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."

Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum to offer view of Ventura County’s vital industry

Opens to the public at 11 a.m. Sept. 25 at The Mill in Santa Paula. Museum features bilingual exhibits By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805.com From sugar beets and lima beans to lemon orchards and strawberries, Ventura County residents have witnessed…

Commentary: The dance of life

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Generally, boys learn about becoming men from their peers (God help us) and their fathers. This could be beneficial if the peers and fathers were raised in a healthy environment — something that seems…

Commentary: César’s last fast

César’s Last Fast:  “One man taking on Goliath-like forces in a fight for social justice.” This article is a two part series: By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor A couple of weeks ago I chatted with a friend about the need for…

Volunteers needed for MICOP monthly meeting on Sept. 24

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project presents its monthly community meeting from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. Volunteers are needed to help with children’s arts & crafts programs. Call Donna Foster…

Bilingual report: El gobierno de México dona $35,000 a la Agencia de Salud del Condado de Ventura

Oxnard — Representando al Condado de Ventura, en las oficinas del Consulado de México, el Supervisor del 5to. Distrito del Condado de Ventura, John Zaragoza, recibió el pasado viernes 9 de septiembre una donación por $35,000 que envío la Secretaria…

Capps applauds repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

  WASHINGTON — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) applauded the repeal of the military’s failed and discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy, her office reported today in a media release. Capps has long supported the repeal of DADT and…

Volunteers still needed for Day of Kids on Sept. 24

Tiffany Lopez reports that volunteers are still needed for the annual Boys & Girls Clubs “Day for Kids” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Boys & Girls Club Martin V. Smith Youth Center, 1900 W.…

Williams sides with consumer protections in votes

SACRAMENTO — As issues relating to consumer protection arose for state lawmakers during the first part of the legislative session, Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) sided with consumers 100 percent of the time, the office of Das Williams reported in…

Diva Tu! fall issue now available

Diva Tu! publisher Natty Rios-Sipes has announced that the new Diva Tu! Fall issue is now available featuring “Back to School Inspiration” by Kassandra Romero, “Blueprint for Success” by Mariaemma Willis, Fashion “TeenTrends,” “Quinceañeras de Niña a Mujer” and “Social…

UCSB to hold Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Expo at Oxnard College on Sept. 20

UC Santa Barbara and Oxnard College are teaming up for STEM EXPO 2011, a daylong event that will bring middle and high school students from the Oxnard and Santa Paula area together with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professionals,…

Capps celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

  WASHINGTON — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) issued the following statement in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15 every year. “This week we begin celebrating Hispanic Heritage month and will pay tribute to…

Commentary: Digging deep

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor I have been married and divorced three times. A few years after my last divorce I wrote a memoir about my journey to understand my role in the destruction of those three marriages, “Digging…

Announcement: Author presentation this weekend

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor This weekend we have an interactive and fun author presentation for children within Ventura County. At the Ventura Bank of Books, we have “My Handy Writing Book: A New, Fun and Easy Way to Write…

Commentary: A Mexican cousin’s view of the U.S.

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor It was their 8/25.  It doesn’t resonate with us as well as “9/11” does and always will.  The events of August 25, 2011, weren’t of the gasping magnitude of 9/11, but it shook Mexican society…

Son Jarocho workshop set for Sept. 14 in Oxnard

Visiting artist Andres Flores will provide a special Son Jarocho Workshop from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Arts for Action, 535 So. C St., Oxnard. There is a $5 requested donation. Flores is from Coatzalcoalcos Veracruz and…

Thibeault to talk at Stress, Health and Longevity Class on Sept. 14

Donald Thibeault will be the guest speaker at the Stress, Health and Longevity Class meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 at 702 County Square Drive, Ventura. He will talk about ”Mental Gymnastics and Aging Gracefully.” Call 805.652.2828 for…

FOOD Share to hold Fruit Share program on Sept. 24

(VENTURA COUNTY) – When Bonnie Weigel, FOOD Share CEO, visits Ventura County neighborhoods and sees ripe lemons, avocados or peaches that have fallen to the ground and are rotting, she cringes. Weigel knows that rather than go to waste, each piece of fruit…

Das Williams: Legislation secures federal funding for energy efficiency retrofits to state buildings

SACRAMENTO — A bill that Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) has authored jointly with the chairman of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce to authorize the transfer of additional money to help finance energy efficiency retrofits in state buildings…

CSU’s ‘Channel Magazine’ features Lacayo Institute

The Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies (HLI) has been featured in a new article by Lori Putnam at CSU Channel Islands “Channel Magazine.” Launched last November, the non-profit and non-partisan Institute is named for Hank Lacayo,…

Das Williams: Assembly passes tax relief for middle class families

Plan also Closes Tax Loophole and Helps Small Businesses SACRAMENTO — Assembly Democrats and two Republican’s approved a plan on Sept 8 that includes an income tax break for working families and provides an incentive for job creation here in…

Capps applauds outline of American Jobs Act, urges House leadership to bring bill to the floor

  WASHINGTON – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) released the following statement in response to President Obama’s address to Congress and outline of the American Jobs Act. “Tonight, President Obama laid out several straightforward, bipartisan proposals to create jobs and…

Commentary: Baseball, horse races and trains

Editor’s note: Boyd Lemon reported this week that his book “Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages,” was the 65th best selling book in its genre on Kindle. This week the ebook version is on sale for 99 cents on http://www.Amazon.com, http://www.BarnsandNoble.com and http://www.Smashwords.com By…

Commentary: Dieting…Or A Way of Life?

