Registration is now open for the inaugural World AIDS Day Program & Candlelight Vigil in Santa Paula from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula, 740 E. Main St., Santa Paula.
Presented by the HIV/AIDS Coalition of Ventura County and sponsored by Caliber Home Loans, Diversity Collective Ventura County and GILEAD.
Meet EDC’s President and CEO, Bruce Stenslie
Bruce Stenslie started with the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) as the President and CEO in 2007. He has over 30 years of experience in workforce and economic development serving as the Deputy Director for the California Workforce Association, Workforce Policy Director for the City of Los Angeles, Assistant Director of the Ventura County Human Services Agency and Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board.
Two plants that live on California’s Channel Islands and nowhere else on earth – the Santa Cruz Island dudleya and island bedstraw – have reached recovery thanks to Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing to remove the two island plants from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants.
“The recovery of these island plants is the result of long-term cooperation and conservation efforts by scientists and land managers,” said Paul Souza, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Southwest Region. “That’s what the ESA can bring to the table – attention, resources, and incentive for sustained conservation work that produces meaningful results.”
The Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation has awarded a total of $11,000 to support the work of 11 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.
“Rotary Club members are committed to raising funds for good causes, and supporting activities and projects that make our communities stronger,” said Montecito Rotary Club Foundation President Bruce McRoy. “These grants allow us to support a wide variety of services to our community and are a great example of the cooperative spirit that’s an essential part of Rotary’s work.”
The City of Oxnard is hosting a series of public meetings and City Council meetings for the community to learn more about local water supplies, the cost of water, rate adjustments and long-term water reliability needs. The meetings will review the City’s water supplies, water operations and long term needs to ensure water rates keep pace with increasing costs to provide safe, reliable water.
Oxnard’s water utility is funded through its water rates, which it invests into operations, supplies, maintenance, repairs, infrastructure, and its long-term capital improvement program (CIP) projects.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced their selections for the American Rescue Plan Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring Competitive Grant. The Port of Hueneme was selected among 131 other projects, in 37 states, to receive a portion of the $53.4 million allocated to conduct air monitoring of pollutants in communities across the country with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from pollution and the pandemic.
The EPA awarded the Port of Hueneme $500,000 for its “Ventura County Community Air Quality Monitoring Network” project that will expand the Port’s existing monitoring network by installing four air monitoring stations to better understand and communicate air pollution burden from freight and transportation networks in the Oxnard Plain.
The Agriculture Museum will once again partner with De Colores Multicultural Folk Art, Inc. on their traditional Las Posadas procession. As the last stop of the night, the Ag Museum will host a nativity scene and musical performance before inviting everyone inside to enjoy refreshments and piñatas!
VCCDC in partnership with the County of San Diego and Meritage Homes is thrilled to announce an opportunity to own one of four (4) affordable homes in Valley Center located in north San Diego County. The 4 affordable units will consist of 4-bedroom floorplans priced at $471,366* and will be sold to qualified homebuyers whose income does not exceed 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for San Diego County. The homes will be priced below comparable new homes and are subject to deed restrictions, including term of affordability and equity share with San Diego County. Other requirements and restrictions apply. Interested buyers must attend an upcoming orientation on November 30th or December 1st to learn how to apply. You must attend one of the orientations for your application to be accepted.
As Sedgwick Reserve marks 25 years of groundbreaking science, an upcoming art show will benefit the UCSB Natural Reserve System.
An established partnership between the Port of Hueneme and the City of Port Hueneme provides a meaningful impactful for local non-profits in community such as the Students for Eco-Education & Agriculture (SEEAG) Program. SEEAG educates students and the greater community about the origins of food and farming as well as the important contribution agriculture has on the nation’s well-being. The Port-City Community Benefit Fund (CBF) and SEEAG’s commitment to educate students about the farm-origins of food, provide structured STEM lesson plans, and teach youth about the food supply chain make this an ideal fit for CBF funding.
Agromin, an Oxnard-based company that produces organic soil products from locally collected green waste, donated 19.25 tons of mulch to Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families for its new Farm-to-School garden program.
Casa Pacifica is the largest non-profit provider of children’s mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Based in Camarillo, the agency works with more than 2,100 of the region’s most vulnerable children and their families every year in outpatient, residential, and home and community-based settings.
PAC, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation, is honored to announce that it was recently awarded $152,000 in arts programming support from the California Arts Council. OPAC was the only nonprofit organization in Ventura County to receive all (3) grants during this grantmaking cycle.
Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) received a $10,000 “Neighborhood Grant” from the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. Sprouts Farmers Market created the foundation in 2015 to inspire, educate and empower individuals, especially children, to live healthier lives.
The neighborhood grants are given to nonprofit organizations that provide nutrition education and healthy food access to kids.
Giving Tuesday is a simple and easy way to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and make our community a stronger and more resilient place to live and work. Become a part of the great work we’re doing and make a gift today. Kick off the season of giving today by making a gift to United Way of Ventura County. With your support, United Way can continue to provide basic needs, emergency support, and advance education, economic mobility, housing & health solutions that make our community stronger. Together, we can make real, lasting change.
