The City of Ojai Arts Commission is accepting applications from students who wish to participate in the ARTSOjai 2016 Artists Mentor Program. This is the fourth year for the program, which pairs working artists with local students for a summer internship. The City is looking for applicants from Ojai public and private schools who will be juniors or seniors in the fall of 2016. To participate, they must be Ojai residents.

The commission will select five students, each of whom will receive a $500 scholarship and be paired with one of five local artist mentors, each of whom will receive a $750 grant honorarium. Once again, the Ojai Education Foundation is helping to fund the program.

All the students and mentors are required to commit to a minimum of 50 hours of working together this summer. Applications and profiles of the five artist mentors are available online at www.ojaiarts.org. The deadline to apply is April 22. Contact Heather Stobo, [email protected], with any questions.

A Salon Series is taking place at the Ojai Valley Green Coalition Resource Center located at 206 N. Signal St. #S. Next Salon is Thursday, April 7, 7 to 9 p.m. The theme is Biophilia, the love of living things. Come share with song, art, story, the written word, or come to listen – however one is moved.

A donation and beverage to share are appreciated, though not required. Full details available at ojaivalleygreencoalition.org.

Mary Eckhart will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, to deliver a talk entitled “Here’s Looking at You Kid: Our Timeless Passion for Portraits.” Since time immemorial one of mankind’s most fascinating pastimes has been looking at itself and depicting the results.

On Saturday, April 2, from 1 to 2 p.m., local author LeeAndra Chergey will visit the Ojai Library to talk about her book, Make a Wish for Me: A Family’s Recovery from Autism. Chergey will begin with a talk on the challenges of living with her son’s autism diagnosis and the early intervention that led to his recovery. The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave.

Twice-Sold Tales, the Ojai Library book store, announces a construction sale! Construction is about to begin and hundreds of books will be available for sale at ½ price starting Friday, April 1 and will continue through April 15. The book store is about to get a much-needed renovation which will include a 600 square foot community room added.

The Ojai Valley Library Friends and Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides funds for use by the library for books and special programs at all three Ojai Libraries.

Ojai Raptor Center’s 2016 Spring Open House will be held on Sunday, April 10th from 12-4PM.

The Ojai Raptor Center (ORC) is a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation facility that takes in an average of 1,000 animals a year, specializing in raptors, or birds of prey, with the goal being release back to the wild.  For ORC’s Spring Open House our theme will be “Nesting Season” with plenty of fun information and things to see related to baby raptors. As always there will be lots of fun activities for kids, stage presentations, Chumash stories, chances to win a raptor release with our staff, and snacks and refreshments for purchase.

April 10th at 2 p.m., the Ojai Art Center Theatre will have a staged reading of a new play, “Clarity,” written by Christine Rosensteel, author of the comedy “No Limits” in the Art Center’s One-Act staged readings, last summer. Guns are as common as the sugar bowl in this Connecticut kitchen on the first day of deer hunting season. The father/son tradition takes a comedic and poignant turn thanks to a mother’s love and courage. Suggested Donation $10. For more information [email protected].

On Monday, April 11th at 7 p.m. The Ojai Art Center Literary Branch, in honor of Poetry Month, is privileged to host Marsha de la O, recent winner of the Isabella Gardner Poetry Award (2015) for her book, Antidote For Night. “Set in present day Southern California, it is a heartbreak lyric… a love song to California’s city lights and far-flung outskirts…”  Taggart currently runs Thursday Night Poetry, an open mic and featured reading at the E.P. Foster Library in Ventura. Reception will follow. $5 suggested donation. For more info: [email protected].

The Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Musical Concert Series at Rubicon Theatre Company continues in its second year with a weekend concert celebrating one of the most significant and popular American songwriting teams of all time, George and Ira Gershwin. Who Could Ask For Anything More? will be presented  only on Saturday, April 2 at 2&8pm and Sunday, April 3 at 2pm.

