Category: Seniors

FireAid donates $75,000 to California Strong to distribute to Palisades and Eaton fire victims

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — FireAid donated $75,000 to California Strong, powered by the Southeast Ventura County YMCA (SEVC YMCA), to distribute to families affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Seventy-five fire victims who had previously filled out relief applications and were vetted received the funds.

The FireAid January 30 benefit concert in Inglewood provided $50 million in immediate relief assistance to more than 120 nonprofit organizations that distributed the funds to over 150,000 fire victims. The California Strong/SEVC YMCA donation is part of a second distribution phase that focuses on long-term recovery.

Friendship Center — The Friendly Finch: July

Dear Families & Friends,

So, I have some news….

We didn’t hit our $50,000 goal for the 2025 Spring Appeal…..

WE SURPASSED IT by raising $52,000! You surpassed it! This was one of our most successful spring campaigns to date, and it couldn’t have come at a more important time. With membership levels and activity scheduling at an all-time high, your support is helping us meet the immediate, growing needs of our community. We received gifts from 106 generous donors, including:

UCSB — The Current — ‘Student-led sports-waste recycling initiative takes off at UCSB’ and more news, events

Thanks to a student-led sports-waste recycling program, Gauchos and visiting community members can recycle their old sports gear in the drop-off bin at the Rec Cen.

Read more about the program

Hospice of Santa Barbara Announces Donation from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has made a generous donation of $15,000 to Hospice of Santa Barbara, supporting ongoing patient care services for approximately 800 people annually in the Santa Barbara community. Patient care services encompass medical care management, volunteer support, anticipatory grief counseling, spiritual care, bereavement care management, and quality of life stipends.

“Hospice of Santa Barbara fills a critical need in the community, providing vital care and services to patients and their families,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “Our tribe is proud to support their efforts,” Kahm also shared.

VCCF Power of Purpose – June 2025

What a welcome! From the incredible VCCF staff, board members, donors, and nonprofit partners to the friendly barista at Old New York Deli & Bakery, I’ve felt an immediate sense of home and belonging here in Ventura County. I want to take a moment to share my reflections on my first 100-plus days and the deep hope and responsibility I feel stepping into this role.

After 22 years as CEO of a community foundation in Northern California, I stepped down last July in search of one final adventure—something meaningful to carry me into retirement with purpose. Vanessa and I have been friends and colleagues for over 10 years, and when she heard I was exploring what might come next, she invited me to Ventura County. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the dedication, humility, and heart of this community. I knew I had found something special.

Island Packers announces Summer 2025 schedule

 VENTURA — In celebration of Summer and its 57th Anniversary last month, Island Packers, the official concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, is expanding its non-landing schedule to include Summer Whale Watching excursions from June – mid-September, 2025 to view some truly extraordinary, magnificent mammals.

Bilingual report — Valentine Road Apartments unveils first renovated units at Ventura County’s largest Homekey Project

VENTURA — The Valentine Road Apartments unveiled the first of its newly renovated units during a progress celebration at the largest Homekey initiative in Ventura County, marking a major milestone in the region’s efforts to address homelessness through permanent supportive housing. 

Led by the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB), the Valentine Road Apartments are the result of a $32 million Homekey award secured in 2023 through the California Department of Housing and Community Development. That funding marked the largest Homekey grant in both City and County history and initiated the conversion of the 142-room hotel into 134 studio apartments for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

Bilingual report — CenCal Health — Proposed Federal Medicaid cuts harmful to community health and local economy

SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health, the Medicaid managed care plan for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, provides health insurance to over 242,000 low-income people on the Central Coast. Recent federal proposals to reduce Medicaid funding and constrict eligibility would negatively impact local hospitals, healthcare providers, businesses, and thousands of area residents. 

Bilingual report — Gold Coast Health Plan announces inaugural grant awards to expand health care access across Ventura County

CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP)  (on June 25) announced the inaugural recipients of its new Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability & Equity (RISE) Grant Program—a three-year initiative with an initial commitment of $21.9 million dollars and second- and third-year opportunities for applications. The program is aimed at strengthening Ventura County’s health care infrastructure and improving access to care for Medi-Cal members.

Downtown Oxnard — Phone call from Art, press 1 to accept…

The Downtown Oxnard Improvement Association presents “Re-Dial: In Memoriam of the Payphone,” a one-night-only art reception on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 519 South C St. from 6 pm – 9 pm.

This free public event celebrates the imaginative spirit of 11 local artists who reimagined abandoned payphones throughout downtown, turning relics of the past into striking works of street art.

