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."

‘Sabor’ enjoys successful reception, exhibition in SLO

“Sabor — A Tast of Latino American Artists from the Central Coast” enjoyed a successful reception and exhibition at ARTS Space Obispo, SLO Creamery, in San Luis Obispo. “Sabor,” which concluded on Nov. 24, featured the work of seven artists:…

El Concilio extends deadline for education awards

El Concilio Family Services this week announced that it is extending the nomination deadline to Dec. 30 for its Latino Leadership Awards — “Excellence in Education” to honor individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of education.…

Commentary: Loneliness in retirement

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Loneliness is a common complaint of retired people who do not have a partner or spouse. Different people need different amounts of alone time. Some people have a problem ever being alone. Some truly…

FOOD Share seeks to keep up with growing demand

‘Turkey Trot’ on Nov. 24, ‘Tackle Hunger’ among programs this holiday season From participating in an annual race in Ventura, to launching a program that will ultimately collect hundreds of thousands of pounds  of donated food this holiday season, officials and…

Commentary: Belly Dance—Is it about the “Belly”?

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor We Westerners have a funny way of looking at things sometimes. The Eastern world must stare at us in disbelief sometimes, wondering, with mouths agape, how we could ever arrive at our conclusions. Of course, we…

Donation to the Imagination

In the tradition of holiday spirit of giving, the Downtown Main Library is a drop-off location for the “Donation to the Imagination” holiday book drive, sponsored by United Way, the Oxnard Public Library reported on its website From now until…

Clinicas earns primary care medical home designation

VENTURA — Clinicas Del Camino Real Inc. has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety as a Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH). The special designation…

Bilingual report: Health seminar for women on Nov. 19

“Women to Women: Living longer, living smarter,” a free health seminar for women, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Ventura County Behavioral Health, 1911 Williams Drive, Oxnard. Participants will learn about successful…

Commentary: Our own personal ‘Arab Spring’

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor Like many of you, I’ve followed — with some degree of fascination, trepidation and hope — the blossoming that took place during what has been dubbed the “Arab Spring” this past year. We watched as people…

Tickets available for MABA’s annual Scholarship Dinner on Dec. 1

Tickets are available for the annual Mexican American Bar Association Scholarship Dinner beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 600 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. Justice Carlos R. Moreno (Ret.) will be…

Commentary: The incredible shrinking Thanksgiving holiday

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Every year the window for Thanksgiving Day shortens. Philosophically, we can say that thanks giving should be every day and that is something to strive for, but if we talk just about the holiday, wouldn’t…

Volunteers needed for MICOP’S monthly meeting on Nov. 19

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project presents its monthly community meeting starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. Volunteers with bilingual skills are needed to help 300 people who will be filling out…

Volunteer tax preparers needed

The Ventura County Financial Empowerment Partnership is currently recruiting tax preparation volunteers. Each year, volunteer tax preparers assist low- and moderate-income earners (under $49,000) prepare and e-file their tax returns, making sure they access all the tax credits to which they…

Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas / MusicaLatitudes announce holiday celebration

Teatro de las Américas and MusicaLatitudes will present “Christmas Tales and Chants 2,” a Latin American celebration for the entire family Dec 2-4 in Ventura County. Actors from Teatro de las Américas and musicians and singers from MusicaLatitudes gather into…

Commentary: Meditation can change your life

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor When I moved to the 805 (Oxnard) in 2003 I began practicing meditation for 30 minutes each morning, as I had learned at the Self Realization Fellowship in Pacific Palisades. It is a practice…

Commentary: The Chrysalis

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor When my daughter had her quinceañera celebration some thirteen years ago, I thought about the Latinas in her age group who didn’t have one. Either the family was too financially stressed, or they simply didn’t believe…

Artists, fun seekers to ‘occupy Downtown Oxnard’ during Art Beat on Nov. 12

From antiquities to contemporary works inspired by today’s headlines, November Art Beat features diverse cultural offerings along with entertainment in local galleries & nightspots. Art Beat 2nd Saturdays, Downtown Oxnard’s monthly showcase of art, dining and entertainment will feature more…

Marching bands to compete at Oxnard High School on Nov. 12

More than 20 high school marching bands, with more than 1,400 musicians, will compete at the Oxnard High School Marching Band & Auxiliary’s 27th annual Field Show Competitition from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Bud Houser Stadium,…

Commentary: Honor, integrity, sacrifice

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or from wounds sustained from combat. That’s not quite true. Memorial Day is the…

Williams receives perfect rating from seniors

SACRAMENTO — First term Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) received a perfect score from the California Congress of Seniors on their annual legislative report card, Williams’ office reported Monday in a media release. Each year the state’s leading senior citizens…

