Category: Health

Social Justice Fund for Ventura County Monthly update — Continue travel to just and equitable society

by Community Contributor • April 21, 2021 • Comments Off

While the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County is pleased that the jury found Derek
Chauvin guilty for the murder of George Floyd, we must not veer away from the long
road we still must travel to reach a just and equitable society. Chauvin’s trial has been a
traumatic and painful experience to watch, as we were continuously forced to relive the
gruesome murder George Floyd. Chauvin’s conduct was the byproduct of the historical
injustices inflicted on Black and Brown people in our Country and a legacy of the
unacknowledged racism, which permeates throughout our criminal justice system. This
case was merely a single demonstration of one person being held accountable. We
must not be distracted from our continuous fight for systemic change, true justice, actual
fairness, societal equity and inclusion.

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 21, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 21, 2021 • Comments Off

COVID-19 Update

There are 28 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,942 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths.

Doubling time is 1,930.9 days.

The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .83 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .78 right now.

597,454 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. 54.6% of the population age 16 and older have received the 1st dose of the vaccine.

Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.

Click here for information about the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy for information about the guidance for different sectors. The County remains in the Orange Tier for at least 2 more weeks.

Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.

www.venturacountyrecovers.org

Petco Love Foundation Invests in Lifesaving Work of Ventura County Animal Services

by Community Contributor • April 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Animal Services is thrilled to announce that we have received a $27,500 grant investment from the newly named, Petco Love, to support our lifesaving work for the animals in Ventura County.

Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since their founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, they’ve empowered organizations with nearly $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, they’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like ours, nationwide.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County receives City of Oxnard land on behalf of newly formed Housing Land Trust Ventura County

by Community Contributor • April 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC), on behalf of the newly formed Housing Land Trust Ventura County, has entered into a disposition and development agreement to receive donated land valued at $840,000 from the City of Oxnard. Located at 241 West Second Street, the unused city land will be developed as the future home of the Homeless Solutions Center, a supportive housing development that will provide 55 permanent housing units, 120 shelter beds and 24-hour supportive services for the homeless population.

“In 2020 we formed the Housing Land Trust Ventura County as a way to provide lasting community assets and permanently affordable housing opportunities for families, workers and fixed-income residents in our County,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund VC and Housing Land Trust Ventura County. “By working to acquire donated land and preserve it for affordable housing developments we remove the most cost-prohibitive part of building affordable homes, which is the high cost of land.” Braunschweiger notes that Housing Land Trust Ventura County is designated by the State of California as a Supporting Nonprofit comprised of an 11-member Board of Directors who are working to identify and receive donated land in the region that can be developed to provide affordable housing on a 99-year lease for either rental housing or home ownership. The new nonprofit will not act as a developer but rather work with affordable housing developers selected through an RFP process. The land donated by the City of Oxnard is the first such project for the newly formed Housing Land Trust Ventura County.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 20, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 20, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 23 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 2,035 new tests performed. There have been 2 additional deaths: 55 year old male and a 98 year old female. Doubling time is 1,904.1 days.

UCSB — The Current — ‘A More Complete Account’ and more news

by Community Contributor • April 20, 2021 • Comments Off

The most detailed look at kelp forests to date finds that unseen parasites dominate species interactions.

Simi Valley Family YMCA and Yarrow Family YMCA Indoor Pools Now Open

by Community Contributor • April 19, 2021 • Comments Off

The indoor pools at YMCAs in Simi Valley and Westlake Village are now open.

The Simi Valley Family YMCA and Yarrow Family YMCA pools have been closed since last March. Both YMCAs are now offering aquatic group classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Lap lanes are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. at the Simi Y and 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Yarrow Y.

“We hope to expand classes and hours in the coming weeks,” says Brigitte Bonafant, Aquatics and Safety Director at the YMCA . “If all goes well, we anticipate swim lessons and family swim time being available in early May.”

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 19, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 19, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 79 new COVID-19 cases (Fri-Sun. There have been 12,423 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths. Doubling time is 1,776.7 days.

The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .86 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .80 right now.

Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.

Click here for information about the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy for information about the guidance for different sectors.

Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.

www.venturacountyrecovers.org

Guest commentary — In defiance of City of Ventura officials, unpermitted disturbance of lead-contaminated soil takes place at SoCal Gas facility, as community concerns escalate

by Community Contributor • April 19, 2021 • Comments Off

When Westside Ventura resident Matthew Bello went on a walk in his neighborhood on April 14, 2020, he saw something he did not expect:

Cars and trucks parked inside the SoCalGas property at 1555 North Olive Street, and a flurry of activity on the usually quiet site. At least a half-dozen workers with shovels were digging a trench in the large dirt lot adjacent to the hulking natural gas compressor station.

Most passersby might not think much of this activity. They’d likely chalk it up to another construction project along The Avenue’s always-busy corridor. But lucky for his neighbors, Bello is part of the newly formed Westside Clean Air Coalition, a community group focused on protecting air quality for all who live and go to school on The Avenue. The group has been following plans for 1555 North Olive closely – a property that has a history of soil contamination and air pollution dating back at least one hundred years. He knew what many would not:

SBCC Foundation and Explore Ecology Receive $100,000 EPA Grant

by Community Contributor • April 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Santa Barbara City College, Explore Ecology, and five community partners have teamed up under a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Program to create the Santa Barbara Ecological and Edible (SBEE) Garden Project, a network of community gardens that will promote biodiversity, increase access to locally grown food, and foster a connection between the community and natural ecosystems.

“This is the largest EPA Environmental Education grant ever awarded to an organization in Santa Barbara County, and one of the largest in California in recent decades. It speaks to the collaborative work and far-reaching impact of Santa Barbara City College, Explore Ecology, and our many incredible community partners,” says Rachel Johnson, SBCC Foundation Director of Grants.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 16, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 16, 2021 • Comments Off

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin flashes a smile after receiving her second dose today at the Rose Avenue Clinic in Oxnard! Leading by example for communities in California’s 44th Assembly District including the cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village.

Also a message from Carmen, a community member who also received a second dose today:

“I just got my second vaccine in Oxnard. I just wanted to say how amazing my experience was. The Porta potty‘s outside were really clean. I had to bring my children with me as I have no child care and everyone was so nice. From the security Guards to the person giving us the shot. Everything was clean and everyone working there was warm and welcoming! Not sure who I could tell about it but I thought here would be best.”