Category: News

Ventura County Schools Will Consider Reopening Dates as Ventura County Coronavirus Status Improves

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2020 • Comments Off

Ventura County (on Oct. 6) moved off the most restrictive tier of the state’s COVID-19 watch list, which means schools could soon have the option of reopening for in-person instruction at all grade levels. If Ventura County maintains its status for two additional weeks, schools may choose to reopen as early as Wednesday, October 21. However, it will be up to each individual school district to determine exactly when they can safely begin welcoming students back to class. Some schools may choose to reopen their campuses later than October 21 for a variety of reasons.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura moves to the State’s Red Tier

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2020 • Comments Off

Thanks to recent progress being made in the fight against COVID-19 in Ventura County, businesses such as restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, massage businesses and places of worship may now open indoors, following California Department of Public Health sector specific guidance for reopening, as of 12:01 pm today. The changes come after the County qualified to move into the less restrictive red tier of the State’s four-tiered, color-coded reopening system. Until today, Ventura County had been in the state’s purple tier, the most restrictive tier.

Shipping companies respond to awards for helping protect blue whales and blue skies

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2020 • Comments Off

The Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program gave awards to 15 shipping companies for reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Santa Barbara Channel region in 2019. The voluntary program is an initiative to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales. The 2019 program ran from May 15, 2019 through November 15, 2019. Although COVID-19 public health guidelines prevented an in-person awards event, the companies received trophies, plaques, and certificates according to their levels of achievement.

UCSB — The Current — Picture a Scientist

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2020 • Comments Off

Hispanic Heritage Month gets justifiable criticism, but it’s still worth celebrating. Here’s why

It happens like clockwork: At least one corporation ends up apologizing during Hispanic Heritage Month because their campaign intended to celebrate Latinos ends up offending them. This year’s loser is Twitch.

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Oct. 5 — Deadline for the Census has been extended to Oct. 31

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2020 • Comments Off

Don’t delay! Take the Census today!
The deadline for the Census has been extended to Saturday, October 31. If you haven’t already, please participate today by completing the Census online at my2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020.

PVHS Class of 2024 Rocks Event

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2020 • Comments Off

ore than 300 Pioneer Valley High School freshmen defined their future in the world with progress report success during the pandemic.

The freshmen arrived on campus Monday for a special physically distanced drive-through visit.

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Announces Dr. Corey A. Pahanish as Full-Time Executive Director

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2020 • Comments Off

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Corey A. Pahanish will be joining the organization as its full-time Executive Director starting on October 19, 2020.

As Executive Director, Dr. Pahanish will oversee all programs and operations of the organization.

Port Customers Shine Earning Blue Skies, Blue Whales Awards

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2020 • Comments Off

Protecting the whales and our local air quality is not only a top priority for the Port, but also its ocean carriers. Maersk, GLOVIS, K Line, and NYK Line all earned recognition for participating in this voluntary program. This vessel speed reduction initiative aims to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and San Francisco Bay through incentivizing shipping lines to reduce speeds to 10 knots or less in these sensitive areas.

Museum of Ventura County — Día de los Muertos Events + Norse Mythology Virtual Learning + More!

by Community Contributor • October 2, 2020 • Comments Off

The Days of the Dead season is here! It’s time to honor the lives of our dearest departed and send them love. You are invited to join us for a Zoom Workshop: Creating Family Altars with Dr. Roberto Vargas on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 6:30PM—7:45PM. In this free, family-friendly Zoom experience, Dr. Vargas will teach viewers how to celebrate Días de los Muertos by remembering their loved ones and creating a Family Altar, or ofrenda.

Additionally, viewers will learn the meaning of Días de los Muertos as a tradition to honor family and departed loved ones, and Dr. Roberto Vargas will review how to facilitate a simple Dias de los Muertos celebration in the home. This is a great opportunity to bring the household together for an evening of interactive learning and fun.

University Preparation Charter School and farmworker families get tutors through CSUCI’s new STEM Corps

by Community Contributor • October 2, 2020 • Comments Off

When CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) alumnus Danna Hernandez immigrated to Oxnard from Mexico with her family when she was six, her parents couldn’t afford tutors to help her as she struggled with elementary school.

