CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Category: Family
Feb. 20 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Formosa Quartet — String Quartet Chamber Music Concert
Feb. 20 — Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to Host Blood Drive
Feb. 20 — Cal Lutheran Community Scholars for Black Lives Fellowship Program to present ‘An Evening with Judy Fambrough-Billingsley’
Feb. 22 — Ventura County UC Master Gardener Open House — ‘Gardening is Elemental,’ to be held at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula
Feb. 22 — CSUCI Hosts Día de Familia to empower families on the path to higher education
Feb. 25 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the acclaimed contemporary dance troupe Batsheva Dance Company in MOMO at the Granada Theatre
Feb. 26 — Nate’s Place in Oxnard to feature keynote speaker Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge Kevin Briggs for second anniversary event
Feb. 27; March 11 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents four exciting additions to the Winter quarter calendar
Feb. 28 — ‘Destination Wellness Health Fair’ to be held at Oxnard Performing Arts Center
March 1 — Central Coast Astronomical Society to hold community stargazing event
March 1 — Mystic Whaler, the educational schooner, will be offering a Dockside Plankton Lab at Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard
March 1, 2 — The Little Mermaid makes a splash in Santa Barbara with world premiere at the Lobero Theatre!
March 6 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents two nights, two programs of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Arlington Theatre
March 6 — Dementia Beyond Drugs & Disease Symposium to be held in Oxnard
March 11 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents a FREE screening and panel discussion of the inspiring documentary Facing the Falls at UCSB Campbell Hall
March 12 — Cottage to host FREE Virtual Meet the Doctor
March 14 — Bilingual report — Public Invited to Community Forum on Cannabis Odor in Carpinteria
March 14 — Bilingual report — Community Partners in Caring to present Santa Maria Valley Senior Expo
March 14, 15, 16 — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! to present Las Guaracheras in free concerts
March 15 — Santa Paula Arts Museum presents reception for Ojai artist Anne Ward’s ‘Painted Seasons’
March 15 — Paradise Cove Beach Café Hosts ‘Day of Hope’ for Those Impacted by the Palisades and Eaton Fires
March 16 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art offering free admission during SoCal Museums Annual Free-For-All Day
March 20 — Ballet Hispánico makes it’s Thousand Oaks debut with CARMEN.maquia
March 21 — District 2 Supervisorial Leadership & Excellence Awards
March 22 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art hosts launch of second novel by acclaimed author Sameer Pandya at Parallel Stories
March 27 — County of Ventura District 2 Supervisor Jeff Gorell — Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council to meet
March 29 — Young children and families welcome at CSUCI’s 3rd annual Dia de los Niños
March 29 — SEEAG’s ‘Farm Day Every Day’ tour of McGrath Family Farm
March 29 — Ventura County Fire Dept. honoring Fire Engineer Tommy Minadeo
Through March 31 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to present The Pastel Society of the Gold Coast Group Exhibition ‘The Living Ocean’
April 1 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the 40th Anniversary Tour of Santa Barbara Favorite the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at UCSB Campbell Hall
April 2, 23 — Allan Hancock College celebrates National Poetry Month
April 6; May 11, 31 — Mystic Whaler upcoming events
April 8 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the sensational Circa with their next-level circus performance Humans 2.0 at the Lobero Theatre
April 9 — Bilingual report — Ventura Police host Coffee with a Cop fundraiser to support Autism acceptance
April 10 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Akram Khan, director and choreographer, in GIGENIS, the generation of the Earth at the Granada Theatre
April 11 — Bilingual report — Westpark Community Center in Ventura hosts free Summer Showcase event
April 12 through 30 — Spring into Fun at The Collection at RiverPark with festive activities
April 16 — Community Environmental Council (CEC) in Santa Barbara to hold next Climates Stewards course
April 17 — Cottage Heart & Vascular Center presents free virtual Meet the Doctor
April 25 — Ventura County Leadership Academy’s 30th Cohort to Host Trivia Night Fundraiser for Mountain Fire Relief
April 26 — People’s Self-Help Housing — Join us for the 2025 Builder Games!
