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."

Commentary: Remodeling…What have I done?

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor I look around my home now and see devastation. But this is good. It means my remodel project has finally begun. But as I look around sometimes, I catch myself asking, “What have I done?”…

Commentary: Diabetes in the U.S. Latino community

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Last week I shared a family incident, which many people said they identified with on two levels. One was the “Sandwich Generation,” which I also call the “Quesadilla Generation,” because I often feel like sticky queso pulled…

Hernandez, Perez among individuals, groups honored by United Way

Orlando Hernandez, a volunteer tax preparer for the United Way of Ventura County’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It program since 2006, and David Perez, chair of the Young Leaders Society’s board of directors, are among a group of individuals and organizations that…

Latino Links: Media trends

To counter opponents of NBC’s proposed merger with Comcast last year, NBC promoted a number of TV series featuring minorities. But little more than six months after the approval of the merger by the Federal Communications Commission, some of NBCUniversal’s…

Concierto de Son Jarocho con ‘Los Vega’ 27 de Agosto

Proyecto Jarocho presenta talleres y concierto de Son Jarocho con “Los Vega”, sabado, 27 de Agosto de 2011, Casa de la Guerra, No. 9 E. De la Guerra St., Santa Barbara. Talleres: 4:00 a 6:00 pm (Jarana, Guitarra de Son, Arpa,…

EDC-VC global trade classes start on Aug. 22

The Economic Development Collaborative — Ventura County and the California Small Business Development Center will present Global Trade Classes starting Aug. 22 at Santa Barbara City College. Taught by Ray Bowman, international trade expert and Small Business Development Center director,…

‘Che’ film, faculty discussion set for Aug. 23 at UCSB

John Foran will be the faculty speaker prior to the presentation “Che: Part One” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the UCSB MultiCultural Center in Santa Barbara. Part of the UCSB Education Abroad Program’s “Word Revolutions Film Series,” the…

Encuentro Comunitario con el Gobernador de Oaxaca Gabino Cué Monteagudo el 20 de Agosto en Oxnard

Buenos días a todos. Por instrucciones del Cónsul Rogelio Flores, me permito extender a Ustedes una invitación cordial para que nos acompañen en la visita que realizará el Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca, Lic. Gabino Cue Monteagudo, el próximo sábado…

Commentary: What they have

This is the second of a two part article started last week about my visit to an African village. By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor After walking more than a mile from the village center, we arrived at the village…

Commentary: Chaos

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Earlier this year I started to read a book that is not your average bedside novel. When people at a party ask me, “What books are you reading now?” I no longer tell them that…

Mora to lead CSU Channel Islands Alumni & Friends board

Fernando Mora has been elected president of the 2011-2012 Alumni & Friends Association Board of Directors for CSU Channel Islands, the institution reported on Wednesday. “This is a very important opportunity for me to give back time and energy to…

Social Justice Fund seeking donors for grantmaking challenge

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County reports that Aug. 31 is the deadline for community members to donate $25 each to match a $5,000 grant-making challenge from Meenal and Kris Kelkar. “We need 100 people to donate $25. Step…

Bilingual report: Enedina Castañeda to perform Aug. 20 at Expo México Emprende Los Angeles 2011

Santa Maria Valley educator Enedina Castañeda will be performing her poetry at the Expo México Emprende Los Angeles 2011, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 a the Los Angeles Convention Center. Jose Luis Rojas, Mexican singer and song writer, will…

Tour de Dreams comes to CSU Channel Islands on Aug. 19

Dreamers without borders will host the Tour de Dreams with a potluck BBQ, discussion, live DJ and Dance at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at CSU Channel Islands at the Student Union Treehouse Courtyard. The Tour de Dreams will be…

Amigos805 offering Hispanic Heritage Month special advertising rates

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, coupon and business-card size advertisements will appear in Amigos805.com during September and October at a discount cost of $50 per advertisement per month, a $50 savings. Business Directory advertisements will also appear in Amigos805.com…

Lacayo celebrating 80th birthday on Aug. 20

Henry “Hank” Lacayo will celebrate his 80th birthday at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 during the “Hank Lacayo 80th Birthday Tribute & HLI Fundraiser at Spanish Hills Country Club, 999 Crestview Ave., Camarillo. Join us in celebrating Hank’s lifetime of…

Clubes Zacatecanos celebrar treceavo aniversario 20 de Agosto

La Organizacion de Clubes Zacatecanos del Condado de Ventura los invita “A Celebrar su Treceavo Aniversario — Certamen Seõrita Zacatecas 2011-2012,” 6 pm a 12 am. domingo, 20 de Agosto del 2011, Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel, 2010 Mandalay Beach Road,…

Latino Links: Political trends

Rick Perry may have a challenge convincing Latinos to support him after the Texas governor announced on Aug. 13 that he was entering the race for the 2012 Republican nomination. Writer Yolanda Gonzalez Gomez reports in the Huffington Post that…

Commentary: WHAT THEY HAVE (Part 1)

