VENTURA — In honor of Dia del Niño/Dia del Libro (Day of the Child/Day of the Book) the community of Ventura County is invited to a literary Quinceañera, a special birthday party for Amada Irma Perez’s (Ventura) first picture book, My…
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."
Guest commentary: His Mexican
Age of the brokers 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 Rodolfo…
April cover story: The legacy of César E. Chávez continues
Community marches, forums, service-learning projects and film screenings to be presented in the region By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 It’s hard to imagine that César E. Chávez, who was born in the desert lands near Yuma, Arizona, was a big…
April cover story: One reporter’s view of a 20th-century icon
Coverage of march from Santa Paula to Cabrillo Village in Saticoy opened up the world of reporting on local, national events By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Was it really more than a quarter of century ago when I first…
Commentary: Pew Research Center provides timely info on Hispanic trends
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 How many of you dear readers know that the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. holding down blue-collar jobs is still below levels seen before the Great Recession? Guess we don’t need to…
Local news briefs
VENTURA COUNTY — Moorpark College, Oxnard College and Ventura College are offering a variety of classes this summer from general education to career technical education, basic skills and transfer courses, the Ventura County Community College District reported in a media…
Finance: Build a travel budget without compromising your trip
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Many men and women dream of vacationing overseas, where they can experience another country’s culture and history. Such trips tend to be expensive, but travelers who develop a budget in advance of their trips can…
Local business information
> The Economic Development Collaborative — Ventura County has launched its “Virtual Business Advisor,” a web-based economic development tool at http://www.qlbs.com/Qonline/EDC/ The free assessment and business assistance program is for businesses of any size, in any industry. EDC-VC is hosting…
Health: Snack foods that promote better sleep
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) According to the National Sleep Foundation, changes in sleep patterns are a part of the aging process. Many people experience difficulty falling asleep and then staying asleep as they age, and that difficulty can make…
Local health information
> Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will provide information on Covered California and free health screenings at selected locations throughout the month of April in Ventura County. Visit http://www.clinicas.org/outreach/calendar/2015-04 to find times, dates and locations. > The Ventura…
Bilingual commentary: The Big Band Dance
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 Last…
Bilingual report: State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson — On César Chávez Day, let us remember his call for justice, service
SACRAMENTO – The life of civil rights leader and labor organizer César Chávez will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 31. In honor of that day, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) released this statement: “As we approach what would have been his 88th…
Historian, author Vicki L. Ruiz to speak on ‘The Right to Remember: Latina Labor Leaders in California Agriculture’ at CSUCI on April 1
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) will host Latina scholar, historian and author Vicki L. Ruiz for “The Right to Remember: Latina Labor Leaders in California Agriculture, 1939-1961,” Wednesday, April 1, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the John Spoor Broome Library,…
Oxnard College to present César Chávez Celebration on March 31
OXNARD — Oxnard College will present a free César Chávez Day Celebration and documentary screening from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Part of the Latinologues / Rick Najera…
Hancock graduate selected as ‘One of Top 30 Students in California Community Colleges’
SANTA MARIA — A recent Allan Hancock College graduate has been recognized as one of the top 30 students enrolled in California’s 112 community colleges. Daniela Calderon was one of 30 students from 24 community colleges selected to the Phi…
Guest commentary: The Oxnard Multicultural Mental Health (OMMH) Coalition is established
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 Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor I have…
Bilingual commentary: Wellness Center provides help for those struggling with mental health conditions
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 the Wellness Center Depression,…
Bilingual commentary: Attachment vs. Passion
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 Most…
CSU Channel Islands panel explores local Latina women baseball teams around WWII during presentation on March 25
CAMARILLO — With the men off fighting World War II, women were left to take over jobs and in some cases, baseball diamonds. The 1992 Movie “A League of Their Own” dramatized the creation of the wartime All-American Girls Professional…
‘Oxnard Caravana (43) — Todos somas Ayotzinapa’ el 26 de marzo en Oxnard
OXNARD — “Oxnard Caravana (43) — Todos somas Ayotzinapa — ¡Su dolor es nuestro dolor!” comienza a las 5:30 pm el 26 de marzo in la Placita de Oxnard, 500 S. C St. Caminaremos a Café on A, 438 S.…
Frank Barajas to speak on the ‘Rise of the Chicano Movement in Southern California, 1960-1975’ starting March 27
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands Professor Frank Barajas will present the program “Curious Uprisings: The Rise of the Chicano Movement in Southern California, 1960 to 1975″ starting March 27 as part of the six-week Osher Lifelearning Institute (OLLI) course at CSUCI.…
Ventura College to host 28th annual Latina Leadership Network Conference through March 28
VENTURA — Ventura College will host the Latina Leadership Network’s (LLN) 28th Annual Conference, “Latina Leadership: Pursuing Equity in the 21st Century” from March 26 through 28, college officials reported in a media release. The conference will focus on the impact…
Video Watch Party for the ‘Arriba Con Hillary’ video to be held in Oxnard on March 27
OXNARD — A video watch party for “¡Arriba Con Hillary!” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 27 at Downtown Sol, 328 W. Third St., in the Lopez building in downtown Oxnard, organizers reported in a media release. The…
Guest commentary: No, it is not wrong to celebrate Cesar Chavez 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 Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor In…
Trudy Arriaga selected as ‘Woman of the Year’ by Assemblymember Williams
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Das Williams (D – Carpinteria) has selected Ventura Unified School District Superintendent Trudy Arriaga to represent the 37th Assembly District as the 2015 Woman of the Year. “It has been a privilege to work with Dr. Arriaga…
Bilingual commentary: When failing math really hurts
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 It…
Guest commentary: St. Patrick’s Day also a time to remember strong Irish-Mexican connection
Editor’s note: A timely re-posting of a 2013 column by Mona AlvaradoFrazier. 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…
Café on A to present ‘La Cosecha / The Harvest’ photo exhibit, film screening on March 21
OXNARD — The Dr. Rodolfo F. Acuña Art Gallery & Cultural Center at Café on A will present “La Cosecha / The Harvest” photo exhibit and film screening from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at 438 S. A St.,…
Guest commentary: History is important but beware of warped historical memories
La llorona and el cucuy 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.…
Former Allan Hancock College ESL instructor to walk nearly 500 miles to fundraise for scholarship in memory of Fidel Herrera
Michael McMahon plans to help his former mentor fulfill a lifelong dream of creating a scholarship at Hancock for ESL students SANTA MARIA — For more than 20 years, Fidel Herrera taught English as a second language (ESL) classes…
Bilingual commentary: Banning the American Flag?
