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."

Guest commentary: Por eso estamos como estamos

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 A…

Flamenco dance performance to be held July 20 in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — The Marjorie Luke Theatre in Santa Barbara will present ‘Romeria de Verano 2013’ from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. Students from the Linda Vega Dance Studio and ¡FLAMENCO! Santa…

Bilingual report: Farmworker Fair to be held on July 21 in Oxnard

OXNARD — The California Employment Development Dept. will present the 6th annual “Farmworker Fair — Feria Campesina” from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21 at the EDD office/West Oxnard Job & Career Center, 635 So. Ventura Road, Oxnard. The…

Bilingual commentary: Dancing into middle age

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 My…

PODS Mini Art Galleries popping up in Ventura

Hover over each image to see a description. VENTURA — ArtWalk Ventura’s pop-up PODS® Mini Art Galleries are a new addition to the local art festival this year, PODS reported in a media release. Artists are actively transforming 16 PODS® containers from…

Guest commentary: Erosion of respect for the law

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 It…

Region provides new Mexican cónsul challenges, opportunities

Large territory, limited funds are some obstacles for Mexican national community By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 As the crow/seagull flies, it’s almost 200 miles between Point Mugu and Paso Robles. That is almost as far (215 miles) as from…

Commentary: Spain pilgrimage draws seekers

By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Discovery is what I love most about traveling. When I have a tentative agenda, I have time to stumble upon new places. Once on foreign soil, I seek out events or…

Peers honor A to Z Law paralegal with countywide award

OXNARD — Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP (A to Z Law) recently announced that Maria Godinez has been named Paralegal of the Year by the Ventura County Paralegal Association. Godinez, who works primarily with the Oxnard firm’s Probate and Estate…

Bilingual commentary: Hunting, or getting married

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 I…

Guest commentary: A Never Ending Story

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…

Huckleberry Finn figures prominently in new book by UCSB expert in immigration law, policy

SANTA BARBARA — This is the overarching question that frames John S.W. Park’s new book, “Illegal Migrations and the Huckleberry Finn Problem” (Temple University Press, 2013), and it’s a question that has confronted many American citizens time and again throughout…

Bilingual commentary: Do We Need A Close Encounter?

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 In…

Bilingual report: Mexican Consulate to hold book donation ceremony on June 27

OXNARD — The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard will hold its annual book donation ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 27 at Juan Lagunas Soria Elementary School, 3101 Dunkirk Drive, Oxnard. More than 40 educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, community centers, churches, clubs…

‘El Impacto de la Reforma de la Salud en Nuestras Comunidades’ taller el 29 de junio 2013

SANTA BARBARA — El Impacto de la Reforma de la Salud en Nuestras Comunidades taller el 29 de junio 2013, 8:30 am a 5:00 p.m., Santa Barbara County Education Office, 3970 La Colina Road, Santa Barbara. En español. Los participantes comprenderán…

Guest commentary: Summer Reading-Latino Lit Lista

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editors 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 Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor The…

Pew Hispanic Center reports on diverse origins of Hispanics

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nation’s Latino population is diverse. Represented among the 51.9 million Latinos in the United States are individuals who trace their heritage to more than 20 Spanish-speaking nations worldwide. But one group — Mexicans — dominates the nation’s…

Bilingual commentary: Knowing oneself

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 Across…

Guest commentary: Why Mexicans don’t trust government

  “No hay mal que dure cien anos, ni cuerpo que lo aguante” 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…

Deadline is June 20 to register for ‘Young Writers Camp” in Ventura, Santa Barbara counties

The deadline to register is June. 20 for South Coast Writing Project presents “The 2013 Young Writers Camp”  July 15-26 at UC Santa Barbara and California Lutheran University, July 15 through Aug. 1 at Oxnard and Ventura colleges. The students, third…

