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Happy seventh anniversary Ladies Luncheon!

At a recent  Ladies Luncheon lucky Breeze publisher Sheldon was the first man invited to one of their luncheons.

by Carol Leish

The Ladies Luncheon is having its 7th Anniversary luncheon on June 2 at the Pierpont Inn Pavilion Room in beautiful Ventura.

The Ladies Luncheon was started by local Ventura Realtor, Laurie Ann Meyer-Ehrhardt, in June, 2009.

“A few of us met at the My Florist and Bakery in downtown Ventura.  The next month, when we met at the Pierpont Inn, we had 15 women for lunch.  By the third month, we had 35 women attending, I knew that it was important to continue these monthly lunches.”

Laurie started Ladies Luncheon because she saw a need for women to come together on a regular basis with a ‘no join’ obligation.  “With both no limit on the number of categories represented, and no need to attend every month women are able to attend when it’s convenient for them.  And, there is no limit on the number of categories represented.  Thus, we are representing many local businesses and various nonprofits within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.  We continue to be able to provide women with both support and encouragement.”

Ladies Luncheon is the place, “To eat, meet, greet and shop,” according to Laurie.  “Our luncheons are not just for business.  It is also the place to relax, shop, and, to have fun!  What goes on at Ladies Luncheon stays at Ladies Luncheon! We average 45 women each month.  By allowing multiple categories, we are able to support the philosophy of the importance of building relationships in order to do business.  There is always enough business for everyone.”

Laurie’s mom, Pat Morris, who relocated to Ventura in 2012, started coming to Ladies Luncheon when she moved here.  “Mom has always been an inspiration to me and I am so blessed and fortunate for her to be able to participate here and to be supportive of all of us. Elaine O’Malia, of Laine Designs (www.lainedesigns.com) is the web wizard and acts as my right hand helper.”

To join our wonderful group please come on June 2 at our anniversary luncheon.  Go to our website www.TheLadiesLuncheon.com to pre-register  or pay at the door.  Like me, you’ll see the immense value of the supportive and lively group of women who do make a difference!

Our regular Ladies Luncheon’s May mixer, on May 26, from 5:30–7:30pm, will be co-ed so you men can join in the fun. It will be at Grapes & Hops at 454 E. Main St.  in Downtown There will be wine tasting and a no host bar. All are welcome (Guys too!). $15 for wine tasting.

 

A variety of programs to be offered at Center

A happy group celebrating another addition at Westpark Community Center.

On Tuesday, May 3 parents, staff, young boxers, sponsors and city dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the completion and installation of the Westpark Community Center’s  new fitness facility, flooring and equipment.  Ventura Chief of Police Ken Corney was there to show the VPD’s support for the wonderful programs offered there for our youth. As was Ventura resident and business owner Sal Flores  who spends many hours mentoring at-risk kids participating in  the Ventura Boxing Club that he started at Westpark.

The new fitness facility will host a variety of programs such as boxing, exercise fitness, martial arts, step classes and Zumba. Westpark serves 120 youths daily, ages 6-17, and more than 1,100 children annually through free and low-fee, scheduled and drop-in programs for fitness, enrichment and homework.

“It has been a dream and an amazing journey to see all the growth, changes and improvements at Westpark,” says Youth Programs Coordinator Anita Diaz who has been center director for more than a decade and a half.

Aera Energy sponsored the facility’s new flooring. Aera Energy has actively supported the center’s youth academic and physical fitness programs for many years, especially through startup seed money for the Ventura Police Activities League (PAL) that supports programs at the Center.

Lady bowlers entertained at banquet

Elvis is alive and well in Ventura. Photo by Michael Gordon

On Thursday, May 12 The PinPoppers Ladies Bowling League celebrated their end of the bowling season with a banquet and awards ceremony held at the Wedgewood Banquet facility. The ladies were surprised by a most unexpected appearance by “Elvis” who was played by Buena Lanes Assistant Manager Roger Heap in full Elvis costume. His lovely wife Marian capably handled his sound system.

Elvis took them back to another time in their lives.

