Category: Local

Ventura County Community Development Corp. — Our 20th Anniversary Special Edition

by Community Contributor • November 29, 2021 • Comments Off

Welcome to our “20th Anniversary Celebration” Special Edition Newsletter. We are very excited to celebrate our 20th year acknowledging our accomplishments and honoring community leaders who embody the organization’s vision, helping us move forward together.

Incorporated in 2001, VCCDC has assisted underserved families with building financial capacity through education, counseling, and affordable loans. VCCDC grew quickly, developing culturally-competent services, particularly important during the 2008 housing/mortgage crisis when thousands risked losing their homes. As the market recovered, the dream of homeownership again became a possibility for working families who before could not afford to purchase homes.

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Serves Record Number of Families for ‘Project Turkey’

by Community Contributor • November 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Every year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) kicks off the their Season of Hope campaign by requesting various in-kind donations for Project Turkey, Project Christmas and Holiday Drive-Thru parties to spread cheer and needed resources to local families battling pediatric cancer.

“We seek to provide extra support to our families during the holiday season as they are under extreme stress. From trying to keep up with their child’s doctor and chemotherapy appointments, medical and household bills, to having enough gas to get to and from their appointments, they are often exhausted and planning celebrations for the holidays as well as the expenses included in holiday shopping can be extremely overwhelming. TBCF, along with our generous volunteers and donors, works together to deliver a holiday season many of our families would otherwise not have this year,” says Tessa Boyce, Community Outreach Manager and cancer survivor.

Bilingual report — Oxnard College offers English as a Second Language Classes in person and online

by Community Contributor • November 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Learn English in person and online at Oxnard College. Registration for ESL classes is now open for the spring 2022 semester at Oxnard College. Credit and non-credit classes start January 17 and will be delivered in person and online with flexible morning and evening schedules. There is no enrollment fee for non-credit classes.

Oxnard College offers free use of textbooks, access to Zoom and tutoring for classes. There are also laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots available to lend to students who need them on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Happy Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday on 11-27

by Community Contributor • November 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Saturday, November 27, 2021 is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Please join SBA and organizations across the country in supporting your local small businesses by shopping at a small business.

Museum of Ventura County — Giving Tuesday — Time Running Out

by Community Contributor • November 25, 2021 • Comments Off

You can help us reach our $10,000 goal by end of day November 30th.

Bilingual report — Nov. 24, 2021 – COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

The holiday celebrations started early for children receiving care at the Pediatric Unit at the Ventura County Medical Center! This year the Ventura County Fire Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team used a rope rescue system that allowed them to position Santa Claus on the pediatric level of the hospital where there is an outdoor play area. The rope rescue exercise helped deliver toys to special children and also gave the US&R team valuable training. Join us in dropping off a toy, sporting good or unperishable food at any fire station or participating location to help bring joy to children in need this season. More information at: vcfd.org/sparkoflovedropoff.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors approves 2 majority Latinx districts in final redistricting map

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura has released the final Supervisorial District Map available for review at www.ventura.org/redistricting/. The street level view of the map can be viewed here.

“I do want to see that we ensure fair and equal districts. Both in population but also, what I think is very remarkable, that we are able to shape it in a way that does create two districts now that will have a majority of a Latinx population. I am proud of our Board for stepping up and deciding that was something we were going to do. We took a vote on that, and we are living up to that with the proposal that we have before us. It will be the first time in our County history that we have been able to do this and I think this bodes well for the future. I think that is appropriate because you want the people sitting on the dais reflecting you. I am glad it is something our Board has moved forward on,” said Chair of the Board Supervisor Linda Parks.

CSUCI will take Oxnard area teachers to Santa Cruz Island to share environmental science research techniques

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

Oxnard area elementary, middle, and high school teachers and CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) faculty, staff, and students will sail to Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park, Dec. 4 and 11 for day-long trips in which CSUCI researchers will share science research techniques that the teachers can take back to their students.?

“Obviously we’d love to bring all the students to the islands,” said Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM) Dan Reineman, Ph.D., “But this way it’s a multiplier:, we can bring the teachers to the islands and then the teachers can bring the islands to the students.”

