Apply Now for Future Funding!*
*Funding for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Fund has been fully expended. No new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding. HOWEVER, the SBA remains committed to supporting disaster survivors and will continue to accept applications and process them to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is proud to announce the election of three new members to its Board of Trustees: Jett Black-Maertz, Dave Morris, and Kyle Richards. Elected on November 5, 2024, these individuals bring a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to their roles. They join existing board members President Jonathan Abboud, Marsha Croninger, Dr. Charlotte Gullap-Moore, and Ellen Stoddard.
The emeritus professor’s new book unpacks how inept leadership by the Russian ruler precipitated the fall of the Romanovs.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has recently released their 2023-24 Impact Report, highlighting the organization’s achievements from the past year.
Introducing this year’s edition, the leadership letter from Board Chair Shelly Higginbotham and CEO & President Ken Trigueiro said, “The technical side of our work that our talented team members and partners navigate so well can sometimes result in days where our mission feels out of reach. When we find ourselves feeling that sense of fatigue, there’s always a special “spark” to reignite our passions.
SCORE: BUSINESS FORMATION UNCOVERED: NAVIGATING BUSINESS STRUCTURES
December 10 @ 10:30 am
This business formation webinar is tailored to help entrepreneurs and business owners thoroughly understand the advantages and disadvantages of each entity type (sole proprietor, LLC, s-corp.) from legal separate entities, tax reporting structures, non-tax paying entities, liabilities, asset protection and more. In today’s competitive market, choosing the right business entity is more than just a procedural step; it’s a strategic decision that impacts every aspect of your operations and long-term success. The need for this webinar arose from observing how frequently new business owners navigate the initial setup phase without a clear understanding of the implications of their choices. The structure you choose affects not only your liability and tax obligations but also your ability to manage everyday operational tasks effectively. Each entity type comes with its unique requirements and benefits, and understanding these can be the difference between flourishing and floundering. Additionally, SCORE will cover essential topics such as government and state registration, agreements, permits and business insurance. Whether starting a new venture or looking to improve an existing one, join SCORE to learn how to establish a strong and compliant foundation for your business.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
VENTURA COUNTY — Following a nationally recognized day of giving thanks, American Medical Response Ventura County (AMR) and its affiliate Gold Coast Ambulance (Gold Coast) leadership hosted a private presentation on Nov. 29, to award CPR Save certificates to one of its crews for the life-saving support they provided this past March.
When a female patient in her 50s experienced cardiac arrest on March 30, 2024, AMR paramedic Johnny Villegas and EMT partner Brooke Keeling, along with Gold Coast paramedic intern, Nathanael McCourt — training with AMR — quickly responded on-scene to administer life-saving hands-only CPR aid.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a dangerous wind event for Ventura County Monday December 9 – Wednesday December 11, and has issued a Red Flag Warning.
Winds are expected to start Monday afternoon, peaking during the early morning hours Tuesday, and tapering off by late Wednesday. The current forecast is calling for sustained winds at 35mph, with a potential for gusts to 60mph.
In addition to wind, very low relative humidity ranging from 5%-7% is anticipated, with no overnight recovery. While the impact of winds will cover most of Ventura County, the current forecast calls for high intensity conditions in Thousand Oaks, Piru and Fillmore.
The third and final video of the Mountain Fire Ag Recovery Webinar Series is available on YouTube. Check it out by clicking below.
Thank you to all the volunteers who made this series possible.
As many members of our community are recovering from the Mountain Fire we have an opportunity to help a local farm that makes a big impact on the lives of many community members. You’re invited to help Mulberry Lane Farm with a Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop!
Come and join my office and community members throughout the county in supporting Mulberry Lane Farm and its inspiring mission. This small farm in Somis is home to The Upside of Downs, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering adults with special needs in our community.
Through their Up on the Farm day program, participants engage in hands-on, hearts-in agricultural learning. They gain new skills, practice old-fashioned farming methods, and build meaningful connections with nature and one another—all while accompanied by caregivers, parents or job coaches. This incredible program, offered at no cost, provides a space for special needs adults to thrive and contribute in a way that uplifts our entire community.
VENTURA COUNTY — Danielle Brinkman-Mallare, a chartered public accountant with over 20 years of experience, has launched her own accounting business with offices in Ojai and Oxnard.
Brinkman-Mallare has spent more than two decades helping her clients navigate the constantly changing tax system. Her expertise spans tax planning, preparation, and accounting for the service industry, manufacturing, retail and real estate sectors. She also has significant experience with trusts and estates.
The first week of November isn’t one we’ll soon forget in Ventura County. On the same morning we were digesting the results of the bitterly contested national election, we woke to howling winds and hoped there would be nothing to spark a fire while the Santa Anas blew. But our worst fears were soon realized when the Mountain Fire erupted and quickly ballooned into an inferno that destroyed some 200 homes and other buildings.
As our friends, family, and neighbors faced this emergency, Ventura County did what we do best. We came together to provide resources and support to all who needed it. From our heroic first responders to our government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and businesses, every aspect of our community joined forces. The political divisions that preoccupied us for so long faded away as we responded to the crisis with a shared commitment and a united front.
Our great-grandparents would never recognize the world in which we live. How could we ever explain to them instant worldwide communication via satellite, social media, or contemporary U.S. politics, for that matter?
I began pondering this question after reading a novel—an old-fashioned book, no less. I often visit the downtown library in Oxnard and select a book in Spanish, the language of my ancestors, just to maintain my Spanish language skills. The title caught my eye: “Un Verano Italiano,” by author Rebecca Serle.
Hello,
Opening night for iStarELA is almost here and we’d love for you to join us! Your support means the world to us, and we can’t wait to share this special moment with you!
