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.

DBSA Ventura, the local chapter of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) hosts two regular, confidential, peer-led, self-help support groups in the County. Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bible Fellowship Church at 6950 Ralston Street in Room 301 of Building 300. Email [email protected], visit facebook.com/DBSA.Ventura or call 253-3289 for more information. 1p.m. to 3p.m. at the New Visions Center on the first and third Saturdays of the month. At 1065 E. Main. Email [email protected], visit facebook.com/DBSA.Ventura or 746-3106 for more information.

There will be a regular Ventura Discussion Group meeting at Main Street Restaurant 3159 Main St., Wednesday from 4 p.m.to 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   Life is Better with Bridge.

The Ventura Retired Men’s Group welcomes interested men to their semi-monthly Tuesday lunch ($15) meetings at the Ventura Elks lodge. This regular congenial social event, besides a healthy, satisfying meal, supplies a welcome atmosphere to talk and joke, hear a speaker on a variety of relevant topics and brighten your week. Hear more from Steve at 642-1359

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

Do you know what the present administration’s foreign policy is? Are we taxed too much, causing businesses to suffer and move to lower tax regions and individuals to lose incentive to work? Find out the answers to these and other tantalizing questions at the Ventura Discussion Group. Located at the Main Street Restaurant 3159 Main St. Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Several people usually stay for a drink and a bite to eat afterward. You are invited to bring an interesting topic to discuss.

June 27: CAPS Radio Open House Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at the CAPS Media Center at 65 Day Road.

June 28: The College Area Community Council will meet on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Anneliese Anderle will make a presentation on the oil and gas lines that run through our neighborhood. As always, a representative of the VPD will be there to discuss issues related to crime in the area and other issues of community concern will be discussed. The Council, which represents citizens between Mills and Victoria bordered by Foothill and Hwy. 126, meets in the Wright Event Center at 57 Day Rd. on the Ventura College campus. Free parking is available adjacent to the Event Center. Call 644-8695 for more information.

June 30: Servants of the Father of Mercy, Inc. today announced the June launch of “Proof of the Afterlife 2 – The Conversation Continues”. The author, Bro. Gary Joseph speaks at a free public event: Picnic, talk, book signing and concert by the “Servant Singers” performing their best-loved covers of Peter, Paul and Mary. Friday, Picnic 6 p.m., Talk 7 p.m., Book Signing and Concert 7:30p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location is 1544 Morse Avenue, Suite A. Websites: www.proofoftheafterlife.com www.ServantsoftheFather.org RSVP: (310) 595-4175 [email protected] – Facebook Bro. Gary Joseph

July 1: Join us for the 34th Annual Law Day 5K July 1 at Ventura Community Park, 901 South Kimball Road. The 5K race begins at 8:30 a.m., registration starts at 7 a.m. There will also be a one-mile family fun run at 9:30 a.m. All proceeds benefit VCBA and Ventura Co. Legal Aid, Inc., who provide legal services to the needy. The flat and fast race includes 12 age categories, with a first-place winner in each category. All participants are automatically entered into a drawing with more than $2,000 in raffle prizes to win and a lot of free food to enjoy after the race. For more information or to register, visit www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/Ventura/LawDay5KVentura.

July 2: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent-led tours 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 please call 642-3345 or visit the website at www.dudleyhouse.org.

July 4: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1679 and its Auxiliary invite the public to a family-friendly Independence Day celebration on Tuesday. Crosscut Band 805 entertains from noon to 4 p.m. Lunch will be available for purchase from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Canteen opens at 9 a.m. Games, drawings and a used goods sale will take place throughout the day. Proceeds benefit the charitable programs of VFW 1679 and the Auxiliary, assisting veterans and their families. Admission is free. For more information call 642-2674. The Post is at 3801 Market St.

July 4: Ventura County Green Party will be collecting personal hygiene items for the homeless.

The Green Party of Ventura County will host a booth at the 4th of July Street Fair in downtown Ventura. The booth will be located on Main Street between Mini and Mission Parks. Donations will be accepted of “sealed” personal hygiene items. These items will be distributed to homeless people in the City of Ventura. Some items to consider are bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, wet wipes and feminine products.

July 22: Working Artists- WAV Sale on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 175 South Ventura Avenue.

Sales in the ground floor community room and courtyard Got unused equipment? Sell at the Sierra Club Gear Grab. Want to try out a new sport without a big investment? Come get sports at the Gear Grab. Need to outfit kids? Great chance to get more for less at the Gear Grab. Here’s how:

9 a.m. Drop off your good quality outdoor equipment tagged with price, name, email and phone info. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sales open. We’ll cashier for the day. Sales open to everyone. Tell your family, neighbors, and friends.