Port of Hueneme — Giving Thanks

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

The Port of Hueneme would like to wish your family and loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving!

With the support of our amazing Ventura County community, partners, customers, our Port team has been able to provide food and resources to more than 40,000 local families and to distribute more than 1,100,000 pounds of produce (including 2,500 turkeys for this holiday) as we continue to be #CommittedtoCommunity.

Together we will make sure to keep cargo moving, both big and small, throughout our community and the entire globe.

Santa Paula Art Museum — Thanks for Giving! Upcoming events Dec. 2, 4

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

Thank you for supporting the Santa Paula Art Museum. Thank you for making moments like the one captured above possible. This year, SPAM donors, members and volunteers enabled us to reopen our doors after nearly a year of pandemic closures. You’ve empowered our education team to continue to serve the children in our community with thousands of free take-home art bags, classroom kits, virtual resources, and more. During a challenging year, you allowed the Museum to offer our community much-needed opportunities for creativity, connection, learning, and joy. Thank you.

Winter Camp Through Yarrow, Conejo and Simi Valley YMCAs

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

The three branches of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA are hosting camps during the winter school break. Camp dates are December 20 through 23 and December 27 through 30.

Camps provided by the Simi Valley Family YMCA, Conejo Valley YMCA and the Yarrow Family YMCA will include STEAM learning, group games, sports and holiday arts and crafts. Overseeing the camps are qualified staff who are CPR and first aid trained.

Camps in Simi Valley will be held at YMCA daycare locations at Atherwood Elementary and White Oak Elementary. Yarrow Family YMCA camps will be held at Sumac Elementary and Yerba Buena Elementary. Conejo Valley YMCA will be hosting its camp at Peach Hill Elementary in Moorpark.

Tony Award-Winning Musical ‘Kinky Boots’ Auditions Held at Moorpark College

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

The Moorpark College Theatre Arts Department will hold auditions for its spring 2022 production of the six-time Tony Award® Winning Best Musical “Kinky Boots.” Auditions for actors and musicians will be held Dec. 10-15 on campus. The play will run in March with evening and matinee performances.

“We are overjoyed to be returning to the Moorpark College main stage with a theatre arts performance for the first time in two years with ‘Kinky Boots,’” said director and theatre arts faculty member John Loprieno.

“It’s especially exciting because the rights for ‘Kinky Boots’ were just released, and we are honored to be one of the first non-professional theatres to be producing this hilarious and vibrant musical.”

Fire Safety in the Kitchen Will Keep This a Happy Thanksgiving

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

With shopping and preparations underway for Thanksgiving dinners with family and friends, the Ventura County Fire Department reminds everyone to practice fire safety in the kitchen when the cooking starts.

Cooking is the leading cause of Thanksgiving Day fires, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Data Center. Also, the National Fire Protection Association reports that two thirds of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

“Kitchens can get busy and distracting when family and friends gather for big, holiday meals,” Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. “The extra hustle and bustle add to the risk of a mistake that can ruin more than a celebration. We want you and your family to enjoy the holiday safely.”

Rotary Club of Montecito awards grants to 15 community organizations

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

The Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation has awarded a total of $15,000 to support the work of 15 Santa Barbara-area nonprofit organizations.

The grants awarded under the foundation’s annual Community Grants Program were $1,000 each and go to organizations benefitting a wide range of constituents, including children, seniors, low-income families, and animals. All grants are funded by bequests and ongoing contributions from Rotary Club members.

UCSB — The Current — UCSB Reads 2022 and more news

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

The campus reading program has selected “Exhalation,” a collection of short stories by science fiction writer Ted Chiang.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Celebrating the Holidays Safely & More

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

Get Vaccinated, Including a Booster Shot if You’re Eligible

Vaccines are the best way to end the pandemic and they prevent COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and death. They’re safe, effective and free. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and visit MyTurn.ca.gov to get vaccinated.

California Department of Water Resources Approves Fox Canyon GMA Groundwater Sustainability Plans for the Oxnard and Pleasant Valley Basins

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has approved the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plans, covering Oxnard and Pleasant Valley Basins—its two critically over-drafted basins.

