Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Events, Finance, Government, Local, News

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

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IN-PERSON EVENT: SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: STARTUP BASICS: FUNDAMENTALS OF STARTING A NEW BUSINESS

April 17 @ 8:30 am

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business but don’t know where to start? Do you have the passion and work ethic but need education and guidance? Being a small business owner is exciting but understanding the lifestyle will clarify if it is right for you. Join SCORE Ventura County in this informative workshop and learn what it takes to be a successful business owner. Address: Thousand Oaks City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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

The Land Conservancy of SLO County Partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County for Santa Rita Ranch Hike for Mentored Children

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SAN LUIS OBISPO — Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County is thrilled to bring a special hike of Santa Rita Ranch to volunteer mentors and their mentees, in partnership with The Land Conservancy of SLO County.

A special benefit of being a volunteer mentor and mentored child with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the event will be held in May – a private hike around the beautiful rolling hills of the ranch. The attendees – volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and their mentees (“Littles”) and the Littles’ families – will then enjoy a lunch with a beautiful view of the lake.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Events, Finance, Government, Local, News, Youth

Oxnard College to Host 2023 U.S. Latino GDP Report Event on April 17

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OXNARD — Oxnard College and the Oxnard College Foundation are partnering with researchers at California Lutheran University (CLU) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to host an event on April 17, 2024, marking the publication of the annual U.S. Latino GDP Report. The report documents the economic contributions of the Latino community throughout the United States and identifies Latinos as major drivers of the pandemic recovery. The event will also feature never before released estimates of California’s Latino GDP. 

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Commentary, Cultural, En español, Health, Local, Opinion, Seniors

Bilingual commentary — The Blessings and Ravages of Time

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The 18th-century French writer Nicolas Chamfort had an arguably perceptive view of the effects of time on our human lives. He wrote, “In order not to find life unbearable, you must accept two things: the ravages of time and the injustice of man.”

We who are older are only too aware of the first “thing” that we are expected to accept: the ravages of time. We’ll save the controversial “acceptance of the injustice of man” part of the statement for another article. 

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

Santa Paula Art Museum — Weekend Sorted

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Artist Talk: The PAC6 Painters

Saturday, April 13, 2024 • 2 PM to 4 PM

Included with regular admission (free for members and students)

Take in the Museum’s current exhibition “From Field to Frame: The PAC6 Show How It’s Done” alongside all six of the PAC6 Painters! Mingle with artists Linda Brown, Marian Fortunati, Nita Harper, Debra Holladay, Laura Wambsgans, and Sharon Weaver as they describe their painting processes and adventures. Reservations are not required.

MORE INFO

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Cultural, Education, Finance, Local, News, Youth

Eleven finalists to compete at 2024 Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation contest

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SANTA BARBARA — Eleven instrumentalists and vocalists will compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships on April 28 after being selected as finalists for the annual Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation’s Competition Concert.

The foundation’s Audition Committee selected the finalists during auditions held April 5 and 6 at Music Academy of the West’s Weinmann Hall in Montecito. A total of 24 adults and youth competed to earn a place in the final competition.

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Cultural, Education, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Students shine in Science Fair, Mock Trial; Equity Conference turnout sets record; and more

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Nearly 700 students participated in the 69th annual Ventura County Science Fair at the VCOE conference center last month — that’s the highest level of participation in recent memory. The energy in the building was electric as the students presented their work to more than 130 volunteers who served as judges.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Local, News, Public Safety, Youth

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Save The Date: Montecito Flood Control Master Plan Town Hall on April 24

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I invite you to join me later this month the public will have the opportunity to learn more about Flood Control’s planning efforts that will guide the design, and construction of improvements to mitigate flooding impacts to the community.

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Business, Health, Local, News

Community Environmental Council Welcomes New Staff

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SANTA BARBARA —The Community Environmental Council (CEC) recently welcomed new staff members as it expands its bold climate action across California’s Central Coast region. 