April 26, 27 — Save the Date: Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Returns to Alameda Park
April 27 — Ventura Charter School hosts 14th Annual EcoFest!
April 29 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Engineer and Former NASA Astronaut José Hernández at UCSB Campbell Hall
May 17-18 — 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival to be held in Ventura
May 30 — Save the Date — United Way of Ventura County to present ‘Women United Luncheon – Power of the Purse’
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program presents Free Grief & Bereavement Support Groups
Bereavement counseling can offer the support you need to help you through your grief. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program offers both individual (one-on-one) counseling with trained bereavement counselors/therapists and group counseling.
All support groups are free for the community.
Continuing — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care Bereavement Class – Loss of Loved One
SANTA BARBARA — Continuing — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care Bereavement Class – Loss of Loved One. An ongoing support group held each month. Presented by Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, Santa Barbara. Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, 2:00 –…
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program to present Survivors of Suicide Loss Grief Support Group
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one due to suicide, do not hesitate to join our Survivors of Suicide Loss grief support group. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program are committed to maintaining an open, accepting, confidential atmosphere. All free of charge.
Survivors of Suicide Loss meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program to present Children & Teens Grief Support Groups
VENTURA COUNTY — Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one, This is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program provides two free support groups, Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). These groups will run from October 5th through November 9th on Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.
Continuing — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program to present new Men’s Grief Support Group
Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program announces a new Men’s Grief Support Group. The group is for men grieving the death of a loved one. It will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, via Zoom. If interested, please contact us at 805-389-6870. For more information, visit LMVNA.org
Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program support groups are committed to maintaining an open, accepting, confidential atmosphere. We also offer individual, couple, and family grief counseling in English and Spanish.
Continuing — Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice offering free monthly classes for those with Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice offers free monthly classes for those with Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes. Learn about meal planning, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, medication management, and new developments for living with diabetes.
Continuing — Camarillo Hospice Announces Ongoing Support Groups
CAMARILLO — When a death occurs, we experience a variety of emotions and feelings that can make us feel as though we are navigating unfamiliar and challenging territory. We need support and although family and friends are important, they may…
Continuing Grief Support Groups at Livingston’s Camarillo Grief Center
CAMARILLO — Livingston’s Camarillo Grief Center is adding new grief support groups that cater to specific bereavement needs this coming January. These close-ended support groups are Adult Loss of Parent (February 6th through March 26th), Parent Loss of Child (March 7th through May 9th), and Adult Loss of Sibling (March 26th through May 7th). For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.
Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Last Chance to Make a Difference in 2024!
The clock is ticking! This is your last chance to donate in 2024 and support SBCFAN’s vital work to strengthen Santa Barbara County’s food system.
Every dollar counts, and your contribution goes directly toward building programs that empower our local food producers, tackle food inequity, and create a more resilient, sustainable future. With your help, we’ve already accomplished so much this year, and with your continued support, 2025 will be even brighter.
CSUCI staff member/alumna plays young Jenni Rivera in a major motion picture about the superstar’s life
CAMARILLO — A CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) alumna and current employee is appearing in a major motion picture about music superstar Jenni Rivera, who succeeded in the male-dominated world of banda, mariachi, and norteñogenres of regional Mexican music.
STEM Transfer Outreach Coordinator Tatiana Juarez, who graduated with a degree in Health Science, plays young Jenni Rivera in the movie “Jenni,” which was released Friday, Dec. 6 in select theaters and on a bilingual streaming service called ViX.
Juarez, who is part of the first generation in her family to earn a college degree, was born in Ventura and raised in Oxnard. Her parents grew up in the U.S. after being brought here from Mexico as children. Juarez’s mom works as a medical clerk and her dad works a variety of jobs related to construction and architecture.
Bilingual report — Mayor Pedro Chavez and Vice Mayor Carlos Juarez Assume Prominent Roles in Santa Paula City Council
SANTA PAULA — In a ceremonial meeting held on the evening of Dec. 11, 2024, the City of Santa Paula celebrated the appointment of Pedro Chavez as the City’s 123rd Mayor and Carlos Juarez as Vice Mayor. The meeting also marked the swearing-in of newly elected Councilmember Gabriela Ornelas, the election of Councilmember and former Mayor, Leslie Cornejo, and a heartfelt recognition of outgoing Councilmember and former Mayor Andy Sobel for his six years of dedicated service.
