Category: Family

Bilingual report — Ventura Police Officers’ Association announces 2024 Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship

by Community Contributor • June 6, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The Ventura Police Officers’ Association (VPOA) is proud to announce the 2024 Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship Program, with over $7,000 in scholarships to be awarded to deserving recipients. The application deadline is June 30, 2024.

“It is a privilege to honor the legacy of Sergeant Darlon Dowell by supporting the educational goals of our local students,” said Corporal Joseph Metz, President of the VPOA. “For over 20 years, this scholarship has enabled us to give back to our community and inspire the next generation of public servants.”

The scholarship will be awarded to three applicants who aspire to pursue careers in law enforcement. Funds can be used for college tuition, books, and other educational expenses.

Bilingual report — Celebrate Safely and Enjoy a Dazzling Drone Show in Santa Paula this Fourth of July

by Community Contributor • June 6, 2024 • Comments Off

“While we have many reasons to celebrate in the coming weeks with family and friends, I strongly encourage my fellow Santa Paulans to avoid the use of illegal fireworks,” said Santa Paula Mayor Leslie Cornejo. “Fireworks can create unsafe and dangerous conditions for our entire community, and there are many other ways to celebrate whether it be a family gathering or barbecue, outdoor activities, or attending the Rotary Club and City of Santa Paula’s first ever 4th of July drone show.”

24 cadets graduate Allan Hancock College’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy

by Community Contributor • June 6, 2024 • Comments Off

The graduating recruits of Class #24-127 gathered with friends and family to celebrate the completion of more than 871 training hours required to graduate from the academy and enter careers as peace officers. All of the recruits have been hired by Central Coast law enforcement agencies.

“You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished so far,” Atascadero Police Chief Dan Suttles told the graduates. “You’re just starting your careers and are already well-accomplished.”

Allan Hancock College’s Paramedic Academy celebrates first graduating class

by Community Contributor • June 6, 2024 • Comments Off

Graduating students are employed with local agencies like the San Luis Obispo Fire Department and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

“Be better each and every day,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department Chief Mark Hartwig told the students. “Take a break today and pat yourself on the back. Celebrate for a second, and then set for yourself the next lofty goal.”

First District Supervisor Das Williams — Fire safety, Swimming into Summer

by Community Contributor • June 5, 2024 • Comments Off

This week, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and local fire jurisdictions announced the beginning of the 2024 High Fire Season for all areas of Santa Barbara County.

This is a great reminder of steps you can take to prepare for wildfires:

Maintain Vegetation Clearance: Individuals are advised to maintain proper vegetation clearance around structures to minimize fire risks.
Review and become acquainted with the “Ready! Set! Go!” wildfire action plan, which outlines crucial steps for preparedness and response in the event of a wildfire. For more details, please visit www.sbcfire.com.
Wildfire smoke and ash contain very small particles called particulate matter, which harm the lungs and heart. The best protection against wildfire smoke is to stay indoors as much as possible, ideally in a well-sealed “clean air room” with an air purifier. The Air Pollution Control District (APCD) provides instructions to create a “clean air room” on their website. APCD’s website also provides countywide hourly air quality conditions. People are also encouraged to sign up for Air Quality Alerts issued during wildfires.

People’s Self-Help Housing Receives $50,000 Wells Fargo Foundation Grant for New Resident Financial Program

by Community Contributor • June 5, 2024 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has received a $50,000 grant from Wells Fargo Foundation to jumpstart the new pilot program Wealth Warrior: 2024 Financial Health and Housing for PSHH residents at the Los Adobes de Maria property in Santa Maria.

The three-month financial literacy program, taught by financial educator and author Linda Garcia, will target 25 USDA farmworker households and aims to empower participants to overcome potential financial trauma. By offering practical knowledge and actionable tactics for long-term financial planning, residents will be provided the tools to create a legacy of financial stability and prosperity for their families through wise investment practices and begin building their own stock portfolios.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Area Agency on Aging Legacy Award Nominations Now Open

by Community Contributor • June 5, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The nomination period for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s LEGACY Awards is now open. These awards recognize the contributions of Ventura County residents and businesses that are dedicated to helping older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers, to live optimally.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Sunday, September 1, 2024. The winners will be announced in November. Click here to see to download the nomination.

Oxnard Salsa Festival Is Back This Year

by Community Contributor • June 4, 2024 • Comments Off

Tickets go on sale June 6th at 12 p.m.

Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara — Step Inside the 2024 Gala: Exclusive Photos & Highlights

by Community Contributor • June 4, 2024 • Comments Off

The Gala raised $325,000 which supports the Music Academy’s full-scholarship program that brings 137 fellows from across the country and around the world to study and perform with world-class teaching artists in Santa Barbara during the annual eight week Summer Festival, benefits the Academy’s Sing! Children’s Chorus of Santa Barbara County youth, and subsidizes 3,000 Community Access Tickets for the Santa Barbara community to attend live performances.

Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Grant Update – New Deadline June 7!

by Community Contributor • June 3, 2024 • Comments Off

This deadline extension encourages more applications and outreach as well as creative and out-of-the box proposals that may take more fine tuning or research. Think big — the options are fairly limitless in terms of how you may use these funds. The key is that the proposed projects drive food justice, food sovereignty, and/or agroecological practices. If you would like help workshopping your idea or if you are not sure the project fits within the scope of the grant, please reach out!

Ventura County Office of Education — Meet the 2024 Ventura County Teacher of the Year — Daniel Cook from Adolfo Camarillo High School

by Community Contributor • May 30, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, is pleased to announce that Daniel Cook from Adolfo Camarillo High School (ACHS) in the Oxnard Union High School District is the 2024 Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Cook found out about the honor today when a group of local education officials made a surprise visit to the campus in Camarillo.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Department of Child Support Services named Outstanding Program by Child Support Directors Association of California

by Community Contributor • May 30, 2024 • Comments Off

“Our department strives for excellence in the work we do,” said Department Director Marcus Mitchell. “This prestigious honor highlights the dedication of our incredible team and the importance of child support in families’ lives. We continue proudly serving our community, remaining innovative in our approach and working to ensure children receive consistent emotional and financial support from both parents.”

Ventura Music Festival — Nuvi Mehta on the 2024 Lineup (July 25-28 & Aug. 2-4)

by Community Contributor • May 30, 2024 • Comments Off

Click the video below to explore the nuance and artistry of the 2024 lineup with VMF’s Artistic Director, Nuvi Mehta

CLU School of Management — Watch and Explore the third short video of ‘Separating Myths From Realities’

by Community Contributor • May 29, 2024 • Comments Off

We are delighted to present the third short video in our series that brings attention to the central themes of the recent conference, “Separating Myths from Realities,” hosted by the Center for Economics of Social Issues. Our third video focuses on the vital topic of “Degradation of Undocumented Immigrants”, containing key insights from our esteemed presenter and panelists.

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College celebrates graduates at 2024 commencement ceremony

by Community Contributor • May 28, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College celebrated the achievements of thousands of graduating students at the college’s 103rd commencement?ceremony.

“Today, you are representing the more than 100-year legacy of this college,” said Hancock Board of Trustees President Greg Pensa. “Your contribution to that legacy will continue as you go out into the world and represent Hancock as an alumnus.” ?

More than 570 of those graduates participated in an in-person?commencement?ceremony on the college’s athletics field at its Santa Maria campus on Friday, May 24.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • May 27, 2024 • Comments Off

SBA: EXPLORE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES WITH EMERALD CITIES COLLABORATIVE (ECC)

May 28 @ 10:00 am

Join SBA LADO to explore the benefits of connecting with ECC & take your business to the next level in government contracting. Discover how Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) can support your small business in accessing government contracts. ECC connects you with government agencies, prime contractors and other stakeholders to help you build relationships and secure contracting opportunities.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

First District Supervisor Das Williams — Remembering Those We Have Lost

by Community Contributor • May 27, 2024 • Comments Off

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since our community was struck by a tragic mass killing in Isla Vista. This is a time to remember those we lost: George Chen, Chengyuan “James” Hong, Weihan “David” Wang, Katherine Breann Cooper, Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, and Veronika Elizabeth Weiss. Yesterday, the community gathered together once more as we did after that fateful night in their memory. For the families of the six who were killed, the residents of IV, and the emergency personnel first on the scene, this was a traumatic and unimaginable experience.

Bilingual report — The latest news from the County of Ventura

by Community Contributor • May 27, 2024 • Comments Off

Earlier this month, the County of Ventura hosted a visit from the Senior Advisor on Homelessness for Governor Gavin Newsom, Hafsa Kaka, and Deputy Regional Director of External Affairs, Vishesh Anand.
The visit consisted of a presentation on County efforts to address homelessness and several site visits with local nonprofit partners.

Bilingual commentary — The Impact of the Meat Industry on Climate Change

by Community Contributor • May 23, 2024 • Comments Off

Earlier this month, Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans the manufacture and distribution of lab-grown meat. He righteously declared that he was protecting cattle farmers in his state but then characteristically proceeded to blame the “global elite.” This murky, amorphous force is, according to the governor, surreptitiously foisting its “authoritarian goals” on those of us who would dare to suggest that the meat industry is contributing significantly to climate change. He disparaged the mysterious entities that want to force us to eat “fake meat.”

United Way of Ventura County — 19th Annual Spirit Awards – Save the Date: Aug. 15

by Community Contributor • May 23, 2024 • Comments Off

Exclusive VIP Event Sponsorship Reception at 5 p.m.

Registry and Networking at 6 p.m.

