CAMARILLO — “Melt in your mouth” short ribs created by Luis Martinez, executive chef at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, wowed the judges over the past weekend and took top honors at the 2012 Casa Pacifica Angels Wine and Food…
Linda Garcia joins VCCF as programs and grants vice president
Brings 20 years of community-engagement experience to the foundation CAMARILLO — Linda Garcia has joined the staff of the Ventura County Community Foundation as vice president for Programs and Grants, the organization reported on Thursday. With more than 20 years of experience…
El Concilio profile: Gilbert A. Romero
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2012 Latino Leadership awards — “Excellence in Education.” The awards gala was held on June 1, 2012 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click here or call…
Commentary: The Cristero War and an Oxnard family connection
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor As a Latina and an American of Mexican descent, I often anticipate the release of films that highlight the history of Mexico or the Latino experience in the United States. That was the case with…
Bilingual report: Promotores, community health worker free disaster training in Spanish on June 7
A free disaster preparedness training workshop provided in Spanish for promotores and community health workers will be held on Wednesday, June 6, with a repeat session on Thursday, June 7 at Clinicas del Camino Real Inc., 200 So. Wells Road,…
Sidewalk CPR ‘Hands-Only’ program set for June 7 in Ventura County
The Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency is partnering with the American Heart Association to coordinate a county-wide CPR program from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 7. This service is free to the public and will be held in various…
Bilingual report: CEDC’s Neighborworks Week 2012 set for June 9 at Ventura College
The Cabrillo Economic Development Corp.’s NeighborWorks Week 2012, “Family Learning Institute: Building Family Power from Home to Community,” will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 at Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura. The event will focus…
Bilingual commentary: Catholics and Hatred
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor A news item published several days ago tells about two threatening letters sent to a Catholic church in Santa Cruz, California. A few weeks ago, someone had scribbled anti-Catholic graffiti on the walls of…
Oxnard youth invited to attend summer camps
OXNARD — The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme has revamped its Summer Day Camp program to be more engaging, exciting, and positive for youth in the area, the organization reported recently in a media release.…
Bilingual report: Sponsors needed by June 15 for Young Writers Camp
Writer and educator Amada Irma Perez reports that the South Coast Writing Project is seeking individuals and organizations willing to help sponsor young people to take part in the 2012 Young Writers Camp from Monday through Friday, July 9-20. The…
Ventura County Housing Trust Fund to celebrate fund launch on June 6
The Ventura County Housing Trust Fund will celebrate the launch of its new Revolving Loan Fund during its “Building TRUST In Housing” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 6 at The Tower Club in Oxnard. The Ventura County Housing Trust Fund…
Bilingual report: KEYT’s Paula Lopez to be honored June 6
Paula Lopez, award-winning anchorwoman of KEY News in Santa Barbara, and poetry therapist Perle Longo will be honored when the Association for Women in Communications — Santa Barbara Chapter, presents its “2012 Women of Achievement Awards: From Breaking News to…
June edition of Amigos805 has hit the streets
The June print edition of Amigos805 is now available. Click on image above for a pdf of the edition. Click here for a list of locations where you can pick up a copy of the 10,000-copy edition. Thank you readers…
Bilingual report: Fighting police checkpoints while pressing for a dream
Activists use the latest technologies to help undocumented immigrant motorists and hope 2013 could bring ‘license for all’ By Cesar Arredondo / Amigos805 Francisco Romero doesn’t like police checkpoints. He believes that towing companies and municipalities unfairly profit from undocumented…
Bilingual report: Colleges fighting an uphill battle to stay relevant
Tight budgets and limits on new taxes make it a challenge to meet certification, graduation and transfer goals Editor’s note: Part of an occasional series of stories on the state of affairs in the California community college system. This story…
Bilingual report: Colleges seek to change focus of their mission
National community college group urges equal emphasis on success as well as access, promoting funding that supports achievement, not just enrollment growth. Amigos805 staff report Lack of funding for community colleges is not just a problem affecting California. This challenge…
Girl Scouts to present ‘Descubre Tu Comunidad’ on June 3 in Oxnard
The Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will present their inaugural “Descubre Tu Comunidad / Discovery Your Community” event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3 at Oxnard Plaza Park at C and Fifth streets in downtown Oxnard. The…
Veronica Valadez exhibit continues through June 8 in Ventura
The exhibit “Yo Soy Maíz, Solo Art Exhibition by Verónica Xochitl Valadez” will continue through June 8 at the Bell Arts Factory, 432 No. Ventura Ave., downtown Ventura. The exhibit is based on the artwork that complements her written master’s…
Bilingual commentary: Dealing with a behavior in the family
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 It was the little things at first. She forgot where she placed things, or places she needed to be or chores that needed to be done. But then it started progressing until the day…
Bilingual Commentary: College and debt
