Category: Youth

Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center Introduces Titan: The Resilient Pup Adopted, Rehomed, and Abandoned at Another Shelter Has Been Saved Thanks to a Microchip!

by Community Contributor • December 12, 2023 • Comments Off

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC), Ventura’s leading and only no-kill animal shelter, introduces Titan, a remarkable dog with an extraordinary story of resilience and hope. Titan, a 2.5-year-old big-hearted puppy, is patiently awaiting his new chance at a loving forever home, again.

In March of 2022, Titan’s journey began when he was adopted as a 1-year-old adorable, goofy puppy from SPARC and was subsequently adopted into a loving home. Little did anyone know; Titan would then experience unspeakable heartbreak of being bounced around from home to home. But fate had a different plan for Titan, leading him to an unexpected detour that would ultimately bring him right back to SPARC.

CSUCI students headed to Lahaina to do research and help with restoration

by Community Contributor • December 12, 2023 • Comments Off

CAMARILLO — The historic Hawaiian village of Lahaina has been integral to CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) student and faculty research for years. Lahaina has been the base for CSUCI student research led by Professor Emerita and whale biologist Rachel Cartwright, Professor of Mathematics Cindy Wyels, and Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Research Management (ESRM) Clare Steele.

Lahaina is now four months into what will be years of cleanup and restoration following the fires that tore through Maui in early August, causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage, destroying 3,000 structures, and reducing the historic town of Lahaina to smoldering ruins. Several of CSUCI’s non-governmental organizations (NGO) partners lost their homes.

Museum of Ventura County membership donations, survey, upcoming events

by Community Contributor • December 12, 2023 • Comments Off

2024 All-New Membership Perks!

Gift a Membership this Holiday Season

MVC is thrilled to announce the relaunch of its Membership Program, welcoming supporters to join the cultural community and become part of an exciting new chapter at the Museum. MVC’s updated Membership Program features accessible payment options, two new membership levels, and an expanded selection of member events and benefits. View the details HERE.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Clinical trial proves that the ketogenic diet is effective at controlling polycystic kidney disease’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • December 12, 2023 • Comments Off

“I’m really happy about these clinical trial results,” said biologist Thomas Weimbs, whose lab was part of an international collaboration to investigate the effect of the fasting response known as ketosis on the cysts that are the hallmark of the disease.

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) — Make a difference with your year-end gift!

by Community Contributor • December 12, 2023 • Comments Off

Every day, your investments are creating opportunities, changing lives, and strengthening communities throughout the Central Coast of California.

NEW DATE: Dec. 17 – Santa Paddle at Ventura Harbor in Ventura

by Community Contributor • December 11, 2023 • Comments Off

Santa Paddle at Ventura Harbor in Ventura to be held Dec. 17

Bilingual report — 79 students graduate from Hancock nursing programs

by Community Contributor • December 11, 2023 • Comments Off

SANTA MARIA — A total of 79 students graduated from Allan Hancock College’s nursing program on Dec. 7, continuing the college’s legacy of training highly skilled healthcare workers.

The graduating class included 46 graduates from Hancock’s registered nursing program and 33 graduates from the college’s vocational nursing program. The graduates and their families celebrated with a ceremony at the Marian Theatre on the college’s Santa Maria campus. Both groups received commemorative pins marking their accomplishments.

“Training public servants is one of the most important missions of a community college,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “I am honored that our nursing students have chosen this profession.”

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — New Clean Energy Coming Online

by Community Contributor • December 11, 2023 • Comments Off

This week, Central Coast Community Energy 3CE announced signing a contract with Pattern Energy to receive electricity from SunZia Wind, a new renewable energy project in New Mexico that will be 12% of all the power for the 5 counties in our energy provider 3CE. While most of our renewable projects are in California, having a different “load profile” from a project in a neighboring region provides energy that is accessible at different times of the day than we typically get. This is a big deal for our efforts to have more reliability as we get closer to 100% carbon-free energy.

Museum of Ventura County — Last Chance to Double Your Donation!

by Community Contributor • December 11, 2023 • Comments Off

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to double your donation! Any gift received by December 10 will be 100% matched.

Just $15 can open the door to discovery for one child. Imagine the impact we can make by reaching ALL the schools in our County. We’re on a mission to raise $150,000 to double the number of tours and pay for more bus rides.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, has the power to ignite a child’s curiosity, nurture a college student’s career, and shape the future of Ventura County.

