Category Archives: Community Events

Vol. 9, No. 26 – September 28 – October 11, 2016 – Events

Events by Ana Baker

Retired Men(and semi-retired or on the brink). If your significant other says you’re getting under foot around the house, we’d welcome you for a few informal hours twice a month on a Tuesday at the Ventura Retired Men’s Group. Enjoy your choice at the bar, exchange thoughts with a friend, new or old, have a healthy lunch and hear a presentation of interest, information and/or education. Call Steve Carroll at 642-1359 for when and where.

Music Speaks on all Sundays at 4 p m. in October is a play plus Q & A.

Each week brings a musician of note who will share their music and anecdotes from their professional careers in an intimate conversational setting at the NAMBA Performing Arts Space. 47 S. Oak St. For more info call 628-9250.

Tickets at http:/www.musicspeaks2016.brownpapertickets.com or at the door $20.

Nambaarts.com

Sept. 28: “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, including public safety and economic development. The Council, meets in the Wright Event Center at 57 Day Rd. on the Ventura College campus.  Free parking is available adjacent to the Event Center.”

Sept. 30: A filled to the brim showcase of 24,000 handmade creations, the 27th Annual Ventura Harvest Festival® Original Art & Craft show gets underway Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Seaside Park at the beach becomes a hub of activities with shopping, live entertainment, contests, strolling entertainers, and a Kidzone with a pumpkin patch.

It’s the west coast’s largest indoor arts & crafts showcase that never disappoints.

Food Share will be on hand to offer $2 admission discounts to patrons who bring canned goods for donation. The Boys & Girls Club of Ventura also benefits from sales of shopping bags as they greet guests. Info and tickets are available at www.harvestfestival.com or call 925- 392-7300. Adults: $9, Seniors (62+) $7, Military: (Active/Retired/Veteran) $7, Youths (13-17) $4,

Kids 12 and under are free.

Oct.1: an Autumn Evensong on Saturday at 5 p.m.  Program features David Singer, clarinet and Nick Akdag, bassoon along with Helen Farson performing Glinka’s impassioned Trio Pathetique in d minor and  Dvorak’s timeless Largo from the New World Symphony.  Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church, 6300 Telephone Dr. No admission charge.  Call 641.9646 for more information.

Oct. 2: Ventura CROP 5km and 10km Walk to support hunger-fighting agencies. Walk Begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Check-in from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1338 E. Santa Clara Street. 658-7446 or [email protected]

Oct.2: The Chabad Jewish Center of Ventura will host High Holiday Services for both Rosh Hashanah, Oct 2, 3 and 4 and Yom Kippur, October 11 & 12 at the Pierpont Inn, Chabad & the Pierpont Inn are also offering a full Holiday “Retreat”   in conjunction with the services.

Rabbi Yakov Latowicz, will lead the services accompanied by a guest Cantor Rabbi Mendy Lubin. Services are conducted in Hebrew and English with bilingual prayer books. The cost for each dinner is $45 for adults and $30 for children (under Bar/Bat Mitzvah).

For more info and please call 658-7441 or visit www.ChabadVentura.com.

Oct. 2: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent-led tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  As a special treat, local celebrity author and ghost hunter Richard Senate will be on hand to lead tours and sign books. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets in Ventura. For information please call 642-3345 or visit the website at www.dudleyhouse.org.

Oct. 2 , 8: The Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard is gearing up for two spectacular events in October to round out the remaining months of 2016. First up, on October 2, is the opening of its newest exhibit, Station Wagons and Pickups, along with a public car show hosted the same day.

Next, a fundraiser and car rally on Oct. 8 to honor late Ventura resident Jerry Magnuson, founder of worldwide famous Magnuson Superchargers. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Oct.3&17: The Ventura County Philatelic Society will meet for stamp trading and camaraderie.

Located at the Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Road from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Admission and parking are free. Contact: [email protected] or 320-1601

Oct. 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 and enjoy activities such as hiking, bridge, dining, etc. From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. held at the Ventura Museum Pavilion. No charge for meeting and no reservation is required.

