Category: News

Bilingual report — The latest news from the County of Ventura

by Community Contributor • July 19, 2024 • Comments Off

Join us at the 1st Annual Government & Disability Summit taking place September 24 – 27th here in Ventura!

We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca Cokley, the first U.S. Program Officer for Disability Rights at the Ford Foundation and a three-time Presidential Appointee under the Obama Administration. Rebecca served at the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and the White House where she oversaw diversity and inclusion efforts. Don’t miss her keynote speech at this groundbreaking event!

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College encores students in Fall classes

by Community Contributor • July 18, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College is reminding students that there is still time to register for fall classes, which start on Aug. 19 at the college’s Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center.

Hancock offers credit and noncredit classes across a wide range of subjects and areas of study for students seeking degrees, certificates, transfer, job training, or enrichment.

“Now is the time for students to register for fall classes,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers. “Our faculty and staff are ready to support and help them achieve their educational goals.”

Bilingual report — Ventura County Probation Chief Gina Johnson honors staff and officers during National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Services Week 2024

by Community Contributor • July 18, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The Ventura County Probation Agency Chief Probation Officer Gina Johnson is proud to recognize National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Services Week (Probation Services Week), which is celebrated from July 21 to July 27, 2024. During this week, the incredible probation professionals whose unwavering dedication breaks cycles, provides second chances, and transforms lives are celebrated.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — California Competes Tax Credit Program

by Community Contributor • July 18, 2024 • Comments Off

The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on fourteen different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment and strategic importance to the state or region.

Bilingual report — City of Santa Paula Celebrates Funding for Mesa Tanks Replacement Project

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula is proud to announce that Congresswoman Julia Brownley presented a check (July 16) for $959,752 to the City of Santa Paula. This significant funding will support the Mesa Tanks Replacement Project, a crucial initiative aimed at ensuring the city’s water infrastructure meets the highest standards of reliability and safety.

The Mesa Tanks Replacement Project is a comprehensive effort to replace two deteriorating water tanks, identified in a 2017 report by the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water as being in poor condition. The total cost of the project is estimated at $5.5 million.

Mayor Leslie Cornejo expressed her gratitude and highlighted the importance of this project for the community. “This funding underscores our commitment to maintaining clean drinking water sources for the residents of Santa Paula,” said Mayor Cornejo. “By replacing the aging Mesa tanks with new, reinforced structures, we are not only improving our water storage capacity but also enhancing our ability to support our growing community needs and firefighting efforts.”

Bilingual report — County of Santa Barbara Lake Fire Update for July 17, 2024 – More Evacuation Orders and Warnings Have Been Cancelled as Fire Containment Increases

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

Effective Wednesday, July 17, 2024, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has cancelled additional Evacuation Orders and Warnings while maintaining orders and warnings in areas unsafe for the public.
Evacuation Orders and Warnings CANCELLED for:
Areas south of the fire perimeter
The following areas remain under an EVACUATION ORDER:
Area between the western fire perimeter and the Los Padres National Forest Fire Area Closure
Area east of La Brea Creek and Forest Route 10N06, south of the Los Padres National Forest boundary, and north of the Sisquoc River
The following areas are under an EVACUATION WARNING:
Area east of Kelly Canyon, north of Sisquoc River, west of La Brea Creek and Forest Route 10N06, and south of the Los Padres National Forest

$3.935 Million State Grant is a ‘Game Changer’ for Port of Hueneme as Governor Ramps Up California Port Data Partnership Program

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme is excited to support and enhance the movement of goods across the state of California and throughout the supply chain with the announcement of a $3.935 million award from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). This historic investment, known as the California Port Data Partnership, will revolutionize direct cloud-based data management and sharing amongst California’s five containerized ports to accelerate climate adaptation and resiliency, workforce development, zero-emission vehicle deployment, and increased grid support and reliability. As the nation’s preeminent global goods movement gateway, California ports are responsible for handling forty percent of all containerized imports and thirty percent of all containerized exports in the United States.

Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara announces incoming board members

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA— The Music Academy of the West recently elected two distinguished community leaders to its Board of Directors: Montecito residents Andrea Hein, a retired entertainment industry executive, and Harrison M. (Mac) Bains, Jr., a retired banking and finance executive.