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Bilingual report: Deadline is Nov. 7 for El Concilio’s Latino Leadership Awards

The deadline for nominations for the 2012 El Concilio Family Services annual Latino Leadership Awards “Excellence in Education” is today, Monday, Nov. 7. El Concilio will be honoring individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of education.…

Oxnard City Council on Nov. 8 to discuss Spanish-language broadcast

Oxnard City Councilmember Carmen Ramirez distributed the following information regarding the 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 meeting focusing on simultaneous broadcast in Spanish of Oxnard City Council meeting: “To people who care about the people of Oxnard — Approximately 30% of Oxnard’s homes are Spanish-speaking.…

Víctor Ríos to talk about the impact of juvenile justice policies on Latino youth on Nov. 8 in Santa Barbara

Víctor Ríos to talk about “Punished: Policing the lives of Black and Latino boys’ at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the UCSB Multiculture Center Theater, the university reported in a media release. Ríos analyzes how punitive juvenile crime policies…

Oxnard College to present the migrant farm worker documentary ‘The Purepecha…’ on Nov. 9

Award-winning writer, director and producer Cheryl Quintana Leader will present her short documentary “The Purepecha: Poorest of the Poor” from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Complex, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The…

Commentary: Tips on places to sleep when you travel

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor The holidays are coming soon, and you might be traveling to visit family or friends, and for myriad reasons cannot spend the nights in their home. After that, before you know it, you may…

Commentary: The power of Mexican mythology

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We must not lose sight of the reality that Mexico is the confluence of two very distinct cultures: one European, and the other indigenous, with its own cultures, beliefs, practices, religions and mythologies.  In…

Bilingual report: Registration suggested for Nov. 5 college family conference at CSU Channel Islands

The Oxnard Union High School District will present the “College Family Conference: Making it Happen,” from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at CSU Channel Islands. Advance registration is suggested. Parents and students in the 9th and 10th grade…

Commentary: A lasting legacy

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor A good friend, Josie Salinas, passed on to meet her Creator this past August. She filled her life serving others through her friendship, mentoring, and career. As the first female Native American Spiritual Advisor, she…

‘Sabor…’ comes to ARTS Space Obispo with reception on Nov. 4

“Sabor ~ A Taste of Latino Artists from the Central Coast,” opens with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 during San Luis Obispo’s monthy Art After Dark artwalk at ARTS Space Obispo, SLO Creamery, 570 Higuera St., #165, San Luis Obispo. “Sabor means…

OC 2011 Student Digi Film Festival set for Nov. 4-5

The Oxnard College 2011 Student Digi Film Festival will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5 at 7 p.m. at the Oxnard College Performing Arts building, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard, the college reported in a media…

Ramona Days set for Nov. 5 at Rancho Camulos

Performances by the core cast and dancers from the world famous Hemet Ramona Outdoor Play will highlight the fourth annual “Ramona Days” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at Rancho Camulos Museum National Historic Landmark in Piru,…

More Día de los Muertos activities planned this week

Community groups, businesses and other organizations continue to add to the Día de los Muertos celebration calendar. Amigos805.com will continue to post updates as they become available. The Centro Mujer Community Center presents its Día de los Muertos celebration from…

Bilingual report: Líderes Campesinas to hold annual march Oct. 28

Líderes Campesinas will present its annual March/ Vigil and Apron Exhibit beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 at Iglesia Cristo Rey and concluding at Iglesia de Guadalupe in La Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard. Presented by the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), Interface Children’s…

Commentary: Boomers and seniors — 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 retired people are estranged or emotionally distant from their adult children. Relationships between you and your adult children…

Commentary: Day of the Dead

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor The first of November begins the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) festivities. Its roots can be traced back to indigenous cultures. The Aztecs had a celebration in the ninth month of their calendar…

805 region gearing up for Día de los Muertos events

From Thousand Oaks to Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara and beyond, communities are preparing for the annual Día de los Muertos celebrations in the 805 region. The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard recently requested community organizers to submit a comprehensive list of…

Commentary: The Occupiers

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We read about them and see them on the daily news: the Occupiers of Wall Street, Chicago, San Francisco, and now even of Ventura. They are protesting the economic conditions that have befallen the…

Author Demetria Martínez to receive UCSB’s Luis Leal Literature Award on Oct. 27

SANTA BARBARA — Poet, novelist, and journalist Demetria Martínez is the recipient of UC Santa Barbara’s 2011 Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature, the university reported in a media release. The award will be presented during a ceremony…

CVUUF community forum set for Oct. 27 in Newbury Park

The Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is presenting the CVUUF Community Forum David Korten — “American Awakening: From Wall Street Protests to a Main Street Economy,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3327 Old…