By David M. Smith / President & CEO, United Way of Ventura County Early next month 2-1-1 Ventura County will begin its seventh year of service to the residents of our county — and what a remarkable service 2-1-1 has been.…
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."
David Cruz Show to start Jan. 16 on KTLK 1150 AM
LOS ANGLES – Clear Channel Radio – Los Angeles is launching a new program, the David Cruz Show, starting Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. The program will air weekdays 3-6PMon KTLK, 1150AM, the company reported this week in a media release. “This…
Mexican Consulate releases January calendar of events
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard has released its January calendar of events. Click here for a PDF version of the calendar.
Commentary: Help for Loneliness
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Loneliness is a common complaint of single people, especially those of us who are “older” or more or less retired. I’m 71 and single. In reality we are all alone inside our heads. Nobody…
Commentary: The Christmas Gifts
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor The following is an essay I wrote several years ago. In the Hispanic world, Christmas isn’t over until January 6, so I can still slip this one in: It was that time of year: time…
Commentary: What if the Mayans are right?
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor Is December 21, 2012 the End or just a new winter solstice? Is it another Y2K or cause to start worrying? Just because the Mayan calendar ends on that date in 2012 doesn’t mean the world ceases to exist.…
Commentary: The truth shall set you free
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Happy New Year! May 2012 be a tremendous year for each of you. A fresh start. A new beginning. We know that 2011 was a very difficult year for many of you for various…
Bilingual report: Reyes Magos celebration set for Jan. 7 in Ojai
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard and the Unity Shoppe Organization will present a Los Reyes Magos celebration from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 185 St. Thomas Drive, Ojai. *** El Consulado de…
LULAC District meeting set for Jan. 14 in Ventura
Commentary: Reflecting on 2011, working together in 2012
Dear Editor: As 2011 comes to a close one cannot help reflecting on the past while looking ahead to the future. For me, as I enter my fourth year on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, I feel very grateful.…
Commentary: Top ten in local education
By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor We will see many lists within the next few days. I would argue that education is a topic of utmost importance and yet we will not see a resume of last year in this subject.…
Commentary: Learn how to relate to your adult children
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor If you have adult children, they are among the most important of your relationships. Unfortunately, many parents are estranged or emotionally distant from their adult children. Relationships between you and your adult children are…
Commentary: Time to turn the calendar to a new year
Amigos805.com staff report We wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2012. Residents of the 805 region and the rest of the nation in 2011 continued to battle back from the effects of the Great Recession. As noted recently by Bill Watkins, executive…
Commentary: The management of time
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Here we are on a collision course with 2012, and many of us haven’t even begun to write down our resolutions. Assuming the Mayan predictions aren’t true and that we actually will live through…
Commentary: Hope For 2012
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors All of us on Team Szakos hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends and we wish you nothing but the best for 2012! As we read in the news, watch…
New board members join Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme
OXNARD — Stephen MacIntosh, general manager of Republic Services, Inc.; Stuart Nielson, attorney with Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP; Robert Sills, community advocate; and Police Chief Jeri Williams, Oxnard Police Department have joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of…
United Way: Wishing you a great new year!
