Dr. Arthur Vander will visit the Ojai Library at 1pm on Saturday, March 21, to present a talk titled “Intestinal Microbes and the Brain in Health and Disease.” He will also discuss what determines the composition of the intestinal microbiome, as well as the mechanisms by which it can alter the function of far-removed organs.

Ross Care will visit the Ojai Library at 6pm on Wednesday, March 25, to present a talk titled “Music and Animation: Wilfred Jackson and Disney Films.” Mr. Care will discuss the development and use of original music composed for classic Disney films, from the first sound cartoons (1928) through (approximately) Walt Disney’s death in 1965.

Opera Santa Barbara will return to the Ojai Library to present a Free Noontime Opera Concert on Thursday, March 26. The concert will begin at 12pm in the main room of the library and will last approximately 45 minutes.

These events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146.

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

Join Rev. Karen S. Wylie at The Ojai Retreat on Sunday, March 15, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., for her Mid-Month Devotional Retreat, this month devoted to “Meditation: The Doorway to the Self.”

“Any great student of truth will eventually come to ask the question, ‘Who am I?’”

People of all faiths and traditions, or no tradition, are welcome to attend. Randee Vasilakos, RScP, assists and anchors the gathering in a consciousness of prayer and healing.

The Ojai Retreat is at 160 Besant Road, Ojai. The retreat is by donation; $20 is suggested. For more information, contact Rev. Karen at 310-968-8928, or register online at www.karenswylie.com. Rev. Karen is the author of Into Me See: A Book for Daily Inspiration, available on Amazon and her website.

The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts is pleased to present Patricia Keller: The Lost City an exhibition of work created in Beatrice Wood’s studio in conjunction with the artist’s internship at the Center, on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The Opening Reception will begin at 2 pm, with the lecture presented at 4 pm.

A Ventura resident, Patricia Keller graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from California State University Channel Islands in 2019. She focused on ceramics, sculpture, and screen printing. Upon graduation, she was awarded an internship at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts.

I believe that the role of an artist is to be a steward of culture, but through experimentation, I have developed a confidence in storytelling.”

Admission is free. For more information, visit www.beatricewood.com, or call 805-646-3381. The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts is located at 8585 Ojai-Santa Paula Road in Upper Ojai.

The Ojai Photography Community welcomes professional photographer Gary Moss to its March event. His presentation will be “Looking Outside Your Visual Box and Enhancing Your Creative Process.” He will discuss the value of photo editing for strength and how to deconstruct the creative process by asking, “Does my photography have the artistic vision I look for?” The free event will begin at 7 p.m. March 17, at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana Street.

A highly skilled and accomplished professional photographer, Moss is the Photo Editor of 805 Living magazine.

Although most photographers shoot in a single discipline, Moss’s work bridges many disciplines, creating stunning images from a variety of different genres. Visit the Gary Moss website for extended information and images: www.garymossphotography.com/

On Instagram: garymossfotos and garymossfoodfotos

The Ojai Photography Community, which is devoted to inspiration, camaraderie and education, meets on the third Tuesday of each month, February – November. Monthly free presentations are part of the group’s community service and education outreach.

by Ana Baker

Free Adult Grief & Bereavement Support Groups
Every Wednesday, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free for anyone who has lost a loved one.
Receive emotional and educational support. Held at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, 1996 Eastman Ave., Ste. 109. Call (805) 642-0239 for more information.

Living with Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes Classes
1st Tuesday of the Month (April 7), from 1 – 2:30 p.m. Free informational class that teaches you how to manage your life with diabetes. Held at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, 1996 Eastman Ave., Ste. 109. Call (805) 642-0239 for more information.

The Compassionate Friends of West Ventura County is a support group for those who have experienced the loss of a child. Parents, grandparents, and siblings (over age 14) are all welcome. The group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7p.m. at the Pointsettia Pavilion, Canada Larga room, 3451 Foothill Road. For more information, contact Laura Lindsay at (805) 836-9100.

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club meets first 2 Monday nights of the month 7:30 p.m. Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill. Swing, line dance, waltz, Latin and more. First dance lessons are free 6:40 p.m. Call Rick (805) 415-8842 and www.poinsettiadancers.org for more information.

There will be a regular Ventura Discussion Group meeting at Main Street Restaurant 3159 Main St., Wednesday from 4 – 5:45 p.m. Several people usually stay for a drink and a bite to eat afterward. Bring an interesting topic to discuss if you can.

Ventura’s ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club offers games for all levels of play.  Learn the game, play with your peers, and earn master points while you are having fun.  There is a game every day of the week.  Check out their website at www.vcbridge.org

Country Western Line Dancing every Tuesday 7 – 9 p.m. Instruction every night. Located at the Moose lodge, 10269 Telephone Road. More information at countrylovers.com.

