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

April 14:  Credo Choir presents “The Seven Words from the Cross” by composer Knut Nystedt at Mission San Buenaventura.  Written in 1960, this piece is a musical setting of Jesus’ last words as he hung dying on the cross. The classical meditative concert will be held on Good Friday, April 14 at 1:30 PM at Mission San Buenaventura.  The free concert is open to the public.  The Good Friday liturgy at the Mission precedes the concert and begins at the noon hour with the proclamation of the Lord’s Passion, veneration of the Wood of the Cross and Holy Eucharist.

April 14 & 16 : The community is invited to experience a powerful and moving musical production recalling Jesus’ journey to the cross on Good Friday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at  The First United Methodist Church.  April 16 if you are an early riser, head up to the Ventura Botanical Gardens for a 6:15 a.m. Sunrise Service. Music and the welcoming story of the First Easter, followed by light refreshments. For information contact First United Methodist Church, 1338 E. Santa Clara St., 643-8621; www.fumcventura.org. Begin your day Easter morning at 9 a.m. in the Church. Hear the brass ensemble open the good morning news of Easter, the singing of the great hymns. The children will all love the fun afterwards at 10:15 a.m. for an Easter Egg Hunt in the beautiful courtyard.

April 14: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution luncheon meeting will include a special program presentation “World Events at the Time of the American Revolution”, presented by Chapter member Mr. Barrie Walters.  The luncheon event will take place at 11:30 a.m., Friday, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant, 1295 S. Victoria Ave.    The cost for lunch is $20.  For additional information or for assistance in determining your possible Revolutionary War genealogical roots, call Bill Bays 650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992.  For information regarding SAR membership and chapter activities http://pattonpatriots.org.

April 17: CA Zeta Chi parliamentarians will meet at 7 p.m. and will feature a lesson by Registered Parliamentarian Gerry Olsen entitled “Nominations and Elections.”  Located at 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.

April 20: The East Ventura Community Council. On Thursday presents an environmental specialist who will speak about the upcoming community clean up event, “Clean Up Ventura,” planned for the eastside.

A representative of the Ventura Police Department will present a crime update. Other issues of concern may also be discussed.

The Council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue. Books in good condition are always accepted by San Buenaventura Friends of the Library.

The meeting  starts at 7 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, 346 N. Kimball Road.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate.

For more information contact John McNally, Chairman EVCC  804-7558.

April 23: The Democratic Club of Ventura featured guest speaker will be State Assemblywoman and Assistant Majority Whip Monique Lemon from the 37th Assembly District in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. She will provide insight into the latest actions of our State Legislature.

The meeting starts at 2 p.m. at the IBEW Union Hall, 3994 E. Main St.  For more information, VenturaDemocrats.org or Facebook page.

April 25: Don’t miss this chance to see “Hearing Is Believing” on the big screen. Admission is free. The acclaimed new non-fiction feature about Oxnard’s own Rachel Flowers is co-presented by Foresight Releasing, Hearing is Believing Productions, and the Oxnard College Department of Visual & Performing Arts. Q+A w/ producer/director Lorenzo DeStefano, Rachel Flowers, Jeanie Flowers, Dan Flowers, and executive producer Patti Channer. Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave.

April 26: The College Area Community Council will meet on Wednesday, at 7 p.m.  Council meetings include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest. 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. 644-8695 for more information.

April 29: On Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. international gospel recording artist Michael Harris will be in concert at the Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church featuring Songs and Testimony from the Heart.  No charge for admission; a freewill offering will be taken.  6300 Telephone Road.  Call Polly at 642-5387 for more information.

April 29: TLC Preschool Yard Sale and Pancake Breakfast 196 N. Ashwood Avenue from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. TLC preschool will be hosting a yard sale to raise funds for the upkeep of our school and learning opportunities for our children. $5 pancake breakfast. All proceeds will be benefitting Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool.

April 30: Dr. Ronni Sanlo, LGBTQ activist, educator and author, who will speak about her new young adult book, “The Soldier, The Avatar and the Holocaust.”  Presented by Congregation Am HaYam, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.amhayam.com/events or at eventbrite.com for $15 for Dr. Sanlo’s presentation. 4839 Market St.

May 16: Employment Development Department invites you to attend

What Employers Need to Know About Unemployment Insurance Seminar.

EDD Tax Office 4820 McGrath Street, Suite 200 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To make reservations, visit the EDD website at www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Tax_Seminars/ or call 866-873-6083. Requests for services, aids, and/or alternate formats need to be made prior to the event by calling 866-873-6083 (voice) or TTY 888-547-9565.