The Community Environmental Council welcomed two new staff members and transitioned three staff members to new titles in recent months. These individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and local experience, building CEC’s capacity to go all in on halting the climate crisis — rapidly and equitably. 

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Business, Education, Finance, Local, News, Youth

Cal Lutheran Cares Day – The School of Management asks for your support!

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Tomorrow, on April 10, 2024 we celebrate Cal Lutheran Cares Day, our annual day of fundraising and friend-raising. This year, we are focusing on our “People(s) of Color Scholarship” that provides graduate students from underrepresented groups with an opportunity to launch their graduate education, and our “Student Events and Competition Fund”, which helps us to build stronger bridges between companies, organizations, leaders, and our students – by bringing guest speakers, organizing competitions, or arranging field trips for our students.

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Education, Family, Finance, Local, News, Youth

Santa Barbara City College and Arizona State University Partner to Offer College Students Transfer Pathways with MyPath2ASU® Collaboration

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SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is pleased to announce a new alliance with Arizona State University (ASU) to provide students a seamless transfer experience with the MyPath2ASU® program. MyPath2ASU allows students to take the steps needed, at the start of their college experience, to successfully plan their transfer to ASU, ensuring a smooth transition process and student success.

MyPath2ASU is a set of customized tools available to transfer students from accredited, U.S. regional institutions. These tools ensure a seamless transfer experience to ASU after earning credits or an associate degree from a U.S. community college or university and shortening the time to degree completion.

“SBCC has a strong transfer rate to four-year universities that include Arizona State University, who has created MyPath2ASU, of which we are proud to partner to extend our students opportunities and success,” said Angela Warren, SBCC University Transfer Academy Coordinator.

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Local

MLS NEXT Pro is coming to Ventura County

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LOS ANGELES — The LA Galaxy today announced that the organization’s MLS NEXT Pro club will now compete under the name “Ventura County FC” (VCFC) in partnership with Oak Sports Holding. Previously known as LA Galaxy II, Ventura County’s newest professional sports team will play their home matches at California Lutheran University. AEG, the LA Galaxy’s ownership group, will retain ownership of the MLS NEXT Pro club, with VCFC’s soccer operations led by the LA Galaxy under the direction of LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz and certain commercial operations managed by Mark Noorzai of Oak Sports Holding.

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Business, Home, Local, News

Central Coast Residents Can Access Free Heat Pump Water Heaters with Help from 3C-REN

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, SANTA BARBARA, VENTURA — Heat pump water heaters are three to five times more energy efficient than their natural gas water heater counterparts, and 3C-REN (Tri-County Regional Energy Network) is helping to make these replacements more affordable—and sometimes free—for Central Coast residents. Through steep incentives and upcoming events in English and Spanish, 3C-REN aims to educate and empower residents this April. 

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

Teatro de las Américas — Paul and Raquel Fundraiser event on May 16| Nos Traen Cortitos | Salsa Classes on April 13| Adan Eva y la Otra CANCELLED

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This show is part of a special fundraiser event for the Oxnard Housing Authority Education Scholarship Program. The Education Scholarship Program is a program that provides scholarships to students in Public Housing or in the Section 8 Program. Our production Paul & Raquel will be part of the entertainment for the evening.

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Business, Family, Finance, Government, Local, News

Harvesting Dignity: Central Coast Advocates Release Report Showing Need for a Living Wage for Farmworkers

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… The report starkly reveals the wage disparity. In 2023, “the mean hourly wage for farmworkers in Santa Barbara County was just $17.42 or $36,244 annually.” This is compared to heavy truck drivers, who received a median hourly wage of $26.76, translating to an annual wage of $55,672. At the same time, construction laborers earned a median hourly wage of $25.04, resulting in an annual wage of $52,104, according to the California Employment Development Department.

“In recent years, the increase in rent has been an issue that has affected me and my family. A better salary would give me access to better housing conditions and would also help me pay my rent, which continues to increase. A raise would also give me access to healthier meals for my family, and help us reap the rewards of my work,” said Matilde, Farmworker Leader with Alianza Campesina. 

