Category: Health

Pesticide approval process in Ventura, Santa Barbara may have violated state law, UCLA report finds

Permits were granted without considering safe alternatives for hazardous pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, or how pesticides may interact with one another VENTURA COUNTY —  California’s County Agricultural Commissioners failed to comply with state law requiring them to not issue permits for…

United Way of Ventura County update for March 21 — Uniting to help those in New Zealand

Click here for the entire e-newsletter President’s Message  Dear Friends, Please take a moment to read the following message from United Way New Zealand CEO Teresa Moore regarding the recent shooting in Christchurch. “There are many people who are affected…

More than 102,000 Tons of Fire Debris Removed from Los Angeles, Ventura County Properties by State Contractors

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have removed more than 102,000 tons of debris generated by the Woolsey and Hill fires from private properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties since debris removal operations began on February 6, officials with the Debris…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Fire Department Investigators Determine the Cause of the Thomas Fire

CAMARILLO — After a thorough investigation, the Ventura County Fire Department has determined the Thomas Fire, which occurred in December 2017, was started by power lines coming into contact during high winds. The Thomas Fire started on the evening of…

Chuck Madson Named Substance Abuse Treatment Program Manager

Program Focuses on Teens and Young Adults SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Family Service Agency– Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center (FSA-SMVYFC) are pleased to announce that Chuck Madson has been hired as Program Manager of its Substance Abuse Treatment program.…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Sheriff breaks ground on jail facility for inmates with health issues

SANTA PAULA — Ventura County officials and contractors held a groundbreaking ceremony at Todd Road Jail on March 6 to begin the expansion project that will result in a 64-bed unit designed to house inmates with medical and mental health issues.…

Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office 2018 Overdose Report

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office this week released its 2018 Overdose Report: 1,563 deaths were reported to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office during calendar year 2018. Jurisdiction was accepted for 806 of these deaths, requiring further…

CSUCI Nursing program ranked 8th best in the state

CAMARILLO — RegisteredNursing.Org has named CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) Nursing program 8th in its 2019 Best RN Programs in California. CSUCI’s program rose from its 12th place rating in 2018. The Third Annual RN Program Rankings placed CSUCI’s program in…

Author and Buddhist Teacher Roshi Joan Halifax Draws Capacity Crowd for Talk on Life and Death

SANTA BARBARA — On Wednesday, February 27th, Roshi Joan Halifax, a renowned Buddhist teacher, author, Zen priest, and anthropologist, talked about her perspectives on death and dying before a packed house at the Marjorie Luke Theatre in Santa Barbara. “Courage,…

Through April 2 — Hospice Volunteer Training at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara  has announced spring 2019 training will be held on six consecutive Tuesdays, March 5, 12,19,26, and April 2, from 1 – 5 p.m. at 512 East Gutierrez Street in…

April 2 — CSUCI’s Eighth Annual Autism Awareness Event will stress understanding and acceptance

CAMARILLO — It’s not a defect, it’s diversity. That’s the point CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) History major Angeles Castillo, 20, plans to make as she speaks at the Eighth Annual “Light It Up Blue” Autism Awareness event from 6:30 to 8…

April 7 — Educational Workshop Offers Strategies to Increase Youth Resiliency to be held in Santa Barbara

Free, Interactive Forum is Sunday, April 7 at Deckers Rotunda. Spanish interpretation will be provided. SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — How do we offer our children guidance and support without rescuing them from the discomfort that naturally comes with healthy challenges and…

April 27, 29 — South Coast Energy Efficiency Partnership (SCEEP) Promotes Energy-Saving Rebate with Smart Thermostat Giveaway at Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact April Price aprice@cecmail.org 805-963-0583 Ext. 101 SCEEP Promotes Energy-Saving Rebate with Smart Thermostat Giveaway at Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival SANTA BARBARA — The South Coast Energy Efficiency Partnership…

April 29 — Oxnard College to host ‘Climate Action Now — Environmental Justice Summit’

OXNARD — Oxnard College will host the Environmental Justice Summit: Climate Action Now on Monday, April 29, at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building (4000 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard). Exhibits with local environmental groups open at 5:30 p.m. Presentations, beginning at…

Bill introduced to prevent unauthorized sale of consumer geo-location information

SACRAMENTO – AB 523 was introduced by Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks) in response to the continued misuse of geo-location data of mobile phone subscribers. Investigations and media reports over the last year have chronicled how large mobile…

Nearly 100 Properties Cleared of Woolsey, Hill Fire Debris

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Nearly 100 residential properties affected by the Woolsey and Hill fires have been cleared by state contractors of burned metal, concrete, chimneys, ash and other debris, officials with the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in Calabasas reported today.…

Community Radio KCSB-FM News on Feb. 25 will Present Live Broadcast of Panel Focusing on Impacts of Unnatural Disasters

