The Port of Hueneme continues to ensure financial stability and fiscal responsibility as the Board of Oxnard Harbor District Commissioners voted to fund another $500,000 to the District’s California Employers’ Retiree Benefit Trust (CERBT) account for their fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Other Post-Employment Benefits (or OPEB) are benefits costs (other than pensions) that Federal, State, local governments and special districts provide to their retired employees. These costs include health care, dental, vision and life insurance. It has become evident, with rising costs of healthcare, that future expenses for the OPEB costs will increase significantly as the years go on.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 9, 2021
VCCCD Highlights Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Week of Activities — April 12-15
Addressing systemic racism and discrimination, and building a more inclusive and equitable culture are top priorities of the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) board of trustees, the District, and Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges. As part of this important work, the VCCCD is presenting its inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week, April 12-15. It will feature free virtual events, open to students and the community, designed to be thought-provoking, engaging and entertaining. The week is in tandem with the California Community Colleges’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Month.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion permeate all aspects of the District, from student services to hiring,” said Board Vice Chair Dianne McKay. “The communities we serve expect us to be leaders in DEI. We depend on everyone?—students, faculty, classified employees and administrators—to maintain a culturally informed environment in which accountability, growth and mindfulness are of the utmost importance.”
2021 National Cesar E. Chavez Virtual Event to be held April 11
The 2021 National Cesar E. Chavez Virtual Event to be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 11, 2021.
Join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez.
Visit YouTube @Publoysalud
Facebook Live @CCCC.SVC
Presented by the Organizing Committees of:
Si Se Puede March for Justice Committee — Oxnard
Farmworker Caravan — San Jose
Cesar Chavez Commemorative Committee — San Fernando Valley
Cesar Chavez Day — Las Vegas, Nevada
Cesar Chavez Service Clubs Inc. — San Diego
Dozens of 7th-12th Grade student-authors from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties compete for the best projects to reduce their home’s environmental footprint & receive awards
On Friday, April 30, 7th-12th-grade students from seven public schools in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties participating in the MERITO Foundation’s EECCOA Challenge 2021 will be competing for cash and in-kind prizes with their environmental business proposals focused on water conservation, energy efficiency, or waste reduction in their homes, or to educate a community about ocean acidification.
Local Community invited to celebrate Public Works with fun, educational virtual event
To celebrate the American Public Works Association’s National Public Works Week, Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) will celebrate with its very own virtual event the week of May 17, 2021!
This year might look a little different, but we are working to ensure that students will still receive content and activities customized to their interests while continuing to show the diversity of what Ventura County Public Works Agency does for the community. Curriculum for your students could feature interactive information about science, the latest innovations in technology, heavy equipment demonstrations, and much more going on in the heart of their community.
House Farm Workers! has opened 2021 Ellen Brokaw scholarship applications
House Farm Workers! has opened applications for its 6th annual Ellen Brokaw House Farm Workers! scholarship for college-bound and current college students who are children of Ventura County farm workers, including seasonal and retired farm workers. Eligible students may submit applications online at www.HouseFarmWorkers.org. Three students will be selected to receive $3,000 each towards their continued education and will be honored at House Farm Workers! annual “From Field to Fork,” fundraiser, which this year will be held virtually in July. Scholarship applications must be submitted no later than Friday, April 30, 2021.
Bilingual commentary — Tragicomedy in the Pandemic Era
This past week I had an appointment with a friend, a shop owner I’ve known for several years. Like so many other shop owners this past year, her business has been closed more than it’s been open. Our encounter felt a bit eerie as we took those first tentative steps up from the depths of the Great Pandemic Lockdown.
Arbor Day Foundation again names CSUCI a Tree Campus
During a year like no other, the Arbor Day Foundation recognized CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) with a 2020?Tree Campus Higher Education® designation. The Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for involving staff and students in conservation goals.
“Tree Campuses?and their students set examples for not only their student bodies but for the surrounding communities by showcasing how trees create a healthier environment,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Because of CSUCI’s participation, air will be purer, water cleaner and students and faculty will be surrounded by the shade and beauty trees provide.”
