We are in the midst of an era of rapid technological advancement. As high school students and their parents sweat over the correct choice for a major, they may feel that they are engaged in a sort of life-or-death economic decision rather than the opportunity to pursue a passion. There are currently a whole slew of podcasters, influencers and politicians who disparage the humanities as “impractical” or outmoded, as if they were a musty remnant of the Renaissance.
OXNARD — The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Nonprofit Corporation (OPAC) proudly celebrates Downtown Oxnard’s designation as a California Cultural District by the California Arts Council, a prestigious state recognition honoring the district’s vibrant creative community, long-standing commitment to the arts, and growing role as a regional hub for cultural activity.
The designation is part of the California Cultural Districts program, established through Assembly Bill 189, which identifies areas of concentrated cultural activity that contribute to economic vitality, cultural preservation, and tourism. Downtown Oxnard was selected through a highly competitive statewide process, with 74 applications submitted and only 10 new districts awarded.
CENTRAL COAST — The 805UndocuFund is conducting a $50,000 year-end fundraising campaign.
This is an ambitious goal, but the need far exceeds any fundraising goals. Your year-end gift will continue to fuel our grassroots efforts and strengthen our movement to protect the humanity of our undocumented neighbors. We understand that times are tough, yet together we have shown the ability to make the impossible possible.
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation distributed a record $1,163,994 in direct student assistance during the 2024-25 academic year and another $1.54 million to 56 college programs across 14 departments and divisions. The Ventura College Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and financial assistance to Ventura College students and programs.
As part of the distribution, the foundation provided $158,000 in gap funding for tuition costs for the Ventura College Promise program after state budget cuts. The program covers tuition and fees for eligible students for up to two years, serving 4,460 first-time, full-time Ventura College students in their first and second years during the 2024-25 school year.
“At Cal State Channel Islands, opportunity is within reach for every student. The Channel Islands Tuition Promise ensures that tuition and mandatory fees are fully covered for eligible students, reducing financial barriers to earning a CSUCI degree,” said Interim President Susan Andrzejewski. This program allows students to focus on the transformative learning experiences that define Cal State Channel Islands, strengthening our role as a powerful engine of social mobility for Ventura County and the state.”
“Our new facility will prepare aspiring welders for high-paying careers that allow them to put down roots in Ventura County and contribute to the local economy,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “This facility is a perfect example of education and industry partners coming together to provide tangible solutions for job seekers in our community.”
MOORPARK — Moorpark College is deepening its commitment to student success with the support of a $75,000 donation from Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU), which will help expand scholarships, basic needs programs and student-centered initiatives across campus. This gift was presented to the college as a part of VCCU’s “Year of Giving.”
“We are deeply grateful for VCCU’s extraordinary investment in our students,” said Dr. Julius Sokenu, president of Moorpark College. “This generous gift strengthens the programs that open doors, empower learners and uplift families across Ventura County. VCCU’s commitment to education reflects the very best of community partnership, and together we are helping our students build futures filled with purpose and possibility.”
This holiday season, I’m proud to support the Community Environmental Council in protecting the Central Coast. But federal rollbacks have created a $1.5 million funding gap, threatening programs that keep our air clean, food systems resilient, and communities prepared. And with new proposals to expand offshore drilling along our coastline, it’s clear we must do more than simply fight back — we must strengthen the community-led solutions generations have worked to build.
In the new year, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art offers a sweeping look at how artists engage with time. Works grounded in personal histories, inherited traditions, and collective memory speak to the past while giving us new ways to access it in the present. Contemporary materials and lived experience illuminate the world as it is now, yet they also open space for reflection and reinterpretation. Digital experimentation and visionary forms gesture toward the future, and at the same time expand how we record, memorialize, and remember. Seen together, these exhibitions reveal art as a continuum—one in which past, present, and future coexist, overlap, and remain vividly alive today.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura, in partnership with the City of Santa Paula and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is excited to announce its fifth Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class, now offering its second Spanish-language session.
The CERT program is a free, 24-hour training opportunity open to 40 residents from Ventura and Santa Paula. Participants learn how to safely and effectively respond to local emergencies, including reducing fire hazards, providing basic medical care, assisting professional responders, conducting light search and rescue, and more. Graduates receive a certificate of completion, a training manual, and a disaster start-up kit with a helmet, gloves, vest, and safety goggles.
