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Oct. 17-19 — CLU presenting ‘The Laramie Project’: Emotionally Gripping + Supports LGBTQ+ History Month
Oct. 23 — CSUCI Art Exhibit: ‘Protect Your Spirit: Visual Lexicons of Resistance With Melanie Cervantes’
Oct. 23 — Lila Downs to perform — Music and Dances of Mexico — Día de los Muertos — at the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara
Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning icon Lila Downs brings her powerful voice and magnetic stage presence to a vibrant celebration of Día de Muertos. Raised in Minnesota and Oaxaca, Downs blends traditional Mexican and Mesoamerican music with folk, jazz, blues and originals in a deeply personal interpretation of Día de Muertos. This festive evening will also feature mariachis and dancers, evoking the rich spirit and color of Day of the Dead on both sides of the border.
Oct. 24 — Oxnard Performing Arts Center (OPAC) to present Día de los Muertos Community Altar
Join us at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center as we honor the lives of our ancestors and loved ones. The celebration is set to feature community offrendas (altars) adorned with marigolds, sugar skulls, and candles. Learn about the meaning of the Day of the Dead through community story tellers and guest speakers who posses a deep understanding of this ancient holiday.
Oct. 26 — Día de los Muertos Festival at Strathearn Park, Simi Valley
The Simi Valley Historical Society invites you to their 11th Annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at Strathearn Historical Park & Museum.
Event to include music, entertainment, craft vendors, crafts for kids, face painting, food and more. Costumes encouraged. New in 2025: Chips & Salsa Competition!
Oct. 30 — Oxnard College will present its ‘Día De Los Muertos’ celebration
OXNARD — Oxnard College will present its ‘Día De Los Muertos’ celebration from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in front of the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building.
This is a vibrant community and campus celebration honoring the cultural tradition of creating colorful altars for loved ones who have passed.
The event brings together local schools, non-profits, the OC Foundation, and the Port of Hueneme in a meaningful collaboration featuring Latino culture, music, and family-friendly activities.
Nov. 1 — The Latino Outreach Council will present a ‘Día de los Muertos 2025’ celebration at Mission Plaza, San Luis Obispo
SANTA LUIS OBISPO — The Latino Outreach Council will present a ‘Día de los Muertos 2025’ celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at Mission Plaza, downtown San Luis Obispo.
Dancers, mariachis, costume contest, face-painting, Latin dance, food, vendors and more!
Nov. 1 — The Festival de los Muertos will be held in Newbury Park
Join us for an unforgettable celebration at our Festival de los Muertos event- a first of its kind for CRPD! This vibrant and free event is perfect for the whole family. Enjoy engaging crafts, live music, a variety of vendors to explore, and mouthwatering food to savor. Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 1, from 4:00-9:00pm and immerse yourself in this joyous cultural experience. Don’t miss out on the festivities!
Nov. 1 — Día de los Muertos in Downtown Ventura
VENTURA — The Día De Los Muertos Downtown Ventura street festival is a lively, engaging events that offers a rich blend of the cultural practices, artistic expressions and community spirit. Attendees can immerse themselves in the traditions, various activities and honor the memory of those who have passed away.
Join us for another year of community, culture and celebration! This year means more than ever for the Downtown Ventura community and businesses.
Nov. 1 — Ventura Day of The Dead Bar Crawl – Día De Muertos
Celebrate Día de Muertos with an extraordinary Day of the Dead Bar Crawl on Saturday, November 1, 2025! This iconic event blends the vibrant traditions of Día de Muertos with the electric energy of the cities nightlife, creating an unforgettable cultural experience.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of this cherished Mexican tradition, honoring loved ones and celebrating life with colorful decor, lively music, and festive camaraderie. Wear your most creative Day of the Dead attire—think bold face paint, intricate skull designs, and dazzling costumes—and let the festivities begin!
Cultural, Education, En español, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Seniors, Women, Youth
Bilingual report — Through Nov. 2 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Free Family Days ‘Día de los Muertos’
For the 36th year, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art honors the Mexican tradition of remembering the dead with a display of altars created by students in the Museum’s school and outreach programs and local community groups. Día de los Muertos inspired art activities for all ages will be offered in the Art Learning Lab.