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Cultural, Education, En español, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Opinion, Public Safety, Salud

Bilingual commentary — Why We Need to Take Our Medications

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The reason many Americans are not benefitting from our health system is because they do not take seriously the advice given to them by their doctors.

To understand this unfortunate situation, let’s consider for a moment the scenario in which a couple of mischievous teenagers are left “home alone” while their parents go out for a weekend vacation. The teenagers decide, naturally, to throw a party. After all, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” The teens are the proverbial “mice” while the parents are the storied “cats.”

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Business, Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Food, Government, Local, News, Youth

SEEAG Seeks Sponsors and Participants For 2024 Farm Day Events

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VENTURA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), the nonprofit that organizes Santa Barbara County Farm Day and Ventura County Farm Day, is looking for farmers, agricultural-related businesses, and others to become event sponsors and participants. The 2024 Santa Barbara County Farm Day will be on August 24, while Ventura County Farm Day will be on November 2.

“Farm Day has grown to become the largest community agricultural education and outreach program in California,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG’s founder and CEO. “Over 15,000 people visit our agricultural venues during our two Farm Days.”

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Business, Government, Health, Local, News

Ship speed reduction lowered coastal air pollution

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VENTURA — Results from the 2023 Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies vessel speed reduction (VSR) program show it reduced coastal California air pollution, risk to whales and ocean noise.

Participating companies reduced ship speeds off California, transiting at 10 knots or less in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay region and the Southern California region, including Ventura County. The voluntary incentive-based program ran from May 1 through December 15 with 33 global shipping companies participating.

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Business, En español, familia, Family, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Salud

Bilingual report — Our Collective Impact: 2024 Community Report Presented by CenCal Health

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“Together with our partners, CenCal Health is now one year into carrying out the transformative priorities of our Strategic Plan,” said Marina Owen, CenCal Health CEO. “As a tribute to the efforts of so many, we have dedicated this Community Report to highlighting the collaborative accomplishments essential to improving the well-being of our members. I am confident we will reach new heights through local innovation and build healthier communities.”

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Business, Family, Food, Local, News, Youth

Food Share on April 10 to recognize four-year anniversary of the COVID drive-thru distribution at College Park in Oxnard

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OXNARD — Over the past four years, Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, has indelibly impacted the community through its College Park drive-thru food distribution. What began as a 90-day disaster relief effort at the height of the pandemic has evolved into a monumental ongoing initiative, thanks to the volunteers’ and donors’ support and generosity.

Since its inception, the College Park drive-thru food distribution has seen an incredible outpouring of support to meet the need. An astounding 10,000 volunteers have dedicated over 40,000 hours of service and tirelessly worked to provide essential sustenance to those facing food insecurity in Ventura County.

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Cultural, En español, Government, Local, News, Public Safety

Bilingual report — Rep. Julia Brownley presents $963,000 to the County of Ventura for Regional Public Safety Radio Project

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“The importance of ensuring our law enforcement and public safety entities in Ventura County have access to high-quality, reliable communications equipment cannot be overstated,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “Not only will this state-of-the-art communication system facilitate better communication and coordination between agencies, but all of our cities and residents will benefit from streamlined services that will lower costs and redundancies. …

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Cultural, Family, Local, News, Religion

Guest contribution — Amidst national divisiveness, local Jewish temple remains focused on community

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THOUSAND OAKS — It’s been nearly seven months since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel claimed more than 1,200 lives and led to the abduction of hundreds of people. Since the devastating attack, it’s been reported that the number of antisemitic incidents surged heavily in the months following. Amidst the tense climate, Temple Etz Chaim (TEC) has remained focused on creating a safe space to come together, connect, educate one another and heal as the Jewish community navigates the current global climate.