Speaker Dr. Donald Decker for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“Breast Density & Tomosynthesis”. Please visit our Website at: bcnnwomensclub.org or  call 988-0795.

Oct. 5: Author and Ventura native Bill Lascher will present a talk on his new nonfiction book, Eve of a Hundred Midnights, at the inaugural Engage & Enlighten event, a community event series sponsored by the law firm Ferguson Case Orr Paterson (FCOP). The presentation is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at FCOP’s office at 1050 S. Kimball Road.

The event is open to the public; however reservations are required. RSVP to [email protected] or call  659-6800.

Oct. 8: Creating stationery in Word and Changes in the Ventura County Star Photos will be topics for the Ventura Beginners PC Users Group on Saturday from 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the 3rd floor lounge of Cypress Place Independent Living, 1220 Cypress Point Lane.  All beginning and intermediate computer users are welcome to attend. For further information, call 648-1368.

Oct.12: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a critique meeting on Wednesday at 7 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 “Black & White”. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. Only members may submit images for critique. See the club’s web site for more information about the club and examples of member’s work or call 908-5663.  WWW.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com

Oct.14: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution October luncheon meeting will feature the program “Thomas Jefferson Miscellaneous “, presented by Past California Society SAR President Steve Hurst.  Begins at 11:30 a.m., Friday, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant lunch is $20 per person.  For additional information please call Bill Bays 650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992.  For information regarding SAR membership and chapter please visit http://pattonpatriots.org.

Oct. 16: The Ventura Sports and Race Car Club is pleased to present, The Ninth Annual Ventura Motor Sports Gathering.  This year will feature Italian cars on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  held on the main lawn at the Ventura Harbor Village.  It will also feature classic wooden boats.  Cost for entry is $50.00.  The event is free to the public.  For further information call Don Greene 794-5438 or Bill Erickson 890-1461.

 

Vol. 9, No. 26 – September 28 – October 11, 2016 – City classes

City of Ventura Barranca Vista Imagination Center classes check out hundreds more on our web-site
Call (805) 658-4726 or 805-654-7552 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net
Classes and events held at the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street in Ventura unless otherwise noted

Introduction to Video Game Design & Coding 8-12 years
9/28-11/16 W 3:45-5 pm $129 #6760
Learn the basic principles of conditional coding and work with a partner on fundamental video game design elements working with Multimedia Fusion software.

Beginning Hip Hop 6-12 years
9/30-10/21 F 4:30-5:15 pm $40 #6810
Join other hip hoppers to learn basic moves in a fun environment. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in, no jeans or shorts, and sneakers. No classes 9/2-9/5. Class held at 1547 Los Angeles Ave #102, Ventura.

Pre-K Ballet/Acro PC 2-5 years
10/1-10/22 Sa 10:15-11 am $40 #6801
Learn basic ballet techniques such as pointing your toes, foot positions and balancing, plus somersaults and hand stands. Instructor Kelyla Nelson,1547 Los Angeles Ave #102 in Ventura.

Haunted Ventura County 6-12 years
10/4-10/18 Tu 4-5 pm $40 #7149
Take a closer look at such local historic and haunted sites as the Stage Coach Inn, Heritage Square and Ortega and Olivas Adobes with a weekend field trip for an up-close investigation.
.
Figurative Clay Sculpture 16 years-adult
10/5-11/2 W 6:15-8:15 pm $110+$20 materials fee #6785
Create your own figure and face sculptures using a variety of techniques. Instructor Kim Clarke.

Meditate for Mind Body Health 18 years-adult
10/6-10/27 Th 7-8 pm $75 #6751
We sit in chairs (bring pillows if needed) to practice silent concentration and mindfulness meditations to reduce stress, anxiety, insomnia and pain. Instructor PHD Psychologist Kimberly Wulfert.

Canine Body Language Seminar 18 years-adult
10/8 Sa 10 am-12 pm $20 #6770
Tail wagging doesn’t always mean “happy.” Learn to identify signs of anxiety versus playfulness as you open new lines of communication with your dog. Leave your dog at home and join Registered Veterinary Technician and Certified Professional Dog Trainer Shannon Coyner. Class held at 3521 Arundel Circle #B. www.venturapetwellness.com.

