Category: Family

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria plans expansion into Ventura County, welcomes new Director of Partnerships & Expansion

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CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is thrilled to unveil plans to bring their proven model for intentional, girl-centered programming back to Ventura County. We are pleased to welcome a new Director of Partnerships and Expansion to our administrative team to aid with the growth initiative and building partnerships throughout the region.

The expansion back into Ventura County marks a momentous leap towards Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s three-year goal to significantly expand its reach and double its impact along the central coast. Their holistic, researched-informed programming will bring mentorship, leadership development, college and career readiness, and STEM-based curriculum to Ventura County, with programs serving girls and young women ages 4-24.

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13th Annual Banana Festival returns to the Port of Hueneme Sept. 26

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… The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is expected to attract thousands of visitors for a full day of live entertainment, food, family activities, local vendors, and opportunities to experience the working Port up close through bus and boat tours. Admission and event parking are free. Guests are encouraged to park at Hueneme Beach.

The Banana Festival was created as a way to celebrate the Port’s role as a major gateway for imported bananas and other refrigerated agricultural products. The banana trade came to Hueneme in 1993 as the Port developed the largest cold storage capacity on the West Coast. Today, the Port of Hueneme ranks 5th in the nation for both automobiles and refrigerated cargo.While it imports 5 billion bananas per year, it also brings in Peruvian blueberries, avocados, mangos, and much more.

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Bilingual commentary — Swinging Through Life

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When I came up with the title for this article, I was immediately concerned that adult minds might very well go where I did not want them to go. But I’m going to talk here about entirely different kinds of “swing.” 

I’ve had different kinds of “swing” in my life. Each cycle of “swing” taught me something about balance, momentum, and joy. 

In the more vibrant phase of my life as a young man, “swinging” meant high-energy balance and precision on the dance floor.

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Museum of Ventura County — Taste of History Photos + Free admission through September + October Events

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I want to personally thank you for your incredible support of our third annual Taste of History Gala. It was truly a magical evening, and its success would not have been possible without all of you.

Whether you supported Taste of History as an event sponsor, through an in-kind or live auction donation, by purchasing tickets, raising a paddle, or simply joining us for the evening—thank you. Your generosity brought us incredibly close to our fundraising goal and, most importantly, directly supports the Museum of Ventura County and the work we do to preserve and share the history, art, and culture of our community.

To our wonderful sponsors, an additional thank you for your partnership and generosity. And stay tuned—a little treat is in store!

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Teatro de las Américas — Last Weekend- Obras de Un Acto | Herbert Siguenza-One Night Only: Diego Rivera: His Story

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Sept. 18 & 19 7:00 P.M.

Sept. 20 2:00 P.M.

Last Weekend for Our One Acts, Featuring Brand New Directors!

Teatro de las Américas celebrates the final weekend of our One Acts Festival, showcasing three original pieces directed by emerging artists from our community. Each work offers a fresh, bold, and deeply human perspective, highlighting the talent growing within our Teatro.

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Music Academy of the West holding Groundbreaking of ‘The Muse’ on Oct. 15

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SANTA BARBARA — The Music Academy of the West and Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA) invite the community for a ceremonial groundbreaking marking an exciting new chapter for arts education and performance in downtown Santa Barbara. The event will take place on Thursday, October 15, at 5:00 PM at 901 State Street, the future home of the Music Academy’s Music Education Center, The Muse.

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Community Environmental Council (CEC) — We Want to Hear From You: Help Inform CEC’s Critical Climate Work, upcoming events

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At the Community Environmental Council (CEC), we believe effective climate action is best informed by the people and communities we serve and protect. Your perspective can help us better understand what matters most to our community and ensure CEC’s work continues to meet the needs of Central Coast residents.

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Registration closes Oct. 18 for YMCA Adventure Guides in Simi Valley, Conejo Valley

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Registration closes Oct. 18 for families wanting to participate in the Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s Adventure Guides/Y-Trailblazers programs in the Simi and Conejo valleys for the 2026-27 school year.

Organized through the Simi Valley Family YMCA and the Yarrow Family YMCA branches, YMCA Adventure Guides/Y-Trailblazers programs are for parents and their children, ages 5–11. The program runs through June 2027.

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Explore Lompoc — Fall in love with Lompoc, California’s Harvest & Halloween events

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LOMPOC — Fall looks good on Lompoc.

