-PURCHASE TICKETS- THANK YOU to our Nautically Noble Sponsors! Thomas & Nancy Crawford Sintija Kemezys Felder CenCal Health William & Jocelyne Meeker Katina Zaninovich Castle Wealth Planning Dr. David & Patty Medina Montecito Village Travel NS CERAMIC, Inc. Mark and…
For her translation of raunchy Middle French stage comedies, Enders, a theater historian and professor of French, has won the Lois Roth Award from the Modern Language Association.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished individuals to its Board of Directors, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to contribute to the cultural enrichment and growth of the Museum and our county.
CAMARILLO — Camarillo resident Cami Pinsak was recently installed as the 2024 president of the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors. Pinsak is the broker-owner of Realty ONE Group Summit, which has offices in Camarillo and Ventura, and has been a Realtor for nearly 18 years.
A Camarillo resident since 1999, Pinsak has been part of the VCCAR leadership team since 2017 when she was first elected to the association’s Board of Directors. She has also served as VCCAR’s treasurer, first vice president and president-elect. She is also a director for the statewide California Association of Realtors and was named VCCAR’s Broker/Manager of the Year Award in 2016.
LOMPOC — Dive into the New Year in Lompoc! From now until December 31, 2024, we have a calendar brimming with fun events. Throughout the year, immerse yourself in the small town charm of Lompoc while you indulge in local cuisine, explore vibrant flower fields, discover history and art, find unique festivals and more. Whether you’re exploring the craft of winemaking or taking a step back into history, the Lompoc Valley has it all.
Here’s a sneak peek into some of the standout Lompoc events of 2024. Check our event calendar for all events and the most current information.
PORT HUENEME — On January 16, 2024, the Oxnard Harbor District elected Celina Zacarias as the President of the Board of Harbor Commissioners. Zacarias will be the first Latina woman to hold this top post and brings a unique perspective of community engagement, workforce development, and education with her extensive experience serving as Executive Director of Community & Government Relations at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI).
“It is truly an honor to serve as the President of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Harbor Commissioners,” said Commissioner Zacarias. “From the beginning of my time as a commissioner, it has been and continues to be my commitment and the commitment of my fellow Commissioners to strengthen our community through educational and workforce opportunities both now and in the future. I will continue the Port’s mission to support our customers, provide impactful community outreach, and serve as an economic force in Ventura County.”
The Wildling Museum is now the California Nature Art Museum
Venerable Solvang Mainstay Celebrates the Natural Beauty and Diversity of the Golden State through Art, Education, and Conservation
Every few years Ventura County Animal Services holds a Dog Bed Donation Drive to replace kennel beds that have become damaged due to the wear and tear of thousands of animals. We need 205 beds to replace all beds at the Camarillo and Simi Valley Shelter. Will you donate a dog bed?
Visit www.vcas.us/DogBedDonation to donate a bed directly to the shelter. On this page you will find the exact type of bed our dogs need, and you’ll see how many beds have already been purchased. Beds are automatically shipped to the Camarillo Shelter. Feel free to leave an “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” message when checking out. Thank you so much for your support!
Ivor Davis: Up Close and Personal with The Beatles
Thursday, January 25
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
@Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main St., Ventura
Ventura County author and journalist Ivor Davis had a front row, eyewitness seat as The Beatles revolution unfolded in all its gory detail. He travelled with them, ate with them, drank with them, and reveals the behind-the-scenes story of what unfolded from sea to shining sea in his 60th anniversary “Beatles and Me on Tour” book. Doors open at 6 pm for refreshments. Those who are not able to join in-person are invited to view via Zoom. Registration is free for members at the Individual/Family level and higher, $10 non-members, $5 non-members Zoom. Registration and information can be found HERE.
The California Labor Market Information Division has released its December 2023 report, showing little change for Ventura County in net industry employment—up by only 100 jobs, November to December, and no change to the unemployment rate, at 4.7%. That rate puts Ventura County ahead of the state as a whole, which is at 5.1% unadjusted, though trailing the U.S. average at 3.5%.
There are a couple of indicators that especially disappoint this month, specifically, the total Labor Force and the total number of employed workers. The total labor force is down, month-over-month, by 2,300, to 417,400. That’s 6,400 fewer workers in the total labor force since prior to the pandemic. More concerning is the decline by 11,200 employed workers over the same time.
