Cultural, Entertainment, Events, Local, News

American Idol Winner And Rising Country Music Star Chayce Beckham Joins Wild Oak Country Music Festival Lineup

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American Idol winner for 2021 and rising country music star Chayce Beckham will perform at the Wild Oaks Country Music Festival, June 3, in Thousand Oaks. Beckham joins a lineup of country performers from Nashville and local favorites.

Beckham’s hits include “23”, “Tell Me Twice” and “Keeping Me Up All Night.”   He was named a “2022 Artist to Watch” by Country Now, Country Swag, Music Mayhem Magazine, Sounds Like Nashville. He is currently on a nationwide tour.

Also taking the stage is country chart-topping Craig Morgan, Grammy-nominated CAM, and Southern California locals Justin Honsinger and Chris Johnson and the Hollywood Hillbillies. Jodi Maas will lead line dancing and line dance lessons. The festival features DJ Paul “Sweet P” Flannery and Josh Kelley. Dave Daniels, the morning show host on KHAY, is the MC.

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Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Government, Health, Home, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — FEMA — Private Nonprofits, including Houses of Worship, Eligible for Disaster Assistance

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Private nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship and other faith-based organizations, may be eligible to apply for federal assistance to help recover from damage in the California counties affected by the severe January winter storms and flooding.

Funding from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program can be used to pay for emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoring disaster-damaged facilities.

Private nonprofits that provide critical services, such as hospitals and other medical treatment facilities and utilities can apply directly to FEMA. Other examples of critical services include water, sewer and electrical systems; private schools that provide elementary or secondary education or institutions of higher education.

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Cultural, En español, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Ventura County Cultural Heritage Program announces four new landmark designations

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VENTURA — The Ventura County Cultural Heritage Program is pleased to announce the designation of four new Ventura County Landmarks that received that designation between 2021-2022. The newly designated properties include those that honor the historical development of Ventura County. The designations identify these properties for their scientific, educational, and cultural value in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of Ventura County.

The Cultural Heritage Program, administered by the Resource Management Agency’s Planning Division, recognizes historic properties and promotes the identification, inventory, preservation, and protection of these resources for present and future generations. All such efforts are taken to make the residents and visitors of Ventura County mindful of the rich historical, cultural, and natural heritage of the county.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Local, News, Youth

Malcolm McDowell Returns to Museum of Ventura County, more news, events

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Ivor Davis:
Up Close & Personal
with
Malcolm McDowell
Saturday, March 25, 2023
6:30PM—8:00PM
@ Museum of Ventura County
?
MVC Member In-Person: Free
MVC Member Zoom: Free
Nonmember In-Person: $10
Nonmember Zoom: $5

Join us for the next installment of Ivor Davis: Up Close & Personal with legendary actor and raconteur extraordinaire, Malcolm McDowell.

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Family, Local, News, Religion

Southeast Ventura County YMCA National Day of Prayer Breakfast Seeks Sponsors

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The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is seeking sponsors for its annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast is Thursday, May 4 at CLU’s Gilbert Sports Center in Thousand Oaks. The breakfast brings the spiritual communities of all faiths together in celebration of fellowship and prayer.

The prayer breakfast will be from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and will include speakers, spiritual and community leaders providing invocations and prayers, and live musical performances.

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Business, Cultural, Entertainment, Events, Local, News, Sports

Bilingual report — Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Partner for Dodgers-Angels Games and Swallows Day Parade Service

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Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner have partnered to provide seamless, round-trip train service to and from the upcoming Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano, as well as three preseason baseball games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

For the Swallows Day Parade on Saturday, March 25, and the Angels versus Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, March 26, riders with either a valid Metrolink or Amtrak ticket may board either train service between Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano, at no extra charge.

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Cultural, Events, Local, News

UCSB Arts & Lectures, Santa Barbara Independent announce a poetry contest inspired by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón in celebration of National Poetry Month

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Calling all poets! In the spirit of National Poetry Month, you are invited to submit an original poem in one of two categories: K-12 or age 18+. 

Instructions: Read U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón’s poem “Instructions on Not Giving Up,” which describes the growth of green leaves in spring as “a return to the strange idea of continuous living despite the mess of us, the hurt, the empty.” Then write a poem on A&L’s 2023 Thematic Learning Initiative theme of Leadership and Vision that’s about something that inspires you to move forward with strength, determination and hope. 