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor It is becoming more and more difficult to sell to our young people the idea that going to college will allow them to better their lives, be a success, or, in general terms, to achieve something…
Oxnard Salsa Festival participants of ‘Dancing with Our Community Stars’ event
Pedro Chavez of Big Brothers, Big Sisters Ventura County, Yvonne Gutierrez of El Concilio Family Services in Oxnard and Martin Hernandez of Interface Children & Family Services are among of group of community members who will be participating in the…
Guest Commentary: Successful business networking tips
By Shawn McCarthy / Guest contributor Networking is the process of developing contacts and relationships to increase your business, enhance your knowledge, expand your sphere of influence or serve the community. In its most basic form, “business networking” is leveraging your…
FOOD Share receives more than 124,000 pounds of donations
Due to the success of the 2012 ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive, FOOD Share, Ventura County’s regional food bank, recently added nearly 125,000 pounds of donated food to the shelves of its Oxnard warehouse distribution center, the organization reported this…
El Concilio profile: Lorenzo “Lencho” Moraza
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2012 Latino Leadership awards — “Excellence in Education.” The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click…
Cancer Prevention Fair served community in Santa Barbara
EDC-VC receives county funding to promote job growth
Community Development Block Grant funding for loans programs and business assistance CAMARILLO – To spur new hiring and employment growth, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors recently approved $442,502 in funding for the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County’s business assistance and…
‘Connecting the Oaxacan Communities’ talk set for May 24 in Ventura
The Ventura County Community Foundation, the Fundación Comunitaria Oaxaca and the International Community Foundation will present the “Connecting the Oaxacan Communities” panel presentation from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main…
Bilingual report: Public Safety Fair set for May 26 in Oxnard
A “Public Safety Fair” featuring the Oxnard Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and the Oxnard Fire Department, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 26 at Southwinds Park at Courtland and Clara streets in Oxnard.…
MICOP seeks volunteers for May 26 community meeting
Volunteers are needed to set up and staff the children’s crafts area and provide clean up assistance when the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project present its next monthly community meeting on Saturday, May 26 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St. in…
CLU Upward Bound receives $3 million
Grants will continue current services, allow expansion THOUSAND OAKS — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded California Lutheran University more than $3 million to continue and expand its TRIO Traditional Upward Bound services, the university reported this week in…
Businesses to benefit from SCORE, SBDC partnership
Memorandum of Understanding formalizes organizations’ working relationship CAMARILLO –Startups and growing businesses have long benefited from business assistance services from the EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and Ventura County SCORE. Now the two nonprofit organizations…
Bilingual commentary: The graduation ceremony
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor This past week, my beloved daughter received her master’s degree in education from Cal Lutheran, a prestigious and highly recognized university here in Ventura County. Her mother and I, together with her husband and two sons,…
El Concilio profile: Roxanne Reyna Miranda
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2012 Latino Leadership awards — “Excellence in Education.” The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click…
Safety improvement project scheduled for Nyeland Acres
Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragoza, in his capacity as chair of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), on Friday announced that major safety improvements will soon be constructed on the portion of Ventura Boulevard within Oxnard city limits adjacent to…
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme takes honors at national conference
OXNARD — The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme (BGCOP) recently received two prestigious Merit Awards for Program Excellence from Judith J. Pickens, senior vice president, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the organization reported in…
Local student awarded full-tuition scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs, University of Phoenix
OXNARD – Boys & Girls Clubs alumni Kara Brown was one of 20 recipients nationwide to receive a full-tuition scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and University of Phoenix to complete an undergraduate or master’s degree. More than 200 Boys…
Bilingual commentary: ‘Today, we are all Mixteco’
By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor The Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), has started a campaign against racism and bullying of the Mixteco community in Ventura County. MICOP estimates that there are more than 20,000 indigenous Mexicans in Ventura County, mostly Mixtecos…
El Concilio profile: Kristine Guzman
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories in May profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2012 Latino Leadership awards — “Excellence in Education.” The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Oxnard Performing…
Clinicas del Camino Real is celebrating Women’s Health Week
Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. is hosting events this week in honor of National Women’s Health Week (May 13-19), the health care provider reported Thursday in a media release. Clinicas invites the community to visit one of its 13 locations…
