VENTURA — Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 26th Annual David Fainer/Leo Tauber, MD Awards, to be held Aug. 8, 2019. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 15. These awards recognize outstanding community contributions by…
Category: Health
SoCalGas’ Smart Therm Program Wins Award at 29th Annual Association of Energy Services Professionals Conference
Demand response program recognized for outstanding achievement in innovation LOS ANGELES — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced that its Smart Therm Program received the Energy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Demand Response and Pricing from the Association of Energy…
Focus of State’s Southern California Debris Removal Program Turns to Site Assessments, Debris Clearance as Removal of Household Hazardous Waste Nears Completion
VENTURA COUNTY — As work crews from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) finish clearing the few private properties destroyed by the Woolsey and Hill fires still containing household hazardous waste (HHW),…
Bilingual report: California Disaster Recovery Centers to open on MLK Jr. holiday on Jan. 21
SACRAMENTO — All Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in California will be open normal hours of operation on Monday, Jan. 21, the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The DRCs are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are located…
SoCalGas ‘Dial It Down’ Alert Has Ended
LOS ANGELES — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced that effective as of 8 a.m., the “Dial It Down” Alert, urging customers to conserve natural gas, has ended. The “Dial It Down” Alert was initiated on Monday, January 14 in…
Jackson Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Paid Family Leave
Legislation follows Governor Newsom’s promise to expand paid family leave SACRAMENTO –Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement that he is committed to expanding paid family leave, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation today to strengthen California’s family leave laws and create…
Bilingual report: Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. hosting Dental Health Fair on Feb. 16 in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month
OXNARD — February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. If you have a baby or toddler, you may have questions about thumb sucking, your child’s first dental visit or how and when to clean your child’s teeth. If so, on…
SoCalGas Issues ‘Dial It Down’ Alert Through Friday Night
Customers are urged to immediately reduce their natural gas use to help conserve energy LOS ANGELES — Due to cold weather and rain predicted for parts of the Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) service territory, SoCalGas has issued a “Dial…
First Responders Honored at Fire Hose Flag Ceremony on Anniversary of Debris Flow
SANTA BARBARA — A flag dedication ceremony was held at the Santa Barbara Courthouse the morning of January 9th, 2019, the one-year anniversary of the Montecito Debris Flow. Elected officials and first responders joined the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF)…
CenCal Health Recognizes Top Physicians, Health Centers for Quality Care, Cost Management
SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health, the regional health plan for Medi-Cal, recognized the work of local network physicians and healthcare centers through their Primary Care Providers (PCP) Incentive Top Performer awards. The awards acknowledge PCPs across San Luis Obispo and…
State Sen. Jackson Applauds Governor’s Bold First Budget Proposal
Budget commits to robust emergency preparedness and paid family leave SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) released the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom’s January budget proposal released today. “I applaud Governor Newsom’s visionary yet prudent approach to addressing some…
State Leaders Representing Woolsey Fire Impacted Communities: We Need Partnership, Not Politics, on Emergency Response
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), Assemblymember Christy Smith, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Assemblymember Richard Bloom and Senator Henry Stern today issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s comments regarding FEMA emergency aid: “It is unacceptable to use…
Bilingual report: Ventura County Health Care Agency Vaccine and Medication Ineffectiveness Update
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Health Care Agency provides Vaccine and Medication Ineffectiveness Update. Click here for information in English Click here for information in español
Cottage Health Employees, United Way Spread Joy to Elementary Students
SANTA BARBARA — United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) and Cottage Health employees teamed up to ensure 30 elementary age students all had gifts to unwrap for the holidays. Cottage Health employees contacted UWSBC in the fall to arrange…
State Sen. Jackson Issues Statement In Advance of One-Year Anniversary of Montecito Debris Flow Anniversary
SACRAMENTO – In advance of the one-year anniversary of the January 9 Montecito debris flow, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) released the following statement: “The Montecito debris flow was a devastating tragedy that claimed 23 lives, destroyed dozens of homes, and…
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County treating Ventura County volunteers to free coffee
VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is kicking off National Mentoring Month by taking over Ventura County’s favorite coffee shops! Through the month of January, anyone interested in becoming a volunteer mentor to a young…
