Category: News

Unite to Light Partners with Innovative Mobile Donation App: Coin Up Turning Spare Change into Meaningful Change

Santa Barbara nonprofit aims to increase awareness and expand reach in 2017 SANTA BARBARA — Unite to Light has joined efforts with Coin Up to offer an innovative and efficient way for donors and activists to help their favorite cause using…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County: BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE is Creating a BIG Experience for Littles!

VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is looking for teams and individuals to participate in the annual BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE fundraising event, to help support a BIG experience for program youth: by supporting Bowl For Kids’…

Latino News Notes: Trump Team’s Meeting With Latino Leaders Gets Mixed Reviews

By Adrian Florido • NPR It was billed as a “listening session,” a chance for Latino leaders from across the country to sit down with members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team and talk about the issues important to them and to their…

Ventura County Public Works Agency projects receive top honors at American Public Works Association award ceremony

VENTURA COUNTY – The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) can add three more recognitions to its list of notable accolades. This month, the American Public Works Association (APWA) Ventura County chapter announced its Projects of the Year awards, honoring three…

Gold Coast Transit District’s Robert Lurie, Director of Fleet and Facilities, retires after 35 years

OXNARD — After nearly 35 years of dedicated service, Gold Coast Transit District’s Robert Lurie, Director of Fleet and Facilities has retired. Lurie joined GCTD (then known as SCAT) in March of 1982 as a mechanic and by 1986 he was…

LinkedIn Officially Endorses SBCC Career Skills Institute

SANTA BARBARA — SBCC Career Skills Institute is proud to announce its endorsement by LinkedIn for its outstanding efforts to build a better future for the community’s workforce and employers. The Career Skills Institute and LinkedIn share the common goal…

CSU Channel Islands receives grant to develop four-year teacher preparation programs

Grant will help university’s effort to develop Bilingual and Special Education teachers CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will receive a grant of almost $250,000 from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to develop four-year teacher preparation programs. California is experiencing…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Barbara County Celebrates 30 Years of Local Mentoring

SANTA BARBARA — In 2017, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Santa Barbara County will celebrate its 30th year of providing life-changing mentoring friendships for our community’s struggling youth. January is National Mentoring Month and currently over 80 at-risk children in Santa…

Latino News Notes: Getty Foundation Project Weaves U.S. Latino Art With Latin American Art

By Mandalit del Barco • NPR The artistic ties between Los Angles and Latin America will be featured in more than 60 museums and arts centers throughout Southern California. It opens in September and spans history and geography. Click here for the…

Last chance to submit art work for official poster contest of the 2017 California Strawberry Festival

OXNARD — The final days are fast approaching so start thinking berries! Art and strawberries can be a fruitful enterprise. Enter the 34th Annual California Strawberry Festival Official Poster Contest where the winner will receive $2,000 and four VIP tickets to the celebration…

Latino News Notes: More voters will have access to non-English ballots in the next election cycle

By D’Vera Cohn • Pew Research Center The federal government has long required election ballots in some U.S. jurisdictions to be printed in languages other than English, based on the number of voting-age citizens who live in those communities and have limited English…

Through Feb. 12 — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents Ballet Hispánico

SANTA BARBARA — Doors open one half hour before the show starts. Reception follows concert. Las puertas se abrirán media hora antes de la functión. Habrá recepción después del concierto. More info: (805) 252-3493 or facebook.com/vivaelartesb Ballet Hispánico brings communities…

Through Jan. 31 — KHAY’s Dave Daniels Joins Foster VC for “Open Heart” Home Drive

VENTURA COUNTY — Every child deserves a family, and this New Year, 100.7 KHAY’s Dave Daniels hopes that by joining Foster VC Kids for their “Open Heart” drive, through Jan. 31st, more dedicated families who are ready for the life-changing experience…

