Help our VCAS Foster Families feed the 1,500 expected kittens this year. Your help keeps our Foster Parents fully stocked with lifesaving food. Visit our Amazon Wish List to donate the 3 types of food needed.
PORT HUENEME —?It was a weekend of gears, grit, and glory as the Port of Hueneme proudly welcomed the annual?FIRST?Robotics Competition for the fifth year in a row. This exciting two-day event is held inside the FATHOMWERX lab — a dynamic space for innovation and technology transfer between the Port of Hueneme, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), the Economic Development Collaborative, and Matter Labs.
GOLETA — The Picklr Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County’s new premier indoor pickleball destination, today announced the official launch of its highly anticipated Founder Membership Sale, beginning March 18 at 10:00 a.m. exclusively through their website, along with its Grand Opening celebration on May 2nd, 2026, which will be open to the public.
SANTA BARBARA — Stargazing, chemistry lab fun and so much more are waiting for community members of all ages at Santa Barbara City College’s Science Discovery Day, Saturday, March 14, from 1-4 p.m. on SBCC’s East Cliff Campus.
Presented by the SBCC STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Transfer Program, Science Discovery Day is a FREE family event, created by SBCC students and faculty to showcase the wonders of the world, with interactive displays and hands-on activities for the whole family.
Ahh… the sweet smell of almost-spring air, and fresh paint, is here!
Over the past several weeks, our spaces have had quite the makeover. New floors, refreshed walls, updated furnishings, and reimagined workspaces. It has been a major overhaul, made possible by the final funds from the Department on Aging’s Bridge to Recovery grant- resources originally designated to help organizations like ours strengthen infection control and safety in the wake of COVID (ie. removing carpet and fabric surfaces, improving airflow and spacing… yes, please!).
VENTURA — Tax season is upon us and low- to moderate-income Ventura County residents are encouraged to take advantage of ways to put more money back in their pocket with the help of United Way of Ventura County’s (UWVC) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).
Throughout February to April 30, 2026, trained VITA volunteer tax preparers will help working families and individuals file their state and federal tax return and access the tax credits to which they are eligible. Households earning up to $69,000 are eligible to use the free services.
SANTA BARBARA — Looking out at a crowd of students gathered with their advisors and parents, Santa Barbara Education Foundation Board Member Isis Castañeda captured the spirit of the evening in a few simple words: “It’s about the student-driven ideas.”
On Tuesday, March 3rd, high school students from across the Santa Barbara Unified School District filled the Faulkner Gallery at the Santa Barbara Public Library to celebrate the projects they designed and led through the Santa Barbara Education Foundation’s Student Grants program.
In an approach that can be used on populations managing endemic diseases, researchers link real-life climate and weather data to a large multinational cohort of HIV patients to illustrate the effects of extreme weather on people with the infectious disease.
Read more about the findings
VENTURA COUNTY — Rain didn’t dampen the spirits in Camarillo this past Thursday as the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) officially cut the ribbon on its most ambitious project yet: Workforce on Wheels (WOW). This state-of-the-art mobile career training lab represents a pivotal shift in how our community tackles the healthcare labor shortage—by bringing the workforce services directly to the neighborhood.
IN-PERSON EVENT: SMALL BUSINESS START-UP BASICS
March 25 @ 8:30 am
Join SCORE, City of Thousand Oaks, Economic Development Collaborative and Accelerate CA in this information-packed workshop that will help you assess whether starting a small business is right for you and consider the various options for starting a business, legal structures, and business plan basics. Address: City of Thousand Oaks, Oak & Park Room, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362. The Accelerate California: Inclusive Innovation Hub (Accelerate CA Hub) is funded by the State of California and administered by CalOSBA. Price: FREE.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
As we prepare to announce our exciting and diverse 2026 season, Ventura Music Festival welcomes Sonia Tower to the leadership team! In community news, we’re also collaborating with our friends from the Ventura Arts Alliance to raise more support for the arts in Ventura. Discover how you can get involved below! Finally, mark your calendars for May when tickets go on sale for the VMF Summer series. Full season announcement coming soon!
VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the extension of the nomination period for the following County offices that are scheduled to be voted on in the June 2, 2026 Statewide Primary Election.
CAMARILLO — TruNorth Jets is available for clients looking to escape, whether that’s work, to a vacation or a suddenly-volatile situation abroad.
“Ventura County Farm Day is a free, all-ages, one-day invitation for people to explore agricultural locations across Ventura County,” says Caitlin Paulus Case, executive director of Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture. “Farm Day helps people better understand the journey of our food from field to table while highlighting the uniqueness and abundance of our region. It celebrates the many individuals whose hard work feeds and sustains us, contributing to Ventura County’s ranking as the 11th most agriculturally productive county in the nation.”
CAMARILLO — Three CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) undergraduates were selected to participate in a new biotechnology internship pilot developed in collaboration with Amgen, providing hands-on research experience at the company’s Thousand Oaks headquarters.
