April 28, 2024
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Street smarts: Ventech hosts talk on James Webb Space Telescope

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Ventech, an emerging venture and technology forum, will be hosting a talk revolving around The James Webb Space Telescope, a revolutionary achievement by some of the top minds at NASA and other technology companies, aimed at ushering in a new era of cosmic exploration.

The forum will be led by special speaker, Dr. Matthew Greenhouse, an esteemed NASA JWST Lead Project Scientist, who will share his insights and expertise about the telescope’s main mission.

The event will be on Nov. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cabrillo Pavilion. To purchase tickets, visit Ventech.org/events-1.

At the event, Greenhouse will delve into the engineering, technology, and scientific achievements of the James Webb Space Telescope and shed light on the remarkable discoveries it has made since its launch. 

The JWST was launched in 2021 and has uncovered and also captured many astonishing moments in outer space.

Companies based on the Central Coast, including Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne, Moorpark-based for Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense and Next Intent, a manufacturing company in San Luis Obispo and even Raytheon Vision Systems, played an instrumental role in ensuring the successful deployment of these cutting-edge JWST infrared cameras. 

According to a press release, one of the top features on the JWST are its infrared sensors, which give it the ability to capture light that has traversed the cosmos for 13 billion years, spanning back to the beginning of time.

From the farthest reaches of the universe, the JWST infrared sensors possess the incredible capability to observe the birth of stars and galaxies over an almost unfathomable expanse of time. 

To learn more about the event and about Greenhouse, visit Ventech.org/events-1.

ONIONS RECALL

Oxnard-based Gills Onions has voluntarily recalled its branded fresh diced onions products out of an “abundance of caution” due to a salmonella outbreak that has left more than a dozen hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Agriculture department on Oct. 24. The outbreak of salmonella is linked to bagged, precut onions that has sickened at least 73 people in 22 states, including 15 who were hospitalized, according to the FDA. Gills Onions recalled packages of iced yellow onions, red onions, onions and celery and a mix of onions, celery and carrots, known as mirepoix, as a result. According to a filing with the FDA, the products that have been recalled had a use-by date of August 2023 and are no longer for sale in stores, but consumers may have them — or foods made with them — in freezers. Consumers should not eat, sell or serve the onions for foods made with them, health officials said. 

GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Captain John J. Sax Foundation Inaugural Golf Tournament and Luncheon will be held on Nov. 5 and is open to the public for anyone to join. The golf tournament will be held at the Tierra Rejada Golf Course in Moorpark with the cost to participate being $125 per person and $500 for an foursome. For more information or to register visit johnnyourhero.org.

GOOD WORKS

• Delta Liquid Energy in Paso Robles is hosting its annual holiday donation drive, which started Nov. 1 and is going through Dec. 4. Having already committed $7,500 as a company, this year, all contributions will go to the Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles, the Community Action Partnership of Kern County, Friends of Tulare County, the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County, the Spirit of Santa Paula, and the Salvation Army. 

• One805 held its Fall One805LIVE! Festival with headliner Maroon 5 in September and announced it raised more than $800,000 to support Santa Barbara County first responders. 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. We hope the money is put to good use!

• On Nov. 14, in honor of National Philanthropy Day, The Association of Fundraising Professionals Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter will be hosting a celebration event at the Santa Barbara Zoo, honoring members of the community for their efforts. Those being celebrated include: 

  • Philanthropist of the Year, Santa Barbara County: The Ann Jackson Family Foundation
  • Philanthropist of the Year, Ventura County: Doug Yarrow
  • Volunteer of the Year, Santa Barbara County: Ahmad Nooristani for Savie Health
  • Volunteer of the Year, Ventura County: Mary Looby for Ventura County Fire Department Community Service Volunteer
  • Professional Fundraiser of the Year: Stephanie Wilson, CFRE at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
  • Youth in Philanthropy: Jackson Gillies
  • Champions for Social Justice: Simone Akila, Jordan Killebrew, and Chiany Dri at Juneteenth Santa Barbara

GRANT MONEY

Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff and District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced the award of a second $2.5 million grant from the United States Department of Justice in support of the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. The Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (VCSAKI) is a multi-agency countywide effort to test every sexual assault kit for the presence of DNA and investigate unsolved sexual assault cases. Approximately 3,000 kits have been located and will be tested as part of this initiative.

FINAL SCENES

BRIGHT TIMES AHEAD: The Santa Barbara Zoo’s annual ZooLights, Santa Barbara’s brightest holiday tradition, will be coming back another year from Nov. 15 through Jan. 14.

COMPANY SHOWDOWN: The 2023 Hunger Heroes Corporate Showdown, a six-week charitable competition, began on Oct. 30 and includes eight local companies. Hosted by the FoodBank of Santa Barbara County, the competition tallies financial donations, food contributions, social media outreach and volunteer hours. The Foodbank’s goal is to raise $50,000.

FESTIVAL TIME: The Buellton Fall Festival returns on Nov. 11 with live music and a ton of food and drink lined up for the local community.