The County of Ventura has launched the fourth COVID-19 Business Assistance
Grant Program for businesses and nonprofit organizations that did NOT receive a grant during any of the County’s previous business grant programs. Businesses
and nonprofits based in Ventura County may be eligible for a $10,000 grant.
The County Board of Supervisors has supported more than $65 million in grants
to help local businesses move forward.
(Aug. 31), our Board approved nearly $1.5 million in American Result Plan Act funding to implement an expanded Encampment Resolution Strategy to eliminate homeless encampments in the county. This is in addition to the work and $48 million in funding that has been invested in the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year. The outcomes of some of this work and funding over the last 6 months are detailed on the slide below. All of the Supervisors were in full agreement that encampments are not safe for those who live in them or the residents who live in the vicinity of them and we all expressed our eagerness to solve this problem. In order to move those who live in encampments out of those encampments, we need places for them to go. I have, personally, been working hard to determine locations, such as empty parking lots, where we can put temporary housing to move folks into a more safe and clean setting as we work on placing them in permanent housing. If you have a location we could put temporary housing and are interested in partnering with the County, please let me know.
Since Monday, there are 242 new COVID-19 cases reported and 3,835 new tests performed. There are 125 people hospitalized, 22 in the ICU. There have been 2 additional deaths of two males ages 60 and 74. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
76.9% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
78.6% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
68.5% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Anyone age 12 and older can get vaccinated for free in Ventura County. Anyone who is immunocompromised 12 or older can get a booster at any vaccine location.
Find information about COVID-19 vaccines and testing at www.vcrecovers.org
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is seeking an attorney and a public member interested in serving on APCD’s Hearing Board. Candidates for the attorneymember position must be active members of the StateBar of California.
The Hearing Board is a quasi-judicial body that acts upon petitions submitted by operators of air pollutionemission sources, APCD staff, and the public. It conducts public hearings and makes various decisionsregarding air pollution sources in Ventura County.Typical decisions made by the Hearing Board include whether temporary relief from APCD rules should be issued; whether the APCD’s denial, suspension orconditional granting of a permit was warranted; and determining whether a Permit to Operate should berevoked.
Each September, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) invites the community to join them in celebrating National Childhood Cancer Awareness month through their Gold Ribbon Campaign. The community’s participation noticeably demonstrates that families fighting pediatric cancer are not alone. That they live within a community of compassionate allies who are united in solidarity with TBCF in a collective effort to fight for the most precious among us, our children.
Supervisors LaVere and Ramirez, Districts 1 and 5, are the representatives for the area of the Task Force effort to address Santa Clara River bottom encampments. They, individually, and along with members of their staff, have accompanied the County Executive Officer, Sheriff, and County public health and other staff several times to see for themselves the encampments. They have observed the accumulation of trash and debris in the Santa Clara River bottom. They also recently went with the County’s Backpack Medicine team which offers help and services to the people living in the watershed. This is being done ahead of a major clean-up effort that is planned to take place in September. The County Executive team is leading the effort coordinating with the Sheriff’s office, Ventura and Oxnard Police, and Public Works Agency staff to make access easier and to clear pathways for the future clean-up event. More clearing of brush and vegetation, which pose a fire danger, will occur after the sites which are abandoned have been removed.
Santa Barbara City College is pleased to announce that Mr. Jerry Hannula has been selected to serve as Interim Athletic Director.
Originally from Morro Bay, Calif, Hannula earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Information from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in public relations, and a master’s degree in kinesiology from California State University Long Beach with an emphasis in sport management.
Several months ago, I was sitting in a doctor’s office waiting to be called in. Facial masks are required. After all, this is a medical building. Given our circumstances over this past year and a half, medical staff is intensely focused on maintaining an atmosphere in which patients can feel relatively safe.
I was reading a book as I waited. I didn’t notice that my mask had fallen below my nose. The receptionist kindly reminded me to lift the mask up so that it covered my face properly. I apologized and immediately took care of the problem.
Shout out to our team of respiratory therapists for their incredible work in helping COVID patients breathe. This crew was on the night shift helping people survive… it is monumental. Their work saves lives. May we all make small choices to make big impacts on the health of our community. Thank you, Ventura County!
