Category: Local

Bilingual report — City of Oxnard’s Community Relations Commission Accepting Nominations for 2023 Community Recognition Awards Program

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — City of Oxnard’s Community Relations Commission Accepting Nominations for 2023 Community Recognition Awards Program

OXNARD — The City’s Community Relations Commission (CRC) announces that nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Community Recognition Awards Program. 

The CRC is a citizen advisory group for the City of Oxnard that promotes mutual understanding and respect among all minority and non-minority groups, and it facilitates inter-group harmony through educational and cultural activities. Since 1989, the CRC awards program has recognized deserving individuals and groups that work to support the mission of the CRC in the Oxnard community.

“We look forward to celebrating individuals, organizations and businesses that are committed to discouraging unfair practices and prejudices in Oxnard,” said CRC Chair Tiffany Lopez. “These individuals further promote our efforts to encourage education, acceptance and understanding for all community members.”

Read more →

The Foundation of VCCU gives record $75,000 in grants to local nonprofits

by  •  • Comments Off on The Foundation of VCCU gives record $75,000 in grants to local nonprofits

VENTURA COUNTY — The Foundation of VCCU, Ventura County Credit Union’s (VCCU) philanthropic nonprofit organization, has awarded $75,000 in grants to 17 nonprofits who deliver invaluable help and support to our local community. This grant cycle, which is the second round of awards distributed in 2023, has set a new record for the Foundation of VCCU as it is the most the organization has ever awarded at a single time. 

The 17 organizations serve a wide variety of our neighbors in need including foster children, college students, cancer patients, and individuals with hearing impairment, as well as families struggling with homelessness, housing and food insecurity. 

Read more →

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Celebrating Local Workers as Labor Day Approaches

by  •  • Comments Off on Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Celebrating Local Workers as Labor Day Approaches

This Labor Day I am especially excited to announce that the County of Santa Barbara Community Workforce Agreement is 100% signed by Labor. This is the first-ever local-hire opportunity for workers on County public works projects. Residents across our county — from newly graduated high school students to our veterans returning home, the misplaced workers, or someone who just needs a second chance will benefit tremendously from this agreement. I want to thank the Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council and our County Public Works Department for working diligently to get this agreement across the finish line, and my colleague Supervisor Joan Hartmann and former colleague Assemblymember Gregg Hart for championing these huge opportunities for local workers.
Paying workers and providing good benefits is good, but to truly honor American workers, we must support unionization – the only way to create an equal platform between employer and employees and the only way to empower the American worker. To do this, please buy Union. Here is a list of union products you can buy for your Labor Day BBQ.

Read more →

Ventura County Animal Services — 50 Animals Safely Transported to VC Animal Services from Flooded Shelter

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Animal Services — 50 Animals Safely Transported to VC Animal Services from Flooded Shelter

VENTURA COUNTY — On Monday, August 28th, 2023, five (5) dedicated members of our Ventura County Animal Services’ Animal Care Team embarked on a compassionate journey 170 miles to Coachella Valley Animal Services in Riverside County.  Their mission was to provide mutual aid to Coachella Valley Animal Shelter, whose facility was landlocked by flood waters amidst the aftermath of Cyclone Hilary.

The devastating flooding had rendered their shelter inaccessible, forcing their staff to rely on shuttle rides via 4-wheeled vehicles, trekking over submerged terrain just to reach the shelter.  The primary access road, once solid ground, now lay submerged under several feet of water, causing the shelter to close their facility to the public.

Read more →

Santa Barbara City College — THE BRIDGE Community e-Newsletter – August 2023

by  •  • Comments Off on Santa Barbara City College — THE BRIDGE Community e-Newsletter – August 2023

Erika Endrijonas, Ph.D., began her new role as SBCC Superintendent/President on Tuesday, Aug. 1, marking her return to SBCC (she was the Dean of Career and Technical Services from 2000 to 2009). Most recently she served as Superintendent/ President of Pasadena City College since January 2019. 

