The State of California has announced that places of worship can now offer services indoors following the industry guidance with modifications. Indoor activities must be limited to the State’s interim capacity of 25%.
View the guidance for places of worship at the following link: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship–en.pdf. The State has noted that the guidance is in the process of being updated. Once updated a new link will be shared.
We’re swinging into this weekend with huge smiles on our faces because we know you’re going to love the Museum’s newest virtual exhibit! Newbury Park artist Anette Power’s Silver Linings: Journey of Light is now online. Power’s exhibit is over two years in the making, and is a love letter to living even in the midst of great change and challenges.
Click here to enjoy the online exhibit. All of the artworks in the exhibit are available for purchase. Silver Linings will also be on view at the Santa Paula Art Museum when Ventura County museums are able to reopen to the public.*
After seemingly running an extensive disinformation campaign and spending close to a million dollars on contracted canvassers, the oil and gas industry succeeded in collecting enough signatures to pause Ventura County’s newly-won oil and gas regulations, and send them to the ballot instead, according to a media release by Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG).
America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College will re-open Saturday, Feb. 6 just in time to celebrate the 7th birthday of Ira the lion, King of the Campus.
The community is invited to celebrate with Ira in-person or virtually. Ira’s birthday party will be live streamed from noon to 12:30 p.m. so people at home won’t miss a thing as in-person guests visit Ira in his new home, appropriately named “Ira’s Kingdom.”
The COVID-19 vaccine dashboard was launched on Friday to keep the community informed on the progress of administering COVID-19 vaccines. The dashboard is updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The data shows that in very simple terms “when we get it, we give it”. We want you to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. When we receive the vaccines, we open appointments and administer them.
County Assessor Tom J. Bordonaro, Jr.would like to remind all homeowners, disabled veterans, and eligible non-profit organizations that they may file claims for exemptions.
The Homeowner’s Exemption exempts up to $7,000 in taxable value of a property if the claim is timely filed or postmarked by February 16, 2021 and up to $5,600 if filed late (postmarked by December 10, 2021). If you received your Homeowner’s Exemption last year, and you still own and occupy the same property this year, you do not need to file again. Your exemption automatically remains in place.
A second COVID-19 mutation has been detected in Ventura County. An Oxnard sewage study result revealed the presence of a second mutation in a small amount of the COVID virus present in the sample. Oxnard has been testing samples of its wastewater on a weekly basis for a number of weeks. The new mutation was identified as N501Y. It is present in both the United Kingdom and South African variants.
The Law Office of Renee M. Fairbanks is delighted to welcome Natalia Duque to its team of exceptional family law attorneys.
A graduate of Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia, Duque is an experienced and dedicated family lawyer with a passion for helping clients navigate the legal hurdles associated with divorce and custody matters. Prior to joining the Law Office of Renee M. Fairbanks, she practiced family law in Texas. She’s worked on a wide variety of complex family law cases and is adept at assisting clients from a range of backgrounds.
Duque is bilingual in Spanish and English, and grew up in Colombia. She is uniquely equipped to help expatriate clients facing divorce as she understands the intricacies of these cases.
Latinos in the U.S. have created the world’s eighth-largest economy. How did they do it? Essentially, through hard work and larger families. Yet these very elements that enabled them to build the world’s eighth-largest economy also make Latinos a special target of COVID-19.
Latinos’ strong work ethic means that Latino households have more wage earners per household than non-Hispanic white households. Nationally, Latinos have an average of 1.6 wage earners per household, compared to 1.2 for non-Hispanic white households. This means that Latino households have more adults leaving the house every day, who are then often exposed to coronavirus-positive clients and co-workers during work hours.
At this week’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department on COVID-19.
The good news is that from January 11th to January 25th, we’ve seen a 23% decrease in active cases and a 42% decrease in hospitalized cases. We’ve experienced decreases in most of our County areas, with the exception of the City of Santa Barbara and in Isla Vista.
We are administering almost double the state median for daily COVID-19 tests.
In response to noted gaps in access to health care locally, CenCal Health, the publicly-sponsored health plan for Medi-Cal in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, is implementing a Network Access Improvement program. The program will focus on increasing primary and specialty care capacity for local Medi-Cal members, as well as improving access to care for children and disabled members. These priorities will be accomplished in two ways – by recruiting new medical professionals to the network, and by funding specialized medical equipment such as vaccine refrigerators and exam room apparatus that accommodates the needs of mobility-impaired patients.
The California Strawberry Festival, which had been set for May 15 and 16 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard, is officially cancelled and will not be rescheduled for 2021 because of the continuing public health crisis due to COVID-19.
