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."

Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara begins July 31

SANTA BARBARA — The 89th annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta in Santa Barbara will be presented from July 31 through Aug. 4 in downtown Santa Barbara. The event features the opening “La Fiesta Pequeña” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, musical…

CSU Channel Islands to host Migrant Summer Leadership Institute

More than 100 students and 40 parents from all around California will learn about college in multi-day residential institutes CAMARILLO – CSU Channel Islands will host its first Migrant Summer Leadership Institute (MSLI) for migrant high school students and their parents from Friday,…

Growing share of Latinos get their news in English

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The language of news media consumption is changing for Hispanics: a growing share of Latino adults are consuming news in English from television, print, radio and internet outlets, and a declining share are doing so in Spanish,…

Oxnard writers earn fellowship, awards

OXNARD — Two Oxnard writers received fellowships and an award from “A Room Of Her Own,” (AROHO) Foundation. Florencia Ramirez received the Gift of Freedom $5,000 award for her creative non-fiction work. Mona AlvaradoFrazier received the Courage Fellowship Award. These…

Bilingual commentary: Careers and jobs in a technical world

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 Not…

Guest commentary: Sometimes you have to shout to be heard

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 Why…

Guest commentary: Legal justice and morality

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…

Trula Breuninger named new interim CEO at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) has announce the appointment of Trula Ann Breuninger, MPH, MBA, as interim CEO, the organization reported Thursday in a media release. Breuninger’s extensive experience as a leader of community health, as well as…

Bilingual commentary: Sunshine: Friend or foe?

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…

Ventura County Community College District hosting welcome reception on July 29 for new Ventura College president

VENTURA — Ventura County Community College District invites the community to attend a welcome reception for Dr. Greg Gillespie, new Ventura College president, on Monday, July 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the District Administrative Center, 255 W. Stanley…

Ventura County Veterans Funds awards first grants

Program to ease transition to civilian life for returning warriors CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Veterans Fund at the Ventura County Community Foundation has awarded its first grants to local nonprofits that serve veterans as they adjust to civilian life,…

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…

UCSB Early Academic Outreach Program holds College Readiness Academies in region July 3-5

SANTA BARBARA —  For the third year in a row, UC Santa Barbara’s Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) will sponsor a series of College Readiness Academies for incoming high school seniors, the university reported in a media release. The intensive college…

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.…