by Ana Baker

May 10: The Ventura County Writers Club will be hosting memoirist Lari Newton at the Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley Street in Camarillo. Newton’s 7 p.m. talk will expand on the importance of theme in writing. Her talk: It’s My Theme and I’m Sticking to It, explains that theme is the “stick’um” that holds the other story essentials together. Contact Breeze contributing writer Sheli Ellsworth at 499-3490 for more information.

May 12: Local author Ken McAlpine will compare the experience of solitude on the Channel Islands to the bustle of life on the mainland as he shares excerpts from his book, Islands Apart: A Year on the Edge

of Civilization, during the May From Shore to Sea lecture. Thursday, at 7p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, January through December, at the Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center.

May 13: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution May luncheon meeting will feature the program “The Magna Charta”, presented by Louis Kreuzer, Esq.  at 11:30am. Friday, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant, 1295 S. Victoria Ave. Lunch is $20 per person. For information call Bill Bays 650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992  or http://pattonpatriots.org.

May 14: Audubon BBQ and Annual Meeting at Hedrick Ranch Nature Area. Sandy Hedrick 340-0478, birding along the recently dedicated Reed Smith Memorial Trail, along with some additional trails that lead to new birding locations. Bring water, hats, field guides and sun protection. Arrive at 8:30 a.m. for birding, and the BBQ and annual meeting will follow.

May 14: “Creating a Power Point Presentation” will be presented to the Ventura Beginners PC Users Group by Martha Navarrete on Saturday in the Cypress Place Independent Living third floor lounge. The workshop is on more Microsoft Word features.  The group meets 9:15-12:00. All beginners and intermediates are welcome.  Call 648-1368 for further information.

May 14: Bank of Books, 748 East Main St. Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lida Sideris Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Philip Brown Light Runner
5p.m. to 7 p.m.  Mike Casper, The Sing Son Child, a love story

Lida Sideris like her heroine, Corrie Locke worked as an entertainment attorney for a film studio.

Philip Brown, A contemporary fantasy author, is motivated by the power of words to change lives.

May 14:  Coastal Housing Partnership’s 5th Annual Home Buying Fair at the Ventura Beach Marriott 2055 Harbor. The Home Buying Fair is a one-stop shop for potential home buyers to access valuable tools, resources and information on how to navigate the home buying process and get on their path to home ownership. This event is designed for first time home buyers, move-up buyers, buyers interested in getting back into the market or for anyone just thinking about buying a home.

May 15: Ventura and Santa Barbara County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) will meet Sunday, in the Campus Student Center of Ventura College.

The regular meeting starts at noon and at 11 a.m. there will be an informal. There will be a mart where items will be for sale followed by lunch and an informational meeting and a program. Program will be “Master Clocks that Henry Warren used to solve the Alternating Current power dilemma” presented by Alan Bloore. There is a $3 admission charge. Lunch is available for $5 more. www.nawcc.org. Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Ventura College. www.nawcc-ch190.com.

May 16: CA Zeta Chi parliamentarians will meet at 7 p.m. and will feature a lesson by Sharon Hillbrant titled “What’s New?”  Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 E. Main St. Those wishing to eat should arrive at 6 p.m. Non-members are welcome.  Membership is $25 per year.  Sharon Hillbrant, 479-6738.

May 17: Audubon 8:30 a.m. Ventura Settling Ponds.  Adele Fergusson 415-4304. The Settling Ponds at the Ventura Harbor is a reliable place to find summer gulls and terns, as well as songbirds and raptors. The water treatment plant is on Angler, a left turn before Spinnaker curves to the right.

May 19:  Ventura Water’s Assistant General Manager, Joe McDermott, will discuss new water policies and updates during the meeting of the East Ventura Community Council. Patrick Davidson of CAPS TV will show a PowerPoint presentation telling about CAPS’ role in producing programming and information. Adrienne Stephens, Development Coordinator, and Derek Poultney, Executive Director, of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC), will discuss the local land trust’s mission, projects and progress.

First Assembly of God Church, 346 N. Kimball Road at 7 p.m. For more information call 804-7558.

May 19: Plant In A Shoe, a free event for children and their parents on Saturday at 2 p.m.  Learn the needs of a plant to grow and thrive.  Please bring 1 shoe or boot for each child to plant in and take home.  Plants and potting soil generously donated by Green Thumb Nursery.  Sponsored by    Ventura Botanical Gardens Education Committee.  Meet at Green Thumb Nursery, 1899 S. Victoria Ave.  Drive to the rear of the building park and enter at the gate.

