Author: Community Contributor

Dec. 9 — CLU School of Management to present ‘Why can’t we just eat our coffee?’

We are excited to invite the co-founder of Eat Your Coffee, Johnny Fayad, to share his story from day one in their dorm room making 10 bars/hour to graduating college having sold over a million of the original naturally caffeinated snack bar. He’ll also share a bit on how they’ve had to remain nimble over the years and how they’ve adapted during the current pandemic.

Through Dec. 11 — SBCC’s Atkinson Gallery hosts webinar lecture and outdoor exhibition by Muna Malik

The Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College is pleased to host an exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist Muna Malik, “Blessing of the Boats,” Oct. 23 – Dec. 11, 2020. Since the interior space of the Atkinson Gallery is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, the installation will be presented on the Gallery’s outdoor sculpture terrace so that it may be viewed remotely from Pershing Park and other locations around the city.  

Dec. 13 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Kwame S. Brathwaite in Conversation (via Zoom)’

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present “Kwame S. Brathwaite in Conversation (via Zoom)” at 11 a.m Sunday, Dec. 13.

Kwame Samori Brathwaite speaks with Charles Wylie, SBMA Curator of Photography and New Media, about the groundbreaking art of his father, the renowned photographer Kwame Brathwaite. With family and friends, Kwame Brathwaite created a multi-faceted cultural movement in 1950s and 60s Harlem from which the affirmative personal and political statement “Black is Beautiful” arose. Inspired by Pan-Africanism and attuned to the central role of mass media in contemporary society, Brathwaite forged a new visual and cultural identity for African Americans via photography, fashion, and performance whose influence is still being felt. 

Through Dec. 13 — New Virtual Shop Local Market makes it easy to support women-owned and minority-owned small businesses, hosted by Women’s Economic Ventures

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) annual Celebration of Small Business is launching a Virtual Shop Local Market to safely bring shoppers to local small businesses this holiday season. The marketplace will feature more than 50 local, women-owned and minority-owned small businesses who are part of the WEV community.   The 26-day, dynamic online shopping portal will be open online from November 17 – December 13 and can be accessed by visiting WEV’s website at www.wevonline.org

Dec. 16 — Hospice of Santa Barbara Virtual Light Up A Life

This year, Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) will hold their traditional celebration of reflection, special speakers, poetry, musical entertainment, and the lighting of their Tree of Remembrance to honor the many that are missed this holiday season, online via Zoom with an event featuring emcee Catherine Remak Wednesday, December 16th from 6:00 to 7:00 pm PDT.

Through Dec. 20 — CSUCI Choir performs first virtual winter concert

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s first-ever virtual winter concert will celebrate women composers, whose work goes largely unrecognized by larger American orchestras. 

“I’m promoting women composers because I’ve always used music specifically to speak to social justice issues such as underrepresented racial or LGBTQ groups,” said CSUCI Chorus Artistic Director KuanFen Liu, who holds a doctorate in musical arts.  

Beginning on Friday Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., guests can visit the Channel Islands Choral Association at www.cicachoir.org and listen to “Celebrate Women Composers in Choral Music.” The winter concert will be available online through Dec. 20.  

Dec. 24, 27 — KEYT to Air Two Special Showings of Hospice of Santa Barbara’s 37th Annual Light Up a Life

This year, Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) filmed their traditional celebration of reflection, special speakers, poetry, musical entertainment, and the lighting of their Tree of Remembrance, featuring emcee Catherine Remak that will be aired Thursday, December 24th at 11:30 am and Sunday, December 27th at 2 pm on KEYT. 

The holiday season can stir up a range of emotions, including joy, stress, sadness, and everything in between. For those preparing to navigate the holiday season without cherished loved ones, this time of year can be even more difficult and HSB honors them every year with Light Up a Life. Light Up A Life is an opportunity for all to join together as communities unite for one heartwarming ceremony to remember and honor the many that are missed this holiday season. 

Dec. 31 — ‘A Toast Heard ‘Round the World’ Livestream Event

Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association (PGIAA) is extremely excited to announce a new livestream event component of its annual global celebration, “A Toast Heard ‘Round the World” on New Year’s Eve. 

On December 31st from 12-Noon to Midnight PGIAA and partners will LIVESTREAM a variety of entertainment, including Live Music performances, Poetry Readings, Dream Tending, Meditations, and more.

