Author: Community Contributor

April 23 – Che Malambo to perform at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA — Che Malambo will perform at 7 a.m. Sunday, April 23 at Campbell Hall, UCSB. “A thrilling display… 14 stomping, drumming, roaring men pounded rapid-fire rhythms into the ground with many surfaces of their feet – heels, toes, inside…

Bilingual commentary: The Gravitational Pull to “Go Back Home”

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. David Magallanes By David Magallanes…

Sunrise Rotary Supports Bright Smiles for the Sixth Consecutive Year at Eastside Family Dental Clinic

SANTA BARBARA — The skies cleared on Friday, February 24th for the Free Dental Day at Eastside Family Dental Clinic. The event has been sponsored by Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise since 2012 and has provided hundreds with dental procedures…

2017 California Strawberry Festival seeks unique submissions for annual Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest

OXNARD — Calling all strawberry lovers with a passion for creating culinary masterpieces.  You could win a vacation getaway when you enter the 2017 California Strawberry Festival Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest, presented by the Ventura County Star. All contestants who submit…

Gold Coast Transit District Says THANKS on Transit Driver Appreciation Day on March 17

VENTURA COUNTY — Gold Coast Transit District along with transit agencies across the country are saying THANKS on Friday, March 17th, in celebration of Transit Driver Appreciation Day.  Please join the District in doing the same. Bus operators are experts in…

Survey Shows Success of Local Caregiver Awareness Campaign

As a result of the Caring Together Lompoc campaign, 50% of community members surveyed are now more aware of caregiving; 40% now identify as a caregiver LOMPOC — This past summer, the Caring Together Lompoc campaign launched with the goal of helping community members self-identify…

April 5 — Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Presents Dolores Huerta at Oxnard College

Nationally Recognized Show to Honor Labor Legend and Civil Rights Activist April 5 at Oxnard College’s Performing Arts Center, plus FREE Admission OXNARD — In collaboration with the Ventura County Community College District and Oxnard College, Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers will honor…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson bill to clean up beaches by plugging old, leaking oil wells passes out of committee

SACRAMENTO – Just a few weeks after erosion exposed eight abandoned oil wells along Summerland Beach in Santa Barbara County, two of them visibly leaking oil, a bill by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to monitor and cap California’s old, abandoned wells has…

SBCC’s Kick Butts Day on March 15 Sheds Light on Tobacco/Related Issues

SANTA BARBARA — Friendship Plaza on Santa Barbara City College’s East Campus will be transformed into a giant ashtray — cigarette butts and all — for “Kick Butts Day,” on Wednesday, March 15, from 10:00-2:00, to increase awareness and understanding of tobacco…

Bilingual report: March 28 — Ventura County Community Development Corporation hosts free credit improvement workshop

OXNARD — The Ventura County Community Development Corporation will host a free credit improvement workshop from 6 to 6:45 p.m. (English) and 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. (español) Tuesday, March 28 at the VCCDC Home Ownership Center, 2231 Sturgis Road, Suite A. Oxnard. Click…

SB Resident Col. Phil Conran Inducted into the Fordham University Military and New York City ROTC Hall of Fame

SANTA BARBARA — Col. Phil Conran (USAF, ret) is one of three new inductees into the Fordham University Military and New York City ROTC Hall of Fame. Inductees are honored based on their contributions through active or reserve components of…

Local Military Historian’s Research Results in Posthumous Legion of Valor Enrollment

Research conducted by Adam Lewis, local historian for the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF), has resulted in the posthumous enrollment of Frank Robert McCrary into the Legion of Valor. Lewis retired this year from his position as a PCVF board…

SBCC Scheinfeld Center Introduces Community to Local Startup Incubators, Accelerators and Workspaces

SANTA BARBARA — The SBCC Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation hosted a panel Feb. 10 at the Fé Bland Forum on the Santa Barbara City College campus to help students and community members learn about local startup incubators, accelerators and…