Cooler days, vineyard views, pumpkins, seasonal treats, and just the right amount of spooky make this an especially fun time to visit.

Whether you’re planning a weekend in wine country, a family getaway, or simply looking for a reason to hit the road, Lompoc has plenty of ways to make the most of the season.

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Santa Paula Art Museum — ‘Gail Faulkner: A Lasting Impression; Opens Saturday

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Let’s Go Back to School!

After a career in the medical field, Ventura watercolorist Gail Faulkner (1947-2023) enrolled in art school in her 30s, proving it’s never too late to go back to school—or try something new.

Scroll down to learn about our new exhibition honoring Gail, get to know Museum Educator Janice Allen, check out our fall-themed art classes, and more.

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Explore Lompoc — News From Santa Barbara County: Experience the ultimate wine tour

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LOMPOC — Everyone knows California is wine country. But have you heard about Lompoc?

This laid-back Central Coast wine destination is the perfect place to sip small-production wines, meet the makers, and explore a wine scene  that feels refreshingly unhurried.Add beautiful vineyard views, cool coastal temps, and plenty of chances to discover a new favorite, and you’ve got the makings of a seriously good wine weekend.

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SB Museum of Art — Discover the World of Mary Cassatt, more events

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Get ready to see Mary Cassatt in a new light. Cassatt & Friends opens this Sunday at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, bringing together the work of the pioneering American Impressionist and the artists who shaped her world. Celebrated for her intimate, luminous depictions of women and children, Cassatt was also a daring innovator in pastel, drawing, and printmaking. Featuring a remarkable counterproof from SBMA’s collection alongside works by Berthe Morisot, Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the exhibition captures the energy, experimentation, and creative exchange of a transformative moment in art history.

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Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — A historic victory — and a keynote you won’t want to miss on Thursday, Sept. 17 in Ventura

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VENTURA — We hope we’ll see you in just one week at our big community celebration and fundraiser, Raising Justice! And this year, we have a historic victory to celebrate — This year’s celebration feels especially meaningful — not only because we’re marking 25 years of organizing for justice across Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, but — because we’re celebrating a historic victory that you helped make possible:

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Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum — Special exhibit honoring 9/11 now open in San Luis Obispo

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Coast Veterans Memorial Museum invites our community to remember, reflect and help preserve the stories of a day that changed America.

Our new special exhibit, “On 9/11, I remember…”, is now open, presenting the events of September 11 and the lasting impact they had on our nation, our military and generations of veterans and their families.

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Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) to commemorate 25th anniversary of 9/11

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THOUSAND OAKS — This year marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. To honor the lives lost and the courage of those who responded, the Ventura County Fire Department invites the community to join firefighters in remembrance ceremonies across the county.

Commemorations will take place at every VCFD fire station in the county, along with VCFD Headquarters in Thousand Oaks, and our Fire Communications Center in Camarillo.

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Bilingual commentary — A Community Jewel: The Ojai Pops Orchestra

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Last Sunday I had the pleasure of attending a concert of the Ojai Pops Orchestra at the outdoor Libbey Bowl in downtown Ojai. Admission to these concerts is free, but donations are requested. Money that is contributed is used to offer music scholarships, lessons, instruments, and education to children in our community.

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Peoples’ Self-Help Housing — New learning center opens at Buellton Garden Apartments

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CENTRAL COAST – As students make their way back to school, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has opened a new Learning Center at Buellton Garden Apartments to support academic success. Located at 10 McMurray Road in Buellton, the Learning Center is ready to welcome twenty K-8 students this month.  

With this addition of its ninth onsite Learning Center, PSHH’s education program serves nearly 300 students per year at its properties throughout the Central Coast.

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Report

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VENTURA — Ocean water quality results for samples collected this week indicate ocean water quality at the following Ventura County beach sampling location failed to meet State standards for bacteria:

Promenade Park Beach – Figueroa St.   

Warning signs are currently posted and contact with ocean water should be avoided for a minimum of 50 yards on either side of each posted sign.  Warning signs will remain posted until ocean water quality meets State standards.  Any items that may have come in contact with ocean water should be avoided.  If contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water.

