OXNARD — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme (BGCOP) on Dec. 7 released the findings of its recent internal audit revealing the number of youth served by the organization increased 13 percent to 10,400 children annually from…
Foster VC Kids, CSA, KVTA Radio Collaborate for “Holidays with Heart” Drive
VENTURA COUNTY — For 25 years, CSA and radio station 1590 AM KVTA Local News Talk, have collaborated to collect toys and raise funds for the more than 1,000 foster children and youth in Ventura County, as well as growing…
NSF-funded program gives academically strong, low-income engineering undergraduates get the boost they need to complete their degrees
By Sonia Fernandez / UCSB If you’re a college undergrad, you know full well your third year is your moment of truth. Gone are the days of tentatively exploring your major; gone is much of the flexibility you had to…
Jan. 25 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum’s ‘Love Letters Home’ now open. To hold reception on Jan. 25
OXNARD — In an era before high-speed travel and instantaneous communication, separation and longing were an ever-present reality for the men, women and children of both maritime and wartime communities. Through the display of original artifacts and correspondence, Channel Islands…
Jan. 5-8 — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! to present Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. New York’s Ballet Hispanico to perform (Feb. 6-12), Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitán (April 27-30)
CENTRAL COAST — From cowboy traditions of Colombia and Venezuela, to the Latin dance scene of New York, and many rich cultural traditions between, ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! announces its twelfth season of free family performances in neighborhood venues…
Jan. 7 — Day of Mindfulness: Renewal for the New Year
VENTURA — A day to quiet the mind and open the heart. A day of healing, with the Venerable Kusala, an American born Buddhist monk, ordained in the Zen tradition of Vietnam. Date, time: January 7, 2017, 10am to 4pm Location of event: Unitarian Universalist…
Jan. 19 — EDC-VC Annual Meeting Focuses on Sustainable Water Solutions
CAMARILLO — As Ventura County enters its sixth year of drought, the 20th annual meeting of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County (EDC-VC) will explore the theme “Drowning in Drought: Sustainable Water Solutions.” Featured will be keynote speakers Susan Mulligan, general manager, Calleguas…
Through Jan. 24 — Art Exhibit ‘Brings Art’ of late John Schlesinger to Hospice of Santa Barbara continues
SANTA BARBARA —Hospice of Santa Barbara is honored to have the artwork of the late John Schlesinger on display at the Leigh Block Gallery — located within Hospice of Santa Barbara, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Suite #100, Santa Barbara —…
Through Jan. 29 — De Colores Art Show continues at the Santa Paula Art Museum
SANTA PAULA — The annual De Colores Art Show continues through Jan. 29 the Santa Paula Art Museum. The group exhibition features art by 30 contemporary artists whose vibrant works are inspired by Latino culture. The premiere party will include live music…
Ongoing: ‘Designs from the Deep: The Architecture of the Shell’ at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum
OXNARD – The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will host an opening reception for its new exhibition, Designs from the Deep: The Architecture of the Shell, from 5-7 p.m., Oct. 27. The exhibit features close to a thousand stunning shells from…
Through mid-April — Whale Watching Season continues off the coast of Oxnard
OXNARD – It’s that time of year to catch a glimpse of nature during Whale Watching Season taking place off the coast of Oxnard. The season officially begins the day after Christmas, December 26 and continues through mid-April 2017. Both Island…
Bilingual commentary: ISIS vs. Isis
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…
FOOD Share Hosts SoCal’s Most Festive Holiday Food Drive: The 5th Annual CAN-tree Collection
OXNARD — For three days, Southern California’s premier destination shopping and dining center will be transformed into a stunning display of charity and cheer as FOOD Share’s 5th annual CAN-tree Collection, hosted by The Collection at RiverPark and Cumulus Media,…
United Way of Ventura County provides update on ‘Santa to the Sea’
President’s Message Dear Friends, Today is my 2nd anniversary serving as President & CEO of United Way of Ventura County. It’s hard to believe 24 months have passed so quickly and how the incredible community members here have enriched my…
UCSB Professor Francisco Lomelí is elected to the prestigious North American Academy of the Spanish Language
By Jim Logan / UCSB Francisco Lomelí had no idea he was being considered for membership in a prestigious organization of Spanish language scholars. And then out of the blue word came that he was in. A professor of Spanish and Portuguese and…
Catch the “ELF on the GO” Holiday Bus!
