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

Santa Paula Art Museum — November @ SPAM: ‘Art About Agriculture,’ Intro to Drawing, Intro to Oil Painting, and More!

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Premiere Party: “The 15th Annual Art About Agriculture Exhibition”

Saturday, November 11, 2023 • 4 PM to 6 PM

$5 SPAM members • $10 Non-members

Join us at the Santa Paula Art Museum on Saturday, November 11, for the premiere of “The 15th Annual Art About Agriculture Exhibition,” featuring 55 fresh works of art. “Art About Agriculture” is presented by the Ag Art Alliance to promote awareness of agriculture through art—from workers to water, from machinery to fields, to the food that goes on our plates. The exhibit will be on view from November 11, 2023, to March 3, 2024. All of the artworks will be available for purchase.

“The 15th Annual Art About Agriculture Exhibition” is sponsored by Brokaw Ranch Company.

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Education, Health, Local, News, Public Safety

Lumina Alliance Launches Gun Safety Campaign

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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Intimate partner violence can happen without the presence of a firearm- but an abuser having access to a gun can make dangerous situations turn deadly. Nearly two-thirds of intimate partner homicides in the United States are committed with a firearm, and when abusers have access to firearms, women are 5x more likely to die. This violence is also not isolated to one relationship or household- almost 60% of mass shootings are domestic-violence related. Domestic violence restraining orders – an order issued by the court when they find that someone poses a potential threat of violence to a former or current intimate partner – are a necessary tool in protecting our communities from gun violence.

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

CSUCI Psychology faculty member researches burnout in academia

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CAMARILLO — The job just doesn’t seem as rewarding as it was. There’s no time for your family anymore. You’re irritable and have trouble working up enough energy to be productive.

People from all professions will recognize the signs of burnout, but there are stressors and causes of burnout that are unique to academia, especially after the pandemic.

“We were doing our teaching under an emergency situation for a few years with online versus in-person teaching,” said CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Associate Professor of Psychology Melissa Soenke. “I’ll be looking at our culture of overwork and the life we’re finding post-pandemic. We’ve seen it with health care and people working in therapeutic settings, but there is not a ton of research on academic burnout.”

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Government, Health, Local, News

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — A New Connection for Cuyama

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Last week I had the honor of cutting the ribbon on one of the County’s largest bridge projects in 40 years. Cuyama deals with a lot more extreme weather than the rest of us in Santa Barbara County, and this bridge creates an important connection for emergency access during storms. This area also has a higher poverty rate than the rest of the County, and Cuyamans have been at the mercy of two multi-national corporations over access to water. That one of the most significant bridge projects in County Public Works history was completed in Cuyama shows that we’re here for them.

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Cultural, Family, Government, Health, Local, News

Ventura County Animal Services — Husky Week Promotion (11/11-11/19)

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VENTURA COUNTY — Over 40 Siberian Huskies currently reside at the Camarillo and Simi Valley Shelter.  Animal Welfare officials believe the increase of this breed’s appearance in local shelters is, in part, due to the popularity of the HBO series Game of Thrones, where Huskies played integral roles.

To help Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) find homes for these beautiful dogs, they are holding a rather creative promotional campaign called Husky Week, a parody of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.  VCAS is waiving all adoption fees for Huskies (and Husky Mixes) from Saturday, November 11th – Sunday, November 19th.

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Business, Local, News, Women

Workzones CEO Pam Tanase inducted into Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Hall of Fame

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SANTA BARBARA — Pam Tanase, who helped launch one of Santa Barbara’s first coworking spaces, Workzones, more than a decade ago, was recently inducted into the Ted Ducey Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Hall of Fame at Claremont McKenna College, her alma mater.

The Ted Ducey CMS Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding athletes, scholars and leaders within Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, an NCAA Division III athletic program comprised of student-athletes from three of the Claremont Colleges: Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps Colleges.