“My first week back at SBCC has been wonderful,” said Dr. Endrijonas. “I had my sights set on returning to SBCC for over a decade, and I am still pinching myself that my dream became a reality. I have started to meet folks here on campus — some for the first time, some I haven’t seen in 14 years — and it does feel like I have come home. I look forward to the next few weeks on campus as we launch our Fall 2023 semester and as I start to meet members of our local community who hold a special place in their hearts for SBCC.”

Read more →

Oxnard College Invests in Arts Programs for Ventura County Families

by  •  • Comments Off on Oxnard College Invests in Arts Programs for Ventura County Families

OXNARD — Oxnard College celebrated major investments in its arts programs and facilities on Thursday. The campus held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Art + Design complex, which includes upgraded classrooms, state-of-the-art studios and a myriad of new art supplies to serve students beginning this fall.

The day’s festivities highlighted the contributions of alumni through the dedication of the college’s most recent mural, designed by alumni artists and located in the campus Outdoor Amphitheater. The piece, entitled the Community of Resilience Mural, reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic by honoring those who were lost and celebrating the community’s resilience. The day also included the opening of a new Alumni Art Exhibition in the McNish Gallery of Art set to run through September 27.    

Read more →

Ventura County Back-to-School 2023-24

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Back-to-School 2023-24

Welcome Back to School!
Supporting Students is a Communitywide Priority
As we begin the 2023-24 school year, there’s a lot to be excited about in Ventura County. The worst of the pandemic is behind us and students are receiving all of the academic, social and developmental benefits of an in-person education. The new Transitional Kindergarten grade level for four-year-olds is available to more students than ever. Many of our high schools and middle schools now have Wellness Centers to help students deal with emotional stress, so they can better focus on learning. And we’re celebrating the opening of the beautiful new Del Sol High School in Oxnard, the first new high school to be built in Ventura County since 2015.

But the new year is not without its challenges. More students are missing school than before the pandemic and our high cost of living continues to make teacher recruitment difficult. The good news is that our entire community is engaged in finding solutions to these problems for the benefit of our kids. I invite you to read more about this in my back-to-school message for the 2023-24 school year.
READ MORE

Read more →

Santa Maria Leaders Reflect on Family Center’s 50th Anniversary

by  •  • Comments Off on Santa Maria Leaders Reflect on Family Center’s 50th Anniversary

This year, the Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center (SMVYFC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Board members and other local leaders recently reflected on the impact the nonprofit has made during its half century of service. SMVYFC, which merged with Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County in 2017, supports thousands of families each year in stabilizing and achieving greater well-being.

“Strong families are the cornerstone of strong communities,” said Brian Zimmerman, Director of Student and Family Services for the Santa Maria Bonita School District. “Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center has helped students and their families in our district for generations.”

Read more →

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Free Event and webinar schedule

by  •  • Comments Off on Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Free Event and webinar schedule

UNLOCK THE EMERGING ROMANIA MARKET: OPPORTUNITIES FOR ROMANIA – U.S. BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS

August 30 @ 8:00 am

This webinar will provide valuable insights for U.S. companies interested in expanding their business to Romania. Seize this opportunity to hear from representatives from the Consulate General of Romania in Los Angeles and Romanian companies sharing insights on partnering with U.S. firms. Additionally, you will hear from representatives from WITOC, EDC SBDC and U.S. Commercial Service Irvine working together to increase the level of Romania-US trade and economic relations. Learn more about the upcoming Trade Winds Mission to Europe and Eurasia on May 13 – 15, 2024.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Read more →

Bilingual report — EDC SBDC Business Advisor Juliana Ramírez Receives Pacific Coast Business Times Community Spirit Award

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — EDC SBDC Business Advisor Juliana Ramírez Receives Pacific Coast Business Times Community Spirit Award

We are thrilled to share an exciting accomplishment that speaks to our team’s dedication and impact on small business development. We are delighted that Juliana Ramírez, an EDC SBDC Business Advisor, was honored at the Pacific Coast Business Times (PCBT): Spirit of Small Business Awards held on August 17th.