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Sometimes I wonder if at my age and considering my gender, I’m a candidate for anorexia.  Especially when I get dressed for the day, look at my profile around the waist area in the…

Registration open for Binational Health Week conference

The Binational Health Week 2011 11th annual Health Conference, “Celebrating Healthy Families,” will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at Veteran’s Memorial Community Center, 313 W. Tunnell St., Santa Maria. The deadline for organizations to…

Oxnard Art Beat set for Sept. 10

The Downtown Oxnard Art Beat will close out the summer by featuring a variety of art, music, dancing and dining opportunities from 5 p.m. to closing time on Saturday, Sept. 10 at various venues in downtown Oxnard, organizers reported in…

LULAC’s first fall meeting set for Sept. 10 in Ventura

The League of United Latin American Citizens will hold its first fall meeting of LULAC District 17 from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Clinicas del Camino Real, 200 So. Wells Road, No. 200, Ventura. Contact Jorge Napoles,…

Das Williams bill to increase public safety clears senate floor

A bill authored by Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) that provides policy guidelines regarding background screening requirements for Emergency Medical Responders, passed the Senate floor on Sept. 6, according to a media release. Assembly Bill 1245 simply states that if…

Republic Services helping FOOD Share collect donations

Republic Services Inc., a provider of solid waste collection, transfer and disposal services, recently launched a “Food and Funds Drive” in support of FOOD Share, Ventura County’s regional food bank, the organization reported this week in a media release. Throughout…

Applications available for Rebozo Festival award

Organization/institutions are encouraged to participate in the “Nomination for Appropriations” 2012 Rebozo Festival Awards, festival organizers reported this week in a media release. The awards are presented annually by Las Madrinas of Ventura County. The next event will be held…

Commentary: Recovering from divorce

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Since one in two marriages in the United States ends in divorce, it is a subject many of us think about, but, except for celebrity divorces, not much is written or publically said about…

Latino Health Awareness Month calendar released

In honor of Latino Health Awareness Month, the Ventura County Public Health-Chronic Disease Prevention Program, Oxnard Police Department and The Network for a Healthy California — Gold Coast Region Latino Campaign, have teamed up to promote a number of events in September, including…

Commentary: My Daily Fix

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor It’s something I have to have. I buy it and have it delivered to my house every day. I can’t imagine not having it, and if I’m out traveling and can’t get it, I…

FOOD Share challenges community to participate in 30 ways in 30 days during Hunger Action Month

Online calendar provides 30 days of simple suggestions in September to help feed the hungry The concept is simple but the potential pay-off is huge. If every single individual, family and business makes the personal commitment to take action to…

Commentary: Complications of diabetes in the United States

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Last week’s article discussed the ‘Diabetes Epidemic’ in the Latino community. I hope you remembered the challenge: eat more green vegetables and begin to exercise fifteen to thirty minutes a day. The other day I mentioned…

Latino links: Educational trends

The number of 18- to 24-year-olds attending college hit an all-time high of 12.2 million in October 2010. A good part of that grow was attributed to a 24 percent jump in Hispanic enrollement, according to a report by the…

El Concilio urges ‘Get together. Give together’

As we enjoy the last days of summer in Ventura County, it is a time to appreciate all that we have — sunshine, beach time with friends, summer vacations, Yvonne Gutierrez of El Concilio Family Services reported this week in…

Bilingual report: Three bills awaiting governor’s signature

Three pieces of legislation being carried by first-term State Assemblymember Das Williams (D- Santa Barbara) are currently awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature after successfully navigating the legislative process in both the Assembly and Senate. the office of Assemblymember Das Williams…

Bilingual report: Local officials rally to support effort to save McGrath State Beach

  Leaders urge families to help prevent closure of McGrath State Park by Voting online for a chance to win $100,000 in National America is Your Park contest Assemblymember Das Williams (D- Santa Barbara) was joined by Senator Fran Pavley (D- Santa…

Commentary: Forgiving

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Half of the time my father worked nights, so he had more leisure time during the day than most fathers. He spent much of that time with me. We went to baseball games and…

MICOP seeking volunteers on Aug. 26, 27

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) is seeking volunteers to fill 500 backpacks with school supplies starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 So. Gisler St., Oxnard. MICOP is also seeking volunteers from 4 to…