SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care(VNHC) is pleased to announce Kyrie Belme as Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator. Belme brings experience working with local nonprofits and a flair for creativity. As Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator, Belme will assist…
Category: Local
Bilingual commentary: The Power of Parents
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We parents may not be aware of the power we possess to literally make or break the lives of our children. Teachers likewise exert enormous power over the lives of their students. As parents and teachers, we…
“Remembering Our Fallen” Traveling Portrait Exhibition on Display throughout Santa Barbara County
Deeply moving memorial exhibition features 721 photo portraits of California’s fallen SANTA BARBARA — The community is invited to the “Remembering Our Fallen” memorial exhibition that is on display in Santa Barbara County during the month of January. The deeply moving…
Santa Barbara Humane Society Unveils New Logo for New Year
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Humane Society is pleased to unveil a new logo with a contemporary color palette as we celebrate a new year. “Since 1887, the Santa Barbara Humane Society has been a resource for animal advocacy and education,”…
Guest commentary: Adelante… into the New Year with Café on A
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 It is…
The Collection at RiverPark announces Stefanie Muegel, Jill Almonia as new marketing team
OXNARD — The Collection at RiverPark, Oxnard’s premier fashion retail, dining and entertainment destination, recently announced Stefanie Muegel as the center’s Marketing Manager, and Jill Almonia as the Marketing and Business Development Coordinator. At The Collection, a CenterCal Properties, LLC…
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care Welcomes Scott Gordon as Annual Giving Coordinator
SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (VNHC) is pleased to announce the addition of Scott Gordon as Annual Giving Coordinator. Gordon brings years of experience working in various professions including development, software and management, along with a background…
Bilingual commentary: What Is A Secular Catholic?
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor In the Jewish American community, many within the group quite proudly and nonchalantly refer to themselves as “secular Jews.” Within the U.S. Latino community, on the other hand, many are secular Catholics, but they don’t go around…
‘El Bracero – A Mariachi Opera’ to be presented at Oxnard College on Jan. 16
OXNARD — “El Bracero — A Mariachi Opera” will be presented at 7 p.m. at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Theater, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Featuring Mariachi Aguilas de Oxnard and Ballet Folklorico Mestizo. Set in the 1950s at…
Guest commentary: Justice in the New Year
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 At…
Classes start Jan. 11 for English as a Second Language Basic English course at Oxnard College
OXNARD — Classes start for English as a Second Language Basic English course at Oxnard College. Free books available. Classes include: ESL R046 — English Conversation 4; ESL R065 — Prep for Academic Reading & Writing; ESL R056 — Reading Skills…
Local Hospice Nonprofits Partner to Ensure No One Dies Alone
Hospice of Santa Barbara is partnering with Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care to revitalize its work in the national No One Dies Alone program. The organizations will provide training that will allow their volunteers to offer compassionate bedside presence for…
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Publishes Report on Distribution to Foodbank Non-Profit Partners
SANTA BARBARA — The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County worked with over 300 nonprofits and programs countywide (one of them isyour favorite) in 2015 to help serve the community by providing healthy food and produce. “Without the support of the Foodbank of Santa…
United Way of Ventura County: 36 hours left to make a difference
President’s Message Click here for the entire January 2016 E-newsletter Dear Friends, I returned from serving in the Peace Corps as a teacher in the 5th poorest country in the world just two weeks prior to 9/11. What was so…
El Centrito Family Learning Centers thank you
Joseph Castañeda Carrera / El Centrito Family Learning Centers Season’s greetings to you and yours! El Centrito Family Learning Centers thank you for believing that every child and every family deserves the opportunity to reach their greatest potential. To donate in support…
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Welcomes New Project Manager
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has hired Toby Seiler as Project Manager to its Multi-Family Housing Development (MHD) Department, announced PSHH President & CEO John Fowler Working out of PSHH’s San Luis Obispo headquarters, Seiler will be responsible for project management…
Bilingual commentary: Dream Boards and Visualization
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor As we approach, thankfully, the transition to a new year in our lives, many of us harbor a sense of responsibility to “make resolutions.” The problem is that we fail to understand the process that would be…
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County looks forward to celebrating National Mentoring Month 2016
/ Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is looking forward to celebrating National Mentoring Month for January 2016. The National Mentoring Month campaign will acknowledge the ‘Bigs’- adult…
Local PODS® Moving and Storage Serves As “Santa’s Sleigh” For 12th Annual Santa Claus Park Toy Giveaway
/ PODS Local moving and storage company, PODS teamed up with Ventura County’s most popular running event, the Santa to the Sea ½ Marathon and 5K, to collect unwrapped toys for the 12th annual Santa Claus Park toy giveaway taking…
FOOD Share ends successful 4th annual CAN-tree Collection weekend with 201,200 pounds of food
