The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our no-cost webinars. Space is limited. Register today!
COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCES: THE RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND
This event will be held simultaneously in English and Spanish
El evento se presentará simultáneamente en inglés y español
Hacerse chequeos médicos y pruebas regulares de servicios preventivos es ahora más importante que nunca.
Conozca el Dr. Jaime Arana, cirujano general en el Hospital de Santa Paula. En sus varios años de experiencia como doctor, ha visto la importancia de los servicios preventivos para todas las edades en asegurar que vivamos vidas largas y saludables.
Es importante visitar a su médico de atención primaria para acceder a los servicios preventivos, incluso durante la pandemia. El Centro Médico del Condado de Ventura, el Hospital de Santa Paula, y las clínicas de la Agencia de Atención Médica del Condado de Ventura están abiertas con medidas de seguridad de COVID-19 y ofrecen el cuidado compasivo. Obtenga más información sobre los servicios preventivos en: https://vchca.org/
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Associate Professor of History Robin Mitchell, Ph.D., is headed east in the Fall after receiving a year-long fellowship from Harvard Radcliffe Institute in Cambridge, Mass.
“It is humbling and really wonderful,” Mitchell said. “Most of the time we apply for these fellowships that don’t come through. So, we’re encouraged to apply for multiple fellowships.”
Later this morning, I’ll be rolling up my sleeve for the second COVID-19 vaccine dose. While I’m not looking forward to the potential side effects, I know I’ll feel safer seeing friends and family at various celebrations and gatherings that have been put on hold for far too long. You can learn more about why the vaccine is one of our most powerful tools to ending the pandemic at www.vaccinateall58.com.
Spring is a vibrant time for our food system – farmers are harvesting their first crops of the year, eaters are savoring the abundance, and many of you are busy working on and/or trying to garner funding for projects (see below for the latest funding opportunities).
This season, SBCFAN is sharing stories of collaboration that are activating closed loop systems and projects that build resilience, access, justice, and sovereignty into the food system – read our South County Community Profile to learn more.
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), in partnership with the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), has been awarded a $500,000 Grant for the 2021 Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) Entrepreneurship Program from the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Employment Training Panel (ETP). WEV and MICOP will use the SEED Initiative funding to support underrepresented and marginalized individuals who face significant barriers to employment by providing them with entrepreneurial training, technical assistance, and micro-grants to launch or grow their own businesses in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
“We are thrilled to partner with MICOP to launch the SEED Program,” said WEV CEO Kathy Odell. “With MICOP’s expertise in supporting and empowering the indigenous migrant community in our region, and WEV’s history of providing small business training and small business loans to women and other local entrepreneurs, we have the combined expertise to provide our SEED participants with pathways for economic self-sufficiency.”
Former senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum echoed last week what many of us learned in school about the history of early America: that the original white “settlers” who arrived from distant shores had planted the seeds of American culture. In fact, he said that there was “nothing here” when the colonizers arrived. He flatly declared that “there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”
Mr. Santorum’s baseless claims about the absence of Native American influence on our national character is a continuation of white nationalist propaganda that ignores, or at least gravely understates, the vast impact of Native American culture upon ours. To say, as he did, that the first settlers to arrive on our eastern shores “birthed a nation from nothing” is to erase the wisdom and knowledge that was already present and predated the birth of the United States by several millennia.
At the Keys to Empower You in the System (KEYS) Leadership Academy, which was housed at the Café on A, Oxnard, we believed that the best community safety is where all adults, young adults, kids and everyone else in Oxnard (all the cities of this nation) feels a real sense of civic involvement and transparency, responsibility of ownership, peace, love and respect. We know full well that safety is mostly perceptual, thus any community safety program must incorporate a rigorous mental health and wellness component. We have relied much too long on “traditional policing” alone to bring us safety. As a sobering reminder, let us not forget that Oxnard is yearly designated by highly reputable demographers as one of the safest cities in the country for it size in the entire nation.
Yet, we have often let others assign us the “bum rap” about “crime riddled Oxnard”.
En este video de servicio público, los miembros de la legendaria banda Los Tigres del Norte animan a todos a recibir la vacuna para el COVID-19 porque es muy importante cuidar a nuestros seres queridos, nuestra familia, nuestros amigos y todos los que nos rodean.
Listos California, en asociación con la Liga de Ciudadanos Latinoamericanos Unidos (LULAC) y la Fundación Nacional Hispana para las Artes (NHFA), produce la serie de conversación en línea “InformaGente” para fomentar una cultura de preparación para emergencias entre las comunidades latinas.
The County of Ventura has partnered with the Ventura County Community Foundation and Complete Reach Committee to launch a public outreach campaign to build community immunity. “The pandemic has shown the strength of our partnerships here in Ventura County. Those partnerships have been critical in moving us forward. Now, more than ever, working together we can build community immunity through outreach and education,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers.
Grant funding is now available to Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to support outreach activities. Organizations are invited to submit a grant application at https://vaccinatevc.org/. Applications are due by Friday, May 7, 2021. The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) in partnership with the County of Ventura, CBOs, businesses, local cities and individual grantees will expand vaccine education, awareness and outreach activities.
As students transition back into school after the many challenges the county has faced over the past year, Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) is celebrating the strength and resilience of the community by gearing up for its largest annual educational event for National Public Works Week (NPWW) for the second year in a row. While VCPWA is unable to accommodate an in-person event, on Monday, May 17, the agency will launch a dedicated webpage featuring a virtual tour of the multi-faceted agency and its five departments.
Growing upon the success of last year’s event, VCPWA took another innovative approach to its digital curriculum by incorporating feedback from the participating teachers, allowing a more customized experience for not only students but members of the public as well. During the week, students, faculty, and the general public can access a virtual tour with a robust curriculum featuring video demonstrations, educational materials and interactive projects.
Maria Hernández, a community member in Santa Paula, shares why she rolled up her sleeves and got vaccinated.
Watch for the special appearance from her mother, Elvia Hernández, from Proyecto Esperanza and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Paula!
Thank you Maria for protecting yourself, your daughter, and your community.
Consulado de México en Oxnard — Centros de vacunación contra el COVID-19 sin previa cita/Condado de Ventura
House Farm Workers! announced this week that Phase II of the Farmworker Household Assistance Program (FHAP) is beginning to provide further emergency assistance to more farmworkers and their families in need from among the 45,000 who live and work in Ventura County. There is an immediate effort to raise $100,000 in order to maximize a 1:2 challenge match up to $50,000 from Ventura County Community Foundation’s (VCCF) COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. The goal is to raise a total of $500,000 in Phase II. All donations will be provided directly to local farmworkers in need with eligibility and distribution overseen by the Farmworker Resource Program within the Human Services Agency of Ventura County.
To help reach the 1:2 challenge match, tax-deductible donations are being requested immediately at www.vccf.org/fhap/
Kids and their families participating in SEEAG’s “Let’s Grow A Garden” home garden program picked up donated potting soil from Agromin and vegetable seedling from Plantel Nurseries last week. More than 1,000 4-quart bags of potting soil and over 3,000 seedlings were distributed at Agromin’s Oxnard headquarters and at Ventura County elementary schools.
“Our busiest day was Earth Day,” says Caitlin Case, program director at Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG). “Thank you to Agromin and Plantel Nurseries for making the giveaway possible. Now, the students can get to work planting, caring for and harvesting their vegetables including kale, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower.