Dear Friends: With a focus on a new year upon us, please accept my thanks for your generous support throughout 2011. Because of your support, thousands of local residents have been rewarded with an enhanced quality of life. But during…
Das Williams: End-of-year report
It’s been an honor to serve you during this time of crisis and though it hasn’t always been easy due to the ongoing budget problems, I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve already made. As 2011 comes to an…
Radio Lazer, Vista Ford of Oxnard bring joy and toys to Oxnard children
OXNARD — Hundreds of Oxnard children received an early Christmas on Dec. 14 thanks to the generosity of Vista Ford of Oxnard and Radio Lazer, according to a media release. For the fifth year, the two Oxnard businesses teamed up…
Commentary: Boomers, seniors, everyone — You can still enjoy Mexico
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor For many years I have loved visiting and traveling in Mexico. Sadly, some of the places I have visited are now unsafe, and generally driving through much of Mexico is risky. The good news is…
Capps writes to Entravision CEO urging him to reconsider cancellation of ‘Noticias Univision Costa Central’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Dec. 21 released a letter she sent to Mr. Walter Ulloa, Entravision Chairman and CEO, to express her concern about the potential cancellation of “Noticias Univision Costa Central,” the only Spanish-language…
Commentary: The American Dream—Part III
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor I grew up next door to five cousins, all brothers, who may as well have been my brothers. In fact, genetically, we are brothers. That’s because we are not only cousins — we’re “double cousins.” Their father…
Applications available for California Strawberry Festival arts, crafts exhibitors
OXNARD — Calling artists and crafters with a passion for the berry best… Applications are now available for participation as an Arts & Crafts Exhibitor at the 29th Annual California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard the weekend of May 19 and…
NASCAR champion Tony Stewart volunteers as spokesperson for local Boys & Girls Clubs fundraiser
OXNARD — Three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has volunteered to help the Boys & Girls Clubs Million Dollar Raffle as its spokesperson and has donated a VIP NASCAR experience that includes a personal meet-and-greet with…
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics providing health care options in Santa Barbara region
SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) is quickly becoming the choice for many in our community who can no longer afford healthcare insurance fees, the high cost of deductibles, and the care that come with it — including…
Commentary: Radio program an effective way to reach hardest hit segment of home mortgage crisis
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors To the morning radio audience along California’s Central Coast, Michael and Stephen Szakos of TEAM SZAKOS Real Estate are fast becoming the Batman and Robin of the continuing home mortgage crisis, as the duo…
Target Stores and Zindagi Games host year-end food and fundraisers for FOOD Share
Target stores and Zindagi Games have stepped up to help FOOD Share, Ventura County’s only regional food bank, collect much-needed food and funding at the end of 2011, the organization reported this week in a media release. Through Dec.…
Commentary: College trustees must act to investigate source of leaked document
By the League of United Latin American Citizens President Franklin D. Roosevelt was fond of saying — “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” On Tuesday night (Dec. 13) the Ventura…
Officials, community celebrate completion of the El Rio Sewer Project
Fifth District Supervisor John Zaragoza, State and local officials and representatives from the El Rio Community on Thursday celebrated with a brief ceremony and a ribbon cutting to commemorate the completion of the El Rio Sewer Project, Zaragoza’s office reported…
Sugar Beets Restaurant to raise funds Dec. 17 for family
“Red Carpet Christmas Toy Drive — Party for a Purpose,” benefiting Arlene Hernandez and family, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Sugar Beets Restaurant & Bar, 455 So. A St., Oxnard. The restaurant will take donations for the…
Volunteers needed for MICOP’s Dec. 17 Fiesta Navidena
The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project is seeking volunteers for its annual Fiesta Navidena, which will be held this year on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Boys & Girls Club, 1900 W. 5th St., Oxnard, and at Rio Real Elementary School, 1140 Kenny…
La Hermandad to hold ‘Posada Navideña’ on Dec. 18
La Hermandad’s Hank Lacayo Youth & Family Center will present “Posada Navideña” from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at 520 W. Fifth St., Oxnard. Call 805.483.4620 for more information.