Bilingual report: VCAAA, Alzheimer’s Association Challenge Local Businesses to Become Dementia Friendly
VENTURA — A new movement was introduced to Ventura County this summer as the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association, and other partnering agencies rolled out Dementia Friendly Ventura County to provide better service to local residents living…
Bilingual report: Volunteers needed for annual homeless count in Ventura County
VENTURA — Community volunteers are needed for the annual count and survey of homeless persons in Ventura County. The 2019 Ventura County Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, 2019. The annual Homeless Count is…
Guest commentary: Department of Pesticide Regulation finds illegal pesticides on our food at a rate equivalent to once a week in a Californian’s diet
Claims that rate is “low” By Californians for Pesticide Reform Once again, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released its annual study of pesticide residues on food (2017 data); once again it found illegal pesticide amounts on more…
February — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara ‘Grief Walk and Talk’
SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara will present a ‘Grief Walk and Talk.’ Join this easy-paced walking group that provides informal support as we walk together through grief. Facilitated by Dairine Pearson, LCSW Every Friday starting February 1st, 10:00…
February — Livingston’s Camarillo Hospice Announces New Group
Understanding Your Grief, a 10 Week Grief Support Group for Widow and Widowers Starting Wednesday February 6thfrom 5:00 to 6:30 pm Understanding Your Grief, written by author, educator and grief counselor, Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD is intended to companion the…
Through Feb. 12 — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara present ‘Loss of a Spouse or Partner’
SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara presenting “Loss of a Spouse or Partner session,” facilitated by Mara Petrick, MSW, LCSW, Six Tuesdays, 1/8/19 to 2/12/19, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM Contact (805) 690 6296 or mara.petrick@vnhcsb.org for more details.
Feb. 13 — Healthy Heart, Healthy Aging Expo
SANTA BARBARA — Come discover the latest on how heart health impacts us as we age and new ways to maintain our healthy hearts from a variety of local vendors and health care providers. The “Health Hear, Healthy Aging” expo…
Bilingual report: Through Feb. 16 — Food for Fines week at Ventura County Library
VENTURA COUNTY — Food for Fines week at Ventura County Library is February 10 – 16, 2019:Ventura County Library, in partnership with FOOD Share Ventura County, is offering customers the ability to return overdue items along with canned food donations to…
Feb. 16 — Ojai Library to present ‘Life-Force Energy Expo and Immersion – A presentation by renowned Grandmaster Qin from China’
OJAI — At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019, Grandmaster Qin will visit the Ojai Library to deliver a presentation on the Life-Force Energy Expo and Immersion. The Life-Force Energy Expo and Immersion explores the Qigong method of cultivating bioforce…
Feb. 17 — ‘The Search for Silence in Turbulent Times – An introductory talk by Anagarika Sucinno’ at the Ojai Library
OJAI — Anagarika Sucinno will visit the Ojai Library at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 17, 2019, to deliver an introductory talk titled “The Search for Silence in Turbulent Times.” Are we inevitably stuck in history’s turbulence and personal suffering? How…
Feb. 22 — Ojai Library to present ‘Walking on Eggshells and Communicating with Adult Kids – A presentation by Judy Devore’
OJAI — Communications consultant, attorney, and senior peer counselor Judy Devore will visit the Ojai Library at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 2019, to deliver a presentation titled “Walking on Eggshells and Communicating with Adult Kids.” Senior parents often feel…
Feb. 25 — One-stop-shop event connecting underrepresented groups to difficult-to-obtain benefits, services to be held in Morro Bay
SAN LUIS OBISPO — A one-stop-shop event connecting underrepresented groups to difficult-to-obtain benefits and services is being held in Morro Bay this month. The County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office and the County Department of Social Services are…
Feb. 27 — Courage, Love, and Compassion: An evening with Joan Halifax
SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Community Education and Engagement Series is pleased to present “Courage, Love, and Compassion: An Evening with Joan Halifax”. On Wednesday, February 27th, Roshi Joan Halifax, a renowned Buddhist teacher, author, Zen priest, and…
Friendship Center of Santa Barbara update for Jan. 1 — Self-Care: New Year’s Resolution for Caregivers
Click here for the entire e-newsletter About Us Programs For Caregivers Calendar of Activities Events Donate Contact Us Train Your Brain! CONNECTIONS Now Mondays & Wednesdays in Montecito: GOLETA 805-845-7442 Persons w/Memory Loss & Their Caregivers 2nd & 4th…
Teen shows resilience through her life-long foster experience; shares how finally having a home and family impacted her life
The teen and Foster VC Kids are sharing her story to encourage Ventura County families to help by fostering, mentoring or providing permanency. VENTURA COUNTY — Keanna, age 18, is sharing the story of her life-long foster experience with the hope…
Register Now For A Free California Friendly Landscape Training Class (Jan. 26 through April 13) and Apply For Water and Money Saving Rebates
OXNARD — To help Oxnard make water conservation a way of life, the City is offering classes to teach residents how to transform lawns into beautiful, water-efficient gardens. All residential water customers are invited to register for one of the following…
Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. Distributes Toys Throughout Ventura County
VENTURA COUNTY — It has been a time honored tradition during the holiday season for Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. to distribute toys to its pediatric patients. The tradition continues this year as Clinicas’ Toy Giveaway will again take place at…
Bilingual report: Federal resources available for under-insured Hill and Woolsey fire victims
VENTURA — Some homeowners affected by the Hill and Woolsey fires are discovering that they may be under-insured for their losses. Help is available. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides housing assistance for people who have lost their homes as…
Jackson Introduces Bill to Reduce Gun Violence
SACRAMENTO– Based on research by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP), which found an increased risk of future violence among firearm owners with certain alcohol-related convictions, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation today to restrict gun ownership among…
Ventura County announces addition to health care leadership team
VENTURA — Bill Foley has been selected as the new Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers with the unanimous approval of the Board of Supervisors. “The Health Care…
Professional Athletes and Southeast Ventura County YMCA Join Forces to Create California Strong
VENTURA COUNTY — In response to the recent tragedies in California, professional baseball players Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun and Mike Moustakas, along with Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff, have joined forces with the Southeast Ventura County YMCA to create California Strong.…
Bilingual report: Application period open for no-cost debris removal program
VENTURA —Ventura County is coordinating the application process for the California Office of Emergency Services Consolidated Debris Removal Program (CalRecycle) for Woolsey and Hill fire victims. The program is offered to Ventura County residents whose home was destroyed in the…
SMHS FFA Member now has raised two puppies for Guide Dog Project
SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria High School FFA senior Ariadna Romero, who has spent hundreds of hours raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), was proud to see the dog graduate as a guide in a formal…
Community Environmental Council Welcomes New Board and Staff Members, including Retired Fire Chief and Green Business Leaders
Click here for the entire e-newsletter CEC invites in strong environmental advocates to support green business and transportation efforts SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is pleased to announce two new Board members, as well as new staff. Additions…
Camarillo Hospice offers grief support groups focusing on the holidays
CAMARILLO — When grieving the death of a loved one, the holidays can be a painful time. It can feel as if the holiday light has diminished as face the challenge of finding continued meaning in our rituals and connection with…
Bilingual report: Food benefits now available for Ventura County wildfire victims
SACRAMENTO –The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) today announced that, as part of the continuing disaster recovery effort, individuals and families impacted by the wildfires in Ventura County may be eligible to receive one month of Disaster CalFresh food…
Bilingual report: Ventura County Health Care Agency Discovers Vaccine & Medications Ineffective and Launches Remedy
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Health Care Agency Discovers Vaccine & Medications Ineffective and Launches Remedy. Click here for the English-language version Click here for the Spanish-language version
Supervisors further expand assistance for victims of the Hill and Woolsey fires
VENTURA — The Board of Supervisors at their Dec. 4 meeting took additional steps to assist county residents affected by the Hill and Woolsey fires. In these three latest actions, the Board voted unanimously to establish a local debris removal…
Friendship Center adult day services in Goleta update for Dec. 1 — Home for the Holidays
Click here for the entire e-newsletter For some, the holidays bring that warm, fuzzy feeling, while for others they are more challenging. Many have high expectations that are difficult to meet, no matter your family circumstances. However, when adult…
Bilingual commentary: Falling Into Poverty
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 •…
UCSB update for Nov. 29 — Latin Fusion (to perform Nov. 30)
November 29, 2018 Top News Elevating Voices The Interdisciplinary Humanities Center pairs student translators with non-native English-speaking parents for parent-teacher conferences at local elementary schools. Read More The Ambitious Dragon A new book examines China’s drive to become the world…
Guest commentary: It is a new day Oxnard y adelante
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes 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 Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor…
Coping with the Loss of a Loved One this Holiday Season
SANTA BARBARA — The holiday season can stir up a range of emotions, including joy, stress, sadness, and everything in between. For those preparing to navigate the holiday season after dealing with the recent loss of a loved one, this…
CSUCI’s first campus therapy dog will get a formal presidential welcome
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) President Erika D. Beck will host a welcome ceremony for the university’s first therapy dog at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26 in the East Bell Tower courtyard. The guest of honor is a five-year old…