CAMARILLO — Commitment to the roughly 1,600 trees on the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus has earned the University a Tree Campus USA designation for the 11th year in a row. In addition, CSUCI’s rigorous sustainability practices have earned…
On view now through July 9, 2023
Closing soon: “Shadow and Light” is a 30-year survey of Central Coast artist Bruce Everett’s magnificent landscapes in oil. Characterized by bold and often dark compositional forms, dramatic effects of light, and a sense of solitude, Everett’s paintings combine both smooth and expressive brushwork and include large studio pieces and small plein air scenes depicting locales from Los Angeles north to San Luis Obispo.
While we highly recommend experiencing Bruce’s art in person, we hope you enjoy this abbreviated look at Everett’s exhibit in your inbox!
SANTA BARBARA — Since mid-March, Garcia has led the development of new protocols for welcoming and hosting our growing and diverse audiences, artists, and funders. She is the primary liaison for the institution, and is working closely with the Board to develop additional staff and programmatic capacity as MCASB continues to fulfill its mission. Recent developments include expanded gallery hours to six days a week, a robust First Thursday series of public programs, and the development of new inclusive youth focused programming that seeks to create greater connections between Indigenous youth and the Museum.
I taught college mathematics for over 40 years at a local community college. During that time, I witnessed how poorly prepared most incoming students were for college mathematics. In fact, the vast majority required some level of “remediation.”
“Remediating” students meant that they may have had to begin their college math journey as far down as “Basic Mathematics.” This lowest level college class taught them (or reviewed for them) how to add, subtract, multiply, divide, handle fractions and decimals, and deal with some elementary geometric concepts (circles, squares, rectangles, etc.).
“Dad, I feel like I am cured!” Those were the words that my son, Aaron, said to me, this past Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 11:16 AM. In my wildest dreams and nightmares, I was not remotely prepared for this miraculous news. My mind, heart, my entire world froze temporarily. I was left speechless and breathless. I was catapulted to an unknown realm between ecstasy and terror. Then I saw the loving faces of my jefitos and our sacred elders and I was finally able to breathe. It took some eternally long seconds to finally wrap my head around what my son was telling me. Aaron repeated again, “Dad, I believe that I am cured!” I move the phone away from my month, and as quietly as I possibly could I tried to control myself, and I silently wailed thanks and praises to the spirits over these four little miraculous words that my family and close friends have been praying and waiting to hear from Aaron for these past 18 years.
SANTA BARBARA — Happy Father’s Day cards extol the virtues of Dad with pithy sayings like “#1 Dad” and “Happy Father’s Day to a dad who taught me what life is about….”
Fathers occupy a critical role in child development. According to The Fatherhood Project, Children with actively involved fathers are: 43% more likely to earn A’s in school and 33% less likely to repeat a grade than those without engaged dads. Children who feel a closeness to their father are also twice as likely as to enter college or find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to have a teen birth, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience multiple depression symptoms.
VENTURA — In a unanimous vote during the regular meeting on Tuesday, June 6, the Board of Supervisors approved the finalization of the purchase of the property at 545/555 S. A St. in the City of Oxnard with the intention of establishing the Carmen Ramirez Family Justice Center. The location, a two-story, 32,000 sq. foot building, will become the home of the second Family Justice Center located in the county. The support services provided are administered by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and will serve residents primarily located in the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme.
California Small Business and Nonprofit COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Relief Grant Program was created in accordance with California AB 152 and is administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). The Program aims to provide financial support to eligible businesses and nonprofits that have incurred costs for COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave in compliance with Sections 248.6 and 248.7 of the Labor Code. Grants will be awarded based on eligibility and the availability of funds.
Application Window Is Now Open!
SANTA PAULA — As residents begin to plan their Fourth of July celebrations, the City of Santa Paula reminds the community that all fireworks, including those commonly referred to as “safe and sane,” are illegal within the City. Santa Paulans are invited to celebrate in other ways and review the City’s municipal code pertaining to fireworks.
“While we have many reasons to celebrate in the coming weeks with family and friends, I strongly encourage my fellow Santa Paulans to avoid the use of illegal fireworks,” said Santa Paula Mayor Andy Sobel. “Fireworks can create unsafe and dangerous conditions for our entire community, and there are many other opportunities and ways to celebrate whether it be a family gathering or barbecue, outdoor activities such as biking or hiking, or attending the annual Rotary Club and City of Santa Paula fireworks display.”
The first of a series of events celebrating the campus’s newest crop of graduates shined a spotlight on CCS, the “graduate school for undergraduates.”
Last Thursday, a significant milestone has been achieved that has been in the works the entire time I’ve been Supervisor. With the opening of Fire Station 27, Our most remote community has finally received the Fire Station it deserves. As Supervisor for Cuyama, I always strive to ensure equitable services and emergency response for every part of the County. This project has been made possible through the active participation of many dedicated Cuyama community members. I want to give a special shoutout to Mrs. Fursteinfeld’s 6th Grade Class who joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony. I am certain that there are some future first responders among this great group of students!
