By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Country-Western music is well-known for its ability to powerfully express the heartaches, the grudges, the pleasures and the joys that we experience in our lives. It often sings of our delights, tragedies and transitions — including those…
Category: Education
Business: WEV to present free Spanish self-employment sessions
Orientations will be held Nov. 4 in Oxnard, Nov. 11 in Fillmore and Nov. 12 in Ventura From Amigos805 staff reports Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV). will hold free, one-hour informational sessions facilitated by Spanish Program Coordinator Leticia Sandoval in Ventura…
Local business information
> The EDC-VC and EDD will present a “Federal / State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar” from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Ventura EDD Tax Office, 4820 McGrath St., Suite 200, Ventura. Participants will receive information…
Health: Open Enrollment for Covered California begins Nov. 15
Period is one time of year when most Californians who need insurance cannot be denied by a health plan. Deadline is Feb. 15 By the Ventura County Health Care Agency VENTURA COUNTY — Open Enrollment starts Nov. 15 and continues…
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 November in Ventura County. Click here to find times, dates and locations. > The Ventura County…
More Día de los Muertos events coming this weekend, beyond
From Amigos805 staff reports Día de los Muertos events will continue this weekend in Camarillo, Goleta, Nipomo, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Paula and Ventura. Camarillo • CSU Channel Islands will present its annual Día de los Muertos celebration 4…
Guest commentary: The lonely book review
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 Not…
Channel Islands High School graduate and assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, Maria Echaveste to speak at CSU Channel Island on Oct. 27
CAMARILLO — “From La Colonia to the Clinton Administration, and to Cal: Learning and Leadership — A Conversation with Maria Echaveste” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 CSU Channel Island. The public is welcome to attend. Growing up…
CI Science Carnival unleashes the curious kid in all of us on Oct. 24
CAMARILLO — Slime, banana pianos and the ever-popular screaming Gummi bears will be among more than 80 exploding, oozing, glowing and just plain fascinating hands-on science activities at CSU Channel Islands(CI)’s Seventh Annual Science Carnival, the university reported in a media…
Día de los Muertos events continuing this weekend
From Amigos805 staff reports Día de los Muertos events are continuing this weekend in Oxnard and Santa Barbara. The Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard will present its annual Día de los Muertos program as part of its Family Day from 11 a.m. to…
Bilingual commentary: The Love of Math
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor In a recent newspaper article (I still read the paper version daily), an event in our county and elsewhere caught my attention: a “TriMathlon.” I had never seen this clever play on the word “triathlon,” which refers…
The OC Literature, Arts and Lecture Series Fall 2015 to present ‘Réne Corado — From Shoeshine Boy to Scientist’ on Oct. 21
OXNARD — The OC Literature, Arts and Lecture Series Fall 2015 will present “Réne Corado — From Shoeshine Boy to Scientist” from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.…
Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts to present ‘An Evening with Actors Judy Reyes, Reynaldo Pacheco and Julissa Arce’ on Oct. 21
OXNARD — Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts will present a special evening with actress Judy Reyes and immigrant rights activist Julissa Arce with host Rick Najera at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 as part of Oxnard College’s Latino Thought Makers…
A UCSB professor’s personal experience with issues of immigration shapes her academic passions
By Nora Crutcher / UCSB Narayani Lasala-Blanco knows firsthand the struggles Latino and other immigrant families face when they come to the United States. She experienced them herself, as a child living in Santa Barbara in the late 1980s. Now an…
A UC Santa Barbara researcher’s book on Spanish-language radio earns national awards and a place in the national conversation
By Jim Logan / UCSB Dolores Inés Casillas, an associate professor in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at UC Santa Barbara, picked a good time to write a book about the ways Latinos use Spanish-language radio. Not that…
Día de los Muertos events beginning this weekend
Día de los Muertos events are beginning this weekend in many locations in the 805 region. The Carpinteria Library will present “La Catrina,” a Día de los Muertos celebration, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at 5141 Carpinteria Ave.,…
De Colores Art Show to hold opening reception on Oct. 17
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Art Museum will present the 22nd “De Colores Art Show: Campesinas,” opening with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at 117 N. Tenth St., downtown Santa Paula. The De Colores Art Show is an annual…
Santa Barbara Art Museum to present ‘Looking In, Looking Out: Latin American Photography starting Oct. 18
The Santa Barbara Art Museum will present “Looking In, Looking Out: Latin American Photography” from Oct. 18 through Feb. 14 at 130 State St., Santa Barbara. Selected from the museum’s permanent collection, the 47 works explore various aspects of Latin American history and…
Bilingual commentary: The Golden Age of Islam
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor In the midst of turbulence and social upheaval in the Middle East today, and with prejudicial hatred against Muslims increasing throughout our country, it is hard for us to comprehend a time in which Islam was highly…
CLU’s International Film Festival to present ‘Even the Rain’ on Oct. 7
THOUSAND OAKS — CLU’s International Film Festival will present “Even the Rain” (Spanish) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Carmike Thousand Oaks 14, 166 W. Hillcrest Drive. With ample irony, Even the Rain explores the effects of Spanish imperialism,…
October cover story: Day of the Dead coming to life in 805 region
