VENTURA COUNTY — Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC), the largest developer of affordable homes in Ventura County, is excited to announce the addition of two new leaders to its team and the promotion of valued staff members. The addition and promotion of these remarkable individuals reflect Cabrillo EDC’s goal of strengthening its leadership and enhancing the ability to serve the community with high-quality affordable housing solutions and resident services.
SANTA PAULA — Over 680 children and family members attended the Todos Juntos Por Los Niños Children’s Festival held at Glen City Elementary in Santa Paula on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event hosted by the Isabella Project was designed especially for children ages 0 to 5, creating a joyful space for hundreds of families to connect, play and learn about the vast array of support services available to them.
The MultiCultural Center and UCSB’s Early Childhood Care and Education Services partner on a community-based Dia de los Muertos celebration for children and families.
Mariachi Camarillo
Saturday, Nov 2, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
We are so proud to be a part of the free Dia de Los Muertos celebration hosted by the Oxnard Performing Arts Center this Saturday! Don’t miss Mariachi Camarillo, brought to you by the Ventura Music Festival, from 6:30 – 8:00pm.
Learn More – OPAC
VENTURA — At the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, October 29, the County of Ventura celebrated 28 dedicated employees for their remarkable commitment to public service across various county agencies. This quarterly ceremony is a highlight of the County’s Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program, honoring those who have devoted 25 years or more to enriching the lives of Ventura County residents. Their unwavering service exemplifies the spirit of community and dedication that defines Ventura County.
“Our nation’s ports are critical to creating opportunity here in America, offering good-paying jobs, moving goods, and powering our economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s historic $3 billion investment builds on President Biden’s vision of growing our economy while ensuring America leads in globally competitive solutions of the future. Delivering cleaner technologies and resources to U.S. ports will slash harmful air and climate pollution while protecting people who work in and live nearby ports communities.”
OXNARD — SpaceReturn///// The California Space ClusterTM proudly launches its mission to lead the future of space industry focused advanced manufacturing through a powerful blend of advanced technology, collaboration, and community-driven sustainability. With a vision that goes beyond conventional manufacturing and ideas, SpaceReturn/////TM is dedicated to addressing the most complex challenges of the space sector, setting a new standard for regional impact in advanced manufacturing.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) is pleased to announce the following winners of logo design contests for the 2025 Academic Decathlon, Science Fair, Battle of the Books, and Mock Trial. Approximately 180 entries were submitted by students from throughout Ventura County.
VENTURA COUNTY — Mike Sanders, regional director of American Medical Response (AMR) Ventura County (AMR Ventura County) and its affiliate Gold Coast Ambulance (GCA) — Ventura County’s primary ambulance care provider for more than 70 years — was selected by Global Medical Response (GMR) to lead AMR’s response to Hurricane Helene and Milton.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College celebrated the grand opening of its new Pride Center on October 30. The Pride Center functions as a dedicated, inclusive space for LGBTQ students and allies on the college’s Santa Maria campus.
“As we open the doors of our new Pride Center, we reaffirm our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Our goal is to foster a community that not only embraces diversity but actively ensures that every student feels safe and valued.”
Great news! A new project is laying the track for new passenger trains to Santa Barbara County – literally.
$22 million in State grant funding has been awarded to construct the Ortega Siding, which will significantly increase the capacity of the LOSSAN rail corridor – which is the second busiest in the United States.
If you’ve ridden the Pacific Surfliner recently you may have noticed that often trains are held at Seacliff or the Santa Barbara Station. The Ortega siding project will change that, by allowing for bi-directional movement that lets trains pass one another.
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VENTURA — With the November 5, 2024 Election Day less than a week away, Michelle Ascencion, County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, and her Elections team are not only planning for the busiest voting days that remain ahead, they are also preparing for the long night of election results reporting that follows. The 8:00 p.m. official close of the Election starts the clock when candidates, voters and the media all eagerly await the voting results.
One week ago, we came together for the Isabella Project’s first children’s festival: Todos Juntos por Los Niños – Everyone Together for Our Children. What an unforgettable day! Designed especially for children ages 0-5, the event exceeded all expectations, creating a joyful space for hundreds of families to connect, play, and learn about the vast array of support services available to them.
The Center for Economics of Social Issues invites you to save the date for its upcoming conference, which will be held on February 28th at California Lutheran University’s campus. The conference will bring a vast collection of data processed carefully and presented clearly to shed light on the challenges of enjoying a dignified life on the central coast of California. Meaningful human development rests on the ability to live a dignified life.
Farm Day 2024
Saturday, November 2
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
@Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula
Experience over 15 Ventura County farms, ranches, and agricultural organizations as they open their doors for Ventura County Farm Day! Visit the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula for Master Gardener-led tours, a selfie station, and a stand from the Santa Paula Certified Farmers Market. Plus, don’t miss a special talk at 11:00 a.m. by VC Poet Laureate and Community Activist Luzmaria Espinosa, who will share her experiences as a farmworker.
Farm Day is self-guided — explore the locations on the Farm Day Trail Map at your own pace, and we hope you put us on your map for the day! For more information, click HERE.