Moorpark College student Lauren Rosenthal was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship in the annual Community College Public Relations Organization (CCPRO) Writing Scholarship. The award was for her inspiring profile article on Moorpark College alumni Carmel Gutherz, a first-generation American who earned her master’s degree in education from Southern Methodist University and currently works for Teach for America as a corps member in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
Rosenthal started as an intern in the Ventura County Community College District’s Public Affairs and Marketing Department in 2019 and is now a student worker with the department. Throughout her time with the District, she has written a number of articles that appear on the District’s website and in local publications.
The campus’s annual Staff Celebration Week goes monthlong with a host of virtual events.
RISE is proud to announce the launch of its latest campaign, raising awareness about RISE’s expanded services to survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence who have disabilities.
Funded by a $125,000 grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES), RISE has bolstered services for survivors with disabilities, including advocacy, case management, crisis support, and shelter. RISE will also begin offering an end-to-end encrypted website chat feature providing access to their state-certified crisis counselors for those who are not able to make a confidential phone call. This pilot program will begin with limited hours in late May 2021.
Now through May 31, the entire community is cordially invited to visit an online pop-up exhibition featuring the work of Santa Barbara City College students from the departments of American Ethnic Studies, Art, Film and Television Production, Graphic Design, Photography, Journalism, and Multimedia Arts and Technologies.
Students worked closely with faculty to create and articulate a body of thought-provoking work inspired by the theme of this year’s All-SBCC Student Conference hosted by the Honors Program, “Justice: Environmental, Economic, Racial.”
Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), Ventura County’s largest public transit provider, will be launching a new “Late Night Safe Rides” shared ride, demand-response service available to anyone who requires transportation within the GCTD service area from the hours of 8PM to 11PM. The new service is intended to provide passengers an affordable and safe option during late night hours, in particular workers in fields such as hospitality and health care, who may get off from work late at night.
“With this project we will be able to address a gap in late night service, and also be able to learn more about our passengers’ late night travel patterns after most buses stop running” said Steve Brown, General Manager. The new demonstration service will be funded for one year by Federal Jobs Access Reverse Commute (JARC) grant funds with a specific emphasis on assisting essential workers in their reverse commutes.
What began in 1971 as a way to improve the lives of the medically underserved population across Ventura County has evolved into one of the largest healthcare systems on the Central Coast. Today, Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. is able to meet the needs of more than 100,000 patients with an array of comprehensive and culturally competent; primary health care, chiropractic, dental, vision, mental health, pharmacy, specialty, telehealth, hospital and preventative care services to facilitate both healing and growth. Through operation of 16 full-service health centers, a fleet of mobile medical units, and more than 25 school-based sites, patients of all ages are embraced by a culture of care from more than 800 employees; making Clinicas’ one of the largest employers in Ventura County.
There are 28 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,192 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths.
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 .74 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .88 right now.
COVID-19 vaccines are now available by walk-in! No appointment is required. There are locations offered throughout the County. Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. You can also make an appointment at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) is pleased to welcome visitors back into the galleries on May 11, in accordance with the State of California and Santa Barbara County COVID-19 protocols.
In order to ensure social distancing in the galleries, SBMA is recommending all visitors to make reservations through the online ticketing system at tickets.sbma.net, with admission being free for the foreseeable future.
Santa Susana High School in the Simi Valley Unified School District is one of just 33 schools in the state to receive the 2021 California Exemplary Arts Education Award from the California Department of Education. The winning schools engage students in quality arts education that meet California Arts Standards for Public Schools and demonstrate progress on indicators on the California School Dashboard. The award is designed to celebrate successful efforts to engage students in arts through exposure to a variety of disciplines.
“Even more so during the pandemic, the arts give students a vital creative outlet and a chance to connect with their peers,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “I want to commend Santa Susana High School for maintaining its commitment to arts education during distance learning and for being recognized at the state level with this well-deserved award.”
The Alzheimer’s Association is moving forward with plans to host the 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer’s® in person this fall, in five different locations throughout the California Central Coast:
• West Ventura County on Saturday, Sept. 25
• Santa Maria on Saturday, Oct. 2
• East Ventura County on Saturday, Oct. 23
• San Luis Obispo on Saturday, Oct. 30
• Santa Barbara on Saturday, Nov. 6
According to the association, the health and safety of all participants remains the top priority as decisions are being made in all walk markets regarding event details.
A superior court judge denied a request from Oxnard City Treasurer Phillip Molina demanding unredacted versions of an investigator’s personnel report into employee complaints against Molina. Molina also sought transcribed statements of witnesses interviewed by the investigator, the City of Oxnard reported in a media release on May 5.
The judge stated that the information Molina seeks is not discoverable in this action and issued monetary sanctions of $1,050 to be paid by Molina. Molina’s lawsuit challenges the ordinance and resolutions adopted unanimously by the City Council in May of 2020, removing the Treasurer’s administrative duties.
Nurture our Mother by Adriana Arriaga & Claudia Borfiga
“Nurture our Mother, is a celebration of the power of the Earth and the many magical things within it that play vital roles in our ecosystem.”
There are 55 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 3,359 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths.
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 .75 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .88 right now.
COVID-19 vaccines are now available by walk-in! No appointment is required. There are locations offered throughout the County. Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. You can also make an appointment at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
Ventura County is currently in the Orange Tier. Learn more about the State of California’s Blueprint for Safety Economy here.
oin us for the next installment in our new Zoom series, Local History Happy Hour with Jeffrey Maulhardt, author of “A History of Oxnard,” on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 5—6PM. In this series, local authors and historians sit down with The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director Elena Brokaw to discuss their unique perspectives on our region’s history, and take questions from the audience.
This online program is free, but requires advanced registration.
While accepting his award from Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA) during its 2021 Journey to Leadership Awards, Alumnus of the Year James Joyce, III noted, “VCLA is an accelerator that gave me an incubator year for my business, Coffee with a Black Guy. The simple idea of sitting down to have a conversation with our neighbors builds community around genuine connections, which to me is an extension of what VCLA stands for.” Joining Joyce in being honored were four other impactful Ventura County leaders who exemplify what it means to contribute to our community.
“We are truly honored and grateful to be able to recognize these exceptional community leaders and to celebrate the work they do in support of the citizens of Ventura County,” said VCLA Director, Pattie Braga.
Friendship Center, with the help of our fabulous CARE partners, is preparing to distribute its 10th round of Take Care Totes to isolated seniors in Santa Barbara County.
Many of our senior friends are living with a dementia diagnosis and other health conditions and have had little to no contact with the outside world for 12 months. The Take Care Totes, providing healthy snacks and drinks, personal care items, activities, games and more, have become a lifeline for our senior friends as well as their family caregivers.
A veteran teacher who has spent his career working with students with disabilities has been named Teacher of the Year for schools operated by the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE). Shamus Auth has been a special education teacher at VCOE schools for 18 years and currently teaches young adults with disabilities at VCOE’s Dorothy Boswell School in Ventura. Mr. Auth will now be in the running for the Ventura County Teacher of the Year award, which is open to all teachers countywide.
Mr. Auth found out about the honor today when his family, his Principal Aran Burke and Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Dr. César Morales made a surprise visit to his classroom. Also on hand to break the good news were VCOE Associate Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Consuelo Hernandez Williams and VCOE Executive Director of Special Education Holly Minear.
