Category Archives: Community Events

Vol. 17, No. 02 – Oct 18 – Oct 31, 2023 – Ojai News & Events

Ashford Gordon, Blues Guitarist and Vocalist will appear at Feros Ferio Winery, 310 E Ojai Ave, Saturday, October 21, 4-6 PM, featuring Eric Monteith on Bass Guitar for 2 sets of Classic, Standard and Original Blues. No cover charge!

California Coastal Horse Rescue (CCHR) in Ojai, will host its Octoberfest Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ranch at 600 West Lomita Avenue in Ojai.

The community is invited to this event, which includes a beer and wine garden, live Bluegrass band, vendors, pony cart rides, food trucks, crafts for children, and, of course, the stars of the day – the CCHR horses. Suggestion donation is $10 per person; children 10 and under are free.

An all-volunteer, non-profit organization, CCHR’s mission is to rescue abandoned, abused, neglected and slaughter-bound horses and provide them with a second chance at living healthy, happy and productive lives.

What: Family Octoberfest

Where: California Coastal Horse Rescue; 600 West Lomita Avenue, Ojai

When: Sunday, October 22, 2023; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: Admission: $10 per person; kids 10 and under free. Parking Free

The Ventura County Creative Artists will hold their semi-annual art exhibit, Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Bert Collin’s West Hills Gallery at 1545 Cuyama Rd., Ojai. The multi-media show, “Fur, Fin & Feathers” will highlight animal art among other subjects. This will be an art and fun-filled afternoon. Meet many of the artists in person, and watch demonstrations of some of the techniques and materials used. Pastels, oil, acrylic, encaustic and watercolor will be among the varied mediums exhibited at the show. Many of the artists are talented in pet portraits, not to mention humans. With holidays around the corner this is a good place to shop and also plan a portrait (pet or human) commission.

Vol. 17, No. 01 – Oct 4 – Oct 17 2023 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Our speaker on

Oct. 3rd will be Earl Arnold, and he will speak about fly fishing.

On Oct. 17, our speaker will be Jessica Flanagan, a Ventura County Forensic Nurse.

Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Oct. 4: BCNN (Beach Cities Newcomers and Neighbors) meeting is the first Wednesday of the month at Pacific Corinthian Yacht Cub 2600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard.

Our speaker in October is Debbie Gohlke. She has been a member of the Oxnard Soroptimist club for 35 years. She has held numerous positions through the years, delegate, director, VP of fundraising, president and region board member. She is chair of the annual community awareness event STOP Human Trafficking going on 17 years.

This year she won the first place sweepstakes at the Ventura County Fair in the Baked Category.

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Doors open at 9:30 AM. BCNN is a group for Women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

Oct. 5: Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one; this is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program provides two free support groups, Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). These groups will run from October 5th through November 9th on Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.

Oct. 7: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) is sponsoring a free family fun bicycle ride beginning at 10 a.m. at Ventura’s Community Park.  The group ride will follow easy-to-navigate bike routes through the adjacent neighborhood.  The free family fun ride reminds us to choose bikes over cars for personal health and our city’s air.  Sign-up information is available on the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/.

The purpose of the EVCC is to encourage residents to understand East Ventura’s problems, needs, and expectations and to recommend, initiate, and participate in developing and implementing programs or solutions. The EVCC facilitates communications between the community and government or other service agencies.

Oct.10: Program by The Ventura Audubon Society 7 – 9 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion and via Zoom.   You’ll be introduced to the diverse array of local birds that grace our yards and open spaces. Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus).  For more information and the Zoom link, go to www.venturaaudubon.org/speakers.

Oct.14: Ventura Audubon Society Field Trip to Ormond Beach | Saturday 8:30am: Join us for our first field trip of October at Ormond Beach. This is one of the top birding areas in Ventura County and is visited by over 200 shorebird, raptor and migratory bird species. It’s an easy flat walk on dirt paths and the beach. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned birder you’ll not want to miss this field trip. For details and to sign-up, visit https://www.venturaaudubon.org/field-trips.

Oct. 16 & 23: Comprehensive Bereavement Training Class. This class is designed to provide information on healthy grieving and how we can best companion someone who is mourning the death of a loved one. Classes will take place on October 16th and 23rd in Camarillo from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is open to the community and requires people to register by October 13th. To register, call 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief.

