Category: Youth

Ventura College Foundation Revises Scholarship Application Requirements; Removes Barriers To Applying

The Ventura College Foundation has revised its scholarship application requirements. The changes are designed to remove barriers to applying. The revisions were approved by the foundation board and are effective immediately.

“We reviewed our scholarship program outcome data, researched best practices for scholarship providers along the lines of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and conducted a student forum to receive feedback from students who had previously gone through the scholarship application process. We heard from many that the old requirements presented unrealistic barriers that prevented them from applying,” says Amy Cherot, chair of the foundation’s Scholarships & Grants Committee.  “We’re always looking for ways to better serve Ventura College students and to improve diversity and equity in our scholarship application process.”

One of the significant changes to the scholarship application requirements is that instead of requiring applicants to have completed 12 Ventura College credits by the end of the fall semester in which they are applying, they will have had to complete at least six credits. Credits earned in previous semesters at the college count toward the minimum unit requirement.

United Way of Santa Barbara Board of Directors Welcomes Shari Liu Fellows

United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) Board of Directors welcomes Shari Liu Fellows to their team. Shari is a professional journalist and event producer with over 20 years of experience in the luxury lifestyle and media sectors. Starting out in modeling and fashion publishing, her work has since taken her around the globe, producing and conducting thousands of events and interviews with an extensive portfolio of clientele. 

Blanca Mejia Joins Family Service Agency Board of Directors

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 Blanca E. Mejia to its Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled Blanca has joined our board,” said Executive Director Lisa Brabo, “Our agency will benefit from her background in law and her understanding of the Santa Maria community.”

Assemblymember Irwin Announces $1M in Funding for Ventura County Family Justice Center Satellite Office

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks) announced $1 million secured in the 2021-22 State Budget for the expansion of the Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCFJC) into the city of Oxnard.

“The Family Justice Center is something that everyone in Ventura County can take great pride in.  This funding to expand the center into Oxnard means more services and better access to justice for the communities that need this assistance.  Thank you to District Attorney Nasarenko for the foresight to grow this important program,” stated Assemblymember Irwin. 

VCCCD Highlights Retiree Health Benefits and Expanded Learning Opportunities Across Ventura County

Ventura County Community College District will preserve retirees’ comprehensive health benefits, while saving taxpayers $53 million, and Spanish speakers can learn English in Piru, thanks to two of the many actions recently taken by the board of trustees. The board also passed a measure to receive contract funding for workforce development.

The taxpayer savings was noted in the 2021 Actuarial Study of Retiree Health Liabilities from Total Compensation Systems, Inc., which illustrates how the recent transition of purchasing retirees’ medical benefits through California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) saves taxpayer dollars today and into the future through a substantial reduction of the District’s Net Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) liability.

Bilingual report — Pfizer Bio-NTech vaccine available for 5- to 11-year-olds in Ventura County

The Pfizer Bio-NTech vaccine has been approved for 5- to 11-year-olds and may be available in Ventura County beginning today. The California Department of Public Health’s vaccine appointment system, MyTurn.CA.gov, will be updated by tomorrow November 4, and that is when the Ventura County Public Health Department will begin offering the vaccine to this age group. Families are encouraged to contact their medical provider for information about the vaccine. “I welcome the authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and California Department of Public Health of the COVID-19 vaccine for children of five years of age and older. This will protect our children and get us closer to our goal of herd immunity,” said Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin.  

United Way of Santa Barbara Board of Directors Welcomes Tim Armour

United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) Board of Directors welcomes Tim Armour. Tim quickly joined UWSBC’s Marketing & Communications Committee where he has helped enhance UWSBC’s messaging. Armour was born in Santa Barbara and lived in Montecito until his family moved away in 1960. He grew up in Westchester County, NY and graduated from Gettysburg College in 1970 and spent 3 years as a Supply Officer in the U. S. Navy. After receiving an M.B.A. from Columbia University in 1975, he embarked on a marketing career first with General Foods in product management and then with Citibank in NYC and Chicago. He later became President of Stein Roe Mutual Funds in Chicago and President of Morningstar Inc. which went public in 2005. 

New Program Mapper Steers Ventura County Community College Students to a Career

Choosing a major that leads to a rewarding career can be overwhelming for students. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Ventura County Community College District just introduced Program Mapper, an innovative, detailed visual course guide that allows students to explore future work possibilities, while simultaneously showing them the required courses and earning potential for that career.

