“This event beautifully demonstrates how community, history, and philanthropy can come together to create lasting impact,” said Doug Jenzen, Executive Director of the Foundation at Hearst Castle. “Funds raised will help conserve two rare 17th-century Peruvian tapestries and keep Hearst Castle’s treasures ready to inspire future generations.”
“These days are about opening doors for future scientists, engineers, and health leaders,” said Interim Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences Phil Hampton. “Students not only learn about our programs, but they also get to picture themselves here—learning, researching, and thriving.”
“The Wellness Companion Hub is a welcomed and needed resource for students,” said Vice President, Student Services Paloma Arnold. “The reach of SBCC’s The WELL’s work in this online platform — inspired by our very own Student Program Advisor & LCSW, Becky Bean — will increase students’ resources and help educate and save lives. Special thanks to the SBCC Foundation who believed in this project from the beginning. We are so proud!”
SACRAMENTO — The California State Legislature sent Assemblymember Bennett’s AB 367 to the Governor’s desk. The bill would increase the performance of fire hydrants supplying water to Ventura County firefighters in their battles against wildfires. The legislation also raises baseline standards of emergency preparedness for water districts servicing homes in high fire risk areas of Ventura County as mapped by Cal FIRE.
VENTURA COUNTY — This year, local residents once again have the opportunity to Adopt-A-Musician with the New West Symphony—helping to sustain the cultural arts in Ventura County.
The benefits of adopting a musician include invitations to private rehearsal receptions, access to exclusive events with musicians, special recognition in concert programs, and unique experiences such as sitting on stage with the orchestra during a rehearsal.
SANTA BARBARA —This September, in recognition of Sepsis Awareness Month and Sepsis Awareness Day on September 13, Cottage Health encourages the community to learn the signs of sepsis and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms appear.
Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs. If not identified and treated promptly, it can lead to shock, multi-organ failure and even death. Globally, sepsis affects up to 50 million people each year and contributes to nearly 11 million deaths.
Enfoque Guided Exhibit Tours
Sunday, September 21
1 – 2 p.m.
@the Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula
Join us for a free, public tour of Enfoque led by members of our Latino Advisory Committee and Museum Docents. In a relaxed and reflective tour setting, explore themes of cultural identity through powerful images and stories—share perspectives, spark insight, and connect. Find out more information HERE.
VENTURA — Ventura Housing (formerly the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura) announced that its nonprofit partner, Atlas, has received a generous donation from Yardi® in support of “The Road Home” Campaign, benefiting residents of Ventura Housing’s latest development at Valentine Road. This groundbreaking permanent supportive housing project located in Ventura is converting the former 142-room La Quinta Inn into 134 studio apartment homes for individuals who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness, thereby reducing homelessness in the local community and transforming the lives of residents.
VENTURA COUNTY — In its yearlong celebration of its 75th anniversary, Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) reaffirmed its deep-rooted commitment to community wellbeing by presenting a $75,000 contribution to Community Action of Ventura County (Community Action VC) during the “VCFC Unite to Community Action Ventura” event on Saturday, Aug. 9. The presentation took place during the highly anticipated Ventura County FC (VCFC) soccer match, at VCCU’s exclusive “Member Soccer Night.”
VENTURA — The County of Ventura invites the public to attend a Board of Supervisors hearing on Tuesday, September 30, at 1:00 p.m. at 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, in the County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Board Hearing Room. At the hearing, the Board of Supervisors will consider approval of the County’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Implementation Manual and the Initial Study Assessment Guidelines (ISAGs), including the supplemental Noise and Vibration Assessment Guidelines. These key documents guide how the County evaluates environmental impacts of proposed projects in the unincorporated areas of the County. The Board will also consider an amendment to the General Plan, which is needed to accompany the updated ISAGs.
HOUSAND OAKS — Hundreds of California Lutheran University students will receive additional support for achieving their educational goals, thanks to $2,937,168 in grant funding the university has received in 2025. The grants will increase access to targeted services for students facing financial challenges, provide opportunities for faculty advancement and facilitate building improvement.
“Cal Lutheran is more than a place of working and learning; it is life-giving,” said Cal Lutheran President John Nunes. “To that end, grant funding is an important way for us to strengthen our connection to our community and to provide life-giving academic tools for our students. These grants also enable our faculty to conduct cutting-edge research for the benefit of their field and teaching.”
VENTURA — The City of Ventura is now accepting applications for the Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS). This volunteer advisory group advocates for and improves the lives of the city’s older adult residents.
Applicants must:
Be a City of Ventura resident, age 60 or older
Be available to attend monthly meetings, held on the third Tuesday of each month from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center (550 N. Ventura Avenue)
SANTA BARBARA — With one in two families struggling with diaper need, many parents are forced to skip meals or delay changing diapers to extend their supply. Fortunately, Santa Barbara County and partner nonprofits are working together to spread awareness and help alleviate the growing need for diapers in our community.