Oct. 21: The Ventura County Genealogical Society’s annual Seminar is online via Zoom on Saturday from 8:30 – 4 p.m. PDT. Presenter Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M., one of the most sought-after genealogy speakers, offers four presentations. Topics include:

• Incorporating Social History into Your Research

• Deconstructing Your Family Tree: Re-evaluating the “Evidence”

• The Genealogist’s Quadfecta

• “She Came from Nowhere…” – A Case Study Approach to a Difficult Genealogical Problem

Registration ($35 fee) is open at https://venturacogensoc.org/2023-annual-seminar.

Oct. 21: The 33rd annual Youth Stamp Fair will be held Saturday at the Dudley House Museum, 197 N Ashwood Ave. Learn about stamp identification, soaking and drying, storage and mounting, cachets, watermarks, perforations, special postmarks, and topical collecting. Free Prizes, free parking, and, for those under 18 are free, stamps galore. Sponsored by Ventura County Philatelic Society, founded in 1928. Web site venturacountyphilateliccoc.org for more information or call 805 415-9857

Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. For more information, https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Livingston Memorial Grief & Bereavement Program will have a 6-week session for the Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and the Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). The group will meet every Thursday from 6:30–7:30 p.m. starting October 5 through November 9. Trained grief counselors support, educate, and plan activities regarding losing a loved one. Groups are subject to cancellation due to low enrollment. Please register by October 3 by calling 805-389-6870 or email [email protected].

Livingston Memorial Grief & Bereavement Program will offer a Comprehensive Bereavement Training Class. The class will be on October 16th and 23rd, Mondays 5:30–7:30 pm. The training looks at the characteristics of grief and mourning and how to companion someone who has lost a loved one. Please register by October 11 by calling 805-389-6870 or email [email protected].

Sept. 23: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), a nonprofit organization that helps those living in poverty, will host a 5K Charity Walk Saturday in Carpinteria. The 5K Charity Walk/Run is free for all walkers, and each walker will receive a free commemorative T-shirt. Register in advance online at www.fopwalk.org/event/2834. For more information or to donate, visit www.fopwalk.org/event/2834. Participants can also make pledges or donations to the Conference of their choice during registration at the St. Joseph Church Office, 1532 Linden Ave.

Sept. 23: Our monthly plant and collectibles sale continues on the grounds at the Dudley House. Bromeliads, orchids, and succulents will be on sale, along with various collectibles, from 8 – 2 p.m. Vendors, please call Charlie at 805/746-4317 for details. The museum is at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood). Free.

Sept.23: The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Sept. 27: The Channel Islands Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (CICEGA) will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo. All experience levels are welcome. For more information, [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.channelislandsega.org.

Sept. 27:  The College Area Community Council in Ventura will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m.   Includes speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. Everyone on the CACC mailing list will receive a link to the meeting.  Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com  to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Oct. 1: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday, October 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. With Halloween fast approaching, tour guides Richard Senate and Lynn Weitzel (co-authors of “Are There Ghosts at the Dudley House?”) may add a few ghost stores if asked. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Oct. 1:Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.2-4pm. Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003 Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free parking Open to the Public. For more information call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA

Oct. 4: BCNN (Beach Cities Newcomers and Neighbors) meeting..  The meeting is at a new address.  Pacific Corinthian Yacht Cub 2600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard.

Our speaker is Debbie She has been a member of the Oxnard Soroptimist club for 35 years.  She has held numerous positions through the years, delegate, director, VP of fundraising, president and region board member.  She is chair of the annual community awareness event STOP Human Trafficking going on 17 years.

10am to 11:30am.  Doors open at 9:30am.  BCNN is a group for Women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.  It has dozens of small groups, off shoots from sports activities, to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups, movie group and more.

Oct. 21: The Ventura County Genealogical Society’s annual Webinar is online via Zoom on Saturday from 8:30-3:30 p.m. PDT. Presenter Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M., one of the most sought-after genealogy speakers, offers four presentations. Topics include:

Incorporating Social History into Your Research Deconstructing Your Family Tree: Re-evaluating the “Evidence” The Genealogist’s Quadfecta “She Came from Nowhere…” – A Case Study Approach to a Difficult Genealogical Problem Registration is open ($35 fee) at https://venturacogensoc.org/2023-annual-seminar.

