Activities at a Ventura County elementary school as part of Clean Air Day 2021.
Oct. 5 is California Clean Air Day and this year the events celebrating the day on the South Coast will honor former Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez for her life and legacy of fighting for clean air in the County.
“This year’s California Clean Air Day holds special meaning because Supervisor Ramirez worked so tirelessly to improve air quality in local communities,” said Mary Anne Rooney, Board President for the Oxnard Harbor District. The Port of Hueneme is a founding member of the Clean Air Day Ventura County Working Group and continues to participate as a regional stakeholder and deeply committed public agency, which passed an ordinance to seek a ‘decarbonized zero emissions’ future for its operations last November. “We invite everyone to participate and take the pledge and become active on the Central Coast.”
Individuals are invited to match the hundreds of organizational partners who have taken a clean air pledge to do at least one thing in their community for clean air. The clean air pledge encourages actions such as taking public transit, biking, planting trees, cleaning air filters, carpooling and more. “Pledgers” come together to take collective action on or by California Clean Air Day.
“We may have lost our friend Carmen Ramirez, but we can continue her fight to ensure our community is safe to breathe in. Let’s learn more about taking our local bus system or purchasing a new or used electric car!” said Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams, who served as Chair of the regional working group along with Ramirez.
This year’s Clean Air Day South Central Coast is sponsored by Clean Power Alliance (CPA). CPA is the fifth largest electricity provider in California, serving 30 cities throughout both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties as well as the unincorporated areas of both counties. CPA has the most customers receiving 100% renewable energy in the United States.
Clean Air Day Events in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
The public is invited to join in more than a dozen planned activities taking place for Clean Air Day in the two-county region.
Port of Hueneme Banana Festival
Saturday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m. | 105 Port Hueneme Rd., Port Hueneme
Featuring various nonprofits, the unveiling of an air quality monitor, shopping, and food.
The Port will unveil its second Air Quality Monitor, an EPA reference grade Athaelometer that will be placed at the Port’s gate to capture real time black carbon, soot, which is one of the constituents of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) specific to South Oxnard. A land acknowledgment by Chumash native indigenous representatives will also be held as well as a proclamation presentation in memory of recently deceased County Supervisor and environmental advocate Carmen Ramirez. Additionally, participants can see up front port zero emissions equipment such as hybrid electric cranes and electric container tractors. Clean Air Day micrograntees (projects funded specifically for Clean Air Day activities) will be highlighted as well.
There will be cars, vans, SUV’s, trucks and other electric equipment, even some vintage EV conversions and an electric boat.
Ride and Drive at the Ventura County Government Center
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura
The County of Ventura is partnering with Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance to host the FREE Ventura Electric Vehicle (EV) Ride and Drive event. The public is invited to test drive a variety of electric vehicles, learn from industry experts and enjoy food and giveaways.
The County of Ventura Sustainability Division is partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura to host an Adopt-a-tree event. Children enrolled in the Boys and Girls Saticoy clubhouse will receive an environmental education presentation on the benefits of trees, why they're important in cleaning the air, and how to care for trees. After, the kids will get to choose from a selection of native and drought tolerant plants to take home.
Oxnard Thursday Market EV Show
Thursday, Sept. 29, 9: a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Plaza Park, 500 S. C St., Oxnard
Plaza Park Farmers Market for an electric vehicle show. View the latest models, meet local experienced EV owners, and get your EV-related questions answered.
Oxnard Performing Arts Center: Sight+Sound Film Festival
Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. | Venues across Oxnard
A three-day film festival taking place across various venues in the city of Oxnard, Sight + Sound brings film segments covering narrative, docs, foreign films, experimental and student shorts. Events include food and afterparties
Native Plantpalooza and Eco Fest
Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Thousand Oaks
The Conejo Open Space Foundation is presenting a free educational event featuring dozens of eco-related exhibitors and fun activities for kids including butterfly experts from Betina's Little Farm and Butterfly Garden, beekeepers from the Los Angeles County Beekeeping Association, City of Thousand Oaks Sustainability group, noted wildflower painter and author Stacy Ruda Best, the National Wildlife Federation, National Park Service, Conejo Climate Coalition, Conejo Recreation & Park District, REI, the Conejo Valley Audubon Society, Westlake Garden Club, Conejo Valley Garden Club, Poison Free Conejo, and many more that will have native plants and other eco-related goodies for sale, as well as plenty of freebies.
Ventura Tree Alliance Oaktober tree planting
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Ventura
Celebrating OAKtober as a part of California Clean Air Day, Ventura Tree Alliance is planting 20 oak trees of varied species to shade the much used, but shade barren, bike path at Community Park. Partners include the City of Ventura's Urban Forestry Division, College Area Community Council and Ventura College. Volunteers are asked to bring a shovel, gloves, water and a hat and enjoy a morning outdoors doing something for the community!
Ventura County Clean Air Summit
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Gold Coast Transit District, 301 E. Third St., Oxnard
At this inaugural summit and expo, Gold Coast Transit District has invited key stakeholders and experts in clean transportation and climate action to convene and discuss topics in clean energy hydrogen fuel cell, micro-mobility, and vehicle electrification, while exploring other opportunities and connecting with leaders in both the public and private sector.