SANTA BARBARA — KCSB-FM 91.9 Santa Barbara, the community radio station located on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, is hosting a live broadcast event focusing on the causes of disasters, both natural and man-made, and their impact…

Assemblymember Irwin introduces bill to reduce firearm related suicides

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks) on Feb. 15 introduced Assembly Bill 645, a bill to reduce firearm related suicides. “There has been a startling increase in firearm suicides throughout California and the nation,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin.…

Community Environmental Council update for Feb. 19 — SB Earth Day Festival 2019

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Kathi King kking@cecmail.org 805-963-0583 Ext. 108 Community Environmental Council Announces SB Earth Day Festival 2019 Friday night concert with Beer & Wine Garden added to extend celebration. The 2019 festival will…

Jackson Introduces Bill to Protect Older and Disabled Adults From Falling

SACRAMENTO –Recognizing that falls are the leading cause of fatal injury among older adults, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation today to assist older and disabled adults with home modifications to help reduce the risk of falling and allow more…

Ventura County Public Health reports on influenza-related deaths this flu season

VENTURA COUNTY — As of February 7, 2019, Ventura County has seen 5 influenza-related deaths this flu season, which started in October 2018, the Ventura County Public Health, a department of Ventura County Health Care Agency reported Feb. 11. Click here…

Family Service Agency Names New Board Members

SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors. Joining its Board and representing communities throughout Santa Barbara County are Marisol Alarcon (Carpinteria), Robert Janeway (Santa Barbara), Sandra Underwood…

The Mary Kay Foundation? Awards RISE $20,000 Grant

The Mary Kay Foundation Supports Victims of Domestic Violence by Issuing $3 Million in Grants to 150 Domestic Violence Shelters Across the Country SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — In support of survivors of domestic violence, The Mary Kay FoundationSM announced…

Bilingual commentary: When Diet Is Our Religion

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local 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 David Magallanes •…

Jackson Calls for Master Plan on Aging Californians

Introduces legislation to develop senior master plan and appoint an “Aging Czar” SACRAMENTO — As California’s aging population continues to grow with significant numbers struggling to access essential care, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)  introduced legislation Feb. 7 to develop a master…

United Way of Ventura County update for Feb. 7 — February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   President’s Message  Dear Friends, February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and United Way is proud to advocate for increased services on behalf of the 100,000 children in Ventura County who qualify for…

Bilingual report: County Fire receives grant funding for Child Passenger Safety Education and Training Program

CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Fire Protection District has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to expand the department’s Child Passenger Safety Program. Together with Safe Kids Ventura County and Ventura County Public Health,…

Woolsey Fire Survivors in Los Angeles County Late Submission Period for Right-of-Entry Forms Open Until Feb. 15

SACRAMENTO — The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), in conjunction with Los Angeles County and participating state and federal agencies, announced today that they would be extending the date and accepting Woolsey Fire survivor’s Right-of-Entry (ROE) forms for the…

March 7 — Dr. Sean Anderson returns to Ventura to present free environmental lecture ‘California’s Year-Round Wildfire Season – The New Abnormal’

VENTURA — On Thursday, March 7, Ventura Land Trust will kick off its 2019 Environmental Speaker Series with the return of the ever-popular Dr. Sean Anderson. Dr. Anderson, Departmental Chair of the Environmental Science and Resource Management Program at California State…

March 13 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Elisabeth Rosenthal in ‘An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back’

SANTA BARBARA — March 13, 2019 / 7:30PM / The New Vic Theatre, Santa Barbara UCSB Arts & Lectures to present “An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back.” Elisabeth Rosenthal is the…

Through March 28 — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara presenting ‘Mindfulness in Grief’

SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara. presenting ‘Mindfulness in Grief.’ Open to both new and experienced meditators. Group includes time for instruction in meditation and processing one’s grief. Facilitated by Mara Petrick, MSW, LCSW Six Thursdays through…

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams: Evacuation Warning issued for Friday evening

Greetings! , The weather advisory issued for FRIDAY night through SATURDAY morning has been upgraded to an evacuation warning. A storm is coming in that is expected to be exceed thresholds to require evacuation. This means that we are in the…

Das Williams: Weather Advisory for Friday Evening

Greetings! , Our County Office of Emergency Management has issued a weather advisory for FRIDAY night through SATURDAY morning. A storm is coming in that is expected to be exceed thresholds to require evacuation. This means that we are in the…

Jackson Introduces Bill to Ensure Emergency Plans Address Diverse Population Needs

SB 160 directs emergency planners to consider linguistic and cultural needs of all residents SACRAMENTO –Following the deadliest and most destructive fire season in California history, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation today to ensure local governments address the diverse…

National Sexual Assault Experts to Train Local Law Enforcement on Feb. 22

SLO County Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Victim Service Professionals to Receive Training from National Experts on Sexual Assault Response SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Over 200 law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, victim service providers and others are expected to attend a…