In “The Witch Studies Reader,” scholars Jane Ward and Soma Chaudhuri introduce feminist witch studies, exploring how witchcraft functions as a site of power, persecution and decolonial critique.
OXNARD — The annual César Chávez Memorial March & Citizenship Fair will be held April 6, 2025 in Oxnard.
Sponsored by the Port of Hueneme, the City of Oxnard and the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center, marchers will gather at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 6 at Cesar Chavez School, 200 N. Juanita Ave., Oxnard, to begin the march to La Colonia Gym, 195 No. Marquita St., Oxnard.
“We will visit the César Chávez Memorial site (Childhood Home),” organizers reported.
First Thursdays retunrs April 3rd with amazing eats, sweet treats, and good vibes as some of the best local food trucks roll in! @thesoulrevival_band will entertain with a soulful R&B set. Also participating is a group of CSU Long Beach grad students hosting a Community Resource Booth featuring free info, coffee & pasteries, and prize drawing! Learn about local services and share your thoughts on what matters to you and your family.
Thurs, April 3rd, 5 PM – 9 PM at Plaza Park, 500 South C Street
“This year, we’re introducing a few changes to our annual concert series, all aimed at enhancing the experience for everyone,” said Recreation Manager Rebecca Ellis. “As part of our efforts to streamline all our recreation programs, we are now aligning ticket prices with our standard resident and non-resident fee structure. Additional changes to this year’s program include eliminating printed and mailed tickets with a streamlined check-in service on the day of the event.
Connect with a community of activists.
Join us on the first Friday of each month, when local climate activists, students, and community members gather to exchange information about regional climate issues and opportunities for action. This month, Santa Barbara organizations will share Earth month actions that the community can take part in, including Sable pipeline advocacy opportunities.
Friday, April 4, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
CEC’s Environmental Hub
1219 State St., Santa Barbara
Founded in 2015 by Jackie Quinn, Quinn Fiduciary Services specializes in trust and estate administration and in safeguarding the financial and overall well-being of seniors and at-risk adults. Fiduciaries Tamara Skov and Shannon Dalton purchased the company in 2023 and are now the firm’s managing members and owners, while Quinn remains involved as a consultant.
As Federal climate leadership stalls, cities, states, and local organizations are taking action to build climate resilience from the ground up. In this vein, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) remains committed to fostering grassroots climate action along California’s Central Coast.
This month, CEC is proud to co-host the 55th annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, an opportunity to educate, advocate, and mobilize around climate action. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.
LOMPOC — Tucked away on California’s stunning Central Coast, Lompoc is the kind of place that surprises you—in the best way possible. From sipping some of the world’s best Pinot Noir to watching rockets blast into space, this charming town is packed with unexpected adventures. Ready to explore? Here are 8 amazing things you can only do in Lompoc.
“We are immensely grateful to see the return of Mechanics Bank as our Presenting Sponsor this year,” said Ken Trigueiro CEO & President. “They’ve consistently been a huge supporter of the event and even more so of the residents who will ultimately benefit from their generosity. They are a key player in the success of the Builder Games, and we are proud to have them stand beside us as we continue to raise funds for these vital programs.”
Five decades after its founding, the support the center provides — and the community it has cultivated — are as crucial now as they were in 1975.
VENTURA — The Parks & Recreation Summer Activity Guide is now available online at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ActivityGuide. Registration begins Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. and will be available online, over the phone, or in person at City Hall, Room 226, 501 Poli Street. Registration information and policies are on page 6.
The Summer Activity Guide offers a diverse range of youth summer camps and programs for all ages from June through August. Exciting special events await, including the highly anticipated 4th of July Street Fair and the captivating Music Under the Stars concert series. Community members can also explore aquatic activities such as sailing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, or swim lessons. There are also various arts and cultural options like tours to museums, productions, and local landmarks.
OXNARD — Helen Reyes’ winning artwork for the 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival was revealed at an April 1 gathering of dignitaries and festival sponsors at Yolanda’s Mexican Café in Oxnard. The luncheon officially kicks off activities for the 2025 festival celebration taking place May 17 and 18 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Reyes takes home a $2,000 grand prize and VIP tickets to the festival.
Dorfman Incubator Grants We’re now accepting applications for the 2025 Dorfman Incubator Grants (DIG). Startups can apply for $5,000 to $50,000 in non-dilutive grant funding. Ideal candidates have a connection to Cal Lutheran as a student, alum, employee or employer…
Enfoque Calendars on Sale
Stay inspired and organized in 2025 with our stunning calendar, showcasing breathtaking photography by Diego Huerta from the Enfoque exhibit—now on display at the Agriculture Museum. Click HERE to purchase.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura is now accepting applications for its Special Event Grant Program (SEGP), designed to support community events for local residents. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit organizations based in the City of Ventura with 501(c)(3) status.
Coming Soon! New web addresses for County websites
The County of Ventura has officially begun the migration of county websites to the new .gov domain – venturacounty.gov.?