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Business, Education, Family, Government, Home, Local, News

Ventura Land Trust donors, volunteers honored at Supporter Spotlight event

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VENTURA — Ventura Land Trust (VLT) honored distinguished donors and volunteers at its annual Supporter Spotlight event on Friday, November 3rd. Ventura Land Trust supporters joined the VLT Board of Trustees and staff members for happy hour and dinner while celebrating the 2023 VLT accomplishments and community impact.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Moorpark College Named 2023 Champion of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer

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MOORPARK — Moorpark College has been named a 2023 Champion of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer by The Campaign for College Opportunity (CCO). This recognition acknowledges the college’s exemplary work in advancing the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) program, a vital pathway that simplifies the transfer process for students and increases student success rates.

During the live honoree announcement on Nov. 1, the CCO revealed the 27 California Community Colleges and California State University campuses that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving transfer rates for students. Of the 27 institutions recognized, only 12 community colleges, including Moorpark, were acknowledged for excellence in transfer rates.

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Business, Education, Finance, Government, Local, News

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

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SBA: INTRO TO GOVT CONTRACTING – CERTIFICATION

November 7 @ 10:00 am

This webinar will provide a brief overview of SBA programs and services, with an emphasis on SBA’s federal contracting resources! Have you considered, is government contracting a good fit for your business? This will be an intro to small business certification programs. Government contracts are a tremendous financial opportunity for small businesses, and the U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It buys all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities — and it’s required by law to consider buying from small businesses. The SBA has several contracting assistance programs, and federal contracting resources available to assist entrepreneurs. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you on your way to small business success. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to lado@sba.gov at least 7 days in advance.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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

People’s Self Help Housing — First Look: 2022-23 Impact Report | Primera vista: Informe de Impacto Anual

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We invite you to take a look at our 2022-23 Impact Report, a compilation of the top milestones from this past year! For the first time, this report is available in both English & Spanish. Together, we are building so much more than housing!

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Education, Events, Family, Local, News, Youth

Empowering Young Minds Through Play: Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Launches Recess Club in Carpinteria Schools to Encourage Physical Fitness, Educational Opportunities and Social Inclusion

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CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is proud to announce Recess Club within the Carpinteria School District!

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is committed to promoting physical and hands-on activities while fostering an inclusive environment for children. The organization is thrilled to introduce Recess Club in elementary schools across the Carpinteria Valley. Recess Club’s mission is to create a secure and welcoming haven for students during school recess, providing engaging and interactive activities to enhance enrichment opportunities, teamwork, and social connections.

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

The Aspen Institute Again Names Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura Colleges among Top 150 U.S. Community Colleges Eligible for the 2025 Aspen Prize

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CAMARILLO — The Aspen Institute has again named Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura colleges among the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

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Business, Cultural, Family, Government, Local, News, Public Safety, Technology

One805 Donated Seek Thermal FirePRO 300 Devices and SmartWool Socks to Santa Barbara County Firefighters Today

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SANTA BARBARA — On Monday, November 6, 2023, One805 presented donations to Chris Mailes, President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Santa Barbara County. The event took place at 6300 Hollister Avenue at 12 p.m. 

Thirty-seven Seek Thermal FirePRO 300 devices, which help firefighters navigate through low visibility conditions by helping them see hazards invisible to the naked eye, were donated to Santa Barbara County Firefighters. One805 ran a “fundraiser within a fundraiser” at its One805Live! Fall Music Festival in September, earning enough to purchase fourteen Seek Thermal FirePRO 300 devices, with a promise from Seek Thermal to match, who exceeded its match promise with an additional nine extra devices to cover each fire station in the county. 

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

Día de los Muertos Celebrations continue through the 805 region

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Editor’s note — While Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 (all Saints Day) and Nov. 2 (all Souls Day), a variety of organizations in the 805 region will be extending the celebration through this upcoming week. Here’s a sample of some of the upcoming events:

CAMARILLO — The 42nd annual “Día de los Muertos — The Grand Fandango De La Muerte” celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home, Memorial Park & Crematory at 2052 Howard Road, Camarillo.

