Category: Local

Rio School District Provides Summer Writing Program at CSUCI for 75 Students in Partnership with South Coast Writing Project of UCSB

Program Serves As Gateway to College Experience for English Language Learners OXNARD — Rio School District (RSD) is partnering with the South Coast Writing Project (SCWriP) at University of California, Santa Barbara to put on a summer writing program at Cal…

Bilingual commentary: One’s Own Business: Traditional vs. Online

By David Magallanes • Guest contributor David Magallanes When aspiring entrepreneurs think of starting their own business, their usual inclination is to consider a brick-and-mortar or service-oriented business, since these have been the traditional models for centuries.  Breaking that momentum…

Ventura County READY TO STOP Campaign issues WARNING: Summertime Means Child Predators Are On the Hunt

FBI warns: school’s out for the summer and children have more free time, leaving them at greater risk for commercial sexual exploitation VENTURA —  What do malls, arcades and airports all have in common? A significant increase in youth population…

Ventura County Board of Supervisors Approves Carolyn Vang-Walker As A New Member Of The Workforce Development Board

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the Workforce Development Board (WDB) Membership Committee’s recommendation to appoint Carolyn Vang-Walker as a new member. She will serve a three-year term. Vang-Walker is the director/principal of Ventura Adult and…

Ventura County Genealogical Society Special Interest Group holds monthly meetings.

CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Genealogical Society Special Interest Group is devoted to the researching of ancestors from Mexico, Spain and other Spanish speaking countries. We hope to help one another find the resources needed to extend our family trees,…

Ventura County Assessor announces completion of $141.1 billion tax roll for the next property tax year, 2019/20

VENTURA — County Assessor Dan Goodwin announced the certification and delivery of Ventura County’s annual assessment roll, which now contains a record $141.1 billion in taxable value. As the eighth consecutive annual increase in total roll value, this year’s assessment…

Assemblymember Límon advances critical consumer protection bill through the Senate Banking and Finance Committee

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 539: The Fair Access to Credit Act has made its way through the Senate Banking & Finance Committee with a 6-0 vote. This historic vote comes after years of failed attempts to protect California consumers from predatory…

Clean Power Alliance conducting multilingual survey

Ventura County workshop to be held July 25 Hi,  Hope you’re well. I’m not sure how familiar you are with you and/or your members’ new utility, Clean Power Alliance. Their mission is to provide clean energy at competitive prices. Communities…

CSUCI faculty will study common problems between France and California at Paris seminar

CAMARILLO —Polarization, immigration, sustainability and climate change are among the challenges and similarities California and France share. Two CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) faculty members will explore the challenges the state and country have in common at a California State University…

Oxnard Salsa Festival update for June 27 — Do you have what it takes to win the Great Oxnard Salsa Challenge 2019?

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   Do you have what it takes to win the Great Oxnard Salsa Challenge 2019? Calling all home cooks! Your family and friends RAVE about your homemade salsa, but do you have what it…

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara update for June 27 — MCASB Events Week of June 23rd-30th

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   UPCOMING EVENTS June 23rd – 29th, 2019 JOIN US! The final week of June is full of exciting events here at MCASB, including an opportunity to meet the artist behind our September show, Ari Benjamin Meyers:…

Bilingual report: Community support leads to agreement to maintain OB services at Santa Paula Hospital

VENTURA — At a meeting initiated by the Santa Clara River Valley Community on Friday, Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers, Health Care Agency Director Bill Foley, and CEO for VCMC/SPH, John Fankhauser, MD agreed to resume OB services at…

Bilingual report: Be inspired to make a difference on June 29 / ¡Inspírese y haga una diferencia! el 29 de junio

BE INSPIRED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY! LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN CARE! With motivational speaker, Michael Sanders, along with a compelling panel of teens, resource parents and biological families sharing their heartfelt stories and…

Ventura College Foundation Marketplace Looks To Expand Number Of Saturday Produce & Prepacked Food Vendors

VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, which operates every Saturday and Sunday on the Ventura College campus, is looking to expand the number of Saturday produce and pre-packaged food vendors. The Marketplace attracts between 2,000 and 5,000 visitors each…

Bilingual report: Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Receives 2019 Supporting the Safety Net Award in Washington D.C.