The Spirit of Small Business Awards, a partnership of Pacific Coast Business Times and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Los Angeles District Office, shines a spotlight on the innovation and resilience of small enterprises. Since its inception in 2003, this event has showcased inspiring company profiles, informative how-to articles and a valuable resource guide.

Read more →

Bilingual commentary — Trying to Grasp Infinity…and Beyond!

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual commentary — Trying to Grasp Infinity…and Beyond!

“Infinity” means, quite literally, “without end.” Since humans could reflect, they have pondered infinity. Very likely, the first inklings of infinity occurred as the earliest humans contemplated the night sky replete with what seemed to be an infinite number of stars.

Having taught college math, I often talked with my students about “infinity,” but in a mathematical sense. For instance, we discussed infinite iterations, infinite limits, an infinite number of classes of numbers, the infinite number line, infinitesimal differences, infinitely large numbers, infinitely small numbers, the infinite decimal nature of constants such as “pi.” 

Read more →

Bilingual report — UC Santa Barbara conducting research on families living in the U.S. and Mexico

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — UC Santa Barbara conducting research on families living in the U.S. and Mexico

SANTA BARBARA — UC Santa Barbara is conducting a research project with Latina, Latino, or Hispanic immigrant families who currently live apart because one parent migrated to the United States, while the other parent remained in a country within Latin America. Families who participate in the study will receive $140 in compensation for their time.

Read more →

Explore Lompoc — Take The Ultimate Fall Road Trip to Lompoc Along Calfiornia’s Central Coast

by  •  • Comments Off on Explore Lompoc — Take The Ultimate Fall Road Trip to Lompoc Along Calfiornia’s Central Coast

LOMPOC — With cooler temperatures on the way, fall is the ideal season for a road trip to Lompoc! Sip award-winning wines from Sta. Rita Valley wineries, warm up with a pumpkin latte in one of our cozy coffee shops, take a lazy drive on our scenic country roads or relax at Jalama beach, catch a rocket launch from Vandenberg SFB, and stay at one of our comfy hotels!

Whether you visit for a week or a weekend, the comfortable weather conditions clear the way for outdoor activities like these: 

Read more →

Savie Health Clinic Expands Behavioral Health Services for the Uninsured

by  •  • Comments Off on Savie Health Clinic Expands Behavioral Health Services for the Uninsured

LOMPOC — Savie Health, a free medical clinic for low-income people without health insurance, is pleased to welcome a new behavioral health specialist to its team.

Art Dossey, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with expertise in mental health and addiction treatment, is now available to see patients at Savie Health’s clinic in Lompoc on Saturdays. The nonprofit, which relies on private donations and volunteers, was able to hire Dossey with the help of the Santa Barbara-based Towbes Foundation.

Read more →

Friendship Center — This week’s feature: The Blue Bar-B-Que Basket – Wine Down: Thursday, September 14th (4-7)

by  •  • Comments Off on Friendship Center — This week’s feature: The Blue Bar-B-Que Basket – Wine Down: Thursday, September 14th (4-7)

This week’s Feature:
The BLUE BBQ Basket
Donated by Love & Care

Take a load off this summer, we’ve done the work for you! So go ahead and *Thrill* your Grill Master with this flaming hot basket that packs a punch of FLAVOR! Loaded with savory seasonings and solid tools to get the grilling done right and serve your masterpiece fresh off the grill in style!

*** Come bid on this Blue BBQ beauty at the Wine Down ***

Read more →

Young Change-Makers: Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Eureka! Program Empowers Voices in Washington D.C. Advocacy Trip

by  •  • Comments Off on Young Change-Makers: Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Eureka! Program Empowers Voices in Washington D.C. Advocacy Trip

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria A group of eleven young girls from Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Eureka! Program recently returned after a five-day excursion to Washington D.C. The trip included a visit with Congressman Salud Carbajal and Senator Padilla plus a tour of the white house!

The focal points of this year’s excursion were centered around three main topics: 1) The challenge of healthcare accessibility because of financial obstacles or inadequate insurance coverage, 2) Reversing the decision of Roe vs. Wade and safeguarding women’s reproductive rights, and 3) Inequalities around the pink tax and the financial burdens associated with menstrual products.

