Category: Government

Ventura County selects new Public Information Officer

VENTURA — Following a nationwide recruitment that garnered over 130 applicants, the County of Ventura has selected Ashley Bautista as their new Public Information Officer following the retirement of Bill Nash. The position reports to County Executive Officer Mike Powers.…

Bilingual report: Three Political Parties to Permit No Party Preference Voters to Participate in Presidential Primary Election

VENTURA — The American Independent, Democratic, and Libertarian parties adopted a party rule allowing No Party Preference voters to participate in their March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election. The Republican, Green, and Peace and Freedom parties did not adopt this rule.…

Bilingual report — Ventura County Veterans Services Office Helps Veterans Reclaim Their Lives

VENTURA — For Tom, joining the Navy at barely eighteen brought him a deep sense of pride and community. For the first time he truly felt part of something and even today, he still smiles when he recalls handling radio communications…

Carnegie Art Cornerstones — Closing Reception Trabaj/Ho / Upcoming Exhibition Retrograde at Carnegie Studio Gallery

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   Carnegie Studio Gallery will be CLOSED for installation of the upcoming exhibition January 5 – Jan 31, 2020. RETROGRADE  Retrograde simultaneously showcases rapidly progressing information technology and media interactivity as well as thoughtfully…

Bilingual poetry of Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda selected for display at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico City

Courtesy photos. Photo credits: Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior SRE) Binational Congress Dic 5, 2019, ClaryArts – Clara Victoria Martínez Rojas SANTA MARIA — The bilingual poetry of Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda was recently selected and…

Ventura County Board of Supervisors approve extension of contract for County Executive Officer

VENTURA — On Tuesday, December 17, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to extend the contract for County Executive Officer, Mike Powers, through December 2024.  Each of the five Board members commented on the excellent work of Powers, citing…

City of Oxnard announces closures, reminders for Christmas, New Year’s Day Holidays

OXNARD — Residents and businesses are reminded that City Hall and many City departments will be closed for the upcoming holidays. The holiday office hours are listed below. HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS AND CLOSURES Tuesday, Dec. 24:     City Hall and…

Clean Air Grants Reduce Smog and Focus on Environmental Justice

VENTURA COUNTY — On November 12, 2019, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board approved $3.5 million in emission reduction grants for Ventura County businesses. This year’s grants will help pay for new, lower-emission equipment to replace 54 older, higher-pollution…

Jackson Bills, Including Women on Corporate Boards Requirement, In Effect Jan 1

SACRAMENTO –California’s publicly held corporations have until January 1, 2020 to add at least one woman to their boards as a result of legislation authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) . SB 826, signed into law by Governor…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) Receives Significant Donation from Gene Haas Foundation

AGOURA HILLS — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) is pleased to announce a $10,000 donation from the Gene Haas Foundation to benefit the BGCGCV’s TechGen STEM Program. Through the TechGen STEM program the BGCGCV is: Expanding…

Ventura County reaches agreement on new three-year contract with Service Employees International Union

VENTURA — The Ventura County Executive Office is pleased to announce a new three-year labor contract with the Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents 4,500 of the County’s approximate 9,000 employees. SEIU Local 721 informed County management on December…

Clean Air Grant Helps Ojai Reduce Smog, Toxic Air Contaminants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

VENTURA — On December 12, 2019, the City of Ojai celebrated the successful conversion of its gasoline-powered landscaping equipment to zero-emissions, electric-powered alternatives.  This conversion was supported in part by a $60,000 Clean Air Fund grant approved by the Ventura County…

Port of Hueneme Shatters Record: Closes Out 2019 with 1.65 Million Cargo Tons & 2,201 New Jobs

PORT OF HUENEME — Santa’s sleigh has been doubling as a boat this year, helping bring record cargo into the Port of Hueneme. The Port delivers another record breaking year for cargo, jobs, tax revenues, and economic impact. Cargo grew by…

Ventura County School Data Available in 2019 Dashboard

VENTURA COUNTY — A wealth of data about the performance of Ventura County schools and districts is now available in the 2019 California School Dashboard, which was released today by the California Department of Education (CDE). In addition to reporting on…

Member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley is a Recipient of the Ventura County Transportation Commission Art Contest

Artwork Takes to the Road CONEJO VALLEY — Tariq Ali, age 13 and member of the Rocky & Lon Morton Boys & Girls Club in Newbury Park was one of the winners of the Ventura County Transportation Commission’s (VCTC) Art…

Visit Oxnard Launches New Holiday Ad

OXNARD — Visit Oxnard is putting a unique spin on the holiday season with a new ad recently launched on its social media channels. The 30-second ad, filmed by local cinematographers, Steel Cut Productions, features a cast of familiar Oxnard faces…