Jan. 5 — Ventura County Board of Supervisors Holding Special Meeting

The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Meeting on January 5, 2021 at 1 pm. The meeting will be live streamed at www.ventura.org/bos and on the County Facebook page @CountyofVentura. The meeting will include an update on coronavirus response efforts and the proposed process and timeline for the appointment of a District Attorney.

Jan. 12 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents groundbreaking author Ta-Nehisi Coates as part of its acclaimed Race to Justice virtual series

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents groundbreaking author Ta-Nehisi Coates in a virtual presentation as part of its acclaimed Race to Justice series on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 5 p.m. Pacific. This presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A moderated by Terrance Wooten, professor in the UCSB Department of Black Studies. Ticket holders will be able to replay this event for one week.

Gold Coast Transit District Donates Vehicle to City of Ventura’s Homeless Shelter

OXNARD — Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) has donated a paratransit vehicle to a City of Ventura homeless shelter, operated by Mercy House, to facilitate mobility options for its residents. GCTD staff first connected with the City of Ventura in early…

Museum of Ventura County — Virgencitas Now Open, Call for Volunteers, Free First Sunday, and more!

Call for Volunteers! January 24—26, 2020 We are excited for the recently announced Albinger Archaeological Museum’s 40th Anniversaryevent scheduled for Friday, January 24th — Sunday, January 26, 2020. Come celebrate our county’s history and become a part of our museum…

Bilingual poetry of Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda selected for display at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico City

Courtesy photos. Photo credits: Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior SRE) Binational Congress Dic 5, 2019, ClaryArts – Clara Victoria Martínez Rojas SANTA MARIA — The bilingual poetry of Santa Maria High School Spanish Teacher Enedina Castañeda was recently selected and…

Ventura County Board of Supervisors approve extension of contract for County Executive Officer

VENTURA — On Tuesday, December 17, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to extend the contract for County Executive Officer, Mike Powers, through December 2024.  Each of the five Board members commented on the excellent work of Powers, citing…

Bilingual commentary: Storage “In the Cloud”

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. David Magallanes By David…

City of Oxnard announces closures, reminders for Christmas, New Year’s Day Holidays

OXNARD — Residents and businesses are reminded that City Hall and many City departments will be closed for the upcoming holidays. The holiday office hours are listed below. HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS AND CLOSURES Tuesday, Dec. 24:     City Hall and…

Bilingual report: VCAAA Wins National Awards for Veterans Tribute, Elder Abuse Awareness

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging is the recipient of two National Mature Media Awards for video production. The videos, titled Remembering Ventura County’s Veterans and Ventura County Elder Abuse Call to Action, were recognized as being…

Clean Air Grants Reduce Smog and Focus on Environmental Justice

VENTURA COUNTY — On November 12, 2019, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board approved $3.5 million in emission reduction grants for Ventura County businesses. This year’s grants will help pay for new, lower-emission equipment to replace 54 older, higher-pollution…

Jackson Bills, Including Women on Corporate Boards Requirement, In Effect Jan 1

SACRAMENTO –California’s publicly held corporations have until January 1, 2020 to add at least one woman to their boards as a result of legislation authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) . SB 826, signed into law by Governor…

SBCC Board of Trustees elects officers for 2020

SANTA BARBARA — At its organizational meeting on December 19, 2019, the Santa Barbara City College District Board of Trustees elected Robert Miller as president of the board for the 2020 calendar year. Dr. Peter Haslund was elected board vice president.…

Two New Members, Harald Wulff and Abra Flores, join Ventura College Foundation Board

VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation Board of Directors has added two new board members: Harald Wulff and Abra Flores. Wulff is a retired chemical industry executive. He served on the management board of Henkel KGaA headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany.…

California Distinguished Schools Include Nine in Ventura County

VENTURA COUNTY — Nine Ventura County elementary schools are being honored as 2020 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. Schools are awarded for their work toward closing the achievement gap and for achieving exceptional student performance. Schools that…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) Receives Significant Donation from Gene Haas Foundation

AGOURA HILLS — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) is pleased to announce a $10,000 donation from the Gene Haas Foundation to benefit the BGCGCV’s TechGen STEM Program. Through the TechGen STEM program the BGCGCV is: Expanding…

