by Ana Baker

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are always welcome to stop in to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. For more information https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family. Supplies provided BYO water.

Nov. 4: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will conduct our monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic. There is no charge, and all are welcome. Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice, we want to help you improve your casting and learn to enjoy this great sport. If you do not yet have a fly rod, don’t worry, just come and use one of ours. Please join us at Chumash Park, Petit, and Waco, 9-11 a.m., in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd. For everyone’s safety, we ask all attending to please comply with any current recommendations by the Ventura County Health Department.
For more information: Casting Program Coordinator Thomas Hall, [email protected]
(805) 377-5249 www.sespeflyfishers.org.

Nov.5: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood). For information, call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Nov. 10: Friends of Ventura Harbor invites 6-10-year-old children to Chumash Storytelling with Alan Salazar Friday from 10 -11:30 a.m. at The Greek Mediterranean Restaurant, 1583 Spinnaker Dr. RSVP to [email protected] (First 40 reservations will be honored)

Nov.12: Annual Holiday Arts & Craft Fair Saturday from 11- 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5654 Ralston St. Do not miss unique locally made arts and crafts—lots of great Holiday gift ideas.

Nov. 12: What Lies Beneath exhibit at the Olivas Adobe . In 1985 archaeologists took to the dirt to study the roots of the adobe and develop a framework of its relationship to the Olivas family.   Artists from Plein Aire Ventura County have supplemented this exhibit with paintings inspired by the grounds .  Come meet the artists at 11:30 am for a meet & greet. Feel free to stay and paint, take a docent lead tour, or learn about volunteering at the Olivas Adobe during a volunteer open house at 1 pm.  The Olivas Adobe ~ a great way to spend your Sunday.  www.cityofventura.ca.gov/OLivasAdobe

Dec.5: Free documentary film showing about the Thomas Fire: “The Perfect Firestorm” at 7 pm at Poinsettia Pavilion. The film by CAPS Media highlights how our community pitched in to help others during and after the disaster. Q&A after the film. Sponsored by the Ondulando Firewise Community. For more information email: [email protected]

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30–10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Oct. 19: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Visit the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/ for the Zoom meeting link. The agenda includes the East Ventura police report from Cmdr Brown and a presentation from the City of Ventura Manager, Mr. Bill Ayub.

Our newly appointed City Manager, Bill Ayub, wants to meet and connect with East Ventura community members. The City of Ventura announced the appointment of Bill Ayub as our new City Manager in August 2023.

Ms. Rollins, the City of Ventura’s Housing Services Manager, will speak on the Housing Services Division’s plan to host the East Ventura Housing Forum at Juanamaria Elementary School in November.

Oct. 25: The Channel Islands Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (CICEGA) will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010. All experience levels are welcome. For more information, email [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.channelislandsega.org.   

Oct. 25: The College Area Community Council will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Council meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. CACC represents citizens in the area bounded by Mills Road on the west, Hill Road on the east, city limits on the hillsides on the north, and the 126 Freeway on the south. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Nov. 1: The Ventura County Garden Club celebrates its 100th Year Season in 2024. The Club is excited to offer our members a unique opportunity to tour the Ambritz Kingdom of Plants in Carpinteria. The tour begins at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Following the tour, we will enjoy an optional lunch at Garden Cafe, 3811 Santa Claus Lane, Carpinteria. VP Kathleen Cressy organized this event. We welcome new members. For more information, visit our website at VenturaCountyGardenClub.com.

Nov. 14: Ventura County author Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo will visit the Hill Road Library to discuss her recent book, Threads of Awakening, which details her years practicing traditional Tibetan textile art. Through her remarkable journey, she discovered that a path is made by walking, and some of the best paths are made by walking off course. In this talk, Leslie will reveal the unique stitches of an ancient needlework tradition, introduce the Buddhist deities it depicts, and share the extraordinary possibilities they embody. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Linda Cherry, Librarian, at (805) 677-7180.

The Hill Road Library is located at 1070 S. Hill Road. Service hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 – 6 p.m., Thursday, 2 – 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday, 10 – 2 p.m.