Bilingual report: Volunteers needed to assist in annual homeless count in Ventura County

VENTURA —  Community volunteers are needed for the annual count and survey of homeless persons in Ventura County. The 2020 Ventura County Homeless Count has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 29, 2019. The annual Homeless Count is coordinated by the…

Established in 1969, HACSB blossomed from 27 Monteria family apartments to 1,369 owned and managed housing units and two new projects slated to open in 2020

SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is pleased to announce that 2019 marks the agency’s 50th anniversary. Established in 1969, HACSB is at the forefront of solving our local housing crisis by working to…

Período de Nominación para la Elección Primaria Presidencial del 3 de marzo de 2020 se Extiende para Dos Cargos

VENTURA – – El Secretario-Registrador, Registrador de Votantes Mark A. Lunn anunció la extensión del período de nominación hasta las 5:00 p.m. el miércoles, 11 de diciembre de 2019, para dos cargos que están programados a ser votados en la Elección…

Catch the ‘ELF on the GO’ Holiday Bus at a Stop Near You

Ride Gold Coast Transit District’s decorated holiday bus, December 4th – January 4th~ OXNARD — Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), with support from Montecito Bank and Trust and Rubberneck Signs, is excited to announce the fourth annual appearance of its…

Bilingual report: Free Sand and Sandbags Available for Oxnard Residents at City’s Corporate Yard

OXNARD — In advance of the rainy weather being forecast for this week, the City of Oxnard would like to remind residents that free sand and unfilled sandbags are available at the City’s Corporate Yard. Residents will be able to come…

Downtown Oxnard — Shop Small on Saturday, Nov. 30

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   HOME FOOD SHOPS EVENTS Shop Small on Saturday, Nov. 30 Looking for “the gift that keeps on giving?” When you shop with independent neighborhood merchants, more of your money stays in your community…

Visit Oxnard Announces ’12 Days of Giveaways Contest’

OXNARD — Visit Oxnard is spreading holiday cheer with its annual “12 Days of Giveaways” contest, which runs from December 9-20. Each day, Visit Oxnard will feature “one rapper rapping” the giveaway items on Facebook and Instagram.  The prizes include overnight…

Bilingual report: City of Oxnard Celebrates the Holidays at the 12th Annual Tamale Festival on Dec. 7

OXNARD — The community is invited to celebrate the holiday season at the City of Oxnard’s annual Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7  from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Plaza Park (500 S. C St.) in Downtown Oxnard. The…

Bilingual report: Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Lunn Elected President of County Recorders’ Association of California

VENTURA — The County Recorders’ Association of California unanimously elected Mark Lunn, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters, as President of the Association at their annual conference. The County Recorders’ Association of California is comprised of approximately 350 members representing all…

Bilingual report: AVID Students in Ventura Unified School District Outperform Students Nationally

VENTURA — The Ventura Unified School District has released new 2018-2019 data on the success of last year’s graduating class of students participating in the District’s AVID program. AVID is a nationally-recognized program that helps students navigate the college application…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner to apply for Cal FIRE grant to remove diseased trees and mitigate fire hazards

VENTURA — The Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner has submitted a request to Cal FIRE to receive a grant to offset the costs of removal of dead and diseased trees throughout the County. In recent years, the infestation of Invasive Shot…

Thanksgiving came early for Delta High School

SANTA MARIA — Thanksgiving came early for Delta High School students and staff. The “Delta Thanksgiving Feast” and activities was held Nov. 22 at the Orcutt campus. About 340 students and 30 staff were expected to get stuffed. “Delta is one…

National Weather Service recognizes CSUCI as ‘StormReady’

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) efforts to prepare the campus for fire, flood or windstorms have earned the University a “StormReady” designation from the National Weather Service (NWS). CSUCI is one of just three campuses in the CSU system to…

Bilingual report: Ojai Independent Study students get to the bottom of improving recycling methods with VCPWA for America Recycles Day

Ventura County Public Works Agency to encourage community on waste management solutions at collection event, Nov. 18-19 VENTURA COUNTY — Small changes make a big difference in the environment, especially with regards to waste management and the way the community recycles.…

Bilingual report: Ventura County receives $20 million settlement from Southern California Edison for wildfire claims

VENTURA COUNTY — The County of Ventura has agreed to a $20.8 million settlement with Southern California Edison to resolve claims resulting from the 2017 Thomas Fire and the 2018 Woolsey Fire. After costs and attorney’s fees, the County will…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Human Services Agency Launches Community Events and Resources Hub

VENTURA — As a service to the community, the County Human Services Agency launched an online Community Events and Resources page which highlights workshops and resources offered by public and nonprofit agencies that may be of benefit to agency clients, staff,…

Ventura County Civic Alliance — Welcome to Our Fall 2019 Livable Communities Newsletter!

