Category: Family

Bilingual report — Air Quality Alert issued for Ventura County

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is issuing an Air Quality Alert because unhealthy conditions are forecast for Monday, June 16.

Smoke from the Post Fire is expected to cause the Air Quality Index (AQI) to fall in the unhealthy range for everyone. Measured levels of PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, have reached unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Simi Valley area with the potential to reach unhealthy levels for all in the overnight and morning hours. While the largest smoke impact remains near the northeastern portions of Ventura County, elevated levels of PM 2.5 are anticipated to increase in all locations during the Sunday overnight hours and into Monday morning.

Bilingual report — REACH Fellowship in Santa Barbara Announces Summer Trips for REACH Fellows

by Community Contributor • June 14, 2024 • Comments Off

Fellows during their Backpacking Trip, Photo Credit Rob Balloch *** Becarios durante su viaje de mochilero, Crédito de Foto Rob Balloch.

SANTA BARBARA — REACH Fellowship, a leading organization dedicated to empowering students through educational and experiential learning opportunities, is thrilled to announce their summer trips designed to inspire and educate the participants in the program, referred to as Fellows. This year, REACH Fellows will attend a variety of enriching trips, including college tours, backpacking adventures, and culminating experiential trips, both international and domestic. REACH staff carefully select these Fellows during the fall of their junior year of high school through a rigorous selection process, and each cohort is supported through the summer of their first year of college. The primary goal of the program is to support first-generation, low- to moderate-income students in Santa Barbara County. REACH is able to fund the program, these trips, and other workshops through the support of the Audacious Foundation and other generous donors. This support enables us to offer the program to students at no cost to them or their families.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Honoring Pride Month

by Community Contributor • June 14, 2024 • Comments Off

The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) would like to recognize Pride Month. Observed annually in June, Pride Month is a time to uplift and celebrate the the LGBTQ+ community. EDC is committed to supporting LGBTQ+ innovators and entrepreneurs and strives to provide equitable access to inclusive services year-round.

The EDC is proud to support our community by providing professional technical assistance through our Small Business Development Center.

Santa Paula Art Museum — Inbox Art Exhibit: ‘From Field to Frame: The PAC6 Show How It’s Done’

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2024 • Comments Off

On view now through Sunday, July 7, 2024

There are less than four weeks left to see “From Field to Frame: The PAC6 Show How It’s Done” at the Santa Paula Art Museum. PAC6 is a group of six women artists from Southern California who travel and paint together across the country. The artists are Linda Brown, Marian Fortunati, Nita Harper, Debra Holladay, Laura Wambsgans, and Sharon Weaver.

Guest contribution — Ventura County nurses and health care professionals to hold ‘Speak Out’ to save Santa Paula Hospital ICU and birthing center from closure

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2024 • Comments Off

“As an OB nurse at SPH, I have witnessed numerous deliveries within 30 minutes of arrival,” said Carol Lundstrom, RN in the birthing center unit at SPH. “With our unit closed women risk unattended roadside deliveries while on the way to Ventura County Medical Center. There are so many things that can go wrong with a delivery such as pre-eclampsia and hypertensive crisis, where the pregnant woman could seize or have a stroke, or a postpartum hemorrhage where a woman can lose up to half the volume of their blood, or an infant who needs resuscitation. All of these scenarios, require immediate and intensive care by knowledgeable physicians and nurses with specializations in obstetrics.”

Guest contribution — Can you support Friendship Center?

by Community Contributor • June 13, 2024 • Comments Off

We’re 80% of the way to reaching our Spring Campaign goal of $25,000! We just need a few more donors to push us to (or past) our goal; will you help us close the gap and continue providing low-cost, high quality to our beloved senior friends?

Women’s Economic Ventures Chosen as 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year by State Senator Monique Limon

by Community Contributor • June 12, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA AND VENTURA COUNTIES — Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year by California state senator, the Honorable Monique Limon (District 19).

WEV is one of more than one hundred nonprofits to be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.

As a nonprofit dedicated to the economic empowerment of women since 1991, WEV has provided business training and small business advisory services to more than 20,000 people throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. It has made more than $10 million in small business loans and grants, and helped nearly 6,000 local businesses start or expand, generating an estimated $598 million in annual sales and sustaining or creating nearly 12,000 local jobs. Business courses, programs and loans are provided in both English and Spanish.