Oct.28: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online and Live at our temporary site in Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 Ventura, (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google. Events begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. All CIPCUG events are available online. Due to limited space, live attendance is for members only.

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. A website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Sept. 8, 9,10: The Footlighters Theater Company presents Come Sail Away, a lip-synch musical at the Ventura Marina. The Community Performance is on Friday the 8th at 7 p.m., Saturday the 9th at 7 p.m., and Sunday the 10th at 2 p.m. matinee in the clubhouse theater. Captain Max, crew, and passengers will sail on his final cruise before retirement. Joyous, wacky, and poignant times await him on this voyage. Join crew members and passengers in songs that will give Captain Max some ideas that could make him happy in his retirement years.

Join your friends and neighbors at this special event aboard the Marina Star and Come Sail Away. Ventura Marina Community 1215 Anchors Way Drive.
Sept. 10: Olivas Adobe Sunday 10th,11-3 p.m. Rancho Day free admission.

Join us as we celebrate what life may have been like on the Rancho San Miguel.  Try roping, laundry, Chumash rock painting, quilting, gold panning, and more.  Entertainment by Youth Mariachi, Old Time Fiddlers, and Folklorico dancers ~ educational activities by Frontier Gunfighters, the Historic Dudley House, and Channel Islands Woodcarvers. This event celebrates the more than 150 years that Olivas Adobe has been a part of Ventura County’s Cultural heritage.  For more information, www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Events.

Sept. 14: You’ve heard of the famous Avenue Taco District – now get a taste and see it! Folks on the Westside of Ventura proudly announce the Second Annual Avenue Taco Week, held from September 14 – 17th. Over a dozen restaurants and taco trucks along Ventura Avenue participated in the event. You can find out about participating restaurants and their tacos at avetacoweek.blogspot.com. Businesses interested in sponsoring Avenue Taco Week can email WCDC Director Kendra Gonzalez at [email protected] or call 805-628-3869.

Sept. 16: In conjunction with Avenue Taco Week is the first Westside Fiesta at Kellogg Park from 4 – 10 p.m., featuring food trucks, vendors, a raffle, live music, and bounce houses.

WCDC also encourages participants to take the self-guided Avenue Mural Tour, a walking exploration of over twenty unique murals on and around Ventura Avenue. A map is available at: https://westsideventura.org/mural-tour/.

Sept. 16: To provide an artistic way to support disaster recovery for Maui, the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living (VCSL) will be hosting The Soundtrack to the Evolution Revolution concert and a silent auction on Saturday at 7 p.m. The show will feature singer/songwriter Ray Davis. Concert attendees will be asked to provide a donation for admission. The concert is paired with a Silent Auction fundraiser featuring fun and valuable items from local merchants and our community. The auction will extend until noon on Sunday, September 17. VCSL is located at 101 S. Laurel Street. For more information about VCSL, please call (805) 643-1933 or visit http://venturacsl.org.

Sept. 16, 17: | Join us for Rosh Hashanah Services at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach 10 – 2 p.m. At Chabad of Ventura, our services are designed to make everyone feel welcome and at home. There is no charge for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. Reservations are suggested to secure your seat. Reservations can be made online or over the phone. 805-658-7441.
www.ChabadVentura.com/HighHolidays

Sept. 17: Join Chabad of Ventura this Rosh Hashanah Sunday at the Ventura Promenade Beach Playground for “Shofar in the Park.” Return to a simpler, more essential state with fellow community members. Hear the stirring, unadulterated blasts of the Shofar as we celebrate the New Year!

Sept. 19: Please join the Ventura Senior Men’s Group (VSMG) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road.All men 55+ are welcome. All topics except religion or politics are on the table.
Our meeting agenda is:
12:00-12:45 p.m. Lunch Food Affair by Stacy $25 but FREE to first-time visitors,
12:45-1 p.m. Business Meeting
1:00-1:30 p.m. Speaker (local organizations and information)

Bob Harris from the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation speaks on the needs and services of veterans. Need transportation? Call Lyle Hotzler 805-341-9820

Sept. 23: Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the World’s Largest Event Dedicated

to Alzheimer’s Care, Support, and Research. The Alzheimer’s Association invites Ventura County residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard.