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Bilingual guest contribution — Community Environmental Council — Speak out on Sept. 15 to stop new oil wells in Santa Barbara County

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Join us Tuesday, Sept. 15, to urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to approve proposed amendments to the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) and Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) that would prohibit new onshore oil and gas wells. These long-awaited protections would safeguard community health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent future expansion of oil extraction while creating a responsible pathway for winding down existing operations in Santa Barbara County.

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The Picklr Santa Barbara is now The Grove Pickleball

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“When we opened the facility, our goal was simple: to create an amazing, reliable place where people could play pickleball, make friends and feel part of a community,” said owner Ted Guggenheim. “Over the past few months, we’ve listened closely to our players, our staff, and the people who walk through our doors every day. In response, we are moving away from a membership model and lowering the pricing by offering a player Pass system. This allows us to focus on the occasional customer as much as our regulars.”

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City of Santa Paula opens Cooling Center amid high temperatures

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SANTA PAULA — With temperatures expected to reach 90 degrees or higher for several consecutive days this week, the City of Santa Paula will open a cooling center at the Santa Paula Community Center to provide residents with a place to find relief from the heat.

The cooling center will be located in the front lobby of the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main St., Santa Paula, and will be open this Wednesday, September 9 through Thursday, September 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Residents using the cooling center will have access to:

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Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) — Logo contest, Library Day, Student-Led Candidate Forum, and more

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Ventura County students are invited to showcase their artistic talents by designing logos for the 2027 Academic Decathlon, Batalla de los Libros, Battle of the Books, Mock Trial, Science Fair, and Civic Action Project. 

The winning designs will be featured on event lapel pins, awards, and competition materials. Students can compete for the opportunity to leave their mark on these prestigious events and win a plaque at the competition awards ceremonies. The deadline to submit entries is Friday, October 16, and details on how to enter are available at this link.

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Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) — You’re invited! Fall exhibitions and events

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MCASB presents two solo exhibitions: Alexis Childress: Migration, Memory, Movement and Tristan Esmino: sa gawi ng araw as part of the ongoing MCASB Satellite Gallery program at the Riviera Beach House in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone neighborhood. Childress is a recent MFA graduate from UCSB, and Esmino is an MFA candidate at USC. Linked by the artists’ use of textiles and themes of landscape and ancestry, the two exhibitions will be installed throughout the gallery, in conversation.

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Bilingual report — Ventura County Area Agency on Aging — Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) available to help with Medicare Open Enrollement

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VENTURA — With the Medicare Open Enrollment period soon to begin, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) – part of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the Human Services Agency – will again be providing countywide resources and help.

Medicare Open Enrollment begins on October 15 and runs through December 7. HICAP counselors, who are registered by the California Department of Aging, provide free, unbiased Medicare counseling to the public.

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Santa Barbara area businesses collecting diapers for babies in need

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SANTA BARBARA — For families with babies and toddlers, diapers are not optional—but for too many families across Santa Barbara County, having enough diapers each month can be a serious financial challenge. In recognition of National Diaper Need Awareness week, LEAP is calling on community members to help ensure local families have access to this basic necessity by donating diapers and wipes through its annual month-long community diaper drive.

“Every donation helps us put diapers in the hands of parents who need them most,” said Lori Goodman, CEO of LEAP. “Together, we can relieve some of the daily stress families face and make sure babies across our county have the healthy start they deserve.”

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Community Food Pantry at Girls Inc. relocating to Carpinteria Children’s Project

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CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is happy to announce that their on-campus community food pantry will be relocating and transitioning into the care of trusted community partner Carpinteria Children’s Project. 

Over the coming weeks, team members from both organizations will work closely together to ensure a seamless transition that provides members of the Carpinteria community with continued access to household necessities and kitchen staples. 

The decision to transfer stewardship of the food pantry is one that allows Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to focus its resources on impacting girls in the community and continuing its core mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. 

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Bilingual report — City of Camarillo Business Assistance Loans now Available

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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.

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Friendship Center Adult Day Care Center in Santa Barbara — The Friendly Finch: September 2026

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I am writing this letter whilst attending the National Adult Day Services Association conference with our Program Director (recently promoted!), Nerely, and Lead Program Specialist/Volunteer Coordinator, Mary. We are thrilled to be here learning about ways to further improve and expand FC’s programs and services, but do forgive any lack of cohesion in this letter, as traveling to Providence took us more plane time than my trips to and from school in Australia. Four legs of flight, a cross-state-lines Uber, and we are here!