Who Could Ask For Anything More? features six performers  singing timeless Gershwin classics such as “It Had To Be You,” “S’Wonderful,” “How Long Has This Been Going On,” “They Can’t Take That Away, and over 20 magnificent numbers. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 667-2900, or go to www.rubicontheatre.org.

Upcoming concerts in the Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Concert Series:

Broadway star Liz Calloway brings her acclaimed cabaret act to Rubicon, Stars of Broadway, West End and National Tours, by talented husband-and-wife duo Beverly and Kirby Ward. Back To The Garden: The music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Laura Nyro

Box Office 667-2900
Hours: Mon-Sun Noon – 6:00 p.m. www.rubicontheatre.org

The Museum of Ventura County presents “Ventura @ 150: Celebrating the City of Good Fortune”, a commemorative exhibition that celebrates the city’s sesquicentennial opening on April 1.

Large-scale portraits of early Ventura residents from every sector of the community transport visitors to San Buenaventura’s early days, when the character and direction of the city was being formed. Six-foot high panels with descriptive captions tell the story of men and women who migrated here or were born here and enhanced the community, such as:

Carlos Luis “Charley” Hall – Born in Ventura in 1904 and baptized at Mission San Buenaventura.

Minnie Soo Hoo Bock — Born in Santa Barbara in 1978 to merchants Yee Sing and Chin Shee, Minnie got her name from missionaries who taught her to read, write and speak English.

LeRoy Gibson, Sr. – Born in 1909 in Wewoka, Oklahoma, LeRoy Gibson became a professional boxer, traveling throughout the country under the nicknames “Wichita Wildcat” in Kansas, and the “Bon Bon Kid” in Boston.

Theodosia Burr Shepherd – Ms. Shepherd was known as “the Flower Wizard of California.”

For fun, the Museum’s curators have created a special section, called “Dr. Bard’s Cabinet of Curiosities” that shows artifacts collected over the years by the not-so-well known residents and donors to the Museum of Ventura County, such as:

Finally, there are silver items called “cock gaffs”, which are curved metal pieces attached to the ankles of birds for cockfighting; the notable aspect is that they were crafted by a nationally renowned silversmith based in Ventura named Jesus Mardueno, who made bits and spurs in town.

A large photographic of the city of Ventura from the hills, made from glass plate negatives dating back to 1880, shows visitors how the city developed along Main St.  Visitors will be able to leave a sticky note where they or their family lived, filling up the map with generations of residents’ “marks.”

This exhibition was sponsored in part by a gift from Regent Properties.

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.

Apr. 1 and 17: The Ventura County Library System will be commemorating National Poetry Month by holding a county-wide Haiku Poetry Contest. Participants will be able to submit their own original haiku at library locations or online at tiny.cc/vclhaiku. Entries will be judged by Ventura County Poet Laureate Phil Taggart. For additional  information, contact Bernadette McDowell, City Librarian,  486-5460; Ron Solórzano, City Librarian, at  218-9146; or Deya Terrafranca, City Librarian,  218-1258.

Apr.2: Audubon- 8:00 a.m. Work Day Hedrick Ranch Nature Preserve.  Leader: Sandy Hedrick 340-0478.  Arrive at 8:00 for self-guided birding which usually yields some interesting birds. Work from 9am – noon. Long pants and boots or closed shoes are required.

April 2: Family Fair and Picnic at Plaza Park in downtown Ventura. Come join your family, friends and neighbors for an old time gathering from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.  There will be carnival games, races, pie eating contests, a scavenger hunt throughout downtown Ventura, musical performances, an old-fashioned barbecue and much more.

Apr. 2: Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club, paddling club is hosting its annual open house on Saturday, at 10 a.m. The event is open to the public ages 14 and up and all abilities are welcome.  Attendees can try their hand at Hawaiian-style outrigger canoeing under the guidance of experienced club members at the equipment site located in the vacant lot at the end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor.

