Business, Cultural, Family, Food, Local, News, Youth

Grocery Outlet Announces Twelfth Annual ‘Independence from Hunger’ Campaign

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VENTURA COUNTY — Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, extreme-value grocery retailer, on June 29 launched its 12th consecutive Independence from Hungerâ Food Drive to combat food insecurity. From June 29 – July 31, 2022, the campaign will collect cash donations and pre-made bags of nonperishable foods in-store at Grocery Outlet’s more than 400 locations that will be distributed to local food agencies partners. In Ventura County, donations will support The Salvation Army Oxnard Corps and Food Share of Ventura County among other nonprofit organizations.

With inflation on the rise, many more families have tuned to local food banks for help. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that as many as 30 million adults and 12 million children live in food-insecure households. In the Hispanic community, Feeding America reports that Latinos are two and a half times more likely to live food insecure households than their white counterparts.  Eachindependently owned and operated Grocery Outlet store is committed to giving back to provide families in need nutritious food.

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

Bilingual commentary — Who Is a “Heritage Speaker” of Spanish?

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Among people of Mexican heritage, there exists a wide variety of cultural backgrounds that determine their place in the social order. Some of them arrived in the U.S. as adults – possibly seeking work or other opportunities. Others arrived as children, brought into the country by adults who arrived without the proper documents. Some of these children who qualified for the politically controversial DACA program are now young adults (known as “Dreamers”) living in a maddeningly indeterminate state of limbo. And of course, there is a portion of us of Mexican heritage who have the blessings and privileges of having been born here, enjoying all the benefits of U.S. citizenship. Our parents or more distant ancestors made the trek to “el otro lado” (“the other side”) before we were even born. 

Which brings us to the Spanish language. Many Anglos assume that if we have a Spanish surname, then either we speak Spanish or should speak Spanish. 

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Business, Government, Health, Local, News

Bilingual report — Statement from Community Environmental Council CEO/Executive Director on Today’s Supreme Court Ruling

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In response to today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants, Community Environmental Council CEO/Executive Director, Sigrid Wright released this statement:

“The Supreme Court’s decision is out-of-touch with science and the values that the vast majority of Americans share. It puts polluters ahead of people. Fortunately, we are not relying on or waiting for national policy, as we painfully learned during the last Administration. We are forging local and state solutions like never before with unrelenting, focused and inclusive climate action. The science dictates that it is not too late to mitigate and adapt; we will follow the science, not the Supreme Court.” 

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Family, Government, Health, Home, Local, News

Triunfo Water & Sanitation District Extends $15 Per Month Water Credit; Continues Conservation Rebate Supplements

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At its June 27 meeting, the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD) board voted to extend its $15 per month water credit to qualifying potable water customers and to continue rebate supplements for customers purchasing water conservation appliances and devices. The district serves nearly 14,000 Oak Park residential and business potable water users.

To receive the $15 per month credit through July 2023, Oak Park customers must be enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program or meet an annual income threshold of $36,620 (for a one or two-person household). The discount was first offered in 2020. Currently, over 50 customers participate in the water credit program.

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

Santa Paula Art Museum — July @ SPAM: Hiroko Yoshimoto, ArtWalk at the Ranch and more events

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Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM members • $10 Non-members

Meet artists Hiroko Yoshimoto, Katherine Chang Liu, W. Scott Miles, and Tori Tasch at the Santa Paula Art Museum for the premiere of their new exhibition! Yoshimoto’s newest works represent the Ventura artist’s continued work on her long-running Biodiversity series, as well as her recent embrace of silverpoint medium. Works by Blue Marble Art Collective (Yoshimoto, Liu, Miles, and Tasch) are also featured, including the group’s large-scale installation, Impending Storms.

The premiere reception will include a special musical performance by Karen Pecht. Wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Reservations are not required.

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Business, Education, Local, News, Youth

United Way of Ventura County welcomes new board members and officers

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As of July 1, 2022, United Way of Ventura County is welcoming several new members and officers to its board. Dr. Lisa Buono, dean of California Lutheran University’s School for Professional & Continuing Studies, will be succeeding Dr. Greg Gillespie as board chair, a position she will hold until June 30, 2023.

“I’m honored to be selected as United Way of Ventura County’s next board chair,” Buono said. “I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members and the rest of our amazing team at the United Way as we continue our mission of helping Ventura County thrive through efforts focused on improving education, financial stability and health for our community.” 