“This trip showed me that women and people like me from a small town can truly achieve any dream or goal we may have. It was also impactful because having our voices truly heard by people in congress will help better change/develop our future”, Eureka! cohort member Camila E Hernandez-Sanchez.

Read more →

Young crime victims attend Camp Hope hosted by the Ventura County Family Justice Center

by  •  • Comments Off on Young crime victims attend Camp Hope hosted by the Ventura County Family Justice Center

VENTURA — To provide hope and foster resilience in childhood victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and physical and sexual abuse, the Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCFJC) hosted 49 children at its annual Camp Hope summer retreat.

Since 2015, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and VCFJC have hosted an annual five-day-long summer camp in partnership with Camp Hope America, the first evidence-based camping and mentoring program in the nation for children exposed to trauma. Camp Hope’s goal is to give healing, hope and childhood experiences back to children and teens who have been impacted by violence.

Read more →

Bilingual report — Workforce Development Board of Ventura County partners with Goodwill to offer short-term jobs restoring local parks damaged by flooding

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — Workforce Development Board of Ventura County partners with Goodwill to offer short-term jobs restoring local parks damaged by flooding

VENTURA — Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) is excited to announce short-term jobs for unemployed adults, to help clean, repair, and restore local parks damaged by the devastating winter storms of 2022-23.   

WDBVC and Goodwill of Ventura have partnered with the federally funded National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG), which allows Goodwill to hire workers to clean up mudslides and landslides from the severe storms of 2022-2023. These temporary jobs as restoration team members have flexible hours with pay of up to $25 an hour and provide on-the-job training and work experience.  

With Ventura County unemployment at 4.2%, this is an excellent chance for those who have faced long-term unemployment (four weeks straight or more) to earn an income making a meaningful difference in their community. No previous experience is required, though workers must be at least 18 years old and have the legal right to work in the U.S.  

Read more →

Bilingual report — EDC Granted Funding from VCCF to Advance Isabella Project

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — EDC Granted Funding from VCCF to Advance Isabella Project

SANTA PAULA — The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) has been granted first-year funding by the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) to advance the Isabella Project. With the impending implementation of Universal Pre-K (UPK) in California, the funding will be instrumental in addressing potential disruptions faced by early childhood education (ECE) providers and fostering resilience during this transition.

California’s implementation of UPK over the next several years with full implementation by 2025-26 will ensure all children who turn four years old by September 1 of a given school year are provided free access to a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program from their local school district.

Read more →

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announces $1,500,000 Line of Credit investment from Montecito Bank & Trust in support of affordable housing

by  •  • Comments Off on Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announces $1,500,000 Line of Credit investment from Montecito Bank & Trust in support of affordable housing

VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announces a $1,500,000 CRA line of credit from Montecito Bank & Trust. The EQ2 (equity equivalent investment) product being leveraged for this Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) line of credit is a long-term loan that allows community development financial institutions (CDFIs), like Housing Trust Fund Ventura County, to strengthen their capital structures and leverage additional debt capital resulting in the ability for increased lending and investing in economically disadvantaged communities, in this case through the development of affordable housing for seniors, farmworkers, the homeless, transitional age foster youth, and low-, very-low, and extremely-low income individuals and families in communities throughout Ventura County.

Read more →

UCSB — The Current — ‘Documenting names crafted in public places with nails, tar, bark and bubblegum, artist Alex Lukas releases 12th edition of his fanzine’ and more news, events

by  •  • Comments Off on UCSB — The Current — ‘Documenting names crafted in public places with nails, tar, bark and bubblegum, artist Alex Lukas releases 12th edition of his fanzine’ and more news, events

The new issue of Written Names Fanzine, which chronicles occurrences of hyper-localized, unsanctioned public writing, features found names stuck in bubblegum in San Luis Obispo.