Santa Paula City Council Reviews Accelerated $19 Million Pavement Management Plan to Address Resident Concerns on Road Conditions

by Community Contributor • June 12, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA PAULA — On May 15, the Santa Paula Public Works Department returned to the City Council to present options for the second five-year cycle of the City’s Pavement Management Plan (PMP). The PMP outlines all regular street maintenance and repair work throughout the City to increase road quality.

The first five-year cycle of the PMP, adopted in 2020, prioritized repairs and maintenance for some of Santa Paula’s worst major thoroughfares, including Harvard Boulevard. Although the City will have addressed 35.6 centerline miles of streets out of 55 with the completion of Phase I, Santa Paula residents still identify poor road conditions in the City as their top concern in a recent community survey and through recent engagement efforts through Santa Paula Speaks.

Family Service Agency (FSA) announces Senior Expo Exhibitor Registration Opens June 14

by Community Contributor • June 12, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency (FSA) today announced that the 33rd Annual Senior Expo of Santa Barbara, the largest active aging fair in our area, will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. Sponsorship and exhibitor registration opens Friday, June 14. Exhibit space is expected to sell out and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Sponsors and exhibitors have the opportunity to engage more than 1,000 local seniors and caregivers with information about products and services to help them lead active, healthy lives.” said Lisa Brabo, FSA CEO. “We are really proud that the Senior Expo, now in its 33rd year, continues to provide a comfortable atmosphere for folks to ask questions and learn about what is available in our community to support them.”

DignityMoves Success Propelled by Partnership with Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara

by Community Contributor • June 11, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — DignityMoves, the organization that has partnered with Santa Barbara County and Good Samaritan Shelter, has received tremendous community and philanthropic support in its effort to reduce homelessness and provide essential services to those in need.

DignityMoves’ appreciates one of our early “believers” whose initial support in 2022 of $75,000 provided both credibility and much positive public attention.

UCSB — The Current — ‘A week’s worth of commencement activities will celebrate 6,875 graduates for 2023–2024’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • June 11, 2024 • Comments Off

With the College of Creative Studies commencement festivities already in the books, eight more ceremonies remain in UC Santa Barbara’s graduation lineup for the Class of 2024.

One805 Announces Kenny Loggins as its 2024 Heart of the Community Award Recipient

by Community Contributor • June 10, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — One805 announces Grammy-winning recording artist Kenny Loggins as its 2024 Heart of the Community Award recipient. The award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding dedication to giving back to the community. Prior recipients have included Kevin Costner, and One805 founding board member Alan Parsons.

Kenny Loggings will receive the award on-stage at the One805Live! Fall Concert on September 20, 2024 at Kevin Costner’s oceanside estate in Summerland. The concert will headline Pink and Dallas Green (City and Color), performing as the duo You + Me.

Port of Hueneme — Make a Splash Joining us at Our World Oceans Day on June 11

by Community Contributor • June 7, 2024 • Comments Off

THIS EVENT WILL INCLUDE:
Special announcement of Port of Hueneme’s decarbonization target date.
A keynote panel of organizations that align with the Port’s mission of growing a blue economy.
Blue Whales Blue Skies Award Ceremony for customers slowing ships and saving whales.
Friend of the Port Award Ceremony for port partners making a difference.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Office of Education Focus on Education June 2024 — Inspiring Stories form the Ventura County Class of 2024

by Community Contributor • June 7, 2024 • Comments Off

They started high school in their bedrooms and at kitchen tables in front of computers, taking classes over Zoom. They’re coming of age at a time when our nation is politically divided, our world is facing war and unrest, and artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of education and work. But the students graduating from Ventura County high schools in 2024 are not deterred. They’re facing the future with a sense of optimism that will take them far as they enter the next stage of their lives.

Bilingual report — Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project — Oxnard Guelaguetza Festival 2024! (June 23)

by Community Contributor • June 7, 2024 • Comments Off

OXNARD — Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) is inviting the public to its annual Oxnard Guelaguetza Festival, which will be held on June 23, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Plaza Park in Oxnard: 500 S. C Street, Oxnard, CA, 93030.

MICOP was founded in 2001 “to support, organize, and empower the Indigenous immigrant community in California’s Central Coast.” MICOP serves over 12,000 unduplicated Indigenous migrant men, women, and children annually across Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo County. MICOP organizes and trains the indigenous migrant community to become self-sufficient and successful members of the broader community.