Santa Paula Art Museum — See You Saturday, and Hopefully All Week!
Find Your Ride to the Museum This Saturday
This Saturday, April 10 is the perfect day to visit the Santa Paula Art Museum! Artists Duane Dammeyer, Rima Muna, and Anette Power will all be stopping in to share their exhibitions with visitors. The cost of admission to the events below is just $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, and free for students and members (payment will be collected at the door – credit card only).
FSA Cooks Up Recipes for Brighter Futures
Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, Family Service Agency (FSA) is pivoting its annual Cooking Up Dreams event, to a fundraiser and drawing. The popular foodie event that traditionally wows guests with a cooking competition and tasting experience will transition to a drawing for gift certificates to local restaurants and wineries that have previously supported the event. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit mental health counseling and family support services for at-risk children, families and seniors provided by FSA, Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center, and Guadalupe’s Little House By The Park.
PRSA Gold Coast Chapter Offers Scholarships for Local Students
The California Gold Coast chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is offering two scholarships to recognize outstanding individual college students who are committed to studying communication or public relations in the Tri-Counties area. The group will award two $500 scholarships in mid-2021.
“It is important to encourage the education of young professionals who wish to pursue an education in public relations or communications, so they feel supported in reaching their higher education goals. Attending a four-year institution is often the first step to achieving your professional goals,” said PRSA California Gold Coast Chapter Scholarship Committee Chair Kristin Steiner.
UCSB — The Current — The Nature of Ownership and more news
Registration Open for SBCC Virtual Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge – Win Awards for Your Best Business Idea
There’s still time for college and high school students throughout Santa Barbara County to submit their entries to the virtual 11th annual Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge business plan and pitch competition hosted by the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at SBCC. The call for entries opened on March 1 and the deadline for submission is midnight on Thursday, April 15.
“We’re excited to host the Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge for our 11th year, and we’ve made some exciting changes to this year’s event to adapt to the digital experience. We look forward to shining the spotlight on Santa Barbara student entrepreneurs as they showcase their best business ideas,” said Scheinfeld Center Director Julie Samson. Finalists will pitch to judges via Zoom and the event will be live streamed on the Scheinfeld Center’s YouTube channel for our entire community and the world to enjoy.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 7 — The County of Ventura is now in the State’s Orange Tier!
All activities authorized under the State’s Orange Tier can resume:
Amusement parks: smaller parks can open outdoors with 25% max occupancy or 500 people, whichever is fewer; there must be reservations or advanced ticket sales
Bars (where no meal is served): open outdoors with modifications
Cardrooms and satellite wagering: open indoors with 25% max occupancy
Family entertainment centers: open indoors 25% max occupancy
Fitness centers and gyms: open indoors with 25% max occupancy; indoor pools open at 25% occupancy…
United Way of Ventura County — 3-Day Countdown on United To End Homelessness Virtual Symposium on April 9
Our United to End Homelessness Virtual Symposium on Friday, April 9, from 9-11 a.m., is fast approaching. Don’t miss the chance to register for this important discussion featuring keynote speaker Pulitzer Prize Author Dr. Matthew Desmond (“Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City”). Follow Desmond’s Q&A session, Henry Dubroff, editor of the Pacific Coast Business Times, will moderate a local panel of experts on addressing homelessness in our county.
Only a few premium tickets remain (which include a signed copy of Evicted) — now’s the time to register for this event!
Bilingual report — County of Ventura to enter State’s Orange Tier 12:01 a.m. April 7
Eliminating bias and encouraging collaboration between tenants, private landlords and Housing Authority staff is key to success for Santa Barbara’s Housing Choice Voucher Program
As the massive national vaccination effort gains momentum for winning the war against COVID-19, the economic damage from the pandemic persists and will be felt by Americans well into the future. According to Out of Reach 2020, a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in the first half of 2020 alone, “the economic situation for low-wage workers has precipitously worsened: in June the Department of Labor reported that over 34 million people were receiving or had applied for unemployment insurance. More than half of all low-income households experienced job or income loss because of the pandemic. Many low-wage workers could not afford their housing before the crisis, and they will need even more help now.” What has become clear during the public health crisis is that housing IS healthcare; staying at home is key to protecting public health. The report goes on to emphasize that, “Not everyone, unfortunately, is stably housed in a safe and adequate environment, and government action to help secure that environment is both morally vital and prudent.”