On Walk Day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s — their reasons to end the disease.

Sept. 24, 25: Join us for Yom Kippur Services at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach! At Chabad of Ventura, our services are designed to make everyone feel welcome and at home. The prayers, conducted with Hebrew/English prayer books, are lively and engaging.

There is no charge for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. Reservations are suggested to secure your seat. Reservations can be made online or over the phone.
September 24 | 6:30 p.m.
September 25 | 10 – 2 p.m. ,5:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: The College Area Community Council will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Council meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Vol. 16, No. 24 – Aug 23 – Sept 5, 2023 – Community Events

by Ana Baker

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month. Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Pierpont Beach Community Council hosts us in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Sept. 3: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. Sunday 2-4 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free admission and parking. Open to the Public. For more information call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA Current Ventura County Covid regulations will apply.

Sept. 3: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood). For information, please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Sept. 5 & 19: The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Sept. 5 – Mary Cathcart from the Community Memorial Hospital. She’s an officer in the Auxiliary and will speak on the many men and women that volunteer in the many services of the hospital. This ranges from the pharmacy and ICU to greeters and those in records. It’s a very rewarding activity with varied work days and reasonable hours. They’re always in need of people who have leadership skills.

Sept. 19 – Bob Harris from the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation. Should be an informative talk on the needs and services available for veterans on the central coast. I imagine we will get some interesting stories about unusual cases of veterans in our community.

Sept. 5: Beach City Neighbors and Newcomers (BCNN) – Women’s social organization serving women in Oxnard, Ventura, and Port Hueneme.  Wednesday from 9:30 – 11:15 a.m. at the Ventura Yacht Club.  1755 Spinnaker Dr. The speakers are Kellie Tyndall and Deputy District Attorney Melissa McMurdo.  They both will discuss prevention and everything available in our community.  BCNN has dozens of small groups off-shoots, from sports activities to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups, and more.

Sept. 8: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will be conducting our monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic. It will be on September 8 due to the Labor Day Weekend. There is no charge and all are welcome.

Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice we want to help you improve your casting and learn to enjoy this great sport. If you don’t yet have a fly rod, don’t worry, just come and use one of ours.

Please join us at Chumash Park, Petit and Waco, 9:00 to 11:00 am, in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd. For everyone’s safety we ask all those attending to please comply with any current recommendations by the Ventura County Health Department.

Vol. 16, No. 23 – Aug 9 – Aug 22, 2023 – Ojai News & Events

Trio Manise will visit the Ojai Library at 2pm on Sunday, August 20, 2023, to deliver a special afternoon performance. The members of Trio Manise are David Singer (clarinet), Ann Erwin (flute), and Fred Beerstein (oboe). These talented musicians will play music by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, Malcolm Arnold, and Benjamin Britten. The performance will take place in the main library space, and is sponsored by the Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.

The Ojai Storytelling Festival returns October 26 – 29, 2023! Naughty Tales, Story Slam, Ghost Stories, Music – There’s something for everyone! Entries accepted till September 15th at ojaistoryfest.org/storyslam. Taking place at the historic Libbey Bowl and Ojai Art Center, Tim Lowry will be our Master of Ceremonies with featured storytellers Niall de Burca, Carmen Agra-Deedy, Noa Baum, Rev. Robert Jones, Vijai Nathan, and Peter Cook! Musical performances by Dan Navarro, Ted Lennon, and the Salty Suites. Experience the magic and joy of a good story. Get your weekend pass now. More info: [email protected]
Tickets & Volunteering: ojaistoryfest.org

A special program coming up at the Ojai Library. Popular storyteller, speaker, and author Bee Bloeser will visit the Ojai Library at 2pm on Saturday, August 26, 2023, to talk about her book, Vaccines & Bayonets: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War.

Bee Bloeser has lived in Africa, the Middle East, and Native American nations. A retired speech-language pathologist, she is a member of Toastmasters International and PEO, a philanthropic education organization that funds education for women and girls.

Her historical memoir, Vaccines & Bayonets, has been praised by Foreign Policy magazine’s deputy editor and by The Economist’s Midwest correspondent and former bureau chief in Johannesburg and Delhi. A percentage of net proceeds from Vaccines & Bayonets supports water wells for Africa.