On Tuesday, September 16th, LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner. received a proclamation from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors officially recognizing National Diaper Need Awareness Week, which takes place from September 15-21, 2025.
At Panteón Fest, Aztec drumbeats honor the departed, and traditional music fills the air. The desfilada procession brings the community together, with themed displays and entertainment, and a theatrical play showcases the traditions of Día De Los Muertos.
IN-PERSON EVENT: READY • SET • GROW: SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS WORKSHOP SERIES
September 16, 23 and 30 @ 9:00 am
Join the City of Oxnard and Economic Development Collaborative for a 3-part series to help business owners improve legal compliance, financial planning and marketing. Participants will receive hands-on, practical training to achieve real results, such as official registration, funding readiness, and customer growth. This 3-workshop series will be conducted in English, with the option to answer questions in Spanish. Hands-on materials will be provided in both languages. Address: Oxnard Main Library, 251 S A St., Oxnard, CA, 93030.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
VENTURA — The Ventura Police Department invites residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to participate in its Strategic Plan Community Questionnaire. This short, accessible feedback form, available in English and Spanish, gives the community a direct voice in shaping the department’s priorities and goals.
VENTURA — With the Medicare Open Enrollment period soon to begin, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) – part of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the Human Services Agency – will again be providing countywide resources and help.
Medicare Open Enrollment begins on Oct. 15 and runs through December. 7. HICAP counselors, who are registered by the California Department of Aging, provide free, unbiased Medicare counseling to the public.
From our friends at Ojai Underground, and sponsored by Ventura Music Festival, join us for THE CHRIS O’LEARY BAND. A devastatingly soulful vocalist, dynamic harmonica master, and superlative songwriter, Chris O’Leary is among the blues and roots world’s most talented unsung heroes.
VENTURA COUNTY — Community leaders, elected officials, and labor rights icon Dolores Huerta gathered on Sept. 5, 2025, to celebrate the grand opening of Dolores Huerta Gardens Apartments. This new affordable housing development from Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC) brings 58 units specifically for farmworkers, veterans, and low-income families to Ventura County.
Named in honor of legendary civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, the new development reflects her lifelong fight for justice, equity, and the empowerment of working families. This property not only expands access to safe, affordable housing, but also stands as a symbol of resilience, dignity, and community transformation.
“Dolores Huerta Gardens is a foundation for families to build brighter futures,” said Victoria Brady, CEO of Cabrillo EDC. “This community reflects our deep commitment to providing safe, affordable housing for those who need it most, and to creating spaces where residents can truly thrive.”
Let’s try to imagine an exploratory mission deep in the heart of the local library.
That is exactly what I conducted last week among the ghosts of the paper card catalogs that now haunt the modern library visitor. I felt like a hunter, seeking out a book that would mysteriously reach out to me and demand that I read it—or at least consider it.
OXNARD — … Anonymous Heroes / Héroes Anónimos highlights 29 selections from the Santa Paula Art Museum’s permanent collection, paying tribute to the resilience, creativity, and essential contributions of our farm workers. These “everyday heroes,” often unrecognized in historybooks, have shaped the cultural and economic fabric of Ventura County and beyond. Artists featured include: Carlos Almaraz, Judy Baca, Cornelis Botke, Sergio Hernandez, TonyJankowski, Xavier Montes, John Nichols, Gail Pidduck, Wihimina Puisifer, Kay B. Snodgrass, Eloy Torres, and Robert von Sternberg.
“Each image and artwork in this exhibition reminds us that behind every cultivated field and harvest lies a story of sacrifice, perseverance, and love for family,” reflects Ricardo Santana Velázquez, Consul of Mexico in Oxnard. “These are the stories of women and men who,even amid the challenges of the migratory context, continue to sow the future with their hands and unwavering spirit.”
Just one week away is Raising Justice – our 19th annual community celebration and fundraiser! We want you there to celebrate our movement and support tenants, environmental justice, and immigrant workers.
FOUR FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
Thursday, September 18 | 7 PM | Carpinteria Vets Memorial Building
Friday, September 19 | 7 PM Isla Vista Elementary
Saturday, September 20 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall
Sunday, September 21 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre
Click here to register and join us in this important (virtual conversation on Sept. 16).
This session will bring together leading voices in law, democracy, and civil rights to:
Examine the ruling’s implications for constitutional protections, civil liberties, and immigrant communities.
Discuss what Congress and state governments can do to protect residents, strengthen oversight, and counter discriminatory enforcement.
Explore strategies for building broad coalitions capable of defending both democracy and civil rights in the face of aggressive enforcement.
SANTA BARBARA — Every Friday in September, Folded Hills Winery will match 100% of every purchase – whether it’s bottles of wine, visits to the tasting rooms, or orders from the online store—with a donation to Hospice of Santa Barbara. Through its Philanthropy Fridays initiative, made possible by the Kim and Andy Bush Family Foundation, Folded Hills shines a spotlight on local nonprofits and their amazing work. This month, wine lovers have the unique opportunity to raise a glass while supporting Hospice of Santa Barbara’s mission of providing compassionate care to those in need.
NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation evaluates how well an organization complies with standards in the following areas: organizational readiness; race / ethnicity, language, gender identity and sexual orientation; access and availability of language services; practitioner network cultural responsiveness; culturally and linguistically appropriate services programs; and reducing health care disparities.
SANTA BARBARA — Ventura College is proud to announce the launch of Ventura County’s first Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) program, located at the Ventura College East Campus in Santa Paula. The program, which began this fall, exceeded expectations with full enrollment in all first-semester courses within 48 hours, a rare milestone for a brand-new academic offering.
British Textile Biennial (BTB) is a free festival of contemporary art, commissioning artists and designers from all over the world to make work inspired by the context and legacy of the textile industry in East Lancashire and its global impact, often in the places that were created by it. This Autumn, British Textile Biennial (BTB) explores invention and innovation in textile production; through indigenous knowledge to space-age technology, from the earliest form of shelter, the tent, to space suits, and from plant-based dyes to the first polymers.
Reuniones de la Junta de Supervisores en español
(Board of Supervisors’ Meetings in Spanish)
El Condado de Santa Bárbara está ofreciendo interpretación en español de las reuniones de la Junta de Supervisores. Véalo en vivo en nuestro canal de YouTube en español, o las personas suscritas a la televisión por cable pueden acceder a la programación secundaria de audio (SAP) en los ajustes de idioma.
THOUSAND OAKS — This year marks the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. To honor the lives lost and the courage of those who responded, the Ventura County Fire Department invites the community to join firefighters in remembrance ceremonies across the county.
Commemorations will take place at every fire station, department headquarters, and at Fire Dispatch.
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is proud to celebrate a powerful milestone for its Eureka! program participants, who recently returned from an inspiring week-long trip to Washington D.C. filled with learning, exploration, and advocacy.
The trip offered girls the opportunity to explore the nation’s capital, visit world-class museums, tour college campuses, and meet directly with local representatives to discuss the issues that matter most to them.
Our Fall season begins on Monday, September 15 with a film from France, LES MUSICIENS – “The premise of the film is incredibly fascinating. It’s very rare to see classical music on the big screens… – music, comedy, drama.”
Just a reminder to our patrons that I personally preview each film to insure a great viewing experience each and every Monday screening.
SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara’s 13th annual Heroes of Hospice luncheon will include a silent art auction, thanks to the generous donation by Suzanne Grimmesey and Edwin Feliciano of three giclée prints by Armenian artist Gevorg Yeghiazaryan. While bids are only available online at https://paybee.io/@hospiceofsb@23, the prints will be on display at this year’s event. Each is valued at as much as $2,000 or higher.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County is beginning a new chapter in its long-term vision for sustainable growth. With donor support, the Museum is expanding into Camarillo while advancing its broader goals of amplifying the Museum’s countywide presence and strengthening its service to the community.
The Camarillo location extends the Museum’s reach closer to East Ventura County, complementing its main campus in downtown Ventura and its Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula. The new office will initially serve the Museum’s administrative staff, but the move will also lay the groundwork to increase capacity for its collections, archives, and research library in both Ventura and Camarillo.
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures is building the next generation of cultural leadership with two key appointments in its Development team: Heather Silva has been named Managing Director of Developmentand Elise Erb has been promoted to Senior Director of Development.
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announced that its 6th Annual Compassion Campaign raised record breaking funds for the fourth consecutive year. Held on Thursday, September 4th at Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms in Moorpark and supported in part by Keystone Sponsor HOPE (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), the evening brought together more than 200 community leaders, advocates and supporters to “RAISE THE ROOF” for affordable housing in Ventura County.
SANTA BARBARA — Ron S. Bamieh and Danielle De Smeth, partners at the law firm Bamieh & De Smeth, have made the ‘Super Lawyers’ list for 2026, a prestigious recognition that places them among the top five percent of attorneys in the country.
Super Lawyers is a rating service that evaluates lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Candidates are selected by independent researchers and professional peers and cannot nominate themselves.
Budget cuts for science research were the topic of discussion at a meeting sponsored by the United Academic Workers local 4811 along with the campus, and featuring a visit by Rep. Salud Carbajal and comments from Vice Chancellor for Research Rachel Segalman.
I am delighted to share that Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) is now My Way Home. While our name and look have changed, our mission has not. We remain firmly committed to empowering families and individuals on their journey to homeownership, financial stability, and brighter futures.
For more than 20 years, we’ve been honored to walk alongside thousands of families in Ventura County — and more recently, in Santa Barbara, Kern, and Los Angeles counties. This new name reflects both our growth and the deeply personal journeys of those we serve. My Way Home speaks to the opportunities, possibilities, and hope that come with creating a pathway to home.
