Category: Local

UCSB Chancellor Yang Speaks out on fossil fuel divestment, endorses campaign

SANTA BARBARA — On May 11 at noon in Cheadle Hall, the UCSB campus administration building, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Margaret Klawunn issued a statement on behalf of Chancellor Henry T. Yang both endorsing the fossil fuel divestment campaign, Fossil…

Limón Bill Gives Healthcare Providers Full Information in Emergencies

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 1119, authored by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) ensures that emergency healthcare providers have full medical records so that they can make well-informed healthcare decisions when treating patients with mental illnesses. The measure passed unanimously out of the…

Santa Barbara City College Recognized for Accessible Online Education Programs

Santa Barbara City College’s online education program named #14 best online school for students with disabilities by the SR Education Group and GuideToOnlineSchools.com The SR Education Group researched 1,265 schools and ranked Santa Barbara City College’s online education program #14 out of…

Local Contractors Recognized for Energy Efficient Projects

SANTA BARBARA — Four local contractors are being recognized for their dedication, professionalism and service assisting Central Coast residents in making energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. This year’s recipients of emPower Central Coast’s second annual Contractor Recognition Awards are Solarponics, CK…

Student Entrepreneurs Win Start-up Support at SBCC Scheinfeld Center 7th Annual New Venture Challenge

SANTA BARBARA – Apparel companies dominated the winning teams this year at the April 28th SBCC Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 7th Annual New Venture Challenge business pitch competition, held in the Fe Bland Forum on SBCC’s campus. Three of…

Santa Barbara City College’s vocational nursing program named #5 best LVN program in California by PracticalNursing.org

Practicalnursing.org evaluated California’s 129 state-approved LVN schools, which includes community colleges, technical centers, private career training schools and vocational schools. The website’s team analyzed overall pass rates of the NCLEX-PN, the exam used by state boards that tests proficiency and knowledge…

Santa Barbara City College Recognizes 2017 Employees of the Year

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College announced its outstanding staff members for the 2016-2017 school year. Marilynn Spaventa, Dean of Educational Services, was selected Outstanding Administrator of the Year, and Josue Miranda, Automotive Service & Technology Laboratory Teaching Assistant,…

SBCC Career Skills Institute Helps Local Employees Get a Summer Jump on In-Demand Job Skills Summer Registration Now Open

Short courses and digital badges in business, design and technology offered tuition-free SANTA BARBARA — SBCC Career Skills Institute is gearing up for a summer full of opportunities for local employees and job-seekers to gain the skills to advance in today’s…

Builders Circle Signifies Mark of Excellence for Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Partners

SANTA BARBARA — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has created a category of recognition that distinguishes those partners who work alongside the nonprofit to ensure more affordable housing along the Central Coast. The Builders Circle is a prestigious group of contractors, designers…

CSUCI’s Computer Science students place 3rd in national NASA Swarmathon competition

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Computer Science students who placed third in the nation in the Second Annual NASA Swarmathon competition will demonstrate how they developed their winning algorithm during the SAGE Research Conference Saturday. The NASA Swarmathon team traveled to…

Assemblymember Limón committed to protecting healthcare

By Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) Recent actions taken at the federal level around health care would have serious consequences for California. The new law could strip health care coverage from as many as 24 million Americans—4.6 million of which are…

Oxnard’s own Road Brothers Band selected as the winner of the 5th Annual ‘Berry Battle of the Bands Contest.’ To headline 34th Annual California Strawberry Festival

OXNARD — Oxnard’s own Road Brothers Band was selected as the winner of the 5th Annual “Berry Battle of the Bands Contest” and will headline at the 34th Annual California Strawberry Festival on Sunday, May 21st at 11:00am, it is revealed today. Co-hosted by Cumulus Media and…

Bilingual commentary: Community College Does Care

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. David Magallanes By David Magallanes…

CSUCI, Oxnard College and Oxnard Union High School District will enter into STEMpacts with students

CAMARILLO — With their families by their sides, 70 high school and middle school students will gather at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on May 11 to enter into a pact with Oxnard College and/or CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI). Oxnard Union High School…

The Annex draws local favorite, Los Angeles and San Diego brands ahead of fall debut

OXNARD —  The Annex, the 16,000-square-foot public market-style space located within The Collection at RiverPark, has announced the addition of four new food concepts to join its tenant roster of microshops, boutiques and eateries ahead of its fall grand opening. New…

Hospice of Santa Barbara Applauds Prince Harry, Sheryl Sandberg, others for Sharing Their Stories of Loss and Grief

SANTA BARBARA — Prince Harry was at the vulnerable age of 12 when he lost his beloved mother, Princess Diana, in a car accident. Prince Harry recently admitted to “hiding his head in the sand,” refusing to allow himself to think…

Through June 30 — ‘Recuerdos de Rosario (Memories of Rosario)’ at UCSB Library

SANTA BARBARA — The exhibit “Recuerdos de Rosario (Memories of Rosario)” will be presented through 5 p.m. Friday, June 30  at UCSB Library. Stop by the UCSB Library’s Ocean Gallery to see our exhibition of Christopher Cardinale’s illustrations of Rosario, Mexico, the…

June 17 — 50th Anniversary Celebration: Monterey Pop International Festival Concert

VENTURA — Kick off the Summer of Love’s 50th Anniversary celebration, 7–9 p.m., June 17 at the Museum of Ventura County, with a special showing of the Monterrey Pop International Festival documentary directed by D.A. Pennebaker. Widely regarded as having…

June 20 — Death and Cupcakes

SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara welcomes you to join a discussion about death and the celebration of life in a comfortable and welcoming setting. This gathering is a group-directed discussion of end-of-life issues; not a support group or…