“I had no tutors or any help at home,” Hernandez said. “I was learning English as a second language and it was already a challenge just to overcome that. It gave me a motive to want to help others.”

Hernandez, 25, is now able to realize her desire to tutor children as part of the newly-formed Center for Community Engagement (CCE) STEM Corps. The Corps was launched this fall thanks to a CSUCI Strategic Initiative Grant of $43,000.

Visit Oxnard wins Oxnard Chamber of Commerce 70th Annual Community & Business Awards “Best Place to Work”

by Community Contributor • October 2, 2020 • Comments Off

The team at Visit Oxnard has been recognized by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce 70th Annual Community & Business Awards Selection Committee as the “Best Place to Work.”

Oxnard Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Nancy Lindholm affirms the win as deserving. She says, “Visit Oxnard has been recognized by numerous organizations for the accomplishments they have achieved as a team. It is clear they work together very well to get Oxnard’s name out there. It’s also apparent they have fun doing it!”

RISE and Restorative Partners team up for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

by Community Contributor • October 2, 2020 • Comments Off

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and two local agencies, RISE and Restorative Partners, are working together to bring awareness to an increase in domestic violence during this time of the global pandemic. RISE provides emergency crisis counseling, shelter, advocacy and therapy for local survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence.

Restorative Partners provides a continuum of programs and services designed to meet the diverse needs of people impacted by crime, including those in custody and returning from incarceration.

Guest Commentary — Which Way America, Democracy or Tyranny?

by Community Contributor • October 2, 2020 • Comments Off

I am a Mexican immigrants, who along with my entire family, I entered into the United States in 1958. I became a naturalized citizen of this country in 1997. The very first time I was eligible to vote, I voted, and I have been voting in local and national election ever since. All immigrants, no matter what part of the world we come from cherish our American citizenship. Not all of us however vote and that is a shame because some of us still think that our one vote does not matter. Our singular vote won’t make a damn bit of difference, and that my dear reader is how we got into some of this mess in the first place. So come November 3, 2020 vote, your VOTE matters!

Bilingual update — COVID-19 Update for Oct. 1 — County of Ventura meeting State reopening metrics Poised to enter Red Tier October 6

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2020 • Comments Off

(On Oct. 1), the State of California announced that the County of Ventura has met the State COVID-19 metrics for one week. If the County meets the metrics for an additional week the State will allow the County to move into the Red Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. “I am excited Ventura County has been cleared to go to this next phase,” said Supervisor Kelly Long, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Ventura County has consistently exceeded the standards in five of the six initial metrics set by the state. Clearing this last hurdle is a testament to the public’s patience and adherence to safety protocols. I look forward to more latitude and flexibility for our local businesses and social activities that will help our local economy and improve our quality of life.”

CEC’s Solarize Program Sets One Megawatt Solar Goal for Regional Nonprofit Agencies

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2020 • Comments Off

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) announced a goal of achieving one megawatt of solar on regional nonprofit agencies by 2023, and has expanded their successful Solarize Nonprofit program to Ventura County to support this move toward a carbon neutral community. Nonprofits that own their buildings or are in long-term leases are encouraged to see if the no upfront cost program fits for them at SolarizeNonprofit.org.

October Newsletter — Virtual Activities Launch in NEW Subscription Memberships!

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2020 • Comments Off

Back on March 16, when we had to close our physical doors in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Friendship Center staff immediately began finding ways to reach out and support our community from a distance. Considering ourselves warriors against isolation within our group of senior friends, staff have worked hard on creating unique forms of engagement and inclusion for our members. These activities include our robust schedule of ten daily Zoom classes, weekly tele check-ins, letter writing and supply delivery, Take Care Totes, Drive-In activity hours, porch visits, resource referrals and more.