The high cost of housing in Ventura County is a serious roadblock for schools trying to recruit and retain teachers and support staff. One potential solution that’s getting increased attention is to use school-owned property to build affordable housing developments for education employees.
That idea will be the focus of a first-of-its-kind conference next month in Camarillo. A Home for Education will bring together decision-makers in education, government, and housing development to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this type of project.
“Border Crossings: Exile and American Modern Dance 1900-1955,” opening Jan. 25 at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum, “rests on the idea that the immigrant, the asylum seeker, the exiled artist, shaped the language of dance modernism.” Performances by Jose Limón Dance Company, Santa Barbara Dance Theater and UCSB Dance Company, as well as a symposium, complement the exhibition.
In California, 2023 saw the passage of a number of pieces of legislation to ease the production and delivery of affordable housing to our region. One such success, was SB4 which now provides a streamlined process for religious organizations and nonprofit colleges to develop affordable housing on their property. People’s Self-Help Housing is now one of the first developers to evaluate the application of this new law in our partnership with College United Methodist Church in Ventura. Part of the streamlining afforded by SB4 includes the ability to streamline the CEQA process when land is to be developed for affordable housing.
VENTURA COUNTY — More than 100 students from high schools throughout Ventura County stayed up all night as they competed in the annual Hackathon by the Sea last weekend in Camarillo. Participants spent an entire night creating apps and websites with the assistance of volunteer mentors.
Presented by the Ventura County Office of Education, the Hackathon encourages students to use technology in creative ways to solve problems and engage users. At the end of the event, student teams presented their creations to judges, who awarded prizes.
The County of Ventura, in collaboration with Constant Associates, a third-party public health and emergency management consultancy, is developing a COVID-19 After-Action Report to document the County’s response to the pandemic and improve its preparedness for future public health crises. Among other data collection activities, to capture detailed data regarding our response efforts, Constant Associates has created a virtual survey, which we invite you to fill out. Please feel free to also forward this email and link to other members of your community or organization whose feedback you feel would be beneficial.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College welcomed thousands of new and returning students back to its Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center on Jan. 22 for the start of spring classes.
Despite the wet weather, the campuses were bustling with activity as more than 10,000 credit and noncredit students started classes.
“We are excited to welcome students back to campus for the spring,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “We want them to know that our faculty, staff, and administrators are here to support them.”
VENTURA — The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the Human Services Agency, is seeking applicants for an open Senior Assembly Member position on the California Senior Legislature. This person will also serve on the VCAAA’s Advisory Council.
The California Senior Legislature is a volunteer body whose primary mission is to help preserve and enhance the quality of life for older Californians and their families. The CSL gathers ideas for legislation at the state and federal levels, crafts the ideas into formal proposals, prioritizes the proposals, presents them to members of the Legislature or the Congress, and advocates for laws implementing the ideas.
SANTA BARBARA — DignityMoves’s Santa Barbara Capital Campaign has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications, and named after the company’s founder. The funds will support a housing community called “La Posada Village,” with the goal of reducing homelessness in Santa Barbara County.
“DignityMoves is honored to be the recipient of a James M. Cox Foundation grant. We are incredibly grateful for this type of community support. Without partners like Cox, we cannot help as many people as we do,” said Jack Lorenz, Regional Advancement Director for DignityMoves.
AI FOR SMALL BUSINESS 101: HOW TO LEVERAGE AI TO ACCELERATE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH
January 24 @ 12:00 pm
Explore the real-world applications of AI. Don’t miss out on unlocking the potential of AI for your business success. Offered in partnership with EDC, WEV and SCORE. Spanish interpretation will be available.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
EN ESPAÑOL: IA PARA NEGOCIOS 101: CÓMO APROVECHAR LA IA PARA ACELERAR EL CRECIMIENTO DE TU NEGOCIO
24 de enero a las 12:00 pm
Explora las aplicaciones de la IA en el mundo real. No te pierdas la oportunidad de desbloquear el potencial de la IA para el éxito de tu negocio. Ofrecido en asociación con EDC, WEV y SCORE. Habrá interpretación al español.
