Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Investment Group has reconvened and is meeting in the rear room of Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood each Monday at 10:30 a.m. All people interested in investment are welcome.

Looking for some outdoor fun? Try Lawn Bowling a great fun and terrific low impact exercise. You get to play on a beautiful green with free club equipment and free lessons. Also included are friendly people and social activities. Located at 350 N. C St. Oxnard. 9 – Noon. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All are welcome.

Jan. 20:  East Ventura Community Council Meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Ventura Environmental Sustainability Program Supervisor Brandon Kayser will talk about changes to our waste and recycling program. Kathy Thomson from Friends of the Library will provide an update on long-term plans for a possible permanent library in East Ventura. Area crime statistics will be shared by Commander Weeks of the Ventura Police Department. Other topics may be added to the agenda, so be sure to check the group’s Facebook page for updates. The Council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue, and the public is encouraged to attend and participate. The Zoom link can be accessed at the group’s website,www.eastventura.org. The meeting will be recorded and can be viewed on the website, www.eastventura.org. For more information, contact EVCC Chairperson, John McNally, at [email protected].

Jan. 26: The College Area Community Council in Ventura will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, at 7p.m.  An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Council meetings include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest, including public safety and economic development. CACC represents citizens in Council District 3, currently neighborhoods north of Hwy.126 between Dunning/Lemon Grove/Agnus on the west and Hill Road on the east. Visit the College Area Community Council website at https://caccventura.com  to learn more, to be added to the mailing list and to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Feb.9: Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program announces a new Men’s Grief Support Group starting on February 9, 2022. The group is for men grieving the death of a loved one. It will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, via Zoom. If interested, please contact us at 805-389-6870. For more information, visit LMVNA.org

Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program support groups are committed to maintaining an open, accepting, confidential atmosphere. We also offer individual, couple, and family grief counseling in English and Spanish.

All support groups are free and conducted through Zoom at this time. For more information on the Grief and Bereavement Program, visit LMVNA.org.

January 2: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House

Museum—with COVID protocols—will take place on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. As an added treat, “Mrs. Dudley” will be guiding tours that day. Tour group size will be limited. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Ventura Land Trust events 

January 8: Saturday- Guided hike, Harmon Canyon Preserve Learn about the natural and cultural history of the preserve on a 90-minute, easy pace hike led by a VLT staff member (free).

January 13: Thursday – VLT’s Environmental Speaker Series returns to the Museum of Ventura County. What does wildlife at Harmon Canyon Preserve does when no one is watching? Certified wildlife tracker Mike Watling shares his trail camera footage (free for members, suggested donation for non-members).

January 10: Cantor Michael Stein, Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, producer and actor will be in Ventura. The free event, “The Power of Music in Enhancing Spirituality”, will be Monday, from 3-5 pm at Congregation Am HaYam.

Tickets are free, but registration through Eventbrite is required and can be made at https://congregationamhayam.com/jewish-life/special-events/the-power-of-music-in-enhancing-spirituality-mike-stein/

Congregation Am HaYam is located at 4839 Market Street, Unit C (rear), Ventura 93003. Ample free parking is available. Please call 805-644-2899 for ticket or other information.

The Ventura Investment Group has reconvened and is meeting in the rear room of Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood each Monday at 10:30 a.m. All people interested in investment are welcome.

Looking for some outdoor fun? Try Lawn Bowling! It is great fun and terrific low impact exercise. You get to play on a beautiful green with free club equipment and free lessons. Also included are friendly people and social activities! 350 N. C St. Oxnard 93030. Nine to noon, M-W-F-S-S. Join us. All are welcome!

Dec.18: Robert Hanley Author Signing “Do You See What I See? Discovering the Obvious”
Robert Hanley has an insightful way of looking at the world—finding deeper meaning in everyday events that seem to float past the observations of most people. His unique perception has helped make his life better, bringing him greater understanding, joy, fulfillment, and peace.

He reveals his commonsense process through wise, humorous, and heartwarming real-life tales taken from his own personal experiences. They may well make you laugh, cry, think, and help you to see the common threads of what he calls “discovering the obvious.”
Bank of Books, 748 E. Main St. (805) 643-3154

Dec.18: CCJC (Channel Cities Jazz Club) will participate in the
Parade Of Lights Christmas Celebration at the Ventura Harbor.
Larry Cossid’s Studio C eight-piece band will be entertaining in the Courtyard
across from the Hat Store from 2-4 PM for your dancing and listening pleasure.