Ventura Land Trust (VLT) launched a major reforestation project at its 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve with the planting of a new oak grove on Saturday, April 24th. The 4-acre grove, funded by a grant from SoCalGas, is planted in a terrace area of the preserve near the preserve’s trailhead.
With 10 miles of trails for hiking and biking, Harmon Canyon Preserve is Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve.
SoCalGas’s grant award funded the planting of 50 coast live oak trees, as well as 150 native plants like California sagebrush, purple sage, coyote brush, bush sunflower, and Yerba Buena. A trail winds through the grove, so that the public can see and enjoy the reforested area.
Spiritual and community leaders will be part of the virtual Southeast Ventura County YMCA National Day of Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 6. This is the 22nd year the YMCA has hosted the Prayer Breakfast and the second year it has been held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers and performers will provide inspirational messages and song during the 40-minute program. Our keynote speaker this year is Dr. Gary Dickey, Retired Pastor of United Methodist Church, Chaplain of United States Air Force Auxiliary and Deputy Chaplain of California Civil Air Patrol.
There are 76 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 10,100 new tests performed. There has been 0 additional deaths.
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 .80 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .89 right now.
60.7% of people 16 years and older have received one dose in Ventura County.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
COVID-19 vaccines are now available by walk-in! No appointment is required. There are locations offered throughout the County. Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. You can also make an appointment at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
In a year shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and local affordable housing challenges for low-income seniors, the Housing Authority City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) had something to celebrate with the residents of Gardens on Hope (GOH). On April 13, 2021 they joined together to mark the first-year anniversary of this residential complex designed for seniors located at251 South Hope Avenue in Uptown Santa Barbara. The celebration was hosted by HACSB, Garden Court, Inc. and The Parsons Group, agencies that collaborated in the conception and subsequent development of this housing development.
The Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge business plan and pitch competition returned for its 11th season on Friday, April 23, showcasing some of our region’s most exciting, innovative, and cutting-edge college and high school student entrepreneurs. The event was live streamed on YouTube and the video can be viewed on the Scheinfeld Center’s YouTube channel.
Students from Santa Barbara City College and University of California, Santa Barbara, kicked off the collegiate tier of the event, followed by the high school tier, which featured students from San Marcos High School. The aspiring entrepreneurs competed for over $15,000 in cash awards and startup support.
It all started with a small thing in the early 1970s when Cynder Sinclair was helping in her son’s classroom. “I noticed some of the kids were not dressed warmly enough for the weather,” she says.
Cynder was living with her husband and five children in the small farming community of Kingsburg, where it gets cold in the off season and the migrant workers don’t get paid.
Because she’s fluent in Spanish, her son’s teacher assigned Cynder to tutor the farmworker’s children.
Some of us see a problem and feel bad. We might talk to friends or post on social media. Others get busy and fix it. Cynder, chief executive of Nonprofit Kinect and Friendship Center board member is by nature firmly planted in the latter group.
United Way of Ventura County is excited to share with you that we’ve created a website to exclusively cover our United to End Homelessness Initiative efforts. This website will be a central hub that features resources, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, tenant and landlord testimonials, resources and beyond.
The website will continue to evolve and expand as we develop more efforts related to this initiative.
The following clinics are accepting walk-ins (no appointment required).
Sunday, May 2
Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center
4689 Highway 166, New Cuyama
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Moderna
Thursday, May 6
The Lark
131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
There are 20 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 5,727 new tests performed. There has been 1 additional death of a 40 year old female.
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 .88 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .87 right now.
60% of people 16 years and older have received one dose in Ventura County. 19.8% of the population 16 years and older have received one dose in CA.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
Now On View: Erin Hanson: Colors of California
Exhibit runs May 1, 2021 to July 25, 2021
West Coast artist Erin Hanson has earned a huge following thanks to her unique painting style, which has been dubbed “Open Impressionism” and is now taught to art students worldwide. (She also started selling paintings at the age of 10!) Open Impressionism is a blend of classical impressionism and modern expressionism, with a dash of plein air style. In other words, prepare yourself to be completely impressed. Erin Hanson: Colors of California is on view now through July 25, 2021.
The exhibit can also be enjoyed online, although we encourage you to visit all four of our current exhibitions in person!
Support Women, Art, and Small Businesses
Tomorrow May 1st from 11 am-4 pm join the Fundraiser Mixer at Open Door Studio to celebrate local women, small businesses, and the creative arts.
Live Music, Free Art Classes, Food, Vendors, Prizes, and an all-female exhibit. At 329 W 5th St.
For more info: ARTGIRLS#!T
Open Doors 2020 Study Abroad report has ranked CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Study Abroad as 9th in the nation for the 2019-2020 academic year. The 2020 Open Doors report is released by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE).
The pandemic cut the programs short at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, but the Study Abroad staff is ready to go when it’s safe for students to travel again.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, CenCal Health urges the community to acknowledge the signs of mental distress and seek help if needed for themselves or a loved one. Conditions such as depression or anxiety are real, common and treatable. As the largest health plan in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, CenCal Health offers a range of mental health benefits and services to its plan members, with some resources also available at no cost to the general public.
A Gallup news item from last month describes the precipitous drop in religious affiliation in the United States since the turn of the century—not that long ago. In just over 20 years, the number of those who declare themselves members of a church, mosque, or synagogue has decreased more than 20%. In fact, according to the Gallup poll cited in the report, less than half of Americans claim to belong to a religious organization.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Police Reform and Social Justice Movement,
We pray that you dear folks are well. We send you all our love, peace and happiness. It has been a long while since we have enjoyed each other wonderful company. So as I reach out, perhaps in an untimely and out of the blue manner, please be sure that we understand the hardship of the times and if replying to this note is difficult or impossible at this trying time, of course, we understand. You can contact me at: ava1040@yahoo.com
That being said I, I am sure you folks as well, have anguished over all of the mayhem, and killings that are being levelled upon our sisters and brothers of color throughout this nation by the police. And we are left with a feeling, almost always, of total impotence because we feel powerless to do anything about the deadly cop violence or reforming the police. I have been filled with an impotent sense of dread and paralysis too!
Then something happened to me just very recently that made me re-think this police reform conundrum and I do not feel so hopelessly impotent now. I have a vision, not an original vision, to be sure, but a clear vision nonetheless, sparked by what I thought was an innocuous effort on my part to reach out to my justice and police reform brethren in this time of acute pain and suffering.
Rotary Club of Montecito officially announces the chairs of its “Back 2 School” fundraiser as Tony Morris, Club Director of Vocational Service, and Cathy Cash, past Club President.
Since its founding in 1953, Rotary Club of Montecito has been developing projects and delivering service to their community and the wider world for over 67 years. Continuing that philanthropic mission, the Club is hosting a “Back 2 School” fundraiser on May 19, 2021 for Santa Barbara City College student scholarships.
As productive members of the California Central Coast philanthropy community, Tony Morris and Cathy Cash are charged with planning and oversight of the fundraising event for the SBCC Foundation.
Two Ventura County high schools are being honored as 2021 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. Oak Park High School in the Oak Park Unified School District and Rancho Campana High School in the Oxnard Union High School Districts are recipients of this coveted award.
“I want to congratulate everyone at Oak Park High School and Rancho Campana High School for being named 2021 California Distinguished Schools,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “It’s an especially impressive achievement in this school year that’s been filled with unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic,” he said.
THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021
5pm PST
Painters, Math Bass and Christina Quarles, join Author Suzanne Hudson for a conversation moderated by curators from MCASB and Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Register here!
