Due to unforeseen circumstances outside of Ventura Music Festival’s control, the July 25th Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert and opening act from The Barrelhouse Wailers will now take place indoors at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center (PAC). While this new location means a smaller audience capacity, it also ensures a more comfortable and intimate show experience for everyone. Here’s what you need to know:
VENTURA — Elected officials and leaders from across Ventura County gathered (June 27) to address growing concerns about unjust immigration enforcement and reaffirm the community’s values of inclusion and justice. Speaking directly to Ventura’s immigrant community and the broader public, the event highlighted local leadership’s commitment to humane policy, community protection, and civil rights defense for all.
Speakers at the event included Vianey Lopez, County Supervisor, District 5, FatherTom Elewaut, Pastor of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, David Newman, Mayor, City of Thousand Oaks, Bruce Stenslie, President/CEO, Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), Gabe Teran, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Oxnard, Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller, Temple Beth Torah, Dr. Martita Martinez-Bravo, PsyD, Councilmember, City of Camarillo and Executive Director, Friends of Fieldworkers, Dr. Felix Nuñez, CEO, Gold Coast Health Plan, Helen McGrath, fifth-generation member of the McGrath farming family and Dr. Ana DeGenna, Superintendent, Oxnard School District.
As families in Ventura County are looking forward to celebrating America’s birthday during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, it’s important to know that it’s OK to have fun under the sun, but without putting your health at risk and causing long-lasting injuries.
That’s especially true when it comes to fireworks, grilling and drinking alcohol, according to health experts.
“Celebrating the Fourth of July holiday is a special time many of us treasure dearly and look forward to every year,” said Dr. Juan Cruz, an internal medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente in Oxnard. “But I can’t stress enough the importance of celebrating responsibly and keeping safety in mind to ensure this festive holiday will be accident- and injury-free.”
VENTURA — As Independence Day celebrations approach, the Ventura Police Department (VPD) is ramping up efforts to prevent illegal fireworks activity by increasing patrols and expanding the use of drone technology for the second consecutive year.
This proactive enforcement strategy builds on the success of 2024, when the department responded to over 300 fireworks-related 911 calls and issued $9,000 in citations through drone deployments that helped pinpoint illegal activity in real time.
SANTA BARBARA — The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) invites the community to celebrate Independence Day with a free, family-friendly concert featuring Santa Barbara’s beloved 80-member Prime Time Band on Friday, July 4th at 5:00 PM at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens (1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101).
Enjoy an uplifting afternoon of music that honors the spirit of freedom and the heroes who defend it. The concert program includes stirring tributes to military valor—with iconic themes from Band of Brothers and Top Gun—as well as fan-favorite selections from Wicked, How to Train Your Dragon, The Magnificent Seven, and classic patriotic sing-alongs.
Bilingual theater course for girls and boys during which they will create an original story inspired by the characters of El Chavo del Ocho
SANTA PAULA — Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC), 705 E. Santa Barbara St., will participate in Bissell Pet Foundation’s Summer 2025 National Empty the Shelters Event from July 5-19, 2025, offering no-cost adoptions for dogs and cats, six months and older. All adoptable pets will be spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated up to date.
BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelter, the nation’s largest funded adoption event – returns this summer from July 5-19, 2025. This lifesaving initiative helps make adoption more affordable by sponsoring reduced fees of $70 or less. Since 2016, Empty the Shelters has helped more than 324,000 pets find loving homes.
“Shelters across the country are once again at a breaking point. They are facing record intakes and limited space. Too often, loving, healthy pets are at risk, but our communities hold the key to their future,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Our Summer National Empty the Shelters is more than an adoption event—it’s a movement to support local shelters and save lives together. It’s an opportunity to change a pet’s life—and your own. Together, we can give every pet the future they deserve.”
We have come so far together! With you, we celebrate our 80th anniversary this year.Since opening our doors in April 1945, United Way has become a driving force for local impact — helping tens of thousands of residents rise above poverty, gain access to housing, education, and health services — all to build better futures.
To mark this milestone, we are hosting a special 80th Anniversary edition of our annual Spirit Awards Gala on Saturday, August 23, recognizing the people and partnerships that have fueled its mission — and inviting the community to shape its future. The more of you that are there, the more to celebrate!
VENTURA — This July, the City of Ventura proudly joins communities across the country in celebrating the 40th anniversary of National Park and Recreation Month. This year’s theme, “Build Together, Play Together,” shines a spotlight on the vital role that local parks, open spaces, and recreational programs play in creating a strong, healthy, and connected community.