Dec.19: At the House of Dance, 3007Bunsen Ave., Suite E, Ventura from 1-4. The fantastic Groovin’ Easy Big Band is performing with all the great sounds you have come to expect.

Dec.20: The Poinsettia Pavilion proudly presents a musical evening of dancing to the Ralph Mathis band (brother of the late Johnny Mathis) from 7pm – 9:30pm. $10 at the door and refreshments will be served. The Poinsettia Pavilion is located at 3451 Foothill Rd. in Ventura. For more information call 805-648-1143 or visit www.poinsettiapavilion.org.

The Ventura Investment Group has reconvened and is meeting in the rear room of Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood each Monday at 10:30 a.m. All people interested in investment are welcome.

Dec.11: The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will once again be hosting the Holiday Lighting of the Tall Ship Mast in the Museum’s outdoor courtyard. The event will take place from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Local music group the CocoKnots will be on hand to perform their live music with a tropical flair. There will also be a public sing-along to holiday favorites. At 6:30 pm Santa Claus will arrive to flip the switch to light up the iconic tall ship mast. Following the lighting ceremony, Santa will be on hand to meet and greet children until 7:00 pm. This is a free community event open to all.

The Ventura Investment Group has reconvened and is meeting in the rear room of Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood each Monday at 10:30 a.m. All people interested in investment are welcome.

Nov. 26, 27, 28; Dec. 4 & 5; 11 & 12:

Dudley House Holiday Boutique. The 27th annual fundraiser for the 1892 historic house museum is back with COVID protocols, new hours and fewer days. Come celebrate the spirit of holidays past where you’ll find quality crafts, home décor, antiques and collectibles plus a silent auction and bargain “basement”. Hours are 12 to 5 p.m. with a flea market added on Sundays.

197 N. Ashwood in Ventura. (805) 642-3345. Free.

Dec.4&5: New West Symphony, led by Grammy-winning artistic and music director Michael Christie, is celebrating the holidays with a series of musical delights. Tales of Winter is a symphonic program of holiday classics and winter-themed surprises.

Prior to the December 4th performance, a first-annual Winterfest celebration dinner and reception will be hosted at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The special event will honor long-time supporters Harry & Pat Croner and Marilyn & Stan Sutton for their contributions,

For more information on Tales of Winter the Winterfest pre-concert experience , and the New West Symphony’s full season, visit www.NewWestSymphony.org or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Tickets & Information Starting at $30866.776.8400
https://newwestsymphony.org/2021-22-season/tales-of-winter/

Dec.11&12:  Ventura County Ballet proudly announces its return to live, in-theater performing with the 23^rd annual production of Tchaikovsky’s

beloved holiday classic, The Nutcracker. The show takes to the stage of the Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center on Saturday,

December 11, at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm and on Sunday, December 12, at 2:00 pm. Rancho Campana is located at 4235 Mar Vista Drive, Camarillo 93010.

The Nutcracker’s cast is headlined by international dance star Aaron Smyth returning as the Nutcracker Prince. More than 50 local professional and preprofessional dancers round out the cast, including Ventura High Schools senior Greta Pankratz

as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Ella Hoyt as the Dew Drop Fairy and Foothill Technology High School freshman Miranda Aguilar as young Clara.

Tickets are on sale now at https://www.venturacountyballet.com/events .

Prices range from $20 to $40 with special group rates also available. For more information, please call (805)765-1734 or email [email protected].

The Ojai Art Center (OAC) is proud to announce an upcoming benefit concert by internationally acclaimed and Golden Globe artist Amanda McBroom with a very special guest, Roger Kellaway, a Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominated pianist and composer. McBroom has performed to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd several years ago to raise funds for the Center, is “a local treasure.” 

“I leapt at the chance to sing in my own home town again, to sing at all, after this period of long down time,” said McBroom, who then reached out to Kellaway. “

McBroom came to fame winning a Golden Globe with Bette Midler’s recorded version of her  song “The Rose,” from the movie by the same name.

Her pal Kellaway, who has recorded more than 250 albums and counting, and has worked with everyone from Ellington to Elvis, Joni Mitchell to Barbra Streisand, and Quincy Jones.

It should be one heck of a concert and it’s for a good cause. After being shuttered during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Art Center is thrilled these artists have stepped forward to help us continue to serve the arts community in Ojai.

Performances is at 7:30 p.m. November 20 and proof of Covid vaccination and masks are required . Tickets are $50- $125. Reserve tickets online www.ojaiartcenter.org or by calling 805-640-8797.