It has been an exciting month! We broke ground on Calle Joaquin Apartments in San Luis Obispo and marked the Grand Opening of People’s Place in Santa Paula. To learn more about these properties, visit pshhc.org/rental-pipeline.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Artwork by 13-year-old Aarush Mane, an 8th grader at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park, was selected by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to appear in its printed 2025 Water Calendar and digital library.
MWD, which provides water to 19 million people in Southern California, invited students across its service area, including those in the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD), to submit water-themed artwork for the “Being Water Wise Is…” Student Art Calendar Contest earlier this year. This marks the third consecutive year that a student from Oak Park has had their artwork featured in the calendar.
In Rome, Schooler will present alongside research colleague Madeline Gross, assistant project scientist. Together, they are investigating how art can induce a state of cognitive openness, allowing viewers to approach the world with greater mental flexibility.
VENTURA — The Ventura Police Department is proud to announce it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads.
“Securing this grant is a game-changer for our efforts to enhance our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” said Sergeant Mark Knackstedt. “With a focus on high-risk areas, education, and fostering safe habits, we aim to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone.”
DOD, CMTC AND CASCADE: CMTC & CASCADE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING SERIES: MODERN FIREWALLS
October 29 @ 10:00 am
With support from the DoD, CMTC and CASCADE offer a series of no-cost Cybersecurity Trainings for executives, operations and IT. Starting September 19th and ending November 5th, the trainings will be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT. Each of the 14 trainings will focus on a specific cybersecurity topic.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
VENTURA — The Ventura City Council has appointed Javan Rad as its new City Attorney at its meeting on October 8, 2024.
“Javan stood out among a highly qualified pool of candidates, demonstrating exceptional experience, extensive knowledge, and strong leadership qualities,” said Mayor Joe Schroeder. “The City Council is confident that Javan is the right person to guide the City Attorney’s Office into the future.”
VENTURA — On Friday, Oct.18, the County of Ventura and the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) hosted the inaugural State of the Hospitals event geared towards industry and community leaders, to present the current challenges hospitals and health care delivery systems are facing and highlight the innovation and achievements of our local hospitals. The free, informative event featured the participation of executive leadership across the six acute care hospitals in Ventura County: Adventist Health, Community Memorial Hospital, Dignity Health – St. John’s Hospital, Los Robles Health System, Ventura County Medical Center, and Vista Del Mar.
Booking your tickets for our upcoming events has never been easier! Visit our website now to quickly secure your seats for an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss out—book your tickets online today!
Warm regards,
Teatro De Las Americas
UPLIFT CENTRAL COAST REGIONAL PLAN PART II REPORT
Uplift Central Coast submitted the Regional Plan Part II, a comprehensive report to the State of California, in September 2024. The report identifies impactful, equitable ways to improve the local economy, dives deep into research findings and identifies strategies.
View the report HERE
Summary Reports
Executive Summary Report CLICK HERE
Community Summary Report CLICK HERE
Alondra Gaytán began her career with the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) in 2014 and currently serves as the Director of Strategic Relations, overseeing vital relationships with EDC’s partners and stakeholders. During her tenure as Client Services Manager, Alondra successfully managed a team of 60 business advisors, focusing on strategies for client retention, engagement and advisor recruitment. Recognizing her leadership and contributions to the business community, she was honored as one of the Pacific Coast Business Times’ “40 under 40” in 2022. In addition to her professional achievements, she is actively involved in the community, serving on the board of Bell Arts Factory. Alondra is also a part of the Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA) Cohort XXX, where a new, diverse group of emerging leaders participates in a nine-month program designed to explore key issues shaping Ventura County.
Until almost 10 years ago, “populism” was not a major political force in American politics. Some might consider the Obama years to have represented a benign form of modern nascent populism with its appeal to a younger, more progressive segment of our population. For this group, Barack Obama offered “hope” that a country such as ours, burdened by a racist past, could once and for all dismantle the invisible wall that previously had protected the privileged centers of power in this country.
VENTURA — Whether you send in your vote by mail ballot or go to a vote center to vote in person, the time is NOW to make your voice heard for the November 5th Presidential Election.
More than a half-million ballots were mailed to Ventura County registered voters in early October. At the same time, the Elections Office at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura opened for early in-person voting. This week, beginning Saturday, October 26, an 11-day vote center will open in each city in the county, allowing additional opportunities for early voting. More than forty more vote centers open beginning November 2. Vote Centers are open every day through Election Day, and you can visit any location in the county.
SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health, the local Medi-Cal health plan serving nearly 240,000 members in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, announced its commitment to a $6 million investment to support access to healthcare through the newly developed Medi-Cal Capacity, Access and Workforce Development Grant Program. The investment is intended to expand capacity through strategic funding aimed at healthcare provider recruitment, workforce training and education, and overall provider practice support. Aligned with the needs identified in the latest Community Assessment Reports for Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County, this 3-year grant program, beginning January 2025, will focus on behavioral health, pediatrics and primary care, and specialty care services. CenCal Health partners with over 5,000 physicians, hospitals, and other providers in delivering health care services to its members.
