Category: Local

Stuffing the Bus to Empower Youth in Ventura County

by Community Contributor • August 2, 2022 • Comments Off

About 3,000 students experiencing homelessness in Ventura County will start the new school year off right with backpacks filled with essential-school supplies.

The backpacks were delivered to more than 200 Ventura County schools through United Way of Ventura County’s Stuff the Bus Campaign, made possible with support from the Ventura County Office of Education, the Gene Haas Foundation, community members and a $10,000 donation from Aera Energy.

“For so many of our families the little money they have may be better spent on food, paying rent or a new pair of shoes for the school year rather than backpacks and school supplies,” said Susan Englund, vice president of community impact, United Way of Ventura County. “We’re helping ease the financial burden on parents so the students can start the school year with everything they need. These supplies also promote learning, build self-esteem, and help our youth stay in school.”

July/August 2022 Friendly Finch Friendship Center’s Bi-Monthly Newsletter

by Community Contributor • August 2, 2022 • Comments Off

It has been a journey from humble beginnings in a small church on Cota Street serving a few seniors, to expanding to a much larger and beautiful space in Montecito, and now serving several hundreds of seniors and family caregivers over the years.

We navigated the unexpected challenge of the past couple of years, managing through the pandemic. We have emerged stronger and more resilient than ever, recognizing, as we have countless times throughout the past 45 years, that our strength comes from the community and what we do!

So much of our success is thanks to you – board members, volunteers, foundations, businesses, our dedicated staff, and community supporters who have built a safety-net to support seniors and their family caregivers whereby some have experienced isolation, depression, and anxiety during these most challenging times.

Pedro Chavez Receives Real Estate Industry Recognition

by Community Contributor • August 1, 2022 • Comments Off

Earlier this year, a member of the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors also known as VCCAR received the inaugural Good Neighbor Award. The Good Neighbor of the Year may be given to a REALTOR® or Affiliate member who has made exceptional contributions to improve the quality of life in their local community. This award brings to the forefront the positive difference our members make in giving back to their communities. The Good Neighbor of the Year receives a $1,000 donation to the charitable organization they work with. The first recipient of this inaugural award was, Pedro. A Chavez, Sales Manager at Caliber Home Loans and a member in good standing of the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors.

Bilingual report — County Of Ventura Ranked a Top Ten Digital County in the Nation by Center for Digital Government and National Association of Counties

by Community Contributor • August 1, 2022 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura has ranked eighth among digital counties nationwide by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Ventura County’s Information Technology Services (ITS) Department was awarded in the 20th annual Digital Counties Survey for being an information technology leader amongst counties with populations of 500,000 – 999,999, after Gwinnett County, Georgia, followed by Polk County, Florida, and County of Chester, Pennsylvania.

“We are proud that our County continues to be a leader in technology and innovation and are grateful for this special recognition,” said Interim County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “It reflects the dedication of our ITS Department and entire county team in finding new and efficient ways to serve our community. Looking ahead, we remain committed to leveraging technology and key collaborations to help close the digital divide so that all community members have equitable access to digital services.”

Two groups of CSUCI students spend almost a month on Santa Rosa Island with new Field Studies classes

by Community Contributor • August 1, 2022 • Comments Off

Fourteen CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students sat around a conference table in the John Spoor Broome Library as photos they had taken on Santa Rosa Island lit up the screen at the front of the room.

One photo was taken by Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM) major Renee Giragosian as she rode an Island Packers boat into a yawning cave.

“This is the most present I’ve ever felt,” she said, recalling the moment. “It was the fact that this cave was right off the coast as we were just concluding this one month long amazing, challenging journey.”

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • August 1, 2022 • Comments Off

BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR VETERANS FROM THE SBA

August 2 @ 12:00 pm

Did you know that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has resources and programs for Veterans and the military community? If you are a transitioning or active-duty service member, National Guard or Reserve member, veteran of any era or military spouse, the SBA is here to help. Through training programs, contracting opportunities and access to capital, the SBA is here to help your business start, grow, expand or recover. You can access the SBA’s Veteran resources through the Southern California Veteran’s Business Outreach Center!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Santa Barbara County Food Action Network Public Call for Board Members

by Community Contributor • August 1, 2022 • Comments Off

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) is pleased to announce a public call for Board Members since the organization recently obtained 501c3 public charity status. This achievement is a key milestone made possible by seed funding and capacity-building support from the Santa Barbara Foundation and fiscal sponsorship by the Community Environmental Council and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

“This is a very exciting time for our local food network,” said SBCFAN Chair Kiah Jordan. “The Community Environmental Council, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Barbara Foundation were instrumental in providing leadership, direction, and financial and administrative support to help us achieve independent 501c3 status. The next step is to build our Board of Directors to help guide the organization for generations to come.”

