On Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host the second installment in their free environmental speaker series entitled: “Connecting California’s Mountain Lions to be discussed by wildlife ecologist

International and local conservation biologist and wildlife ecologist, Dr. Anthony J. Giordano, will discuss the ecology of mountain lions including how they represent a wildlife conservation success story, mountain lion-human conflicts and their potential as a “tool” for connecting wild places.

The mountain lion is North America’s largest “small cat” and much like the wolf and grizzly bear, has been vilified as a pest to the livestock industry.  Historically ranging from coast to coast, today’s mountain lion populations are moving eastward and reclaiming areas they formerly inhabited.  Although California has the largest state population of mountain lions in the U.S., the future of mountain lions in California depends on the ability to make room for them as the human population grows.  In Southern California in particular, mountain lions are threatened by encroachment of development into wilderness areas, increased demand for dwindling water supplies, and a fragmented landscape caused by the state’s expanding transportation infrastructure.

This free community lecture will take place in the Santa Paula Room at the Poinsettia Pavilion. The event is free but reservations are encouraged. To RSVP, visit www.venturahillsides.org/events. For more information, call VHC 643-8044.

Anthony J. Giordano possesses more than 22 years of experience working in the field on global conservation issues. He holds a double B.S. from Long Island University at Southampton College in Biology (Zoology) and Environmental Science (Biology), a M.S. in Conservation Biology and Applied Ecology from Frostburg State, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife science and Management from Texas Tech. Currently he is based in Ventura, CA, where he directs S.P.E.C.I.E.S. (http://www.carnivores.org), a global carnivore conservation organization, and is President of the Wild Felid Research and Management Association (http://www.wildfelid.org).

Can you believe that the Surfrider Foundation Ventura County Chapter has been doing great things for 25 years! It all started when a group of passionate people met at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in 1991 to form one of the first chapters for the Surfrider Foundation nationwide.

Come out to Surf Brewery on October 29th to celebrate their achievements with great music, food and beer! The event runs from noon- 9pm with live music from 2-6pm. from Sea Hunters and reggae from Fire Stick and Rising Son. There will be a kid’s art tent, an environmentally friendly fashion show,

Admission is $5 at the door or for $12 at the door you can get admission, a commemorative steel pint cup and first beer fill. Funds raised at the event will benefit Surfrider’s local programs and campaigns. There is a special VIP package only available online in advance. For $40 you get admission, a commemorative steel pint cup and first beer fill PLUS a commemorative long sleeve t-shirt, a Surfrider reusable bag and a 22oz bottle of the commemorative beer to take home. https://ventura.surfrider.org/25th

The Surfrider Foundation also engages the community to help protect local beaches, ocean and waterways with core campaigns and programs such as monthly beach cleanups, an Ocean Friendly Gardens program and a Hold On To Your Butt cigarette litter campaign. The Ventura County Chapter also helped with the Surfer’s Point Managed Shoreline Retreat Project while we are still working on more long-term solutions for protecting Surfer’s Point.

The brewery is located at 4561 Market Street.

Villanova Prep is honored to host Emmanuel Sekiyoba, economics instructor and international consultant, to address the students as part of a Project Africa presentation. Mr. Sekiyoba will be Villanova’s guest in the theatre at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26.

Mr. Sekiyoba was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and at an early age learned to appreciate the importance of hard work and the value of education. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1991 and is currently an economic instructor at the West Los Angeles College and also works with the Los Angeles Unified School District teaching mathematics.

Mr. Sekiyoba is the coordinator of the Congolese Community of Southern California.

Catherine Ann Jones, award-winning playwright, author, and screenwriter  will read from and sign her new book, Freud’s Oracle – a one-person play about the American poet Hilda Doolittle (1886-1961) and her relationship with Sigmund Freud.  H. D.  The themes are the travesty of war and the triumph of the individual.  A reception follows the book signing.  Suggested donation $5.  The Ojai Art Center -113 S. Montgomery St.

The Ojai Film Festival returns for its 17th season, offering the best in independent film and special events that celebrate innovative filmmaking. The festival kicks off with a free screening at Libbey Bowl on November 3, starting at 7:00 PM.

From November 3-13, the Film Festival will present an eclectic mix of narrative, documentary, and animated films as part of its competition screenings, Gold Coast series, and Focus Earth offerings.

On Oct.29, at 5pm  Besant Hill School of Happy Valley invites you to enjoy their 500 beautiful acres to celebrate community with friends and foodies. The dinner is in support of local foodshed awareness and education. It will raise funds for Besant Hill’s sustainable agriculture program, and Food for Thought Ojai: the Ojai Healthy Schools Program.

The evening will also include music under the stars. The tickets are $150 (only $49 for faculty and staff members of any Ojai school) and can be purchased online at www.besanthill.org. Besant Hill School of Happy Valley is located at 8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road.

At 85 years old, Tab Hunter is one of the few remaining stars to witness Hollywood’s transformation from the studio system of its Golden Age to the American New Wave of the 1970s and its current incarnation as the epicenter of celebrity culture.

