Category: Health

Guest contribution — Providing Housing for the Homeless Leads to More Safety and Better Health for all of us, Particularly for Those who Live on the Streets

by Community Contributor • February 7, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Chronic homelessness is a health and safety risk for an entire community, including those who are homeless. High concentrations of homeless persons often result in increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations, police intervention, incarceration and drug and sanitation issues. This is just one reason why organizations like DignityMoves are working to reduce homelessness by providing safe, dignified housing for homeless individuals and families. This service improves the lives of both the residents of DignityMoves housing sites as well as those living throughout Santa Barbara County.

“We do have many safety issues associated with where people are camped here in Santa Barbara County,” said Mark Hatwig, Fire Chief of Santa Barbara County. “Most of these homeless encampments are not safe living spaces. …

Friendship Center hosts 25th Annual Festival of Hearts Event

by Community Contributor • February 7, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Friendship Center successfully hosted its 25th Annual Festival of Hearts. This year’s seaside-elegance themed, Silver Jubilee celebration took place on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 at the stunning Rosewood Miramar Beach, located across the street from Friendship Center at 1759 S Jameson Lane, Montecito.

Dr. Cynder Sinclair, Board President & David Moorman, emcee.
Special honorees included member “Sir Robert” who was featured in a video about his 6 years of coming to Friendship Center and how it improves his quality of life. Shianne Motter spoke passionately about her family and father with dementia and how Friendship Center was a lifesaver for her as a younger caregiver.

Cottage Health Launches New Women’s Heart Clinic

by Community Contributor • February 7, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Cottage Health is pleased to announce the launch of the Cottage Women’s Heart Clinic, the first of its kind in Santa Barbara County. The specialty care clinic is designed to address the unique needs of women with cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular disease stands as the leading cause of death in women, responsible for one in three deaths each year, according to the American Heart Association.

U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley — Weather & Storm Resources

by Community Contributor • February 6, 2024 • Comments Off

Dear Neighbor,

Recently, the Counties of Ventura and Los Angeles have experienced devastating flooding and rains impacting the lives of many members of our community and throughout Southern California.

During these extreme weather events, my team and I are keeping a close watch on the conditions and coordinating with local, state, and federal officials to ensure that all the necessary resources are available to support our community. As weather and storm conditions continue in the area, I wanted to provide you with a list of up-to-date resources to be prepared, remain informed, and, most importantly, stay safe.

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Evacuation Order Lifted and Help Us Assess Storm Damage

by Community Contributor • February 5, 2024 • Comments Off

All Evacuation Orders for Santa Barbara County are CANCELED as of 12:00 PM Monday, February 5.

Several roads and trails may be inaccessible or closed throughout the county due to storm impacts. Ground saturation may cause continued rock falls, minor debris flows and landslides, and tree falls even if it is not raining.

Please refer to State Parks and County Parks for information regarding status of campgrounds.

Residents and businesses that sustained damages as a result of the storm can complete an online Storm Damage Report Form available here: Storm Damage Report Form

Cottage Health to Host Blood drives on Feb. 22, 23

by Community Contributor • February 5, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — To bolster local blood supply and contribute to the community’s well-being, Cottage Health, in partnership with Vitalant, is hosting two blood drives in February.

The blood drives are scheduled in Goleta and Santa Barbara on the following dates:

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Evacuation Order Issued

by Community Contributor • February 4, 2024 • Comments Off

Evacuation Order Issued Due to Incoming Storm EVACUATION ORDERS have been issued for the following areas in Santa Barbara County: Properties along waterways associated with the Thomas, Cave and Alisal burn areas. Properties in the vicinity of Sycamore Creek, from Stanwood…

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Two Storms Coming – What We Know

by Community Contributor • February 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Rain is on the way, and now is the time to prepare.

The National Weather Service is forecasting two storms that are heading toward our area. The first will arrive tonight and last through tomorrow, February 1, and a stronger storm is likely arriving Sunday, February 4th and lasting through Wednesday, February 7th.

The first storm arriving tonight may bring moderate impacts which include flooding of roadways, creeks and areas that are prone to flooding risk during moderate storms.