Dinner and Awards from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

UCSB —The Current — ‘Controlling the chaos of active fluids’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • May 23, 2024 • Comments Off

Physicists Cristina Marchetti and Mark Bowick develop design rules that take advantage of topological defects to control flows in active fluids.

In Remembrance of Memorial Day

by Amigos805.com • May 22, 2024 • Comments Off

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Memorial Day honors U.S. military service members who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

In honor of this federal holiday, our office will be closed on Monday, March 27, 2024.

Bilingual report — Students in Allan Hancock College’s noncredit programs recognized

by Community Contributor • May 21, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA MARIA — Students from Allan Hancock College’s noncredit programs were recognized for their accomplishments at a special ceremony on May 17 at the college’s Santa Mara campus.

More than 120 students from a variety of noncredit programs celebrated a diverse range of achievements, including completing English as a Second Language classes, earning their GED or passing their tests for United States Citizenship. Others celebrated earning certificates in computer skills, job training, and classes designed to help them prepare for careers in childcare, tax preparation, and commercial truck driving.

The event’s keynote speaker was Mayte Solis, a chemistry instructor at Santa Maria High School, Hancock alumna and the former coordinator for the college’s AIM to Dream Center.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Brenda Major elected to National Academy of Sciences’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • May 21, 2024 • Comments Off

A distinguished professor emerita in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Major was cited for her pioneering and decades-long body of work on the psychological impacts of prejudice and discrimination.

One805 Announces Headliner for Fall One805LIVE! Event!

by Community Contributor • May 20, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — One805 announced today that Pink and Dallas Green (City and Color) would perform as the duo You + Me at the One805LIVE! event on September 20th at Kevin Costner’s property in Carpinteria. “We are absolutely thrilled that Pink and Dallas Green have agreed to perform at One805LIVE! This year” said Kirsten Cavendish Weston-Smith, CEO of One805. “We already have the legendary Kenny Loggins and his band, and Alan Parsons is Music Director, and will perform, so this is shaping up to once again be an extraordinary event.” Other performers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Allan Hancock College celebrates 2024 transfer students

by Community Contributor • May 20, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College celebrated 2024 graduates who will continue their education at four-year universities at its annual University Transfer Celebration on May 17 at the college’s Santa Maria campus.

Hosted each year by Hancock’s University Transfer Center, the event was an opportunity for Hancock’s transfer students to celebrate their achievements with their friends and family as they prepared for a new chapter in their educational journeys. More than 200 “transfer stars” were invited to this year’s celebration.

Participating students, many wearing apparel from their respective universities, received a commemorative?transfer?medallion, took photos with their soon-to-be university peers, and listened to messages of support from Hancock staff and their fellow?transfer?students.

“This is a chance to celebrate your accomplishments and get excited about your next adventure,” said Hancock’s Associate Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services Genevieve Siwabessy, Ed.D. “We know that wherever you are going next, you will excel.”

Ventura County Animal Services — A.I. Helps Reunite Lost Animals

by Community Contributor • May 20, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) announces its adoption of a revolutionary lost and found platform that leverages facial recognition technology to reunite lost animals with their families faster than ever before. The platform, Petco Love Lost, employs an algorithm that scans lost and found photos uploaded by the public and VCAS, and instantly notifies pet owners if a match is made. Numerous animal welfare organizations already using this platform have reported a substantial increase in animals being reclaimed by their families.

“Between 80%-90% of animals arriving at our shelter come to us as lost/stray. If everyone in Ventura County utilizes the Petco Love Lost platform, it could be the game-changer we have been hoping for!” Stated Randy Friedman, spokesperson for VCAS. “This could be the single greatest advancement in lost and found since microchip implants were introduced in the 1990s!”

Bilingual report — Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) Receives Grant to Continue Support of Hispanic Immigrant Entrepreneurs

by Community Contributor • May 17, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is among a prestigious group of non-profits from around California recently selected to implement the “Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative”. Breaking Barriers is a program of the Foundation for California Community Colleges in partnership with the California Workforce Development Board and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. The program aims to support “historically underrepresented and economically overlooked populations such as veterans, refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals, women of color, and immigrants with pipelines to meaningful employment and quality jobs”. The programs selected promote the “economic success and increased social mobility of these populations while also addressing regional workforce needs and the social and economic inequality impacting California communities.” A full list of the Breaking Barriers 2.0 Awardees can be seen here.

Bilingual commentary — Entrepreneurship for College Graduates

by Community Contributor • May 17, 2024 • Comments Off

Many of today’s young people are looking askance at the concept of traditional work. What they pursue is entirely foreign to earlier generations, especially the boomer cohort, which is currently aging out of the workforce.

The members of “Generation Z,” for example, seek things that the boomer generation never expected to experience and generally never requested: work-life balance, autonomy, creative freedom, and a rapid ascent into the upper strata of income.