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…
Category: Cultural
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…
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…
Commentary: The Sandwich Generation, Hold the Mayo
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Last night my sister and I lounged on the balcony watching the sunset. We’re on vacation, with our mother and other sister, near San Diego and it’s a lovely warm evening. The mountains turned from green…
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: Searching For Aztlán—Part IV (final part)
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor When I was young and my parents would take me and my siblings to Mass on Sundays, we would pass through the main doors at the back of the church, entering the vestibule as the ushers…
Latino artists, community well represented in Downtown Oxnard Art Beat on Aug. 13
The Downtown Oxnard Art Beat will feature a variety of art, music, dancing and dining opportunities from 5 p.m. to closing time on Saturday, Aug. 13 at various venues in downtown Oxnard. Area art spaces and restaurants will be offering…
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…
Mexican Consulate releases information calendar for August
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard on Monday released its schedule of events for August. Click here to view a pdf of the schedule.
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…
Commentary: Why read multicultural literature?
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Last month a survey found that nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults believe multicultural books are important for children, but one-third say they are hard to find. The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, a non-profit organization…
It was ‘Magic’ for Tri-Counties Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship Program
Instructor opens the door of opportunity to high school students during MAGIC Camp for high school girls. Members of the Tri-Counties Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship Program in Ventura, were thinking pink the week of July 15 at MAGIC Camp (Mentor…
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…
Latino Links: Economic trends
Median household wealth among Hispanics fell by 66 percent from $18,359 in 2005 to $6,325 in 2009, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project. That was the largest percentage drop for any racial…
Tickets still available for July 30 Ozomatli concert in Thousand Oaks
Tickets are still available for the Saturday, July 30 Ozomatli concert at Open Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy is collaborating with Larry Janss of Open…
Commentary: Why write?
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Today was one of those days when I just didn’t want to write. It was chilly outside my warm blankets and overcast. My character, Juana Maria, pobrecita, had just received a letter from her mother-in-law, Mrs.…
Poet Enedina Castañeda to speak at July 23 conference
Santa Maria educator and poet Enedina Castañeda, author of Del Puño y Mente de Una Mujer… Poemas, will speak at the seminario “El Desafío de Triunfar,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 23 at the Holiday Inn, 14299 Firestone Blvd., La Mirada.…
Commentary: Writing memoir and life history
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Three years ago, “The Bucket List” came out in movie theaters across the nation. Two terminally ill men drew up a wish list and then hit the road to accomplish those things before they “kicked…
Tickets available for Aug. 6 Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival
Tickets are now available for the Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival concert at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The event features Pedro Fernandez, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan and Mariachi Los Toros. Tickets are $48.50, $58.50 and $83.50.…
Latino Links: Demographic trends
Births have overtaken immigration as the main driver of Hispanic population growth in the United States, the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington, D.C. reported recently. In a story on www.msnbc.com, the center found that the Mexican-American population grew by 7.2…
Taller de Lenguas Indígenas 19-21 de julio en la Universidad de Channel Islands
“Me permito informar a la comunidad que en el Taller de Lenguas Indígenas que se realizará en la Universidad de Channel Islands, CA., se inscribieron cerca de 70 personas. “La finalidad del taller es conocer la riqueza de las Lenguas Indígenas de México, apoyar…
Commentary: The importance of place
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor I was born in Alhambra, California, 9 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, and at the age of 63 I hadn’t strayed far across L.A. to the west side. For many years I felt…
Commentary: Dealing with prejudice
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Prejudice has not been a major problem in my life — at least as far as I know. I’ve brushed against it throughout my lifetime, as we all have in one form or another, whether…
Mexican Consulate releases July schedule
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard on Tuesday released its schedule of events for July. Click here to view a pdf of the schedule.
Commentary: So you want to write
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor There is a saying that “everyone has a story,” and that is true, but few know how to translate stories into books for readers. What motivates a person to write? What are the tips and…
Amada Irma Perez to unveil new book on July 12
Amada Irma Perez will unveil her new book and give a presentation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12 at the Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo. For more information, call Kathleen Kaiser at 805.524.6970. *** Amada Irma Perez…
Oxnard City Council to consider Spanish-language broadcast at July 12 meeting
The Oxnard City Council will consider a policy to broadcast meetings of the city council with interpretation into Spanish during its next meeting at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 12 at the council chambers, 305 W. Third St., Oxnard. “LULAC believes…
Bilingual report: Mexican Consulate posts video of photographic exhibit
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard has posted a video on the photographic exhibit on immigration by José Hernández Claire — “Exodo Natcional,” featuring images from Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. *** José Hernández Claire literalmente retrata estas historias…
Latino Links: Media Trends
Biculturalism is a key to understanding the advertising, marketing and media consumption habits of Latinos in the United States, according to a recent study by Horowitz Associates. In its annual FOCUS: Latino Report, 18 percent of those Latinos surveyed identified…
Commentary: Eating in the 805 (and the rest of America)
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor I recently returned from living in Paris for about a year. Of course, everyone raves about French food, but we have great chefs here in the United States. Is it really true that French…
Commentary: On Becoming An “Old Guy”
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor The Fourth of July was a glorious summer day in Ventura, as are many summer days in our coastal county region. But the Fourth was particularly joyful for me because I was able to spend the…
CSUCI’s Lacayo Institute receives $25,000 grant from AT&T
The Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies (HLI) at California State University, Channel Islands, recently received a grant for $25,000 from AT&T, the university reported Wednesday in a media release. The grant will fund a Telecommunications/Technology Literacy/Workforce…
Día de las Comidas set for July 8 in Santa Barbara
Día de las Comidas, a benefit for Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Hispanic Family Services, will be held at various times and restaurants in Santa Barbara. Locations are Carlitos Café y Cantina, 1324 State St. in Santa Barbara, 805.962.7117; Cava Restaurant &…
Commentary: Hey, let’s blame the President!