Are you a keen bowler? If so, check out this useful guide to some of the best bowling ball options out there: https://skilledbowlers.com/bowling-balls/urethane-bowling-balls/. Above all, if you want to get ahead of the competition, investing in the latest bowling equipment can make a huge difference.

It was nice of Buena Lanes to give roger time away to make the 56 women, ranging in ages from 27 to 87 a time to reminisce and have a great luncheon to end their season.

National Public Works Day held in Ventura

David Goldstein from Public Works Agency  explaining  composting to Elsa and Lila. Photo by John Ferritto

In what’s becoming a favorite educational experience among local students, Ventura County Public Works Agency’s National Public Works Day public event held on Tuesday, May 17 piqued students’ interests in the Public Works sector.

With over 500 students attending ranging from elementary schools to high schools, VCPWA transformed the Government Center parking lot and a number of conference rooms into interactive learning centers highlighting the many facets of our local Public Works team. The emphasis was on educating young minds on the endless internship and job opportunities a career in Public Works may offer, giving students the chance to connect with several Public Works officials at a career booth.

stuff public works insetVCPWA employees lead tours of several display booths, including heavy equipment demonstrations that gave students a chance to get up close to the equipment that is used by VCPWA on many of the work sites around the county. Fun activities included hands-on stations where students learned about native and drought tolerant plants, surveying, rain and stream measurements, composting with worms, a chance to visit the Storm Operations Center and for the first time and the unveiling of the new Raptor Study program showcasing hawk and owl exhibits.

VCPWA Director Jeff Pratt stated “National Public Works Day is a very important opportunity for us to educate and connect with the public. The community has a chance to get an in-depth look into a vital organization that is dedicated to providing and sustaining the county’s infrastructure and environment while enhancing the safety, health and quality of life for them.”

Vol. 9, No. 17 – May 25 – June 7, 2016 – Two on the Aisle

review theaterDarrow is at the Rubicon
by Jim Spencer and Shirley Lorraine

The legacies of two prominent figures from the early 20th Century remain major influences today.

One was magician Harry Houdini whose approach to self-promotion made him a household name and revolutionized mass marketing concepts.

The other was the legendary lawyer, Clarence Darrow. His personal story and insights into his legal career are the focus of Darrow, the current offering by Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre Company.

Darrow became the country’s best known trial attorney, not only for the controversial cases he took, but for his courtroom skills and his force as an instrument for social change.

He consistently aligned himself with the underdog. For example, a one point he resigned a lucrative job as a railroad lawyer to represent strikers and union leaders against the railroads.

In his time he famously defended urban terrorists, thrill killers, championed child labor laws and represented a science teacher put on trial for teaching evolution. Many of his cases became the inspiration for successful films.

James O’Neil, the Rubicon’s co-founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, stars in the role of Clarence Darrow in this one person show. The part has special meaning for O’Neil because he is actually a relative of the great litigator – O’Neil’s great-grandfather, Henry A. Darrow, was Clarence Darrow’s first cousin. “I’m so happy to be at an age where I can play Clarence and share his history and his humanity with my family and community,” says O’Neil.

The intimate show is presented in the round with the audience seated on all sides. The action takes place during a latter period in Darrow’s career.  From this perspective he recounts for the audience many of his life experiences, triumphs, agonies and cases. The topics range from his upbringing, to his marriage with Jessie, to his courtroom battles. Along the way he reveals glimpses into how he felt about and why he took certain cases.

The play is directed by Rubicon Artistic Associate Jenny Sullivan, who is fresh off her directorial success with the American stage premier of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance at the Rubicon – a show that received critical accolades.

The script is penned by multiple award winning playwright and Santa Barbara resident, David Rintel.

The Rubicon Theatre Company is a nonprofit, acclaimed professional regional theatre that has staged more than 115 productions over the last 18 years and garnered awards along the way from the New York Drama Desk, the L.A. Drama Critics Circle, the NAACP, plus multiple Ovation, Indy, Garland, Robby and REP awards.

