Category: Local

Newest Hybrid Power System from Santa Barbara’s LaunchPoint Pushes the Boundaries of Drone Capabilities

by Community Contributor • June 23, 2021 • Comments Off

Fast-growing aerospace startup LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. has released its latest hybrid-electric generator system, a patented design that harnesses the combined power of traditional fuel and electricity to expand the capabilities of drones.

The LaunchPoint HPS055 GenSet is a 5.5kW, highly efficient, high-specific power generator and hybrid electric power/engine controller system that utilizes specialized electric machine and

GenSet technology to enable extended range flight. Drones installed with the 5.5kW GenSet can travel farther and carry more load than those fitted with other hybrid power system models, expanding the possibilities for these types of aircraft.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — EDC’s Economic 411 Labor Market Report for May 2021

by Community Contributor • June 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its May 2021 report on June 18, 2021, showing another small but steady improvement in Ventura County’s unemployment rate, from 6.1% in April to 5.8% in May.

That improvement aside, the monthly data for Ventura County is a bit of a surprise. For example, we don’t see any sizable gain by workers returning to the labor force or by any sizable increase in payroll jobs. For some comparison, last month, in April, we gained a net of 7,000 industry jobs, while in May our net was only 500.

Bilingual report — Summer Camp for Children with Autism Marches on During Pandemic

by Community Contributor • June 22, 2021 • Comments Off

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Central Coast families abruptly found themselves in the stressful situation of having school-age children and working parents isolating at home – a total disruption of their routines, including education and employment. “Add a child diagnosed with autism to the mix, and the frustration is compounded for both the child and the family,” said Camp Mariposas Coordinator Kristen Landeros, M.A.

Friendship Center hits the BIG SCREEN for the 2021 Summer Solstice Virtual Parade!

by Community Contributor • June 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Friendship Center staff hustled and bustled with excitement last Thursday in preparation for their public performance in the Virtual Solstice Parade. Advancement & Project Manager Sophia Davis choreographed, planned and coordinated with filming partner Jinny Ahn from Summer Solstice Celebration, Inc. to pull off a performance worthy of the big screen!

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors approves $2.55 billion balanced budget for FY 2021-2022

by Community Contributor • June 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a $2.55 billion balanced Budget for FY 2021-2022 at Monday’s Budget Hearing. “This budget, at the direction of the Board, represents the culmination of over six months of work with departments, the fiscal team, the Board and community. What results is a real focus on pandemic recovery, both the health and economic impacts,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “The budget also supports sustaining critical core services of health, social and safety services, streets and roads, investment in capital as well as IT infrastructure. At the same time, it enhances what the Board has identified as a priority including public health, mental health, services for individuals facing homelessness and climate action.”

Things Are Heating Up This Summer at the Santa Paula Art Museum!

by Community Contributor • June 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Art Class: Landscapes in Oil: Essential Skills (Ages 16+)

Five Saturdays: June 26; July 3; July 10; July 17; and July 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day

Become a landscape painter this summer during the Santa Paula Art Museum’s five-part Landscapes in Oil course! Join teaching artist Gabriel Islas inside the Museum’s Cole Creativity Center for step-by-step projects that will teach you the basic elements of composition, color, perspective, and traditional techniques in oil painting. The five-part course begins Saturday, June 26, and is $175.00 per person. All skill levels are welcome and all materials will be provided. Space is extremely limited and preregistration is required.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County awarded $1,826,265 in CDFI grant funds

by Community Contributor • June 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announced that it has received $1,826,265 from the U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution’s (CDFI) Rapid Response Program, to support economic relief efforts in Covid-19 impacted communities. This award will directly impact affordable housing in Ventura County through Housing Trust Fund VC’s Revolving Loan Fund and provides an opportunity to double to potentially $3.6 million in lending capital under California’s Proposition 1 Local Housing Trust Fund matching grant program.

Bilingual report — Oxnard Mayor Highlights Resiliency, Restoration of Services and Programs at State of the City Address

by Community Contributor • June 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza delivered the 2021 State of the City address on Thursday, June 17, hosted by the West Ventura Business Alliance Chamber of Commerce serving Oxnard and Camarillo.