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office – Fall 2020 Newsletter

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2020 • Comments Off

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with land managers and fire response agencies across California to monitor potential impacts of wildland fires on rare wildlife and plants. “While it’s still too early to understand the long-term impacts of the wildfires on rare wildlife, the primary short-term impact is loss of their habitat,” said Chris Dellith, senior fish and wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Some ecosystems are fire-adapted and require fire to be maintained; in some cases, native plants require fire regeneration as part of their life cycle. Read the story.

UCSB — The Current — Your Thursday News Briefing

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2020 • Comments Off

With a vision and a plan, Gerardo Aldana steps into his new role as dean of the College of Creative Studies.

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Extends Gold Ribbon Campaign to Oct. 15th Raising Funds for Families Who Have a Child with Cancer during a Pandemic

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2020 • Comments Off

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) has campaigned all September for National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to raise money for children facing cancer during COVID-19. They are only $15,000 away from meeting their Gold Ribbon Campaign (GRC) goal and they have extended their campaign to Oct. 15th to help meet it.

“We are truly ecstatic that we have come so close to our goal this year,” said Eryn Shugart, Interim Executive Director, TBCF. “We knew, because of the constraints of the pandemic, that we were up against a challenge this year and we are so grateful to our supporters to ensure we close the gap. We feel confident that extending this campaign will put us over the top.”

State Sen. Jackson’s Bill to Close Race and Gender Pay Gap Signed Into Law

by Community Contributor • September 30, 2020 • Comments Off

As women and people of color are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and its economic challenges, legislation by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) to address the race and gender-based pay gap was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom (on Sept. 30).

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Sept. 30

by Community Contributor • September 30, 2020 • Comments Off

Good evening, there are 80 new cases today (3 (3.8%) of which have a lab collection from September 23rd or earlier), 1,174 additional people tested, and 2 additional deaths (60 year old male, 87 year old female, all with comorbidities). The current doubling time was 157.7 days. There are 48 cases that are currently hospitalized, and 11 cases are being treated in the ICU.

EDC Legal Alert — Eviction Protections Extended to March 31

by Community Contributor • September 30, 2020 • Comments Off

On September 23, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-80-20. The Order extends to March 31, 2021 the time frame for local governments to provide commercial eviction protections due to COVID-19. The additional protection is not automatic, however. Commercial landlords and tenants will have to wait and see if local governments in Ventura County, Santa Barbara County or surrounding areas enact or extend the protections authorized by the Order.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Santa Barbara County Moves into Red Tier

by Community Contributor • September 30, 2020 • Comments Off

At the (Sept, 22) special Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update on COVID-19. According to the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics, Santa Barbara County has met the State’s red tier case rate and positivity rate criteria for two consecutive weeks. As a result, the risk of COVID-19 spread in Santa Barbara County has been downgraded, effective immediately, from widespread to substantial, allowing movement from the purple tier to the red tier. Currently we have 3 active cases in the South County Unincorporated Areas (which include Montecito, Summerland and the City of Carpinteria), 13 active cases in the City of Santa Barbara, and 170 active cases County-wide.

OC Live — The Show Must Go On (Line)!

by Community Contributor • September 30, 2020 • Comments Off

This week we go virtual and get real with WeSpeak, the program where students speak their own truth through the stories of their lives. Click below to hear from OC alumnus Vance Garcia, who brought us his incredibly inspiring story about rising above life’s most challenging circumstances.

Governor Newsom Signs State Sen. Jackson’s Bill Ensuring Civil Rights of College Student Survivors of Sexual Assault

by Community Contributor • September 29, 2020 • Comments Off

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 29 signed Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)’s Senate Bill 493 to ensure California colleges and universities provide a transparent and fair process for all students involved in a sexual assault allegation. The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2022.

In direct response to the Trump Administrations’ attempts undermine Title IX — the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally-funded schools — SB 493 will require state-funded colleges and universities to adopt common-sense procedures that ensure a fair, transparent, and consistent response to reports of sexual violence.

