Category: Local

June 4 — Bilingual report — Free, Family-Friendly Oxnard Insect Festival Returns

The second ever Oxnard Insect Festival returns on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to Plaza Park (500 South C St., Oxnard).

Community members are invited to see, touch, buy and even taste a variety of creepy crawlers at this free event hosted by the City of Oxnard. All youth attendees are encouraged to pick up an Insect Festival passport upon arrival and get it stamped at each booth. The first 200 youth that visit eight booths will receive a free special insect activity kit to take home!

June 4 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to Present Short-Film Showcase

On Saturday, June 4, the Channel Islands Maritime Museum will be presenting its next short film showcase. The Locally Sourced showcase will bring viewers unique perspectives on aquaculture. The films include Dashi Journey, The Super Salmon, and Where There Is Trout. The screening will start at 4:00 pm at the Museum.

The film Super Salmon is an intimate and inspiring look into the impacts of the proposed Susitna-Watana dam on the Susitna River in south-central Alaska.

June 5 — Wildling Museum of Art and Nature presenting ‘Brunch al Fresco’ at Alisal Ranch Adobe

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce Brunch al Fresco, a fundraising event taking place at the historic Alisal Ranch Adobe on Sunday, June 5, 2022, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Attendees will enjoy a unique live auction supporting the Wildling Museum with opportunities to bid on getaways to Sedona, Arizona; Park City, Utah; and San Francisco, one-of-a-kind artworks, and more. Several local artists will also be onsite for the event, providing live demonstrations, as well as selling their unique handcrafted works.

June 10 — Cabrillo EDC Empowers Ventura County Residents for Success during NeighborWorks Week

 In partnership with national nonprofit NeighborWorks, the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC)?will be hosting a Mental Health Fair at Paseo de Luz Apartments in Oxnard, June 10, 1:30 to 4:30 pm. The event will help bring communities together and support NeighborWorks’ goal to help empower communities for success. 

June 11 — Art is Passion Gallery at Portside Ventura Harbor to hold reception

Art is Passion Gallery at Portside Ventura Harbor will hold a gallery reception from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 11 at 864 Schooner Drive, Unit 103 Ventura.

Complimentary refreshments
Oil Portrait live painting
Storm Chasing photography
Exclusive art raffle
The Ventura-based art gallery & studio focused on art that motivates others and brings light to positive change. Studio services include residential and commercial mural painting, graphic design, print design, canvas art commissions, custom vinyl apparel and more.

June 11 -12 — Ventura County Animal Services — Fee-Waived Rabbit Adoptions THIS WEEKEND!

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. Applications MUST be received by June 12th to qualify for the promotion. To submit an application, visit www.vcas.us/BunnyBrigade. Email VCASBunnyBrigade@gmail.com for questions and to schedule an appointment.

All rabbits adopted from VCAS are indoor only and must be a LOVED member of the family. Rabbits leave VCAS spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Each adoption comes with a FREE bag of hay, grass mat and complimentary vet visit. All other items can be purchased at our on-site Bunny Boutique!

June 15 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum Speaker Series Presents Captain Christine Healy

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) is pleased to announce that Captain Christine Healy of the ship Mystic Cruzar, will be its featured speaker for June.

Captain Healy will share the journey of the beautiful tall ship Mystic Cruzar as she made her way from Connecticut to her new home of Channel Islands Harbor via the Panama Canal in the fall and early winter of 2021-22.

June 17 — WVCBA to host Oxnard Mayor Zaragoza’s State of the City Address

The West Ventura County Business Alliance will host Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza’s annual State of the City address on Friday, June 17. He will reflect on accomplishments from 2021, and share highlights and initiatives for 2022.

“As you can see throughout Oxnard, we are in the process of restoring many of our streets and alleys and landscape maintenance that was deferred for many years,” said Mayor Zaragoza. “I’m excited to share with the community the progress we have made with one full year of Measure E funding and our City Council’s vision to continue reinvesting in our community.

The State of the City is being held at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxnard located at 600 E. Esplanade Drive. The luncheon is open to the public and begins at 11:30 a.m.

June 18 — MVC’s new exhibits unveiling

Your Museum is being transformed. Experience the Museum with a fresh and fascinating take on local history and a new visitor experience design, for free. Learn more about the exhibits below.

Reception made possible by:
Paradise Pantry, Peirano’s, and Ventura Spirits

All That Glitters Is Not Gold
A surprising history of the 1920s and Prohibition in Ventura County. As population and wealth boomed, creativity flourished – but so did a tide of repression and exclusion. This exhibit tells the local story of the jazz age through our collections and archives.