Feb. 24 — ‘An Evening of Chican@ Rock: Quetzal,” The Hub, Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — The UCSB Multicultural Center is hosting An Evening of Chicano Rock with East L.A. band QUETZAL on Friday, February 24th at 8 pm. A Grammy-Award winning East LA Chican@ rock group, Quetzal is the collaborative project of Quetzal Flores (guitar),…

Feb. 21 — Bilingual Presentation “Laundry in 18th and 19th century Mexico” by Marie Francois, Ph.D., Professor of History

Santa Paula — Bilingual Presentation — “Laundry in 18th and 19th century Mexico” by Marie Francois, Ph.D., Professor of History, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, Blanchard Community Library, 119 North 8th Street, Santa Paula. Abstract: Las lavanderas de la ciudad de México…

Feb. 25 — Social Justice Fund for Ventura County presenting free workshop — ‘Hidden Prejudice: Barriers to Success in Education’

CAMARILLO — The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County will present the free workshop — “Hidden Prejudice: Barriers to Success in Education” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Ventura County Community Foundation, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo.…

Feb. 24 — Ventura County Go Red For Women Luncheon set for the Four Seasons – Westlake Village

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The American Heart Association will host its annual Ventura County Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, February 24, 2017 at the Four Seasons – Westlake Village, Two Dole Drive in Westlake Village. The Luncheon will begin…

Feb. 4 — Beowulf: The Bear’s Son – A reading by local author Jon Christopher – at the Ojai Library

SUBJECT: Beowulf: The Bear’s Son – A reading by local author Jon Christopher – at the Ojai Library CONTACT: Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, (805) 218-9146 Julie Albright, Youth Librarian, (805) 646-6019 DATE: February 4, 2017; 2 p.m. Local author Jon…

Feb. 25-26 — Consulado Móvil in Santa Maria

Dears friends: On behalf of the Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard it is my pleasure to share with you the following information: On Saturday February 25th and Sunday February 26th 2017 we will have aMobile Consulate in the City of Santa Maria California We will be from 8:00…

Feb. 18-19 — Art Comes Alive at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum

OXNARD — Visitors of all ages can enjoy an assortment of maritime mysteries associated with the life and times of historical characters, portrayed by volunteers in period costume, and hear stories about the fascinating maritime heritage surrounding rare and beautiful paintings…

Through Feb. 26 — ‘On the Margin / Luchando Contra El Olvido’ at the Carnegie Art Museum

OXNARD — The exhibit of “On the Margin / Luchando Contra El Olvido” by CAM Studio Guest Artist Antonio Arredondo Juarez will be presented through Feb. 26 at the Carnegie Art Museum, 329 N. Fifth St., Oxnard. Antonio Arredondo Juarez was born…

Feb. 11 — Grand Opening Ushers Exceptional Senior Living into Small-Town Carpinteria

CARPINTERIA — On Saturday Feb. 11th, GranVida Senior Living and Memory Care community will celebrate the grand opening of its exceptional one-of-a-kind property in the intimate beachside town of Carpinteria, CA. Celebrated for its decision not to disturb the coastline…

Feb. 9 — Speakers Rick Najera & Soraya Deen Talk Diversity at Canoga Park High School

CANOGA PARK — Diversity leaders Soraya Deen and Rick Najera will speak at Canoga Park High School in Canoga Park, CA on Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m. to raise funds for Multicultural Learning Center’s (MLC) graduating class of 2017 and for Canoga Park High…

Bilingual report: Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. hosting Dental Health Fair on Feb. 11 in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month

OXNARD — February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. If you have a baby or toddler, you may have questions about thumb sucking, your child’s first dental visit or how and when to clean your child’s teeth. If so, on February…

Feb. 11 — 2017 Arcade Poetry Series — Alicia Morris Soto and Nancy-Jean Pement at the Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard

OXNARD — 2017 Arcade Poetry Series — Alicia Morris Soto and Nancy-Jean Pement at the Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard on Saturday, Feb. 11. Upcoming events: March 18 Christopher Buckley and Sara Borjas April  8  Lauren Henley & Jonathan Maule with Zayan…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson to speak at Women’s March in Los Angeles on Jan. 21