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 I’m…
12th annual Santa Barbara Brazilian Carnaval ‘Cultural’ to begin March 14
SANTA BARBARA — The 12th Santa Barbara Brazilian Carnaval “Cultural” will kick off at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14 with the “Feijoada Sabor Carnaval” and the open house at the Brazil Arts Café, 1230 State St, Santa Barbara, event organizers…
Guest commentary: Oxnard — The Arts City of Ventura County
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 Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor The city…
Guest commentary: Impaction meeting bizarre
The illusion in the making 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.…
Early Academic Outreach Program brings colleges and universities to high schools in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties
By Andrea Estrada / UCSB The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) at UC Santa Barbara will hold its annual spring Higher Education Week, a four-day event beginning on Tuesday, March 10. Representatives from universities, colleges and other institutions of higher…
March cover story: Opening their hearts, home to foster children
Foster VC Kids seeks to double amount of foster caregivers in Ventura County By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 While National Foster Care Awareness Month actually falls in May, Elizabeth Thasiah wants to raise that awareness immediately because of the…
Commentary: Hispanics more likely to believe humans causing climate change
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 It was an interesting bit of political theater presented in Congress last week. Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe wandered onto the Senate floor during a discussion questioning the science behind climate change. “Do you know…
Bilingual commentary: No girls at the Altar
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 Just…
Local news briefs
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has announced that Arianna Lopez, an 18-year-old senior and a long-time Girls Inc. of Carpinteria participant, has been selected as a 2015 scholarship winner in the competitive Girls Inc. National Scholar Program. She was…
Finance: Rebounding from a late start to retirement savings
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Some people do not have the ability to begin saving for retirement early on. Others may have brushed retirement savings aside for so long that they are now worried that it’s too late to begin…
Local business information
> The Office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, District 44, has announced a regional workshop designed to help business owners understand the application process to apply for the “California Competes Tax Credit” from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, March 6 at…
Health: News for expectant Hispanic mothers
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Doctors are urging pregnant Hispanic women to be more aware of the potential birth defects that affect children of Hispanic mothers in seemingly higher rates than other ethnicities. According to a major finding in a…
Local health information
> Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will provide information on Covered California and free health screenings at selected locations throughout the month of March in Ventura County. Visit http://www.clinicas.org/outreach/calendar/2015-03 to find times, dates and locations. > The Ventura County…
Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas to present ‘A Night of Boleros — Our Parents’ Songs’ at Oxnard College on March 5
OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas will present “A Night of Boleros — Our Parents’ Songs” from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Teatro de las Américas and Oxnard College inaugurate their 2015…
Art exhibit reception for ‘Isabel Martínez: Un diálogo en arte y cultura’ to be held at CSU Channel Islands on March 5
CAMARILLO — The art exhibit “Isabel Martínez: Un diálogo en arte y cultura” will open with a reception from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at CSU Channel Islands. The exhibit, continuing from March 5 through April 4, celebrates everyday women…
‘Expectation’ exhibit to be presented at Tool Room Gallery in Ventura on March 6
VENTURA — The Museum of Ventura County will present “Expectation,” a new series by Women’s History Month artist Marissa Magdalena Sykes and photographer Marie Gregorio-Oviedo, at the Tool Room Gallery at the Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura.…
Discussion on ‘Understanding Disenfranchisement of Latino Men and Boys’ by Dr. Aida Hurtado to be held at CSU Channel Islands on March 10
CAMARILLO — The discussion “Understanding Disenfranchisement of Latino Men and Boys” by Dr. Aida Hurtado will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at CSU Channel Islands, Broome Library 1320. Hurtado, a UCSB Professor Luis Leal Endowed Chair of…
Guest commentary: Chaos and the science of mass criminalization
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 Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor In his…
First CEO of Homeboy Industries to speak at CLU’s Corporate Leaders Breakfast on March 3
THOUSAND OAKS — Thomas Vozzo of Thousand Oaks, the first CEO of Homeboy Industries, will discuss his efforts to make the nonprofit more self-sufficient at California Lutheran University’s Corporate Leaders Breakfast in Agoura Hills at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 3 at the…
Oxnard College to present Tinto Tango in concert on March 4
OXNARD — The 2015 Oxnard College Spring Literature, Arts and Lecture Series will present Tinto Tango in concert and dance performance from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.…