Category: Local

California unveils bold plan to sustainably manage pests and eliminate high-risk pesticides by 2050

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State leaders on Jan. 26 unveiled a roadmap of ambitious goals and actions to accelerate California’s transition to sustainable pest management and eliminate prioritized high-risk pesticides by 2050. The Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California (SPM Roadmap) was developed by a cross-sector Work Group of stakeholders facilitated by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CALEPA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). It charts a course toward sustainable pest management in agricultural and urban settings.  Documents available at https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/sustainable_pest_management_roadmap/

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura announces new scholarship for EV workforce development

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Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) and Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5) are pleased to announce the “Power Your Future” Scholarship, open to all state-certified general electricians in the central coast tri-county region.

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Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) January, February Partner Event and Webinar Schedule

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

VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: FUNDAMENTALS OF STARTING A NEW BUSINESS

January 31 @ 6:00 pm

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business but don’t know where to start? Do you have the passion and work ethic but need education and guidance? Being a small business owner is exciting, but understanding the lifestyle will clarify if it is right for you. Join Ventura County SCORE in this informative webinar and learn what it takes to be a successful business owner.

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Bilingual report — Important Dates for the City of Oxnard Special Municipal Vacancy Election for Council Member District 6 (Short Term)

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 County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the details of the March 7, 2023, City of Oxnard Special Municipal Vacancy Election for City Council Member-District 6. 

The Special Election is a Voter’s Choice Act Election, giving City of Oxnard District 6 voters the opportunity for “More Days and More Ways” to submit their ballot. Voters in this election can:

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Ventura County Arts Council — See Ventura County Employee, Retiree & Family Art Show Winners

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Congratulations to the winners of our annual, all-ages competitive art show for Ventura County employees, retirees and their family members. The show is hosted in partnership with the County of Ventura and is generously sponsored by the National Arts Program.

You can see the show now through Friday, February 3, 2023during business hours in our Atrium Gallery inside the Ventura County Government Center Hall of Administration located 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93009.

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Ventura College Foundation Provides $776,264 in Direct Student Support During 2021-2022 Academic Year

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Ventura College Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and financial assistance to Ventura College students and school programs, distributed $776,264 in direct student support during the 2021-2022 academic year and another $1.24 million to 68 Ventura College programs across 16 department and divisions.

Of the $776,264 in direct student support, $756,908 was in the form of scholarships. “The student scholarship distribution is our largest ever,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. “A growing community donor based helped us reach the $1.24 million mark to support Ventura College programs.”

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Bilingual commentary — The Big Lie and the Erosion of Democracy

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When Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, there was some speculation that perhaps he would “go quietly into the night.” On the campaign trail, he himself said that if he were to lose the election, we’d never see him again. He also stated that he “might have to leave the country.” Looking back, we now realize that he was just joking.

Fast-forwarding two years, we know that not only did he not leave the country, but rather he is very possibly planning a vengeful return to the White House. We also know that he concocted a Big Lie that has had troubling implications for our democracy. His Big Lie, which is the claim that the election was “rigged” and that he had actually won the election, has spawned an entire industry of election deniers who refuse to believe hard, unequivocal evidence that the election was, in fact, the most secure in American history. 

But election deniers ignore the hard numbers. They “feel in their heart” that they are right, let the facts be damned.

Suddenly—not only here, but throughout the world—election denialism is all the rage (so to speak). Trump planted a seed that was fertilized by strategic misinformation. A plant grew from that seed, blossomed, and in turn nefariously spread its seeds far and wide.

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Moorpark College to Launch Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Biomanufacturing

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The biotech field is expected to grow faster than average through 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Area biotech companies report struggling to fill positions for well-trained staff on their production teams. To meet this need, Moorpark College will offer a bachelor’s degree in applied biomanufacturing, expanding on the college’s proven track record of its associate degree in biotechnology. 

The California Community Colleges Board of Governors granted Moorpark College official approval of the degree on Jan. 23. Students can begin the program with the fall 2024 semester.

“Students who earn this degree will be well-equipped to pursue careers in the growing biotech industry,” said Dr. Julius Sokenu, president of Moorpark College. “Moorpark College aims to provide our community with educational opportunities that lead to careers that help them build wealth — not just a living wage — and salaries that lift students out of poverty into solid middle-class professional jobs.”

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Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors ratify declaration of local emergency for Ventura County following winter storms

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On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Board of Supervisors, voted to ratify the proclamation of a local emergency put forth by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services in order to provide assistance to residents in relation to the storms that affected the county beginning on January 8. The vote to ratify occurred following the date of the proclamation since the Board was not in session on the date the proclamation was authored.

“We are hopeful that our county will soon receive approval from FEMA for the Individual Assistance Program,” said Patrick Maynard, Director of Emergency Services. “This program is vital to supporting residents through the recovery process. The Individual Assistance Program provides several types of help to residents including temporary rental assistance as well as funding for debris removal and repairs. We are working closely with our federal elected representatives to advocate on behalf of Ventura County to ensure residents receive the assistance they need.”

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Bilingual report — Gina Johnson appointed Interim Chief Probation Officer for the Ventura County Probation Agency

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Today, County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson announced the appointment of Chief Deputy Probation Officer Gina Johnson to the position of Interim Chief Probation Officer, effective January 29, 2023. Chief Deputy Johnson will serve in this role while the County of Ventura continues its search for the permanent Chief Probation Officer. Chief Deputy Johnson succeeds Chief Probation Officer Mark Varela who is retiring from County service on January 28 after 34 years of service, the last 13 of which he served as Chief Probation Officer for the Agency. 

“We look forward to welcoming Interim Chief Probation Officer Gina Johnson to this important leadership position for the Probation Agency and I want to thank her for being willing to serve during this time of transition,” said Dr. Sevet Johnson. “We thank Chief Varela for his many years of thoughtful leadership and dedicated work at the Probation Agency and within the community. We wish him all the best in retirement and look forward to working with Interim Chief Johnson.”

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Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program Announces New Group for LGBTQ+ Community

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Livingston is pleased to announce a new free 10-week grief support group program for our LGBTQ+ community. The group will meet every Tuesday from February 7th through April 11th. The group will meet in person at our Camarillo Grief Center. Please contact Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program for reservations at 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.

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37th Annual California Strawberry Festival Seeks Sponsors & Exhibitors

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The 37th Annual California Strawberry Festival, taking place May 20 and 21, is seeking corporate sponsors and commercial exhibitors. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the festival is back at a new location, the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura.

The family-friendly festival attracts over 57,000 visitors and pays tribute to Ventura County’s number one crop: strawberries. Festivalgoers come from throughout Southern California including Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Kern, Santa Barbara and Orange counties. They enjoy over 40 strawberry-themed food and beverage stands, up to 200 fine arts and craft vendors, strawberry-themed contests for all ages, a Ninja Nation obstacle course, live entertainment on three stages, fair-style carnival rides and a “build-your-own” strawberry shortcake tent. An estimated 1.5 million strawberries, picked fresh locally, will be eaten during the two-day festival.

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DignityMoves and the County of Santa Barbara Announce the Launch of DignityNOW Santa Barbara County, a comprehensive plan to solve the County’s interim housing needs

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In partnership with the County of Santa Barbara, DignityMoves announced today the launch of DignityNOW Santa Barbara County, a bold initiative to create sufficient Interim Supportive Housing for everyone experiencing unsheltered homelessness across the County of Santa Barbara.

Yesterday, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the updated Community Action Plan which calls for the development of several DignityMoves villages totaling approximately 437 beds, more than closing the existing shelter gap of 432 beds county-wide.

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Congressman Salud Carbajal Visits Ventura Port District to Survey Winter Storm Damage

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VENTURA — California Congressman Salud Carbajal, U.S. Representative of California’s 24th District, visited the Ventura Port District recently to survey the impacts of the early January Atmospheric River Rain Events to the Ventura Harbor area. In the past weeks, severe winter…

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Santa Paula Police Explorers Earn an Award in First-Ever Chandler Tactical Competition

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In January, Santa Paula Police Department Explorer Post #2350 embarked on its first-ever journey to participate in the Chandler Tactical Competition.  Explorers representing 45 law enforcement agencies from across the nation participated in the highly competitive event in Chandler, Arizona. The Post returned to Santa Paula with a Third Place Award in the “Unknown Alarm Response” Scenario.

The Chandler Police Department in Arizona has hosted this annual event for the past 25 years. Not only does the trip involve continuous training throughout the year, but it also requires strong leadership and mentorship by our Post’s advisors. Participation in this prestigious competition required a lot of logistical planning and a high level of supervision by the adult advisors consisting of volunteers, professional staff, and sworn officers. Interim Police Chief Don Aguilar attended the event to support the explorers and advisors.