June 19 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to Celebrate Father’s Day with ‘Classics by the Sea’ Event

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will be a hub of activity and fun on Father’s Day, June 19, 2022, as it celebrates the day with “Classics by the Sea.” This family-friendly event will feature a wonderful display of woodies and classic cars of all vintages, many one-of-a-kind, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

The Museum will also be hosting its unique annual maritime treasure sale including used books, ship models and art. The event will feature live music and food (for purchase) will also be available.

June 21 — Ventura Land Trust Plans a Summer Solstice Drum Circle to Benefit Harmon Canyon Preserve

On Tuesday, June 21st from 6:00 to 7:30pm, Ventura Land Trust will host a summer solstice drum circle at Harmon Canyon Preserve as a fundraiser to benefit the Harmon Canyon Campaign. The drum circle, facilitated by John Lacques of Ventura-based company Drumtime, will encourage guests to connect with nature and honor their relationship to the seasons. The solstice marks the astronomical start of summer in the northern hemisphere, and the longest day of the year.

Rescheduled to July 20 — Self-Compassion and Care Topic of Next illuminate Speaker Series Presentation by Kristin Neff

Join Hospice of Santa Barbara on Wednesday, June 22nd at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 for their next illuminate Speaker Series Event, Kristin Neff: The Strength of Self-Compassion.

Kristin Neff is currently an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research and is the author of the bestselling book, Self-Compassion. In her presentation, she will share the theory and research on self-compassion, which studies have increasingly shown to be powerfully associated with psychological wellbeing. A short practice will be taught for use when needed in daily life.

June 23 — Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara presents Artist Talk | Lum Art Magazine Conversations | DJ Javier & Ryan P. Cruz

Join us at MCASB for a date night for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies in honor of pride month! Grab someone special and head downtown for a night out featuring art, drinks, and special discounts to Downtown Santa Barbara restaurants and bars. Visit MCASB’s current exhibition Through What Agency?, enjoy a drink with us, make your own pride flag, and more! A walkthrough of the current exhibition will take place at 7 PM led by Alexandra Terry, Chief Curator.

Try your hand at our new ‘donate-to-play wheel’ to win some fun prizes. Follow up your night of contemporary culture with dinner and dessert at one of our favorite nearby restaurants!

This event is FREE for all. Bar proceeds and donations from this event will benefit MCASB and Pacific Pride Foundation.

Through June 26 — 66th Annual Conejo Valley Days Kicks Off

THOUSAND OAKS — The 66th Annual Conejo Valley Days (CVD) will feature 10 days of carnival rides, food, live entertainment and line dancing. Through June 26 (dark June 20) at Conejo Creek Park South (23 Freeway/Janss Rd. exit) in Thousand Oaks. 

Kastl Amusements will operate15 rides plus midway games for all ages at CVD as well as offer traditional fair and specialty foods. CVD will also feature live entertainment with more than 10 bands scheduled including the Colette Lovejoy Band, Mirage (Fleetwood Mac cover band), Three Rivers Band, Rebel Heart, Psychedelic Summer (Woodstock era tribute band) and Rick Schule’s John Denver sing-along. A full list of bands and performance times is posted at www.conejovalleydays.us/home/band-schedule.

June 27 — Earl Warren Showgrounds to hold Community Engagement Forum

The Earl Warren Showgrounds will hold a Community Engagement Forum, a regularly scheduled public meeting to discuss the community’s hopes and vision for the future of the Showgrounds as well as provide updates and answer questions, at 5 p.m. Monday, June 27 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara outside the Administration office.

July 1 — Museum of Ventura County to present ‘Story Time at the Museum: Read Beyond the Beaten Path’

The Museum of Ventura County will present “Story Time at the Museum: Read Beyond the Beaten Path” from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday, July 1 at 100 E. Main St., Ventura.

Your Museum with the county library have bilingual Story Time every first Friday of the month at 3pm. That way kids will have time to come right after school. Join us for stories, then play and learn in the Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Children’s Garden, a fabulous and FREE outing for ALL!

July 4 — Star Spangled 4th of July Concert in SB Courthouse, Sunken Garden Presented by Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation with Santa Barbara’s beloved Prime Time Band

oin Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation for a festive concert with Santa Barbara’s beloved Prime Time Band on 4th of July at 5:00 PM at Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens (1100 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101).  

Enjoy pops tunes, family favorites and patriotic classics, plus special guest performers.  Come early to claim your spot on the grass; bring your picnic, beach chairs and blankets for this free, time-honored Santa Barbara tradition.

The Prime Time Band is a vibrant group of more than sixty amateur musicians—all mature adults whose primary mission is providing free concerts for the greater Santa Barbara community.

July 7 — SBMA Art Matters Lecture Explores Olfactory Ecologies and Contemporary Art

Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Art Matters Lecture Explores Olfactory Ecologies and Contemporary Art with Hsuan L. Hsu, Professor of English, University of California Davis at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St.