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA INSCRIBIRSE
This coming Tuesday at the Board of Supervisors we will discuss a report showing that our County has a higher-than-average jail incarceration rate compared to the rest of California, and hear an update on efforts to better manage the population of the jail. The most basic service in government is public safety, but it does not make us safe when some people are ending up in jail, or coming back to it, because of a lack of mental health services. We have a moral imperative to improve the situation. But we also have a financial need as well.
VENTURA — United Way of Ventura County’s Women United Education Awards Luncheon will once again be honoring single mothers who are pursuing their education. In 2022-23, Women United presented 14 education awards to local single mothers pursuing their education and has given out 69 awards since 2018.
Sixty-four percent of single mothers in Ventura County do not earn sufficient income to meet their basic needs and a critical component is Education.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
7:00 PM – Doors Open 6:30
Ventura College PAC
4700 Loma Vista Road
Grammy Award-winning singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli brings a romantic collection of music from the Great American Songbook.
PORT HUENEME — On January 16, 2024, the Port of Hueneme welcomed new leadership as the Board of the Oxnard Harbor District voted Celina L. Zacarias to serve as President for 2024.
“It is truly an honor to serve as the President of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Harbor Commissioners,” said Commissioner Zacarias. “From the beginning of my time as a commissioner, it has been and continues to be my commitment and the commitment of my fellow Commissioners to strengthen our community through educational and workforce opportunities both now and in the future. I will continue the Port’s mission to support our customers, provide impactful community outreach, and serve as an economic force in Ventura County.”
I was on a city bus in Oxnard recently when I found myself fascinated by a female passenger that had boarded.
I know…that statement appears to be borderline salacious, but let me explain.
The woman with a dark complexion appeared to be indigenous Mayan. I’ve spent some time in Yucatán, Mexico, so I recognize the Mayan profile, including the majestic shape of the nose, when I see one. It is distinctively different from the indigenous profiles that hail from other parts of Mexico.
What struck me even more was the ease with which she was caring for her very young child, maybe one year old.
Volunteers Needed: Point In Time Homeless Count
The Ventura County Continuum of Care needs volunteers for the upcoming Point In Time Homeless count on January 24th! The count serves as a crucial tool for understanding the extent and nature of homelessness within the region while securing critical federal funding.
Conducted annually, this count provides a snapshot of the homeless population on a specific day (January 24th), aiding policy makers, service providers, and advocates in assessing the effectiveness of current interventions and shaping future strategies. The data collected helps identify trends, allocate resources more effectively, and measure progress towards addressing homelessness in Ventura County.
Sign up to volunteer by scanning the QR code or by visiting this website: https://ventura.pointintime.info.
Premiere Party: “30 Under 30”
Saturday, January 20, 2024 • 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM members • $10 Non-members
Meet a new generation of California artists during the premiere of “30 Under 30” at the Santa Paula Art Museum on Saturday, January 20! The group exhibition features 30 diverse California artists between the ages of 18 and 29, who are pushing the boundaries of traditional fine art and heralding an exciting new chapter for California’s art scene. Beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. “30 Under 30” will be on view from January 20 to May 5, 2024.
MORE INFO
VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County extends heartfelt gratitude to our vibrant community for its unwavering generosity, allowing us to offer free admission throughout 2023. As we look ahead to the new year, the Museum of Ventura County, Downtown Ventura location, will undergo a transition in its admission policy beginning February 1, 2024. The grant that has sustained free admission will conclude, necessitating a shift to a sustainable funding model.
Starting February 1, 2024, the Museum of Ventura County, Downtown Ventura, will implement the following admission fees:
OXNARD — Agromin, California’s largest organic waste recycler, received a $10 million grant from CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program to help communities turn more of their food waste and yard waste into compost.
CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program is a statewide effort to expand and build new organic recycling facilities, allowing more waste to be recycled instead of ending up in landfills where it emits greenhouse gases.
“The grant funds will help Agromin move forward on expanding our composting facility at Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. “We’re currently processing over one million tons of organic waste a year. Once the expansion is complete, we’ll be able to boost that amount to almost 300,000.”
VENTURA — The 38th Annual California Strawberry Festival is seeking corporate sponsors and commercial exhibitors. The festival is taking place May 18 and 19 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura.
Last year, the family-friendly festival drew more than 57,000 visitors from throughout Southern California including Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Kern, Santa Barbara and Orange counties.
