Author: Community Contributor

Bilingual commentary: Are We Listening to the Lessons of History?

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…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley Announce Newest Member to Board of Governors

AGOURA — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) is pleased to announce a new member to its Board of Governors, Robert Leonard. Leonard is both an attorney and Certified Public Accountant representing individuals and business involving tax…

Following State Audit, Jackson Introduces Bill to Improve Emergency Alerts for Vulnerable Residents and Students

SB 794 expands and improves California’s emergency alerts following deadly wildfires SACRAMENTO – Following the California State Auditor’s Decemberreport, which found that some California counties, including Ventura County, did not adequately alert their most vulnerable residents during recent wildfires, State…

Bilingual report: Poll Workers Needed for March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election

VENTURA — The Ventura County Elections Division seeks volunteers to staff and manage 390 polling places throughout the county for the upcoming March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election. Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn stated, “Being a poll worker is a…

Happy New Year from all of us at MCASB!

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   Happy New Year from all of us at MCASB! Upcoming Events: In Conversation | Exhibition Makers Vol. 5 Tuesday, January 14, 2020 7 – 8 pm | FREE How do artists, art collectors, curators, and audiences…

Ventura County selects new Public Information Officer

VENTURA — Following a nationwide recruitment that garnered over 130 applicants, the County of Ventura has selected Ashley Bautista as their new Public Information Officer following the retirement of Bill Nash. The position reports to County Executive Officer Mike Powers.…

Bilingual report: Three Political Parties to Permit No Party Preference Voters to Participate in Presidential Primary Election

VENTURA — The American Independent, Democratic, and Libertarian parties adopted a party rule allowing No Party Preference voters to participate in their March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election. The Republican, Green, and Peace and Freedom parties did not adopt this rule.…

RISE San Luis Obispo County announces new Executive Director

Interim Executive Director takes the helm SAN LUIS OBISPO — The RISE Board of Directors has announced Jane Pomeroy as its new Executive Director. RISE, a non-profit serving San Luis Obispo county, provides crisis intervention and treatment services to survivors of…

Bilingual report — Ventura County Veterans Services Office Helps Veterans Reclaim Their Lives

VENTURA — For Tom, joining the Navy at barely eighteen brought him a deep sense of pride and community. For the first time he truly felt part of something and even today, he still smiles when he recalls handling radio communications…

BBSVC is treating Ventura County volunteers to Free Coffee for the Agency’s 50th Anniversary!

VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is celebrating 50 years of mentor programs in 2020! To kick off the agency’s landmark anniversary year, BBSVC is celebrating National Mentoring Month by taking over Ventura County’s favorite Starbucks.…

Museum of Ventura County — Free First Sunday Activities, Poetry Reading, MVC Then Blog, and more!

Free First Sunday at the Ag: Scientific Arts & Crafts January 5, 2020 • 12—2PM What happens when you mix science with art? Join us at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula on Sunday, January 5, 2020 from 12—2PM for…

Carnegie Art Cornerstones — Closing Reception Trabaj/Ho / Upcoming Exhibition Retrograde at Carnegie Studio Gallery

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   Carnegie Studio Gallery will be CLOSED for installation of the upcoming exhibition January 5 – Jan 31, 2020. RETROGRADE  Retrograde simultaneously showcases rapidly progressing information technology and media interactivity as well as thoughtfully…

Seniors Eligible For Free Memberships At Local YMCAs

VENTURA COUNTY — Beginning in January, seniors 65 and older may be eligible for free access to the exercise programs at the Conejo Valley, Yarrow and Simi Valley YMCAs as part of their health insurance coverage. Seniors must first contact…

March 8 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Parallel Stories Lecture: Juan Felipe Herrera ‘Writing Love in the Face of Disaster’

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State Street, Santa Barbara, will present Parallel Stories Lecture: Juan Felipe Herrera ‘Writing Love in the Face of Disaster’, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8. “I’m a political poet—let us say a…

March 13, 14, 15 — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara!’ presents Las Cafeteras – Roots, rhythm and rhyme from East LA