U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE: SHOWCASING THE INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS OF NATIVE AMERICAN-OWNED AND LED BUSINESSES
November 30 @ 11:00 am
The U.S. Commercial Service invites you to register below for the tenth & final session of the 2022 “From Local to Global: Celebrating Diversity” event series. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the U.S. Commercial Service will feature an interactive discussion of how Native American-owned and led Southern California-based companies have successfully grown their businesses internationally.
SHOP & SUPPORT
Champagne and Shopping
Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 10 AM to 4 PM
Free admission for all ages
Grab a glass of bubbly and shop for unique gifts during Champagne and Shopping at the Santa Paula Art Museum! Browse beautiful, handmade items by a dozen local artist vendors, including original art, handmade jewelry, bags, ceramics, decor, and more. The Museum’s popular gift shop will also be filled with new items to explore. Plus, enjoy live holiday music and festive treats. Admission is free for everyone. Reservations are not required.
Please help MVC reach our $25,000 goal by the end of the day this Tuesday, November 29th. Thank you for donating and forwarding this email to friends.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for considering donating to Friendship Center and making a positive difference in seniors’ quality of life in a meaningful way.
Please stay tuned for Giving Tuesday tomorrow!
With gratitude,
YOU’RE INVITED
to join us at our three upcoming events before the end of the year
ForwardTogether webinar with alumnus Paul Rosenberg on
“Managing Your Presence: Showing Up Strong”.
Wednesday, November 30 | 12:00 pm I Virtual
Paul Rosenberg is an award-winning and sought-after leadership coach, business developer, and speaker. Join us virtually.
Mohammed A. Hasan, a longtime business and environmental leader in Ventura County has been re-elected to United Water Conservation District board.
The District boundary encompasses Lake Piru to Ventura harbor along the Santa Clara River valley, and the Oxnard coastal plain. The cities of Santa Paula, Fillmore, Oxnard and Port Hueneme, and the eastern part of the City of Ventura are part of the district. This public agency was formed 75 years ago, currently offices in North Oxnard. The district diverts surface water from the Santa Clara River, manages and serves groundwater to farmers and cities. More information is available at unitedwater.org
The Rebozo Festival Inc. is pleased to announce that grants of up to $20,000 were awarded to qualified non-profit organizations that focus on the cultural, social and/or educational needs of the Ventura County community.
The 2023 Rebozo Festival Inc. grantees are Amino Theatre Company and Parents Against Santa Susana Lab-PSSFL (Fiscal Sponsor: Physicians for Social Responsibility, LA Chapter). The grantees will be honored at the 19th annual Rebozo Festival on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at the Camarillo Ranch.
On Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC)?is unveiling a larger-than-life mural honoring the deep history and farmworker origin story of Cabrillo EDC.
The nearly 550 square-foot mural features elements representing important milestones, including founding Executive Director Rodney Fernandez, the multi-faceted history and origin story of Cabrillo EDC, as well as the organization’s values and principles. The mural is featured in the stairwell entrance to Cabrillo EDC’s corporate offices in Ventura, 702 County Square Drive.
SANTA BARBARA — Cottage is seeing a significant increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases and urges the community to take precautions to protect those most at risk, especially infants and adults over 65 years of age, as holiday gatherings…
Thank you for considering sharing your bounty with our members – your financial gift goes a long way in making a difference for elders in our community experiencing dementia and other cognitive and physical challenges. We thank you for contributing to their quality of life in this most meaningful way.
As part of its ongoing commitment to addressing climate change impacts and enhancing wildlife habitat, the County of Ventura is pleased to announce its new Environmental Grant Program. Schools, nonprofits, and community organizations can apply for funding to implement shovel-ready projects or activities that support wildlife habitat restoration, species conservation, environmental education and stewardship, and/or address climate change impacts. Eligible grant awards will receive up to $15,000.
Six years after ‘the Blob’ rolled through the Santa Barbara Channel, lasting effects are seen in the kelp forest communities.
The Port of Hueneme celebrated the opening of the new International Mariners Center located near Wharf 1 which serves as a place for seafarers who call on the Port to receive much-needed services such as free transportation for shopping and emergencies and for providing a place of hospitality after being at sea for weeks.
“The Port’s cargo movement would not be possible without the support of our partners such as the International Mariners Center and their all-volunteer staff committed to providing respite services to seafarers regardless of race, nationality, or religious beliefs,” said Mary Anne Rooney, President of the Oxnard Harbor District. “The Mariners Center and its volunteers have a heart for serving others and today we recognize how vital this service is to the ongoing operations of the Port and to those who directly benefit from the services it provides.”
View this email online. Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter NOVEMBER 2022 Dream Center a long-awaited reality for undocumented students The college celebrated the grand opening of its Dream Center in the Campus Center/CESJ space on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in…
e recent use of remote learning has put our children and our community in a precarious position. At no time in our history has it been more important for us to help young people and their families recover from the challenges and learning losses that have accumulated over the past few years. With your generous support, we were able to keep our doors open during the pandemic, and we were the only out-of-school program able to do that.