The California Department of Water Resources released its second round of assessments of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) developed by local agencies to meet the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requirements.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Economic 411 Labor Market Report for October 2021

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its October 2021 report last Friday, revealing a strong improvement in our unemployment rate, dropping from 5.3% in September to 5.0% in October. Employment gains, however, were concentrated in only five industry sectors, Local Government Education, up by 1,000 jobs, Leisure & Hospitality up by 600 jobs, Retail Trade up by 400 jobs, Private Education & Health Services up by 300 and Transportation and Warehousing up by 100. Each of those gains had been expected, and all, except Transportation & Warehousing, are only still just eating into the losses suffered through COVID-19. While those gains are all positive, what’s not so positive is our continuing lackluster labor market participation and our lack of new hiring in two other sectors especially hard hit by pandemic, Construction and Other Services. We’ll unpack more on the trends for recovery below. For the monthly detail, the LMID release is here.

This Black Friday/Cyber Monday, make UCSB Arts & Lectures your “One-stop Holiday Shop” for gifts of inspiration!

by Community Contributor • November 23, 2021 • Comments Off

This holiday season, do something different and meaningful for the special people in your life. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, now is a great time to wrap up your holiday shopping with inspirational cultural experiences that create great memories. Peruse UCSB Arts & Lectures’ diverse array of events and you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list.

For maximum savings (up to 20%), purchase a curated package of complementary events such as the ever-popular Dance Series, which begins on January 21, 2022 with Ballet Hispánico. For maximum flexibility, opt for a Create Your Own series; make your own package of four or more events for a savings of 10% on each ticket (some exclusions apply).

Oxnard College Graduate and World Series Baseball Player Presented with Statewide Distinguished Alumni Award

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

In recognition of his impact on Major League Baseball, Oxnard College graduate Terry Pendleton has been recognized as a California Community College Distinguished Alumni by the Community College League of California (CCLC), a statewide organization that advocates for California community colleges at the state and federal levels.

A native of Oxnard’s La Colonia neighborhood, Pendleton was the first in his family to attend college. He famously helped lead Oxnard College’s maiden baseball team to a California state championship berth in 1979. He went on to play Major League Baseball for 15 years, which included six World Series appearances and a National League MVP award. After his playing career, Pendleton became a base, hitting and bench coach, guiding future stars like Freddie Freeman and this year’s 2021 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Nov. 22, 2021

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Public Health Nurse Mallory Perper and Kyle Culkin of the Emergency Medical Services Agency were among the amazing staff members that made the COVID and Flu Vaccine event at Santa Clara High School in Oxnard over the weekend a great success! Brittany Romane RN BSN of the Public Health Immunization Program is pictured giving both flu and booster shots to Ross Kocen, volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps. Ross has volunteered at vaccination sites since December of 2020 when the first COVID vaccines arrived in our county! Our team continues to work hard to move us forward and we are so grateful!

Museum of Ventura County — We need your help to keep your Museum free!

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Admission to both Museums has been free in 2021, and we need your help to continue serving everyone with free access to the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura, and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.

A gift to the Museum is a gift to the community.

CSUCI Biology professor receives $3.6 million grant to boost stem cell internship program

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) graduate student Alex Mitre began pursuing her Master of Biotechnology after a volunteering experience in the birth center of a San Diego hospital. There, she witnessed extremes of the human experience on the faces of parents…

Bilingual report — City of Oxnard, District 2 Special Municipal Vacancy Nov. 2 Election Final Results and Certification Announced

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced today the final election results for the November 2, 2021 City of Oxnard, District 2 Special Municipal Vacancy Election with 100% of precincts reporting.

A total of 2,257 ballots were cast in this election. Final results for this election yielded a 12.57% voter turnout.

Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office Seeking Help on Unidentified Male

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The Medical Examiner’s Office is requesting the Public’s help in identifying a deceased male found in Oxnard on November 9, 2021. Please see attached Press Release.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free Weekly Webinar Schedule

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: HOW TO INFLUENCE, PERSUADE AND SELL ANYONE

December 1 @ 10:30 am

Have you ever struggled to get someone to accept your ideas or buy your product or service? Well, help is finally on the way, with this breakthrough webinar! In less than an hour you will learn how to convince and sell almost anyone. Suddenly, you’ll have an incredible power to persuade all the people in your life, unlike anything you’ve ever been able to do before.