Warm regards,
Teatro De Las Americas
***
Obra en español con subtítulos en ingles /
Play in Spanish with English subtitles
Escrita y Dirigida por/
Written and Directed by
Saúl Escobedo
Presentaciones / Shows:
Diciembre / December 2024
Viernes y sábados /Fridays and Saturdays:
7, 13, 14, 20, 21 – 7:00 p.m.
Boletos/Tickets: General $15.00
Teatro de las Américas
321 W. 6th Street, Oxnard, CA
(805)-983-2876
OXNARD — Once the holidays are over, Oxnard-based composter Agromin will receive thousands of Christmas trees collected by waste haulers. The trees will be composted into mulch and soil amendments for use by growers, landscapers and consumers.
To help make the tree collection process run smoother, tree owners are asked to cut up their Christmas trees so limbs and branches fit in their green waste recycling barrel. Waste haulers will collect the trees on regular waste pick-up days and deliver them to Agromin.
“We are incredibly proud that both Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital have earned an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group,” said Ron Werft, President & CEO of Cottage Health. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team to ensuring the highest standards of patient safety and care.”
LOMPOC – On Dec. 5, LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner., a prominent nonprofit committed to supporting families across Santa Barbara County, celebrated the Ribbon Cutting of its new Lompoc Children’s Center at Trinity Church of the Nazarene, addressing a critical childcare gap in the community.
The ceremonial occasion included speeches from LEAP’s Executive Director Lori Goodman, Lead Pastor Travis Caldeira of Trinity Church, Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann, Congressman Salud Carbajal’s Representative Esmeralda Estrada, Lompoc City Councilmember Jeremy Ball, and State Senator Monique Limón. Attendees were then treated to informative tours and a BBQ lunch.
“This partnership is a shining example of trust. This ceremony celebrates two organizations coming together to bless a community they both love” said Lead Pastor Travis Caldeira of Trinity Church.
Join in the annual count of community members and families experiencing homelessness locally. Sign up today!
New research provides the first comprehensive map of the vast footprint of coconut palm agriculture across nearly every Pacific atoll.
We’re excited to share our 2023-24 Annual Impact Report, showcasing our milestones from the past year! Available in both English & Spanish, you can read the report and learn more about our mission at pshhc.org/impactreport.
Nos complace presentar nuestro Informe Anual de Impacto 2023-24, que muestra nuestros logros del año pasado. Disponible tanto en inglés como en español, puede leer el informe y obtener más información sobre nuestra misión en pshhc.org/impactreport-esp.
The annual Homeless Count is coordinated by the Ventura County Continuum of Care and County of Ventura, in partnership with community partners and cities. The survey data will be collected through a mobile survey and mapping tool called Simtech Solutions “Counting Us”. This data provides a Point-In-Time (PIT) “snapshot” as to what the homeless population in Ventura County looks like during a single day. This data helps community leaders better understand who is homeless, why and for how long. The survey data helps our community gain access to state and federal funding, as well as determine the greatest priorities to prevent and end homelessness in Ventura County.
VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced today the official certification of the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election. A total of 394,197 ballots were cast in the general election; with 84.17% of the voters utilizing their vote-by-mail ballot and 15.83% voting in person. Ventura County had a 76.25% overall voter turnout for this election.
The November 2024 General Election marks Ventura County’s fourth election conducted under the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) election model. It also marks a significant increase in the number of voters taking advantage of the expanded voting opportunities provided under the VCA.
NEWBURY PARK — Local contractors working on a residential project, multinational companies requiring large-scale orders, or hobbyists working on car restorations and other creations at home, can now access the convenience of purchasing metal from Metal Supermarkets on Saturdays.
The Camarillo Disaster Bridge Loan Fund has been created to provide immediate financial support to small businesses impacted by the fires.
Receive tax benefits for your year-end donation
If you are 70½ years of age or older, you can transfer up to $100,000 from your IRA to the Community Environmental Council (CEC) as a charitable gift, reducing taxable income and satisfying your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on a year of incredible music, shared joy, and the powerful connections that bring our community together. Your support has been instrumental in making it all possible. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join us in starting 2025 on a high note! The time is now to invest in the arts and the transformative power they bring to our community.
“If you have nowhere to stay, you didn’t sleep, you didn’t get a shower and you didn’t get something to eat, you’re not going to be able to pay attention,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Eboni Ford Turnbow. “Maybe you don’t have a place to study once the library closes. Programs like Basic Needs help offset this burden, whether its food, emergency funds or shelter. And now our Basic Needs Program is so robust.”
“We are pleased that the SBA will be on-site and available to provide guidance and individual support to residents affected by the Mountain Fire,” stated Melissa Livingston, Director of the Human Service Agency and Coordinator for the Local Assistance Center. “The financial assistance that will be offered through the SBA is an essential element of the recovery process for our community and will do much to help support residents as they navigate the financial impacts of recovery and rebuilding.”
Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday and your support helps us provide the essential tools needed to keep our animals healthy and happy while in our care. Visit www.vcas.us/GivingTuesday to make your tax-deductible donation to our non-profit Foundation.
SCORE: YEAR-END FINANCIAL REVIEW WITH QUICKBOOKS ONLINE
December 3 @ 10:30 am
Prepare for year-end with a comprehensive financial review using QuickBooks Online. EDC Small Business Development Center Advisor, Accounting Expert and QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor Juliana Ramirez from JR Bookkeeping will cover closing the books, reviewing financial health and preparing for tax season.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
LOMPOC — It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Looking for festive fun, delicious treats, and unforgettable sights in Lompoc this holiday season? Dive into our roundup of festive delights and seasonal fun for you and your crew, and enjoy a magical holiday season.