The transition to the new address complies with CA State Assembly Bill 1637, which was passed in 2024 and requires local governments to have a .gov domain by or before 2029. The transition to the new address will provide enhanced cybersecurity and easily identify the County’s online presence for residents, businesses, and visitors.
15th Anniversary Gala and Fundraiser
?
Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$125 per person
Join us Saturday evening for our 15th Anniversary Gala and Fundraiser! We’re celebrating 15 years of the Santa Paula Art Museum, and raising critical funds for our community arts education programs. Enjoy live music by Angelo Divino, a petite art auction, delicious hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktail, and more. We will also present the 2025 Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson Visionary Award to David Schwabauer. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. Cocktail attire is encouraged.
SANTA MARIA — For the past year, Alianza Campesina has been advocating for fair and dignified wages for farmworkers, many of whom struggle to survive on low pay while also facing the dangers of pesticide exposure and the harsh effects of climate change, and natural disasters. Now, farmworkers and the broader immigrant community face an even greater threat — the fear of family separation and the ongoing uncertainty caused by increased immigration presence in our communities.
This César Chávez Day, Alianza Campesina is demanding an end to deportations and ICE presence in our communities while urging the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to pass a living wage for farmworkers. We invite community members, advocates, and allies to join us in a peaceful march as we demand justice, dignity, and safety for all.
CSU Professor Dr. Frank P. Barajas will present “Cesar Chavez’s Life and Legacy in Oxnard” from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at the Oxnard Public Library, 251 So. A., St. Oxnard. Learn about the life of famed worker’s rights advocate Cesar Chavez and his connections to the Oxnard Community.
SANTA PAULA — The Isabella Project, in partnership with Glen City Elementary School, has unveiled a new mural by locally renowned artist Checkos Martinez.
Located at Glen City Elementary — a STEAM school in Santa Paula — the mural depicts a beautiful lemon tree (as citrus represents the region’s agricultural heritage), and monarch butterflies, which symbolize transformation, growth, hope, and freedom. More than art, this mural serves as a public reminder of the importance of education in the Santa Clara community. It reflects the deep cultural significance of murals in Hispanic and Latinx American traditions.
Abril Estrada leads the audience in a dance celebrating early childhood education at the Isabella Project mural unveiling event.
SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health, the Medi-Cal health plan for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, presented its 2025 Community Report at a regular bimonthly meeting of its Board of Directors, held this month in San Luis Obispo.
he next regular meeting of the
County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for
9 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2025
County Administration Building
Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor
105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara
The public may participate virtually, or in person at the County Board Hearing Room in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.
SANTA BARBARA — Spring is the perfect time to nurture your potential, acquire new skills, and advance in your career and life with SBCC School of Extended Learning. The next wave of essential workshops and engaging classes will start soon, with new offerings launching every week between March 31 and May 24. There are still spots open in over 200 free and fee-based classes designed to advance careers, hone life skills, and inspire creativity and camaraderie.
“We invite the community to embrace the spirit of springtime—the season of growth and renewal – by trying something new or rekindling a lifelong dream,” said Carola Smith, Assistant Superintendent / Vice President, School of Extended Learning. “We’re here to help you cultivate the future you envision.”
Beginning on March 31, Walls will lead the Academy’s advancement efforts to support its mission of training the next generation of great musicians and engaging the community through innovative musical experiences.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nicholas to our leadership team,” said Shauna Quill, President & CEO of the Music Academy. “His deep expertise in philanthropy, donor engagement, and strategic fundraising will be invaluable in advancing the Academy’s vision for the future and ensuring the success of our programs and initiatives.”
Irene Gomez, an Oxnard resident and member of the Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety – Ventura County or CAPS 805, raised a remaining concern: “When my community in Nyeland Acres had the pilot notification project, our biggest issue was that you couldn’t find out exactly where the pesticides would be applied – which farm? That’s still a problem with Spray Days. You can only know pesticides are being applied within a square mile, but not whether it’s coming from behind your house, across the street, or even a mile away.”
The draft Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for Ventura provides an updated assessment of local fire hazards and will help guide local fire prevention efforts, inform building regulations, and support emergency response planning. The map updates previous version approved in 2011 to reflect current fire risk conditions and new data. Hazard areas are rated moderate, high, and very high depending on the factors that contribute to fire behavior, like historical fire patterns, vegetation growth, weather, and terrain, among others.
SANTA BARBARA — March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to highlight a deadly but preventable cancer responsible for more than 50,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, over 154,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 2025, making it the fourth most common cancer in the U.S. Though the disease is highly treatable when diagnosed at an early stage, it is the second most deadly cancer in the U.S., which is why, every March, healthcare providers including Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, work to educate people on how to detect and treat it.
LOMPOC — Spring has is in the air in Lompoc, California, and with it comes welcoming warmer weather and a wide array of activities sure to satisfy the outdoor adventurers, wine lovers, history buffs and thrill seekers. From Insta-worthy flower fields to scenic hiking trails and breathtaking vinewyards, travelers discover that Lompoc is the place to explore.