Bilingual update — COVID-19 Update for Sept. 29 — COVID-19 Testing

by Community Contributor • September 29, 2020 • Comments Off

September 29, 2020 COVID-19 Update Good afternoon, There are 54 new cases today (4 (7.4%) of which have a lab collection from September 22nd or earlier), 799 additional people tested, and 0 additional deaths. The current doubling time was 143.2…

Santa Paula Art Museum — You Make All of Our Work Possible

by Community Contributor • September 29, 2020 • Comments Off

A lot has changed this year. What hasn’t changed at the Santa Paula Art Museum is our commitment to our mission and our desire to serve, uplift, and inspire everyone in our community.

While the Museum’s indoor galleries have been closed since March, our staff has been working to provide our community with a wide variety of virtual programming, as well as outdoor art classes, free classroom art kits, and over 1,800 free Art To-Go Bags. Click here to see what your continued support has helped the Museum to accomplish over the past 6 months.

CSUCI health, diversity and island exploration get support from three different grants

by Community Contributor • September 29, 2020 • Comments Off

Biomedical research should reflect the nation’s diversity both for equity and for more effective medical practices. The COVID pandemic is an example of how different populations are affected differently according to genetics, culture, socioeconomic pressures and availability of healthcare, to name a few factors.

“We need to make sure biomedical research meets the well-being of all citizens,” said CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Program Chair and Professor of Health Sciences Sonsoles de Lacalle, M.D., Ph.D. “We have different genetics, different mindsets, different cultures and we need to incorporate all of these variables. We know the same old, same old doesn’t work.”

UCSB — The Current — Your Tuesday News Briefing

by Community Contributor • September 29, 2020 • Comments Off

Reimagining Instruction for the Student Experience, a recent seminar for faculty, set the stage for a robust and rigorous fall quarter of distance learning.

The Road to Reopening Ventura County Schools

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2020 • Comments Off

The prospect of students returning to their classrooms is getting closer to reality as the coronavirus situation in Ventura County starts to improve. Before schools are allowed to reopen to all students, Ventura County must move off the most restrictive level – the purple tier – on the state’s coronavirus watch list and stay off of it for two weeks.

CSUCI Fall 2021 application period opens October 1 with changed requirements

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2020 • Comments Off

Freshmen and upper division transfer students are invited to apply for CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) fall 2021 semester beginning Oct. 1 through Dec. 4.

The California State University (CSU) system has temporarily lifted requirements that first-time freshmen submit their SAT and ACT scores for admission for fall 2021. The temporary change will also apply to winter 2022 and spring 2022 admission cycles.

CFROG Announces New Executive Director

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2020 • Comments Off

The Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG) Board of Directors announced today that Liz Beall has been selected to serve as CFROG’s new Executive Director, effective this Thursday, October 1st, 2020. “CFROG’s Board is excited to welcome Liz Beall as our new Executive Director.” said John Brooks, President of CFROG’s Board. “Liz is an outspoken advocate for environmental justice and has the vision, perseverance, and knowledge needed to achieve CFROG’s goals.”

SBCC presents its Annual Report to the Community 2019-2020

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2020 • Comments Off

Santa Barbara City College is pleased to present the 2019-2020 Report to the Community, an informative and beautifully illustrated account of the college’s events, activities and accomplishments during this past academic year.

EDC Business Alert- What do I do with the government aid I’ve received?

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2020 • Comments Off

We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting business owners in many different ways. With each new regulation it can be difficult to apply general advice to your specific business.

Our no-cost, individualized consulting can help discuss what to do with the PPP, EIDL, and additional government aid you have received.

Peoples Self Help Housing — Now Open – Guadalupe Court Apartments!

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2020 • Comments Off

Check out this video of our newly completed farmworker housing!

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Sept. 25

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

Good afternoon, There are 51 new cases today (4 (7.8%) of which have a lab collection from September 18th or earlier), 833 additional people tested, and 3 additional deaths (68 year old female, 37 year old female, and 99 year old male, all with comorbidities). The current doubling time was 121.4 days.

Ventura County is currently in the purple tier which they have designated as widespread transmission as of September 22. Our current data published as of September 22 is 7.4 (purple tier) for the case rate and 3.8% (orange tier) for the positivity rate for the measurement period ending September 12; this will keep us in the purple tier until the next measurement which will be on September 29.