Guest commentary — Truth or Fiction? How Do I know?
There is a lot of information presented in traditional and social media. How does somebody figure out what is reasonable or factual and if it is from a reliable source?
Think SHEEP before you share. What is the Source of the information and are other trustworthy sites reporting it also? Does this site have a History of being a reputable resource? What Evidence is presented? Check the cited sources. Are they appealing to my Emotions, such as anger and outrage or exuberant agreement? Are the Pictures bypassing my critical thinking?
Economic impact study shows each dollar invested in CSUCI provides a sevenfold return
For every dollar invested in CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI), the state’s economy receives a return on investment of nearly seven dollars for every dollar invested in CSUCI by California.
A new economic impact study analyzing data from all 23 of the CSU campuses for 2018-2019 indicated that, overall, the CSU system generated $26.9 billion in industry throughout the state; $10.3 billion in labor income; $1.6 billion in state and local tax revenue; and the creation of 209,400 jobs.
Ventura County Animal Services update
Welcome to our first VCAS newsletter! We will be sending this out quarterly to help you stay informed about all the great work we are doing at Ventura County Animal Services.
Although this has been very difficult year for us all, we remain 100% committed to all live-saving activities! To help illustrate these efforts, please take a moment and view our 2020 Annual Report. It contains a lot of great information about who we are and what we do each and every day to care for the thousands of homeless animals who enter in our care each year.
We hope you enjoy reading all about VCAS!
UCSB — The Current — ‘The Volcano Down the Road’ and more news
CSUCI’s Virtual Science Carnival will bring more than 50 hands-on science activities to kids and families
Chemistry major Sahira Lorenzo Aguilar is very excited about the soap monster activity.
“We put Ivory soap in a microwave and it expands,” said Aguilar, who helped coordinate the Virtual Science Carnival, “It vibrates and looks like a little cloud. That’s the kind of magic we want students to see.”
The magic of CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) annual Science Carnival will be virtual this year, which will allow teachers, parents and kids from pre-school age on up to the eighth grade to bring hands-on science activities into their own homes and classrooms.
Ventura County Economic Vitality — Reminder: $5,000 Business Assistance Grant deadline is Tuesday, April 6
Culture is Back! Oxnard Museums Set to Reopen
With the County of Ventura moving into the State’s Orange Tier this week, Oxnard museums are set to re-open after a long year of closures. The museums will follow health and safety guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State of California, and County of Ventura to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The Murphy Auto Museum returned Saturday, April 3 with a “soft opening” and a “full-blown reopening” Saturday, April 10. The Murphy will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. The museum features an impressive display of beautiful vintage automobiles and Americana; it is also home to the Fireball Art Gallery and Gold Coast Modular Rail Road Club.
Village Properties Realtors ranks among top brokerage firms in nation based on sales prices
Locally owned, independent real estate agency Village Properties has garnered recognition as one of the nation’s top brokerage companies based on average sales price for homes sold last year.
RealTrends, the country’s leading source of analysis and information on the residential real estate industry, placed Village Properties among the top three firms nationwide in the average sales price by volume category for 2020. The Santa Barbara-based brokerage ranked ahead of all but two real estate agencies across the country.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 5, 2021
There are 46 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 12,276 new tests performed. There have been no additional deaths. Current doubling time is 1229.1 days. The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .76 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .81 right now.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free Webinar Schedule
Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — South County Vaccination Appointments Available & More
Santa Barbara: April 6 and April 8
WHERE: Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Enter via the driveway on Calle Puerto Vallarta
WHEN: Tuesday April 6, 9:30AM – 6:30PM; Thursday April 8, 9:30 – 6:30
Second doses will be provided at the same location first doses are received. A clinic will be available in the same location three weeks from your first dose appointment.