SCORE: FUND YOUR BUSINESS WITH SPONSORS, EVEN IF YOU’RE JUST STARTING OUT
March 26 @ 10:00 am
Would you like to do what you love and have someone else foot the bill? Have you ever thought about corporate sponsors for your business, show, book, charity, speaking or events? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then 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 the CEO of Sponsor Concierge. Linda has consulted with many entrepreneurs to help them profit from the awesome 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
PORT HUENEME — Building on the success of its inaugural year, the City of Port Hueneme and the Port of Hueneme once again teamed up to host their second annual 5k race over the weekend.
Organizers introduced a fresh look for the event, now called the Sea Splash Color Dash. The update brings exciting new features including a 1k kids’ run and expanded offerings to the free health and wellness fair.
Jess Lopez, Port Hueneme Mayor Pro Tem, stressed how this new tradition, which attracted more than 750 participants, helps encourage residents to prioritize their health. “I’m inspired to see so many people come together to enjoy the sun and get in some exercise,” he said. “Spending time outdoors, moving our bodies, and being by the beach boosts both our physical and our mental health. It’s a win on every level.”
SANTA PAULA — One of Santa Paula’s most cherished traditions, Cruise Night, is officially set to return for the 2025 season, bringing classic cars, great food, and community spirit to the heart of downtown. The Santa Paula City Council recently approved a sponsorship to help cover a portion of event costs, ensuring the continuation of this signature event.
Hosted by the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, Cruise Night will take place on the first Friday of each month from April through October along Main Street between 8th and 10th Streets. This event, which attracts thousands of visitors from across Southern California, has been a staple of the community since 1998 and continues to provide a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.
“We are honored to welcome Juan Felipe Herrera to SBCC. Juan Felipe Herrera’s work exemplifies the profound power of storytelling and the resilience of the Latino experience, an especially significant contribution in today’s political climate. Storytelling has long been a cherished tradition in Latino culture, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in our ancestral heritage.
Illuminating a wide spectrum of systemic injustice, the Justice for All programming initiative looks to today’s great minds and creators and to the courageous leaders across the globe who are forging a new path forward. Join us as we learn from those confronting uncomfortable questions, solving difficult problems, and guiding us all toward a more equitable world.
VENTURA COUNTY — Kaiser Permanente began 2025 on a high note by awarding a total of $315,000 in community benefit funding to 15 nonprofit organizations in Ventura County.
These grants recognize the organizations’ commitment to improving local health. The grantees were recently celebrated at a reception held at California Lutheran University where each of the funded programs was highlighted.
CENTRAL COAST — The 805 Immigrant Coalition strongly condemns the hate crime that took place (March 17, 2025), around lunchtime in Newbury Park, where an individual was seen wearing a jacket labeled “ICE” at El Sancho Loco. Concerned community members reported this incident to the 805UndocuFund social media page, expressing deep concern over this act of intimidation.
This type of intimidation is not only cruel and harmful — it is illegal. Impersonating a federal officer is a crime under 18 USC § 912, and impersonating a police officer is a misdemeanor under California Penal Code § 538d. These actions spread fear, confusion, and unnecessary distress among families already vulnerable to unjust enforcement threats. The 805 Immigrant Coalition stands firmly against hate-fueled scare tactics and urges community members to report these hate crimes to law enforcement.
These community events include a performance by the college’s Commercial Dance Team, a two-day rodeo event, movie screenings and a family-friendly “Spring Fling” hosted at Hancock’s Lompoc Valley Center (LVC) campus.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County is launching a groundbreaking initiative to train 250 low- and moderate-income individuals in healthcare occupations. The Ventura County Healthcare Employment Accelerator (VC Heal Healthcare Careers) program focuses on strengthening the county’s healthcare workforce and expanding career opportunities for residents. With nearly $7.5 million in funding, this program aims to improve healthcare infrastructure, support economic recovery after the 2018 wildfires, and promote overall community well-being.
… Please be assured that in partnership with our esteemed colleagues in the housing community across the nation, we are staying informed and engaged, and making our voice heard to both our federal and state elected officials. We encourage you to voice your support too wherever and however you can. Our newsletter The Blueprint is a great resource to learn more about what is happening to housing, and we continue to thank you for your advocacy.
THOUSAND OAKS — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA seeks sponsors for its 26th Annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast is on Thursday, May 1 at CLU’s Gilbert Sports Center in Thousand Oaks. The breakfast brings the spiritual communities of all faiths together to celebrate fellowship and prayer. The theme this year is “Hope.”
The prayer breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and will include speakers, and spiritual and community leaders providing invocations and prayers. Former Rams All-Pro tackle Andrew Whitworth is the keynote speaker.
The Music Academy of the West, now in its 78th season, offers an unparalleled blend of world-class performances and musical discovery with the 2025 Summer Music Festival & School themed “Soundtrack to Summer.” The Festival showcases international artists performing alongside 150 of the Academy’s gifted young musicians and 60 esteemed teaching artists in 120 one-of-a-kind performances, including orchestral and chamber performances, a full-scale opera, plus masterclasses, competitions, and groundbreaking new works — a must for classical music lovers.