Nov.18: Group: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online AND Live at our temporary location, Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google. Events begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. All CIPCUG events may be attended online. Due to limited space, live attendance is reserved for members. Details for connecting to online events are emailed before the event. To receive connection instructions, please sign up on our website at www.cipcug.org

Ashford Gordon, Blues Guitarist and Vocalist will appear at Feros Ferio Winery, 310 E Ojai Ave, Saturday, October 21, 4-6 PM, featuring Eric Monteith on Bass Guitar for 2 sets of Classic, Standard and Original Blues. No cover charge!

California Coastal Horse Rescue (CCHR) in Ojai, will host its Octoberfest Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ranch at 600 West Lomita Avenue in Ojai.

The community is invited to this event, which includes a beer and wine garden, live Bluegrass band, vendors, pony cart rides, food trucks, crafts for children, and, of course, the stars of the day – the CCHR horses. Suggestion donation is $10 per person; children 10 and under are free.

An all-volunteer, non-profit organization, CCHR’s mission is to rescue abandoned, abused, neglected and slaughter-bound horses and provide them with a second chance at living healthy, happy and productive lives.

What: Family Octoberfest

Where: California Coastal Horse Rescue; 600 West Lomita Avenue, Ojai

When: Sunday, October 22, 2023; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: Admission: $10 per person; kids 10 and under free. Parking Free

The Ventura County Creative Artists will hold their semi-annual art exhibit, Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Bert Collin’s West Hills Gallery at 1545 Cuyama Rd., Ojai. The multi-media show, “Fur, Fin & Feathers” will highlight animal art among other subjects. This will be an art and fun-filled afternoon. Meet many of the artists in person, and watch demonstrations of some of the techniques and materials used. Pastels, oil, acrylic, encaustic and watercolor will be among the varied mediums exhibited at the show. Many of the artists are talented in pet portraits, not to mention humans. With holidays around the corner this is a good place to shop and also plan a portrait (pet or human) commission.

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Our speaker on

Oct. 3rd will be Earl Arnold, and he will speak about fly fishing.

On Oct. 17, our speaker will be Jessica Flanagan, a Ventura County Forensic Nurse.

Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Oct. 4: BCNN (Beach Cities Newcomers and Neighbors) meeting is the first Wednesday of the month at Pacific Corinthian Yacht Cub 2600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard.

Our speaker in October is Debbie Gohlke. She has been a member of the Oxnard Soroptimist club for 35 years. She has held numerous positions through the years, delegate, director, VP of fundraising, president and region board member. She is chair of the annual community awareness event STOP Human Trafficking going on 17 years.

This year she won the first place sweepstakes at the Ventura County Fair in the Baked Category.

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Doors open at 9:30 AM. BCNN is a group for Women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

Oct. 5: Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one; this is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program provides two free support groups, Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). These groups will run from October 5th through November 9th on Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.

Oct. 7: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) is sponsoring a free family fun bicycle ride beginning at 10 a.m. at Ventura’s Community Park.  The group ride will follow easy-to-navigate bike routes through the adjacent neighborhood.  The free family fun ride reminds us to choose bikes over cars for personal health and our city’s air.  Sign-up information is available on the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/.

The purpose of the EVCC is to encourage residents to understand East Ventura’s problems, needs, and expectations and to recommend, initiate, and participate in developing and implementing programs or solutions. The EVCC facilitates communications between the community and government or other service agencies.

Oct.10: Program by The Ventura Audubon Society 7 – 9 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion and via Zoom.   You’ll be introduced to the diverse array of local birds that grace our yards and open spaces. Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus).  For more information and the Zoom link, go to www.venturaaudubon.org/speakers.

Oct.14: Ventura Audubon Society Field Trip to Ormond Beach | Saturday 8:30am: Join us for our first field trip of October at Ormond Beach. This is one of the top birding areas in Ventura County and is visited by over 200 shorebird, raptor and migratory bird species. It’s an easy flat walk on dirt paths and the beach. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned birder you’ll not want to miss this field trip. For details and to sign-up, visit https://www.venturaaudubon.org/field-trips.

Oct. 16 & 23: Comprehensive Bereavement Training Class. This class is designed to provide information on healthy grieving and how we can best companion someone who is mourning the death of a loved one. Classes will take place on October 16th and 23rd in Camarillo from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is open to the community and requires people to register by October 13th. To register, call 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief.