Vol. 16, No. 23 – Aug 9 – Aug 22, 2023 – Community Events

by Ana Baker

Do you want a Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month. Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family. Supplies provided BYO water.

The loss of a loved one can be a difficult time. Bereavement counseling can offer the support you need to help you through your grief. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program offers individual (one-on-one) counseling for up to 1 year with trained bereavement counselors/therapists and group counseling. All support groups are free for the community. For more information, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief.

Aug 15: The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Men of all descriptions are always welcome to sample our shenanigans.

11:30 a.m. socialize, buffet lunch, general meeting, guest speaker, a joker, raffle drawing, and dismissal. The speaker will be attorney Crista Hermance. She has experience in estate planning, personal injury, and bankruptcy cases, but now her practice is confined solely to estate planning. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Aug. 17: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Visit the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/ for the Zoom meeting link. The agenda includes the East Ventura police report from Commander Brown and a presentation from the Outreach Director of the Ventura Land Trust, Ms. Leslie Velez.

The mission of the Ventura Land Trust (VLT) is to acquire, manage and protect open space lands for public access. Leslie Velez, Outreach Director, will update us on upper Harmon Canyon, closed since this winter’s rains, and VLT’s fall events.

The purpose of the EVCC is to encourage residents to understand East Ventura’s problems, needs, and expectations and to recommend, initiate and participate in developing and implementing programs or solutions. The EVCC facilitates communications between the community and the government or other service agencies.

Aug. 20: Anyone interested in timepieces, both antique and modern, can join the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors for a watch/clock marketplace, lunch, and a presentation on a horological topic. Bring a watch or clock for a free evaluation. 11am,  Sunday,  Dudley House Museum  197 N Ashwood Ave,

Aug. 26: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Saturday at 9:30 a.m. online and Live at our temporary site at Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 (805) 289-3960. Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, social media brokers such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, and Yahoo. All CIPCUG events may be attended online. Due to limited space, live

attendance is reserved for members. Details for connecting to the online events are emailed before the event. To receive connection instructions, please sign up on our website at http://www.cipcug.org

Sept. 9: Relay for Life of Ventura. 10-10 p.m. at the Ventura County Credit Union, 2575 Vista Del Mar. The largest, most inspiring, and supportive cancer fundraising event on the planet. www.facebook.com/relayforlifeofventura

Vol. 16, No. 22 – July 26 – Aug 8, 2023 – Community Events

Beach Cities Neighbors and Newcomers, BCNN is a group for women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.  It has dozens of small group of shoots from sports activities, to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups and more.  (www.bcnnwomensgroup.org). The meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the Ventura Yacht Club.  1755 Spinnaker Dr

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. at 12:30. All levels of play and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30pm. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Come meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30am. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Funfor the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water

July 10- July 31: Bereavement counseling can offer the support you need to help you through your grief. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program offers both individual (one-on-one) counseling with trained bereavement counselors/therapists and group counseling.

All support groups are free for the community. (Camarillo in-person). For reservations contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief.

July 26: The College Area Community Council iwill be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesda at 7pm. Gina Dorrington, from the Ventura Water Dept., will be discussing the pipeline project that will soon be under construction. Council meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest, including public safety and economic development.

Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

July 29: Seniors Craft Shoppe on 429 E. Main St.celebrates 45th birthday party.
from 3-5. We will have finger foods, punch, kids crafts, door prizes, and a drawing for three gift baskets for three lucky winners. The items in the gift baskets are all donated by the seniors who work in the shoppe.

August 5: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will be conducting our monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic. There is no charge and all are welcome. Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice we want to help you improve .If you don’t yet have a fly rod, don’t worry, just come and use one of ours. Chumash Park, Petit and Waco, 9:00 to 11:00 am, in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd. Casting Program Coordinator Thomas Hall [email protected] (805) 377-5249

August 6: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Aug. 26: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online and Live at Computers, 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email and the Internet, social media brokers such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, and Yahoo. Events begin at 9:30am. All CIPCUG events may be attended online. Due to limited space live attendance is reserved for members. Details for connecting to online events are emailed prior to the event.