Mark your calendars!
Join us for a free, family-friendly event on Friday, June 23 to celebrate the kick-off of 150 days of celebration in honor of the 150th Anniversary of Ventura County!
Museum of Ventura County
100 East Main Street
Ventura, CA
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Come enjoy food trucks, music, games and new exhibits at the Museum of Ventura County! We hope to see you there!
For the next 150 days, join the County of Ventura and the Museum of Ventura County as we celebrate this unique region. Be part of a series of programs and celebrations that will help us discover who we really are and what makes us unique in all the world. Meet neighbors and community leaders who have helped shape the world we live in every day.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura, in partnership with the Museum of Ventura County, will host a family-friendly community event to mark the kick-off of 150 days of celebration in honor of the 150th Anniversary of Ventura County. The event will be held at the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura and will feature museum exhibits, games, food trucks, and music.
In the 2017 Thomas fire and the 2018 Woolsey fire, water shortages hampered firefighters’ ability to protect structures. Ventura County frequently experiences conditions of low humidity, high winds and dry brush, conducive to dangerous wildland fires. Ventura County has ninety-six percent of its rural and unincorporated lands classified as very high fire zones.
The 2022-2023 Ventura County Grand Jury conducted an investigation of current protocols and procedures utilized by 15 Ventura County public water purveyors to supply adequate water for wildland fire suppression.
The Grand Jury finds that having written procedures for actions taken by public water purveyors during a Fire Weather Watch, Red Flag Warning, active fire and/or Public Safety Power Shutoffs due to wildfires is a best practice that is lacking in Ventura County.
The Grand Jury finds that most public water purveyors do not have adequate backup power in the event of disruptions due to fire damage or loss of utility power.
SANTA BARBARA — Senior Expo is returning after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic. Family Service Agency (FSA) today announced that the 32nd Annual Senior Expo of Santa Barbara, the largest active aging fair in our area, will take place on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. The deadline to register as a sponsor or exhibitor is August 1, 2023.
Organizations have the opportunity to engage more than 1,000 local seniors and caregivers and network with more than 100 booths focused on the needs of seniors and caregivers in our community. Exhibit space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis, and is expected to sell out early.
“The Expo is the only event of its kind on the Central Coast. Attendees receive great information on the plethora of services resources available to them,” said Lisa Brabo, FSA CEO. “With the support of our sponsors and exhibitors, and the help of more than 50 volunteers, we are really proud to be able to bring the Senior Expo back to the community this year.”
Dear Valued Port Friends and Partners,
The Port of Hueneme is excited for this year’s 10th Annual Port of Hueneme Banana Festival. We host the Banana Festival annually as the banana is one of our port’s main imports, bringing in over 5 billion bananas a year! We will have live music, tasty eats, and shopping, thanks to the help of our sponsors and vendors.
Agromin, an Oxnard-based company that produces organic soil products from locally recycled organic waste, has launched an online retail store so businesses and consumers can order Agromin compost, mulch and soil amendments online. Orders can be picked up at Agromin’s Oxnard headquarters (201 Kinetic Dr.) or delivered within a 60-mile radius of the Agromin location.
The online store is available to anyone who needs large quantities of compost, mulch and other organic soil products. Each product page on the Agromin website contains a calculator, which determines how much product is needed based on the size of a project.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Tomorrow marks the official launch of The County’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations. Be on the lookout for an “all things 150” preview newsletter!
SACRAMENTO — Residents of San Luis Obispo County who experienced damage from the severe storms and flooding that took place in February and March can now apply for federal disaster assistance.
In addition, Plumas, Solano and Sonoma counties are now eligible for FEMA Public Assistance, which reimburses local and state government agencies and certain nonprofit organizations, including Houses of Worship, for the costs of emergency response, debris removal and restoration of disaster damaged public facilities and infrastructure.
San Luis Obispo County joins the previously designated counties of Butte, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Tulare and Tuolumne in being eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
At its regular meeting on June 7, the Santa Paula City Council advanced the City’s agreement with the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) by selecting a default rate option for the City and its residents.
CPA is Southern California’s locally operated electricity provider and gives the power of choice to customers, allowing them to choose the plan that works best for their particular circumstances. CPA sources clean, renewable power such as wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal and small hydroelectric at competitive rates, which helps communities achieve their climate action goals and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Services are still delivered and billed by SCE, preventing any disruptions to customers’ power supply when they switch.
“By moving forward in this process, Santa Paula is taking a significant step toward a cleaner, greener future,” said Mayor Andy Sobel. “We are proud to provide our residents with access to clean energy options, ensuring a sustainable path for our community.”
