SANTA BARBARA — Family and friends of 22 new SBCC Career Skills Institute Medical Assistant Program graduates cheered on the class during a May 10 ceremony and celebration at the Wake Campus. Over 85 percent of those who complete the…
Category: News
Housing Authority Honors New Beginnings Counseling Center as Outstanding Community Partner of Year
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) honored New Beginnings Counseling Center as its 2017 Outstanding Community Partner of the Year at a recent ceremony. New Beginnings provides short-term case management services to HACSB…
CEC Launches Solarize Santa Barbara
Solarize program takes a new step to include energy storage options. Workshops to be held June 6, July 11 SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) announced the launch of Solarize Santa Barbara – a community-led, solar group-purchasing program for residents…
San Marcos High School Students Ignite Passion for Foster Youth Through Student-Organized Foster Program
SANTA BARBARA — Students at San Marcos High School are creating excitement and bringing awareness to the ongoing needs of foster youth and it’s causing a ripple effect throughout the community. Not only that, but it’s having a huge impact…
United Way of SBC Honors Partners at 95th Annual Awards Celebration
SANTA BARBARA — United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) honored the volunteers, businesses, schools and organizations who make the local nonprofit’s community programs and activities possible. The 95th Annual Awards Celebration on May 9 on the Hotel Californian rooftop…
Global Trade Experts Share Expertise, Resources at E-Commerce Summit
CENTRAL COAST — World Trade Month is celebrated across the globe each May, and the South Central Coast celebrated by bringing global trade organizations from across the region together on Friday, May 11 to help the local business community understand…
Foundation Veteran Phylene Wiggins Brings Philanthropic Expertise to Ventura County Community Foundation
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Community Foundation recently announced the addition of Phylene Wiggins who will serve as vice president of programs and grants. Wiggins formerly worked at the Santa Barbra Foundation as senior director of community investments. “Phylene’s…
Santa Barbara City College update for May 26
Click here for more information Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter Sixty-Ninth Annual Commencement Ceremony Last Friday, we celebrated our commencement ceremony. This milestone marked the conclusion of a successful educational journey for 1,374 graduating students. Counting the double…
Carnegie Art Museum update for May 25
Click here for the entire e-newsletter CAM STUDIO GALLERY The first exhibit of photography and lens-based art by The Oxnard Plain Collective will open with a Reception on Thursday, June 7th from 5:30-7:30pm at CAM Studio Gallery beside the Carnegie Art Museum. The Oxnard Plain Collective…
Limón Bill Ensures Accountability for Harm Caused by Lead-Based Paint
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 2803, a bill by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) which seeks to hold paint manufacturers accountable for harm caused by lead-based paint production, just overcame a major legislative hurdle, passing the Assembly Floor on Monday, May 21st.…
Marjorie Luke Theatre update for March 25
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Upcoming Events Teens Sing for Santa Barbara TV Special Sunday, May 27th 8:00PM Did you miss the SOLD OUT Teens Sing for Santa Barbara Concert to benefit Unity Shoppe’s Disaster Fund? Well tune in this Sunday, May…
Assemblymember Irwin Announces $68 million award for Rice Avenue Project in Oxnard
OXNARD – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) hosted an event in Oxnard to announce $68.6 million dollars in funding for an overpass project at Rice Avenue and Fifth Street. This project will build a bridge at Rice Avenue over the train…
Hermanos Herrera debuts latest recording with Smithsonian
FILLMORE — Hermanos Herrera, a six-member sibling group of third-generation Mexican Americans, makes its debut for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings with “Sones Jarochos y Huastecos y Más.” The Herreras, raised in Fillmore, have performed together since childhood. Their music draws deeply…
50 Home Challenge Energy Champions Honored by Local Officials
SOLVANG — The first 50 Home Challenge – Solvang participants to complete extensive home energy efficiency projects recently celebrated the milestone with city and county officials at Solvang City Hall. Solvang Mayor Jim Richardson and Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann…
Global T Program Offers High School Teachers Interactive Lesson Plan on International Trade and Logistics
CENTRAL COAST — The T-Shirt that Travels the World™ module is a fun and interactive Global Trade & Logistics module for high school curriculum High school teachers looking to get an early jump on fall lesson planning may want to consider…
Rio School District Funds Summer Writing Program for 75 Students in Partnership with South Coast Writing Project of UCSB
OXNARD — Rio School District (RSD) is partnering with the South Coast Writing Project (SCWriP) at UCSB to fund a summer writing program for up to 75 students entering grades 3-9 in the district in September 2018. When: June 18-June 29, Monday…
Oxnard College Launches Two Year, Tuition-Free Promise
OXNARD — The California Promise and the Oxnard 15 to Finish Promise are making the first two years of community college tuition free. Together, these two programs pay the per-unit cost of classes taken at Oxnard College for the first two…
SBCC Named #1 Community College by Value Colleges
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College has been named Number One of the Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges for 2018. Value Colleges, an organization that provides prospective students with a practical guide to the most financially sound investments…
Bilingual report: Oxnard Urges Residents and Businesses to Become more Energy Conscious and ‘Do Your Thing’***