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Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Invites Public Comments On Regional And Local Workforce Plans

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In 2021, the WDBVC developed Regional and Local Plans and incorporated its strategic priorities and vision, in addition to what is required by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Every two years, the WDBVC must update these plans. Therefore, in October 2022, the Board met to update the strategic goals and identify milestones to achieve them before the end of 2023. The Regional and Local Plan updates were developed using various outreach and research methods to ensure that multiple perspectives were identified and heard across sectors and stakeholders and that the reports contained solutions for more robust economic and job growth.

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Museum of Ventura County — New Exhibit ‘Finding the Light’ Now Open, upcoming events

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Finding the Light:

Works from MVC’s

Permanent Collection

Now Open

at the Museum of Ventura County

Finding the Light explores how artists use light not only to influence shape and color, but also to impart deep meaning. The exhibit, featuring works by renowned and diverse regional artists including Guy Webster, Andrea Vargas, Henry Chapman Ford, and Susan Petty, is the first exhibit installed in the new Esther and Thomas Wachtell Family Gallery.

This gallery has been created through a generous endowment from the Esther and Thomas Wachtell Family Fund and is designed to showcase the Museum of Ventura County’s permanent collection.

Learn more about Finding the Light here.

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Ventura Land Trust Preserves Damaged in Recent Storms Set for Extended Closure

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Ventura Land Trust (VLT) nature preserves sustained significant damage in the recent storms that dropped 15 inches of rain areas of Ventura County. Harmon Canyon Preserve, Big Rock Preserve, and Willoughby Preserve are closed to the public due to structural blows to trails and roads.

“At Harmon Canyon Preserve, we are dealing with deep mud, sinkholes, unstable slopes, and loose rocks,” says Preserve Director Dan Hulst. “Repairs are underway, but it may be as long as two months before the preserve partially opens and public access is restored. The message we need to get out to the public is that this closure is necessary for their safety. Even when it’s dry and sunny outside, we need people to remember that preserves are still closed.” 

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Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Economic 411 Labor Market Report

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Labor Market Report for December 2022

The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its December 2022 report on Friday, showing a surprising but welcome drop in the Ventura County unemployment rate, from 3.7% in November to 3.2% in December. That places Ventura County well ahead of California’s overall rate of 3.7% and ahead of the national average of 3.3%. For the official December data, click here.

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Bilingual report — Congresswoman Julia Brownley presents $640,000 to the County of Ventura for Oxnard Family Justice Center services and resources

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On Monday, January 23, Congresswoman Julia Brownley presented a check for $640,000 to the County of Ventura to expand crime victim services and resources in Oxnard and Port Hueneme. The money will help with the expansion of the Ventura County Family Justice Center, a program administered by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, at a new location in Oxnard.

“This money will help to provide funds for bilingual victim advocates, help children who have been victims of domestic violence by funding youth programs, and it will provide onsite civil legal services at the Oxnard Family Justice Center,” said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Congresswoman Brownly has been a steadfast champion of public safety and crime victims. We thank her for continuing to standup for Ventura County’s most vulnerable.”

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Ventura County Community Development Corp. — Grants available for Thousand Oaks seniors, households affected by the Thomas Fire

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Join VCCDC and the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council to learn about grants that can help seniors living in the areas of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake Village and households impacted by the Thomas Fire with home improvements to prepare their home for wildfires including screening vents, clearing vegetation, tree trimming, gutter cleaning and more!

WORKSHOP DETAILS:
DATE/TIME: Thursday, January 26th @ 6pm
LOCATION: Online (receive link once you register)

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Explore Lompoc Announces 2023 Events In Lompoc

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A new year brings new opportunities. And in Lompoc, there’s always something exciting, engaging, and new to discover and experience.

From heavenly cuisine to cursed pirates. From colorful days in flower fields to electric nights in downtown Lompoc. From winemakers to trendsetters. From now through December 31, 2023, you’ll find all of this and more right here in the Lompoc Valley. All year long.

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Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event, webinar schedule

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CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION: 2023 LABOR LAW UPDATE *SPONSORED BY THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF VENTURA COUNTY

January 24 @ 10:00 am

2023 looks to be a bit brighter regarding the pandemic, but the Legislature refocused its attention on passing a multitude of labor and employment bills. This presentation will go over critical updates for California employers. The California Employers Association training is unique in that they will not only cover the new laws, but their HR advisors will also discuss policy updates, practical guidance and available resources. Of course, they will also answer your burning questions!

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SBCC’s The Bridge Newsletter — January 2023

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Newly elected trustees Ellen Stoddard and Dr. Charlotte Gullap-Moore (pictured in center, left to right) were sworn into the SBCC Board of Trustees by their retiring predecessors, Dr. Peter Haslund and Kate Parker, at the Dec. 15 meeting of the Board. Each will serve a four-year term. Additionally, Jonathan Abboud (left) and Dr. Anna Everett (right) were elected president and vice president of the Board, respectively.
Read about the new trustees on the SBCC Board of Trustees web page.
Read the press release on the new Board appointments.

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Meadowlark Service League Hosts a Spring Charity Luncheon and Tennis & Pickleball Tournament

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Join the Meadowlark Service League (Meadowlarks) at Las Posas Country Club on Monday, March 6th, for their annual Spring Charity Luncheon, accompanied by a Tennis and Pickleball Tournament, as well as Silent and Live Auctions.  The boutique features a great variety of vendors and is open to the public at no cost. 

The ladies of the Meadowlark have been working hard to continue to create opportunities to raise funds that benefit the many charities that our events support. “This is the 25th anniversary of the Charity Luncheon and Tournament and it continues to give the women of Ventura County a chance to enjoy friendships, sport and special time to themselves,” noted longtime Meadowlark member and event chair, Gwen Speakes, “and we are so excited to host this year’s fun event.  Join us for “Magical Moments.”

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura News for Jan. 20, 2023

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Since the onset of the January 2023 storms, California has been working closely with federal partners to provide support to impacted communities. On January 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration, which was approved by President Biden on January 9, 2023, to include Ventura County. The Presidential Emergency Declaration provides state and local assistance to providing emergency services, such as protecting lives and mitigating damage.

Following the Emergency Declaration, Ventura County continued to sustain damage from the January 9-10, storms that impacted public and private property. Considerable efforts to collect damage reports and conduct field assessments with state and federal partners are currently underway. Residents and business owners are asked to submit reports of damage or requests for assistance in hopes that Ventura County may also be included in a designation for Individual Assistance. Individual Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

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Longtime community leader Angela Sanchez joins VISIONALITY along with two more

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VISIONALITY kicks off 2023 with the hiring of three new team members just as it wraps 2022 and the celebration of its 10th year in business. Longtime community leader Angela Sanchez joins VISIONALITY bringing 20+ years of finance and banking experience to her new role as the company’s Senior Strategic Relationship Manager. She is joined by Senior Project Manager–Strategy, Jeanette Villanueva and Senior Project Manager–Fundraising & Communications, Katie Pearson.

“When you meet three amazing women, you hire them all,” exclaimed VISIONALITY CEO Emily Barany. “We are a growing team of eight strong women and one brave man.” All joking aside, Barany notes that her experienced team is well-equipped for the big plans she has for the company in 2023. Barany is known as a leader who’s not afraid to jump all-in on behalf of her clients and her community and demonstrates that with these three new hirings.

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Bilingual commentary — Will Artificial Intelligence Doom Us?

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is the quintessential double-edged sword. It has the ability to rescue humanity from some of its most intractable problems. On the other hand, if we are not careful, it could end up subjecting us to its whims, ravaging societies, and, ultimately, destroying us. 

Some scientists and social engineers are giddy with the possibilities of AI. They see it as a means toward achieving things such as advances in medicine, more effective education, better tools for fighting climate change, and stronger and more durable materials. Employers are salivating with the potential of AI to help them trim costs—enormously, in some cases. 

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — FEMA Assistant and Beach Closures

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There has been a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California (FEMA-4683-DR) for severe winter storms was amended to include Santa Barbara County for individual assistance, debris removal, and emergency protective measures. Residents of Santa Barbara County will now be eligible to apply for Federal financial assistance, and public agencies will be eligible to seek reimbursement for debris removal. Public agencies had previously been eligible for reimbursement for costs associated with emergency protective measures.

Residents who incurred financial losses due to storm damage are encouraged to apply for assistance as soon as possible online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. An application for assistance can also be made by downloading the FEMA app in the Apple and Google store. This allows documents to be uploaded to FEMA directly and track the status of applications.

If you cannot live in your home at this time due to storm impact causing water damage, mold, mud, or inability to access your home, please make sure you include this in your application.

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Hasan elected to Ventura LAFCo

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Mohammed A. Hasan, a prominent community and business leader in Ventura County has been elected to the Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission. The special districts in Ventura County elected him to be an alternate Commissioner

The Ventura County LAFCo decides primarily boundary issues of the county, cities, and most special districts. Every county in California has a LAFCo. They implement state law requirements, state and local policies relating to boundary changes, including spheres of influence, incorporations, annexations, and reorganizations. Commissioners are either appointed or elected. More Information is available at ventura.lafco.ca.gov

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Ventura Harbor Village: Take To The Great Outdoors With Island Packers Winter Whale Watching & Excursions To The Channel Islands National Park

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Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, has recently announced daily departures to the Channel Islands National Park from Ventura Harbor Village, and is now offering Winter Whale Watching Excursions through April 2023.  Book your spot today to view these magnificent mammals at  www.islandpackers.com.

