
VENTURA COUNTY — Good Evening, Here’s your daily COVID-19 Update from the County of Ventura.
23 new cases
748 total cases
488 recovered cases
23 hospitalized
12 in the ICU
235 under quarantine
25 deaths
14,971 tested

As we go about our communities stifled by the coronavirus, we see people who are behaving as if nothing different is happening in the world. No masks, no social distancing, and anyone who doesn’t like it—too bad. They demand a certain degree of “normalcy” in their lives, which under ordinary circumstances would have some psychological benefit.

As we wage war against COVID-19, which is causing us to make major changes to our way of life, it is important to continue time honored traditions that give us purpose along with a sense of normalcy during these challenging times. While we’ve temporarily given up certain freedoms in order to protect our health and that of others, we mustn’t forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives during times our country was engaged in war on foreign soil.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit hard at Oxnard’s tourism industry, which, according to Visit California’s latest economic impact report, was thriving in 2019.
The “California Travel Impacts” report, prepared for Visit California by Dean Runyan Associates, shows visitor spending reached $1.8 billion, a $33.8 million boost from 2018, and supported 17,050 jobs in Ventura County. Continued growth highlights how important tourism is to the region and California’s economy.

Back to the Future Part III hit theaters May 25, 1990, which means it’s been 30 years since Oxnard’s Doris Avenue and Oxford Drive hit the silver screen as planned neighborhood Hilldale in the iconic film. Railroad tracks at South Ventura Road and Shoreview Drive in neighboring city Port Hueneme also appeared in the film as the scene of the DeLorean’s destruction. Fans of the franchise continue to visit the modern-day film locations to pay homage to these movie history landmarks.

There are over 5,500 maps in the Library collection that include historical plat maps, boundary maps, topographic and hydrological maps (USGS), irrigation/ditch maps, right-of way maps (railroad and highway), and land case maps (court case exhibits). Discover a few of these jewels in this week’s virtual exhibit.

The County of Ventura announces that more businesses are permitted to reopen on the State’s Roadmap to reopening. Governor Newsom announced modifications to the State-wide stay-at-home order today. The State has added more businesses to Early Stage 2. The Governor announced that Counties, under the guidance of the Public Health Officer, can move forward in reopening office-based businesses, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums and other public spaces.

Congratulations to the class of 2020!
Although all in-person campus operations have been suspended until further notice, that didn’t stop SBCC from holding a commencement ceremony to honor the graduating class of 2020. On Friday, May 8, at 5 p.m., the college held a “virtual” commencement online.
View the video here…

As California faces another wildfire season and potential public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara)’s Senate Bill 1207 to require California nursing homes to have backup power for at least 96 hours during an emergency passed unanimously out of Senate Health Committee today on a 7 to 0 vote.

This week the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (The PACC) has announced its plans to celebrate all the hardworking graduates who are missing out on their formal ceremonies with low-cost professional photography sessions and the chance to win an all-expenses paid ‘Ultimate Grad Party’ through a raffle.

This past Saturday was going to be the end of our special online event “Building Together”. I say ‘was’, because due to its heartwarming success, and overwhelming requests to keep it up and running, we have decided to continue accepting submissions! If you have not yet had a chance to see what “home means” to people across our nation, and in some cases around the globe, you will not want to miss it, so check out the Building Together pages and even consider a submission yourself, if you haven’t already!

Over the past few months, COVID-19 has reshaped our lives and priorities in powerful ways. Here at your United Way, we’ve been collaborating with our community partners and adapting how we provide services so that we can better respond to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
In this moment of unprecedented uncertainty, we are incredibly thankful for our community partners, donors, and volunteers. They’ve stepped up to provide vital resources for our neighbors and friends who need it the most right now.
To learn more about how your local United Way is responding during this global pandemic, please take a moment to view my recent interview with OVTV.

Good Evening, Here’s your COVID-19 Update from the County of Ventura.
22 new cases
700 total cases
475
Recovered cases
25 hospitalized
13 in the ICU
204 under quarantine
21 deaths
Tune in at 1 pm on 5/13/20 at www.vcemergency.com for a video update.
Register your business to reopen at www.vcreopens.com.

Learn how RKS Design, a globally recognized design and innovation consulting firm whose mission is to move people through design, is working through the COVID-19 crisis. Our guest speaker is Ravi Sawhney, founder and CEO of RKS Design and member of the Dean’s Executive Council at California Lutheran University’s School of Management. Mr. Sawhney will discuss personal and organizational strategies that have been employed, due to the crisis, at RKS Design. This short 45-minute webinar will include both a presentation by Mr. Sawhney and a Q&A session with our virtual audience, moderated by Dean Gerhard Apfelthaler.

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education on Tuesday night approved Steve Campbell as the principal of Santa Maria High School.
Superintendent Antonio Garcia made the announcement during the regular board meeting. Campbell has served as interim principal since April 2018 when former principal Joe Domingues retired.

Philanthropy is a multi-generational tradition for Esther Wachtell of Ojai and Irene Pinkard, Ed.D., of Oxnard.
In recognition of their commitment to enhancing the culture, environment and educational opportunities in the Ventura/Santa Barbara County region, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will recognize Pinkard and Wachtell with honorary doctorates during CSUCI’s virtual commencement celebration to be held on Saturday, May 23 at 11 a.m.

In response to the growing need for emotional and practical support related to COVID-19 in the Greater Santa Barbara area, Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) now offers a comprehensive resource page called “Coping With COVID-19.”
Coping with COVID-19 includes videos and articles by HSB’s Community Education staff of dedicated experts, therapists and clergy. Topics include relevant issues we are all facing during the global pandemic. You can find information on grieving the loss of normalcy, managing panic and anxiety, cultivating resilience and compassion, ways for seniors to cope with isolation, help for teens navigating the loss of their school routine while maintaining social relationships, ideas for parents to allay their child’s worry or fear of death, ways to manage grief and memorialize a loved one at home, and more.
Dear friends of The PACC,
We hope you and your family are healthy and safe during these unprecedented times. Thanks to Mechanics Bank for helping us secure Paycheck Protection Program funds, our nonprofit staff is hard at work on enhancing the visitor and programming experience while we are temporarily closed. When we re-open, YOUR PACC will be more beautiful and exciting than ever. Please consider making a donation to help support our efforts.
In the meantime, we have wonderful news to share in this month’s newsletter.
Thank you for your continued support!