Cross Town Hikers join in on Wednesday nights for a moderate-paced hike that includes views of Ventura from the cross, a walk out to the end of the pier, and a stroll along the Promenade back to the Museum. Four miles with an 800-foot elevation gain. Meet at 7 p.m. sharp at the fountain across the street from the Mission. Join Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/800215670039426/

The members of the Ventura Investment Group meet on Mondays for an informal discussion of recent economic events.  Topics cover current events that affect stocks, funds, real estate, and interest-bearing investments.  The meeting is from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Telephone Road and Main Street.  Visitors and potential members are welcomed.  There are no dues or requirements to participate, and all levels of experience are welcomed.

Brain Injury Center of Ventura County. www.BrainInjuryCenter.org
Support Groups for brain injury/ stroke survivors and their family/caregivers
Learn more about brain injury/stroke and available services. Meet others who are facing or have faced similar challenges. Meet new friends and connections, give and receive support.

Encounter Church 6950 Ralston St., Bldg. #300 (805) 482-1312

2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 4-5:30 p.m.

Men are you retired and routine-tired? Ventura Retired Men suggest you visit a Social Lunch Meeting on the first or third Tuesday each month at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Stop in, say hello, have a sip at the bar if you like, they will buy you lunch, and you can sample the hospitality as they go through activities and hear the speaker of the day. Bob Likins can tell you more at 805-587-1233.

Are you a stamp collector? The Ventura County Philatelic Society meet on the first and third Mondays each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Rd.

Admission and parking are free. Come for a great evening.

Contact: Bill Garner (805) 320-1601 or [email protected]

The Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike) is a non-profit recreational organization. The club’s purpose is to promote bicycling for recreation, health, sport and transportation. The meetings are held on the second Wednesday of March, April, May, September, October and November. Museum of Ventura County, Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a refreshment social and the presentation begins at 7p.m. The March meeting will feature an informative heart health presentation by a professional from Community Memorial Hospital. For more information, please visit www.cibike.org or contact [email protected].

March 14: Animal Tracks in The Garden. Have you noticed animal tracks while hiking Ventura Botanical Gardens or in your own backyard and wondered what animal made those tracks? Explore the world of animal tracking with Wyatt Harris, President of Ventura Wildlife Trackers. Informational presentation plus opportunity for attendees to spot and identify animal tracks within the Ventura Botanical Gardens. Free to members. Non-member: $10 fee includes $7 non-member admission. Registration is required at www.venturabotanicalgardens.com. Limited enrollment.

March 11 and April 8: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a meeting on Wednesday, March 11^th

at 6:30 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. The first part of the meeting will be an instructional workshop. This will be followed by the showing of member images. This is not a competition but rather an anonymous discussion of the images. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. Only members may submit images for critique. See the club’s web site for more information or call 908-5663. WWW.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com

March 15: The 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, 4667 Telegraph Road. The meeting starts at noon and at 11a.m. There will be an informal workshop where a topic on clocks or watches will be demonstrated and discussed.  A mart will be available with items for sale followed by lunch and an informational meeting and a program at 1p.m. The program this month will be a presentation Ken McWilliams on Seth Thomas Tower Clocks. Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Ventura College location. More information about chapter 190 can be found at www.nawcc-ch190.com.

March 19: Meeting of East Ventura Community Council will include, Ashdon Development, which is developing the commercial property on Wells and Darling. Stacey Zarazua, Recreation Manager of Ventura’s Parks, Recreation and Community Partnership Department, will speak about the Community Park. A representative of the Ventura Police Department will present neighborhood crime statistics.

Other items may be added to the agenda, so check the website for updates.(www.eastventura.org)

Books in good condition are always accepted on behalf of Friends of the Library. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Connect Church, 346 N. Kimball Rd. For more information, contact Marie Lakin, Chairperson: [email protected]

March 28: Spring Migration Bird Walk along the Santa Clara River hosted by the Nature Conservancy 9-11a.m.  Join naturalist Amy Davis to discover a Nature Conservancy property along Santa Clara River corridor and the life that thrives there. Many birds use the river for a reprieve during migrations. We’ll look for raptors, wading birds and the endangered Bell’s Vireo and Least Flycatcher. Since this area is not open to the public, this is a great way to discover one of the largest watersheds in Southern California.  Wear durable hiking shoes, layers and bring water. The walk is roughly 1 1/2- 2 miles. Binoculars suggested.  1368 Mission rock Rd. Santa Paula, CA.  Meet at the end of Mission Rock Road.  For questions, contact Amy at [email protected] or 770-853-4715.