COVID-19 Pop-Up Testing Site
This Saturday, December 19, 10:00am-3:00pm
In front of Port Administrative Offices
333 Ponoma Street, Port Hueneme, CA
No Port entry needed
Walk up style – street parking available
First come, first served
No insurance or ID required
Follow-up/results received within 24-72 hours
Take-home tests will be available if line becomes too long
portofhueneme.org/port-events/covid-testing-12-19-2020
Questions? Please contact mmorrison@portofh.org.
The Oxnard Fire Department will help parents and caregivers keep their children as safe as possible in the car thanks to a $30,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).
The one-year grant funds a car seat education program that encourages the proper installation and use of child safety seats and includes:
Righetti High School’s ASTRA Club will wrap up its food drive at the end of this week, delivering donated items to families and veterans challenged by these unprecedented times.
The last day to drop off nonperishable items is between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the parking lot in front of the library this Friday. The food drive deliveries begin Friday and continue Monday.
Called a Reverse Advent Calendar Schoolwide Food Drive, students are encouraging each other to give something each day instead of getting something each day.
DO YOU KNOW OF A CHILD IN NEED OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS?
If you know a family who needs help
providing Christmas presents to their children,
please invite them to one of these events.
A PVHS science standout has received a scholarship that will pay for the majority of her education at Stanford University.
“Attending such a prestigious school like Stanford will allow me the potential to do something great, said Daisy Cisneros, who has a 4.3 GPA. “As electricity travels to most everyday objects, I plan to make those objects better as an electrical engineer.”
Student leaders lit up Pioneer Valley High School for a “Holiday Lights” drive-through event on Saturday, December 12.
Adding joy to the season, the PV Student Council and helpers decorated an area of the campus with holiday lights, candy canes and cheer. Visitors joined in with more than 300 vehicles including some that were also decorated.
The event was designed to “give our community a place for the family to see holiday lights and celebrate the season with our PVHS family,’’ according to Panther Activity Director Lisa Walters.
The following COVID-19 testing locations are open today:
Oxnard College 4000 Rose Ave 10-7
Moorpark College 7075 Campus Rd 10-7
Santa Paula E Main/N Ojai 10-7
El Rio, Revive Community Church 2640 Alvarado St Oxnard 1-7
Community Park, 901 S Kimball Ventura 9-3:30
Looking out for the welfare of older adults is hard enough during a pandemic, to say nothing of the holiday season with its increased risk of loneliness and isolation.
According to research conducted by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Health Science Ronald Berkowsky, Ph.D., investigating the impacts of elder mistreatment should go beyond assessing physical safety and mental health. Berkowsky’s research suggests that elder advocates should consider how well older Americans are doing in terms of human potential issues such as self-worth, sense of purpose, autonomy, and positive relationships.
Animals are back at Gorongosa National Park after a civil war, but the savanna community doesn’t look quite how it used to.
It has been a time honored tradition during the holiday season for Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. to distribute toys to its pediatric patients. The tradition continues this year as Clinicas’ Toy Giveaway will once again take place throughout Ventura County.
“Now more than ever, we at Clinicas recognize that creating joy during the holiday season contributes to our patient’s health and well-being. That is why Clinicas will be providing free toys to our children throughout the month of December. The only change this year is that due the COVID-19 Pandemic, we will be hosting contactless drive through toy distributions. Our Toy Giveaway is especially meaningful for our patients because for many of them, the toy they receive from Clinicas may be the only toy they receive this holiday season. This event is also impactful because it offers Clinicas staff an opportunity to not only thank our patients, but also meet with the families and community members Clinicas serves outside of their clinical visit. Clinicas wishes everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.” said Clinicas CEO, Roberto S. Juarez.
Amazon takes on the World: The creation of Amazon, in 1994, by Jeff Bezos, is by any standard an incredible American entrepreneurial success story. …We, the 1,500 workforce and community, were excluded from the initial bargaining and negotiation process, we will not be excluded from future workforce deliberations and collective bargaining actions that will assure the protection, the health and safety of the workers, their family and the entire greater Oxnard area. “We are excited to join the (Oxnard) community” is the way Andre Almeida, Regional Director of Amazon Operations, put it. The community of Oxnard is also excited about the new business partnership, but we will also be vigilant and support our local workforce to make sure that Amazon in Oxnard gives as much to the community as it takes!