Farm Bureau of Ventura Newsletter

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

Notes from the CEO

First District Supervisor Das Williams — Lake Fire, free computer training in Carpinteria, other updates

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

Let’s all give our collective praise to our firefighters and emergency personnel, who have made significant progress fighting the Lake Fire. As of yesterday evening, the Lake Fire is now 38% contained.

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) have lifted the Air Quality Alert in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Air Quality Watch will remain in place countywide, and air quality conditions are forecasted to be good to moderate throughout the county

A number of evacuation orders and warnings have been canceled. When returning home, it is important to exercise caution, as public safety and utility vehicles continue to perform operations in the area.

UCSB — The Current — ‘UC Santa Barbara and Tuskegee University launch pilot program to advance Black cultural perspectives in TV writing’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

Bringing together students from Tuskegee and from UCSB, the unique program is creating a new kind of space between a Hispanic Serving Institution and an HBCU.

One805LIVE! (Sept. 20) Announces Full 2024 Line-up, with exciting additions, including the Santa Barbara Symphony

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

“We wanted to give our audience a great mix of entertainment across the musical spectrum, with rock ‘n’ roll at its core,” said Kirsten Cavendish Weston Smith, One805 Co-Founder and CEO. “The Santa Barbara Symphony will be a spectacular addition to the evening, as they accompany selected artists with the depth of sound an orchestra brings.“ said Cavendish Weston Smith. “Our audiences will see unique performances that have literally never been done before, nor are they likely to ever see again.”

People’s Self-Help Housing and LoyalTeach Celebrate College Signing Day

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2024 • Comments Off

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO – People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) and LoyalTeach recently celebrated College Signing Day and the hard work and dedication of students going on to and furthering their higher education. Highlighting scholastic achievement, three ceremonies were held along the Central Coast from Paso Robles to Carpinteria.

“The College Signing Day events were a great success this year,” said Kris Reid, Director of Education, “it was a wonderful feeling to recognize student accomplishment with nearly 200 of their friends and families.”

As Reid went onto say, “With many students having overcome socio-economic and other adversities, College Signing Day builds confidence, and equips them for their new college adventures.”

The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard is the Hotspot for Summer Fun

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2024 • Comments Off

OXNARD — Hip, Hip, Hooray for Hot Summer Days! The Collection at RiverPark will be the location of various summertime events and family-friendly activities, including Kids Club, outdoor concerts and even a fan night for The Dallas Cowboys. These events are open to the community, and offer opportunities for residents to turn the coming months into a memorable summer.

Gene McKnight to lead Village Properties Commercial Group

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA, California — Long-time Santa Barbara commercial real estate expert Gene McKnight has been named Director of Village Properties Commercial Group, a new division of the region’s largest independent real estate company, Village Properties.

McKnight has over 39 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, focusing on investment sales, triple-net-lease properties both locally and nationwide, and tenant and landlord representation. He’s the founder and president of McKnight Commercial, a Santa Barbara-based firm specializing in brokerage and investment advisory services, and has worked with many of the region’s leading investors.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2024 • Comments Off

SCORE: FUND YOUR BUSINESS WITH SPONSORS, EVEN IF YOU’RE JUST STARTING OUT

July 16 @ 10:00 am

Would you like to do what you love and have someone else foot the bill? Have you ever considered corporate sponsors for your business, show, book, charity, speaking or events? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this webinar is for you! America’s most successful companies partner with sponsors. Why not you? Linda Hollander can help you. She is the author of the #1 best-selling book, Corporate Sponsorship in 3 Easy Steps, and Sponsor Concierge’s CEO. Linda has consulted with many entrepreneurs to help them profit from the incredible power of corporate sponsors and has 20 years of experience in business. Her corporate sponsors have included Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Epson, Citibank, Fed Ex, Health Net, Southwest Airlines, Bank of America, Staples, American Airlines, Walmart and IBM.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Bilingual report — Nomination Period Announced for Offices in November 5, 2024 Statewide Presidential General Election

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2024 • Comments Off

“As we lead up to the November 5th election, the Presidential contest, of course, is the one most voters are aware of,” said Clerk-Recorder Ascencion, “but this is also the election for several local contests where people may find they personally know someone who’s running. It’s an exciting time and the Elections team enjoys helping our local candidates get their campaign filing started. We do always caution candidates, though – deadlines come up quickly so now is the time to make your appointment.”

