Author: Community Contributor

Ventura County Heart & Stroke Walk/Run Raised Nearly $150,000 to Fight Heart Disease and Stroke

CENTRAL COAST — Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. – killing about 2,200 Americans each day – one every 40 seconds. To combat these statistics, the American Heart Association (AHA) hosted…

Bilingual commentary: The Rose Bush

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes 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 / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

United Way of Ventura County provides update on ‘Building Healthy Smiles’ initiative

Dear Friends, We have so much to share with you in this newsletter. Thanks to your generosity, our programs are expanding and serving more local residents throughout Ventura County. Please scroll down and take a moment to read more about…

‘California’s water crisis must be attacked now to guarantee water will be flowing from taps’

LAS VEGAS —  “California’s water crisis must be attacked now to guarantee water will be flowing from taps,” veteran water expert Mohammed Hasan told the Tri-State seminar in Las Vegas this Tuesday. Addressing water professionals from California, Nevada and Arizona, Hasan discussed…

El Carrillo Affordable Housing Development Celebrates 10 Years of Housing the Homeless

SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) celebrated the 10th Anniversary of El Carrillo, the first development of its kind in Santa Barbara to offer permanent, affordable housing with supportive services for homeless individuals.…

Community Philanthropy Teams Up to Fund New Vehicle for Youth and Family Services YMCA

SANTA BARBARA  – Noah’s Anchorage, a program of Youth and Family Services YMCA, was the grateful recipient of a new vehicle to aid in the necessary daily transportation of youth in the program. The vehicle purchase was funded by donations from the…

Bilingual commentary: The Specter of Demonization

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes 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 / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

CSU Channel Islands now accepting applications for Fall 2017

OXNARD — CSU Channel Islands (CI) is currently accepting admissions for the fall of 2017. Enrollment staff members advise high school seniors and transfer students to apply early at www.csumentor.edu “The college application process can be stressful for students,” said CI Assistant Vice…

Foster VC Kids, Ventura County Office of Education Collaborate on Innovative Support Systems for Foster Youth

Parent Teacher Forum to be held Oct. 11 VENTURA COUNTY — School stability is extraordinarily difficult for youth that experience life in foster care. Less than 50% of foster youth graduate from high school and only 3% go on to…

Lloyd Properties donates 860 acres to local land trust

VENTURA — The Lloyd Ranch has been a part of the Ventura community for over a century, providing stewardship of a large section of the Ventura hillsides since the early 1900’s and contributing to Ventura’s economic vitality for decades. On Sept.…

You Can’t Buy Love – But You Can Adopt It!

Santa Barbara Humane Society Celebrates Adopt-a-Dog Month with “Name Your Price” Adoption Promotion SANTA BARBARA — October is national Adopt-a-Dog Month, a public awareness campaign to bring attention to the millions of homeless dogs living at animal shelters throughout the…

LULAC Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by Urging Latinos to Register to Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hispanic Heritage Month is a time when our nation reflects on the contributions Hispanics have made to our history and culture. For the third year, LULAC joins the Hispanic Heritage Month of Action campaign in an effort to encourage the…

Rebozo Festival announces 2017 grant application now open

CAMARILLO — Rebozo Festival, Inc. is pleased to announce that awards of up to $20,000 will be granted to qualified non-profit organizations that focus on the cultural, social and/or educational needs of the Ventura County community. The application process will close…

The Collection at RiverPark’s Pink Perks support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October

October promotion gives guests power to shop for a cause by benefiting non-profits! OXNARD — There will be extra “perks” to shopping and dining at The Collection at RiverPark in October as the sprawling shopping center brings back its Pink…

Ventura College Puts Chicano Art on Display through Nov. 17

Featured artists from the private collection of VC professor SANTA PAULA — Ventura College presents a Chicano Art Exhibit, “The Imagery of Chicano: a Perspective of Chicanismo in Contemporary Art” through Nov. 17 at the Ventura College Santa Paula site, 957…

Snap a “Selfie” for Hunger Action Month

VENTURA COUNTY — September is Hunger Action Month, and FOOD Share is asking everyone to share the message that 1 in 6 Ventura County residents is still food insecure. That’s 136,000 of our children, families, and seniors who lack, at…

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents Yolotecuani in Free Community Workshop in Music and Dance of Guerrero, Mexico on Oct. 20

Thursday / Jueves, OCT 20, 7:00 PM Casa de la Guerra, 15 E. De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, CA FREE workshop / Entrada gratuita Free community workshop in music and dance of Guerrero, Mexico with Yolotecuani. Students and observers…

Spanish-language presentation on farmworkers labor rights to be held Oct. 20 in Oxnard

VENTURA COUNTY — The California Rural Legal Assistance invites farmworker community members to join us for the following Spanish presentations on labor rights in Santa Paula and Oxnard. Santa Paula Date: October 11, 2016 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Police StoreFront, 431 N.…

Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Series Returns to Oxnard College Performing Arts Center for Fourth Season on Oct. 12

2016-2017 Season Kicks Off October 12 with Hollywood & Politics featuring Award-winning Actor Emilio Rivera, Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. & Radio HostWendy Carrillo OXNARD —  In collaboration with the Ventura County Community College District and Oxnard College, Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Live Series will return…

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents Yolotecuani, Sones de Guerrero on Oct. 22

Yolotecuani, Sones de Guerrero Music and Dance of Guerrero, Mexico FREE concert / Entrada gratuita Saturday / Sábado, OCT 22, 7:00 PM Guadalupe City Hall 918 Obispo Street, Guadalupe Doors open one half hour before the show starts. Reception follows…

California Rural Legal Assistance to present information sessions on renters, workers rights on Oct. 28