The Stay Home (and Eat Local) for the Holidays Campaign launched before Thanksgiving as a collaborative effort between Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN), Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (SBCPHD), county-wide farmers’ markets, and Edible Santa Barbara. The Campaign offers a safe, affordable, and healthy option for celebrating the holidays while emphasizing the importance of supporting the County’s local agriculture and food producers during the ongoing pandemic.
“Due to the regional Stay at Home Order that went into effect on Monday, our local food system faces even greater pressure – the need to support our County’s local farmers, ranchers, food artisans and fisherfolk is more critical than ever. The Stay Home and Eat Local Campaign provides a fun and practical way to encourage our community to shop local this season by creating nutritious and beautiful meals for their loved ones during the
Pioneer Valley High School is pleased to announce that Anthony Morales will be taking over the Athletic Director duties beginning in the spring semester.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be at PVHS with such an outstanding academic reputation, to be at a school with such a phenomenal sports background,’’ Morales said.
Longtime coach, and current AD, Jeff Monteiro is retiring in December after a remarkable 39 year coaching career, and 34 years as a respected teacher in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. Coach Monteiro helped open Pioneer Valley HS in 2004 when he came over as the Social Science Department Chairman and Varsity Football Coach. He was integral in helping build a successful athletic program PV while coaching football, wrestling and track.
Ventura County, Our community needs your help! COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in our County as hospitals fill with very sick people. Please help bring the numbers down. Your actions can help move us forward saving lives and businesses or your actions could hold us back costing more lives and the loss of more businesses. Simple steps of wearing a mask, social distancing, not gathering and washing hands frequently go a long way in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
There are 2,651 new cases (from Friday, Saturday and Sunday) (1,263 (47.6%) of which have a lab collection from 12/7 or earlier) 8,422 additional people tested and 1 additional death (59 year old female with comorbidities). Current doubling time is 27.0 days. Current hospitalizations are 204 and current ICU is 49.
Learn more about the State’s Stay Home Order by clicking here.
SBCC has never experienced a semester quite like Fall 2020, and yet students, faculty and staff faced the challenges with creativity and resilience. Read how together we found innovative ways to teach and learn, to provide vital student services, to perform theatrical drama and musical events (and more) below…
The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is proud to announce that it will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021. The Museum, which has served as a cultural hub in the Channel Islands Harbor since 1991, has a full calendar of events and exhibits planned as part of the anniversary year.
The dream of art collector and businessman Harry Nelson and his friend Martin V. (Bud) Smith, the Museum opened its doors in February of 1991 to rave reviews. Channel Islands Maritime Museum features works of fine maritime art dating back to the 1600s, ship models, and other maritime artifacts. The Museum has presented a wide variety of informative and engaging temporary exhibitions during its first 30 years as well as sponsoring large community events. The Museum is also visited by hundreds of local students each year.
Local human services agency urges community support to open their hearts and homes to children and older youth in (foster)care, as additional census shows a growth in need during the pandemic. VENTURA — The holidays are a special time of…
As families continue to juggle workloads, family life and educational challenges for their kids during the pandemic, having the support community is needed more than ever.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) has taken a strong leadership role at the onset of the pandemic and continues to provide a safe and academic environment for families who are so in need of this service. Clubs have been open all day since the beginning of the pandemic with zero cases of COVID transmission.
Dear MVC supporter,
A gift to the Museum of Ventura County serves your community by helping us…
…Make history accessible. The Research Library has digitized and made available 2,500 photographs and responded to over 150 remote research inquiries.
…Provide virtual education lessons and field trips to students, teachers, and parents. These programs help kids with remote learning and are designed to meet the specific needs of low to moderate income students.
…Present important free livestream programs and online content that changes daily. These included the first installment of our Changemaker series with Dolores Huerta and Jorge Corralejo, interviews with renowned journalist Ivor Davis, and a Dia de los Muertos altar workshop with Dr. Roberto Vargas.
