As Trump Administration Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rolls back Title IX protections for student survivors of sexual assault and harassment on college campuses in federal regulations released on May 7, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara), victim advocates, and civil rights lawyers urge California lawmakers to pass pending Senate Bill 493, which will ensure California schools provide a transparent and fair process for all students involved in sexual misconduct investigations.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Psychology and Business double major Juliane Martinez, 20, found her calling among the flowers and people thriving at the Growing Works Nursery in Camarillo.
Her experience at Growing Works led her to delve into the field of “positive psychology,” a study of human flourishing, and that research in turn led to Martinez being named a 2020-2021 Newman Civic Fellow.
SANTA MARIA — Pioneer Valley High School arrived at two homes Monday morning to personally recognize the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2020. Principal Shanda Herrera greeted Valedictorian Naomi Mau and Salutatorian Damian Magana. They received balloons, certificates and…
SANTA MARIA — A student leader/athlete at Pioneer Valley High School has been rewarded for his efforts with a $100,000 McDonald’s HACER Scholarship. Vladimir Rosales will be the first in his family to have an opportunity to attend college and is…
MAY 11 – MAY 15, 2020
SANTA MARIA JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOLS
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
** Monday / Wednesday / Friday **
Meals for Tuesday will be given on Monday & Meals for Thursday will be given on Wednesday Ernest Righetti High – 941 E. Foster Rd
Pioneer Valley High – 675 Panther Dr.
Santa Maria High – Parking lot on Thornburg
The County of Ventura has reached an important milestone for our community, County and our local economy. The Public Health Officer announced today a new modified Stay Well VC Health Order to align with the State of California’s four-stage framework for reopening. The County will move forward with the State’s Stage 2 of reopening lower-risk businesses on May 8, 2020. This will allow retail businesses, such as clothing stores, bookstores, sporting goods stores and florists, for example, to reopen with curb side delivery, as well as the related manufacturing and supply chain businesses.
As California schools remain shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara), announced legislation on May 8 to expand job protected leave for working parents affected by school and childcare closures as a result of a declared federal, state, or local emergency.
Despite economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 Outbreak, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) continues to support youth and staff to cope and emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.
The BGCGCV continues to keep 4 out of 9 of its Clubs open to provide the critical childcare needed for essential working families. In addition to childcare, the BGCGCV is working hard to maintain a sense of routine for youth, help prevent learning loss, and focusing on the social, and emotional wellbeing of its members.
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue, a program of the Community Environmental Council (CEC), announces multiple collaborations to support county-wide efforts to feed those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue matches donors that have excess, nutritious food with organizations serving food insecure populations. Since 2018, this CEC-led effort has coordinated the?rescue?of?nearly 60,000 pounds of edible prepared food?for?distribution?through?more than a dozen agencies,?including Buellton Senior Center, Casa Serena, PATH, and Salvation Army Hospitality House. Beyond helping people, food rescue mitigates climate impacts by keeping high-quality excess prepared food out of landfills, where it decomposes and emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Two young men heading for careers in math and science were personally honored as the Santa Maria High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian Wednesday afternoon.
Valedictorian Cristian Ramirez Morales (GPA 4.42) and Salutatorian Isaac Ochoa (GPA 4.34) received home visits and their respective honorary certificates from Principal Steve Campbell.
Righetti High School seniors plan to pick up their caps and gowns during a drive-thru celebration on Friday, May 8.
The event will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in front of the main entrance. Administrators and staff, wearing masks and practicing social distancing, will be there to cheer them on.
The County of Ventura has reached an important milestone for our community, County and our local economy. The Public Health Officer announced today a new modified Stay Well VC Health Order to align with the State of California’s four-stage framework for reopening. The County will move forward with the State’s Stage 2 of reopening lower-risk businesses on May 8, 2020. This will allow retail businesses, such as clothing stores, bookstores, sporting goods stores and florists, for example, to reopen with curb side delivery, as well as the related manufacturing and supply chain businesses.
Allan Hancock College will offer a new degree program in Latino/Latina Studies beginning this summer and fall.
The associate of arts degree program provides a structured study of Latino/Latina heritage, and fosters an understanding of Latino/Latina history, culture and aesthetics. The new degree program is the first of its kind at Hancock, which is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Southeast Ventura County National Day of Prayer was supposed to take place today on the CLU campus. Instead, the Y brought together community members in a Prayer Breakfast video. Click here.
May 7, 2020 is the National Day of Prayer. Instead of our Annual Prayer Breakfast, we are excited to bring you this video with all of our speakers. We hope that it brings you encouragement and inspiration during this time. God bless you all and thank you for watching.
Girl Scouts de la Costa Central de California da la bienvenida hoy a su nueva miembro de la junta, ¡la Gerente de Asuntos Públicos de SoCalGas, María Ventura!
Con más de 15 años de experiencia, María ha desarrollado una distinguida carrera en asuntos gubernamentales, filantropía y relaciones bilingües con los medios. Actualmente, es la gerente de asuntos públicos que representa a SoCalGas en todo el condado de Ventura. En esta capacidad, ella sirve en varias juntas comunitarias; más notablemente, la ex presidenta del Boys and Girls Club de Greater Ventura, administra el programa de donaciones filantrópicas locales de la empresa de servicios públicos y los esfuerzos de divulgación externa.