Developed through a collaboration between California Community Colleges and software developer Concentric Sky, Program Mapper helps students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges visualize their degree or certificate options on a semester-by-semester basis. Organized around areas of interest and grouped by career and academic majors, the new tool guides students through the District’s more than 200 program offerings, while helping them chart a path to completing a degree or certificate.

United Way of Santa Barbara Board of Directors Welcomes Suzanne Birch

United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) Board of Directors welcomes Suzanne Birch. She and her husband, Ed Birch, have a long history with UWSBC. Sue was previously involved in advising the original launch of UWSBC’s United Learning Center and Ed previously served as UWSBC’s Board chairman.  

Sue Birch holds BS and MS degrees from State University of New York and the Ohio State University as well as Educational Computer Certification from UCSB. She has had a long career in Education as a teacher, counselor, computer director and administrator.  

Rob Collins to Resign from Ventura County Board of Education

Veteran educator Rob Collins has announced his resignation from the Ventura County Board of Education. Collins was elected to the board in 2018 for the second time. He had previously served as a board trustee from 2002 to 2004. He also served for twelve years as a trustee for the Simi Valley Unified School District Board of Education and has many years of experience as a classroom teacher and school administrator. Collins was honored as the Simi Valley Teacher of the Year in 1998.

Santa Paula Art Museum — Free Giveaway: Art To-Go Bags on Oct. 30 and more upcoming events

We’re celebrating Día de los Muertos with our community with an extra special, free Art To-Go Bag Giveaway. Drive by the Museum this Saturday at 9 a.m. to pick up free bags filled with fun art making materials (while supplies last). Kids will receive everything they need to create festive art projects at home likepapier maché sugar skulls, papel picado, calavera puppets, paper flowers, and more!

Southeast Ventura County YMCA and Columbia Memorial Space Center Kick Off This Year’s STEM Club For Middle Schoolers

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA and the Columbia Memorial Space Center will begin their STEM Club for local middle schoolers. Meetings begin in November and run through December 16.

Students can sign up to meet in person at the Yarrow Family YMCA after school for 8 to 10 weeks. Students meet on Tuesdays with an additional voluntary meeting on Thursday afternoons.

Department of Education Awards VCCCD Colleges Grants of Nearly $10 Million

Two Ventura County Community College District colleges have received multi-million-dollar federal grants to support STEM programs targeting underrepresented students interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering and math-related fields. A grant for Oxnard College totals $4,901,245, and the grant for Ventura College is $5 million. Both grants are for the period of Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2026.

“For the third consecutive time, the U.S. Department of Education has recognized Oxnard College’s leading work in STEM education through the Hispanic-Serving Institution STEM grant,” shared Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College. “This grant’s renewal will infuse additional resources and staffing into our academic programs, expanding career pathways in STEM for countless Ventura County students and their families. We relish the opportunity to continue this life-changing work for our community.”

October News from People’s Self-Help Housing

Fall is here, and the change in season is evident all around. Leaves are falling, cooler breezes are swirling, daylight is shortening, all signs that change is in the air. Our address has changed too, with the opening of our new corporate office in San Luis Obispo. Keep that contact page for us open though, soon we’ll have another change of address, our new corporate office in Ventura County! Other changes this month see the start of construction of new apartments in Pismo Beach, and first-time home owners completing construction on their self-help houses in King City.

Museum of Ventura County — The 7 New Installations Throughout Downtown Ventura

The Museum of Ventura County is excited to announce a new installation; Women’s Qualities by New York-based artist Ghada Amer. The artwork can be viewed throughout historic Downtown Ventura (see below for detailed list of installations and locations). Women’s Qualities was originally commissioned for Desert X 2021 by Artistic Director Neville Wakefield and Co-curator César García-Alvarez and was installed at Sunnylands Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage in the Coachella Valley.

Ventura College Student Angela Duran Obtains Statewide STEM Scholarship

Ventura College computer science major Angela Duran is one of 11 students statewide to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Chief Information Systems Officers Association (CISOA), a nonprofit organization supporting technology leadership in the California Community College System. Duran was one of the more than 150 applicants from 31 community college districts who applied for the 2021 CISOA Student Scholarship.

Duran has been supported in her educational goals through the college’s Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program, whose mission is to help underserved and underrepresented students be successful in STEM studies and careers.

Museum of Ventura County — Click your treat! Scary Good Dia de los Muertos Museum Events

In celebration of Día de los Muertos, MVC invites you and your family to pick-up a Dia de los Muertos Craft Kit at the Ventura Museum and at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula. The MVC and AG Dia de los Muertos Craft Kits include: “Let’s Learn about Dia de los Muertos”, Mini Skull Book, CalaveraNecklace/Decoration Craft, Ofrenda Word Search, A Letter to the Dead, Dia de los Muertos Coloring Sheets, and Calavera Stickers.

