SANTA BARBARA — In a unique collaboration between Hospice of Santa Barbara and Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care, the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program helps ensure that those who are dying in our community, with no family or friends…
SANTA BARBARA — The Mental Wellness Center (MWC) held its first ever Stigma Buster Celebration May 1 in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month and the efforts of its local graduates and partners. About 100 supporters gathered at MWC’s Fellowship…
VENTURA COUNTY — California Strong, a nonprofit organization created by California professional athletes to provide immediate financial support to victims after disasters, distributed its second round of funding to over 60 families who were impacted by the Woolsey Fire. More…
CAMARILLO — To help officers respond to opioid-related medical emergencies quickly and effectively, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) police are now carrying naloxone hydrochloride or Narcan to help prevent fatal opioid overdoses. “This is a direct response to the opioid crisis,” explained…
SACRAMENTO – Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Refugio Oil Spill on May 19 when a ruptured pipeline spilled nearly 143,000 gallons of crude oil at Refugio State Beach, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) Senate Bill 169 to…
SANTA MARIA — The Central Coast Association of School Psychologists (CCASP) has awarded the Meritorious Service Award to Pioneer Valley High School Psychologist Erica Castro for the 2018-19 school year. The recognition highlights Castro’s service to students, teachers, administrators, parents,…
CAMARILLO — May is National Bicycle Safety Month and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office encourages drivers and bicyclists to share the road safely not just for the month of May, but every month of the year. “It is not just cars…
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have cleared eligible debris from more than 72 percent of the properties affected by the Woolsey and Hill fires that are currently participating in the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, officials with the Debris Removal Operations…
SANTA BARBARA — United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) has announced the nominees for their 96th Annual Awards Celebration, taking place May 8th at the Santa Barbara Hilton Beachfront Resort. Local volunteers, businesses, schools, and organizations will be recognized…
SANTA BARBARA — Tom Kress’s career as an artist and building designer has taken him around the world, working on architectural design projects including the Santa Barbara Airport, the Transamerica Building, and even the White House. On Tuesday, April 30th,…
By David Magallanes • Guest contributor David Magallanes Some of us describe ourselves as “creatures of habit.” Habits can be beneficial, or they can devastate us over time. A reading or exercise habit will not have the same outcome as…
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has adopted the Rooster Keeping Ordinance (VCO §§ 4494.1-5), the intent of which is to curtail game fowl crowding, address the public noise and odor nuisance associated with game fowl farming…
OXNARD — Adding to the growing momentum in Ventura County for better protections from pesticide use, the Oxnard School District (OSD) has banned Glyphosate—the toxic ingredient in RoundUp. To a cheering May 1stcrowd, the district’s Board of Trustees adopted a resolution…
CAMARILLO — Thousands of letters have been sent to homeowners and property managers reminding them to clear 100 feet of brush away from their properties by June 1, 2019. More than 18,400 parcels will receive Fire Hazard Reduction Program (FHRP)…
RISE Up & Rock for a good cause on April 27! SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — In commemoration of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, RISE will be hosting an exciting, new event called RISE Up & Rock: A Benefit…
VENTURA COUNTY — As of April 25, 2019, Ventura County has been fortunate to claim no measles cases in our county, despite the fact that our neighboring county – The Los Angeles County (LAC) Department of Public Health (DPH) –…
CAMARILLO — The marginalization of deaf women through history always fascinated CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) History alumna Marissa Hull. The absence or misrepresentation of America’s indigenous people intrigued History major Mariah Kelly-Huron. Their academic interests and achievements have earned both…
OXNARD — The Coalition For Family Harmony, which provides victims of family violence with the means to help them escape their life of abuse, provided direct services to 1,865 domestic violence victims and 375 sexual assault victims in 2018. Part…
SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)’s legislation to combat tobacco waste by establishing a comprehensive tobacco waste reduction program passed out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee today on a 5 to 1 vote. Cigarette butts are the most common…
A four-way stop control to be installed at the intersection of Santa Paula Street and Briggs Road VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) Transportation Department has received approval from the Board of Supervisors for the installation of a…
SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health, the health plan founded in Santa Barbara more than 35 years ago, is being recognized as the Best Place to Work by Pacific Coast Business Times. The publication annually produces a list of the 25…
