Dear Editor: As 2011 comes to a close one cannot help reflecting on the past while looking ahead to the future. For me, as I enter my fourth year on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, I feel very grateful.…
Category: Opinion
Commentary: Top ten in local education
By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor We will see many lists within the next few days. I would argue that education is a topic of utmost importance and yet we will not see a resume of last year in this subject.…
Commentary: Learn how to relate to your adult children
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor If you have adult children, they are among the most important of your relationships. Unfortunately, many parents are estranged or emotionally distant from their adult children. Relationships between you and your adult children are…
Commentary: Time to turn the calendar to a new year
Amigos805.com staff report We wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2012. Residents of the 805 region and the rest of the nation in 2011 continued to battle back from the effects of the Great Recession. As noted recently by Bill Watkins, executive…
Commentary: The management of time
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Here we are on a collision course with 2012, and many of us haven’t even begun to write down our resolutions. Assuming the Mayan predictions aren’t true and that we actually will live through…
Commentary: Hope For 2012
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors All of us on Team Szakos hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends and we wish you nothing but the best for 2012! As we read in the news, watch…
Das Williams: End-of-year report
It’s been an honor to serve you during this time of crisis and though it hasn’t always been easy due to the ongoing budget problems, I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve already made. As 2011 comes to an…
Commentary: Boomers, seniors, everyone — You can still enjoy Mexico
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor For many years I have loved visiting and traveling in Mexico. Sadly, some of the places I have visited are now unsafe, and generally driving through much of Mexico is risky. The good news is…
Capps writes to Entravision CEO urging him to reconsider cancellation of ‘Noticias Univision Costa Central’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Dec. 21 released a letter she sent to Mr. Walter Ulloa, Entravision Chairman and CEO, to express her concern about the potential cancellation of “Noticias Univision Costa Central,” the only Spanish-language…
Commentary: The American Dream—Part III
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor I grew up next door to five cousins, all brothers, who may as well have been my brothers. In fact, genetically, we are brothers. That’s because we are not only cousins — we’re “double cousins.” Their father…
Capps slams House GOP leadership opposition to middle class tax cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Dec. 20 slammed the refusal of the House of Representatives Republican leadership to bring bipartisan Senate legislation to extend the middle class payroll tax cut to the House floor for an…
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics providing health care options in Santa Barbara region
SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) is quickly becoming the choice for many in our community who can no longer afford healthcare insurance fees, the high cost of deductibles, and the care that come with it — including…
Commentary: Radio program an effective way to reach hardest hit segment of home mortgage crisis
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors To the morning radio audience along California’s Central Coast, Michael and Stephen Szakos of TEAM SZAKOS Real Estate are fast becoming the Batman and Robin of the continuing home mortgage crisis, as the duo…
EDC-VC releases latest Economic 411 report
Organization also announces annual meeting in conjunction with VCEDA’s annual installation on Jan. 19 By Bruce Stenslie / President/CEO, Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County California’s Labor Market Information Division released its November 2011 report earlier today (Dec. 16), continuing for a…
Commentary: College trustees must act to investigate source of leaked document
By the League of United Latin American Citizens President Franklin D. Roosevelt was fond of saying — “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” On Tuesday night (Dec. 13) the Ventura…
Commentary: The American Dream — Part II
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor I realize that for a lot of Americans these days, the only hope of coming even close to attaining the American dream of our immediate ancestors is — well, getting a job, a virtual mirage for so…
Commentary: Christmas traditions
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. ‘What…
Interfaith leaders call on policy makers to stop separating immigrant families, stop endangering children
Dozens of immigrants and their allies gathered by candlelight in Oxnard’s Plaza Park on Dec. 10 to raise an urgent moral call to policy makers for justice for immigrant families, and especially for the children and young people who are being hurt by…
Commentary: ‘Save Your Family First’ free foreclosure prevention clinics held each Wednesday
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Among the downtown Oxnard storefronts, a weekly gathering is attracting local residents trying to save their homes. Each Wednesday night, volunteers are working with homeowners facing foreclosures. The situation is all too…
Zaragoza’s campaign holds successful fundraiser in Oxnard
Many of Ventura County’s Latino Leaders hosted a fundraising event on Dec. 8 honoring County Supervisor John Zaragoza, according to a media release. Host Committee Chairs Alfredo Placencia and Art Hernandez welcomed guests to Ruby’s restaurant in Oxnard. The packed…
Commentary: Books make the best gifts
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Have you had enough of circling the parking lot, standing in line and walking the mall for Christmas gifts yet? I avoid it because for me, it’s a waste of gas, precious time, there…
Commentary: Food — France vs. America
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Many of you who have read my column from time-to-time know that I recently returned from living in Paris for almost a year. One of the first things I noticed about eating in Paris…
Commentary: The “American Dream”—Part I
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor We hear a lot these days about the “American Dream,” often meant to encompass home ownership, meaningful and remunerative employment, the love of family and friends, children or dogs or cats, and enough prosperity to enjoy it…
Commentary: Loneliness in retirement
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor Loneliness is a common complaint of retired people who do not have a partner or spouse. Different people need different amounts of alone time. Some people have a problem ever being alone. Some truly…
Commentary: Belly Dance—Is it about the “Belly”?
