I want to wish you a healthy and happy New Year, and encourage you to live with less worry. I believe that living without worry is not about ignoring dangers, it is about controlling what you can control, taking precautions, but also living your life and not putting energy into what is outside our control.
“If you have a piece of truth, do not hide it like a treasure, but hang it on a shingle for the world to see.”
January 7, 2022 – COVID-19 Update Everyone over the age of 12 is now eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose. Get your COVID-19 booster dose if: • It has been 5+ months since you completed your primary Pfizer series, •…
Things to consider more seriously in the midst of the Omicron surge
Get vaccinated and boosted.
Please stay home when you are ill to limit exposing others in the community.
Consider temporarily pausing on attending unnecessary indoor events until the Omicron surge slows down.
Wear a mask. They are required indoors for all in the State of California.
Vaccines best protection
The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be the best option to prevent serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19. Make an appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255.
Since Wednesday, December 29, there have been 5,283 new COVID-19 cases reported and 34,015 new tests completed. There are 162 people hospitalized and 27 in the ICU. There have been 2 additional deaths of 73 and 65 year old males. Our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the community members who passed away. The R-effective for Ventura County is 1.83 which indicates that the speed of COVID is likely increasing rapidly.
Find a vaccine site at www.vaccines.gov or make an appointment directly at MyTurn.CA.gov. The Public Health clinic schedule is available at www.vcrecovers.org/vaccine.
COVID Therapeutics are currently in severely short supply. If you test positive for COVID-19, are exhibiting symptoms, and feel as though you meet the factors identified in the below risk groups, call your physician to see if you are eligible and where you might be able to receive treatment.
Ventura County Schools to Prioritize Safety Upon Return from Winter Break
78.7% of community members (ages 5+) have received one or more COVID vaccine doses.
72% of eligible community members have been fully vaccinated.
77.7% of community members 12+ have been fully vaccinated.
Wishing our community a safe, happy and healthy holiday season! We are grateful for our healthcare heroes who are still in the midst of battling the virus and caring for seriously ill patients. May we all take actions to protect ourselves and each other.
MVC Insider Season 3
Episode 1: Erle Stanley Gardner
Starting Friday, January 24, 2022 @ 10am
Fridays @ 10am on Facebook Live
We are officially back with Season 3 of “MVC Insider”! Join us on Facebook Live for the first episode of MVC Insider this Friday, December 24, 2022 at 10am! Mark your calendars and tune-in on Facebook Live for the next five Fridays at 10am.
Krystell Jimenez, Project Archivist, uncovers relics from the John C. Orr Collection pertaining to the prolific novelist and Ventura County native Erle Stanley Gardner who wrote the popular Perry Mason series
Over 900 farmworker families received close to 3,000 toys and nearly 1,200 boxes of food yesterday thanks to an amazing first-time collaboration among Ventura County Fire Department, our Farmworker Resource Program, and Food Share of Ventura County! We are so grateful for the generosity of our community! There is still time to participate in Spark of Love Toy Drive.
Ventura County Public Health will begin offering residents two $25 gift cards ($50) who get a second COVID vaccine dose starting December 14, while supplies last. Residents receiving a first dose will continue to receive one $25 gift card. View Public Health’s vaccine sites here. Shout out to our awesome nurses Ruby (left) and Mallory (right), for their service to our community!
Local PODS Moving and Storage will once again support Food Share Ventura County’s CAN-tree event December 9-12 at Figueroa Plaza – Downtown Ventura. This year marks a special 10-year anniversary celebration.
“We’re proud to partner with Food Share for this annual event to help stock the food bank shelves with the extra canned food donations needed to help families through the holidays,” said Steve Yapp, owner of local PODS Moving and Storage. “Food Share helps thousands of food insecure families every holiday season, and we consider it an honor to be able to support their cause.”
PODS local have been supporting Food Share CAN-tree event programs since its origination in 2011. Each year, the community gathers to build a “forest” of can trees built from donated food that will soon be distributed to families for the holidays.
A confirmed case of the Omicron variant is in California. Californians can protect themselves by getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a mask, getting tested if they have any symptoms and staying home if sick. Get the facts about the Omicron variant here: bit.ly/omicronvariant
Since Wednesday, there are 323 new COVID-19 cases reported and 14,189 new tests performed. There are 36 people hospitalized, 5 in the ICU. There has been 1 new death of a 73 year old female. Our thoughts and sincere condolences to the loved ones of those that have passed away. The R-effective for Ventura County is .88 which means the spread is likely decreasing.
The California Department of Public Health has released a statement about the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. Read it here.
