2024 Pacific Coast Business Times Startup Village and Innovation Awards
The School of Management demonstrated a strong presence at the 2024 Pacific Coast Business Times Startup Village and Innovation Awards. On March 28, multiple SOM startups showcased their innovative businesses, including recipients of the Dorfman Incubator Grant:
“The reopening of the Ventura Pier marks a celebratory moment for our community. I am thankful for the swift, coordinated efforts of city staff, the County of Ventura, various state agencies, and our community partners like the Ventura Port District—Harbor Patrol, the Coastal Commission, State Parks, and Pier into the Future,” commented Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder. “Their hard work has ensured the pier’s safety with effective emergency responses, debris clearance, and coastal mitigation efforts and helped preserve an essential piece of our local heritage. We eagerly anticipate welcoming the community back to this cherished landmark.”
Researchers explore the connections, and disconnects, between public beliefs about climate change and climate action.
… Cal-SOAP is dedicated to improving access to higher education for students from groups that are underrepresented in colleges. CommUnify has operated the Cal-SOAP program since 2011, employing local college students to work as tutors and peer mentors, providing advice and guidance to younger students.
The program also provides financial aid and college access workshops to help students and their families understand, apply, and enroll in college. Students are also able to participate in field trips to college campuses and receive tutoring services to help prepare them for college.
Launched in response to the financial challenges faced by local families, particularly exacerbated by the pandemic, ¡Listos! Smart & Ready has empowered parents with crucial financial skills through bilingual financial literacy classes. Topics covered include budgeting, saving, and investing. In its first year, the program provided scholarship assistance to 33 families, who have benefitted greatly from the initiative. Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting significant improvements in their financial well-being.
MONTECITO — Local realtor, investor and entrepreneur Kim Stone will take over as president of the Montecito Rotary Club beginning July 1.
Stone, a long-timer Rotary member who has led multiple service projects for the organization, will succeed Tony Morris, who is stepping down from the club after a two-year term. Founded in 1953, the Rotary Club of Montecito has developed projects and provided service to the community and the wider world for more than 70 years.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Tony for his outstanding service and exceptional dedication,” Stone said. “I’m excited and honored to play a leadership role in this incredible organization, and I look forward to sharing the magic of Rotary with everyone.”
Let’s Celebrate our Friend
Margaret Cortese
Historic Director of Teatro de las Américas.
The party will be held Saturday June 29 From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. At Teatro’s facilities at
321 W. 6th Street, Oxnard, CA
Please bring a dish to share
My heart was broken to hear of the death of one of our local youth as the result of a train strike last week. This is a horrifying accident, and as a parent, it deeply pains me to imagine the grief that this young man’s loved ones are going through right now.
The County Behavioral Wellness team is offering resources and supportfor anyone who is affected by this tragedy. The Community Wellness Team can be reached at 805-364-2750.
Over 7,500 youth have been identified as homeless in Ventura County. At United Way, our mission is to ensure youth in our community are college and career ready. Support our 2024 Stuff the Bus campaign and help us reach our goal of providing 2,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to local students experiencing homelessness. You can help pave the path to academic success.
El Rio Will Soon Have Sidewalks: Update on Agenda Item 49
The Board unanimously approved the Ventura County Public Works Agency’s plan to move forward with the El Rio Pedestrian Improvement Project.
This project will bring sidewalks to the neighborhood, making the area safer and it will improve drainage issues for the community.
PWA will award a contract this month, with construction beginning this July.
The project is expected to be completed — by March of 2025.
The video aims to shed light on the truth about the lives of these undocumented immigrants and their communities, which have been unfairly targeted with misinformation. Understanding the demographic profiles of these communities is essential as it brings relevant issues to the forefront of our minds and helps dispel the myths spread to discredit them. We invite you to watch this informative video, which demonstrates how understanding the demographic profile of undocumented immigrants reveals their interconnectedness with Californians. Stay tuned for more insightful news and information.
VENTURA — Mary Maranville, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is stepping down from the leadership role effective June 30. Maranville will become SEEAG’s major gifts grant writer. Caitlin Case, formerly SEEAG’s marketing director, has been named executive director.