Help United Way of Ventura County provide backpacks with essential school supplies for 1,000 local homeless youth
SUPPORT OUR ONLINE SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
Our online school supply drive closes on Wednesday, July 9th. When you purchase supplies online through Roonga, the donations will be shipped directly to us to fill backpacks for at-risk students in Ventura County. Our Roonga Drive includes a bundle where you can purchase a brand-new backpack filled with school supplies for $21.30. For less than $22, you can help pave the path to academic success for a homeless student. Click the link here or scan the QR code below to purchase supplies to donate. Thank you so much to those who have already donated!
Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM Members • $10 Non-members
Join us for the premiere of “Celebrating Nature: Paintings by Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore,” a vibrant exhibition that showcases the wild and breathtaking spirit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The show kicks off with a premiere party on Saturday, July 12. Mingle with the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and be among the first to view (and purchase!) stunning original artworks.
The exhibit features 42 original paintings by artists Robin Angelides, Ruth Askren, Liz Blum, Steve Brown, John von Buelow, Larry Deeds, Jessica Falcone, Karen Fedderson, Susan Flanigan, Marian Fortunati, Barbara Freund, Carole Garland, Russell Hunziker, Virginia Kamhi, Nora Koerber, Timothy Kitz, Monica List, Nathan Mellott, Jane Mick, Rachel Sylvers, Bonnie Taylor, Laura Wambsgans, and Sharon Weaver.
“Celebrating Nature” will be on view from July 12 to November 9, 2025.
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.
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
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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.
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is proud to announce the acceptance of two leadership staff into prestigious national leadership programs and the addition of two exceptional women to its Board of Directors, deepening the organization’s commitment to strong, smart, and bold leadership at every level.
Melissa Cornejo, Campus-Based Program Manager at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, has been selected to join the newest cohort of the Girls Inc. National Leadership Accelerator Program—an intensive, year-long professional development experience designed to strengthen leadership across the Girls Inc. network. This program supports and cultivates the next generation of organizational leaders through targeted learning opportunities, collaborative peer communities, and hands-on skill-building to expand each participant’s leadership capacity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Join us for an unforgettable evening Sept. 25) as we celebrate the 50th anniversary
of El Concilio Family Services recognizing our legacy of empowering families, bridging communities, and creating brighter futures through citizenship, immigration services and youth leadership development. And recognizing the outstanding Latino Leadership Honorees for 2025.
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.
“We’re very excited to welcome Ronald Miller to our team as he steps into this important leadership role,” shared 4th District Supervisor, Janice Parvin, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We’re confident that his longstanding experience and proven leadership will guide the agency forward with success. His deep commitment to community investment, combined with an extensive career in law enforcement, makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead the Ventura County Probation Agency.”
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…
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!
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.
The Summer Celebration will be held at the Ventura County Agricultural Museum in Santa Paula. Guests will enjoy the flavors of summer with brunch stations, appetizers, and locally crafted beverages curated by Seasons Catering—featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients from SEEAG’s farm partners and artisanal products from Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Attendees can learn about SEEAG’s programs, be the first to view its vision for its new farm campus, explore the museum’s current exhibition, enjoy live music, and participate in a live auction.
SANTA BARBARA — The Music Academy of the West is thrilled to announce that Min Joo Yi has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Solo Piano Concerto Competition, held on June 20 at Hahn Hall as part of the Music Academy’s 2025 Summer Music Festival & School.
Min Joo Yi captivated the audience and a panel of judges with a commanding interpretation of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37, earning the opportunity to perform as part of the Santa Barbara Symphony’s Beethoven Piano Concerto Marathon on Saturday, January 17, 2026 — the first concert in a two-concert weekend showcasing all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos, each performed by a winner of an international piano competition. In addition to this prestigious performance opportunity, the winner receives a $2,500 award from the Music Academy.
An expanded exhibition at San Diego’s Museum of Us revisits Fulbeck’s landmark portraits and the evolving identities behind them.
VENTURA — The Ventura Improv Company (VIC), making audiences laugh with made-up-on-the-spot comedy since 1989, is happily at home at NAMBA Performing Arts Space these days.
Closing the theater space in 2017 and losing long-time Artistic Director Gary Best in 2023 were two challenges that almost silenced the group permanently. But then, not wanting to end the run just yet, Judy Gottlieb stepped in.
