Category: Cultural

805 region students participate in Just Communities’ ‘Community Leadership Institute’

Students from Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez Valley, Carpinteria, and Fillmore/Piru schools recently participated in Community Leadership Institute, an eight-day residential summer program in Ojai that trains youth from the Central Coast to be leaders in issues of diversity…

Cuarta generación de graduados en la Plaza Bicentenario del Centro Comunitario del Colegio de Santa Barbara

El Consulado de México informa a la comunidad en general que el pasado 10 de agosto se llevó a cabo la cuarta ceremonia de graduación y entrega de Reconocimientos a 51 estudiantes de la “Plaza Comunitaria Bicentenario” del Centro Comunitario…

Pre-K photographers focus on portraits in SBMA’s ‘Art in Motion’ program

This summer, 25 pre-school students from Storyteller Children’s Center worked with Tina Villadolid, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art teaching artist, creating photographic portraits inspired by the current exhibition, Portrayal/Betrayal, through the Museum’s Art in Motion (AIM) program, the museum reported this…

Bilingual commentary: Digital Natives and Immigrants

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor I am an immigrant. This world in which I find myself seems so strange sometimes. It’s nothing like the land from which I hail, where I grew up, and where I used to feel so…

Cabrillo’s ASPIRA Program to hold fundraiser on Aug. 14 in Oxnard

A fundraiser to support Cabrillo Economic Development Corp.’s ASPIRA Program will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14 at Sugarbeets Restaurant and Bar, 455 So. A St., Oxnard. Ticket sales benefit CEDC’s ASPIRA Program, which encourages local youth to develop personal finance…

Commentary: Oxnard College deserves equal representation

By Frank P. Barajas / Guest contributor For my study of the Chicano Movement in Ventura County, I learned that before Oxnard College’s opening in 1975, Vietnam veterans and newly minted high school graduates from the Oxnard Plain rode buses…

More than 800 Santa Barbara fiesta attendees trained in hands-only CPR

SANTA BARBARA — As fiesta crowds recently celebrated Santa Barbara’s rich culture and heritage, dance performances and food during “Old Spanish Days,” more than 800 took the time to stop by the Hands Helping Hearts booth to learn Hands-Only CPR. A total…

Andrea Vargas-Mendoza is the featured artist during August at Gallery 28 in Oxnard

Andrea Vargas-Mendoza is the featured artist during August at Gallery 28, 1901 So. Victoria Ave., Suite 109, beside Channel Islands Harbor. This show titled, “Along the Water,” features her most recent California landscape paintings done a la “plein air” which means done in…

Big Brothers Big Sisters receives $20,000 Monsanto Fund grant

CAMARILLO – Studies have shown youth in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs show improvements in academic, behavioral and socio-emotional outcomes. 83 percent of children involved in the program agree that having a Big Brother or Big Sister mentor instilled in…

Concert on Aug. 10 in Hollywood to celebrate contributions of Fermin Herrera, others

NORTHRIGE — Hundreds of people are expected to gather at Los Angeles’ Ford Theatres on Aug. 10 to celebrate the contributions of Mexican-American and Chicano performing artists to California’s richly diverse culture. Among those being singled out for his tireless…

Bilingual commentary: A powerful weapon in our hands

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor If we were to commit the idiocy of handing a gun to a child, we shouldn’t be surprised if said child, in all innocence, were to hurt (or something worse, which we don’t even want…

Future Leaders of America holding Youth Leadership Conference

VENTURA — High school students from Ventura and Santa Barbara County will be attending Future Leaders of America’s week long annual “Youth Leadership Conferenc starting Monday, Aug. 6 at the University of California Santa Barbara, the organization reported in a media…

Bilingual report: CSU Channel Islands celebrates 10th anniversary

By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Students returning to classes this month will find a number of changes awaiting them at California State University, Channel Islands. Instead of the long leisurely drive through farmland from Lewis Road, the students will…

Bilingual commentary: Keeping calm … But how?

