OXNARD — The 2016 California Strawberry Festival gets underway with its 33rd seasonal celebration May 21 and 22 on 15 picturesque acres at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard. Ranked nationwide among the top outdoor Festivals, the event boasts strawberries…
Category: Food
Jess Ramirez Birthday Fiesta and Fundraiser for the Café on A on June 16
OXNARD — Join us in celebration of TATA LOUIE’S (AKA Jess Ramirez’s Birthday on June 16 at the beautiful Downtown La Fonda del Rey. Please join us in this great night of fun, entertainment, community support. It promises to be…
Foodbank Launches Healthy Community Pantry on April 26
Foodbank CEO and community leaders will be on hand April 26 to launch Healthy Community Pantry, which provides local produce and staples, as well as nutritional education, to local families. SANTA BARBARA — The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is…
Share Your Bounty: Help the Foodbank Distribute 225,000 Pounds of Produce by April 1
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — It’s peak citrus season in Santa Barbara and that means there’s lots of excess healthy — and delicious — fruit to harvest and distribute to those in need. Backyard Bounty, a volunteer program of the Foodbank of…
CenCal Health Partners with Community Action Commission of SB County and Senior Nutrition Program of SLO County to Bolster Meal Delivery Service for Seniors
SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – CenCal Health is partnering with the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County (CAC) and the Senior Nutrition Program of San Luis Obispo County to support their meal delivery services for seniors. On Jan.…
Inlakech Cultural Arts Center to celebrate 43 years of service on Feb. 27
OXNARD — The Inlakech Cultural Arts Center will celebrate 43 years of service with a “Red Charro Suits and Raffle Fundraiser” from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 at The Kitchen Restaurant, 529 S. A St., Oxnard. Featuring a new…
Bilingual commentary: Obesity…And We Wonder Why?
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor There was an interesting juxtaposition of articles in this past week’s Ventura County Star. One of them* was entitled “Americans becoming more obese,” as in, what else is new? In the same section of the newspaper, there…
2015 Día de los Muertos Celebracion to be held Nov. 7 in Camarillo
CAMARILLO — One of the final Day of the Dead events will occur this weekend when the 2015 Día de los Muertos Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home, Memorial Park and…
November cover story: Area agencies prepare to wage war on hunger
Holiday season is typical time for organizations to raise awareness of those in need in the region From Amigos805 staff reports Given the rebounding economy and the stereotypical image of a laid-back Golden State, the statistics seem stark. One 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…
July cover story: Cultural events heating up summer in 805 region
From performances by Teatro de las Américas to the Oxnard Salsa Festival and Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara, events filling up summer season By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 From theatrical performances to moving to the salsa beat and…
Commentary: Peoples’ Self-Help Housing helps to fight summer brain drain
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 With statistics showing that children lose one to three months of learning during the summer when they are out of school, it’s vital that parents find alternatives to keep those young minds active and…
Local news briefs
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation awarded more than $563,000 in scholarships to 284 Ventura College students in May, the organization reported in a media release. Awards ranged from $500 to $9,500 and were presented by the foundation to recipients…
Sergio Arau, film director of ‘A Day Without a Mexican,’ to be keynote speaker at Social Justice Fund for Ventura County’s 6th annual Currents of Change fundraiser on May 31 at Camarillo Ranch
CAMARILLO — Sergio Arau, film director of “A Day Without a Mexican,” will be the keynote speaker at Social Justice Fund for Ventura County’s 6th annual Currents of Change fundraiser on from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 31 at Camarillo…
Bilingual commentary: ‘All You Can Eat’
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 Editor’s…
11th annual Rebozo Festival to be held in Camarillo on May 17
CAMARILLO — The Rebozo Festival will celebrate its “10-year Diamond Anniversary” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 17 at Camarillo Ranch, 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo. The event will honor the “1st Annual Honorary Madrina of the Year” — the…
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to present eighth annual Mariachi Encuentro featuring Mariachi Diva on May 9
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria will present its eighth annual Mariachi Encuentro featuring Mariachi Divas from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria campus, 5315 Foothill Road, Carpinteria. Coinciding with Mother’s Day, Mariachi Encuentro is…
May cover story: Helping youth make the right lifestyle choices
Santa Barbara Healthy Futures program seeks to improve health options for Latino, other youth in the region By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 One in five children between the ages of 6 and 17 is now considered overweight in the…
Teatro de las Américas to present ‘Bellíssíma Italia’ on April 23
OXNARD —Teatro de las Américas will present “Bellíssíma Italia” from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at the Condor Café at Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The gourmet dinner concert features the music and gastronomy of Italy.…
Health: Snack foods that promote better sleep
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) According to the National Sleep Foundation, changes in sleep patterns are a part of the aging process. Many people experience difficulty falling asleep and then staying asleep as they age, and that difficulty can make…
Café on A to present ‘La Cosecha / The Harvest’ photo exhibit, film screening on March 21
