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…
Volunteers needed for MICOP’S monthly meeting on Nov. 19
The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project presents its monthly community meeting starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. Volunteers with bilingual skills are needed to help 300 people who will be filling out…
Teatro de las Américas to hold fundraising yard sale on Nov. 19
Teatro de las Américas will hold a Christmas/Navidad Garage Sale & Programa on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1201 N. C St., Oxnard. Items can be donated by calling Margaret Cortese at 805.231.0127. *** Ayúdenos pagar la renta; resulta que los…
Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas / MusicaLatitudes announce holiday celebration
Teatro de las Américas and MusicaLatitudes will present “Christmas Tales and Chants 2,” a Latin American celebration for the entire family Dec 2-4 in Ventura County. Actors from Teatro de las Américas and musicians and singers from MusicaLatitudes gather into…
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…
Artists, fun seekers to ‘occupy Downtown Oxnard’ during Art Beat on Nov. 12
From antiquities to contemporary works inspired by today’s headlines, November Art Beat features diverse cultural offerings along with entertainment in local galleries & nightspots. Art Beat 2nd Saturdays, Downtown Oxnard’s monthly showcase of art, dining and entertainment will feature more…
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…
Bilingual report: Deadline is Nov. 7 for El Concilio’s Latino Leadership Awards
The deadline for nominations for the 2012 El Concilio Family Services annual Latino Leadership Awards “Excellence in Education” is today, Monday, Nov. 7. El Concilio will be honoring individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of education.…
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.…
Víctor Ríos to talk about the impact of juvenile justice policies on Latino youth on Nov. 8 in Santa Barbara
Víctor Ríos to talk about “Punished: Policing the lives of Black and Latino boys’ at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the UCSB Multiculture Center Theater, the university reported in a media release. Ríos analyzes how punitive juvenile crime policies…
Oxnard College to present the migrant farm worker documentary ‘The Purepecha…’ on Nov. 9
Award-winning writer, director and producer Cheryl Quintana Leader will present her short documentary “The Purepecha: Poorest of the Poor” from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Complex, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The…
CLU to present Reel Justice Film Series – ‘Which Way Home’ on Nov. 9
California Lutheran University will present the Reel Justice Film Series — “Which Way Home” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, in the Lundring Events Center. As the United States continues to build a…
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…
UCSB talk on Mexican literature set for Nov. 3-5 in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA — A group of international scholars and writers will gather at UC Santa Barbara for “The Two Faces of Fiction,” the 14th annual colloquium on Mexican literature. The three-day event begins at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3…
‘Sabor…’ comes to ARTS Space Obispo with reception on Nov. 4
“Sabor ~ A Taste of Latino Artists from the Central Coast,” opens with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 during San Luis Obispo’s monthy Art After Dark artwalk at ARTS Space Obispo, SLO Creamery, 570 Higuera St., #165, San Luis Obispo. “Sabor means…
Ramona Days set for Nov. 5 at Rancho Camulos
Performances by the core cast and dancers from the world famous Hemet Ramona Outdoor Play will highlight the fourth annual “Ramona Days” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at Rancho Camulos Museum National Historic Landmark in Piru,…
More Día de los Muertos activities planned this week
Community groups, businesses and other organizations continue to add to the Día de los Muertos celebration calendar. Amigos805.com will continue to post updates as they become available. The Centro Mujer Community Center presents its Día de los Muertos celebration from…
Bilingual report: Mexican Consulate publishes Día de los Muertos calendario
The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard on Friday published its Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) calendario featuring events in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Click here or on image above to open a pdf of all events
Bilingual report: Líderes Campesinas to hold annual march Oct. 28
Líderes Campesinas will present its annual March/ Vigil and Apron Exhibit beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 at Iglesia Cristo Rey and concluding at Iglesia de Guadalupe in La Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard. Presented by the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), Interface Children’s…
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…
805 region gearing up for Día de los Muertos events
From Thousand Oaks to Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara and beyond, communities are preparing for the annual Día de los Muertos celebrations in the 805 region. The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard recently requested community organizers to submit a comprehensive list of…
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…
Latino Action Team members take part in United Way’s ‘Day of Caring’
Members of the United Way of Ventura County’s Latino Action Team and other community volunteers, gathered on Oct. 1 at the Sunshine Manor Mobile Home Park in Oxnard as part of the 22nd annual “Day of Caring” activities held throughout Ventura…
CSU Channel Islands to present ‘Latin Grammys Exhibit’ reception on Oct. 27
CSU Channel Islands will present the opening reception for “The Latin Grammys Exhibit” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at the John Spoor Broome Library, Millenium News Center Area. The music museum exhibit was installed in partnership with The GRAMMY…
Author Demetria Martínez to receive UCSB’s Luis Leal Literature Award on Oct. 27
SANTA BARBARA — Poet, novelist, and journalist Demetria Martínez is the recipient of UC Santa Barbara’s 2011 Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature, the university reported in a media release. The award will be presented during a ceremony…
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…
Reservations due on Oct. 28 for ‘Celebration of Justice Reception’
Reservations are due by Friday, Oct. 28 for the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County’s “Celebration of Justice Reception.” The reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 at Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston St., Ventura.…
Volunteers needed for MICOP’S monthly meeting on Oct. 29
The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project presents its monthly community meeting starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. In conjunction with the Rio Neighborhood for Learning, a community meeting will also be held at…
Hartung appointed director of the Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute at CSU Channel Islands
CAMARILLO — Elizabeth Hartung has been appointed as the new director of the Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies (HLI) at CSU Channel Islands, university officials reported Friday in a media release. “I am very pleased…
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…
Oxnard College Foundation presenting 4th annual Tardeada on Oct. 22
The Oxnard College Foundation’s 4th Annual Tardeada will present the Core Ensemble performing the chamber music theater work “Tres Vidas” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center. Chamber music theater is a unique performance…
Commentary: Giftedness
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor When I was in college studying mathematics, I often enjoyed listening to music, though not the kind that most young people listen to today. For some reason, I seemed to do my best mathematical work…
Commentary: Chicano Rock!