Maranville started SEEAG 16 years ago. During that time, SEEAG has taught over 100,000 elementary school students in Central and Southern California about the origins of their food and healthy eating. SEEAG provides classroom learning as well as field trips to its Farm Labs at area farms. “The students I taught in 2008 are 24 years old now. My hope is, as adults, they remember their field trips and will be strong supporters of our farms and agriculture,” says Maranville.
Saturday, June 22, 2024 • 12 PM to 1:15 PM
Free for everyone
Acclaimed Ventura artist and retired Ventura College art professor Hiroko Yoshimoto invites you to her free lecture on the history of Chinese characters from the Han period and how they derived from pictographs. The lecture will be hosted inside the Santa Paula Art Museum’s Cole Creativity Center (123 N 10th Street). Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County (MVC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Bonita C. McFarland Scholarship for the Visual Arts. This year, a total of $11,000 has been awarded to four promising art students from Ventura County. Artworks by our four finalists are currently exhibited in MVC’s Helen Yunker Alcove, on view from June 8 to October 13.
MVC’s Fine Arts Committee selected four finalists and three honorable mentions from a competitive pool of applicants. The 2024 winning finalist portfolios belong to: Emmalynn Tsai (Oak Park), Audrey Abbe (Ventura), Jami Chambers (Ventura), and Wren Stepan (Ventura). Honorable mention portfolios belong to: Angel Gabriel Garcia (Oxnard), Gabriella Mortillaro (Oak Park), and Wylde Brandt (Ventura).
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, in concurrence with the County Executive Officer and the Health Care Agency Director, has appointed Dr. Loretta Denering the new Behavioral Health Director. The appointment follows an extensive recruitment process that included both internal and external candidates and attracted more than 50 applicants.
“Dr. Denering brings a wealth of experience to the position and her extensive understanding of both the public and private sectors will continue to be an invaluable asset to the Behavioral Health Department,” said Dr. Sevet Johnson, County Executive Officer. “Dr. Denering has led with vision as the Interim Behavioral Health Director, and we look forward to her continued good work. Her experience and dedication to serving the residents of our community, while navigating complex state and federal behavioral health requirements, will ensure the essential continuity of services for patients and continued excellence in care for our community.”
Professor and historian Giuliana Perrone discusses her new research in the context of Juneteenth and the latest from California’s reparations task force.
AGOURA HILLS — On May 20, three “Be Like Carter” scholarships were awarded to Agoura High School students. The scholarships are given out twice a year in memory of Carter Stone, an incoming first-year student at Agoura High who passed away in 2022 unexpectedly just before the start of the school year and after making the football team.
The scholarship winners are senior Michael Sieber, a defensive player and long-snapper for the Agoura High School football team, eleventh grader Hannah Thompson, a varsity soccer player and eleventh grader Brady Russ, a third-year varsity member of the school’s lacrosse team and team captain.
Scholarship winners are selected based on character traits they display on and off the field: work hard, be true, be humble, be kind.
Dear Ventura County Community Foundation Family,
As a longtime partner with the County of Ventura, VCCF wants to celebrate our latest collaboration to facilitate investment and technical support to our local community’s arts and culture nonprofit organizations.
These groups’ primary mission is to promote, preserve, and enrich the cultural and artistic aspects of our society. They are committed to advancing creativity, fostering cultural understanding, and contributing to the overall well-being of Ventura County residents, while offering platforms for artistic expression, innovation, and promoting a deeper understanding of our shared world.
As a result of the leadership of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Officer, our County has made an unprecedented investment of $1.3 million in our community’s arts and culture organizations, independent artists, and art projects. This investment led to the establishment of the Ventura County Arts and Culture Investment Fund at VCCF, and for the County to engage VCCF to manage this grant program for nonprofit organizations, with $600,000 of the overall County investment funding.
Fellows during their Backpacking Trip, Photo Credit Rob Balloch *** Becarios durante su viaje de mochilero, Crédito de Foto Rob Balloch.
SANTA BARBARA — REACH Fellowship, a leading organization dedicated to empowering students through educational and experiential learning opportunities, is thrilled to announce their summer trips designed to inspire and educate the participants in the program, referred to as Fellows. This year, REACH Fellows will attend a variety of enriching trips, including college tours, backpacking adventures, and culminating experiential trips, both international and domestic. REACH staff carefully select these Fellows during the fall of their junior year of high school through a rigorous selection process, and each cohort is supported through the summer of their first year of college. The primary goal of the program is to support first-generation, low- to moderate-income students in Santa Barbara County. REACH is able to fund the program, these trips, and other workshops through the support of the Audacious Foundation and other generous donors. This support enables us to offer the program to students at no cost to them or their families.