SANTA BARBARA —¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara!’ will present Las Cafeteras. Born and raised east of the Los Angeles River, Las Cafeteras remix roots music to tell modern day stories with a positive message. Their Afro-Mexican beats, rhythms, and rhymes…

CANCELED — March 19 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Film Screening Closing Celebration: Kehinde Wiley

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present Film Screening Closing Celebration: Kehinde Wiley at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Join SBMA in saying farewell to Kehinde Wiley: Equestrian Portrait of Prince Tommaso of Savoy-Carignan. To celebrate…

CANCELED — March 22 — Annual Cesar E. Chavez Memorial March for Justice to be held in Oxnard

OXNARD — The United Farm Workers and community organizations cordially invites the Oxnard Community to join us in honoring the legacy of “Cesar E. Chavez” and to participate in the annual memorial march from Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School at 224…

Aug. 16 — Virtual Workshop on Youth Culture and Gang Activity Offers Parents Information, Recommendations, Resources

Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County is hosting a virtual workshop, Youth Culture and Gang Activity in Lompoc, to help parents understand more about gangs in the Lompoc community and what they can do if they suspect their child is involved with one.  Workshops in English and Spanish will take place via Zoom on Sunday, August 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. (English) and 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. (Spanish).

Sept. 3 — Bilingual report — CEC Gathers with Frontline and Essential Workers, Indigenous Communities to Address Local Climate Resilience

The Community Environmental Council (CEC), in collaboration with Central Coast Climate Justice Network, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Environmental Office, will co-host Climate Resilience Roundtable: Historias de resiliencia desde las primeras líneas del cambio climático / Stories of Resilience from the Frontlines of Climate Change on Thursday, September 3, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 — SBMA presents FREE virtual conversation with artist Edgar Arceneaux on the ‘Collision of Art and Politics’

Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present: “Detroit Riots, Black Lives Matter, and The Collision of Art and Politics — A conversation with artist Edgar Arceneaux (via Zoom),” noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

In a wide ranging and informal conversation with the audience, artist Edgar Arceneaux shares his thoughts about his art, current and past projects, and how we construct history and memory in a racially divided country. 

Oct. 17, 18 — SBMA celebrates Dia de los Muertos virtually and live from Oaxaca

For over 30 years, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art has celebrated the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with music, dance, art activities and altar displays. This year, SBMA is bringing the festivities to you virtually via Zoom and live from Oaxaca for a behind the scenes glimpse of the artisans and art that are central to this deeply moving holiday.

22 de octubre — Women’s Economic Ventures lanza una serie de seminarios bilingües y gratuitos de Educación Financiera en línea para empoderar a los dueños de pequeños negocios durante el COVID

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) ha lanzado una serie de seminarios de educación financiera en línea para empoderar a los dueños de pequeños negocios y aumentar su alfabetismo financiero durante el COVID-19. La serie se centra tanto en las finanzas personales como las de negocios y cada sesión ofrecerá herramientas y estrategias simples para ayudar a los participantes a manejar el impacto de la pandemia en sus finanzas. Los seminarios gratuitos en línea estarán disponibles en español e inglés. Para obtener más información y registrarse para los próximos seminarios:

Nov. 1 — Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corp. (OPAC) to present Día de la Muertos, Covid-19 edition

The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is proud to announce the first-ever Día de Los Muertos Celebration – drive-in style! The public is welcome to roll up to the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 5 to 9 pm for this free evening of art, entertainment, and community remembering those we have loved and lost.

Nov. 1 — Celebrate Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with OPAC!

Featuring performances by:
Club Flor Bonita + Grupo Folklorico Fusion Mexicana

Followed by a screening of Coco!

This family-friendly event is a safe and socially-distanced drive-in event in our parking lot. Enjoy live performances and a movie from the comfort of your car (or bring chairs to sit outside your car!).  Our restrooms will be open and cleaned throughout the event.

Nov. 1-2 — ERHS Latinos Unidos club’s Day of the Dead

Covid-19 and distance learning will not keep SMJUHSD students from bringing to life an ancient, indigenous tradition from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov.1-2.

Students from the ERHS Latinos Unidos club are collaborating with SMHS, DHS and PVHS students and teachers to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), in remembrance of loved ones and community members.

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

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.…