Dear dog and cat parents, REMINDER: $10 Rabies Vaccination Clinic is TOMORROW, Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm in Fillmore: Fire Station 27 133 C. Street Fillmore, CA 93015 See flyer for additional details! Ventura County Animal…
VENTURA COUNTY — Streets are a vital part of a city’s infrastructure, enabling commerce, emergency services, and recreation. They often make up the bulk of a city’s assets and are costly to maintain. Streets not kept in a best practice condition are costlier to maintain. Neglected streets also cause extra wear on the vehicles that use them.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura invites community members to help shape the future of downtown by participating in the Main Street Moves Questionnaire, available online through June 30, 2025. The questionnaire offers a valuable opportunity for residents, property owners, business owners, and visitors to share input on the future design and use of Main Street.
The questionnaire follows the overwhelmingly positive turnout at the Main Street Moves Visioning Session hosted on May 31, 2025. More than 100 residents participated in the event, offering thoughtful ideas and feedback on potential streetscape design improvements, accessibility upgrades, landscaping, public art, and downtown programming.
CENTRAL COAST — SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) and Planned Parenthood California Central Coast (PPCCC) have reached a tentative agreement that both supports the clinical staff of the organization as well as positions the organization to face the challenges ahead.
VMF’s Songcraft Summer Camp
July 14-18, 2025
Ages 12-19
Ojai Underground
This five-day immersive summer camp introduces students to the creative and professional world of the music business. Each day focuses on a different aspect of being an artist—from songwriting and performance to branding and production. Students will collaborate, create original music, explore recording techniques, build stage presence, and leave with real-world tools to share their voice with the world. The week culminates in a live performance.
Learn More
SANTA MARIA — The nonprofit Cloverlane Foundation announced the launch of the Nurses Project, a new program to provide textbooks and other educational resources for nursing students with the initial savings for students of $35,000. Allan Hancock College is the first school selected to participate in what is intended to become a multi-college program.
The reception celebrates the 2025 recipients of Grace Housing Inc.’s charitable grants, which empower local organizations to meet the community’s most urgent needs. Since its inception in 2015, GHI has distributed over $1.25 million in charitable grants, continuing the legacy of service established by Grace Lutheran Church, which donated the land that made this mission possible.
Grace Housing Inc. operates with a commitment to sustaining and expanding the impact of Grace Lutheran’s charitable work. Beyond managing affordable housing properties, GHI actively seeks to fund initiatives that address Santa Barbara’s community needs. Its charitable grant program supports organizations focused on essential services, including food security, healthcare access, and housing solutions for vulnerable populations. By reinvesting rental income from its properties, Grace Housing Inc. maintains a steady source of funding that ensures long-term support for Santa Barbara’s most pressing social challenges.
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) is thrilled to welcome our inaugural community artist in residence, Jodi De Marcos, for a four month studio residency offering her a shared creative workspace within the museum offices for her creative practice. De Marcos will co-produce with the museum two, six week courses of fashion focused classes this summer with proceeds to benefit future MCASB programs. Her residency will culminate with a dynamic multimedia art, fashion, and music experience, the details of which will be announced shortly.
NOW OPEN – Picturing the Past: How Photography Tells Our Stories
How do we truly know what happened in the past? History is a collection of stories—interwoven, evolving, and shaped by the evidence left behind. Photographs are one of the many tools that help us understand the past, capturing faces, places, and moments frozen in time. But do they always tell the full story?
This engaging exhibition explores the power of photography to record our history. Through images, artifacts, and interactive displays, visitors will discover how historians use photographs to uncover hidden narratives, challenge assumptions, and bring history to life. Join us in exploring the early history of photography in Ventura County, how photos shape our understanding of the past, and how the photos we take today tell tomorrow’s story. More information HERE!
s director of CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Entrepreneurship & Small Business Institute (ESBI), Associate Professor of Management Maria Ballesteros-Sola helps students discover their inner entrepreneur.