California Mobilizes Ahead of Next Round of Storms, Urges Communities to Prepare

by Community Contributor • February 1, 2024 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO — Working proactively to keep communities safe, California is mobilizing a whole-of-government response to a series of potentially dangerous incoming storms.

Beginning Tuesday evening, a series of storms will hit the state for the next 10 days and is expected to bring significant rain, high winds, deep snow as well as potential flash flooding and power outages.

At the direction of Governor Gavin Newsom, the State Operations Center in Mather is being activated to coordinate a unified response to these storms across state, local and federal agencies.

Bilingual report — Covered California Announces More Time to Enroll for Coverage in 2024

by Community Contributor • January 31, 2024 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO — Covered California announced today that it will give consumers until Feb. 9 to sign up for coverage in 2024.

“We’ve seen record-breaking enrollment nationally, and Covered California is surging with heightened demand,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “We want any Californian who needs health insurance to have the opportunity to get covered for the rest of 2024, and extending the open-enrollment period will ensure they have the time they need.”

Registration opens Feb. 12 for free Safety Around Water Classes at Yarrow Family YMCA

by Community Contributor • January 30, 2024 • Comments Off

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Registration will open on February 12 for Safety Around Water (SAW) classes at the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village. The free, six-session program provides water safety and basic swimming skills to children with little or no water experience.

The once-a-week sessions are offered on Mondays March 4 through April 15, and on Wednesdays March 6 through April 17. Class times are 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. SAW is for elementary-aged children. It teaches participants how to exit a pool safely and other water safety skills.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Emergency Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses and Nonprofits

by Community Contributor • January 30, 2024 • Comments Off

The Economic Development Collaborative is proud to support Pacific Coast Business Times’ Emergency Preparedness guide. The guide is designed to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations prepare for natural disasters and be aware of recovery options.

If disaster strikes, is your business prepared? View the report HERE.

Triunfo Water & Sanitation District 2023 Year in Review

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2024 • Comments Off

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The welcomed rainfall in 2023 shored up Triunfo Water & Sanitation District’s supply and put the district on a solid foundation for 2024.

60th Anniversary

The rainy weather helped celebrate TWSD’s 60th anniversary in 2023. The rain prompted TWSD to rescind its Stage 1 Water Shortage restrictions implemented because of the drought, although permanent water restrictions remain in place.

“Last year’s storm events brought a very different picture to our ongoing drought status,” says Jane Nye, TWSD 2023 board chair. “Unprecedented winter storms replenished water supplies throughout the state, and we hope that this year will deliver the same.”

Ventura County Animal Services — We did it! 205 beds donated in 36 hours thanks to you!

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2024 • Comments Off

WE DID IT! Thanks to you! 205 dog beds were donated in just 36 HOURS by shelter supporters in the community! The folks at Kuranda said, “We’ve NEVER seen a donation drive this big go this fast!” They asked how we did it, and we told them we have a close-knit community of animal lovers who know us, trust us, and believe in our lifesaving mission! That’s how we did it!

Thank you to ALL who donated to this Donation Bed Drive! Will be having a Build-A-Bed event on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024. Stay tuned for event details.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Jody Enders’s ‘naughty’ French comedies nab prize for translation’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2024 • Comments Off

For her translation of raunchy Middle French stage comedies, Enders, a theater historian and professor of French, has won the Lois Roth Award from the Modern Language Association.

Ventura County Animal Services — Donate a Dog Bed to VCAS

by Community Contributor • January 24, 2024 • Comments Off

Every few years Ventura County Animal Services holds a Dog Bed Donation Drive to replace kennel beds that have become damaged due to the wear and tear of thousands of animals. We need 205 beds to replace all beds at the Camarillo and Simi Valley Shelter. Will you donate a dog bed?

Visit www.vcas.us/DogBedDonation to donate a bed directly to the shelter. On this page you will find the exact type of bed our dogs need, and you’ll see how many beds have already been purchased. Beds are automatically shipped to the Camarillo Shelter. Feel free to leave an “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” message when checking out. Thank you so much for your support!

