kind-shops, and the perfect midweek/weekend getaways is yours. https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/events/