Strengthens local planning in high fire risk areas without compromising regional housing goals and encourages fire-resistant construction SACRAMENTO –As California prepares for the next catastrophic wildfire season, legislation by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to strengthen local planning requirements in high…
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State officials at the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in Calabasas have submitted final inspection reports to local officials in Los Angeles and Ventura counties for nearly 160 properties affected by the Woolsey Fire that have completed…
Click here for the entire e-newsletter President’s Message Dear Friends, On May 10, the Friday before Mother’s Day, we will have our third annual Women United luncheon. Did you know that in order for a single mother to support…
SANTA MARIA — One penny piled upon another added up to a nice donation for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, thanks to the Santa Maria High School Associated Student Body (ASB). The leadership students raised $3,943 during their “Pennies for Patients”…
SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria High School ASB students joined the fight against cancer by participating in the Day of Hope campaign for the fifth year in a row. The students jump-started their efforts by pre-selling Santa Maria Times newspapers to…
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have removed nearly 200,000 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 Removal…
SANTA BARBARA — “Will I ever be normal again?” Those words, spoken almost 20 years ago by a 12-year-old boy whose father had recently died, sparked the creation of Hospice of Santa Barbara’s innovative “I Have a Friend®” mentor program.…
VENTURA COUNTY — Sponsored by Ventura County Public Health (VCPH), the Ventura County RLA is a 10-session comprehensive curriculum that encourages community residents to reduce health disparities and inequities by encouraging healthy eating, physical activity and public safety through policy…
CENTRAL COAST — CenCal Health, the publicly-sponsored health plan for Medi-Cal in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, recently welcomed pediatrics specialist Dr. Patricia Auchard to its organization as CenCal Health Medical Director. Reporting to Dr. Takashi Michael Wada,…
Click here for the entire e-newsletter We Love Volunteers! Celebrating National Volunteer Month Today’s blog post, celebrating National Volunteer Month, comes from Montecito Program Manager, Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH. People often ask me about volunteer opportunities at Friendship…
VENTURA — Sometimes the small things make a big difference. For many people without a permanent home, a pair of clean, warm socks brings comfort that the more fortunate take for granted. The Ventura County Continuum of Care recently applied…
VENTURA — Jackie Rose has been selected as the new director of the Animal Services Department. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers following a search which included strong internal and external candidates. Rose will be relocating…
SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)’s Senate Bill 55, which would restrict gun ownership among Californians with repeated convictions of certain alcohol offenses, passed the Senate Public Safety Committee today on a 5-1 vote. The bill is based on…
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Community Leaders Join CEC to Help Combat Climate Change and Resultant Climate Justice Issues SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is pleased to announce new additions to its Partnership Council and Intern…
SANTA BARBARA — The TheraMind Center of Santa Barbara is pleased to announce that Dr. Lindsey Law, M.D., a resident physician in psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in Los Angeles, will be joining their…
OXNARD — Join the 26th Annual Cesar Chavez March for Justice, meeting at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 24 at Cesar Chavez School, 224 Juanita Ave., Oxnard. “UFW President Teresa Romero and Ventura County farm workers want to invite you to join…
Press Conference Set for March 22 on Superior Court Steps in San Luis Obispo SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – The community is invited to a March 22 press conference to announce Seek Then Speak, a new tool to support sexual…
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…
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…
Material Interactivo de Educación de Salud Ahora Disponible en la Red Accesible para Miembros de CenCal Health, Médicos, y la Comunidad en General en los Condados de Santa Barbara y San Luis Obispo SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health, el plan…
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…
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…
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Public Health on May 12 provided an Influenza update. Click here for the entire media release.
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.…
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 — 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…
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…
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,…
SANTA MARIA — Students at PVHS will bring a touch of home to the Good Samaritan Shelter on Thursday, March 7th. Carrying 75 hand-made pillows and containers of chicken tortilla soup, the students from PV’s Culinary Arts and Apparel Construction and…