A Personal Essay By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Not long ago I joined a small tour group to visit a village in Malawi, Africa, a small country east of Tanzania. “I will be your tour guide,” Kea said. “The…

De Colores fundraiser set for Aug. 13 in Santa Paula

The first fundraiser of the year for the De Colores Arts Festival will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at Los Arcos Restaurant, 978 E. Main St., Santa Paula. The event features Mariachi Orgullo de Mexico,…

Danza Folklórícas de México celebrar 14 de Agosto

Danzas Folklórícas de Méxîco de la Federacíon de Clubes Unidos Mexícanos, 1 a 5 p.m. domingo, 14 de Agosto, Pacifica High School, 600 E. Gonzales Road, Oxnard. Con “La Guadalupana” de Club Copándaro, Michoacán; “Los Huehues” de Tlaxcala; “Los Diablitos”…

Clubes Zacatecanos celebrar treceavo aniversario 14 de Agosto

La Orgaizacion de Clubes Zacatecanos de Condado de Ventura los invitar “A Celebrar su Treceavo Aniversario,” con presentacion de vestido regional, 2 p.m. a 5 p.m. domingo, 14 de Agosto del 2011, Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, (Ventura…

MICOP seeking donations for ‘Operation Backpack’

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project is seeking donations for “Operation Backpack,” its 2011 backpack drive. Backpacks filled with school supplies will be donated to children of indigenous farmworkers. MICOP is seeking supply-packed backpacks (scissors, crayons, pens, pencils, etc.) or cash to…

Reservations due Aug. 10 for SCE’s ENLACES Latino Community Forum

Southern California Edison will present the “2011 ENLACES Latino Community Forum and Capacity-Building Workshop” from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12 at Casa Lopez Restuarant, 325 So. A St., Oxnard, El Concilio Family Services reported this week. The…

Breakfreee.org free financial seminar on Aug. 9 in Oxnard

Breakfreee.org is sponsoring free sessions on finances from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Tuesday (Aug. 9) and the fourth Thursday (Aug. 25) of each month at 415 W. Fifth St., Oxnard (6 to 7 p.m. by appointment and 7 to 8 p.m. for…

Downtown Oxnard ArtPub happy hour set for Aug. 9

Downtown Oxnard ArtPub Happy Hour Mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 at The Kitchen, 529 So. A St., Oxnard. Contact Tracy Hudak, Arts Impact Director at tracy@downtownoxnard.org or call 805.340.2106.

Commentary: The debt ceiling debate: Was it lunacy?

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Polls show that the vast majority of Americans were appalled this week at the debate over the debt ceiling that seemed to take the country to the edge of economic catastrophe. Did this debacle…

Sk805 skate, arts competition set for Aug. 20 in Oxnard

Arts for Action is presenting “Sk805 — Skateboarding and Board Design Competition” from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at Oxnard’s Skate Park off of Rose Avenue. The event features local and professional artists and skaters will include an…

Boys & Girls Clubs launch Million Dollar Raffle fundraiser

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme has launched its Million Dollar Raffle fundraiser, with ticket holders eligible to win the grand prize of $1 million cash. Other prizes include a 2012 BMW Mini Cooper, 2012 Chevrolet Corvette,…

Commentary: Searching For Aztlán—Part III

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor On April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, Martin Luther King gave, in retrospect, an eerily prophetic speech that hinted at his assassination one day later. He also appeared to shred the veil between our perceived…

LULAC charges mismanagement of Oxnard gang suppression grants

The League of United Latin American Citizens is calling on the city of Oxnard to halt the practice of hiring former Oxnard Police Department Officials as “gang suppression” consultants and hire an external auditor to examine “perceived conflicts of interest,”…

Hensley to be honored Aug. 3

Jim Hensley of Jim Hensley Information Service, which produces a weekly “Events Log,” will be honored at the 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3 weekly Stress, Health and Longevity class, held at 702 County Square Drive, Ventura, in the Cabrillo Economic…

Lacayo named grand marshal of Ventura County Fair Parade

Henry “Hank” Lacayo will be the grand marshal of the 2011 Ventura County Fair Parade. The parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 on Main Street in downtown Ventura. He was selected by the board of directors…

Mexican Consulate posts latest video update

The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard has released its latest video update. *** El nuevo Boletín Digital Consultanos es una herramienta audiovisual que provee información sobre las actividades del Consulado. Click here for a link to the video  

Commentary: Expectations

By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Our minds generally are responsible for determining how “happy” we are in life, assuming we have enough to eat and shelter from the weather, though I have seen homeless people who are happier than…

The real models to roll with…

        Picture this: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Snookie, The Kardashians, The Girls of the Playboy Mansion… as our current role models. Don’t our young people deserve better than learning about bizarre sex scandals, open promiscuity, drugs and…

Commentary: Searching for Aztlán, Part II

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor In my article last week, the first regarding the search for Aztlán, I mentioned that I first heard about this mysterious place during my college years. Since I was an engineering major, and not a…