Re-entry mentoring grant from Department of Justice one of only nine across nation OXNARD — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme is seeking to reduce repeat crimes among juvenile offenders in Ventura County by…
Category: Education
Commentary: Hope for tomorrow
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Over the past few weeks, we have shared some sad stories with you. Some tragic. Some seeming without hope. There is hope and there are answers! A family we helped recently purchased a new…
Commentary: The truth shall set you free
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Happy New Year! May 2012 be a tremendous year for each of you. A fresh start. A new beginning. We know that 2011 was a very difficult year for many of you for various…
Commentary: Reflecting on 2011, working together in 2012
Dear Editor: As 2011 comes to a close one cannot help reflecting on the past while looking ahead to the future. For me, as I enter my fourth year on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, I feel very grateful.…
Commentary: Top ten in local education
By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor We will see many lists within the next few days. I would argue that education is a topic of utmost importance and yet we will not see a resume of last year in this subject.…
Commentary: The management of time
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Here we are on a collision course with 2012, and many of us haven’t even begun to write down our resolutions. Assuming the Mayan predictions aren’t true and that we actually will live through…
Commentary: Hope For 2012
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors All of us on Team Szakos hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends and we wish you nothing but the best for 2012! As we read in the news, watch…
New board members join Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme
OXNARD — Stephen MacIntosh, general manager of Republic Services, Inc.; Stuart Nielson, attorney with Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP; Robert Sills, community advocate; and Police Chief Jeri Williams, Oxnard Police Department have joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of…
NASCAR champion Tony Stewart volunteers as spokesperson for local Boys & Girls Clubs fundraiser
OXNARD — Three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has volunteered to help the Boys & Girls Clubs Million Dollar Raffle as its spokesperson and has donated a VIP NASCAR experience that includes a personal meet-and-greet with…
Commentary: Radio program an effective way to reach hardest hit segment of home mortgage crisis
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors To the morning radio audience along California’s Central Coast, Michael and Stephen Szakos of TEAM SZAKOS Real Estate are fast becoming the Batman and Robin of the continuing home mortgage crisis, as the duo…
Commentary: College trustees must act to investigate source of leaked document
By the League of United Latin American Citizens President Franklin D. Roosevelt was fond of saying — “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” On Tuesday night (Dec. 13) the Ventura…
Authors, illustrators to read, sign children’s book Dec. 18 at Museum of Ventura County
Local children’s book authors and illustrators, including Kathleen Contreras of Ventura, Jody Fickes Shapiro of Ventura, Carol Heyer of Thousand Oaks, Valerie Hobbs and Marnie McGee of Santa Barbara, Alexis O’Neill of Simi, and Amada Irma Perez of Ventura, will…
United Way’s Latino Action Team holds successful book drive
The United Way of Ventura County’s Latino Action Team hosted its first-ever “Donation to the Imagination” holiday book drive in partnership with the Oxnard Public Library to benefit low-income children living in Oxnard. The community was asked to donate new and/or…
Commentary: The American Dream — Part II
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor I realize that for a lot of Americans these days, the only hope of coming even close to attaining the American dream of our immediate ancestors is — well, getting a job, a virtual mirage for so…
CSU Channel Islands names Trinidad vice president for finance, administration
CAMARILLO – Ysabel Trinidad has been named the new vice president for finance & administration at CSU Channel Islands (CI), the university reported in a media release. Trinidad replaces Joanne Coville, who left in June to become vice president for Business Affairs and…
Commentary: ‘Save Your Family First’ free foreclosure prevention clinics held each Wednesday
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Among the downtown Oxnard storefronts, a weekly gathering is attracting local residents trying to save their homes. Each Wednesday night, volunteers are working with homeowners facing foreclosures. The situation is all too…
LULAC urges community to attend college board meeting on Dec. 13
The League of United Latin American Citizens — Ventura County District 17 is urging LULAC members, Hispanic community leaders and other community members to attend the Ventura Community College District board meeting to support VCCCD Trustee Art Hernandez. LULAC Trustee…