Prizes include having your poem published in the Santa Barbara Independent, a copy of Ada Limón’s book The Hurting Kind, a $50 gift certificate to Chaucer’s Books and a $500 A&L ticket voucher good through 2024. One winner in each of the K-12 and 18+ categories will receive all of the prizes. 

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Business, Family, Finance, Government, Health, Home, Local, News

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announces approval of a $1.1 million acquisition loan for Aspire Apartments

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 Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announces a $1,100,000 acquisition loan approved by its Board for funding to Many Mansions for the Aspire Apartments in Oxnard set to begin construction in 2024. The nonprofit had previously approved and funded a $250,000 pre-development loan back in January 2020. This brings the total funding from Housing Trust Fund VC to $1,350,000 in support of this development.

Aspire Apartments will consist of 56 one-bedroom units and 32 two-bedroom units, including a manager’s unit, for a total of 88 apartments. Residents, comprised of extremely and very low-income families and individuals, and homeless and disabled individuals, will enjoy a community center, laundry facility, common area kitchenette, and recreational space. Uniquely, the second floor of the building will feature an outdoor community green space complete with BBQ and picnic area to help build an inclusive neighborly environment. Additionally, Oxnard Development Commission Successor Agency has partnered in this project to acquire and develop a pocket park that will be accessible to the public.

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Local

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Announces 2023 Women of Inspiration Honorees

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Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has announced the 2023 honorees of its newly-formatted Women of Inspiration event: Jane Benefield, chair of the Carpinteria Planning Commission, and Jena Jenkins, programs specialist at the Carpinteria Library.

“Each year, Women of Inspiration recognizes women who are leading the way while also serving as an inspiration for others—Jane and Jena are shining examples of this,” said Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. “We are excited to honor them at this year’s event, and we encourage everyone to come out and join us in celebrating all the incredible work they have done for our community.”

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Business, Education, Family, Health, Home, Local, News, Youth

March News from People’s Self-Help Housing

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March is Women’s History Month, and the history of People’s has primarily been shaped by women. Starting in our earliest years nearly five decades ago, under the leadership of our founding Executive Director, through today’s governance lead by our Board of Directors Chair, principally women have driven our successes.

History continues to be made by the women of People’s through the talents of our women, representing over 60% of our staff, more than 66% of our supervisors, and a majority of our Board Members. Since the majority of our residents are women, it’s fitting that the voices of women are the primary decision makers and policymakers historically and today at People’s.

This will continue to be a priority value for our organization, to approach our ongoing strategies for meeting needs of women, designed by women for women, under our guiding principal of “nothing about her without her.”

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Business, Family, Food, Government, Health, Home, Local, News, Youth

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara and Food Bank of Santa Barbara County Hold Monthly Food Distribution Event for Community Members

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The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) hosted its monthly Healthy Food Pantry event on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Presidio Springs Community Room located at 721 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA. The Healthy Food Pantry events are a collaboration between HACSB, 2nd Story Associates, and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, who provides the supply of food. 

Every third Wednesday of the month, the Housing Authority and Foodbank of Santa Barbara County provide local community members with a bag of fresh produce and nonperishables. Approximately 145 bags of food are given out at each event. 

??”Food insecurity is still prevalent in our community and it is a fundamental need in Santa Barbara. The Housing Authority’s monthly food distribution aims to fill that necessity and continue to provide this important resource to those experiencing a hardship,” said Leticia Zuniga, HACSB Resident Programs Specialist.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Finance, Local, News

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free Event and Webinar Schedule

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Having trouble viewing this email? Click here EDC MARCH EVENT AND WEBINAR SCHEDULE The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our no-cost events and webinars. Space is limited. Register today! WEATHERING THE ECONOMIC STORM – HELPING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FEEL PREPARED March…

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Business, Cultural, Education, Family, Finance, Government, Home, Local, News

Ventura County Community Development Corp. — Homebuyer and HomeSmart Workshops!

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VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON

Homebuyer Workshop

Saturday, March 18 – In-person, Oxnard

Saturday, April 1 – Virtual

Saturday, April 22 – Virtual

Saturday, April 29 – In-person, Ventura

We invite you to our HUD-approved Homebuyer Workshop which will provide you all the information you need to become a successful homebuyer! The workshop is free and we will provide free lunch. You’ll get information on boosting your credit, tips on how to manage your money to meet your homeownership goals, mortgage products for first time homebuyers, how to access thousands of dollars in down payment assistance, how to hire the best Realtor for you and much more! Register for FREE today!