CenCal Health Initiates Award Nomination of Local Provider SANTA BARBARA — On June 20, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) presented its fourteenth annual Supporting the Safety Net Award to Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC). The organization was nominated for the award by ACAP member plan CenCal…

EDC Releases Business Migration Report That Challenges California’s ‘Business Exodus’ Theory

EDC Releases Business Migration Report That Challenges California’s “Business Exodus” Theory Dear Clients and Stakeholders, The EDC has released a report in partnership with Xopolis: Urban Analytics that studies business migration in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.…

Jackson Issues Statement on Cannabis Trailer Bill Vote

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (Santa Barbara) issued the following statement on her opposition to AB 97, the cannabis budget trailer bill, which was voted on June 24 in the State Senate: “More than two years ago, California voters passed Proposition…

Shared Goals; United Way honors Tocqueville Society and Leadership Circle

SANTA BARBARA — Dedicated supporters got a glimpse of the United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) community programs they helped make possible during the nonprofit’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society and Leadership Circle Reception June 12. Generously hosted by Adam…

Seven Participants To Compete In Oxnard Salsa Festival’s ‘Dancing With Our Community Stars’ Contest

OXNARD — Seven community leaders will take the stage and dance for charity during the “2019 Dancing With Our Community Stars Dance Contest and Charity Fundraiser,” Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. during the 26th Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival in…

Update on Woolsey/Hill Fires Debris Removal Operations

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State officials have submitted final inspections reports to officials in Los Angeles and Ventura counties for  77.97 percent of the 926 properties affected by last November’s Woolsey and Hill fires that are participating in the state’s Consolidated Debris…

CSUCI receives grants for science-related research and projects

CAMARILLO — Science faculty and students from CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will locate burning oil seeps in Ventura County and inspire high school engineers thanks to two separate grants. Program chair and Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM) Sean…

CSUCI earns prestigious Seal of Excelencia

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has received the Seal of Excelencia, a prestigious, voluntary and comprehensive certification granted by the Washington, D.C.-based organization, Excelencia in Education. The Seal recognizes an institution’s very high level of commitment and effort to serve…

He was going nowhere in a hurry. Now 35, he’s about to earn his bachelor’s degree in anthropology

By Jim Logan • UCSB Ron Jimenez was not on the college track. His high school GPA was 1.5. He dropped out a week before graduation. Higher education wasn’t an option — or even a consideration. Fast-forward nearly two decades.…

Ventura College / Superior Court of California Partnership announces 15 graduates for 2019

VENTURA — Ventura County Superior Court graduated 15 court employees with a Certificate of Achievement in Supervision from Ventura College on May 23. This is the third cohort of graduates from the industry partnership developed between Ventura College and the Superior…

Santa Paula Museum of Art update for June 21 — Meet Our Artist in Residence! She’s Creating Works Inspired by Santa Paula

SANTA PAULA ART MUSEUM JEANETTE COLE ART CENTER & COLE CREATIVITY CENTER Our kids’ summer art classes are off to a great start here at the Santa Paula Art Museum. In this week’s playful “Geo-Me-Tree” class for kids age 3 to…

Carnegie Art Museum update for June 20 — Thank YOU! CLOSING Exhibition Weekend “Recent and Seldom Seen” SHOP THE Gift Store and the SPECTACULAR ART SALE with 30% discount on all purchases!

Click here to view entire e-newsletter   Our sincere thanks to all the Carnegie Art Museum audience and members that have campaigned during the unfolding City of Oxnard FY 2019-20 budget crisis in support of keeping the museum open. Your…

More than 98 Percent of Properties Eligible for State Debris Removal Program Cleared of Woolsey, Hill Fire Debris

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have cleared eligible debris from more than 98 percent of the properties affected by the Woolsey and Hill fires in the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, officials with the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in Calabasas…

Kim Milstien, VCMC and Santa Paula Hospital CEO Resigns, Dr. John Fankhauser Named New CEO

VENTURA — Kim Milstien, VCMC and Santa Paula Hospital CEO, has resigned her position effective July 12, 2019. Milstien has been with the Ventura County Health Care Agency (HCA) hospitals since 2015. Under her leadership Ventura County Medical Center completed…