The Mental Wellness Center announces the addition of Scott Lochridge to its Board of Directors. Scott Lochridge is an executive and strategic advisor to multinational corporations, nonprofits, and early-stage companies. He has over four decades of experience working with CEOs and executive teams to create and scale highly effective organizations, develop dynamic strategies for growth, create new capabilities, pursue new market opportunities, achieve sustainable operating & financial performance, and lead major change initiatives.
With the increasing spread of the COVID-19 Delta Variant, masking requirements are changing rapidly. Review the new requirements and regional information below to help protect your employees and customers.
Since Monday, there are 259 new COVID-19 cases reported and 3,985 new tests performed. There are 147 people hospitalized, 34 in the ICU. There have been 2 additional deaths of a 56 year old female and a 60 year old male. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
76.0% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
77.8% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
67.5% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
When a blueprint is created, it identifies and outlines a plan of action with the big picture in mind. In the case of the Port of Hueneme, their “blueprint project” known as SPARC (Sustainable Power Advancement & Resiliency for our Community) was created to chart a pathway to zero emission operations which is the Port’s overall long-term goal for air quality improvement and climate change adaptation. The plan will include an attainable timeline for the complete transition to a zero emission Port operation.
“This project will be an essential element in charting the Port’s pathway to a zero-emission future as part of the Port’s commitment to being a steward of the local environment,” said Jason Hodge, Oxnard Harbor District President. “The Port recognizes the urgency of addressing the climate crisis facing the globe and is undertaking multiple projects to facilitate reducing air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from Port operations.”
Since Friday, there are 701 new COVID-19 cases reported and 12,169 new tests performed. There are 158 people hospitalized, 37 in the ICU. There have been 4 additional deaths of a 81 year old female, 67 year old male, 72 year old male, 63 year old male. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
75.9% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
77.7% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
67.4% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
he Triunfo Water & Sanitation District is encouraging its nearly 13,000 Oak Park potable water customers to use the automated water meters on their property to track and conserve water usage.
Automated water meters were first introduced in the district in 2015 with a system upgrade two years ago. A total of 4,600 meters are installed on all Oak Park residential and commercial properties receiving potable water from the district. The meters enable customers to monitor their water use in real-time and set alarms to warn of excessive consumption.
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 Paul Cordeiro to its Board of Directors.
“Paul’s extensive experience in K-12 education will be a huge asset to our agency,” said Lisa Brabo, FSA Executive Director. “Paul has made substantial improvements to education and positive contributions to the community. We’re very happy he’s joining our board!”
The infrastructure bill passed by the United States Senate last week has been hailed as a bipartisan victory. It was passed in the face of fierce opposition from a considerable number of Senate Republicans, regardless of how much the bill stands to benefit their constituents. After all, why make President Biden look good when you can make him look bad?
But enough Republican senators saw an opportunity to make things better for the country despite the usual threats from a certain former president. The bill is not yet signed into law, but it is expected to end up on President Biden’s desk for his signature after further discussions.
Since Wednesday, there are 224 new COVID-19 cases reported and 4,851 new tests performed. There are 147 people hospitalized, 32 in the ICU. There has been 1 additional death of a 55 year old female. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
75.4% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
77.3% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
67.0% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Over 1 million vaccine doses have been administered to Ventura County residents.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
Since Tuesday, there are 255 new COVID-19 cases reported and 4,772 new tests performed. There are 143 people hospitalized, 31 in the ICU. There has been 1 additional death of a 63 year old male. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
75.2% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
77.2% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
66.8% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
The Coalition Against Gun Violence, the City of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Police Department will host the 6th Anonymous Gun Buyback at Earl Warren Showgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, from 8 a.m. to noon. Donors will receive a $100 Smart & Final Gift Card for each handgun or rifle and $200 gift cards for each assault weapon.
The event is designed to protect the identity of those turning in guns, even illegal guns, which are accepted under the supervision of Santa Barbara Police Department. Participants will be asked to place unloaded firearms in the trunk of their car and enter the queue. Police will contact drivers, remove the firearms and provide a chit under the windshield wiper to exchange for the appropriate value in gift cards. Guns are disposed of under the care of SBPD.