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Commentary, Cultural, En español, familia, Family, Health, Local, Locales, Public Safety, Salud

Bilingual commentary — National Greasy Foods Day: A Warning or a Celebration?

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Last week I noticed that October 25 was National Greasy Foods Day. Initially, I didn’t know if this was a joke or a celebration.

As it turns out, this day is deemed worthy of a “limited celebration.” This culinary observance is meant to celebrate greasy foods, which we all love, but only as a “special treat” of which we should partake only occasionally. 

There are many good reasons to emphasize the “occasional” nature of this kind of food that, unfortunately, many of us tend to crave.

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Entertainment, Events, Finance, Local, News, Public Safety

One805 Live! Fall Music Festival Raises $800,000 in Support of Santa Barbara County First Responders

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SANTA BARBARA — On September 22, 2023 One805 held its Fall One805LIVE! Festival with headliner Maroon 5, in which more than $800,000 were raised to support Santa Barbara County first responders.

One805’s flagship event took place on Kevin Costner’s oceanside estate in Summerland (venue donated by Costner), where approximately 3,000 guests attended, as well as over 100 volunteers, vendors, and production crew who worked diligently to make sure the event ran smoothly. 

“It took us about seven months planning to put the event together, with a lot of help from many generous people and artists who came together for the cause,” said Kirsten Cavendish Weston-Smith, Co-Founder/Chairman & CEO. “ Having a band, like Maroon 5, take time out of the world tour to play for us, at no cost, is a testament to the incredible support we have had locally.”

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Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Ventura County Academic Competitions Seek Volunteers

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Ventura County’s popular academic competitions are seeking volunteers to help present these events for local students. The Ventura County Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, and Science Fair will be taking place next January, February and March. On average, more than 400 volunteer judges and scorers are needed to support the 2,500 students who participate. Please see below for additional information and links to online registration forms where you can sign up to volunteer.

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En español, Family, Government, Health, Home, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Public Safety

Bilingual report — Golden Oaks Neighborhood in Ojai Earns Firewise Recognition

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CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Fire Department congratulates the Golden Oaks neighborhood in Ojai, which became the sixth community in Ventura County to earn recognition from the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise USA program.

Firewise recognizes communities that organize to reduce their wildfire risk by following best practices for vegetation management and home hardening.

“Ventura County has experienced devastating wildfires in recent years,” Fire Marshal Massoud Araghi said. “When neighborhoods come together to create defensible spaces and make it harder for embers to light buildings on fire, it significantly reduces the risk for the entire community.”

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Events, Family, Local, News, Veterans

Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum (CCVMM) Recognized by the US Library of Congress at October Dinner

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The Central Coast Veterans Museum was recognized at the dinner by the US Library of Congress (LOC) as a top contributor to the LOC Veterans History Project. The Museum, located at 801 Grand Avenue, in San Luis Obispo,  was honored as the designated site on the Central Coast of California for veterans to record their oral histories as part of this nationwide project documenting the oral histories of America’s veterans, preserving the first person accounts of the men and women who have served our country, and civilians who worked in support roles to our armed forces during times of conflict.

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Local

CSUCI’s first traveling show opens in Oxnard

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CAMARILLO — A show dramatizing the various traditions around the Day of the Dead – Dia de Los Muertos – has become CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s first traveling show.    

CSUCI students and artists from Inlakech Cultural Arts Center in Oxnard will perform ‘El Fandango de la Muerte’ or ‘Death’s Fandango’ on Nov. 1 at the Masonic Cemetery and on Nov. 2 at Oxnard College. CSUCI Associate Professor of Performing Arts Catherine Burriss produced and directed the show with the director and writer of the original play, Inlakech Cultural Arts Center founder Javier Gomez.  

“It’s a fun sort of take on death. It’s accessible and demystifies these traditions to help this culture embrace their own mortality,” Gomez said.   