A recent report from one of our most treasured local radio stations, KCLU, describes a Ventura County Sheriff’s program that graciously rewards kids who are “caught” following safety rules or doing good deeds, such as opening doors for people. The name of the program is “Operation Chill.”
The concept is laudatory. It demonstrates to the citizenry, especially children, that our sheriffs are not interested only in arresting people who do bad things. The program teaches children that being safe and helping others is noticed by responsible adults who admire this behavior.
The problem, however, is the nature of the “reward.”
From our Summer festival concerts to music camp for the kids, there’s something for everyone just around the corner.
This week the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the 2024-2025 County Budget. Due to rising costs and lingering State budget challenges, we took a tough approach this year to limit new expenditures. Despite that, this budget contains a remarkable trend against borrowing from our future. That means continuing to fund our roads to maintain the quality index, continuing homelessness reduction programs, and investing in technology and environmental preservation initiatives to move us closer to meeting climate change goals. Making progress on all of these things will take more than just a couple years of work; they require sustained efforts. Check out the video above to see some of the highlights of the Budget.
Designed for highly motivated students, the first of its kind program in the UC system provides undergraduates with a clearly structured pathway to becoming credentialed K-12 teachers.
Read more about ÉXITO
On view now through Sunday, July 7, 2024
There are less than four weeks left to see “From Field to Frame: The PAC6 Show How It’s Done” at the Santa Paula Art Museum. PAC6 is a group of six women artists from Southern California who travel and paint together across the country. The artists are Linda Brown, Marian Fortunati, Nita Harper, Debra Holladay, Laura Wambsgans, and Sharon Weaver.
VENTURA — Ventura College is proud to announce the 25th Anniversary Reception of its esteemed Paramedic Studies Program. The event will take place on Friday, June 14, 2024, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, CA 93003.
The reception will feature the presentation of Founding Member Awards to Steve Frank and Meredith Mundell, the visionary leaders who were instrumental in establishing the Paramedic Studies Program at Ventura College. Their dedication and foresight have paved the way for countless students to embark on rewarding careers in emergency medical services in Ventura County.
Following the reception, the graduation ceremony for Paramedic Class 27 will be held with keynote speaker Steve Frank addressing the graduates. This year’s class is poised to join the ranks of Ventura College alumni who have consistently demonstrated excellence in their field.
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation presented 421 scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year totaling $636,017 during its 35th Annual Scholarship Awards ceremony, May 16, at the Ventura College Sportsplex Field.
Of the 230 scholarship recipients, many received multiple scholarships. Of the amount awarded, $583,884 went to general scholarships, $29,110 was awarded to students focusing on agriculture, advanced manufacturing, diesel mechanics or veterinary tech careers and $23,023 went to students in paramedic studies.
Continuing students received an average of $2,417 in scholarships while students transferring to four-year universities received an average of $3,557. At a minimum, each student received a $1,000 scholarship.
MOORPARK — Moorpark College has been named a top 10 finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Presented by The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, the $1 million award is the nation’s signature recognition of strong performance among community colleges. The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.
Moorpark College was a finalist in the 2023-24 award cycle, ultimately placing third for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
SANTA BARBARA — DignityMoves, the organization that has partnered with Santa Barbara County and Good Samaritan Shelter, has received tremendous community and philanthropic support in its effort to reduce homelessness and provide essential services to those in need.
DignityMoves’ appreciates one of our early “believers” whose initial support in 2022 of $75,000 provided both credibility and much positive public attention.
With the College of Creative Studies commencement festivities already in the books, eight more ceremonies remain in UC Santa Barbara’s graduation lineup for the Class of 2024.
CAMARILLO — Class of 2019 Political Science alumnus Miriam Herrejon has just started what she calls her “dream job” as a Deputy Labor Commissioner for the State of California.
Nobody is more surprised and thrilled than she is.
“I didn’t even know what the Department of Industrial Relations was,” said Herrejon, 27, who was the first in her family to graduate from college.