Clinicas del Camino Real distributing toys throughout Ventura County
For the past three years, during the holiday season, Clincas del Camino Real Inc. has been distributing toys to its pediatric patients, Clinicas reported this week in a media release. The toy distribution, which began Dec. 9, will continue on…
United Way’s Latino Action Team holds successful book drive
The United Way of Ventura County’s Latino Action Team hosted its first-ever “Donation to the Imagination” holiday book drive in partnership with the Oxnard Public Library to benefit low-income children living in Oxnard. The community was asked to donate new and/or…
Commentary: The American Dream — Part II
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor I realize that for a lot of Americans these days, the only hope of coming even close to attaining the American dream of our immediate ancestors is — well, getting a job, a virtual mirage for so…
Commentary: Christmas traditions
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. ‘What…
CSU Channel Islands names Trinidad vice president for finance, administration
CAMARILLO – Ysabel Trinidad has been named the new vice president for finance & administration at CSU Channel Islands (CI), the university reported in a media release. Trinidad replaces Joanne Coville, who left in June to become vice president for Business Affairs and…
CEDC’s Fernandez honored at recent meeting of the Stress, Health and Longevity group
Rodney Fernandez, executive director of Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation in Ventura, was honored by the Stress, Health and Longevity group during its recent weekly meeting. Fernandez, who was recognized for his years of community service in leading the affordable housing…
Interfaith leaders call on policy makers to stop separating immigrant families, stop endangering children
Dozens of immigrants and their allies gathered by candlelight in Oxnard’s Plaza Park on Dec. 10 to raise an urgent moral call to policy makers for justice for immigrant families, and especially for the children and young people who are being hurt by…
Commentary: ‘Save Your Family First’ free foreclosure prevention clinics held each Wednesday
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Among the downtown Oxnard storefronts, a weekly gathering is attracting local residents trying to save their homes. Each Wednesday night, volunteers are working with homeowners facing foreclosures. The situation is all too…
Zaragoza’s campaign holds successful fundraiser in Oxnard
Many of Ventura County’s Latino Leaders hosted a fundraising event on Dec. 8 honoring County Supervisor John Zaragoza, according to a media release. Host Committee Chairs Alfredo Placencia and Art Hernandez welcomed guests to Ruby’s restaurant in Oxnard. The packed…
LULAC urges community to attend college board meeting on Dec. 13
The League of United Latin American Citizens — Ventura County District 17 is urging LULAC members, Hispanic community leaders and other community members to attend the Ventura Community College District board meeting to support VCCCD Trustee Art Hernandez. LULAC Trustee…
UCSB student accepts White House award
SANTA BARBARA — A UC Santa Barbara student studying ocean ecology accepted the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring from President Obama on Monday, Dec. 12, on behalf of Ocean Discovery Institute. This is the…
Oxnard Sister City Committee to install officers on Dec. 14
The Oxnard Sister City Commitee will install its officers at its annual Christmas Party at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Sugarbeets Restaurant, 455 So. A St., Oxnard. Reservations will be accepted until 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13. The committee…
Commentary: Increase your happiness by lowering your expectations
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Lowering your expectations to avoid disappointment is a form of mind control that generates greater happiness. Our minds generally are responsible for determining how “happy” we are in life, assuming we have enough to…
Commentary: Books make the best gifts
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Have you had enough of circling the parking lot, standing in line and walking the mall for Christmas gifts yet? I avoid it because for me, it’s a waste of gas, precious time, there…
Bilingual report: Latinos ‘Heroes and Hobbies’ exhibit to open Dec. 9
“Heroes and Hobbies” (Heroes y pasatiempos) — an exhibit of paintings by Denis O’Leary, will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 at the Mexican Consulate, 3151 W. Fifth St., Suite E-100, Oxnard. O’Leary is a local artist now being discovered for his oil paintings re?ecting ?gures and…
Teatro’s ‘Christmas Tales…’ continues Dec. 10, 11
Teatro de las Américas and MusicaLatitudes will present “Christmas Tales and Chants 2,” a Latin American celebration for the entire family, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 during the Oxnard Downtown ArtBeat at the Carnegie Art Museum, 424 So. C…
Oxnard City Council approves public access channel effort
By a unanimous vote, the Oxnard City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 6 awarded the operation of Channel 25, a public access channel, to Fuerza Latina Health Association, a nonprofit group led by broadcast journalist David Cruz. Cruz, formerly a reporter…
Team Zaragoza/Live United team up for Santa to the Sea charity run
Team Zaragoza/Live United have teamed up for the 2011 Charity Challenge to raise funds at this year’s Santa to the Sea Half Maraton and 5K Run starting at 8 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 in Oxnard. “We are asking you to…