About 55 Santa Maria High School needy families received generous food donations from Catholic Charities Friday.
The distribution took place from 11 a.m. to noon at the campus where students and their families picked up grocery bags packed with rice, beans, cereal, pasta, vegetables, snacks and other nutritious necessities.
Saint School Community Liaison Patricia Lopez Barriga began contacting non-profit agencies in town after the families reached out to her for help.
To remain in compliance with Santa Barbara County and California State health and safety guidelines, we must unfortunately, once again, close our doors to the public. Thank you to those who visited by appointment this past month, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
It is important that we do our best to keep our Santa Barbara community safe during these times. We apologize for any inconvenience that this closure may cause, but stay tuned for more information on re-opening in the future!
Dear Community Member,
For the health and safety of the community, all Museum programs have been moved online. The Museum of Ventura County, the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula, the Research Library & Archives, and the Albinger Archaeology Museum will be closed until further notice.
We will continue to offer a variety of diverse online programming, including Virtual Learning Modules, Zoom Conversations, family activities, and more! You are encouraged to explore below or visit our website.
Be safe, be well, and stay healthy. We look forward to welcoming you back at MVC when we reopen!
Every year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s (TBCF) “Project Turkey” helps food-insecure families who have a child facing pediatric cancer in the Tri-County areas with grocery gift cards and food baskets.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, TBCF plans on donating items to hospitals, clinics and homes and are hoping to help 50 families or more with Project Turkey food and grocery gift card donations this season.
December 1 will mark my 6th year serving as President and CEO of United Way of Ventura County. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary this year, I recognize my six years are only a moment in this organization’s rich history. The true legacy of our organization lives in the leaders and volunteers like you who have stood with us for decades.
I couldn’t be prouder of the courage and results our volunteers, staff, and community have delivered over the past six years. Here are just a few of the highlights:
Clarivate Analytics names 14 UC Santa Barbara scientists and social scientists to its 2020 list of highly cited researchers.
With the recent change in Ventura County’s reopening status, the Santa Paula Art Museum is now temporarily closed until further notice. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the past eight months, it’s that when life gives you lemons, you definitely have to get a little creative! That’s why we’ll continue to produce our free, monthly Art To-Go Bags for children in our community for as long as we are able (see below).
Our staff are also hard at work transforming one of the Museum’s back parking lots into an outdoor art experience that will be free and open to all. The forthcoming Art Park is inspired by one of our favorite paintings from the Museum’s permanent collection, and reimagines the artwork in three dimensions. Stay tuned for more information and an official opening date.
The Museum’s 10th Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser continues online through Sunday, November 22. It’s our most important fundraiser of the year. See the auction items that are getting the most attention below!
This holiday season, The Collection at RiverPark has reimagined several of its annual holiday experiences to offer safe, festive fun for the whole family. From visits with Santa and virtual story time with Mrs. Claus and friends to live music, giveaways, scavenger hunts and more, there are plenty of opportunities to participate in the holiday cheer.
(On Nov. 16), the State of California announced new COVID-19 Tier assignments for counties. Due to increasing case rates, Ventura County and 40 other counties in the State will move back to the more restrictive Tier 1 Purple. Businesses that are impacted by this are asked to make their operational modifications by midnight November 17, 2020.
In response to a statewide spike in new coronavirus infections, Ventura County and 28 other counties were suddenly moved back to the most restrictive purple tier of California’s color-coded tracking system on Monday, November 16. Facing an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, Governor Gavin Newsom said he was “pulling an emergency brake.”
Now that Ventura County is back in the purple tier, schools and districts that had already reopened are permitted to continue with in-person instruction according to state and local regulations. However, individual schools that have not yet reopened will need to wait until the County moves back to the less restrictive red tier and stays there for 14 days.