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Business, Cultural, Education, Family, Finance, Government, Local, News

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Constructions Begins at San Ysidro Road, more news

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The San Ysidro Roundabout will improve traffic flow at the intersection at San Ysidro Road, North Jameson Lane, and the northbound Highway 101 on-and off-ramps at San Ysidro Road. This single-lane roundabout will be planted with native and drought-tolerant landscaping, and have crosswalks around the roundabout with median islands to enable pedestrians to cross one direction of traffic at a time.

Bicyclists can either take the lane through the roundabout or dismount and use crosswalks.

Roundabout construction is scheduled from March 2023 through the end of 2023.

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Entertainment, Events, Health, Local, News

Livingston Celebrates 75 Years of Service to Ventura County Residents

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Soirée at the Ranch is Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice’s 75th Anniversary celebration theme. The dinner will be held at the exclusive Petersen Ranch in Somis on Saturday, June 10th. The event, which features live music and dancing, will honor Terri & Mark Lisagor for their lasting contributions to Livingston while inspiring others.  

“Our mission is to serve everyone with the highest quality home health care and compassionate hospice and grief services,” explains Teresa Pavan, Livingston President & CEO. “We are humbled and inspired by community leaders like Terri & Mark, who share our commitment to serving the community.” 

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Business, Cultural, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors seeks applications for at-large board members for Cultural Heritage Board

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The Board of Supervisors is seeking applications for two at-large board members to join the governing body for a four-year term on the Cultural Heritage Board (CHB). The positions serve as part of a seven-member board that helps to oversee and works to preserve historic resources in the unincorporated areas of the County of Ventura. The Clerk of the Board’s office is accepting applications until Monday, April 17, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

The CHB Program recognizes historic properties and promotes the identification, inventory, preservation, and protection of these resources for present and future generations. All such efforts are taken to make the residents and visitors of Ventura County mindful of the rich historical, cultural, and natural heritage of the County. Active members of the CHB hold public meetings in-person on a bi-monthly basis and residents of the county are encouraged to attend.

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Cultural, Education, Local, News, Youth

Aída Hurtado, chair of Chicano and Chicana studies, is named a fellow of the American Education Research Association

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A lot goes into the selection for a prestigious fellows program, including a peer-nomination process, a selection committee and a governing board’s approval — and Aída Hurtado, who was recently named an American Education Research Association (AERA) fellow, doesn’t take that for granted.

“I was honored to be selected as an AERA fellow because I know the process by which the selection takes place, and it’s arduous,” said Hurtado, Luis Leal Endowed Chair of the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at UC Santa Barbara. “Your colleagues have to rally around you, so the fact that people did that for me was meaningful.” 

Hurtado is among 24 individuals named to the 2023 AERA Fellows Program which honors scholars for their exceptional contributions to education research. Her work has focused on intersectional feminisms, particularly the effects of gender on educational success. In a novel way, she has looked at educational achievement with a focus on Latinas and Chicanas, ultimately disproving the idea that traditional Latino families just want their children to get married and have more children.

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Commentary, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Local, Locales, Opinion

Bilingual commentary — What To Do When Life Has “Stagnated”

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There may be times when we feel that our lives are “clicking along,” “firing on all eight cylinders,” or simply filled with opportunity and promise.

But then there are those other, inevitable periods during which we may feel that our lives have become stagnant. It is at these times that we find ourselves in circumstances that invite us to take advantage of this stagnation. We are forced to examine our lives and decide what to do to change the situation—if we so desire (we may not feel inclined to do so).

Let’s take a moment to examine the word “stagnant.” It is derived from the Latin word “stagnum,” which, according to Merriam-Webster, refers to “a pool of water without an outlet.” This description might be exactly what our life feels like when we sense a certain stagnation of our vitality. In other words, it might feel as if mosquitoes could breed in our souls. When stagnation enters our lives, it can induce a wide range of sentiments in us: anxiety, anger, hopelessness, boredom, introspection, hope, contentment.

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Cultural, Education, Finance, Local, News

Ventura College Foundation Launches Fundraiser To Ensure Tuition Costs Are Covered Despite State Budget Cuts

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The Ventura College Foundation has launched a fundraising effort to support the Ventura College Promise program. The program covers all tuition and fees for eligible students for up to two years. The foundation’s goal is to raise $40,000 by April 30.

Ventura College was the first community college in California to offer a tuition Promise program if students meet certain criteria. For students to be eligible for the current two-year tuition-free education they must be first-time incoming students who attend full-time. The Ventura College Promise served as a model for the creation of the statewide California College Promise Program in 2017.

