SBA: HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
March 5 @ 12:00 pm
Hear directly from the Executive Director of OSDBU at HHS about their procurement process and priorities for 2024. Join BSA as they discuss Federal Contracting Set-aside with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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SANTA BARBARA — One805 will host its Annual Honorary Board Cocktail reception at the Montecito Club March 9 to officially announce First Responder grant recipients.
One805’s Honorary Board comprises predominantly of local community members who, by their membership, provide additional funding and support for the nonprofit’s critical counseling support and emergency equipment needs.
California is currently experiencing an unusually high?number?of invasive fruit fly?detections, resulting in quarantines being established across numerous California counties, including Ventura County. These invasive fruit fly species – including Mediterranean fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly, Queensland fruit fly and tau fruit fly – are considered not established in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and various County Agricultural Commissioners, has initiated local regulatory measures to eradicate and prevent the further spread of these fruit fly species statewide.
(March 1) we took a significant step forward towards avoiding the worst effects of climate change, opening the new Strauss Wind Project. These 27 wind turbines will generate enough power for 36,000 homes – helping us move towards a more clean and reliable electric grid.
What’s most important isn’t just the impact of this one project, but what it means for the potential of clean energy in other parts of coastal California. 21 years in the making, this project was able to navigate the process and get the permits and approvals it needed to open.
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is excited to introduce Ezra Kai Avila, the hospital’s first Leap Year baby.
Born on February 29, 2024, at 2:19 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces, and measuring 19.5 inches in length. Ezra’s birth is unique as this date only occurs every four years.
Ezra’s proud parents, Veronica Ortega and Miguel Angel Avila of Goleta were overjoyed by his arrival. As first- time parents, they found Ezra’s Leap Day birth exciting and unique.
OXNARD — We are pleased to announce that we have selected three (3) finalists for the next President of Oxnard College. We would like to thank the entire College community for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each member of the Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional insight, dedication, and effort.
As I was filling out my ballot for the coming election here in California, most of the items were fairly easy choices for me (one of them at the top of the ticket was very easy). But then I came to the choices for judge for the Ventura County Superior Court. We are directed to vote for only one.
I stared at the names. One of them was immediately recognizable because I had seen his name in news items about some of our local civil and criminal trials. His credentials seem impeccable.
But then I realized that I knew essentially nothing about the other three candidates.
So why is it so important to vote for judges and not just skip over this section of the ballot?
VENTURA COUNTY — With March 5, 2024, Election Day less than a week away, Michelle Ascencion, Registrar of Voters, and her Elections team are not only planning for the busy voting days that remain ahead, they are also preparing for the long night of election results reporting that follows. The 8:00 p.m. official close of the Election starts the clock when candidates, voters and the media all start looking for the first ballot count results to be reported.
CAMARILLO — The Camarillo Sunrise Rotary Club, a local service organization comprised of local business leaders and committed to a wide range of local and global causes, has been a long-time supporter of kidSTREAM, Ventura County’s only children’s museum. The Rotary Club is hosting the Fourth Annual kidSTREAM Charity Golf Tournament at Las Posas Country Club Golf Course on Monday, April 29.
There are a few spots for golfers remaining through sponsorship of the tournament, and they can be found by going to kidSTREAM’s website at kidSTREAM.org, under “Upcoming Events”. In addition to the golf tournament a 3-day silent online auction will open to the public on tournament day.
PORT OF HUENEME — In a strong spirit of partnership and heart for the community, the City of Port Hueneme, and the Port of Hueneme celebrated Heart Health Awareness Month by hosting a “Run for Your Heart” 5K Race on Sunday, February 24, 2024. The event is a result of the Port of Hueneme and City of Port Hueneme’s Community Benefit Fund partnership. To help celebrate, Del Monte Fresh Fruit and Produce provided a nutritious banana for runners after they crossed the finish line.