Herrejon learned about the position from CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Political Science adjunct professor Tim Allison, J.D., who recognized that his former student would be a perfect fit for job.
“Miriam Herrejon had extensive experience in working with farm labor recruitment, hiring and contract negotiation,” Allison said. “When I heard about this position, I immediately thought of her. She will be incredible as a deputy labor commissioner.”
You’re invited to join us for an Exhibition Opening! We will be celebrating the unveiling of our two new exhibitions: Masters from the Museum of Ventura County Collection and InnoVision: Ventura County Artists to Watch! Join us to enjoy the opening of these unique and innovative art exhibitions, which showcase the past, present, and future of art in Ventura County. Cash bar and food truck, Indulgia, will be available! Dress to impress! This is a FREE community event, please register HERE.
Exhibition Opening made possible in part by Amigo Event Rentals, Hofer Properties, HP Media, In The Mix Events, Kirby Subaru of Ventura, Peirano’s, Ventura Auto Center, Ventura County Balloons, Ventura County Credit Union, and Ventura Spirits.
RSVP TODAY!
They started high school in their bedrooms and at kitchen tables in front of computers, taking classes over Zoom. They’re coming of age at a time when our nation is politically divided, our world is facing war and unrest, and artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of education and work. But the students graduating from Ventura County high schools in 2024 are not deterred. They’re facing the future with a sense of optimism that will take them far as they enter the next stage of their lives.
OXNARD — Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) is inviting the public to its annual Oxnard Guelaguetza Festival, which will be held on June 23, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Plaza Park in Oxnard: 500 S. C Street, Oxnard, CA, 93030.
MICOP was founded in 2001 “to support, organize, and empower the Indigenous immigrant community in California’s Central Coast.” MICOP serves over 12,000 unduplicated Indigenous migrant men, women, and children annually across Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo County. MICOP organizes and trains the indigenous migrant community to become self-sufficient and successful members of the broader community.
View this email in your browser Watch the Highlights of the Conference “Separating Myths From Realities” and Discover the Challenges Undocumented Immigrants Face in California We are delighted to present the fourth short video in our series that brings attention…
The new method finds more extensive and diverse coverage, which is crucial for meeting the goal of protecting 30% of Earth by 2030.
The graduating recruits of Class #24-127 gathered with friends and family to celebrate the completion of more than 871 training hours required to graduate from the academy and enter careers as peace officers. All of the recruits have been hired by Central Coast law enforcement agencies.
“You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished so far,” Atascadero Police Chief Dan Suttles told the graduates. “You’re just starting your careers and are already well-accomplished.”
County Board of Supervisors Budget Hearing Set for
June 11
The County of Santa Barbara has released its Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Check out some of the highlights of the budget by clicking the play button, and join us on June 11 for the County’s Budget Hearing.
Graduating students are employed with local agencies like the San Luis Obispo Fire Department and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
“Be better each and every day,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department Chief Mark Hartwig told the students. “Take a break today and pat yourself on the back. Celebrate for a second, and then set for yourself the next lofty goal.”
LOMPOC — Lompoc is a small city with a big heart for arts and culture. From the historic La Purisima Mission to the vibrant murals of Old Town, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. With a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences, Lompoc is a captivating destination for history buffs, art enthusiasts, or anyone looking for a unique and enriching experience. Let’s dive into the arts and cultural attractions that make Lompoc a can’t-miss city on California’s Central Coast. Visit www.ExploreLompoc.com
This week, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and local fire jurisdictions announced the beginning of the 2024 High Fire Season for all areas of Santa Barbara County.
This is a great reminder of steps you can take to prepare for wildfires:
Maintain Vegetation Clearance: Individuals are advised to maintain proper vegetation clearance around structures to minimize fire risks.
Review and become acquainted with the “Ready! Set! Go!” wildfire action plan, which outlines crucial steps for preparedness and response in the event of a wildfire. For more details, please visit www.sbcfire.com.
Wildfire smoke and ash contain very small particles called particulate matter, which harm the lungs and heart. The best protection against wildfire smoke is to stay indoors as much as possible, ideally in a well-sealed “clean air room” with an air purifier. The Air Pollution Control District (APCD) provides instructions to create a “clean air room” on their website. APCD’s website also provides countywide hourly air quality conditions. People are also encouraged to sign up for Air Quality Alerts issued during wildfires.