Bilingual report — Reminder: Take the Residents and Business Owners Survey – COVID-19 After-Action Report

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2024 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura, in collaboration with Constant Associates, a third-party public health and emergency management consultancy, is developing a COVID-19 After-Action Report to document the County’s response to the pandemic and improve its preparedness for future public health crises. Among other data collection activities, to capture detailed data regarding our response efforts, Constant Associates has created a virtual survey, which we invite you to fill out. Please feel free to also forward this email and link to other members of your community or organization whose feedback you feel would be beneficial.

DignityMoves in Santa Barbara receives $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — DignityMoves’s Santa Barbara Capital Campaign has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications, and named after the company’s founder. The funds will support a housing community called “La Posada Village,” with the goal of reducing homelessness in Santa Barbara County.

“DignityMoves is honored to be the recipient of a James M. Cox Foundation grant. We are incredibly grateful for this type of community support. Without partners like Cox, we cannot help as many people as we do,” said Jack Lorenz, Regional Advancement Director for DignityMoves.

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Mapping our Justice and Mental Healthcare System

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2024 • Comments Off

This coming Tuesday at the Board of Supervisors we will discuss a report showing that our County has a higher-than-average jail incarceration rate compared to the rest of California, and hear an update on efforts to better manage the population of the jail. The most basic service in government is public safety, but it does not make us safe when some people are ending up in jail, or coming back to it, because of a lack of mental health services. We have a moral imperative to improve the situation. But we also have a financial need as well.

Bilingual commentary — Pre-Columbian Custom on a City Bus

by Community Contributor • January 19, 2024 • Comments Off

I was on a city bus in Oxnard recently when I found myself fascinated by a female passenger that had boarded.

I know…that statement appears to be borderline salacious, but let me explain.

The woman with a dark complexion appeared to be indigenous Mayan. I’ve spent some time in Yucatán, Mexico, so I recognize the Mayan profile, including the majestic shape of the nose, when I see one. It is distinctively different from the indigenous profiles that hail from other parts of Mexico.

What struck me even more was the ease with which she was caring for her very young child, maybe one year old.

Bilingual report — The latest news from the County of Ventura

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2024 • Comments Off

Volunteers Needed: Point In Time Homeless Count
The Ventura County Continuum of Care needs volunteers for the upcoming Point In Time Homeless count on January 24th! The count serves as a crucial tool for understanding the extent and nature of homelessness within the region while securing critical federal funding.

Conducted annually, this count provides a snapshot of the homeless population on a specific day (January 24th), aiding policy makers, service providers, and advocates in assessing the effectiveness of current interventions and shaping future strategies. The data collected helps identify trends, allocate resources more effectively, and measure progress towards addressing homelessness in Ventura County.

Agromin Receives $10 Million Grant From CalRecycle To Turn Food Waste And Yard Waste Into Compost

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2024 • Comments Off

OXNARD — Agromin, California’s largest organic waste recycler, received a $10 million grant from CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program to help communities turn more of their food waste and yard waste into compost.

CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program is a statewide effort to expand and build new organic recycling facilities, allowing more waste to be recycled instead of ending up in landfills where it emits greenhouse gases.

“The grant funds will help Agromin move forward on expanding our composting facility at Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. “We’re currently processing over one million tons of organic waste a year. Once the expansion is complete, we’ll be able to boost that amount to almost 300,000.”

District 216 — 20% DISCOUNTED TICKETS ‘Veterans, PTSD & Psychedelics’ Marquee Event on Jan. 20, more news

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2024 • Comments Off

Fireside Chat + Discussion Panel + Dinner + Live Music + Lounge + Vendors + Networking = COMMUNITY

RAIN OR SHINE! WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TENT AND HEATERS READY TO KEEP YOU WARM AND COZY DURING OUR EVENT.

Courtney Cazenave Joins Family Service Agency Board of Directors

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County, also known as Santa Maria Valley Youth and Family Center and Guadalupe’s Little House By The Park, is pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney Cazenave to its Board of Directors.

Cazenave retired from her position as an administrative office professional for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department earlier this year. She has 18 years of administration and operations experience.

A Guadalupe resident, Cazenave is looking forward to using her skills to make a difference in the community. She has been a Court-Appointed Special Advocate since 2020. She has previously volunteered for the Special Olympics, elections, and the Homeless Count from 2019
to 2021.