The event highlighted resiliency during the pandemic and outlined the restoration of various programs and services the Oxnard community will soon see thanks to voter approval of Measure E.

Thousand Oaks Arts (TOArts) Announces New Associate Director

by Community Contributor • June 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Thousand Oaks Arts (TOArts) is proud to announce the promotion of Niki Richardson to the role of Associate Director; Richardson has served as Development Director since 2017. The growth of the arts nonprofit over the past four years, since the merger of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Foundation and the Alliance for the arts, has been steady. Richardson’s responsibilities have evolved correspondingly;in addition to development, Niki has taken on oversight of arts education programs, grants, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

VCCDC Community Matters Newsletter – June 2021

by Community Contributor • June 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Pictured here are the children of Abel and Beatriz outside their new home. Abel and Bea are the latest family to find their dream home through VCCDC!

Their journey with us began in 2014 when they started working with our Homeownership Specialists and went on to purchase a home in Oxnard in 2015. However, with seven children, Abel and Bea were growing out of their 3 bedroom Oxnard home fast. They continued to participate in education classes and credit coaching over the years and more recently worked with us to get their credit score high enough to purchase a bigger home for their growing family. Last month, with some down payment assistance, they closed on their 5 bedroom home in Fillmore and moved the family in. The children can’t believe all the new space they have to run around!

Meadowlark Service League Distributes $180,000 in funds to local Nonprofit Organizations

by Community Contributor • June 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Despite the challenges of past year’s pandemic closures, the Meadowlark Service League was able to raise $180,000 to support several local nonprofit organizations, as well as continuing to fund several scholarships for local students. Earlier this month, the dedicated service organization hosted their annual luncheon celebrating the work that so many nonprofits do around our region, and enjoyed a day that “felt like a return to normal,” according to President Linda Hardy, “as this event is the reason that we work so hard all year. The funds distribution luncheon is like wind in our sails as Meadowlarks, and connects us directly to those who benefit from the hard work we do all year.”

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Free Webinar Schedule

by Community Contributor • June 21, 2021 • Comments Off

The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our partners’ no-cost webinars. Space is limited. Register today!

SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: TIPS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BUSINESS CYBERSECURITY

June 22 @ 10:30 am

Ventura County Community Development Corp. — No more procrastinating, it’s time to register for the 2021 Homeownership Conference!

by Community Contributor • June 21, 2021 • Comments Off

It’s time to stop procrastinating and get registered! Introducing our Homeownership Conference host…Lady Jade! We’re SO excited to have her back for the second year in row! Check out her video below and get ready for a day that could change the trajectory of your life in JUST ONE WEEK!

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Graduates Honored for Achievements by Housing Authority

by Community Contributor • June 18, 2021 • Comments Off

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is honoring two Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program graduates who used the stability of subsidized housing to build the skills and assets needed to become financially independent. Anna Carranco and Iris Manzanarez have worked hard over the last five years to achieve the goals they set for themselves, completing the program this year despite the global pandemic.

Virtual 30th Anniversary of Juneteenth Celebration of Ventura to be held June 19

by Community Contributor • June 18, 2021 • Comments Off

Also see: CNN — Biden signs bill into law making Juneteenth a national holiday

OXNARD — The City of Oxnard, the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economic, Oxnard College, Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. and the League of Women Voters Ventura County will present the Virtual 30th Anniversary of Juneteenth Celebration of Ventura County to be held June 19 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19.

Our highly anticipated 30th Anniversary Juneteenth Celebration will be virtual, streaming live on Facebook and via Zoom.

Bilingual commentary — A Man Named “Tonto”

by Community Contributor • June 18, 2021 • Comments Off

I can recall evenings sitting around the new television in the home I shared with my parents and siblings in the 1950s. The TV with a small screen that displayed black-and-white images was a new and wondrous phenomenon for Americans, who were just beginning to experience it. My father seemed enthralled by the magic of images beamed from across Los Angeles to the antenna mounted on our roof and into the television—that mysterious apparatus that was powered by glowing red vacuum tubes and voltages that could kill a horse.