Tap with Haley 18 years-adult
10/9-11/13 Su 3-4 pm $60 #6829
Get a great mental/physical workout with simple tap steps and rhythm patterns. All dance levels welcome. Instructor Haley-Nicole Harwood.

Tai Chi Xing Yi
10/11-11/10 Tu/Th 12-1 PM $72 #7441
Learn Chinese physical culture, mental exercises, and mind-body systems as you practice traditional elements of Chen and Shao Lin style, Tai Chi, Qigong, and more with World and National Champion Martial Artist, Eric Zhang. No class 10/25 & 10/27

Olive Oil Tasting, Snacks and Art Sketching 18 years-adult
10/12 W 1-4 pm $40+$20 materials fee #7160
10/15 Sa 1-4 pm $40+$20 materials fee #7161
Sketch and tour Ojai Olive Oil’s groves. Taste its oils and create a refreshing drink of vinegar, herbs and fruit (recipes included). Meet at 1811 Ladera Rd, Ojai.

Just a few of the E.P. Foster October events

Author Reading – Zoe Murdoc 10/4 Tuesday @ 6pm
Join us for a reading from Ojai author Zoe Murdock’s book Man in the Mirror: A man finding himself as he loses himself to Alzheimer’s. Altered Book Workshop 10/5 & 19 Wednesday @ 6pm

Opera Santa Barbara Noontime Concert 10/14 Friday @ 12pm
Spend Your Lunch Hour listening to members of the Mosher Studio Artist Program, who will perform a selection of popular opera arias and duets as well as some musical theatre pieces.

Spontaneous Chess 10/1, 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!

Music Together with Hitchcock Children’s Center 10/4 Tuesday @ 9am  
A music and movement class for kids 0-5 and the grown-ups who love them.  Music Together is sharing songs, instrument play, rhythm chants, and movement activities in a relaxed, playful, setting.

Lego Play 10/11 & 25 Tuesday @ 3pm @10am
Build, Learn, and Play! Bring your imagination and experiment with creative designs. Children of all ages welcome!

TAG: Teen Advisory Group 10/5 & 19 Wednesday @ 5pm
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.

EP Foster Library will be joining libraries across North America and their local writing communities for the first annual Indie Author Day on October 8. At 11am, all participating libraries will come together for an hour-long digital Q&A featuring veterans of the literary community- Jon Fine of Amazon, Kiera Parrott of Library Journal, Robin Cutler of IngramSpark, Jim Blanton of Louisville Free Library and Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) award-winning author L. Penelope. Writers will learn valuable information while meeting other members of their local literary community. Following the Q&A session, EP Foster Library will host an author meet and greet, a time for local indie authors to network and learn from each other.

 

Professor Scamp presidential pup rally at A Secret Garden Florist Café at 1pm Sunday, Sept. 18

On Sunday, September 18, there will be a pup rally at A Secret Garden Florist Café (981 E. Main, Ventura) at 1pm to officially announce the candidacy for president of Professor Scamp PhD (Pretty happy Dog).

The public is encouraged to attend to support Scamp’s run for the Oval Office. Attendees are welcome to bring their dogs, and can buy some pupcakes at the cafe. The barking lot is small so bark in the street. Scamp will be handing out pawtographs.

“Arts & Eats” in downtown Ventura Sept. 17

art-arts-_-eatsThe first “Arts & Eats” will be held in the 400 and 500 blocks of downtown Ventura on Saturday, September 17 from 6 – 8pm. Three galleries will hold art receptions, while restaurants and shops will offer complimentary tastes.

“Arts & Eats invites people to stroll and enjoy the uniqueness of our downtown.  Guests will enjoy exceptional art and photography, while they nibble their way along Main Street” says Debbie Fox, owner of Fox Fine Jewelry, one of the event galleries. The event is free.

Fox Fine Jewelry, 6 – 8:30

Norman Kirk will display his art in the show “Celebrating Norman Kirk” at Fox Fine Jewelry from September 15 – November 13 with an Art Reception on September 17 from 6 – 8:30pm during “Arts&Eats”. This is Kirk’s first solo show in over five years, and at 92 years old, he says it is probably his last. During the Art Reception there will be art supplies and scrapbook paper. Guests are encouraged to bring photos and stories, and sign, write, and draw on the pages.

