Click here for the entire e-newsletter About Us Programs For Caregivers Calendar of Activities Events Donate Contact Us Train Your Brain! CONNECTIONS Now Mondays & Wednesdays in Montecito: GOLETA 805-845-7442 Persons w/Memory Loss & Their Caregivers 2nd & 4th…
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United Way Seeks Volunteers for Income Tax Assistance Program
SANTA BARBARA — United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) is recruiting volunteers to help local families and individuals prepare their tax returns and practice financial responsibility as part of its annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Volunteer training…
Teen shows resilience through her life-long foster experience; shares how finally having a home and family impacted her life
The teen and Foster VC Kids are sharing her story to encourage Ventura County families to help by fostering, mentoring or providing permanency. VENTURA COUNTY — Keanna, age 18, is sharing the story of her life-long foster experience with the hope…
Pew Research Center’s Hispanic Trends update for Dec. 21 — U.S. unauthorized immigrant total dips to lowest level in a decade
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Hispanic Trends December 21, 2018 U.S. unauthorized immigrant total dips to lowest level in a decade The number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in more than a…
Bilingual report: FEMA Eligibility Letter May Not Be Last Word on Disaster Assistance
SACRAMENTO — If you applied for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and received a letter or text message saying you were not eligible for disaster aid, you should know that the first communication may not be the…
Santa Barbara City College update for Dec. 21 — SBCC to offer Evening College
Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter December 2018 SBCC to offer Evening College Juggling work, school and family prevents many college students from enrolling full time, making it difficult to persist and succeed. In 2017, SBCC was awarded a Federal…
Bilingual commentary: On Christmas Day…
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…
MONEY magazine ranks CSUCI 4th best college in the nation for transfer students
CAMARILLO — The journey to a university diploma doesn’t always mean a straight four-year shot through a single college. Finances, family obligations or a number of other reasons compel millions of students to choose two years at a community college first…
Santa Maria High School ASB students ring bells for Salvation Army’s ‘Kettle Drive’
SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria High School ASB students rang bells for the Salvation Army’s “Kettle Drive” and raised more than $1,000 for the needy this holiday season. The bell ringers participated during lunch at the Saint campus from Nov. 26…
Carnegie Art Museum update for Dec. 20 — Photographic Gifts-The Museum Project
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Photographic Gifts-The Museum Project During this Season of Giving, Carnegie’s collection is happily being enlarged by gifts from California-based photographers facilitated by The Museum Project, a group of preeminent American artists who express…
Ventura College Foundation Receives $2 Million Donation From Helen Yunker Estate
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation has received a $2 million donation from the Helen Yunker estate. Honoring Yunker’s request, the donation will establish endowments for the Ventura College Music Department and the Opera and Musical Theatre program. The gift…
Register Now For A Free California Friendly Landscape Training Class (Jan. 26 through April 13) and Apply For Water and Money Saving Rebates
OXNARD — To help Oxnard make water conservation a way of life, the City is offering classes to teach residents how to transform lawns into beautiful, water-efficient gardens. All residential water customers are invited to register for one of the following…
Bilingual report: After Applying for FEMA Assistance, it’s Important to Keep in Touch
SACRAMENTO — Immediately after a disaster, keeping in touch with family is important. It’s also important to keep in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after you have registered for disaster assistance. Many survivors of the November wildfires…
Museum of Ventura County update for Dec. 19 — Seasons greetings from your friends at the Museum of Ventura County!
Major funding for these programs is made possible by the City of San Buenaventura, the County of Ventura and private and community donors. Seasons greetings from your friends at the Museum of Ventura County! This is a friendly reminder that during the…
Assemblymember Irwin and State Treasurer Chiang host press conference to announce the launch of CalABLE Accounts
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) and California State Treasurer John Chiang announced the roll out of CalABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Accounts. These special accounts, which were created by Assemblymember Irwin’s 2015 bill AB 449, are designed…
Registration is Now Underway for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley 2019 Winter Sports Leagues….Free Basketball Clinic is Offered
AGOURA HILLS — Registration is now underway for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley’s Winter 2019 coed Jr. NBA Basketball League. The season kicks off with a free Basketball Clinic offered from January 6-27, on Sundays, at the…
SBCC Announces Executive Vice President of Educational Programs
Dr. Pamela Ralston. Courtesy photo. After an extensive and competitive search process, SBCC is pleased to announce that Dr. Pamela Ralston has been selected as the College’s permanent Executive Vice President of Educational Programs. Dr. Ralston has extensive experience in…
Marjorie Luke Theatre update for Dec. 18 — Where Dreams Take Stage!
