Category: News

Ventura County Public Works Agency announces Chris Cooper as new Director of Engineering Services Department

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) has named as the Director of the Agency’s Engineering Services Department (ESD). Cooper succeeds Herbert Schwind who served VCPWA for over 4 years and retired earlier this year. Cooper is…

Bank of America Grants $10,000 toward Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Programs

CENTRAL COAST — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) announced it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Bank of America in support of their critical affordable housing developments and support programs for their residents in the Tri-Counties. The Bank of America…

The CLL Celebrates Three Years of Lifelong Learning

More than 350 classes and workshops with 70 brand-new classes to “Fall” in love with SANTA BARBARA — Going back to school isn’t just for kids this fall. Grown-ups can discover their passion at every age at the SBCC Center for…

Youth and Family Services YMCA Welcomes Valerie Kissell as New Executive Director

CENTRAL COAST — Youth and Family Services YMCA is proud to announce Valerie Kissell as its new Executive Director. Kissell is an accomplished Executive Director with over 20 years of executive leadership and partnership building in the nonprofit and public…

It’s Back to School Time with Santa Barbara Humane Society!

SANTA BARBARA — Just in time for back to school, nonprofit Santa Barbara Humane Society is bringing valuable learning experiences to children in elementary schools throughout Santa Barbara County through its Humane Education program. “Our classroom presentations align with our…

Ventura County Education Leaders Endorse Carla Castilla For 3rd District Supervisor

CAMARILLO – Dr. Mark Lisagor, current President of the Ventura County Board of Education; Christina (Tina) Urias, Santa Paula Unified School District Board Member; Bob Rust, Pleasant Valley School District Board Member, announced their support of Carla Castilla to succeed retiring…

Ventura County Young Democrats, Ventura County Democratic Party have endorsed Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios for Ventura City Council

VENTURA —Ventura County Young Democrats and the Ventura County Democratic Party have endorsed Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios for Ventura City Council. “Jeannette’s dedication to working families is unsurpassed by none,” said Shawn Terris, Chair of the Ventura County Democratic Party.  “Her integrity…

Bilingual commentary: Bilingual Antipathy

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…

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Alumna and National Scholar Andrea Delgado Takes ‘Strong, Smart, and Bold’ Experience Abroad

Harvard pre-med student gains first-hand healthcare experience in Latin America CARPINTERIA — Andrea Delgado of Carpinteria joined Girls Inc. of Carpinteria when she was just five years old, attending the nonprofit’s After-School Enrichment and Summer Camp programs. Now, the 21-year-old is entering…

Former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to Lead Ventura County Democratic Party Celebration on Sept. 18

VENTURA — Democratic activists in Ventura County will come together for their annual fundraising event on Sunday, September 18th at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Hilda Solis, the first Hispanic woman to be appointed to…

Lompoc Family YMCA’s 17th Annual “Kids for Character” Golf Tournament Successfully Raises Support for Local Youth and Families

LOMPOC — The Lompoc Family YMCA hosted its 17th Annual “Kids For Character” Golf Tournament, “The Ketrenia Klassic,” in memory of the late Ketrenia Hall on July 22 at the Village Country Club. This year’s tournament was a soaring success…

In a new paper, UCSB scholar says ancient hieroglyphic texts reveal Mayans made a major discovery in math, astronomy

By Jim Logan / UC Santa Barbara For more than 120 years the Venus Table of the Dresden Codex — an ancient Mayan book containing astronomical data — has been of great interest to scholars around the world. The accuracy…

2016 RISE Up Award Winners Announced

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – The RISE Up Awards recognize excellence in community service supporting RISE’s sexual assault and intimate partner violence programs; the 2016 RISE Up Award winners are District Attorney Investigator Donna Jones, RISE Friends Committee member Nancy…

NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County to Offer Family-to-Family Education Program for Families of Adults Living with Mental Illness

SANTA BARBARA — NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County, a program of the Mental Wellness Center, will offer its Family-to-Family Education Program for family members of adults living with mental health conditions. The free, 12-session course is designed to help all…