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Downtown Oxnard — See upcoming events here

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First Thursdays Food Trucks returns to Downtown Oxnard this Thursday, Sept. 3rd!  Dinner, dessert, drinks — and plenty of choices all in one place. Grab your crew and make a night of it in Downtown Oxnard!
Live music + 13 Food Trucks + Marketplace

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Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announces $500,000 loan for a 21-unit supportive housing development in Santa Paula

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“Predevelopment financing is often the hardest capital to secure, but it’s what allows a project like Gateway Grove to move from an idea to groundbreaking,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund Ventura County. “By stepping in early, we’re helping the Santa Paula Housing Authority, Many Mansions, and Homes & Hope turn a vacant motel into 21 homes for people who need them most, including veterans who have served our country.”

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VCCF scholarship season surpasses $2 million milestone in awards

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CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded $2,009,312 to students across the county for the 2026 season, exceeding the nonprofit’s past scholarship grantmaking record.

“As another incredible scholarship season closes and we enter a new school year, we are proud to celebrate the hard work and promise of the students this program exists to serve,” said Kirsti Vomund, VCCF scholarship director. “This year, we awarded 610 scholarships to 441 students, making this our biggest award year ever!”

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United Way of Ventura County — Thank you for making our Spirit Awards Gala a success!

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This special event would not be possible without our incredible award recipients and the meaningful work they do for our Ventura County community, as well as our presenters, sponsors, donors, performers, volunteers, vendors, and United Way staff. We are so grateful for your support and partnership in making this celebration a success!

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Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce announces action-packed September event calendar

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SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a robust lineup of community events throughout September 2026. From the beloved monthly Cruise Night — kicking off a festive Labor Day weekend — to a Candidates Forum ahead of the November election, a ribbon cutting celebrating new housing investment and a downtown business mixer, September promises to be one of the most active and community-centered months of the year in historic Santa Paula.

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September at the Santa Paula Art Museum

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This month, Free Family Day returns! Plus, don’t miss the premiere of Gail Faulkner: A Lasting Impression, an artist talk with Ojai artists Wrona Gall and Ted Gall, more than a dozen new classes, and more.

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Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Earns A+ Credit Rating from S&P Global

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For HACSB, however, the rating is not simply a measure of financial strength. It is another tool to advance the agency’s mission. HACSB measures success in human terms: more families with safe and stable homes, more seniors able to age with dignity, stronger neighborhoods, and more residents connected to opportunities and pathways to self-sufficiency.

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Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) — 1st Thursday Special Event: Robot Karaoke

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Exhibitions & Events
Sept 1 – 13
Sing Karaoke and
Create Your Own Art!
‘Robot Karaoke’ written in bold yellow and blue text over an image of silhouetted people singing karaoke.
Image courtesy of Jamie Brew
ROBOT KARAOKE
Thursday, September 3, 5 – 8 pm
On your 1st Thursday Art Walk, sing songs you know with never-before-sung lyrics generated from bizarre Internet datasets. Spam emails to the tune of “Sweet Caroline” OkCupid profiles in the style of “Pink Pony Club” The choice is yours! Comedian and writer Jamie Brew creates parodies for you to perform in real time using software from the utmost frontier of karaoke research. This event celebrates the final month of the special exhibition RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY: Internet Art. FREE.
LEARN MORE

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Signups underway for Southeast Ventura County’s YMCA’s Youth & Government Programs; Deadline is Sept. 16

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For over 75 years, California YMCA Youth & Government has provided high school youth with a learning program modeling California’s legislature and courts. The program offers teen participants the opportunity to learn how government works, collaborate with others, make new friends and build skills such as critical thinking, persuasive public speaking, writing and research.

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Bilingual report — The latest news from the County of Ventura

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Help the County Plan for Disasters – Share your feedback!

What hazards concern you most in Ventura County and what should we be doing now to prepare for them?

That’s what Ventura County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is all about. Simply put, it’s a roadmap for identifying the disasters most likely to impact our communities and taking steps before they happen to reduce damage and protect the people, places and services we rely on. And we need your input!

Take our short survey by September 15th and tell us

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Cabrillo Economic Development Corp., Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme complete inaugural Summer to Remember program

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VENTURA COUNTY — Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme announced the successful completion of their inaugural Summer to Remember program, an eight-week enrichment initiative that served 15 children living at Dolores Huerta Gardens Apartments in Oxnard from June 22 through August 14. The program brought free, on-site academic support, recreation and creative programming directly to the community where these children live, marking Cabrillo EDC’s first partnership that expands summer services for young residents.