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

Summer Is Calling: Find Your Seaside At Ventura Harbor Village, Where Sun, Sand And Sea Meet To Create A Perfect Coastal Getaway

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The chemistry of sun, sand and sea converge for “Find Your Seaside” – this year’s summer theme at Ventura Harbor Village.  From summer music series to magical moments on the water, new photo opps and tasty summer themed treats, this postcard-perfect destination makes for an ideal midweek or weekend daycation or getaway. What’s more, admission and parking are complimentary all summer long!   Situated on a spectacular stretch of prime Pacific coastline, this California “go to” escape is worth the drive. 

On tap for summer by the sea is a new pop-up photo experience awaiting guests to shoot and post designed by California artist Alexis Andra, and celebration of the “805” for KHAY’s 100.7 FM 805 Day on August 5, 2022 at tthe seashore. See more below as Ventura Harbor Village shares a Top 2022 Summer Bucket List picks that will give sun-seekers from near and far something to “wave” about. See you seaside!

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

Ventura County Animal Services — Job Opportunity: Veterinary Assistance

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Make a difference in the lives of animals.  No previous, formal medical experience required.  Learn on the job!

VCAS is an open-admission, life-saving, municipal animal shelter serving the residents and animals of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley, Ventura and all Unincorporated areas of the county.  Our veterinary hospital employs two (2) Veterinarians, four (4) RVTs, three (3) Vet Assistants, and a workforce of dedicated volunteers who ensure each animal receives the best medical care possible!   If you feel this position may be right for you, TAP/CLICK HERE or visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura/jobs/3578453-0/veterinary-assistant.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Government, Health, Home, Local, News, Public Safety

First District Supervisor Das Williams — Keep Your Pets Safe This 4th of July, Fire Community Meeting, and more

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Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the events of last Jan 6th shows us how precious our system of government is, and how we could lose it. My best wishes for you this 4th of July is to celebrate our nation’s birth, but also to renew our determination to ensure that our republic is not a momentary blip in history. 

Happy 4th!!!

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Family, Health, Local, News

Compassionate Care of Carpinteria Inspires Light After Darkness with The Light Shines Ahead 4th Annual Luncheon on Aug. 10

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Compassionate Care of Carpinteria (CCC) will host The Light Shines Ahead 4th Annual Luncheon on Wednesday August 10, 2022 in person from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Rincon Beach Club. The event will feature event emcees, Win and Ed Van Wingerden, steering committee chair, Marybeth Carty and special guest speaker, Virginia Benson Wigle.

Virginia’s husband John was diagnosed with and ultimately passed away from cancer within a year. During their experience with grief they developed a vision for a space where individuals could share their journeys of loss and ultimately, of renewed hope. 

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Business, En español, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — COVID-19 & County Update for June 28, 2022

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California’s Acting Surgeon General Devika Bhushan, MD, FAAP recently contributed an article for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org, “What should parents know about the COVID vaccine for kids under 5”

From the article: “The bottom line: I have confidence in these vaccines’ ability to significantly and safely reduce the risk of serious harm from COVID-19 for our littlest ones—and that’s why I’m planning to get my son vaccinated as soon as possible, with either regimen that’s available.”

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Cultural, Education, Local, News

Elizabeth Orozco Reilly, Ph.D, CSUCI’s new Dean of Education, brings a global perspective to her new job

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As the daughter of an immigrant, CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) new Dean of the School of Education Elizabeth Orozco Reilly, Ph.D. brings the perspective of an international scholar who got her start in rural, urban and suburban classrooms teaching other children of immigrants.

Orozco Reilly credits her father, whose parents immigrated from Italy, and her mother—an immigrant from Mexico—with her own commitment to putting an education within reach for all people, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college.

“I saw what my mother experienced as an immigrant,” Orozco Reilly said. “The humiliation of being a second language learner in an environment not welcoming of the ‘other’. My commitment comes to me from both of my parents who believed that education creates possibilities and opens doors for us.”

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Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

YMCA Adventure Guides Sign-Ups at Yarrow Family YMCA

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The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is taking signups for its Adventure Guides for the 2022-2023 school year.

YMCA Adventure Guides is for fathers and their children. It is designed to strengthen and build a lifelong relationship between parent and child through outdoor adventure activities, camping trips and monthly events. Parent-child pairs join a “Circle” with families in their neighborhood or school and participate in activities together. Campout locations include Leo Carrillo State Park, Catalina Island and El Capitan State Beach.