United Way of Ventura County — Nomadland author announced as keynote speaker

We’re excited to announce that the keynote speaker for our 2nd annual homelessness symposium will be Jessica Bruder, author of Nomadland—the book that is the basis for the Oscar-winning film. Please save the date for Friday, February 4, 2022 for this important virtual event.

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is just around the corner, but thanks to your continued generosity, your United Way has been able to navigate this incredibly challenging year. Because of your generosity, our programs have continued to serve those in need. Because of your generosity, our homelessness initiative has exceeded expectations since its launch almost two years ago—supporting individuals, families, seniors, and veterans. Our housing successes include: a veteran undergoing chemotherapy, a single mother seven months pregnant, a senior about to celebrate his birthday after spending the last several birthdays without a home, a mother one month away from reunification with her young son, and a family of six living in a car for months with a medically compromised child.

United Way of Santa Barbara County Hosts 24th Annual Red Feather Reception and raises over $175,000 to Support Educational Programming

United Way of Santa Barbara County Raises over $175,000 to Support Educational Programming   SANTA BARBARA — After hosting a virtual campaign in place of the Red Feather Ball in 2020, United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) returned to an in-person event for…

Ventura College Student Bryan Rodriguez named Student Trustee of VCCCD Board of Trustees

The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees installed Bryan Rodriguez as Student Trustee for the 2021-22 academic year at its Oct. 12 meeting. A Ventura College student, Rodriguez was selected through a districtwide special student election in Sept. He joins the District’s elected board consisting of Chair Joshua Chancer, Vice Chair Dianne B. McKay and Trustees Stan Mantooth, Bernardo M. Perez and Gabriela Torres. 

As the Student Trustee, Rodriguez will represent and advocate for the District’s approximately 31,000 students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges at monthly Board of Trustees’ meetings and other constituent meetings across the District. He will also participate in professional development conferences and assist the board in advocating for the District, both statewide and nationally. 

New development within CSUCI’s University Glen residential community moves ahead

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Site Authority has signed a long-term ground lease with global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson to develop a 32-acre site within the campus’s University Glen residential community.

The development, located directly north of the existing University Glen neighborhood, will include 310 market-rate apartments, 109 for-sale homes, 170 income-restricted apartments for seniors, as well as community-serving amenities.

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Oct. 13, 2021

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

Celebrando a Nuestra Gente– In Conversation with Graciela Casillas on Oct. 13

In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, the County of Ventura Behavioral Health Logrando Bienestar program, in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion presents “Celebrando a Nuestra Gente – In Conversation with Graciela Casillas” a virtual event on October 13, 2021 at 6 pm.

Graciela Casillas, of Oxnard, a Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee, “Women of the Year,” has earned international acclaim as one of the world’s top martial artist, and as a teacher of the art of self-defense. 

Yarrow Family YMCA Flag Football League Taking Sign-Ups

 Yarrow Family YMCA is accepting sign-ups for its Flag Football League. The league will take place Friday nights from January 21 to February 11, 2022. A free flag football clinic will take place Saturday, December 11. League play and the clinic will be at the Westlake Community Park next to Yarrow Family YMCA (31107 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Westlake Village).

The league has four divisions: kindergarten – 1st grade, 2nd and 3rd grade, 4th and 5th grade and 6th and 8th grade. Players may either bring their own team and register individually. Teams consist of five players on the field (up to eight players are allowed on each team).

Santa Paula Art Museum — Fall in Love With Art This Season

Art Class: Monotypes Using Gelatin Plates (Ages 16+)

Thursday, October 21, 2021, from 6 PM to 9 PM

Join teaching artist Mariann Romero inside the Museum’s Cole Creativity Center for a fast, fun, color-filled evening of printmaking! This class is perfect for all skill levels. You’ll learn how to make gelatin plates, and how to use a variety of tools to create expressive imagery in water-based inks. The cost of class is $45, and preregistration is required.

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Oct. 11

Since Friday, there are 253 new COVID-19 cases reported and 13,900 new tests performed. There are 54 people hospitalized, 4 in the ICU. There have been 0 additional deaths.

80.1% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
81.6% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
73.3% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.

Booster shot information
COVID test information (State sites closed on October 11)
Get your flu shot

www.vcrecovers.org

Two CSUCI students who won a Lisagor Fellowship Award believe research skills will serve them throughout their lives

Whether a student decides to conduct research in psychology, biology, computer science or another field, that student will always benefit from learning the research process itself.