Read more →

CSUCI’s Fall OLLI classes offers a window to the worlds of art, music, history, literature and more

by  •  • Comments Off on CSUCI’s Fall OLLI classes offers a window to the worlds of art, music, history, literature and more

CAMARILLO — From the dawn of the earliest humans to the backstage behavior of Broadway divas, the Fall 2023 semester of CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offers a window to the worlds of art, music, history, literature and lots more.  

Enrollment is underway for the OLLI Fall 2023 classes, which will run weekly from Aug. 21 through Sept. 29. Classes will be on Zoom or in-person at CSUCI’s John Spoor Broome Library, Ventura College of Law, or the Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Camarillo.  

Some of this fall’s offerings will include a closer look at entertainment on the stage, screen and in between the pages with courses on “The Art of Abbott and Costello,” “Golden Girls: Essential California Women Writers,” “Dante’s Divine Comedy and Our Journey Toward Wholeness,” “Edgar Allen Poe: His Life and Writings” and “Broadway Deconstructed.” 

Read more →

Museum of Ventura County — See upcoming events here

by  •  • Comments Off on Museum of Ventura County — See upcoming events here

Tuesday, August 29
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
@Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way, Oxnard

Calling All Storytellers! Be a Star in Our New Exhibit. We are looking for volunteers to take part in a video shoot as we explore the deep and diverse meanings of “home.” Your voice matters, and we want YOU to share your unique perspective on what home means to you. Each story is a vital thread in the rich tapestry of our community. Sign up HERE.

Read more →

CSUCI to offer a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

by  •  • Comments Off on CSUCI to offer a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

CAMARILLO — Applications open Oct. 1 for graduate students seeking a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (or Ed.D.) at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI). 

Pending final approval, the CSUCI Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Equity and Justice (DELEJ) will launch its inaugural cohort of students in summer of 2024. 

This program will be the most advanced degree offered at CSUCI and classes are being designed so that working professionals can obtain their Ed.D. in three years. 

“The Ed.D. is built for working professionals and we expect people will be working full time as they pursue their doctorate,” said Director of the DELEJ program, Andrea Bingham. “We want people to use their professional experience and draw on that as they write their dissertations.” 

Read more →

Oxnard College Receives $100,000 Grant from Metallica’s All Within My Hands’ Scholars Initiative

by  •  • Comments Off on Oxnard College Receives $100,000 Grant from Metallica’s All Within My Hands’ Scholars Initiative

OXNARD — Oxnard College has been selected to receive a $100,000 grant from the Grammy Award-winning band Metallica and its foundation, All Within My Hands. The award will support students in the college’s Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene and Fire Academy programs as the band continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide.

The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped over 6,000 students pursuing careers in the trades. To date, Metallica and AWMH have invested over six million dollars in the American workforce through career education programs like those at Oxnard College.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Metallica and are grateful for their commitment to supporting Oxnard College’s impactful career education programs,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, Interim President of Oxnard College. “This grant will help provide much-needed technical instruments, tools and safety gear to over 100 of our hardworking students.”

Read more →

Bilingual report — August News from People’s Self-Help Housing

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — August News from People’s Self-Help Housing

This month we’ve been looking back, and looking ahead, and celebrating all that’s brought us to the milestone of serving our communities for 53 years.  Much has changed, and much has been accomplished since three local volunteers came together around a common mission to serve their community, and eventually form our organization to carry it out and magnify.  What’s not changed is the need for creating many more affordable housing opportunities, and coming alongside those among us who are struggling to meet basic needs, in support of our community’s most vulnerable.

Read more →

Bilingual report — Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department and School District Collaborate to Expand Youth Sports Access

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department and School District Collaborate to Expand Youth Sports Access

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department and the Santa Paula Unified School District are proud to announce a transformative partnership focused on increasing access to youth sports in the community. This collaboration aims to overcome barriers and provide a comprehensive range of sports opportunities for students in 3rd to 8th grade.

Recognizing the importance of youth sports in fostering physical activity, teamwork, and personal growth, the Parks & Recreation Department and the School District have come together to develop a program that addresses existing challenges. The goal is to ensure that all interested youth have the chance to participate, regardless of financial constraints or logistical hurdles.