“We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment, not only to the thousands of guests we welcome every year, but also to the sponsors, exhibitors, performers, vendors and volunteers who help make the Festival what it is,” says Dean Kato, Chairman of the California Strawberry Festival.
Leadership may very likely be on your mind, with changes of leaders happening now at the national level, leaders at the state level recently announcing decisions over budgets and policy, and local leaders governing critical issues and responses to covid and vaccines – leadership seems to be in our collective focus! And of course leadership matters, to get us through hard times and challenges, solve tough issues, and to do good and difficult things, that are best accomplished in unity. At People’s we have multiple great leaders in dozens of departments, set to lead us into the new year, and ready for starting a new chapter altogether. Each is skilled in motivating the individuals within their groups toward reaching our company’s goals, in giving focused guidance for directing our activities toward implementing our strategic plan, and thereby meeting the needs of our communities. Leaders aren’t successful though without greatness coming out through those around them, to do the hard work that is required to make the mission happen.
The new year means new, virtual art classes at the Santa Paula Art Museum! While the physical Museum remains closed due to COVID restrictions, you can still enjoy the joy and solace that art and community offer by taking a live, online art class with one of the Santa Paula Art Museum’s incredible teaching artists. Discover a new skill or passion in 2021! Reserve your spot in class at www.santapaulaartmuseum.org.
This year, we’ll also be acknowledging Araw ng mga Patay, the Filipino Dia de Muertos.
ARTISTS
Oxnard Art Studio · John del Rosario · Christina Hartman · SketchCrow · Bioket · Blotcampa · Abigail Mildbrandt · Creations by Cat · NPC Art Store · Art By Ambzy
SPECIAL GUESTS
Trendi Eats · Mexican Consulate of Oxnard · TessiEats
Adam Lopez, Community Relations Commissioner for City of Oxnard
PERFORMANCES
Kalpulli Huitzilin Ihuan Xochitl (Aztec Ceremony + Dancing)
Ballet Folklorico Mestizo of Oxnard College
Grupo Folklórico Fusión Mexicana
Poets Jesus and Sarahi Noyola, Angelina Leaños · Korpsx
Tierra & Malo to perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard.
Click here for tickets
Your tickets from the previously scheduled event will be honored on this date.
Tierra was named “Best R&B Vocal Group” by four leading magazines, including Billboard. They started their career in East Los Angeles with a blend of rock, pop, jazz, R&B and salsa. The result was a Latin R&B rhythm which produce classics like “Together,” “Gonna Find Her,” “Memories” and “Zoot Suit Boogie.” Founded in 1972, the band has performed internationally and continues to perform with their unique smooth and soulful sounds. Throughout Tierra’s history, Rudy Salas has been, and continues to be, the leader of the band.
historic downtown Santa Paula with Rev. Maddie Sifantus, who will begin with a convocation. The procession will be led by Javier Gómez and Lorenzo Lencho Moraza with traditional Las Posadas music provided by Inlakech Cultural Arts Center and De Colores Music youth groups. Mayor Rev. Jenny Crosswhite of First Christian Church, Elvia Hernandez of Esperanza/Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and Pastor Lupita Alonso of El Buen Pastor Church will participate.
December is a month where we celebrate the closing of our year; a time filled with excitement and anticipation of the joy we are sure to share together during the holidays. Our time of family and community renewal will be greatly altered this year by the COVID-19 pandemic as the virus continues to spread at a slow, yet aggressive, burn. Social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and intermittent lockdowns have become the new normal and move many of us to come together and connect in creative new ways. The approvals of vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna, bring hope of increased protection and prevention of the COVID-19 virus; local rollout is here and it could not come soon enough. In Ventura County and around the world, health professionals and epidemiologists can agree on two things: COVID-19 is here to stay, and the future depends on the part we play to stop the spread and — perhaps most importantly — the choices we take together as a community in doing so!
Happy New Year!
The countdown to 2021 has begun! While it’s “out with the old, in with the new” in pretty much every other respect this year, we felt compelled to bring back one of the Santa Paula Art Museum’s most inspiring exhibits from years past for auld lang syne (for the sake of old times).
From 2011 to 2013, Santa Paula artists Gail Pidduck and John Nichols embarked on a community portrait project so that they could better know and appreciate the people in their hometown. Their Santa Paula Portrait Project is now in the Museum’s permanent collection, and you can view the exhibition in its entirety online.
One of the quotes that the exhibit leaves viewers with is this one: “We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”
Our thoughts exactly this new year.
There are 405 new cases of COVID-19.