UCSB student accepts White House award
SANTA BARBARA — A UC Santa Barbara student studying ocean ecology accepted the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring from President Obama on Monday, Dec. 12, on behalf of Ocean Discovery Institute. This is the…
Commentary: Books make the best gifts
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Have you had enough of circling the parking lot, standing in line and walking the mall for Christmas gifts yet? I avoid it because for me, it’s a waste of gas, precious time, there…
Bilingual report: Williams to host Emergency Preparedness Resource Fair and Workshop on Dec. 10 in Goleta
GOLETA — More than 20 agencies and community organizations will provide information and answer questions on how to prepare your family, pets and workplace in case of an emergency or disaster. This is part of the Emergency Preparedness Resource Fair…
Bilingual report: Rescheduled La Colonia Resource Fair set for Dec. 11
Health screenings, services for Mixteco families, education programs planned Visitors will receive a variety of services at La Colonia Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 at Del Sol Stadium, 1500 Colonia Road, in La Colonia neighborhood of…
Deadline nears for United Way’s Latino Action Team holiday book drive
The deadline is Saturday, Dec. 3 for those wishing to donate books to the United Way of Ventura County’s Latino Action Team book drive, “Donation to the Imagination.” “Tis the season to help spread holiday cheer!” the organization reported. Please…
El Concilio extends deadline for education awards
El Concilio Family Services this week announced that it is extending the nomination deadline to Dec. 30 for its Latino Leadership Awards — “Excellence in Education” to honor individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of education.…
Commentary: Belly Dance—Is it about the “Belly”?
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor We Westerners have a funny way of looking at things sometimes. The Eastern world must stare at us in disbelief sometimes, wondering, with mouths agape, how we could ever arrive at our conclusions. Of course, we…
UCSB scholar presents new reading on Mayan hieroglyphics
SANTA BARBARA – By presenting a new interpretation of a Maya hieroglyphic verb, Gerardo Aldana, associate professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at UC Santa Barbara, has revised the understanding of one of the longest-studied texts in Maya archaeology, UCSB…
Donation to the Imagination
In the tradition of holiday spirit of giving, the Downtown Main Library is a drop-off location for the “Donation to the Imagination” holiday book drive, sponsored by United Way, the Oxnard Public Library reported on its website From now until…
Bilingual report: Health seminar for women on Nov. 19
“Women to Women: Living longer, living smarter,” a free health seminar for women, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Ventura County Behavioral Health, 1911 Williams Drive, Oxnard. Participants will learn about successful…
Commentary: Our own personal ‘Arab Spring’
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor Like many of you, I’ve followed — with some degree of fascination, trepidation and hope — the blossoming that took place during what has been dubbed the “Arab Spring” this past year. We watched as people…
Tickets available for MABA’s annual Scholarship Dinner on Dec. 1
Tickets are available for the annual Mexican American Bar Association Scholarship Dinner beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 600 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. Justice Carlos R. Moreno (Ret.) will be…
Volunteers needed for MICOP’S monthly meeting on Nov. 19
The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project presents its monthly community meeting starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. Volunteers with bilingual skills are needed to help 300 people who will be filling out…
Commentary: Meditation can change your life
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor When I moved to the 805 (Oxnard) in 2003 I began practicing meditation for 30 minutes each morning, as I had learned at the Self Realization Fellowship in Pacific Palisades. It is a practice…
Commentary: The Chrysalis
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor When my daughter had her quinceañera celebration some thirteen years ago, I thought about the Latinas in her age group who didn’t have one. Either the family was too financially stressed, or they simply didn’t believe…
Marching bands to compete at Oxnard High School on Nov. 12
More than 20 high school marching bands, with more than 1,400 musicians, will compete at the Oxnard High School Marching Band & Auxiliary’s 27th annual Field Show Competitition from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Bud Houser Stadium,…
Commentary: Honor, integrity, sacrifice
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or from wounds sustained from combat. That’s not quite true. Memorial Day is the…
Bilingual report: Deadline is Nov. 7 for El Concilio’s Latino Leadership Awards