Jackson Honors Jeannine’s Restaurant and Bakery As Small Business of the Year

SACRAMENTO – Recognizing their extraordinary contributions to the Santa Barbara community, including being a gathering place following the devastation of the Thomas Fire, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (Santa Barbara) will honor Jeannine’s Restaurant and Bakery as Senate District 19’s Small Business of the…

Thousand Oaks Farmers’ Market at the Oaks Shopping Center Closes for 4th of July Holiday

THOUSAND OAKS — The Thousand Oaks Farmers’ held at the Oaks Shopping Center from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Thursdays will close Thursday, July 4 in observance of the 4thof July holiday.  All other markets within the Ventura County Certified…

Tips for Surviving Summer Break with Your Kids

CENTRAL COAST — Summer break is finally here! While some families are ready to let loose, others may feel a sense of unease without the structure and safety that the school day provides. Family Relationship Educators at Family Service Agency…

Community Action Commission Partners with School District to Provide Meals to Seniors in Santa Barbara County

SBUSD Food Service Now Creates Healthy Food for All Ages GOLETA —  Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County (CAC) announces a contractual agreement between its Senior Nutrition program and Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) Food Service to provide…

Bilingual report: Ventura County budget stronger than ever; hospital system challenges addressed

VENTURA COUNTY — The Board of Supervisors was presented a preliminary budget of $2.3 billion for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 on June 4, 2019. They are expected to approve a final budget following two hearings for public comments on the budget…

Studio Channel Islands Art Center Welcomes New Board Member

CAMARILLO — Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) recently announced Daniel Bednar has joined its board of directors. Bednar is vice president, enterprise project management, at CBC Federal Credit Union Ventura County. “We are delighted to have Daniel join the…

Ferguson Case Orr Paterson Welcomes New Attorney

VENTURA — Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP (FCOP), Ventura County’s largest law firm, recently welcomed attorney Jamie Holzer White to the firm. Holzer White’s practice areas include estate planning, trust administration and probate, and she has extensive knowledge of charitable…

More than 900 Properties Cleared of Eligible Structural Debris Caused by Woolsey and Hill Fires

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have removed debris generated by the Woolsey and Hill fires from more than 900 properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties whose owners are participating in the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, officials with the Debris…

Carnegie Art Museum update for June 14 — Don’t miss our final week of programs | Poetry at the Carnegie – The Jackson Wheeler Series, The Children’s Workshop, CAM Book Club, Meditation | SHOP THE Gift Store and the SPECTACULAR ART SALE with 30% discount on all purchases!

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   POETRY AT THE CARNEGIE THE JACKSON WHEELER SERIES Dan Gerber and Alis Morris Soto                                                with CSUCI student poet Damien Aguilar Saturday, June 15   6 pm       $5  / members free Organized  & Hosted…

Fifteen-year-old Anthony Delgadillo Salas to fundraise $1 million to save Oxnard Performing Arts Center

OXNARD — Fifteen-year-old Anthony Delgadillo Salas has kickstarted a $1 million GoFundMe campaign to help save the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (The PACC). The Oxnard High School student is a volunteer at the venue. “My experience at The PACC started out…

Bilingual report: CalFresh Food Benefits Available to People Receiving Supplemental Security Income

VENTURA — The Human Services Agency announced that as of June 1, 2019, Supplemental Security Income/Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP) recipients may be eligible to receive CalFresh food benefits. CalFresh food benefits stretch household budgets, allowing individuals and families to afford nutritious food,…

Jackson Applauds Responsible, Visionary Budget That Helps California Families

Budget addresses family leave, wildfire response, and growing senior population SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (Santa Barbara) released the following statement (June 13) on the passage of the state budget. “At a time when California has a strong economy and a…

VCCCD Board of Trustees Passes Resolution on Climate Change and Sustainability

CAMARILLO — Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) Board of Trustees approved a Resolution in Support of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability during its April 8, 2019 Board meeting. The resolution commended the colleges’ current efforts and outlined the Board’s…

Bilingual commentary: College Expectations

By David Magallanes • Guest contributor David Magallanes We boomers grew up when this country was in a prosperous, expansive mood.  Even those without college degrees, such as my father, could readily acquire work that would sustain a family, even…