Business, Local, News

Seasons Catering launches a new subscription meal delivery service from their Good2Go line

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Seasons Catering owner and chef Gabrielle Moes this week announced the launch of her new subscription meal delivery service. After pivoting through the challenges of the Covid- 19 pandemic with the launch of Good2Go heat & serve meals in March 2020, Seasons Catering is now expanding its farm-fresh, chef-crafted meals into a stress-free, home delivery subscription service. “As we celebrate the first anniversary of our popular Good2Go heat & serve meals, it was a natural step to offer Good2Go as a weekly subscription service,” said Moes.

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Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Science Fair Goes Virtual for 2021

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Vaccine hesitancy, biodegradable plastic and ocean acidification are just some of the timely subjects of entries in the 2021 Ventura County Science Fair. The event, coordinated by the Ventura County Office of Education, was held entirely online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. While many students were unable to access the usual resources, tools and support that schools provide for science fair participants, this year’s event still drew several creative and innovative entries.

In a normal year, the Science Fair draws hundreds of participants who present their projects to judges at the Gilbert Arena at Cal Lutheran. This year, the entries were all submitted online and the judges interviewed students via videoconferencing. The judges are local professionals who work in science-related fields and volunteer their time for the event.

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Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Local, News

Teatro de las Américas — 5 days Italian FILM will be here!!

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Festival for the Italian audience and, at the same time, on Teatro de Las Americas and Main Stage West virtual seasons for the American audience.

The audience can book to participate to the TALK with the company and other guests curated by Enrico Piergiacomi, By writing an e-mail you will receive the invitation and all the instructions.

INVENTING LIFE is a doc-film about TELL TALE, a theatre-dance piece that engages on stage the authors and their two children. The documentary has been filmed in theaters, locations in wild nature and in abandoned spaces: a theater company working in the absence of live performing. A proof of necessity. A dialogue with nature and with a theatre crowded by absents.

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Cultural, Educación, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara announces upcoming events

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ump into spring with MCASB as we learn how to take your shortbread cookies to the next level by utilizing fresh or dried edible flowers and herbs! Bake along with us as we go through the steps of mixing, cutting, and decorating the shortbread dough. This tutorial will include a section on balancing taste and flavor to best help you learn about pairing ingredients for your baking! This event is free to all, and we encourage people of all ages to attend. Click here to register, or visit our website to learn more! 

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Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Government, Health, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 23, 2021 — COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund

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Ventura County Community Foundation Announces Matching Fund Opportunity for COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund
Amgen Foundation to contribute $300,000 in matching support to
Ventura County Rapid Response Fund
Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Ventura County Community Foundation donors have granted out an incredible $14 million to support local small businesses, individuals and families in need, our essential workers, and our indispensable nonprofits on the front lines.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Local, News

Santa Barbara Foundation Sponsors Hospice of Santa Barbara’s illuminateSpeaker Series 

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Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is proud to announce that the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) is a sponsor of the illuminate Speaker Series, a virtual series that brings world-renowned speakers every month to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting us all.  

As local nonprofits in Santa Barbara adapt to find new ways to serve their clients and causes, HSB is adjusting to the new realities that come with COVID-19 through theirilluminate Speaker Series, which provides helpful resources to our community and beyond as we cope with our new reality. 

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Business, Cultural, Education, Local, News

MVC Now! — Women Taking the Lead Zoom Event + New MVC Then Blog + More!

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Join us for The Changing Faces of Ventura County: Women Taking the Lead, a special Museum of Ventura County Zoom program on Wednesday, March 31st from 6:30-8:00 PM. This online program is free, but requires advanced registration.

In honor of National Women’s History month, the Museum of Ventura County will host a panel discussion with elected leaders from all 10 cities in Ventura County. At no other time in history have so many women held elected office in Ventura County. Currently, in 2021, the County has 23 women elected to serve as supervisors, mayors, and council members.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Government, Health, Local, News

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Stop Hate, Spring Break COVID Guidance, Climate Workshop, and More

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It’s been nearly a week since the Atlanta spa shootings that left six Asian women dead, plus two other individuals, and I, of course, can’t stop thinking about it or about all the events that led up to this moment. All the hate directed at the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, blaming our community for the COVID-19 pandemic, perpetuated by our former president, is also a recurrent theme of our history.

I’ve been thinking about my own experience growing up AAPI in America and the experiences of my opa as an Indonesian man in the Dutch Royal Navy during WWII. I have had the advantage, and sometimes disadvantage, of appearing racially ambiguous; many people are unsure of my racial and ethnic heritage. I’ve also had the experience my whole life of having others place their own ideas of my racial and ethnic heritage upon me. Read more of my Op Ed in the SB Independent…

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Education, Local, News, Youth

Relaxed School Distancing Rules are Another Sign of Progress

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In a new sign of progress in the battle against the coronavirus, health officials have reduced the minimum required distance between students in a classroom from six feet to three feet. The change came quickly after the CDC announced the new three foot guidelines last Friday. The California Department of Public Health, which sets the baseline rules that Ventura County schools must follow, soon followed suit. Ventura County Public Health, which has the authority to impose stricter rules than the state, also adopted the three foot distancing guideline. Studies show the reduced distancing between students in class does not significantly increase the risk of virus spread as long as students and staff are all correctly wearing masks on a consistent basis. The rules still require six foot distancing between students and staff members.