United Way of Ventura County — United We Can End Homelessness
This Friday, we have a wonderful speaker for you to hear at our first annual United to End Homelessness Symposium. I will have the honor of interviewing author and Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Matthew Desmond. His book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, was named one of Time’s Best Nonfiction Books of the Decade. It was also hailed by Bill Gates: “Desmond has written a brilliant portrait of Americans living in poverty. He gave me a better sense of what it is like to be poor in this country than anything else I have read.”
Ventura County Arts Council — New Showcase & Interactive Treasure Hunt!
Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) … COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
On March 18, 2021, the California Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law (CA-SPSL) was expanded and extended. Effective immediately, the law retroactively applies from January 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021.
The new law expands the scope of covered employers, as well as the covered reasons for employees to take the leave. Review the quick guide and resources below to learn more about the new changes.
Bilingual report — Community urged to prevent COVID-19 spread during Spring Break by keeping it local and following public health guidelines
The County of Ventura Public Health Department is urging the community to continue adhering to safety guidelines aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, during the Easter weekend and Spring Break.
“While our metrics are improving and we are close to entering the Orange Tier, we are issuing this plea to remind everyone to not let our guard down, especially during Spring break and Easter. We need to continue to bring our numbers further down as we approach a significant milestone in the pandemic: almost 80,000 Ventura County residents have tested positive for COVID. The 15 new deaths reported so far this week are a reminder that COVID is still having a significant impact in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with these 15 families and the almost 1,000 families that have lost a loved one during the pandemic,” said Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 2, 2021
The County of Ventura Public Health Department is urging the community to continue adhering to safety guidelines aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, during the Easter weekend and Spring Break.
“While our metrics are improving and we are close to entering the Orange Tier, we are issuing this plea to remind everyone to not let our guard down, especially during Spring break and Easter. We need to continue to bring our numbers further down as we approach a significant milestone in the pandemic: almost 80,000 Ventura County residents have tested positive for COVID. The 15 new deaths reported so far this week are a reminder that COVID is still having a significant impact in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with these 15 families and the almost 1,000 families that have lost a loved one during the pandemic,” said Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas.
Dr. Cesar Morales Appointed as Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Cesar Morales was appointed this week as the new Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. After conducting a nationwide search, the Ventura County Board of Education made the decision this morning by a unanimous vote. Dr. Morales will fill the vacancy created in February when Stan Mantooth retired from the post.
Dr. Morales currently serves as the Deputy Superintendent for the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE). Since Mr. Mantooth’s departure, Dr. Morales has assumed all duties of the County Superintendent of Schools on an interim basis. He will officially become Ventura County’s next Superintendent of Schools effective April 1 and will be formally sworn in on April 16.
El Concilio Family Service — Civics Classes are Back!
Bilingual commentary — Are We Hoarding, Collecting, or Being Prudent?
As I was setting up some equipment for a video I wanted to make, I realized that I had lost a small mounting screw that I needed. I started looking for it all over the house until it dawned on me that this search could take hours, if not days. I could have spent precious time wandering around hardware stores searching for a replacement. In any case, without that piece, I was “dead in the water,” not able to proceed with my project.
Guest commentary — Stardust
There once was born a magical and loving child, a golden boy! He was stardust that had travelled many light-years through the deepest, darkest and furthest expanses of the universe. In fact this stardust had travel for more than 15 light years or about 90 trillion miles to reach one desperately longing young woman, who wanted nothing more in her life than to be a mother. An army of doctors had told her that it would never, ever, happen, she was sterile. Impossible to become pregnant they told her, yet she never stopped praying to an unknown God that she had rejected all of her life. Why was she praying now? It was as though the closer the golden star dust travelled across the universe toward the woman the more she felt mysteriously compelled to pray.
And then one day behold the miraculous stardust had taken embryonic form, and the woman was pregnant. …
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 1, 2021
Pioneer Valley High School FAA Chapter joins a California FFA virtual 5K race to promote and support California agriculture during National Ag Week
The PVHS FFA Chapter recently joined a California FFA virtual 5K race to promote and support California agriculture during National Ag Week.
The Panther FFA decided to hold a race for students at the campus, even though participants could register and compete from anywhere.
More than 30 runners, bike riders and walkers completed the route that looped around the school and then continued into the surrounding neighborhood. Student helpers held posters and cheered on the competitors.