By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor I love museums, big ones, dinky ones, modern, old, doesn’t matter. And I love most music, oldies, new stuff, R & B, even some rap (my kids could not believe me when I played Eminem…
OHS Marching Band & Auxiliary to hold car wash on Oct. 22
The Oxnard High School Marching Band & Auxiliary will hold a “Car Wash, BBQ and E-Waste” fundraiser beginning with the E-Waste event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at Oxnard High School. The car wash will be…
Bilingual report: Gran Kermes celebration on Oct. 23 in Port Hueneme
The Club Social Potrero de Gallegos Valparaiso, Zacatecas, will hold its “Gran Kermes” celebration to benefit the remodeling of a church from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at 665 Pearson Road, Port Hueneme. Food and DJ entertainment. Call…
Bilingual report: Promotores celebration on Oct. 23 in Santa Barbara
“Vision y compromiso: La red de promotoras y trabajadores,” a celebration of promotoras month, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at the Department of Education, 4400 Cathedral Oaks, Santa Barbara in the auditorium. Food, music…
Real estate fraud town hall meeting set for Oct. 20 in Oxnard
“Don’t Be A Victim!” Real estate fraud town hall meeting, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at the South Oxnard Community Center, 200 E. Bard, Oxnard. Hosted by Ventura County Supervisors Kathy Long and John C. Zaragoza. Call Long’s office at…
Final performances of Teatro’s ‘Adán, Eva, y la otra’ set for Oct. 21-22
Final two performances of Teatro de las Américas’ ‘Adán, Eva, y la otra’ Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Black Box Theater at the Oxnard Performing Arts Theater, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Special attraction: Music by…
¡Viva Arte de Santa Barbara! to present Valente Pastor Oct. 21-23
¡Viva Arte de Santa Barbara! will present “La voz más Mexicana,” Valente Pastor, with free concerts on Friday, Oct. 21, Isla Vista School, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 22, Guadalupe City Hall, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., at…
Bilingual report: Consulate seeking information for ‘Day of the Dead’ events
The Consulate of México in Oxnard is currently organizing a community calendar for the “Day of the Dead” activities in the Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. A committee of community leaders will be visiting each site with “Ofrendas”…
Supervisor Zaragoza inducted into Oxnard High School Hall of Fame
Ventura County Supervisor and Oxnard High School alumnus John C. Zaragoza was inducted into the Oxnard High School Hall of Fame on Thursday, Oct. 13. “I am honored to receive this great award from Oxnard High School,” Zaragoza stated in…
Oxnard-Ocotlán Sister City Committee fundraiser set for Oct. 18
Fundraising Mexican Dinner presented by the Oxnard-Ocotlán Sister City Committee, 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Cabo Seafood Grill & Bar, 1041 So. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard. $12. Call 805.443.1419 for more information.
Commentary: Final De Colores Art Show reception set for Oct. 15 in Santa Paula
By Frank X. Moraga / www.Amigos805.com Say it’s not true, but it looks like the final De Colores Art Show will kick off with a farewell reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Santa Paula Museum…
Commentary: Preparing for retirement
By Boyd Lemon / Guest constributor In an earlier column I told you about how I found my life’s passion — writing — in retirement. It is important to have a passion to pursue when you are retired. This column…
Commentary: Why I Am Catholic. Or am I?
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor I sometimes wonder what pastors of small, struggling churches think when they compare their small, incipient Sunday flocks scattered throughout the meeting room with the packed, standing-room-only masses that attend, well, Mass at the vastly…