Tickets are still available for the “Old School Night” dinner-concert-dance, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at Casa Lopez, 325 So. A St., Oxnard.
Featuring Rock ‘N Roll, Oldies, R&B, Soul, Funk, Disco, Salsa and Mexicana with DJ Sherman and House Arrest. Tickets: $50 per couple, $25 per person.
The event is presented by Los Hermanos Service Club, which began about eight months ago, according to Jess Gutierrez, a member of the group.
“Last year Ruben Betancourt had cancer and was fighting for his life,” Gutierrez stated in a media release. “His doctor told him he had about four months to live. Art “Tuttie” Hernandez, an old friend of Ruben since kindergarten, quickly realized that Ruben needed financial assistance; he called Zeke Ruelas and John Martinez and soon other friends joined them in raising funds to help Betancourt.
“Today, Ruben’s cancer is in remission. He is neither isolated nor depressed anymore and looks forward to the Wednesday morning breakfasts at Casa Lopez where he can join all his new “friends”for an hour and a half,” Gutierrez said.
“It’s amazing what these guys have done for me,” Betancourt said. “I don’t know how to thank them.”
The “friends” group has grown to about 40 men, most of them school buddies from Oxnard High School or neighbors raised in the Colonia community of Oxnard, Gutierrez said. However, the group does include friends from other cities.
“Ruben’s struggle and courage has united these friends who have not seen or communicated with each other in decades but now have a new mission: to reach out and help others during a time of need,” Gutierrez said.
More than 200 tickets have been sold, so it’s going to be a great evening of fun, dance, and socializing with many old friends, Gutierrez said.
Call John Martinez at 805.485.8293 or Art Hernandez at 805.486.8284 for more information.
Click on photo for larger image.
Members of Los Hermanos Service Club include Ruben Betancourt, Paul Bolo, Willie Duran, Lupe Diaz, Sonny Flores, David Lopez, Carlos Maciel, Art "Tutti" Hernandez, Andres Herrera, Joe Jurado, Armando Lopez, Joe Lopez, Jess Gutierrez, John Martinez, Bennie Mendez, Epi Mendez, Frank Nava, Bobby Neri, Charley Neri, Ernie Ponce, Manuel Portillo, Frank Quintana, Ralph Ramirez, Tony Ramirez, Juan Ramirez, Eliseo Ramirez, Jose Revelez, Nash Revelez, Zeke Ruelas, Armando Salinas, Tony Santiago, Paul Tinoco and Lalo Valdez. Photo courtesy of Jess Gutierrez.