There have been 5 additional deaths: 59 year old female, 79 year old male, 86 year old male, 76 year old male, and a 107 year old male. These are our community members, these are moms, dads, grandparents, friends, husbands, wives, neighbors. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and the medical staff that cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance. Please protect your loved ones and your neighbors.
4,355 new tests performed.
Current doubling time is 44.1 days. What is doubling? Simply put, it’s how many days it takes for the number of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations or deaths to double. The shorter the time frame, the steeper the curve and the faster the growth.
Current hospitalizations: 375 and current ICU: 70. 0.8% Adult ICU Bed Availability in Ventura County.
Your tax-deductible donation will work to improve the quality of life through homeownership and financial stability for all members of our community.
2020 UPDATE FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS:
Did you know the CARES Act could help reduce
or even eliminate your 2020 income tax:
If you itemize deductions, you can deduct up to 100% of your adjusted gross income.
If you don’t itemize deductions, you can claim a charitable deduction of up to $300
Businesses can deduct up to 25% of taxable income
Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd, 10-7 this location requires pre-registration at www.vccovid.com
Freedom Park, Camarillo, 515 Eubanks St., 10-7 this location requires pre-registration at www.vccovid.com
Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave, 10-7 this location requires pre-registration at www.vccovid.com
Santa Paula E. Main and N. Ojai 10-7 (no pre-registration at this location)
We are asking for your support. Whatever you can give at this time will ensure that this regional history and art institution will be able to continue to fulfill its ongoing mission of preserving and protecting our history.
As we move through these uncertain times, keeping our community connected is more important than ever.
If you can, please give generously and consider becoming a monthly donor today, so we can build the best tomorrow – together.
There are 993 new cases of COVID-19
There are 11 additional deaths 86 year old female, 96 year old female, 81 year old male, 70 year old male, 84 year old male, 83 year old female, 64 year old male, 87 year old female, 100 year old male, 68 year old female, and a 57 year old male, all with comorbidities. We ask that you wear masks, social distance and not gather so that lives can be saved. Please help protect vulnerable community members. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have passed during this time.
9,455 new tests performed
Current doubling time is 38.2 days.
Current hospitalizations: 363 and current ICU: 66.
Ventura County Adult ICU Bed Availability 0.1%
Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd, 10-7 this location requires pre-registration at www.vccovid.com
Freedom Park, Camarillo, 515 Eubanks St., 10-7 this location requires pre-registration at www.vccovid.com
Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave, 10-7 this location requires pre-registration at www.vccovid.com
Ventura County Fairgrounds, Enter on Shoreline Drive 9-6 (walk up location) (*A private company is also offering testing at the fairgrounds for a fee. It’s not the same entrance as the County’s walk up. The County’s tests are free.)
Santa Paula E. Main and N. Ojai 10-7
Westminster Free Clinic, 1800 S “C” Street Oxnard, 10-4
Using active imaginations and active bodies, kids will dive into a world where anything is possible! Physical theatre blends comedy, improvisation, clowning, and acting into a one of a kind learning experience that engages students verbally, physically, visually, and intellectually. Ages 7-11 and 12-16
‘Tis the season for giving, and part of the holiday magic was evident as Ventura Harbor Village hosted a Holiday CAN-Tree Food Drive for Food Share Ventura County this past weekend. The seaside activity was an example of sharing with others who will receive much-needed food this holiday season. Locals and visitors dropped off more than 1,000 canned goods and other food items and donated to the non-profit organization to help make the holidays bright.
When looking back on 2020, there hasn’t been much good news to report. 2020 will go down in history as an epic global disaster in many respects—most notably, in terms of public health and the economy. We are in the middle of yet another COVID-19 pandemic surge and as the contagion strengthens its hold, employment opportunities continue to weaken and housing threatened. Some businesses are temporarily closed, hunkering down to ride out the storm, while others – in food, hospitality, entertainment and personal care services – are shuttered for good. Here at home and across the nation, the number of people living in poverty has grown by eight million since May, according to researchers at Columbia University’s Center on Poverty & Social Policy.
We wouldn’t put it past 2020 to give the central coast a snowstorm. Several Museum staff members have “Snow on the Beach” on their 2020 bingo cards. If you think that’s unlikely, you might be surprised to know that Ventura County’s coastal areas have seen snow several times in recent history.
The winter of 1948-1949 was a cold one and by January 8, 1949 the County suffered over $1 million in crop losses. There was a cold snap the first week of January that split the bark of citrus trees in Wheeler Canyon.