“Our mission is to nurture entrepreneurship in our students – many who don’t see themselves as entrepreneurs, but they are running these successful side hustles,” Ballesteros-Sola said. “They’ll say ‘I’m helping my parents with the family business,’ and I will tell them ‘You are being very entrepreneurial.’”
The ESBI marked several successes during the spring semester, not the least of which was winning an award at the New Venture Fair held at Cal Lutheran University in May. CSUCI Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM) major Austin Dent won a $1,000 award in the “Startup for Good” category for a nonprofit he launched called CalThrive Community Agriculture. CSUCI was among 65 competing teams from local high schools and colleges.
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) continues its milestone “Year of Giving” with its 4th $75,000 donation in celebration of its 75th anniversary. The latest organization supported through this momentous giving campaign is the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation (VCFJCF) — the charitable arm of the Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCJFC) — who was presented with the check at the foundation’s annual Voices of Hope gala, held on May 29, 2025, at The Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms in Moorpark.
The COSMOS project, with data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope, consists of all the imaging and a catalog of nearly 800,000 galaxies spanning nearly all of cosmic time.
THOUSAND OAKS — The 69th Annual Conejo Valley Days (CVD) will offer nine days of family fun from June 19 through June 29 (dark, June 23 and 24) at Conejo Creek Park South (23 Freeway/Janss Rd. exit) in Thousand Oaks. Festival goers can enjoy carnival rides, country music, line dancing, kids’ crafts and artisan booths.
Kastl Amusements will operate over 15 rides plus midway games for all ages. A longtime fixture at CVD, the Thousand Oaks Elks Club will serve tri-tip sandwiches and other favorites. Specialty Italian, Mexican and Asian fusion foods will also be available.
MONTECITO — The Rotary Club of Montecito has awarded scholarships to 11 high-achieving students at Santa Barbara City College studying for vocational and technical careers.
Rotary club members presented the Career Technical and Vocational Scholarships during a ceremony on April 15 that included remarks from club President Kim Stone, Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation President Tony Morris, several SBCC faculty and students, and SBCC Foundation CEO Bobbi Abram. The scholarships honored students for their accomplishments and aspirations in diverse technical and vocational fields, including nursing, early childhood education, journalism and construction technology.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Those interested in becoming lifeguards can take the first step by enrolling in one of the YMCA’s new Junior Guards programs. The programs provide an introduction to basic lifeguard and leadership skills training. Two summer sessions are available and take place at the Simi Valley Family YMCA and the Yarrow Family YMCA (in Westlake Village).
Participants learn water safety, hands-on CPR, first aid, emergency response and small craft and open water safety. Classes are three times a week. An Intro to Junior Guards program is for ages 9 through 12 years old and a Junior Guards program is for ages 13 through 15.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s (VCAAA) Advisory Council has several openings for new members. The Advisory Council is a volunteer-based body of advocates who share a mission to create and sustain programs that positively impact the lives of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in Ventura County.
Applications are currently being accepted for two positions:
Veterans’ representative
Service provider
Community events return with family fun, live music and special guests OXNARD — Long days, warm nights and community vibes are back at The Collection at RiverPark! The summer event lineup is packed with exciting experiences for all ages, from…
Courtney DeSoto, a professional fiduciary and the founder of Channel Islands Fiduciary Group, has earned the sought-after Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) credential, certifying her as an internationally recognized expert in her field.
DeSoto, who holds several other professional credentials including a law degree, received the TEP designation from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a global professional body that works to ensure fiduciaries and other practitioners who offer inheritance and succession planning meet the highest standards. The organization has more than 22,000 members globally, including lawyers, accountants and financial advisors.
VENTURA — The Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program (VCSQMP) is pleased to announce the availability of the Ventura County Technical Guidance Manual for Stormwater Quality Control Measures 2025 Reissuance (2025 TGM). The 2025 TGM is a comprehensive resource that provides sizing and design guidance for post-construction stormwater quality control measures that comply with requirements in the Regional Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit for stormwater and non-stormwater discharges within the coastal watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (CAS004004, Order No. R4-2021-0105, 2021 Regional MS4 Permit).
