The public is invited to attend the Water: Take 1 kick-off reception from 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 21 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel, 450 East Harbor Blvd. Celebrate and learn about water and conservation with this cocktail reception. Complementary beverages and appetizers will be provided and guests will enjoy a special video screening about making a difference in the water community.

The annual festival, presented by Ventura Water, aims to elevate the value of water by inviting filmmakers from across the globe to submit short films of less than five minutes, in any genre (animation, comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, or sci-fi) that address the topic of water. This year we welcome a new partner, the Palmdale Water District.

The event is free and tickets are not required but those interested in attending must register ahead as seating is limited. To register, email Debra Martinez at [email protected]. She will add your name to the guest list and email back a confirmation for your attendance. If you have questions please email Debra or call  652-4587. Or, go to www.watertake1.com and hit the “RSVP NOW” button to register.

Last year, 48 film entries were submitted featuring a wide variety of locales. A panel of environmental and entertainment professionals judge the entries, and awards will be given at a ceremony in the spring of 2017.

The 23rd annual benefit for the historic Ventura Pier is on Saturday, October 1st, from 5-8pm. Each year more than 800 residents and visitors attend this beachfront culinary fair adjacent to the pier to sample the county’s best food and spirits provided by over 50 area businesses. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of Ventura’s premier wine, beverage and food event.

Restaurants, cafes, wineries and breweries serve their signature dishes and beverages from tented booths along the seaside Promenade while guests will enjoy live music by Caliente, dancing under the stars and an amazing silent auction. It’s a community celebration to honor the City’s 143 year old pier.

The sell-out event hosted by Pier into the Future–-a non-profit organization- “is a much anticipated community gathering of friends that raises funds for our beloved Pier”, said Pier Into the Future Executive Director Jenise Wagar.

The organization was founded by a group of dedicated community leaders, in partnership with the City of Ventura, to establish an endowment fund to maintain and enhance the historic Ventura Pier for future generations to enjoy. The organization has contributed over $500,000 to the City of Ventura over the last 23 years to enhance the Pier.

General admission tickets are $75.00 and include food and beverage tasting and a commemorative Pier wine glass. A limited number of VIP tickets are offered at $125 each. VIP tickets include all of the benefits associated with General Admission, plus early entrance to the event at 4:30 pm and a reserved seat at a VIP table along the promenade.

Tickets are available on line at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800.838.3006. Visit www.pierintothefuture.org for more information.

“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer “is the theme of Ventura Elks Lodge #1430 BBQ fundraiser for the American Cancer Society on Saturday, Set. 17, 2016 at the Elks Lodge, 2126 Knoll Dr., starting at 4 pm. Tickets are on sale for $20 presale $23 after 5 pm Sept. 16 by calling 639-0303 or at the Lodge office.

“This special event will feature music by the “Big Adventure “band and other musical entertainment for listening and dancing. We invite the public to attend, enjoy themselves and join in the fight to help us eliminate breast cancer,” Sheryl Holloway, event coordinator said.

Ventura Elks are deeply involved in the local community sponsoring the ST. Patrick Day Parade; Ventura County Fair parade; scholarships; youth activities and community involvement. The Lodge is one of the nearly 2,200 nationwide Lodges of BPO Elks of the USA. The organization has contributed more than $20 million to designated charitable and philanthropic programs. Membership information can be obtained through the Ventura Lodge or at www.venturaelks.us.

Sept.25: 1:30 pm – First United Methodist Church, 1338 E. Santa Clara. Justice Steven Perren, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, and retired judge Melinda Johnson will present an informed and unbiased analysis of each of the November ballot propositions. This meeting is being hosted by the First United Methodist Church.

Ventura Unified School Board and candidates running for Ventura City Council

September 29th, 6:30 pm – School Board candidates. 7:45 pm – City Council candidates. Cabrillo Middle School, 1426 E. Santa Clara St.

The LWVVC hosts candidate forums in order to assist the public in learning more about individual candidates running for office.

Events by Ana Baker

Free admission stage show, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. First Sunday of every month.  Old Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. For more Information call 517-1131.

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.

Sept. 17: Ventura Audubon Society field trips Surfer’s Knoll/Santa Clara River Estuary at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Kay Regester 258-1025. Hope to see a variety of shorebirds including Snowy Plovers, grebes, turnstones, Whimbrels, godwits, cormorants and sandpipers, as well as many ducks and gulls.