Nov. 3 — Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation to present ‘Día de los Muertos Craft Day’
What to Expect:
– Free arts & crafts and family-friendly activities in the Presidio Orchard (12–4 PM)
– 70+ local vendors through Mujeres Makers Market (10 AM–4 PM)
– Face painting, workshops, and dance performances
– DJ, Lotería, photo booth, and a Catrina Contest
– A community ofrenda (altar) to honor loved ones—bring a photo or memento to contribute
Through Nov. 3 — The Camarillo Public Library will present a Día de los Muertos Community Ofrenda
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a celebration to remember family and friends who have passed away. Join us in creating a community ofrenda, which is an offering place to remember past loved ones. Bring in copies of pictures to the 2nd Floor Reference Desk between October 13 and November 1.
Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Entertainment, Events, familia, Family, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Youth
Bilingual report — Nov. 7, 8, 9 — Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara presents Gaby Moreno
SANTA BARBARA — Join ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) for four free community performances by Gaby Moreno.
Armed with a warm, soulful sound, the Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated artist Gaby Moreno creates music that offers an intoxicating invitation into her musical world for English and Spanish speakers alike.
Through Dec. 5 — New Atrium Gallery exhibition: ‘Journey Through the Mind’ by Andrew Rodriguez at Ventura County Government Center
Advertorial, Business, Commentary, Family, Finance, Food, Government, Health, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth
Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Last Chance to Make a Difference in 2024!
The clock is ticking! This is your last chance to donate in 2024 and support SBCFAN’s vital work to strengthen Santa Barbara County’s food system.
Every dollar counts, and your contribution goes directly toward building programs that empower our local food producers, tackle food inequity, and create a more resilient, sustainable future. With your help, we’ve already accomplished so much this year, and with your continued support, 2025 will be even brighter.
Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation — Taxpayers – You Can Make An Immediate Impact TODAY
We had a tremendous year in 2024, achieving significant victories for taxpayers like you. Yet, despite our successes, there is more work to do to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency in our local government. We’re calling on you for your financial support to continue this vital work.
In 2024, we made a real difference:
CSUCI staff member/alumna plays young Jenni Rivera in a major motion picture about the superstar’s life
CAMARILLO — A CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) alumna and current employee is appearing in a major motion picture about music superstar Jenni Rivera, who succeeded in the male-dominated world of banda, mariachi, and norteñogenres of regional Mexican music.
STEM Transfer Outreach Coordinator Tatiana Juarez, who graduated with a degree in Health Science, plays young Jenni Rivera in the movie “Jenni,” which was released Friday, Dec. 6 in select theaters and on a bilingual streaming service called ViX.
Juarez, who is part of the first generation in her family to earn a college degree, was born in Ventura and raised in Oxnard. Her parents grew up in the U.S. after being brought here from Mexico as children. Juarez’s mom works as a medical clerk and her dad works a variety of jobs related to construction and architecture.
Business, Cultural, Educación, Education, Elections, En español, Events, familia, Family, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Women
Bilingual report — Mayor Pedro Chavez and Vice Mayor Carlos Juarez Assume Prominent Roles in Santa Paula City Council
SANTA PAULA — In a ceremonial meeting held on the evening of Dec. 11, 2024, the City of Santa Paula celebrated the appointment of Pedro Chavez as the City’s 123rd Mayor and Carlos Juarez as Vice Mayor. The meeting also marked the swearing-in of newly elected Councilmember Gabriela Ornelas, the election of Councilmember and former Mayor, Leslie Cornejo, and a heartfelt recognition of outgoing Councilmember and former Mayor Andy Sobel for his six years of dedicated service.
Well-known for his service to the city and his ties to the community, Mayor Chavez, who was appointed Vice Mayor in 2023, expressed his gratitude and vision for the future:
“Thank you to the People of Santa Paula for allowing me to serve as a Member of the Santa Paula City Council these past two years and my sincerest gratitude to my Council colleagues for electing me as the 123rd Mayor of this extraordinary City. My leadership, skills, and talents are built upon the foundation of thirty years of experience working in both the public and private sector and my journey as an immigrant in search of the American dream, so I’m deeply honored – as a public servant – to work collectively to revitalize Santa Paula and build its future through shared governance and community engagement.”
Commentary, Cultural, familia, Family, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Opinion, Politics, Women, Youth
Bilingual commentary — The Devastating Costs of Mass Deportations
One of the factors that swept Donald Trump back into power and onto the world stage was his inexhaustible and malicious exaggeration of the “immigrant problem.” Images of immigrants eating pets and walking into kitchens and slitting our throats danced in his supporters’ heads as they marked their ballots last month.
Many of us realize, intuitively, that “mass deportation” of “all the illegals” is hardly possible without great damage to the American economy and to our personal lives.