May 21: Audubon Canada Larga 8:30 a.m. Leader: Adele Fergusson 415-4304. Meet near the beginning of the road off Hwy 33 under the bridge. We will carpool from that location as we walk and drive this long county road.

The Photography Branch of the Ojai Art Center welcomes artists to submit photographic images in black and white for the upcoming 13th annual juried photography exhibit, “Shades of Gray,” opening June 4 with a reception from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Entries may be submitted to the Art Center Thursday, June 2, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. or Friday, June 3, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

All entries must be in black and white photographic media. The subject matter is open, and can be pure photographic or digitally altered images. Amateurs, professionals, and students in grades 7 through 12, are all welcome to enter. Students will have free entry fees. For full information and questions contact: David Baker  558-6460 (call or text) or e-mail at [email protected]

For the Call for Artists please visit: http://ojaiacphoto.org/2016-annual-exhibit.html

Ojai ACT is in the process of formulating its 2017 season and is seeking meaningful suggestions from directors, producers, or anyone involved in the theater world.

The goal for the 2017 season is to present a balanced slate of plays that will offer new and different choices for our patrons, as well as plays that we know to be the backbone of the play-going community.

Plays should be accompanied by a short statement.

Please drop it off at: Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 S. Montgomery St., Attn: Richard Camp. For mailing, use Ojai ACT, PO Box 331, Ojai CA 93024, Attn:  Richard Camp. For any questions, email [email protected].

At 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2016, local humorist poet John Gentry will visit the Ojai Library to read from his 2012 edition of Treading Lightly: Not So Modern Poetry in the Post-Modern Age. Mr. Gentry is a retired teacher and an unapologetic rhymer—a rare appellation in this age of modern, free verse poetry.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, City Librarian, at  218-9146

On Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Ojai Valley Green Coalition invites the public to the 7th annual Green Living Tour & Home Show. Tickets are $10 (kids 18 and under are free). Information on the Tour and tickets, free Home Show, biking the tour and much more can be found at ojaivalleygreentour.com.

Throughout the Ojai Studio Artists’ Angles: Best of OSA exhibit, the Ojai Valley Museum will host Art Talks every Saturday morning from  11 am – noon. This Saturday May 14, Stephen Edwards, Brian Berman and Richard Flores will be the featured artists. For further information, call 640-1390.

Second Saturday Open Studios: April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13 and December 10, Artisan’s Holiday Gift Tour. Studios open 10 am – 3 pm. Admittance is free.

Advance Tickets:  $30 in advance, $35 day of event, $20/person for groups of 10 or more, $15 for students, 17 & under free. Ticket includes studio visits all three days and admission to Saturday’s Gala Reception. Tickets and Tour brochures available at ojaistudioartists.org.

Acting Workshop at The Ojai Art Center:  “Act Up – Act Out”

For beginners and Experienced actors – children and adults.  Gai Jones, founder of CA Youth in Theatre, National Educational Theatre Association Based on the book THE STUDENT ACTOR PREPARES, the 2 hour workshop for actors, artists, and even those who feel non-creative, invites the public to learn, have fun, and discover themselves.  The event will be held at the Ojai Art Center, Literary Branch, at 113 S. Montgomery, Ojai.  Sat., May 28th, 2 p.m.  Suggested Donation is $5

There’s a reason why Sir David Hare’s play “Skylight” has a shelf full of major awards and successful revivals in England and America; it speaks to hearts, and those voices are at to the Ojai ACT stage in dramatic fashion until June 5.

Behind the scenes are many other players who make it real. It all starts with Steve Grumette, who loves to act and direct comedies, “but the plays that appeal to me most are those in which the author makes a serious attempt to explore and illuminate the human condition.”

“Skylight” runs until June 5 at Ojai ACT, 113 S. Montgomery St, at (note earlier time) 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 general and $12 for seniors, students and Art Center members. For tickets, call 640-8797 or visit: www.OjaiACT.org

The City of Ojai announces the hiring of Cheryl Shaw as records manager. Shaw comes to the City from the Ventura County Civil Service Commission, where she has served as the manager and staff for the Commission for the past seven years. With the Commission, Shaw has been responsible for all aspects of management and staff support for the commission and its commissioners, including the preparation of agendas and minutes of commission and committee meetings, Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) filings, commission appointments and elections, records management, public records requests, the commission’s budget, and the filing of appeals. Shaw, a resident of Ventura, holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego.