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Education, Local, News, Youth

The Prom Closet At Simi YMCA — Prom Clothes Donations Needed

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SIMI VALLEY — The Simi Valley Family YMCA and Soroptimist International of Simi Valley are hosting a Prom Closet at the Y. Donations of clean, gently used or new formal wear are being accepted for use by high schoolers attending prom. Items can be dropped off at the Y (3200 Cochran St.) until April 12. Teens will be able to select their free prom outfits on Sunday, April 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Business, Local, News

Pam Tanase and John Nelson to co-chair Santa Barbara Human Resources Association

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SANTA BARBARA – Pam Tanase, co-founder of the coworking space Workzones in Santa Barbara, and John Nelson, chief administrative officer of Prolacta Bioscience, Inc., in Duarte, have been named co-chairs of the Santa Barbara Human Resources Association (SBHRA) for the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year.

The SBHRA is a membership association for human resources practitioners focused on advancing the human resources profession. Its mission is to elevate all human resources professionals in the community through learning, advocacy and connections, and to be a local connection for all things human resources. A local affiliate of the nationwide Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), it received the society’s Platinum Excel chapter award in 2022.

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Cultural, Education, Family, Finance, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Community Colleges Launch Affordable Bachelor’s Degree Programs

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CAMARILLO — Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges are proud to announce that all three institutions are launching applied baccalaureate degree programs on their campuses. As a part of the California Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program, these first of their kind degrees offer the Ventura County community increased access to affordable career education that will prepare them for well-paying jobs in the region.

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Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Events, familia, Family, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Santa Paula Beautiful Day Returns, Calling for Volunteers to Beautify the City

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The upcoming Santa Paula Beautiful Day presents a chance for residents of all ages to make a meaningful impact. From 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in various beautification projects throughout Santa Paula. Whether it’s cleaning up popular bike trails, sprucing up neighborhood parks, touching up city landmarks, or helping maintain downtown Santa Paula, every volunteer effort counts towards creating a cleaner, more vibrant community for all.

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Business, Health, Local, News

Cottage Health Earns 2024 Great Place To Work Certification

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SANTA BARBARA – Cottage Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system serving the California Central Coast, is proud to be CertifiedTM by Great Place To Work® for a sixth time. The certification is based on what current employees shared in confidential surveys about their experience working at Cottage Health. This year, Cottage Health’s employee survey scores were 24 points higher than the average U.S. company.

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Business, Education, Finance, Local, News, Youth

Rotary Clubs receive state award for supporting community colleges including Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria

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SANTA MARIA — The Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Clubs of California are being honored by the Network of California Community College Foundations (NCCCF) with the organization’s prestigious Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award. According to the NCCCF, the organizations have provided $6.2 million in philanthropic support to benefit California community colleges across the state in recent years.

The honor includes the efforts of local Rotary clubs who support students at Allan Hancock College, thanks to hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations to the college’s nonprofit foundation as well as directly to students through scholarships.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Finance, Local, News, Youth

Local leaders join Allan Hancock College Foundation board of directors

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“We’re fortunate to have such accomplished and experienced volunteers joining our board,” says Dr. Jon Hooten, executive director of the Foundation. “Each of these individuals care deeply about education and the future of the communities we serve. We’re honored that they are choosing to direct that passion toward serving Hancock’s students.” 

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

SBCC to raise Pride Flag in all-campus celebration on Thursday, April 4

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“It is with immense excitement to see the support and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community on campus, for all students, staff and faculty! This flag raising is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a commitment. A commitment to creating an environment where everyone — regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity — feels safe, respected, and supported. It is a pledge to foster a campus culture of equality, equity and understanding.” — CESJ and Pride Program advisor Selena Martinez. 

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Business, Events, Local, News

The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard announces new tenants; introduces Live Music Series

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OXNARD — The Collection at RiverPark (The Collection) welcomes six new retailers this spring and summer – lululemon, Fashion Q,Club Pilates, Mong Q – Mongolian BBQ Kitchen, The Good Feet Store, and Immigrant Son Caffe. Also this spring, The Collection’s “Live Music on Park View Court,” an all-new live music series, kicks off in April and will feature four local performers.

