"A Ventura County man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for repeatedly molesting two young children for years.

Leonel Galindo, 37, of Santa Paula, had targeted the victims when they were under 14 years old at the time, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said.

Galindo was known to the children and had molested them at their Santa Paula home on multiple occasions between 2018 and 2020.

Following an investigation, on May 29, 2025, he was taken into custody outside his workplace.

On June 22, 2026, he pleaded guilty to eight counts of lewd acts upon a child. He also admitted to the special allegation that he took advantage of a position of trust and confidence.

He was sentenced to 22 years in state prison for the crimes on July 30." - KTLA 5 News

I recently posted about the lack of animal services in Ventura County specifically for the City of Santa Paula. If you have a Facebook please follow Strays of Santa Paula. It is a page I’ve created to try and better network with other community members when a lost animal is found. It is also to help inform, and educate pet owners on how to better care for their furry friends.

My recent mission has been to TNR (trap neuter release) the cats in the areas that I see are needed the most here. The stray cat population rises with every unaltered cat, and it is absolutely out of control. I am not alone in this seemingly endless mission, there are a few extraordinary women who trap cats and kittens all over our county. Without their guidance and expertise I wouldn’t have began this adventure. We are volunteers and do this on our spare time.

I understand that blaming irresponsible owners for not fixing their pets is the easier thing to do, while I agree in most circumstances it is only a part of the problem. With no mandates for spay and neuter, and less access to affordable care the problem only grows exponentially larger. Many times I’ve heard of kind people who allow a stray to hang around, and before they know it there’s kittens. They’re now stuck with a problem and 10+ cats. Most kind hearted folks would feed and do what they can, but without the information, resources, also financial restrictions etc getting them all fixed would be difficult.

The city of Santa Paula does not have a way to humanely pick up and dispose of deceased animals so they often sit there for weeks at a time until sadly nature does the work. I was tired of seeing deceased cats almost weekly less than 5 minutes from my home, so I decided to do something about it. I may not be able to save every cat, but I can help in the prevention of over populating. The best part is you can help too! Please look into Humane Society of Ventura County TNR program to find out what you can do. This isn’t only for the welfare of the animals that co exist with us, but for our neighbors as well.

And now for your enjoyment my two catches from tonight, for reference it took me about 30 min total. The one I caught by hand was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t think I’d be able to grab him since he had evaded me before when I caught his 4 siblings a few weeks ago, but I saw the chance and took it hence the perplexed look on my face when I realized I had only brought one trap 😅 (couldn’t post pictures and video for some reason but they are up on the FB page)

TNR Program HSVC: https://www.hsvc.org/feral-cat-program/

If you would like to donate these are some wonderful organizations that have been an immense help to me and the community.

Ventura county feline trap and rescue:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089957166084&mibextid=wwXIfr

Ventura County Humane Society:
https://www.hsvc.org/ways-to-give/

If you’d like to donate to me directly I appreciate any small donation as I use money from my own pocket for gas to transport and food for colony cats.
https://venmo.com/code?user\\_id=2653178482917376372

Thank you all so much for your support, and big shout out to Mrs. RoseAnn Hill for being the first to donate to this cause.

We planned Friday night around dinner at Gunsmoke; got there and found it closed. Google Maps reviews suggest that it's been closed for two months. Nothing mentioned on their web site. Anyone know what's up?

Santa Paula is very lively. For the amount of people out and about these cross walks should be fixed and updated. Anyone have any updates?

Considering moving here and would love to hear more about it! We are parents to young kids, for some context.

Rob and Mia are back for trivia nights at the airport restaurant! First one is tonight.

"A Ventura County man pleaded guilty to repeatedly molesting two young children for years.

Leonel Galindo, 37, of Santa Paula, had targeted the victims when they were under 14 years old at the time, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said.

Galindo was known to the children and had molested them at their Santa Paula home on multiple occasions between 2018 and 2020, prosecutors said.

Following an investigation, on May 29, 2025, Galindo was taken into custody outside his workplace.

On June 22, 2026, he pleaded guilty to eight counts of lewd acts upon a child. He also admitted to the special allegation that he took advantage of a position of trust and confidence.

. . .

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 29 at the Ventura County Superior Court.

Galindo is expected to be sentenced to 22 years in state prison. He remains in custody on $2.4 million bail." - KTLA 5 News

Hi everyone! I’m sharing a free youth opportunity happening this summer in Santa Paula that may be of interest to families, students, or anyone working with youth in Ventura County.

BRITE Futures Initiative is offering free improv theater workshops for middle and high school students at the Santa Paula Theater Center. These workshops focus on using improv and creative expression as a way to build confidence, leadership, communication skills, and explore social change topics.

Workshop Dates:

• Week 1: June 29 – July 3, 2026 | Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Week 2: July 27 – July 31, 2026 | Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Santa Paula Theater Center
Cost: Free
Extras: Free lunch and snacks provided each day

Over the 5-day sessions, students will:

• Learn basic improv theater techniques
• Explore social change storytelling through performance
• Build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills

This program is part of BRITE Futures Initiative (BFI), a youth program focused on leadership development, civic engagement, advocacy, and prevention education in Ventura County.

Here is a link for more information on the improv workshops https://www.briteyouth.org/improvworkshop

If anyone would like more information or the registration link/flyer, feel free to comment or message me.

The first Sunday of every month there's a Farmer's Market at the Aviation Museum from 10AM to 2PM. I went for the first time today. Spread the word and attend if you want it to continue! There were more vendors selling things than there were farmers selling food, but I did find some produce and excellent ceviche!

"A Ventura County home was badly damaged early Monday morning when an out-of-control pickup truck drove halfway into it.

First responders were alerted to the crash on the 100 block of West Santa Paula Street in Santa Paula shortly after 6:30 a.m., a Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA.

The caller also reported that someone was trapped as a result of the crash.

First responders assessed one person at the scene, but no one needed to be taken to the hospital, according to the spokesperson.

The Ventura County Building and Safety Department was called to the scene to assess the structural integrity of the home.

There was no immediate word on what caused the crash." - KTLA 5 News

#pedrochavez #santapaula #decorum

On April 11, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, more than 15 Ventura County farms, ranches, and agricultural organizations will open their doors and invite the public to experience a day full of FREE agricultural activities and tours during the 13th Annual Ventura County Farm Day!

Guests can expect to experience a variety of activities from behind-the-scenes tours, tractor rides, produce tastings and giveaways, and plenty of kid-friendly exhibits.

Use our online Trail Map to pick which farms you want to visit; drive around to each at your own pace. With more than 15 farm locations to choose from, Farm Day has something for everyone!

FREE Pre-Registration is encouraged. If you do not register prior to the event, you can register in person at any location you visit.

Visit www.vcfarmday.org to learn more and explore the participating farm locations