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Click Here to Donate now! Brad Hall shares the importance of The Luke to the entire Santa Barbara community.
Santa Maria’s Delta High School students getting help meeting their post-secondary educational goals during ‘College Thursdays’
SANTA MARIA — Delta High School students are getting help meeting their post-secondary educational goals during “College Thursdays”. The workshops, held afterschool and in the evening, feature instruction on how to complete college financial aid forms, scholarships and applications, according to…
SBCC Board of Trustees elects new officers for 2019
Robert Miller Board President Dr. Peter Haslund Board Vice-President At its organizational meeting on December 13, the District Board of Trustees elected Robert Miller as president of the board for the 2019 calendar year. Dr. Peter Haslund was elected board…
Miller YMCA Youth & Government Delegation Makes Lunches for the Homeless
NEWBURY PARK — Thirty members from the Miller YMCA Youth & Government delegation made over 300 lunches that were then delivered to East Rancho Dominguez Community Center in Compton to help feed the homeless. This is the fifth year that…
CSUCI Biology faculty receives grant to help increase STEM degrees among minorities
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Biology Lecturer Caryl Ann Becerra, Ph.D., has received $35,000 for a project called “California State University Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (CSU-LSAMP).” LSAMP stands for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program, which…
Ventura County Community College District Welcomes New Board Members and Elects Board Officers
CAMARILLO — The Board of Trustees of the Ventura County Community College District held its annual organization meeting Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, and welcomed new members Gabriela Torres, Area 5 and Josh Chancer, Area 1. Chancellor Gillespie administered the oath…
Bilingual report: County of Ventura announces launch of Clean Power Alliance
Residents and businesses will soon enjoy the advantages of clean, renewable power at competitive rates VENTURA COUNTY — The County of Ventura is proud to announce that the unincorporated areas of the County will soon enjoy the advantages of clean,…
More than 40 Santa Maria Joint Union High School District students receive scholarships generated by the ‘Patch’
SANTA MARIA — Scholarships generated by the “Patch” were recently awarded to more than 40 SMJUHSD students who worked on the agritourism project at Los Flores Ranch. The “Patch” made $13,000 in scholarships to students a reality. They collectively contributed 2,814…
CSUCI-led VC STEM network receives $75,000 grant from Amgen Foundation
CAMARILLO — A recently-released White House five-year strategic plan to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning indicates that Ventura County is already ahead of the curve, thanks to the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)-led Ventura County STEM (VC STEM) network.…
Thousand Oaks Disaster Recovery Center to Close on Dec. 17
SACRAMENTO — The Thousand Oaks Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Ventura County will close permanently at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 17. The DRC, located at 173 Moorpark Rd., Suite A, Thousand Oaks, is open today, Saturday, Dec. 15 from 9 a.m.…
United for Literacy Forum Emphasizes Power of Bilingual Education
SANTA BARBARA — Local education experts discussed how effective bilingual instruction plans help raise GPAs and reduce drop out rates during a recent forum presented by United Way of Santa Barbara County. The United for Literacy Education Forum, held Nov.…
Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. Distributes Toys Throughout Ventura County
VENTURA COUNTY — It has been a time honored tradition during the holiday season for Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. to distribute toys to its pediatric patients. The tradition continues this year as Clinicas’ Toy Giveaway will again take place at…
Carnegie Art Museum update for Dec. 14
Click here to see the entire e-newsletter Give the Gift Art Help CAM Cornerstones fund art exhibitions, education, and programs by giving the GIFT of ART. Membership never looked so BRIGHT! Now through the New Year CAM members receive a…
Santa Barbara Museum of Art update for Dec. 14
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara, announces the following exhibits. Exhibition Openings A Brilliant Spectrum: Recent Gifts of Color Photography to the Collection January 27 – May 5, 2019 Representing a broad…
‘Esteban’s Caravan: From Hope to an American Cage’ by local author Denis O’Leary now available
VENTURA COUNTY — Local author and educator Denis O’Leary has announced the publication of his new book — “Esteban’s Caravan: From Hope to an American Cage,” now available on Amazon.com. Published by Floricanto Press, “Esteban’s Caravan is the compelling story…
Coming to America — Understanding the migrant caravan requires an awareness of Central America’s recent history, social scientists say
By Andrea Estrada • UCSB . The migrant caravan that traveled from Central America to the United States last month generated headlines — and angry rhetoric — long before it arrived. The situation reached fever pitch the Sunday after Thanksgiving when…