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s “Project Christmas” Spreads Holiday Cheer in the Tri-County Area this Holiday Season

Christmas Trees and Gifts delivered to Families Who Have a Child with Cancer SANTA BARBARA — Each year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) pairs families in the Tri-County area who have a child with cancer with supporters to help make…

Santa Paula Art Museum Announces 2020 Exhibition Schedule

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Art Museum is excited to announce its exhibition schedule for 2020. The Museum will turn 10 this year, and to mark the milestone the Museum will exhibit “The First Decade: Celebrating Ten Years of Acquisitions” from January…

Ventura County reaches agreement on new three-year contract with Service Employees International Union

VENTURA — The Ventura County Executive Office is pleased to announce a new three-year labor contract with the Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents 4,500 of the County’s approximate 9,000 employees. SEIU Local 721 informed County management on December…

CSUCI History student’s research powers a new exhibit at Channel Islands Maritime Museum

CAMARILLO — Hundreds of prisoners sat shoulder to shoulder in the foul, dark bowels of the hollowed out ship, sick, dirty and hungry. Yet even in their misery, they were compelled to create intricate model ships from the animal bones left…

Clean Air Grant Helps Ojai Reduce Smog, Toxic Air Contaminants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

VENTURA — On December 12, 2019, the City of Ojai celebrated the successful conversion of its gasoline-powered landscaping equipment to zero-emissions, electric-powered alternatives.  This conversion was supported in part by a $60,000 Clean Air Fund grant approved by the Ventura County…

Santa Barbara City College — The Bridge — December 2019

Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter DECEMBER, 2019 Farewell and thank you to Helen Benjamin It is with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation that SBCC bids thank you and farewell to Interim Superintendent/President Dr. Helen Benjamin. Dr. Benjamin came to campus…

Museum of Ventura County — We need your help

DONATE NOW Dear MVC Supporter, By making a gift to the Museum of Ventura County… YOU protect our history. Without our collections and archives, the history of Ventura County and the stories of local cultures are incomplete. YOU inspire vibrant…

CSUCI to offer cloud computing course

CAMARILLO — The next generation of computer careers is riding on a cloud. Workers skilled at cloud computing are increasingly in demand at industry giants like Netflix, Amazon and Google. Fourteen percent of all jobs in all areas require cloud skills,…

WEV Honors Local Entrepreneur Graduates, Small Business Owners and Million Dollar Club Inductee

WEV’s Celebration acknowledges the big impact made by small businesses in our local economy. VENTURA — Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) hosted a Celebration of Small Business on December 11 at the Ventura Beach Marriott to honor local entrepreneurs making a…

Music students from Santa Maria, Righetti and Pioneer High Schools recent participate in masterclass/concert that featured Cuban musician and composer Dayramir Gonzalez

SANTA MARIA — Music students from Santa Maria, Righetti and Pioneer High Schools are making sure the beat goes on and on and on. They recently participated in a masterclass/concert that featured Cuban musician and composer Dayramir Gonzalez accompanied by his…

Family Service Agency Offers Tips to Help Caregivers Survive the Holidays — and Beyond

SANTA BARBARA — The holidays are busy times, but for those caring for an elderly parent or loved one, the holidays add even more of a challenge. Already feeling overwhelmed with daily caregiving tasks, caregivers may view holiday preparations as more…

Honor, Support and Celebrate Our Local Veterans This Holiday Season and All Year Long

‘Thank-A-Vet’ this holiday season by supporting and attending events sponsored by Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation SANTA BARBARA — Freedom in the United States is largely due to the service and sacrifice of our armed forces on active duty and veterans. It…

Bilingual commentary: Purging Paper Files in the Digital Age

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. David Magallanes By David…

Port of Hueneme Shatters Record: Closes Out 2019 with 1.65 Million Cargo Tons & 2,201 New Jobs

PORT OF HUENEME — Santa’s sleigh has been doubling as a boat this year, helping bring record cargo into the Port of Hueneme. The Port delivers another record breaking year for cargo, jobs, tax revenues, and economic impact. Cargo grew by…

Ventura County School Data Available in 2019 Dashboard

VENTURA COUNTY — A wealth of data about the performance of Ventura County schools and districts is now available in the 2019 California School Dashboard, which was released today by the California Department of Education (CDE). In addition to reporting on…