Chamber On The Mountain presents Duo Apollon, a Voice & Guitar Duo, on Sunday, December 5, 3:00 pm at Logan House (located at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Upper Ojai). Tickets $25.00 at www.ChamberOnTheMountain.com.

Aaron Haas, Classical Guitarist and Anastasia Malliaras, Soprano of Duo Apollon will delight the audience as they perform art song repertoire with the unique sound of voice and guitar.

Audience members are invited to stay and meet the artists at a lovely reception that will take place outside on our patio immediately following the performance.

Chamber On The Mountain is presented by the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. Celebrating its Ninth Season, the chamber music series brings internationally recognized musicians to Happy Valley in Upper Ojai – home of the Besant Hill School, the Happy Valley Cultural Center, and the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. For more information visit www.ChamberOnTheMountain.com.

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Investment Group has reconvened and is meeting in the rear room of Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood each Monday at 10:30 a.m. All people interested in investment are welcome.

Nov. 6: Ventura Friends of the Library will hold a Bag O’ Books Sale at E.P. Foster Library on Main Street in front of the library and in the Topping Room. 10-3p.m. You can take home a paper grocery sized bag of books for $4 or you can purchase 3 books for $1. Friends of the Library members will receive a discount of $1 per bag at check-out. All proceeds benefit Ventura’s libraries.

Nov. 9: Tuesday, November 9 – Lunch($19), program and meeting of San Buenaventura Women’s Club. Noon at Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road. Reservations (805) 844-9399. Everyone welcome.

Nov. 11: Join us at the Ventura Government Center at the NE corner of Victoria and Telephone Road for the Armistice Day Ceremony. Social Distancing will be observed, and it will be an abbreviated and respectable event. Arrive by 10:30 a.m. latest for parking and seating. The event begins at 11a.m. sharp.

Nov 14: Volunteer Open House, Olivas Adobe- 4200 Olivas Park Drive10 a.m.

If you “like” doing any of the activities below, then becoming an OAHI volunteer is for YOU!

Do you like to Garden? We help maintain the historic rose and herb garden.

Do you like to plan events? We host monthly special events, including Rancho Days, the Owl Festival, Murals & Roses, and the popular Holiday Candlelight Tour.

Do you like to dress up in costume and perform? We bring “history to life” by sharing the Olivas Adobe’s Chumash, Rancho, and Latino heritage during tours, workshops, and community events. Do you like to listen to music? We support the popular Music Under the Stars outdoor summer concert series. Join us for an informal meeting to discuss the volunteer opportunities- stay for the Toys & Games event.

Nov 14: Toys & Games from long ago, Olivas Adobe- 4200 Olivas Park Drive.

Join us at the Historic Olivas Adobe on Sunday, from 11-3 p.m. as we explore Toys & Games from long ago. What was life like at the Olivas Adobe for a child? Find out as we discover toys and games that the Olivas children may have played with special displays and crafts. Take a tour of the rancho home, walk the historic grounds, and shop our out-door gift shop for unique toys and gifts. For more information call 658-4728

Events by Ana Baker

Oct. 21: The East Ventura Community Council virtual zoom meeting on Thursday, at 7p.m. participants will hear about the city’s new Active Transportation Plan. Kevin Clerici, Executive Director of Downtown Ventura Partners, will speak about the Downtown Moves program.

For more information, contact EVCC Chairperson, Deborah Meyer-Morris at [email protected].

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 899 1074 7358
Passcode: 646353Dial in: 669 900 6833 

You will first need to download the Zoom app on your computer or smart phone. You do not need an account. The meeting will be recorded and can be viewed at www.eastventura.org. 

Oct. 23: Ventura County Philatelic Society is sponsoring the 31st Youth Stamp Fair Saturday, from 10 – 3 p.m. at the Dudley House Museum, 197 N. Ashwood Ave. Everyone is welcome, the young at heart, those who inherited a collection and those who ran across their own old collections.  October is “Stamp Collecting Month.”  There will be a Youth Stamp Fair Station with a very special Post Office Cancellation “Honoring Frontline First Responders.”

For further information call Sheri at 667-8042 or visit the

website venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Oct. 24: Olivas Victorian Halloween 11am-3 pm Free

Join the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters as they take you on a tour of the rancho home . Each room reveals a bit of Victorian Halloween history and mystery. Face painting, music and outdoor gift shop for some Halloween treasures.

Don’t forget your masks as the tours will be inside the historic home. For more information call 805-658-4728.

