Events by Ana Baker

Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program announces a new Men’s Grief Support Group starting this month. 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.

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.

Feb. 23: “The College Area Community Council in Ventura, which meets the fourth Wednesday of each month, will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Council meetings include speakers and discussions on neighborhood and community interest topics, 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 @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, and to access a link to the Zoom meeting.”

March 2: Don Price, professional engineer and climate change educator, will be the speaker at the return of BCNN (Beach Neighbors and Newcomers,) a membership group for women from Ventura Oxnard and Port Hueneme. At the Ventura Comedy Club in the Ventura Harbor 2^nd floor next to Brophy Brothers. Socializing with light refreshment begins at 9:30 am. Prospective members may attend free to see if they want to join. The organization has many small activity groups, from wine tasting to book groups to day trips, bridge, mahjong, and other fun offerings.

March 6: 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 the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets (197 N. Ashwood). For information, please call 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

March 6: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. Sunday from 2 -4 p.m. Located at the Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Rd. Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free admission and free parking. Open to Public. For more information, call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA. Current Ventura County Covid regulations will apply.

March 14: Kamala Nellen will join the Ventura County Library to lead a Nonviolent Communication Practice Group. This group will practice integrating the process of nonviolent communication into daily life. This event will occur via Zoom on Monday at 6 p.m., and all are welcome. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) was started by psychologist and mediator Marshall Rosenberg. Kamala Nellen has been practicing Nonviolent Communication for twelve years and is a life and performance coach and published author.

This event is free and open to the public. To register for this event, visit bit.ly/VCLNellen. Contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected]. Instructions for registering for this event are found on our online calendar at www.vencolibrary.org/library-events.

Events by Ana Baker

Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one during the pandemic. This is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program recognizes children and teens’ value from sharing their grief experiences with their peers. The Good Grief Club meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.The Young Teen Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

If you would like to register a child or young teen for a support group, please contact Stacia Sickle at 805-389-6870 x452 or [email protected]. All support groups are free and conducted through Zoom at this time.

The Elite Theatre Company is excited to welcome audiences to our first 2022 main stage production, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, written by Steve Martin, and directed by Christopher Robin Rubin.

The Lapin Agile, beloved watering hole to struggling artists and would-be geniuses, welcomes two soon-to-be legends for one extraordinary night. Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein, whose egos are as big as their intellects, spar with the regulars.

The play runs through Sunday, February 13, 2022. Showtimes are Friday-Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm, with a special Thursday night show on February 10, 2022. Info at www.theelite.org. Elite Theater Company is located at 2731 Victoria Ave, Oxnard.

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.

Feb.17: For the next virtual East Ventura Community Council meeting on Thursday. The Council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue, and the public is encouraged to attend and participate. A representative from Shea Homes has been invited to speak about the Parklands II Development on Telegraph Road. The agenda will also include continued discussion of road conditions and other issues of concern to East Ventura residents. 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 meeting will be held online via the Zoom application at 7 p.m. The Zoom link can be accessed at the group’s website, www.eastventura.org. If you miss the meeting, you can always view it later on the website, www.eastventura.org.

For more information, contact EVCC Chairperson, John McNally, at [email protected].

Feb. 19: Author Book Signing Chip Fraser, “Looking for Emerald City” Saturday from 1-3 p.m.

Bank of Books 748 E. Main St. 643-3154 “Looking for Emerald City” is designed to inspire, entertain, and is made up of vignettes predicated on hope, dreams, and positive thinking, challenging yet hopeful. The core message of Looking for Emerald City is for everyone to live in the present, cease criticizing others, eat healthily (mostly), smile regularly, exercise patience, practice prayer and meditation, and volunteer whenever possible.

Feb.23: “The College Area Community Council in Ventura will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Council meetings include speakers and discussions on neighborhood and community interest topics, 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 @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, add to the mailing list, and access a link to the Zoom meeting.