Cities from Camarillo to Santa Maria will present numerous activities during Día de los Muertos celebration to honor departed souls By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 About three decades ago most of the general public in the 805 region had not…
Commentary: Campesinas are the focus of this year’s De Colores Art Show in Santa Paula
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 For Xavier Montes, the inspiration for this year’s De Colores Art Show hit close to home to the aunt who raised him. “When I see women working in the fields, I think of Carmen, my mother…
Local news briefs
OXNARD — CSU Channel Islands will present the 2015 Science Carnival from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, 2900 Thurgood Marshall Drive, Oxnard. Free to the public, the event provides students through grade 8…
Health: ‘Think Pink’ for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness month offers an opportunity to take steps to detect the disease By the Ventura County Health Care Agency VENTURA COUNTY — This October, Ventura County Health Care Agency is proud to participate in National Breast Cancer…
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 October in Ventura County. Click here to find times, dates and locations. > The Ventura County Health…
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County announces 2015 grantees
CAMARILLO — The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County (SJF) has awarded almost $30,000 to five local organizations that inspire and educate young leaders who work to improve fairness and justice in their communities, the organization reported in a media release.…
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! to present Patricio Hidalgo y el Afrojarocho through Oct. 4
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! will present Patricio Hidalgo y el Afrojarocho in free family performances from through Oct. 4 in various locations in Santa Barbara County. Hidalgo is a world-renowned musician and poet and a third-generation jaranero, a master of the music…
CSU Channel Islands is among seven minority-serving institutions singled out for national recognition
CAMARILLO — Family-friendliness, workplace diversity, salaries and professional development opportunities were some of the criteria that recently put CSU Channel Islands(CI) among the “2015 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs at Minority-Serving Institutions,” university officials reported this week in a…
UCSB receives $2.6M grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program
By Andrea Estrada / UCSB UC Santa Barbara has been selected to receive a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Opening New Doors to Accelerating Success (ONDAS), a new Title V program. The five-year grant is…
Bilingual commentary: The Math Crisis
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 Mathematics…
Latino Thought Maker Series to present ‘An Evening with Marco Antonio Regil & Scott Montoya’ at Oxnard College on Sept. 24
OXNARD — The Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts will present its second performance of Latino Thought Makers at Oxnard College Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. The live show, hosted by comedian Rick Najera, will…
Javier Gomez to present Día de los Muertos free pre-planning art workshops starting Sept. 26
OXNARD — Javier Gomez will present the annual Día de los Muertos free pre-planning art workshops starting Sept. 26 at 250 E. 5th St., Oxnard. All workshops will be held from noon to 3 p.m. The schedule includes: Sept. 26 —…
LEON awarded Santa Barbara County resolution in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
SANTA BARBARA — Latino Elders Outreach Network (LEON) was presented with a Santa Barbara County resolution in honor of Hispanic Heritage month. On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal presented the award in recognition of the…
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! recognized by Santa Barbara County Supervisors on 10th anniversary season
SANTA BARBARA — The County of Santa Barbara has honored ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! on its tenth anniversary season with a resolution of the Board of Supervisors recognizing the program for its innovative and diverse contributions to community cultural life throughout the…
UCSB professor’s new biography of labor leader César Chávez is one of few in the U.S. to be written in Spanish
By Jim Logan/ UCSB When César Chávez founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW), he did it mostly in Spanish. For more than 30 years, he inspired millions of people — and hundreds…
Ballet Folklórico de Los Angeles opens ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara!’s 10th anniversary season on Sept. 11
SANTA BARBARA — Ballet Folklórico de Los Angeles opens ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara!’s 10th anniversary season with free performances at Isla Vista School (Sept. 11), Guadalupe City Hall (Sept. 12) and the Marjorie Luke Theatre (Sept. 13). The company…
CSU Channel Islands Nursing alumnus / MBA candidate wins prestigious Trustee Scholarship
CAMARILLO — Registered nurse Gabriel Guillén is one of the recipients of the CSU Trustees’ Award, the CSU system’s highest for student achievement. The married father of four is attending CSU Channel Islands (CI) with plans to graduate in May of 2016…
Kenya Rodriguez joins Girls Inc. of Carpinteria as new Eureka! and Teen Coordinator
CAPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has announced that Kenya Rodriguez, a former volunteer for the organization, has been named its new Eureka! and teen coordinator. In her new role, Rodriguez will design, implement and manage summer programming at UCSB, monthly meetings and…
Bilingual commentary: The Oxnard College Literature and Arts Lecture Series
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 In…
September cover story: Tackling hunger one ‘Spoon FULL’ at a time
FOOD Share, Ventura County’s Food Bank, launches ‘Spoon FULL a Day’ pledge during Hunger Action Month in September From Amigos805 staff reports While September is typically the time to think about the coming fall and back to school, advocates want…
Commentary: Back-to-school time includes new faces, changes at local institutions
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 It’s back-to-school time for many local public school districts, private schools, colleges and universities. Time for students to pick up their books, meet new classmates, teachers and administrators. There are a few changes in…