Read more →

Bilingual report — People’s Self-Help Housing selects Joanna Dominguez as Director of Resource Development

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — People’s Self-Help Housing selects Joanna Dominguez as Director of Resource Development

CENTRAL COAST — Joanna Dominguez has been selected to serve as the new Director of Resource Development for People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH).

Originally joining PSHH in 2018, Joanna previously served as the Director of Education. Her then role included the oversight of the organization’s ten learning centers as well as the leadership of the award-winning CELEBRE program for Latinas entering higher education. During that time, Joanna was also actively involved in donor relations, gift stewardship, and grant writing.

Following a brief time away from PSHH, Joanna has now returned as the new Director of Resource Development and will play a key role in expanding fundraising and grant acquisition efforts.  Her focus will be on seeking funding for services which support the organization’s over 5,000 residents.

“We are grateful to see Joanna return to PSHH in this vital position” Chief Operating Officer Anna Miller said “Joanna is compassionate, enthusiastic, and has a proven track record for collaboration and results. She has a well-rounded background, giving her the essential skills to take on this new role.

Read more →

Bilingual report — Ventura County Public Works Agency Budgets Pavement Plan to Improve Road Safety and Quality

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — Ventura County Public Works Agency Budgets Pavement Plan to Improve Road Safety and Quality

VENTURA COUNTY — The Board of Supervisors recently approved Ventura County Public Works Agency’s (VCPWA) Multi-Year Pavement Plan 2024 – 2028. The Road Repair and Accountability Act funds this Plan with a planned five-year budget of $45 Million.

VCPWA has plans to resurface 192 centerline miles (centerline miles represent the total length of a given road from a start point to an endpoint. The mileage does not include the size, number of lanes, or other features, like shoulders and turn lanes). Other works added to the paving projects are repairs to culvert and storm drains, curb and gutter, and sidewalks (which are reimbursed by the property owners). In addition, VCPWA will improve drainage, ADA access curb ramps, pavement widening at curves, and correct safety issues when feasible. 

Read more →

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free event and webinar schedule

by  •  • Comments Off on Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free event and webinar schedule

SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: HOW TO START AND GROW A PROFITABLE CONSULTING BUSINESS

August 23 @ 10:30 am

If you are a Consultant or are considering becoming one, this webinar is for you! It doesn’t matter what your specialty is: business management, social media marketing, information technology, security, personal image and credibility and more. SCORE Ventura County will cover it all. In just a few hours, you will learn powerful tips and strategies you can use right away, to attract, win and retain more of the most valuable clients. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Read more →

Santa Paula Police Explorers Excel in Regional Tactical Competition

by  •  • Comments Off on Santa Paula Police Explorers Excel in Regional Tactical Competition

SANTA PAULA — Law Enforcement Explorers from Santa Paula Police Department Post 2350 participated in the “Channel Islands Challenge” regional competition in Oxnard August 11-13, 2023. Seven Santa Paula Police Explorers participated and competed with other explorer posts in a three-day competition. The young men and women from Santa Paula were successful with a first place, second place, and four (4) third place awards.

The competition, hosted by the Oxnard Police Explorers, included explorer posts from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Oxnard Police Department, Riverside Police Department, Santa Monica Police Department, Simi Valley Police Department, Torrance Police Department, Santa Maria Police Department, and California Highway Patrol.

Read more →

Bilingual report — Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Hurricane Hilary Impacts Possible Across Santa Barbara County

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Hurricane Hilary Impacts Possible Across Santa Barbara County

The National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center are forecasting the potential for Hurricane Hilary to impact central and southern California counties, including any area within Santa Barbara County. Moderate to heavy rain, strong winds, coastal storm surge and erosion, and hazardous sea conditions are possible. These conditions may start locally as early as Sunday afternoon (August 20).

The National Weather Service has also issued a FLOOD WATCH for the foothills above Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria and the Eastern Santa Ynez mountain range due to the potential for heavy rainfall from Hurricane Hilary. The FLOOD WATCH is in effect from Sunday (August 20) at 4pm through Monday (August 21) at 11pm.