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

Museum of Ventura County — Explore Our Blossoming Array of Springtime Garden Activities for Every Generation!

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Playdate in the Garden

Friday, April 5
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
@Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main St., Ventura

Explore your creative expression at our third Play Date in the Garden! In partnership with Filipina/x cultural organization, Pinaysphere, we will have eco-friendly arts and crafts to help you reconnect your heart and soul with the wonders of nature. Join us in this unique blend of creativity and nature appreciation, forging lasting memories and rekindling the joy of imaginative play. Adult supervision is required. For more information and free registration click HERE!

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

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

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EN ESPAÑOL: SBA: ACCESO AL CAPITAL – MICROCREDITOS

2 de abril a las 4:00 pm

Tiene su plan de negocios escrito, ha elegido el tipo de entidad legal bajo el cual operará y tiene un Número de Identificación del Contribuyente. Ya está en sus marcas, y ahora quiere estar listo para encontrar financiación. En este taller el SBA va a repasar préstamos para pequeños negocios respaldados por La Agencia Federal de Pequenos Negocios.

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA INSCRIBIRSE

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

Bilingual report — Official Final Results and Certification Announced for Ventura County March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election

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VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced today the official election results certification for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election. A total of 196,415 ballots were cast in this Statewide Direct Primary election: 89.84% of voters cast vote-by-mail ballots and 10.16% voted in person, resulting in a 38.51% voter turnout in Ventura County.

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Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Migrant Students Compete in Speech and Debate

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VENTURA COUNTY — Middle and high school students in the Ventura County Office of Education’s Migrant Education Program had an opportunity to show their skills during the 21st annual Regional Speech and Debate Tournament that was held Saturday at Ventura College. This year’s tournament drew about 70 students, which was approximately double the number from last year. The student competitors came from the following school districts:

Briggs Elementary School District
Fillmore Unified School District
Hueneme Elementary School District
Ocean View School District
Oxnard School District
Oxnard Union High School District
Santa Paula Unified School District
Ventura Unified School District

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

Bilingual commentary — How to Study for College-Level Math

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You may be a college math student, or you may know someone who is currently pursuing a math class at the college level. For those who are prepared, college math is simply a continuation of the material and methods that one has learned prior to entering college. 

Some college students are only faintly interested in math, if they are interested at all. But these students fail to understand the enormous importance of math in their lives. They reject math at their own peril. 

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Business, Cultural, Government, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Public Safety

Bilingual report — Ventura County Fire & Simi Valley Police Department collaborate on safety vehicle

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Donating the Fire District’s surplus heavy-duty utility truck to the Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD) will provide them with the ability to carry needed equipment to the scene of an emergency safely and expeditiously and is an effective use of County and Simi Valley Police Department resources.

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

April at the Santa Paula Art Museum

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You’re invited to the Santa Paula Art Museum’s Fourteenth Anniversary Gala and Fundraiser on Saturday, April 20! In honor of the Museum’s Limoneira Building turning 100 this year, we’re going to party like it’s 1924! Join us inside the Museum for a Roaring ’20s evening of art, live music by Sophie Holt and Studio C, dancing, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and more.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Finance, Government, Health, Local, News, Youth

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Special Meeting on Jail Healthcare on April 3

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Our community’s collective heart breaks every time we hear of yet another death of an inmate in custody. Moreover, delays in medical care have caused costly delays in booking inmates, taxing our law enforcement resources. The Board of Supervisors has recently voted to establish the Jail Health Monitoring Unit under the Public Health Department to ensure County health experts are a part of the medical policy-making and quality assurance.

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Family, Health, Local, News, Youth

Undiagnosed Autism in Teens and Adults Can Lead to Mental Health Issues

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SANTA BARBARA — Teens and adults who have undiagnosed autism (autism spectrum disorder / ASD) can struggle with symptoms that may lead to depression, anxiety and self-harm, according to the UCSB Koegel Autism Center at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. 