The deadline for nominations for the 2012 El Concilio Family Services annual Latino Leadership Awards “Excellence in Education” is today, Monday, Nov. 7. El Concilio will be honoring individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of education.…
Oxnard City Council on Nov. 8 to discuss Spanish-language broadcast
Oxnard City Councilmember Carmen Ramirez distributed the following information regarding the 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 meeting focusing on simultaneous broadcast in Spanish of Oxnard City Council meeting: “To people who care about the people of Oxnard — Approximately 30% of Oxnard’s homes are Spanish-speaking.…
Víctor Ríos to talk about the impact of juvenile justice policies on Latino youth on Nov. 8 in Santa Barbara
Víctor Ríos to talk about “Punished: Policing the lives of Black and Latino boys’ at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the UCSB Multiculture Center Theater, the university reported in a media release. Ríos analyzes how punitive juvenile crime policies…
Oxnard College to present the migrant farm worker documentary ‘The Purepecha…’ on Nov. 9
Award-winning writer, director and producer Cheryl Quintana Leader will present her short documentary “The Purepecha: Poorest of the Poor” from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Complex, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The…
CLU to present Reel Justice Film Series – ‘Which Way Home’ on Nov. 9
California Lutheran University will present the Reel Justice Film Series — “Which Way Home” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, in the Lundring Events Center. As the United States continues to build a…
Commentary: Tips on places to sleep when you travel
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor The holidays are coming soon, and you might be traveling to visit family or friends, and for myriad reasons cannot spend the nights in their home. After that, before you know it, you may…
Commentary: The power of Mexican mythology
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We must not lose sight of the reality that Mexico is the confluence of two very distinct cultures: one European, and the other indigenous, with its own cultures, beliefs, practices, religions and mythologies. In…
Bilingual report: Registration suggested for Nov. 5 college family conference at CSU Channel Islands
The Oxnard Union High School District will present the “College Family Conference: Making it Happen,” from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at CSU Channel Islands. Advance registration is suggested. Parents and students in the 9th and 10th grade…
Commentary: A lasting legacy
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor A good friend, Josie Salinas, passed on to meet her Creator this past August. She filled her life serving others through her friendship, mentoring, and career. As the first female Native American Spiritual Advisor, she…
UCSB talk on Mexican literature set for Nov. 3-5 in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA — A group of international scholars and writers will gather at UC Santa Barbara for “The Two Faces of Fiction,” the 14th annual colloquium on Mexican literature. The three-day event begins at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3…
OC 2011 Student Digi Film Festival set for Nov. 4-5
The Oxnard College 2011 Student Digi Film Festival will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5 at 7 p.m. at the Oxnard College Performing Arts building, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard, the college reported in a media…
Ramona Days set for Nov. 5 at Rancho Camulos
Performances by the core cast and dancers from the world famous Hemet Ramona Outdoor Play will highlight the fourth annual “Ramona Days” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at Rancho Camulos Museum National Historic Landmark in Piru,…
More Día de los Muertos activities planned this week
Community groups, businesses and other organizations continue to add to the Día de los Muertos celebration calendar. Amigos805.com will continue to post updates as they become available. The Centro Mujer Community Center presents its Día de los Muertos celebration from…
Bilingual report: Mexican Consulate publishes Día de los Muertos calendario
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard on Friday published its Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) calendario featuring events in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Click here or on image above to open a pdf of all events
Bilingual report: Líderes Campesinas to hold annual march Oct. 28
Líderes Campesinas will present its annual March/ Vigil and Apron Exhibit beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 at Iglesia Cristo Rey and concluding at Iglesia de Guadalupe in La Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard. Presented by the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), Interface Children’s…
Commentary: Boomers and seniors — Learn how to relate to your adult children
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor If you have adult children, they are among the most important of your relationships. Unfortunately, many retired people are estranged or emotionally distant from their adult children. Relationships between you and your adult children…