That’s according to Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Food Science Terri Lisagor, Ed.D., who—along with her husband Mark Lisagor, D.D.S.—created a fellowship for undergraduate researchers in the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program.

… “Having the opportunity to create my own research questions and take the reins of my own hypotheses was both stressful and invigorating,” said Psychology major Kaylena Mann, who conducted research into psychological testing. “I learned a lot about my own capabilities as a researcher, as well as how exciting this experience can be.”

“The whole eight weeks of SURF and the project challenged me as a student and my abilities as a Computer Science major,” said Desiree Caldera, who conducted research into cybersecurity. “It was rewarding and I can definitely say I cried when I found out I won the fellowship. It meant a lot to be recognized as a woman of color in computer science.”

Speaker Rendon Appointments Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to Cradle-to-Career Data System Governing Board

Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon (on Oct. 7) appointed Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (Thousand Oaks – D) to serve on the Cradle-to-Career Data System Governing Board. Established as part of the 2021-2022 Budget Act, the Cradle-to-Career Data System will link California’s existing education, workforce, financial aid, and social service information. These tools will help students and families more easily navigate the educational pipeline, as well as empower policymakers and educators to address disparities in opportunities and improve outcomes for all students throughout the state.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and associated learning disruptions have made absolutely clear the need for reliable data that spans across educational segments and institutions,” Assemblymember Irwin said. “This data system will be critical in identifying high impact practices, targeting resources where they are most needed to close equity gaps, and ensuring that all students have access to a roadmap for achieving their goals.”

U.S. Department of Education grants CSUCI almost $5 million to diversify and support STEM students

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is launching a new initiative aimed at promoting diversity and enhancing success for students wishing to pursue a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) degree, thanks to an almost $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The competitive $4,999,990 grant, open to the nation’s 569 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI)s, funds Project AYUDAS (Articulating Your Undergraduate Degree & Academic Success in STEM) over a five-year period.

“This is CSUCI’s third U.S. Department of Education STEM grant and continues to work to serve our Latina/o students well by providing the resources necessary for their success,” said Professor of Mathematics Cynthia Wyels, Ph.D., who was part of the team that pursued the grant. “We were eligible to apply for this funding because we are an HSI, but what we can provide with these resources will benefit all of our STEM students.”

People’s Self-Help Housing — We are Building Together!

From apartments to townhomes, studios to single-family properties, we build affordable housing for working families, seniors, veterans, those living with disabilities, and the formerly homeless. In addition to our rental neighborhoods, we promote home ownership opportunities through the self-help housing model.

Local PODS® Contest is Back to Help the Community!

Local PODS® Moving & Storage is teaming up with radio stations?95.1 KBBY and?100.7 KHAY Country?to once again help the local community by awarding one lucky winner a $1,500 cash prize and one local charity will win a matching $1,500 donation. 

“It has been a challenging year for so many people and their families,” said Steve Yapp, owner of Local PODS Moving & Storage. “This contest allows us the opportunity to encourage the community to continue to move forward, as well as bring more awareness and support to our local non-profits.” 

California State University Channel Islands Presidential Search Committee to Hold Virtual Open Forum on Oct. 12

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees is beginning the search for a new president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) to succeed Erika D.  Beck, Ph.D., who became president of California State University, Northridge in January 2021.

The first meeting of the Trustees’ Committee for the Selection of the President will be held in a virtual open forum from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12. During this time, the committee will outline the search process and the community will be invited to share their preferred attributes of the next president of CSUCI. Please note that campus and community members wishing to speak during the virtual open forum and address the committee are required to register in advance, and the deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. Confirmed speakers will receive details about how to participate.

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Sept. 29

Since Monday, there are 234 (140 today) new COVID-19 cases reported and 13,704 new tests performed. There are 63 people hospitalized, 13 in the ICU. There have been 6 additional deaths of a 53 year old male, 68 year old male, 46 year old male, 51 year old male, 50 year old male, and an 87 year old male. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away.

79.3% of Ventura County’s population 12+ has received the first dose.
80.9% of Ventura County’s population 18+ has received the first dose.
72.2% of Ventura County’s population 12+ are fully vaccinated.

96% of total reported COVID-19 deaths in Ventura County were among individuals with comorbidities.

Booster shot information.
COVID test information.
Get your flu shot.

www.vcrecovers.org

City National Bank in Partnership with United Way of Santa Barbara County Provides 100 Free Backpacks to Franklin Elementary School

100 students at Franklin Elementary School received backpacks filled with school supplies compliments of City National Bank in partnership with United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC). These back-to-school backpacks were loaded with tools like markers, pencils, paper, and scissors to help ensure youth have the supplies necessary for a successful school year. City National Bank also provided Franklin Elementary School with a $1,000 Barnes & Noble gift card to fill their library with new books. 