On March 12 Broadway put aside the industry adage “The show must go on,” and suspended all plays in the wake of the spreading coronavirus. At the Ojai Art Center Theater plans for the opening of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” spun into limbo, landing on postponement.

Almost two years later Christopher Durang’s multi-award-winning comedy finally hits the OACT stage through February 13.

In his day job Peter Schreiner, who plays Vanya, works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Ventura County so he knows how people develop this type of interdependence on each other.

Calamity comes in the form of Masha, Vanya and Sonia’s flamboyant movie star sister. Masha, played by Tracey Williams Sutton, blows in to first invite them to a fancy party, then informs them she plans to sell the house.

“This crisis of potentially losing the house has been thrown in their laps and somehow they manage to navigate through the whole thing,” said Peter. “That’s part of the comedy of the brilliant Christopher Durang, showing how Vanya and Sonia weave their way through the problem to make a leap in their personal growth.”

Vanya’s character manifests his transformation through a tirade about the shallowness of today’s world, how so many things exist but come and go so quickly. He mourns a sense of shared experiences, like laughing at an episode of Ozzie and Harriet when televisions only aired three channels, instead of 785 on contemporary TVs. Plus, “We licked postage stamps!”

Plus, for the first time ever patrons get to choose their seats when they buy tickets.

The Ojai Unified School District unanimously voted to give 60 days notice to terminate an agreement with a developer who planned to build a hotel.

Unhappy with how the developer handled relations with Ojai that overwhelmingly objected to a plan to develop on school district property, school trustees said they will end the district’s exclusive pact with SVS Dev LLC to build the hotel.

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Investment Group 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. Located at 350 N. C St. Oxnard 93030. Nine to Noon, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All are welcome.

Jan.26: The College Area Community Council will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Council meetings include speakers and discussions on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. State Assemblymember Steve Bennett will review state policies that affect Ventura County. Brandon Kaysen will explain the new Ventura food waste recycling program. 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.”

Feb.3: Join UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Celebrated Violin Virtuoso Joshua Bell, violin and Peter Dugan, piano on Thursday at 7 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. With a career spanning almost four decades, Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Named Musical America’s 2010 Instrumentalist of the Year and an Indiana Living Legend, Bell serves as music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He appears in recital with Peter Dugan, the “fearlessly athletic” (San Francisco Chronicle) pianist and host of NPR’s From the Top.

Feb. 6. Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum—with COVID protocols—will take place on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Tour group size will be limited. Admission is free. The museum is located at Loma Vista and Ashwood street (197 N. Ashwood). For information, please call 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Feb.19: The Ventura County Genealogical Society presents free Family History presentations

online with Zoom on Saturday 1to 4 p.m.

1:00 p.m. Presenter: Drew Smith “AncestryDNA Today” VCGS General Meeting Lecture sponsored by the DNA SIG. AncestryDNA continues to add new tools to help match other testers, categorize the matches into groups, and discover the right relationships. This presentation focuses on using the latest AncestryDNA tools (ThruLines, groups, etc.) to identify relatives near

and distant. https://venturacogensoc.org/this-month/

Drew Smith has been a librarian in the Academic Services department at

the University of South Florida (USF) Tampa Library since 2007.

Ojai Women’s Fund awards $85,000 in grants

The Ojai Women’s Fund has announced the award of $85,000 in grants to seven organizations that serve residents of the Ojai Valley. OWF is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, and these awards were made possible by the collective effort and dedication of this year’s 375 members, who are organized around the giving circle concept. Grants are awarded in five focus areas—Arts, Education, Environment, Health, and Social Services—based on votes by individual and giving circle members. With these awards, the total amount given by OWF members in the past six grant cycles exceeds half a million dollars.

The Ojai Women’s Fund works to inspire and educate all women to become leaders in philanthropy and to help make a difference in the Ojai Valley Community. OWF welcomes new members and encourages organizations that serve the Ojai Valley to consider applying for a grant during the 2022 grant cycle, which begins in May. To join or for more information on 2021 grant winners visit www.ojaiwomensfund.org.

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.