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor We Westerners have a funny way of looking at things sometimes. The Eastern world must stare at us in disbelief sometimes, wondering, with mouths agape, how we could ever arrive at our conclusions. Of course, we…
Commentary: Our own personal ‘Arab Spring’
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor Like many of you, I’ve followed — with some degree of fascination, trepidation and hope — the blossoming that took place during what has been dubbed the “Arab Spring” this past year. We watched as people…
Commentary: The incredible shrinking Thanksgiving holiday
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Every year the window for Thanksgiving Day shortens. Philosophically, we can say that thanks giving should be every day and that is something to strive for, but if we talk just about the holiday, wouldn’t…
Commentary: Meditation can change your life
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor When I moved to the 805 (Oxnard) in 2003 I began practicing meditation for 30 minutes each morning, as I had learned at the Self Realization Fellowship in Pacific Palisades. It is a practice…
Commentary: The Chrysalis
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor When my daughter had her quinceañera celebration some thirteen years ago, I thought about the Latinas in her age group who didn’t have one. Either the family was too financially stressed, or they simply didn’t believe…
Commentary: Honor, integrity, sacrifice
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or from wounds sustained from combat. That’s not quite true. Memorial Day is the…
Williams receives perfect rating from seniors
SACRAMENTO — First term Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) received a perfect score from the California Congress of Seniors on their annual legislative report card, Williams’ office reported Monday in a media release. Each year the state’s leading senior citizens…
Oxnard City Council on Nov. 8 to discuss Spanish-language broadcast
Oxnard City Councilmember Carmen Ramirez distributed the following information regarding the 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 meeting focusing on simultaneous broadcast in Spanish of Oxnard City Council meeting: “To people who care about the people of Oxnard — Approximately 30% of Oxnard’s homes are Spanish-speaking.…
Commentary: Tips on places to sleep when you travel
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor The holidays are coming soon, and you might be traveling to visit family or friends, and for myriad reasons cannot spend the nights in their home. After that, before you know it, you may…
Commentary: The power of Mexican mythology
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We must not lose sight of the reality that Mexico is the confluence of two very distinct cultures: one European, and the other indigenous, with its own cultures, beliefs, practices, religions and mythologies. In…
Commentary: A lasting legacy
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor A good friend, Josie Salinas, passed on to meet her Creator this past August. She filled her life serving others through her friendship, mentoring, and career. As the first female Native American Spiritual Advisor, she…
Commentary: Boomers and seniors — Learn how to relate to your adult children
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor If you have adult children, they are among the most important of your relationships. Unfortunately, many retired people are estranged or emotionally distant from their adult children. Relationships between you and your adult children…
Commentary: Day of the Dead
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor The first of November begins the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) festivities. Its roots can be traced back to indigenous cultures. The Aztecs had a celebration in the ninth month of their calendar…
Commentary: The Occupiers
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We read about them and see them on the daily news: the Occupiers of Wall Street, Chicago, San Francisco, and now even of Ventura. They are protesting the economic conditions that have befallen the…
CVUUF community forum set for Oct. 27 in Newbury Park
The Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is presenting the CVUUF Community Forum David Korten — “American Awakening: From Wall Street Protests to a Main Street Economy,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3327 Old…
Commentary: The ideal vacation — northern Tuscany
By Boyd Lemon / Guest contributor If you are dreaming of or planning a vacation abroad next spring or summer, I have a recommendation. Tuscany has been a favorite vacation spot for Americans for many years, but it has…