Category: News

Commentary: In honor of César Chávez Day

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/Guest contributor On Monday, March 26, 2012, Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis, hosted the Induction of the Pioneers of the Farm Worker Movement into the Labor Hall of Fame and the naming of the César E. Chávez…

MICOP to hold meeting on March 31 in Oxnard

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project will present its next monthly community meeting on Saturday, March 31 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St. in Oxnard. “If the weather is nice we plan on having the children outside, so if you…

Santa Barbara human rights activist honored

SACRAMENTO — Dr. Victoria Riskin, a tireless human rights advocate both globally and locally was honored March 26 as one of California’s “Women of the Year,” the office of Assemblymember Das Williams reported in a media release. Riskin, was among…

César Chávez Celebration set for April 1 in Oxnard

The 16th annual César Chávez Celebration, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the United Farm Workers union, will begin with a mass at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 1 at Cristo Rey  Church, 531 Cooper Road in La Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard. The march…

Laurus College celebrates its fourth campus opening in Oxnard during ribbon-cutting ceremony

OXNARD — Business leaders and entrepreneurs from Ventura County met the students and staff of Laurus College’s Oxnard Campus at a ribbon cutting Ceremony on March 21, the institution reported in a media release. The ceremony celebrated the opening of…

Bilingual report: Free bilingual tax assistance provided by VITA-United Way of Santa Barbara County

  The United Way of Santa Barbara County is coordinating free tax preparation and filing services through June for the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and Financial Empowerment Partnership, the organization reported in a media release.…

CLU honored as community-service leader

University’s service learning, volunteering highlighted THOUSAND OAKS — For the second year in a row, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the U.S. Department of Education honored California Lutheran University as a leader in volunteering, service learning…

Ventura County film industry launches database

Ventura County Film411 to be a vital resource for production companies and industry professionals CAMARILLO — To promote Ventura County as an ideal location for film, television and commercial production and to help the local economy grow, the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County launched the online directory…

Tequila tasting on tap for ‘Pacifica High School PTSA Fundraiser’ on March 23 in Oxnard

The second annual “Pacifica High School PTSA Fundraiser” will be held Friday, March 23 at Sugar Beets Restaurant, 455 So. A St., Oxnard. Dinner, tequila tasting, dessert, dancing and a silent auction are scheduled for this event ($40 per ticket),…

Commentary: Time to celebrate the life of César Chávez

By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor This year marks the 50th anniversary of the United Farm Workers. Oxnard has benefited greatly, as has the nation from the advocacy and laws that have come about from the UFW. César Chávez was the catalyst…

‘Latin Lit Lovers’ celebration set for March 24 in Ojai

‘Latin Lit Lovers Mexican Dinner Buffet,’ a celebration of the great works of Latin writers de romance, folkloricos, ficcione, prosa & poesia from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at Los Caporales Resturant & Bar, 307 E. Ojai Ave.,…

‘Dance Across the Divide’ performance set for March 24 at Oxnard College

“Tapestry,” Education & Awareness Woven Together By Innovative Choreography — the 2012 debut performance ($30) will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Contact Amy Edwards at 805-986-5800, or…

CEDC receives certificates of occupancy for 18 farmworker apartments in Oxnard

VENTURA —The Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. in Ventura announced on Thursday that it has received “certificates of occupancy” from the City of Oxnard for its newest affordable, apartment community for farmworkers, Camino Gonzalez. The $9.5 million project, located on a…

Bilingual report: Free citizenship fair set for March 17 in Santa Barbara

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in partnership with Santa Barbara City College, will provide a free “Naturalization Information Session” for legal permanent residents and interested naturalization applicants from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 17 at the Selmer O.…

Santa Barbara Symphony to present ‘Latin Passion’ on March 17, 18

The Santa Barbara Symphony will present “Latin Passion,” with an evening performance from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 17 and a matinee from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 18 at the Granada Theater, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Featuring, Carlos Miguel Prieto,…

Commentary: Your Ventura County Museum

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor On Sunday’s I take a little longer reading the Arts and Culture section of the newspaper because of the variety of museums, theaters, and cultural events in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ventura Counties. I’m…

Youth benefit with dental services during ‘Dental Day’

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics’ Dental Resident Dr. Cherry Ma, right, examines Abigail Perez’s teeth at the Direct Relief International (DRI) Dental Day, which was held March 10 at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics’ Dental Clinic, the organization reported Monday in a…

Donations being accepted for ‘Prom Dress Project’

The Young Leaders Society has officially launched the annual Prom Dress Project, a prom dress recycling program for underprivileged students. The deadline to drop off prom dresses is March 30, reported Nancy Rodriguez of the Young Leaders Society, a program…

History of Cinco de Mayo subject of UCSB lecture on March 8

UCLA’S David Hayes-Bautista discusses significance of American holiday As the 150th anniversary of the first Cinco de Mayo approaches, David Hayes-Bautista, professor of medicine and director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the School…