Classical music composers throughout history have taken cues from their own cultural roots. They wove the fabric of their ancient and folk heritages into their music to produce masterful works that resonate with listeners. The composers were influenced by music that stirred their spirits by dint of its power. These compositions are melded together by forces that we dare not try to understand. As we listen to them, we discern the echoes of something that accompanied our ancestors as they danced, prayed, or celebrated. Our DNA is imprinted onto the soul of these classic works.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria member Laura Flores, 17, has been selected as one of 11 girls from Girls Inc. affiliates across the U.S. to serve on the 2020-2021 Girls Inc. National Teen Advocacy Council (TAC). Flores will be the second member from the Carpinteria affiliate to serve in this national leadership capacity.
The TAC is a leadership body made up of Girls Inc. high school students (ages 14-18) who advise and inform Girls Inc. National’s advocacy work, by learning about and sharing issues facing girls in their respective communities. TAC members support Girls Inc. advocacy efforts through writing blog posts, sharing messages on social media, and speaking publicly on behalf of the Girls Inc. network.
…We have work too hard and long for district wide city council representation by and for the people. As I write this piece the City Council is deciding whether to appoint a new city council member to the seat that will be vacated on January 4, 2021, by Carmen Ramirez as she takes her new position as the Ventura County Supervisor of the 5th District. Or instead have a special election and have the voters of that district decide. An appointment by the city council of a favored “son or daughter” is highly problematic and will come with the inevitable strings attached. That appointee will be beholden to the political powers that put her/him in office.
Good Afternoon, There are 254 new cases for today (29 (11.4%) of which have a lab collection from 12/3 or earlier) 1,891 additional people tested and 0. Current doubling time is 35.7. Current hospitalizations are 151 and current ICU is 42.
The State’s Stay Home Order is in effect. Learn more about the order by clicking here.
View this week’s update at the link below:
The Santa Maria High School FFA Chapter spread the Holiday Cheer by giving away 50 Christmas Trees and 30 Holiday Hams to students and their families impacted by the pandemic on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Junior Veronica Garcia DeLeon stated, “My family and I usually go all out for Christmas but this year we haven’t had the motivation. To be chosen to get a free ham and Christmas tree from the Santa Maria FFA has brought back the Christmas spirit that my family and I weren’t experiencing this year. We are extremely and truly thankful to have had been chosen.”
OC alumnus Sal Anguiano’s short film Essential Oxnard sheds light on the important work and contributions of the Hispanic community in Oxnard, California, and celebrates its resilience amid the pandemic. From local Oxnard business owners to farm workers, Essential Oxnard asks the question, “Who is considered essential?”
In this special presentation, OC Film and TV Professor Anitra Lawson is joined by the filmmaker as well as OC alumni Luis Guereca and Arcelia Martinez to discuss the making of the film in the early days of the pandemic and where we are now.
Watch the film, meet the filmmaker and discover the beauty, the grit, and the heart of the city of Oxnard.
Delta High School will be teaming up with non-profits and others for a holiday drive-through event that will provide food and other necessities to needy students and their families today.
The outreach starts at 4 p.m. in front of the Ocrutt campus. Families will pick up a basket filled with a blanket, towel, hygiene products and groceries.
“Delta has been great this year,’’ said senior Amando Arozla. “They are doing so much for us and we are very lucky.”
With the holidays in full swing–Chanukah starting today, December 10 and Christmas right around the corner, here are four experiences that will bring much-needed joy during the season at the Ventura Harbor Village.
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board approved $1.2 million in emission reduction grants for Ventura County businesses through the Community Air Protection (CAP) Incentive Program. This is the third year that the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) has participated in the CAP Incentive Program.
This year’s grants will help fund the replacement of two (2) diesel school buses with new, zero-emission, electric school buses and the corresponding installation of the necessary electric vehicle charging equipment for these buses. In addition, this year’s grants will help pay for new, lower-emission equipment to replace ten (10) older, higher-pollution diesel engines in agricultural equipment. The total investment in 2020 air quality projects, including the cost-share contributed by grant recipients, will be over $1.8 million. Since 2018, VCAPCD has awarded over $3.6 million in CAP incentives to help businesses operating in Ventura County replace older equipment with cleaner, low-emission equipment.
Shop our picks for the perfect holiday gift at GIFT STUDIO!
Located in Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center, GIFT STUDIO is MCASB’s holiday pop-up shop open from December 10, 2020 to January 3, 2021!