Livable Communities Newsletter Vol. 13, No. 52 November 2019 Quick Links – See the Current State of the Region Report – Last Quarter’s Newsletter   Join us at the Ventura County Civic Alliance! Welcome to Our Fall 2019 Livable Communities Newsletter!  The…

CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson honored at annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service on Nov. 15

CAMARILLO — CAL FIRE Engineer Cory David Iverson will be honored at the annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony on Friday, November 15, 2019, at 10 a.m. The event will take place on the lawn surrounding the memorial at the Ventura County…

Housing Project Serving Homeless Veterans Set to Open in Santa Barbara End of February, 2020

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara to House Veterans in our Community SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara broke ground on Veterans Housing “Johnson Court” apartments at 813 E. Carrillo Street in…

Ventura County Medical Center receives national recognition for meritorious outcomes from the American College of Surgeons

VENTURA — The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program has recognized Ventura County Medical Center, as one of 88 participating hospitals that have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2018.  As a participant in the program,…

Bilingual report: Declaration of Intention period Extended for Two Judicial Offices to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12

VENTURA — Declaration of Intention period Extended for Two Judicial Offices to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. *** Período de Declaración de Intención para la Elección Primaria Presidencial del 3 de marzo de 2020 se Extiende para Dos Cargos Judiciales…

Maria/Easy Fire Animal Rescue Response

VENTURA COUNTY — On October 30, 2019 at 6:30am, Animal Control Officers at Ventura County Animal Services were activated in response to the “Easy” Fire. They were dispatched alongside the Sheriff’s Posse and our Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (EVRT) to rescue…

Gold Coast Health Plan Announces Resignation of CEO

Interim CEO Appointed While Search for Permanent Replacement Begins CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) on Nov. 1 announced that it has accepted the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Dale Villani. The Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission, which…

Guest commentary: The Acuna Arts Collective Team (AACT) Project in Downtown Oxnard

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor The…

State of California Presents 2019 Innovation Award to CenCal Health

State of California Presents 2019 Innovation Award to CenCal Health Interactive Technology in Health Clinics Educates Families about HPV Vaccination SANTA BARBARA — California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) this week presented its fifth annual Innovation Award to CenCal Health. The award…

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County receives funding from five sources for affordable housing

Organization on course to reach $5 million goal by December 31st, 2019 VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (HTF Ventura County) announced this week that it has recently received funding support from The McCune Foundation, The Lluella Morey Murphy…

Bilingual report: Ventura County adopts online learning platform to promote employee development

VENTURA — The County of Ventura has partnered with LinkedIn Learning to offer County employees thousands of online training videos to help them build and develop new skills and grow personally and professionally. The LinkedIn Learning content library offers more than…

Bilingual report: Flood Preparedness Week focuses on Ventura County’s flood risks

Ventura County Public Works Agency provides testing, education and additional resources to reduce impact of flooding on communities. VENTURA COUNTY — In the wake of fire season, it is imperative to understand the damage and risks of flooding that can…

Oxnard School District recognized by state PBIS Coalition

OXNARD — The Oxnard School District is committed to ensuring the social-emotional well-being of every student that attends our schools. Over past five years, OSD has been committed to implementing a robust Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program so that staff…

California mulls new rules for cancer-causing pesticide 1,3 D or Telone

On heels of chlorpyrifos ban, public health and farmworker advocates call for restrictions on widely-used drift-prone fumigant Sacramento — Dozens of residents from across the state converged on the capital today to weigh in on new restrictions under discussion for the…

EDC Disaster Ready — Visit our website for the latest in disaster preparedness and recovery resources

Our hearts and thoughts are with all impacted by the recent wildfires. Fire season has come all too soon this year. In an effort to assist you in preparing your business for the unexpected, EDC has compiled a list of…

Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Adds 2 New Board Members

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the Workforce Development Board (WDB) Membership Committee’s recommendation to appoint Laura Martinez and Captain Kirk Lagerquist as new members. They will each serve three-year terms. Martinez is the human resource…

With Older Population on the Rise, Governor Signs Jackson’s Senior Master Plan Bill

Three Jackson Bills Signed Into Law Assist Older Californians SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) bill to establish a comprehensive plan for addressing the needs of the state’s aging and disabled residents. Senate Bill…

Ventura County Internal Audit Division receives highest opinion from peer review

VENTURA — The County of Ventura Auditor-Controller’s Internal Audit Division (IAD) received the highest possible opinion from a recent peer review conducted for the five-year period July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2019. Specifically, the peer reviewers found that the IAD’s…