The Downtown Ventura Farmers’ Market will celebrate its 30th birthday on Saturday, June 4  with a community event complete with all types of fun activities for all ages.  The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the farmers’ market area and also throughout the Main Street Mini Park, located on the corners of East Santa Clara and Palm Streets, south of the 300 block of Main Street.  A special presentation will be held at 8:30 a.m. to thank the original visionaries and participants who brought the market into Downtown Ventura.

Along with chef demonstrations, the celebration will feature a customer appreciation booth with free giveaways, a children’s area with face painting and activities, community information booths and tasty birthday cake, which will be given out while supplies last.  Special food offerings will include a tri-tip BBQ from the Busy Bee Café and several food trucks including Scratch, a local favorite.

Gene West, toy maker will also be on hand to share his handmade wooden toy creations.  Musical entertainment will be provided by Jerry McWorter and the Hot Roux Band from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Environmental Sustainability Division for the City of Ventura’s Public Works Department will provide attendees with information on food waste prevention, edible food recovery and backyard composting.  In addition, the community can also learn how the farmers’ are adapting to the drought by viewing a continuous screening of ‘Water Woes:  We Plan for Your Eating”.

’“We look forward to thanking the community for its overwhelming support over the last 30 years,” sated Karen Schott, Operations Manager for the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association.  “This community has proven that it cares about our farmers and accessing local food.”

For more information on the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association visit www.vccfarmersmarkets.com

Sandpiper Toastmasters Club in Ventura (www.sandpiper.freetoasthost.com) marks its 40th anniversary on Saturday, June 11 in honor of the occasion, a special dinner, program and celebration with entertainment is being held from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Santa Paula room of the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura. Members of the public and Toastmaster alumni are invited to attend. The contact for reservations is Michael Nelson, 890-2922, or [email protected].

“Since 1976, the Sandpiper Toastmasters Club has been helping people in Ventura become better speakers and leaders by providing a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to overcome their fear of public speaking and sharpen presentation skills,” explains current Sandpiper president Dan (“Pizza Man Dan”) Collier of Ventura. “Other benefits include the opportunity to increase one’s confidence, build critical thinking skills and become an effective listener,” adds Collier.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., the organization’s membership exceeds 332,000 in more than 15,400 clubs in 135 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders

by Mark & Debbie Bailey
Owners, The Wine Room Gallery, PMC

Fine wine lovers; mark your calendars for Saturday, June 11, for the annual Pine Mountain Club “Wine in the Pines” in the Pine Mountain Village Center, an easy and scenic 90-minute drive from Ventura.

From 1 to 4 pm (noon to 4 pm with a VIP ticket) you’ll be able to taste exciting wines from throughout California’s wine-growing regions, with dozens of premiere wineries to choose from, including Ventura’s premium winery, Plan B. If you need a break from too much fine wine, then enjoy some cold craft beer or cider from several wonderful breweries.   And then there’s the food; some of Kern County’s favorite restaurants will be on hand serving everything from classic gourmet finger-food to good-ol’ western barbeque, to Asian and other culinary delights to compliment the fine wine.  Want a food pairing for the brews?  Then how about a bacon wrapped gourmet hot dog from “Brazil’s Gourmet Hot Dogs” of Bakersfield?  Feel like cooling off and satisfying that exotic sweet tooth?  “Mountain Dream Café and Ice Cream” will be serving ice cream topped with Late Harvest Pomar Junction Viognier.

Due to its immense popularity last year, we will once again have a specific Lompoc Wine Ghetto section in the PMC Village Center, featuring many of the wonderful Ghetto Wineries.

Great live music and wine-themed vendors completes this wonderful heavenly mountain setting.  Proceeds this year benefits the American Cancer Society and various local non-profits.

You must be 21 or older to purchase tickets for Wine in the Pines and Id’s will be checked at the entrance. General Admission to the wine festival is just $55 in advance and $70 at the door if any tickets remain. VIP tickets which allows for an intimate early noon entry are $80.00 and must be purchased in advance.  This event usually sells out, so buy your tickets early. Admission includes wine & beer tasting, a logo glass, a logo tote bag, a custom wine glass holder plate, fabulous food, live music and scenery like none other.

Pine Mountain Club is located just 20 minutes west of Interstate 5 at the Frazier Park exit. For a map and directions, hotel and cabin rental links and other information, go to www.wineinthepines.com, or email [email protected].

Tickets for Wine in the Pines can be purchased online at the event website: www.wineinthepines.com.  Wineries wishing to pour at this world-class event can click on the winery link also located on our website.

The Ventura Tennis Club, in cooperation with the Ventura Recreation and Community Services, is hosting a Ventura Tennis Day on Saturday, May 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Camino Real Tennis Park.This is a free event for VTC members and guests.

Events will include clinics for adults and kids from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. with a tennis pro and other staff. Then there will be racquet demos. After the clinics, there will be a barbecue lunch at noon followed by organized doubles play.

