Category: News

Jan. 24, 25, 26 — Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara kicks off the New Year with three free performances by La Santa Cecilia

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THREE FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

Friday, January 24 | 7 PM | Isla Vista School, 6875 El Colegio Rd, Goleta

Saturday, January 25 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall, 918 Obispo St, Guadalupe, CA

Sunday, January 26 | 6 PM | The Marjorie Luke Theatre, 721 E Cota St, Santa Barbara

La Santa Cecilia exemplifies the modern-day creative hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music. The group draws inspiration from all over the world, utilizing Pan-American rhythms including cumbia, bossa-nova, rumba, bolero, tango, jazz and klezmer music. Their unique sounds and the experience of their colorful, passionate performances continues to captivate both loyal fans and new listeners. 

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May 29 — Community Environmental Council (CEC) presenting ‘Transforming Communities: A Conversation on Local Environmental Justice’

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View this email in your browser UPCOMING EVENT Environmental Justice Through Grassroots Activism WHEN: Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. WHERE: CEC’s Environmental Hub | 1219 State St., Santa Barbara Join us for a community conversation about…

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Oct. 3, 4, 5 — Teatro de las Americas in Oxnard to present ‘Luciano Brindisi | Sólo Chistes / Only Gags’

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Experience the magic of a live performance! Reserve your tickets for Luciano Brindisi | Sólo Chistes / Only Gags. Don’t miss out on the excitement—book now and treat yourself to an unforgettable event.

Click here for more information.

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Oct. 23 — Lila Downs to perform — Music and Dances of Mexico — Día de los Muertos — at the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara

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Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning icon Lila Downs brings her powerful voice and magnetic stage presence to a vibrant celebration of Día de Muertos. Raised in Minnesota and Oaxaca, Downs blends traditional Mexican and Mesoamerican music with folk, jazz, blues and originals in a deeply personal interpretation of Día de Muertos. This festive evening will also feature mariachis and dancers, evoking the rich spirit and color of Day of the Dead on both sides of the border.

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Oct. 24 — Oxnard Performing Arts Center (OPAC) to present Día de los Muertos Community Altar

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Join us at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center as we honor the lives of our ancestors and loved ones. The celebration is set to feature community offrendas (altars) adorned with marigolds, sugar skulls, and candles. Learn about the meaning of the Day of the Dead through community story tellers and guest speakers who posses a deep understanding of this ancient holiday.

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Oct. 26 — Día de los Muertos Festival at Strathearn Park, Simi Valley

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The Simi Valley Historical Society invites you to their 11th Annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at Strathearn Historical Park & Museum.

Event to include music, entertainment, craft vendors, crafts for kids, face painting, food and more. Costumes encouraged. New in 2025: Chips & Salsa Competition!

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Oct. 30 — Oxnard College will present its ‘Día De Los Muertos’ celebration

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OXNARD — Oxnard College will present its ‘Día De Los Muertos’ celebration from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in front of the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building.

This is a vibrant community and campus celebration honoring the cultural tradition of creating colorful altars for loved ones who have passed.

The event brings together local schools, non-profits, the OC Foundation, and the Port of Hueneme in a meaningful collaboration featuring Latino culture, music, and family-friendly activities.

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Nov. 1 — The Latino Outreach Council will present a ‘Día de los Muertos 2025’ celebration at Mission Plaza, San Luis Obispo

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SANTA LUIS OBISPO — The Latino Outreach Council will present a ‘Día de los Muertos 2025’ celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at Mission Plaza, downtown San Luis Obispo.

Dancers, mariachis, costume contest, face-painting, Latin dance, food, vendors and more!

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Nov. 1 — Día de los Muertos in Downtown Ventura

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VENTURA — The Día De Los Muertos Downtown Ventura street festival is a lively, engaging events that offers a rich blend of the cultural practices, artistic expressions and community spirit. Attendees can immerse themselves in the traditions, various activities and honor the memory of those who have passed away.

Join us for another year of community, culture and celebration! This year means more than ever for the Downtown Ventura community and businesses.

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Nov. 1 — Ventura Day of The Dead Bar Crawl – Día De Muertos

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Celebrate Día de Muertos with an extraordinary Day of the Dead Bar Crawl on Saturday, November 1, 2025! This iconic event blends the vibrant traditions of Día de Muertos with the electric energy of the cities nightlife, creating an unforgettable cultural experience.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of this cherished Mexican tradition, honoring loved ones and celebrating life with colorful decor, lively music, and festive camaraderie. Wear your most creative Day of the Dead attire—think bold face paint, intricate skull designs, and dazzling costumes—and let the festivities begin!

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Bilingual report — Through Nov. 2 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Free Family Days ‘Día de los Muertos’

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For the 36th year, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art honors the Mexican tradition of remembering the dead with a display of altars created by students in the Museum’s school and outreach programs and local community groups. Día de los Muertos inspired art activities for all ages will be offered in the Art Learning Lab.