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Bilingual commentary — The Dust Bowl: A Warning for Modern America

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A couple of weeks ago, I randomly chose a book to read from one of the “little libraries” that people put up in their front yards. Despite considering myself somewhat of an optimist, a book by Timothy Egan, The Worst Hard Time, caught my eye. 

This book is about the Great American Dust Bowl, that period of our history marked by immense environmental, economic, and agricultural hardship. The Dust Bowl coincided with the Great Depression, something that my parents and grandparents lived through—and fortunately survived. 

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Guest contribution — Moorpark Moms for Progressive Values — Follow-Up on Moorpark’s Flock Cameras

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One of California’s safest cities is preparing for a September debate over why its 15 fixed Flock license plate reader cameras remain in place after Ventura County data was made available to out-of-state and federal agencies in violation of California law.

During a one-month period in early 2025, out-of-state agencies ran more than 364,000 searches against the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s Flock network, even though VCSO believed national access had been disabled since 2023. Immigration enforcement was referenced in the justifications for 299 searches. Flock has acknowledged that the access was unauthorized but said its technical logs cannot fully explain how it occurred.

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Come Home to Friendship Center: Our 50th Anniversary Reunion

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Friendship Center is 50! Wow!

For 35 years this September, I have the joy of being part of this very special community. Many of you receiving this email, I know personally. I’ve had the privilege of connecting with so many members, families, and friends through my many roles at Friendship Center, from directing our buses and taking members on field trips to leading our Connections program, working at our Montecito and Goleta locations, running the Gold Program, and now serving as our Membership Liaison.

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura honors 25 longtime employees representing 680 years of public service

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VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors recently recognized twenty-five County of Ventura employees for their longstanding commitment to public service and whose careers collectively span 680 years. Celebrated during the Board of Supervisors regular meeting on Tuesday, August 18, the employees marked career milestones of 25, 30 and 35 years of employment with County agencies. Over the course of their careers, the employees have helped deliver essential services, respond to changing community needs, and provide the experience and expertise that keep County operations moving forward.

With each honoree marking at least 25 years of County service, their careers represent decades of institutional knowledge and commitment to public service that have helped shape the programs and services Ventura County residents rely on today.

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Bilingual report — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) August 2026 newsletter

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Lea en español | Received this from a friend? Subscribe! eNewsletter | August 2026 Here’s to 56 years! This month, nearly 200 People’s team members from throughout the Central Coast came together to mark the milestone. Friend, The coming months will…

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Museum of Ventura County — Taste of History Ticket Sales Close Sept. 1 + Upcoming Events at the Ag

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Thursday, September 10 | 5:30–9:30 PM
Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks

Step back into the glamour of the 1920s for an unforgettable evening celebrating Ventura County’s remarkable role in the early days of filmmaking. Join us for Taste of History: The Silent Movie Era, featuring fine dining, vintage-inspired cocktails, live entertainment, dancing, and an exciting live auction.

The evening will also feature the presentation of the Museum of Ventura County’s Lifetime Achievement Awards honoring Chuck Cohen and Joanie Young. Celebrate their extraordinary contributions to Ventura County and their lasting impact on our community.

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One Step A La Vez 2nd Quarter Update

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One Step A La Vez is in an important season of growth, reflection, and renewal. As we look toward the future, we also want to honor the people whose dedication and service have helped shape our organization. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Amanda Garza, Diana Madrigal and Yuliana Suarez, who recently departed One Step after many years of commitment to our youth, families, and community. Their time, energy, care, and talents have left a lasting impact, and we are deeply grateful for all they contributed to One Step’s journey.

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Bilingual report — Three additional birds test positive for West Nile Virus in Ventura County

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VENTURA — The Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division) received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that a bird collected in the city of Camarillo on August 1, 2026, and two birds collected in the city of Ventura on August 3, 2026, tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). All mosquito breeding sources in the area where the birds were collected will be inspected and treated if evidence of mosquito breeding is observed. Ventura County Public Health and Environmental Health are closely monitoring WNV activity, including the increase in WNV cases and the recent WNV-related death in Los Angeles County.

Public Health confirms that no human cases of WNV have been identified to date in 2026 in Ventura County.