Oct. 27: The Ventura College Area Community Council will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, at 7p.m. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Mental health and homelessness issues will be discussed and a representative from the city will also explain the goals of the Ventura Active Transportation Plan. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ caccVentura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list and to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Nov. 6: The “Sespe Flyfishers of Ventura” will be conducting our “First Saturday” introductory class on Fly Fishing and Casting the fly Rod. There is no charge, and all are welcome. Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice we want to help you learn and enjoy this great sport. If you don’t yet have a fly rod, don’t worry, just come, and use one of ours. Please join us at Chumash Park, Petit and Waco, 9 – 11a.m. in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd. For more information: Bob Smith 647-3522, www.sespeflyfishers.org

Nov.6: The Ventura Friends of the Library will hold a Bag O’ Books Sale at E.P. Foster Library from 10-3p.m. Located in front of the library on Main Street and held in the Topping Room. You can take home a bag (paper grocery sized bag) of books for $4 or purchase 3 books for $1. Friends of the Library members will receive a discount of $1.00 per bag at check-out. All proceeds benefit Ventura’s libraries.

Nov. 6: Renowned Brazilian vocalist/guitarist Téka sings with a sensual lyricism and a rich and velvety tone will appear at Namba in downtown. Her guitar playing is equally enchanting as she offers swinging grooves from her extensive repertoire. Joining Téka will be saxophonist/flutist/percussionist Robert Kyle. Robert has played with a long list of the biggest names in Jazz and contemporary music and has a lifelong love affair with the music of Brazil. Rounding out the trio is the skillful and talented jazz pianist Alyse Korn.”

Nov.7: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum with “COVID protocols” will take place on Sunday, from 1 – 4 p.m. Tour group size will be limited. Admission is free. The museum is located at 197 N. Ashwood the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Street. For information, please call 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Nov. 12: Richard Senate’s Ghost Talk & Tour 7-9 p.m. held at the Bank of Books 748 E. Main St. Talks of the Haunted Saloons and Eateries of Downtown Ventura. Some of the downtown buildings date back to the 19th Century and have some eerie ghost stories. Some date back to gangster times when Ventura was a hub of smuggled, illegal alcohol. Relive the days of Bootleg Booze and jazz music in old Ventura. Fee: $10 per person. Limited to 30 people. Make your reservation now. 643-3154

The Ojai Storytelling Festival will present a musical evening featuring the Dreamland Band’s A Celebration of Joni Mitchell with Kimberly Ford and the Reverend Robert B. Jones critically acclaimed piece, “Three Chords, Five Notes” on Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Ojai Art Center Patio @ 7:30 pm. Tickets are $37 for adults and $35 for seniors(65+). All ticket holders must either show a vaccine record card or a negative Covid test three days prior to the event.

A Celebration of Joni Mitchell featuring Kimberly Ford is a rocking tribute to the most iconic singer-songwriter of the Woodstock generation. Mitchell touched millions with her nearly 40-year career that spanned genres from contemporary folk to jazz to full-throated pop-rock. This incredible seven-piece band, modeled on Joni’s tenure with Tom Scott & the L.A. Express, plays all your favorite tunes, like Help Me, Both Sides Now, Conversation, Blue, River, All I Want, Free Man in Paris, Carey and, of course, Woodstock. The piece also features stories about Joni Mitchell.

Halloween at the Ojai Storytelling Festival
At this year’s festival, there are two events with Halloween content.  On Saturday, Oct. 30 at 6 pm at Libbey Bowl, the Ojai Storytelling Festival presents “Tales of Mystery and Suspense” with all the storytellers. The event begins with music by the Sheriffs of Schroedingham starting at 5 and at 6 the storytellers take the stage to offer an evening of spooky tales geared for adults and kids, ages 13 and above.
On Sunday, Oct. 31st  from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Libbey Park Fountain there will be a free event for kids with a Halloween theme.  Kids are encouraged to wear costumes, and there will be crafts, games and treats.
Tickets are available at www.ojaistoryfest.org.

The Ojai Holiday Marketplace kicks off the holiday season on Saturday, November 13 and Sunday, November 14, 10am to 4pm both days, at Libbey Park. Presented by the Ojai Festival Women’s Committee, this treasured tradition will feature a collection of curated lifestyle and fashion items from more than 50 booths. In addition to shopping, attendees will enjoy musical performances, carolers wandering the marketplace, and Santa handing out candy canes.

Admission to the Marketplace is free. Portion of the proceeds from the sales during the weekend will be donated to the Ojai Music Festival and its BRAVO education programs in the schools and community. For more information visit at OjaiFestival.org.