COVID-19 Update
There are 21 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,817 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths.
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 .79 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .88 right now.
41.3% of the county population of 16 years and older are completely vaccinated.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
www.venturacountyrecovers.org
La inscripción para el Fondo de Revitalización de Restaurantes (RRF) comenzará el viernes 30 de abril a las 6:00 am, y la SBA comenzará a aceptar solicitudes a través del portal de solicitudes el lunes 3 de mayo a las 9:00 am. El portal de solicitudes permanecerá abierto a cualquier establecimiento elegible hasta que se agoten los fondos. Como preparación, se recomienda a las empresas que se registren para obtener una cuenta con antelación y que revisen el modelo de solicitud, la guía del programa y la tabla de elegibilidad de los distintos programas.
The Port of Hueneme is a World Trade Center licensee, and in concert with our strong team of stakeholders, is hosting this event as part of our overall initiative to advance the businesses of Ventura County and expand their reach into the global marketplace. The focus this year will be on the challenges and opportunities offered by our post-pandemic world.
There are 11 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,183 new tests performed. There has been 1 additional death, 90 year old woman.
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 .80 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .85 right now.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
www.venturacountyrecovers.org
Our highly rated Digital Marketing Science course combines online learning with weekly live, group sessions.
Marketing in the Digital Age
This module will ground you in the core concepts you will need to be a successful digital marketer.
Mapping Strategy to Tactics
Research competitors, investigate concepts like brand, persona, and journey, then define the messaging and content that best connects with your target audience.
Mastering Digital Marketing Channels
You will learn marketing analytics, search engine optimization, paid search, paid social, multichannel campaigns and more.
Using Marketing Technology
Understand the martech stack, gain in-demand technical certifications, and learn how to manage complex multichannel campaigns that influence the customer experience.
The Results
You’ll walk away with industry-recognized certifications and a Strategic Digital Marketing Playbook that showcases your robust digital marketing skills to current and future employers.
For the sixth year, people from around the globe can get up-close-and-personal with an endangered California condor chick in real-time through live streaming video of a cliff-side nest in a canyon near the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County, California.
California condor chick #1075 hatched on April 10, 2021. Its parents are ten-year-old female condor #594 and 15-year-old male condor #374. This is the pair’s first nesting attempt together and they are using a nest cavity used in 2018 by #374 and his former mate. Female condor #594 previously paired with male condor #462 in 2018 and 2020, successfully fledging one chick each year. This year marks male condor #374’s sixth nesting attempt at raising a chick; he has successfully fledged four chicks in previous years.
Upcoming Workshops Must-have information accessible from wherever you are! If you are a tenant or a landlord, this is a workshop you won’t want to miss! Learn about rights and responsibilities when it comes to fair housing. Plus learn about…
We are coming down to the wire, just a few more days/hours to vote in both competitions! We have surpassed our goal of 800 participants voting by 400% but we want more. If you haven’t seen the work of our students, check it out today and select your favorites. The PRiME Competition closes on Tuesday followed by the New Venture Fair on Wednesday.
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is proud to announce the 30 finalists for the 11th annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards (SOE) to be held virtually on May 21, from 12noon -1:30pm. The SOE Awards celebrate outstanding women business owners from Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties in ten industry categories. Community members are invited to attend the free, online event; register at Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards.
A panel of independent judges, who all live outside the tri-county area, selected the finalists from an impressive group of applicants throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. This year, the judges also took into consideration the impact the businesses make in their community and the entrepreneurs’ resiliency to the challenges presented by the global pandemic. Stacy Harris, a judge from Phoenix, Arizona, said the finalists are “an impressive class of driven female entrepreneurs adapting to an unpredictable environment during the pandemic in support of community and creative services and products.”
The Board of Supervisors on April 27 approved an additional $3.65 million in Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to support the Farmworker Household Assistance Program (FHAP) bringing total support to more than $7.1 million to assist farmworkers and their families. This funding will provide financial aid of $1,000 to eligible households who were previously funded through this program and who still reside in the County.
“We appreciate the opportunity to provide assistance where it’s needed most. This program is important in supporting Farmworkers who are vital members of our community. This will help those who are struggling from the impacts of the pandemic and those who support us all through the agricultural products they provide throughout the year,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers.
The nationally recognized Moorpark College Forensics team has once again won the team championship in its division at the Phi Rho Pi National Championships, held April 6-11. This is the college’s 11th national championship in forensics, or speech and debate. The team also competed at the California Community College Forensics Association State Championships in March.
“Of the 12 students who represented Moorpark College at the national championships, eight are new to the team this year, and to speech competitions of any kind,” said Rolland Petrello, chair of the Communications and Media Arts Department and head forensics coach. “Six of those students are new to the team this semester. We have not met most of the team members in person, as everything we are doing–from recruiting and coaching to competitions–has taken place virtually. However, I think these students are a testament to how excellence can be achieved even under the most trying of conditions.”
There are 52 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 2,582 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths.
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 .77 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .87 right now.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
Join us at the Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula) this Saturday, May 1st @ 10am and at the Museum of Ventura County (100 E. Main St., Ventura) this Sunday, May 2nd @ 10am for our next Grab & Go Bag giveaway!
Discover creative ways to help protect our planet by using the 3Rs: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. Each fun-filled bag contains Small Footprints: Mateo Learns About the 3Rs storybook, Small Footprints: Activity and Coloring booklet, Paper Populous Garbage Truck Favor Box Craft, Food Forward’s Get Crafty with Your Food Waste Recipes, Play-Well TEKnologies wrist band, Compost Circle of Life, Composting at Home!, and so much more.
The Board of Supervisors on April 27 unanimously approved the concept of a 3rd Business Assistance Grant Program to provide $5,000 grants to recipients of the County’s first and second Business Assistance Grant Programs totaling $30,700,000 in additional assistance bringing the total amount to more than $60 million in grants for local businesses. Staff will return to the Board with a final program for approval.
“The coronavirus pandemic has created both a health and economic crisis. Local businesses have been subjected to shutdowns, reduced capacity, and health and safety protocols that have inflicted a significant financial burden,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “The survival of our local businesses, the economy, and jobs they support is essential to the wellbeing of Ventura County. Every business matters. Each one represents owners, workers, jobs and families that are vital to our community. We hope additional support will help these businesses continue to move forward.”
The last and final round (Round 6) of the California Relief Grant will open tomorrow for all eligible small businesses operating in California. At this time, there are no other additional rounds planned, so do not miss your last opportunity to submit a completed application!
The County Board of Supervisors on April 27 voted unanimously to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the County and the City of Oxnard detailing the conceptual framework for the development and operation of a permanent Homeless Solutions Center for people experiencing homelessness.
“We appreciate our partnership with the City of Oxnard and their leadership in addressing the needs of the unsheltered in our communities,” said County Executive Officer Michael Powers. “Homelessness can happen to anyone: a job loss, a medical condition, missing a rent payment, a costly car repair; any type of crisis. There are many ways in which someone can become homeless and only one way really to solve it. Homelessness ends when everyone has a home. Providing supportive services and housing helps those in need make it home.”
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) was already in the process of saving money on textbooks for students with its openCI initiative when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, sending the program into hyperdrive.
Recent calculations showed that the John Spoor Broome Library staff’s work to provide faculty and students with online learning materials and e-books saved CSUCI students $237,759 over the last academic year—and counting.
