Category: Health

SEEAG Launches ‘Farm Day Every Day’ At Petty Ranch, Jan. 25

by Community Contributor • January 9, 2025 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), host of annual Farm Day events in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and student agriculture education programs, is launching “Farm Day Every Day,” a series of free community events alternating at farms in both counties.

The program kicks off at Petty Ranch in Saticoy on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Visitors will tour the Petty Farm avocado orchard with farm manager Chris Sayer to learn the secrets of successfully growing avocados. The event includes hands-on activities at SEEAG’s Farm to Food Lab, where children can participate in an insect hunt, visit a vermicompost (worm) station and plant seedlings. Ten attendees will win avocado trees through a drawing.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Environmental Health announces opening of Debris Removal Operations Center for residents enrolled in County-Led Debris Removal Program

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2025 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Ventura County Environmental Health is pleased to announce that the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) for residents enrolled in the County-Led Debris Removal Program will officially open its doors on Wednesday, January 8. The DROC will be located at the former Ventura County Fire Department Headquarters at the Camarillo Airport. The center will serve as the main hub for all Phase 2 debris removal operations, as debris removal for properties impacted by the Mountain Fire is set to begin this month.

First District Supervisor Das Williams — That’s A Wrap!

by Community Contributor • January 7, 2025 • Comments Off

(Jan. 6), my tenure on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors came to an end. I consider myself fortunate and blessed that voters have trusted me to serve in elected office and make a difference for 21 years.

When I first came into office people called me a young gun. But in two decades I have seen a lot, and want to leave you with some parting thoughts.

I don’t believe any elected official can make every call right. When you vote on several thousands of pieces of legislation per year, you can never be perfect, as much as I have deeply wanted to.

The issues of our time are daunting.

Santa Barbara Community Gains Free Access to Local Therapists with Immediate Availability

by Community Contributor • January 7, 2025 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — During the most recent holidays, many individuals in our community faced heightened stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges. To address this urgent need, SB Therapy Now (www.sbTherapyNow.com) is making it easier than ever for Santa Barbara residents to connect with local therapists who have immediate availability.

The platform is designed to eliminate the long wait times often associated with accessing mental health care. By offering instant access to a curated list of therapists, SB Therapy Now empowers individuals to prioritize their mental health when they need it most.

2025 Marks Santa Barbara Earthquake Centennial

by Community Contributor • January 7, 2025 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — At 6:44am on June 29, 1925, a powerful earthquake devastated Santa Barbara, killing eleven people and destroying or damaging much of downtown. It was a pivotal moment in the City’s history because, out of the debris emerged the Spanish revival city of today.

The EQ25 Alliance is made up of charitable and historical organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and Santa Barbara residents, under the umbrella of The Santa Barbara Conservancy, a local nonprofit.. They are coordinating a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake and its aftermath with a variety of events and symbolic activities.

Bilingual report — City of Ventura announces Corporate Games return in spring 2025

by Community Contributor • January 5, 2025 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Registration for the City of Ventura’s 2025 Corporate Games opens on January 7, 2025. The Games will occur over the course of five weeks from March 22 to May 3, 2025, on weekends and weeknights after regular business hours.

This annual program brings together businesses from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties to compete against each other in various activities and sporting events. All local companies and businesses are welcome to join. Registration ends February 14, 2025.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming teams old and new back to the Games,” said Recreation Supervisor Tyler Nelson. “We’ve been hosting the Games for over 35 years, and every season we’re working to improve our activities, ensure participants have a great time, and create lasting memories.”

County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors Jan. 7 meeting, other updates

by Community Contributor • January 5, 2025 • Comments Off

The next meeting of the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for
9 a.m. Tuesday, January 7, 2025
County Administration Building
Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor
105 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara
The public may participate virtually, or in person at the County Board Hearing Room
in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.