Bilingual report: Federal resources available for under-insured Hill and Woolsey fire victims
VENTURA — Some homeowners affected by the Hill and Woolsey fires are discovering that they may be under-insured for their losses. Help is available. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides housing assistance for people who have lost their homes as…
Bilingual commentary: The Invasion of Automation
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…
Bilingual report: The PACC Welcomes Nonprofits to Apply for Rental Credit
OXNARD — The PACC has announced its annual rental credit program and welcomes 501c3 nonprofits in good standing within the City of Oxnard to apply. Details on eligibility, the current application, sample grant, and scoring rubrics are all available on The…
Community Environmental Council and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper join effort to keep film plastic out of waste stream, serving as additional public drop-off locations
Click here for the entire e-newsletter SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (SBCK) are pleased to work together with Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners to collect and repurpose hard-to-recycle plastics. Sasha Ablitt, owner of Ablitt’s Fine…
Moorpark College Theatre Arts announces auditions for Spring 2019 production of ‘SPAMALOT’
MOORPARK — Moorpark College Theatre Arts is pleased to announce auditions for its upcoming Spring 2019 production of SPAMALOT; a production based on the uproarious Monty Python comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Auditions will be held Dec. 17, 18…
Ventura County general fund ends fiscal year in a strong position
VENTURA — Through a combination of strong management efforts and thoughtful, conservative fiscal projections, the County ended last fiscal year with savings of $43 million. The savings were bolstered by an unexpected one-time receipt from the state of $10 million…
Pioneer Valley High School culinary arts students learn about food handing production
SANTA MARIA — Culinary Arts students at Pioneer Valley High School are getting a first-hand look at how a restaurant handles food production in an effort to help them prepare and earn a ServSafe Managers Certificate. The certificate, which is valid…
Museum of Ventura County update for Dec. 12 — Free Las Posadas Celebration, New Exhibit Sneak Peek, Documentary Screening, and more
Major funding for these programs is made possible by the City of San Buenaventura, the County of Ventura and private and community donors. Exhibit Sneak Peek! Click for a Sneak Peek Look at Wrapped With Care at The Ag Wrapped With Care,…
CSUCI receives two separate grants to empower immigrants and transfer students
CAMARILLO — Vulnerable student populations at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) are benefitting from two separate grants from one local and one national organization. Professor of Chicana/o Studies Jose Alamillo and Assistant Professors of Sociology Luis Sanchez and Karina Chavarria applied for…
SBCC Arts & Crafts Fair Draws Big Crowds to Local Talents
SANTA BARBARA — From hand-knit scarfs to intricately crafted jewelry, thousands of unique creations were on display December 1 at the SBCC School of Extended Learning annual Arts & Crafts Fair. Shoppers filled the SBCC Wake Campus, 300 N. Turnpike…
Jackson Introduces Bill to Reduce Gun Violence
SACRAMENTO– Based on research by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP), which found an increased risk of future violence among firearm owners with certain alcohol-related convictions, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation today to restrict gun ownership among…
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District AVID students, peers visit Levi Stadium for PAC-12 Championship Sports Career Education Day and College Fair
SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Avid students and their peers recently took over Levi Stadium for the PAC-12 Championship Sports Career Education Day and College Fair in the San Francisco Bay Area. About 200 Saints, Panthers…
Jackson Bills, Including Ban of New Offshore Oil Drilling, to Become Law on Jan. 1
SACRAMENTO – Among the numerous bills authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) this year, the following will take effect on January 1, 2019: Senate Bill 834, No New Offshore Oil: SB 834 blocks the Trump Administration from expanding federal oil…
Ventura County announces addition to health care leadership team
VENTURA — Bill Foley has been selected as the new Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers with the unanimous approval of the Board of Supervisors. “The Health Care…
Two New Trustees Join Ventura County Board of Education
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Board of Education welcomed two newly-elected trustees at its meeting tonight in Camarillo. Rob Collins and Mike Teasdale were formally sworn in as trustees following their election victories in November. Collins now represents trustee area…
Three Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education Members sworn in
SANTA MARIA — Three re-elected Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education members were sworn in during the Dec. 11 meeting. The meeting was held at the Support Services Center on Skyway Drive. Superintendent Dr. Mark Richardson administered…
