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Project Understanding announces 2017 Shining Star Award Winners

Matt and Dawn Bianchini of Richard H. Bejune Memorial Foundation, Janine Dykstra and Sheldon who presented their Shining Star Award.

Project Understanding of San Buenaventura held their annual “Shining Star Awards” on Thursday, February 9, at the Poinsettia Pavilion. The evening event was a celebration where they honored their outstanding community volunteers and partners and was highly attended by city officials, legislative representatives, local business owners, the faith community and supporters.

Among the honorees were Meg Perry and Gina Norstedt – Administration Volunteer of the Year; Karen Collier and Carolyn Tabor – Tender Life Volunteer of the Year; David Ensminger – Tutoring Volunteer of the Year; Nita Perkins – First Step Volunteer of the Year; Joanna Norstedt – Food Pantry Volunteer of the Year; Oxnard Monday Club – Philanthropists of the Year; CAPS Media – Collaborating Partner of the Year; Richard H. Bejune Memorial Foundation – Community Partner of the Year; MortgageCouch – Business of the Year; Ventura Seventh-Day Adventists Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – House of Worship; Janine Dykstra – Employee of the Year; Carol and Larry Dawes – Donors of the Year; Charleen Morla and Kellie Meehan – Board Members of the Year; Karol Schulkin – Shalom Award; and Lynn Geller – Shining Star Volunteer of the Year.

Ventura Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann served as Master of Ceremonies. Many community leaders presented awards, including several government officials: Michael Powers, Chief Executive Officer, Ventura County; Matt LeVere, Ventura Councilmember; Patti Quiroz, representing Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson; and Jeannette Sanchez-Palacio, representing Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. County School Superintendent Dr. Stan Mantooth presented on behalf of the educational community.

Other presenters included Betsy Chess, Limoneira; Dave Schulze, Ventura Church of Christ; Sheldon Brown, Ventura Breeze; Lisa Anglin, Fidelity National Title; Rick Pearson, North Oxnard United Methodist Church (former E.D. of Project); Kevin Clerici, Downtown Ventura Partners; Aaron Shiah, ServiceMaster Restoration & Cleaning by Integrity; Suki Sir, Turning Point Foundation; and Dan Stevens, namesake of the Dan Stevens Shalom Award (former pastor of Orchard Community Church).

The event was generously sponsored by: Oxnard Monday Club, Riviera Bronze and the National Charity League Juniors of Ventura County.

“This was a pleasant event to honor our community volunteers and partners. It was great way to kick off our celebration for Project Understanding’s 40th Year Anniversary this year. The success of the past forty years truly could not have been done without the support, partnerships and dedication of those we celebrated tonight and those who have carried our organization and believed in our mission throughout the years,” said Jann Huling, President of Project Understanding.

Founded in 1977, Project Understanding provides hope by developing and directing resources for the purpose of transforming lives and community through justice, mercy and compassion. For 40 years, Project Understanding has been assisting people reach their highest attainable level of independence. For more information on Project Understanding, please visit www.projectunderstanding.org.

Horsepower for an Hour – Your Ultimate Stop in Automotive Radio

Tom Spence and Donny Caccamise began their show at local News Talk 1590 KVTA.

Seven years ago, here in Ventura an automotive talk radio show began its humble rise to the top at the Gold Coast broadcasting studios, home of News Talk 1590 KVTA.  In the beginning, Donny Caccamise, Tom Spence, Jim Naylor and Jeff Morgulis set about to create, produce, and market a unique and specific automotive broadcast that reports on trends and news in the automotive industry. Since then, they have become the largest automotive talk radio show in America with an impressive coverage area that also includes 172 countries via the Armed Forces American veterans Radio Network.

This isn’t a show for your average car owner; they’re not trying to replace the now defunct Car Talk. This is a hard-hitting news and editorial program that’s targeted at “car enthusiasts”- from the shade-tree mechanic to the professional technician, racing enthusiasts to the engineer, and everyone in between. Their tagline is,  “We Are Your Ultimate Stop in Automotive Radio”

Horsepower for an Hour is a well-produced, professional show that’s now heavily syndicated across 43 states here in the U.S. and is heard on 155 radio stations. The show is also available digitally across several platforms including iPhone and Android App Stores as well as iTunes and Stitcher.