Leticia, 15, received her second dose over the weekend at the mobile clinic at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Paula. She’s completing the two dose Pfizer series because she wants the protection it offers against COVID-19 illness.
We have heard from many of you having concerns about encampments of individuals facing homelessness in our County. We understand these problems have become especially acute in the Santa Clara River. In this notice, we want to share our current and future efforts, in partnership with the cities of Oxnard and Ventura, to address these challenges.
Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session education program for family members of adults living with a mental health disorder that will be held from Wednesday, September 22 – Wednesday, November 10th. This course is designed to help family members understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being.
The class will cover information on illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other mental health conditions and is taught by trained teachers who are also family members that know what it is like to have a loved one struggling with a mental health disorder.
This Thursday evening, we will host our first in-person event in almost two years.
We will be celebrating the educational achievements of eight outstanding women at our annual Women United Education Awards. Please join us at the Camarillo Ranch for this special occasion.
It will be an inspirational evening full of passionate educators, students, and community partners.
As always, the health and safety of our guests is vitally important to us. We will be following and enforcing public health mandates at this event.
Limited tickets are still available.
From COVID-19 safety to student mental health, there are many questions about the new school year that is now getting underway in Ventura County. Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, will address some of these pressing questions in a live virtual Q&A on Monday, August 16 at 6:00 PM.
There are 289 new COVID-19 cases reported since Wednesday and 4,481 new tests performed. There are 123 people hospitalized, 30 in the ICU. There have been 0 additional deaths.
66.3.% of Ventura County’s community members 12+ are fully vaccinated.
California information
64.1% of California community members 12+ are fully vaccinated.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
The Mental Wellness Center (MWC) announces the addition of Alice Villarreal Redit to their Board of Directors.
Villarreal Redit has been employed with the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara since 1997. She worked for 10 years in the Authority’s Housing Management Department before joining the Resident Services team in 2007. As Resident Programs Supervisor, she is responsible for overseeing the operations of the department and ensuring the coordination and delivery of supportive services to families, seniors, youth and disabled individuals. Villarreal Redit is passionate about affordable housing and social justice. She is a former Mental Health Commissioner and is deeply involved in community efforts to promote social equity.
To better understand why patients elected to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. (CDCR) surveyed 429 patients in Ventura County who received a vaccine to understand their motivations better.
The survey results show that 37% of the patients reported that they received the COVID-19 vaccine as a precaution, 11.4% because a family member urged them to be vaccinated and 12.8% because of a doctor recommendation, 7% because of an employer recommendation and 6.5% because of a medical condition, 4.2% because of something they heard on the news and 0.9% because of travel. The remaining patients had other reasons.
There are 166 new COVID-19 cases reported since Wednesday and 4,475 new tests performed. There are 121 people hospitalized, 27 in the ICU. There has been 1 additional death, 49 year old male. Our thoughts and sincere condolences to the loved ones of those that have passed away.
74.4% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
66.2.% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has been fully vaccinated.
76.5% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
After thorough discussion and research, the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the policy COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Employees and Students at its Aug. 10 meeting. The policy requires that everyone who accesses in-person, on-site campus/District programs or who participates in off-site District/college services in person will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The goal is to protect the health and well-being of students, faculty, staff, administrators and the communities VCCCD serves, as well as maintain higher education access and attainment for the District’s approximately 31,000 students.
Effective Oct. 15, the mandate allows time for unvaccinated employees, students and the public to complete two-dose vaccines. The mandate recommends immediate implementation with the vaccines the Food and Drug Administration approved under Emergency Use Authorization, including those from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).
Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, (on Aug. 11) applauded a new move by the State of California to require all school employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. “With the continuing spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, this is a commonsense step that will help ensure the safety of students and employees as schools reopen for the new year,” said Dr. Morales. “Most school employees are already vaccinated, and I’m confident others will now follow suit.”
Using artificial intelligence, researchers find that global ocean warming started later in the 20th century than previously estimated.