Oct. 21: The Ventura County Genealogical Society’s annual Seminar is online via Zoom on Saturday from 8:30 – 4 p.m. PDT. Presenter Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M., one of the most sought-after genealogy speakers, offers four presentations. Topics include:

• Incorporating Social History into Your Research

• Deconstructing Your Family Tree: Re-evaluating the “Evidence”

• The Genealogist’s Quadfecta

• “She Came from Nowhere…” – A Case Study Approach to a Difficult Genealogical Problem

Registration ($35 fee) is open at https://venturacogensoc.org/2023-annual-seminar.

Oct. 21: The 33rd annual Youth Stamp Fair will be held Saturday at the Dudley House Museum, 197 N Ashwood Ave. Learn about stamp identification, soaking and drying, storage and mounting, cachets, watermarks, perforations, special postmarks, and topical collecting. Free Prizes, free parking, and, for those under 18 are free, stamps galore. Sponsored by Ventura County Philatelic Society, founded in 1928. Web site venturacountyphilateliccoc.org for more information or call 805 415-9857

Events by Ana Baker

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. For more information, https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Livingston Memorial Grief & Bereavement Program will have a 6-week session for the Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and the Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). The group will meet every Thursday from 6:30–7:30 p.m. starting October 5 through November 9. Trained grief counselors support, educate, and plan activities regarding losing a loved one. Groups are subject to cancellation due to low enrollment. Please register by October 3 by calling 805-389-6870 or email [email protected].

Livingston Memorial Grief & Bereavement Program will offer a Comprehensive Bereavement Training Class. The class will be on October 16th and 23rd, Mondays 5:30–7:30 pm. The training looks at the characteristics of grief and mourning and how to companion someone who has lost a loved one. Please register by October 11 by calling 805-389-6870 or email [email protected].

Sept. 23: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), a nonprofit organization that helps those living in poverty, will host a 5K Charity Walk Saturday in Carpinteria. The 5K Charity Walk/Run is free for all walkers, and each walker will receive a free commemorative T-shirt. Register in advance online at www.fopwalk.org/event/2834. For more information or to donate, visit www.fopwalk.org/event/2834. Participants can also make pledges or donations to the Conference of their choice during registration at the St. Joseph Church Office, 1532 Linden Ave.

Sept. 23: Our monthly plant and collectibles sale continues on the grounds at the Dudley House. Bromeliads, orchids, and succulents will be on sale, along with various collectibles, from 8 – 2 p.m. Vendors, please call Charlie at 805/746-4317 for details. The museum is at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood). Free.

Sept.23: The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Sept. 27: The Channel Islands Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (CICEGA) will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo. All experience levels are welcome. For more information, [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.channelislandsega.org.

Sept. 27:  The College Area Community Council in Ventura will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m.   Includes speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. Everyone on the CACC mailing list will receive a link to the meeting.  Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com  to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Oct. 1: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday, October 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. With Halloween fast approaching, tour guides Richard Senate and Lynn Weitzel (co-authors of “Are There Ghosts at the Dudley House?”) may add a few ghost stores if asked. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Oct. 1:Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.2-4pm. Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003 Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free parking Open to the Public. For more information call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA

Oct. 4: BCNN (Beach Cities Newcomers and Neighbors) meeting..  The meeting is at a new address.  Pacific Corinthian Yacht Cub 2600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard.

Our speaker is Debbie She has been a member of the Oxnard Soroptimist club for 35 years.  She has held numerous positions through the years, delegate, director, VP of fundraising, president and region board member.  She is chair of the annual community awareness event STOP Human Trafficking going on 17 years.

10am to 11:30am.  Doors open at 9:30am.  BCNN is a group for Women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.  It has dozens of small groups, off shoots from sports activities, to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups, movie group and more.

Oct. 21: The Ventura County Genealogical Society’s annual Webinar is online via Zoom on Saturday from 8:30-3:30 p.m. PDT. Presenter Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M., one of the most sought-after genealogy speakers, offers four presentations. Topics include:

Incorporating Social History into Your Research Deconstructing Your Family Tree: Re-evaluating the “Evidence” The Genealogist’s Quadfecta “She Came from Nowhere…” – A Case Study Approach to a Difficult Genealogical Problem Registration is open ($35 fee) at https://venturacogensoc.org/2023-annual-seminar.