SBCFAN is looking for engaged community members with knowledge in areas such as agriculture, food enterprise, legal services primarily with human resources and/or the nonprofit sector, and accounting. Board applications are open today, Monday, August 1, through Tuesday, August, 16. To apply and learn more please go to: sbcfan.org/call-for-board-members.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Employee Retention Tax Credit

by Community Contributor • August 1, 2022 • Comments Off

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here Para leer este boletín en español, haga clic aquí EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a refundable credit that businesses can claim on qualified wages, including certain health…

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Loan Opportunity for Businesses

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2022 • Comments Off

As the region’s largest economic development public-private partnership, the Economic Development Collaborative works with more than 30 professional advisors on contract and a full time loan fund director, available to local businesses at no cost all designed to pair you with the financial expertise and right amount of capital you need to move your business forward.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Para leer este boletín en español, haga clic aquí

Bilingual commentary — Our Aversion to Science

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2022 • Comments Off

Throughout the history of the world, there have been challenges to classical science.

It took a couple of centuries for people to embrace Isaac Newton’s heliocentric model, developed in the 16th century, establishing that the sun – and not the earth – was the center of the universe. That the earth was displaced from the center of the universe clashed with the belief that we were “exceptional.” Galileo had proposed this very idea nearly a century earlier, but he recanted when his life was threatened by the Catholic Church.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures Releases 2021 Crop and Livestock Report

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2022 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures presented the 2021 Crop and Livestock Report to the Board of Supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting. Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer Ed Williams reported the value of crops for the county for 2021 was $2,085,999,000, an increase of 5% from 2020. Strawberries, lemons, and nursery stock remained the highest valued crops, followed by raspberries, avocados, and celery. For the second consecutive year, the report has been published in Spanish.

“It is good to see the gross values for Ventura County’s crops rising again compared to the bit of a slump in 2020 due to the pandemic,” said Williams. “Production costs have increased, and growers must receive a good return on their investments for farming to continue. The impact of farming and ranching goes far beyond the farm gate by providing jobs for processors, marketers, transporters, farm supply companies, and restaurants, to name a few, and especially the tens of thousands of farmworkers who provide the skill and foundation to make it all possible. I deeply appreciate the many people who play a key role in keeping Ventura County’s agriculture thriving.”

CSUCI Economics faculty study suggests potential employers may view maternity breaks as unemployment rather than relevant experience

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2022 • Comments Off

Stay-at-home mothers know their 24/7 unpaid job involves the skills of a nurse, cook, chauffeur, therapist, maid, endurance athlete, logistics expert and, in the case of toddlers—conflict negotiation.

Yet, a study conducted by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Associate Professor of Economics Bryan Tomlin, Ph.D., suggests that employers tend to view time taken off for maternity duties the same way they would view a period of unemployment or any other unexplained gap in a woman’s resume.

Teatro de las Américas information

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2022 • Comments Off

TEMPORADA 2022/SEASON 2022

Bilingual report — Covered California Lends Support for Wildfire Victims Throughout the State

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2022 • Comments Off

Covered California has announced a special-enrollment period for people living in counties where a state of emergency has been declared due to raging wildfires.

“Once again, wildfires are disrupting the lives of thousands of Californians, and if you are among those affected, Covered California is here to make sure you have access to quality health care coverage,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “Opening this path to coverage will ensure that those who have been affected by these fires have one less thing to worry about and can get health insurance through either Covered California or Medi-Cal.”

Bilingual report — People’s Self Help Housing — Applications Available on Aug. 1 for Broad Street Place – El próximo lunes: Solicitudes disponibles para Broad Street Place

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2022 • Comments Off

Broad Street Place is a new affordable housing community coming to the City of San Luis Obispo, which will serve low-income households.

With completion anticipated in early 2023, this property will include three commercial spaces for local businesses and 40 residential apartments with studio, one, two and three-bedroom floorplans offered. A number of units will provide ADA-certified accessibility for those with mobility, hearing, and vision limitations and 10 units will provide housing for unhoused veterans. Amenities include a community room, shared kitchen, barbeque space, outdoor patios, playground, covered bike parking, electric vehicle charging stations, and laundry facilities.

PSHH will provide compassionate onsite property management and free supportive housing services to all who call Broad Street Place home.