Labor Market Report for October 2022
The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its October 2022 report on Friday, showing no change in the Ventura County unemployment rate, still at a very low 3.3%. For the larger context, that keeps us ahead of the state, at 3.8%, and puts us ahead of the U.S. as a whole, which is at 3.4%.
Friendship Center hosted a private Veteran’s Day luncheon celebration on Thursday, November 10th honoring Friendship Center members who are veterans, and their families. The event was coordinated by Kim Larsen, Family Services Manager, and Sophia Davis, Development Director.
WE’RE BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC!
Please join us for our annual holiday reception! Visit with friends and colleagues, enjoy appetizers and wine, and learn more about the Ventura County Civic Alliance.
Cottage Health has announced its 2022 Physicians of the Year Awards, which recognize physicians on the Medical Staff for exemplary performance.
Cottage Health staff members submit nominations every year to the Physicians Reward and Recognition Team. The selection of award honorees is based upon the most nominations in four criteria: dedication to the profession and patients, respect and courtesy, collaborative practices, and efficient use of resources.
“Nominations for the awards come from staff who work closely with the physicians,” said Dr. Ed Wroblewski, Vice President of Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer at Cottage Health. “All four physicians honored have earned high praise for the care and respect they give to patients and colleagues. They always strive to collaborate with staff to do what’s best for the patient.”
We need your help to raise our Giving Tuesday goal of $25,000.
We need to raise $25,000 by the end of the day on November 29
to keep the admission free for the Museum of Ventura County
and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula.
SBA: WOSB CERTIFICATION – (WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS)
November 23 @ 10:00 am
Join the Small Business Administration (SBA) Los Angeles District Office for a virtual workshop to increase your potential for federal contract opportunities through the WOSB program certifications. This virtual workshop is targeted to small businesses located in the SBA Los Angeles District Office service area — Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to lado@sba.gov at least 7 days in advance.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s winter concert— “De Colores, A Cultural Celebration of Choral Music”— will sweep the audience around the world with musical selections from Mexico to South Korea to East Africa to Great Britain and more.?
?“I have had so much fun programming musical selections that reflect a wide range of cultures and their languages,” said the director of the Channel Islands University Chorus, KuanFen Liu, who holds a doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA). “We have had native speakers come in to teach us diction and pronunciation to make sure we are honoring the languages as best we can.”?
The EDC Board of Directors is a select group of leaders invited to the table for their vision, passion and ability for setting priorities and positively impacting our region’s economic vitality. Board members participate peer-to-peer with visionary leaders, providing guidance and input into our organizational strategy and capacity for delivering outcome-driven economic development services.
We are thrilled to introduce three new Board of Director Members!
Member: Central Coast Labor Council
Representative: Jeremy Goldberg, Executive Director
Covered California launched its new television advertising campaign on Monday, to promote enrollment and encourage the uninsured throughout the state to sign up for quality health insurance. The multi-language campaign builds on the successful theme of “This Way to Health Insurance,” which has helped Covered California enroll a record-high 1.7 million people.
“Covered California is reaching out to our state’s diverse population to make sure all Californians know about the increased and expanded financial help that is available to help bring the cost of quality coverage within reach,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “We want to make sure people know that Covered California is here to help them get and pay for quality, brand-name health insurance.”
Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit seaside at Ventura Harbor Village, located off California Highway 101, where friends and family from near and far, are invited to add sun and sparkle this season. Trade in snow for sand and snow boots for flip flops – it’s time to enjoy another iconic event lineup at this stunning destination situated along the waterfront in Ventura. The Harbor is truly a “must SEA” spot this time of year.
Ventura Harbor is mustering up more holiday magic than ever with ocean-inspired decorations in a color palette of twinkling blue, aqua, and green beachy hues. On display for all to see are spiraling sea pearls, a scenic “SEAsons Greetings” photo op, whimsical holiday trees, vibrant wreaths, and other festive décor that reflects off the glistening marina waters. Seasonal décor can be enjoyed from now through the New Year!
Visitors are encouraged to take a seaside stroll to enjoy the lights and stop in for quality food on a cozy covered patio – a perfect way to entertain and spend quality time with loved ones. Following a relaxing meal, explore the Harbor Village for one-of-a-kind gifts. Ventura’s locally-owned shops and art galleries have everything from handmade treasures to fun stocking stuffers.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice’s 38th Annual “Light Up a Life” event will take place in December in Camarillo. This celebration provides comfort, solace and an opportunity for those who have lost someone to honor their loved one’s memory. A musical performance by a solo guitarist will take place, followed by readings, acts of remembrance, and a beautifully lit Tree of Life. The event is free, and everyone is welcome to attend. The date and time for this year’s Light Up event is Saturday, December 3rd from 4:30 pm – 5:30pm at Constitution Park, 1287 Paseo Camarillo, Camarillo, CA 93010.
