Category: Local

33rd annual California Strawberry Festival (May 21-22) benefits local charities, students

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…

CenCal Health Presents Dignity Health with Healthcare Innovation Award for Outstanding Care and Service

SANTA BARBARA / SAN LUIS OBISPO — CenCal Health, the health care program serving low-income residents of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, presented a Healthcare Innovation Award to Dignity Health at their board meeting on May 18. The…

A passion to help incarcerated youth helps CI senior Ashley Medina win a Newman Civic Fellows Award

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) English major and fall 2016 graduate Ashley Medina, 23, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow. The Newman Civic Fellows Award honors college student leaders who represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic…

Women’s Economic Ventures Presents Trailblazer and Business of the Year Awards at “Empowerment is Priceless” Event

VENTURA — Nearly 300 women and men attended non-profit Women’s Economic Ventures’ (WEV) annual Empowerment is Priceless event held on May 12th at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel in Ventura. The breakfast fundraiser recognized WEV’s 2016 Trailblazer, Business of…

Work begins on Carpinteria’s first senior assisted living and memory care community

CARPINTERIA — Steadfast Carpinteria Senior, LLC, announced that it has begun conversion of an office building at 5464 Carpinteria Ave. to create GranVida, Carpinteria’s first and only large-scale community for seniors needing assisted living or memory care. Working with Steadfast…

Bilingual commentary: Paradise Lost…Or Was It?

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 David Magallanes…

UCSB history professor Sarah Cline’s LASA-award-winning essay deconstructs an iconic colonial Mexican casta painting of racial hierarchy

By Sonia Fernandez / UCSB In 18th-century Mexico, casta paintings were all the rage, as the bloodlines of Spanish colonizers and of the colonized indigenous, black and mixed-race populations mingled and American-born Spaniards sought to define themselves apart amid increasingly blurry racial…

Dr. Rodolfo F. Acuña Art Gallery & Cultural Center with Lead Artist, Ana M. Carrillo, Receive California Arts Council “Artists Activating Communities” Grant Award

State funds will support sustained artistic residency for Ana M. Carrillo at Dr. Rodolfo F. Acuña Art Gallery & Cultural Center at Cafe on A. OXNARD – The California Arts Council, a state agency, announced it plans to award $12,000…

Santa Barbara Conscious Networking Event and Celebratory Party to be held June 3

SANTA BARBARA — The much-anticipated Santa Barbara Conscious Networking Event will open its doors to the public for the first time in an extraordinary evening of entertainment, networking, healthful food and important information. Many of the area’s conscious professionals and…

Gold Coast Health Plan Teams Up with Health Partners to Host Diabetes Awareness Event on June 11

Public is Invited to Day of Free Health Screenings, Cooking Demonstrations, Entertainment and Raffles CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) has partnered with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Ventura County Department of Public Health and Dignity Health’s St.…

UFW’s Roman Pinal, actor Daniel Stern to speak at Social Justice Fund for Ventura County’s Currents of Change fundraiser on June 12

THOUSAND OAKS — Roman Pinal, an activist with the United Farm Workers of America, and actor, director and activist Daniel Stern will speak at the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County’s Currents of Change fundraiser from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday,…

Social Justice Fund for Ventura County to present ‘Currents of Change’ fundraiser on June 12

THOUSAND OAKS — The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County to will present its 8th annual “Currents of Change — On the Wing for Justice” fundraiser from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at Los Robles Greens Golf Course, 299…

UCSB’s Miroslava Chávez-García receives summer residency at University of Tübingen in Germany

By Jim Logan / UCSB Miroslava Chávez-García, who has done groundbreaking studies on race, gender and power in California, is taking her scholarship in a new direction: Germany. A professor in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at UC Santa Barbara,…

Bilingual commentary — Fair Wage: Let’s Be Cautious

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 David Magallanes…

May is Mental Health Month: Mental Wellness Center Offers Tips to Improve Your Mental Wellness

SANTA BARBARA — In honor of Mental Health Month in May, the Mental Wellness Center is spreading the word that mental health is something everyone should care about. The nonprofit organization is offering the community a few easy tips to…

Guest commentary: Institutions of higher learning in need of more H.U.G.s

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. Frank P. Barajas. Courtesy photo.…

New Traffic Signal at Wendy and Gerald Drive Enhances Pedestrian Safety

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Transportation Department and Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks commemorated the completion of the long-awaited new traffic signal at the intersection of Wendy and Gerald Drives. The new signal provides a safer…