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.

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   Life is Better with Bridge.

The Ventura Retired Men’s Group welcomes interested men to their semi-monthly Tuesday lunch ($15) meetings at the Ventura Elks lodge. This regular congenial social event, besides a healthy, satisfying meal, supplies a welcome atmosphere to talk and joke, hear a speaker on a variety of relevant topics and brighten your week. Hear more from Steve at 642-1359

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

Do you know what the present administration’s foreign policy is? Are we taxed too much, causing businesses to suffer and move to lower tax regions and individuals to lose incentive to work?  Find out the answers to these and other tantalizing questions at the Ventura Discussion Group at the Main Street Restaurant 3159 Main St. Wednesday’s from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

June 7: Vista Real Charter High School will be celebrating the graduates for 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Student speakers will be sharing the obstacles that they had to overcome to get to graduation and the dream of completing high school. Keynote speaker for the evening will be Santa Paula’s Chief of Police Steve McLean. Graduation commencement is open to community members that would like to share in the celebration or simply learn more about Vista Real.

June 9: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution June luncheon meeting will include a special program presentation ” Privateers, Pirates, Frigates & Politics: The Beginning of the United States Navy “, presented by Jim Kosinski, Channel Islands Maritime Museum.  11:30 a.m., Friday, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant.  All SAR & DAR Compatriots, friends, fans of the Museum, and visitors are welcome.  Lunch is $20 per person.  For additional information call Bill Bays 650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992. Please visit the chapter website at http://pattonpatriots.org.

June 9, 10: Rummage sale at First United Methodist Church 1338 E. Santa Clara on Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday June 10th 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday is $5 a bag day.

June 10: Three organizations have united to give Cabrillo Village parents and their kids a field of options for a transformative summer. Best Summer Ever Fair, Cabrillo Village soccer field, 1515 S. Saticoy Ave, 11 a.m. to 2 pm.

June 10: The Ventura Beginners PC Users Group will meet Saturday at Cypress Place, 1220 Cypress Place, from 9:15 a.m. to noon. The 9:15 workshop topic will focus on what can be created in Microsoft Word.  At 11 a.m. Michelle Rogers, will discuss Facebook Basics.  There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about computer problems for beginners and intermediates.  Everyone who would like to know more about their computer is welcome to attend.  For more information call 648-1368.

June 11, 9-11am Guided nature hike Ormond beach at Arnold Rd.  The Nature Conservancy offers a free, guided walk on the beach to learn about the coast, the Channel Islands and how the area is teeming with life.  For more information, contact Amy Davis at guideamy@gmail or 770-853-4715.

June 11: The Ventura International Folk Dancers are having a folk dance party at the Ventura YMCA Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Come dance and bring your requests. Will have light refreshments. Unless you are a member of the Y, bring a photo ID and a $5 donation to the Y’s community building scholarship fund.

June 14: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a critique meeting on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Donna Granata, from FOTM will critique member’s prints. Each month a special topic is chosen. June is a prints only meeting. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. Only members may submit images for critique. For more information www.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com or call 908-5663.

June 19: CA Zeta Chi parliamentarians will meet at 7 p.m and will feature a lesson by Sally LaMacchia entitled “Motions that Bring a Question Again before the Assembly.”  The Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 E. Main St.  Those wishing to eat should arrive at 6 p.m.  Non-members are welcome.  Membership is $25 per year.  For information, contact Sharon Hillbrant, 479-6738, or zetachi.webstarts.com.

July 21&22: Buena High Class of 1967, will hold its 50 year reunion at the Pierpont Racquet Club. Saturday, from 6p.m.to 10 p.m.  Casual dress and Beach Boy Theme.  DJ and catered food will be provided.   Photo op at 7:30 p.m.  $67 for individuals and $100 per couple. Friday night July 21st, meet and greet at The Discovery Bowling Alley, 1888 E Thompson. For more information please contact Bonnie (Wolever) Long at [email protected], or Facebook Page “Buena Class of ’67 50th Reunion”

The Ojai Studio Artists awarded $13,650 in scholarships to 13 Ventura County high school and college art students this year. The winning students were honored and awarded their scholarships at a special reception at Ojai City Hall on Saturday, June 3. This marks a new high in scholarship fundraising in OSA’s 24 year-old scholarship program.