Sept. 17: The Bookkeepers Association of Ventura County will present a seminar from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, at the Ventura Adult Education Center. Entitled “How to Start a Business,” and will cover:  Business Start-Up, Quickbooks Set-up, and Human Resource issues.  The seminar costs $65 for members and $80 for non-members or $10 more at the door.   A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.  Visit http://www.bavc-online.org or call Donna Gordon at 218-1425 for more information.

Sept. 17: Do you have an itch to “serve?” Come and learn about the Salvation Army’s many programs and efforts to strengthen the Ventura community. There are many ways you can get involved!!! Attend the open house on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  650 S. Petit Ave.

In addition to information tables there will be free food, music and jolly jumps for the kids!

Sept.18: The Ventura and Santa Barbara County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) will meet Sunday, in the Campus Student Center of Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road. The regular meeting starts at noon and at 11 a.m. there will be an informal workshop. This month’s program will be Tips & Tricks used in clock and watch repair and care. There is a $3 admission charge. Lunch is available for $5 more. Watches & clocks will be on display. Held at Ventura College. More information about chapter 190 can be found at www.nawcc-ch190.com.

Sept. 19: CA Zeta Chi parliamentarians will meet at 7 p.m. and will feature a lesson by Registered Parliamentarian Gerry Olsen titled “Which Minutes When?”  At 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.

Sept. 19: The Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club presents their annual fund raiser at the Poinsettia Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. Come join the fun and dance to the Dick Parent Trio. Food will be provided by Assisted Home Health Care.

Sept. 20: Ventura Audubon Society field trips Ventura Settling Ponds at 8:30 a.m. Leader:  Adele Fergusson 415-4304. Enjoy a morning of mostly waterfowl birding. Spotting scopes are always welcome.

Sept. 24: Ventura Audubon Society field trips Emma Wood State Beach/Ventura River Estuary at 8 a.m. Leader: Neil Ziegler 208-3149. Begin at Emma Wood State Beach, target Snowy and Semipalmated Plovers and Caspian Terns. There will be a fair amount of walking, so please dress appropriately in layers and comfortable shoes.  There is ample street parking along the outside of the park on W. Main St. Park outside and walk in.

Oct. 1: Earn silver master points, meet new players, have fun at the fall Duplicate Bridge Tournament. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. sessions.  Camarillo Community Center; 1605 E. Brunley. For more information contact Rose Buckley at 659-9223 or [email protected]. Founded in 1937, the ACBL is the largest bridge organization in the world, serving 167,000 members, 3,200 bridge clubs and sanctioning 1,100 sectional and regional tournaments annually. For more information about the ACBL, visit www.acbl.org.

Starting at 12 p.m. on Friday, September 16, , the Ojai Library will be participating in Read an eBook Day, a yearly celebration of modern story telling. This is a day dedicated to promoting the convenience, capability, and excitement digital reading provides. If you’ve never tried reading an eBook before, this is the perfect time to try one out!

Throughout Read an eBook Day, customers can use the hashtag #eBookLove on social media to share how they’re celebrating. More information can be found at readanebookday.com.

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.

The Ojai Photography Club welcomes the return of Ojai based photographer and guerrilla writer Dean Zatkowsky. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana St.

After 45 years as a hobbyist and semi-professional, Zatkowsky chose to take up photography full time a year ago. Monthly free presentations are part of the Ojai Photography Club’s community service and education outreach. Visitors are always welcome to attend.

The club, which is devoted to education, inspiration, and camaraderie, meets on the third Tuesday of each month, February – November. Only members may submit images for review. For additional information please visit: www.ojaiphotoclub.com/.

Saturday, September 17, 9am to noon, join the Ojai Valley Green Coalition in picking up and recording litter from the Ojai Creek running through Libbey Park. Volunteers are asked to sign in at 8:45am at the Libbey Park lower tennis court parking lot.

For full details on this event visit OjaiValleyGreenCoalition.org or call  669-8445.

Ojai Raptor Center, (ORC) a non-profit is dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of birds of prey and other wildlife, and to providing educational programs to teach communities about wildlife and our shared environment.

Sunday October 23rd, 2016 ORC will open its doors to the public for a rare opportunity to meet the non-releasable “ambassador” raptors, and tour the Center that is otherwise closed to the public year-round.

A silent auction will be held along with raffles for a chance to release a successfully rehabilitated raptor with ORC staff. The Raptor Store will be open and drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.

The Ojai Raptor Center Open House requests a $5 donation per person with children under ten admitted for free.  This is a dog-free event.    Visit www.ojairaptorcenter.org for more info.