For more information [email protected]

April 3: Dudley House Museum 197 N Ashwood Ave from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

In honor of the 150th Birthday of San Buenaventura, there will be historic party line skits 1895-1903. Reenactment of “party line conversations” researched, written and directed by Lynn Weitzel.

April 6: E.P. Foster Library will have a Family Legacy Writing Workshop.

Celebrate Ventura’s history, turn your family history into interesting stories, and make your ancestors come alive on paper. The library will host this two hour writing workshop that focuses on defining and writing the stories that make up our community’s history. Workshop to take place in the Topping Room from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free

April 3: Sunday, Free stage show. Everyone invited. First Sunday of Every Month

Old Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Association, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Located at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. More Info call 517-1131.

Apr. 3: On Sunday, Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions are holding their monthly meeting at Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave. from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mary Watkins, core faculty member at Pacifica Graduate Institute and a member of the national Steering Committee for Psychologists for Social Responsibility, will discuss how you can imagine the world you want to live in, and seek a path that can help bring it more fully into existence.

Apr. 3: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent-led tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and, in conjunction with the City’s 150th anniversary celebration, will present skits throughout the afternoon. Come and listen in as the Dudleys gossip on their party line telephone. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood 642-3345 or visit www.dudleyhouse.org.

Apr. 5: The Poinsettia Pavilion will host their monthly free Foothill Food Truck Fest of 2016 Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The event includes gourmet food options served up by your favorite food trucks, beer, wine and margaritas.  Live music by “The Ramblers”.

Dine indoors where they enjoy live music or outdoors on the patio with a panoramic view.  Proceeds fund ongoing improvement projects for the non-profit meeting and banquet facility.

Apr. 6: 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, cooking etc. Ventura Museum Pavilion located at 100 E. Main Street. No charge for meeting and no reservation is required. Shelba Cole Robison Subject: The Poets of BCNN from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. For additional information, please visit bcnnwomensclub.org 988-0795

Apr. 6,7: There will be a “Scrub Event” April 6 and 7 at CMH 8th Floor Auditorium 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This Gift Shop Sale is a fundraiser for the Auxiliary and all proceeds are donated back to CMH.

As we prepare for the opening of the new hospital, there will be additional volunteer service shifts available.  Please go to CMH website to begin application process or stop by the Auxiliary front desk and pick up an application.

Apr. 7: Ladies Luncheon. Eat, meet, greet and shop at one of Ventura’s Best Networking Events from 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m.  Doors open at 11:15 a.m. $27 Online $30 at the door. Sit-down Luncheon Buffet

Located at The Wyndham Garden Pierpont Inn in the Pavilion Room 550 Sanjon Rd.

Limited seating available so pre-register today. When you register by March 29 at 12 p.m. you will be on the attendee list. Register at: www.theLadiesLuncheon.com. Ventura Breeze publisher Sheldon will be the first male invited to attend the Ladies Luncheon (lucky ladies).

Apr. 8: The Ventura Jazz Orchestra and the Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club invite you to a very special event. The 2nd annual Mentor/Protégé Spring Swing Extra Large Big Band Bash. Join the party on Friday, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and dance to the talents of featured vocalists Donna Greene and protégé Emmy Hilgers, who will sing to the wonderful melodies of Ventura Jazz Orchestra professionals and top Ventura County high school musicians. Admission is $15 at the door to the Poinsettia Pavilion Ballroom, 3451 Foothill Rd. Refreshments and parking are free. For more information, call 648-1143.

April 8, 9, 14, 16: Performances for The Waiting Room are Friday, 8th and 9th at 8 p.m. and Thursday, 14th through Saturday 16th at 8 p.m. free preview performance Thursday, 7th at 8 p.m. with two matinee performances in the Helen Yunker Auditorium in the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Road. General admission $15, student and senior tickets $5. This production contains strong language and adult content that might not be suitable for children under the age of 13. For more information Jay Varela 289-6261 or [email protected].

