Category: Local

Oscar Jimenez-Castellanos to present ‘Intersection of Language, Class, Ethnicity, and Policy: Towards Disrupting Inequality for English Language Learners’ on May 15

SANTA BARBARA — The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, the Department of Education, and the Chicano Studies Institute present Dr. Oscar Jimenez-Castellanos, Associate Professor of Education Policy and Evaluation at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University, giving the talk…

May 25 — From 9/11 to Now: Immigrant Rights Matter to Us All (Ahilan Arulanantham)

SANTA BARBARA — Ahilan Arulanantham will present the Diversity Lecture “From 9/11 to Now: Immigrant Rights Matter to Us All” from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25 at the UCSB Multicultural Center. Reflecting on his own family history, rulanantham, director…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson — On César Chávez Day, Let Us Remember His Call for Social Justice and Equality

SACRAMENTO – Today, on what would have been his 90th birthday, we celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader and labor organizer César Chávez. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) released the following statement: “Today we recognize and honor César Chávez’s remarkable…

Hundreds of Central Coast Students and Educators Participate in Global Entrepreneurship Summit

SOLVANG — More than 200 students, teachers, career counselors, and administrators from regional high schools met at the Hotel Corque in Solvang on March 17 for the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit hosted by the Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Scheinfeld…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson introduces bill to encourage building of innovative affordable housing for seniors

SACRAMENTO – Inspired by Rona Barrett’s efforts building the Golden Inn and Village, a housing project for low-income seniors in Solvang in Santa Barbara County, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) has introduced a bill to encourage the building of similar affordable…

Bilingual commentary: Health Bill Fiasco

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…

Family Service Agency moves to new Lompoc location

LOMPOC — To better serve its clientele, Family Service Agency will begin providing services at a new location in Lompoc starting Monday, April 3, 2017. The agency purchased former medical offices, and after extensive renovations, will move staff in its senior…

Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission Hires Chief Diversity Officer

Industry Veteran and Diversity Expert Joins Gold Coast Health Plan CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission (VCMMCC) today announced that Douglas C. Freeman has accepted the position of chief diversity officer (CDO), at Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP). Mr. Freeman…

Local Teens Practice Lawmaking in Sacramento as Lompoc Family YMCA Youth & Government Delegates

LOMPOC —  The Channel Islands YMCA Youth & Government delegation joined more than 3,000 youth from throughout California for the 69th Model Legislature & Court held Feb. 16-19 at the Sacramento Convention Center and State Capitol. Among them was Lompoc…

Challenging the status quo is theme of CSUCI’s Conference for Social Justice in Education on April 1

CAMARILLO — Homework may be an outdated notion. Holding underperforming students back a grade may set them up to fail. Maybe students shouldn’t be grouped according to age. Long-held concepts in education will be challenged during CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s 9thAnnual Conference for…

SBCC Study Abroad plans Summer Trips to Cuba, London, Rome

SANTA BARBARA — SBCC Study Abroad will be holding several informational meetings about its summer 2017 programs suited for community members and eligible high school students who are interested in personal development or earning college units. The programs do not have a major…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson bill to provide job-protected leave for new parents passes out of committee

SACRAMENTO — As momentum continues to grow nationwide for stronger family leave policies, a bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to ensure that more Californians can take leave to care for a newborn without the fear of losing their jobs has passed…

Bilingual commentary: In an Idyllic Political World…

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…

Segue now at Ventura College

By Jerry Beckerman • Executive Director Segue Career Path Mentors Program We are thrilled to announce that Segue is now serving students at Ventura College and, for the first time, at a wonderful high school in Oxnard, Pacifica High. Please consider bringing your…

Anuncios del Consulado de México en Oxnard

Departamento de Comunidades Mexicanas ¡Aviso importante! A los que viven en la ciudad de Santa Maria, les comunicamos que el próximo sábado 25 de marzo se estará revisando documentación para el trámite de la doble nacionalidad. Les recordamos que el…

SBCC’s Oscar Zavala, Retiring Counselor, Helped Students Across 3-decade Career (The Channels)

By Cassidy L. Bartolo • Channels Staff • SBCC Students trickle into the Academic Counseling Center with a slew of questions for the counseling staff as the spring semester gets into gear. Academic counselor Oscar Zavala, 62, eagerly stands up behind his window plastered…

SBCC Student Awarded National Engineers Week Scholarship

SANTA BARBARA — SBCC Aerospace Engineering student Jeffrey Sorenson was recently awarded The E-Week Scholarship for Engineering, one of ten college students in the combined counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura to receive the award. The scholarships of $1,000 for each…

Teresa Segovia announced as new executive director of El Centrito Family Learning Centers

OXNARD — The Board of Directors for El Centrito Family Learning Centers is pleased to announce the appointment of Teresa Segovia as its Executive Director. Teresa officially joined the organization’s leadership on March 1, 2017. “El Centrito provides extraordinary, high quality…

Dole Packaged Foods Receives 2017 Rose Parade Sweepstakes Trophy in Presentation Event, March 21

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Dole Packaged Foods will be accepting its seventh Tournament of Roses float award in a ceremony at its headquarters in Westlake Village on Tuesday March 21st. Dole’s float, “Spirit of Hawaii,” won the Sweepstakes Trophy for most…