‘Festival Guelaguetza Oxnard’ to be held June 23 at Plaza Park

The Organizacíon Cultural Oaxaqueña Ñuu Savi will present “Festival Guelaguetza Oxnard” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 23 at Oxnard Plaza Park, 500 So. C St., Oxnard. The free event features Balet Folklorico Nueva Antequera, Los Diablos de…

Response to Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics appeal provides much needed ‘Shot in the Arm’

Outpouring of financial and community support to avert local healthcare crisis is helping, on multiple levels SANTA BARBARA — After an urgent announcement to the community two weeks ago about Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics’ (SBNC) current financial challenges, members of…

Ventura County internship program gives students head start for career in public works

VENTURA — In an effort to introduce students to the different facets of public works and nurture interest in civil engineering, Ventura County offers a student internship program with the ultimate goal of students transitioning into professional public works careers.…

Guest commentary: A father’s wail — Why do you kill my son?

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 Two of…

Bilingual report: Registration open for ‘Creative Writing in Spanish’ class in Santa Maria starting June 18

SANTA MARIA — A new “Creative Writing in Spanish” class will be offered from June 18 through July 9 through Allan Hancock College Community Education in Santa Maria. In the class, students create and share their own writing with other students in English…

Women’s Economic Ventures celebrates 80 SET graduates

Next Santa Barbara orientations for its Self-Employment Training (SET) program to be held June 13, 25 SANTA BARBARA — Women’s Economic Ventures recently held a graduation ceremony at the Montecito Country Club in honor of 80 new local entrepreneurs (40 from Santa Barbara County)…

Immigration reform talk to be held June 12 in Newbury Park

NEWBURY PARK — Maricela Morales, deputy executive director of the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), former mayor of Port Hueneme and daughter of immigrant parents, will speak about he current U.S. House and Senate immigration bills and…

Services for Johnny ‘Tony’ Barrios to be held June 11

VENTURA — Johnny “Tony” Barrios, a Ventura native, who received a Bronze Star in World War II, raced Olympic champion Jesse Owens on horseback and ran Tony’s Pizzaria in downtown Ventura for more than 50 years died May 26, at home…

Guest commentary: The American nightmare — Death of the peasant landlord

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 When…

UC Santa Barbara to present ‘Latina Mother / Adolescent Daughter Communications’ program on June 10

SANTA BARBARA — The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara will present a free “Latina Mother / Adolescent Daughter Communications” lecture by Dr. Laura Romo from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 10 at Faulkner Gallery, Santa…

Women’s Economic Ventures to present small business workshop in Spanish on June 6

SANTA BARBARA — Women’s Economic Ventures, in collaboration with the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara, will present a workshop in Spanish providing training on the most important aspects of starting and running a successful small business from 6 to 8:30…

Bilingual commentary: Back to where we came from

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 On…

Commentary: Discover Tucson’s Triple Crowned Casino del Sol

By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Forbes Travel Guide, creators of the original Five-Star ratings system and leading travel authority recently announced that Casino Del Sol in Tucson has received three top rankings for their hotel, Hiapsi…

Donations, community support sought for ACCESS Water, Oxnard! youth swim, job program

OXNARD — As a beachside city, Oxnard has a staggering 90 percent-plus non-swimming low-income youth population, according to Debra De Vries and Armando Vazquez, executive directors of The Foundation For Educational and Employment Resources Development, the Café on A and Acuna…

Guest commentary: Chingaderas — It’s the system stupid

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 I…

Rebozo Festival Inc. to kick off Salsa Festival dance fundraiser with wine tasting on June 4

OXNARD — Rebozo Festival Inc. will kick off Salsa Festival dance fundraiser with a wine tasting from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 at Downtown Sol, 328 W. Third St., downtown Oxnard. Rebozo Festival Madrina and Salsa Festival Community Star…

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic’s financial challenge

Board reviewing options this month to keep health care provider in business By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 A cancer prevention fair providing free screenings at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic’s eastside location drew more than 350 people in May 2012.…

El Concilio profile: Reiter Affiliated Companies

Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2013 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. The event is…