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UCSB — The Current — ‘Deep learning refines how bionic eyes communicate with the brain’ and more news

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Computer scientist Michael Beyeler and colleagues use a deep-learning model to design patterns of electrical stimulation for electrodes temporarily implanted in a blind participant’s brain.

Read more about the findings

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Food Share to break ground on future home of Ventura County’s Food Bank

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OXNARD — Food Share of Ventura County invites the entire community to celebrate a historic milestone in the fight against hunger as the organization breaks ground on the future home of Ventura County’s food bank on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at 1425 Mariner Drive in Oxnard.

The free community celebration will mark the ceremonial groundbreaking of Food Share’s new 85,000-square-foot facility, a transformational project designed to dramatically expand the organization’s capacity to serve Ventura County for decades to come.

The groundbreaking is part of Feeding Our Future, Food Share’s $50 million capital campaign to build a food bank capable of meeting both today’s unprecedented need and the needs of a growing community well into the future.

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Leadership Ventura County unveils new identity, launches expanded programming across the county

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VENTURA COUNTY — Over 200 community leaders, alumni and partners gathered Thursday, Aug. 20th, at the Ventura County Office of Education for The Big Reveal Party, where the organization formerly known as Ventura County Leadership Academy introduced its new name, Leadership Ventura County, alongside an expanded slate of leadership programming built to reach more of Ventura County.

While Leadership Ventura County’s new identity marks a visible change, organization leaders say the programming behind it is the real story: a broader, more accessible approach to developing leaders across the region.

“Our new name, Leadership Ventura County, is really about access,” said Pattie Braga, Executive Director. “With Leadership Class, Leadership Explore, Leadership Elevate, and Leadership Connect, we now have programs tailored to where someone is at personally or within their career, whether that’s a nine-month deep dive or a first step into their community. This next chapter is about opening that door wider for more people across the county.”

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City of Santa Paula opens cooling center amid high temperatures

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SANTA PAULA — With temperatures expected to reach 90 degrees or higher for several consecutive days this week, the City of Santa Paula will open a cooling center at the Santa Paula Community Center to provide residents with a place to find relief from the heat.

The cooling center will be located in the front lobby of the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main St., Santa Paula, and will be available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Hospice of Santa Barbara announces 2026 Heroes of Hospice Award recipients

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is honored to announce the 2026 Heroes of Hospice award recipients, recognized for their outstanding service and dedication to the health and well-being of our community. The honorees will be celebrated at Hospice of Santa Barbara’s 14th Annual Heroes of Hospice (HOH) luncheon on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Inspired by poet Mary Oliver’s timeless question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”, this year’s Heroes of Hospice luncheon will be a celebration of the people we love, the ordinary moments that give life meaning, and the simple joys that become our most treasured memories.  This year’s Heroes of Hospice Award recipients are:

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Bilingual report — VSP Eyes of Hope, SEE International provided free eye exams and glasses to more than 100 Santa Maria and Lompoc residents

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partnered with SEE International’s local SEE Vision Care program and the County of Santa Barbara Health Department to bring free eye exams and prescription glasses to over 100 Santa Maria and Lompoc residents without access to vision care. In recognition of National Eye Exam Month, a 40-foot VSP Eyes of Hope mobile clinic and volunteer eye doctors stopped at the Santa Maria Health Center on Aug. 20 and the Lompoc Health Center on Aug. 21, providing comprehensive exams and on-site eyewear selection at no cost to patients.

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Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics’ dental program marks landmark year in community health, saving thousands from emergency rooms and costly procedures

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SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) is highlighting a year of significant impact for its dental program, releasing 2025 data that underscores its role as a critical safety net for the region. With 23,846 patient encounters over the past year, the clinics provided everything from routine cleanings to advanced procedures such as root canal therapy and dental implants for nearly 6,800 unique patients.

In a community with high caries (cavity) risk and non-fluoridated water, SBNC has focused heavily on preventative care to break the cycle of lifelong dental decay. 

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Commununity Environmental Council (CEC) — Join CEC: We’re Hiring an Office Manager & Board Liaison

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If working in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, surrounded by climate changemakers, passionate board members and mission-driven organizations sounds like your kind of workplace, CEC may have the opportunity for you. We’re hiring an Office Manager & Board Liaison to play a central role in the day-to-day life of our organization and office.

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