Well-known for his service to the city and his ties to the community, Mayor Chavez, who was appointed Vice Mayor in 2023, expressed his gratitude and vision for the future:
“Thank you to the People of Santa Paula for allowing me to serve as a Member of the Santa Paula City Council these past two years and my sincerest gratitude to my Council colleagues for electing me as the 123rd Mayor of this extraordinary City. My leadership, skills, and talents are built upon the foundation of thirty years of experience working in both the public and private sector and my journey as an immigrant in search of the American dream, so I’m deeply honored – as a public servant – to work collectively to revitalize Santa Paula and build its future through shared governance and community engagement.”
Bilingual commentary — The Devastating Costs of Mass Deportations
One of the factors that swept Donald Trump back into power and onto the world stage was his inexhaustible and malicious exaggeration of the “immigrant problem.” Images of immigrants eating pets and walking into kitchens and slitting our throats danced in his supporters’ heads as they marked their ballots last month.
Many of us realize, intuitively, that “mass deportation” of “all the illegals” is hardly possible without great damage to the American economy and to our personal lives.
Not wanting to rely on my “intuition,” I searched online for some hard numbers. The information I uncovered was shocking. A “special report” by the American Immigration Council (AIC) laid out the devastating consequences of such a massive operation.
Guest contribution — American Immigration Council — This Week in Immigration
Biden makes critical last-minute change to help combat USCIS backlogs. More options available. Immigrant farmworkers make our holiday meals possible
***
President Biden has just over one month left in office. He can still take decisive action to protect people at risk of indiscriminate immigration enforcement.
Among other priorities, the Council encourages the administration to protect DACA recipients; extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status for certain countries; and rescind remaining Trump-era immigration regulations.
Read more: Urgent Last Requests for the Biden Administration
Bilingual report — Kaiser Permanente: Feeling Stressed This Holiday Season? You’re Not Alone
There’s a common perception that the holiday season is a time for joy and happiness. After all, as the saying goes, ‘It’s the best time of the year.’
But for many people, the holidays actually present themselves to be a very stressful time that may cause anxiety and depression for a variety of reasons.
“Feeling lonely and stressed during the holidays is a common experience for many,” said Dr. Neel Doshi, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “The stress is often triggered by factors like the absence of loved ones, social isolation, unmet expectations around the festive season, comparisons to idealized holiday portrayals, and the added pressure of family gatherings and gift-giving.
State announces new rule requiring advance notice of agricultural pesticide use
“We’ve been fighting for better protections from hazardous pesticides for many years, including the simple right to know about planned chemical use in our neighborhoods,” said Noemi Chico, a teacher’s assistant in Salinas. “California has taken a step in the right direction, but what we really need to know is whether an application is planned for next door or a mile across town.”
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County — Did You Know ….
SJFVC is more than meets the eye …
“We didn’t realize how much the Social Justice Fund Board and Staff does for the Fellows – it’s more than just grants; it’s a recipe to cultivate leaders consisting of mentorship, coaching, business skills education and support.” ~ Meenal and Kris Kelkar, longtime donors.
Bilingual report — Santa Barbara farming family dedicates lands to support recovery of iconic endangered Gaviota Coast plant
SANTA BARBARA — When the Harris family’s real estate agent unexpectedly disclosed the presence of Gaviota tarplant, a federally endangered plant, on the property of their potential dream farm back in 2021, they had to make a choice: should they look elsewhere or embrace it?
“Part of me thought it was pretty scary having an endangered species on the property, but then the other part of me thought about how exciting it was,” said Craig Harris, as he recounted the important decision he and his wife, Aira, had to make about whether or not to move forward with the purchase of the property north of Arroyo Hondo Creek off U.S. Highway 101. “In the end, we embraced the journey and said, alright, let’s do this.”