Category: News

EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center Receives Funds for Doing What Matters for Jobs & the Economy Initiative

CENTRAL COAST — The Business & Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College (BEC) recently awarded $25,000 to the Economic Development Center-Ventura County’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as part of the Doing What Matters for Jobs & the Economy initiative. The funding,…

City National Bank in Partnership with United Way of Santa Barbara County Provide Free Back-To-School Backpacks and Supplies to Local School children

SANTA BARBARA — Recently, students at Franklin Elementary School received backpacks filled with school supplies. The backpacks were distributed to K-2nd grade students in need, compliments of City National Bank. Each backpack included a pink eraser, No. 2 pencils, a pencil sharpener,…

Graduation Ceremony Honors Students Forging New Lives Outside of Prison

SANTA BARBARA — Thirty formerly incarcerated individuals intent on turning their lives around, including students from Santa Barbara City College’s EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) program, were honored at the Santa Barbara Day Reporting Center (DRC) commencement ceremony on…

PR Pros Launch Scholarships for Area Students – New PRSA Gold Coast Chapter Launches Program to Support Tri-County College Students

CENTRAL COAST — The newly formed Central Coast chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is offering two scholarships to recognize outstanding individual college students who are committed to studying communication or public relations in the Tri-Counties area. The…

CSU Channel Islands Reports Record Enrollment for Fall 2016

CAMARILLO — California State University Channel Islands (CI) is reporting its largest entering class of undergraduates in history at 2,152 students. The class includes 1,021 freshmen and was selected from a record number of freshman 10,312 applicants, an increase of nearly 9…

GranVida Educates Community on Memory Care Services. Walk to End Alzheimer’s to be held Oct. 1

CARPINTERIA — Most seniors expect to live out their lives enjoying time with their families and making more memories to cherish, however more than 5 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, leaving them dependent on others to help them…

Bilingual commentary: The Borderline

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…

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Receives National Award for Innovation in Care

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics was honored by BD, Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) with an Innovations in Care Award at the 2016 Community Health Institute and EXPO in Chicago. Part of the…

Resolving the ‘Hispanic Paradox’ — Study co-authored by a UCSB researcher reveals Latinos age slower, neutralizing higher health risks of obesity and diabetes

By Jim Logan / UC Santa Barbara A new paper co-authored by a UC Santa Barbara researcher reveals that Latinos age at a slower rate than other ethnic groups. The findings, published in the current issue of Genome Biology, may one day…

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…

National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 27

VENTURA COUNTY — On Tuesday, September 27, 2016 the Ventura County Elections Division along with the rest of the country will be celebrating Nation Voter Registration Day! This is a great opportunity for those who have yet to register to vote…

4th Annual ‘Evening in Bloom’ Gala to Honor Betty Brown to be held Sept. 24

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria will host its largest annual fundraiser “An Evening in Bloom,” a glamorous evening of dinner, dancing and beautiful orchids, on Saturday, September 24 from 5:30pm-10pm at Westerlay Orchids in Carpinteria. The elegant annual affair…

After rescuing animals in Japan for the past 5 years, Nyander Guard Comes to Ventura County Animal Services, Camarillo to share their story Sept. 20

CAMARILLO — After dedicating the last five years of his life to rescuing animals in Japan, Nyander Guard Animal Rescue founder, Akira Honda (Taicho) comes to Ventura County to share his story Sept. 17-20 at the Ventura County Animal Services,…

Anchors Away! Cabrillo’s San Salvador makes its Maiden Voyage to Oxnard through Sept. 18

OXNARD — Join in the celebration and step back in time as the remarkable full-scale replica of San Salvador – the first European vessel to explore California’s coast – makes her maiden voyage and first stop at the Channel Islands…

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.…

CSU Channel Islands to host San Francisco Mime Troupe actors as they take an irreverent look at 2016 politics on Sept. 29

CAMARILLO —  CSU Channel Islands (CI) Performing Arts students and two members of the award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe will conduct an interactive lecture/performance satirizing the politics of 2016 along with political shenanigans from years past. The public is welcome to…