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/.

Before his retelling of the Witches of Oz in Wicked, composer Stephen Schwartz took on a contemporary retelling of some of the most popular biblical tales known to man. Children Of Eden uses these stories and characters to strike a universal chord in all of us. Beautiful music, story, humor, and imagery remind us of Spring, filled with new life bursting all around. Children Of Eden opens on Friday, April 8th, playing until Sunday, April 17th,  at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Every year, Cabrillo provides a delightful new show to surprise audiences. This year, meet the Children Of Eden! Based on the stories of Adam and Eve, and of Noah and the Ark, it’s actually the story of parents and children… of knowing when to hold on tightly to family… and of knowing when to let go. In other words, it’s the story of all of us. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz  and script by John Caird it fills the stage with illustrious storytelling, dance, humor, and beautiful songs, including “Spark of Creation,” “Lost in the Wilderness,” “In Whatever Time We Have,” and many more. Tellingly, Stephen Schwartz has been quoted as referring to Children Of Eden as his favorite of his works.

The cast features over 50 of Southern California’s brightest theatre stars!

Events by Ana Baker

Mar. 17: The East Ventura Community Council will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by delving into Mayor Nasarenko’s recent State of the City address.

Also on the agenda is an update by Development Chairperson Daniel Cormode on Ventura’s water situation, as well as a report on the status of  the SOAR (Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources) renewal initiative by Norene Charnofsky.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, 346 N. Kimball Road. For more information call 804-7558.

Mar. 17: Craig Werner, author of We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War, will do a book reading and signing with a question and answer segment.

The event will take place Thursday 7pm at the Bell Arts Factory, 432 No. Ventura Ave. This event will also feature a Vietnam photo exhibit provided by the Ventura County Museum.

Intimate and deeply informative, with a scope that encompasses both the war itself and the way that music has helped raise awareness of veteran’s issues long after its end.

For more information call  643-1960.

Mar. 19: Audubon 8:30 a.m. at Foster Park/Ventura River. Leader: David Torfeh 794-5334. The Ventura River flows through this green park with lots of shade trees. With winter rains, we may see some interesting species at the river, such as Green Heron or mergansers. Inside the park, we will see oak woodland species such as quail, bluebird and woodpeckers.

Mar. 19:  Ventura County Genealogical Society will hold their free monthly program, open to the public.

Saturday at 1p.m. at the Ventura County Public Health Auditorium, 3147 Loma Vista Rd.

Speaker, Barbara Randall, Professional Genealogist and Lecturer will discuss “Do You Really Know Your Irish Roots? Understanding 6,000 years of Irish History.”

Mar. 20: 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. The 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.

Admission charge $3. Lunch is available for $5 more. Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Ventura College location. More information about chapter 190 can be found at www.nawcc-ch190.com.

Mar. 22: Channelaire Chorus of Sweet Adeline, will present their competition music for free at 7 p.m. sharp. Located at the Center for Spiritual Living, 340 Mobil Ave. Camarillo. April 5, 13, 19 and 26^th   rehearsal time from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Contact:   557-4962 for more information. The ability to read music is helpful but not necessary.

Mar. 23: The College Area Community Council will be meeting on Wednesday. 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 Foothill and Hwy. 126, meets at 7 p.m. in the Wright Event Center at 57 Day Rd. on the Ventura College campus. 658-7225 for more information.

Mar. 23:  “Let’s Play Duplicate Bridge!” New games offered beginning Wednesday, March 23rd (FREE that day too) for 0 – 49 AND 0 – 1,250 master point players. 12:30 p.m. start at the Temple Beth Torah, Kimball & Foothill Road.  Meet new players, learn about our local ACBL Cub, and have fun!

For more information call Susan Lang:  340 – 7735.

Mar. 24: Portuguese Fraternal Society of America 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 will be held at Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 East Main St.  At 11:30 A.M. for a 12:00 P.M., no host luncheon / meeting.  For more information and reservation, please call Cora Corella at 483-6285 or Yvonne Westervelt at  483-4168.

Mar. 24: April Davis, a Ventura College student and winner of the 2015 La Estrella competition, will perform at the Friendship Connection 08’s annual membership luncheon at the NOM Tequila Grill, Crown Plaza Hotel, at 11:30 a.m. The FC is a group of retired ladies who like to have fun. Prospective members are invited. Call 218-6124 for more information.

Mar. 26.  Audubon 8:30 a.m. Ojai Meadow Preserve. Leader: John Pavelko 798-2571. The field trip to the Ojai Meadow Preserve will be a combined event with the Ojai Valley Land OVLC manages over 2,300 acres and 25 miles of trails with 9 employees in the Ojai Valley. Take Hwy 33 toward Ojai and turn left at the Y. The preserve is on the left side. Parking is available in front of the entrance and also at the nearby high school or church, if necessary.

Apr.8&9: This year’s Ladies’ Conference is Friday, April 8, 6:30 – 9:30 pm, and Saturday, April 9, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm.  Trusting God in Me, with teachings emphasizing trusting God. Registration begins on Friday evening at 6 pm at The River Community Church at 889 E. Santa Clara St.

The guest speaker, Rev. Janet Hattem, has been a long-time friend and associate of this church. Janet has served in many capacities as a leader in Women’s and Children’s Ministry.           The cost is $50, which includes lunch and a T-Shirt plus all supplies for Friday evening’s activity.  All registrations and payments must be made by Sunday, April 3; late registrations and walk-ins will be $60. For further information visit www.therivercomunity.org or call 648-7955.

Apr. 15&16: Kris Kringle Boutique presents Spring Fling, a two day event with over 30 vendors where you can find homemade springtime decor and crafts, clothing, jewelry, florals, up-coming holiday gifts and much more! This event is open to the public and is free admission. Located at the North Ranch Community Center 1400 N. Westlake Village, CA 91362. See their ad in the next issue for more info.

Friday 15, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.