Horsepower for an Hour is a two-hour program that is currently pre-recorded every week at the ATRA (Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association) network studios, then delivered via Westwood One Satellite Radio to its various affiliate stations across the country. You can visit their website and stream the show at www.HorsepowerOnline.com.

The first hour consists of news, views, and headlines with a quick trip down memory lane, as the cast, including classic car specialist Ken Hale, discuss the “Clash of the Classics” segment. It’s a wildly entertaining classic car battle where two classic models are pitted against one another

The second hour is all about the dedicated “gearhead”, where they talk about hotrods and high performance topics, it’s where listeners can learn about dual-clutch transmissions, torque converters, direct injection, and more.

Donny Caccamise is host and creator of Horsepower for an Hour, he owns an automatic transmission service center here in Ventura DMC Transmissions specializing in automatic transmission and differential systems. He is an automotive technology graduate with over 30 years of experience.

Tom Spence (member of the KVTA morning show) is co-host and leads the automotive “News and Views” segments in both hours. Spence has been in radio since 1979 and is the creative force behind the programming and production.

Jeff Morgulis is General Manager and is solely responsible for the placement of the show around the nation.

Jim Naylor owns the Ventura Raceway, and, when it comes to automotive racing and motorsports, no one is more knowledgeable

Ken Hale is the resident classic car specialist, no one knows more about classic cars than Ken.

Chris Caccamise is editor and videographer and to say he is brilliant is an understatement according to Donny.

“Most guys want to be more knowledgeable about cars” explains Donny. “They don’t necessarily want to be technicians or engine rebuilders, but they do want to know what a MacPherson strut suspension is, and the difference between a dual-clutch transmission and a conventional automatic transmission. Many people want to know more about these things, and we want to provide them with the information that’ll help them be more comfortable talking about their cars”.

The Polymath of City Hall-Peter Brown

For more than two decades Peter Brown has been focusing on the local homeless problem.

by Randal Beeman

If the movie Caddyshack taught us anything, it is that golf is both therapy for the tired soul and a metaphor for the fundamental contradictions in life. Peter Brown tries to play a lot of golf. Peter Brown NEEDS golf, because Peter Brown is a busy guy who lives with a lot of contradictions.

As both the Code Enforcement Manager and Community Development Manager for the City of Ventura, Brown is a perpetual motion machine, fielding interview questions at his desk whilst answering emails, checking texts, and signing a stack of forms at his cluttered workstation. Brown, 53, a White Plains, New York native and a UCSB grad, is tasked with two seemingly contradictory missions.

For example, Brown’s Code staff recently had to play the bad cop and red tag (shut down) at 10 unit apartment complex near downtown because the owner had completed unpermitted renovations that were not up to code and unsafe for the (now at risk of being homeless) tenants. He points out that his Code Enforcement Officers wear kevlar vests on these ventures, and they have the same status as other law enforcement members, including extra penalties for anyone committing an assault on one of his team. Though the landlord has to pay two month’s rent, those tenants with fixed or modest incomes face finding an apartment in a tight marketplace with rents often reaching over $2000 a month for a mediocre unit. Peter Brown the Community Development Manager now has to play the good cop and work within the social and housing systems to help find these folks a place to live.

Brown notes that in a city of 107,500, a staff of only four Code Enforcement Officers (and their support squad of another 3.5 FTE’s), is overwhelmed by the weight of their duties, They deal with life threatening issues first and foremost, but his office also fields calls for plumbing and sewage violations, people camping in their cars, illgal signage on local businesses, stray basketball goals on a cul-de-sac, and complaints related to short term rental sites like Airbnb. Much of what concerns Brown relates to the dearth of affordable housing in Ventura.

Ventura County is one of the most expensive housing and rental markets in the nation, contributing to the homeless problem and making home ownership difficult for young families. A town known for slow growth policies, Venturans openly lament the lack of affordable housing for their offspring, Brown opines, while simultaneously opposing the construction of affordable multi-family units, especially if it impacts their particular neighborhood.

Brown’s passion and the bulk of his more than two decades working for the city has been focused on the local homeless problem, an issue upscale tourist oriented towns like Ventura have labored with for years – in Ventura with some modest success. The city’s official homeless count dropped from around 700 in 2011 to just over 300 in 2016, though Brown cautions the number will probably go up slightly this year.