Museum of Ventura County — New Outdoor Program — Register for “Mindfulness @ The Museum”

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2021 • Comments Off

Join us this summer for Mindfulness at the Museum, new weekly free wellness classes outside in the gardens at the Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.

You can participate at the Museum of Ventura County (100 E. Main St., Ventura) on Thursdays from 4—5pm and at the Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula) on Saturdays from 10—11am in Santa Paula.

These classes provide fun and free activities for individuals and families. Beginners are encouraged to participate. All classes are free! Classes are limited and registration is required. MVC members get priority access.

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for June 17, 2021

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2021 • Comments Off

We are so grateful for staff and Disaster Service Workers at the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) who support our community in the most difficult of times when losing loved ones.

As the Disaster Service Workers return to work, we hear from Gina Rae Hendrickson (pictured at the bottom left) who was deployed for five months at the MEO and fulfilling her public servant role. At the height of the pandemic, the Medical Examiner’s Office played a crucial role in supporting our community hospitals including St. John’s Regional Medical Center and Ventura County Medical Center. Gina Rae helped manage the huge influx of calls and helping families and community facilities manage the impact of the pandemic crisis in our community.

Housing Authority City of Santa Barbara Announces $10 Million for the Development of Affordable Housing for Special Needs

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) allocated $10,301,010 million in Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to a local project to be developed by the Housing Authority City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) through its instrumentality non-profit, Santa Barbara Affordable Housing Group (SBAHG). The new housing will be constructed for those with special needs including the homeless. Total development costs are estimated at $17.6 million.

June News from People’s Self-Help Housing

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2021 • Comments Off

This month we celebrate the accomplishments of our incredible Camino Scholars graduates! Read more about their next steps and make your gift to support future generations of students.

Bilingual report — City of Oxnard facilities reopened to the public on June 15 for in-person services during regular hours of operation

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2021 • Comments Off

City facilities reopened to the public on June 15, 2021 for in-person services during regular hours of operation. When visiting City buildings, community members must wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols. Masks will be available for visitors.

UCSB — The Current — Congratulations, Graduates

by Community Contributor • June 16, 2021 • Comments Off

A virtual commencement ceremony celebrates the Class of 2021.

Ventura College Foundation Receives Nearly $185,000 Gift From Aurora Loss Estate To Support Ventura College Nursing Department And Its Students

by Community Contributor • June 16, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura College Foundation, which provides financial support to students and programs of Ventura College, received $184,105 from the estate of long-time Ventura College supporter Aurora Loss who passed away in April 2020 at age 102. Loss has a 20-year history of giving to Ventura College Foundation to fund scholarships for Ventura College nursing students.

Loss’ donation is divided equally with $92,052 designated for the establishment of the Aurora Loss Scholarship Fund endowment and $92,052 to the college’s nursing department for the purchase of medical training equipment. The scholarships will be managed and awarded through the Ventura College Foundation.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura — Excessive Heat Warning

by Community Contributor • June 16, 2021 • Comments Off

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard has issued an excessive heat warning through 9:00 PM, June 16th, and an excessive heat watch to June 18th at 9:00 PM. Temperatures in the valleys and inland mountain areas are expected to exceed the 100-degree mark for a prolonged period of time, with relatively poor overnight recovery.

The high temperatures may create a dangerous situation in which heat?related illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids. Stay in air?conditioned rooms. Stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Potential PSPS Warning, June 15 Changes, & Boat Wreckage Cleanup!

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

This week there will be a lot to watch for! There is a Red Flag Warning effective Monday, 6/14 at 6:00 pm until Wednesday, 6/16 at 6:00 am in the mountains and south coast due to forecast winds, low humidity, and very hot temperatures. There will be an Excessive Heat Watch in effect starting Wednesday, 6/16 morning to evening. Drink water and keep your family, including your pets, cool and hydrated. Monitor the forecast for updates, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Assemblymember Irwin Secures State Funding for Crucial Gun Violence Prevention Programs and Ventura County Victims

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) announced that funding for two of her priorities have made it into the final California State Budget. The State Legislature approved the funding earlier today and the Governor has until July 1st to sign or veto the State Budget.