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor This is my first foray into anything remotely political. I know that writing political articles is like touching that third rail: I’m asking to be “fried.” That’s not a typo; I don’t think I’m going to…
A weekend filled with art
Events coming up on July 1 in Oxnard, San Luis Obispo From the artists of tomorrow to established artists in the north 805 region, this Fourth of July weekend will offer visitors a wide variety of works to examine. El Concilio…
CSUCI Alumni & Friends to present ‘Through the Grapevine’ on June 30
CSU Channel Islands Alumni & Friends Association invites alumni, friends and the public to join Provost Dawn Neuman, Hank and Leah Lacayo, Wayne and Barbara Davey and Carl and Nancy Wesely for their annual wine event, ‘Through the Grapevine’ from…
Commentary: What’s “The Big Deal?”
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Michele Serros fans, mark your calendars. Lulu y Mucha present a Lucy Rodriguez film based on a short story from Serros’ book “How to Be a Chicana Role Model.” It debuts at the Ventura Film Festival,…
Supporters attend Zaragoza reelection breakfast
A group of more than 500 supporters, including local business owners, elected officials, labor representatives and community leaders joined together at Casa Lopez in Oxnard to celebrate the opening event to re-elect John Zaragoza to the Ventura County Board of…
El Concilio Family Services ‘Youth Art Exhibit’ on July 1
El Concilio Family Services will present a “Youth Art Exhibit” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 1 at the Downtown Center for the Arts, 329 N. 5th St., Oxnard. Artwork is from the third session of the Youth Painters…
Bilingual update: Teatro concludes its ‘Readers’ Theater’ series June 24-26
Teatro de las Américas concludes its Readers’ Theater series with its third production, “The Immigrant Experience.” Written and produced by Ángela Cruz and the Actors’ Workshop, the one-act play is based on stories collected by the Actors’ Workshop about the…
Commentary: Staying healthy in an unhealthy nation
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Summer is at last arriving! Here on the coast, the sun manages to finally break through the clouds every day and bestows upon us a tempered warmth that invites us all to head for the…
Commentary: Staycations
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor School is out, summer is officially here, and the kids want to go on vacation. What do you do when you have limited resources and time? You ‘staycation.’ “What’s that?” the kids said when I…
Film screening of ‘Memories of a Mexican’ on June 23
The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation will present the film screening for “Memories of a Mexican” at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23 at Presido Chapel at El Presido de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, 123 E. Canon Perdido…
Tortilla art dinner/dance fundraiser set for June 24
A dinner/dance fundraiser and exhibition of the tortilla art of Gloria Hidrogo will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, June 24 at Sugar Beets Restaurant & Bar, 455 So A St., Oxnard. “Gloria was invited to exhibit her tortilla art…
Mente sana/cuerpo sano talleres 18, 25 de junio
La Casa de la Raza en Santa Barbara te invita a una serie de talleres enfocados en la salud familiar. Cuidado de ninos y comida! sabado 18 de junio – 11-1 pm Derechos de los inmigrantes y como apoyar a la…
Commentary: It’s not easy being a pescetarian
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor Wikipedia, the online free (but very informative) encyclopedia, defines what I practice: Pescetarianism is the practice of a diet that includes seafood, and excludes other animals. In addition to fish and/or shellfish, a pescetarian diet typically…
MICOP to hold monthly meeting on June 18
The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project presents its monthly community meeting from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. English-speaking volunteers needed for literacy program. Call Donna Foster at 805.483.1166, send an email…
Commentary: Toes in the sand. Nose in a book
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor This catchy headline is the title for Border’s summer book list. Now if we could just find the time to read the entire list and have the money to buy all the books. Since that’s…
Latino Links: Political Trends
The proposed redistricting for California is a “Worst-Case Scenario” for Latinos in California, according to a news report on June 11 by New American Media. The first batch of political maps by California’s new Citizens Redistricting Commission is having exactly the…
Claudia Pardo’s ‘Atmostfear’ opening reception on June 11
The opening reception for “Atmostfear,” new painting by Claudia Pardo, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 11 at the Upfront Gallery, 267 So. Laurel St., Ventura. The exhibit will continue through July 2. Call 805.405.4954 for more…
Commentary: The joys and challenges of living in the most beautiful city in the world
By Boyd Lemon / Guest columnist I lived in Paris for most of a year — from June 2010 to April 2011 — a dream I shared with many people for a long time. I found living in Paris full…