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Nov. 3 — Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation to present ‘Día de los Muertos Craft Day’

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What to Expect:

– Free arts & crafts and family-friendly activities in the Presidio Orchard (12–4 PM)
– 70+ local vendors through Mujeres Makers Market (10 AM–4 PM)
– Face painting, workshops, and dance performances
– DJ, Lotería, photo booth, and a Catrina Contest
– A community ofrenda (altar) to honor loved ones—bring a photo or memento to contribute

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Through Nov. 3 — The Camarillo Public Library will present a Día de los Muertos Community Ofrenda

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Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a celebration to remember family and friends who have passed away. Join us in creating a community ofrenda, which is an offering place to remember past loved ones. Bring in copies of pictures to the 2nd Floor Reference Desk between October 13 and November 1.

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Bilingual report — Nov. 7, 8, 9 — Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara presents Gaby Moreno

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SANTA BARBARA — Join  ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) for four free community performances by Gaby Moreno.

Armed with a warm, soulful sound, the Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated artist Gaby Moreno creates music that offers an intoxicating invitation into her musical world for English and Spanish speakers alike.

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Last Chance to Make a Difference in 2024!

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The clock is ticking! This is your last chance to donate in 2024 and support SBCFAN’s vital work to strengthen Santa Barbara County’s food system.

Every dollar counts, and your contribution goes directly toward building programs that empower our local food producers, tackle food inequity, and create a more resilient, sustainable future. With your help, we’ve already accomplished so much this year, and with your continued support, 2025 will be even brighter.

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Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation — Taxpayers – You Can Make An Immediate Impact TODAY

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We had a tremendous year in 2024, achieving significant victories for taxpayers like you. Yet, despite our successes, there is more work to do to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency in our local government. We’re calling on you for your financial support to continue this vital work.

In 2024, we made a real difference:

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CSUCI staff member/alumna plays young Jenni Rivera in a major motion picture about the superstar’s life

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CAMARILLO — A CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) alumna and current employee is appearing in a major motion picture about music superstar Jenni Rivera, who succeeded in the male-dominated world of banda, mariachi, and norteñogenres of regional Mexican music.

STEM Transfer Outreach Coordinator Tatiana Juarez, who graduated with a degree in Health Science, plays young Jenni Rivera in the movie “Jenni,” which was released Friday, Dec. 6 in select theaters and on a bilingual streaming service called ViX.

Juarez, who is part of the first generation in her family to earn a college degree, was born in Ventura and raised in Oxnard.  Her parents grew up in the U.S. after being brought here from Mexico as children. Juarez’s mom works as a medical clerk and her dad works a variety of jobs related to construction and architecture.

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Bilingual report — Mayor Pedro Chavez and Vice Mayor Carlos Juarez Assume Prominent Roles in Santa Paula City Council

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SANTA PAULA — In a ceremonial meeting held on the evening of Dec. 11, 2024, the City of Santa Paula celebrated the appointment of Pedro Chavez as the City’s 123rd Mayor and Carlos Juarez as Vice Mayor. The meeting also marked the swearing-in of newly elected Councilmember Gabriela Ornelas, the election of Councilmember and former Mayor, Leslie Cornejo, and a heartfelt recognition of outgoing Councilmember and former Mayor Andy Sobel for his six years of dedicated service.

Well-known for his service to the city and his ties to the community, Mayor Chavez, who was appointed Vice Mayor in 2023, expressed his gratitude and vision for the future:

“Thank you to the People of Santa Paula for allowing me to serve as a Member of the Santa Paula City Council these past two years and my sincerest gratitude to my Council colleagues for electing me as the 123rd Mayor of this extraordinary City. My leadership, skills, and talents are built upon the foundation of thirty years of experience working in both the public and private sector and my journey as an immigrant in search of the American dream, so I’m deeply honored – as a public servant – to work collectively to revitalize Santa Paula and build its future through shared governance and community engagement.”

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Bilingual commentary — The Devastating Costs of Mass Deportations

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One of the factors that swept Donald Trump back into power and onto the world stage was his inexhaustible and malicious exaggeration of the “immigrant problem.” Images of immigrants eating pets and walking into kitchens and slitting our throats danced in his supporters’ heads as they marked their ballots last month.

Many of us realize, intuitively, that “mass deportation” of “all the illegals” is hardly possible without great damage to the American economy and to our personal lives.

Not wanting to rely on my “intuition,” I searched online for some hard numbers. The information I uncovered was shocking. A “special report” by the American Immigration Council (AIC) laid out the devastating consequences of such a massive operation.

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Guest contribution — American Immigration Council — This Week in Immigration

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Biden makes critical last-minute change to help combat USCIS backlogs. More options available. Immigrant farmworkers make our holiday meals possible

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President Biden has just over one month left in office. He can still take decisive action to protect people at risk of indiscriminate immigration enforcement.

Among other priorities, the Council encourages the administration to protect DACA recipients; extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status for certain countries; and rescind remaining Trump-era immigration regulations.

Read more: Urgent Last Requests for the Biden Administration

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