A social-distancing drive-thru ceremony celebrating Santa Maria High School seniors heading to universities was held May 1.
This week it’s my pleasure to introduce Eric Knight, MVC’s Development Director. Eric is a fairly new member of the MVC family, having joined the staff team in July of 2019. Before he threw his heart and soul into the museum world, Eric most recently worked at the American Cancer Society where he was in charge of new business support. Eric heads up the fundraising and public relations teams at the Museum. He is a natural fit for MVC – he is creative, curious, and entirely devoted to making his adopted community – the county of Ventura – a better place. He is also just about to be a first time father!
Do you know a child who will be five years old on or before December 2, 2020? Maybe it’s your neighbor, friend or even your own child. Spread the word…now is the time to register for kindergarten. Any child who will turn 5 years old on or before December 2, 2020, is eligible to enter transitional kindergarten/kindergarten in the fall.
Good Evening, Here’s your daily COVID-19 update from the County of Ventura.
13 new cases
608 total cases
419 recovered cases
23 hospitalized
11 in the ICU
170 under quarantine
19 deaths
12,122 people tested
Today’s video update: https://vimeo.com/415735841.
Sixty faculty members at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will be selected to participate in a national professional development program backed by the National Association of System Heads (NASH), the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), and a $2.4 million grant from the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF).
Although all in-person campus operations have been suspended until further notice, that won’t stop Santa Barbara City College from holding a commencement ceremony to honor the graduating class of 2020. On May 8 at 5 p.m., the college will hold a “virtual” commencement online, to which all students, faculty, staff and the community at large are invited.
Good Evening, Here is your daily COVID-19 update from the County of Ventura:
18 new cases
595 total cases
416 recovered cases
22 hospitalized
11 in the ICU
160 under quarantine
19 deaths
11,854 people tested
The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) is proud to announce the selection of its first Executive Director, Shakira Miracle. Her hiring comes at a critical time when the strain and stress on our local food system is at an unprecedented high due to COVID-19.
When you take on something as virulent as the novel coronavirus, you have to act fast. In the three months since the first report of COVID-19 infection in the United States, the virus has spread to all 50 states and U.S. territories except for American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. It has caused quarantines, lockdowns, illness and death, and brought abrupt and significant changes to life as we know it.
Good Evening, Here’s your daily COVID-19 update.
11 new cases
577 total cases
402 recovered cases
23 hospitalized
10 ICU
19 deaths
11,100 people tested
THOUSAND OAKS — In order to help the community during these challenging times, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) are participating in a food drive to benefit the Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank. The Food Drive is…
Community transmission of COVID-19 continues to occur in Ventura County. Testing for COVID-19 has expanded to multiple locations throughout the County. Any Ventura County resident who meets the following criteria may schedule an appointment for testing by calling a State Location or County’s Ambulatory Urgent Care-sponsored testing site hotline.
In order to continue the success of Ventura County flattening the COVID-19 curve, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, working in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, California State Parks, and Ventura County Parks Department, will be updating parking standards along northern and southern stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County.
Good Evening, Here’s your daily update on COVID-19 in the County of Ventura.
7 new cases
566 total cases
402 recovered cases
25 hospitalized
9 in the ICU
145 under quarantine
19 deaths
10,861 tested
Oxnard School District (OSD) announced that a vacancy on the Oxnard School District Board of Trustees will be filled through a provisional appointment. The Trustee Area 2 seat is currently vacant and the District is seeking candidates to fill this position.
State and terrritorial governors have implemented pandemic protection measures in order to interrupt and slow down the passage of the coronavirus throughout each state’s population. Some of these measures are implemented at the individual level, such as wearing a facemask or maintaining social distance. The risk of transmission is much higher among crowds of people in close proximity, so another set of measures operates at the group level, trying to keep large groups from forming by keeping potential members dispersed.
“Romaine lettuce tainted with E. coli can be recalled or removed from grocery stores to prevent transmission,” said Paul Hsu, an epidemiologist at UCLA. “When someone is infected with coronavirus, we have to rearrange social contacts to interrupt that person-to-person transmission.” Crowds at sporting events, audiences at concerts, and students in classrooms have been dispersed by cancelling games, events, and classes.
The Coalition for Family Harmony, which provides victims of family violence in Ventura County with the means to help escape from abuse, has seen a 10 to 15 percent increase in crisis calls to its hotline since the COVID-19 stay-at-home order took effect.
“Financial and emotional stresses are taking a toll. Victims are calling our hotline, fearful about staying in their home with an abuser but also worried about leaving and possibly being exposed to COVID-19,” says Dr. Caroline Prijatel-Sutton, Coalition For Family Harmony executive director. “They are in desperate situations.”
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will salute the Class of 2020 with a livestream celebration beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23.
The celebration is being held on the same day the students were to graduate and President Erika D. Beck, Ph.D. stressed that this will not replace the in-person graduation, which had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis.
