Category: Cultural

Commentary: Why pink makes me cringe

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor  It’s not Pink, the singer, that stirs up ambivalent feelings in my soul. It’s the color pink linked to October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. It’s all the pink stuff beyond the commemorative ribbons. It’s pink deodorant…

Bilingual commentary: Rules, Freedom and Consequences

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor As American citizens, or residents, of this great country, we are accustomed to think in terms of the freedom that we enjoy in this society. Throughout the history of the United States, more and more sectors…

Gold Coast Health Plan signs specialty contract with Clinicas del Camino Real

Clinicas to Operate as a Professional Risk Bearing Organization  OXNARD — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) and Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. on Monday announced the signing of a specialty physician contract that designates Clinicas as a Professional Risk Bearing Organization.…

Bilingual report: Rubicon Theatre Co. to present ‘La Razón Blindada’ starting Oct. 17

VENTURA — The Rubicon Theatre Co. will open its 15th anniversary season, “Our Town/Your Theatre,” with the production of “La Razón Blindada (The Armored Reason)” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 1006 E. Main St., Ventura, Teatro de las Américas…

Nancy Conk of Cabrillo Economic Development Association to speak on Oct. 17 in Ventura

Nancy Conk, chief executive officer of Cabrillo Economic Development Association, will speak at the next “Stress, Health & Longevity Session” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 702 County Square Drive, ground floor of the CEDC building, Ventura.…

Bilingual report: El Centrito Family Learning Centers to host Oxnard School Board candidates forum on Oct. 19

Parent Promoters of Education, a project of El Centrito Family Learning Centers, will host a forum for Oxnard School Board candidates from 5:30-7:30 Friday, Oct. 19 at El Centrito Family Learning Centers, 450 So. K St. Oxnard, Room 108, the…

VC Mexican-American Bar Association to present scholarship dinner on Oct. 19

The Education Foundation of the Ventura County Mexican-American Bar Association will present its annual scholarship dinner beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 600 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. Dinner and the program…

Latino peace officers group to present annual comedy show fundraiser on Oct. 19

The National Latino Peace Officers Association — Ventura County Chapter, will present its 4th annual “Comedy Show Fundraiser” beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 at the Tower Club, 300 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. Featuring comedians Cliff…

Bilingual report: Promotores health worker luncheon set for Oct. 21

October is Promotor and Community Health Worker month, Maria-Felix Ryan, executive director of the Promotoras y Promotores Foundation in Oxnard, reported in a media release. The members of the Central Coast Regional Promotor Network and Vision y Compromiso would like…

Bilingual report: CSU Channel Islands to present ‘The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’ book reading, signing on Oct. 11

California State University, Channel Islands will present its 8th annual Campus Reading Celebration featuring “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by author Junot Díaz from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 at the Grand Salon. Dominican Republic-born Díaz will…

Billingual report: ‘Ulama: The Game of Life & Death’ film screening to be held Oct. 13 in Ventura

A film screening of “Ulama: The Game of Life & Death” will be presented at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St., Ventura. The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session…

Bilingual commentary: Surrounded by teachers

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor We have a tendency to think of our “teachers” as those who dedicate themselves to teaching us in the classrooms of our schools, in elementary schools as well as at the colleges and universities. We believe…

Oxnard celebrates 17th annual Multicultural Festival

By Jess Gutierrez / Guest contributor Several thousand guests enjoyed music, dance, food, and culture from around the world at Oxnard’s 17th Annual Multicultural Festival in downtown’s Plaza Park on Oct. 6. The festival, hosted by Oxnard’s Community Relations Commission,…

Bilingual report: Buses will depart Oxnard on Oct. 8 to attend César E. Chávez National Monument announcement

Three buses will be departing at 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8 from Oxnard to attend President Barack Obama’s announcement of the César E. Chávez National Monument, the Oxnard office of the United Farm Workers of America reported in a media release.…

Binational Health Week Conference set for Oct. 4

The 12th Binational Health Week Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. Designed for health professionals, the conference will feature Dr. Robert Gonzalez, director of…

Bilingual commentary: Our schools — State of emergency

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor The red lights are flashing. The giant waves continue weakening — and soon knocking down — what was, once upon a time, our glory in the Golden State during the years that I was passing through…

Commentary: Upcoming events celebrate Hispanic heritage

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor “Our history defines and strengthens us,” said Alejandro Fernandez, the famous Mexican singer, when narrating the recent four-hour mini-series on the History Channel. It is important to know that the designation for Hispanic Heritage Month is…

MICOP seeks volunteers for monthly Mixteco community meeting on Sept. 29

Volunteers are needed support the monthly Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project community meeting from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at Rio Real Elementary School, 1140 Kenny St., Oxnard and from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at Harrington Elementary…

Bilingual commentary: A sense of the infinite

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Last Saturday, I decided to take my grandson and his family to see the stars at a party. No, we did not go to some extraordinary event in Hollywood or Beverly Hills, but rather to…