Ride Gold Coast Transit District’s Decorated Holiday Bus this December OXNARD — Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) is excited to announce that a specially decorated holiday bus will be traveling the streets of Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme and Ojai this…
Ventura Family YMCA Inspires the Community at Annual Prayer Breakfast
CENTRAL COAST — More than 100 guests attended the Ventura Family YMCA’s annual Prayer Breakfast held Nov. 16. It was an uplifting morning of prayer and encouragement with music led by Pastor Troy Jones of The River Community Church. Breakfast…
New Clinical Leadership at CenCal Health
SANTA BARBARA — Dr. Takashi Wada, Director of the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, is joining CenCal Health as Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Wada will join Dr. Darryl Leong, from Care First Health Plan in Los Angeles, who will…
And the Winner is… Local Youth: Ventura Family YMCA Flag Football Team Builds Teamwork and Confidence in Final Tournament
CENTRAL COAST — Four flag football teams from the Montecito, Santa Barbara, Stuart C. Gildred (Santa Ynez) and Ventura branches of the Channel Islands YMCA competed in their Bowl Games on Nov. 12 at the Carpinteria High School football field.…
Ventura Family YMCA Youth & Government Delegates Host Bill Hearing Night to Prepare for State Conference
CENTRAL COAST — The Ventura Family YMCA Youth & Government team introduced and debated three mock bills on Nov. 28 at the California Court of Appeals. The bill hearing night is part of their preparation for the 69th Model Legislature…
SolRio Organization for Climate Change Mitigation Inc. Proposes Plan for Solar-Powered Desalination at SONGS
SAN CLEMENTE – SolRio Organization for Climate Change Mitigation Inc. has proposed a large-scale solar-powered desalination project at the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station. SunRiver has the potential to produce 1.1 billion gallons of potable water daily by utilizing water…
Aera Energy celebrates Giving Tuesday with a check to the United Way of Ventura County
VENTURA — Local oil company Aera Energy LLC is celebrating the spirit of the season in a big way! In alignment with the global day of giving, the company celebrated their employee contributions and made a donation to the United Way…
EDC-VC Joins California Trade Delegation Trip to China
CAMARILLO – As part of the ongoing effort to increase trade and investment, particularly in California’s renewable energy and clean tech sectors, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Energy Commission recently led a delegation…
PSHH Resident Receives National Recognition for Community Leadership
PSHH resident Elvia Salazar is a winner of the NeighborWorks America 2016 Dorothy Richardson Award for Resident Leadership. SANTA BARBARA – People’s Self Help Housing is proud to announce that one of its residents, Elvia Salazar, has been selected as one…
Guest commentary: An Immigrant’s Birthday Reflection
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 Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor I…
Gold Coast Transit District, Announces Partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the “If You See Something Say Something™” Campaign
VENTURA COUNTY — Gold Coast Transit District, Ventura County’s largest public transit provider announced their partnership with the public awareness campaign of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “If You See Something, Say Something™.” “If You See Something, Say Something™” posters…
PODS® Tri-Counties culminates year of giving at CAN-tree Collection food drive
OXNARD – PODS Tri-Counties owner Steve Yapp’s passion for his community knows no bounds. This year alone, he has contributed monetary and in-kind donations in the form of moving and storage services to more than 97 local non-profits, which is…
Consulado de México en Oxnard: Mensaje de la Canciller Claudia Ruiz Massieu a la comunidad mexicana
Statement: Women’s Caucus Leaders on threat to abortion rights and women’s healthcare under Trump presidency
SACRAMENTO – State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, and Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), vice-chair, released the following statement today on behalf of the Democratic members of the Women’s Caucus in response to President-elect Trump’s policies and recent…
December is Model Month at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum
OXNARD — Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) houses the largest collection of model ships on the West Coast with more than 60 exquisitely-detailed ship models from all over the world and dating back hundreds of years. From Dec.1 through Dec.…
Perspectives: Election 2016
Editor’s note: Every now and again, the fates conspire to create situations that are unexpected, shocking and challenging. The results of the 2016 presidential election are a perfect example. The protests each night in the nation’s cities since election day, never…
New book by UCSB scholar examines the impact of globalization on an indigenous group in Mexico
By Amy Bentley / UCSB Many miles away from the popular Mexican seaside resort towns of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas lie the poor, rural villages of Mexico’s Mixtec people, also known as “the People of the Land of…
Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard announces new CAM studio guest artist: Antonio Arredondo Juarez
OXNARD — The Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard has announced its new CAM studio guest artist: Antonio Arredondo Juarez. Antonio Arredondo Juarez was born in Villa Guerrero, Jalisco, Mexico. A graduate of California State University, Channel Islands, he received a Bachelor’s degree…