We invite the Santa Barbara community to shop local and support MCASB’s educational and exhibition programs. By purchasing original and limited edition artwork from local and internationally acclaimed artists you support the Museum and the Santa Barbara arts community.
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board on Dec. 8 approved $467,326 in emission reduction grants for Ventura County businesses through the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emissions Reduction (FARMER) Program. This is the third year that the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) has participated in the FARMER Program.
This year’s grants will help pay for new, lower-emission equipment to replace ten (10) older, higher-pollution diesel engines in agricultural equipment. The total investment in 2020 air quality projects, including the cost-share contributed by grant recipients, will be nearly $1.3 million. Since 2018, VCAPCD has awarded over $2.7 million in FARMER incentives to help agricultural businesses operating in Ventura County replace older equipment with cleaner, low-emission equipment.
Join us this Saturday, December 12th at 11:00 AM PST for a morning filled with fun and creativity! We will be demonstrating how to create stamps using a variety of household items. Once we’re done, you can use your stamps to adorn greeting cards, make your very own gift wrap, or create other works of art!
This event is free to all, and we encourage people of all ages and skill levels to attend. Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied or assisted by a parent or guardian to ensure all safety measures are taken when using tools being used to carve the stamp materials. After securing your spot for the event you will be sent a Zoom link and a list of supplies you will need. See you there!
Good Evening, There are 170 new cases for today (35 (20.6%) of which have a lab collection from 12/2 or earlier) 1,638 additional people tested and 2 additional deaths (85 and 86 year old males with comorbidities). Current doubling time is 43.6. Current hospitalizations are 147 and current ICU is 42.
The State’s Stay Home Order is in effect. Learn more about the order by clicking here.
The VCAC CARES Grant application will award funds to qualifying organizations determined through this application. The money awarded is allocated from a portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds initially given to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) who granted a portion of the dollars to the California Arts Council (CAC) to be distributed by their State and Local Partners (SLPs) to arts groups serving populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This designation was determined by the NEA and CAC.
With the holidays upon us, kidSTREAM Children’s Museum wants to bring a little cheer into households by offering joyful seasonal activities. Throughout December follow along on social media for winter crafts and holidays keepsakes, utilizing recycled materials and art supplies that many families have readily available. These fun, hands-on learning activities will also offer a sneak peek into nine immersive outdoor experiences coming to kidSTREAM in 2021.
The Board of Supervisors from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties on Dec. 8 issued a letter to state health officials and California Governor Gavin Newsom to request a separate Central Coast Region composed of the three counties. The letter requests that the Central Coast Region be allowed to exit the regional stay home order as a region after three weeks if the ICU capacity in the three counties exceeds 15 percent.
“The letter being sent to state officials is an accurate measure of our regional distinction through both geography and demographics,” stated Gregg Hart, Chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. “We are best positioned to understand the critical needs within our region and have existing partnerships to promote the health and economic well-being of our communities.”
Good Evening, There are 308 new cases for today (7 (2.3%) of which have a lab collection from 12/1 or earlier) 1,936 additional people tested and 6 additional deaths (5 males and 1 female between the ages of 51-93, all but one with comorbidities). Current doubling time is 47.9. Current hospitalizations are 142 and current ICU is 40.
The State’s Stay Home Order is in effect. Learn more about the order by clicking here.
Please continue to wear a mask, social distance, wash hands frequently and avoid gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
A press conference will take place on 12/9/20 at 1pm. It will be streamed at www.venturacountyrecovers.org and Facebook @CountyofVentura.
A testing location update will be sent to update on any closures for tomorrow. Today, there were closures due to adverse weather.
During its first year, the coronavirus has ravaged Latino families and communities in California and other states far more seriously than it has non-Latino populations.
How much worse? For example, Latinos make up 39.3% of California’s population (15.5 million people), yet they constitute a far larger percentage (48.5%) of all COVID-19?related deaths in the state. In contrast, non-Hispanic whites make up 36.6% of California’s population (14.5 million people), but have accounted for only 30.4% of all the state’s COVID-19 deaths.
Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) is excited to announce the fifth annual appearance of its popular “Elf on the GO” holiday bus. The 40-foot bus is now appearing throughout GCTD’s service area through January 3, 2021.
