Category: Cultural

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…

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 Kiss

By David Magallanes/ Guest columnist Walking into my home, you might suddenly get the feeling that you’d entered an art museum.  Before you jump to any conclusions, I can’t draw or paint my way out of a paper bag. But my…

Latino Professional Network event set for June 9 in L.A.

Poet Enedina Castañeda of Santa Maria reports that the Latino Professional Network will present its “Fuego!” networking event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9 at the Belasco Theater, 1050 So. Hill St., downtown Los Angeles. “1,200 successful Latino leaders from L.A.,…

Commentary: Summer reads for teens

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor Secretary of Education Arne Duncan described summer learning loss as “devastating.” Researchers often refer to this loss as the “summer slide.” Studies show that students’, who read more, read better; they also write better, spell…

Updated: Zaragoza announces his bid for re-election

Ventura County Supervisor John C. Zaragoza has announced his bid for re-election at a media conference held Monday, June 6 at the Ventura County Government Center. “I am proud of my achievements as a County Supervisor. In a short time,…

Latino Links: Political Trends

The Tequila Party is coming to a state near year. Latinos seeking to counter the influence on immigration policy by the tea party movement have launched the movement with the slogan “Your shot at change,” according to a report in…

Guest column: What do men want?

By David Magallanes / Guest columnist In 2000, Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt starred in the romantic comedy “What Women Want.”  As the movie progresses toward its happy ending, Mel’s character, Nick Marshall, brings his Martian orbit closer to that of…

Review: Summer reads for children

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Studies show that children who read four or more books over the summer fare better on reading-comprehension tests in the fall than their peers who read one or no books. Here are some Américas…

MICOP offering unpaid internship

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project has an opening for an unpaid internship starting Monday, June 13. Internship Responsibilities MICOP seeks a 10-hour per week Technology Intern from June 13 through Aug. 15.  The Intern’s responsibilities will include: Improving our Excel…

Latino Links: Demographic Trends

While Americans of Mexican origin continue to dominate the number of Hispanics living in the U.S., those of Dominican, Guatemalan and Colombian origin grew at a faster rate during the past decade, according to a report released recently by the…

Cabrillo celebrates 30th anniversary with Family Festival on June 4

The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a family festival and resource fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 4. The event, “Pathways to Peace and Prosperity,” is free to the public and will take place at Plaza Park,…

Mariachi Charro Suit fundraiser set for May 26

A “Mariachi Charro Suit Fundraising Dinner Showcase” will be held Thursday, May 26 at Sugar Beets Restaurant, 455 So. A St., Oxnard, Xavier “Big X” Montes reports. The event features students from the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center in Oxnard, including…

Review: ‘Folsom Lockdown’ – Book of Poetry

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor A few days ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Melinda Palacios read several of her poems. She was a guest poet at the Carnegie Museum’s 2011 Arcade Poetry Series in Oxnard. I’m a…

Community celebrates LULAC state convention in Oxnard

Community members celebrated the 64th annual California State Convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens held May 20-22 at the Residence Inn Marriott in Oxnard. The event was hosted by LULAC District 17 and was scheduled to include…

Latino Links: Technology trends

The affinity of Hispanics toward their mobile devices offers an opportunity for civic engagement as we head into the 2010 U.S election season, according to a recent CNN story. “The use of cell phones builds upon the cultural affinity for…

MICOP seeking volunteers for May 21 community day

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project is seeking volunteers for this weekend’s monthly community meeting. The community meeting will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 So. Gisler St., Oxnard; and Saturday, May 21…

Clubes Zacatecanos celebrar aniversario con baile 21 de Mayo

La Federacion de Clubes Zacatecanos de Oxnard California invita a celebrar su 1er aniversario y su cene baile y coronacion de reyna “Señorita Zacatecas” el día 21 de Mayo en el Oxnard Elks Lodge, 801 So. A St., Oxnard. Amenizada…

Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas will present Federico García Lorca’s ‘Yerma’ May 20-22

Teatro de las Américas continues its series of Readers’ Theater with the production of “Yerma” by Federico García Lorca, 8 p.m. Friday, May 20 at the Santa Paula Art Museum, 117 N. 10th St., Santa Paula; 8 p.m. Saturday, May 21…

LULAC holding state convention May 20-22

The 64th annual California State Convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens will be held May 20-22 at the Residence Inn Marriott, 2101 Vineyard Ave., Oxnard. Hosted by LULAC District 17. As part of the conference, a workshop…

Guest column: Just asking for it

By David Magallanes / Guest columnist “Why me?” we must have said to ourselves at one point or another in our lives.  Or maybe we always say that to ourselves. Think of the person in the parking lot driving the truck…

‘Una Noche en México’ set for May 20 at RMHS

The Rio Mesa High School Folklorico Club presents “Una Noche en México” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 20 at the Rio Mesa High School Gym, 545 Central Ave., oxnard. Mariachi Inlakech will perform at 6 p.m., followed by a performance…

Latino Links: Health Trends

While strokes and heart disease account for one in four deaths among Hispanic men, and one and three deaths among Hispanic women, Hispanics are less likely to recognized signs and symptoms of the disease, the American College of Emergency Physicians…

Bilingual report: Das Williams announces district office staff

First-term State Assembly Member Das Williams announced this week that he has hired the following District Office staff: Williams hired former SEIU 721 political coordinator Jeannette Sanchez as his district director, Senior Field Representative Hillary Blackerby, who held the same…

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

CAUSE benefiting this year from proceeds of Rebozo Festival

7th annual event returns May 15 to Camarillo The Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy’s (CAUSE) Centro Mujer program will benefit from this year’s edition of the Rebozo Festival on May 15 in Camarillo. The festival has grown from…

Guest column: I’ll take that…

By David Magallanes / Guest columnist Would you like death or taxes with that? That’s how it feels sometimes as I write out quarterly checks for estimated taxes to the state and federal tax collection agencies. After going through this tasteless…

‘Big X’ Montes to have busy schedule starting May 11

Xavier “Big X” Montes will be performing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 at the Santa Paula Senior Center, 530 W. Main St., as part of the “Cinco de Mama” celebration. The event features a tostada bar. $3…

‘Harvest of Loneliness: the Bracero Program’ set for May 11 at UCSB

The film screening of the documentary “Harvest of Loneliness: the Bracero Program,” will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 at the UCSB Multicultural Center. The documentary explores the historical accounts of migrant Mexican farm workers brought into the U.S.…

Teatro presenting light design workshop on May 14

Teatro de las Américas is presenting the workshop “Introduction to light design for the stage” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at 816 Wagon Wheel Road, Oxnard. There is no charge for the workshop. The workshop will…