As COVID-19 cases across the state soar, Metrolink – Southern California’s regional passenger train service – is again stepping up efforts to keep safe and healthy its riders and employees, the essential workers keeping our communities functioning. Today, Metrolink announced the addition of new, state-of-the-art antimicrobial air filters on all its train cars to ensure the air passengers breathe throughout their journey is safe and clean.
In March, Metrolink began implementing a new multi-faceted health and safety program to keep riders and Metrolink employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include a face-mask requirement at station platforms and aboard trains, enhanced cleaning and sanitizing measures, and partnerships with leading health and safety institutions for guidance on health matters.
As the year comes to an end, we want to take a minute out of the bustling holiday season to thank our Executive Committee. The leadership team established the Network and provided the input, support, and guidance imperative to our growth and success. Santa Barbara County Food Action Network was established in 2019 to support efforts that advance the goals of the Food Action Plan. We work year-round to connect, align, and activate food system change makers in order to develop a robust local food economy; a healthy and just community; and a well-stewarded, resilient foodshed. We rely on our Network leadership to direct our efforts and support our ongoing work.
Greetings from the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County (SJFVC). This update is the last of 2020, a very tough year for all with the pandemic and a toxic political atmosphere. Despite all this difficulty, I take heart that there are many people, young people, struggling for fairness and equity, and trying to bend the arc of history towards justice. SJFVC, thanks to our donors and supporters, has been able to support this effort. Here is the latest update:
There are 737 new cases of COVID-19
There have been 6 additional deaths: 68 year old female, 96 year old female, 63 year old female, 86 year old male, 96 year old female and 95 year old female. Those that passed away had comorbidities. Our thoughts are with their loved ones during this time.
4,317 new tests performed
Current doubling time is 28.6 days.
Current hospitalizations: 326 and current ICU: 67.
Please help bring down the numbers during this critical time.
KidSTREAM, Ventura County’s children’s museum, is moving into a new stage of growth as plans develop to open the museum to the public in 2021. kidSTREAM’s board is growing strategically by adding two members, Hillary McLoughlin and Jake Furlow, whose strengths and experiences will help guide the emerging children’s museum opening.
“We are incredibly honored to have Hillary and Jake join our team as we ramp up to open,” said kidSTREAM Executive Director, Michael Shanklin, “We are equally thrilled that both new directors bring experience, strength, and passion to serve the children of our region.”
It’s hard to know what to say at the close of a year like this one, so we thought we’d leave it to artists Jessie Arms Botke and Cornelis Botke and a new virtual exhibit of their famous handmade holiday cards.
We’ve said it before, but it’s very much worth repeating: all of us here at the Santa Paula Art Museum are so grateful to our community, members, donors, docents, teaching artists, board of directors, and fellow staff members for encouraging us to continue the work that we love and believe to be important. Thank you. We wish you a healthy and happy holiday season.
While it remains uncertain when California museums will be able to reopen to the public, the Santa Paula Art Museum already has a lot planned for 2021. Check out our upcoming virtual offerings below!
The holidays are here and for many it is hard to find joy after the year we’ve experienced. This is usually an exciting time to be making wonderful memories with our close friends and family but this year, whether you are grieving the loss of someone special or the loss of normal life due to COVID-19, we all can agree there is an empty space where our typical holiday traditions used to be.
Though grief is a normal part of life, it can be especially difficult to cope with loss during, what is supposed to be, one of the most joyous times of the year. We are all grieving in some way and Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is offering support during this time to help us get through this, from grief counseling, to COVID-19 resources, to Speaker Series and holiday events via Zoom – HSB has created an online community to support those grieving this holiday season.
Ventura County,
There are 731 new cases of COVID-19.
There have been 3 additional deaths (93 year old male, 85 year old female and 68 year old female, all with comorbidities). Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have passed away.
Current doubling time is 37.5 days.
Current hospitalizations: 249 and current ICU: 55.
Thanksgiving Culinary Donations:
Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel- Chef Massimo & Isabel Pfander
Renaud’s Patisserie- Renaud Gonthier & Nancy Vasquez
Anna’s Bakery- Lisa Boelter & Deborah Weber
McDonald’s -Fairview Ave.- Cici Doctolero, Manager
Sprouts- Rod Rufo & Terry Cribbs
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) continues to serve the community in a safe environment during the pandemic.
The BGCGCV has kept six clubs open in a safe and secure environment following all the strict guidelines established by the CDC. Youth are kept in stable monthly cohorts to ensure distancing and safety. To date, the BGCGCV has had no cases of Covid transmission in any of the clubs.