Mira Monte Elementary School will be hosting the food truck night every first Friday of the month. The event is from 5:00-9:00pm, with a free family movie at 5:30pm. There will be a great line up of trucks participating: Scratch, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Rice Balls of Fire, Cowboy Johns Smoken BBQ, Good to Go Juice, Mister Softee ice cream and shakes and We Bee Poppin Kettle Corn. A portion of the sales will be contributed to the school’s PTO to support special programs and supplies for the students.

Mira Monte Elementary School is located at 1216 Loma Dr.

OjaiCARES welcome the community to the next in their free community-wide Health Ed Series

The Emotional Journey with Dr. Fred Kass..

Join Dr. Fred Kass, MD, Medical Director of Research and Wellness at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara with Sansum Clinic and what he’s learned about the emotional and psychological experience of his clients during his 30+ years in practice.

The event will take place on Thursday, September 15, from 7-8:15 pm. It is free and co-hosted and held at the lovely Ojai Retreat, located at 160 Besant Road.

The “One Act Laugh Tracks” festival at Ojai ACT is celebrating local writers who not only created the plays but helped choose the cast and directors and some even honed their scripts during rehearsals.

There are six unique vignettes ranging from 7 to 30 minutes long, running through Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays in the Ojai Art Center’s air- and comedy-conditioned theater.

“This series honors the writers among us who are often invisible, unsung and underpaid, but unfettered and unafraid to find humor wherever it occurs,” said Producer John Hankins, who chose the six plays based on only one criteria: “They made me laugh out loud.”

The plays opened on Sept. 9 and run through Oct. 2 at Ojai ACT, 113 S. Montgomery St. at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets to the festival are $15 general and $12 for seniors, students and Art Center members; call 640-8797 or visit:

www.OjaiACT.org

.

Will be closed September 5th in observance of Labor Day

Spocabulary
9/7, 14, 21, & 28 Wednesdays @ 6:30pm
This poetry performance and writing workshop with an open mic is geared towards high school and college students but all are welcome. Specific emphasis is on SLAM Poetry. Presented by Phil Taggart and Aaron Gardner.

Altered Book Workshop
9/21 Wednesday @ 6pm
Repurpose an old book into a new piece of art.  Bring an old book and your imagination. Local artist Ron Smith will be leading this workshop. Some materials will be supplied but feel free to bring special items for your altered book.

Spanish Conversation Group
9/24 Saturday @ 10:30am in the Rentfrow Room
Are you learning Spanish but need some practice speaking?

Adult Coloring Book Break
9/7, 14, 21, & 28 Wednesdays @ 12-2pm.
Join us in the library for some stress relieving coloring. Coloring sheets and pencils provided.

Library LAB Open Workshop
9/7, 14, 21, & 28 Wednesdays @ 4:30-6:30pm
Come by the library on alternating Wednesday evenings to learn more about our 3D printer and laser cutter—or to use them yourself!

Poetry Open Mic Night
9/1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Thursdays @ 7:30-9pm
On these Thursday nights, come join this group of writers as they meet in the Topping Room to share their work.

Locals gather to play the ukulele on the first and third Monday of the month. 9/12 & 26 Mondays @ 7-10pm

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! 9/3, 10, 17, & 24 Saturdays @ 1pm

Saturday Family Coloring Fun!
9/3, 10, 17, &24 Saturdays @10:30am – 12pm

Early Literacy Class
9/6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, & 28
Tuesdays & Wednesdays @10:30am
A great way to introduce your child to early literacy and the library. Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!

Lego Play
9/13, 27 Tuesday @3pm & 9/17 Saturday @10am
Build, Learn, and Play! Bring your imagination and experiment with creative designs. Children of all ages welcome!

Paws for Reading
9/3, 10, 17, & 24 Saturdays @12- 1pm
Read aloud to a registered service dog (sign-up required)

TAG: Teen Advisory Group
9/7 & 21 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.

MakerBox: Create with Squishy Circuits
9/15 Thursday @3:30pm
Use LED lights and squishy dough to make your creations!

Spocabulary
9/7, 14, 21, & 28 Wednesdays @6:30pm
This poetry performance and writing workshop with an open mic is geared towards high school and college students but all are welcome. Presented by Phil Taggart and Aaron Gardner.

Youth Chess Club
9/5, 12, 19, & 26 Mondays @3pm
Learn to play chess or improve your current ability! Assisted by Class A tournament player Jack Cashman.