The Safe and Clean Public Places Initiative, adopted by a very creative City Council in November 2011, seeks to link the homeless population with the drug treatment, mental health care, and social services support network in the community. With the Ventura Police Department Patrol Task Force leading the way, Brown and his team visit the sundry homeless camps on the fringes of Ventura. They specifically ask – “how can we help you out of this situation? What do you need?”

Brown emphatically states he does not make policy, he only implements policies directed from the City Council and City Manager. One project he hopes comes to fruition is Ventura joining with Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and the County CEO’s office to convince all of the communities of Ventura County to sign a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) stating that since social service agency laden Ventura and Oxnard are disproportionately impacted by the homeless problem, that the other cities step forward to ‘take care of their own’.

He brings out charts and statistics showing where police and fire vagrancy related calls for service are most frequent, and the hotspots in downtown and West Ventura concern Brown. Brown goes back to his computer screen as the phone rings and there is another knock at the door. And somewhere a golf ball fears its next encounter with Peter Brown.

Temple Beth Torah

Temple Beth Torah presents, “The Magic of Purim Carnival.” The theme for this year’s carnival is magic; those who attend are encouraged to dress in costume (not a requirement). The location for the carnival is at Temple Beth Torah – 7620 Foothill Rd. The date is Sunday, March 12th, from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm. Admission is $12 per child and $10 for siblings. Activities at the event will include; a Magic Show, Rockwall/Bungee Jump, Bouncy, Games & Prizes, Glow Room, Live Music, Glitter Tattoos, and much more! Pizza, snacks, and homemade baked goods will be available for purchase as well.

For more information contact 647-4181.

Volunteers to be Honored at Wish Night 2017 Gala

Francisco Bracho, M.D. from the Face of Ventura by Johanna Spinks as featured in the Ventura Breeze.

Two volunteers will be honored by Make-A-Wish® Tri-Counties at the 8th Annual Wish Night gala on March 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Westlake Village. Meredith Garofalo/KEYT News Channel 3 has been named community partner of the year for her dedicated community outreach efforts.  Francisco Bracho, M.D., will receive the honor of healthcare professional of the year for his tireless work for Wish kids battling life-threatening medical conditions and their families.

“Meredith and Dr. Bracho dedicate countless hours supporting the work of Make-A-Wish ®Tri-Counties. We are fortunate to work with these dedicated professionals and it’s truly an honor to recognize them for their service,” said Pattie Mullins, CEO, Make-A-Wish® Tri-Counties. Dr. Bracho has worked magic to support our program making it possible for wish kids to travel safely and experience the power of a wish.”

Garofalo, a Santa Barbara resident, has worked as a meteorologist for KEYT News Channel 3 in Santa Barbara for three years.

As founding director of the program for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Ventura County Medical Center, Dr. Bracho was instrumental in providing a local facility for treatment of many seriously ill children, especially those with cancer. He says it is a privilege to unburden these families with quality local care. The bonus is he can also refer those children to Make-A-Wish® Tri-Counties.

“One of my most memorable moments was getting a picture of a 3-year-old wish kid giving the “thumbs up” from the cockpit of a plane, on his way to a special place,” said Dr. Bracho. Several years later, MAWTC asked him to serve as Medical Advisor. “I was honored then as I am now. Make-A-Wish® Tri-Counties continues to be one of the brightest lights here in our area.”

Wish Night will be held from 6-9:30 p.m. and guests will have the opportunity to help make wishes come true through Fund-A-Wish. The evening also features heartfelt wish stories, a plated dinner, a wine wall, live music and silent and live auctions. Philanthropist and reality TV show personality Andrew Firestone will serve as master of ceremonies.

Last year Make-A-Wish® Tri-Counties granted over 90 wishes for local children throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. This year’s goal is 100 wishes. For tickets and/or sponsorship information, visit http://tri-counties.wish.org/ or email [email protected] or call the Wish Center at 826-1178.

Audubon field trips and events

March 4     8:30 a.m.   Hill Canyon at Santa Rosa County Park, Camarillo
Linda Easter  482-7537.
Hill Canyon has several habitats including chaparral, oak woodland, and riparian.  We will look for woodpeckers, towhees, sparrows, hawks, swifts, and as many as five species of wrens.  Park in the Santa Rosa County Park area where the charge is $2 per vehicle.