Also, visit https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/directory/island-packers/ for more information.

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Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Jumps into Second Gymnastics Session

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Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is kicking off the year with a new session of gymnastics classes, following the success of its first programming session that launched in September. The 10-week program, offered on Thursday afternoons for students in TK-5thgradate, is currently serving 32 girls.

Girls Inc. Gymnastics Coach Kendall Clark stated that internal skills were a high point in the previous session, with participants displaying an increased level of mind-body connection, rotation disciple, and self-confidence. Participants also work on foundational skills including conquering successful cartwheels, handstands and back handsprings.

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Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announces two new Board Directors and appoints new Chair at its Annual Public Meeting

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 During its Annual Public Meeting in January, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announced two new Directors have joined its Board. Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Paula, Elenore Vaughn joins the Board bringing with her two decades of experience in real estate development and public affairs. Joining Ms. Vaughn on the Board is longstanding community member and partner at McCarthy Companies, Sarah McCarthy-Garcia, who brings years of local building and business development experience. The 2023 Board is led by 2023 Chair Tracy McAulay, Management Analyst for the County of Ventura Community Development Division and Vice Chair Ken Trigueiro, CEO & President of People’s Self-Help Housing.

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January News from People’s Self-Help Housing

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At PSHH, we are not afraid to ask questions.

Now in our third year of DEI training, we have more than just poked at the edges; we have gone deep into the DNA of our fifty two year old organization. Marked with further and significant investments of funds and time, the next twelve months will see our staff-led initiatives continue to explore where we are, where we are going, and humbly, where we want to be.

Our continued progress is thanks to the authentic participation of our 200+ team members who have vulnerably shared their feelings and with conviction embraced new opportunities.

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Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Get Green Certified For Earth Day 2023

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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS CHALLENEGE

From the California Green Business Network

Most businesses in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties are now eligible for $500 in incentives to help reduce their operational costs and become a certified Green Business. Start off the new year with a resolution to be green, and get certified by Earth Day 2023! The Sustainable Business Challenge is a great opportunity to start reaping benefits now as your business gets started on its sustainability journey.

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Ventura County Academic Competitions Seek Volunteers

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Ventura County’s popular academic competitions are returning in person this year, but we need the support of community volunteers to present these events for local students. The Ventura County Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, and Science Fairwill be taking place over the next several weeks. On average, more than 400 volunteer judges and scorers are needed to support the 2,500 students who participate. Please see below for additional information and links to our online volunteer registration forms.

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Bilingual report — Oxnard’s Chief Financial Officer Retires from Public Service; Former City of Phoenix CFO Denise Olson Named Interim

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City Manager Alexander Nguyen announced today that Oxnard’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Betsy George announced her retirement from the public sector, effective Jan. 19.

Former City of Phoenix CFO Denise Olson has been appointed by Nguyen to serve as Oxnard’s Interim CFO until a permanent replacement is found.

“We thank Betsy for her public service and the great work that she, and the Finance team, have done to strengthen Oxnard’s financial standing,” said Nguyen. “We’re also grateful to have Denise join our City in the interim. I’m confident that her leadership managing the finances for the fifth largest city in the nation will be an asset to Oxnard.”

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Local expert’s guide to evaluating statistics among OLLI classes

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The Spring I 2023 session of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) features several new instructors, including a local expert who will explain how to separate the truth from the hype in “Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics.”

Registration is open for the all-new slate of classes for students aged 50 and up. Classes run from Jan. 23 through March 3.

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura News update for Jan. 17

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January Storm Recovery Information

Since the onset of the January 2023 storms, the State of California has been working closely with federal partners to provide support to impacted communities. On January 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration, which was approved by President Biden on January 9, 2023, to include Ventura County. The Presidential Emergency Declaration provides state and local assistance to providing emergency services, such as protecting lives and mitigating damage.

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Singers of all ages and vocal ranges encouraged to audition for the CSUCI University Chorus

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Auditions are now open for singers who would like to join the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) University Chorus and be part of the Spring 2023 “Choral Spectacular!

Anyone wishing to audition is invited to send an email to University Chorus Artistic Director KuanFen Liu at downbeatplus@gmail.com to make an appointment for an audition from now until January 20.

Auditions are open to singers of all vocal ranges, ages 18 and up, and anyone on the CSUCI campus or in the surrounding community is welcome to audition. Liu is especially hoping to add more male singers to give the chorus more tenor, bass and baritone.

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Bilingual report — Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara will reopen on Jan. 22

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Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara will reopen this month to provide contemporary art and community-focused programming — as it has done since its beginnings as the Contemporary Arts Forum in the 1970s. We invite everyone to take part in MCASB and our collective project of critical thinking, cultural literacy, risk-taking, and discovery.

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El Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Santa Bárbara reabrirá este mes para ofrecer arte contemporáneo y programación centrada en la comunidad, como lo ha hecho desde sus inicios como Foro de Arte Contemporáneo en la década de 1970. Invitamos a todos a participar en MCASB y nuestro proyecto colectivo de pensamiento crítico, conocimiento cultural, toma de riesgos y descubrimiento.

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Bilingual report — Natalie Hernandez named new County Public Information Officer

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The County of Ventura is pleased to announce that Natalie Hernandez has been selected to serve as the Public Information Officer for the County Executive Office. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson following a lengthy search which included strong internal and external candidates.

Hernandez has over a decade of experience working in public relations, crisis communications, and event management across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She comes to the role having served most recently as the Public Information Officer for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and, prior to that, as the Assistant Public Information Officer for the County Executive Office.

“I am excited to have Natalie rejoin our team”, said County Executive Officer, Dr. Sevet Johnson. “Natalie’s extensive experience working with our diverse communities to share vital and important information will help enrich our service to the public.”

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Applications sought for Santa Barbara County Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation

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Calling all vocalists and musicians. The deadline to apply for the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation’s annual awards competition is fast approaching.

Formed in 1982 to provide financial aid to deserving vocal and instrumental students with professional performance potential who live or study music in Santa Barbara County, PASF has announced a deadline of midnight Friday, March 3, for applications.

Auditions will be held April 7 and 8 at Weinman Hall, Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road in Santa Barbara. The competition is set for 3 p.m. on April 23 at the Academy’s Lehman Hall in the Marilyn Horne House.

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Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

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iHub² TIPS AND TRICKS: BOOT STRAPPING WITH PAUL SHRATER

January 18 @ 6:00 pm

Entrepreneur Paul Shrater co-founded Minimus.biz, the world leader in all things travel-sized and individual-sized. He navigated his company through all its growth stages, developing the marketing, sales, purchasing, operations, administration and accounting departments. Paul acquired extremely valuable tools, processes and strategies along the way and will share these best practices with attendees. A graduate of the acclaimed Wharton School, Paul received a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Management. He has spoken at several conferences and guest lectured at universities on topics such as film finance, marketing, intellectual property and screenwriting. Location: 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd. Community Room Camarillo, CA 93012.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Bilingual report — WEV (Women’s Economic Ventures) presenting free Emprendimiento Program on Feb. 7

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SANTA PAULA — WEV (Women’s Economic Ventures) will present a free Emprendimiento Program in Spanish from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the Blanchard Community Library, 119 N. 8th St., Santa Paula.

WEV’s Emprendimiento Program is free, taught in Spanish, and an incredible opportunity for any Ventura County business owner/new entrepreneur. Our 8-week class will help Spanish-speaking business owners learn the steps to grow their business, write a business plan, understand budgeting, projecting profit and expenses, and gain additional resources for their business journey. And, after completing the course, participants will have the opportunity to apply for a $7,500 small business grant plus additional assistance from mentors and advisors!

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Bilingual report — Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura (AHA) accepting applications beginning Feb 1 for the Public Housing Program from low income households

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The Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura (AHA) will be accepting applications beginning February 1, 2023 for the Public Housing Program from low income households.

Applications will be accepted online beginning Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 8:00am and will close on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 4:00pm. Applications will be accepted via an online portal at onlineportal.ahacv.org

Click on image for more information

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Bilingual commentary — The Closure of Camarillo State Hospital

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Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…

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California Strawberry Festival is Back – at a New Venue

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After a three-year hiatus due to challenges brought on by the pandemic, the 2023 California Strawberry Festival will take place May 20-21. For the first time ever, the event will be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

“We are thrilled to relaunch the California Strawberry Festival in 2023 at the Fairgrounds,” says Dean Kato, Chairman of the California Strawberry Festival Board of Directors. “We realized that the event had outgrown the available space at our longtime venue, Oxnard’s College Park. It’s our ‘comeback’ year – and we want to come out bigger and better than ever.”