Fireside Chat + Discussion Panel + Dinner + Live Music + Lounge + Vendors + Networking = COMMUNITY
RAIN OR SHINE! WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TENT AND HEATERS READY TO KEEP YOU WARM AND COZY DURING OUR EVENT.
View this email online January 18, 2024 Top News A global study reveals pathways to save threatened sharks, despite rising mortality trends Geographic protections and fishing regulations could improve what is currently a bleak outlook for sharks, but new policies…
SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County, also known as Santa Maria Valley Youth and Family Center and Guadalupe’s Little House By The Park, is pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney Cazenave to its Board of Directors.
Cazenave retired from her position as an administrative office professional for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department earlier this year. She has 18 years of administration and operations experience.
A Guadalupe resident, Cazenave is looking forward to using her skills to make a difference in the community. She has been a Court-Appointed Special Advocate since 2020. She has previously volunteered for the Special Olympics, elections, and the Homeless Count from 2019
to 2021.
VENTURA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is introducing its Visionaries Circle LEAGUE² (Leaders in Agriculture United for Educational Excellence) membership to recognize its premier donors who have shown support for SEEAG’s youth agricultural and nutrition education programs and Farm Day community education and outreach events. SEEAG’s focus is to educate students and the public about the farm origins of food, healthy eating, and the importance of local agriculture. Many of these donors have been involved in SEEAG since its first program was introduced almost 16 years ago.
“SEEAG has been extremely fortunate to have a dedicated, loyal donor base whose contributions have made a real difference in SEEAG’s ability to offer the cost-free programming we do. Without them, we would not be able to reach thousands of students every year,” says Mary Maranville, the nonprofit’s Founder and CEO.
SANTA BARBARA — Last week, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) broke ground on its newest affordable housing: Buellton Garden Apartments.
Located at 10 & 12 McMurray Road in Buellton, near essential services, this new development is comprised of 89 units. Including one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for low-income households, it features a welcoming community room, well-resourced learning center, and onsite supportive services for residents.
“We are thrilled to bring more affordable housing to the community members of the Santa Ynez Valley with our first ever project in Buellton,” said Ken Trigueiro, PSHH CEO & President. “We look forward to watching this site develop and come to life over the next couple years. It’s been a long time in the making, and we are grateful to officially have shovels in the ground.”
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an Administrative Disaster Declaration on Jan. 10 for damages to businesses and homes resulting from the Storm and Flooding that occurred Dec. 21-23, 2023. It is important that homeowners, renters or business owners apply for assistance to initiate an SBA application as a result of physical damage by the Physical Damage deadline of March 11, 2024. The Economic Injury Deadline is October 10, 2024.
Counties Impacted by the Disaster Declaration
Primary County: Ventura County
Contiguous Counties: Kern, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. These counties are also eligible for both physical damage and economic injury benefits.
VENTURA COUNTY — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to non-farm businesses of all sizes, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters who suffered losses caused by the December 2023 Storm and Flooding that occurred December 21 through December 23, 2023.
A SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center has been opened at the South Oxnard Branch Library, 4300 Saviers Road, Oxnard, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
SANTA BARBARA — On Dec. 2, 2023, The Fund for Santa Barbara (The FUND) awarded the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) $10,000 to support its labor justice, wage theft prevention, and leadership institute programs in Santa Barbara County as part of a $100,000 from their Fall General Grant Cycle. The amount awarded will benefit the indigenous community we serve in our Santa Maria, CA, location. MICOP is very grateful to have been awarded $10,000 from The FUND.
SANTA BARBARA — The DignityMoves community in downtown Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Street Village has been a proven success for both housing and supporting those who were previously homeless, and it has not gone unnoticed by local leaders. Last year, the County Board of Supervisors voted to partner with DignityMoves to build an additional 300 rooms County-wide – enough interim supportive housing to help close the “shelter gap” in the county.
The County has identified several county-owned parcels across the County based on the regional distribution of unsheltered homelessness.
Researchers reveal that eukaryotic organisms had already evolved into a diverse array of forms 1.64 billion years ago.
OCEANO — We’re encouraging low-income customers to apply for help paying their current or past-due water and sewer bills by signing up for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Customers now have until March 31, 2024, to apply, and eligible households should apply now while funds last.
LIHWAP, initially established by Congress in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed to support financially struggling low-income households to settle outstanding water bills. Originally slated to conclude in Fall 2023, the program has received a federal extension through March 2024.