“We already had a new home at NAMBA,” says Gottlieb, a long-time performer and current Artistic Director of the VIC. “Our monthly shows continue to draw audiences, and our drop-in improv workshops started to grow. I felt like it wasn’t time to quit.”
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
United Way’s Stuff the Bus campaign aims to increase school readiness of homeless youth and lessen the financial burden of back-to-school expenses on their families. Over 8,000 youth have been identified as homeless in Ventura County. The average cost for back-to-school supplies for one child is almost $600, which can be a challenge for low-income families.
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.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura is thrilled to officially open Marina Park’s new playground, delivering a modern and thoughtfully designed play space for the Pierpont Bay community and surrounding areas.
Local dignitaries, City staff, project partners, and community members gathered on Tuesday, June 24, for a celebratory ribbon-cutting to commemorate this exciting milestone.
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.
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!”
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.”
Hard to believe, but another academic year has come to a close. Just a few weeks ago, School of Management undergraduate and graduate students walked the stage at Cal Lutheran’s annual Commencement on our beautiful Thousand Oaks campus.
They worked tirelessly to reach this milestone, and for many, the experience was bittersweet. During their time at Cal Lutheran, the School of Management has become a home — a place where they found their tribe, discovered their calling, built skills that will stay with them for life. Now, they look ahead with excitement: to entry-level opportunities in the corporate or nonprofit worlds, to promotions at their current organizations, or to further study in graduate programs. Whatever comes next, we are proud of them and remain committed to supporting each one of them every step of the way.
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
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.
CAMARILLO — A crisis that began with the Los Angeles fires came full circle this week with a CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Environmental Science & Resource (ESRM) faculty member, his students, and other agencies and organizations returning endangered fish back to a safe environment after five months.
On June 17, ESRM faculty member Brenton Spies and students from a CSUCI summer research program helped to return Northern tidewater gobies back into the Topanga Lagoon after the fish spent five months in two Southern California aquariums, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and Heal the Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica.
“The fish are doing really well,” Spies said. “They were kind of on a vacation, getting fed twice a day, with no stress of predators.”
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.
Reminder: pre-applications due Tuesday, June 24 at 5PM
Recordatorio: pre-solicitudes deben entregarse el martes 24 de junio a las 5PM
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…
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!
United Way’s Stuff the Bus campaign aims to increase school readiness of homeless youth and lessen the financial burden of back-to-school expenses on their families. Over 8,000 youth have been identified as homeless in Ventura County. The average cost for back-to-school supplies for one child is almost $600, which can be a challenge for low-income families.
Studies show that barriers to school readiness can lead to increased absenteeism, developmental delays, poor literacy, and decreased emotional well-being. Students who come from low-income families are also seven times more likely to drop out of school than those from families with higher incomes.
New school supplies are essential for a student’s success in school. By providing homeless students with essential school supplies, our campaign helps pave the path to academic success by ensuring that students start the school year with the tools they need to learn. With your support, we can increase school readiness among homeless youth in our community and help them stay in school.
SANTA BARBARA — As layoffs and “return-to-work” mandates increase, more people are forging careers as independent contractors and entrepreneurs. Workzones, a premier coworking community located in downtown Santa Barbara, is playing a pivotal role in this transformation, not just a provider of flexible office spaces, but also as a supportive launchpad for the region’s startups.
For more than a decade, Workzones has served the Santa Barbara independent worker and business community by offering shared co-working facilities, flexible private offices and meeting and event space. More recently, the company has expanded its offerings to meet the growing demand for mentorship and support among startups and fledgling entrepreneurs.
SANTA BARBARA — The A.T. Still University Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) program has two incoming students at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics. (SBNC). The program seeks students who align with their mission and whose personal goals include serving diverse medically underserved populations and who are professional, culturally humble, and have a desire to serve these communities. Applicants who are first-generation college students will also be given special consideration in the review process.
Gabriel Estrada has gained firsthand medical experience as a medical assistant at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics for three years. The UCSB graduate earned a degree in Biological Sciences in 2022. He learned that SBNC had become affiliated with the A.T. Still CCPA program and believed that, for him, the PA route was preferable to medical school.
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is pleased to announce the commencement of construction on the highly anticipated Physical Education Replacement Building Project, beginning Monday, June 16, 2025. This significant milestone marks the start of the (soft) demolition, abatement, and general construction mobilization efforts on campus.
To ensure safety and visibility, fencing will be installed around the construction zone, showcasing architectural renderings of the new facility along with a QR code directing viewers to the official project website: sbcc.edu/measure-p/physical-education-building-replacement