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WVCBA Announces the 2022 Chairperson’s Awards of Excellence Recipients

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The West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA), the chamber of commerce serving Camarillo and Oxnard, is pleased to announce its annual Chairperson’s Awards of Excellence recipients, the Ambassador of the Year, and the Ken Cunningham Award winner. By tradition, all were selected by outgoing 2022 Chair of the Board Dawn Simmons, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.

Honorees will be celebrated at the WVCBA’s Annual Meeting and Installation of Directors on Friday, January 20, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Spanish Hills Club in Camarillo. Tickets to the luncheon are $60 for members and $75 for non-members. Registration is available online at www.wvcba.org or by calling (805) 738-9100.

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First ‘Be Like Carter’ Scholarships Awarded

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The first two “Be Like Carter” scholarships were awarded to Agoura High School students in December. The scholarships are awarded in memory of Carter Stone, an incoming freshman at Agoura High who passed away unexpectedly just before the start of the school year and after making the football team.

Winners are Giacomo Likavec a 10th grader who is co-captain of the Agoura High JV football team and a wrestler and Veorah Feddanich, a 9th grader who holds the number one position on the girls’ varsity tennis team.

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — All Evacuation Orders Are Lifted in Santa Barbara County

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First of all, I want to sincerely thank every single person who evacuated and otherwise followed guidance from safety officials regarding sheltering in place and staying off the roads. Because so many followed the orders, our first responders were able to focus their attention on those who most needed it. Thanks to your efforts there have been no fatalities or serious injuries reported.

Effective immediately, all evacuation orders are lifted for the Alisal, Cave, and Thomas fire burn scars and all of Montecito, Toro Canyon, Padaro, and Carpinteria. There are still restricted areas to allow for the draining of storm water and clearing of debris. In particular, North Jameson Lane will be closed from Sheffield to Olive Mill. Roads that are only accessible from Jameson will be accessible to residents only. Show proof of residency and safety officials will let you through.

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Aera Energy and Ventura College Foundation establish endowment to award scholarships to students studying STEM and pursuing energy careers

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Aera Energy, a longtime leader in the California energy industry, and the Ventura College Foundation (VCF) are excited to support young adults interested in pursuing future careers in energy, through a new endowment that provides STEM scholarships.

The Aera Energy STEM Scholarship Fund will award annual scholarships to students studying and seeking a degree in STEM disciplines and interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The endowment was launched through an initial $25,000 donation from Aera in December. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student every April.

“The future of reliable, safe and affordable energy for this and future generations of Californians relies, in part, on investment in our future workforce. These students are tomorrow’s engineers, teachers and geologists. That’s why Aera supports education in the communities where we operate,” said Amy Fonzo, external affairs advisor at Aera-Ventura. “We’re proud to help the VCF support young adults who are pursuing STEM education. These energy workers of the future will help power our state while innovating new technologies to meet the state’s climate goals.”

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Bilingual report — MICOP — Safety Net for All Coalition Statement on the Governor’s Budget 2023 – 2024

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The Safety Net for All Coalition is deeply disappointed to see that Governor Newsom’s proposed budget does not include unemployment benefits for excluded immigrant workers. An Excluded Workers Program is an essential step to creating a more equitable and resilient economy that works for all Californians.  

California’s immigrant workers are the foundation of our economy, contributing to its standing as the 4th largest economy in the world. Seventy-eight percent of California’s undocumented immigrants work in industries that are “essential and critical” to the economy, such as agriculture, construction, and domestic work. Yet, due to historic racist exclusions from our safety net, California’s undocumented workers are not able to access economic support when they face unexpected job loss. Despite the fact that California employers pay an estimated $485 million annually into the Unemployment Insurance system on behalf of these workers, these workers are prohibited from accessing these benefits.  

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Bilingual report — Ventura County elected officials ceremonially sworn in at Board of Supervisors meeting

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On Tuesday, January 10, in the first County Board of Supervisors meeting for 2023, County officials who were elected to office following the 2022 elections were ceremonially sworn in by Judge Kevin DeNoce. The officials sworn into office were:

Supervisor Jeff Gorell, District 2
Supervisor Janice S. Parvin, District 4
Assessor Keith Taylor
Auditor-Controller Jeffery S. Burgh
Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko
Treasurer-Tax Collector Sue Horgan

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Ventura Land Trust Invites Artists to Submit Original Artwork to Celebrate Nature and VLT’s 20th Anniversary

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Ventura Land Trust (VLT) invites Ventura County artists to submit 2D artwork to celebrate nature and Ventura Land Trust’s 20th anniversary.

Artists are encouraged to use the circle outline of VLT’s logo as the form for a design inspired by Ventura County’s nature and coast. Artwork can explore a broad range of themes, including protection of open spaces, Indigenous cultural heritage, climate, and how community and nature intersect.

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Happy New Year from MVC!

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Behind the Curtain
George Stuart Historical Figures®
New videos series!

The “Behind the Curtain: An Insider’s Look at The George Stuart Historical Figures®” exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to investigate each of George Stuart’s figures closely so that they can decide if they’re works of art, historical objects, or something else entirely. This new video series offers viewers the very same opportunity from the comfort of home. Watch more here.

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Students Create the Future at Hackathon by the Sea

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More than 100 students from 40 different high schools throughout Ventura County stayed up all night as they competed in the annual Hackathon by the Sea last weekend in Camarillo. Participants spent an entire night creating apps and websites with the assistance of volunteer mentors.

Presented by the Ventura County Office of Education and the Hacker Fund, the Hackathon encourages students to use technology in creative ways to solve problems and engage users. At the end of the event, student teams presented their creations to judges, who awarded prizes.

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Friendship Center Festival of Hearts 2023 — ONLINE PREVIEW SALE coming Thursday!

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New for 2023 :we are having a Preview Sale so that you can peek at the fantastic heart art created by local artists and purchase any must have pieces before the live event at a set price – haggle free!

Also, a chance to purchase great auction packages, even if you cannot attend the live event.

The link to the sale will be sent via email on Thursday morning at 10am and you will have 2 weeks to shop before the live event.

Please keep your eyes peeled for the link Thursday morning, and happy shopping!

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Monday Storm Update

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Our County first responders held their 3rd emergency press conference Monday at 4 pm. I’ve included the video of the press conference below.

We expect heavy rain and potential thunderstorms overnight, with a high risk for flash flooding throughout Santa Barbara County and our neighboring counties. The request from our first responders is to please stay off the road unless you are evacuating or otherwise absolutely need to be. If you went to work today and must commute home, please do not attempt. Stay put for tonight. The northbound 101 freeway is closed from Highway 33 to Santa Claus Lane and again at the Gaviota tunnel, along with Highway 154 in both directions. The County has one emergency shelter open at the Wake Center located at 300 North Turnpike in the Eastern Goleta Valley between Goleta and Santa Barbara and is looking to open more. Please check the County of Santa Barbara’s social media and other news sources for updated emergency shelter information. You can also call 805-678-3073 for more Evacuation Center information.

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Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) January Event and Webinar Schedule

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EN ESPAÑOL: CLASE GRATUITA DE COMPUTACIÓN BÁSICA

Comenzando el 10 de enero los martes a las 6:00 pm y los sábados a las 10:00 am

Este curso de 6 semanas enseña a estudiantes adultos conocimientos esenciales de computación que son necesarios en la vida diaria. Este curso está diseñado para personas con un mínimo o ninguna cualificaciones digitales que operan una computadora y es especialmente útil para los estudiantes adultos que necesitan más conocimientos de computación para conseguir un trabajo o pasar a un trabajo mejor pagado.

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Evacuation Warnings Issued

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An evacuation warning has been issued for the Alisal, Cave, and Thomas Fire burn scars ahead of a projected storm coming in Monday evening. Public safety officials will be meeting tomorrow morning to make a decision on whether the warning will be elevated to an order. Stay alert and be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

If you are in a position where you are safe and secure, please consider joining our Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for our installation ceremony during the first Board hearing of the year on Tuesday January 10th at 9am. During the ceremony, I will be installed as Chair for the 2023 Board of Supervisors and we will be celebrating the swearing in of recently elected County officials. 

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Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — New 2023 California Laws

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Happy New Year! The new year has brought many new laws into effect. Read on and check out the links to learn more!

Minimum Wage: Effective January 1, 2023, the minimum wage is $15.50 per hour for all employers. Some cities and counties have higher minimum wages than the state’s rate. There is a list of City and County minimum wages in California maintained by UC Berkeley.

Wage Transparency: SB 1162 requires businesses with 15 or more employees to include information about salary ranges for all job postings. Workers will also have the right now to know the pay scale for their current position. Companies with 100 or more employees are required to submit pay data and wage history to the state by May of each year or face penalties. More information can be reviewed in this Fisher Phillips overview.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) celebrates National Mentoring Month with Starbucks

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January is National Mentoring Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is celebrating by recruiting mentors through Starbucks locations across the county for the 80 Littles on their waitlist.