There are 186 new COVID-19 cases reported since Monday and 3,055 new tests performed. There are 121 people hospitalized, 25 in the ICU. There are no additional deaths.
74.1% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
66% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has been fully vaccinated.
76.3% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
The California Department of Public Health has issued a public health order requiring workers in health care settings to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30, 2021. For more information visit https://bit.ly/CDPHSPHO
Lumina Alliance received $35,000 in funding from the Opportunity to Thrive Initiative and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. This grant will be used to help survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence exiting Lumina Alliance’s emergency shelters overcome barriers to their self?sufficiency.
Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) has announced the addition of Rolf Geyling to their Board of Directors. Born and raised in New Jersey, Rolf Geyling holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford University and a Masters in Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before assuming the Presidency of the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission in 2007, he was Director of Development at Fuller and served as an online instructor in its Master of Arts in Global Leadership program.
Due to the current surge, Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) is urging all Ventura County residents that are eligible but have not yet been fully vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible. In alignment with state and federal health authorities, VCPH officials also continue to strongly recommend mask wearing indoors in public places regardless of vaccination status. While Ventura County continues to be aligned with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on masking, which recommends that everyone regardless of vaccination status wear masks indoors, and that requires those that are not fully vaccinated to mask indoors, officials are closely monitoring the current surge in case additional mitigation measures are needed.
Today kicks off the FINAL challenge week for our Community Thrives fundraiser!
What are challenge weeks? Each challenge week, the top fundraisers are awarded with EXTRA grant funding … meaning your donation goes even further.
Are you able to help us reach our goal to support United to End Homelessness initiative?
Your donation helps another individual get one step closer to securing a stable place to call home. Donating now makes all the difference.
Get ready for the third annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day with free, in-person, open farm tours on Saturday, September 18. This year’s theme is “Meet The Hands That Feed You.” Visitors can use a new online Farm Day Trail Map to build a custom itinerary to travel between growers and curated tour routes throughout the Santa Maria Valley.
Farm Day is for all ages. The public will experience a day of agricultural activities, farm tours, tastings, and fruit and produce giveaways, plus hear from the local farmers, ranchers and growers who produce the food we eat. Visitors can learn about seed science, see the newest and most advanced farming technology including the Ferrari transplanting machine at Plantel Nursery, learn how compost is created and used on farms, and hear about the seed-to-table journey. Tour hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At a special Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees meeting held on August 5, 2021, the Board passed Resolution No. 1 COVID-19 Immunization. The resolution requires that on Oct. 1, 2021, or upon issuance of final FDA approval for at least one COVID-19 vaccine – whichever comes earlier – all students and employees and members of the public must provide valid documentation of “full” COVID-19 vaccination (as defined by the U.S. Center for Disease Control) to SBCC as a condition of (a) entering an SBCC campus building, (b) attending an in-person SBCC class, or (c) using a service located off-campus for obtaining an approved exemption based on medical, disability, religious grounds, or a deferral based on pregnancy.
Poseidon, known as the ruler of the sea, is oftentimes depicted as carrying a three-pronged spear, known as a trident, for protection. It is fitting that the operational research program created to counter threats to port and maritime security and sustain the global operations of naval forces is named the Coastal Trident.
The program was established 15 years ago to support the Port of Hueneme and local response organizations in addressing the complex nature of threats to port and maritime security. Since then, Coastal Trident has grown in scope and influence and now regularly involves the participation of more than 150 federal, state, local government, academic, and private sector organizations.
Beginning Friday, August 6, Santa Barbara County Public Health is mandating the use of universal face coverings indoors, regardless of vaccination status due to a significant increase in cases due to the Delta variant. The current case rate for our county is 12.4 per 100,000 residents, which would put us in the Purple Tier if the tier structure was still active. The vast majority of cases are with unvaccinated people but we are seeing a slight increase in cases among vaccinated people as well (see chart below) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed in preliminary data that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with the Delta variant can be infectious and can spread the virus to others.
Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG) is accepting applications through Aug. 8 for its youth Environmental Voices Academy.