Community Environmental Council Invites Everyone to Take Part in Earth Day — Every Day Campaign
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is kicking off the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival with the Earth Day — Every Day Campaign.
The campaign runs April 1 through April 21 and invites individuals to take meaningful, personal actions to help the environment. Together we can help our communities reduce climate impact and, at the same time, create healthy habit changes for ourselves.
Free virtual academic tutors available for Santa Maria Joint Union High School District students
Free virtual academic tutors are now available to SMJUHSD students 24/7 and 361 days a year.
The district recently partnered with Tutor.com to help young people with homework, assignment completion, essays and papers. It’s available for most subjects and in Spanish and English for core subjects. Students can also receive written feedback on rough drafts.
“I think tutor.com is very beneficial,’’ said Carlissa Solorio, a senior at SMHS. “We don’t have to show our faces and help is there 24/7 whenever we need it. I feel excited about using Tutor.com.’’
RISE Invites all of SLO County to Pledge to Believe Survivors
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and RISE is inviting SLO County residents to show support for those who have experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse by taking a pledge to believe the survivors in their lives.
By making a donation of $25 or more, those who take the pledge will have multiple opportunities to win prizes like wine tastings, golf outings, dining experiences, and more! Beginning April 19th, through the end of the month, RISE will be going LIVE on Facebook every weekday at 2 pm, to demystify myths about Sexual Assault and to announce raffle winners. This is an easy and fun way to let survivors know that “SLO County Believes” and to support ongoing, donation-based services for local survivors.
“It is important to recognize how difficult it is for a survivor to disclose what they have experienced,” says Jane Pomeroy, Executive Director of RISE, “and if they receive a negative response from the first person they turn to, they are unlikely to tell anyone else, to seek services from organizations like RISE, or to report the incident to law enforcement.”
Santa Paula Art Museum — 7 Ways To Visit (and People To Meet) in April
The Santa Paula Art Museum is now open to the general public! Visit the Museum Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Enjoy three excellent exhibitions: Inspiration and Influence, Santa Paula Sojourn, and Silver Linings: Journey of Light. Take a walk around our outdoor Art Park exhibit, shop in the gift shop, and more!
In accordance with public health directives, all museum guests are required to wear a face mask for the duration of their visit, to sanitize their hands upon entry, and to sign a waiver upon entry. Reservations are not required. The Museum will be CLOSED on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021.
Friendship Center — April 2021 Newsletter – Spring Has Sprung!
Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Unemployment Benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Benefit Expansions
There have been extensions to state and federal unemployment benefits under the American Rescue Plan. If you are struggling to understand or access unemployment benefits as employees or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) as a small business owners, self-employed individual or independent contractor here is what you need to know.
UCSB — The Current — April 3 in IV
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 31, 2021
The State of California announced Tuesday that the County of Ventura has met requirements for the State’s Orange Tier for the first week of the two-week required time frame. If the County meets the Orange Tier requirements at the next review on April 6 the County will be able to move to Orange on April 7 at 12:01 am. As with the shift to the Red Tier, the County will continue to align with the State’s framework for Orange Tier activities.
“This brings hope that we are headed in a better direction. We appreciate how our community has helped to make this happen,” said County Executive Officer Michael Powers. “The Orange Tier allows for many of our businesses to expand operations and even allows for outdoor live events. This is exciting for our community members and our recovery efforts.”
SBCC School of Extended Learning to offer Microsoft Word 2
Prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce, or improve your personal or academic skills with new computer skills. Learn to use use Microsoft Word to create a novel, family history, dissertation, thesis, operations manual, or business and/or academic reports. This class covers layout/structure features including applying styles; table of contents; outline view; page setup; choosing fonts; controlling line, paragraph and page breaks; and many more.
Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan Condemns Hate Crimes Against the Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
Gold Coast Health Plan’s governing board, the Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission, along with its chief executive officer and chief diversity officer, issued a resolution condemning violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and other people of color.
“The Commission is proud of the contribution from minority groups across the country and condemns any and all discriminatory actions taken against them,” the resolution reads.