All month long, QR codes placed at over 15 Starbucks locations will connect patrons to a video where a waiting Little shares what they hope to do once they are matched with a Big. These QR codes are displayed with an item representing a waiting Little’s interests – like a miniature bike to represent Madeline, who wants to ride bikes with her future Big Sister.

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Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda performs two poems at the Cultural Center of Tijuana (CECUT), Mexico

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Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda recently joined more than 60 artists from the United States and Mexico to perform two poems at the Cultural Center of Tijuana (CECUT), Mexico.

Castañeda, who is a member of the 3rd Binational Congress for Mexican Artists Residing in the United States, was accompanied by the music of guitarist and tenor Iván Orellana.

Castañeda presented two poems on stage, Paz and La Tierra Distante. Along with her poem, Peace (Paz), she exhibited the banner of peace during the performance. The Distant Land (La Tierra Distante) is a nostalgic poem conveying the feeling of missing your country when you’re standing on a foreign land. Castañeda recited that piece holding dirt from Mother Earth.

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Bilingual commentary — And We Think We Have Problems…

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When all four of my grandparents escaped the violence in Mexico and arrived in the U.S. in 1923, they couldn’t stop feeling gratitude for the sense of safety that they were experiencing. Despite the prejudice and spiteful attitudes of some of the people around them in Los Angeles, they felt at peace. For them, any societal problems in the city were relatively minor compared to what they had experienced at the hands of the revolutionaries in Mexico.

And yes, of course, we had, and still have, problems in our society. Lots of them.

But sometimes we have to place things in perspective.

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Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) announces California Competes Tax Credit Program

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The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size, or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region.

Application Period Timeline: For the remainder of the 2022-2023, applications for the California Competes Tax Credit will be accepted during the following periods:

January 3, 2023 – January 23, 2023
March 6, 2023 – March 20, 2023

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Cottage Health Appoints Dr. Miriam Parsa to Chief Pediatric Medical Officer

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Cottage Health has appointed Dr. Miriam Parsa, a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric rheumatologist, to the role of Chief Pediatric Medical Officer.

As Chief Pediatric Medical Officer, Dr. Parsa will continue to help advance the development of pediatric services and community partnerships. She will also provide leadership in maintaining Cottage’s high standards of clinical quality and patient experience.

Dr. Parsa joined the Medical Staff of Cottage Health and the Cottage Children’s Medical Center in 2013 and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Rheumatology.

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Evacuation Issued

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An EVACUATION ORDER has been issued due to an incoming storm Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at 10 PM, with the potential to produce flooding and mud and debris flows. This EVACUATION ORDER is effective immediately and applies to the identified properties and parcels in and around the Alisal, Thomas, and Cave Fire burn scars.

Do not attempt to drive while it is dark or raining as roads may be damaged and your car may be swept away by moving water or debris.
Strong winds are also expected, which can cause debris to fall onto roadways and power outages.
BE PREPARED to sustain yourself and your household for multiple days if you choose not to evacuate, as you may not be able to leave the area and emergency responders may not be able to access your property in the event of road damage, flooding, or a debris flow.
For Evacuation Center information, contact the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073.
For animal evacuation information, call Santa Barbara County Animal Services at (805) 681-4332, Monday-Friday, from 8 am-5 pm.
If you need animal evacuation support outside those hours, please call the County Animal Services after-hours phone line at (805) 683-2724.

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Weather Advisory

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A Weather Advisory has been issued for Montecito and the Thomas Fire burn area in preparation for another significant storm event this week. Heavy rain, strong winds, and high surf are expected in Montecito Wednesday into Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for our area through Thursday.

During a Weather Advisory, community members are urged to:
Monitor the weather.
Plan how to get out and where you might go.
Prepare and protect your home.

The Weather Advisory has been issued in light of the recent storms that have produced 8-13 inches of rain in the last 30 days, plus the forecast incoming storm that may produce 4-8+ inches of rain across Montecito and the Thomas Fire burn scar.

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Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

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

IHUB² TIPS AND TRICKS: BOOT STRAPPING WITH PAUL SHRATER

January 18 @ 6:00 pm

Entrepreneur Paul Shrater co-founded Minimus.biz, the world leader in all things travel-sized and individual-sized. He navigated his company through all its growth stages, developing the marketing, sales, purchasing, operations, administration and accounting departments. Paul acquired extremely valuable tools, processes and strategies along the way and will share these best practices with attendees. A graduate of the acclaimed Wharton School, Paul received a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Management. He has spoken at several conferences and guest lectured at universities on topics such as film finance, marketing, intellectual property and screenwriting. Location: 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd. Community Room Camarillo, CA 93012.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Bilingual report — $7.3M Payout Rewards Physician Excellence in Healthcare on Central Coast

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On March 1 of 2022, CenCal Health launched the Quality Care Incentive Program (QCIP) to maximize the quality of care for its health plan members on the Central Coast. QCIP is a value-based incentive program that directly rewards plan providers who deliver exceptional medical care in their community. After nine months, the innovative initiative has resulted in a distribution of over $7 million in payments to participating primary care providers (PCPs). QCIP emphasizes the clinical priorities of significance to CenCal Health members, such as diabetes and asthma care, breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings, and child and adolescent well-care visits. In Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, CenCal Health is the Medi-Cal plan that partners with over 1,500 local physicians, hospitals and other providers in delivering patient care to more than 225,000 members. Medi-Cal is the name of California’s Medicaid benefits program; the federal government administers Medicaid.

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Cottage Health Welcomes New Year’s Baby

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Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital welcomed the first babies of the new year.

Por Soua (PAW-SHOO-UH) and Grayson Peters of Goleta welcomed their first child, a daughter, named Rose, into the world at 3:33 am today at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Rose weighed 6 pounds, and was 18.75 inches in length.

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Ventura Harbor Village (Ventura Port District) Recognized With Jewel Key Award for Beautification At Ventura Chamber of Commerce 25th Annual Poinsettia Awards in Ventura

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The Ventura Port District has been honored with the prestigious Jewel Key Award by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce at the 2022 Poinsettia Awards for beautification of the Ventura Harbor Village. The Chamber selects the recipient of this significant annual award based on overall improvements over the past year. 

Accepting the award from the Ventura Chamber of Commerce was Ventura Port District General Manager Brian Pendleton and Ventura Port District Board Chairman Chris Stephens.

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Santa Paula Art Museum — New Year, New Everything!

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Exhibit Premiere

Mary Neville’s “Field Trip: 30 Days at a Higher Elevation”

Premieres Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM Members / $10 Non-members

Meet Ojai artist Mary Neville at the Santa Paula Art Museum on Saturday, January 14, for the premiere of her solo exhibition, “Field Trip: 30 Days at a Higher Elevation.” With all-new mixed media paintings and works on paper, Neville unpacks her recent, month-long artist residency at Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico, once home to legendary artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Reservations are not required.

“Field Trip” will be on view January 14, 2023, to May 7, 2023. Many of the artworks will be available for purchase.

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Year’s End Review

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Throughout this year, we have witnessed modern-day war as there are continued attacks on Ukrainians and their sovereignty. We have all experienced the transition out of COVID-19 and continue to see its devastating effects on our mental, physical, and emotional health. This year we have also seen communities continuing to come together to work towards common goals, like the completion of the Randal Road Debris Basin. After two long years of a global pandemic, we finally gathered to celebrate fiestas, birthdays, and other community events. I have continued pushing and advocating for more housing and alternative transportation methods. As we enter 2023, I will continue to advocate for local community needs, help improve our infrastructure and stand up against injustice. Thank you for all your support. Best wishes and a Happy New Year from my family to yours.

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Jan. 16 — CSUCI’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers free webinar on ancient Nubian jewels on display at the Getty Villa

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A collection of Nubian jewels dating back as far as 2500 B.C. will be the subject of a free Zoom webinar scheduled from 10 to 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16.

Presented by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), the presentation will be narrated by Getty Villa docent Scott Jones, who often does OLLI lectures. The “Nubia, Jewels of Ancient Sudan” exhibit is currently on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

“The jewels are amazing,” Jones said. “When it first arrived at the Getty Villa, I wasn’t really amped out as I’m not a big jewelry fan. But as I began to learn about the collection and how the Nubians interacted with other cultures, I realized this is a significant part of history.”

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Jan. 18 — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County hosts annual meeting

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he Housing Trust Fund Ventura County invites anyone interested in learning about affordable housing impacts and solutions to its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Register free at www.housingtrustfundvc.org/2023annualmeeting. Recognizing, “Lives Connected Through One Common Need,” the nonprofit is hosting two recognized experts on affordability of homes in California – Richard Green, Ph.D. Director and Lusk Chair in Real Estate at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate and Alan Greenlee, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing.