Oct.28: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online and Live at our temporary site in Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 Ventura, (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google. Events begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. All CIPCUG events are available online. Due to limited space, live attendance is for members only.

Events by Ana Baker

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. A website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Sept. 8, 9,10: The Footlighters Theater Company presents Come Sail Away, a lip-synch musical at the Ventura Marina. The Community Performance is on Friday the 8th at 7 p.m., Saturday the 9th at 7 p.m., and Sunday the 10th at 2 p.m. matinee in the clubhouse theater. Captain Max, crew, and passengers will sail on his final cruise before retirement. Joyous, wacky, and poignant times await him on this voyage. Join crew members and passengers in songs that will give Captain Max some ideas that could make him happy in his retirement years.

Join your friends and neighbors at this special event aboard the Marina Star and Come Sail Away. Ventura Marina Community 1215 Anchors Way Drive.
Sept. 10: Olivas Adobe Sunday 10th,11-3 p.m. Rancho Day free admission.

Join us as we celebrate what life may have been like on the Rancho San Miguel.  Try roping, laundry, Chumash rock painting, quilting, gold panning, and more.  Entertainment by Youth Mariachi, Old Time Fiddlers, and Folklorico dancers ~ educational activities by Frontier Gunfighters, the Historic Dudley House, and Channel Islands Woodcarvers. This event celebrates the more than 150 years that Olivas Adobe has been a part of Ventura County’s Cultural heritage.  For more information, www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Events.

Sept. 14: You’ve heard of the famous Avenue Taco District – now get a taste and see it! Folks on the Westside of Ventura proudly announce the Second Annual Avenue Taco Week, held from September 14 – 17th. Over a dozen restaurants and taco trucks along Ventura Avenue participated in the event. You can find out about participating restaurants and their tacos at avetacoweek.blogspot.com. Businesses interested in sponsoring Avenue Taco Week can email WCDC Director Kendra Gonzalez at [email protected] or call 805-628-3869.

Sept. 16: In conjunction with Avenue Taco Week is the first Westside Fiesta at Kellogg Park from 4 – 10 p.m., featuring food trucks, vendors, a raffle, live music, and bounce houses.

WCDC also encourages participants to take the self-guided Avenue Mural Tour, a walking exploration of over twenty unique murals on and around Ventura Avenue. A map is available at: https://westsideventura.org/mural-tour/.

Sept. 16: To provide an artistic way to support disaster recovery for Maui, the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living (VCSL) will be hosting The Soundtrack to the Evolution Revolution concert and a silent auction on Saturday at 7 p.m. The show will feature singer/songwriter Ray Davis. Concert attendees will be asked to provide a donation for admission. The concert is paired with a Silent Auction fundraiser featuring fun and valuable items from local merchants and our community. The auction will extend until noon on Sunday, September 17. VCSL is located at 101 S. Laurel Street. For more information about VCSL, please call (805) 643-1933 or visit http://venturacsl.org.

Sept. 16, 17: | Join us for Rosh Hashanah Services at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach 10 – 2 p.m. At Chabad of Ventura, our services are designed to make everyone feel welcome and at home. There is no charge for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. Reservations are suggested to secure your seat. Reservations can be made online or over the phone. 805-658-7441.
www.ChabadVentura.com/HighHolidays

Sept. 17: Join Chabad of Ventura this Rosh Hashanah Sunday at the Ventura Promenade Beach Playground for “Shofar in the Park.” Return to a simpler, more essential state with fellow community members. Hear the stirring, unadulterated blasts of the Shofar as we celebrate the New Year!

Sept. 19: Please join the Ventura Senior Men’s Group (VSMG) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road.All men 55+ are welcome. All topics except religion or politics are on the table.
Our meeting agenda is:
12:00-12:45 p.m. Lunch Food Affair by Stacy $25 but FREE to first-time visitors,
12:45-1 p.m. Business Meeting
1:00-1:30 p.m. Speaker (local organizations and information)

Bob Harris from the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation speaks on the needs and services of veterans. Need transportation? Call Lyle Hotzler 805-341-9820

Sept. 23: Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the World’s Largest Event Dedicated

to Alzheimer’s Care, Support, and Research. The Alzheimer’s Association invites Ventura County residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard.