VENTURA — Each year, elementary school students travel by bus to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture’s (SEEAG) free Farm Lab program at Petty Ranch in Ventura and Allan Hancock College’s Demonstration Orchard in Santa Maria. While at the farms, students learn about the farm origins of their food. Funds raised through SEEAG’s current “Bus Bucks” fundraiser will help offset school bus expenses so that field trips remain entirely cost-free to students, teachers and schools.
For each Farm Lab field trip, SEEAG gives schools $300 for bus expenses. Currently, SEEAG is scheduled to host 70 field trips in 2024. To ensure there are enough funds to pay for transportation, the Bus Bucks’ goal is to raise $20,000.
The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region.
VENTURA — On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors adopted significant measures to combat homelessness with a proactive approach aimed at reducing the number of individuals facing housing instability. The actions taken by the Board reflect a comprehensive strategy outlined in the Updated Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, as presented by LeSar Development Consultants on December 19, 2023, and align with the Board’s adopted Strategic Plan Priority to Address Homelessness and Lift Up the Most Vulnerable.
Recognizing the urgency of the issue, the Board has adopted recommendations to address homelessness from multiple angles, including homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing, housing prioritization, regional coordination, outreach, service delivery, data-driven decision making, and representation.
Assistant teaching professor Michelle Petty-Grue explores her life and profession in the arts in this long-form interview that ranges from her upbringing in England to raising a Black son in America.
VENTURA — Shipping companies received awards for reducing speeds in the 2023 “Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies” program. The voluntary incentive program ran May 1 through Dec. 15, 2023, to reduce fatal ship strikes to endangered whales, air pollution, regional greenhouse gas emissions and underwater noise.
Thirty-three shipping companies participated, transiting at 10 knots or less in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay and Southern California regions, including Ventura County. Cooperation levels continue to improve in both regions with an overall 81% cooperation rate from participants during the 2023 season, up from 78% in the 2022 season.The number of participants was also greater than any previous year, increasing from 23 shipping companies in 2022.
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College invites all college students to the Financial Aid Fest on Wednesday, February 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on SBCC’s Cliff Campus in the Eastern courtyard of the Student Services Building (East Campus).
Expert specialists will be available to assist students in completing FAFSA and Dream Act Applications. This event is open to ALL college students including AB-540 students and students from other colleges and universities like UCSB, Westmont, and Antioch are welcome to receive support.
If you received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (COVID-19 EIDL) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for under $100,000 and are in default, the SBA recommends you take action before March 3, 2024.
The U.S. Small Business Administration will begin referring defaulted PPP and COVID-19 EIDL borrowers with loans under $100,000 to the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service for collection beginning March 4, 2024.
CAMARILLO — After years of transformation, the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Science Carnival is back, bigger and better, as the CSUCI School of Arts and Sciences STEAM Carnival. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
“It took a while to make this happen again, but I am so, so, so excited,” said Acting Dean of Arts & Sciences Phil Hampton, who started the carnival. “COVID nearly eliminated the event but now it has grown up into the Arts and Sciences (A&S) STEAM Carnival. We’ve added the arts, but it’s a very long bar over the ‘A’ to make it include art, social science and humanities.”
VENTURA COUNTY — Trinity Pacific Christian School is the winner of the middle school division of the 2024 Ventura County Mock Trial competition after earning the highest score in the final round this afternoon. Valley View Middle School in the Simi Valley Unified School District came in second place and Mesa Union School took third. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony this evening at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard has started its phased project to repair the pavement on Gonzales Rd. between Victoria Ave. to Rice Ave. Major activities began in mid-February and are expected to continue through the fall of 2024.