The Ojai Photography Club will go interactive in its April meeting, featuring guest presenter Dean Zatkowsky in “Ojai’s Top Model – Goofy Edition: A Learn While We Play Adventure.” The event will take place Tuesday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m., at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana St. Visitors can expect what Zatkowsky calls “an evening of interactive ridiculousness. he will walk attendees through the photographic decision-making process. This will include background selection, managing multiple lights, lens considerations, camera settings, composition, and most important of all, evoking action and expression. Monthly free presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are always welcome to attend.

Only members may submit images for review. For additional information please visit: www.ojaiphotoclub.com/.

Local author Ian James will visit the Ojai Library at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, , to deliver a reading from his book Last Writes. James will also give a short talk and will be available to sign copies of his book.

Last Writes: Love, Death & Falling is a celebration of the mystery we called Life and what each and every human being must face when death comes calling.

Between April 1 and April 30, , the Ventura County Library System will be commemorating National Poetry Month by holding its annual county-wide Haiku Poetry Contest. Participants will be able to submit their own original haiku at any of our library locations or online at tiny.cc/vclhaiku.

All submissions should follow the traditional format for haiku: three lines of five, seven, and five syllables each. The contest is open to all ages and topics; contact the library for further information regarding contest rules.

Participation in this contest is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Bernadette McDowell, Regional Librarian 486-5460; Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at 218-9146; or Laurie Dunning, Librarian Specialist 648-2716.

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.

Katie Fagan’s solo art exhibition opens this month at The Oaks At Ojai.  Her Art About Ojai show runs from April 28-June 29. It features 16 local landscapes in acrylics. She’ll be present to greet visitors and talk about her art at the opening reception on Thursday, May 11 from 5-6:15 pm.

“All my life, I’ve done some kind of art,” Fagan said. “I’ve been a graphic designer for more than 25 years and have been painting in earnest for around 4 years.”

In that short time she has created a considerable body of colorful landscapes and floral studies, most of which are on display on her website at fagangraphics.com/paint-noflash.html and at facebook.com/KatieFaganFineArt.

Her favorite part of the creative process, Fagan said, is “dancing to a great song while painting,” and she said her biggest challenge is “keeping at it when the painting is going through its growing pains. Persistence is key.”

To see Katie Fagan’s exhibition, visit the The Oaks At Ojai, 122 E. Ojai Ave. The gallery is open from 10 am- 4 pm.

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. 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.

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.

April 1: You are invited to a Lenten Evensong on Saturday at 5 p.m.  Haydn’s glorious Harmnonie-messe, will be presented. Helen Farson conducts our chamber ensemble and chorus from the keyboard.  Admission is always free.  Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church.  6300 Telephone Rd. Please call 641-9646 if more information is desired.

April 1: Ventura Improv Company at NAMBA!8pm NAMBA Performing Arts Space, 47 South Oak St.Tickets: $10 | Available at venue the night of the show. Shows are a fast-paced mix of scenes, improv games and music. If you like Whose Line Is It, Anyway?, you’ll love improv! Shows last approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes. They welcome the whole family, but generally recommended for 12 and over.

April 2: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Association presents free music concert on the first Sunday of every month at the Poinsettia Pavilion from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Next concert session features the ever popular “Old Grass Band”.  Call 517-1131 for more information.

April 2: Dudley Historic House Museum. Timeline Photo Display of Ventura’s History Beginning in 1866, featuring over 100 period photographs assembled by Dudley docents in celebration of the City’s 150th anniversary last year.  The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood.  For further information please call 642-3345 or visit the website at www/dudleyhouse.org.

April 4:  Mended Hearts of Ventura. Come share if you have had heart surgery or stent implant.
Group meets the first Tuesday each month at the Community Memorial Hospital – 8th floor, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. They have excellent speakers, leading Cardiologists, Nutritionists, Dietitians, etc. from our area who give excellent information. Contact: Richard Hatcher 644-2733

April 5: The Beach Cities Neighbors and Newcomers Club, (BCNN ) is a group of active women of all ages who live in Ventura, Oxnard, or Port Hueneme. Please come to our monthly meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Meeting will be held at the Knights of Columbus.  Enter the parking lot from Santa Clara Street.   No charge for meeting and no reservation is required.  April is Poetry Month and our BCNN Poetry Group will present their Annual Reading to the membership. For additional information, please visit our Website at: bcnnwomensclub.org or call 988-0795.

April 6: The Ladies Luncheon  same great menu and fantastic view at new location the Poinsettia Pavilion. Sit-down Luncheon Buffet (Limited Seating) 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. $27 Pre-register, $30 at the door. Table space available for vendor products only.

Vendor tables are $5 for 3′ of space and $10 for 6′ of space and available for selling products only. Register at www.TheLadiesLuncheon.com.

April 8: San Buenaventura Women’s Club will hold the 6th Annual Fashion Show Fundraiser at Poinsettia Pavilion on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Come for a chance to win a Door Prize, or bid on Opportunity Baskets, Silent Auction and Wine Pull.  Fashions will be provided by The Dress barn.  Help support local charities in Ventura County.  Tickets are $35 paid in advance.  Contact [email protected] for more details.

April 8: The Ventura Beginning PC Users Group will meet at Cypress Place, 1220 Cypress Point Lane,  on Saturday, April 8 at 9:15-12:00 for “Spring Cleaning the Computer” and “Reliable Medical Web Sites”.  All beginning and intermediate computer users are welcome.  Phone 648-1368 for more information.

April 10: “Relive the Passover Exodus” with Rabbi Yakov & Sarah Latowicz. Few Jewish holidays evoke the same warm sentiments as Passover. Bringing the warmth and tradition of this festival to the Ventura Community, Chabad of Ventura is inviting all residents to participate in community Seders to be held on Monday night at 7:30 pm, at the Pierpont Racquet Club. 500 Sanjon Rd.

All are welcome to join the community Seder, regardless of Jewish affiliation or background. Suggested donations are $54 per adult and $26 per child. No one will be turned away for lack of finances. For reservations or to sponsor someone in need at the Seder please visit www.ChabadVentura.com

April 12: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a critique meeting on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. A professional photographer from the area will critique member’s prints and digital images. Each month a special topic is chosen which features some interesting aspect of photography. This month’s topic is “Abstracts” and Bill Hendricks will judge. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. For more information about the club visit www.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com

April 13:  The Ventura County Professional Women’s Network (VCPWN) monthly dinner meeting. A wonderful way to network with local business owners. Register for dinner online at www.vcpwn.org.  Guest speaker Kim Pagano, host of the Kim Pagano Show on 1590 KVTA radio. Founded in 1982, VCPWN has enjoyed a long tenure of promoting the professional and personal growth of Ventura County women through education, mutual support and sharing of resources.  For more information about the event www.vcpwn.org.

April 14: Good Friday Service,  7 pm First United Methodist Church
1338 E. Santa Clara Ave. Easter Cantata, with full choir and chamber music ensemble.

The Museum celebrates Earth Day at the next Free First Sunday event Sunday, April 2, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. The park rangers of the Channel Islands National Park will be on hand with information booths and activities about conservation on the islands. Hear local author, Ken McAlpine, talk about the ocean, marine animals and the ever-changing ecosystems under the sea. Paint your own planet earth, delve into printmaking with vegetable stamp art, and show appreciation of nature through planting seeds! Get your hands dirty while learning about our earth, the environment, and ecosystems locally and globally. Free admission.  First Free Sundays are generously sponsored by Mimi Allin.

Book Signing at Little House – “Dynamic Aging: Simple Exercises for Whole-Body Mobility “ by biomechanist Katy Bowman. Her four co-authors, who are local seniors, will be signing books on Wednesday, April 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Little House,  111 W. Santa Ana St.

On Sunday April 9th,  the Ojai Raptor Center, (ORC) a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, will open its doors to the public for their annual Spring Open House; a rare opportunity to meet the non-releasable “ambassador” raptors, and tour the Center that is otherwise closed to the public year-round.

Guests will meet a variety of hawks, falcons, and owls. The Spring’s Open House theme will be “Baby Shower” as the Center will be preparing for the busiest time of year: Nesting Season. A silent auction will be held along with raffles for a chance to release a successfully rehabilitated raptor with ORC staff. The ORC Store will be open and drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.

The Ojai Raptor Center Open House will have a five dollar entry fee per person with children under ten admitted for free. This is a dog-free event. Visit www.ojairaptorcenter.org for more information.

Ojai native plant educator Lanny Kaufer will lead his annual Nature Hike to Rose Valley Falls on Sunday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day will begin with a plant identification hike along Howard Creek, followed by a lunch break, and a shaded walk to the Falls.

An optional carpool from the Maricopa Plaza parking lot will be available, at 9:00 a.m. and return there by 3 p.m. The cost is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-and-older, and $15 for students 13-18. Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, by prior arrangement. No dogs or smoking, please.

To register or for more information, please visit www.HerbWalks.com or call 646-6281.

Lanny Kaufer will also lead an herb walk on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location will remain a mystery. As Kaufer explains, “It is a rare and special place where I have been longing to lead a walk for years.” A docent also will be present to share some of the rare exotic plants found on the property.

The group will meet at Maricopa Plaza for a carpool to reduce the number of cars on the private road. The travel time to the trailhead will be 15-20 minutes. Walkers can plan on returning to Maricopa Plaza by 1 p.m.

The cost is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 62 years of age and up, and $10 for students 13-18. An additional $5/person donation is requested by the nonprofit organization that manages the property to cover the costs associated with having visitors. Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, by prior arrangement. No dogs or smoking, please.

To register for the Ojai Herb Walk, visit www.HerbWalks.com, email [email protected], or call 646-6281

Ventura County Library will host a series of Community Conversations at the Ojai Library (3/31), the Ojai Valley Museum (4/6), Topa Topa Elementary School (4/13), Meiners Oaks Elementary School (4/20), and the Oak View Park and Resource Center (4/27). Each program will last from 6 to 8 p.m.

Each of these facilitated conversations will include questions designed to help us better understand people’s aspirations for their community, the concerns they have, and what they believe might make a difference in strengthening the community.

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.

4/18 Tuesday @7-9pm A California Native Plant Society LectureRick Burgess “A Flora of Ventura County” a lovely view of Ventura’s spring beauties. Presented by the California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter.

4/1, 8, 15, 22, &  29 Saturdays @ 10:30am in the Rentfrow RoomSpanish Conversation GroupAre you learning Spanish but need some practice speaking? Join this informal group to chat and practice your Español! Bring your own coffee!

4/5, 12, 19, & 26 Wednesdays @ 4-6pm Come by the Makerspace to learn, create, and share STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). We have 3D printers, computer coding, stop motion animation, a laser cutter/engraver, and so much more! Play hard, have fun, explore, discover, connect.

4/6, 13, 20,  & 27  Thursdays @ 7:30-9pm Poetry Open Mic NightOn these Thursday nights, come join this group of writers as they meet in the Topping Room to share their work.

4/10 & 24 Mondays @ 7-10pm Ukulele Jam Session

Locals gather to play the ukulele on the first and third Monday of the month

4/1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Saturdays @ 1pm Calling all chess players! Keep your skills sharp with this one-hour, drop-in session of free play. Boards will be set up and ready to go. Bring your best moves!

4/7, 14, 21, & 28 Fridays @ 2pm Children’s Events Friday Films with CraftToy Story (7th), Ratatouille (14th), Lego Movie (21st), The Muppets (2011) (28th)Join us each Friday for a film screening and a specially themed craft!

4/1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Saturdays @ 12-1pm Paws for Reading

Read aloud to a registered service dog. (Sign-up required)

4/5 & 19 Wednesdays @ 5pm TAG: Teen Advisory Group

If you want to share ideas, meet new people and have a great time shaping the library teen program join TAG! This is for 13+ and grades 8+ and counts toward community service requirements.

Hop on over for family fun at Ventura Harbor’s Cottontail Day Festival, Saturday, April 8 featuring egg hunts, a petting zoo, kid’s hands on arts and crafts, and children’s entertainment; all geared towards families with kids ages 1 – 7 years old.

The Cottontail Day festivities give children a chance to take a photo or grab a hug with the Cottontail Bunny.  Children ages 1 –7 can join in the $2 Egg Hunt held every 30 minutes from  11am – 2pm.  Kids that find a “Golden Egg” will happily hop away with extra prizes.  A Village Scavenger Hunt offers clues leading guests to a Hoppy Surprise!

More family fun activities include:  pony rides, petting zoo, glitter tattoos, face painting, tumbling fun with MyGym, live children’s entertainment by Jamie Shaheen, Village Arcade & Carousel, pedal boats, ice cream, family-oriented vendor booths, jumpies and Bunny!  Excite imaginations with a variety of free children’s crafts.

Come early and enjoy breakfast or lunch at one of the many harbor-view restaurants, and visit Harbor Village boutiques for unique gift items, spring décor, kites to fly, and spring break style necessities.  Stop by the Village Arcade and play a fun family game or explore sea-life on a Harbor cruise or pedal boat rental with the family.   Need an extra treat for Easter baskets?  Take home delicious homemade fudge, French pastries, or waffle cone gift certificates.

The Ventura Harbor would like to thank the 2017 Cottontail Day sponsors  City Corps Ventura, The Greek at the Harbor, Ventura Breeze, and Cumulus Broadcasting.

Let Ventura Harbor Village be your spring break destination, take the day off and immerse yourself seaside with outdoor play, savory fish & chips, clam chowder, unique shops and galleries all while creating seaside memories.

For more information visit www.VenturaHarborVillage.com or call 477.0470.