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Business, Educación, Events, Local, News

Upcoming November Events (Nov. 1, 15) at the CLU School of Management!

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MPPA Policy Talks Presents…
From Fields to Streams

Wednesday, November 1 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm | Thousand Oaks Campus
Explore the future of agriculture sustainability and environmental management through the lens of a coalition-based compliance model using the 2005-2023 public policy framework applied to the newly adopted Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) Waste Discharge Requirements.

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

Museum of Ventura County — Don’t Miss Out: 150th Anniversary of VC Programs and Events

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State of the County

Ventura County 2023

Thursday, November 2

4:30 – 8:30 pm

@Reagan Presidential Library

Don’t miss the 2023 State of the County celebrating the County’s 150th Anniversary! Keynote speaker and County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson will share an update and unforgettable message followed by a networking reception under Air Force One. This in-person event is SOLD OUT, however Free Livestream will be available HERE and on the County of Ventura’s Facebook page. Mark your calendars and join us online!

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Education, Events, Family, Health, Local, News, Youth

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association — Grief Support During The Holidays

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CAMARILLO — It’s that time of year when the expectations we place on ourselves can be unrealistic, especially when faced with the absence of a loved one. Livingston Memorial’s Grief and Bereavement Program offers multiple support groups that focus on restorative activities, seeking meaning and purpose, identifying changes to self, and receiving support in making life good again.

All support groups are free for the community.

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Business, Local, News

Santa Barbara Law Firm Lands $9,750,000 Settlement for Victims of Life Insurance Ponzi Scheme

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SANTA BARBARA — The law firm Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, LLP (“FBBC”) obtained a $9.75 million settlement on behalf of almost 1,200 individuals ensnared in a fraudulent life insurance investment scheme involving Life Settlements between 2004 and 2014.

The $9,750,000 settlement, approved October 16 by Judge Lawrence P. Riff in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, will allow investors to recoup thousands of dollars they lost to the scheme on a pro-rata basis based on the amount of their investment.

FBBC attorneys Thomas G. Foley, Jr., in Santa Barbara and Kevin D. Gamarnik in Costa Mesa initiated the litigation on behalf of plaintiffs Konstantin Shechter, Svetlana Averbukh and Arnold Applebaum in 2016. Co-counsels Richard E. Donahoo and Sarah L. Kokonas of the Tustin-based law firm Donahoo & Associates, PC, also played key roles in the litigation and settlement proceedings.

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Cultural, En español, Entertainment, Events, familia, Family, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Teatro de las Américas — El viaje de los esqueletos | PRESENTACIÓN ESPECIAL ***Día de los Muertos***

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Este jueves 2 de noviembre ven a la función especial de El Viaje de los Esqueletos como parte del Paseo de las Artes de Oxnard (Oxnard Art Crawl)

Pre-show con: Rudy Razo (poeta chicano) y Araceli Collazo (cantante) a partir de las 7:00 p.m.

¡Deliciosos buñuelos y champurrado a la venta!

Presentación en exteriores en la parte trasera del teatro. Ven preparado con ropa invernal o tu cobijita, sarape o poncho favorito.

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Business, Education, Family, Finance, Government, Health, Local, News, Public Safety

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Preparing for Wildfires

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Wildfire Insurance and Preparedness I hear frequently about the acute level of crisis homeowners are facing when it comes to wildfire insurance — rates are going up dramatically, and in many cases, homeowners don’t have options because insurance companies aren’t…

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Events, Family, Finance, Food, Local, News, Youth

Bilingual report — 12th annual Can-Tree Food Drive to be held Nov. 30 through Dec. 3

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OXNARD — Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, is bringing its most popular community event back for the holidays! The 12th Annual CAN-tree food drive will take place in Figueroa Plaza from Thursday, November 30 when the trees will be built, through Sunday, December 3, 2022, when they will be dismantled. 