Dignity Moves Breaks Ground on Third Santa Barbara County Location — La Posada Village

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — The DignityMoves community in downtown Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Street Village has been a proven success for both housing and supporting those who were previously homeless, and it has not gone unnoticed by local leaders. Last year, the County Board of Supervisors voted to partner with DignityMoves to build an additional 300 rooms County-wide – enough interim supportive housing to help close the “shelter gap” in the county.

The County has identified several county-owned parcels across the County based on the regional distribution of unsheltered homelessness.

SLO Water and Sewer Bill Assistance Program Extended

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

OCEANO — We’re encouraging low-income customers to apply for help paying their current or past-due water and sewer bills by signing up for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Customers now have until March 31, 2024, to apply, and eligible households should apply now while funds last.

LIHWAP, initially established by Congress in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed to support financially struggling low-income households to settle outstanding water bills. Originally slated to conclude in Fall 2023, the program has received a federal extension through March 2024.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors authorizes tolling agreement for lawsuits challenging Programmatic Environmental Impact Report for Santa Susana Field Laboratory Clean-up Project

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — On Tuesday, Jan. 9, by unanimous vote, the Board of Supervisors authorized the signing of a tolling agreement concerning the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Clean-Up Project. Parties to the agreement include the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, The Boeing Company, the United States on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Simi Valley, the County of Los Angeles, and the County of Ventura.

The tolling agreement clarifies and extends the deadline for the filing of potential lawsuits challenging the Programmatic Environmental Impact Report for the clean-up project which was certified by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control in July 2023.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura invites public to respond to survey on COVID-19 response effort

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The County of Ventura invites members of the public to provide responses to a public survey regarding the County’s emergency response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey, which will help inform the County’s official After-Action Report (AAR), is available online in English and Spanish at the County’s website at www.ventura.org.

Triunfo Water & Sanitation District Elects New Board Chair

by Community Contributor • January 10, 2024 • Comments Off

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — At its December 18, 2023 meeting, the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD) elected Janna Orkney as its new board chair. Orkney, who is currently serving her fourth term, will lead the five-member board through 2024. Fellow board member James Wall was selected as vice-chair.

“While we are fortunate that the recent rains have provided short-term relief from the drought cycle, we continue to work towards the completion of our Las Virgenes-Triunfo Pure Water facility in 2030,” says Orkney. “The facility will supply up to 30 percent of Triunfo’s potable water needs, and take pressure off of our 100 percent dependence on imported potable water from Northern California.”

UCSB — The Current — ‘When bad cells go good: harnessing cellular cannibalism for cancer treatment’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • January 9, 2024 • Comments Off

Scientists decipher a cellular murder mystery in fruit flies, solving a human immunodeficiency. The discovery has the potential to enhance cancer immunotherapy.

Lumina Alliance — January Is National Stalking Awareness Month

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2024 • Comments Off

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — January 2024 marks the twentieth annual National Stalking Awareness Month, an annual call to action to recognize and respond to this traumatic and dangerous crime. Stalking impacts nearly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men in the United States but too often goes unrecognized and unaddressed.1 It takes all of us – advocates, legal representatives, victims/survivors and their friends and family, and YOU – to recognize and respond to stalking. This month, Lumina Alliance invites you to join our efforts to “KNOW IT. NAME IT. STOP IT.” – this year’s Stalking Awareness Month theme, and help raise awareness about stalking on the Day of Action on January 18th.

Guest contribution — Embracing a Fresh Start: New Year’s Resolutions for Family Caregivers

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — As the calendar turns its pages to a new year, it’s a time-honored tradition to set resolutions. For family caregivers especially, the new year presents an opportunity to reflect on their journey and make intentional commitments to enhance their well-being and the quality of care they provide. The Caring Together Santa Barbara County network of organizations offer some meaningful resolutions tailored specifically for family caregivers.

We acknowledge that caregiving can be both overwhelming and extremely rewarding. Some of these suggestions may be out of reach for many caregivers. Keep in mind that our goal is to improve the wellbeing of the caregiver, as well as the person receiving care, not to add additional stress.