Commentary: National Women’s History Month

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor Since 1911 in Europe, March 8 is the day to celebrate International Women’s Day. In 1978 in California, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women began a “Women’s…

Small Business Development Center adds advisors

Trio  join roster of about 30 business experts available free to companies CAMARILLO — Three business advisors with expertise in developing cash flow, productivity, accounting and taxation have joined the Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties,…

Bilingual report: Teatro still seeking art entries for ‘The Prodigious Shoemaker’s Wife’

Teatro de las Américas is providing a new e-mail address for those who have submitted art entries for “The Prodigious Shoemaker’s Wife / La zapatera prodigiosa,” the organization reported this week in a media release. We did not receive any entries…

CLU students rally against Cal Grant cuts in Sacramento

Students from throughout state to descend on Capitol THOUSAND OAKS — Five California Lutheran University students will travel to Sacramento on March 7 to protest a proposed cut to Cal Grant awards for students at independent nonprofit colleges, the university…

Mexican Consul Flores appears on program in support of Children’s Resource Network

Brad Pomerance, of Headline News — Charter Local Edition, interviews Lisa Ray, president and chief executive officer with the Children’s Resource Network of the Central Coast in Pismo Beach and Mexican Consulate General of Central California Rogelio Flores. Children’s Resource Network…

CLU graduate students to be consultants for area businesses

SBDC’s Ray Bowman teaches new MBA class CAMARILLO — Twelve California Lutheran University MBA students are blending academics with real-world experience as they explore the field of small business consulting by providing services to three local businesses, the Economic  Development…

Zaragoza holds breakfast fundraiser in Oxnard

A group of more than 500 enthusiastic and dedicated supporters crowded into the Casa Lopez Restaurant in downtown Oxnard to celebrate and raise funds to re-elect John Zaragoza to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the Zaragoza campaign announced in…

Two Oxnard teens honored as BGCOP’s Youths of the Year

OXNARD — Singled out among several outstanding local youth, Genesis Mena and Taylor Penny, both from Oxnard, were recently named “2012 Youth of the Year” by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme, the organization reported Friday…

MusicaLatitudes / Teatro de las Américas to present ‘Agustin Lara …’ March 3, 4

MusicaLatitudes and Teatro de las Américas, two Ventura County arts organizations dedicated to popularizing Latin American art and culture, will present “Agustin Lara, Now and Forever…” at 7:30 p.m. March 3 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Auditorium, 4000 So.…

LULAC’s March 3 meeting to feature candidate for Congress

The League of United Latin American Citizens — District 17, will hold its monthly meeting featuring a presentation by Assemblymember Julio Brownley, candidate for Congress, at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 3 at Clinicas del Camino Real, 200 So. Wells Road,…

Premier issue of Amigos805 print edition coming in April

The premier issue of Amigos805, a 10,000-copy bilingual print edition, is coming to the region in April to better serve the community in the California Central Coast region. The publication is then scheduled to go weekly starting in May, the…

California Strawberry Festival unveils 2012 poster

Art features an element never before included on posters OXNARD — The third time proved to be a charm to Charis Werner of Thousand Oaks who won the 2012 Official Poster Contest for the 29th Annual California Strawberry Festival. Werner was…

Williams introduces bills promoting energy efficiency

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) recently introduced three bills aimed to help promote green energy technology, facilitate guidelines for efficiency upgrades and optimize investments in distributed generation, his office reported in a media release. AB 2339 will require…

SBCC’s Luria Library receives $10,500 in scholarships

SANTA BARBARA — The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is pleased to announce that the Friends of the Luria Library has presented SBCC’s Eli Luria Library with 21 scholarships, each valued at approximately $500. A total of $10,500-…

Latino Links: Political trends

While Time Magazine’s latest cover story has received positive reviews for its assertion that Latinos will “Pick the next President,” not everyone is agreeing with the writer who said during a recent news program that Latino vote for the upcoming…

Just Communities to honor outstanding community members on Feb. 26 in Santa Barbara

Amy Van Meter Courageous Conversation Award to be presented to Esther Flores, Andrew Sanchez and the Dos Pueblos High School PTSA Committee on Equity and Excellence at 10th anniversary celebration SANTA BARBARA — Just Communities will celebrate its 10th anniversary…

Southern California Gas Co. awards $20,000 grant to Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme

BGCOP will use money for its College Bound program OXNARD —The Southern California Gas Co. presented a $20,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme recently as part of a 2011 Education Initiative, the…

Volunteers needed for MICOP meetings on Feb. 25 in Oxnard

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project will present its next monthly community meeting on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St. and at Rio Real Elementary School, 1140 Kenny St., both in Oxnard. “Both locations can use your…

LULAC to hold District 17 meeting on Feb. 25

The League of United Latin American Citizens — District 17 — will hold its next membership meeting from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at Clinicas Del Camino Real, 200 So. Wells Road, Ventura. Click here for directions: (Google…