“The number is a moving target as the semester moves along, but we’re estimating that the final savings for the 2020-21 school year is about $245,513,” said Library Services Specialist Elizabeth “Bitten” Skartvedt.
Global media leader Oprah Winfrey will serve as guest speaker for UC Santa Barbara’s virtual graduation celebration June 12.
On Friday, April 23, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration accepted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations to lift the pause in the use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. Vaccine providers in Ventura County with doses of the Janssen vaccine can resume administration of the vaccine, provided they provide information from the updated Janssen fact sheet to any recipients of the vaccine.
The decision comes after CDC’s independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed data related to the recent reports of a rare and severe type of blood clot that occurred in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Based on their review of all available data, both the CDC and the FDA determined that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
An Oxnard non-profit organization designed to support and encourage aspiring young artists has endowed CSU Channel Islands with a $50,000 scholarship fund for students majoring in Studio Art or Art History.
Carnegie Art Cornerstones evolved out of the Carnegie Art Museum, which closed in summer of 2019 owing to Oxnard city budget cuts. As a non-profit, Cornerstones will continue to promote art and art appreciation but will now do so through college scholarships.
“I think this is really going to help students, especially coming out of a pandemic,” said CSUCI Art Professor and Chair of the Art Program, Liz King. “We’ve always had such an amazing relationship with the Carnegie Art Museum. Some of our faculty have had shows there, our students have been interns—it’s a treasured, vital relationship and I’m so happy to hear about Carnegie’s transition to Cornerstones.”
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors will honor five recipients of its prestigious Earth Day Awards at the April 27th Board of Supervisors meeting in recognition and celebration of Earth Day. The award presentation can be viewed online at 11:30 am through the County’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/CountyOfVentura/ or streamed through the County website at: https://www.ventura.org/bosmeetings.
The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our no-cost webinars. Space is limited. Register today!
Homes with Heart VC, a program of Ventura County Children and Family Services, is recruiting loving families in Ventura County to open their homes to older youth in care. Transitional aged youth (TAY) are between the ages of 16-25 and are at a point in their lives where love, guidance, and mentorship are critical for their future independence.
Currently, the county has over 200 TAY youth and homes are in higher demand than ever before. A safe place to call home can provide older youth with stability and teach them valuable skillsets in preparation for a successful future. By taking the first steps to become a resource family, you can make a large difference as they step forward into the rest of their life.
*In response to stakeholder feedback about reopening the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application this weekend, the SBA has moved the application reopen date to Monday, April 26 at 12:00 pm EDT*
We are thrilled to partner with Petco Love as they launch Petco Love Lost — a central, searchable resource helping lost pets reunite with their families.
1 in 3 pets will go missing in their lifetime and almost 10 million pets go missing every year, but, together, we can change the outlook for lost pets. Petco Love Lost is a free, easy-to-use national resource, using patented pet facial recognition technology to make it easier than ever to find possible matches from community members and shelters like VCAS.
Do you know of a lost or found pet in Ventura County? Help them reunite with their families at petcolovelost.org!
The Goleta Union School District Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Diana Roybal has been selected as the new Superintendent. The Board will formally vote on her appointment at the April 28, 2021 Board Meeting. Dr. Roybal is scheduled to begin her position on July 1, 2021.
The selection culminates a Superintendent search process that included a districtwide survey and input sessions with administrators, staff, and community members. Using this information, Leadership Associates, a top search firm, conducted an extensive search.
From the moment Anna Kumor started her career, she knew she wanted to help people. “It’s part of my DNA,” said Kumor. “[Helping people] was a part of how I was raised.” It’s no wonder she is the Ventura County Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Director, which provides counseling and mental health services to County employees and their family members. She and a team of licensed mental health professionals use their expertise to help County employees navigate work and personal relationships, as well as teach mindfulness techniques to help employees succeed. Kumor has brought nearly 10 years of clinical experience to her role at the County of Ventura, and after hoping to find an opportunity to work with public servants in particular, she landed in her leadership role as agency director of the Ventura County EAP.
When it comes to empowering the next generation of public servants, Sabrina Anderson does so on a person- by- person basis by helping County of Ventura constituents realize their own success and talent through her work. “I am really interested in seeing the generations understand how important public service is,” said Sabrina Anderson. “I’ve gotten to see that public service can be my dream, and I just want to give that opportunity to other people as well.”
There are 32 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 5,532 new tests performed. There have been 4 additional deaths.
Doubling time is 1,994.3 days.
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 .88 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .95 right now.
617,876 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. 55.9% of the population age 16 and older have received the 1st dose of the vaccine.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce and Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce recognize the importance that Hispanic and minority-owned businesses have in the community. As they have shared COVID-19 information and resources with community business owners, they have identified a gap. While many Hispanic-owned businesses have already taken steps to apply for financial assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), there are still a number of smaller, local businesses that have not yet done so. While there is still time to apply, funding is quickly being distributed and may run out prior to the May 21 deadline.
More destructive than earthquakes, thunderstorms and floods, termites are a potent force of nature. Termites are insidious. They are one of the biggest threats to our homes, though they are minuscule, nearly invisible, and silent.
In 2018, the National Pest Management Association produced a video that would strike fear into the heart of any homeowner: Tiny Termite House. A team of researchers built the “Tiny Termite House,” a miniature, doll-house version of a typical “dream home.” It even had hardwood floors, electricity, and plumbing. Upon completion, the researchers introduced a mass of termites onto the idyllic “property,” much like a swarm might arrive to colonize their chosen real estate. The researchers then filmed and watched the results over time with a combination of horror, awe, and fascination. The video shows the massive, horren
Twelve-year-old Phoebe Hopp’s wide eyes stared hauntingly out at her grandmother from the self-portrait she’d drawn in art class.
Lydia Hopps couldn’t see her granddaughter’s expression. Most of her face was covered by a mask, which she and other students had worn to prevent spread of COVID-19 during the class at Vita Art Center in Ventura.
“It made me think, what is this child thinking? What is she feeling?” Lydia Hopps said. “What have these children been through this past year? It just called me to take action.”
When you enter the festival at SBEarthDay.org, you’ll see the Main Stage content at the top of your screen. Scroll down to visit our virtual booth. Once inside our booth, you can opt to join the live chat room where SBCFAN and our members will host a variety of talks, demos, and opportunities to connect with other food system actors. See our full schedule below – and scroll down to see other FAN recommended festival highlights. Hope to see you there!
The genesis and perpetuation of the monstrous, murderous, and maligent powers of the police in America is a 245 year work in progress in the consolidation of absolute police/military power and control in communities of color throughout this nation We cannot erase, forget or ignore the past 500 years of police/military oppression by the police/military in our communities. Likewise we cannot wait another day to begin the systemic demolition and destruction of the current police/military model that currently operates with deadly racist impunity in this country. In Oxnard, and throughout the nation, the community must take over the management and supervision of its police department.
The first crucial and mandatory step toward real and progressive 21st-century police reform in Oxnard is the community taking over the vital role of departmental management and policy administration of the Oxnard Police Department (OPD). The initial step is not about defunding the cops, because it deflects and detracts from the number one problem that every police department in the nation has, including the OPD, which is cops supervising cops! For 100+ years the Oxnard City Council and by silent complicit acquiescence of the residents, we have let the “foxes” patrol with unfettered power, control, and impunity the community’s “chicken coop”. How has that worked out, for people of color, the homeless, the disenfranchised, the immigrant, and the youth, Oxnard?