OXNARD — The Dr. Rodolfo F. Acuña Art Gallery & Cultural Center at Café on A will present “La Cosecha / The Harvest” photo exhibit and film screening from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at 438 S. A St.,…
Health: News for expectant Hispanic mothers
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Doctors are urging pregnant Hispanic women to be more aware of the potential birth defects that affect children of Hispanic mothers in seemingly higher rates than other ethnicities. According to a major finding in a…
Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas to present ‘A Night of Boleros — Our Parents’ Songs’ at Oxnard College on March 5
OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas will present “A Night of Boleros — Our Parents’ Songs” from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Teatro de las Américas and Oxnard College inaugurate their 2015…
Make the most of your night out this Valentine’s Day
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Chocolates and flowers may be staples of Valentine’s Day, but many couples take it one step further and dine out on February 14. According to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association’s Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions…
Health: Chocolate historically more than just food
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Many cannot resist chocolate, that beloved creamy, sweet confection derived from cocoa beans, milk and sugar. All over the world people love to indulge in chocolate, especially come Valentine’s Day. According to data from Leatherhead…
January cover story: Hunger in the 805 region — an ongoing concern
Food drives during the holidays help, but don’t solve daily issue for those in need By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 It was a bountiful gathering, nearly 200,000 pounds of food collected during the weekend of Dec. 5-7 to provide…
Guest commentary: Women’s Economic Ventures encourages shoppers to buy gifts from local businesses this holiday season
SANTA BARBARA — As the holidays are approaching, many are thinking of the right gift to give friends and family members. Many people plan to head to the mall or department stores to purchase this season’s hottest items, but Women’s…
Health: Navigating the holidays with diabetes
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Amid a season of sweets and special foods, it sometimes can be challenging for diabetics to maintain their dietary discipline. But eating certain foods in moderation can help people with diabetes enjoy the flavors of…
7th annual Oxnard Tamale Festival to be held at Plaza Park on Dec. 6
OXNARD — The Seventh annual Oxnard Tamale Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard. Presented by City of Oxnard Recreation & Community Services and Oxnard College, the free…
Grupo Yodoquinsi to present ‘An offering for our ancestors’ at the Bell Arts Factory on Nov. 10
VENTURA — Grupo Yodoquinsi from Mexico will present a free ‘An offering for our ancestors’ performance at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10 at the Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. The group will perform with all prehispanic instruments, reports…
November cover story: Groups in region busy helping those in need
Food banks, private businesses, others lending aid this holiday season By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 While hunger and finding a safe and warm place to sleep remain year-round challenges for many people in the 805 region, the need is…
Health: Benefit from nutritious turkey even after Thanksgiving
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) If turkey is not normally on your lunch or dinner menu, come the holiday season it’s bound to show up in abundance. As soon as the weather cools and the crispness of late autumn is…
Commentary: Día de los Muertos has arrived. Variety of events scheduled for 805 region
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 You can almost feel it. That special time of year when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest. Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead is upon us with a number of…
Acuña Art Gallery @ Café on A to hold reception for ‘Collective Voices-Abundant Years’ exhibit on Oct. 24
OXNARD — The Acuña Art Gallery @ Café on A will hold a reception for the “Collective Voices-Abundant Years” exhibit at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at 438 S. A St., Oxnard. The exhibit, continuing through Nov. 23, is curated by…
Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Free Family Days — Día de los Muertos’ on Oct. 26
SANTA BARBARA — The 25th annual “Free Family Days — Día de los Muertos” will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. The event includes…
Santa Paula Museum of Art to present opening reception of the 21st annual De Colores Art Show on Oct. 18
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Art Museum will present the opening reception for the 21st De Colores Art Show — “In Search of Magulandia,” from noon to 4 p.m Saturday, Oct. 18 at 117 N.10th St., downtown Santa Paula.…
October cover story: De Colores Art Show honors Gilbert ‘Magu’ Luján
Exhibit at the Santa Paula Art Museum celebrates 21st year in the city For the 21st year, Santa Paula will play host to the De Colores Art Show, an event that brings together the works of artist from throughout Ventura…
Día de los Muertos time is rapidly approaching
Workshops already in progress to prepare items for Day of the Dead celebrations throughout the region By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Soon the aroma of marigolds and copal incense will waft through the air, beckoning spirits to cross over…
Local news briefs
SANTA BARBARA — Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is seeking produce donors and volunteers for the Foodbank Backyard Bounty Day on Saturday, Oct. 25. Foodbank is calling out to community members with harvest sites (orchards or gardens) in south Santa…
Health: Avoid Halloween makeup allergies and other reactions
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) What are the horrors of Halloween? Many might say encountering a gruesome ghoul or a blood-sucking vampire is the most horrific part of the holiday. However, an allergic reaction can be just as scary as…