Kaiser Permanente donates $10,000 To SEEAG’s Ag-Education Programs

by Community Contributor • December 8, 2023 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Kaiser Permanente presented Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) a $10,000 community health grant during SEEAG’s annual Ventura County Farm Day on November 4. The donation will help fund SEEAG’s Ventura County Youth Wellness Initiative.

SEEAG’s Youth Wellness Initiative addresses the nutrition knowledge gaps and food insecurity among a diverse socioeconomic demographic of students in Ventura County, with a focus on Title 1 elementary schools. SEEAG’s program is designed to inspire and empower students to increase the amount of locally-grown fruits and vegetables they eat while improving overall healthy eating habits and increasing physical activity. Since the program began in 2020, SEEAG has reached 15,500 third graders who participated in hands-on nutrition education during in-class learning and monthly Farm Fresh Wellness Fairs.

SBCC Nursing Program marks endings and new beginnings at Dec. 15 ‘pinning’ ceremony

by Community Contributor • December 8, 2023 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — On Friday, Dec. 15, the most recent cohort of nursing graduates from Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) will formally complete the program with a “pinning” ceremony, earning themselves an Associate Degree in Science in Nursing (ADN). The graduates will have the distinction of completing the program having gone through real-life experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic in the medical field.

This particular cohort – made up of 18 Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) Bridge students and 20 ADN generic students – is special, according to Dept. Chair/Director, Associate Degree Nursing and ADN Program Director Mary Sullivan MSN-Ed, RNC- MNN, as they are “the last group that went through nursing school at SBCC during the full-on Covid-19 pandemic.” Curriculum for the program includes hands-on training at Cottage Hospital, where students and instructors from this cohort experienced varying degrees of challenges and stresses working in the medical field during and after the pandemic.

Bilingual report — A Win for Equitable Park Access: NatureTrack and Wilderness Youth Project Receive Nearly $400,000 through California Natural Resources Agency Grant

by Community Contributor • December 7, 2023 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — In a significant stride toward fostering equitable access to parks and nature, NatureTrack and Wilderness Youth Project have been awarded grants totaling nearly $400,000 through the California Natural Resources Agency’s Youth Community Access program.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Seibel lead the state’s Outdoors For All Strategy, which recently allocated a total of almost $18 million to 71 projects statewide. Notably, two projects in Santa Barbara County—NatureTrack and Wilderness Youth Project—received grants to the tune of nearly $400,000.

Santa Ynez Valley-based NatureTrack received $97,400 to support outdoor field trips for underserved, low-income K-12 students in the north county of Santa Barbara County. Older youth will be recruited from local colleges to work as trip docents.

Museum of Ventura County — Announcing MVC’s NEW 2024 Membership Program!

by Community Contributor • December 7, 2023 • Comments Off

The Museum of Ventura County Relaunches its 100% Tax Deductible Membership Program, Offering Accessible Pricing and Exclusive Benefits

MVC’s updated Membership Program features monthly payment options, two new membership levels, an expanded selection of member events and benefits, exclusive member merchandise, and MORE! As admission fees are reinstated at MVC’s Downtown Ventura campus in 2024, the relaunched Membership Program affords visitors a completely tax-deductible alternative and maintains the institution’s dedication to accessibility.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Modernists defined organic architecture, Helena Arahuete is making it current’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • December 7, 2023 • Comments Off

The Los Angeles-based architect’s 50-year career in organic architecture is the focus of the Art, Design & Architecture Museum’s current exhibition “From Within: The Architecture of Helena Arahuete.”

College-Bound Students Take Campus Tour of CSU Northridge, UCLA, CSU Fullerton, Long Beach State, and CSU Dominguez Hills

by Community Contributor • December 6, 2023 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — Students involved in People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH)’s College Enrollment for Latinas Entering Bright Rewarding Educations (CELEBRE) program recently had the opportunity to visit five colleges in the Los Angeles area.
This college tour saw a group of 14 young women traveling throughout the lower part of the state to visit prestigious schools such as the University of California Los Angeles. The focus of the tour was to highlight the importance of higher learning, spread cultural awareness, and raise political consciousness both in the classrooms and the community.

