VENTURA COUNTY — The United Way of Ventura County has launched its “Stuff the Bus” campaign to collect new school supplies through July 23. The supplies will be “stuffed” into backpacks for children from low-income families, the organization reported in a media release. Backpacks will be distributed before the end of summer break to community-based organizations in Ventura County, just in time to get children ready for the new school year.
New school supplies needed include: binders, calculators, colored pencils, compasses, construction paper, crayon boxes, dictionaries, dividers, erasers, folders, glue sticks, highlighters, index cards, markers, mechanical pencils, notebooks, paper — wide and college ruled, pencil boxes / pouches, pencils and sharpeners, pens — blue / black / red, rulers, scientific calculators, USB drives, children’s scissors and staplers.
Supplies can be dropped off at:
- Blanchard Library, Santa Paula
- Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, County Square Drive, Ventura
- Camarillo Library
- CBC Federal Credit Union – Camarillo, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Naval Base Ventura County
- County Schools Credit Union
- County Commerce Bank – Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura
- E.P. Foster Library, Ventura
- Moorpark Library
- Newbury Park Library
- One Step a La Vez, Fillmore
- Oxnard Main Library
- Oxnard South Library, Port Hueneme
- Simi Valley Ford
- Simi Valley Library
- Thousand Oaks Library
Online donations are also being accepted by going to www.vcunitedway.org or by texting UWVC to 41444 from any mobile device (message and data rates may apply).
“We have partnered with Roonga, Inc. to offer our ‘Stuff the Bus Virtual School Supply Drive’ where you can purchase school supplies for kids online at https://www.roonga.com/uwvcstuffthebus/,” the organization reported.
Checks payable to United Way of Ventura County can be mailed to 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Ste. E, Camarillo, CA 93012. Write “Stuff the Bus” on the note line.
Call 805-485-6266 or visit vcunitedway.org for more information.
SANTA PAULA — The Barona Band of Mission Indians has awarded a $5,000 education grant to Santa Paula High School to improve and expand its Advanced Placement (AP) course program and its library’s book collection, the office of Assemblymember Das Williams reported in a media release. The grant was endorsed and supported by Williams.
The grant comes at a critical time for Santa Paula High School with students in desperate need of more AP course offerings because of the unique way in which they educate and empower students, Williams said.
“Unfortunately, many of these students come from difficult financial situations,” said Williams, stressing Santa Paula High School’s need for the grant money.
“Santa Paula High School appreciates the $5,000 it has been awarded. The money will go to good use updating our library with materials for all of our students, with a particular focus on adding reading materials for advanced placement students,” said Elizabeth Garcia, principal, Santa Paula High School
“With the curriculum rapidly changing to get students college and career ready, we are excited to purchase supplemental library materials that align with the Common Core standards and support rigorous instruction. All students will ultimately benefit,” Garcia said.
Over the past five years, Santa Paula High School has doubled the number of AP classes it offers, and tripled the number of students enrolled in at least one of the courses, but there is still more that the school needs, Williams said. With Santa Paula High School’s average copyright date for library books at 1993 and their student-to-book ratio well below the state recommendation, it is clear that an updated collection of library materials is imperative. This grant money will help ensure that a college experience becomes more affordable and accessible for all students at Santa Paula High School.
OXNARD — Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) reports the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a contract to STGI to operate a new, larger interim healthcare clinic in Oxnard.
“Since coming to Congress, I have made expanding care to Ventura County’s veterans a top priority, including women’s health and mental health services,” Brownley stated in a media release. “While I remain committed to seeing that the 48,000-square-foot VA Oxnard Community Clinic outlined in the President’s FY2016 budget is completed, this new interim facility will provide local veterans with important and much-needed increased healthcare services that are closer to home, in addition to nearly doubling the amount of space the VA has dedicated for veteran healthcare in Ventura County.”
The new facility will comprise 18,000 square feet of new space for veterans’ healthcare, including a separate space for women’s health, and fully supported tele-health, mental health, and primary care services. In the coming months, additional services may be announced as the VA continues to work with STGI and the local community, Brownley reported.
OXNARD — Reservations for Main Stage seating at the 22nd annual Oxnard Salsa Festival are now being accepted, event organizers reported in a media release.
The reserved seating will be available for the special Friday Night Concert on July 24 and during the festival weekend of July 25 and 26.
The Friday night kick-off concert will be held at Plaza Park and will feature Oscar Hernandez and Alma Libre, with special guests Justo Almario and Dr. Bobby Rodriquez. Hernandez is known as a very gifted pianist arrangers on the contemporary Latin, Latin Jazz and Salsa scene and is considered one of the most important composer/arrangers of Latin Jazz today, event organizers reported.
His recording of “Un Gran Dia en el Barrio” resulted in a Grammy Nomination and Latin Billboard award for Salsa Album of the Year. The concert runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $15 per person for adults and $10 for kids 6 to 14 for general concert or lawn seating; tables for six are available for $120.
During the weekend, festival-goers can reserve private tables under umbrellas for $220 per day with seating for six, providing much closer access to the dance floor.
Reservations are also available in Club Salsa for July 25. All tables also have shade umbrellas plus a private dance floor. The cost is $25 per person and attendees are provided with a pass into Club Salsa.
Visit www.oxnardsalsafestival.com for more information.
CENTRAL COAST — The Institute for Mexicans Abroad and the Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard will present the annual “Éste es me México” contest. The deadline for entries is Sept. 21 with 10 winning drawings announced on Oct. 30.
“Mountains, jungles, cities, towns, archaeological sites and beaches — do you have a favorite place in Mexico? Do you want to know more about Mexico? This is your chance,” program organizers reported in a media release.
“Have you ever been there? What have your parents, your family, friends or your teachers told you about our beautiful country? With imagination and fantasy, you can use a drawing to express your favorite place in Mexico and what Mexico means to you.”
Winners will receive a package of Mexican literature books for children, a diploma and a surprise gift. All participants will receive a diploma and their artwork may be part of an exhibit which will travel around the world, even if their drawing did not win.
Click here (English) or here (Spanish) or here for contest rules or more information.
OXNARD — In anticipation of the Fourth of July holiday, Oxnard police officers will enforce the ban on fireworks in Oxnard, the City of Oxnard reported in a media release. Anyone possessing, storing, selling, using, transporting or handling any type of fireworks is subject to criminal arrest or may be issued a civil citation with a fine of up to $1,000. This year, Oxnard PD has set up a special email address to report the illegal use of fireworks in the City. The email, fireworks@oxnardpd.org calls for the exact address of where the fireworks are being used. Senders of the email are not required to leave their own name, contact number or other personal information. In response to helpful tips from the community, Oxnard PD will issue warnings to anyone using fireworks. These warnings will be sent via mail, issued in person or by phone.
Nearly 10,000 firework-related injuries are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms every year and two out of five people injured by fireworks are under the age of 15. The most current statistics from the National Fire Protection Association shows that in 2011, approximately 89 percent of all firework-related injuries were caused by fireworks allowed for consumer use by federal or state regulations.