CAMARILLO — When CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Art Department Chair Marianne McGrath was first contacted by a representative from the European Cultural Centre in Italy, she thought it was a scam.
“It’s a thing you get in the art world,” McGrath said. “The curator said she saw my work in Denmark last summer and invited to show in their biennial international art show in Venice. She contacted me totally out of the blue. When I realized it was real, I was obviously honored, and then of course, I freaked out.”
McGrath will be showing her work at the 8th edition of the European Cultural Centre (ECC)’s biennial contemporary art exhibition, “Personal Structures,” which will run from April 10 through November 24 in 2026 in parallel to the Venice Biennale. McGrath plans to start working on the exhibition in 2025.
Happening at both the Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center, the workshops will assist new, continuing, and Hancock Promise students with admissions, FAFSA and California Dream Act applications, new student orientation, first-semester planning, class registration, financial aid review, and navigating the myHancock student portal. Campus tours will be offered every 30 minutes, and student success workshops will also be available Tuesdays from 4 – 5 p.m. Bulldog Express additionally offers a “Next Steps Workshop” where students will learn how to get a student ID card, purchase a parking permit, set up their myHancock e-mail address, receive free textbooks, and more.
The Gala raised $325,000 which supports the Music Academy’s full-scholarship program that brings 137 fellows from across the country and around the world to study and perform with world-class teaching artists in Santa Barbara during the annual eight week Summer Festival, benefits the Academy’s Sing! Children’s Chorus of Santa Barbara County youth, and subsidizes 3,000 Community Access Tickets for the Santa Barbara community to attend live performances.
OXNARD — Mona Alvarado Frazier, Oxnard author of “The Garden of Second Chances,” a novel inspired by her career at the California Youth Authority, brings her passion for storytelling and advocacy to her second novel, “A Bridge Home,” a YA historical novel published by Arte Público Press, University of Houston. The story is inspired by the community of La Colonia, where the author grew up, and the establishment of the Third Street Bridge in the early 1970s.
Readers will meet Jacqui Bravo, a determined 17-year-old Mexican American whose journey is marked by the tragic loss of her father in Vietnam. The subsequent financial and emotional hardships unfold against the backdrop of a barrio filled with community, hope, and resilience.
Kids’ Art Fest
Sunday, June 2, 2024 • 11 AM to 3 PM
Free for everyone
Don’t miss Kids’ Art Fest on Sunday, June 2! This free, outdoor event offers playful art activities for children of all ages, plus face painting, giant bubble making, and more. Best of all, admission is free for everyone. Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center and a few furry friends will join the fun this year, helping inspire our art projects!
Kids’ Art Fest 2024 is sponsored by Calavo, Brianne McGrath, Santa Paula Latino Town Hall, Rotary Club of Santa Paula, and Palazzio Events.
VENTURA COUNTY — Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, is pleased to announce that Daniel Cook from Adolfo Camarillo High School (ACHS) in the Oxnard Union High School District is the 2024 Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Cook found out about the honor today when a group of local education officials made a surprise visit to the campus in Camarillo.
“Our department strives for excellence in the work we do,” said Department Director Marcus Mitchell. “This prestigious honor highlights the dedication of our incredible team and the importance of child support in families’ lives. We continue proudly serving our community, remaining innovative in our approach and working to ensure children receive consistent emotional and financial support from both parents.”
LOS ANGELES – On May 28 Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail provider, made summer travel more convenient and affordable with the return of its $15 Summer Day Pass. The seasonal weekday promotion was first introduced in 2022 and offers unlimited rides on Metrolink’s system on the day of purchase.
“The possibilities are endless with Metrolink’s $15 Summer Day Pass,” Metrolink Board Second Vice-Chair and City of Jurupa Valley Mayor Pro-Tem Brian Berkson said. “If you’re traveling for business or recreation, no matter how you plan to spend your day, the pass is a budget-friendly option that lets you navigate Southern California with ease. It’s also a win for families looking for fun and memorable ways to spend the summer break months.”
We are delighted to present the third short video in our series that brings attention to the central themes of the recent conference, “Separating Myths from Realities,” hosted by the Center for Economics of Social Issues. Our third video focuses on the vital topic of “Degradation of Undocumented Immigrants”, containing key insights from our esteemed presenter and panelists.