Here are some resources you can use to get the latest information:

Read more →

Port of Hueneme hosts Countywide effort to prepare for potential Tsunami weather events

by  •  • Comments Off on Port of Hueneme hosts Countywide effort to prepare for potential Tsunami weather events

PORT HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme’s operations team joined by security partners, NAVSEA, Amergent Tech, Oxnard Emergency Services, VCFD, ILWU Local 46, City of Port Hueneme, Ventura County OES, California OES, ocean shipping customers, and port operators, led a full day of training at the Port today to highlight the importance of successful and timely incident management during a possible tsunami wave to the US West Coast. This year’s exercise program, an integral part of “August Wave”, was born out of a grassroots effort amongst regional partners throughout the County following the Tonga volcano-spurred tsunami of January 2022. “August Wave” consists of several training events in August and finalizes on August 30. Yesterday the port ran its exercise as part of the series that was coined “August Wave” based on the shared tsunami exercise scenarios all taking place in August.

Read more →

Bilingual report — American Checkmate, 2024

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — American Checkmate, 2024

In chess, “checkmate” occurs when the “king” on the board is threatened with capture and has no way out. At that point, the game is, for all intents and purposes, over. 

We in the United States are being checkmated by Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner for the presidential primary nomination. Rather than a checkmate of the king, the very foundation of our country is being threatened. Increasingly, it appears that there is no way out of the upcoming fraught battle for the very soul of the nation. 

Read more →

Bilingual report — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) announces Notice of Delay | Notificación de retraso for pre-applications for People’s Place in Santa Paula

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) announces Notice of Delay | Notificación de retraso for pre-applications for People’s Place in Santa Paula

Due to circumstances outside of our control, the pre-application for People’s Place, previously announced for Monday, August 28, has been delayed. Current estimates for this process to resume are late 2023.

We regret any inconvenience this may have caused and will update our websiteas soon as new information is available.

***

Debido a circunstancias fuera de nuestro control, la pre-aplicación para People’s Place, anunciada para el lunes 28 de agosto, ha sido retrasada. Estimamos que el proceso será reanudando a finales de 2023.  

Lamentamos cualquier inconveniente y pondremos la información pertinente en nuestra página web tan pronto como esté disponible.

Read more →

CSUCI receives national honor for helping Latinos  

by  •  • Comments Off on CSUCI receives national honor for helping Latinos  

CAMARILLO — An innovative CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) program has received a national honor for enabling Latino students to quickly get back on track to graduate after experiencing academic challenges.

Excelencia in Education named the CSUCI Initiative for Mapping Academic Success (CIMAS) a “Program to Watch” for 2023 on Aug. 15.

“We are impressed with the impact your program has had thus far on Latino students and recognize the potential of your program to grow in practice and in evidence of effectiveness,” wrote Erin McCowey, institutional practices manager for Excelencia in Education.

Originally started for Sociology students in 2017 and paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was relaunched universitywide in 2022 to address learning-loss and decreased engagement and sense of belonging caused by the pandemic.

Read more →

UCSB — The Current — ‘Dogs can detect COVID-19 infections faster and more accurately than conventional technology’ and more news, events

by  •  • Comments Off on UCSB — The Current — ‘Dogs can detect COVID-19 infections faster and more accurately than conventional technology’ and more news, events

The idea has gained scientific consensus: Dogs can be just as good — and sometimes better — than our best tests at detecting the stealthy virus and its variants, even when they are obscured by other viruses, like colds and flu.

Read more →

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County — August Fellowship Update

by  •  • Comments Off on The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County — August Fellowship Update

All of our 2022-2023 Fellows have officially completed their projects!

As we reflect on the past year of our Fellowship program, we celebrate the unwavering dedication and transformative approaches exhibited by our Fellows:

Brenda not only established free Zumba classes for Nyeland Acres, but also managed to establish yoga classes for her community even after her Fellowship ended.
Zuly and Fatima created reproductive justice workshops that reached multiple generations at once, helping to build deep connections between families of different ages and stages of life.

Read more →