Bilingual report — County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors to hold meeting

View this email online The next regular meeting of the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for  9 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2025 County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara The public may participate…

Summer Bucket List in Lompoc: Your Guide to Sunshine-Fueled Fun

LOMPOC — Ready to make this summer unforgettablke?  Lompoc is calling! From flower fields to fine wine, skydives to sunsets, this Central Coast gem is full of sunny advenfures.  Whether your’re planning a weekend escape or a season-long staycation, this summer bucket list will help you squeeze every drop of fun of your Lompoc days.

Let’s dive in!

Bilingual report — Santa Paula celebrates a successful State of the City event

SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula proudly hosted its first independent State of the City event on June 12, 2025, marking a departure from previous joint events traditionally held with the Chamber of Commerce. With more than 176 guests in attendance, the evening was a vibrant celebration of community, progress, and civic engagement, and by all accounts, a resounding success.

Held at the Ventura County Agriculture Museum, the evening began with a festive outdoor reception featuring live folklórico dancing by Proyecto Esperanza, musical performances by local group Chucumite, and hors d’oeuvres provided by local favorites including Flight 126, El Capricho, Mr. Shrimp, and Parque 1055. The community came together to enjoy food, music, and connection before moving indoors for formal remarks and presentations.

Friendship Center Adult Day Services — Caregivers are carrying so much – Can you help lighten the load?

Although Friendship Center’s main mission is to provide compassionate care for seniors living with dementia, we don’t stop there. We know it takes a village to provide care for someone else, and it is often a spouse, adult child, or sibling who are key components of one’s support system. It is important to us that not only are our program attendees are cared for, but that their caregivers feel supported during their loved ones journey with dementia.

Bilingual report — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) — Cleaver & Clark Commons in SLO: Pre-Applications Coming Soon | Cleaver & Clark Commons: Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles pronto

Pre-applications available Tuesday, July 8, 9AM at pshhc.org/CCC
Pre-solicitudes disponibles el martes 8 de julio a las 9AM en pshhc.org/CCC

Museum of Ventura County — Photography Workshop with Diego Huerta, more events

Saturday, August 16
3 – 8 p.m.
@Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main Street., Ventura

Diego Huerta, the resident photographer behind the Enfoque exhibition and internationally acclaimed for documenting Indigenous communities throughout the Americas, leads this outdoor portrait workshop at Surfer’s Point. Designed for intermediate to advanced photographers ages 16 and up, the 60–90 minute session focuses on using natural light, flash, and strobe to create compelling portraiture.

?Participants must bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera, tripod, filters, lenses, and lighting gear. Be prepared to navigate uneven terrain and embrace changing weather conditions—this workshop runs rain or shine. Dinner is included after the session. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn from a master in the field. Cost: $250 non-members, 15% off members. Register HERE.

Bilingual report — Joint Statement from the Fire Departments of Ventura County: Emergency services are for everyone

VENTURA COUNTY — Every fire department in Ventura County is united in our commitment to protecting lives—no matter who you are or where you’re from. Everyone in our communities deserves safety, emergency care, and compassion. Our firefighters respond to every emergency without hesitation or judgment. Immigration status is never a factor in the care we provide, and we do not ask, record, or report that information.

Bilingual commentary — Compassion vs. Caution on the Street

Having more time to walk the streets of the Oxnard and Ventura areas lately, I find myself navigating a world that had not been entirely apparent to me in the past. I am more aware now of the great number of people who are distressed, troubled, and immersed in mental illness.

Their plight becomes obvious as I witness people who are talking animatedly with themselves—sometimes cheerfully, but too often they are angry and threatening. It’s hard to feel safe when someone close by is screaming something such as, “I’m gonna kill every single person I find!”

Bilingual report — Gold Coast Health Plan denounces sharing of Medicaid enrollment data with Department of Homeland Security

CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP), the local Medi-Cal plan for Ventura County, is deeply concerned about the possibility of sensitive Medicaid enrollment data—including names, addresses, and immigration statuses—being shared with the Department of Homeland Security as reported by the Associated Press. According to the article, the data sharing was conducted “despite internal objections from Medicaid officials” and without consent from states, health plans, or members.

The data includes information from individuals in various states, including California, that allow those with “unsatisfactory immigration status” to enroll in Medicaid programs funded by state dollars.

“This breach is not just a policy failure—it is a moral one,” said Dr. Felix Nuñez, GCHP’s chief executive officer. “Trust is the foundation of our health system. Undermining that trust by turning health care into a tool of immigration enforcement jeopardizes the well-being of entire communities. We must protect the right to seek care without fear.”

UCSB Arts & Lectures announces the 2025-2026 Season Lineup

SANTA BARBARA —  UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L), the Central Coast’s premier arts presenting organization, announces its 2025-2026 season of live events. Series subscriptions go on sale Wednesday, June 18 at 10 a.m. Single tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 19 at 10 a.m. UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) offers a wide range of phenomenal cultural and artistic experiences in 2025-2026 – from fascinating talks by today’s thought leaders to command performances by some of the world’s premier dance companies, actors and musicians – at venues from UCSB to downtown Santa Barbara and beyond. The 2025-2026 season includes an exciting mix of returning friends, rising stars and new discoveries. This upcoming season is particularly rich in premieres, debuts and works commissioned by Arts & Lectures. 