August 1: Ventura Senior Mens Group. Any man who considers himself in the senior category (and many who don’t) might benefit from a visit to the group at the Poinsettia Pavillion the first and third Tuesday of the month. Your first lunch is free! We talk about everything except religion and politics. Eligible to all men age 55 plus. .11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.. Speaker will be Kristin Decas, Port Hueneme CEO.

August 6: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.
Sunday 2:00-4:00 pm
Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd.
Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free parking
Open to the Public. For more information
call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA

Sept. 9: Relay for Life of Ventura. 10-10 p.m. at the Ventura County Credit Union, 2575 Vista Del Mar. The largest, most inspiring, and supportive cancer fundraising event on the planet. www.facebook.com/relayforlifeofventura

Fans will be coming to X Games from all over Southern California

Trains to take fans to the X Games.

The X Games has announced more detailed information about its partnership with Visit Ventura and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner – an unprecedented partnership which will provide access from key Southern California cities to the X Games event, bringing ticket-holders to and from Ventura this summer.

“Fans will be coming to X Games from all over Southern California and we wanted to provide them with a more sustainable way to travel to Ventura for the event,” said Valerie Ryan, X Games Vice President, Fan Experience & Hospitality.

The Ventura stop is part of the Fairgrounds parking lot, a few feet from where X Games three-day event will take place.

A total of 10 Pacific Surfliner trips operate to Ventura daily, from as far north as San Luis Obispo and as far south as San Juan Capistrano. During the event, an additional trip will be added to the schedule to provide customers with a late-night departure option from Ventura back to Los Angeles. With approximately 500 seats on board each Pacific Surfliner train, there is a potential to carry more than 16,000 passengers to and from the event over the three-day period.

“Sustainable travel has been at the forefront of our conversations since the very beginning,” said Marlyss Auster, President and CEO of Visit Ventura. “We have been in weekly transportation meetings for months with LOSSAN and the X Games team to create a sustainable travel plan that would benefit our city. The truth is train travel is not only better for our local community, but it’s also better for the environment and the guest experience too. It’s a win-win.”

The train is expected to depart Los Angeles Union Station around 7 a.m., traveling to San Luis Obispo and the second train will make its way back later in the day and evening.

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Vol. 16, No. 21 – July 12 – July 25, 2023 – Community Events

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday each month. Men of all descriptions are always welcomed to stop in to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. at 12:30. All levels of play and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30pm. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Come meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30am. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water

July 16: Anyone interested in timepieces, both antique and modern, can join the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors for a watch/clock marketplace, lunch, and a presentation on a horological topic.  

Bring a watch or clock for a free evaluation. 11am.  Dudley House Museum  197 N Ashwood Ave. Contact nawcc-ch190.com. 

For Details contact: Bob McClelland Director, Public Information

(818) 225-8212 [email protected]

July 16: Channel Cities Jazz Club proudly presents Flattop Tom and the Jump Cats and invites you to our dance event at the House of Dance. You don’t have to dance; you can sit and enjoy the reverberating sounds of a live dance band with front-row seats.

1:00 PM to 3:30 PM House of Dance 3007 Bunsen Ave. Ventura

July 20: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) will meet virtually at 7 PM. Visit the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/ for the Zoom meeting link. The agenda includes the East Ventura police report from Cmdr Brown, followed by a presentation from the City of Ventura’s Housing Services Manager, Leona Rollins.The City of Ventura manages a variety of programs to provide affordable housing to Ventura residents

The purpose of the EVCC is to encourage residents to understand East Ventura problems, needs and expectations, and to recommend, initiate and/or participate in the development and implementation of programs or solutions. The EVCC facilitates communications between the community and government or other service agencies.

July 22: 7:00 – 11:00 pm. VCAS Annual Open House at the Moorpark College Observatory. Members of the Ventura County Astronomical Society will set up their telescopes early so you can see them in the day. Professor Hal Jandorf will point out the coolest objects in the sky and give fun facts about them. The Dome will be Open. 7 to 11:00 pm, gates open at 6 pm. 7075 Campus Rd. Moorpark. Free Parking and Admission. www.vcas.org

July 26: The College Area Community Council in Ventura, will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, July 26th at 7pm. Council meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest, including public safety and economic development. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.”