Very Ventura Gift Shop & Gallery Historic Photography during Arts & Eats
Plein Air Competition,  Sept. 17 – Oct. 24

Very Ventura Gift Shop & Gallery will present “Ventura Views: The Historical Photography of Walt and Steve Dibblee” and “Preshow for the ArtWalk Plein Air Invitational”  Photography: For over 65 years Walt and son, Steve Dibblee, have been providing high quality photography for Ventura County. The show will be on view for Arts & Eats only.

West coast artists compete in a Plein Air Invitational Event during ArtWalk 2016.  Sample paintings will be on display for Arts & Eats, with the full exhibit beginning soon after. The show ends October 24. Very Ventura Gift Shop & Gallery is located at 540 E. Main Street.

 

Latitudes Fine Art Gallery presents “The Endless Summer Collection” until September 30, with an Art Opening on September 17 from 6 – 8. The photographs are a celebration of images that capture vivid sunsets, surfer lined shores, and barefoot afternoons at the beach. Latitudes Fine Art is located at 401 E. Main Street.

Vol. 9, No. 25 – September 14 – September 27, 2016 – City Classes

City of Ventura Barranca Vista Imagination Center classes check out hundreds more on web-site
Call 658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net
Classes and events held at the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street unless otherwise noted

Art classes
Critters 7-12 years
9/19-10/17 M 4-5:30 pm $50+$10 materials fee #6782
Learn to paint all kinds of animals in many styles including dot painting, abstract and realistic. Join artist Jen Livia at 4601 Telephone Rd #112 each week to explore new subjects and paint them in a variety of styles to discover our own unique style. All supplies provided. www.redbrickart.com.

Acrylic Painting for Youth 8-18 years
9/22-10/20 Th 3:30-4:45 pm $65 #6779
Explore painting themes of fantasy and nature on different painting surfaces.

Fun with Watercolor 15 years-adult
9/22-10/20 Th 10 am-12 pm $68 #6790
Learn basic techniques, color theory and how to paint in an outside environment. Experienced painters may work on their own projects. Includes some field trips.

Open Studio 15 years-adult
9/22-10/20 Th 12:30-2:30 pm $68 #6793
Work in your favorite medium–watercolor, acrylic, oil or drawing–in this relaxed minimal instruction environment.

Sewing by Hand 10 years-adult
9/23-10/21 F 4:15-6 pm $60 #6786
Learn hand-sewing skills to make dolls, folk pictures, purses and more perfect for holiday gifts.

Sailboats, Cityscapes and Whimsical Characters 16 years-adult
9/23-10/21 F 2-4 pm $100 #6788
Use wood, paint, fabric and found contributions to create fantasy versions of sailboats, cityscapes and other 3D art pieces.

My First Video Game! 5-8 years
9/26-11/14 M 3:45-5 pm $129 #6761
Young game developers work in pairs to design and build their own original 2D “bouncy ball” computer game. At Bible Fellowship Church Room 206, 6950 Ralston St.

Let’s Play with Clay 3-6 years
9/26-10/17 M 6:15-7:30 pm $45/child & adult #6776
It’s parent and child play as you work together to create projects in clay, such as pinch pots, nature print trays and handprints! Instructor Michelle Solorio.

Fundraiser to support animals in need

logoThe Humane Society of Ventura County, will hold its 10th annual “Cats in the Canyon & Hounds in the Hollow” fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 25, at Boccali’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant in Ojai. Proceeds go to the care of animals in need throughout Ventura County.

This year’s event, which will feature a full vegetarian Italian buffet and a “Buy It Now” marketplace with bargains on items and services from Ventura County businesses, will run from 4 to 7 p.m. Guests also can interact with animals looking for new homes and visit with staff and volunteers. Boccali’s is located at 3277 E. Ojai Ave. The Main Street Jazz Band will provide musical entertainment.

The HSVC has provided continuous support and services to animals in need and their companions throughout the county for over 84 years.