Courtesy photos.
“For many of our students who can’t image being able to go to college for various reasons, this trip helps to turn an unrealistic dream into a tangible reality by setting foot on the campus and receiving a tour from either a previous CELEBRE student or just someone with a similar background as them,” said Kris Reid, Director of Education. “These field trips can make the difference between being college bound and being a dreamer.”

Island Packers announces Holiday Cruises for 2023 Parade of Lights, Harbor Lights, and Whale Watching

by Community Contributor • December 6, 2023 • Comments Off

VENTURA — This holiday season, Island Packers will be offering seasonal cruises for family and friends, as well as group functions in Ventura Harbor. Ventura Harbor Holiday Cruises and Whale Watching trips are splendid ways to celebrate the winter season.…

BBSVC Sparkles at 14th Annual Champagne Luncheon Fundraiser

by Community Contributor • December 5, 2023 • Comments Off

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC), Ventura County’s premier youth mentoring nonprofit organization, held their 14th annual Bags, Bling & Bubbly champagne luncheon on Wednesday, November 9th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village.

This sparkling event started with an amazing boutique and silent auction, where a collection of designer and vintage handbags, jewelry, accessories, vacation getaways, restaurant outings, and more were available for purchase and bidding.

Museum of Ventura County — Double Your Impact: Inspire 10 Students today!

by Community Contributor • December 5, 2023 • Comments Off

Dear MVC Supporter,

Thank you for your generous support! We’ve made great progress towards our goal, but there’s still some distance to cover.

MVC is on a mission to reach every elementary school in Ventura County. Your generous gift can bring us closer to our $150,000 goal.

A $150 donation brings a group of 10 eager learners to the MVC Agriculture Museum, inspiring them to dig deep into Ventura County agricultural history and the world of plant science. Can you imagine the joy of planting seeds, exploring a beehive, and discovering the essence of collaboration and community? This is what MVC is all about.

Ventura County Rescue Groups Kick-Off Holiday Giving Season

by Community Contributor • December 4, 2023 • Comments Off

SANTA PAULA — More than 70 dogs available for adoption through All for Love Animal Rescue (AFLAR) and Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) received homemade Thanksgiving meals, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables and canine-appropriate pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. AFLAR volunteer Lupe Flores approached both C.A.R.L. Executive Director Sharon Clark and AFLAR Founder and President Maripat Davis with the idea.

“I wanted to give something back to these organizations and the dogs they have rescued and provided care and shelter to. I thought to myself, ‘Let’s make Thanksgiving dinner for our pups.’ Thankfully, several of my fellow volunteers went along with the idea and gathered at my house the evening before Thanksgiving,” said AFLAR volunteer, Lupe Flores.

Guest contribution — Lumina Alliance needs support in asking state leaders to provide ongoing funding for victim services on VOCA Day of Action

by Community Contributor • December 1, 2023 • Comments Off

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Lumina Alliance is requesting the help of our community to protect vital funding sources during a Day of Action. VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) grant funding is expected to be significantly reduced in the 2024 fiscal year by almost 37%. This funding source supports several key services in San Luis Obispo County, including CASA-Voices for Children, Victim Witness, and Lumina Alliance. These services are directed at some of the most vulnerable members of our community-survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence, abused and neglected children, and other victims of crime. Join the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence,Valor, Lumina Alliance, and organizations throughout the state on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, for VOCA Day of Action by contacting your state legislators.

Santa Paula Art Museum — Our Top 5 Gift Ideas, upcoming events Dec. 2, 3, 4, 8, 13

by Community Contributor • November 30, 2023 • Comments Off

#1: Shop Our Holiday Market

Saturday, December 2, 2023 • 10 AM to 4 PM

Free admission for everyone

Find unique gifts for everyone on your holiday list at SPAM’s Holiday Market! Indulge in a complimentary glass of bubbly and yummy holiday treats while you shop for gorgeous items from the Museum’s popular gift shop and a dozen local artist vendors. Browse original art, jewelry, bags, pottery, home decor, and more. Every purchase supports the Santa Paula Art Museum, and SPAM members always receive 10% off in the gift store. Admission to the event is free for everyone.

Guests are invited to bring a new, unused, unwrapped toy and/or book, or non-perishable canned or boxed food item to support Rotary Club of Santa Paula’s Christmas Basket Food and Toy Drive.

