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."

Santa Paula ‘Student Portrait Projects’ join Santa Paula Portrait Project opening on Feb. 23

SANTA PAULA — In conjunction with the “Santa Paula Portrait Project,” the Santa Paula Art Museum has invited elementary and high school students to try their hand at a number of art projects in portraiture, the museum reported in a media…

Bilingual commentary: The end of textbooks?

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…

MICOP seeks volunteers for monthly Mixteco community meetings on Feb. 23

Volunteers are needed support the monthly Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project community meeting in Oxnard on  Saturday, Feb. 23 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St. and Rio Real Elementary School, 1140 Kenny St.. “We will be packing the food for the…

Bilingual report: Lideres Campesinas, Poder Popular de Santa Paula to present ‘One Billion Rising’ program on Feb. 14

Local groups join global campaign to stop violence against women, girls SANTA PAULA — Lideres Campesinas and Poder Popular de Santa Paula will join with activists around the world for ONE BILLION RISING, the largest day of action in the…

Women’s Political Council off to busy start

Amigos805 staff report The Ventura County Women’s Political Council is off to a busy start, with more events planned as it celebrates the election of its first board of officers this month. A discussion in January on religion and the…

Bilingual commentary: Mexican novelas and language

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 At…

Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula to present ‘Music @ the Mill: Boleros Románticos’

Music @ the Mill: Noche de Boleros will be presented from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula, 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula. Start your Valentine’s Day celebration early with classic Bolero ballads, the…

Author Amada Irma Perez to talk about romantic writing on Feb. 10

Ventura author offers new opportunities to display your love By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Finding just the right words to express your emotions can be a challenging proposition. For Ventura author Amada Irma Perez, the written word provides a wealth…

CSU Channel Islands’ Tania Garcia honored for volunteer education work

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands Director of Development, Alumni Relations Tania Garcia recently was named “Volunteer of the Year” by the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, the university reported in a media release. Garcia, a nine-year employee of CI who has…

Commentary: Do you want to have a heart attack?

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 Do…

Bilingual commentary: Valentine’s Day or Geoffrey Chaucer Day?

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 Valentine’s…

Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez to perform in free concerts Feb. 8-10 in Santa Barbara region

Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez will perform in a series of free family concerts and school outreach programs Feb. 8 through 10 in the Santa Barbara region, ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! reported in a media release.…

CMHS HealthAware will recognize ‘National Wear Red Day’ with health screening on Feb. 1

VENTURA — Community Memorial Health System HealthAware, with the American Heart Association, will recognize the 10th anniversary of “National Wear Red Day,”  with a free health screening from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 1 at the CMH hospital lobby, 147 N. Brent…

S.B. Brazilian ‘Carnaval Cultural’ begins with performance by Ney Rios on Feb. 2

SANTA BARBARA — “Carnaval Bowl” will kick off the 10th annual Santa Barbara Brazilian “Carnaval Cultural” at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at the So-Ho Music Club, 1121 State St., No. 205, Santa Barbara, organizers reported in a media release. The…

Commentary: The Opportunity to serve — Women in combat

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 Last…

Bilingual commentary: My baby turns thirty

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…

SCE to present $5,000 grant to Casa De Vida in Oxnard

OXNARD — Casa De Vida (Residential Alcohol and Drug Recovery Program for men) will be awarded a $5,000 grant by Southern California Edison on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 531 W. Bard Road, Oxnard, the organization reported on Thursday. The funds from this…

MICOP seeks volunteers for monthly Mixteco community meeting on Jan. 26

Volunteers are needed support the monthly Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project community meeting on  Saturday, Jan. 26 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. “We will be trying something new (and old, if you remember back a few years ago) this…

Bilingual commentary: The luckiest generation

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…

Melinda Palacio to hold book signing on Jan. 19 in Ventura

VENTURA — On the heels of having won the 2012 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award for her début novel, Ocotillo Dreams, local author and poet Melinda Palacio returns to sign her new book of poems, “How Fire Is a Story,…