Local news briefs
VENTURA — The United Way of Ventura County will present CSU President Richard R. Rush with a Lifetime Achievement Award during its 11th annual Spirit of Community Partnership Awards on Sept. 17. For the first time in the 70-year history…
Local business information
> Ventura SCORE will present the free seminar “Improve your website design and add videos and extra punch” from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 at the Ventura Community Foundation Non-Profit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo. Click here to…
Health: Tomando Control de su Salud class hold graduation
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care hosts six-week Santa Barbara class developed by Stanford Department of Medicine to help local Spanish-speaking community with chronic conditions SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara County’s first Tomando Control de su Salud (Taking Control of Your Health) graduating class received…
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 September in Ventura County. Click here to find times, dates and locations. > The Ventura County Health Care…
Reception for ‘Huicho!’ exhibit to be held Sept. 4 at CLU
THOUSAND OAKS — The reception for the exhibit “Huicho!” will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at California Lutheran University’s Kwan Fong Gallery, 120 Memorial Parkway Thousand Oaks. Hüicho Lé makes remarkable paintings that combine contemporary imagery with themes from…
Bilingual commentary: Transformation in Middle Age
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…
Guest commentary: On the ‘Bacon Trail’ — Part 1
Exposing Historical Myopia 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.…
Bilingual report: Women’s Economic Ventures graduates Step into Success with WEV Self Employment Training Program
Spanish orientations sessions for next class to be held Aug. 20, 26 Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) on Aug. 12 celebrated the accomplishments of fourteen men and women graduating from the WEV en Español’s Basic Self-Employment Training (SET) program, the organization…
Local writer to receive ‘Guatemalan Writer of the Year’ award next week in Hollywood
Award part of “Celebration of La Semana del Guatemalteco en Los Angeles” René Corado, a Guatemalan biologist, writer and resident of Oxnard, will be honored on Aug. 25 with the “Guatemalan Writer of the Year” award presented by the Comite…
Bilingual commentary: Dads protecting daughters
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 We…
Acuña Art Gallery @ The Café on A in Oxnard to present ‘Endless Summer — Back to School’ party on Aug. 14
OXNARD — The Acuña Art Gallery @ The Café on A will present “Endless Summer — Back to School’ all ages party from 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Aug. 14 at 438 S. A St., Oxnard Featuring performances by C-Minor,…
Guest commentary: The Oxnard Multicultural Mental Health Coaltion is moving forward
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 Sometimes…
Bilingual report: Inaugural ‘K through 12 Resource Fair’ to be held in Oxnard on Aug. 12
OXNARD — The Office of Jacqui Irwin, in collaboration with the Oxnard Police Activities League and Ventura County Public Health will present the inaugural “K through 12 Resource Fair” from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12 at the Oxnard PAL…
Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. to present health fair / feria de salad in Oxnard on Aug. 9
OXNARD — Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will present a health fair / feria de salud from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9 at Parque del Sol, 1800 Camino del Sol, Oxnard. The event will feature blood pressure,…
Bilingual commentary: The Jerusalem Syndrome
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 According…
Guest commentary: From the cradle to the grave
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 I…
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! awarded California Arts Council Local Impact Grant
SANTA BARBARA — The California Arts Council announced it plans to award ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! $8,040 as part of its Local Impact program, the organization reported in a media release. The Local Impact program fosters equity, access,…
Margarita H. de Escontrias selected as new CEO of Cabrillo Economic Development Corp.
VENTURA — The Board of Directors of the Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. (CEDC) has announced that Margarita H. de Escontrias has been selected as CEDC’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the organization reported in a media release. Ms. de Escontrias…
Presentation on Hispanic literature on July 18 has been rescheduled
OXNARD — The Oxnard Public Library has rescheduled the July 18 presentation by Dr. Jesus Gonzales on the development of Hispanic literature in the United States. More information will follow. Call 805-385-7532 or visit http://www.oxnardlibrary.net for more information.
VCCF awards nearly $1.2 million at annual scholarship reception
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community Foundation awarded nearly $1.1 million in scholarships to local students at the recent 2015 Scholarship Awarded Reception attended by more than 400 students, their families, and many of the donors who made the awards…
Guest commentary: Remembering Ruben Jaramillo
A recent history of privatization 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.…
New book by UCSB’s Mario T. García explores the Chicano civil rights struggle in Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s
By Andrea Estrada / UCSB The Chicano movement of the late 1960s and 1970s was the largest and most widespread civil rights and empowerment movement by Mexican-Americans in U.S. history. But without strong and dedicated leadership, it might not have…
Local writer to be part La Feria Chapina / the Guatemalan Fair in Los Angeles through July 12
Amigos805 staff reports René Corado, who has published his first book in Spanish — “El Lustrador / Dreams of a Shoeshine Boy,” has been invited to participate in La Feria Chapina / the Guatemalan Fair starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, July…
Bilingual commentary: The Fetters of Freedom
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 When…