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Business, Education, Finance, Government, Local, News

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free Webinar Schedule

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SHOWCASING THE INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS OF LGBTQ+ OWNED AND LED BUSINESSES

June 29 @ 11:00 am

The U.S. Commercial Service invites you to register below for the fifth session of their “From Local to Global: Celebrating Diversity” event series. In celebration of Pride Month, the U.S. Commercial Service will feature an interactive discussion of how LGBTQ+ owned & led Southern California-based companies have successfully grown their businesses internationally.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Business, Cultural, Education, Local, News

Coming soon to the Community Classroom — Dalan Moreno, owner of Rascal’s, presents ‘The Ancient Art of the Tortilla’ on June 26

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Dalan Moreno, Owner of Rascal’s Santa Barbara’s favorite vegan restaurant, leads a series FREE of presentations and demonstrations at MCASB.

On Sunday, June 26 Moreno will lead a class examining the oral history of masa, walking you through the steps of how it has been made, breaking down the history of this ancient process. The class will culminate in a presentation on how masa is made today followed by a tortilla tasting.

Save the date for two more demonstrations on Saturday, July 16, and Sunday, August 14.

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Commentary, Cultural, Elections, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Opinion, Politics, Public Safety

Voto Latino — Latinos in Battleground States support gun control & abortion rights

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Also see:

NBC News — Poll: Majority of Latinos in battleground states support abortion rights, gun reform

By Voto Latino

Latinos are the second largest voting bloc in the country and disproportionately reside in critical battleground states where they are also the fastest growing voting bloc. Candidates hoping to win in November and beyond will need to appeal to Latinos and the issues that matter to them. In order to understand how Latinos feel about two of the most salient issues in the country – abortion rights and mass shootings – Change Research surveyed 1,033 registered Hispanic and Latino voters in the seven key battleground states of Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania from June 2-7, 2022 on behalf of Voto Latino.1

A strong majority of Latinos are concerned about their personal safety from gun violence and believe weak gun laws are a major reason why perpetrators are capable of inflicting such carnage. Overwhelming majorities support many common sense gun safety laws Democrats have proposed and believe there would be fewer mass shootings if they were to be enacted. Latinos are also ready to reward leaders who take action on gun laws: an overwhelming 69% are more likely to support candidates who support the gun laws tested in this poll, including roughly half of Republican Latinos.

Latinos also fear for their reproductive freedoms as the conservative majority on the Supreme Court indicates it is prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade. Over two-thirds of Latinos support the right to an abortion in all or most cases.

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Commentary, Cultural, Education, Local, News, Youth

Bilingual commentary — When Mexican American Children Were “Indians”

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Aliso Elementary School in Carpinteria is a “California Distinguished School,” according to its website. It proudly proclaims itself the “Home of the Lions” and appears to be a school enthusiastically dedicated to “STEAM” – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. 

I occasionally saunter past the school grounds when I explore Carpinteria on my walking expeditions. Aliso is an unassuming school with nicely maintained lawns, trees, and plants on the premises. Signs on windows and doors of the school tell me that Aliso welcomes students from all strata of society with open arms and is unabashedly determined to give them, from kindergarten through fifth grade, a high-quality education. Aliso’s stated mission is to help students reach their full potential.

However, there is no “History” tab on the website, and that may be just as well. Like many schools in California and throughout the country, Aliso’s early history is a bit “murky.” Nonetheless, that history does not appear to hinder the fine job that this acclaimed school has been doing throughout the latter half of the 20th century and up to the present day. 

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Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, familia, Family, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Salud

Bilingual report — Covered California’s Spanish-Language Ad Earns National Honors at the 43rd Annual Telly Awards

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Covered California won three prestigious Telly Awards in recognition of its efforts to deliver its message of quality, affordable health care coverage to all Californians.

The Spanish-language television ad “Corazón” aired during the most recent open-enrollment period. The ad depicts a father watching his daughter grow from a toddler through to her quinceañera, and highlights how important proper health care coverage can be in that journey.

“Covered California believes in and invests in marketing to all of our state’s diverse populations,” said Executive Director Jessica Altman. “We are proud of the culturally relevant content we create to reach Californians with the message that affordable health insurance is available for them and their families. These awards show the value of this approach.”

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Business, Education, Local, News

Free concert series rocks The Collection this summer and fall

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The Collection at RiverPark is getting the community rocking this summer and fall with Rock the Collection, a series of free, family-friendly concerts. These live outdoor shows feature timeless rock classics performed by popular tribute bands.