Apr. 8: “Creating a Power Point Presentation” will be presented to the Ventura Beginners PC Users Group by Martha Navarrete on Saturday, in the Cypress Place Independent Living third floor lounge. The workshop is on more Miscrosoft Word features.  The group meets 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. All beginners and intermediates are welcome. Call 648-1368 for further information.

Apr. 8: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution February luncheon meeting will feature the program “Is Our Constitution Relevant”, presented by Ms. Diana Johnson. 11:30 a.m., in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s.  Lunch is $20.  For additional information Bill Bays 650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992.  For information http://pattonpatriots.org.

Apr. 12: Ventura Sail and Power Squadron presents Seamanship 2016 course.  Class sessions will focus on maneuvering and handling a boat, Rules of the Road, Anchoring, Emergencies at Sea and much more.  Class will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday nights beginning April 12 and ending on June 6th. Located at the Ventura Yacht Club 1755 Spinnaker Dr.  Cost of class texts and material for Ventura Sail & Power Squadron members is $60 and nonmembers is $90.  To reserve a place call 646 7675 .

Apr. 13: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a critique meeting on Wednesday, at 7 p.m. Located at the Poinsettia Pavilion. 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. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. Only members may submit images for critique. For more information 908-5663 or  WWW.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com

Apr.16: Join Publisher Sheldon and wife Diane on Herman Bennett Foundation’s

“Train Ride Adventure” Fundraiser! Train Ride, Scavenger Hunt W/ Prizes, Museum, Lunch & Live Auction! Enjoy a 4 hour train trip (w/ 2 stops) on a vintage 1940s locomotive through the scenic country side. Benefitting the Foundation’s Spay & Neuter Programs Across Ventura County.

Help control the local animal population and prevent the needless deaths of cats and dogs. Scamp will love you. Tickets available by phone at 445-7171. Also, visit their affiliate Save-A-Life Thrift Stores (888-876-0605) in Camarillo that directly supports the Foundation.

Visit hermanbennettfoundation.org for more information.

The Ventura Vet Center will be hosting an open house event to commemorate and pay tribute to our Vietnam Veterans on Tuesday, March 29, at 790 E. Santa Clara St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Counselors will be available to talk, provide information, and coordinate services with other VA and community agencies.

Vietnam Veterans Day is recognized around the country as a moment of reflection, a day of commemoration and a time to pay due respect to Veterans who sacrificed so much during the Vietnam War.

Ojai City Manager Robert Clark announced that he is resigning for personal reasons effective on March 1, 2016. Clark expressed his appreciation for the support of the City Council over the past five years. Clark said: “It has been a privilege to work side by side with a highly dedicated group of City employees who continuously do everything in their power to make Ojai the best place it can possibly be for its residents and guests.“ Mayor Paul Blatz said: “On behalf of the entire City Council, I want express my appreciation for everything Clark has done during his tenure to bring the City back to financial health, and put us in a position to pave our roads and refurbish our recreational facilities.”

Mayor Paul Blatz has announced that the Ojai City Council has appointed Steve McClary as Interim City Manager for a six month term. McClary had been serving as acting city manager since the resignation of Robert Clark on March 1. “The City Council believes Steve is an excellent choice to be our Interim City Manager,” said Mayor Blatz. “Steve has served our city and our citizens extremely well in the past and we look forward to his leadership at City Hall in the future.”

The Ojai Photography Club welcomes Ojai based photographer Logan Hall as its March presenter. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana St. Specializing in real estate, portraiture, events and advertising, Hall was voted Best Photographer in the Ojai Valley News, Best of the Ojai Valley contest, for three consecutive years, 2013 through 2015.

The theme of Hall’s presentation will be “Architectural Versus Real Estate Photography.” His extensive background will allow him to probe into questions that reveal the characteristics of each genre.

The Ojai Photography Club, 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/

Rev. Karen S. Wylie will offer her Mid-Month Devotional Retreat at Meditation Mount on Saturday, March 26, when the theme will be “Opening to Joy.” The retreat is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is by donation; $10 is suggested.

