An April Message from Senator Limón

California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Scholarship

The CA Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation is currently accepting online applications from eligible students for its scholarship. The program was established to assist deserving students to meet their educational expenses. 

To be eligible students must meet the following requirements: 

• Be a full time student (undergraduate or graduate) in good academic standing at an accredited college or university, OR
• Be a graduating high school senior with written proof of acceptance at an accredited institution of higher learning.
• Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
• Submit a completed online application with all required documents by the application deadline. (Please note: Items submitted separately will not be considered.) 

Complete scholarship requirements and details (including the application) are now available on the Foundation website: www.CLLCF.org. 

Answers to frequently asked questions can be found at: https://www.cllcf.org/faq 

**The deadline for submitting the online application and all supporting documentation is June 1, 2024, by 5:00 pm. There are no exceptions to this deadline.**

State Board of Education Student Member

The State Board of Education (SBE) has officially kicked off a statewide recruitment effort for the next Student Member. The student Boardmember is appointed to the position by the Governor will:

• Serve a one-year term from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026.
• Attend all SBE meetings, which includes a minimum of two days every other month for approximately six meetings per year.
• Have their voice heard and vote on educational policies vital to students and schools in California.
• Receive a $100 stipend per day of service on official business. The SBE will also cover expenses for lodging and meals in the amount allowed by state regulations. 

Complete application packages must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024. 

Interested students can submit their application via email at: sbe@sbe.ca.gov. 

More details can be found here.

Home Energy Workshop

Tri-county residents are getting incentives from $4,000 to $11,000 for upgrading to heat pump water heaters. Is a heat pump water heater right for me?!

Join 3C-REN to discuss the pros and cons of heat pump water heaters with expert Gregory Holladay and local residents that live with heat pump water heaters. You will be provided with answers to questions such as:

• Is a heat pump water heater appropriate for my home? 
• Are they really that much better than gas water heaters? 
• Should I wait until my gas water heater burns out to upgrade?
• Will I run out of hot water?

Don’t miss out—register now!

Thursday, April 11, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Zoom
Also available in Spanish on April 17th here. 

Earth Day Events

Looking to celebrate Earth Day 2024? Take a look at a few events happening in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Ynez, Ventura, and Ojai in honor of this annual celebration.

The global organizer of Earth Day — www.EarthDay.org — declared this year’s theme to be Planet vs. Plastics. “This theme is committed to advocating for widespread awareness on the health risks of plastics, rapidly phasing out single-use plastics and pushing for a strong U.N. Treaty on Plastic Pollution by the end of 2024.”

Earth Day Festival

Join the MERITO Foundation on their 10th anniversary for their Earth Day Festival in downtown Ventura in collaboration with the City of Ventura Sustainability Division. 

Families, friends, and all community members are invited to come together to learn, celebrate and protect mother nature. Details can be found here.

Community Cleanup Events

Earth Day Event: April 20, 2024 – Help Beautify Goleta by participating in the community cleanup at Bella Vista Park (intersection of Padova Drive and Placer Drive) from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

The community cleanup will be led by Spotlight Captain the Montessori Center School of Santa Barbara. A limited edition “Beautify Goleta Earth Day 2024” volunteer t-shirt will be available for participants while supplies last. There will also be Waste Free Goleta & Go Green Goleta themed prize giveaways for event participants. 

Bulky Item Drop Off: April 20, 2024

The FREE Bulky Item Drop Off event is 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Brandon School (195 Brandon Drive). Any drop-offs before or after the event will not be accepted. No electronics, medicine or hazardous waste will be accepted. You are encouraged to arrive early. The event will close early if capacity is reached before 1:00 p.m. 

Beach Cleanup: April 20, 2024

New to Beautify Goleta, there will be a beach cleanup at Ellwood Beach from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. It will be led by Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson. The beach cleanup includes litter and debris collection from Ellwood Beach. 

Please meet at the Ellwood Beach access trail, closest to the ocean off Santa Barbara Shores Drive. 

Beautify Goleta is not possible without the help of volunteers and captains. Sign up to participate at www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta and learn more by watching this video. 

Trailpalooza 2024 Outdoor Festival

“Run, walk, bike and enjoy a day of fun April 13 during the Trailpalooza 2024 Outdoor Festival aimed at supporting local trails.

The event is organized by Santa Maria Valley Open Space, which aims to establish public trails in a natural setting for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding that will allow passive and spontaneous access and to serve the Santa Maria Valley and surrounding areas.” Learn more here!