The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) would like to recognize Pride Month. Observed annually in June, Pride Month is a time to uplift and celebrate the the LGBTQ+ community. EDC is committed to supporting LGBTQ+ innovators and entrepreneurs and strives to provide equitable access to inclusive services year-round.
The EDC is proud to support our community by providing professional technical assistance through our Small Business Development Center.
THOUSAND OAKS — Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks is pleased to announce its 2023 community speaker series, Our World Evolving: Global Thought Leaders in Our Community.
This series of socially relevant conversations with modern thought leaders, authors and scholars will kick off July 16 with Pulitzer Prize-winning academic Jared Diamond. Named one of the world’s Top 10 Public Intellectuals by Foreign Policy, Diamond is a historian and geographer best known for his popular nonfiction trilogy that began with the release of his groundbreaking book, “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” and concluded with 2019’s “Upheaval.” Diamond will speak on “Societal Development: The History of Everybody for the Last 13,000 Years.”
The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) is happy to introduce its new educational mascot, Cimmy the California Sea Lion.
The aptly named Cimmy (the “C” is pronounced as an “S”) made his debut this month in the Museum’s outdoor classroom area, the CIMM Waterfront Learning Club, and will gradually expand to more areas of education. Cimmy will be more fully featured in Museum activities starting in September.
“We want education and learning at CIMM to be a fun, positive and energetic experience for all of our younger visitors,” says CIMM Executive Director Adri Howe. “We couldn’t think of a better mascot than one of the residents of Channel Islands Harbor, the California Sea Lion. Sea Lions are intelligent, playful, and social, which we feel are also wonderful attributes for young people!”
The Promise Scholar is graduating as a double major and is next set to join the university’s intensive Teacher Education Program on a full ride.
VENTURA — Just in time for summer, Ventura Harbor Village has recently announced the line-up for the 2023 Summer Outdoor Movie Nights, taking place on the last Saturday of each month: June 24, July 29, and August 26, 2023 at sunset on the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn. This exciting community event invites residents and visitors alike to gather under the starry skies and enjoy a fantastic lineup of films against the picturesque backdrop at sunset at Ventura Harbor. Parking and admission to the movie nights arecomplimentary.
SANTA BARBARA — As a student in Santa Maria in 1988, Danielle Calvo began seeing an Outreach Mentor in first grade.
“I was excited when I was able to spend time with my mentor, Gail Burgess,” said Danielle. “My parents were separating, and Gail encouraged me to talk through my experiences, but she made our time together fun through games and activities.”
Years later, even into her adult life, Gail’s impact left an incredible impression on Danielle, inspiring her to also be that role model for children who were just like her. When Danielle stumbled across a job opening and Gail’s name was listed as the supervisor, she knew she had to apply. After a heartfelt reunion, Danielle is now supporting young students in Santa Maria as she once was nurtured.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria announced today’s its seventh cohort of Eureka! program participants has graduated high school and is officially gearing up to attend college this fall.
The group of 12 extraordinary young women will be heading off to universities and colleges across the state – from UC Davis to Cal Poly Pomona and SBCC.“Year after year, I continue to be blown away by the dedication and resilience of our Eureka cohorts – and it’s a privilege to see them achieve this significant milestone after all the hard work they have put in to get here,” said Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. Carpinteria. “Our team is proud to have been in their corner over these last five years and we know they’ll continue to break barriers and achieve continued success in this next chapter of their lives.”
VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: USING QUICKBOOKS ONLINE FOR CONSTRUCTION OR PROJECT MANAGEMENT INDUSTRIES
June 13 @ 10:30 am
This webinar introduces you to features within QuickBooks Online such as Projects, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Estimates and Receipt Capture. We will discuss setting up a process for your jobs or projects and how to accurately run reports that can show you the performance of each job or project individually. Accounting Expert Juliana Ramirez of JR Bookkeeping will walk you through the 5 Basic Functions of QuickBooks Online that are vital to the integrity of your company file and a key to assisting business owners stay organized. Join Ventura County SCORE for this interactive webinar where your specific questions will be answered through live demonstrations and demonstrating how the software can help manage income and expenses and track the financial position of your business. They will see how QuickBooks enables the user to invoice customers, pay bills, prepare for taxes and generate financial reports.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The students graduating from Ventura County high schools in 2023 had anything but a typical experience. They were in the second half of their freshman year when the pandemic forced classrooms to close. They had to adapt to distance learning and all of the challenges that went along with it. Many faced the ordeal of seeing loved ones pass away or fall ill from COVID-19. And when in-person instruction resumed, social distancing and masking became a part of their daily routines.
Despite it all, there is no shortage of students in the class of 2023 who have achieved incredible things during their high school years. Several have overcome obstacles that go well beyond the pandemic to reach this important milestone. In our annual graduation edition of Focus on Education, we are proud to share some of their inspiring stories with you.
Dr. César Morales
Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