The academy is a14-week environmental justice training program for high school juniors and seniors residing in Ventura County. Click here to apply
Classes begin Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 and the program wraps up with a graduation ceremony on Saturday, November 20th, 2021.
The program is online over Zoom, with three required in-person Saturday sessions.
Online meetings over Zoom will take place Wednesday nights from 5:30-7:00 pm.
Two Saturdays at Cal State Channel Islands are TBD.
Graduation is Saturday, November 20th at CFROG’s Offices.
Two weeks left and we need your help!
United Way of Ventura County is participating in VC Star’s A Community Thrives fundraising challenge in order to raise funds for our United to End Homelessness initiative.
From July 19 – Aug. 13, your donation goes FURTHER. The more we raise, the closer we get toward an opportunity to receive additional grant support!
Let’s finish this challenge week strong! We’re so appreciative for the surge of support this week toward our Community Thrives fundraiser to support our United to End Homelessness initiative. Let’s keep this momentum going!
With less than two weeks to go, every donation makes a big impact. Plus, depending on how much we raise in a challenge week (like this week) … we become eligible for additional grant funding.
We’re on a mission to house Ventura County. Who’s with us?
The VCAS Bunny Brigade is offering fee-waived adoptions for those who submit a rabbit adoption application between August 1st – 8th! Visit www.vcas.us/BunnyBrigade to submit yours, today!
All house rabbits adopted out by VCAS must be indoor-only!
Domestic rabbits are family members and need your love and affection.
All rabbits leave VCAS spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before going home.
Rabbits also live longer when living with fellow rabbits. So, consider adopting a bonded pair already in our care. Questions? Need more information? Email VCASbunnybrigade@gmail.com.
After merging into one organization, Lumina Alliance (formerly known as RISE and Stand Strong) is launching its initial prevention project, ReDefineSLO: A social marketing campaign focused on improving the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children and pre-teen boys.
ReDefineSLO, which launches August 2nd, is an innovative approach to preventing sexual assault and intimate partner violence in San Luis Obispo County. The campaign aims to empower parents and caregivers with the tools to engage pre-teens in tough conversations about their social and emotional health, in order to end violence before it ever takes place.
The year 2020 brought several things into sharp focus about the importance of agriculture to the County of Ventura. The COVID 19 pandemic pointed out how vulnerable and extraordinarily essential the 40,000 hardworking people who faithfully kept coming to work are to not only the residents of Ventura, but to people throughout the world. They kept the food, clothing, landscaping, and agricultural systems moving despite many new challenges and changes in our society. They did all this while not only worrying about how to provide food and shelter for their families, but also keeping them safe through rapidly changing work and social conditions.
Since Wednesday, July 28, there have been 346 new COVID-19 cases and 7,026 new tests performed. 0 additional deaths.
72.7% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
64.9% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has been fully vaccinated.
75.1% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
As of July 28, 2021, there have been 359 breakthrough cases in Ventura County.
Since the last update on Monday, July 26, there have been 268 new COVID-19 cases and 5,237 new tests performed. 1 additional death of an 89 year old male. Our thoughts and sincere condolences to the loved ones of those that have passed away.
72.3% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
64.7% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has been fully vaccinated.
74.8% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
As of today, July 28, 2021, there have been 359 breakthrough cases in Ventura County.
This is .076% of the 469,530 Ventura County residents who are fully vaccinated, tested positive and meet the CDC’s definition of a breakthrough case.
Campus makes progress on a planned student housing development in partnership with visionary philanthropist Charlie Munger.
There was nothing petty about what happened to former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer yesterday—it was a violent robbery, and it was awful. This crime occurred in broad daylight in Oakland’s Jack London District, a popular tourist destination that also happens to be in the California Senate District of Senator Nancy Skinner. The same Nancy Skinner who proposed declaring such horrific crimes misdemeanor petty thefts under SB 82.