State and local efforts to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic have left many American coast dwellers without beach access and surfers landlocked.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management Dan Reineman, Ph.D., is investigating the social ramifications of beach and ocean access restrictions across the state of California and the nation by launching a nationwide survey aimed at the surfing community.
Reineman is asking surfers across the nation to participate in a survey: www.coastography.org/SADsurvey and share it with their surfing friends.
Ventura County Animal Services has received approval from Dr. Levin, Ventura County Public Health Officer, to reinstate pet adoptions on a limited basis at the Camarillo Animal Shelter. This authorization applies only to pet adoptions — all other COVID-19 restrictions are still in effect. All adoptions will be conducted by appointment only and the shelter still remains closed to the public for casual visitation.
On Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00am, VCAS will activate their online scheduling system for Adoption Counseling appointments and will begin scheduling these sessions starting Sunday, May 3rd.
Duda Farm Fresh Foods will match all donations up $10,000 for every dollar donated to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) in the month of May during SEEAG’s “Duda Farm’s Double Your Impact Challenge.”
Good Evening, Here’s your daily update on COVID-19 in the County of Ventura.
18 new cases
535 total cases
377 recovered cases
27 currently in the hospital (5 patients are long term care facility patients that do not need hospital care but are being cared for in the hospital setting to protect other long term care facility residents)
9 in the ICU
18 deaths (37-99; 9 males and 9 females)
9,962 people tested
Press Conference: Here’s an update from 4/29/20 https://vimeo.com/413333237. Tune in tomorrow at 1 pm for the Friday update. Streamed live on www.vcemergency.com.
Moorpark College Nursing Science program faculty members diligently prepare their graduates to enter the challenging and rewarding field of nursing. As proof of the students’ preparedness, the Fall 2019 class had a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam. The national average pass rate for first-time test-takers is 83.5 percent.
This week we bring you the story of Ellie Langille and a new attraction that has opened in a midtown Ventura neighborhood: the Lemon Grove Neighborhood Zoo.
This zoo was spurred on by Ellie’s mom Summer Langille, who connected with their neighbors on Facebook and asked them to create a weekend pop-up zoo of stuffed animals.
Over the weekend, fifteen houses transformed into cuddly wild animal parks.
This is just one of many stories that demonstrates the creativity and resilience of our residents at this time.
Pioneer Valley High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America zoomed their way to the top during the 73rd annual FCCLA State Leadership Conference recently.
A social-distancing drive-thru ceremony celebrating Santa Maria High School seniors heading to universities is scheduled for Friday, May 1.
Santa Maria High School administrators, teachers and staff will celebrate senior success when they distribute graduation caps and gowns on Friday, May 11.
Chief Deputy Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency Barry Zimmerman provided an update on testing this week. View the update here. The County of Ventura is focused on the ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating and supporting those who are positive or exposed. These steps are critical on the path to reopening.
The California Department of Education on April 29 announced it is studying options for reopening school campuses after Governor Newsom suggested they could open as early as July or August. Many questions remain about the safety, fiscal and labor implications of reopening campuses before the traditional start of the next school year. For now, there has been no alteration to existing school calendars.
The economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis is impacting local nonprofit community organizations in unforeseen ways. One of those affected is the Ventura College Foundation. The foundation’s operating expenses are funded almost entirely from proceeds generated by its Ventura College Weekend Marketplace on the Ventura College campus. With the Marketplace closed until large gathering restrictions are lifted, funds to keep the foundation running are drying up.
Many of our older community members, particularly those living alone, are not receiving the support they need during the coronavirus pandemic. To address this gap, several nonprofits in Santa Barbara County have collaborated to identify isolated seniors and connect them to essential services or critical needs, such as food and supplies.
Two schools within the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District are moving forward with drive-thru cap and gown distributions.
Pioneer Valley High School on April 28 passed out caps, gowns and a lawn sign to celebrate senior accomplishments.
Good Evening Ventura County, Here’s your daily update on COVID-19 in the County of Ventura:
5 new cases
135 current cases
508 total cases
356 recovered cases
26 hospitalized (5 patients are long term care facility patients not in need of hospital care but being cared for at the hospital to protect others at long term care facilities)
11 in the ICU
17 deaths: age range 37-99 years; 9 males and 8 females.
The Emergency Child Care Initiative (ECCI) was established to provide members of the essential workforce with affordable child care options to allow them to continue working in roles that are critical to our local COVID-19 response. Since ECCI was launched in early April, child care programs have been established serving most major health care providers throughout the county, including Cottage Health, Sansum Clinic, Lompoc Valley Medical, and the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast. With those programs firmly established, the Initiative is now shifting attention to other members of the essential workforce. This includes employees in food service, grocery industry, farm workers and agricultural production, nursing homes, sanitation, and other essential workforce professions. Children ages 6 months to 12 years will be prioritized.
We’re feeling so inspired after our Earth Day virtual art class with Dr. Meg Handler from The Human Nature Center! Dr. Handler uses the arts as a way to teach ecology. That got us wondering how else we can explore science through art. Marbled milk art provides a fun lesson on chemistry and polarity while you create a colorful artwork on paper.