$10 Million in Funding for Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program to remove weapons from dangerous individuals. The purpose of the grant program is to provide support to county sheriff’s departments conducting activities related to the seizure of weapons and ammunition from persons who are prohibited from possessing them, including efforts based upon entries in the Department of Justice’s Armed Prohibited Persons System (APPS). This builds upon $3 million in the 2019-2020 budget that went to 4 pilot counties, including Ventura County.

Condado de Ventura — Actualización de la vacuna COVID-19

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Hoy, el estado de California ha reabierto y levantado la mayoría de las restricciones de COVID-19. ¡Gracias a todos en el Condado de Ventura por su compromiso en proteger a nuestra comunidad y ayudar a superar la pandemia!

Obtenga más información acerca de los planes del Estado de California para reabrir la economía de manera segura: https://covid19.ca.gov/safely-reopening/

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — MCASB’s Upcoming [virtual] Events & Community Happenings

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

View this email in your browser We have so much to look forward to this month! Click on any image below to register for its event or to learn more! In Conversation | The Vulnerability of Creativity Thursday, June 17 @…

Museum of Ventura County — Children’s Garden Dedication + 562nd Air Force Band Performance + New Events

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Join us in the Boroughs Children’s Garden at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, June 19th from 11am—2pm to celebrate local artist MB Hanrahan’s new Chumash Village mural. Admission is free!

CSUCI Receives $15 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) has received a $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott and her husband Dan Jewett in recognition of the University’s commitment to equity and inclusion, the social mobility of its students, and its overall contribution to the greater good of communities, the region and nation.

“This gift represents the largest one-time gift in the history of our institution, and it could not have come at a more critical time in our history,” said CSUCI Interim President Richard Yao, Ph.D. “The generosity of MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett is a testament to the data that reflects the incredible work that our faculty, staff, and administration are doing every day to eliminate equity gaps and increase the social mobility of our students by creating powerful academic and co-curricular programs that support student retention and success. We could not be more grateful for their generosity as we recognize the transformative power that this level of support has for our students and campus.”

Community Environmental Council Invites Community Members to Join UC Climate Stewards Course

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is proud to announce that enrollment is now open for the second session of the new certification course, UC Climate Stewards, which is designed to empower local community members to take clear action on climate change.

For the second cohort, CEC is seeking a diverse, 25-person group that will meet July 7 through September 15. Class sessions will be held in person at CEC’s new offices, located at 1219 State St. in Santa Barbara and will adhere to all county health guidelines. The course fee is $225, not including course materials. Full and partial scholarships are available. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Local Loan Opportunities

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

The City of Oxnard and the Economic Development Collaborative are excited to share our new City of Oxnard Grant and Loan Program! This unique combination of grant and loan funding with no-cost individualized consulting helps Oxnard based businesses maintain, grow and benefit during this time of uncertainty. All services will be available in both English and Spanish.

Santa Barbara City College and the SBCC Foundation Announce Largest Gift in 112-Year History

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) and the SBCC Foundation announced today that they have received a $20,000,000 gift from MacKenzie Scott. As a community college dedicated to the success of every student, SBCC will use this unrestricted gift to advance its mission in bold new ways. In her post announcing the gift (one of 276 totaling $2,739,000,000), Scott wrote. “Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for 2- and 4-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved.”

Santa Barbara City College — The Bridge — June 2021

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2021 • Comments Off

On June 3, KCBX public radio aired a report by Beth Thorton, who interviewed SBCC Foundation Grant Director Rachel Johnson and Dr. Adam Green of the Biological Sciences Department about the nearly $100,000 grant the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the SBCC Foundation for an ecological and edible garden project. The project will connect students and residents to a network of edible gardens, and foster a connection to local ecosystems. Listen to the five-minute broadcast here…