The lineup includes:

July 27 – Twisted Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
Aug. 10 – DSB (Journey Tribute)
Sept. 28 – The Long Run (Eagles Tribute)
Oct. 19 – Bruno and the Hooligans (Bruno Mars Tribute)

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Cultural, Education, Local, News, Youth

June News from People’s Self-Help Housing

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June marks the end of our fiscal year, and I can’t thank you enough for the tremendous year of investment you made in our communities, our services, and those we serve.

The past few weeks saw us celebrating our Camino Scholars at College Signing Days. Graduating from high school and bound for college, many of these students are the first in their families to have that opportunity. Please know that your support funds generational hopes and dreams for so many. Likewise, your investments into our Supportive Housing Program this year translated into thousands of hours of help for our residents leading to so many positive financial, physical and mental health outcomes.

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

Compost and Mulch Water-Saving Benefits During Drought

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Applying compost and mulch to landscapes can reduce the amount of water needed to maintain grass, plants, flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees according to Agromin, a California-based company that produces organic soil products from locally collected green waste.

“Compost and mulch are well known to improve the health of the soil and structure of plants,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin’s CEO, “but their water-saving advantages are just as important, especially during severe drought.” 

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

Ventura County Grand Jury Announces Release of the Mental Health Services and Wellness Centers in Ventura County Schools Report

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Across America, school-aged children are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis. One in three high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. In Ventura County, between 2017 and 2019, one of six students in grades 7, 9, and 11 considered suicide. Half of all mental illness presents itself by age 14, yet few children get the services they need. There is a shortage of sustainable resources addressing mental health concerns among school-aged youth.

The 2021-2022 Ventura County Grand Jury investigated the resources used by the Ventura County Office of Education, Ventura County Behavioral Health, and five Ventura County public school districts to meet the mental health needs of school-aged youth. These school districts represent more than 60% of the County’s public-school population. 

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Business, Education, Local, News, Youth

Upward – School of Management Community Newsletter

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California Lutheran University’s School of Management continues to provide a stimulating environment for our learners and the community around us, even in these unusual times. Today, we are once again happy to share a selection of exciting news, updates, and upcoming events with our communities in Southern California and beyond.

We encourage you to stay current on what’s going on at the School of Management by following our Showcase page on LinkedIn.

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Business, Education, Local, News

West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) opens nominations for the 2022 Oxnard Community & Business Awards

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The West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) has announced that nominations for the 2022 Oxnard Community & Business Awards have officially opened and will remain open until Monday, July 17.

Nominations are open to the public and nominees do not have to be WVCBA members. The online nomination form with award descriptions is available at: https://bit.ly/oxnardnoms22. It also is available as a PDF at www.wvcba.org/oxnardawards and can be emailed to the WVCBA or sent by regular mail. The nine categories recognize Oxnard’s best-of-the-best:

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Business, Cultural, Government, Local, News

Bilingual report — Ventura County Public Works Agency Recognizes 2022 Top Employees of The Year

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Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) recently awarded Rick Cadena, Vimie Alvarez, and Manny Romero, as the three 2022 Employees of the Year for outstanding performance in their respective fields.  

Celebrating 28 years at VCPWA and named Manager of the Year, Rick Cadena was recognized for his work and dedication to customer service. He began his career at VCPWA Watershed Protection as a Maintenance Worker II, working his way through the ranks, and eventually becoming Superintendent.  His job’s major roles include concrete and fence repair, service road grading and construction, vegetation management, and oversite of 23 PWA staff members.  

“I was taught from a young age by my parents and grandparents that you should always come to work and do your job the best you can no matter what it is you do,” said Cadena. “It really was a great feeling to have my years of work recognized because I really do enjoy my job, and I really care about providing the best service possible to the citizens of Ventura County.” 

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

County of Ventura Board of Supervisors Approves $2.7 Billion Balanced Budget for FY 2022-23

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The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a $2.7 billion balanced budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 at Monday’s budget hearing. The budget focuses on Board priorities, including expanding mental health services, ending homelessness, climate action, and pandemic recovery.

“The budget is the backbone of the County and what we do for the people of this County,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors Carmen Ramirez. “Our strong financial position allowed us to sustain key services for our community while responding to the pandemic and expanding in needed areas like mental and public health, human services, services for people experiencing homelessness, equity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability.”

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