Professional Athletes and Southeast Ventura County YMCA Join Forces to Create California Strong
VENTURA COUNTY — In response to the recent tragedies in California, professional baseball players Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun and Mike Moustakas, along with Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff, have joined forces with the Southeast Ventura County YMCA to create California Strong.…
Drop Off Your Christmas Tree At Agromin, Get Free Potting Mix
VENTURA COUNTY — Agromin, the green waste recycler for most of Ventura County, is accepting Christmas trees at three of its locations from December 26 through January 19. Residents who drop off their trees will receive a free bag of…
Wild California condor chick fledges in Santa Barbara County for first time since 1982
SANTA BARBARA — For the first time in more than three decades, an endangered California condor chick has successfully fledged from a cliff-side nest in Santa Barbara County. Last month, condor number 933 took its first short flight after six months…
CSUCI Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) receives $25,000 boost from grant
CAMARILLO — Enrollment will begin right after the new year for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) for the spring semester with climate change, psychopathology, antebellum America and Sherlock Holmes among the offerings. CSUCI’s popular OLLI…
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County: Holiday Angels Program Returns
VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is proud to once again partner with Harbor Freight, First Bank (Westlake Village), Student Corps, and individual donors for the organization’s Holiday Angels gift-giving program. BBSVC’s Holiday Angels opportunity for…
Bilingual report: Application period open for no-cost debris removal program
VENTURA —Ventura County is coordinating the application process for the California Office of Emergency Services Consolidated Debris Removal Program (CalRecycle) for Woolsey and Hill fire victims. The program is offered to Ventura County residents whose home was destroyed in the…
Bilingual report: Ventura County District Attorney Warns About Price Gouging
VENTURA — District Attorney Gregory D. Totten warned Ventura County residents today to beware of individuals and businesses who attempt to illegally profit from the recent fires by engaging in price gouging. California law generally prohibits businesses and individuals from…
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley Recognizes Key Community Contributors in 2018
AGOURA HILLS — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) recognized several key community contributors in 2018 during their annual “Stand up for Kids Gala Dinner & Auction”, the organization’s main fundraising event of the year. Joe Seetoo…
Marjorie Luke Theatre update for Dec. 7 — Mac Powell and The Family Reunion
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Upcoming Events Mac Powell and The Family Reunion ~FLASH SALE~ Wednesday, December 12th 8:00PM Transparent Productions presents former Third Day musician/vocalist ‘s exciting new band with special guests Land of Color! For the…
Updated Dashboard Provides Clearer Picture of School Performance in Ventura County, throughout the state
A redesigned and expanded California School Dashboard is now available to the public at www.caschooldashboard.org. The Dashboard, which debuted in 2017, has a new look that makes it easier to see how individual schools and districts are performing in six…
SMHS FFA Member now has raised two puppies for Guide Dog Project
SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria High School FFA senior Ariadna Romero, who has spent hundreds of hours raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), was proud to see the dog graduate as a guide in a formal…
Bilingual commentary: What’s Good for General Motors…
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…
Juan Soria School receives Golden Bell Award at recognition ceremony on Nov. 29
OXNARD — Juan Soria School in Oxnard received the Golden Bell Award at recognition ceremony held on Nov. 29 at the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in SanFrancisco. Juan Soria School is one of 51 recipients of…
Anthology of Latino speculative fiction co-edited by a UCSB scholar wins an American Book Award
By Jim Logan • UCSB Ben Olguín remembers the moment he discovered science fiction. He was a teenager, doing three weeks in jail for being, as he puts it, “a knucklehead.” Books get passed around inside and one of them was…
Community Environmental Council Welcomes New Board and Staff Members, including Retired Fire Chief and Green Business Leaders
Click here for the entire e-newsletter CEC invites in strong environmental advocates to support green business and transportation efforts SANTA BARBARA — The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is pleased to announce two new Board members, as well as new staff. Additions…
Carnegie Art Museum update for Dec. 6 — Opening reception of ‘Catalysts of Change’ on Dec. 8
Click here for the entire e-newsletter OPENING EXHIBITIONS December 9, 2018 – February 17, 2019 In the aftermath of the 2017 Thomas Fire, Luther Gerlach turned his camera on the destruction and regeneration spanning Ventura county, using chemical elements gathered…