July 9 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Free Lecture by Acclaimed Photographer Janna Ireland

Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Free Lecture by Acclaimed Photographer Janna Ireland — “The 2022 Lorna Spencer Hedges Photography Lecture,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

July 9 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum Invites Public to Blessing Ceremony for New Wall Mural

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) is inviting the public to join it for a special blessing ceremony in honor of a soon-to-be-created mural at the Museum. Chumash Elder Alan Salazar will be conducting a traditional Chumash blessing ceremony at the mural site. Museum friends and the public are invited to join in the ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 9, at 11:00 am at the Museum which is located at 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard.

July 9 — Ventura Land Trust Presents July Plein Air Painting Workshop at Harmon Canyon Preserve

Ventura Land Trust broadens its public program offerings with an Artist-Led Plein Air Painting Workshop on Saturday, July 9th at 8:00 am at Harmon Canyon Preserve.  Artists Debra Holladay, Laura Wambsgans, and Marian Fortunati will offer instruction for beginner and experienced artists on how to capture Harmon Canyon’s natural landscape through composition, form, color, and paint handling. 

Participants will receive instruction as a group and one-on-one. Group discussion will allow painters to learn from one another. Ventura Land Trust staff will join the workshop to share elements of Harmon Canyon Preserve’s natural and cultural history. 

July 10 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Grammy Award-winner Ted Nash in free concert on SBMA’s Front Terrace

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present Grammy Award-winner Ted Nash in free concert on SBMA’s Front Terrace from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 10 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

In his fourth summer as SBMA artist-in-residence,?Grammy Award-winning musician and composer Ted Nash shares insight and experience with a selection of Santa Barbara City College students and fellow musicians culminating in a free concert.

Through July 10 — Artists Lynn Hanson and John Robertson Couple up for Concurrent Exhibits at Santa Paula Art Museum

As husband and wife, Ventura artists John Robertson and Lynn Hanson are accustomed to sharing a studio and working alongside one another. Soon the two will share a major exhibition space with concurrent exhibitions at the Santa Paula Art Museum. “Fieldnotes: Lynn Hanson” and “A Narrative: John Robertson” will premiere Saturday, March 12, 2022, with an opening reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the reception is free for everyone. Some of the artworks will be for sale. “Fieldnotes” and “A Narrative” will be on view March 12, 2022, to July 10, 2022.

Hanson and Robertson are a generous and down-to-earth pair who share a deep-rooted love for art and nature.

July 12 — Harassment Prevention Training Webinar By Employment Law Firm LightGabler

Employment law firm LightGabler is providing live, online sexual harassment and bullying prevention training courses for supervisors and non-supervisory employees on Tuesday, July 12.

California law requires that companies with five or more employees provide two hours of supervisory training and one hour of staff training every two years on harassment, discrimination, bullying and retaliation prevention. Agricultural employers must provide this training every year. New supervisors need to be trained within six months of starting a supervisory position and new employees must have training within six months of being hired.

July 14 — Old Boney Mountain Hot Summer Night Festival—Hot Sauce, Food Tastings, Craft Beer, Wine & Spirits

THOUSAND OAKS — Old Boney Mountain Hot Summer Night Festival is back in person after a two-year hiatus. It will take place on Thursday, July 14 at The Gardens at Los Robles Golf Course (299 S. Moorpark Rd. in Thousand Oaks). The outdoor patio event features unlimited craft beer, wine, spirits, hot sauce and food tastings. This year’s festival theme is “Bringing People Together.”

Festival-goers can sample sauces while enjoying live music and local cuisine. Singer/songwriter and acoustic guitarist Wais is performing live.

July 14 — Bilingual report — California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. (CRLA) to present ‘Clean Your Criminal Record’ free clinic

The California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. (CRLA) will host a free-of-charge clinic for U.S. citizens eligible for criminal record expungement from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 14in the Elizabeth R. Topping Room of the E.P. Foster Library in Ventura, 651 E. Main St., Ventura.

During the clinic, volunteer attorneys will analyze individual criminal records and prepare criminal record expungement paperwork for free. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Interpreters will be available to assist clients whose primary language is not English.

July 15 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Dirty Dancing

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Dirty Dancing, on Friday, July 15th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.

Set in the summer of 1963, an innocent teen vacationing with her upper-middle-class parents at an upscale resort in the Catskills gets a jolt of culture shock when she crushes on the hotel’s slick, handsome dance instructor. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the film’s stirring soundtrack yielded the Oscar-winning Best Song “(I’ve Had the) Time of My Life.” (Emile Ardolino, 1987, PG-13, 97 min.)