Not wanting to rely on my “intuition,” I searched online for some hard numbers. The information I uncovered was shocking. A “special report” by the American Immigration Council (AIC) laid out the devastating consequences of such a massive operation.
Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Elections, Family, Finance, Food, Government, Health, Home, Local, News, Opinion, Politics, Public Safety, Seniors, Women, Youth
Guest contribution — American Immigration Council — This Week in Immigration
Biden makes critical last-minute change to help combat USCIS backlogs. More options available. Immigrant farmworkers make our holiday meals possible
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President Biden has just over one month left in office. He can still take decisive action to protect people at risk of indiscriminate immigration enforcement.
Among other priorities, the Council encourages the administration to protect DACA recipients; extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status for certain countries; and rescind remaining Trump-era immigration regulations.
Read more: Urgent Last Requests for the Biden Administration
Cultural, En español, familia, Family, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Salud, Seniors, Women, Youth
Bilingual report — Kaiser Permanente: Feeling Stressed This Holiday Season? You’re Not Alone
There’s a common perception that the holiday season is a time for joy and happiness. After all, as the saying goes, ‘It’s the best time of the year.’
But for many people, the holidays actually present themselves to be a very stressful time that may cause anxiety and depression for a variety of reasons.
“Feeling lonely and stressed during the holidays is a common experience for many,” said Dr. Neel Doshi, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “The stress is often triggered by factors like the absence of loved ones, social isolation, unmet expectations around the festive season, comparisons to idealized holiday portrayals, and the added pressure of family gatherings and gift-giving.
State announces new rule requiring advance notice of agricultural pesticide use
“We’ve been fighting for better protections from hazardous pesticides for many years, including the simple right to know about planned chemical use in our neighborhoods,” said Noemi Chico, a teacher’s assistant in Salinas. “California has taken a step in the right direction, but what we really need to know is whether an application is planned for next door or a mile across town.”
CSUCI students promote cutting-edge High Performance Computing with national competitions and a campus club
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students and their mentors are preparing for the world of big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by learning and sharing all they can about High-Performance Computing or HPC.
HPC is a way of combining a network of computers to create a more powerful system designed to handle data or problems too big for one computer. There’s a growing demand for expertise in HPC, given the rise of AI, machine learning and data-intensive tasks across various industries like scientific research, finance, and healthcare. Job growth for HPC is expected to be significantly faster than the average for all occupations.
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County — Did You Know ….
SJFVC is more than meets the eye …
“We didn’t realize how much the Social Justice Fund Board and Staff does for the Fellows – it’s more than just grants; it’s a recipe to cultivate leaders consisting of mentorship, coaching, business skills education and support.” ~ Meenal and Kris Kelkar, longtime donors.
Bilingual report — Santa Barbara farming family dedicates lands to support recovery of iconic endangered Gaviota Coast plant
SANTA BARBARA — When the Harris family’s real estate agent unexpectedly disclosed the presence of Gaviota tarplant, a federally endangered plant, on the property of their potential dream farm back in 2021, they had to make a choice: should they look elsewhere or embrace it?
“Part of me thought it was pretty scary having an endangered species on the property, but then the other part of me thought about how exciting it was,” said Craig Harris, as he recounted the important decision he and his wife, Aira, had to make about whether or not to move forward with the purchase of the property north of Arroyo Hondo Creek off U.S. Highway 101. “In the end, we embraced the journey and said, alright, let’s do this.”
Assemblymember Irwin receives ‘Policy Legacy Award’ from The Campaign for College Opportunity
“In this milestone year, we are honored to celebrate those who have shared our vision of achieving student-centered transformation in higher education. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin is one of these fearless leaders,” said Jessie Ryan, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity. “Assemblymember Irwin has stood courageously to end exclusionary remedial course placement practices that were derailing the college dreams of many community college students. She has held the line over the past decade to close equity gaps, ensuring that all students have access and succeed in the transfer-level courses that support their college dreams.”
Ventura County realtors providing grants to Mountain Fire victims
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County residents affected by the Mountain Fire are eligible to apply for grants of up to $1,000, the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR) announced on Dec. 19. The funds are part of a $125,000…
UCSB — The Current — ‘Season’s greetings from our home to yours’
Wishing you gorgeous sunsets and bright horizons
Before signing off for the year, check out our Most Viewed Stories of 2024. Then meet us right back here on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, when The Current will return to your inbox with more research news, features and exciting UC Santa Barbara content.