Each year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) spreads holiday cheer to families in the tri-counties who have a child battling cancer, and their siblings. They look to the community to help secure hundreds of gifts during the months of November and December. This year, their greatest needs are donations of $25 Amazon gift cards for teens and new, unwrapped toys for kids ages 6-11 valued at $25 each. These will be among the gifts given to over 200 children in need at their holiday drive-thru event in December. In addition to the $25 gifts, they will be sponsoring 35 families (85 children) through their Project Christmas Program.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, SBCC continues to provide students with instruction and virtual support services aimed at keeping them on track with their education, staying connected and healthy. We are also providing our entire community with history-making, innovative musical and dramatic entertainment that can be viewed online. The SBCC Foundation Campus Conversations series this month peeks behind the curtain to reveal how the Theatre Arts department is keeping theatre alive and thriving on the South Coast, and EOPS/CARE is providing a way for the community to see that our single-parent students give their families a Thanksgiving dinner. Read about all of this and more below.
Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, is holding a mega drive-thru food distribution of shelf-stable pantry items and fresh produce on Sunday, November 15, 9am-12pm at Food Share of Ventura County’s headquarters at 4156 Southbank Rd., Oxnard, 93036.
California State University (CSU) Chancellor Timothy P. White has appointed Richard Yao, Ph.D., to serve as interim president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). Yao currently serves as CSUCI’s vice president for student affairs. Yao will assume the leadership of the university on January 11, 2021 with the departure of current CSUCI president Dr. Erika D. Beck, who will begin her new role as president of California State University, Northridge. Yao, who identifies as a Chinese Filipino American, becomes the first person of color to lead the campus.
This week, we bring you a special appeal from Ventura County leaders: Please get tested for Covid-19 at one of the free testing sites throughout the County. As the virus worsens across the country, the metrics that will take Ventura County from the red to the purple tier (which is the most restrictive) are on the rise. One way to help stem the spread of the virus and keep our numbers down is to get tested. Please watch the video below that walks you through the testing process. And please, stay safe!
You can subscribe for COVID-19 updates from the County here.
The Foundation at Hearst Castle has partnered with Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument and State Park to launch a new, virtual education program. The multi-day online experience is an iteration of the innovative in-person opportunity the nonprofit organization introduced in 2018.
The STEAM Program at the Castle, a key initiative, encourages learning and discovery for middle school-aged students from underserved communities around California. It includes a tour of the unique museum and visit to the San Simeon Pier and beach — now by livestream. The tours align with STEM/STEAM disciplines, showing how pioneering architect Julia Morgan and her team used science, technology, engineering, art, and math to build W.R. Hearst’s dream home — and ultimately how that might apply to their future education and career paths
Working in partnership with local design firm, Landrec Playspaces, kidSTREAM is planning on opening the outside of the museum as a phased approach, and at 10% of the original budget.
Merino Productions is a Multilingual Solutions Agency based in Ventura County with a national and international curriculum in video productions, voice-overs and document translations.
Our experience with local government agencies, has shown a need to raise awareness on multiple subjects such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, drunk driving, drug addiction, personal growth and multicultural awareness.
Merino Productions has decided to start a new community awareness program on all these matters and will be volunteering hours to create a series of on-going bilingual (English and Spanish) videos. We are looking for volunteer actors and actresses of all ages to help us create these video messages.
The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. “The resolution is a pledge from the Board and the County to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity in housing, employment, economic development, health care, and public safety,” said Mike Powers, County Executive Officer. “The resolution also pledges that the County will work to become a more racial equity and justice-oriented organization in service to the community. It is our goal for this to become part of our culture to best serve our community.”
An anonymous donor has stepped forward and will match all donations up to $15,000 for every dollar donated to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG). The “Give the Gift of Agriculture – Double Your Impact Challenge” runs through December 31 with a total fundraising goal of $30,000.
Some Ventura County schools could have to delay their plans to resume in-person instruction if the County falls back to the most restrictive level – the purple tier – on the state’s coronavirus watch list, which is looking increasingly likely. Due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases, County health officials anticipate the move back to the purple tier could happen as early as next Tuesday, November 17, but is most likely to occur a week after that on Tuesday, November 24.
There’s a lot happening at the Santa Paula Art Museum in November and December! For the first time in its ten-year history, the Museum’s annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser is being hosted online. Bid on 20 beautiful works of art now through Sunday, November 22, 2020. The Museum’s annual art auction is its biggest fundraiser each year. All proceeds raised from the event benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum and the thousands of children, families, and adults that the Museum serves through its educational programs every year. Find a link to the online auction on the Museum’s website: www.santapaulaartmuseum.org/event/auction.