LOS ANGELES — State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) will join the Women’s March in Los Angeles tomorrow and speak at a rally held at Los Angeles City Hall. Jackson, the author of California’s landmark equal pay law and joint…

Nominations deadline is Jan. 11 for El Concilio Family Services’ 28th annual Latino Leadership Awards

OXNARD — The nomination deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 for El Concilio Family Services’ 28th annual Latino Leadership Awards. We are asking for award nominations of individuals or businesses that have made an outstanding contribution in enhancing the educational…

Jan. 28 — Ventura Hillsides Conservancy invites volunteers to plant trees at Big Rock Nature Preserve

VENTURA — The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host a community tree planting party at the Big Rock Nature Preserve near Foster Park. VHC invites volunteers of all ages to join them from 9 a.m. – 12 noon Saturday, Jan. 28 along…

Jan. 27 — Blue Skies Listening Tour will address domestic violence in San Luis Obispo community

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence will bring its Blue Skies Listening Tour to San Luis Obispo on January 27. The tour will provide opportunities for the community to gather and share creative, practical…

Jan. 26 — Ventura Hillsides Conservancy to host free community lecture entitled “The Comeback of the California Condor”

VENTURA — On Thurs., Jan 26. at 7 p.m., the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host a free community lecture entitled “The Comeback of the California Condor” at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura. Experts from Friends of the California Condor Wild and Free will discuss…

Jan. 26 — Spoken Word Performances by Undocumented and UndocuQueer Poets at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA — A UCSB Reads & Immigration Awareness Week event, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at the UCSB Multicultural Center Lounge. Part of the UCSB READS 2017 program. Co-sponsored with Undocumented Student Services, Resource Center for Gender &…

CSUCI Assistant Professor wins national award for dissertation on representing undocumented immigrants

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) Assistant Professor of Political Science Matthew Mendez, Ph.D., has earned national recognition for his dissertation on when and how well state lawmakers represent the interests of undocumented immigrants. “Invisible Constituents: The Representation of Undocumented Immigrants” earned…

Limón Appointed to Leadership Position in State Assembly

SACRAMENTO –  Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) was appointed Assistant Majority Whip of the California State Assembly by Speaker Anthony Rendon. “I am honored and humbled by the confidence and trust Speaker Rendon has placed in me to be an effective…

State Sen. Jackson’s Legislation To Become Law on January 1

SACRAMENTO – Among the numerous bills authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) this year, the following will take effect on January 1, 2017: Senate Bill 1435, School Curriculum: Healthy Relationships: Continuing her commitment to addressing youth violence, preventing sexual assault and encouraging…

Bilingual report: VCCDC Partners with City of Ventura for the Sale of 12 Affordable Condos for Low-Income Families

Orientations to be held in January 2017 Ventura County – Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC), the City of Ventura, and Watts Communities at Nortbank, LLC have partnered for the resale of 12 affordable condominiums for low-income households. The 12 affordable…

State Sen. Jackson Introduces Legislation to Ensure More Californians Taking Family Leave Do Not Lose Their Jobs

SACRAMENTO – As momentum continues to grow nationwide for stronger family leave policies, Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) has just introduced two bills to ensure that more Californians can take leave to care for a newborn or a seriously ill family member…

Local Youth Giving Back: Channel Islands YMCA Youth and Government Delegates Hold Clean Up Day

SANTA BARBARA — Delegates from the Channel Islands YMCA Youth and Government team recently gave back to the community by helping clean up the baseball fields at Mackenzie Park in Santa Barbara. Students from the Stuart C. Gildred (Santa Ynez),…

SBCC Scheinfeld Center Receives Funding from Spirit of Entrepreneurship Foundation for Student Awards and Scholarships

SANTA BARBARA — SBCC Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is pleased to announce it has received $15,000 in funding for students participating in the 2017 New Venture Challenge business plan and pitch competition. Two checks were provided to the…