Category: News

Guest contribution — Ventura County Taxpayers Association — VCMS: A Cash Crisis Deepens

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2026 • Comments Off

Oversight Warnings Ignored

The Ventura County Medical System (VCMS) — including Ventura County Medical Center, Santa Paula Hospital, and associated clinics — is a cornerstone of public healthcare in our community, delivering essential services like emergency care, inpatient treatment, and outpatient support. Yet, beneath this vital mission lies a mounting financial crisis that demands urgent attention from taxpayers and leaders alike.

The Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) has consistently sounded the alarm on VCMS’s deteriorating finances (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Recent events in 2025 and early 2026 have only amplified these concerns, exposing deeper issues in governance, leadership, and accountability.

California Lutheran University professor earns top honors in international Choral Conductor Competition

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2026 • Comments Off

THOUSAND OAKS — California Lutheran University’s Franco Basili placed third in the 4th Romano Gandolfi International Competition for Choral Conductors, his first international competition strictly focused on conducting. Choral directors from around the world participated in the biennial competition held in Parma, Italy. It aims to spread the passion for choral music and help rising conductors establish an international conducting career.

“It is definitely an honor for me,” said Basili, DMA, an assistant music professor at Cal Lutheran and the director of Choral Activities. “The other competitors were fantastic. It has been a bucket list item to do one of these competitions to meet other conductors and see what I can learn from them.”

Jeff Gorell elected Chair of Ventura County Board of Supervisors

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2026 • Comments Off

I wanted to share a quick update with you. At our first regular Board of Supervisors meeting of 2026, my colleagues on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors elected me to serve as Chair of the Board, and Supervisor Vianey Lopez was elected to serve as Vice Chair.

I am truly honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me and grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role. I also want to thank Supervisor Janice Parvin for her leadership as Chair over the past year and for her continued service to our county.

Ventura County is an extraordinary place to call home—defined by breathtaking beauty from the mountains to the coast, recognized as one of the safest large counties in California, and strengthened by a growing and innovative economy, with our life-saving biotech sector at the forefront. Our County’s strong fiscal footing and dedicated public servants allow us to continue delivering essential services while planning responsibly for the future.

Bilingual report — City of Ventura launches housing workshop series

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2026 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The City of Ventura is launching Ventura Housing Connections, a free workshop series that helps tenants, property owners, and property managers build informed, successful rental relationships.

The workshops will deliver clear, practical guidance on rental rights and responsibilities, housing standards, communication strategies, and local housing resources. Designed for both new and experienced renters and property owners, the series supports conflict prevention, stronger communication, and housing stability throughout Ventura.

Community Environmental Council recruits Winter Class of Climate Stewards

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2026 • Comments Off

“At a time when federal support for climate action is shrinking, communities are increasingly being asked to lead,” said Kathi King, Course Instructor and CEC’s Director of Outreach and Education. “The Climate Stewards program builds the local capacity needed to meet the climate crisis head-on, empowering people to take meaningful action and drive solutions in their own communities.”

After 100 years of industrial use, Crooked Palm now permanently protected for recreation, ecological restoration

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2026 • Comments Off

“Crooked Palm’s transformation from an abandoned industrial site to protected land is a victory for Ventura and all Californians. Restoring this land protects habitat, strengthens regional climate resilience, and opens healthy access to the outdoors in a community where it’s needed most,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, Vice President of the Pacific Region and California State Director for Trust for Public Land. “For the first time in more than a century, this land will increase connection to the Ventura River and provide the public with the physical and mental health benefits that come with close-to-home access to nature.”

Bilingual report — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles through Jan. 18

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2026 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Join ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) for free community performances by Mariachi Reyna. The performances are part of Viva’s mission to make world-class performing arts accessible to students, families, and underserved communities throughout Santa Barbara County.

FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

Friday, January 16 | 7 PM Isla Vista Elementary

Saturday, January 17 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall

Sunday, January 18 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles®, the first all-female mariachi in the United States, is that they have paved the way for other female mariachi groups to exist at the professional level. Reyna, which was formed in 1994, has truly broken the stereotypes surrounding Mariachi music. In a musical landscape of songs that are often written by men, and for men, Reyna has created their own history.

Teatro de las Américas — Adventures in Theater | Vision Board | Taller de Cine | Amorodio

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2026 • Comments Off

Vision Board Workshop
With: Adriana Castro

Free workshop.

All materials included.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Teatro de las Américas

321 W. 6th Street, Oxnard, CA

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2026 • Comments Off

SBA: HOW TO START A BUSINESS

January 12 @ 10:00 am

Are you interested in starting a business? If you are please join the Small Business Administration (SBA) Los Angeles District Office for a virtual workshop to learn about SBA’s 10 Step Guide on How to Start a Business. This virtual workshop targeted to new entrepreneurs, covers topics from creating a business plan, finding capital, registering your business, getting necessary permits and/or licenses and getting a business bank account. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you. This webinar will be held online via Microsoft Teams. Please register to obtain the login information. Please note, if you are planning to use a mobile device or tablet to access this webinar, you must first download the Teams app to your device. 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. Price: Free.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Announcing the Music Academy’s 2026 Board Officers and Directors

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2026 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — The Music Academy of the West proudly announces its 2026 Board officers and welcomes six members of the community to the board. This remarkable group will help grow the Music Academy’s mission to provide musicians and audiences alike with transformative music experiences through public performances and community programs. Board officers and members began their terms on January 1, 2026, and September 16, 2025, respectively.

Welcoming Returning Board Officers

We take great pride in announcing the Music Academy’s 2026 Board officers, now in their second year of service, whose guidance will help the Music Academy’s future. With their deep commitment to music education, they bring a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for the arts: