Author: Amigos805.com

Frank X. Moraga is publisher / editor of Amigos805, providing information for and about the vibrant Latino community in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties — "Bringing cultures together by sharing information."

Bilingual commentary: The capacity to learn

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 Recently…

Guest commentary: Political Graffiti Part II — Latino groupies

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 Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor In…

CSU Channel Islands Professor Jose Alamillo honored for helping undocumented students

CAMARILLO — Jose Alamillo, professor of Chicana/o Studies at CSU Channel Islands (CI), was honored for his work to help Latinos and undocumented students break barriers and excel in higher education. The Ventura County chapter of the Mexican American Bar…

Bilingual commentary: Without you I will “die”

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 The…

Acuña Art Gallery @ Café on A to hold reception for ‘Collective Voices-Abundant Years’ exhibit on Oct. 24

OXNARD — The Acuña Art Gallery @ Café on A will hold a reception for the “Collective Voices-Abundant Years” exhibit at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at 438 S. A St., Oxnard. The exhibit, continuing through Nov. 23, is curated by…

Inlakech Cultural Arts Center to present final free Día de los Muertos workshop on Oct. 25 in Oxnard

OXNARD — The Inlakech Cultural Arts Center will present the final free Saturday Día de los Muertos workshop on Oct. 25 in Oxnard. The workshop isin preparation for the 7th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, Nov. 1 at…

CSU Channel Islands to hold sixth annual ‘Day of the Dead: Celebration of Life’ on Oct. 27

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) invites the campus and community to join in the sixth annual “Day of the Dead: Celebration of Life,” on Monday, Oct. 27, at the John Spoor Broome Library, the university reported in a media release. Presented…

Guest commentary: Political Graffiti Part I — I am my sister and brother’s keeper

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 Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor This…

Luis Alberto Urrea will be the guest speaker at the 10th annual Campus Reading Celebration at CSU Channel Islands on Oct. 16

CAMARILLO —  CSU Channel Islands (CI) will welcome award-winning writer Luis Urrea for the 10th Annual Campus Reading Celebration at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 in the Grand Salon, the university reported in a media release. The Campus Reading Celebration is…

UCSB Multicultural Center to present ‘Arte Intimo, Arte Público: Spirit, Vision and Form / The Art of Judy Baca’ lecture on Oct. 16

SANTA BARBARA — The UCSB Multicultural Center will present “Arte Intimo, Arte Público: Spirit, Vision and Form | The Art of Judy Baca” through Dec. 19 at the MCC Lounge. Baca, a world-renowned painter and muralist, community arts pioneer, scholar and…

Bilingual commentary: The Brave Steeds of Helios

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 One…

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! to present ‘Contra-Tiempo Urban Latin Dance Theater – Transforming the World Through Dance’ Oct. 17-19

SANTA BARBARA — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! will present Contra-Tiempo Urban Latin Dance Theater in free family performances and dance classes Oct. 17-19 in Santa Barbara County. Dedicated to transforming the world through dance and committed to making their…

Santa Paula Museum of Art to present opening reception of the 21st annual De Colores Art Show on Oct. 18

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Art Museum will present the opening reception for the 21st De Colores Art Show — “In Search of Magulandia,” from noon to 4 p.m Saturday, Oct. 18 at 117 N.10th St., downtown Santa Paula.…

‘Tres Vidas’ with story lines featuring Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Rufina Amaya to be presented by CLU’s Chamber Music Theatre on Oct. 10

THOUSAND OAKS —  ‘Tres Vidas’ with story lines featuring Frida Kahlo, Rufina Amaya and Alfonsina Storni, will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks in the Samuelson Chapel. Presented by…

Día de los Muertos time is rapidly approaching

Workshops already in progress to prepare items for Day of the Dead celebrations throughout the region By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Soon the aroma of marigolds and copal incense will waft through the air, beckoning spirits to cross over…

Local news briefs

SANTA BARBARA — Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is seeking produce donors and volunteers for the Foodbank Backyard Bounty Day on Saturday, Oct. 25. Foodbank is calling out to community members with harvest sites (orchards or gardens) in south Santa…

Guest commentary: From Selena to Cristela: Our moment is now

By Miguel Orzoco / Guest contributor Nearly 20 years ago the Latino community lost one of its greatest performers. Selena Quintanilla Perez, the embodiment of our aspirations and dreams, was tragically taken away. She was only 23 years old. We…

Bilingual commentary: Trust, permission and sales

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 As…

Business: The benefits of business podcasting

By Metro Editorial Services (MS) mall businesses, understand the importance of establishing an online presence. Identifying new content strategies can help keep a company’s name and business motto fresh in the minds of consumers. Search engine optimization, or SEO, and…

Local business information

> The California Employment Development Department will present an “Employee or Independent Contractor Seminar” from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the EDD Tax Office, 4820 McGrath St., Suite 200, the organization reported. The seminar will include information…

Health: Avoid Halloween makeup allergies and other reactions

By Metro Editorial Services (MS) What are the horrors of Halloween? Many might say encountering a gruesome ghoul or a blood-sucking vampire is the most horrific part of the holiday. However, an allergic reaction can be just as scary as…

Local health information

> Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will provide information on Covered California and free health screenings at selected locations throughout the month of October in various locations in Ventura County. Visit http://www.clinicas.org/outreach/calendar/2014-10 to find times, dates and locations of upcoming…

Bilingual commentary: Relationships

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 Most…

Paraguayan film kicks off free festival at CLU on Oct. 1

THOUSAND OAKS — California Lutheran University will open the second season of its International Film Series with a free screening of the Spanish film “7 Boxes” on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The 2012 film from Paraguay will be shown in Spanish…

Guest commentary: Helping a Dreamer achieve his goal

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 Gilbert Cuevas / Guest…

Bilingual commentary: Family pets

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 According…

Ventura College to celebrate Diversity in Culture with a Spanish Heritage Fiesta on Sept. 24

VENTURA — A Spanish Heritage Fiesta, a free community event to celebrate Diversity in Culture, will be presented by Ventura College from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.…

Manuel Liñán to perform on Sept. 27 at Flamenco Arts Festival 2014 in Santa Barbara.

SANTA BARBARA — The 14th annual Flamenco Arts Festival will feature prominent Spanish artist Manuel Liñán and his production of Nómada (Nomad), with a pre-concert talk from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at The Granada Theatre, 214 State St.,…

Guest commentary: Civility or Social Control

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 Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor There…

iFoster event on Sept. 27 to connect foster, adoptive, kinship communities in Ventura County to valuable resources

OXNARD — iFoster, in partnership with the Ventura County Human Services Agency (VCHSA), will host a Ventura County iFoster Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 27 at All Saints Episcopal Church,  144 So. C St., Oxnard, VCHSA reported in a media…

Guest commentary: The Domestic War

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 Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor Last Saturday,…

Ventura County Housing Trust Fund issues $900,000 notice of funding availability for farm worker housing

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Housing Trust Fund (VCHTF) has announce the issuance of its third Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the development of affordable housing in Ventura County, the organization reported in a media release. Linda Braunschweiger,…

Bilingual commentary: Hercules: A very strong—and very troubled—man

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 As…

Traditional ‘Cry for Independence’ to be held Sept. 15 at Plaza Park, Oxnard

OXNARD — The 2014 Fiestas Patrias will conclude with the traditional Cry for Independence (“Grito de Independencia“) at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard, the Comité Cultural reported in a media release. Sponsors this year include Lazer Broadcasting: KOXR…

Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation to present ‘Hotel Mariachi’ lecture on Sept. 18

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) will present “Hotel Mariachi: Urban Space and Cultural Heritage in Los Angeles,” a lecture by Catherine L. Kurland and Evangeline Ordaz-Molina on Sept. 18 in the Presidio Chapel at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara…

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! to present Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar in free concerts from Sept. 19 through 21

Courtesy photo SANTA BARBARA —¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! will present Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar in free concerts at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at Isla Vista School, 6875 El Colegio Road, Goleta (805-893-5037); 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept.…

Free Mariachi Summer Concert to be held Sept. 21 in Oxnard

OXNARD — A free “Mariachi Summer Concert” will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at Heritage Square, 715 So. A St., Oxnard. The event features Orgullo de Mexico, Camarillo; Inlakech; El Guero & CSUCITLAN; Big X…

CSU Channel Islands sophomore Teresa Castillo wins 2014 CSU Trustees’ Award

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands sophomore Teresa Castillo is the winner of a prestigious 2014 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, the university reported in a media release. The annual awards are the CSU system’s highest student distinction, providing scholarships to one…

Bilingual commentary: Flight from the nest

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 Some…