LOMPOC — Reconnect with your besties and embark on the ultimate Girls’ getaway to Lompoc, California. From a leisurely breakfast to heart-pounding adventures and serene spa sessions, this itinerary promises a day of joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
Members of a single Colombian family each carry a mutation linked to accelerated development of the sticky plaques that, in addition to tangles of a misfolded structural protein called tau, are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
VENTURA COUNTY — Trinity Pacific Christian School and Royal High School took the top two spots in the high school division of the 2024 Ventura County Mock Trial competition, which was held over two weekends at the Ventura County Hall of Justice. Twenty-one high schools from throughout Ventura County participated in Mock Trial this year. The winning teams were announced at an awards ceremony this evening at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Here’s how the eight highest-scoring high school teams ranked:
LOMPOC — Step into history at one of California’s most extensively restored missions – La Purisima Mission State Historic Park! The Mission offers visitors a remarkable historic journey to life in the 1800’s. Within minutes of downtown Lompoc, you can explore the grounds of this meticulously preserved mission, and find yourself immersed in the rich tapestry of California’s past. From the imposing adobe walls to the tranquil courtyards, every corner of La Purisima Mission resonates with history.
Visitors can wander through the well-preserved buildings, including the chapel, living quarters, workshops, and gardens, gaining insight into the daily lives of the Spanish missionaries and the indigenous Chumash people who once inhabited this site.
DEMYSTIFYING THE FDA MOCRA 2022 COSMETICS RULES: WHAT BEAUTY BRANDS NEED TO KNOW
February 28 @ 10:00 am
Join Women in International Trade Orange County (WITOC) and the Economic Development Collaborative Go Global Trade Program (EDC GGTP) as we partner with Krieger Worldwide for an informative webinar explaining the key provisions of the forthcoming Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) and how it establishes new requirements for the importation of cosmetics. This legislation introduces new requirements for cosmetic safety substantiation, supply chain transparency and labeling. Experts from Krieger Worldwide will provide clarity on the act’s scope, compliance timelines and strategies for company readiness.
Topic: “Wisdom Warrior: A Psychedelic Shamanic Path to Transformation”
Date: Wednesday, February 28th, 2024
Times: 5:00pm to 9:00pm (Roundtable Discussion at 6:30pm)
Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)
Members are Free to attend The District House evenings, and are prioritized when we reach capacity.
Guests Welcome to purchase $50 tickets to The District House evenings.
Note: We will be filming the speaker for the District216 Change Your Lens Series. Refreshments provided.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The YMCA’s Model United Nations for middle schoolers will begin in the Conejo and Simi valleys on March 6. Students in grades sixth through eighth are eligible. The program is sponsored by the Southeast Ventura County YMCA.
The program, which runs from March 6 through April 28, enables participants to come together with peers from across California to discuss international issues, discover other cultures, develop life-enhancing skills and make new friends. These students will become “delegates” and be assigned to one of two program areas, each focusing on improving the international community.
“Art About Agriculture” is a group exhibition presented by the Ag Art Alliance, a collective formed in 2007 by Santa Paula photographer John Nichols and Santa Paula painter Gail Pidduck. The purpose of the exhibit is to promote awareness of agriculture by exploring its many facets through art—from workers to water, from machinery to fields, to the food that goes on our plates. All of the artworks are available for purchase.
SCORE is proud to be the nation’s largest network of volunteer mentors. To better serve the Spanish speaking Latino small business community in Ventura County, SCORE Ventura is seeking bilingual (English-Spanish) volunteers.
As a SCORE Ventura mentor, you can play a pivotal role in the inspiring work we do. The skills, intelligence, and experience that you bring can be an invaluable resource for local entrepreneurs, helping them develop ideas, tackle challenges, and gain momentum as they grow. It’s a rewarding way to donate your time; one that really makes a difference.
The letter X is one of the simplest, yet most enigmatic letters in use today. We’re not even sure how to pronounce it sometimes. The story of its origins is fuzzy.
Just look at the word for the name brand “Xerox.” One word, two very distinct pronunciations for x.
In Mexican Spanish, x has a place in the evolution of the language. It has generally replaced j in such words as “México” vs. “Méjico,” “Texas” vs. “Tejas,” and “Oaxaca” vs. “Oajaca.”