June 27 — Free workshop focus on hot energy efficiency ideas to keep homes cool

County emPower Program to Host Workshop in North County SANTA BARBARA — With temperatures heating up, the County of Santa Barbara emPower program is hosting a workshop to help homeowners achieve energy efficiency. The free workshop is 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 27…

June 15 — Who Shot Rock ‘n Roll? An evening with photographer Guy Webster **now only $5 for members

VENTURA — Join us 7–9 p.m., June 15, for an evening with renowned photographer Guy Webster, one of the early innovators of rock-and-roll photography whose work has spanned the worlds of music, films and politics in a stellar 40-year career…

CSUCI to award honorary doctorate to local champion of migrant education

CAMARILLO — A 60-year veteran of education who has championed the often-neglected population of migrant, homeless, at-risk or foster children will receive an honorary doctorate from CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) during the May 20 commencement ceremony. President Erika D. Beck will award…

Bilingual commentary: U.S.-North Korean Pas de Deux

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. David Magallanes By David Magallanes…

Veteran Traffic Professional Joins Hasan Consultants

VENTURA — Richard L. Herrera, a well-known traffic expert in the greater Los Angeles and tri-counties area, has joined Hasan Consultants. He will be in charge of the Traffic and Transportation group at Hasan. Herrera just left the County of Ventura…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson Bill to Create ‘California Trusts Women’ Pro-Choice License Plate Advances

Californians interested in pledging to purchase a plate can sign up on Jackson’s website  SACRAMENTO – As the White House and Republican Congress continue to threaten federal funding for women’s health services, a bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)…

Assemblymember Limón’s Bill Will Require Chemical Transparency in Oil & Gas Well

SACRAMENTO – In order to provide more transparency and accountability to the public, Assembly Bill 1328, a bill by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), requires quarterly disclosure of chemicals used in oil and gas operations, just passed its first legislative hurdle…

Volunteers Needed for Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Santa Maria Community Impact Survey

SANTA MARIA — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) is seeking volunteers to help facilitate the organization’s Santa Maria Community Impact Measurement Survey. The volunteer team will survey Santa Maria residents near Blosser Road from 3 – 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6…

Hospice of Santa Barbara Supports Emotional Health of Local First Responders, Care Professionals

SANTA BARBARA — No one is more exposed to the brutality and sadness of death and dying than first responders and other care professionals whose daily work involves the sick, dying and bereaved. The repeated exposure to trauma combined with a…

Assemblymember Irwin named “Legislator of the Year” by the Veterans of Foreign Wars

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) was honored with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of California’s “Legislator of the Year” Award. The award was presented at their annual Legislative Day Reception Wednesday, April 19th. “During her time in…

Bilingual commentary: “Nobody’s Got to Use the Internet”

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. David Magallanes By David Magallanes…

Fatima Ponce from Hathaway Elementary School in Oxnard wins 2017 Youth Art Contest for the 34th annual California Strawberry Festival

OXNARD — From 951 entries Kindergarten to 6th grade, the whimsical roller skating strawberry design of five-year-old Fatima Ponce from Hathaway Elementary School in Oxnard was selected as the grand prize winner of the 34th Annual California Strawberry Festival Youth Art Design…

SBCC Selected to Participate in the California Guided Pathways Project

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College has been selected to participate in the California Guided Pathways Project. SBCC was selected through a competitive process, along with nineteen other schools. The Guided Pathways project is designed to substantially increase the number…

34th annual California Strawberry Festival (May 20-21) Features The Strawberry Promenade with Recipe Contests, Celebrity Chef Demonstrations, more

OXNARD — When the 34th Annual California Strawberry Festival kicks off weekend, May 20 and 21, on the newly expanded acreage at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard, the Strawberry Promenade will be bustling with chef presentations and heated culinary contests…

May 23 — Local Culinary Students Vie for Top Honors during the Third Annual Student Culinary Competition ‘Sweets by the Beach’

OXNARD — Students from three culinary academies in the Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) will put their culinary skills to the test at the Third Annual “Sweets by the Beach” Student Culinary Competition. The event takes place on Tuesday, May…

May 20 — Santa Barbara Children’s Music Festival

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Children’s Music Festival (a KINDIE music festival)  The San Marcos Parent-Child Workshop, KIDaPALooza, Children’s Music Festival is proud to present, for the first time in Santa Barbara and for one day only,  the Emmy- and Grammy-award-winning…

May 20 — The Collection at RiverPark makes fashion statement at 2nd annual Fashion Show

OXNARD — The runway returns to The Collection at RiverPark as Oxnard’s premier fashion destination hosts its second annual Fashion Show. On Saturday, May 20, fashion retailers from The Collection will feature their new spring lines highlighting the most sought-after…

May 20-21 — Entertainment lineup revealed fro 34th annual California Strawberry Festival

OXNARD — Two Festival stages will be “jamming” at the 34th Annual California Strawberry Festival May 20 and 21 in Oxnard where non-stop entertainment adds to the sweet celebration that pays tribute to the beloved seasonal fruit. Musical styles range from Country,…

A Chicana Warrior: Alicia Escalante, who led the fight for justice and dignity in the turbulent 1960s, has donated her papers to UCSB

By Jim Logan • UCSB Alicia Escalante was an unlikely hero. A poor single mother of five, she became one of the leading activists of the Chicano Movement in the 1960s. She founded the East Los Angeles Welfare Rights Organization…

UCSB’s Early Academic Outreach Program to host annual UC Success Night events honoring regional high school seniors

By Andrea Estrada • UCSB The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) at UC Santa Barbara will hold a series of UC Success Night events April 19-28 to celebrate the academic success of seniors from UCSB’s EAOP partnership schools who have been admitted to the…