Yes, concrete. I like to highlight innovative programs in our district, and the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project has a big one. The new concrete mix site (see photo) is going in by the southbound on-ramp at the North Padaro Lane. This enables concrete for the new freeway lanes to be mixed on-site and reduces truck routes by 6-16 miles per trip, saving an estimated 463,771 truck miles for the Carpinteria, Padaro, and Summerland segments. This also reduces water use by 400,000 gallons (concrete mixed on-site uses less water), reduces off-site neighborhood impacts, and saves taxpayers between $10-$15 million. Old concrete is also being recycled across the freeway (see left edge of photo). Crews are also installing a new concrete surface that is a quieter and has a longer lifespan. For more project information, visit www.SBROADS.com.
With wildfire season upon us, it is crucial to ensure Ventura County’s farmworkers are well informed and protected from the health impacts of wildfire smoke. The Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has partnered with the County of Ventura’s County Executive Office, the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, and the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), a non-profit organization, to develop a first-of-its-kind text alert system that will alert farmworkers by region when wildfire smoke reaches dangerous levels.
“Over 40,000 farmworkers in Ventura County can now benefit from timely information to help protect themselves at their workplaces during wildfire events. Ventura County is committed to leading the way in protecting farmworkers and working towards a more resilient and healthy community,” said County Supervisor and Air Pollution Control District Board member Carmen Ramirez.
Rolando, 13 (left) and Diego, 12 (right) got vaccinated last week at the Ventura County Public Health Mobile Vaccination Clinic at the Boys & Girls Club of Fillmore. “To protect our friends and family,” they said.
Ecologist Ruby Harris-Gavin reflects on Ireland’s ‘conflicted national relationship with trees.’
We invite you to read and share our stories about the native and rare wildlife of the southern and central California coast, and the people who work to ensure they and their natural habitats remain part of our landscape for years to come.
Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) has named Director of Roads & Transportation’s David Fleisch as?VCPWA’s?Assistant Director. In his new role, he will oversee operational departments in Roads & Transportation, Water & Sanitation and Watershed Protection, assisting the three operational Department Directors to advance specific projects and programs.?
In the past year, under his leadership,?VCPWA?partnered with the Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC)?to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the local Navy installation?and received the first ever statewide grant for the El Rio Pedestrian Improvement Project.?
Hospice of Santa Barbara’s (HSB) virtual event Navigating Re-Entry Town Hall brought a range of community leaders on June 29th who came together to discuss the fears, anxiety, and questions we all have as we contemplate a return to society after the pandemic.
This was in direct response to questions everyone has been hearing in the community. The Town Hall presented many feelings of uncertainty, questions, and concern and, while our expert panel may not have had all the answers, the sense that “we are all in this together and feeling many of the same things” provides comfort to those feeling uneasy during this time.
“At first I wasn’t for it but then I talked to the nurse on site at the vaccination clinic and she answered some of my questions and I felt more comfortable getting vaccinated. I work with kids at the Boys and Girls Club and I’m glad that now I’m protected and so are they.” Amri Cardenas, 24, from Fillmore got vaccinated this week at the mobile vaccination clinic at the Boys & Girls Club of Fillmore. Thank you Amri for protecting yourself and your community!
Friendship Center Senior Day Care Program will open at its Montecito facility for in-person programming Monday, August 2nd. As an intermediate step toward fully reopening, programs will be offered on a part-time basis, Monday to Thursday. Members will enroll in a morning group (9-12:30 p.m.) or afternoon group (1:30-5 p.m.), during which Friendship Center staff will lead safe, socially distanced, engaging activities designed to exercise the physical, emotional, cognitive and social aspects of the body and brain.
Friendship Center staff will prepare and serve a hearty snack, with fruit or vegetable and a protein. Water will be available to all members at all times.
I am thrilled to announce that the Camarillo Animal Shelter has completely opened to those wishing to walk around and adopt shelter animals! It feels great seeing so many people at our facility, looking for their next family member. Adoption hours are Tuesday – Sunday from 1:00pm – 6:00pm and we encourage everyone to preview our pets online and learn about our adoption process prior to your visit. We are equally happy to report that the Simi Valley Animal Shelter is open for the drop off of stray animals and for the reclaim of owned animals Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00pm – 5:00pm. Pet adoptions will soon return to this location.
Our staff and volunteers are here to answer questions and help make the best matches possible! Thank you for your patience and support during the past 18 months!