Volunteers needed for Santa Barbara Countywide homeless survey

SANTA BARBARA — Common Ground of Santa Barbara County and Central Coast Collaborative (C3H) on Homelessness held a community briefing on Jan. 7 at the Faulkner Gallery in the Santa Barbara Public Library to update the community on outcomes resulting…

Bilingual commentary: Pain and acceptance

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…

Deadline approaching for El Concilio’s annual Latino Leadership Awards nominations

Nominations will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30 for El Concilio Family Services 24th annual Latino Leadership Awards, the Oxnard-based organization reported this weekend. El Concilio has expanded the criteria beyond education for the annual awards to be presented June 7,…

Ventura County Public Health offers flu shot clinics

VENTURA COUNTY — The nation’s widespread outbreak of the flu has caused an increase in flu cases in California and a sudden surge in demand for the flu vaccine in Ventura County, the Ventura County’s Public Health (VCPH) Department reported in…

Commentary: National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

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 During…

Bilingual report: Agriculture, De Colores Art Show talks to be held Jan. 10 in Santa Paula

The Santa Paula Art Museum and the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will co-present the “Second Thursday Gallery Talks” program on Thursday, Jan. 10. John Nichols, photographer and creator of the annual Art About Agriculture exhibit,…

Bilingual report: ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! to present Ballet Hispanico classes / performance Jan. 10-13

Franchesca Marisol Cabrera, a former Spirit of Fiesta, returns to Santa Barbara as education coordinator with Ballet Hispanico when the group appears in the region Jan. 11 through 13. ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! will present New York-based Ballet…

Celebración del Día de Reyes de la ciudad de Lompoc

LOMPOC — El domingo 06 de enero cerca de 400 niñas y niños se dieron cita en la Iglesia de La Purísima Concepción en la ciudad de Lompoc, CA., para saludar a Melchor, Gaspar y Baltazar, siguiendo una de las…

Bilingual commentary: Polytheism

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…

Bilingual commentary: Baby steps

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor When I was younger (and more foolish), night would come and once again I would question why I dared to think that I could do it all.  Like the superwoman who believes that she can…

Bilingual report: Mexican Consulate to hold ‘Reyes Magos’ celebration on Jan. 6 in Lompoc

The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, Unity Shoppe Organization and La Purísíma Concepción Catholic Church will hold a “Reyes Magos’ celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 at the church, 213 W. Olive Ave., Lompoc. Families are invited for…

First ‘Longevity’ meeting of year set for Jan. 2

VENTURA — A free meeting at which anyone can learn about longevity with good health will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 702 County Square Drive, Ventura, organizers reported in a media release. This meeting has…

Los Aguiluchos Marching Band to perform on Dec. 27 in Oxnard

OXNARD — Los Aguiluchos Marching Band of Puebla, Mexico, will perform at 1 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. The marching band will also perform at the 124th annual Pasadena Tournament of…

Bilingual commentary: Communicating, or missing brain cells?

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…

Capps announces implementation of “Pay as You Earn” program to make student loan repayment easier for young people

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) on Dec. 21 announced the implementation of the Obama Administration’s “Pay as You Earn” program. The Administration’s “Pay as You Earn” proposal will reduce monthly loan payments by capping them at 10 percent of…

FOOD Share inches closer to overall goal to raise 200,000 pounds of food

Regional food bank and The Collection at RiverPark’s first annual Can Tree Collection drive garners support from community, raised 57,000 pounds of canned food for hungry VENTURA COUNTY — Oxnard’s newest outdoor shopping and dining destination, The Collection, during Dec.…

Commentary: Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary: It’s not only about gun control

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 After…

Bilingual commentary: Higher education for Latinos

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…

Students participate in STEM Conference at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA — Women leaders in science, engineering and education shared their expertise and time with more than 200 girls in grades 6-12, parents, teachers and counselors at the recent 2012 Upper Hand to College STEM Conference, held at UCSB, organizers…