July 16 — Triunfo Water & Sanitation District Offers Free Workshop On Drip Irrigation at Mae Boyar Park

Triunfo Water & Sanitation District is sponsoring a hands-on workshop on drip irrigation Saturday, July 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Mae Boyar Park (130 Kanan Road in Oak Park). The class is free and open to the public. Attendance is limited to 30.

July 16 — Mental Wellness Center to Host the 26th Annual Mental Health Arts Festival Saturday in De La Guerra Plaza

After a two-year hiatus of holding in-person festivities, the Mental Wellness Center (MWC) is bringing its Mental Health Arts Festival back to De La Guerra Plaza. As in the past, the festival will showcase the artwork of local artists in mediums including painting, drawing, jewelry, poetry, sculpture and arts and crafts. But what’s really special about the festival doesn’t end with the artwork.

“It’s an opportunity for artists to display their work and showcase their talent the community in a way that is positive, productive and meaningful for them,” explained Darcy Keep, MWC Board Members and Administrative Director of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine at Cottage Health. 

July 16 — U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley — You’re Invited! Passport Fair in Thousand Oaks

It’s the summer season, which makes it the perfect time to travel abroad with your family and friends! To do so, it is imperative that you keep your passport up to date.  

As your representative in Congress, I want to make sure that obtaining or renewing a passport is made as easy as possible. For that reason, I am hosting a Passport Fair on Saturday, July 16, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Grant R. Brimhall Library, located at 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.

Through July 17 — CLU Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival marks 25th anniversary

Twenty-five years after the first Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival was held, and following a two-year pandemic-caused hiatus, the event kicks off its joyous return to California Lutheran University’s Kingsmen Park with performances of one of the Bard’s most popular comedies.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company will perform “As You Like It” at 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 17 on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Warren C. Bowles, who has decades of experience in Shakespearean and contemporary theater throughout the country, presents the play as the festival’s first Black director. He has spent many years working with Mixed Blood Theatre Company in Minneapolis as a director, actor, playwright, stage manager and fight choreographer. Mixed Blood uses theater to disrupt injustices, advance equity, build community and inspire people to create ripple effects of social change.

July 20 — Self-Compassion and Care Topic of Next illuminate Speaker Series Presentation by Kristin Neff

Join Hospice of Santa Barbara at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 for their next illuminate Speaker Series Event, Kristin Neff: The Strength of Self-Compassion.

Kristin Neff is currently an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research and is the author of the bestselling book, Self-Compassion.

Through July 21 — Emerging Artist Collective ‘Straight outta the Kiln’ exhibit

34th Parallel is proud to present: Straight Outta the Kiln, a ceramic work exhibition. This is the collective’s introduction to the community and is intended to bring a new take and a breath of fresh air to art making and the local art scene.

Over 20 ceramic works by emerging artists Roxanne Casas, Carolina Danu, Connor Kelley, José Galván Martínez, Chris Taylor and Ericka Waskewics will be featured.

Various cities within Ventura County sit around the 34th parallel north, and its from these cities that the Artists of the 34th Parallel Collective are based out of.

July 22 — UCSB Arts & Lectures Hot Fun in the Summertime: Thelma & Louise

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Thelma & Louise, on Friday, July 22nd at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m. 

Housewife Thelma (Geena Davis) joins her friend Louise (Susan Sarandon), an independent waitress, on a short fishing trip. However, their trip becomes a flight from the law when Louise shoots and kills a man who assaults Thelma at a bar. Louise decides to flee to Mexico, and Thelma joins her. On the way, Thelma falls for sexy young thief J.D. (Brad Pitt) and the sympathetic Detective Slocumb (Harvey Keitel) tries to convince the two women to surrender before their fates are sealed. (Ridley Scott, 1991, R, 130 min.)

July 29 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, on Friday, July 29th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.

When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow performers Adam (Guy Pearce) and Bernadette (Terence Stamp) to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and less-enthusiastic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship. (Stephan Elliott, 1994, R, 105 min.)

July 29 — SBCC to host Re-Enrollment Day

“Back to school” season will be here soon and Santa Barbara City College wants to help students get back to school no matter what their reasons have been for stopping.

On Friday, July 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., SBCC will host Re-Enrollment Day on the East Campus Student Services building patio, where returning students will receive one-on-one assistance for enrolling in the Fall 2022 semester. Staff from various student services departments will be on hand to provide information and guidance, including enrollment services, financial aid, academic counseling, the transcript evaluation office, the SBCC Promise program, the University Transfer Center and others.

Aug. 2 —Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) announces free webinar “Free Webinar- Business Resources for Veterans from the SBA’

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! Join us on Tuesday, August 2 at 12:00pm to learn how to get started AND topics such as:

– Government Certifications
– Introduction to Government Contracting
– eCommerce 101 for Military Spouses