Darrow plays Wednesdays through Sundays until June 12, 2016 at the Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA, 93001.  Show times: Wednesdays – 2 & 7 p.m. (Talkbacks follow 7 p.m. performances); Thursdays & Fridays – 8 p.m.; Saturdays – 2 & 8 p.m.; Sundays – 2 p.m. Tickets: $25 – $54.  Information, group discounts, ticketing and seat selection: www.rubicon.theatre.org. or (805) 667-2900.

Local senior wins Lions Club student speaker contest

Miranda Mize will compete in state finals in June.

Miranda Mize, a senior at El Camino high school, has won this year’s Lions Club Student Speaker semi-final contest. She will now compete at the state finals on June 4 in Redding, California where she will be competing for the grand prize of $11,000.

This year’s topic is “Liberty and Justice For All — What It Means to Me”.

Miranda took first place at the Ventura Downtown Lions Club competition and went on to win the next four levels. She was awarded $4,500 for winning at District and moved on to compete in the semi-finals where she took home the top prize of $6,500.

The Lions Club Student Speaker contest is supported by the Student Speaker Foundation, a California nonprofit corporation.  This year the Foundation will provide scholarships totaling $103,500.00. From this amount, each of the fifteen District winners will receive a $4,500.00 scholarship, each of the four Area winners will receive an additional $6,500.00 scholarship and the winner of the Multiple District Four Contest will receive an additional $10,000.00 scholarship

The Ventura Downton Lions Club meets the first three Thursdays of every month for lunch at The Derby Club, Ventura County Fairgrounds. Guests are always welcome!

For information about the Lions Club Student Speaker Contest, Lions Clubs International, or the Ventura Downtown Lions, visit  www.venturalions.org or 655-5595.

 

River Patrol on the Willoughby Preserve

Jess Nikolai at the kiosk at the Main Street Bridge
by Jill Forman

Jess Nikolai is an ebullient 20-something who loves birds and possums and wildlife.  As the Preserve Manager for the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, part of her job is patrolling the Willoughby Preserve where the Main Street Bridge spans the river.

“The…Conservancy has spent the past three years…removing invasive non-native plant species and clearing over 1,000 tons of trash from the river bottom.  Our hard work is paying off and today we are seeing the return of native wildlife and plants,” she says.

She frequently laces up her hiking boots and takes to the trails of the preserve, looking for refuse and pollution.  Your intrepid writer went along with her last week.

“Hello!  Anybody home?” she calls outside of a tent.  No answer, so she takes note of the location to notify someone to come back later.  “Look at this garbage,” at another place, and out comes her cell phone to snap a photo.  The city crew will come pick up that trash.  We check the progress of the arundo removal (arundo donax, an invasive reed, has taken over large swathes of the river bottom.)  Some refuse piles seen on previous patrols have been picked up, some have grown, some are moldering.

The river bottom is a patchwork of ownership and jurisdiction.  “We work closely with all of the river property owners, including California State Parks, the Ventura Police Department, Ventura County, and the City of Ventura.”  She and I walk over not only the VHC property but parts of the State Parks and other owners’ areas.

stuff river patrol insetShe feels badly when telling folks they can’t camp there.  “We understand that the folks who end up camping in the river bottom are usually down on their luck, but it is illegal for them to be there.  Not only is it unsafe for them, they usually are living in very unsanitary conditions that can negatively impact their health and the health of the river’s ecosystem.”

We decide to cross over to the island in the middle of the river, using a makeshift bridge of logs, planks, and rocks.  Yours truly needs a stick for balance, while Jess hops over like the nature girl she is.  There has been a crew on the island recently from the Coast Guard, cutting arundo and hauling away garbage, and we are checking out the current status.  It’s looking better but a lot more needs to be done.

Nikolai is actively seeking more volunteers to patrol with her; it is more secure to travel in pairs.  “Our goal in monitoring and patrolling the Ventura River estuary is to keep it clean and safe.  We work with volunteers to clean up trash, clear trails and report any illegal activity.”  Anyone interested in joining her, learning about this natural area, and helping keep the area safe and environmentally viable, can contact her at [email protected].

 

Vol. 9, No. 17 – May 25 – June 7, 2016 – Music Calendar

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Mondays: Open mic
Wed 5/25: Musicians Brew
Thurs 5/26: After the Smoke
Fri 5/27: 5 pm Karen Eden; 9 pm Corsican Brothers
Sat 5/28: DJ Defcon
Sun 5/29: 5 pm Seaside Band; 9 pm Karaoke
Tues 5/31: Shure Thing
Thurs 6/2: Smokey & Friends
Fri 6/3: Freeman James & Friends
Sat 6/4: Barrelhouse Wailers
Sun 6/5: 5 pm The Tossers; 9 pm Karaoke
Tues 6/7: Blues Bullet

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California St.
805-643-4404
Wed 5/25: The Jam with Mark Masson & Friends

 The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Thurs & Fridays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Mondays: 6 pm The Estrada Band
Tuesdays: RJ Mischo & the Down Home Trio

Dargan’s
593 E. Main Street
Sun 6/5: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Wed 5/25: Starlight Swing Night w/ Lance
Thurs 5/26: Sun Dried Vibes
Fri 5/27: Roddy Radiation & the Skabilly Rebels
Sat 5/28: Future Disco
Sun 5/29: Spencer Fischer DJ
Thurs 6/2: After the Smoke
Fri 6/3: Zoso

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends; 9:30 DJ/Karaoke by DJ Gold Dust
Saturdays: DJ Erock

The Garage
1091 Scandia Avenue
Thurs 5/26: Louise Distras, Ryham Davidson, Brittney Burchett
Sat 5/28: Sex Tape

GiGi’s
2493 Grand Avenue
Thurs & Fridays: Karaoke
Sat 6/4: The Deaf Pilots

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic

Gone West Cellars
5963 Olivas park Drive
Music Fridays 6-8 pm
Fri 5/27: Double Trouble

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Fri 5/27: Malynda Hale
Sat 5/28: TD Lind w/ Danny McGaw
Sun 5/29: Ones to Watch – Mimi Gilbert
Fri 6/3: Rivvrs
Sat 6/4: Ones to Watch – The Brambles

The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show; DJ dancing

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band swing night
Fri 5/27: Hi Hat Show – Rob Rio
Fri 6/3: Hi Hat Show – Deke Dickerson & the Eccofonics

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 5/27: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sat 5/28: Black Canyon Band
Fri 6/3: Action Down
Sat 6/4: Vital Itch

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Wed 5/25: The Expendables
Sat 5/28: Saul Hernandez
Thurs 6/2: Bad Religion

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri & Sat at 5; Sundays at 3
Fri 5/27: Steve Stafford
Sat 5/28: Action Down
Sun 5/29: Tommy Quayle
Fri 6/3: Corsican Brothers
Sat 6/4: Mike Martinez
Sun 6/5: The Swillys

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Wed 5/25: Karaoke
Fri 5/27: Live Band Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Plan B Wine Cellars
3520 Arundell
Sat 5/28: 3:30 pm Pete Anderson Band

Poinsettia Pavillion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Sun 6/5: 2 pm Old Country-Grass Band
Mon 6/6:  Monday Night Dance Club with Dick Parent Band

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Encore
Saturdays: Beach City Sound Club

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night

Rookies Sports Bar & Grill
419 E. Main Street
(805) 648-6862

Saloon BBQ Co.
456 E. Main Street
Fri 5/27: Rich Sheldon
Sat 5/28: The Barrelhouse Wailers

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 5/28: Patrick Gillham
Sun 5/29: Sabastian Gagyi
Sat 6/4: Havilah Abrego
Sun 6/5: Mikey De Lara

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays:  DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Transform Tuesday
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 5/27: Sick Boy
Sat 5/28: Focke Wolves
Thurs 6/2: Mother of Dissension, Hymen Blasters
Fri 6/3: Alligator Dave

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 5/25: Silent Movies with Rick Friend
Thurs 5/26: Nahem Zdybel Trio
Fri 5/27: Doug Webb & Friends
Sat 5/28: Colin Bailey & Friends
Wed 6/1: D.on Darox and the Melody Joy Bakers
Thurs 6/2: Tom Buckner & Friends
Fri 6/3: Tony Ybarra & Friends
Sat 6/4: Mitch Forman Trio
Tues 6/7: Jazz Jam