April 21-22 — Oxnard College to present 36th anniversary of Ballet Folklórico Mestizo

OXNARD — Oxnard College will present its 36th anniversary of Ballet Folklórico Mestizo at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 21 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Tickets are available at…

April 22 — Santa Paula Art Museum to present ‘The Land of Light,’ Youth-led Event Inspires a Community through Art, Science, and Play

SANTA PAULA — An upcoming event at the Santa Paula Art Museum, Jeanette Cole Art Center invites visitors to experience a new way of seeing art in a fun and lively atmosphere where art, science, and play intersect. “The Land of…

April 23 – Che Malambo to perform at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA — Che Malambo will perform at 7 a.m. Sunday, April 23 at Campbell Hall, UCSB. “A thrilling display… 14 stomping, drumming, roaring men pounded rapid-fire rhythms into the ground with many surfaces of their feet – heels, toes, inside…

Bilingual commentary: The Gravitational Pull to “Go Back Home”

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…

Sunrise Rotary Supports Bright Smiles for the Sixth Consecutive Year at Eastside Family Dental Clinic

SANTA BARBARA — The skies cleared on Friday, February 24th for the Free Dental Day at Eastside Family Dental Clinic. The event has been sponsored by Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise since 2012 and has provided hundreds with dental procedures…

2017 California Strawberry Festival seeks unique submissions for annual Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest

OXNARD — Calling all strawberry lovers with a passion for creating culinary masterpieces.  You could win a vacation getaway when you enter the 2017 California Strawberry Festival Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest, presented by the Ventura County Star. All contestants who submit…

Gold Coast Transit District Says THANKS on Transit Driver Appreciation Day on March 17

VENTURA COUNTY — Gold Coast Transit District along with transit agencies across the country are saying THANKS on Friday, March 17th, in celebration of Transit Driver Appreciation Day.  Please join the District in doing the same. Bus operators are experts in…

Survey Shows Success of Local Caregiver Awareness Campaign

As a result of the Caring Together Lompoc campaign, 50% of community members surveyed are now more aware of caregiving; 40% now identify as a caregiver LOMPOC — This past summer, the Caring Together Lompoc campaign launched with the goal of helping community members self-identify…

April 5 — Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Presents Dolores Huerta at Oxnard College

Nationally Recognized Show to Honor Labor Legend and Civil Rights Activist April 5 at Oxnard College’s Performing Arts Center, plus FREE Admission OXNARD — In collaboration with the Ventura County Community College District and Oxnard College, Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers will honor…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson bill to clean up beaches by plugging old, leaking oil wells passes out of committee

SACRAMENTO – Just a few weeks after erosion exposed eight abandoned oil wells along Summerland Beach in Santa Barbara County, two of them visibly leaking oil, a bill by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to monitor and cap California’s old, abandoned wells has…

SBCC’s Kick Butts Day on March 15 Sheds Light on Tobacco/Related Issues

SANTA BARBARA — Friendship Plaza on Santa Barbara City College’s East Campus will be transformed into a giant ashtray — cigarette butts and all — for “Kick Butts Day,” on Wednesday, March 15, from 10:00-2:00, to increase awareness and understanding of tobacco…

Bilingual report: March 28 — Ventura County Community Development Corporation hosts free credit improvement workshop

OXNARD — The Ventura County Community Development Corporation will host a free credit improvement workshop from 6 to 6:45 p.m. (English) and 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. (español) Tuesday, March 28 at the VCCDC Home Ownership Center, 2231 Sturgis Road, Suite A. Oxnard. Click…

SB Resident Col. Phil Conran Inducted into the Fordham University Military and New York City ROTC Hall of Fame

SANTA BARBARA — Col. Phil Conran (USAF, ret) is one of three new inductees into the Fordham University Military and New York City ROTC Hall of Fame. Inductees are honored based on their contributions through active or reserve components of…

Local Military Historian’s Research Results in Posthumous Legion of Valor Enrollment

Research conducted by Adam Lewis, local historian for the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF), has resulted in the posthumous enrollment of Frank Robert McCrary into the Legion of Valor. Lewis retired this year from his position as a PCVF board…

SBCC Scheinfeld Center Introduces Community to Local Startup Incubators, Accelerators and Workspaces

SANTA BARBARA — The SBCC Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation hosted a panel Feb. 10 at the Fé Bland Forum on the Santa Barbara City College campus to help students and community members learn about local startup incubators, accelerators and…

Cathy Murillo, Sherry Villanueva, Alicia Flores and Dr. Cynthia Herrera among those to be honored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson as ‘Women of the Year’ in Santa Barbara and Ventura

SANTA BARBARA – OXNARD – To commemorate Women’s History Month, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) will honor eight women from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as the 19th Senate District’s 2017 ‘Women of the Year’ in separate ceremonies in each county. The…

Bilingual commentary: Boomers in La La Land

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…

Assemblymember Irwin Honors Ventura County Superior Court Judge Michele Castillo as 2017 Woman of the Year

SACRAMENTO – The California Legislative Women’s Caucus once again sponsored the annual “Woman of the Year” celebration, at the State Capitol, as part of Women’s History Month. Today, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) recognized the Honorable Michele Castillo as the…