LOMPOC — Allan Hancock College staff, faculty and students gathered at the college’s Lompoc Valley Center to bury a time capsule in celebration of the LVC on Feb. 18.
The metal time capsule, which was designed and fabricated by Hancock welding professor Gabriel Marquez, contains more than 20 items gathered by college staff and faculty that represent history at the college between 2020 and 2024. The capsule will be unearthed in 2049 when the LVC celebrates its 50th anniversary.
SANTA BARBARA — The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is excited to announce a grants pool of $1,250,000. On May 20, at the Celebration of Grants at the Lobero Theatre, the money will be distributed to local nonprofits for programs addressing the critical needs of women, children, and families in south Santa Barbara County.
The record-breaking grants pool makes the Women’s Fund one of the largest collective giving circles in the country. Since its founding by 12 local women in 2004, the organization has grown to over 1,400 members and has awarded nearly $13 million to nonprofits in the community over the past 20 years.
Microsoft team led by UC Santa Barbara physicists unveils first-of-its-kind topological qubit, paving the way for a more fault-tolerant quantum computer.
CSUCI joins 11 of the 23 campuses in the California State University system that have received the new Carnegie designation and is among 216 RCU universities across the country.
The RCU designation is a new classification intended to recognize institutions of higher education that have conducted a significant amount of valuable research but have previously been overlooked. Awardees spend at least $2.5 million on research on average in a single year, and this designation aims to acknowledge the growing research efforts in institutions that may not fit the criteria for a traditional “Research 1” (R1) status.
“Creston Classic Rodeo is pleased to present these funds to support local efforts to fill the needs of the Creston Community,” said CCR President Tom Bordonaro. “These funds will go a long way to building a facility for all Crestonians to enjoy as well as continue the over 60 year tradition of providing a pool for Creston kids.”
Saturday, February 22
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
@Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula
Explore the Agriculture Museum’s Helen K. Pidduck Garden and learn how to use the basic elements of earth, wind, fire, and water in home gardening strategies to support sustainable agriculture. Learn how to plan and create a productive food garden that thrives in Ventura County’s coastal climate. There will be a presentation at 11:30 am given by UC Master Gardener Terry Garman. This will be followed by two hands-on workshops: putting together an irrigation system and effective composting techniques.
Parker’s promotion marks a significant milestone in his distinguished 30-year career. Recognizing his dedication and leadership, Fire Chief Gardner stated, “Barry has consistently risen above expectations and stands in a league of his own. With this well-earned promotion, we are thrilled to recognize his unwavering commitment and professionalism.”
Lipay won the awards for Best Classical Compendium 2024 and Best Orchestral Performance 2024 at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles earlier this month alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Gustavo Dudamel. The awards recognized the orchestra’s recording of Revolución Diamantina, a ballet score by renowned Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz. Lipay engineered the recording alongside his father, Dmitriy Lipay.
In this workshop, we’ll focus on the impacts of the fashion industry and what we can do to lighten our footprint. Come meet local experts and enjoy fun activities!
In OLLI at CSUCI’s Spring II session, you can enjoy fascinating courses without the stress of grades or tests. Explore subjects including world history, physical geography, music, philosophy, environmental studies, and more—all for the joy of learning! We are also excited to offer even more flexibility with early morning and late afternoon classes, making it easier to fit learning into your schedule.
This free event will feature a variety of speakers and workshops in English and Spanish on increasing opportunities and removing obstacles for all students. Food, drinks, and language interpretation will be provided.
Keynote Presentation
We are thrilled to have a keynote presentation from Shane Safir and Dr. Jamila Dugan, the authors of Street Data, the landmark book about rethinking the ways data can be used to promote equity in schools.
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will join other CSU campuses across California on Feb. 23 for Super Sunday, a day when predominately Black and African American faith-based organizations gather to stress the importance of preparing for college.
This year’s Super Sunday event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (OPAC) at 800 Hobson Way in Oxnard. Super Sunday will include food, activities and entertainment, as well remarks from CSUCI President Richard Yao. Staff members from CSUCI will be available to provide information on the application and admission process for prospective CSUCI students.?
“Super Sunday in this iteration is designed to bring together community in celebration of the importance of education in our own backyard,” said CSUCI Vice President for Student Affairs Eboni Ford-Turnbow. “I look forward to how this event continues to grow and how community relationships support our students.”
A team led by research associate Jeff Prancevic provides the first ever predictions for the dynamic flooding and emptying of stream networks.
Read more about their findings
VENTURA — A winter whale watch excursion is the perfect way to gather with family and friends to witness the inspiring migration of Pacific Gray whales as they travel through the Santa Barbara Channel near Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island.
“This mammoth migration of more than 20,000 whales and 6,000 miles continues to remain a major attraction in Southern California,” said President Cherryl Connally of Island Packers. “Located in scenic Ventura Harbor Village, we invite visitors to plan on booking this “must-see” experience soon as part of their fun for the entire family Spring Break activities. “
Volume 20 / Number 73 / February 2025 Your Livable Communities Newsletter VISIT OUR WEBSITE For almost 20 years, the Ventura County Civic Alliance Livable Communities working group has been publishing its quarterly newsletter. These newsletters were grounded by the American…
The Ventura County Community Foundation, your community foundation, has been in awe of this county’s love and generosity since we first opened our doors in 1987, and when we come together and bring our passions and talents to support our neighbors, anything is possible. From community leadership to philanthropic consulting, we work hand-in-hand with our neighbors to envision an engaged and thriving community inspired by growing generosity.