Hunter will appear with his long-time partner and producer Allan Glaser after a showing of the hit film Tab Hunter Confidential on Saturday, November 5,  from 5:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  The movie will be followed by an intimate Q&A with the Film Festival audience moderated by Stuart Crowner .The screening of Tab Hunter Confidential and the Q&A will take place at the OjaiArtCenter

Join Rev. Karen at Meditation Mount, on Saturday, October 29, from 9:30 am to 12:30, and open the mind, heart and body to the Ultimate Mystery.

The retreat is by donation; $10 is suggested. Meditation Mount is located at 10340 Reeves Road. For more information, contact Rev. Karen at 310-968-8928, or register online at www.karenswylie.com.

OjaiCARES, Ojai’s cancer resource center, welcomes the prestigious Dr. Oscar Streeter, Jr. Board Certified Radiation Oncologist and Dr. Cyrus Rafie, Ph.D, Medical Physicist from Santa Monica’s Center for Thermal Oncology. The esteemed doctors will present on Personalized Medicine 101 & Understanding Hyperthermia.

The Ojai Retreat, 160 Besant Road in Ojai is on Saturday, October 29, from 11 to 2 pm. This and all OjaiCARES programming is free of charge.Visit ojaicares.org or call 646-6433 for more information.

On Veterans’ Day, Friday, November 11, the Mitz-Khan-A-Khan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution with join with the Ojai American Legion Post #482, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Ojai Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #11461 to honor our veterans.  Festivities will take place at the American Legion Hall, 843 East Ojai Ave.

The American Legion Auxiliary #482 will be serving a delicious breakfast from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Breakfast is free to all Veterans, and costs $4.00 for all others.

Any reader who wishes to honor a veteran by adding him or her to the “Wall of Remembrance” posters should contact Nancy Hill at 805-302-6093, or e-mail photos and information to [email protected].

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce presents the 6th Annual “Taste” at the Museum of Ventura County on Thursday October 20th.

More than 40 of Ventura’s finest restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries, bakeries and confectioners will be featured at this popular event. Live music, mixology and cooking demos will complement the mix, as guests mingle in the courtyard and main space of the Museum of Ventura County.

Doors open at 5:30pm and the event goes until 8pm.

The advance ticket purchase cost is $40 for Ventura Chamber members and $50 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased by going to www.venturachamber.com/taste2016 or by calling  643-7222. Pre-registration is encouraged; guests can receive an additional $5 discount per ticket if purchased by October 15.

Event sponsors include Museum of Ventura County, Ventura Auto Center, Ventura Rental Party Center, Kaiser Permanente, WSPA, Union Bank, Gold Coast Acura, Ventura Community Bank, Ventura County Star, CAPS Media Center, Gold Coast Broadcasting, Luners Production Services, VC Reporter and the Ventura Breeze.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce is a membership based organization that advocates on behalf of the business community. With nearly 700 members, representing more than 25,000 employees locally, the Chamber engages on a variety of issues that help to drive a strong local economy as The Voice of Business.

The greatest golfers on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule are set to descend upon Sherwood Country Club October 28-30 for the inaugural PowerShares QQQ Championship, the first event in the new season-ending Charles Scwab Cup Playoffs series. Fans are sure to witness exciting competition as these legends of golf compete for their spot to further advance in the Playoffs, when the field of 72 golfers is cut to jst 54 that move on to the Dominion Charity Classic in Richmond, VA.

Equally compelling for spectators, the tournament will offer a multitude of events and venues to experience while watching the action. It all kicks off on Thursday with the “Community Champions Day”, an event that’s open to the public as a public celebration to the week ahead. The day will feature a tennis exhibition (9-11 a.m.) with Andy Roddick, James Blake, Jim Courier and Mark Philippoussis, a free golf clinic (1-2 p.m.) with PGA TOUR Champions players and a chance to experience some of the premium food and beverage available during tournament week.

From seafood to the classic grilled cheese, the tournament has it covered all week with a host of options from local food trucks including Baby’s Badass Burgers, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Good to Go Juice and Shrimp vs. Chef. Fans are also encouraged to stop by the StoneHaus Wine Lounge, which is slated to be the place to be once competition rounds start. Located at the driving range, the lounge offers prime viewing of the players as they practice.

What’s even more rewarding is the access that the tournament is offering to youth and military. All youth 18 and younger will receive complimentary Grounds admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. In addition, the PowerShares QQQ Championship is offering complimentary Grounds admission and hospitality during the tournament for all active duty, reserve military members, military retirees and their dependents along with complimentary admission for veterans.

While at the PowerShares QQQ Championship, all military guests will be treated to complimentary food and beverages and up-close views of the action in the Patriots’ Patio presented by Frontier Communications, a military-exclusive venue located on 9 green.

There will also be a Military Recognition Ceremony held Saturday, October 29 at 7:00 a.m that will also be open to the public.  The ceremony on 1 tee will feature a national anthem and color guard to honor military in the Thousand Oaks and Ventura County areas.

The tournament has made great strides in offering access to these great events to the public, but also to local organizations and deserving charities. The PowerShares QQQ Championship started the “Buy Now, Give Back” program to offer a ticket to charities through the Sherwood Cares Foundation, with every ticket purchased by fans.

“We’ve had the vision of making this a truly community-centric event,” said O.D. Vincent, Executive Director of the PowerShares QQQ Championship. “With venues and events that celebrate the best of our area, we really do have something for everyone.”

Tickets are available on PowerSharesQQQChampionship.com.