One of 20 Packard Fellowships has been awarded to mechanical engineering assistant professor Elliot Hawkes.
On Oct. 23, 2020 at 7p.m. Pacific Time, the Santa Barbara City College Lunch Break Big Band became the first school band in the world to present a live concert of a large ensemble with each member participating synchronously – and safely – from their homes.
What better way to spend the day than playing with flowers!
This past Saturday, four Santa Maria High School Advanced Floral Design students, along with their teachers, Amanda Rodriguez, Sara Araujo and Kristie Van Horn, made free flower arrangements for anyone who purchased flowers from Ocean Breeze Farms during their first Halloween Festival.
Nearly 300 Pioneer Valley High School students were honored for “Academic Excellence” during a drive-through celebration Thursday. The Panthers earned the recognition with a 3.8 GPA or higher for the 2019-2020 school year. They received a special certificate and cheers from counselors, teachers and the administration in front of the campus.
Santa Barbara Island is teeming with land birds and cattle that once roamed the Santa Rosa Island during the 1800s. San Nicolas Island was home to a lone woman for decades and one man known as “The King of San Miguel Island” isolated himself and his family on the remote island for years.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students will illustrate the dramatic human and natural history of each of the eight of the Channel Islands with a multi-media performance of music, theater, dance, poetry and even shadow puppets premiering on YouTube at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.
Righetti High School’s Identity and Culture for Spanish Speakers 3 class recently hosted a virtual workshop with the musical group Las Cafeteras, an east Los Angeles band that features Afro-Mexican beats, rhythms and rhymes that contain lyrics documenting stories of a community seeking love and justice in the concrete jungle of LA.
A large turn-out of candidates will be considered during the freshman and junior class elections this week.
Nearly a dozen Santa Maria High School freshman are running for president during an online election for the first time ever.
The Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village has opened a nearly 9,000 square foot covered outdoor fitness facility in its back parking lot (31105 East Thousand Oaks Blvd.). The facility opened November 2.
The exercise area contains cardio equipment and weights to provide members an opportunity to workout in a COVID-compliant setting until Los Angeles County officially enters the red tier level and gyms can reopen indoors.
We are eagerly awaiting the start of our online Fine Art Auction Fundraiser on Monday, November 9, and can’t wait to see who will take home each of our 20 gorgeous auction artworks and two raffle prize paintings. Be sure to preregister for our auction on Bidsquare.com, so that you can place your bid as soon as the items go live! Raffle tickets can be purchased on our website. All proceeds will benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum.
We will have to wait to see who wins when bidding closes on Sunday, November 22. Luckily, we’ve got plenty to keep ourselves busy with until then…
*Planning to visit? Please read our general visiting guidelines at the end of this email.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Channel Your Success initiative received a $600,000 boost this fall from the U.S. Department of Education.
Channel Your Success is a multi-faceted program designed to remove barriers preventing Latinx students from graduating on time. Director of Student Academic Success & Equity Initiatives Michelle Hasendonckx, Ed.D., said this particular grant is a 2020 Title V grant for a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), but the campaign is to benefit all CSUCI students.
To help prepare youth for the future workforce as the next generation of scientists, tech innovators, engineers and mathematicians, local companies are joining with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) to provide STEM education.
Already, over 850 county residents have become certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. The popular course that teaches participants how to support youth struggling with a mental health or substance abuse problem is now available online. Parents, teachers, and others in Santa Barbara County who work with youth ages 12-18 are encouraged to “be the difference” for local youth by participating in a free, upcoming training.
A sophomore lab course in the physics department is configured so students can conduct experiments via remote control.
Despite economic and practical hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) exceeded Fall 2020 enrollment targets.
Total enrollment for fall 2020 was 6,194 full-time equivalent students, which is about 1% above the 6,135 full-time equivalent student projection the state uses to calculate funding for CSUCI.
Students teaching students is proving to be a successful educational tool during the pandemic.
Up to 25 Santa Maria High School ASB Leadership volunteers are logging in during the school’s scheduled tutoring time from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. nearly every day of the week to help teachers who provide tutoring via Zoom. They are assisting in core subjects including math, science, social science, history, English.