On Friday, April 30, 7th-12th-grade students from seven public schools in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties participating in the MERITO Foundation’s EECCOA Challenge 2021 will be competing for cash and in-kind prizes with their environmental business proposals focused on water conservation, energy efficiency, or waste reduction in their homes, or to educate a community about ocean acidification. In the past, the program focused on reducing the environmental footprint of school campuses, but this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most students have been learning remotely. As a result, the challenge was adapted to allow students to submit proposals that reduce the environmental footprint of their homes. The main sponsors and partners of the EECCOA Program and EECCOA Virtual Challenge 2021 Awards Event are NOAA B-WET Grant, Ventura Water, Clean Power Alliance, and the City of Ventura’s Environmental Sustainability. The event will take place virtually on Friday, April 30 between 4:00 and 5:30 pm and will be live-streamed on the MERITO Foundation’s Facebook page.
3 Cosas que debe Saber sobre el Fondo de Revitalización de Restaurantes (RRF, por sus siglas en inglés)
In her forthcoming book Contemporary Painting (Thames and Hudson, April 2021), Los Angeles-based art historian and critic, Suzanne Hudson, considers painting as a vibrant and sometimes contentious critic of a dynamic global society. Two esteemed painters, Math Bass and Christina Quarles, who are discussed in Hudson’s book, join the author in a conversation about painting. This event is moderated by curators from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. Pre-order Suzanne Hudson’s Contemporary Painting book from the SBMA Museum Store.
There are 38 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,562 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths.
Doubling time is 2,016.9 days.
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 .85 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .80 right now.
597,454 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. 54.6% of the population age 16 and older have received the 1st dose of the vaccine.
Dressed in a tweed overcoat and a billed beret, Florentine Art Historian and CSU International Program (CSUIP) Professor Marco Cianchi walks through the cobbled streets of Florence and through the arched doors of the Church of Santa Felicita.
“Behind me you’ll see the Deposition of Christ from the Cross,” Cianchi says, while standing in front of the masterpiece created in 1527 by Italian Renaissance painter Jacopo Pontormo. “It’s real and unreal at the same time. Magic colors. It’s one of the greatest examples of ‘mannerism’ here in Florence and all over, actually.”
Ventura County Credit Union has been selected for FHLBank San Francisco’s donation matching program. This means FHLBank San Francisco will match recent contributions that VCCU made to three local nonprofits.
VCCU made its original donations to Food Share, Ventura County Community Foundation and Health Care Foundation for Ventura County last June through the #VCCUCares program. FHLBank San Francisco is matching $25,000 of VCCU’s total contributions, and the funds will be split among the three nonprofits.
In this episode we revisit WEspeak spring 2019 with an inspirational speech given by Oxnard College student, Crystal Harris, live on stage. With the theme of “moving forward,” Crystal joins Oxnard College Communication Studies Professor Dr. Amy Edwards, Film Professor Anitra N. Lawson and Oxnard College Student Health Coordinator Dr. Deanna McFadden for a powerful conversation about protecting mental and emotional health, fighting to overcome trauma, and living your best life!
If you are a regular reader of our eNews, you will have noticed from past ‘People of People’s’ articles that we are a diverse and talented organization (see the following story on Top 50 Women in Business!) With over 200 employees, working across fifteen departments, our mission is executed by industry professionals with wide-ranging talents, a variety of perspectives, and all from very different backgrounds.
Our investment in internally creating opportunities for advancement has yielded impressive bench depth, cross pollination of ideas, and strong communication within our teams. Being able to move our mission forward through a ‘shared leadership’ model is not only allowing us to stay in tune with our team members, but also importantly with the cherished residents we serve.
Parents, teachers, and Santa Barbara County professionals who work with youth ages 12-18 are encouraged to participate in a free, upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid training. The popular course teaches participants how to support youth struggling with a mental health or substance abuse problem. Free online trainings are being offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 4th, May 20th, June 3rd, June 15th, July 8th, July 20th, August 10th and August 19th.
Finding a way to ensure homeless families in need are given a chance to have success in life is a challenging task. The City Center however, has a 100 percent success rate at helping graduates rebuild their lives. Since 2014, 253 people have graduated from its program debt free with full-time employment and reliable transportation, representing 78 families who will never return to homelessness.
Led by Executive Director, Jim Duran, The City Center has worked to lift people out of homelessness or defeat with the help of its onsite staff, case managers, therapists, and mentors.
“It’s giving a hand up, rather than a handout,” said Duran. “Each family receives the help and guidance they need to find and hold jobs, leave all government support behind, and learn to care for themselves and their children.”
Thank you ?
to our Donors & Sponsors
for participating in
Dine & Donate,
we appreciate your support!
With its outreach efforts, Arts & Lectures brings diverse ideas and unique encounters to students of all ages and the community at large.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC), The Arts Fund, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, Paseo Nuevo, and Santa Barbara BCycle are delighted to announce is proud to announce that artists Adriana Arriaga and Claudia Borfiga have been selected from an online Call For Entries to paint the 2021 Earth Day Mural. The Call For Entries prompted Santa Barbara County artists to respond to this year’s Earth Day Festival theme: Climate Leadership. The mural by Arriaga and Borfiga, entitled Nurture our Mother, is a celebration of the power of the Earth and the many magical things within it that play vital roles in our ecosystem.
/// in Minneapolis a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of all three counts for the murder of George Floyd. Our hearts go out to George Floyd’s family and to the families and communities across our country who have experienced racial injustice and horrific violence. Today, justice was served. There cannot be healing without justice and there is still much work to do to create true justice that prevents senseless killings.
Today’s decision does not minimize the pain or solve issues of hate, but it can mark the beginning of community healing and real change across our nation. Police brutality cannot be tolerated. I appreciate our local partnership with law enforcement and the leadership of our Sheriff and District Attorney in their commitment to racial justice. This tragic incident underscores the need for law enforcement to continue to be a partner in the community. Now more than ever is a time to come together to listen, communicate and engage in order for us to move toward an equitable society. We must address the unacceptable continued violence and hate toward people of color and commit to using our individual and collective voices to end the divisiveness of racial injustice.
While the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County is pleased that the jury found Derek
Chauvin guilty for the murder of George Floyd, we must not veer away from the long
road we still must travel to reach a just and equitable society. Chauvin’s trial has been a
traumatic and painful experience to watch, as we were continuously forced to relive the
gruesome murder George Floyd. Chauvin’s conduct was the byproduct of the historical
injustices inflicted on Black and Brown people in our Country and a legacy of the
unacknowledged racism, which permeates throughout our criminal justice system. This
case was merely a single demonstration of one person being held accountable. We
must not be distracted from our continuous fight for systemic change, true justice, actual
fairness, societal equity and inclusion.
COVID-19 Update
There are 28 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,942 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths.
Doubling time is 1,930.9 days.
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 .83 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .78 right now.
597,454 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered. 54.6% of the population age 16 and older have received the 1st dose of the vaccine.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
Click here for information about the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy for information about the guidance for different sectors. The County remains in the Orange Tier for at least 2 more weeks.
Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
www.venturacountyrecovers.org
Ventura County Community College District board of trustees fully supports and is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for its approximately 31,000 students, nearly 1,900 employees and the community. In support of the diverse population of students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges, and the community, the board adopted a resolution Affirming the District’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at its April meeting.