We invite you to visit our brand-new website and get to know your community foundation below. You may learn something new about the good work happening in your community! Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey into the future of philanthropy in Ventura County.
Vincent holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Bucknell University and earned a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. He served as legal counsel for numerous departments at the City of Santa Barbara from 2004 until his retirement in 2018.
His previous board experience includes serving on various committees with the Foundation for Santa Barbara City College for ten years, including a four-year term as Board President. He is also active in volunteering and fundraising for several local charities such as Calm, the Alzheimer’s Association and Transition House.
VENTURA COUNTY — Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, was recognized last week by the California Association of Latino Superintendents & Administrators (CALSA) for his outstanding contributions to educational leadership. Dr. Morales received the prestigious M.A.S. Award—representing Mentorship, Advocacy, and Sponsorship—during the CALSA aPODERar Symposium in San Francisco.
The award was presented by Dr. Terry Walker, Director of the CALSA Women’s Leadership Network, who commended Dr. Morales for his commitment to creating opportunities for advancement in educational leadership.
Outside forces are conditioning our young people to absorb information from dubious sources via sound bites and swipes across tiny screens. As a result, it has become more challenging than ever to convince them that learning how to write—and write well—is increasingly important.
We could list countless indisputable reasons for the importance of learning how to write well. Among all those reasons for young people in particular, there are two that should serve as potent inducements: academic success and career advancement.
LULAC is proud to announce the official launch of El Pueblo Unido: A Resource Guide for Community Leaders—a vital tool designed to help key institutions navigate recent policy changes impacting immigrant communities.
This guide builds on El Escudo: Immigrant Rights and Resources Toolkit, which we launched just a few weeks ago. El Escudo serves as a one-stop shop for immigrants to understand their rights, prepare for potential deportation, and access critical resources. True to LULAC’s legacy of using El Escudo—“the shield”—to protect Latino communities from injustice, this latest resource shifts the focus to empowering community leaders so they can support and defend those most vulnerable.
The Center for Economics of Social Issues invites you to register now for its upcoming conference, which will be held on February 28th at California Lutheran University’s campus. We implore you to come and see what is going on around you. The conference will release a comprehensive study that sheds light on the urgent challenges of enjoying a dignified life on the central coast of California.
Trump Is Sending Migrants to Guantánamo Bay to Look Tough Your weekly summary from the Council. LATEST ANALYSIS Sending Migrants to Guantánamo Bay Is a Costly, Optics-Driven Shift in Immigration DetentionPresident Trump ordered the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand…
Ventura Music Festival Proudly Presents our Annual Gala Fundraiser
Bob Eubanks’ — BACKSTAGE WITH THE BEATLES
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Concert Experience and (optional) Intimate Award Dinner with Bob Eubanks & Ivor Davis
Saturday, March 22, 2025
5:00 PM Concert ? 7:30 PM Gala & Award Show
Top of the Harbor Room, Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach
“Public Texts: A Californian Visual Language” at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum explores how artists use text to challenge perception, critique culture and reflect California’s evolving identity.
I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to provide important safety information regarding the upcoming storm impacting our community.
The Ventura County Sheriff Office – Emergency Services and the National Weather Service are closely monitoring a moderate storm expected to impact Ventura County from Wednesday through Friday. Rainfall is anticipated to begin Wednesday morning, peak Thursday afternoon, and taper off by Friday morning.
Storm Details:
Rainfall Projections: 1”-3” along the coast and valleys, 3”-6” in the hills and mountains.
Rainfall Rates: .10”-.33”/hr, with the remote possibility of .50”-1”/hr during thunderstorms.
Wind: Gusty Westerly winds of 20-40 MPH throughout the region.
Residents are urged to stay updated with weather forecasts and monitor their homes for any changing conditions.
“The importance of this project to our City cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety. We sincerely appreciate the continued efforts of our state legislature and agency partners, who are committed to collaborating on these important improvements in Oxnard,” said Mayor Luis Mc Arthur.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura is thrilled to announce the official groundbreaking for Marina Park’s new playground. This project represents a key milestone in the revitalization of one of Ventura’s most treasured parks, delivering a modern and thoughtfully designed play space for the Pierpont Bay community and surrounding areas.
In 2022, the original playground was removed due to structural deterioration after years of exposure to seaside conditions. Plans were immediately made to replace the equipment with a more resilient design using traditional wood materials, better suited for the coastal environment.
Stoll, who previously had his own legal practice in Camarillo, advises companies in all areas of employment disputes. He has extensive experience in labor relations, with special focus on agriculture, wage and hour litigation, collective bargaining, employment risk analysis, personnel management employment contracts, union issues, sexual harassment/workplace violence prevention and management and supervisor training. He also represents clients at trial and in arbitrations.
SANTA BARBARA — On Friday, February 7, 2025, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) celebrated the official groundbreaking of the Bella Vista affordable housing project. The Bella Vista development is located at 200 N. La Cumbre Rd in Santa Barbara.
The 48-unit development will provide much-needed affordable housing for families with low and very low incomes. The project will feature a two and three-story building, with 48 apartments constructed on top of a podium. The development will also include a semi-subterranean garage with 58 parking spaces for the tenants and a 10 space surface parking lot for the guests accessed off Via Lucero.
“We want to ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate in our hands-on Farm-to-Food Lab programs. Covering transportation costs helps remove a major financial barrier,” says Caitlin Paulus-Case, SEEAG executive director. “We often hear from students that their trip to Farm Lab is their very first field trip. It leaves a lasting understanding of the connection between agriculture and the food we eat.”