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Business, Cultural, En español, Family, Government, Home, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Oxnard Announces May 2023 Public Hearing to Consider Proposed Rate Adjustments for Water Services

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Regular reviews of utility rates are an industry-wide best practice and are typically conducted every 3-5 years. Since Oxnard’s Water Division has not raised rates since 2017, the City engaged an independent consultant to create a Water Rate Study (Water Cost of Service Study). 

Based upon the study’s findings, the City is considering proposed rate increases starting in 2023 to keep pace with the rising costs of providing safe, reliable water and to continue making investments in the City’s water infrastructure. The Oxnard City Council will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, to consider proposed rates for water services.

The City Council will hear and consider oral testimony and written materials submitted regarding proposed rate increases at the Public Hearing in the Oxnard City Council Chambers, 305 W. Third Street. The City Council will consider protests and comments prior to adjusting or adopting the proposed rate increases.

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Cultural, Education, Events, Local, News

Filmmakers at two different CSUCI events on March 16 show the power of human stories, from war-torn Ukraine to our own communities

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A Ventura filmmaker outraged by the Russian war campaign traveled to Ukraine to film the gritty and heartbreaking human toll of the war, as well as the power of hope. Filmmaker Rick Ray will share “Our Stories Matter: Challenges and Visions of Hope from the People of Ukraine” Thursday, March 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Petit Salon on the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus.

Later that day, Emmy award-winning Los Angeles filmmaker Matthew Crotty will be the keynote speaker at a presentation called “Broadcasting the Local: Producing and Preserving Community-Based Histories” from 4 to 6 p.m. in Room 3550 in Del Norte Hall.

The two presentations from filmmakers are completely separate. The Ukrainian film and panel discussion afterward is presented by the Center for Multicultural Engagement and the mission-based centers. The presentation on the importance of collecting stories from our communities is part of a series created by Assistant Professors of History Jacqueline Reynoso and Hanni Jalil.

Both presentations are open to the public.

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Education, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Youth

Coalition for Family Harmony Opens a Second Domestic Violence Shelter for Indigenous Survivors of Violence

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The Coalition for Family Harmony (Coalition) is proud to announce a second domestic violence shelter serving indigenous survivors of domestic violence that opened in February 2023. Coalition was awarded funding from Cal OES in a competitive application to provide emergency housing to a specialized population. Using a peer-based model of service, the new shelter is staffed with trilingual advocates of various languages to better serve survivors who hesitate to reach out because they are undocumented and have language barriers.

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Business, Government, Health, Local, News, Public Safety

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Evacuation Warning Issued

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We are expecting another atmospheric river with intense rainfall predicted for (Tuesday) afternoon. Plan to stay off the roads if at all possible. Santa Barbara Unified has cancelled school for tomorrow, March 14th, and other school districts may have as well. Please check with your local school district for their plan. 

An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued effective Monday, March 13th at 6pm for the identified properties and areas in south Santa Barbara County associated with the Alisal, Cave, and Thomas Fires.

This EVACUATION WARNING will be upgraded to an EVACUATION ORDER at 8am tomorrow (3/14). Click the following link to access an interactive evacuation map for this incident: https://sbcoem.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=887c7b2302484e41b8f20f37660cb2cb

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Business, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Animal Services — Fee-Waived Bunny Adoptions THIS WEEKEND at the Camarillo Shelter!

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Fee-Waived Bunny Adoptions this weekend (March 18th -19th) at the Camarillo Animal Shelter in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day! Rabbits make the perfect indoor pet as they’re quiet, litter-box trained, and don’t require walks! Visit www.vcas.us/rabbits to view our bunnies, submit an application, and schedule an appointment. Questions? Contact our VCAS Bunny Brigade directly at VCASbunnybrigade@gmail.com. Applications must be submitted by March 19th to qualify for this promotion, but know that promotions do not guarantee the adoption of a shelter pet. All interested parties must participate in the full adoption process to ensure the best possible matches are made. 🙂

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Business, Education, Food, Government, Health, Local, News

Cooperative Farm Equipment Program Proposed by Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura)

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Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) has introduced AB 552 which would create a new program to increase equipment access for small and mid-scale growers. The program will increase access to necessary farm equipment for health soil practices, on-farm conservation practices, storage, and processing. The program will also offer essential technical assistance to farmers around the maintenance of tools, tool demonstrations, and developing farm cooperatives. The bill is co-sponsored by the California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN) and Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF).

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