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Jan. 18 — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) to present iHub² Tips and Tricks: Boot Strapping With Paul Shrater

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Entrepreneur Paul Shrater co-founded Minimus.biz, the world leader in all things travel-sized and individual-sized and navigated his company through all its growth stages, building marketing, sales, purchasing, operations, administration, accounting departments and special projects. Paul acquired some extremely valuable tools, processes, and strategies along the way and will share these best practices with attendees.

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Postponed — Jan. 19 — UCSB A&L presents Maria Ressa ‘How to Stand Up to a Dictator’

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Editor’s note: UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) announces that Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa has postponed her January 19 Santa Barbara appearance in order to appear in court in Manila, Philippines. The event is currently being rescheduled and the new date will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Jan. 21 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present An Evening of Stand-up with Tig Notaro

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Named one of Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Stand-up Comics of All Time, Tig Notaro is an Emmy and Grammy nominated comedian, writer, radio contributor and actor. She wrote and starred in the groundbreaking TV show One Mississippi and just released her second HBO special, Tig Notaro: Drawn. In 2021, Notaro co-directed the feature film Am I OK?, which debuted at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. She hosts the critically-acclaimed advice podcast Don’t Ask Tig and co-hosts the hilarious documentary film podcast Tig and Cheryl: True Story.

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Jan. 21, 22 — Santa Barbara Symphony Presents Plains, Trains & Violins – The Journey of a Lifetime

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The Santa Barbara Symphony’s 70th Anniversary season continues with Plains, Trains & Violins: The Journey of a Lifetime on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 3 pm, preceded by a pre-concert “Conversation with Kabaretti” at 2:00 pm.

Conductor Nir Kabaretti has crafted a symphonic journey that speaks to the themes of migration, multi-culturalism and discovery spurred on worldwide by the Industrial Revolution (1750 – 1914) that continue to this day.

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Jan. 24 — CLU School of Management to present Entrepreneurship Speaker Series Presents…

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Entrepreneurship Speaker Series Presents…
Good Sports: Finding and Involving Professional Athletes in your Startup
Wednesday, January 18 | 7:00 pm | In Person
When Matthew Weisman and Jordan Orlick founded LetzChat, a real-time language translation service for video, websites, and SMS, their goal was to make it easier for people to connect with each other around the world. Little did they know that professional athletes would be a critical component of LetzChat’s go-to-market strategy as brand ambassadors, investors, and team members, including a COO who’s also an NFL Super Bowl Champion.

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Jan. 24 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato’s new groundbreaking tour de force EDEN

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UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Joyce DiDonato in EDEN, Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Granada Theatre. Fusing music, movement and theater, EDEN is a breathtaking, through-performed tour de force from the multi-award-winning Joyce DiDonato. EDEN explores our individual connection to nature and its impact on our world. By traveling seamlessly through four centuries of music, including a new commission from Academy Award-winning composer Rachel Portman, a searing and singular experience of hope unfolds. To ensure that the EDEN experience continues to grow outside of the concert hall, each audience member receives seeds to plant as DiDonato asks: “In this time of upheaval, which seed wIll you plant today?”

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Jan. 26 — OC Live presents Matt Sedillo and David A. Romero in a multi-media spoken word performance

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Join award-winning spoken word artists Matt Sedillo and David A. Romero as they ask the important questions: what has caused the great migrations from Latin America? How do immigrants and first-generation Latinxs simultaneously embrace and reject previous trends towards assimilation and integration? How has “the Latinx Giant” already affected the outcome of the national elections? Perhaps most importantly, who in America recognizes this shift, and how are they responding: for better, or worse?

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Jan. 27 — UCSB A&L presents Emanuel Ax – Leonidas Kavakos – Yo-Yo Ma at the Granada Theatre

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Praised for its remarkable ensemble cohesion and immaculately refined interpretations, this musical dream team reunites in Santa Barbara for an unforgettable evening of chamber music. Get tickets for Emanuel Ax – Leonidas Kavakos – Yo-Yo Ma on Jan 27, 2023 at The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara. Presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures.

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Jan. 27 — Unity of Ventura Holding New Year’s Meditation Retreat

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Would you like to have a new year that really feels new? Often, instead of experiencing a new year, we are dragging around behaviors and habits that are from our past. Here is a way to live a truly new year.

Unity of Ventura is holding a “New Year’s Meditation Retreat” Saturday, January 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Poinsettia Pavilion (3451 Foothill Road, Ventura). The day will incorporate “silent” meditation, Vipassana training and guidance so participants can focus on how to obtain the changes they want in their life as they start the new year. All faiths are welcome.

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Jan. 28 — Bilingual report — Ventura County Community Development Corp. announces return of in-person Homebuyer Education Workshops

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We are excited to announce our Homebuyer Education workshop is back in-person! We can’t wait to see you at our next workshop. If you prefer virtual workshops, we’re still offering online sessions!

Check out our workshops below

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Jan. 28 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Ensemble Intercontemporain at the Lobero Theatre

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Regarded as the world’s leading contemporary music group, Ensemble Intercontemporain make a rare appearance to present Olga Neuwirth’s score for the 1924 satirical silent filmDie Stadt ohne Juden (The City Without Jews). Under music director Matthias Pintscher, the French musicians will accompany the movie directed by Hans Karl Breslauer for which Neuwirth wrote music “both touching and harsh, warm-hearted and open, amusing and furious, involved and distanced, humorous and sad all at once.”

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Jan. 28 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present From Page to Silver Screen: The Maltese Falcon

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Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present “From Page to Silver Screen: The Maltese Falcon — SBMA Museum Collectors Council Film Screening,” from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

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Jan. 29 — Forecast Calls for Snow Much Fun at the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Snow Leopard Festival!

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On Sunday, January 29, the forecast at the Santa Barbara Zoo calls for a 100% chance of snow, sledding, and a day full of frosty fun at its annual Snow Leopard Festival, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (9 a.m. early admission for SB Zoo members only)!

Kids can enjoy sledding and “snow” much fun amidst 80 tons of snow, while the Zoo’s animals, including Kisa, the snow leopard, get to play in their own snow as enrichment.

Regular admission or Zoo membership is required for entry, and there is an additional fee ($10/pass, $8/pass for Zoo Members) for sledding and snow play. The snow play area is open to children 12 and under (and parents/guardians), and sledding is for children ages 4-12 only (no adult sledding). Sleds are provided–no personal sleds.

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Jan. 30 — Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program presenting Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training Class

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Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program is offering a free two-day Bereavement Skills Training Class. The class will provide the participant with information on grief and loss, dispel the myths and misconceptions about grief, and teach key components of companioning someone grieving the death of a loved one. Classes are held on Monday, January 23 and January 30 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at 400 Rosewood Ave, Suite 102 Camarillo, 93010. Space is limited. Registration required. For more information or to register, please call 805-389-6870 or visit lmvna.org/grief. 

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Through Jan. 2023 — SBMA’s Parallel Stories features artist Marshall Brown and the opening of ‘The Architecture of Collage’

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The Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Parallel Stories features artist Marshall Brown and the opening of “The Architecture of Collage” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct.. 2 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Layering, fragments, appropriation, cutting, higher cribbing, collage, and what artist Marshall Brown has called “creative miscegenation,” are all part of the crucible in which familiar themes are recast in art and literature. Is the resulting cross-disciplinary mashup an homage to what is left, what is kept, and what is removed? Award-winning andNew York Times bestselling author Jonathan Lethem joins artist, Urbanist, Princeton University professor of Architecture, and critical-thinking futurist Marshall Brown in a conversation about what Lethem termed the “Ecstasy of Influence.” Book signing to follow.

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Feb. 2 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to Present the Art of Marie McKenzie

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Beginning February 2, the Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) will be presenting its latest pop-up exhibition featuring the incredible artwork of Marie McKenzie.

Ojai-based artist Marie McKenzie places sustainability at the heart of her practice. Using salvaged wood and other earth-friendly materials, McKenzie creates abstract and figurative representations of marine flora and fauna with loving detail. The exhibit at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum will feature a variety of paintings and an ethereal wooden kelp sculpture. Art and environmentalism truly synthesize into something beautiful through Marie’s creations.

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Feb. 2 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Amor Towles at Campbell Hall

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Amor Towles is heir to the American literary tradition of thrilling narratives that follow memorable young men on intricate journeys of risk, discovery and redemption. Through his evocative, absorbing novels including Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway, Towles has become a critical favorite and a popular success.

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Feb. 8 — Bilingual report — Save the date for Santa Paula Community College Education Center Town Hall

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Save the Date for the Community College Education Center Townhall presented by Santa Paula Latino Townhall. To build the future economic prosperity of the Santa Clara Valley Region, a long overdue promise of building a Community College Education Center in Santa Paula must become a reality. T

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Feb. 9 — Santa Barbara Executive Roundtable (SABER) to present meeting

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Business professionals seeking to increase marketing for their companies in 2023 can learn the latest marketing tips and tricks at an upcoming, meeting of the Santa Barbara Executive Roundtable (SABER) on Thursday, February 9, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the University Club.