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Fri 5/27: Big Adventure
Sat 5/28: Brandon Ragan Project
Fri 6/3: Gutterbing
Sat 6/4: Crosscut

Surf Brewery
4561 Market Street
Music 6-8 pm
Sat 5/28: Mitchell Blake
Sat 6/4: Mike Fishell & Friends

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
Sunday open mics
Karaoke Tuesdays
Metal Music Wednesdays
DJs every Thursday college night
Fri 5/27: The Rubberneck Lions
Sat 5/28: The Caverns
Sat 6/4: I Want My 80s

VFW Hall
3801 Market Street
Saturdays: 4-8 pm Captain Ron

W20 at the Watermark
598 E. Main Street
Thurs 5/26: Addisyn Emery
Fri 5/27: GrooveSession
Sat 5/28: The Bomb
Sun 5/29: 3 pm Action Down
Thurs 6/2: Jade Hendrix
Fri 6/3: Karen Eden; Mini Driver
Sat 6/4: The Bomb
Sun 6/5: 11 am David Patt; Anchor & Bear

The Wine Rack
14 S. California Street
Music runs 7-11 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm
Sundays: B&V Acoustics
Mondays: Open Mic
Tuesdays: Keith Cain
Wednesday: Danielle Stacy
Thurs 5/12: Jon Gindick
Fri 5/27: The Ventura Jazz Collective
Sat 5/28: B&V Acoustics
Fri 6/3: Jae Hatt
Sat 6/4: Jodi Farrell

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harborz
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe

Vol. 9, No. 17 – May 25 – June 7, 2016 – Ventura Music Scene

music scene

Who to watch
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Ones to Watch Productions will be hosting a number of showcases at Grapes and Hops on Main Street.  Mimi Gilbert will be there on Saturday, May 28, and The Brambles on Saturday, June 4th.  Steve and Polly Hoganson (formerly of Zoey’s) most certainly have their fingers on the pulse of up and coming artists to watch for, so be sure to support their showcases here in town!

Radio Skies CD release party will be held indoors and out at the Ventura Beach Club On Saturday, May 28 with several bands and artists on the bill in what they’re calling a “One Night Micro Fest”.  If you’re not familiar with them, the band, Radio Skies is out of Ojai, and find their inspiration from the songwriting of Paul Simon, the electronic landscapes of Brian Eno and the spirit of the Grateful Dead with their sound described as folk roots, electronic, psychedelia.  Other bands on the line up include Pacific Haze, The Brambles, 9Lives and Brion Shearer.

The Libbey Bowl 2016 season has a number of events lined up for the next several months including several dates for the 70th Ojai Music Festival in June; concerts with Rick Springfield, Ozomatli, Michael McDonald, The Zombies and a special intimate concert with Don Felder of the Eagles benefiting Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation and the Ojai Community Foundation in October; and coming up immediately is an Ojai VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) free Memorial Day concert featuring Veteran speakers, and music from Nordhoff High School, US Air Force Band and the Ventura British Brass.  For more information on Libbey shows, check out www.LibbeyBowl.org.

Hi Hat Entertainment has landed at the Hong Kong Inn for their Friday night Blues concerts. Shows on their roster include the boss of boogie Woogie, Rob Rio, who will be in the house on Friday, May 27; Keke Dickerson and the Eccofonics, famous for their Western Rockabilly sound on Friday, June 3rd; and The Bruce Katz Band will be there on Friday, June 10. Katz was inducted into the Blues hall of Fame in 2013. Hi Hat has a solid up line through August; you can check out their line up at www.HiHatEntertainment.com.

By the way, if you’re planning on catching Bad Religion at the Ventura Theater on Thursday, June 2, then you’ll want to extend the fun afterwards at Sans Souci with Mother of Dissension and The Hymen Blasters.