/ FOOD Share The Collection at RiverPark and Cumulus Media hosted FOOD Share’s successful 4th annual CAN-tree Collection drive in support of the regional food bank’s annual Tackle Hunger campaign, bringing in 201,200 cans of food (one can of food…
Shoppers Make Mad Dash To Christmas Shopping Finish Line, Centerpoint Mall Offers Many Deals And Savings
/ Centerpoint Mall As the last week of Christmas shopping gets into full swing, millions of people are still finalizing their shopping lists. And to help meet the last-minute Christmas crush, Centerpoint Mall has many deals and savings at the…
Surfer Santa and Scrooge, the new favorites at The Collection at RiverPark
/ The Collection at RiverPark While most shopping centers promise children a chance to meet and take a picture with Santa Claus, The Collection at RiverPark goes a step further and surprises customers with the opportunity to meet other lively…
Local Holiday Toy Drive Receives Donations for Foster, Low-Income Children
/ Foster VC Kids / Children’s Services Auxiliary Currently there are 1,000 children in foster care and thousands of additional low-income kids in Ventura County, and these youth are in need of toys and other gifts this holiday season. In an…
Women’s Economic Ventures to present free Spanish Self-Employment Training Orientation in Ventura County
/ Women’s Economic Ventures Have you wanted to run your own business, but don’t know where to start? Or do you already own a business and want to expand? Learn how to make those dreams a reality with Women’s Economic…
Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara Members Awaken the Force with Hour of Code
/ Girls Inc. Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara’s Goleta and Santa Barbara Centers were buzzing on Friday afternoon, as the local affiliate hosted the “Hour of Code” to introduce girls to coding and computer science. Approximately two dozen girls…
California LULAC will focus on new voting rights cases in 2016
Plan will impact scores of California cities and school districts CAMARILLO —The California League of United Latin American Citizens will partner with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and private attorneys in a significant expansion of cases brought…
Bilingual commentary: What Really Happens On A Clear Day
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor As Christmas Day approaches, many of us focus on the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. But let’s not forget that Jesus was a revered teacher who grew in age and wisdom and tried to instruct us on…
Gold Coast Health Plan’s Membership Hits a Milestone
Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan Now Serves More than 200,000 Residents CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) reached a milestone in its membership this month, surpassing 200,000 members. With 202,360 members, GCHP is on track to quickly surpass its projected membership…
Catherine Rodriguez named Ventura County chief financial officer
VENTURA — The Ventura County Executive Office announced that Assistant County Executive Officer Catherine Rodriguez has been named the County Chief Financial Officer and Shawn Atin has been promoted to Assistant County Executive Officer, Human Resources. The moves follow the…
CSU Channel Island students offer free in-home service for Latina/os with traumatic brain injury
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) Health Science students are seeking Ventura County Latina/os with a traumatic brain injury to take part in a free in-home service called “Trabajadora de Salud,” the university reported in a media release. Assistant Professor of Health…
Bilingual commentary: Trump’s Parallel Universe
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor I think I have it figured out. Donald Trump is actually working for Hillary Clinton. He must be, given that many political pundits predict that he will hand over the White House to Hillary if indeed he…
Bilingual commentary: The Case Against Homework
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor There has been a quiet controversy involving our children that has been brewing over the past several years. As in any controversy, there are exaggerated claims, false accusations and biased statements that serve to befuddle anyone trying…
El Concilio Family Services seeks nominations for 2016 Latino Leadership Awards. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15
OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services is seeking nominations for 2016 Latino Leadership Awards. The deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 The 27th annual Latino Leadership Awards will recognize individuals and business partnerships that have made significant contributions to education…
Teatro de las Américas to present final two performances of ‘Your Friends Would Never Harm You’ on Dec. 4, 5
OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas will present final two performances of “Your Friends Would Never Harm You” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5 at the Oxnard College Black Box Theatre, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard…
Bilingual commentary: The Crashing Wave of Paper
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Being disorganized carries a hefty price tag. We burn up valuable time looking for things. We miss appointments, miss paying bills, miss opportunities and don’t fulfill our dreams because we don’t even know what those dreams are—we…
Teatro de las Americas, MusicaLatitudes, and Oxnard College to present a Christmas concert on Dec. 6
OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas y MusicaLatitudes invite the community to participate in a free Christmas choir program that will be featured in Songs and Odes of Christmas at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 at Teatro de las Américas at Oxnard…
El Concilio seeks support during ‘Giving Tuesday’ on Dec. 1
Dear Friend,
We are coming to the end of the year and over the last year we have enjoyed support of many of you.