Food Distribution Event to be held Sept. 26 for Hispanic Heritage Month to Support Essential Frontline Farmworkers During COVID-19 Pandemic

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

Latino community leaders and critical donors are taking action to support farm working families in Ventura County. These essential workers have not stopped working to feed Californians and the nation before, during, and after COVID 19 pandemic hit the US. The campaign, known as “Feeding the Frontline: Feeding our Farmworkers,” will be hosting a food distribution event to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with a “Day of Service” on September 26, 2020. There would have been additional sites but for surges that have occurred in many of these communities.

Commentary — No time to stop filling out U.S. Census form, registering to vote

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

The year 2020 will go down as one of the most challenging years this nation has faced. A continuing pandemic, large nationwide demonstrations for civil rights, a contentious election campaign season — all during a time when the nation was attempting to complete the 2020 Census.

Now, there is word that the Sept. 30 deadline to complete the Census may be pushed back to its original Oct. 31, 2020 pandemic-altered deadline: Please see — CNN — Federal judge orders nationwide 2020 census counting to continue through October 31.

But since the ruling is subject to appeal, and nothing else appears predictable during 2020, it would be best to continue to fill out those Census forms as quickly as possible.

Oxnard City Hall getting a fresh new look with mural by Mauricio Ramirez

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

Oxnard’s drab City Hall will soon be sporting a fresh new look thanks to muralist Mauricio Ramirez.

The mural, which takes up the entire side of the three-story building, was highlighted in the Ventura County Star story of Dec. 8, 2019: Oxnard’s past, future to be represented in new City Hall murals

It is one of two murals being placed on the city hall building by Ramirez and Celeste Byers.

Ramirez’s mural, which focuses on Oxnard’s future, features a Latina graduate, rapper Anderson .Pakk., an African American girl and a child wearing traditional Mexican dress.

CSUCI Chicana/o Studies faculty member wins award for virtual lesson plans that include spinning vinyl and Penny Dreadfuls

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

The year is 1938. The Third Reich is rising along with radio evangelism and The City of Angels is constructing the freeways that will transform it into a metropolis. When a grisly murder shocks the city, the first Chicana/o in the Los Angeles Police Department, Tiago Vega, and his partner, Lewis Michener, investigate while being pulled into the deep traditions of Mexican American folklore.

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Chicana/o Studies Nicholas Centino, Ph.D. was recently honored for his use of the compelling, atmospheric “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” series on Showtime and several other creative teaching twists—innovation that continued when CSUCI’s classes went virtual with the COVID pandemic.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn Announces Important Details Regarding November 3, 2020 General Election

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

Under Executive Order, the Governor declared the November 3, 2020 General Election an all Vote By Mail election in the state of California. County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Lunn stated, “With the current Coronavirus pandemic and the confluence of the flu season upon us, I encourage all voters to utilize the Vote By Mail ballot they receive at home to take advantage of the health and safety measures that voting by mail provides.”

Two Ventura County Schools Win National Blue Ribbon Honors

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

Two Ventura County Schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020 by the U.S. Department of Education. The schools were selected based on or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The Ventura County winners are among 367 public and private schools to be selected nationwide. The local honorees are:

Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School in Thousand Oaks
Charter school authorized by the Ventura County Office of Education

Weathersfield Elementary School in Thousand Oaks
Conejo Valley Unified School District

U.S. Latinos Create 8th Largest Economy in the World

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

The 2020 edition of the U.S. Latino GDP Report was released today by the Latino Donor Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to reshaping the perception of Latinos as part of the American social mainstream.

“The report shows that, during 2018, the nearly 60 million Latinos living in the U.S. generated the world’s eighth largest gross domestic product (GDP),” said Matthew Fienup, Executive Director of the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting at California Lutheran University, one of the report’s co-authors. “The GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced by a region in a given year.”

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — September 2020 Newsletter

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

Thank you to the amazing donors who have helped us raise over $10,000 in the first week of our Perfect Match campaign!

We are off to a great start and we need YOUR help to reach our fundraising goal.