Part of the Amgen-CSURF (California State University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships) initiative, the program is designed to increase access to industry training for students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The students are paired with scientists and gain exposure to real-world applications in laboratory science and drug discovery over two summers. The program kicked off at the Thousand Oaks headquarters in summer 2025 and will return in the summer of 2026.
PORT HUENEME — Influence, inspiration, and impact took center stage on Wednesday in Camarillo as people from across the region gathered to help Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) mark its 35th anniversary year with a special luncheon in honor of International Women’s Day. The event celebrated women whose leadership has strengthened local communities, including Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Celina Zacaraias, who received WEV’s 2026 Trailblazer award.
“I’m so fortunate to work alongside amazing and inspiring women such as our Port CEO Kristin Decas and CSUCI President Susan Andrzejewski, who are trailblazers in their respective careers,” Zacarias said.
Seventy years ago, my father invited me to sit down with him to assemble a simple jigsaw puzzle of maybe about 50 pieces. It was the first of many. He eventually graduated me up to the 500- and then 1000-piece puzzles. The images on the boxes for these puzzles consisted of things like people, houses, skies, forests, farms, waterfalls, plants, and animals.
He was very logical when it came to puzzles. He taught me that the first thing we had to do when starting a puzzle was to spread out the pieces and ensure that they were all face-up. Once that was accomplished, our mission was to establish the frame—that is, fit all the pieces that make up the perimeter of the puzzle. This was serious business. We finished the frame together with the gravity of two men diffusing a bomb.
(The political comedy satire) is an event you absolutely can’t miss! Secure your seat today by grabbing your tickets online. Join us for an unforgettable experience!
The Port of Hueneme is excited to once again host (it’s first annual Robatics Competition) that is free and open to the public to attend. Click the button to learn more about the competition schedule.
March 7-8, 2026
The Port of Hueneme
333 Ponoma St. Port Hueneme
VENTURA — Spirit of Japan Ventura returns for its second year, bringing a vibrant celebration of Japanese food, culture, and community to Ventura County. The two-day outdoor festival will take place Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2026, welcoming…
THOUSAND OAKS — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA seeks sponsors for its 27th Annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast is on Thursday, May 7, at CLU’s Gilbert Sports Center in Thousand Oaks. The breakfast brings together all faiths to pray for friends, family, government leaders, the nation and the world. The theme this year is “Hope & Peace.”
“This investment by the Cloverlane Foundation will make a real difference in how we prepare students for the field,” said Fire Academy Coordinator Leonard Champion. “Access to professional-grade equipment like this elevates the quality of our program and gives our students a meaningful advantage when they enter the workforce.”
With a new NSF award, computer science associate professor Prabhanjan Ananth will study the foundations of quantum computing as a cryptographic tool.
OJAI — Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County (Habitat Ventura) is preparing for an exciting new chapter in its mission to expand affordable housing opportunities in Ventura County, with a small-scale residential development planned for Ojai and anticipated to break ground in summer 2026. The Montgomery Street Tiny Homes project will deliver five new homes designed to meet the needs of the Ojai community while preserving the character of the neighborhood. The development will include two thoughtfully designed tiny home duplexes and one single-family home, creating a total of five affordable homeownership opportunities for local families.
“As a former AVID student and a first-generation college graduate, I know firsthand how powerful access and exposure can be,” shared Senior Director of Admissions & Records and Dual Enrollment Angelica Contreras. “Programs like AVID Discovery Days are often the first time students can actually see themselves on a college campus walking into labs, trying hands-on activities, and realizing that these careers are real and attainable.”
The next regular meeting of the
County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for
9 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Joseph Centeno Betteravia Administration Building
Board Hearing Room
511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
The public may participate virtually or in person at the County Board Hearing Room
in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.
Join us on Tuesday, March 10 to urge Santa Barbara County Supervisors to consider resident feedback and fully address all environmental challenges facing the communities most affected.
Low-income communities and communities of color often bear the brunt of the climate crisis, facing more severe environmental hazards with fewer resources. Santa Barbara County is required by state law to adopt an Environmental Justice (EJ) Element that addresses environmental inequities.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, during their regular meeting on March 3, adopted a resolution establishing overnight parking restrictions along a portion of Santa Susana Pass Road in the unincorporated Simi Valley area. The new regulation prohibits parking between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on both sides of Santa Susana Pass Road from 220 feet northwest of Katherine Road to 75 feet east of Lilac Lane.
VENTURA COUNTY — Dr. Cesar Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, is pleased to announce that Mesa Union School is the winner of the middle school division of the 2026 Ventura County Mock Trial. Mesa Union School earned the highest score in the final round of competition, held this afternoon at the Ventura County Office of Education in Camarillo. Second place went to Hillside Middle School.
More than a dozen bills across the Senate and Assembly will advance home hardening, expand beneficial fire, unlock financing, and accelerate innovation to better protect California from future megafires