United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Young Leaders Society Share Joys of Reading with Local Elementary Schools

CENTRAL COAST — United Way of Santa Barbara County’s (UWSBC) Young Leaders Society (YLS) visited Franklin and El Camino Elementary Schools to share a passion for reading and donate books and funds to both campuses as part of the United We…

Cathy Murillo, Sherry Villanueva, Alicia Flores and Dr. Cynthia Herrera among those to be honored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson as ‘Women of the Year’ in Santa Barbara and Ventura

SANTA BARBARA – OXNARD – To commemorate Women’s History Month, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) will honor eight women from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as the 19th Senate District’s 2017 ‘Women of the Year’ in separate ceremonies in each county. The…

Bilingual commentary: Boomers in La La Land

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. David Magallanes By David Magallanes…

Assemblymember Irwin Honors Ventura County Superior Court Judge Michele Castillo as 2017 Woman of the Year

SACRAMENTO – The California Legislative Women’s Caucus once again sponsored the annual “Woman of the Year” celebration, at the State Capitol, as part of Women’s History Month. Today, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) recognized the Honorable Michele Castillo as the…

Assemblymember Irwin Introduces Workforce Development Legislation

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks) has introduced two bills to modernize community colleges and prepare students for the 21st century economy. Assemblymember Irwin, chair of the Select Committee on Cybersecurity, introduced AB 405 which would create…

Ventura County Board of Supervisors Presents Laguna Farms With Health Champion Award

Local Farming Company Recognized for Workplace Wellness  OXNARD — Laguna Farms, berry grower in Ventura County and affiliate of Reiter Affiliated Companies, will receive the ‘Health Champion’ award on March 7, 2017 at the Board of Supervisors meeting for their commitment…

Ventura County Go Red For Women Luncheon Raises Awareness About Women and Cardiovascular Disease

“Life is Why” Sponsor Dignity Health Central Coast Helps Raise $236,000 to Fight Heart Disease & Stroke  WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The American Heart Association (AHA) hosted its annual Ventura County Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, February 24, 2017, at the…

Limón To Honor Ojai Woman as 37th Assembly District Woman of the Year

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) will honor Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, an active Ojai resident and the tribal leader of the Barbareño-Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, as the 37th Assembly District 2017 Woman of the Year today. “It is a privilege and an…

Nomi Wagner wins 34th annual California Strawberry Festival Official Poster Contest

OXNARD — Using a unique medium that combines traditional watercolor painting with fine art digital technology, artist Nomi Wagner of Oxnard won the California Strawberry Festival 34th Annual Poster Contest. Nomi’s winning entry was revealed today to dignitaries and Festival sponsors gathered…

Whale Watch Season is Now Underway with Island Packers

Enjoy watching the gentle giants of the sea and dolphins too! VENTURA-OXNARD — Winter whale watching off the beautiful Central Coast of California runs from December to mid April. An Island Packers whale watch is a perfect way to gather with…

Santa Barbara Go Red For Women Luncheon Raises Awareness About Women and Cardiovascular Disease

SANTA BARBARA — The American Heart Association (AHA) hosted its annual Santa Barbara Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, February 24, 2017 at the Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort with the goal of raising awareness about the risk of cardiovascular…

Limón to Chair Newly Created Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) was appointed by Speaker Anthony Rendon to Chair a Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector. According to California Association on Nonprofits, a statewide policy alliance of more than 10,000 nonprofits, the nonprofit sector is…

Bilingual commentary: Impermanence

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. David Magallanes By David Magallanes…

Case study on a Newbury Park social business earns national award for CSUCI instructor and graduate student

CAMARILLO — A CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Business Lecturer and a Business graduate student are winners of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) 2017 Conference Outstanding Teaching Case Award, held in Philadelphia last month. Instructor Maria Ballesteros-Sola, who teaches…