Jonathan Boring and Jennifer Goddard Combs, two of the Central Coast’s leading experts in marketing and digital communications, will present “New Tools to Market Your Business in 2023!” The presentation will cover a variety of digital and traditional marketing techniques including Tik Tok, Instagram reels, websites becoming fashion statements, the importance of publicity, and offer inspirational ideas for boosting exposure and sales.

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Feb. 9 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art features ‘Parallel Stories — Couples’ with Rachel Cusk, Siemon Scamell-Katz, and Andrew Winer

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The Santa Barbara Museum of Art features “Parallel Stories” with Rachel Cusk, Siemon Scamell-Katz, and Andrew Winer at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Inspired by the artistic collaboration of Ed Kienholz and Nancy Reddin Kienholz and the SBMA exhibition Scenes from a Marriage: Ed & Nancy Kienholz, Parallel Stories examines what happens in fiction and life when artist couples work together.

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Feb. 11 — U.S. Navy Museum to present Professor P. Scott Corbett discussion of his latest book ‘Uniformly Underserved’

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PORT HUENEME  — The U.S. Navy Seabee Museum is hosting Professor P. Scott Corbett on Saturday Feb. 11, 2023 at 3201 S. Ventura Road, Port Hueneme. He will be discussing his latest book, “Uniformly Undeserved.” This lecture is free as…

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Feb. 12 — OPAC’s Native Plant Fest blossoms again

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The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is proud to present its 2nd Annual NATIVE PLANT FEST on Saturday, January 21st from 11AM-4PM. The event brings together our community to celebrate and showcase local plant-inspired culture, food, traditions, and creativity! This festival is community-led by plant enthusiasts of diverse backgrounds who will share their plants, services, artwork, culinary creations, products, educational resources, and much more! 

November through the Spring is prime planting season in California and OPAC wants to bring together seasoned and newbie plant aficionados for this special event. 

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Feb. 12 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Transformation: Personal Stories of Change, Acceptance, and Evolution.’ Free Concert with Ted Nash

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This free concert features student composers, performers, and writers from a workshop led by Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and composer Ted Nash who joins them on stage. Responding in part to artist Joan Tanner’s unorthodox use of materials and inspired by Nash’s original composition first performed with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, these young artists explore the idea of transformation, both personal and collective, bringing word and music together in this exuberant community-sourced celebration of the expressive and empathetic power of art. 

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Feb. 12 — Free Winter Family Day at the Wildling Museum in Solvang

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he Wildling Museum is pleased to announce the winter edition of its popular free Family Day event, which returns on Sunday, February 12, 2023, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The now twice-yearly event invites visitors to bring the whole family and enjoy free museum admission during event hours, along with a day of art and nature-inspired activities. 

The winter lineup of events will include a live owl meet-and-greet by Santa Barbara Audubon Society’s Eyes in the Sky, a wildlife education program featuring rescued birds of prey. For their 11 a.m. presentation at the Wildling’s Free Family Day, visitors will have the chance to meet Puku the Western Screech-owl and Athena the Barn Owl and learn more about the native raptors in our region. 

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Feb. 15 — Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) FREE Business Resources Fair

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Join us Wednesday, February 15th 11:00 am – 5:00 pm!

Tap into the guidance, information and resources you need to strengthen your business in 2023. Learn about business training, employee recruitment, funding and microgrant opportunities, mentorship and other resources. Receive one on one support from the EDC, Santa Barbara Foundation, SCORE, the Workforce Development Board and WEV.

21 East Canon Perdido Street Suite 301 Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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Feb. 16 — CLU School of Management to present ‘Conference on Economic & Social Lives of Undocumented Immigrants on the Central Coast of California’

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According to the most recent information, some 104,000 undocumented immigrants live in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Some 87,000 of this group have come from our neighboring country, Mexico (83%). 

This conference unveils a comprehensive study of the socioeconomic profile of undocumented immigrants and their regional and statewide economic impacts. The economic impacts will be captured through gross regional products, labor income, employment, and tax revenue at local, state, and federal levels.  

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Feb. 21 — CSUCI Broome Library presents Black educators across the nation for “Black Scholars on Black Lives” virtual presentations

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Imagine analyzing the horrors aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad which was used to transport enslaved Africans to Cuba in 1839, or touring the Underground Railroad Museum in Kentucky—without ever leaving your home or classroom.

That’s the revolutionary teaching technique used by Morehouse University Assistant Professor of History Ovell Hamilton, who uses virtual reality in his “Metaversity,” which has proven so successful, that other departments are now using virtual reality for other disciplines at Morehouse such as biology, nursing, sociology and journalism, to name a few.

Hamilton will detail his use of virtual reality to teach Black History on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 9 to 10 a.m. with “The history of the African Diaspora in the Metaverse,” one of several online presentations in the “Black Scholars on Black Lives” lecture series, coordinated by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s John Spoor Broome Library.

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Feb. 22 — Free LightGabler Webinar: ‘The Weather’s Great, Wish You Were Here–Handling Employee Absence, Use and Misuse of Paid Time Off and Related Disciplinary Issues’

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Employment law firm LightGabler is presenting a free employment law webinar, “The Weather’s Great, Wish You Were Here–Handling Employee Absence, Use and Misuse of Paid Time Off and Related Disciplinary Issues.” The webinar is Wednesday, February 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Providing state-mandated sick leave, vacation or combined paid time off to employees is the easy part. Figuring out how to handle employees’ use and misuse of that time is a far bigger challenge. What is an excused absence? When can you ask the employee to provide a doctor’s note? How do you address excessive absenteeism without inviting a disability discrimination lawsuit?

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Feb. 23 — Ventura County Grand Jury to hold its annual Open House

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The Ventura County Grand Jury invites the public to its annual Open House on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Grand Jury Chambers located at 646 County Square Drive, Ventura.

The Grand Jury is a panel of 19 Ventura County citizens who conduct investigations into the operations of local governmental entities within the county. Investigations originate either from a public complaint or from within the Grand Jury.

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Feb. 23 — OC LIVE: The PAB comes alive with incredible acrobatics, energizing African drumming, dancing and gravity-defying stunts!

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The PAB comes alive with incredible acrobatics, energizing African drumming, dancing and gravity-defying stunts! Celebrate Black History Month with this amazing performance of a 2000-year-old cultural tradition from East Africa. This interactive 90-minute show includes human pyramids, dish spinning, stick balance, contortion, juggling, hand to hand balance, pole acts, music, comedy, and much much more. Join us on campus Thursday night!

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Feb. 23 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Dr. Ainissa Ramirez at Campbell Hall

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An award-winning scientist, science communicator and author, Ramirez promotes a love of exploration, making complex scientific processes clear and mesmerizing to just about everyone. In her recent book The Alchemy of Us, Ramirez showcases little-known inventors – particularly people of color and women – who had a significant impact but whose accomplishments have been hidden by mythmaking, bias and convention. Doing so shows us the power of telling inclusive stories about technology. She also reveals that innovation is universal – whether it’s splicing beats with two turntables and a microphone or splicing genes with two test tubes and CRISPR.

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Feb. 25, 26 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Ballet Preljocaj’s Swan Lake at the Granada Theatre

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UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Preljocaj’s Swan Lake, Saturday, February 25 at 8:00 p.m and Sunday, February 26 at 3:00 p.m. at the Granada Theatre. France’s contemporary dance superstar Angelin Preljocaj tackles the Mount Everest of the ballet world, Swan Lake. Combining Tchaikovsky’s musical masterpiece with new arrangements, Preljocaj reinvents the timeless tale of love, betrayal, seduction and remorse into a modern ecological tragedy. With 26 dancers, this beautiful tribute takes flight as an ingenious adaptation in which “the excellent performers… move with nuanced, fragile physical poetry, and a sense of the wounded souls they have become” (The New York Times).

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Feb. 25 — Santa Paula Art Museum to hold 13th Anniversary Party

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Don’t miss our biggest party of the year! On Saturday, February 25, join us at the Museum for an exciting evening of art, live music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and much more. All proceeds from the event benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Tickets to the event are $100 per person and include two complimentary drink tickets. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.

PURCHASE TICKETS >>

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Feb. 25 — Free Cash 4 College Workshops Help Students Access Funds for College

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Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free Cash 4 College workshops to help students apply for funds to help with college costs. Funds can be used for tuition, books, housing, transportation, childcare, computers and more.

In-person workshops are scheduled for Feb. 11 and 25. The workshops are free and open to the community; anyone may attend a workshop on either date and can drop in at any time during the events.

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Feb. 26 — CSUCI administrators to speak at Black churches

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CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) President Richard Yao and Vice President for Student Affairs Eboni Ford Turnbow will speak at two Oxnard churches as part of the 18th Annual CSU Super Sunday on Feb. 26.

Yao will speak at St. Paul Baptist Church at 1777 Statham Blvd. and Ford Turnbow will speak at Bethel AME Church at 855 South F St. Services begin at 10 a.m. and are open to all.