“Inspired by the transformative power of mentorship, almost twenty years ago, I participated in a program that changed my perspective on public service,” said Mayor Leslie Cornejo. “Now, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the Santa Paula Future Leaders Academy. This 10-week program is a direct response to our community’s desire for deeper engagement and understanding of City operations and aims to mentor residents and business owners, transforming them into ambassadors for our city.”
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Community members who are not already subscribed may sign up to receive our newsletter in English here and in Spanish here.
SANTA BARBARA — A capacity Arlington Theatre audience thrilled to a surprise appearance by Oprah Winfrey at last night’s UCSB Arts & Lectures Speaking with Pico event. Winfrey came out to celebrate the success of her friend Dr. Abraham Verghese, whose novel The Covenant of Water was an Oprah’s Book Club pick in 2023 and has been on the New York Times fiction bestseller list continuously since its release.
THOUSAND OAKS — In recognition of her noteworthy research and exemplary teaching record, Megan K. Fung, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at California Lutheran University, has been selected for the Cal Lutheran Faculty Fellowship Program.
The team in chemistry Professor Guillermo Bazan’s lab was trying to develop compounds to harness energy from bacteria. They wound up developing the basis for a new class of antibiotics.
People’s Place is a new construction development of 68 one-, two- and three-bedroom units, which will serve families and farmworker households earning 30-60% of the area median income. On-site amenities include a community building and kitchen for resident events, a multipurpose room, outdoor courtyards, BBQs, and playgrounds. All residents will have access to free, confidential supportive services.
Janna Ireland’s photographic practice is primarily concerned with the themes of family, home, and the expression of Black identity in American culture. In 2016, she began photographing structures designed by legendary Black architect Paul R. Williams. A collection of 250 of these photographs was published in the major 2020 monograph, Regarding Paul R. Williams: A Photographer’s View. These multiple aspects of Ireland’s work will be featured and interwoven across both venues.
VENTURA COUNTY — The California Bountiful Foundation, the 501(c)3 science, research and education nonprofit organization of the California Farm Bureau, will begin enrollment Feb. 21 for a new program called Expanding Our Roots: Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Mentorship Program.
The program has a website where beginning farmers and ranchers with one to 10 years of farming and ranching experience in California may enroll for free in the mentorship program.
Farmers and ranchers interested in serving as mentors may also sign up via the webpage. Mentors are financially compensated for providing six hours of mentoring services to beginning farmers and ranchers.
VENTURA —The County of Ventura, in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Ventura County Arts Council, has announced the Arts and Culture Investment Fund grant opportunity to support Ventura County-based arts and culture organizations and independent artists.
A total of $800,000 in funding will be available through this program, making it one of the largest arts and culture specific grant programs offered by local government in Ventura County. Of this funding, a total of $700,000 is available to nonprofit art organizations, independent artists, and arts projects. The remaining $100,000 will be dedicated to providing matching funds from the County to support arts and culture organizations applying for grant opportunities where a grant match is required.
CAMARILLO — According to Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), there are 13 million U.S. businesses owned by women, representing 42% of all American businesses. And a 2024 Wells Fargo Newsroom report indicated that women-owned businesses surged at almost double the rate of men’s from 2019-2023.
Local women business owners who are a part of this nationwide sisterhood or others in the business community who support women business owners can enjoy a day of inspiration and networking from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, March 8 on the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus at the inaugural “Women’s Business Conference 2024” co-hosted by CSUCI and the West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA).
SANTA BARBARA — Certified Financial Planner Dianne Duva, a founding partner of the wealth management firm Arlington Financial Advisors in Santa Barbara, has been named the company’s new managing partner.
A graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Duva has worked at Arlington Financial Advisors since the firm launched in 2010. She advises high-net-worth families, business owners and women in transition. She helps clients understand and manage their net worth and solve complex financial problems by offering advice in an array of areas including retirement planning, insurance planning, estate and tax planning, and investment management. She holds the Certified Financial Planner® designation.