The holiday celebrations started early for children receiving care at the Pediatric Unit at the Ventura County Medical Center! This year the Ventura County Fire Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team used a rope rescue system that allowed them to position Santa Claus on the pediatric level of the hospital where there is an outdoor play area. The rope rescue exercise helped deliver toys to special children and also gave the US&R team valuable training. Join us in dropping off a toy, sporting good or unperishable food at any fire station or participating location to help bring joy to children in need this season. More information at: vcfd.org/sparkoflovedropoff.
Public Health Nurse Mallory Perper and Kyle Culkin of the Emergency Medical Services Agency were among the amazing staff members that made the COVID and Flu Vaccine event at Santa Clara High School in Oxnard over the weekend a great success! Brittany Romane RN BSN of the Public Health Immunization Program is pictured giving both flu and booster shots to Ross Kocen, volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps. Ross has volunteered at vaccination sites since December of 2020 when the first COVID vaccines arrived in our county! Our team continues to work hard to move us forward and we are so grateful!
Dr. Ali Maamar-Tayeb leads the incredible team at the Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital treating patients with some of the most complex neurological cases. We are so proud to have Dr. Maamar-Tayeb on our team and appreciate his work in again achieving the American Heart Association Stroke- Get With The Guidelines- Award! Learn more at www.vchca.org.
COVID-19 Update
As we look ahead toward honoring Veterans Day, United Way of Ventura County continues to prioritize providing critical support to veterans in the Ventura County community through its Landlord Engagement Program (LEP) and rapid response efforts throughout the pandemic and beyond.
When COVID-19 first impacted the Ventura community in 2020, United Way of Ventura County mobilized immediately to secure temporary shelter and daily meals for local veterans and have helped a total of 48 veterans and 26 family members. Additionally, the nonprofit provided more than 3,000 Rapid Response Homeless Care Kits, which were distributed by the Ventura County Healthcare for the Homeless Backpack Medicine Team.
Since Monday, there are 201 new COVID-19 cases reported and 11,964 new tests performed. There are 46 people hospitalized, 6 in the ICU. There have been 4 additional deaths of a 77 year old male, 61 year old male, 64 year old female, and an 85 year old male. Our sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who have passed away.
80.2% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
81.7% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
73.5% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
www.vcrecovers.org
Celebrate National Drive Electric Week by attending an Electric Vehicle 101 webinar, e-biking webinar, Goleta or Oxnard EV showcase, or other virtual or live event. As a long-time electric vehicle driver, I can attest to the many benefits of owning an electric vehicle: significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs, various rebates, incentives, and tax credits, and of course reducing your greenhouse gas emissions! See below for some ways to engage and learn more about electric vehicles:
Class: Still Life in Oil – Essential Skills (Ages 16+)
Four consecutive Saturdays starting Saturday, September 4, 2021, from 11 AM to 2 PM
There are only a few spots left in the four-part Still Life in Oil – Essential Skills course starting Saturday, September 4, at the Santa Paula Art Museum. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to oil paint, or are looking to improve your skills, this is the perfect class for you! Teaching artist Gabriel Islas will break down the theory and process, and provide you with one-on-one guidance. The cost of the four-part class series is $140. All materials will be provided. Preregistration is required.
September 1, 2021 – COVID-19 Update COVID-19 Update Since Tuesday, there are 183 new COVID-19 cases reported and 5,585 new tests performed. There are 124 people hospitalized, 24 in the ICU. There have been 5 additional deaths of a 58…
Since Friday, there are 469 new COVID-19 cases reported and 12,366 new tests performed. There are 134 people hospitalized, 23 in the ICU. There have been 2 additional deaths of a 85 year old male and an 84 year old female. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
76.7% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
78.5% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
68.4% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Anyone age 12 and older can get vaccinated for free in Ventura County. Anyone who is immunocompromised 12 or older can get a booster at any vaccine location.
No appointment is needed at County Public Health vaccine clinics. View the schedule at www.vcrecovers.org/vaccine
Schedule an appointment at MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255
Visit www.vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 to find additional vaccine locations including pharmacies and other health care providers.
Find information about COVID-19 vaccines and testing at www.vcrecovers.org
We sat down with our very valued long-time client and volunteer, Yolanda Duarte, and asked her about her journey with VCCDC. Take a look at her experience below!
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Yolanda and I am a single mom. I’ve been living here in California for 24 years and my dream has always been to own a home. VCCDC helped me to achieve that dream!
Since Friday, there are 701 new COVID-19 cases reported and 12,169 new tests performed. There are 158 people hospitalized, 37 in the ICU. There have been 4 additional deaths of a 81 year old female, 67 year old male, 72 year old male, 63 year old male. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
75.9% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
77.7% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
67.4% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
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 Paul Cordeiro to its Board of Directors.