The Ventura Tennis Club is a non-profit community based club bringing tennis enthusiasts of all abilities together for social and competitive play.

More information  www.venturatennisclub.com.

“Shades Of Gray,” the 13th annual Ojai Art Center Photography Branch juried exhibit, opens on Saturday, June 4, with a free opening reception from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The exhibit runs through June 29 at the Ojai Art Center Gallery, 113 South Montgomery St.

Once it was the only choice open to a photographer, but now black and white imaging has become an outstanding medium of artistic expression. All photographs in this year’s exhibit are in black, white, and shades of gray; and because the theme is open, many different genres and techniques will be represented. For full information please visit: http://ojaiacphoto.org

The Ojai Valley Friends and its bookstore, Twice-Sold Tales, invites you once again to the Library book store’s annual Memorial Day Weekend book sale. In what has now become an Ojai tradition, the fabulous Sale offers hundreds of books in an enormous variety of topics at unbelievably low prices! Colorful children’s books, tantalizing cook books, reference, self-help and historical volumes as well as popular fiction, religion and gardening in paperback and hardback will all be available for sale. Prices will range from 50 cents to $2.00 with a few individually priced rare books. This event is held on the patio and parking lot of the Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Avenue on May 28, 29, 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds go to the Ojai Valley Library Friends and Foundation, (OVLFF) a not for profit organization that provides funding for very special library programs

The Ventura County Potters’ Guild is a collective of ceramic artists is made up of professional and recreational potters and ceramists; instructors from local high schools and colleges; as well as people with a passion for ceramics. This year’s spring sale on June 11 and 12 in Libbey Park will be there 57th anniversary of celebrating the Guild’s fine ceramic artists along side of Ojai’s premier Music Festival. There will be a Guild themed competition, “Natural”, that will be juried as well as a People’s Choice Award. Please come vote for your favorite piece! Demonstrations that will entertain both children and adults are planned. For more information, call  644-6800

Fayrene Parrish, Painter and Sculptor will be having a ‘Showcase Exhibit” at the Ojai Art Center beginning June 4. Fayrene’s work is in private and corporate collections throughout the world, including the United States Government. She is also an illustrator and author of ‘How To Books’ for all ages, including for children, in “The Shipmates Coloring Adventure Series.”

After a 20 year stay in the Northwest, she and her husband Ted,  have returned and are living in Ojai.  She will be displaying and selling sculpture, paintings and books at the Ojai Art Center through June 29th. Her website is www.fayreneparrish.com

OjaiCARES, Ojai’s cancer resource center, will present the second in their free health education series, Confounding Cancer with Immune & Metabolic Therapies. Dr. Nasha Winters will share emerging therapies & applications of mistletoe, IV Vitamin C, Cannabinoids, Hyperthermia and the Ketogenic Diet.

Held at The Ojai Retreat, 160 Besant Road  on Friday June 17th from 7 to 9:30 pm

Free of charge to all. Visit ojaicares.org or 646-6433 for more information

The Ojai Valley Lions Club, along with local support, is hosting a benefit to help the Melendez Family as they support their son Jayden who has been diagnosed with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

On Saturday, June 4, from 12:00 – 5:00 P.M. at the Oak View Park and Resource Center, 555 Mahoney Avenue Oak View.

Come out to enjoy a fun day of play that includes exciting carnival games, music, a fabulous silent auction, jumpers, face painting, delicious food and beer garden. Proceeds will be used by the family to help with medical expenses, gas, meals and additional costs associated with caring for their son as he undergoes treatment. Online donations can be made at http://jays-journey.weebly.com/play4jay.html

“Soldier On … Wit Wisdom War” is an artistic celebration of our soldiers over the last century, featuring two one-act plays, songs, poems and dialogs, mostly from Ventura County residents. Produced by Ojai ACT, it runs for one night only, 7 p.m. Monday, May 30 at the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St. No reservations are necessary and a $5 donation is requested. 452-2885 for more information.

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.

May 25: On Wednesday, Tim Harrison, VP for Business and Administrative Services will lead a special tour of the new Applied Science Center on the Ventura College Campus for interested community members.  The tour will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by the regular College Area Community Council meeting at 7:15 p.m.

Shana Epstein, general manager of the Ventura Water Department, will provide an update on community water issues and answer questions during the meeting.  As always, a representative from the Ventura Police Department will address recent crime trends in the neighborhood.  The Council, which represents citizens between Mills and Victoria bordered by the hillsides and Hwy. 126, meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. 658-7225 for more information.

May 26: Portuguese Fraternal Society of America – The local chapter of PFSA (Council #128) will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday.  This meeting is open to any person of Portuguese descent or interested in the Portuguese culture.  The meeting is at Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 East Main St.  At 11:30 a.m. for a 12 p.m., no host luncheon / meeting.  For more information and reservation, please call Cora Corella at 483-6285, or, Yvonne Westervelt at 483-4168.