Bilingual commentary: The Political Flames Ignite

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 David Magallanes…

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Santa Barbara Client Business Expo

SANTA BARBARA — In honor of Women’s Economic Ventures’ (WEV) 25th anniversary, the Santa Barbara community gathered to support local small businesses and network at a celebratory WEV Client Business Expo. Thirty vendors—past and present WEV Loan recipients, Thrive in…

Letter Carriers prepare to collect and carry more than 100,000 pounds of food in one day for Ventura County’s hungry

VENTURA COUNTY — On Saturday, May 14, Ventura County letter carriers will be caravanning more than just incoming and outgoing mail; and community members won’t have to venture far from their doorsteps to give back to the local hungry in…

El Centrito Family Learning Centers announces ‘Pathways Community Luncheon 2016’ on May 20

OXNARD — El Centrito Family Learning Center has announced its “Pathways Community Luncheon 2016″will be held from noon to1:30 p.m. Friday, May 20. The third annual event brings together more than 150 community leaders, parents, speakers and businesses to raise funds…

Ventura County Public Works Agency to demonstrate state’s first application of precast pervious concrete panels on May 20

New low maintenance technology conserves water, recharges aquifers, reduces polluted runoff VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura Public Works Agency will demonstrate California’s first installation of precast pervious concrete slabs, a type of pavement that is porous enough to filter storm…

Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center Invites Community to 26th Annual Horse Show & Tack Sale on May 21

SANTA BARBARA — Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center invites the community to its 26th Annual Student Horse Show & Tack Sale on Saturday, May 21 from 9:00am to 4:30pm at their riding facilities, located at 4420 Calle Real in Santa Barbara.…

May 25: “Reaching for Stars” Evening of Fine Dining and Wines to Benefit Youth and Family Services YMCA

SANTA BARBARA — Join the Youth and Family Services YMCA for an unforgettable evening of extraordinary cuisine in a lovely setting, benefiting vital programs for local youth. Enjoy tantalizing dishes prepared by Santa Barbara’s top chefs, paired with fine wines…

Life and Work of the artist Ed Cristál explored in new exhibit now open at Channel Islands Maritime Museum. Opening reception on May 28

OXNARD — The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is pleased to announce a new exhibit open to the public on May 9, 2016. The exhibition features painting and ceramics by artist Ed Cristál, the artist who created the whale sculptures that flank…

Del Pueblo Cafe presents Los Very Be Careful on May 29

SANTA BARBARA — Very Be Careful, back to Santa Barbara after 4 very long years! A  Caribbean soul and a California heart have sustained two decades of ceaseless romp-downs and  raucous times for L.A.’s vallenato veteranos, inciting 10s of 1000s of…

Community Invited to Memorial Day Ceremony Hosted by Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation on May 30

SANTA BARBARA — Veterans, their families, and the community are invited to join the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation from 10-11 a.m. on Memorial Day (May 30) at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Drive, for a free ceremony honoring all…

¡Presentación sobre derechos laborales! el 25 de mayo

OXNARD — ¡Presentación sobre derechos laborales! a las 6 pm el 25 de mayo en el California Rural Legal Assistance Inc., 338 S. A St., Oxnard. ¡La información y servicios son gratuitos! En Esta Presentación se incluirá información sobre: ? ¿Ha…

Celebrate World Trade Week on May 18

PORT HUENEME — A celebration of “World Trade Week” will be held from 11:30 a.m.to1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 at the Port of Hueneme, 333 Ponoma Road, Port Hueneme. Hear from the business community at this special program and luncheon.…

Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. celebrates 2016 National Women’s Health Week throughout Ventura County through May 14

VENTURA COUNTY — May 8-14th, Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. will host events in honor of National Women’s Health Week! Women throughout Ventura County can visit any of the 13 Clinicas Health Centers and participate in the FREE activities being…

Letter Carriers prepare to collect and carry more than 100,000 pounds of food in one day for Ventura County’s hungry on May 14

VENTURA COUNTY — On Saturday, May 14, Ventura County letter carriers will be caravanning more than just incoming and outgoing mail; and community members won’t have to venture far from their doorsteps to give back to the local hungry in…

Public invited to “Monarch Madness” milkweed planting event on May 14

VENTURA — On Sat., May 14, from 9 a.m. – 12 Noon, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host “Monarch Madness” – a free family-friendly milkweed planting event at their Willoughby Preserve in the Ventura River estuary. This open-to-the-public event is appropriate for people of all…