OXNARD — Oxnard is urging all residents and businesses to become more energy conscious. The Oxnard City Council this week adopted a resolution to support a campaign by Energy Update California (EUC) called “Do Your Thing.” The campaign aims to motivate…
Ventura College announced Veteran’s Promise Applications Open
VENTURA — The VCF William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise is funded by donors who cover the costs of VC enrollment fees for the FIRST YEAR of U.S. veteran and U.S. active duty military students! This allows these students to reserve their…
Heather Castillo, CSU Channel Islands dance faculty who created ‘Arts Under the Stars,’ receives President’s Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
CAMARILLO — She pulls together the campus-wide “Arts Under the Stars” program every year and still finds the energy to inspire her students by dancing onstage with singer Selena Gomez at the 2017 American Music Awards. And that’s just a fraction…
Housing Authority Receives $200K Grant to Help Local Families Become Self-Sufficient
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) has received a $203,425 grant from the U.S. Department of Urban Development (HUD) to help low-income residents become self-sufficient through its Family Self-Sufficiency Program. HACSB developed the…
Rabobank’s Brae Grensky to Serve as Chair of the 2018 Santa Barbara Heart Walk
Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk/Run will take place on Saturday, September 29 SANTA BARBARA — Rabobank Assistant Vice President, Banking Services Manager Brae Grensky will serve as Chair of the American Heart Association’s 2018 Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk/Run for the first…
Jackson Applauds Funding for Highway 101 Expansion in Santa Barbara
SACRAMENTO — State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) on May 17 applauded the California Transportation Commission for awarding Santa Barbara more than $183 million for the Highway 101 expansion project. Coupled with an award of more than $170 million from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program…
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley Issues Statement on House Passage of VA Mission Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep Julia Brownley (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement after House passage of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION) Act: “I am pleased…
Carnegie Art Museum update for May 18
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Programs and Events CAM Book Club Join fellow art and book lovers at our next CAM Book Club discussion. Book selections focus on making connections with art and history inspired by current exhibitions…
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County update for May 18
Click here for more information We are writing to provide you with an update on our Implicit Bias grantees and their accomplishments. The Social Justice Fund made grants last year totaling $25,000 for projects dealing with Implicit Bias in Education.…
Sociology major’s research on “adulting” suggests Millennials are delaying marriage and home ownership
CAMARILLO — Growing up in Santa Barbara with five generations of women got 25-year-old CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Sociology senior Jazzmyn Martinez wondering about the changing definition of “adulting” through the decades. The research project she launched, called “When Adulting Gets Real: Examining…
Bilingual report: Oxnard Deputy City Attorney Receives National PAL Alumni of the Year Award
OXNARD — Oxnard Deputy City Attorney Jason Zaragoza has received the National Police Activities League Alumni (PAL) of the Year award. “Oxnard PAL has changed the lives of countless youth in the city,” said Zaragoza. “I’m just one of many who…
Hospice of Santa Barbara Welcomes New Community Engagement Manager and Patient Care Services Outreach Coordinator
SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara is pleased to welcome Jeanne West as its new Community Engagement Manager and Adriana Marroquin as Patient Care Services Outreach Coordinator. Jeanne West has nearly 50 years’ experience in the healthcare industry and…
Bilingual report: Oxnard Mayor Pro Tempore Carmen Ramirez Named to National EPA Advisory Committee
OXNARD — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has appointed Oxnard Mayor Pro Tempore Carmen Ramirez to the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). The 33-member LGAC helps the EPA develop strong partnerships with local governments to provide more efficient and effective environmental…
Jackson Bill to Help Montecito and Other California Homeowners Recover Mudslide Losses Passes off Senate Floor
SACRAMENTO — Legislation by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), to help Montecito and other California homeowners whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by fire-induced mudslides, passed off the Senate Floor today on a 25 to 11 vote. Senate Bill 917 clarifies…
kidSTREAM to Make Lasting Positive Social and Economic Impact on Community, Study Says
CAMARILLO — KidSTREAM, an emerging children’s museum based in Camarillo, recently released the findings of two published studies that assessed needs and measured the expected economic and social impacts that would be created by the museum when in full operation. The…
Museum of Ventura County update for May 16
Major funding for these programs is made possible by the City of San Buenaventura and the County of Ventura. Exhibit Opening – Black and White and Read All Over The popular appeal of comic book art is the focus of Black and White and…
Oxnard Salsa Festival update for May 16
Reserved Seating on Sale Now! 25th Oxnard Salsa Festival July 28-29, 2018 @ Plaza Park 500 S B Street, Oxnard CA 93030 GET CLOSER TO THE MUSIC! Reserved Table Seating and Club Salsa! Enjoy premium seating near the Festival dance floor and stage. Enjoy…
Hospice of Santa Barbara Welcomes New Board Member Tom Sturgess
SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara is pleased to welcome Tom Sturgess to its Board of Directors. Sturgess brings a wealth of leadership experience and business acumen to Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Board. He achieved honours at California State…
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County celebrates its biggest Golf Classic in 45 Years!
VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) on May 7 held its most successful Golf Classic since the first tournament in 1973, by grossing over $250,000. The Golf Classic is already BBSVC’s top-performing signature fundraising event, which delivers…
Ventura County Civic Alliance update for May 15
Livable Communities Newsletter Vol. 12, No. 46 May 2018 Quick Links – See the Current State of the Region Report – Last Quarter’s Newsletter Join us at the Ventura County Civic Alliance! Welcome to Our Spring 2018 Livable Communities Newsletter! This…
CSUCI’s international profile rises with Peace Corps recognition and Model UN awards
CAMARILLO — After graduating from CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) in 2017 with a degree in Psychology, Karina Casarez is now with the Peace Corps, living in the Bago region of Myanmar in a small town called Paungde. “Sometimes it’s still incredible for me…
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara announces changes to membership
Click here for the entire e-newsletter We are excited to let you know about some changes to MCASB Membership. Along with a logo refresh, we will be rolling out new membership options on May 17, 2018. Our new membership structure ensures a…
Teen holds book drive for young victims of Thomas Fire
VENTURA — In the wake of the Thomas Fire, Lydia Kresin, a 10th grader from Windward School in LA, talked to her friends about how they could help. Lydia contacted Susan Mikula, Children & Teen Services Manager at Ventura County…
Successful Community Partnerships Help Open New ABC Kids Preschool
OXNARD — ABC Kids Preschool recently held its grand opening on the campus of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme, 1900 West Fifth Street, Oxnard. ABC Kids Preschool is the fifth preschool to open as…
Summer Adventures for Adults Right Here at Home; Registration Now Open at SBCC School of Extended Learning
SANTA BARBARA — If a grand expedition or safari is out of the question this summer, SBCC School of Extended Learning is the perfect spot for adult students, professionals and retirees to fill their summer bucket lists. The benefits of…
Jackson Applauds Fire Recovery and Prevention Funding in Governor’s May Revise
Governor’s Revised Budget dedicates funds to backfill property tax losses from Thomas Fire, and an additional $96 million for forest management SACRAMENTO – State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), , who represents the area that was devastated by the Thomas Fire and chairs the…
Ventura County Civic Alliance update for May 11
DAO DOAN — IN REMEMBRANCE Dao Doan Memorial Please join us in celebrating the life and works of our friend and comrade, Dao Doan, at the office of Mainstreet Architects on Friday evening, May 18, 2018 We will share stories…
Kirsten Barajas from Juan Soria Elementary in Oxnard named Teacher of the Year
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce that Kirsten Barajas of Juan Soria Elementary School in the Oxnard School District is the 2018 Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Barajas and her students found…
Local Business is Surprised with Opportunity to Get Their Product on Walmart Shelves
Oxnard’s Primal Essence will Pitch Savory and Sweet Infused Coconut Oils at Headquarters of World’s Largest Retailer During Open Call Event OXNARD — One local small business was surprised May 10 by Oxnard Walmart store manager Christy Wolff with the news that…
Local Boys & Girls Club Receives National Honors – BGCOP given Merit Award for Program Excellence
OXNARD — The Boys & Girls Clubs of America recently honored the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme with a national merit award for program excellence. The Club also received $2,500. BGCOP won an award in…
Legislation by Assemblymember Irwin to Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Passes Assembly
SACRAMENTO – One of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) key pieces of legislation this session, AB 2770, which will help prevent future sexual harassment in the work place passed the Assembly earlier this week. This bill, sponsored by the California Chamber…
Winners of the VC Innovates 2018 Pathfinder Awards Announced
CAMARILLO — VC Innovates 2018 Pathfinder Awards on May 10 were presented to this year’s most innovative educators, business and community partners for their support of Career and Technical Education. Twenty-five award recipients selected by each of the education partner school…