On Walk Day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s — their reasons to end the disease.

Sept. 24, 25: Join us for Yom Kippur Services at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach! At Chabad of Ventura, our services are designed to make everyone feel welcome and at home. The prayers, conducted with Hebrew/English prayer books, are lively and engaging.

There is no charge for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. Reservations are suggested to secure your seat. Reservations can be made online or over the phone.
September 24 | 6:30 p.m.
September 25 | 10 – 2 p.m. ,5:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: The College Area Community Council will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Council meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

by Ana Baker

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month. Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Pierpont Beach Community Council hosts us in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Sept. 3: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. Sunday 2-4 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free admission and parking. Open to the Public. For more information call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA Current Ventura County Covid regulations will apply.

Sept. 3: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood). For information, please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Sept. 5 & 19: The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Sept. 5 – Mary Cathcart from the Community Memorial Hospital. She’s an officer in the Auxiliary and will speak on the many men and women that volunteer in the many services of the hospital. This ranges from the pharmacy and ICU to greeters and those in records. It’s a very rewarding activity with varied work days and reasonable hours. They’re always in need of people who have leadership skills.

Sept. 19 – Bob Harris from the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation. Should be an informative talk on the needs and services available for veterans on the central coast. I imagine we will get some interesting stories about unusual cases of veterans in our community.

Sept. 5: Beach City Neighbors and Newcomers (BCNN) – Women’s social organization serving women in Oxnard, Ventura, and Port Hueneme.  Wednesday from 9:30 – 11:15 a.m. at the Ventura Yacht Club.  1755 Spinnaker Dr. The speakers are Kellie Tyndall and Deputy District Attorney Melissa McMurdo.  They both will discuss prevention and everything available in our community.  BCNN has dozens of small groups off-shoots, from sports activities to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups, and more.

Sept. 8: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will be conducting our monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic. It will be on September 8 due to the Labor Day Weekend. There is no charge and all are welcome.

Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice we want to help you improve your casting and learn to enjoy this great sport. If you don’t yet have a fly rod, don’t worry, just come and use one of ours.

Please join us at Chumash Park, Petit and Waco, 9:00 to 11:00 am, in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd. For everyone’s safety we ask all those attending to please comply with any current recommendations by the Ventura County Health Department.

Trio Manise will visit the Ojai Library at 2pm on Sunday, August 20, 2023, to deliver a special afternoon performance. The members of Trio Manise are David Singer (clarinet), Ann Erwin (flute), and Fred Beerstein (oboe). These talented musicians will play music by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, Malcolm Arnold, and Benjamin Britten. The performance will take place in the main library space, and is sponsored by the Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.

The Ojai Storytelling Festival returns October 26 – 29, 2023! Naughty Tales, Story Slam, Ghost Stories, Music – There’s something for everyone! Entries accepted till September 15th at ojaistoryfest.org/storyslam. Taking place at the historic Libbey Bowl and Ojai Art Center, Tim Lowry will be our Master of Ceremonies with featured storytellers Niall de Burca, Carmen Agra-Deedy, Noa Baum, Rev. Robert Jones, Vijai Nathan, and Peter Cook! Musical performances by Dan Navarro, Ted Lennon, and the Salty Suites. Experience the magic and joy of a good story. Get your weekend pass now. More info: [email protected]
Tickets & Volunteering: ojaistoryfest.org

A special program coming up at the Ojai Library. Popular storyteller, speaker, and author Bee Bloeser will visit the Ojai Library at 2pm on Saturday, August 26, 2023, to talk about her book, Vaccines & Bayonets: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War.

Bee Bloeser has lived in Africa, the Middle East, and Native American nations. A retired speech-language pathologist, she is a member of Toastmasters International and PEO, a philanthropic education organization that funds education for women and girls.

Her historical memoir, Vaccines & Bayonets, has been praised by Foreign Policy magazine’s deputy editor and by The Economist’s Midwest correspondent and former bureau chief in Johannesburg and Delhi. A percentage of net proceeds from Vaccines & Bayonets supports water wells for Africa.