CSUCI ranks 15th in the nation for social mobility

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has ranked 15th out of the 1,549 four-year institutions listed in the just-released 2021 Social Mobility Index (SMI).

That’s up five rungs from the 2020 SMI, when CSUCI held the rank of No. 20 in the nation —still in the top 20 U.S. colleges and universities according to how effectively they enroll students from low-income backgrounds and enable them to graduate into well-paying jobs.

The eighth annual 2021 SMI was released while COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact low-income students, forcing many to abandon, delay, or alter their pursuit of a college degree and the potential that degree provides for social mobility.

CSUCI Interim President Richard Yao, Ph.D. is well aware of the additional pressure placed on all students by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those historically underserved in higher education, so the SMI ratings came as welcome news.

Naval Base Ventura County and Port of Hueneme join forces to help relieve U.S. supply-chain congestion

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) in partnership with the Oxnard Harbor District (OHD)/Port of Hueneme (POH) has activated a standing joint use agreement (JUA) to provide U.S. Navy resources onboard Port of Hueneme in direct support of decreasing port congestion in Los Angeles County and reducing the national supply-chain shortage, Nov. 22, 2021.

“NBVC recently welcomed a large cargo vessel,” said Daniel J. Herrera, assistant program director for port operations, NBVC. “Ports America already off-loaded a large number of forty-foot containers into lot 22 onboard Port Hueneme which is merchandise expected to have direct impact with helping to support holiday supply demands.”

Pandemic Leads Many to Look to New Career Options

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The pandemic has led to one of the greatest periods of job loss, career changes and a restructuring of how work is performed, (i.e. working remotely, flexible schedules, etc.). While much of this has deeply impacted the economic wellbeing of millions of Americans and has caused stress and disruption, there may be some longer term positive outcomes. As the economy starts to recover and jobs are becoming more abundant, the crisis has given many of us some flexibility and time to think about our careers and our lives…perhaps bordering on existential questions like… “Who are we?” “Who do we want to be?” “Where can we best contribute?” And most importantly, “What kind of work is actually meaningful for us and our work-life balance that we have now come to appreciate in this changing period–weighing the need to support ourselves and our families with a growing urge to do something new as this crisis has subsided?”

County of Ventura — COVID-19 Update for Nov. 19

by Community Contributor • November 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Thumbs up for Fridays and booster shots! All adults 18+ are encouraged to get their booster shots – 6 months after Pfizer or Moderna, 2 months after J&J. Make an appointment at MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255. Appointments are not required at county clinics. Check the schedule at www.vcrecovers.org/vaccine.
Thank you Ventura County, let’s keep moving forward!
Photo by Laenen Photography

Bilingual report — CenCal Health Rolls Out New Vaccination Response Plan on Central Coast

by Community Contributor • November 19, 2021 • Comments Off

As part of a statewide Vaccination Response Program developed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), CenCal Health is implementing a multi-strategy initiative to increase protection against COVID-19. CenCal Health is the Medi-Cal health plan for both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties with nearly 210,000 members, primarily children, families and seniors with low-income. The goal of the new initiative is to fully vaccinate members who are not vaccinated or received only one dose due to vaccine-hesitancy, lack of transportation or a disability that keeps them homebound. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended that children 5 to 11 years receive the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine.

Bilingual commentary — Mexico’s “Third-World” Reputation

by Community Contributor • November 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Much of the world regards the United States with either admiration, envy, jealousy, anger, mistrust, or outright hostility.

I have a cousin in Mexico who frequently mentioned the U.S. with rancor and a hint of animosity. She disdainfully described her own country as “Third World.”

However, I’ve come to understand that the term “Third World” is now considered derogatory. It’s no longer “politically correct” to refer to a country as “Third World.” The term is a relic of the Cold War. It was originally meant to designate countries that were not aligned with either NATO or the communist bloc. At the time, Mexico fit that description, and the term stuck.