Meditation Mount is located at 10340 Reeves Road. For more information, contact Rev. Karen at 310-968-8928, or register online at www.karenswylie.com.

The Ojai Studio Artists are pleased to announce that no-cost, monthly mini-studio tours will be held the second Saturday of each succeeding month through September.  Each mini-tour will feature five to eight OSA artists whose studios are within a three-mile radius. Studios will be open from 10am – 3pm.

The upcoming mini-studio tours are scheduled for April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13 and September 10.

Mini-tour artists and maps are on the website at OjaiStudioArtists.org. For information on artists and the full schedule of Second Saturday Mini-Tours, visit the OSA website: ojaistudioartists.org.

Sunday, March 20 Neighbors at the intersection of 111 Rincon St. and Matilija St. invite the community to a free interactive City Repair Intersection Experience noon to 4 p.m. A cob bench will be built in the public right away along with a chalk mandala in the intersection. All with the blessing of the Ojai Public Works department.

For further details visit www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org or contact Heath Perry at [email protected].

Ojai Valley Green Coalition to host Mark Lakeman and the City Repair team – Sunday, March 20, 6:00- 9:00 p.m. at Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Ave., Mr. Lakeman will entertain and educate with Placemaking Storytelling. City Repair facilitates artistic and ecologically-oriented place making through projects that honor the interconnection of human communities and the natural world.

There is a suggested $20 donation, but no one will be turned away. For further details visit www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org or email Heath Perry at [email protected].

The 13th Annual April Fools Run Car Show sponsored by Boy Scouts of America Troop 503 is happening this April 3rd. Come participate for a day in Ojai, showing cars and relaxing with other car enthusiasts. All proceeds go to the scouts and Troop for annual scouting activities like summer camp, Scout Camporee, and monthly outings.

The Ventura County Master Gardeners Program is offering a free gardening class, ”All About Tomatoes,” from 9:15-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 19 at the ARC, 210 Canada St.

Attendees will learn the different classes and types of tomatoes, how to grow the plant, seeding to transplanting, fertilizing and harvest, and common pests and diseases.

The class is taught by Master Gardener Julian Hoyle.

There is a limit 75 attendees. Please register online at https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=17471

Any questions email Teri Reid at [email protected].

​The second annual Spring Carnival is coming to the Ventura County Fairgrounds March 25-27 on Easter weekend.

Event hours will be Friday, March 25 from 3 until 9 p.m., Saturday, March 26 from noon until 9 p.m. and Sunday, March 27 from noon until 7 p.m.

The Carnival will feature 15 carnival rides ranging from the spectacular to kiddie rides, games of chance, traditional carnival foods, an Easter egg hunt, free photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, live entertainment and more family holiday fun!

Presale carnival ride tickets (sheets of 40 tickets) are on sale for $20 at the fairgrounds administration office Monday through Friday 9 – 5 p.m. as well as Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds Derby Club from 10 – 5 p.m. Presale tickets will be sold until 3 p.m. on March 25. Rides will take 4-5 tickets each. Onsite tickets will be available during the event.

The Spring Carnival is produced by the Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation.

The mission of the Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation is to provide financial support for improvements to the grounds, capital projects, equipment and programs in order that the Ventura County Fairgrounds continue to be an exemplary multi-use community resource.

Admission is free, parking is $5.

Interested in lowering your carbon footprint and making your home healthier this spring? Visit emPower Ventura County at the 24th Annual Ventura Home, Garden and RV Spring Show March 18-20 for advice on how you can improve the efficiency, comfort and indoor air quality of your home, while saving money on utility bills.

Come learn how to take advantage of utility incentives up to $6,500, low-interest, unsecured financing that starts at 5.9% and sign up for a free home energy site visit with an emPower Energy Coach for a comprehensive look at your whole’s home energy performance.

Ventura County Fairgrounds
 $5, children 12 and under are free

For more information on the emPower program, call 654-3834  or visit https://www.empowersbc.org/.