CAMARILLO — Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI) has announced the successful conclusion of a nationwide search. Dr. Philip Hampton has been appointed as the next Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Hampton has served as the Interim/Acting Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences since February 2024. He previously served as Interim Associate Dean (2020–2022) and Associate Dean (2022–2024). Hampton joined CSUCI in 2001 as one of the original faculty members as Associate Professor of Chemistry and was promoted to Professor of Chemistry in 2002. He began his academic career at the University of New Mexico after earning his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1989 and completing postdoctoral work at the California Institute of Technology (1989–1991).
“The Sound of Silence” opens to the public at the Atrium Gallery TOMORROW, Dec. 18, with a free opening reception from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The exhibition, featuring work by artist Cheyenne Proctor and other local artists, runs through January 23, 2026.
This show is part of a series of exhibitions addressing mental health as part of VibeWell Ventura County, a county-wide initiative that uses art and culture to raise awareness of mental health conditions.
As we approach the end of the year, we are deeply grateful for a community that believes in the power of history, art, and shared stories.
Each day, the Museum of Ventura County preserves the history of our region by collecting and caring for its stories through oral histories, objects, photographs, and archival materials. We serve as the steward of Ventura County’s collective memory, ensuring that the people, places, and moments that shaped our community are protected for generations to come.
“Jonathan brings a broad base of experience, strong customer service values, and a collaborative, problem-solving approach to Code Compliance,” said Rob Mullane, Director of the Resource Management Agency. “His passion for public service, thoughtful approach to resolving challenges, and familiarity with Ventura County will be a tremendous asset to our agency and the County as he helps advance key initiatives and strives for service excellence for the community.”
The $3.8 million grant supports professors Tamara Afifi and Nancy Collins in their research goals: extending lifespan and improving quality of life.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB), joined by city officials, project partners, and community members, celebrated the official groundbreaking of Jacaranda Court, a new 63-unit affordable rental community designed to serve Santa Barbara’s…
Illuminating a wide spectrum of systemic injustice, UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) Justice for All programming initiative looks to today’s great minds and creators and to the courageous leaders across the globe who are forging a new path forward. Join us as we learn from those confronting uncomfortable questions, solving difficult problems, and guiding us all toward a more equitable world.
We’re excited to share some big news with you! Even in a year that’s brought no shortage of challenges, we’ve been working to launch a more accessible, user-friendly website – a digital home designed to help us stay connected, build grassroots power, and make sure our communities have the tools we need to know and defend our rights.
Our new site is built for you. When you have a moment, take a look around – and be sure you’re subscribed to our email list. If you’re on social media, follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you never miss an update.
“We are proud to be recognized as a Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group,” said Barbara Conviser, Vice President, Quality Support Services. “Our residency programs have long been a point of pride for Cottage, and this recognition affirms the daily contributions of our faculty, staff, and resident physicians in delivering high-quality care.”
THOUSAND OAKS — Supervisor Jeff Gorell, in partnership with local law enforcement, fire, schools, and community organizations, invites families to attend a Bike Rodeo & E-Bike Safety Event focused on keeping kids safe.
The free, family-friendly event will take place on Saturday, January 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Redwood Middle School, located at 233 W. Gainsborough Road in Thousand Oaks.
VENTURA — As holiday celebrations ramp up, so does the risk on our roads. In December 2023, 1,038 people across the U.S. lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Ventura Police Department joins agencies statewide in urging drivers to celebrate responsibly and keep impaired driving out of their holiday plans.
Tthrough New Year’s Day, Ventura Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The high-visibility enforcement effort is part of a national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others at risk.
“This gift from Ventura County Credit Union will help us fulfill our mission to engage the community in meaningful experiences with history, art and culture,” said Elena Brokaw, Barbara Barnard CEO of the Museum of Ventura County. “As we work to expand our programs and strengthen community partnerships, this support enables us to continue serving as a gathering place where diverse voices and stories come together. We are deeply grateful to VCCU for investing in our future and recognizing the vital role museums play in helping us understand our past and build a better future for Ventura County.”