The resolution is in tandem with the District’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week and the California Community Colleges’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Month.
“VCCCD is a welcoming and inclusive equity-minded, anti-racist learning environment where diverse students are supported to pursue and attain student success,” said Trustee Gabriela Torres. “Our mission is to foster social justice and an inclusive, equity-minded learning environment where all students receive support to achieve academic success and attain the necessary skills to find meaningful work that offers them a living wage.”
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel School community celebrated Spring with their annual Spring Raffle drawing and Family Movie Night on the grass, on Saturday, April 17, 2020. The school came together in a socially distanced way by reserving family circles and staying masked during the viewing of Raya and the Last Dragon. In addition to the movie hosted by the Parent Board Guild, there was a raffle drawing that awarded cash prizes. Congratulations to all of the raffle winners. The annual Spring Raffle raises much needed money to help support the operations of the school.
When it comes to providing high-quality real estate services in today’s fast-moving industry, Village Properties real estate agents John A. Sener and Alyssa Ann Jones understand that there is power in numbers.
That’s why, starting this month, the pair will be teaming up to create a high-powered real estate partnership, Sener Jones Associates. Sener is a top performing Village Properties agent with a decades-long career, while Jones is highly regarded for her business and marketing savvy. As true locals, they each bring intrinsic insights about the unique market within Santa Barbara, which is the foundation for their value-based partnership. Communication, collaboration, and care are at the core of everything they touch. By merging their real estate skills and extensive market knowledge, the agents hope to exceed expectations as they assist clients in achieving their goals.
The Ventura County Leadership Academy’s “Journey to Leadership Awards” will be held on Thursday, April 29.
1:30 p.m. VIP/Sponsor Networking & Social
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Program
The VCLA “Journey to Leadership” virtual awards event is the premiere event in Ventura County recognizing leaders who have made an exceptional impact in our community.
Ventura County Animal Services is thrilled to announce that we have received a $27,500 grant investment from the newly named, Petco Love, to support our lifesaving work for the animals in Ventura County.
Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since their founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, they’ve empowered organizations with nearly $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, they’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like ours, nationwide.
Once again, the School of Management at Cal Lutheran is hosting its annual New Venture Fair and PRiME Competitions virtually. Students participating in NVF and/or PRiME have developed innovative solutions to various challenges and have been working on their projects for several months to compete at a professional level.
Be the first to review their startup ideas. Learn about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and then vote for your favorites in each competition. We had over 800 community participants from around the world vote in last year’s events. Let’s do it again!
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC), on behalf of the newly formed Housing Land Trust Ventura County, has entered into a disposition and development agreement to receive donated land valued at $840,000 from the City of Oxnard. Located at 241 West Second Street, the unused city land will be developed as the future home of the Homeless Solutions Center, a supportive housing development that will provide 55 permanent housing units, 120 shelter beds and 24-hour supportive services for the homeless population.
“In 2020 we formed the Housing Land Trust Ventura County as a way to provide lasting community assets and permanently affordable housing opportunities for families, workers and fixed-income residents in our County,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund VC and Housing Land Trust Ventura County. “By working to acquire donated land and preserve it for affordable housing developments we remove the most cost-prohibitive part of building affordable homes, which is the high cost of land.” Braunschweiger notes that Housing Land Trust Ventura County is designated by the State of California as a Supporting Nonprofit comprised of an 11-member Board of Directors who are working to identify and receive donated land in the region that can be developed to provide affordable housing on a 99-year lease for either rental housing or home ownership. The new nonprofit will not act as a developer but rather work with affordable housing developers selected through an RFP process. The land donated by the City of Oxnard is the first such project for the newly formed Housing Land Trust Ventura County.
At the heart of Ventura County is its abundant, locally farmed produce which just got easier to enjoy thanks to Seasons Catering and Farmivore. The two companies have collaborated to bring Farmivore’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes directly to Ventura County residents’ doors utilizing Seasons Catering’s Good2Go door-step delivery service.
“It just seemed like a natural fit to offer some of the very produce we use in our own chef prepared meals,” said Moes. Following the launch of Good2Go’s new subscription meal delivery service last month, chef-owner Gabrielle Moes realized that she could share her love of fresh food by adding produce boxes to the home deliveries. Partnering with locally owned Farmivore, each week Seasons Catering offers a new CSA box with ever changing produce based on availability from over 15 local farms, creating a weekly surprise for customers.
Artist’s Reception: Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservations are required.
We’re marking the close of Duane Dammeyer and Rima Muna’s stunning exhibition Inspiration and Influence with an artists’ reception on Saturday, April 24. The artists will be there to celebrate and to share some inspiration! Space is extremely limited and reservations are required. Reservations are available at 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. Admission is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, and free for members and students. Inspiration and Influence closes Sunday, April 25.
MAKE A RESERVATION
Free Event
April 22, 2021
7pm/pst
Indígenas Américas-Cuentos de Creación
Storytelling with members of
the Gabrieleno Tongva
Filmed at Kuruvungna Springs
by
Guerra Style Pictures
The Museum of Ventura County is pleased to present the next installment in its series of conversations with Changemakers.
You are invited to join us on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from 6:30—7:30PM for Changemakers: Local Heroes Combatting Climate Change. Admission is free with registration.
Panelists include Dr. Chris Funk, Director of the Climate Hazard Center at UCSB and author of Drought, Flood, Fire: How Climate Change Contributes to Recent Catastrophes, Hans Cole, Director of Environmental Campaigns and Advocacy at Patagonia, Florencia Ramirez, Ventura County Climate Emergency Council and author of Eat Less Water, and Michelle Stevens, Founder of the Refill Shoppe, public artist and environmental activist. This is not to be missed!
Salons by JC, a company that leases upscale individual suite space to beauty industry professionals, is coming soon to The Collection at RiverPark. The new location will open by fall 2021, with 38 suites available for massage therapists, acupuncturists, lash stylists, and other beauty or wellness professionals. Salons by JC is owned by local Ventura County residents Gene and Bobbi Ramirez, who also own Amazing Lash Studio at The Collection.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Salons by JC to The Collection,” said the shopping center’s Marketing Manager, Jill Almonia. “Amazing Lash Studio has been a tremendous success, and we look forward to offering our community another wonderful personal care shop to experience.”
There are 23 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 2,035 new tests performed. There have been 2 additional deaths: 55 year old male and a 98 year old female. Doubling time is 1,904.1 days.
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 .83 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .78 right now.
The most detailed look at kelp forests to date finds that unseen parasites dominate species interactions.
The Arts Fund, Community Environmental Council, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, Paseo Nuevo, and Santa Barbara BCycle are delighted to announce that artists Adriana Arriaga and Claudia Borfiga have been selected to paint the 2021 Earth Day Mural! Selected from over 27 submissions, the Call For Entries prompted our artists to respond to this year’s Earth Day Festival theme: Climate Leadership. The mural by Arriaga and Borfiga, entitled Nurture our Mother, is a celebration of the power of the Earth and the many magical things within it that play vital roles in our ecosystem.
The indoor pools at YMCAs in Simi Valley and Westlake Village are now open.
The Simi Valley Family YMCA and Yarrow Family YMCA pools have been closed since last March. Both YMCAs are now offering aquatic group classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Lap lanes are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. at the Simi Y and 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Yarrow Y.
“We hope to expand classes and hours in the coming weeks,” says Brigitte Bonafant, Aquatics and Safety Director at the YMCA . “If all goes well, we anticipate swim lessons and family swim time being available in early May.”