Ventura Brand Development Firm Adds Social Media, Public Relations expert

VENTURA — Consortium Media + Public Relations (CM+PR), a firm specializing in integrating marketing, branding, media relations, multimedia and social media, has added nationally known social media strategist and writer Emily Savage to its team. Savage is a journalist, social…

May 3 — Season Finale of Latino Thought Makers to Honor Remarkable Women at Oxnard College

Interview Series to Feature Pilar Marrero (La Opinion), Patty Rodriguez (On Air with Ryan Seacrest) and Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio, Ph.D. (The Buckley School) OXNARD — In collaboration with Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) and Oxnard College, Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers will…

May 13 — Gold Coast Health Plan to present 6th annual Community Resource Fair in Oxnard

OXNARD — Gold Coast Health Plan will host their 6th Annual Community Resource Fair at Plaza Park in Oxnard. Free health screenings and resource information will be offered by various health and community agencies. Please see flyer for more information.

April 15 — FREE DNA Family History Program

Ventura County Genealogical Society presents DNA Family History Program Saturday, April 15, 2017, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Camarillo Library Community Room, 4101 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA Presenter: Kathy Johnston DNA USES IN PEDIGREE BUILDING 1:00 p.m.: Learn about the different types…

April 16 — Easter Services First United Methodist Church, Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — First United Methodist Church, Santa Barbara will celebrate the glory of our Risen Lord with worship services on Easter Sunday at 9:00am and 10:45am.  The identical services will feature anthems by the Chancel Choir including Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”,…

April 14-15 — The Collection at RiverPark Hops into spring with Bunny Hop event and photos

OXNARD — The Collection at RiverPark will be hosting its family favorite Bunny Hop event sponsored by Natural Green Landscape, on Saturday, April 8. The expanded holiday event will host a range of spring-themed activities and a special visit from…

April 22 — Carnegie Art Museum to hold member’s tour of Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach

Museum of Latin American Art   The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)’s comprehensive retrospective exhibition of work by legendary Los Angeles artist Frank Romero, encompasses over 50 years of the artist’s career, including History of the Chicano Movimiento from the Carnegie…

April 25 — Ventura County Community Development Corporation to host free Solar Panel Workshop

OXNARD — It’s almost Earth Day and we’re thinking green! Are you?! If you have thought about installing solar panels on your home and have questions, this workshop is for you! At this free workshop you will learn Advantages of installing solar…

May 11 — Ventura County Climate Hub to present ‘Out with the Old, In with the New’

The Ventura County Climate Hub will  present “Out with the Old, In with the New” on Thursday, May 11 in Ventura. WHAT: The Ventura County Climate Hub invites the public to hear leaders of two partner organizations in a program called…

April 19 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to present ‘Shifting Sands: The Early Years of Channel Islands Harbor’

OXNARD — The Channel Islands Maritime Museum historian and author, Cherie Brant will give her lecture “Shifting Sands: The Early Years of Channel Islands Harbor” from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 at 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard. The story of…

April 19 — ‘An Evening with Isabel Allende’

SANTA BARBARA — “An Evening with Isabel Allende” will be presented from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 at The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. “Allende’s books feel like ornate fairy tales, velvety and otherworldly and sly,…

April 26 — Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara to present Artist Talk with Tanya Aguiñiga

SANTA BARBARA — The Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara will present “Artist Talk with Tanya Aguiñiga” at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 at the Physical Science Building Room 101, Santa Barbara City College Aguiñiga, a prominent social practice artist from Tijuana, Mexico, will discuss…

April 22 — Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival

Join the Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) 47th annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, Saturday April 22, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s festival, themed “Educate. Inspire. Act.”, will…

April 11 — Assemblymember Monique Limón to hold Ventura District Office Open House

VENTURA — Assemblymember Monique Limón will hold a Ventura District Office Open House from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 at the 37th Assembly District Office, 89 S. California St., Suite F, Ventura. Contact 805-641-3700, 805-564-1649 or send an email…