SCORE: ACCESSING CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESS
December 16 @ 8:00 am
Join Brande Stitt, Program Director for the Women’s Business Center, as she walks through where entrepreneurs get their money. Learn what types of businesses are launched, and how they were funded. You will learn to ask yourself these important questions: how much money do I need, what type of business do I have and what type of capital is most appropriate. You will learn how to prepare to raise debt (borrow money) or equity capital (give up a share of your business.) Brande Stitt currently serves as Program Director for the Women’s Business Center in Fairway, Kansas. The WBC helps develop, mentor and fund women-led businesses. She previously served as the Network Builder for KCSourceLink and Director of Small Business & Entrepreneurship for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Brande received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Drury University in Springfield, Mo., and a Master of Education in community/agency counseling from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Please connect at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure you have a stable connection. The webinar begins promptly at 10:00 AM CT/ 9AM MT/ 8AM PT and concludes by 12:00 PM CT/ 11AM MT/ 10AM PT. Price: $10.00.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
SANTA BARBARA — A new home to the pickleball community is coming to Santa Barbara County. The former Bed Bath & Beyond location, in the Fairview Shopping Center in Goleta, will soon be transformed into a premier indoor pickleball facility, The Picklr Santa Barbara, owned and operated by local residents Ted and Trish Guggenheim. The state-of-the-art complex will feature 7 professional-grade courts, including 2 official championship-sized courts.
OXNARD — Opening night for Noche de Película/Movie Night 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!
As we bring this calendar year to a close, I want to extend my warmest wishes for a joyful and restorative holiday season. This year has moved quickly, and I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished together. Ventura County schools are making gains in student achievement while offering outstanding programs before, during, and after school.
I’m especially grateful for everyone who strengthens our education community—teachers and staff at our districts and charter schools, families, community partners, and all who support our students inside and outside the classroom. In a year with its share of challenges, Ventura County schools have stepped up to support families facing immigration concerns and disruptions to CalFresh benefits. In difficult moments, I’m so proud that VCOE has remained a source of stability, compassion, and hope.
Click here for the entire media release en español VENTURA — The County of Ventura Health Care Agency (HCA) has been awarded the prestigious Quality Hero Award 2025 by Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP). This top honor recognizes the HCA for…
LOMPOC — Allan Hancock College celebrated a new crop of first responders and healthcare workers as a combined 137 individuals graduated from the college’s fire, emergency medical technician (EMT), and nursing programs on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.
The fire and EMT academy graduates were honored during two ceremonies at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc, while the nursing graduation took place at the Marian Theatre on the college’s Santa Maria campus.
A total of 30 cadets graduated from the fire academy on Dec. 11, marking the end of a rigorous 18-week program consisting of 624 hours of classroom and field instruction. Before the ceremony, the cadets gave a live demonstration of the skills they learned at the academy, including running fire hoses, dousing burning cars and extricating “victims” from vehicle wrecks outside the PSTC’s burn tower.
This year, music lifted Ventura at an unprecedented rate.
It reached students who had never held an instrument.
It comforted those at Community Memorial Hospital.
It filled parks, schools, museums, and neighborhoods — ?much of it free and all of it accessible to all.
And now, as the year comes to a close, we ask you to help keep this music playing.
Your support today fuels the music tomorrow. Year-end gifts are fully tax-deductible and make an immediate impact across the programs that define our mission. Every dollar you give ensures that the Ventura Music Festival continues to reach more people, in more places, in more ways—especially those who need it most.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College’s SkillsUSA Community Service Team is collecting new and gently used blankets this holiday season to support individuals and families in need across the Central Coast.
Donation bins are available now through Dec.19 in the Mechanics Bank Student Center (bldg. G) at the college’s Santa Maria campus. Community members are encouraged to contribute if they are able.
The blanket drive serves as the team’s official SkillsUSA community service project for the year. Students on the team include Johana Diaz-Toscano, Alexandra Ramirez and Victoria Gama. The three students organized and launched the initiative entirely themselves. Diaz-Toscano said that blankets will be distributed to local shelters, many of which see increased need during the winter months.