May 26: The Ventura County Bird Club will be entertained by Kim Federico from Birds and Bee’s in Ventura.  Her subject will be “Hand feeding and baby bird care”.

Kim recalls “Throughout my life I have been fortunate to experience a large variety of animals as my companions.  This love for animals was instilled at an early age by both of my parents. They educated me about them and nurtured my love and compassion for all living beings. “

Come and visit with the club members and bring a friend for the evening.  A raffle and refreshments will follow the presentation.

The presentation will start at 7pm at the Ventura Moose Lodge #1394, 10267 Telephone Rd.  Attendance is free and all are welcome.  For further information call 377-9466 or 488-6244.

May 27: Ventura County Bell Arts Song Circle meets on the 4th Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Like to play acoustic music?  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.   TJ Zeiler 910-7565.

May 30: The public is invited to a family-friendly Memorial Day event on Monday, from noon to 4 p.m. Hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1679 and Auxiliary at 3801 Market St. This annual event is co-sponsored by Elks Lodge #1430 and Emblem Club and American Legion Post #339 and Auxiliary. Live music begins at noon and complimentary lunch will be served beginning at 1 p.m. Donations accepted but not required.

May 30: Open to the public, Veterans and enlisted Military: Memorial Day ceremony at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura at the flag memorial from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Come early to park and enjoy the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Families with children welcome too. No pets.

June 1: 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, wine outings, reading, cooking etc. Monthly meeting is from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Ventura Museum Pavilion 100 E. Main Street, No charge for meeting and no reservation is required.

Speaker: Sheila Lowe Forensic Handwriting Expert. For additional information, bcnnwomensclub.org or 988-0795

June 4: Channel Islands Landing Mariners Swap Meet

Find all of your treasures on Saturday, 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Come to buy or sell electronics and everything related to the boating adventure.  Park on the East side of the street. Snacks and Beverages available at Channel Islands Landing, 3821 S. Victoria Ave. 985-6269 for Info or Reservations.

June 4: Vermiculture! (Worm Composting) Workshop at Ventura City Corps at 77 N California St.

Saturday at 11 a.m. The cost of admission is a $10 donation. A power point presentation will illustrate the process step by step. The supplies you will need to get started with Vermiculture will be for sale.

Worm bins/kits for sale: $ 40- Hobbyist bin, $60- Professional bin, $30- Children’s bin.

June 4: On Saturday,  Dr. Paul Baker, who is an adoptive parent, co-author of The Hopeful Brain and originator of The Person Brain Model, will explore the emotions and challenges of accepting another person’s child into your home, the dynamics of family culture and ways to quickly build trust in the foster parenting relationship. This special event is designed for current resource families and those considering how they can help support children in foster care in Ventura County.

This event is free to attend thanks to the generosity of the following sponsors:

Foster VC Kids, Casa Pacifica, Arrow, Aspira.net and Koinonia Family Services

To register www.casapacifica.org/training or contact Darlene Navarro at [email protected] or 366-4064. Will be held at Mission Church in Ventura on Elba Street from 9am till noon. Child care will be provided by Channel Islands Social Services and has limited space.

June 5: On Sunday, Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions at E.P. Foster Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Topping Room.  Screening of Michael Moore’s Film:  “Where to Invade Next”. Admission Free. Honored by festivals and critics groups alike, Where To Invade Next is an expansive, hilarious, and subversive comedy in which the Academy Award®-winning director confronts the most pressing issues facing America today and finds solutions in the most unlikely places. For more information on Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions and how you can get involved  www.c-p-r.net,

Mary Olson 223-1187

June 5: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent-led tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. accompanied by period music in the parlor and upstairs library landing. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets. For information please call 642-3345 or visit the website at www.dudleyhouse.org.

June 5&6: Community Memorial Hospital Gift Shop will be having a “Book Sale” fundraiser in the Main Lobby of CMH: 147 N. Brent Street.  Please come and shop 8AM to 4PM.  For books and novelties.  Also, they continue to seek new volunteers.  Pick up an application at the front desk.

June 8: 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 “Landscapes”. 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

June 11: Denise Quigley will discuss “Climbing Your Family Tree on the Computer” to the Ventura Beginners PC Users Group, from 9:15-12:00 in the 3rd floor lounge of Cypress Place Independent Living, 1220 Cypress Point Lane. All beginners and intermediates are welcome.  Call 647-1728 for further information.

June 18: Ventura Friends of the Library will hold a Book Sale: Hidden Treasures for All Ages.

At Vons, 6040 Telegraph Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All genres, including special interest, vintage; fiction, including classics and current hardcover and paperbacks; non-fiction, including biography, science, engineering, religion, travel, cooking, history, California history, art, music, self-help, education, parenting, sports, craft books; children’s books; dvds, books on cd and tape, puzzles, and more.