VC Arts Call to Artists — Atrium Gallery Art Show – ‘Motivated By Passion

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2024 • Comments Off

Calling all Ventura County artists! What is your passion? Artists might produce art that IS their passion, such as painting or sculpture, but also aspects of life such as the outdoors represented in landscape paintings, car cruising, bird watching, etc. This show invites you to present works that convey your passion! This is a juried show that will award monetary prizes to the first, second, and third place winners.

Bilingual report — New Chair and Vice Chair Announced for Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC)

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — The most recent Workforce Development Board Meeting featured an election of new officers with Laura Martinez, elected as Chair, and Byron K. Ward, elected Vice Chair by their fellow Board Members.

Martinez has a strong background in Business Development, HR, and Strategic Planning across multiple business sectors, as well as having served in the US Air Force. She is the Founder & CEO of HR Force, her consulting firm specializing in HR architecture and serving as strategic partners in building HR departments from inception to alignment with organizational vision and strategic objectives.

“I am excited about the opportunities ahead for us as a team [the Workforce Development Board],” Martinez said. “Together, we can continue to make a real difference in our community by fostering economic growth, addressing workforce challenges, and creating meaningful opportunities for workforce development.”

Bilingual commentary — Pronouns, Language, and the Demotion of Women

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2024 • Comments Off

I began noticing a particular nuanced change in our language when personal “pronouns” suddenly became a divisive social issue. The more fanatical sectors of the conservative wing went to war with the “wokeness” of the more intense elements of the left regarding the appropriateness and necessity of these pronouns.

In our current toxic political environment, this difference in perspective has led to laws in several states that allow educators, for example, to dismiss a student’s preferred pronouns. This means that whether a male student prefers “she/her/hers” or “they/them/their” or the more exotic versions such as “xe/xem,” a teacher in these states has no obligation to comply with the will of that student.

Bilingual report — City of Ventura appoints new Human Resources Director — Valerie Barroso

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2024 • Comments Off

“Valerie has been an exceptional leader on our Human Resources team for the past six years,” said City Manager Bill Ayub. “Her deep understanding of the City, our staff, and our strategic goals has been invaluable. Valerie’s dedication, expertise, and visionary approach make her the perfect fit for this role. We are thrilled to have her continue serving Ventura and look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring in her new capacity as Human Resources Director.”

Registration Open For Free YMCA Safety Around Water Classes

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2024 • Comments Off

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Registration is open for Safety Around Water (SAW) classes at the Simi Valley Family YMCA and Yarrow Family YMCA. The free, five-session program provides water safety and basic swimming skills to children ages 5 to 13 with little or no water experience.

Bilingual report — Evacuation Orders and Warnings Are In Effect For Areas of Santa Barbara County Due to the Lake Fire

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2024 • Comments Off

View this email online EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR AREAS OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DUE TO THE LAKE FIRE No Additional Protective Actions as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Click here to access the interactive…

CSUCI Partnership with Brain Injury Center of Ventura County Empowers Brain Injury Survivors and Students

by Community Contributor • July 11, 2024 • Comments Off

CAMARILLO — California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and the Brain Injury Center of Ventura County have formed a collaborative partnership to enhance support and care for individuals affected by brain injuries. The unique collaboration has enabled the expansion of services and mission of the Brain Injury Center and has shaped the career trajectories of numerous students.

At the core of the partnership lies a shared vision of providing comprehensive and personalized care for brain injury survivors, with a strong focus on education, rehabilitation, and seamless integration into the community. Through a collaborative approach that combines the expertise of CSUCI faculty and students with the specialized services of the Brain Injury Center, individuals impacted by brain injuries receive tailored support to address their unique needs and circumstances.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Discoveries from Disasters: A conversation with oceanographer David Valentine’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • July 10, 2024 • Comments Off

The professor’s expertise drives impactful research on marine contamination and oil spills. Here he discusses his work behind the headlines, balancing science, policy and people.