Cottage Health Welcomes Its First New Year’s Baby of 2025

by Community Contributor • January 5, 2025 • Comments Off

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

Mariam and Igor Boyko of Ventura welcomed their fourth child, a baby girl named Esther Love Boyko, into the world at 3:07 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SBCH).

Weighing 7 pounds and 4 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches, Baby Boyko is already captivating hearts with her arrival.

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

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Seniors receive holiday gifts courtesy of Unity Shoppe

by Community Contributor • January 4, 2025 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Many Seniors who live in the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s housing will receive holiday gifts through the Unity Shoppe’s Seniors Helping Seniors program.

A total of 365 gifts will be distributed to senior residents to add some additional cheer to their holidays, through the Housing Authority’s supportive housing program.

Hundreds of Unity Shoppe senior volunteers work throughout the year – knitting, sewing, quilting, painting, woodworking, and assembling – to bring warmth and joy to our most vulnerable residents.

“We are grateful to Unity Shoppe for ensuring that our senior residents receive a special gift this holiday season. it means so much to them,” said Alice Villareal Redit, Resident Programs Supervisor.

Community Environmental Council — Climate-resilient communities don’t just happen

by Community Contributor • January 4, 2025 • Comments Off

The California Central Coast we love – with its breathtaking vistas and reputation as a lighthouse community for environmental action – exists because people like you saw the need to protect it. Now it’s our turn to ensure our region remains a beacon.

Donate today and DOUBLE the effects of your gift.

Hospice of Santa Barbara less than $110,000 away from reaching $1 Million Legacy of Compassion Campaign goal

by Community Contributor • January 4, 2025 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is less than $110,000 away from meeting its $1 million goal for the Legacy of Compassion Campaign, which launched in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The campaign aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of HSB’s free compassionate care services, helping to meet the current demand and build a stronger foundation for the future.

Funds raised from this campaign will go toward reducing the counseling waitlist for grieving adults, expanding HSB’s presence in schools to support all children experiencing grief, assisting patients in navigating the medical system, developing new services to reach more families, and preparing for the rising wave of need in the years ahead.

Ventura County Community Foundation’s (VCCF) Power of Purpose December 2024 newsletter

by Community Contributor • January 4, 2025 • Comments Off

Over the past weeks, we have witnessed extraordinary acts of generosity that have not only improved the lives of hundreds of families in our community, but have also addressed some of Ventura County’s most urgent challenges, including access to clean water, advancing higher education, preserving local journalism, and affordable housing.

Because of your compassion and unwavering support for your neighbors, last week VCCF’s Board of Directors approved an additional $650,000 to assist those most affected by the Mountain Fire. To date, more than $975,313 has been granted, providing families with access to temporary housing, replacement of vital medical equipment, and other essential resources. Your generosity has also covered emergency veterinary bills for injured pets, supported over 450 animal rescues, and provided families with much-needed financial assistance and childcare as they work to rebuild their lives. You have helped farmworkers who lost both work and housing, and so much more.

Bilingual report — The final news of the year from the County of Ventura

by Community Contributor • January 4, 2025 • Comments Off

nueva unidad pediátrica

El miércoles 18 de diciembre, líderes locales, pacientes y sus familias se reunieron para celebrar la gran inauguración de la recién contruida Unidad Pediátrica del Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC por sus siglas en inglés).

Financiada con una subvención estatal de 15 millones de dólares de la Propuesta 4, la nueva unidad de 16 camas está diseñada para proporcionar una atención integral y centrada en la familia a niños, desde recién nacidos hasta adultos jóvenes.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Medical Center celebrates grand opening of new pediatric unit

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2025 • Comments Off

“We are thrilled to have this dedicated space to care for the children of Ventura County,” stated Dr. Todd Flosi, Director of Inpatient Pediatric Strategy. “Our multidisciplinary team—comprising physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers, and child life specialists—has specialized training and expertise in caring for children. We focus not only on their medical needs but also on their developmental and emotional well-being. Our goal is to provide excellent care while minimizing the discomfort and disruption that hospitalization can cause for both the child and their family.”