They often feel misunderstood and dismissed because they have not received appropriate support and this can aggravate their mental health, explained Anna Krasno, Ph.D., who leads the Koegel Autism Center. 

“An accurate diagnosis with regard to autism is absolutely crucial, so that people can get the support that best fits their needs,” said Dr. Krasno. “This can be life-saving, affirming, and validating for people with autism.”

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Business, Commentary, Local, News, Opinion

Guest contribution — It’s getting cheaper to fly private jet, says local aviation expert

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CAMARILLO — If you’re looking to charter a private jet for your next vacation or business trip, now might be the time to do it.

After soaring to record pricing during the COVID-19 pandemic, rates for private jet charters are dropping to prepandemic levels, according to Sarah Oberman, founder of TruNorth Jets, a jet charter broker based out of Camarillo.

Private jets were viewed as “sanitary time capsules” that allowed people to travel with far less health risks during the pandemic than crowded airline terminals and passenger jets. A shortage of pilots together with soaring demand for private flights during the pandemic drove pricing to unprecedented levels.

“We’re seeing a significant drop in charter rates across all size categories of private jets, and that’s really benefiting our customers,” Oberman said. “We’ve been able to secure bookings for our clients at rates that, only a year ago, would have been unrealistic.”

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Business, Education, Local, News, Youth

CLU 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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Cultural, Entertainment, Events, Family, Health, Local, News, Women, Youth

Lumina Alliance announces Shining Light Award Winners

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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Lumina Alliance is proud to announce this year’s Shining Light Award winners ahead of our Lumina Nights event on April 12th and 13th at Thousand Hills Ranch in Pismo Beach. This year’s recipients come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but have one thing in common: they have chosen to stand in support of survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and their actions have made SLO County a brighter place to live.

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

Bilingual report — County of Ventura employees recognized for decades of public service

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VENTURA — On Tuesday, March 26, during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting, the County of Ventura honored 27 employees for decades of continuous service across county agencies. The quarterly awards are part of the County of Ventura’s Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program which honors staff who have reached career milestones with 25 years or more of service to the residents of Ventura County.

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Business, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

The Foundation of VCCU gives $38,500 in grants to eight local nonprofits

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VENTURA COUNTY — The Foundation of VCCU, Ventura County Credit Union’s (VCCU) philanthropic nonprofit organization, has awarded $38,500 in grants to 8 nonprofits who deliver invaluable help and support to our local community. This grant cycle, which is the first round of awards distributed in 2024, will support these organizations’ efforts to improve the lives of Ventura and Santa Barbara county residents.

The 8 organizations serve a wide variety of our neighbors in need including foster children, individuals that need help, as well as families struggling with homelessness, housing and food insecurity. 

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Business, Government, Health, Local, News, Youth

Ventura Port District Receives $200,000 Grant From National Fish And Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

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VENTURA — The Ventura Port District (District) Board of Port Commissioners (Board) are pleased to announce that a funding agreement has been signed with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to receive a grant of $200,000 for the improvements of restrooms and shower facilities at Harbor Cove Beach, Surfers Knoll Beach, and the District’s public launch ramp.

This grant is the second awarded to the District by NFWF under the “Refugio Beach Oil Spill Settlement: South Coast Shoreline Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grants Program” (Program), the first of which was a grant of $93,301 provided in 2022. Those funds were fully expended to improve beach accessibility, install three new light poles for Harbor Cove Beach parking lot, and the purchase of public safety communications equipment.

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Business, Government, Local, News

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Economic 411 Labor Market Report for February 2024

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The California Labor Market Information Division released its February 2024 report on Friday, showing a very slight improvement in the unemployment rate, from 5.2% in January to 5.1% in February. Job creation was also only moderately changed, with an increase by 1,800 payroll jobs, concentrated in only a few sectors, primarily Private Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality and in several categories of Government service. 

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