Earlier this year, the HSVC announced it will be entering phase one of a large project to rebuild its 34-year-old dog kennels. Increasing funds are necessary in order for the private non-profit to reach its goals.

Tickets purchased in advance are $50 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under. Tickets bought on site will be $60 and $30.

For tickets, to donate a marketplace item or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call the shelter at 646-6505 . For more information on the HSVC, visit www.hsvc.org.

 

Free workshop for ESL volunteer tutors 

Laubach Literacy of Ventura County is now offering free workshops to help volunteers learn to become English as Second Language (ESL) tutors of adults.

The current workshop will be held over two Saturdays, September 17 (from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM) and October 15, 2016 (from 9:00 AM to noon). The two-day workshop will be held at Barrister Executive Suites in Ventura; directions will be given upon registration.

Various methods and materials for teaching English to adults will be demonstrated and taught during the workshops, enabling the new tutor to begin ESL tutoring right away. The workshops will help you teach reading, writing, and speaking English to adults who are non-fluent English speakers. For anyone who is a non-speaker of English, you might want to check out this article as it details how you can be become a fluent speaker of the English language. However, neither teaching experience nor the ability to speak a foreign language is necessary for these workshops.

To register, get more information and directions, please call 385-9584, and please take some time to check out www.laubachventura.org.

 

 

Vol. 9, No. 25 – September 14 – September 27, 2016 – Two on the Aisle

The ensemble works as a tightly knit team executing rapid-fire delivery.

Moonlight and Magnolias debuts at Rubicon
by Jim Spencer & Shirley Lorraine

The latest production at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre Company is Moonlight and Magnolias. It is a fascinating comedy about the process of converting the book, Gone with the Wind, into a movie.

All the action takes place in the richly appointed MGM office of producer David O. Selznick, played by Patrick O. Vest. He calls in veteran screen writer Ben Hecht, portrayed by Joel Bryant, to make changes and add music, because the script is too mellow.  Victor Fleming, played by Cylan Brown, is also summoned by Selznick to assume direction of the movie.

Selznick explains that although Gone with The Wind is already several weeks into production, things aren’t working to his satisfaction and the three of them need to completely rewrite the script. He locks the door and announces they will remain there until the rewrite is complete.

They have five days in which to work this miracle.

The only one who periodically enters is Selznick’s secretary, Miss Poppenguhl – finely played by Jennifer Ridgway.  Ridgway displays a panoply of reactions and physical moves that are priceless.

As the week unravels, so do all the characters, as they frantically attempt to make script the best movie ever made.  Fueled apparently only by bananas, peanuts, adrenaline and possibly caffeine, the producer, writer and director work at maniacal speed. Selznick and Fleming act out the entire book for Hecht as he works hard to make sense of it all on paper.

During the course of the rewrite, many aspects of the work are explored including the Civil War, slavery and childbirth, all of which the writer objects to strongly as entertainment.  Nonetheless, the producer prevails over content, casting and continuity.

Whether a true account or not, the result is highly entertaining as ultimately Margaret Mitchell’s now famous words are kept mostly intact as a screenplay for the ages.

Director Stephanie Coltrin extracts fine performances and physical comedy from all the players. The ensemble works as a tightly knit team executing complicated choreographed movements that accent the repartee. Of special note is the rapid-fire delivery which maintains its cadence throughout. The actors must be exhausted at the conclusion of each performance.

Scenic and lighting designer Thomas S. Giamario once again works magic with a detailed setting. Together with Properties Designer T. Theresa Scarano, the flair of the era is evident.

Ventura County theatergoers are highly encouraged to catch one of the few remaining performances of this entertaining, enlightening and educational production. If they don’t, it will be Gone with the Wind. Fiddle-dee-dee.

Moonlight and Magnolias continues until Sunday, September 18, 2016. Shows: 2 p.m. matinees – Wed., Sat. & Sun. ($20-$54). 7 p.m.-Wed. ($20-$49). 8 p.m.-Thu., Fri., Sat ($20-$54). Rubicon Theatre Co., 1006 E. Main St. Ticketing and seat selection available 24/7 at www.rubicon.theatre.org.  667-2900.