Explore the complex life of Napoleon Bonaparte in a new exhibition of George Stuart Historical Figures®. As a charismatic leader, military strategist, and political figure, Napoleon rose to power during the tumultuous aftermath of the French Revolution. Immerse yourself in his journey, from the forces that propelled him to prominence, his marriages, and his entwined destinies with other global leaders. Through George Stuart’s intricate creations, experience Napoleon Bonaparte’s significant impact on the course of history.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College’s talented fine?arts?instructors are?showcasing?a wide range of creative work during the college’s Fine?Arts?Faculty?Art?Show.
The?exhibit?is currently running at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery on Hancock’s Santa Maria campus through March 14 and is free and open to the public.
The?show?features a variety of artwork by Hancock’s fine?arts?faculty, who represent multiple disciplines including art history, painting, drawing, 3D design, ceramics, photography, media arts, dance, music and more.
“As artists, our faculty have their own art-making practices both within their scope of teaching and beyond,” said Gallery Director Laura-Susan Thomas.?“This exhibit showcases the variety of their works and the breadth of their talents.”
CAMARILLO — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSU Channel Islands is offering exciting new classes for Spring II, 2024. This session, you can explore the works of California’s prominent architects, learn about the diversity of invertebrates, discover the cultural jewels of the Stuart Dynasty…and much more! We have a wide range of exciting courses to offer!
Classes begin March 25, 2024. Registration opens March 4, 2024. Classes are offered throughout Ventura County in-person and on Zoom.
The College of Creative Studies and Black studies professor emeritus described the work as a “tribute to the tradition of swing” and “an exercise in contemplative jazz.”
Join, explore, and participate in discussions on the social and economic challenges undocumented families face in California and their irreplaceable value for the entire state, organized by the Center for Economics of Social Issues.
DEMYSTIFYING THE FDA MOCRA 2022 COSMETICS RULES: WHAT BEAUTY BRANDS NEED TO KNOW
February 28 @ 10:00 am
Join Women in International Trade Orange County (WITOC) and the Economic Development Collaborative Go Global Trade Program (EDC GGTP) as we partner with Krieger Worldwide for an informative webinar explaining the key provisions of the forthcoming Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) and how it establishes new requirements for the importation of cosmetics. This legislation introduces new requirements for cosmetic safety substantiation, supply chain transparency and labeling. Experts from Krieger Worldwide will provide clarity on the act’s scope, compliance timelines and strategies for company readiness.
We at Museum of Ventura County care deeply about making the history and art we share with you, our community, and our visitors, meaningful.
But we need your help. We want to better understand our visitors’ different needs and values so we can best serve you. Museums (like ours!) strive to encourage and expand learning while also addressing the challenges facing our society, and we need to hear your thoughts.
To do this, we are participating in a national survey of museum-goers, sponsored by the American Alliance of Museums. This survey will provide us with data from our visitors, as well as from visitors to museums nationwide, helping us be more effective in the coming months and in the communities we serve.
The first Super Bowl, which could have been known as “Super Bowl No. 1,” was played the year I graduated from high school in 1967. “Super Bowl No. 2” followed in 1968, and so on, until we got to “Super Bowl No. 4” in 1970.
The “footballerati” started to think that this numbering system for the Super Bowl games was getting a bit “boring.” Lamar Hunt, the late owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, decided that the Super Bowl needed a more eloquent numbering system…something that would make it sound more important, dignified, and even “magisterial.”
This quarter’s Livable Communities Newsletter offers more information from the recently published State of the Region report. This data is packaged to shed light on the Ventura County Civic Alliance 3Es: the Economy, the Environment, and social Equity. Special Thanks go to Tony Biasotti for his write-ups, to David Maron for the graphics, and to Kerry Roscoe for the final assembly of the newsletter.