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Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Julie Birkett, YMCA’s ‘Find My Genius’ Teacher/Site Director, Named BellXcel’s “Educator of the Year”

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Julie Birkett, fourth grade teacher at Sumac Elementary School in Agoura Hills and teacher/Site Director at the Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s “Find My Genius” summer learning program, was named “Educator of the Year” by BellXcel. BellXcel partners with school districts and community-based organizations to help close the education gap for students who are not performing at grade level. Birkett was selected out of over 1,000 teachers nationwide.

Birkett’s award was announced at a Zoom YMCA board meeting on Tuesday, March 16.

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Business, Education

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

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he Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG), administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance, offers grants for live venue operators, performing arts organizations, motion picture theater operators, cultural institutions and other eligible applicants. SVOG funding does not need to be repaid and can be used for specific expenses, such as payroll, rent, utilities and other costs. 

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Business, Local, News

Southern California Gas Company Sets Bold Net Zero Emissions Pledge

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Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), the largest gas utility in the U.S., today announced the company’s bold commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045.

This commitment makes SoCalGas the largest gas distribution utility in North America to set a net zero target including scopes 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions, which would eliminate not only its own direct emissions, but also those generated by customers’ energy delivered by SoCalGas’ energy infrastructure.1  

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

News from The Foundation at Hearst Castle

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We recognize that this is a truly unique and challenging time and we want to send our utmost gratitude to everyone who has supported The Foundation at Hearst Castle — in every small and large way — especially over the past year.

Hearst Castle remains closed, but our nonprofit organization remains quite busy. Enjoy this update and please continue to support vital efforts to conserve this magnificent monument and to empower future generations.

We hope to see you back on the Hearst Castle hilltop soon enough

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Business, Health, Local, News

Local PODS® Moving & Storage and KHAY Radio Jump into Spring for the Ultimate Spring Clean Package Giveaway

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According to Healthline, whether you’re temporarily stuck indoors, working from home, or are having a tough time getting to sleep, your mental health can benefit from keeping your space tidy. Local PODS® Moving & Storage wants to help one lucky resident get ready for Spring by teaming up with local radio station KHAY 100.7 to help with the ultimate spring-cleaning giveaway.

Beginning March 8th, listeners can go to KHAY.com and enter for their chance to win 6 months of free storage as well as a $500 home improvement card to get their spring cleaning off to a great start.

“One of the number one priorities for Local PODS is that we support and assist our community in any way we can,” said Steve Yapp, owner of Local PODS Moving & Storage. “We are thrilled to extend an opportunity of our storage services to a lucky winner.”

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Education, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Team Wins State Mock Trial Competition

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California Mock Trial Finals. Trinity Pacific Christian School in Thousand Oaks won the top spot in the statewide competition a few weeks after taking both first and second place in the Ventura County Mock Trial. Another Ventura County high school has reason to celebrate after the state finals. Jessica Zhou of Newbury Park High School took first place in the courtroom journalist portion of the competition.

The Trinity Pacific team (pictured) will now advance to the national mock trial competition to be held from May 13 – 15. The last Ventura County team to win at the state level was La Reina High School in 2013. La Reina went on to place second in the national contest.

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Business, Educación, Education, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 22, 2021

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COVID-19 Update Data From 3/19 to 3/21

There are 62 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 11,638 new tests performed.

There have been 7 additional deaths: 92 year old male, 70 year old male, 56 year old male, 89 year old male, 79 year old male, 70 year old male, and a 89 year old female.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who have passed away.

The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .66 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .81 right now. 

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Business, Education, Local, News

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

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Round 4- Nonprofit Arts & Cultural Program
Application Window Extended to March 26!

PLEASE NOTE: Eligible nonprofit arts and cultural institutions interested in being considered in this new program MUST complete a NEW APPLICATION at https://careliefgrant.com/arts-and-culture/ even if they have previously applied to the CA Relief Grant Program during Rounds 1 or 2. Waitlisted applications from Round 1 or 2 do not automatically roll over to Round 4.

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Cultural, Education, Health, Local, News

Statement by Pacifica Graduate Institute (PGI) and Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association (PGIAA) regarding the mass shooting in Atlanta on March 17, 2021″

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Earlier this week we witnessed a horrific targeted shooting in which eight people, six of whom were Asian American women, were murdered. We are heartbroken by this event, and we vehemently condemn the hate crimes, violence, and murder being perpetrated against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the United States.  