Central Coast Moving & Storage Amplifies Holiday Cheer with 200 Turkey Donations

by Community Contributor • November 30, 2023 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — In an inspiring act of community service and holiday spirit, Central Coast Moving & Storage, a prominent local and long-distance moving company with headquarters in Paso Robles and a satellite location in Santa Maria, has once again exemplified their commitment to the North County of San Luis Obispo. Following the success of last year’s initiative, the company has escalated its impact by generously donating 200 turkeys to families in need for the holiday season.

This significant contribution was made possible in partnership with People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) and the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO). The turkey distribution event, conducted on November 17th, marked a high point in the collaborative efforts to support local communities during the festive season.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Illuminating the benefits of marine protected areas for ecotourism, and vice versa’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • November 30, 2023 • Comments Off

Research in California’s Northern Channel Islands provides strong evidence of the benefit of marine protected areas for the recreational scuba diving industry in Southern California and highlights that the diving community should be considered a key stakeholder in decision-making about the future of MPAs.

California Lutheran University School of Management Upward Community Newsletter

by Community Contributor • November 30, 2023 • Comments Off

NOVEMBER | 2023
California Lutheran University’s School of Management continues to provide a stimulating environment for our learners and the community around us, even in these unusual times. Today, we are once again happy to share a selection of exciting news, updates, and upcoming events with our communities in Southern California and beyond.

We encourage you to stay current on what’s going on at the School of Management by following our Showcase page on LinkedIn.

People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) receives $5,000 Gift from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County for its Emergency Assistance Fund

by Community Contributor • November 29, 2023 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has received $5,000 from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County as a part of the Foundation’s ‘Opportunity to Thrive Initiative’.
This generous award will support PSHH residents in San Luis Obispo County through the Emergency Assistance Fund, which will provide emergency financial support for medical, food and utilities to residents in deep need. Funds are utilized when all other potential resolutions and community resources have been exhausted. Each year, thousands of dollars are distributed to those facing urgent financial emergencies.

“Our thanks go to The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County,” said Ken Trigueiro CEO & President, “With this incredible gift, residents can feel safe and secure at home and within their neighborhoods no matter what challenges they may be facing.”

Museum of Ventura County — Contribute to Curiosity!

by Community Contributor • November 29, 2023 • Comments Off

Do you remember the thrill of your first museum visit? At the Museum of Ventura County (MVC), we strive to gift this unforgettable experience to every child in our community – particularly those from low to moderate income families.
Your generous support enables us to offer FREE school tours immersing children in the rich history and culture of Ventura County. Plus, your contribution also aids first-generation college interns, offering them valuable work experience while earning a fair wage. Donate today and help us inspire curiosity, connection, and compassion in Ventura County’s future generations.
P.S. Act before December 10, and an anonymous donor will match your donation 100%! Double your impact by clicking HERE today!
DOUBLE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY!

State Assemblymember Bennett secures $500,00 from state budget for Meiners Oaks Park

by Community Contributor • November 29, 2023 • Comments Off

MEINERS OAKS — Assemblymember Steve Bennett, in partnership with Senator Monique Limón, secured $500,000 from the State Budget to create a community park in Meiners Oaks. The 2-acre county-owned parcel is located on 312 E. El Roblar Drive, Meiners Oaks, CA. The current design concept features native vegetation, interpretive education, and social gathering areas. A check presentation is being coordinated with Supervisor LaVere’s office for early 2024.

“Open space has been at the heart of my work since I entered public office. I’m pleased to preserve more public spaces for Meiners Oaks, and deeply grateful to our partners who helped make this happen,” said Assemblymember Bennett.

Lompoc California Holiday Fun Guide 2023

by Community Contributor • November 29, 2023 • Comments Off

LOMPOC — Lompoc comes alive with festive spirit during the holiday season, offering plenty of fun holiday events. With a magical blend of community spirit and holiday cheer, step into relaxing, small town holiday charm with a weekend getaway in Lompoc! Celebrate the season with a calendar full of family-friendly activities, specialty retail shopping, or go wine tasting at one of 30+ local wine tasting venues. After the fun, kick back for a relaxing evening at one of our comfy hotels. www.explorelompoc.com