March 5     8:00 a.m.  Work Day Hedrick Ranch Nature Area.   Sandy Hedrick  340-0478.
Arrive at 8:00 for self-guided birding which usually yields some interesting birds. Work from 9am – noon. Long pants and boots or closed shoes are required. Bring water, gloves and sun protection.

March 11   8:30 a.m.   The Nature Conservancy Hanson Property.
Karl Krause,  [email protected],    415-0188
This walk will be limited to 15 people. Participants will need to complete a TNC Liability Release and Waiver form prior to the trip. Please contact Karl Krause to reserve a space and obtain a blank release form.

This is an opportunity to visit the TNC Hanson Property along the Santa Clara River and see the habitat restoration work being done by the Nature Conservancy.

March 14 at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road at 7:30 an informative presentation of two essential restoration and conservation projects that serve to protect and develop habitat in our area.  Scientists from the Riparian Invasion Research Lab (RIVRLab) at UCSB are conducting a large scale restoration on over 200 acres of riparian habitat in the Santa Clara River in Santa Paula and Fillmore.  The goals of this project are to remove the invasive giant reed Arundo and reestablish native woodland and scrub habitat to benefit wildlife, including the Least Bell’s Vireo and the Southwest Willow Flycatcher.

March 18   8:30 a.m.     Foster Park   David Lee 451-3504
Meet inside the entrance to the. There will be a good opportunity to see riparian species such as great blue and other herons, forest accipiters, neotropical migrants and various sparrows.

March 19    8:30 a.m.    Wheeler Canyon  Raeanne Koerner   701-1919
This canyon provides good birding opportunities. Looking for raptors, ground doves, Western Bluebirds and maybe a Lewis’ Woodpecker.

March 21   8:30 a.m.   Krotona   Adele Fergusson   415-4304
Krotona Institute is a theosophical study center, with acres of beautiful grounds, including grasslands, pines, oaks, and ornamental plants with lot of water features.  Field Sparrow was seen here last winter a good place to discover raptors flying over.

March 25   8:30 a.m.   Ventura Hillsides   Jackie Worden   [email protected]
Audubon members only are invited to visit a private ranch which Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) is working to purchase and preserve for hiking, biking, and nature loving. Coastal sage scrub, oak woodland and riparian corridors are found within the annual grasslands of this beautiful parcel. To reserve your spot and receive additional event details, RSVP to the Jackie Worden on or before March 15th.  Space is limited to 25 participants and reservations are on a first come, first served basis.

BikeVentura is having a launch party

VCCOOL, a grassroots climate change organization is launching a new initiative, BikeVentura. A launch party is planned at the Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., on Saturday, March 4th from 7-10pm. Entertainment will be provided by The Salty Suites and there will be hors d’oeuvres provided by Scratch Ventura. There will be a cash bar with beer provided by Topa Topa Brewery. All proceeds benefit BikeVentura, a 501(3C) organization. The public is welcome, please RSVP for the event on The Ventura Bike HUB’s Facebook page.

BikeVentura is a political action and advocacy initiative, tasked with coordinating with city and county government throughout Ventura County to insure bicyclist safety, bicycle-centered active transportation and road use. Readers may be familiar with The Ventura Bike Hub, another VCCOOL program, that is closely aligned with BikeVentura. “BikeVentura was created to serve the needs of our community through education, empowerment and advocacy,” said Yvonne Adan, acting Executive Director. “Through our Bike HUB, our Kids Club program or our collaboration with local government, BikeVentura brings the community together and is helping to build better bicycle culture in Ventura,” said Heidi Buccola, VCCOOL Board Member.

Fair accepting entries from artists for poster contest

Anna Sorensen and Annie Sunwere were 2015 winners of the fair poster contest.

The 8th annual Ventura County Fair poster contest is now open and accepting entries from artists in grades 5 – 12 who reside in Ventura County.

The theme of the 2017 Fair is “Rooted in Tradition” and will serve as the guideline to the imagery.

Artwork may be created in any medium but may not include the use of glitter, metallic paint, or 3 dimensional objects attached to the artwork.

Poster designs will be judged on Theme, Originality, Composition and Skill.  Entries will be accepted until the entry deadline, Friday, April 7. Entries can be brought to the Fairgrounds administration office at 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8AM until 5PM. Please note: Fairgrounds offices are closed for lunch daily from 12:00 – 1:00 PM.