Bilingual report: Moorpark Foundation for the Arts to present Ballet Folklórico Mestizo of Oxnard College on Sept. 28

Ballet Folklórico Mestizo of Oxnard College will perform a benefit fundraiser to support The Moorpark Foundation for the Arts beginning with a champagne reception at 6:30 p.m., with music by Angels on Harps, and the performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday,…

Bilingual report: Oxnard College Foundation to present Los Valíentes at 5th annual ‘Tardeada’ on Sept. 30

 The Oxnard College Foundation will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with its 5thannual “Tardeada,” featuring a musical performance from Los Valíentes (The Courageous Ones) ensemble from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center. The performance…

United Way of Santa Barbara recognizes 250 community partners

SANTA BARBARA — The United Way of Santa Barbara County recently recognized 250 community partner representatives for their roles in the success of United Way’s Fun in the Sun program, the organization reported this week in a media release. This…

Bilingual report: ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! to present Entre Mujeres through Sept. 23

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! opens its fall season with a musical conversation, “The Testimonio in Song,” with Entre Mujeres at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at Casa Dolores, 1023 Bath St., Santa Barbara. The group will then perform…

CSU Channel Islands’ Bracero exhibit finds permanent home in Piru’s Valle Naranjal

CAMARILLO — A powerful exhibit created by CSU Channel Islands (CI) students and faculty that presents the history and legacy of Mexican farmworkers known as “braceros” has found a fitting home.  “The Braceros of Ventura County” will go on permanent…

Comunidad celebra las Fiestas Patrias

OXNARD — El Consulado de México informa a la comunidad que en el marco de las fiestas patrias, el personal de esta representación participó en diez eventos cívicos conmemorativos a los 202 años de la Independencia de México que los…

LULAC/KEYS Leadership Academy to begin classes on Sept. 24

LULAC Council No. 3128 working with Oxnard College on dropout prevention program OXNARD – As school-age children returned to schools nationwide, students from the community will get a leg-up this fall through an enhanced high school dropout prevention program, LULAC/KEYS…

FOOD Share, Feeding America and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf team up beginning Sept. 24 to combat hunger

VENTURA COUNTY — As Hunger Action Month in September comes to an end, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® and Feeding America, a national hunger relief charity, will continue their commitment to fight hunger through their budding partnership with a…

United Way of Santa Barbara County celebrates 21st Annual Day of Caring

SANTA BARBARA – More than 1,500 volunteers, including young people from local schools, families, churches, community service groups and workplaces at over 50 sites across the Tri-Counties, participated on Sept. 15 in the United Way of Santa Barbara County’ 21st…

OC Fall Literature & Arts Lecture Series begins Sept. 26

The 2012 OC OC Fall Literature & Arts Lecture Series begins with the presentation “My Deaf Journey,”  Wednesday, Sept. 26 at Oxnard College. In celebration of Dead Awareness Week, storyteller Virginia Scott will share her own story about growing up deaf,…

Just Communities in Santa Barbara recognizes THRIVE Westside program

SANTA BARBARA — Just Communities, a Santa Barbara nonprofit, recently recognized THRIVE Westside for sponsoring San Marcos High School students and Westside youth in the CommUnity Leadership Institute (CLI) program. THRIVE Westside is a partnership between Harding University Partnership School, McKinley Elementary…

Santa Barbara Studio Artists hold Open Studio Tour

Santa Barbara Studio Artists shared a moment with Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider and Stephanie Langsdorf, district Representative for County Supervisor Doreen Farr, at the recent opening reception for The 11th Annual Open Studios Tour. The reception was held at…

Bilingual report: Free SBA forum for Spanish speakers

Rennee D. Dehesa, an attorney with Schneiders & Associates LLP, will be the guest speaker at a free business forum for Spanish speakers at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Casapueblo Restuarant, 310 So. C St., Oxnard. Presented by SCORE…

Bilingual commentary: Little white lies: Do they cause harm?

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor I enjoy watching Mexican, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and French films. If we watch them focused on their content and message and, even more importantly, if we reflect on them after seeing them, we gain another…

Bilingual report: CAUSE to present Community Building Luncheon on Sept. 21 in Oxnard

The Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy will present its 6th annual CAUSE Community Building Luncheon on Friday, Sept. 21 at the Courtyard Oxnard Marriott, 600 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. John Chiang, California State controller, will be the keynote speaker…

Bilingual report: Hispanic Heritage Month events coming to the 805 region

Festivals, parades, musical performances part of annual event By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Mariachi and other musical performances, cultural education programs and a parade — they are all coming to the 805 region as part of the annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration…

Bilingual commentary: Cultural, health, social and political events dominate upcoming calendar

By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Between Hispanic Heritage Month activities, an annual cross-border health education program and the end of the 2012 political campaign season (thankfully), residents in the 805 region will have plenty to do during the next…

Bilingual commentary: Escaping from the cycle

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor On one recent Sunday, I went to see a film, short but at the same time intriguing, powerful and incisive. It showed an aspect of our society that we might prefer to ignore or about…