This milestone will be marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Paso Robles. The event is hosted in partnership with the Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce and will include a brief program, a tour of the site, and recognition of key community partners.
The property was originally donated to Lumina Alliance in 2000 by Noreen Martin, her late husband Tom Martin, of Martin Resorts, and their family. Their generous gift laid the foundation for what has now become a vital resource for survivors in the North County. Ms. Martin will be attending the ceremony and offering a short speech in honor of this transformational milestone.
VENTURA — The nomination period for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s LEGACY Awards is now open. These awards recognize the contributions of Ventura County residents and businesses that are dedicated to helping older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers, to live optimally.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Monday, September 1, 2025. The winners will be announced in November. The nomination packet is attached.
Around mid-May last month, former president Joe Biden’s office announced his prostate cancer diagnosis. The Trump family, in an astonishing lack of class even for them, unleashed their cruelty even as Mr. Biden was jolted into confronting his mortality.
Donald Trump Jr. did not hesitate to launch a typically vicious tweet, questioning why “Doctor” Jill Biden had not issued her own diagnosis much earlier. Because, according to him, she is, after all, a “doctor.”
As anyone with any education or knowledge of the world knows, Dr. Jill Biden has the privilege of using that honorific because she earned that title in academia—not because she is a medical doctor.
VENTURA — The Ventura Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2025 Community Academy, a free program for 30 Ventura residents and business owners. Participants will gain an inside look at local policing through interactive classes, ride-alongs, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Applications are open through Friday, July 4, 2025.
Each year, the academy provides participants the opportunity to learn firsthand about the diverse operations of the Ventura Police Department. The program features a variety of topics, including patrol operations, investigations, crisis negotiations, K9 deployment, DUI checkpoints, and community outreach initiatives. Each night features a new topic with different speakers, demonstrations, and discussions.
Picturing the Past, How Photography Tells Our Stories invites you to reflect on how we come to understand history. Photographs are among the many tools we use to piece together the past—capturing faces, places, and fleeting moments. But do they tell the whole story? This exhibition explores the evolving, interwoven nature of historical narratives and the role of photography in shaping what we remember.
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) is proud to announce the appointment of Richard Lipari as the organization’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO). With more than two decades of experience leading technology, operations, and innovation within the credit union industry, Lipari brings a proven track record of driving digital transformation and operational excellence.
From ocean gyres to grocery aisles, plastic is all around us, and it puts our communities and planet at risk. This summer, we invite you to connect with local activists, explore bold solutions, and take action to reduce your plastic footprint. Join our June and July events at CEC’s Environmental Hub and kick off the season in plastic-free style!
The next regular meeting of the
County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for
9 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building
Board Hearing Room
511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
The public may participate virtually or in person at the County Board Hearing Room
in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.
VENTURA — A decade of healing, hope, and resilience was celebrated under the stars on May 29th, as the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation (VCFJC Foundation) set a new fundraising record at its annual Voices of Hope celebration. This year’s theme, Celebrating a Decade of Camp Hope, raised $305,827 to support Camp HOPE along with a generous surprise $75,000 from Ventura County Credit Union to celebrate their 75th anniversary. VCFJC Foundation was one of 10 organizations selected to receive this generous donation. During the celebration three community leaders were honored for their contributions to family justice in Ventura County – Greg Totten, Dr.Graal Diaz and Reins of H.O.P.E. The event brought together over 230 community members, leaders, and supporters for an evening filled with purpose, celebration, and camp-themed fun.
First Thursday Food Trucks at Plaza Park — Over a dozen trucks, Electronic Dance Music, shopping — and food starts at 5PM! Lineup:
Warmer air can suck up more moisture in dry regions and dump more rain in wet regions. New research reveals that the atmosphere’s drying capacity is outpacing increases in rainfall.