Each year the community awaits the debut of “Elf on the GO” to see what those little elves are up to. This year’s elves are larger than life and will bring joy to the communities of Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura and the County areas in between these cities. One mischievous elf even invites onlookers to take a “sELFie” from afar!
Governor Newsom on Dec. 7 appointed Matt LaVere as the Supervisor for the 1st District of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. LaVere was elected in March for the term to begin in January 2021. The 1st District Supervisor Steve Bennett was elected for State Assembly and sworn in as Assemblymember for the 37th Assembly District today. LaVere was appointed to begin service a month early with the departure of Steve Bennett to the Assembly.
The Santa Maria High School Race Team’s 1968 Camaro Drag Car is presently featured in a news article by Classic Industries, the number 1 classic car parts and restoration company in the world.
Here is the story link: https://news.classicindustries.com/smhs-race-team-1968-camaro
The Ventura County Fire Department has been awarded a $205,000 FEMA grant to support a county-wide campaign for the installation of dual smoke and carbon monoxide alarms while expanding fire prevention education. The department’s goal is to improve health and safety in our communities and reduce home damage.
Bill Foley, Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency, has announced his retirement effective March 6, 2021. He plans to stay on in an advisory role. “Under his leadership, the Ventura County Medical System is on a path towards financial stability. He led the revitalization efforts for Santa Paula Hospital and the preliminary planning for an integrated healthcare campus at the Harvest site in Eastern Santa Paula,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “Additionally, he has led efforts to explore meaningful strategic partnerships with other health care systems in the market. Bill has worked hard during his tenure to position our healthcare system to continue to be an essential provider of health care services for our community members. After his retirement, I am very pleased that Bill has agreed to serve in an advisory capacity to me and Health Care Agency leadership regarding several critical projects and issues.”
Black men in Washington D.C. tend to die 17 years sooner than white men according to a nationally-recognized study conducted by 2015 CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Sociology graduate Max Roberts, who is now pursuing a Ph.D. at Utah State University (USU).
Overall, the gap in life expectancy between Black and white Americans has been shrinking in the U.S., but Roberts pointed out that those statistics conceal ongoing disparities, with the most alarming results coming out of Washington D.C., where, in 2016, the longevity gap between Black and white men was more than 400% greater than the national gap, with white men living over 17 more years than Black men.
December 8, 2020 Top News No Refuge from the Heat Scientists find marine protected areas do little to mitigate the effects of climate change. Read More ? An Award of Distinction Suma Ikeuchi receives the Hsu Prize for best book…
Steve Bennett (D-Santa Barbara) took the oath of office to serve as the Assemblymember for the 37th Assembly District today in a special ceremony in Sacramento. The oath was administered by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The 37thAssembly district incorporates the communities in southern Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County.
“I am honored and humbled to represent the people of the 37th Assembly District in Sacramento,” said Bennett
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) notification issued by Southern California Edison for several parts of southern Santa Barbara County, including Santa Barbara, Mission Canyon, Montecito, and Carpinteria; PSPS Outages May Occur as Soon as 9PM Tonight (Monday, December 7)
The State’s Stay Home Order is in effect. Learn more about the order by clicking here.
Please continue to wear a mask, social distance, wash hands frequently and avoid gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
An update will be provided to the Board of Supervisors on 12/8/20. View the meeting beginning at 8:30 am by clicking here.
The County of Ventura, Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County will be seeking State approval to separate from the large Southern California Region under the State’s Stay Home Order to create a smaller tri-county Central Coast Region. The Counties will be submitting a unified request for the smaller regional approach if the tri-county ICU capacity exceeds 15% in the next three weeks. At that time the Counties will request to be assessed based on the tri-county ICU capacity and not the Southern California Regional ICU capacity.
SCORE SANTA BARBARA: 2021 BUSINESS OUTLOOK ROUNDTABLE
December 7 @ 5:00 pm
Join SCORE Santa Barbara a round table discussion with health experts, community leaders, and financial professionals. Our panelists will provide insights into the challenges and opportunities for small businesses in Santa Barbara and offer practical guidance on how to prepare your business for the year ahead. Topics covered will include: (1) Guidance for operating safely during the COVID crisis, (2) What to expect as we enter the post-COVID world, (3) How to prepare for success in the “new normal” and (4) Financial strategies and sources of funding for small businesses.