Guest commentary — Despieto (Woke) and Seeing in Aztlan

by Community Contributor • November 19, 2021 • Comments Off

In Journey to Ixtlan, by Carlos Castaneda, Don Juan explains to Carlos, that after more than a decade, of “ordinary exploration” he is on the precipice of stopping the world and seeing for the first time, “You have simply stopped the world…Yesterday the world became as sorcerers tell you it is, in this world coyotes talk and so do deer, as I once told you, so do rattlesnakes and trees and all other living being. But what I want you to learn is seeing. Perhaps you know now that seeing happens when one sneaks between the worlds, the worlds of ordinary people and the world of sorcerers.”

November News from People’s Self-Help Housing

by Community Contributor • November 19, 2021 • Comments Off

We are truly thankful this season for your partnership with us.

Your support has sustained so many this year who have continued to experience adversity. For each of our 5,000 residents, you have helped them encourage each another, raise healthy families, and have covered them with your care and concern. We give thanks that so many of you are regular, monthly, and annual supporters of our programs and services. To those who came alongside our mission and gave for the first time this year, I am so grateful for you.

Every one of you have helped foster new opportunities, improve lives, and have helped thousands of households thrive. Through support of our 11 learning centers, you have ensured that our youth have bright futures, for our older residents have made supportive services available to everyone. And for those patiently waiting on our housing lists for a place to call their own, you’ve opened up our pipeline so that another 1,000 homes are on the way!

Food System Resilience Loan Program Provides Equitable Access to Financing for Santa Barbara County Food Businesses

by Community Contributor • November 18, 2021 • Comments Off

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) and the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) have launched the Food System Resilience Loan Program, a unique financing option for local food businesses that provides an equitable opportunity to access financing, address gaps in our food system, and ensure that their businesses thrive.

Bilingual report — VCPWA Water and Sanitation Ensures a Greener Ventura County with SB 1383 Solid Waste Regulation Compliance

by Community Contributor • November 18, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Public Works Agency, Water and Sanitation (PWA-WS) went before the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on November 16th to ensure the County of Ventura complies with new state solid waste laws and regulations, as prescribed by the state enacted Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383).

SB 1383 is the most significant waste reduction mandate to be adopted in the state of California in the last 30 years and becomes effective January 1, 2022. The statewide effort was enacted to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP’s), which contribute to climate change and resident health. SB1383 requires the state to reduce organic waste by 75 percent and increase edible food recovery by 20 percent by 2025. The bill also aims to reduce methane, a greenhouse gas emission far more detrimental than carbon dioxide.

UCSB — The Current — Highly Cited Excellence

by Community Contributor • November 18, 2021 • Comments Off

Clarivate Analytics names 9 scientists and social scientists to its 2021 list of highly cited researchers.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura — Nov. 17, 2021 – COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • November 17, 2021 • Comments Off

Dr. Ali Maamar-Tayeb leads the incredible team at the Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital treating patients with some of the most complex neurological cases. We are so proud to have Dr. Maamar-Tayeb on our team and appreciate his work in again achieving the American Heart Association Stroke- Get With The Guidelines- Award! Learn more at www.vchca.org.
COVID-19 Update

Upward – CLU School of Management Community Newsletter

by Community Contributor • November 17, 2021 • Comments Off

California Lutheran University’s School of Management continues to provide a stimulating environment for our learners and the community around us, even in these unusual times. Today, we are once again happy to share a selection of exciting news, updates, and upcoming events to our communities in Southern California and beyond.

If you want to stay current on what is going on at the School of Management, please follow our Showcase page on LinkedIn.

CSUCI Biology faculty who studied reptiles in the Amazon shares research methods with students

by Community Contributor • November 17, 2021 • Comments Off

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Class of 2021 Biology alumnus Alisa Lopez said one of the best parts about the upper division independent research course she took from Assistant Professor of Biology Rudolf von May, Ph.D., was the fact that he had actually traveled to the Peruvian Amazon for weeks at a time to do research.

“Personally, I find it really admirable and important because he has actually gone out and done field research, which is what I want to do,” Lopez said

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