​Rules, deadlines and other information can be found on the Fair website, www.venturacountyfair.org.  For more information about the contest call 648-3376  or send an email to [email protected]. (Please put “Poster Contest” in the subject line)

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries, First prize: $500, Second Prize: $250, Third Prize: $100

The winning design will be used to advertise the Fair on Fair posters, souvenirs, advertisements and other applications. Second and third place winners will also be used in various Fair publicity applications. All entries will be displayed in the Youth Expo at the Ventura County Fair. Each child who enters will receive 2 Fair admission tickets and will ride with the Junior Fair Board in the 2017 Ventura County Fair Parade.

​The Ventura County Fair will begin its annual 12-day run Wednesday, August 2 and continue until Sunday, August 13.

For more information about the Fair, or the poster contest, please call the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 648-3376 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org.

Roasted chicken with vegetables is on the menu

Having grown up in the restaurant business, Judy Gilliard pursued her love of the hospitality business and obtained a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management from Santa Barbara Community College, and received her teaching credentials in food and food technology from the University of California.

Judy wrote a column “Simply Entertaining” for Emeril Lagasse on emeril.com for three years. Judy has authored 10 cookbooks, had both a local and syndicated radio show and did a regular TV cooking segment for the CBS station in Lincoln, NE. She has been teaching cooking classes for the home cook that focuses on good, healthy, and fast in the Midwest for the last several years.

Now returning to her home town she is teaching classes at VACE (Ventura Adult and Continuing Education) and Barranca Vista Center along with a catering service. Most people don’t realize how expensive setting up a hospitality business is but because Judy has been in the industry so long, she knew to get Hospitality Finance to help pay for the last bits of equipment she needed before opening.

Now you can get processed foods out of the pantry, by learning to cook with natural, simple, budget-friendly foods. The recipes and techniques are designed to help you get or keep you in good health by creating meals with the fresh foods of the seasons, including vegan and vegetarian options.

Her first class is on Tuesday, March 7th from 6-8pm.

Barranca Vista Center, 7050 Ralston St, 644-6542

$80.00 (Resident) $88.00 (Non-resident)
$28 material fee to instructor at first class

Check Judy’s website to see what is on the menu for each month www.chefjudy.net

Vol. 10, No. 11 – March 1 – March 14, 2017 – Events

Events by Ana Baker

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club meets every Monday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill. Ballroom, swing, Latin, mixers and line dancing. Members $10, non-members $12. Call Rick at 415-8842 for more information.

The U.S. Navy Seabee Museum (USNSM) will be hosting a Seabee Celebration Day in honor of the 75th Anniversary of Seabee history.   All programs are free, and there is no museum entrance fee.  There will be two “Behind the Scenes Tours,” at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  Discover the hidden work of the Museum Professionals. Due to limited space the Tour is by reservation only. To reserve a spot 982-6189.  An “Old Salt – Family Fun Day” program at noon for children ages 6-12, along with hands on activities.  Seabee Cinema Night at 5 p.m.  The film is the “Fighting Seabees. The USNSM is free to the public, located between Channel Island Boulevard, and Pleasant Valley Road on Ventura Road at Sunkist Street.  The Museum is off-base and is easily accessible from the street, so no base entry is required.

March 4,5: The 55th Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Lapidary Arts Show of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society (VGMS) takes place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  The show is open to the public, and admission is free.  With a focus on kids and education, lapidary arts and jewelry-making, and California rocks and fossils, the Ventura Gem & Lapidary Arts Show has been a fun family event for 55 years.  During the pre-show dinner on Friday, March 3, we will present a $1,000 Scholarship Award to geology student Anna Hilliard of Santa Barbara City College.

March 5: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent led tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. accompanied by period music in the parlor and upstairs library landing.  Admission is free.  The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets.  For information call 642-3345 or visit the website at www.dudleyhouse.org.

March 5: Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions is holding their monthly meeting at E.P. Foster Library, Topping Room, On Sunday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. “Creating World Peace” Author and activist Sanderson Beck discusses his new book, Uniting Humanity by Spiritual Evolution & Democratic Revolution:  Solutions to the mega crisis of climate, poverty and war.

March 5: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Association presents free music concerts on the first Sunday of every month at the Poinsettia Pavilion from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Featuring the authentic “Old Grass Band”.  Call 517-1131 for more information.

