Category: Local

New SMJUHSD Superintendent Named

SANTA MARIA — A new superintendent, Antonio Garcia, has been chosen to lead the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District after an eight-month search. The SMJUHSD Board of Education Tuesday night voted to hire Mr. Garcia during the regular meeting.…

Amgen Foundation Provides $100,000 Challenge Grant to United Way of Ventura County’s Homelessness Efforts

VENTURA — The Amgen Foundation has presented a $100,000 challenge grant to United Way of Ventura County to launch a landlord engagement pilot program. The goal of the program is to increase housing stock and utilize existing housing vouchers and housing…

Marian Regional Medical Center, French Hospital Receive $11.8 Million in Enhanced Health Care Payments

CenCal Health and Dignity Health Partner to Strengthen Public Safety Net SAN LUIS OBISPO — On October 24, the CEO of CenCal Health hand-delivered a check for $10.5 million dollars to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria for payment…

For the second consecutive year, a student from the Oxnard Union High School District has been named Ventura County’s youth poet laureate

VENTURA COUNTY — Genesis Perez, who graduated from Channel Islands High School in June and now attends Cal State Northridge, is the county’s 2019/2020 youth poet laureate as named by the Ventura County Arts Council. Genesis will serve for one…

Ventura County Medical Center receives national recognition for meritorious outcomes from the American College of Surgeons

VENTURA — The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program has recognized Ventura County Medical Center, as one of 88 participating hospitals that have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2018.  As a participant in the program,…

Bilingual commentary: Reflections on Math Education—Part IV

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. David Magallanes By David…

Delta High School Robotics Team recently captured the ‘Judges Award’

SANTA MARIA — The Delta High School Robotics Team recently captured the “Judges Award” during their first Vex EDR tournament. The honor recognized the Delta Dragon’s design, engineering notebook and team interview. The competition involved 32 teams from comprehensive high schools…

SMHS Alpine Club and Las Flores Ranch

SANTA MARIA — Seventeen SMHS students who enjoy the outdoors recently added to its access for others during a community service project at Los Flores Ranch, a recreational space in the Solomon Hills, south of Santa Maria and Orcutt. The Saint…

Bilingual report: Declaration of Intention period Extended for Two Judicial Offices to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12

VENTURA — Declaration of Intention period Extended for Two Judicial Offices to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. *** Período de Declaración de Intención para la Elección Primaria Presidencial del 3 de marzo de 2020 se Extiende para Dos Cargos Judiciales…

Museum of Ventura County — Woven Earth Opens Nov. 12th, Announcing Member Appreciation Day and more

Woven Earth Opens Tuesday, November 12th at the Museum of Ventura County! Displaying a wide range of hand-woven baskets from the Museum’s extensive collection, Woven Earth focuses on California’s native communities and the traditions involved in making these baskets. Basket…

Nominations for El Concilio’s Latino Leadership Award are due by Nov. 15

OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services is asking for nominations for the 31th Annual Latino Leadership Awards. Nominations must be received at El Concilio Family Services no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15, 2019. Click here to submit a nomination. El Concilio…

Easterseals Child Development Center in Ventura Expands Services and Adds New Leadership

VENTURA — Easterseals Southern California’s (ESSC) Child Development Center in Ventura has completed its first phase of renovations. In addition, thanks to additional Early Head Start grant from The Department of Health and Human Services, the nonprofit disability services organization is…

Maria/Easy Fire Animal Rescue Response

VENTURA COUNTY — On October 30, 2019 at 6:30am, Animal Control Officers at Ventura County Animal Services were activated in response to the “Easy” Fire. They were dispatched alongside the Sheriff’s Posse and our Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (EVRT) to rescue…

SMHS FFA Milk Quality and Dairy Products Team placed 3rd in the Nation, while the Poultry Evaluation Team placed 8th

SANTA MARIA — Two Santa Maria High School FFA Judging Teams earned gold rankings at the National FFA Career Development Event Finals. The Milk Quality and Dairy Products Team placed 3rd in the Nation, while the Poultry Evaluation Team placed 8th.…

FSA’s Dorothy Jackson Family Resource Center Relocates

Enhanced Facilities Will Support Expanded Services for Lompoc Families LOMPOC — Family Service Agency (FSA) has relocated its Dorothy Jackson Family Resource Center (DJFRC) to 646 North H Street in Lompoc. The new location has larger facilities for its parent and…