OXNARD — The California Rural Legal Assistance will present: INFORMATION SESSIONS / PRESENTACIONES DE INFORMACION SECOND AND LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH / SEGUNDO Y ULTIMO VIERNES DE CADA MES   Friday-Viernes October 14 and October 28 14 de Octubre y 28 de…

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! to present Yolotecuani through Oct. 23 in free concerts

SANTA BARBARA — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents the local premier of Yolotecuani, music and dance of Tixtla, from the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Yolotecuani offer free family concerts on Friday, October 21, 7 pm at Isla Vista School;…

Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center Hosts Halloween Spooktacular and Open House

SANTA BARBARA — Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center invites the community to its second annual Halloween Spooktacular and Open House on Wednesday, October 26 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Hearts’ riding facilities, located at 4420 Calle Real in Santa…

Day of the dead Guatemalan celebration Fundraiser for El Lustrador Foundation to be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 1

By Lea Spicker LOS ANGELES — Gran Venta de Fiambre, a beneficio de “El Lustrador Foundation,” 1 de noviembre, 5:30 a 7:30pm, 1 de noviembre, 2003W 8th St., Los Angeles. The centennial Guatemalan specialty dish, Fiambre blanco or rojo. It’s a…

Latino Thought Makers Series to present ‘Hollywood and Politics’ at Oxnard College on Oct. 12

2016-2017 Season Kicks Off October 12 with Hollywood & Politics featuring Award-winning Actor Emilio Rivera, Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. & Radio HostWendy Carrillo  OXNARD —  In collaboration with the Ventura County Community College District and Oxnard College, Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Live Series will return to…

‘El Proximo Paso’ Event Provides College Information to Spanish-speaking Parents and Teens

SANTA BARBARA — The young members of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s Teen Night program recently hosted an innovative event to address what they had identified as the most pressing challenge for Santa Barbara teens – information…

Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project to present Día de los Muertos Celebration on Nov. 6

OXNARD — The Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project will present “Día de los Muertos: An Annual Indigenous Celebration” from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 at Heritage Square, 731 S. A St., Oxnard. The event includes an altar contest, food, music,…

Bilingual commentary: Thoughts Mold Our Faces

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes 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 / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

Two of SBCC Engineering’s Best Named Great Minds in STEM™

SANTA BARBARA — A current student and an alumnus of the Santa Barbara City College Engineering program were both awarded top recognitions by Great Minds in STEM™ for their achievements in engineering and technology. Ana Isabel Espinoza-Agundis, a mechanical engineering major, was awarded…

GranVida Educates Community on Memory Care Services

CARPINTERIA — Most seniors expect to live out their lives enjoying time with their families and making more memories to cherish, however more than 5 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, leaving them dependent on others to help them…

Gov. Jerry Brown signs bill authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson to streamline the environmental review process

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown has just signed a bill authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to help expedite the environmental review process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California’s landmark law for evaluating and mitigating the environmental impacts…

Braille Institute Offers More Than 70 Fall Classes to Help People with Low Vision Pursue Passions and Stay Active in Our Communities

Free, innovative classes build confidence and skills to help people return to activities they love SANTA BARBARA —Free fall classes at Braille Institute Santa Barbara offer life-enhancing and life-changing experiences  to anyone in the tri-county area facing the challenges of vision loss. The fall…

EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center Receives Funds for Doing What Matters for Jobs & the Economy Initiative

CENTRAL COAST — The Business & Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College (BEC) recently awarded $25,000 to the Economic Development Center-Ventura County’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as part of the Doing What Matters for Jobs & the Economy initiative. The funding,…

City National Bank in Partnership with United Way of Santa Barbara County Provide Free Back-To-School Backpacks and Supplies to Local School children

SANTA BARBARA — Recently, students at Franklin Elementary School received backpacks filled with school supplies. The backpacks were distributed to K-2nd grade students in need, compliments of City National Bank. Each backpack included a pink eraser, No. 2 pencils, a pencil sharpener,…

Graduation Ceremony Honors Students Forging New Lives Outside of Prison

SANTA BARBARA — Thirty formerly incarcerated individuals intent on turning their lives around, including students from Santa Barbara City College’s EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) program, were honored at the Santa Barbara Day Reporting Center (DRC) commencement ceremony on…

Bilingual commentary: “That’s How It’s Done”

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes 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 / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

PR Pros Launch Scholarships for Area Students – New PRSA Gold Coast Chapter Launches Program to Support Tri-County College Students

CENTRAL COAST — The newly formed Central Coast chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is offering two scholarships to recognize outstanding individual college students who are committed to studying communication or public relations in the Tri-Counties area. The…

VetNet Collaboration Helps Local Veterans Access Crucial Resources

SANTA BARBARA — Representatives from more than 40 local agencies and nonprofits that support veterans in the tri-counties come together every other month for VetNet meetings, which provide an opportunity to network, share resources, collaborate and coordinate services and maximize…

Sponsorships Available and Auction Items Needed for BGCOP’s 27th Annual Donald K. Facciano Kids Auction & Gala

OXNARD — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme is seeking the help of individuals and businesses to donate items for auction and sponsors for the upcoming 27th Annual Donald K. Facciano Kids Auction & Gala.…

New Non-Profit Provides Much-Needed Information on Ventura County Agriculture

VENTURA COUNTY — A new non-profit organization has been created to provide educational resources and highlight the important roles played by farmers, ranchers and agriculture in Ventura County. The 501(c)(3) organization, Treasure Our Farms, will showcase local growers and livestock…

CSU Channel Islands Reports Record Enrollment for Fall 2016

CAMARILLO — California State University Channel Islands (CI) is reporting its largest entering class of undergraduates in history at 2,152 students. The class includes 1,021 freshmen and was selected from a record number of freshman 10,312 applicants, an increase of nearly 9…