We have served over 17,000 client contacts in the areas of Citizenship, Immigration, Youth Leadership and Development and Direct Client Assistance.
This is a request to join our end of the year campaign by making a donation to El Concilio Family Services.
All donations are most gratefully received regardless of the amount.
Oxnard College kicks off holiday season with Latino Thought Makers ‘Ha Ha Holidays Live Comedy,’ music show and benefit on Dec. 2
Special Guests DJs Rico & Mambo, comedians Momo Rodriguez and Jill-Michele Meleán and singers Karina Nuvo and Vanessa Verduga join host Rick Najera at Oxnard College Performing Arts Center OXNARD — The Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts will…
Bilingual commentary: Gratitude
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Because of the expectations of our culture, we might feel that we never quite achieve “success,” or “contentment.” After all, whenever we do attain a degree of success or fulfillment, there’s always the next goal, the new…
Guest commentary: Forgotten Memories — Wasted Years
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 By…
A new book co-authored by a UCSB researcher details how the Maya have farmed sustainably and survived for millennia
By Jim Logan / UCSB History has not been kind to the Maya, an indigenous people of Mesoamerica. They’re usually portrayed as the hapless victims of European colonialism who collapsed and disappeared as a result of overpopulation and environmental degradation. A…
UCSB’s Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science is named an outstanding regional role model
By Julie Cohen / UCSB The UC Santa Barbara chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) has received the 2015 Outstanding Regional Network Role Model Award. This award marks the fourth in as many years bestowed…
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…
Museum of Ventura County to present sneak preview of ‘Bordertown’ on Nov. 20
VENTURA — The Museum of Ventura County will present a sneak preview of “Bordertown,” a new Seth MacFarlane comedy to debut on Fox in January 2016, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 at 100 E. Main St., Ventura.…
Bilingual commentary: Avoiding What We Don’t Understand
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor This past week, I decided to confront something that I had studiously avoided all my life because I just didn’t understand it. Abstract art. I had grown up surrounded by the classical art created by my Mexican…
Emmy Award-winning journalists join Oxnard College’s Latino Thought Makers for ‘Politics in America’ talk on Nov. 12
OXNARD — Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts will present a special evening of political discussion and debate on Thursday, Nov. 12 with award-winning journalists Myrka Dellanos, Ruben Navarrette Jr. and Julio Varela as part of its continuing Latino Thought Makers Live…
Gold Coast Health Plan to recognize Diabetes Awareness Month with resource fair on Nov. 7 in Oxnard
OXNARD — Gold Coast Health Plan will recognize Diabetes Awareness Month in November with a “Diabetes Awareness Resource Fair” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Oxnard Public Library, 1251 S. A St., Oxnard. The program will feature…
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…
Local news briefs
SANTA BARBARA — Award-winning author Reyna Grande will be presented with UCSB’s 12th annual Luis Leal Literature Award during a ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the McCune Conference Room, 6020 Humanities and Social Sciences Building at UCSB.…