Over the past six years, through two successful Sea Grant awards, the Ventura Port District, in partnership with expert volunteers and consultants, developed extensive research of the Santa Barbara Channel for sustainable mussel farming.
The Port District sought to pre-permit 2,000 acres for Mediterranean mussels for the benefit of private aquaculture farmers – especially small commercial fishermen who lack the financial capacity to secure federal and state permits and approvals – to land product at Ventura Harbor.
This effort produced several technical studies, including a first-of-its-kind navigational risk assessment for a domestic aquaculture project, extensive engineering analysis for mussel farm design in open waters, numerous environmental studies and proposed monitoring plans, farm economic business and cash-flow model (i.e., proforma), and fiscal and economic impact analyses. The Port District plans on fully completing its Sea Grant tasks and responsibilities by August 2021.
About 76% of the ocean areas rich in biodiversity also contain great places to surf—which presents the opportunity for the conservation community to mobilize a global tribe of surfers who want to protect these areas as much as they do.
That’s the bottom line of a study conducted in part by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM) Dan Reineman, Ph.D. with the Save the Waves Coalition and Conservation International. The two organizations merged to form the Surf Conservation Partnership.
There are 79 new COVID-19 cases (Fri-Sun. There have been 12,423 new tests performed. There have been 0 additional deaths. Doubling time is 1,776.7 days.
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 .86 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .80 right now.
Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.
Click here for information about the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy for information about the guidance for different sectors.
Vaccine eligibility is now open to everyone 16 and older. Make your appointment today at myturn.ca.gov or 833-422-4255.
www.venturacountyrecovers.org
Dr. César Morales was formally sworn-in today as the new Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, becoming the first Latino and first person of color to hold the office since it was created in 1873.
In an outdoor ceremony this morning at the Ventura County Office of Education in Camarillo, California State Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin administered the oath of office to Dr. Morales. The ceremony featured speeches from students he has mentored and his colleagues in education and government.
When Westside Ventura resident Matthew Bello went on a walk in his neighborhood on April 14, 2020, he saw something he did not expect:
Cars and trucks parked inside the SoCalGas property at 1555 North Olive Street, and a flurry of activity on the usually quiet site. At least a half-dozen workers with shovels were digging a trench in the large dirt lot adjacent to the hulking natural gas compressor station.
Most passersby might not think much of this activity. They’d likely chalk it up to another construction project along The Avenue’s always-busy corridor. But lucky for his neighbors, Bello is part of the newly formed Westside Clean Air Coalition, a community group focused on protecting air quality for all who live and go to school on The Avenue. The group has been following plans for 1555 North Olive closely – a property that has a history of soil contamination and air pollution dating back at least one hundred years. He knew what many would not:
Si eres principiante en el mundo de QuickBooks o en la contabilidad en general, hay ciertos procedimientos que necesitas saber. En este curso, aprenderás los conceptos básicos de QuickBooks y la contabilidad, lo que te dará las bases para un sistema de contabilidad muy optimizado y sostenible para tu negocio sin importar el tamaño de tu empresa o aunque solamente trabajes por tu cuenta.
The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its March 2021 report earlier today, showing moderate improvement in Ventura County’s unemployment rate, from 6.8% in February to 6.4% in March. This matches our best position since the onset of pandemic a full year ago, previously reached in November, just before the holiday resurgence of COVID-19. Overall, we saw little change in the data details in March. On the surface it appears we did okay in job creation, adding 2,400 jobs, but of those 1,800 were in Farm, apparently seasonal, now at a total of 25,800 and keeping us 100 jobs ahead of our Farm position one year ago. For the monthly detail, check out LMID’s March report here.
Santa Barbara City College, Explore Ecology, and five community partners have teamed up under a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Program to create the Santa Barbara Ecological and Edible (SBEE) Garden Project, a network of community gardens that will promote biodiversity, increase access to locally grown food, and foster a connection between the community and natural ecosystems.
“This is the largest EPA Environmental Education grant ever awarded to an organization in Santa Barbara County, and one of the largest in California in recent decades. It speaks to the collaborative work and far-reaching impact of Santa Barbara City College, Explore Ecology, and our many incredible community partners,” says Rachel Johnson, SBCC Foundation Director of Grants.
SPANISH: GUÍA PARA COMENZAR SU NEGOCIO
21 de abril a las 5:30 pm
Únase a SCORE Santa Barbara junto con los Asesores de negocios de EDC, Rigo Gonzalez-Nossa y Juliana Ramirez en una presentación donde por medio de esta guía aprenderemos sobre los diferentes pasos que le ayudarán en una manera eficiente a empezar su negocio, o le servirán para evaluar las necesidades más inmediatas para el buen funcionamiento y cumplimiento de las normas que requiere su negocio.
Santa Barbara City College is pleased to announce that registration for Summer 2021 is now open to everyone in the community. Whether you are looking to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year university via SBCC’s award-winning credit programs — or enroll in the School of Extended Learning for life enhancement classes, career skills training, a high school diploma or GED — SBCC is here to help you reach your goals.
For everyone’s health and safety, the majority of classes will be conducted online, though a select number of classes are scheduled to meet in person. Continue to check the class registration pages, via the links below, for the most current information on whether your selected course will be held online or in-person.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is hosting #CelebrateClimateLeadership, a virtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival dedicated to inspiration, community building, and climate action. The FREE livestream event begins on Thursday, April 22 at noon and runs until Saturday, April 24. It will be available to view at SBEarthDay.org.
The virtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival – which will be fully online again this year due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions – is FREE to attend and will feature three days of conversations with climate leaders, musical performances, art contests, inspirational speakers, and opportunities for individuals to learn how they can lean into action at this urgent moment.
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin flashes a smile after receiving her second dose today at the Rose Avenue Clinic in Oxnard! Leading by example for communities in California’s 44th Assembly District including the cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village.
Also a message from Carmen, a community member who also received a second dose today:
“I just got my second vaccine in Oxnard. I just wanted to say how amazing my experience was. The Porta potty‘s outside were really clean. I had to bring my children with me as I have no child care and everyone was so nice. From the security Guards to the person giving us the shot. Everything was clean and everyone working there was warm and welcoming! Not sure who I could tell about it but I thought here would be best.”
Santa Barbara City College is pleased to announce that Dr. Anselmo Villanueva has been selected to serve as the new Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Villanueva has enjoyed a long career in education at all levels, from preschool through graduate school. His career has been dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, especially ensuring access to education by students who have been traditionally underrepresented, marginalized or otherwise disenfranchised from the system.
The Ventura County Community College District board of trustees announces that Dr. Julius Sokenu has been named the president of Moorpark College, pending contract approval. Sokenu has served as the interim president since 2019 and has been with the college for 14 years.
“Dr. Sokenu is a visionary leader who supports the college’s approximately 14,000 students and the faculty and staff,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “During his tenure as the interim president, he expanded and supported institutional priorities related to equity and diversity, specifically for services to underserved populations.”
I grew up with a father, a typesetter by trade, who was obsessed with the rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation. Starting in my school years, informally proofreading everything that was printed on paper was as natural as breathing air. I hardly realized I was doing it. Now, fast-forwarding several decades, I am a recent graduate of an online proofreading course. I have become like my father, obsessed with the rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Lately, I have become acutely aware of several troubling trends in writing among the general public.