City National Bank has partnered with United Way of Santa Barbara County since 2014 to bring their Back to School Drive program to local students. 

SBCC — The Bridge September 2021 — SBCC welcomes students to campus for Fall term and more news

The Fall 2021 semester began on Aug. 23, providing students with several options for instruction: online, hybrid and in-person classes. While the on-campus experience is a bit different than it was prior to the pandemic, teaching and learning and the delivery of vital support services continues.
In an effort to keep students, faculty and staff safe, certain protocols have been established, including a requirement that all those wishing to enter a college building and/or attend in-person classes must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1.
Learn more…
Click here for information about how SBCC is monitoring and responding to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here for specifics about coming to campus.

Board Chair, Vice-Chair And Board Members Announced By Ventura College Foundation; Two Board Members Added

The Ventura College Foundation Board of Directors selected a new board chair and vice-chair and approved two board members.

The new foundation board chair is Ellyn Dembowski, a Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway in Ventura. She has been on the foundation board for 12 years. “As we get closer to Ventura College’s 100th anniversary in 2025, I’d like to see us take the opportunity to educate the community about what the foundation does,” says Dembowski. “We want to get the word out that students can attend Ventura College tuition-free. The foundation helps with a critical book lending program and provides scholarships to pay for other school and living expenses. We help students and their families build for the future.

Teacher’s Fund “Back-to-School” supplies drive will send $62,000 to local classrooms

Santa Barbara-area teachers welcoming students back to their classroom this fall will do so buoyed by over $62,000 raised by the local non-profit Teacher’s Fund.

This year’s annual Back-to-School Drive was especially meaningful – and needed – as teachers bought new tools, learning materials and otherwise equipped their classrooms for students making the transition back to in-person learning. Community members and local businesses eagerly answered the calls for help, driving the donation total beyond the goal of $60,000.

Lifeguard Certification Course Offered at Triunfo Family YMCA

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is offering a Red Cross lifeguard certification course at its Yarrow Family YMCA branch Saturday and Sunday, September 25 and 26. The two-day program will be held in the Yarrow Y’s indoor pool (31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village).  Class hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Participants must be able to attend both days.

The lifeguard certification class will take place in and out of the pool to practice real-life scenarios. Class members will be trained in CPR/Automated External Defibrillator use and first aid. They will receive the skills to prevent, recognize and tend to injuries until EMS arrive.

William Blunck Named Chief Operating Officer at Southeast Ventura County YMCA

William (Bill) Blunck has been named the Chief Operating Officer at the Southeast Ventura County YMCA.

Blunck has a long history in the recreation, fitness, and nonprofit field beginning as a lifeguard/swim lesson instructor at the age of 16 in Iowa. Other nonprofit roles include a 13-year career with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City where he served as Aquatics Director, Senior Membership Director, Membership Information Director and Executive Director. He was also on launch teams for the opening of five YMCAs during his time in Kansas City. Most recently, he was Director of Trail Point Aquatics & Wellness at Des Moines Area Community College. He led the opening of its 100,000 square foot recreation/student center.

Doug Trapp Joins Ventura Land Trust Board of Trustees

Doug Trapp has joined the Board of Trustees for the Ventura Land Trust. Trapp, a Ventura resident, is a Project Manager with Staples Construction. 

Doug Trapp grew up in the West San Fernando Valley, where he often explored local hills that had no official public access. That experience fueled his desire to support responsible public access to open spaces. 

“The dedication shown by VLT staff and volunteers that I have witnessed since joining the Stewardship Committee in 2019 inspired be to become more involved,” says Trapp. “Ventura is a special place that VLT is working to protect and enhance. I look forward to actively supporting our mission.”

Local artisans to shine at next weekend’s Ventura Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show

Local artists are putting the last-minute touches on their works to showcase October 1-3 when the 49th annual Harvest Festival® Original Art & Craft Show welcomes back attendees to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Family-owned and operated, the beloved tradition returns with local artisans among the nation’s finest artists and crafters eager to showcase their newest creations for a one-of-kind shopping experience unlike any other. 

Following state Covid protocols and safety guidelines, the Festival offers a safe, full day of fun for all ages with more than 24,000 handmade creations from exhibitors, with specialty foods, strolling performers, a Kidszone, demonstrations, contests, and more. 

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Celebrating National Drive Electric Week & More!

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: