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, first time dancers are free. Call Rick at 415-8842 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.

Nov.25: Like to play acoustic music? 4th Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Songmakers.org welcomes all lovers of acoustic music, instrumentalists, singers, and singer/songwriters of all levels to join in a free song circle at the Bell Arts Factory Community Room, 432 N. Ventura Ave. Listeners welcome. Info: Mike Wittlin, 750-8281

Nov.25, 26, 27 Dec. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11: Come celebrate the spirit of holidays past at the historic Dudley House. The 23rd year of this annual fundraiser for the museum features quality crafts, home décor, antiques and a tearoom with refreshments, silent auction and bargain items. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a flea market added on Sundays. On Saturday, December 3rd, “Mrs. Claus” will visit the tea room at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to share the history of our favorite Christmas traditions and her life with the famous Mr. Claus. Dudley House is on the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood, admission is free. Call 642-3345 for information.

Dec.1: Interactive Workshop on Grief and Loss, Thursday, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A time of strategizing on ways to enjoy the holidays while journeying through grief and loss, regardless of the cause or length of time.  Led by Turning Point Counseling Therapist Barbara Suggs, M.A., MFT Intern #82444, at The River Community Church in the Fellowship Hall, 859 E. Santa Clara Street. Register by calling 766-4150 or e-mailing [email protected] to reserve your seat. The workshop is free, light refreshments will be served.

Dec.3: On Saturday, at 4pm the First United Methodist Church of Ventura will have an early Christmas concert (free to all) ,“The Light of Christmas”. It will be followed by a soup supper in the fellowship hall. 1338 East Santa Clara Ave. Come get in the Christmas spirit with classic Christmas anthems, some spirituals, and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”.

Dec.4: Temple Beth Torah is hosting a Hanukkah Boutique on Sunday. Jewish items for Hanukkah and secular gifts for anyone wishing to celebrate the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and more. Vendors showing wood work items, jewelry, one of a kind gifts, Glassware, paintings, clothing, craft like items, cookie gift jars and more. Latkes for lunch provided by the Men’s group. Free and is open to the community from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 7620 Foothill Rd. If you would like more information please call the school at 647-3798.

Dec.4: On Sunday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions will be holding their Annual Season of Peace Meeting at E.P. Foster Library, Topping Room, A Common Word: Facing the Future Together. Join Marianne Farina, CSC, Ph.D. in an exploration of dialogue to help us to think critically and engage with the realities of others holistically. Admission Free.

For more information on Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions and how you can get involved:  www.c-p-r.net, Contact:  Mary Olson 223-1187

Dec.4: 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.  The next concert session features the very lively, versatile and talented “Old Country Grass Band”.  This will be the annual Christmas Music Show. All are welcome.  Call 517-1131 for more information.

Dec.10: Amnesty International USA Local Group #452 is holding its annual Write-a-thon at College United Methodist Church, 4300 Telegraph Road from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This event is part of Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign, the world’s largest letter writing event, which engages people to speak out on behalf of prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders and communities at risk from around the world.   Drop in between 1 and 4 pm to write letters. Your hand-written letters, combined with hundreds of thousands of others from around the world, can change the lives of this year’s 12 cases. They furnish paper, pens, stamps, snacks and good company.

Jan.7: Day of Mindfulness: Renewal for the New Year 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A day to quiet the mind and open the heart. A day of healing, with the Venerable Kusala, an American born Buddhist monk, ordained in the Zen tradition of Vietnam.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura Sanctuary (UUCV), 5654 Ralston St., A gratitude offering will be gratefully accepted, but is not required, $35 suggested.

Sponsored by the Friendship Sangha of the Heart, a program of the UUCV.

More information and registration at FriendshipSangha.org/register.

After three years of construction, the Ventura College Art Department is proud to announce the grand opening of the remodeled Studio Arts Building (SAB) and the newly constructed New Media Gallery on Thursday, December 1, from  6-8:30 pm  at 4667 Telegraph Road.  Opening ceremonies will take place across from the New Media Gallery followed by studio class demonstrations, faculty and student displays, and a closing reception with light refreshments for the exhibition, Innovation and a Rejection of the Past: The Artistic Avant-Garde. The event is free and open to the public.

In March 2002, citizens of Ventura County voted to authorize a $356 million general obligation bond to renovate and expand all three Ventura County Community College campuses.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Bernard Luskin and Ventura College President Greg Gillespie, I would like to thank the residents of Ventura County for approving the funds to support these projects,” said VCCCD Board Chair Larry Kennedy.  “We are proud of the work that has gone into constructing the Studio Arts Building and New Media Gallery and look forward to presenting these 21st century facilities to our students and the community.”

The Ventura College Art Department offers beginning and intermediate courses in Color and Design, Drawing, Life Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Digital Media, Photography, and Art History to assist students in gaining insight into creative and critical thinking. The Ventura College Art program has a long tradition of producing many of the region’s most accomplished artists and continuing education students who have forged advanced skills and careers as exhibiting artists, educators, graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, art technicians, art historians, commercial artists, and gallery/museum professionals.

The Art Department maintains two galleries: Gallery 2, a student-run gallery and art lab, and the New Media Gallery exhibiting work by historically significant and nationally known artists. Additionally, these exhibition spaces provide students with hands-on experience in gallery and museum management.

After six decades of providing quality community college education at the 4667 Telegraph location, Ventura College, with the support of the voters, will celebrate its history and look towards the future as it prepares to serve a new generation of Ventura County students. For more information on art classes or to obtain notices of upcoming art events, lectures, and exhibitions, please contact the Ventura College Art Department, Gwendolyn Huddleston, Ed.D., Dean of Academics, [email protected], 289-6388.

Learn more about the Corporate Games by attending an informational meeting scheduled on December 8, at 6:30 pm at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St., in the Community Meeting Room. Meetings will give tips on how to make your participation in the Corporate Games successful. Staff will also address the Point System, Selection of Events and tips on how to improve your performance in the Corporate Games. Go to http://www.cityofventura.net/corporategames for more information.

The Leslie Marcus Solo Fine Art Exhibition will be opening December 1 until December 31st. The exhibition will be held at the Ojai Roasting Company, located at 337 East Ojai Avenue.

The Ojai Community Chorus will present its winter concert, “A Christmas Party in a Pear Tree,” on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Ojai United Methodist Church, 120 Church Road.

The unfortunate partridge, Party, is stuck up in the pear tree. It takes some doing to get him down, but he is finally rescued just in time for Christmas. Along with this whimsical vignette the chorus will present holiday classics such as “Silver Bells,” “Silent Night,” and the exciting “Feliz Navidad”. Also featured will be John Rutter’s stirring “Gloria, Allegro Vivace”. A children’s ensemble will contribute a lively touch to the program.

Director Connie Woodson states, “A trademark of Community Chorus concerts is its presentation of a wide variety of music, providing something to please everybody’s tastes. This concert is no exception.”

Backing up the Chorus will be John Boyd on guitar and Ben Ginsberg on the piano, while James Antunez will provide background on drums and percussion.

A boutique and bake sale will also be held, with lots of Christmas ideas to help with shopping.

Tickets are available from Chorus members or at the St. Thomas Aquinas Thrift Shop, 334 E. Ojai Ave. Suggested donations are $20 for general admission in advance and $25 at the door. Seniors 65 and older and student tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children 6 through 11 are admitted for $5. Children younger that 6 are admitted free, however, there are no provisions for child care.

For further information call 640-0468. Check out the Chorus’ website at ojaichorus.wordpress.com.

The Mira Monte Elementary School’s Ojai Food Truck Friday is held every first Friday of the month. It is a fund raising event for Mira Monte School. A portion of all of the sales from the food trucks is given to the school.

This next event is going to be holiday themed. There will be live music, family photos, free live music and lots of great food. It will be held on December 2nd, from 5-8:30pm, at Mira Monte Elementary School, 1216 Loma Drive. Mandrigali will perform a Yuletide set of music and The Grinch will be shown at 7:00pm (outdoor movie- people need to bring blankets or chairs).

Dr. Rainer Buschmann will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 to deliver a talk titled “Liquid Histories: Madeira and Port Wine.” Dr. Buschmann comes from CSU Channel Islands (CI), and is the final speaker in this year’s CI Library Lecture Series. His talk will highlight why Madeira became such prominent place to grow grapes during the early period of Iberian expansion. CSU Channel Islands hosts more than a dozen free public lectures from September through December. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, City 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.

Every year between the end of November and the end of December, Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year. This year it starts on sundown on Dec.24 and ends on Jan.1,2017..

In the land of Judea there was a mean (boo) Syrian king, Antiochus. The king ordered the Jewish people to reject their God, their religion, their customs and their beliefs and to worship the Greek gods. There were some who did as they were told, but many refused. One who refused was Judah Maccabee.

Judah and his four brothers formed an army and after 3 years of fighting, the Maccabees were finally successful in driving the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem.

When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they wanted to light the eternal light, known as the N’er Tamid, which is present in every Jewish house of worship.

Only a tiny jug of oil was found with only enough for a single day. The oil lamp was filled and lit. Then a miracle occurred as the tiny amount of oil stayed lit not for one day, but for 8 days

Jews celebrate Chanukah to mark the victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The Festival of the Lights, Chanukah, lasts for eight days to commemorate this miracle of the oil.

The menorah candles are lit to celebrate the 8 days that the oil stayed lit.

The spellings of Chanukah has caused some confusion. Part of the reason for this confusion may be due to the fact there is no exact English translation of the Hebrew word for Chanukah. So to help clear up some of the confusion here are just a few of the different spellings one might encounter.

Chanukah, Chanukkah,  Hanuka, Hanukah , Hannukah ,Hanukkah. In the United States it is most common to use the spelling Chanukah.

Last season’s critically acclaimed, world premiere hit Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol returns to Rubicon Theatre Company with Broadway veterans Peter Van Norden (RTC’s Copenhagen) and Emmy Award-winner Joe Spano (“NCIS,” RTC’s Bucky and Sylvia) as they reprise their roles in this innovative, but faithful retelling of the holiday classic.

Adapted by Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns and directed by Brian McDonald, the 25-member cast features many of the same actors from the original production that earned a “Critic’s Choice” in the Los Angeles Times and rave reviews from Ventura County Star, CASA Magazine, VIDA Magazine and the Ventura Breeze. Presented as a play with music, this dynamic and compelling stage version of the novel incorporates highly theatrical elements with characters playing inanimate objects and animals on a multi-level set much in the style of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s landmark production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. Back by popular demand it opens on Saturday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. and runs until Dec.24.

Rubicon Theatre Company
Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District
1006 E. Main St.
Ticket Range: $40 – $65 ($150 for opening night including post-show party at Rhumb Line Restaurant)
Box Office (for single and group tickets) 667.2900

The Ventura Port District has an opportunity to consider a thoughtful and synergistic economic development strategy for two undeveloped sites in the Southwest harbor area. Wednesday, November 9, at 7:00pm.

Four Points Sheraton Ballroom 1050 Schooner Dr.

The Board of Port Commissioners approved a Request for Proposals (RFP) to Lease Ventura Port District Property for Development of Visitor Serving Uses which was released on May 2, 2016. Proposals were due August 12, 2016. On Wednesday, November 9, the District will hold an informational meeting at which time, three development teams who responded to the RFP will present their concepts for the two sites. This is the first public meeting, with additional meetings planned for 1st quarter 2017. No action will be taken on November 9 with respect to the proposals. However, the goal of the RFP is to ultimately select one or more development teams to enter lease negotiations with the District.