Hearts Therapeutic Celebrates Inspiring Stories at Annual Pegasus Luncheon
SANTA BARBARA — Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center hosted its 8th Annual Pegasus Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 13, attracting more than 300 people to the Coral Casino’s La Pacifica Ballroom at the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort in Santa Barbara. The invitation-only…
Bilingual commentary: American Culture Shock
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 Paula Art Museum reveals plans for Future Art Education Center
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Art Museum recently announced some very big news. The Museum will be expanding its footprint to include an existing building adjacent to the current museum site. Once renovated, the new building will provide much needed space…
EDC-VC announces board expansion
CAMARILLO — The Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County announces the addition of Amy Fonzo and Ron Galaviz to its board of directors. Fonzo, manager of external relations at California Resources Corporation, brings a unique blend of leadership, strategic planning and professional experience to…
Channel Islands YMCA Association Welcomes Morgan P. Jones to the Board of Directors
CENTRAL COAST — The Channel Islands YMCA is proud to announce the election of Morgan P. Jones to the Channel Islands YMCA Association Board. Jones has been a community member since 1993, and business owner in Santa Barbara since 2000.…
Wells Fargo Donates $35,000 to PSHH in Support of Affordable Housing
CENTRAL COAST — Wells Fargo has presented a $35,000 grant to Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH), in support of its mission to provide low-income families and individuals with affordable housing, and programs leading to self-sufficiency. Wells Fargo actively supports the revitalization and growth of the economy through community donations to nonprofits, schools and…
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Thanks its Partners with Central Coast Events
CENTRAL COAST — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing hosted two cocktail events, “Thanking Our Partners,” for its major community supporters in October. The events were held at Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach and Blush in Santa Barbara – Oct. 7 and 21, respectively –…
California Strawberry Festival announces new rules for official poster contest
Contest, with $2,000 grand prize, expanded to include variety of mediums OXNARD — Art and strawberries can be a fruitful enterprise. Enter the 34th Annual California Strawberry Festival Official Poster Contest where the winner will receive $2,000 and four VIP tickets to the…
The Collection at RiverPark “Silent Santa” Event Makes Holidays Brighter for Families with Special Needs on Nov. 28
OXNARD — Bright twinkling lights, Christmas carols and a visit to Santa are all hallmark traditions for families celebrating the holiday season; however, for children with special needs, the experience can be daunting and may cause them to shy away…
Oxnard College Literature, Arts & Lecture Series Fall 2016 continues through Nov. 30
OXNARD — The Oxnard College Literature, Arts & Lecture Series will begin its 2016 Fall Series on September 28th, featuring Actress Antoinette Abbamonte presenting “Breaking Down Barriers in Hollywood.” Other events include: “Old and New Worlds of Flamenco” on October…
Taking a Stand for Ethics: VA Scandal Whistleblower Tells Her Story on Nov. 30
OXNARD — Standing up for the truth—that’s what Paula Pedene did as an employee at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System when she disclosed the mismanagement of funds and reported a hostile work environment to the Office of the…
Opinion: LULAC Helps to Ensure Latinos Vote on Election Day
Related stories: Early voting data nationwide show spike in Latino turnout On November 8th, the presidential election will take place, and to say the least–much is at stake. Never before in the history of presidential politics has a candidate so…
Our Voice: Latino voting 2016 — From facts to action
Editor’s note: Well, that was easy. Opened up my early ballot form, selected my candidates and propositions, sealed it and dropped it off at the local election office. Your turn! By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 One sentence stands out…
Members of Young Leaders Society Raise $4,000 for United Way of Santa Barbara County Programs
SANTA BARBARA — Recently, members of United Way of Santa Barbara County’s (UWSBC) Young Leaders Society (YLS) bowled the night away at Zodo’s Bowling & Beyond for the 7th Annual United We Bowl event. 96 YLS members participated in a challenge…
SBCC’s Scheinfeld Center partners with Pelican Products for their Global T Immersion Micro-Internship Program
SANTA BARBARA — On November 10, Santa Barbara City College’s Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, along with its business partner, Pelican Products, hosted 22 Hawthorne Math & Science Academy High School students and staff, for a Global T Immersion Micro-Internship.…
Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA Welcomes Thomas Speidel as Executive Director
SANTA YNEZ — The Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA is proud to announce Thomas Speidel as their new Executive Director. Speidel has been involved with the Y since he was eight years old, playing basketball at the Manchester Y in Richmond,…
House Passes Two Capps Bills
Health care legislation will strengthen nursing workforce, improve access to maternity care WASHINGTON — Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) on Nov. 15 celebrated the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of two bills she co-authored, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (H.R.…