Selected works by the scholarship winners will be shown at a month-long exhibition at City Gallery at Ojai City Hall. Each year OSA raises money to support young artists in their pursuit of further art education. To date, the artists’ organization has funded over $220,300 in scholarships and other ArtReach programs.  Further information about the artist organization and those who wish to contribute to the scholarship fund go to www.ojaistudioartists.org and click “donate”.

Local author J.J. Brown will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 to deliver a talk on her book, Secrets & Howls. Brown will read an excerpt and will discuss how she got started with writing. There will be time for a Q&A session, and Brown will also share a short excerpt from the novel she is working on right now.

J.J. Brown grew up in Ojai and obtained a BA in theater at CSU Long Beach. She is passionate about art and has returned to drawing and painting, is learning tap dance from a local instructor, and hopes to soon pick up her violin lessons again. She believes that sometimes you just need to cram all the art and creativity into your life that you can get!

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at 218-9146.

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

The public is invited to join Rev. Karen for a half-day retreat at Meditation Mount, on Saturday, June 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The morning will be devoted to “Waking up!” to the answers to all our questions and the fulfillment of all our needs—always already present inside us.

“We spend all our time looking outside ourselves for that which we think will make us whole and happy,” Rev. Karen says. “The truth is that what you are looking for is within you, and has always been within you.”

The morning will offer an opportunity for inner reflection, along with wisdom talks, sacred music, and quiet walks on the beautiful grounds of Meditation Mount. Randee Vasilakos, registered Science of Mind Practitioner, will be available to assist with prayers for personal healing and reconciliation. People of all faiths and traditions, or no tradition, are welcome to attend.

The retreat is by donation; $10 is suggested. Meditation Mount is located at 10340 Reeves Road. For more information, contact Rev. Karen at 310-968-8928, or register online at www.karenswylie.com.

Ventura nature photographer David N. Lee will present a workshop on the basics of nature photography at a private ranch near Ojai, June 15, 8:30am – 12:30pm.

“This workshop will present an overview of the types of nature photography,” says Lee. “Students will learn basic techniques for landscape, macro and wildlife photography.”

Enrollment is limited to the first eight participants. The suggested donation is $25. Please visit https://davidnleephoto.com/workshops for more information. Workshop directions and other details provided with registration.

Celebrations for graduation at Villanova Preparatory School begin with a Baccalaureate Mass at 7 pm on Friday, May 26, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish,  185 St. Thomas Dr. Commencement exercises are set for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 27, in the Villanova Grotto. The ceremony will be presided over by the Very Rev. Kevin Mullins, O.S.A., Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Augustine.

The commencement address will be delivered by John Huddy, a Class of 1993 Villanova Preparatory School graduate currently working as a foreign correspondent for the Fox News Channel, assigned to the Middle East bureau in Jerusalem.

Join Ojai native plant guide Lanny Kaufer on a Memorial Day Nature Hike to El Nido, May 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attendees will learn to identify edible and medicinal plants and the ecology of Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Ventura River Preserve. The hike will cost $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-up, $15 for students 13-18, and kids 5-12 will be free, one per adult. Register at www.HerbWalks.com or by phone at 646-6281.

Everyone is invited to the 40th Annual Art in the Park held Memorial weekend (Saturday & Sunday May 27th and 28th from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) in Libbey Park. Come browse, meet the 80+ artists, listen to music, grab a bite and enjoy the weekend. Professional and high school art and music featured. Admission is free. Call 646-0117 for further information or visit www.ojaiartcenter.org/art-in-the-park.html. A variety of art mediums are featured. Musical styles include folk, rock and jazz. Fine art in a fine place!

Join Rev. Karen at Meditation Mount, on Saturday, May 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as she guides attendees in “the greatest work you will ever do—which is to awaken in consciousness.” The morning will be devoted to inner reflection, wisdom talks, sacred music, and quiet walks on the beautiful grounds of Meditation Mount. Randee Vasilakos, registered Science of Mind Practitioner, will be available to assist with prayers for personal healing and reconciliation.

The retreat is by donation; $10 is suggested. Meditation Mount is located at 10340 Reeves Rd. For more information, contact Rev. Karen at 310-968-8928, or register online at www.karenswylie.com.

Nordhoff High School, home of International Thespian Troupe 4816  will be performing their production of Steel Magnolias.

The International Thespian Festival, produced by the Educational Theatre Association, celebrates student achievement in the performing arts. The 54-year-old event, which this year takes place June 17-24 at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, brings together more than 4,000 high school drama students and their teachers for a week-long immersion in classes, lessons in critical observation, and opportunities to perform for an audience of their peers from across the nation and around the world.