And of course the summer fun officially starts with Roadshow Revival, (now being called) A Celebration of American Roots Music, at Mission Park on June 25th and 26th.  I’m looking forward to catching John Doe, The Paladins, The Blasters, Robert Gordon, and tons of other acts performing over the weekend. Information and tickets can be found at www.RoadshowRevival.com.

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Vol. 9, No. 17 – May 25 – June 7, 2016 – Ojai News & Events

“Shades Of Gray,” the 13th annual Ojai Art Center Photography Branch juried exhibit, opens on Saturday, June 4, with a free opening reception from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The exhibit runs through June 29 at the Ojai Art Center Gallery, 113 South Montgomery St.

Once it was the only choice open to a photographer, but now black and white imaging has become an outstanding medium of artistic expression. All photographs in this year’s exhibit are in black, white, and shades of gray; and because the theme is open, many different genres and techniques will be represented. For full information please visit: http://ojaiacphoto.org

The Ojai Valley Friends and its bookstore, Twice-Sold Tales, invites you once again to the Library book store’s annual Memorial Day Weekend book sale. In what has now become an Ojai tradition, the fabulous Sale offers hundreds of books in an enormous variety of topics at unbelievably low prices! Colorful children’s books, tantalizing cook books, reference, self-help and historical volumes as well as popular fiction, religion and gardening in paperback and hardback will all be available for sale. Prices will range from 50 cents to $2.00 with a few individually priced rare books. This event is held on the patio and parking lot of the Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Avenue on May 28, 29, 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds go to the Ojai Valley Library Friends and Foundation, (OVLFF) a not for profit organization that provides funding for very special library programs

The Ventura County Potters’ Guild is a collective of ceramic artists is made up of professional and recreational potters and ceramists; instructors from local high schools and colleges; as well as people with a passion for ceramics. This year’s spring sale on June 11 and 12 in Libbey Park will be there 57th anniversary of celebrating the Guild’s fine ceramic artists along side of Ojai’s premier Music Festival. There will be a Guild themed competition, “Natural”, that will be juried as well as a People’s Choice Award. Please come vote for your favorite piece! Demonstrations that will entertain both children and adults are planned. For more information, call  644-6800

Fayrene Parrish, Painter and Sculptor will be having a ‘Showcase Exhibit” at the Ojai Art Center beginning June 4. Fayrene’s work is in private and corporate collections throughout the world, including the United States Government. She is also an illustrator and author of ‘How To Books’ for all ages, including for children, in “The Shipmates Coloring Adventure Series.”

After a 20 year stay in the Northwest, she and her husband Ted,  have returned and are living in Ojai.  She will be displaying and selling sculpture, paintings and books at the Ojai Art Center through June 29th. Her website is www.fayreneparrish.com

OjaiCARES, Ojai’s cancer resource center, will present the second in their free health education series, Confounding Cancer with Immune & Metabolic Therapies. Dr. Nasha Winters will share emerging therapies & applications of mistletoe, IV Vitamin C, Cannabinoids, Hyperthermia and the Ketogenic Diet.

Held at The Ojai Retreat, 160 Besant Road  on Friday June 17th from 7 to 9:30 pm

Free of charge to all. Visit ojaicares.org or 646-6433 for more information

The Ojai Valley Lions Club, along with local support, is hosting a benefit to help the Melendez Family as they support their son Jayden who has been diagnosed with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

On Saturday, June 4, from 12:00 – 5:00 P.M. at the Oak View Park and Resource Center, 555 Mahoney Avenue Oak View.

Come out to enjoy a fun day of play that includes exciting carnival games, music, a fabulous silent auction, jumpers, face painting, delicious food and beer garden. Proceeds will be used by the family to help with medical expenses, gas, meals and additional costs associated with caring for their son as he undergoes treatment. Online donations can be made at http://jays-journey.weebly.com/play4jay.html

“Soldier On … Wit Wisdom War” is an artistic celebration of our soldiers over the last century, featuring two one-act plays, songs, poems and dialogs, mostly from Ventura County residents. Produced by Ojai ACT, it runs for one night only, 7 p.m. Monday, May 30 at the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St. No reservations are necessary and a $5 donation is requested. 452-2885 for more information.