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor During my time in London last month, I came across one of those useful phrases to which one can go whenever necessary — a phrase that has the power to make our life enormously easier and…

Bilingual travel story: Off the Beaten Path – Discovering Tubac

By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Tubac, Arizona was established by the King of Spain as a presidio in 1752, thirty years before the Santa Barbara Royal Presidio. Tubac, the first European settlement in Arizona, is known for outfitting…

Arts program set for July 31 at Café on A in Oxnard

The public is invited to a meet and greet program featuring William Strickland, founder and director of the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild and the Bidwell Training Center, from  4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 at Café on A, 438 So. A…

Clinicas del Camino Real to celebrate National Health Center Week

VENTURA COUNTY — Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will host events in honor of National Health Center Week (NHCW), the Ventura-based organization reported in a media release. Clinicas invites the Ventura Community to join them for a health fair from…

Bilingual letter to the editor: The importance of the Latino vote

Our community understands the need for jobs. We need a representative from Ventura County that understands our economic challenges. Farms contribute over $2 billion dollars to our local economy sustaining over 31,000 jobs in our community. Under this current administration Latinos…

Guest column: Business leverage and the networking nomad

By Shawn McCarthy / Guest Contributor Leverage is the essence of why leading sales professionals and small business owners invest their valuable time in business networking activities. J. Paul Getty once said, “I’d rather have one percent of the effort of…

Bilingual report: Community organizations call for Friday, Saturday protests to demand support for CA Trust Act from Das Williams

Open letter addressed issued to Das Williams following support for notorious  DHS-ICE “Secure Communities” program OXNARD — Oxnard-based Todo Poder al Pueblo Collective has called for a protest to be held in front of Assemblyman Das Williams’ office at the…

Das Williams responds to controversy over California Trust Act: AB 1081

SACRAMENTO — When the Assemblymember last had the first version of AB1081 bill before him for a vote, which was May 2011, there were a number of questions concerning the legislation that could not be answered. Due to that fact, Assemblymember Williams abstained, the…

Tickets still available for MICOP’S Aug. 3 ‘Night in Oaxaca’ fundraiser

Tickets are still available for “Night in Oaxaca,” said Donna Foster, operations manager for the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project in Oxnard.  “If you haven’t bought tickets and you’d still like to, we still have some tickets left so please contact us if you’d…

July 24 is the deadline for information, advertisement submissions for August print edition

The deadline for submission news and calendar event media releases and advertisements for the August print edition of Amigos805 is 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 25. Amigos805 is also offering a summer business card-size advertisement special for the month of August…

CEDC celebrates opening of Oxnard apartment communities on July 14, 18

Communities will serve new families of farmworkers and individuals with chronic mental illness. OXNARD – The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) will host a grand opening event at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 18 for its two adjoining affordable…

Summer business card-size advertisement special

Amigos805 will be offering a summer business card-size advertisement special for the month of August for all our social media users. For a discount price of $50, your business card will appear in August on our website, e-newsletter and in…

Bilingual commentary: Why so quiet?

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Last week, I introduced the topic of my recent trip to London, England. The following is not necessarily fact, but rather what I managed to make out during that recent visit. These are my perceptions…

El Concilio holding benefit night July 9 in Oxnard

El Concilio Family Services will hold a benefit night from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 9 at T.G.I. Friday’s, 2181 No. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Click on the above image, print it out and present it at the restaurant and…

Bilingual report: Local activists respond to ruling on Arizona’s law

Groups announce plans to challenge remaining portion of law on other constitutional grounds By Cesar Arredondo / Amigos805 The recent Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s controversial immigration law has been received with mixed feelings by some Latino leaders in Ventura County.…