New state oversight board’s report highlights need to improve nonprofit contracting practices in California

Two bills pending in California State Senate — including Assembly Bill 880 by Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) and Assembly Bill 1039 by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) — deserve Governor’s support

NeighborWorks Week 2025: Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. brings vital resources to residents

VENTURA COUNTY — Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC) concluded its 2025 NeighborWorks Week celebrations with two community-focused events that brought critical services and resources directly to residents. Under this year’s theme, “Creating Homes, Building America,” Cabrillo EDC’s resource fairs united neighbors, service providers, and local leaders to facilitate connections and opportunities.

Bilingual report — June news from Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH)

June is Homeownership Month and so I would like to shine a special light on our own Home Ownership department: the oldest team in our organization, the very reason we were founded 55 years ago. If you haven’t yet had a chance to check out some of People’s Self-Help Housing’s amazing early history, you can do that right here!

Of course, it is the incredible owner-builders themselves, the people who learn to dig, saw, hammer, and drill, who have been the stars of the show ever since the self-help program began. The physical and emotional investment made by the over 1,200 families who have completed building with us since 1970 is of a magnitude few of us could commit to. Usually over 40 hours a week (on top of regular day jobs!), 14 months of construction, and the desire to push through whatever the weather, or the date on the calendar.

Our organization has many facets which help those just trying to have a safe, decent, and affordable place to enjoy life. I hope you’ll join me this month in recognizing the efforts and achievements of just one of those – affordable homeownership.

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) — Reminder: Cypress Place (Oxnard) Pre-Applications due Tuesday, June 24 | Recordatorio: Cypress Place Las pre-solicitudes deben entregarse el martes 24 de junior

Reminder: pre-applications due Tuesday, June 24 at 5PM
Recordatorio: pre-solicitudes deben entregarse el martes 24 de junio a las 5PM

Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to meet June 24

View this email online The next regular meeting of the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for  9 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2025 County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara The public may participate…

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Announcing the Jury! – Call for entries

Arte Del Pueblo is now on view until July 27th!

Thank you to everyone that came to the opening reception. We really enjoyed spending time with you all and celebrating these amazing artists together.

Make sure to come visit us before the exhibition is over… And keep an eye out for upcoming events surrounding Arte Del Pueblo!

Ventura Music Festival — Summer is in the Box Office!

See what’s up next, join the VMF volunteer party, and get your Summer tickets! OTTMAR LIEBERT Friday, June 27 at 7:00 PM The Majestic Ventura Theater Information & Tickets Prepare for an unforgettable evening as 5-time GRAMMYnominee Ottmar Liebert brings…

Friendship Adult Day Care Center in Santa Barbara — Do you have a Deysi?

While Deysi’s official title is Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) & Wellness Coordinator, the work she does and love she shares with our programs impacts every aspect of Friendship Center! Born and raised in Colombia and trained as a professional educator and dancer (fun fact: she came to the US to study at the prestigious Julliard), Deysi shares her culture and multitude of talents with our members, caregivers, staff and the greater community. She recently celebrated the one year anniversary of her one of a kind program, Herencia Latina, that celebrates the heritage and experiences of Spanish-speaking Latino older adults while catering the activities to accommodate all cognitive and physical abilities in a dignified and respectful manner.

MICOP — With Dignity & Respect: ICE Out of Ventura County! See related news stories here

(Amigos805.com Editor’s Note: Also see national new stories about immigration raids in the 805 region courtesy of ABC7 News, KTLA 5, NBC LA and MSNBC.

VENTURA — In response to escalating federal immigration raids, the deployment of National Guard troops at peaceful protests in Los Angeles, and the confirmed presence of ICE activity across Ventura County the “ICE Out of Ventura County and 805 Immigrant Coalition,” with community partners held a press conference on June 12 in front of the County of Ventura Government Center.

“ICE Out of Ventura County” is a call to action against the ongoing criminalization and militarization targeting our immigrant and Indigenous neighbors.

(MICOP also announced that a press conference was also on June 12 at the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Administration Building in Santa Maria featuring a variety of migrant community support organizations.)

“These past few days have been incredibly painful for our community, beginning with the unjust raids targeting our hardworking brothers and sisters across various industries in Los Angeles. But nothing prepared us for the devastation of what happened here at home,” stated MICOP’s Community Organizing Director Juvenal Solano, “On Tuesday, June 10, our city of Oxnard was the target of mass raids—families ripped apart in an instant, children left waiting for parents who never came home. The heartbreak is unbearable. The rage is deep.”