United Way of Ventura County — Discover Your Superpowers on GivingTuesday

If you’ve never participated in GivingTuesday, this is your year to discover your superpowers and earn your cape. GivingTuesday is an international movement that harnesses the generosity of millions of people around the world to support the causes they believe…

Gold Coast Health Plan Announces Resignation of CEO

Interim CEO Appointed While Search for Permanent Replacement Begins CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) on Nov. 1 announced that it has accepted the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Dale Villani. The Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission, which…

Michelle Martinez Mercado Joins Girls Inc. of Carpinteria as Program Facilitator in Santa Paula

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is pleased to welcome Michelle Martinez Mercado as a new program facilitator in Santa Paula. In her new role, Michelle will lead groups of elementary-aged girls in a balanced program of hands-on learning opportunities…

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Last two weeks of Kunsthalle for Music

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   COMING SOON Please Join Us! Opening Reception | N. Dash Friday, November 22, 2019, 6 – 8 pm At MCASB, 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) is pleased…

Michael Brockers with LA Rams Visits Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley

AGOURA HILLS — Hard Work Pays Off! – Michael Brockers, number 90 from the LA Rams, recently visited with approximately 50 members from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley’s Thousand Oaks club sites.  Brockers talked to the members…

Grants introduce middle schoolers to environmental science, and enable “Environmental CSI” at CSUCI

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has received two grants that will give undergraduate researchers a sophisticated analysis tool and Isbell Middle School students what could be their first close look at the coastline and Santa Rosa Island.  Professor of Environmental…

There’s No Place Like The Collection For The Holidays

Season’s Greetings and holiday merriments at The Collection at RiverPark start Nov. 16 with its annual Tree Lighting Celebration presented by Oakmont of RiverPark OXNARD — Experience the excitement and holiday magic at The Collection at RiverPark! Regarded as Ventura County’s…

CSUCI to reopen Nov. 1, other Ventura County school districts to remain closed due to new Maria fire

VENTURA COUNTY — Based on the current weather forecast, air quality and progress being made on the Simi Valley Easy Fire, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will reopen on Friday, Nov. 1. Classes scheduled for Friday will continue as planned and all…

Bilingual commentary: Reflections on Math Education—Part III

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. David Magallanes By David…

Guest commentary: The Acuna Arts Collective Team (AACT) Project in Downtown Oxnard

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes 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 Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor The…

Celebrate the 2019 Holiday Season in Oxnard!

OXNARD — Get into the holiday spirit in Oxnard with family-friendly festive events taking place in November and December. The holiday season kicks off with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Collection at RiverPark on Saturday, November 16 at 7…

Marjorie Luke Theatre — November At The Luke

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   View this email in your browser Upcoming Events Till There Was You Saturday, November 2nd 2:00pm Pacific Sound Men’s Chorus presents the 2010 International 1st Place Quartet Champions. Storm Front Quartet’s love of barbershop music…

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County receives funding from five sources for affordable housing

Organization on course to reach $5 million goal by December 31st, 2019 VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (HTF Ventura County) announced this week that it has recently received funding support from The McCune Foundation, The Lluella Morey Murphy…

CSUCI Science Carnival postponed until 2020

CAMARILLO  — The annual CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Science Carnival scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2 has been postponed until 2020 due to the fires and air quality.   “With the safety of our local community, students and volunteers in mind and those…

CSUCI, Ventura County schools, cancel cancels classes due to extreme wind and unpredictable air quality

CAMARILLO — CSUCI will continue to be closed on Thursday, Oct. 31 with classes and activities canceled due to the extreme winds and unpredictable air quality as a result of the Easy Fire occurring in Simi Valley. The campus is monitoring…

Coastline Equipment was at PVHS to speak to our Ag Mechanics classes about the opportunity to attend school and become a John Deere Technician

SANTA MARIA — John Deere “Green” recently offered Pioneer Valley High School Ag Mechanics students a chance to become an equipment repair technician and join the team. More than 120 Panthers heard a presentation from Coastline Equipment Branch Manager Carl Stolworthy…

Charles “Tyke” Minetti is named the 2019 Vaquero of the Year by the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum

2019 Vaquero of the Year Tyke Minetti will be honored and presented with his award on Friday, November 8th at SYVHM’s 35th Annual Vaquero Gala Benefit Celebration SANTA YNEZ — The Board of Directors of the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum (SYVHM)…