The following COVID-19 testing locations are open today:
Santa Paula Main/Ojai St 10-7
Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Dr 10-7
Oxnard College, 4000 Rose Ave 10-7
Ventura County Fairgrounds 9-6 Shoreline Dr
Constitution Park Camarillo 601 Carmen Dr 9-3:30 pm
Fillmore Middle School 543 A St 10-4 pm
Testing is free. No appointment. It is offered for Ventura County residents or those that work in our County. Testing is for those what are symptomatic or have been exposed.
Just as First Aid helps you assist an individual in a medical crisis, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist a young person experiencing a mental health challenge or substance use issue. Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County and the Mental Wellness Center are encouraging adults in Santa Barbara County to give the “gift of their aid” to our local youth by registering for one of six, free Youth Mental Health First Aid courses being offered in January.
“We know that youth are impacted by school closures and social distancing guidelines, and they may not be forthcoming about the difficulties they are experiencing,” says Annmarie Cameron, Chief Executive Officer for the Mental Wellness Center. “Adults can make a huge difference by getting trained on how to respond to mental health concerns in a young person. Our goal is to train 500 additional community members in 2021.”
December is my favorite month of the year: lights twinkling on houses, a slight chill in the air, and the holiday cheer of neighbors and strangers wishing each other well. While this year’s holiday season looks much different, I’m touched by the generosity of our community and the dedication of our nonprofit partners who find a way to provide their vital services despite the restrictions.
Righetti High School’s ASTRA Club will wrap up its food drive at the end of this week, delivering donated items to families and veterans challenged by these unprecedented times.
The last day to drop off nonperishable items is between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the parking lot in front of the library this Friday. The food drive deliveries begin Friday and continue Monday.
Called a Reverse Advent Calendar Schoolwide Food Drive, students are encouraging each other to give something each day instead of getting something each day.
DO YOU KNOW OF A CHILD IN NEED OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS?
If you know a family who needs help
providing Christmas presents to their children,
please invite them to one of these events.
The following COVID-19 testing locations are open today:
Oxnard College 4000 Rose Ave 10-7
Moorpark College 7075 Campus Rd 10-7
Santa Paula E Main/N Ojai 10-7
El Rio, Revive Community Church 2640 Alvarado St Oxnard 1-7
Community Park, 901 S Kimball Ventura 9-3:30
It has been a time honored tradition during the holiday season for Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. to distribute toys to its pediatric patients. The tradition continues this year as Clinicas’ Toy Giveaway will once again take place throughout Ventura County.
“Now more than ever, we at Clinicas recognize that creating joy during the holiday season contributes to our patient’s health and well-being. That is why Clinicas will be providing free toys to our children throughout the month of December. The only change this year is that due the COVID-19 Pandemic, we will be hosting contactless drive through toy distributions. Our Toy Giveaway is especially meaningful for our patients because for many of them, the toy they receive from Clinicas may be the only toy they receive this holiday season. This event is also impactful because it offers Clinicas staff an opportunity to not only thank our patients, but also meet with the families and community members Clinicas serves outside of their clinical visit. Clinicas wishes everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.” said Clinicas CEO, Roberto S. Juarez.
Local human services agency urges community support to open their hearts and homes to children and older youth in (foster)care, as additional census shows a growth in need during the pandemic. VENTURA — The holidays are a special time of…
As families continue to juggle workloads, family life and educational challenges for their kids during the pandemic, having the support community is needed more than ever.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) has taken a strong leadership role at the onset of the pandemic and continues to provide a safe and academic environment for families who are so in need of this service. Clubs have been open all day since the beginning of the pandemic with zero cases of COVID transmission.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria member Laura Flores, 17, has been selected as one of 11 girls from Girls Inc. affiliates across the U.S. to serve on the 2020-2021 Girls Inc. National Teen Advocacy Council (TAC). Flores will be the second member from the Carpinteria affiliate to serve in this national leadership capacity.
The TAC is a leadership body made up of Girls Inc. high school students (ages 14-18) who advise and inform Girls Inc. National’s advocacy work, by learning about and sharing issues facing girls in their respective communities. TAC members support Girls Inc. advocacy efforts through writing blog posts, sharing messages on social media, and speaking publicly on behalf of the Girls Inc. network.
Delta High School will be teaming up with non-profits and others for a holiday drive-through event that will provide food and other necessities to needy students and their families today.
The outreach starts at 4 p.m. in front of the Ocrutt campus. Families will pick up a basket filled with a blanket, towel, hygiene products and groceries.
“Delta has been great this year,’’ said senior Amando Arozla. “They are doing so much for us and we are very lucky.”