Bilingual commentary — Delighting in Cruelty

Every day since the beginning of this year, I listen to the news from reliable, respected sources. Since the beginning of the year, I often find myself wondering why our federal government seems to delight in what seems to be a policy of cruelty.

Consider the following recent issues:

the blitzkrieg mass firings of new and experienced government employees
the hostile takeover of cultural centers
the treatment of immigrants, both legal and illegal …

Bilingual report — Ribbon cutting ceremony highlights safer pedestrian access to El Rio neighborhood of Oxnard

VENTURA — Supervisor Kelly Long’s Office and the Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA), in collaboration with community partners and local leaders, celebrated the completion of the El Rio Pedestrian Improvements Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, June 2, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of El Rio.

The event brought together members of the Rio School District, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Nyeland Promise Advisory Board, Gold Coast Transit District, construction teams, residents, and other key stakeholders who contributed to the project’s success. The celebration featured performances from children of the Mariachi Academy and folklórico dancers from the Rio School District, showcasing the vibrant spirit of the El Rio community.

Farm Bureau of Ventura County — Western Center for Ag Health and Safety Training on June 13 for foreman and supervisors Immigration Enforcement in the Agricultural Workplace

Join the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety on Friday, June 13th at 9 am to learn how leaders in the agricultural workplace can prepare and respond to immigration enforcement. The primary audience is crew leaders and frontline supervisors. The webinar will be in Spanish with simultaneous English interpretation. This webinar will not be recorded.

United Way of Ventura County — Stuff the Bus (June 9-July 31) and more news

United Way of Ventura County’s 2025 Stuff the Bus campaign has officially launched! Help us reach our goal of providing 1,000 backpacks stuffed with essential school supplies for local homeless middle schoolers. Currently, over 8,000 youth have been identified as homeless in Ventura County and over 30% of homeless youth are of middle school age. Listed below are ways you can help this year’s campaign.

Farm Bureau of Ventura County condemns ICE Actions

VENTURA COUNTY — The Farm Bureau of Ventura County, representing hundreds of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses across the region, strongly condemns the actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Oxnard this morning. Reports indicate that ICE agents attempted to enter a local packing facility without a judicial warrant, conducted operations in agricultural fields, and initiated vehicle stops on roads frequently used by agricultural workers commuting to job sites.

As working producers and stewards of Ventura County’s $2 billion agricultural economy, we know firsthand that our industry cannot function without the contributions of our workforce. These are people we rely on, respect, and work alongside every day. They are skilled professionals who bring deep experience and an extraordinary work ethic to Ventura County’s fields and ranches. Their labor is the reason our region is recognized as one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world.

LULAC urges public calm as National Guard troops ordered by Trump Administration arrive in Southern California

“We are very concerned over the inflammatory language that the Trump administration is using to describe the environment in Los Angeles, which its actions have ignited,” said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. “Sending national guard troops into Southern California, without regard for the authority or knowledge of local or state officials, is a deliberate tactic that is only ramping up the anger,” he adds.

Bilingual report — Celebrate the 4th of July with Ventura’s Street Fair and Parade

VENTURA — The City of Ventura’s beloved 4th of July Street Fair and Pushem-Pullem Parade returns on Friday, July 4, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the heart of Downtown Ventura.

Courtesy photo.
The Pushem-Pullem Parade, presented by the Rotary Club of East Ventura, kicks off the celebration at 10:00 a.m. on Main Street in front of Cemetery Memorial Park and flows into the Street Fair. The parade is free and open to all; no registration is required. Families are encouraged to decorate bikes, scooters, strollers, or wagons and join the fun. Please note motorized vehicles are not permitted.

Bilingual report — City of Ventura announces free speaker series for seniors focused on health, safety, and well-being on June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18

VENTURA — The City of Ventura invites residents aged 50 and older to participate in a free monthly Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS) Speaker Series, running from June through November 2025. Each session is designed to empower seniors and caregivers with valuable information on health, safety, and well-being.

“This series is all about supporting our older adult community with tools to live independently, safely, and confidently,” said Janine Cobian, Recreation Supervisor. “Whether you’re navigating Medicare, making your home safer, or just looking to stay informed, there’s something for everyone.”

Meetings are held in-person on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from

Meadowlark Service League distributes more than $315K to local charities

CAMARILLO — Representatives from 37 charities across Ventura County gathered to celebrate community along with the hard-working ladies of the Meadowlark Service League on Thursday, June 6th at the Las Posas Country Club. 

The charities that are supported by the Meadowlark Service League impact the elderly, youth/children, the arts, the homeless, the disabled, veterans, hospice, health, feeding the needy, community services, and education. In addition, $15,000 in scholarships will be given to new and continuing college students.