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who were senselessly murdered as a result of this shooting and pledge our solidarity and support to our Asian brothers and sisters during this painful and difficult time” –Indhushree Rajan, 2013 PhD Clinical 

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Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Government, Local, Locales, Negocios, News

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Weekly Webinar Schedule

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The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our no-cost webinars. Space is limited. Register today!

SPANISH: SEGUNDO PROGRAMA DE SUBVENCIONES POR EL COVID-19 DEL CONDADO DE VENTURA – WEBINAR EN ESPAÑOL

23 de marzo de 2021 a las 6:00 pm

¿Es Usted Un Proveedor De Servicios De Cuidado Infantil En El Condado De Ventura? Únase a nosotros el martes 23 de marzo de 2021 a las 6:00 PM ¡Conozca el Segundo Programa de Subvenciones de Ayuda a Empresas del Condado de Ventura por el COVID-19! En el nuevo segundo programa, las empresas, organizaciones sin fines de lucro, iglesias y otras instituciones religiosas son elegibles para aplicar utilizando múltiples formas de verificación. En este seminario web vespertino se revisará el programa, los requisitos de elegibilidad, la solicitud en línea y se responderá a sus preguntas en directo.

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En español, Government, Local, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Dr. Irene Pinkard named Assembly District 44 Woman of the Year

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Every year, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus sponsors the annual “Woman of the Year” celebration as part of Women’s History Month. This year, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) named long-time Oxnard resident, Dr. Irene Pinkard, as her 2021 Woman of the Year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebration was held virtually.

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Business, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News

The Santa Paula Art Museum Will Reopen Wednesday, March 24

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We’re getting ready to reopen the doors to the Museum on Wednesday, March 24! Meet us at the Museum to enjoy our three outstanding current exhibitions, and the debut of our new, outdoor Art Park. Scroll down to see some of the Museum’s additional offerings as we head into spring.

*In accordance with public health directives, all museum guests will be required to wear a face mask for the duration of their visit, to sanitize their hands upon entry, and to sign a waiver upon entry.

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Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Local, News

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents House Calls Spring 2021, a new suite of virtual events just added for April and May featuring intimate, interactive online performances, conversations and Q&As with world renowned thought leaders; environmental and health advocates; best-selling novelists; dance innovators and filmmakers

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Events include: Conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall; health psychologist Dr. Kelly McGonigal; critically-acclaimed novelist Mohsin Hamid; urban dance innovator Ephrat Asherie performing Odeon and featuring the movement workshop Shake-a-Leg with Archie & Ephrat; classical music treasures Yo-Yo Ma, cello and Kathryn Stott, piano; novelist and former president of the American Enterprise Institute Arthur C. Brooks; and acclaimed producer and filmmaker Mira Nair

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Family, Health, Local, News

Simi Valley and Yarrow Family YMCA Indoor Fitness Centers Reopen March 29

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The YMCAs in Simi Valley and Westlake Village will reopen their indoor fitness centers Monday, March 29.

Both Ys’ indoor facilities have been closed since last summer. Sanitation and social distancing procedures have been put in place following county guidelines. Masks will be required while inside and outside YMCA buildings.

“We’ve spaced our workout equipment at least six feet apart. Our staff will disinfect surfaces and provide a thorough cleaning of the facility throughout the day,” says Ronnie Stone, President and CEO of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back. We’re confident we can provide our members with a great, safe experience.”

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Commentary, Cultural, Education, Family, Health, Local, News

Social Justice Fund for Ventura County Supports AAPI Community

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The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County promotes fairness, equity, and human rights. We condemn and denounce the ongoing violence against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, which recently resulted in the murder of eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent. We stand in solidarity with our Asian-American and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters who are suffering from trauma, as they are the targets of hate, xenophobia, and violence. We acknowledge that language has power and that racist rhetoric fuels the fire of hate and white supremacy.

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

Bilingual report — Safety Alert: US Food and Drug Administration warns of investigation of acute non-viral hepatitis illness linked to “Real Water” brand alkaline water – Do not drink, cook, sell or serve “Real Water”

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Southern Nevada Health District is investigating a number of reports of acute non-viral hepatitis in the state of Nevada.

The consumption of “Real Water” brand alkaline water is the only common link identified among all of these cases to date. This brand of alkaline water is owned by Real Water Inc., headquartered in Mesa, Arizona. …

The 5-gallon containers are delivered to homes in the following areas, according to the firm’s website:

Ventura and Santa Barbara, CA through Real Water Gold Coast

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Business, Cultural, Education, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Seniors

Bilingual report ‚ County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 19, 2021

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There are 62 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 5,291 new tests performed.

There have been 3 additional deaths: 72 year old female, 91 year old female and 70 year old female.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who have passed away.

The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .6 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .81 right now. 

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