Bilingual report — CLU receives grant funding for City of Oxnard residents via Community Counseling Services

by Community Contributor • January 5, 2024 • Comments Off

OXNARD — California Lutheran University has received grant funding for City of Oxnard residents via Community Counseling Services and invites you to come in for free therapy sessions.

To find out if you are eligible for free services, please contact the clinic nearest to you. Low-fee therapy sessions are also available for those who do not qualify for the grant.

Bilingual commentary — Natural vs. “Miracle” Weight Loss

by Community Contributor • January 5, 2024 • Comments Off

The 2023-2024 holiday season is now in the rearview mirror. Many of us will be resurrecting those weight loss resolutions that perhaps we had attempted last year (and the year before that, etc.).

Now, suddenly, there are new, shiny objects that glisten on our lifestyle horizons: weight-reduction drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

The gravitational pull of these “miracle drugs” is too strong to dismiss them as mere fads. Even the respectable, time-honored Weight Watchers organization appears to welcome these drugs into the fold after spending decades encouraging traditional lifestyle-based changes in people’s lives, such as dieting and exercise.

But before conventional dieters cast their calorie tables and food portion scales overboard, they need to seriously consider the numerous downsides of these drugs.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura announces Residents and Business Owners Survey – COVID-19 After-Action Report

by Community Contributor • January 4, 2024 • Comments Off

Your participation in this survey plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the County’s COVID-19 response efforts and ensuring that we are effectively meeting the needs of our community.

To access the survey, click the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/87XNSZM

Community Service Organizations Receive Over $530,000 in Funding from Local Health Plan on Central Coast

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — More than 40 service agencies and associations, as well as community nonprofits and organizations, in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties have already received or will receive community benefits funding in 2023 from the local health plan CenCal Health. By the end of this year, over $530,000 will have been distributed by the local Medi-Cal health plan to support and improve the overall health and wellness of communities in its two-county service area.

“During this holiday season of giving, all of us at CenCal Health want to highlight those local agencies and organizations that – in various ways – serve all our residents, including our members, and especially the most vulnerable of our children, youth and seniors,” said CenCal Health CEO Marina Owen.

Enrollment For YMCA Winter Swim Lessons in Westlake Village Now Open

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2024 • Comments Off

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Enrollment for winter swim lessons is open for classes at the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village and Simi Valley Family YMCA. Group lessons are from January 16 through February 26. Private lessons are also available.

Weekly swim classes have a maximum ratio of one teacher per five swimmers. Swimmers are assigned classes based on their age and swimming ability. Age groups are three to five years, five to seven years and eight to 12 years. Parent/child classes are for children from six months of age to three years old. Swim diapers are required for infants and toddlers. Parents can select from class times and days on Mondays through Thursdays and on Saturdays.

Cottage Health Welcomes 2024 New Year’s Baby

by Community Contributor • January 2, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital welcomed its first baby of the new year.

Alyssa and Seng Yang of Lompoc welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Eric Yang, into the world at 3:48 am on Monday, January 1, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Weighing 5 pounds and 15 ounces and measuring 19 inches, Baby Yang is already captivating hearts with his arrival.

Baby Yang’s arrival marks not just the start of a new year but the beginning of a new chapter in the Yang family’s lives.

District216 to present variety of events

by Community Contributor • January 2, 2024 • Comments Off

District216 is a membership driven psychedelic social club founded in Santa Barbara, CA for thinkers, creators & trailblazers. Our mission is to cultivate lively communities of psychedelics pioneers that exchange ideas, explore health innovations, author new policies, and grow the ecosystem into a thriving industry. Our longterm vision is to advance the full legalization and normalization of healthy psychedelics use in our daily lives, worldwide.

One805 Advisory Council, Comprised of First Responder Orgs, Move Forward on Allocation of Funds

by Community Contributor • January 2, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — One805 hosted its annual Advisory Council lunch in December, which is comprised of all 11 Chiefs of Santa Barbara County’s First Responders. Our annual lunches are an opportunity to discuss grants and other financial needs for our local First Responders. It is how we know how to best support and take care of the brave men and women who actively take care of us.

To date, One805 has provided funding to support the mental health counseling for all County fire departments as well as fulfilling grant requests received from 13 County agencies including police, fire, and Sherriff. More announcements about specific grants will be made soon.

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