La Misa Negra to perform at UCSB on Sept. 19

SANTA BARBARA — La Misa Negra will from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19 at the San Miguel Stage at the UCSB Multicultural Center. La Misa Negra is a 9-piece band from Oakland, California that plays a unique blend of…

A bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson to help disabled veterans who work in California Schools heads to the Governor

SACRAMENTO — A bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to help disabled veterans who are transitioning from military service into a new career working in California’s public schools passed off the Assembly floor today on a bipartisan, 65-0 vote…

VCCDC Receives $35,000 From Wells Fargo To Help Women In Ventura County Achieve Homeownership & Financial Stability

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) was recently awarded a $35,000 grant by Wells Fargo to support its Mi Casa Mi Hogar (My House My Home) Program which is designed to assist a highly vulnerable population – women…

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson new parent leave bill heads to the governor

Legislation Would Provide Up to 2.7 Million More Parents With Job-Protected Leave SACRAMENTO – A California Legislative Women’s Caucus priority bill to provide job-protected new parent leave for up to 2.7 million more Californians has passed off the Senate floor and…

United Way of Ventura County reports on Stuff the Bus program, 12th Annual Spirit Awards Gala honoring Hank Lacayo

President’s Message  Dear Friends, Summer has been busy at United Way. Thanks to the generosity of donors contributing at 70 collection sites across Ventura County and the generous time of our volunteers, our Stuff the Bus program again exceeded our expectations.…

Oxnard Salsa Festival Announces Fundraising Totals and Winners of the 2016 ‘Dancing with our Community Stars Dance Contest & Charity Fundraiser’

OXNARD — The Oxnard Salsa Festival is pleased to announce the winners and the total amount of money raised for the 2016 ‘Dancing with our Community Stars Dance Contest & Charity Fundraiser’.  This year’s competition included an All-Star line-up in celebration…

Cal Lutheran receives $1.2M federal grant

TRIO programs will now reach county’s junior highs THOUSAND OAKS — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded California Lutheran University a $1.2 million grant to provide Ventura County’s only federal TRIO program serving middle school students. The Talent Search…

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing and Duncan Group Welcomes, Bids Farewell to Board Members

SANTA BARBARA — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) and its affiliate nonprofit property management agent, The Duncan Group (TDG), would like to thank retiring board member B. Ray Gateley, as well as welcome newly elected members Paula Johnson and Menka Sethi.…

St. Francis Foundation Awards $940,000 in Grants for Community Health to 18 South Coast Nonprofits

SANTA BARBARA — St. Francis Foundation of Santa Barbara has awarded its 2016 grants totalling $940,000 to 18 community nonprofits that provide healthcare, senior services or end of life care to those most in need throughout Santa Barbara’s South Coast.…

Last weekend: Teatro de las Américas to present ‘Esperanza Rising’ Sept. 30 through Oct. 2

WHAT: “Esperanza Rising” WHO: Teatro de las Américas and Oxnard College present a play written by Lynne Alvarez based on the book by Pam Ryan Muñoz. Music by Victor Zupanc. Directed by Miguel Heredia. WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays, September 16, 23, 24, 30,…

‘Life Force,” an exhibit of the artwork of Hiroko Yoshimoto & Bob Privitt to be held through Sept. 24 at Studio Channel Islands

CAMARILLO — September begins the new art season and the Blackboard Gallery located at Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo is opening with a phenomenal new exhibition called “Life Force”. Artists Hiroko Yoshimoto & Bob Privitt are world renowned artists, each bring…

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Members Visit Washington D.C.