The District is focused on increasing the visitor serving uses throughout the harbor. The proposed in-fill projects provide the opportunity to do something special along the waterfront of Ventura Harbor.

The District is taking the first step in a lengthy entitlement and permitting process that involves the City of Ventura, the California Coastal Commission and community stakeholders.

They invite you to attend the first public meeting to learn more about the proposals being made by three different development teams. Your input is a valuable part of the process. https://venturaharbor.com/

Musicians in Monochrome, an exhibition featuring photographs by David Baker, will run until December 31, 2016, at the Coffee Connection #1, 311 El Roblar Street, Meiners Oaks.  Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Baker describes his exhibition as, “a series of black and white photographs showing the personality of Ojai’s talented local musicians and songwriters.” Baker has been photographing Ojai’s musicians for the last four years. He has captured the feeling, emotion, and character of each performer and his images show the heart and soul of his subjects.

An Ojai resident since 1998, Baker was always involved in Ojai activities but in 2011, after returning from a five-year assignment in the Midwest, he was asked to chair the Photography Branch of the Ojai Art Center. For a full biography and gallery of images go to: http://www.ojaiimages.com/

The Ojai Women’s Fund (OWF) is thrilled to announce selection of its first-year grant recipients. Originally slated to award five grants (one in each category of Arts, Education, Environment, Healthcare, and Social Services), a surprise ballot tie in the Social Services category increased total grants to six!  The Ojai Women’s Fund will award $10,000 to each of the following nonprofits to help fund specific programs that assist Ojai lives and improve the Ojai community: Arts:  Ojai Youth Opera Company; Education:  Girls Empowerment Workshop; Environment:  Once Upon A Watershed; Healthcare:  Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association; Social Services:  Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center and Reins of H.O.P.E.

OWF will present the financial awards December 1st at a public celebration at St. Thomas Aquinas Center, 183 St. Thomas Dr.at 5:00 p.m. A $20 per person donation is requested. Please call to RSVP at (805) 746-3096, or order tickets online by November 25 at www.ojaiwomensfund.org

The Ojai Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace kicks off the season with festive inspirations on November 12 and 13, 2016. Presented by the Ojai Festivals Women’s Committee, this annual event entering its twentieth year invites guests to tour four distinctive Ojai Valley homes uniquely decorated by local designers and each with historical significance in the valley.

Also taking place is the companion event that same weekend – the Holiday Marketplace held at the Matilija Junior High School Gymnasium (703 El Paseo Road) featuring a collection of curated lifestyle and fashion items from more than 40 vendors. Admission to the Marketplace is free.

The Home Tour and Marketplace benefit the Ojai Music Festival and its BRAVO education and community program, which offers free music workshops and concerts to the Ojai Valley public schools and the community.

The tour price is $40 per person advance and $45 day of the event. Single tickets are available by calling 805-646-2053 or online at OjaiFestival.org.

On Saturday, November 12, the Water-Saving Landscapes: Rainwater Harvesting and Turf Reduction Workshop will be held at the OVGC Resource Center (206 N Signal Street #S) from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration will be at 8:45 a.m.

Want a drought-appropriate garden but not sure where to begin? In this workshop learn the basics of turf removal, ways to capture and store rainwater, native plant selection and care, plus the importance of mulch. Participants will receive a workbook that helps explain what is appropriate for their landscape, plant list resources, and a tour of a front yard redesigned to capture rainwater.

The cost is $10 for OVGC members, city residents & if you pledge to ride your bicycle to the class; $20 for everyone else.

The workshop is hosted by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition and sponsored by the City of Ojai and SoCal Gas Company. For further details and to register visit ojaivalleygreencoalition.com/Save_Our_Water.html or call  669-8445.