March 7: Ventura County Archery Club is a group of Traditional archers (only longbows and recurves) who foster and promote traditional archery with organized 3D shoots, field archery, and roving archery shoots in Ventura county with organized field outings to archery events throughout southern and northern California. They have dozens of shoots and outings throughout the year along with monthly scheduled shoots in Ventura. If you’re interested in joining  attend one of their meetings, the first Tuesday of every month at Barnes and Noble at 6 p.m.

March 7:  Heart disease kills more women each year than breast cancer yet is rarely discussed. Heart disease is usually thought of as a man’s disease but it is an equal opportunity problem. The public is invited to the Ventura County Mended Hearts Chapter program.  Andrea Ricketts will discuss the symptoms of heart disease specific to women and what can be done to minimize the risk of heart attack.  Ms. Ricketts is a Cardiac Surgery Nurse and Director of Community Memorial Health Systems Health Aware. Located on the 8th floor of Community Memorial Hospital, Tuesday, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

March 7:  Quail Forever Ventura will meet Tuesday, at 7 p.m. at Auto Masters, 4533 Telephone Road.

Quail Forever is a non-profit service organization dedicated to preservation and enhancement of wildlife habitat in Ventura County.  Much of QF’s work involves the maintenance and restoration of wildlife water sources, frequently called guzzlers.  Membership is open to all ages and interests.  Come to a meeting to see if QF is an organization of which you’d like to be a part.  Please call Brian Smith at 661.302.0582 or send an email to [email protected].  You may also email Ventura QF at [email protected].

March 8: Project Understanding – Charity Cafe Fundraiser at Red Brick Pizza (4990 Telephone Rd.), from 11:30am – 9pm. Enjoy healthy food ingredients are prepared fresh daily! At the time of ordering  mention Project Understanding. Red Brick Pizza will donate a healthy portion of that order to Project Understanding.

March 9: Westmont College Assistant Professor of Biology Amanda Sparkman will discuss new research on the evolution of dwarfism in Channel Islands reptiles, during the March From Shore to Sea lecture.

The Channel Islands are home to three reptile species that exhibit dwarfism, or have evolved into smaller forms than their mainland relatives. Two of these reptile species, the southern alligator lizard and western yellow-bellied racer, have only recently been identified as dwarf species.

Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura Harbor. The programs are free and open to the public.

This lecture can also be viewed live online, at: Shore to Sea lecture series.

March 10: Women Bringing the World Together Through Music. Free concert benefitting women and musical arts, Friday at 7 p.m. Located at the First United Methodist Church, 1338 E. Santa Clara Ave.

Arias, duets, choral and classical piano music, all by women composers. Donations accepted. Contact – Millie Schofield 650-1422

March 10: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution March luncheon meeting will be a special presentation “Japanese Internment Camps of WW II”.  11:30 AM, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant.  All SAR & DAR Compatriots, friends,  and visitors are welcome to join us.  The cost for lunch is $20.  For additional information or for assistance in determining your possible Revolutionary War genealogical roots, please call Bill Bays  650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992.  For information regarding S R http://pattonpatriots.org.

March 11: The Gold Coast Concert Chorus and Ventura College Choir under the direction of Elizabeth Helms will perform Gospel Mass by Robert Ray and Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez. Both are modern versions of the Latin Mass but are musically worlds apart. Ramirez’ Misa features rhythms, melodies and instruments of South America and Ray’s Mass is a jubilant and soulful gospel celebration.

2:00 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church – 1500 North C St., Oxnard
Adults $15.00, Sr./Student $12.00, Child under 12 $5.00
616-7269 or [email protected]

March 12: The Nature Conservancy Spring Migratory Bird walk from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Located at West Santa Paula at the end of Mission rock Rd.  Join in as they look for birds as they return north at the beginning of spring.  We will be along the Santa Clara River so bring durable shoes and binoculars (optional).  For more information please contact Amy Davis at [email protected] or 770-853-4715.

March 16: The City Center – Purple Room Ribbon Cutting & Reception , 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Join The City Center Transitional Living on Thursday at 5:30pm at  837 E. Thompson Blvd. in a ribbon cutting as they open up the second “The Purple Room” a space dedicated to residents at The City Center who have survived domestic violence. Come tour the facility, meet residents, meet staff, board and dignitaries. Food and refreshments will be served. To RSVP, please visit thepurpleroom2017.eventbrite.com.