Put on your figurative hard hat (standard, pink or sparkle-y — you choose!), on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, Ventura County! Are you a smart woman? Competitive? Generous? Fun?  Do you love to win!? If this describes you, consider putting together a team of four women to participate in a high stakes nailing – as in a hammer and nails – competition on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County. The goal is for each team member to secure $250 in pledges.

She Nailed It is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, April 30th. The event is also the ‘kick-off’ to Habitat’s International Women Build week.

Contact Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County at [email protected] or call 485.6065 to participate .

On Saturday, April 30th from 10am-2am, the Ventura Family YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active. This year marks the 25th annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families.  The day-long event features activities such as a football clinic, the Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit & Run skills competition, performance by PB & Jam from the hit TV show “The Dancetime Boys,” raffles, a 1K Fun Run, climbing wall, inflatables and CPR classes and a lost child fingerprinting provided by the Community Police Foundation and the Ventura Police Department.

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,300 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long, which is a critical time for kids’ health. When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder to not let children idle away their summer days.

Visit ciymca.org/ventura for more information.

by Mark Bailey, President PMCCPOA

One of the best kept secrets in California remains the quaint “Aspen like” village of Pine Mountain Club (PMC).  Located in the Los Padres National Forest at a little over one mile above sea level and nestled between Mt. Pinos and San Emegdio Mountain, Pine Mountain Club is remarkably easy to get to.  Just a comfortable and scenic 90 minute drive from Ventura, about 50 minutes north of Magic Mountain.  Those in the know often refer to PMC as “the nearby faraway place”.

The Villagers of PMC are already busy preparing for their 34th annual Lilac Festival set for the weekend of May 14^th and 15^th.  It has been estimated that around five thousand visitors join the approximately three thousand locals for a weekend of arts, music, food, fun and family play.  About 100 artisan vendors will begin displaying their unique works of art and creations both days starting at 10am.  This is followed on Saturday by acrobatic skydiving daredevils due to land at 11:00 am.  This kicks off our yearly parade through the village center after the singing of our National Anthem by guest talented artists.

Throughout the weekend there will be entertainment for all ages including live music, plays, kiddie shows, helicopter rides (conditions permitting) golf and horseshoe tournaments, great food, and a large children’s play area with state of the art slides, inflatables, bouncy houses, wall climbing etc.  Most restaurants will be featuring live music on their outdoor patios.

Climatology wise, as with anyplace the weather in PMC can vary.  Typically, in late spring, we can expect blue sunny skies during the day with temperatures in the mid 70’s and crisp clear star filled nights with temperatures in the 40’s.

To get to PMC, take the 126 east to Interstate 5 north and exit at Frazier Park.  Go west 18 miles following the signs to the Pine Mountain Club Village.  For further information, including vendor applications, please go to our website at www.pmclilacfestival.com.

For fine wine enthusiasts considering visiting PMC, please visit our wine website www.wineinthepines.com  for details on our world class wine tasting event taking place this June 11.

The Ventura Music Festival is proud to present its most diverse Rising Stars concert ever, at 8 pm, Friday, May 6th, at the First United Methodist Church in Ventura (1338 E. Santa Clara).  Admission is free and audience members of all ages are invited to turn out for an exciting 75-minute program featuring young award-winning musicians: a 30-member high school choir; seven classical musicians ranging in age from middle school to college; and a jazz quartet.

The choir is the Camerata high school group of the distinguished Los Robles Children’s Choir, performing four songs under the direction of Edward Rouse, accompanied by Christine DeKlotz.

The classical musicians will be Grace Chen, Kaytlyn Becker, Dalton Hayse, David, James Gatchel and Kallen Meyer  who will perform selections by Saint-Saëns, Liszt, Brahms and Debussy.

The  jazz quartet, led by Blake Kasting on guitar, with Alex Smith on drums, Chris Seagraves on bass and Rachel Flowers on piano ,closes the evening with selections from Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane.  Each young musician is a past winner in the VMF Student Jazz Competition.

While admission is free, VMF encourages reservations via FB, or venturamusicfestival.org, by email [email protected] or by phone 648-3146.