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Deadline approaching for June print edition of Amigos805
Also check out our Amigos805 On Scene email newsletter on May 24 for discount coupons The deadline is rapidly approaching for the June print edition of Amigos805. Thank you dear readers and advertisers for supporting our efforts to make Amigos805…
CSU Channel Islands celebrates opening of new entrance
University officials, political leaders and the public gathered on May 11 for the official opening of a new four-lane University Drive main entrance road at California State University, Channel Island. The public dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony included a presentation by…
Bilingual commentary: Filing … not piling
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Some time ago I felt completely inundated by mail, receipts and documents that I would receive — and, as a result, accumulate — day after day after day. The very volume of that paper was overwhelming…
Indigenous community to launch anti-bullying campaign on May 17
Indigenous Mexican leaders of Ventura County will publicly launch the “No Me Llames Oaxaquita!” (Don’t call me little Oaxacan!) campaign at a press conference at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17 at the Center for Employment Training, 761 So. C St., Oxnard,…
8th annual Rebozo Festival, ‘Bringing Culture to Ventura County,’ set for May 20
Las Madrinas del Rebozo of Ventura County will be presenting their 8th Annual Rebozo Festival at the historic Camarillo Ranch House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20 in Camarillo. Las Madrinas, translated to “The Godmothers” are a…
Memo & Friends to perform May 20 at California Strawberry Festival
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 When the 29th annual edition of the California Strawberry Festival rolls around this coming weekend, the sounds of “Smooth Latin Soul & Raggae” will be heard from the Festival Stage come early Sunday…
El Concilio profile: Margaret Cortese
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories in May profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2012 Latino Leadership awards — “Excellence in Education.” The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Oxnard Performing…
Five Wishes celebration held in Santa Barbara
More than 200 community members took part recently in the Second Annual Community-Wide Gathering and Celebration of the Five Wishes held at the Rockwood Woman’s Club in Santa Barbara. The Alliance for Living and Dying Well, a collaborative of Santa…
Free Oaxacan dance performance set for 6 p.m. May 11
The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project is co-sponsoring a free evening of Oaxacan dance, music, hot chocolate and bread with the Rio School District and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May…
Bilingual report: California ‘Schools Under Stress’
Teacher layoffs, large class sizes and increasing student poverty complicate schools’ mission, study says. By Cesar Arredondo / Amigos805 contributor California’s largest school districts are facing many stress factors that undermine the education of millions of students, according to…
Cost analysis underway for Das Williams’ bill to provide financial support for state’s higher education systems
Nontax revenue for higher education systems being considered SACRAMENTO — The Assembly Appropriations Committee is studying the potential fiscal impact of a legislative proposal introduced by Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) that would transfer some state-owned properties to a public…
Bilingual commentary: Children, schools and food
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Children delight us, although at times they may bother or even anger us. But our children are our treasure, and nothing is more important than their upbringing and their health. The success of our efforts is…
LULAC urges public to attend May 10 Rio School District meeting
The League of United Latin American Citizens — District 17 — is urging the public to attend the next Rio School District board meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 10 to show support for three trustees who may face a…
CLU honors alumna for language work
Julie Sykes’ digital games immerse users in Spanish THOUSAND OAKS — The California Lutheran University Alumni Association Board of Directors presented the 2012 Outstanding Young Alumna Award to a University of New Mexico faculty member who uses technology to teach…
Capps announces $3.2 million in grants to Clinicas to expand health services
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Monday announced that Ventura-based Clinicas Del Camino Real has been awarded two grants totaling nearly $3.2 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund renovation and construction projects…
Commentary: Single-member district elections will better serve Oxnard
By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor Be it a smiling teacher at the door as a child walks in the classroom, a new school site or solar panels on the playgrounds to generate clean electricity, there are many ways to educate the…
El Concilio profile: Oliva Barajas
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories in May profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2012 Latino Leadership awards — “Excellence in Education.” The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012 at the Oxnard…
Amigos805 goes on KPCC’s ‘Patt Morrison’ show on 89.3 FM to discuss Cinco de Mayo
Dr. David Hayes-Bautista and Amigos805’s Frank X. Moraga joined KPCC’S Patt Morrison on 89.3 FM in a discussion Friday on the true history behind Cinco de Mayo and the battle against big American marketing efforts to turn the holiday into ‘Cinco…
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Amigos805 May print edition has hit the streets
The May print edition of Amigos805 has hit the streets in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Click on the image above to see a PDF of the edition.