CARPINTERIA — Ten local girls from Girls Inc. of Carpinteria recently returned from an inspiring trip to Washington D.C. as part of the organization’s Eureka! program, a five-year, college-bound program that aims to break gender stereotypes and encourages girls to…

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! announces Cimarrón: Music from the plains of Colombia performance from through Sept. 18

  SANTA BARBARA — From the plains of the Orinoco River which runs between Venezuela and Colombia, Cimarrón perform the festive dance music of joropo, a fiercely virtuoso display of rippling melodies and powerful rhythms combining Andalusian, indigenous American, and African roots.…

United Way of Ventura County to honor Hank Lacayo with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award” on Aug. 25

President’s Message Dear Friends, Spring is passing us by quickly and, before you know it, graduations will take place and our Stuff the Bus program will be gathering school supplies again for the next school year. Where does the time…

Free Community Jarocho Workshop with Cambalache presented by ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! on Sept. 15

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents Cambalache in Free Community Jarocho Workshop Thursday / Jueves, SEPT 15, 7:00 – 8:30 PM La Casa de La Raza, 601 E. Montecito Street, Santa Barbara, CA FREE / Entrada gratuita Free community…

RSVP deadline is Aug. 26 for CAUSE’S Raising Justice ‘Quinceañera — An Afternoon of Celebrating 15 years of Working for Regional Equality on the Central Coast’

VENTURA — Patti Chang, former president and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of California, will be the keynote speaker at CAUSE’S  Raising Justice “Quinceañera — An Afternoon of Celebrating 15 years of Working for Regional Equality on the Central Coast,” on…

Local PODS Puts Oxnard Union High Schools Football Training Camp Fundraising in Scoring Position

OXNARD — Local PODS moving and storage may make a winning season for Oxnard Union High School’s football teams by donating containers and services for the football boosters’ yearly fundraiser at this summer’s Dallas Cowboys Training Camp in Oxnard. Two…

Pages from life in the 1960s Los Angeles barrio on display at CSU Channel Islands through Oct. 7

CAMARILLO — School segregation, the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War were topics pulsing through Los Angeles barrios in the 1960s, but the Latino voices in the area went largely unheard and unpublished. Writer/editor Tony Solis Gomez and about five…

Support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Enter to Win V.I.P. Tickets to See Dolly Parton at the Santa Barbara Bowl

United Way of Santa Barbara County Program Ensures Children Ages 0-5 Have Access to Books SANTA BARBARA – In support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, United Way of Santa Barbara County is raffling an exclusive V.I.P package to Dolly Parton’s…

Social Justice Fund for Ventura County to present ‘Education and the American Dream’ on Sept. 10

CAMARILLO — The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County will present the interact workshop “Education and the American Dream” from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Ventura County Community Foundation, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo. Education is…

Legendary Music Icon Johnny Mathis Supports Local Seniors Through Special Event Sponsorship

SANTA YNEZ — Rona Barrett Foundation announces sponsorship opportunities and first four sponsors for annual fundraising event benefiting the Golden Inn & Village The Rona Barrett Foundation is honored to announce legendary singer Johnny Mathis as the Sentimental Journey sponsor…

Boys & Girls Clubs Honor Staff and Board Members at Annual Event – 62nd Board of Directors and Officers Installed

VENTURA COUNTY — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme installed its 62nd Board of Directors and honored staff and board members at its annual installation and staff appreciation dinner at the Martin V. Smith Clubhouse…

Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture at CI joins Getty-led collaboration with arts institutions across Southern California

CAMARILLO — An exhibit scheduled to go up in fall of 2017 on the CSU Channel Islands (CI) campus will be part of a larger collaboration of exhibits across Southern California called Pacific Standard Time LA/LA. The Getty-led collaboration explores Latin American and…

Bilingual report: Ambassador Roberto Rodriguez-Hernandez named new Consul of Mexico in Oxnard

Dear Friends and Colleagues The Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard is pleased to welcome Ambassador Roberto Rodriguez-Hernandez as the new Consul of Mexico in Oxnard California. In July 2016, Amb. Rodriguez-Hernandez took office after Consul Berenice Diaz-Ceballos was designated as…

Testing for TCE at SLO county airport underway

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Independent contractors began testing at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport this week to determine if airport property is the source of toxic chemicals found in nearby groundwater. Roux Associates, an environmental consulting and management…

Local Contractors Recognized for Energy Efficient Projects

CENTRAL COAST – The Tri-County-operated emPower program has recognized several local contractors for their dedication to affordable, energy efficient home upgrades. emPower teams with qualified contractors to assist interested homeowners in completing projects that will make their homes more comfortable,…