Students from Rubicon Theatre Company will be staring in what is sure to be a “master-peach” of a production – a delightfully offbeat musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved book James and the Giant Peach, JR. Featuring music and lyrics by Tony nominated songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, and book by Timothy Allen and directed and choreographed by Carolanne Marano, with Musical Direction by Miriam Arichea.

James and the Giant Peach JR. is the fantastical tale of a boy, his insect friends, and their amazing journey across the ocean on a giant piece of fruit. In the story, a young orphaned child finds a loving family in a most peculiar way. Together they discover that while we are all born into a family, we also make a family of our own.

James and the Giant Peach, JR. features a joyous musical score, puppets, and a cast of 24 elementary and high school students ranging in age from 8 to 15. The production is perfect for families and recommends for children ages 2 to 15.

James and the Giant Peach JR. runs July 7, 8, 9 and 10 at 7:00 p.m. and July 9 and 10 at 2:00 p.m. at 1006 E Main St. Advance tickets sales are $15 for kids ages 2 to 12 and $20 for those 13 or older. (Tickets are $5 more at the door.) To purchase by phone, call the Rubicon Box Office 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 7 days a week at  667-2900. To purchase tickets online, go to www.rubicontheatre.org.

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.

July 7: Eat, Meet, greet and shop at one of Ventura’s best networking events the Ladies Luncheon. 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wyndham Garden Pierpont Inn Pavilion Room 550 Sanjon Road. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. $27 register or $30 at the door. Sit-down luncheon buffet. Wear your red, white and blue! Register at [email protected].

July 8: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution luncheon will feature the program ” The History of the Sons of the American Revolution “, presented by Chapter member Robert Taylor.  The luncheon event will take place at 11:30 a.m., Friday, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant, 1295 S. Victoria Ave.    The cost for lunch is $20 per person.  For additional information http://pattonpatriots.org.

July 9: “Social Media Sites” will be the topic for the Ventura Beginners PC Group on Saturday, in the third floor lounge of Cypress Place Independent Living, 1220 Cypress Lane. A workshop on Word will also be held. The group meets 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The public is invited.  For more information 648-1368.

July 9: The Ventura County Library System will be participating in a special event coming up at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday. The Golden Future 50+ Senior Expo will last from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., and during this time library staff will be creating library cards and giving tips and demonstrations on using the library’s electronic resources.

July 10: The Annual Ed Hunt Rehab Point Project Picnic is Sunday at Oxnard Beach Park, 1601 S Harbor Blvd. The picnic is at 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is the 24th year of the Rehab Project Picnic. Ed Hunt began the picnic 24 years when the pathway for wheelchairs was completed and benches and tables were completed down in the sand area of the ocean.  The picnic’s donations provide resources to maintain the Ed Hunt trail down to the ocean for those who are wheel chair bound.

The day will consist of kite flying, a train to give rides to children, music, dancing, games, raffles, and vendors giving out information and resources on everything from A to Z., barbequed hot dogs, hamburgers, water and watermelon.

July 12: Former Disney marketing director, Martin Cooper will speak at the Ventura County Writers Club at 7 p.m. During his career, Martin Cooper not only answered to Mr. Walt Disney himself, but also to Hugh Hefner. For ten years, Cooper was in charge of all public relations and communications for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and the Oscars. The event at Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 E. Burnley St. in Camarillo, is free and open to the public. Call Sheli Ellsworth 499-3490 with any questions.

July 14: Quality of Life Ventura is an organization of residents who are concerned about improving the community’s quality of life presently affected by unmanaged homeless vagrancy. Thursday, at 7 p.m., located at 1500 Palma Dr.  Call for more info 701-2999

July 16: The third annual Coppers & Choppers open house event will take place at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department’s Air Unit which is located at the Camarillo airport.  The free event is a unique opportunity for the general public to interact with a wide variety of the specialized units which support the Sheriff’s Department. The familiar yellow and blue helicopters operated by the Department will be on display.  The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.  Lunch and fun activities for the kids will be provided.

July 17: 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 where a topic on clocks or watches will be demonstrated and discussed. There will be a mart where items will be for sale followed by lunch and an informational meeting and a program.

July 18: CA Zeta Chi parliamentarians will meet at 7 p.m. and will feature a lesson by Sharon Hillbrant titled “How to Delay, More Was Than One!” 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.

July 20,21: Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop will be having a fun sale. Masquerade   Look for all the jewelry items, accessories and eclectic items located in CMH front Lobby 147 North Brent St.  Sale will be held 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  While shopping, consider filling out an application to become a volunteer. There are many Auxiliary services looking for volunteers.  Weekdays (daytime and evening) and Saturday (daytime) opportunities have openings.

July 22: Like to play acoustic music? Songmakers.org welcomes all lovers of acoustic music, instrumentalists, singers, and singer/songwriters of all levels. Join in a free song circle at the Bell Arts Factory Community Room, 432 N. Ventura Ave. 4th Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.   Listeners welcome! Info: Mike Wittlin, 750-8281

July 23,24: The 2016 4th Annual Tequila & Taco Music Festival is moving to Plaza Park, 651 E. Thompson Blvd. Saturday and Sunday, for the biggest yearly event that combines two of everyone’s favorite things, Top-Shelf Tequila and Gourmet Street Tacos. The new larger venue will have more room to showcase more Craft Tequilas, more tacos, and of course, more great music.. 11a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Premiere 2-Day Passes: $60. Saturday’s ‘Tequila Experience’: $40. General Admission (both days): $10. 628-9588.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Economic Outlook Breakfast, “Our Past, Present and Future” on Thursday, June 23, from 7:30-9:30 am at the Marriott Ventura Beach.

The event will explore the rich history of our founding industries here in Ventura, agriculture and oil, and discuss the unique opportunities that are available today. We will also look ahead to ask how do we maximize our existing resources for increased economic impact?

“As our City celebrates its sesquicentennial, we thought it only fitting to explore our rich history and examine the legacy of our agricultural and oil roots that were the catalyst in growing our community and our region,” said Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber.

Featured will be speaker Edgar Terry, who is engaged in Ventura County’s agricultural community with his family company Terry Farms, Inc., which produces various vegetable and strawberry crops on 2,000 acres. He is also Senior Adjunct Professor at California Lutheran University where he teaches corporate finance in the Degree for Professionals Evening Program and the Master of Business Administration Program.

Also featured is Bob Poole, who currently serves as a Vice President with the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA,) . Between 2011 and 2015 Bob served as Public and Government Affairs Manager for oil exploration and production company Santa Maria Energy.

The event is open to the public. Admission is $45 for Ventura Chamber members, $55 for non-Chamber members, and $5 more at the door. For more information, please contact the Chamber’s Events Director at [email protected] or  643-7222. Attendees may register at www.venturachamber.com/economicoutlook.