Super Sunday is a day when California State University system leaders and presidents, administrators and students from all 23 campuses visit predominantly African American places of worship to share personal stories and experiences, advice, and college-related information to advance access, opportunity and success for Black students. The CSU system has partnered with more than 100 churches throughout the state to present this year’s event.

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Feb. 28 — Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum to present historian Erik Brun

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1:00 – Museum Tours
2:00 – Presentation

Join the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum (CCVMM) for our next Speaker Series with Historian, Erik Brun, and his presentation on the 54th Coast Artillery on the Central Coast during WWII. Erik Brun, shares the history and accomplishments of the first Central Coast Black Combat unit to be placed into operation against the enemy in WWII. The unit that had gun positions in Morro Bay, Avila and Shell Beach.

In the three months after Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked vital merchant shipping and shore facilities along the California coast. The War Department’s Western Defense Command ordered the establishment of firing positions between San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz, to protect the citizens and key defense infrastructure between the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The 54th Coast Artillery Regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions between Shell Beach, and Cayucos in April 1942. Erik Brun also discusses how their arrival help shaped Post-war San Luis Obispo.

Seating is limited. Free admission. RSVP is requested, per link provided above.

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March 1 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

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UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour on Tuesday, Feb. 28 and Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre. A Santa Barbara institution, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is a perennial fan favorite. Featuring the world’s best films and videos on mountain subjects, the tour awes viewers with thrills and grandeur captured in exotic locations the world over. The show’s wide variety of film subjects – from extreme sports to mountain culture and environment – will amaze audiences. An entirely different program of films screens each night.

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March 1 — Bilingual report — Dementia Friendly Ventura County One-Stop Shop to be held at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging

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Dementia Friendly Ventura County’s next event in a series of one-stop workshops to help people living with a dementia-related disease and their caregivers is scheduled for Wednesday, March 1 at the office of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging.

The public is encouraged to stop by that day and meet with many local providers who can assist with dementia-related issues, including adult day centers, adult protective services, the Alzheimer’s Association, caregiver resources, financial resources, in-home care, health insurance counseling and advocacy, legal and advanced planning, long-term care ombudsman, neurology, and public benefit programs.

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March 2 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Miró Quartet Chamber Music Concert

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Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Miró Quartet Chamber Music Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Formed in 1995, the Austin, Texas-based Miró Quartet, is one of America’s most celebrated string quartets, having performed throughout the world on the most prestigious concert stages. They won first prizes at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Naumburg Chamber Music Competition, and in 2005, became the first ensemble ever to be awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant. The Miró is quartet-in-residence at Chamber Music Northwest in Portland, OR and Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Washington State.

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March 3 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Dr. Thema Bryant in a FREE Justice for All Event

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UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Dr. Thema Bryant on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Campbell Hall. One of the foundational scholars on the topic of the trauma of racism, Dr. Thema Bryant provides tools to meaningfully connect with a larger community, even in the face of racism, sexism, heartbreak, grief and trauma. As a survivor of sexual assault, racism and evacuation from a civil war in Liberia, she knows intimately the work involved in healing. Having made the journey herself, in addition to guiding others as a clinical psychologist and ordained minister, Dr. Thema shows how to reconnect with your authentic self and reclaim your time, your voice and your life.

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March 6 — CSU Channel Islands offers free presentation by California surgeon who teaches Ukrainian citizens how to treat trauma victims

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Bay Area surgeon Dr. Michael Baker will offer a boots-on-the- ground perspective of the conditions in Ukraine following his two visits to the war- torn country to teach Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) to Ukrainian physicians and other medical personnel as well as “Stop the Bleed” measures to ordinary citizens.

“The ATLS is for physicians and ‘Stop the Bleed’ is for regular people—librarians, bus drivers, schoolteachers who wonder what to do if somebody bombs their school or apartment building,” Baker said. “Everybody was extremely thankful we were there.”

Baker will share details of his experience as well as his take on the morale of the Ukrainian people and the condition of the country during an hour-long presentation on Monday, March 6 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. The free event is presented by CSU Channel Islands (http://www.csuci.edu/)’ Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and is open to all members of the public.

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Through March 6 — Wildling Museum of Art and Nature explores urban wildlife in new exhibition featuring artist Hilary Baker, ‘Wildlife on the Edge’

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The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce its upcoming 2022 fall exhibition, Wildlife on the Edge: Hilary Baker, on view from October 8, 2022 – March 6, 2023. The public is invited to attend an opening reception on Sunday, October 9 from 3 – 5 p.m. at the Wildling Museum. 

Hilary Baker, Burrowing Owl, LAX, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 inches, Courtesy the Artist.
Wildlife on the Edge features new and recent acrylic paintings from Hilary Baker’s Predators series alongside a new series of animal portraits on birch wood. From a group of common pigeons to an elusive cougar, Baker’s subjects make themselves at home in urban locales inspired by Los Angeles landmarks past and present. Coupled with Baker’s alternatingly bright and moody color palette, viewers are provided a fanciful peek into the secret lives of their wild neighbors, often hidden in plain view. 

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March 7 — Equity Conference to Address Disparities in Public Education

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Vital issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion in Ventura County public schools are the focus of the third annual Ventura County Office of Education Equity Conference, which will be held in person for the first time. The conference will feature a wide variety of workshops on increasing opportunities and removing obstacles for students from marginalized communities.

“This year’s conference takes on added significance following the COVID-19 pandemic, which amplified existing inequities and challenges faced by many of our students,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “It’s more important than ever for schools, families, and the community to find solutions to longstanding issues that create barriers to success for too many kids.”

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March 8 — UCSB Arts & Lectures and the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara present Siddhartha Mukherjee at the Granada Theatre

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UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) and the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara present Siddhartha Mukherjee, Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. From cancer physician and researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee comes The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human, which examines medicine’s radical new ability to manipulate cells. Author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Emperor of All Maladies and the No. 1 New York Times bestseller The Gene, Mukherjee continues his exploration of what it means to be human in this story of how scientists discovered cells, began to understand them and are now using that knowledge to create new humans.

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March 12 — Antonio Pichillá Quiacaín opens at the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara

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Sunday, March 12, 12pm – 4pm
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
653 Paseo Nuevo, Upper Arts Terrace
Santa Barbara

Join us at the museum for the opening of Guatemala based artist Antonio Pichillá Quiacaín’s video installation Tejiendo El Paisaje (Weaving The Landscape). Pichillá Quiacaín (Maya Tz ?utujil) explores Western traditions of abstraction combined with textile traditions from his Mayan family history.

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March 13 — Bilingual report — Community members invited to public meetings for potential disadvantaged community designations in areas of unincorporated Ventura County

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The Ventura County Planning Division is researching potential disadvantaged community designations in unincorporated areas, also referred to as Study Areas, near the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, and Santa Paula. Designated disadvantaged communities (DDCs) are low-income communities that are disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution. If the Board of Supervisors elects to identify one or more of these unincorporated communities as DDCs at a future public hearing, these communities would benefit from County policies and programs intended to help address environmental and economic disparities in DDCs

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March 14 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Tracy Kidder in conversation with Pico Iyer at the New Vic (limited availability)

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UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Tracy Kidder in conversation with Pico Iyer Tuesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m at The New Vic. Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Kidder stands at the forefront of American letters as a champion of the heroism of everyday life. With a reputation for faultless prose and profound insights, his mesmerizing profiles include Mountains Beyond Mountains, which brought the world’s attention to Dr. Paul Farmer, and the Pulitzer Prize-winner The Soul of a New Machine. In his newest work, Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People, Kidder continues to amplify the efforts of unique individuals who transcend cynicism and create hope. 

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March 15 — SBCC alum/mixed media artist Alberto Lule discusses prison industrial complex-inspired works

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The Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is pleased to present an artist talk with alumnus Alberto Lule. Lule is the recipient of the LUM Art Prize (Issue 6), presented by LUM Art Magazine with the support of the Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation. We are pleased to co-present this program with both organizations. 

Lule began making art while serving a thirteen-year sentence in a California prison. He uses readymades and mixed media installations to examine and critique mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex in the United States, particularly the California prison system. Starting from his origins as a graffiti artist and writer, Lule draws on his own experiences in prison to create artworks that explore institutional roles of gatekeepers of knowledge, authorities of culture, and administrators of discipline and punishment.

“Art made the prison walls disappear, allowing me to overcome not only the prison I was physically in but also the mental prison I had placed myself in before my sentence,” said Lule. “By focusing on how institutional systems operate, I have come to notice the similarities between all institutions, from institutions of higher learning to correctional institutions. These similarities can be exposed and learned from, not only from a scientific point of view, but even more thoroughly through art.”

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March 15 — The District House presents Larry Norris from Decriminalize Nature

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Larry Norris, PhD, studied biopsychology and cognitive science as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, and defended his doctoral dissertation at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). His dissertation research reviewed archived ayahuasca experience reports to identify transformational archetypes and insights that could help inform developing models of integration (meaning-making).

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