The event, which brings thousands of individuals, families, and local businesses together to collect and build hundreds of canned food “trees” is Food Share’s biggest food and fund drive of the year and is a critical source of food for the thousands of people still struggling with food insecurity in Ventura County. 

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Business, Education, En español, Finance, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — National Veterans Small Business Week

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The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize National Veteran’s Small Business Week. The EDC is dedicated to providing equal access to resources, advising and capital to all business owners. Since 2010, the EDC has provided over 3,000 hours of one-of-one business advising to Veteran-Owned businesses and has helped generate over $1 Billion in revenue.

The EDC is proud to support the community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:

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

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Día de los Muertos Celebrations  Continue through November 5th

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Our Dia de los Muertos celebrations kick off our year end giving campaign, and we would be so grateful and honored to have your support. It has been just over 10 months since a new leadership team reopened the Museum. We ask for your much needed support to take us into the new year. We are so incredibly grateful for the many individuals, foundations, and business that have been early adopters. 

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

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

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CMTC: PRODUCTIVITY AND COST REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS

November 1 @ 11:00 am

Changing environments requires efforts to enhance productivity, reduce errors and evaluate automaton to free up valuable human resources for higher-value initiatives. Enterprise Resource Planning has evolved to more than a financial or manufacturing system. Businesses are now able to improve their business insights, increase levels of efficiency, and enable reduction in operational costs. With centralized data, businesses can identify improvement opportunities and mine their data to achieve market advantages.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Cultural, Events, Family, Local, News, Youth

CSUCI’s 2023 Distinguished Alumnus ‘Gabby’ Vignonegoes from ‘wild child’ to executive director of nonprofit

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CAMARILLO — Nicknamed “Gabby” when she and her friends hung out on the streets of Santa Barbara, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) 2023 Distinguished Alumni “Gabby” Vignone believes her formal name, “Gabrielle,” now suits her better.

“I think I’ve gotten to that ‘change’ point in life,” said Vignone, who graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in English. “I think we don’t know who we are for a while as we go through different changes and experiences that bring us to where we are now.”

Vignone will share the story of her evolution with the 350 guests expected to attend CSUCI’s 21st Annual President’s Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 28.

For Vignone, those experiences have included giving birth at 15, having her best friend killed by a train, falling in love with a man, raising four children with him, and having him die in prison.

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Cultural, Educación, Education, Local, Locales

Bilingual commentary — Why Study History?

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During my elementary and high school years, my history teachers were passionate about imparting their knowledge and perspectives. One of my problems at the time was that I did not appreciate their wisdom and incisive insights into the forces that shape our world.

Looking back, I wish I could have allowed them to fill the vessel that should have been receptive and overflowing. Like most young people, I would venture to say, I did not see the point in learning about a world that, I thought, “no longer exists.”

But the world of the past is still very much in our midst, just as our ancestors have had a powerful hand in shaping who we are today.

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Business, Cultural, Family, Finance, Local, News, Youth

Teacher’s Fund in Santa Barbara Celebrates Another Milestone: Over $2.1 Million in 21 Years Raised for Local Schools

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SANTA BARBARA — The Teacher’s Fund celebrated its 21st year by hitting a significant milestone thanks to strong community support during its annual Supplies Drive: the non-profit serving Santa Barbara-area educators surpassed $2.1 million.

The Teacher’s Fund set an ambitious goal this year for its drive – and far exceeded it, thanks to the generosity of residents, local business leaders and entrepreneurs who answered the call to give back. In all, they raised more than $75,000 during this year’s drive.

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Cultural, Education, Local, News

Climate change is pushing more than 40% of amphibians toward extinction says study co-authored by CSUCI Biology faculty member

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CAMARILLO — The world is in danger of losing almost half of its frogs, salamanders and other amphibians with climate change emerging as a greater threat than ever before. 

That’s according to a major new study co-authored by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Biology Rudi von May and was the cover story for the October issue of the scientific journal, “Nature.” The study, called “Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats,” contains two decades worth of data from 8,000 amphibian species around the world.  

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