Bilingual report: Oxnard Salsa Festival prepares a hot event

50,000 people expected to attend 19th annual event featuring music, dancing, cooking demonstrations From Amigos805 staff reports A 5k run, a variety of bands, a dance competition benefiting local nonprofit organizations and, of course, plenty of spicy food and drink…

Bilingual update: News briefs

A variety of 4th of July activities are scheduled for the 805 region. The 37th annual 4th of July Street Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 4 in downtown Ventura. Free. The 4th of…

Downtown Sol announces upcoming events starting June 29

A “Writing Funshop” presented by local children’s book author Amada Irma Perez will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday, June 29 at Downtown Sol, 328 W. Third St., Oxnard, reports owner Marisa Lopez. Suggested ages 7 to 12. Free.…

MICOP seeks volunteers for June 30 community meeting

  Volunteers are needed to set up and staff the children’s crafts area and provide clean up assistance when the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project present its next monthly community meeting from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30 at Harrington Elementary…

Vazquez joins board of Housing Opportunities Made Easier

Brianna Vazquez has joined the board of Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME), the Ventura-based organization reported Thursday in a media release.  Vazquez is a recent transplant from Seattle, Washington to the Ventura County area and joined Hamner, Jewell & Associates…

Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, June 22 to submit events, reserve advertising space for July Amigos805 print edition

  The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, June 22 to submit July calendar events, information and reserve advertising space for the July newspaper print edition of Amigos805. A total of 10,000 copies are distributed throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.…

Bilingual report: Gold Coast Health Plan launches redesigned website

Managed care plan launches new site  OXNARD — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) has launched  its redesigned website featuring a dynamic new look and feel, the organization reported Tuesday in a media release. The new GCHP website provides online visitors…

Cancer Support Community to reach out to children, Latinos from June 21-23

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The Cancer Support Community-Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara, formerly The Wellness Community  will host a first-ever Cancer Support Summit, June 21-22 at the Cancer Support Community-Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara’s Westlake Village offices, the organization reported in a media release. Licensed therapists and professional staff will…

Bilingual commentary: A Trip To London

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor  I just returned from a trip to London, England. My biggest dilemma in this moment is … where do I begin to relate my experiences? For purposes of resolving this dilemma, I’ve decided to share…

Bilingual commentary: Amnesty from taking a parent’s hand

By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor Nov. 6, 1986, the icon of conservative thinking, President Ronald Reagan enacted the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). Amnesty! Twenty-six years later, President Reagan’s name has been bantered in the Republican presidential campaign as a standard to compare all other…

Naturally Wild Artisan Soap & Bath to honor ‘Phil the Barber’ Marquez at June 15, 16 grand opening

Naturally Wild Artisan Soap & Bath will hold a grand opening celebration at June 15 and 16 at 12 W. Main St. in Ventura in the historically registered Feraud Building where Phil the Barber” cut the hair of generations of Venturans…

Bilingual report: Teatro/MúsicaLatitudes to present Lara’s ‘Now and Forever’

  Teatro de las Américas and MusicaLatitudes will present “Agustín Lara y nada más/ Agustin Lara, Now and Forever” by Miguel Heredia June 16 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The play tells of an insecure, depressed,…

¡Aventuras con Verduras! play to be held June 16 in Oxnard

¡Aventuras con Verduras!, a play on healthy eating choices, will be presented by Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer and Ventura County Public Health at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 16 at Colonia Park, Memorial Veteran’s Gymnasium, 197 No. Marquita St., Oxnard.…

Commentary: A father’s blessings

By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor It began at the turn of 1900s. That’s when my parents were born in the foreboding village of Ahualulco, Jalisco. My jefitos were children of miserable poverty, suffocating Catholic resignation, a caste system that…

Orozco, North, Rondeau guide KCLU to four awards

NPR station honored for newswriting, bullying special THOUSAND OAKS — National Public Radio station KCLU is the winner of three awards from the Associated Press Television and Radio Association and one from the California Teachers Association for its news coverage.??…