“Paul’s extensive experience in K-12 education will be a huge asset to our agency,” said Lisa Brabo, FSA Executive Director. “Paul has made substantial improvements to education and positive contributions to the community. We’re very happy he’s joining our board!”
Since Wednesday, there are 224 new COVID-19 cases reported and 4,851 new tests performed. There are 147 people hospitalized, 32 in the ICU. There has been 1 additional death of a 55 year old female. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.
75.4% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
77.3% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
67.0% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.
Over 1 million vaccine doses have been administered to Ventura County residents.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
Leticia, 15, received her second dose over the weekend at the mobile clinic at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Paula. She’s completing the two dose Pfizer series because she wants the protection it offers against COVID-19 illness.
This Thursday evening, we will host our first in-person event in almost two years.
We will be celebrating the educational achievements of eight outstanding women at our annual Women United Education Awards. Please join us at the Camarillo Ranch for this special occasion.
It will be an inspirational evening full of passionate educators, students, and community partners.
As always, the health and safety of our guests is vitally important to us. We will be following and enforcing public health mandates at this event.
Limited tickets are still available.
There are 289 new COVID-19 cases reported since Wednesday and 4,481 new tests performed. There are 123 people hospitalized, 30 in the ICU. There have been 0 additional deaths.
66.3.% of Ventura County’s community members 12+ are fully vaccinated.
California information
64.1% of California community members 12+ are fully vaccinated.
For more information visit www.vcrecovers.org
I was calmly reading an article in my favorite newspaper one morning when I came across the term “pregnant people.” I nearly choked on my coffee. Words get my attention, and I had never in my life seen those two words together.
I started to mumble about “liberals” (although I am one, with conservative leanings). I wondered if this was some far-left conspiracy to ignore womanhood or reduce it to “peoplehood.” Before I went off writing letters to the editor and state representatives or clamoring to appear on talk shows to rant about liberalism gone amok, I thought I had better investigate. I needed to find out what this nomenclature was all about.
Lumina Alliance received $35,000 in funding from the Opportunity to Thrive Initiative and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. This grant will be used to help survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence exiting Lumina Alliance’s emergency shelters overcome barriers to their self?sufficiency.
Rolando, 13 (left) and Diego, 12 (right) got vaccinated last week at the Ventura County Public Health Mobile Vaccination Clinic at the Boys & Girls Club of Fillmore. “To protect our friends and family,” they said.
With cases of COVID-19 rising locally and increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the County of Ventura Public Health Department strongly recommends that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places. This serves as an extra precautionary measure for those who are fully vaccinated and will further limit spread of the Delta variant in the community at large.
“The Delta variant is spreading quickly in our State. All community members should take action to protect themselves and others against this potentially deadly virus,” said County of Ventura Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin. “While vaccines remain our best tool against COVID-19, masking in indoor and crowded outdoor settings will help us curb the spread of this latest wave of infection. Ventura County data have recently shown that unvaccinated people are 22 times more likely to become infected and hospitalized than vaccinated residents. Several of our hospitalized people have been vaccinated and that is several too many.”
“At first I wasn’t for it but then I talked to the nurse on site at the vaccination clinic and she answered some of my questions and I felt more comfortable getting vaccinated. I work with kids at the Boys and Girls Club and I’m glad that now I’m protected and so are they.” Amri Cardenas, 24, from Fillmore got vaccinated this week at the mobile vaccination clinic at the Boys & Girls Club of Fillmore. Thank you Amri for protecting yourself and your community!
Shout out to Emma Cervantes with the Ventura County Public Health Department who has supported COVID-19 response ensuring language access for Spanish and Mixteco-speaking community members. “We as Disaster Service Workers are here to help and support our community especially in times of great need,” said Emma. Thank you, Emma, and all County Disaster Service Workers for helping our community move forward!
COVID-19 Update
Since the last update on Wednesday, June 30, there have been 88 new COVID-19 cases and 12,185 new tests performed. 4 additional deaths of a 70 year old male, 96 year old female, 98 year old female, and a 58 year old male. Our thoughts and sincere condolences to the family and friends of those that have passed away.
70.1% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
62.3% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has been fully vaccinated.
73.0% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
65.8% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has been fully vaccinated.
Getting vaccinated is the best protection against COVID-19 and its variants.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
Please note there have been changes to the hours of operation.
Vaccination clinics will be closed on Monday, July 5 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday
Ventura County Fairgrounds (Now closed)
North Oxnard – Public Health
2240 E. Gonzales Rd, Suite 140
Oxnard, CA 93036
Walk-in hours: Monday-Friday 10:30am-4:30pm. Open until 6:30pm on Thursdays.
Vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen
Oxnard Rose Avenue (New hours of operation)
(Babies R Us Building)
2340 N Rose Ave, Oxnard, CA 93030
Walk-in hours: Tuesday-Friday 11:00am-6:30pm, Saturday 9:00am-4:30pm
Vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Now offering Janssen)
South Oxnard C Street
(Tent in the parking lot, near Las Islas Clinic)
2500 S. C Street, Oxnard CA, 93033
Walk-in hours: Monday-Friday 10:30am-4:30pm
Vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen
Oxnard College (New hours of operation)
3250 S Rose Ave., Oxnard, CA 93033
Walk-in hours: 9:00am-5:30pm Saturday-Monday, 12:00pm-7:30pm Thursday-Friday
Vaccine: Pfizer and Janssen (Now offering Janssen)
*State operated.
Closed on July 4
Anyone in need of a second dose does not need an appointment to get vaccinated at the above clinics. Please be sure to select a clinic offering the vaccine you received for your first dose.
For more information, visit https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/
Reina (left) and Blake (right) got vaccinated at the De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts (DATA) Middle School Mobile Vaccine Clinic in Ventura recently. Reina just finished the 9th grade and Blake is in middle school. They were both happy to be getting vaccinated in time for the summer. Thank you Reina and Blake for getting vaccinated to protect our community!
This month we celebrate the accomplishments of our incredible Camino Scholars graduates! Read more about their next steps and make your gift to support future generations of students.
Desde la última actualización del 3 de junio de 2021, hay 93 nuevos casos de COVID-19 y 13,994 pruebas adicionales. Ha habido 2 muertes adicionales. Nuestro más sentido pésame a los seres queridos de los fallecidos.
… “If everyone had had the same opportunities to shelter at home, use personal protective equipment, get tested, and see a doctor at the first possible symptoms, there would have been very little difference between the state’s R/E groups,” said David E. Hayes-Bautista, Distinguished Professor of Medicine with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Director of CESLAC.
The Latino death rate, for example, went from merely twice as high as the NHW death rate in May 2020, to nearly six times as high by April 2021. With some minor variations, all other non-white R/E groups showed similar, growing disparities, resulting in higher and higher death rates.
Gabriel Ramirez served as a Disaster Service Worker and is now returning entirely to his duties at the Public Works Agency as an Engineering Tech, where he focuses on research and development in the areas of geographic Information systems, computer programming, remote sensing, and video development.
He has been an important part of COVID-19 response including supervising a testing site at the start of the pandemic. As a videographer, Gabriel has also been helping to share important messages with our diverse community in Ventura County. He is pictured above filming Euclides del Moral, head of the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, encouraging the community to get vaccinated.
We thank County Disaster Service Workers, like Gabriel, who have helped us get through the pandemic. We are so grateful for their service to our community.
Child care is critical to Santa Barbara County’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This past year has highlighted how child care is a pillar of our national and local infrastructure, and has exposed unsustainable vulnerabilities and inequities that existed pre-pandemic. Santa Barbara County’s already fragile child care system needs a stronger infrastructure to ride out and recover from this pandemic as well as to ensure preparedness for the next emergency.
Patty Zoll, from the county’s Human Resources Department, was among the amazing team of Disaster Service Workers (pictured above) at the Ventura County Fairgrounds COVID-19 vaccine clinic until May 10. Like all Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), she paused her regular work in Training and Development to respond to the pandemic. When the days were heavy, she reminded herself that DSWs are a part of history in helping Ventura County access vaccines and end the COVID-19 pandemic. She is pictured here with the DSW crew from the Fairgrounds that became “like family.”
Californians in farmworker communities gathered Thursday online as well as in-person, calling on the state and county governments to web-post advance warning of agricultural pesticide use, citing the known health impacts of pesticide exposure and the tendency of pesticides to drift far from where they are applied. Currently, no notice is provided to the public. Advocates say that knowing in advance about hazardous chemical use near homes and schools would enable residents to take steps to protect themselves and their families from harm.
As of May 27, 2021, the COVID-19 email updates will be sent on Tuesdays and Thursdays or when there is a significant COVID-19 announcement. COVID-19 metrics continue to be updated daily at www.venturacountyrecovers.org.
On Friday, May 21, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) announced the 10 winners of the 2021 Spirit of Entrepreneurship (SOE) Awards at a virtual event celebrating outstanding women business owners from Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Learn more at Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards.
“The SOE Awards are a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and honor these amazing women for the hard work they have put in to keep their businesses thriving. This year’s winners are even more inspirational when you factor in the challenges presented throughout the past year,” said Kathy Odell, CEO of WEV.
We are thrilled to introduce to you the
2021 Emerging Leaders in the Arts (ELA) fellows!
This nine-month-long experience-based fellowship provides professional development training to undergraduate students who identify as people of color. With a long-term goal of diversifying art museum leadership, this fellowship includes:
