Join your friends at the Tender Life Maternity Home Walkathon on  Saturday, March 5, at The River Church. The walk will start at 9:45. Registration begins at 9:00am.

The Tender Life Walkathon is a great way to involve your family and friends in a fun, charitable experience. The walk is less than 2 miles. Simply ask people you know to sponsor you in support of Tender Life Maternity Home, a nonprofit program that provides pregnant women with safe housing and supportive services.

For 30 years, Tender Life Maternity Home, a program of Project Understanding, has offered a loving and supportive environment for women who desire to carry their babies to term but lack the necessary means to do so. Download registration form by visiting www.projectunderstanding.org.

AIDS Walk Ventura will take place in Plaza Park on Saturday, March 5, at 8:30 AM.  The goal of AIDS Walk Ventura is to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and to fund future efforts for education, outreach, and prevention within Ventura County.  The event has a long history in Ventura County and has been hosted by a number of organizations throughout the years. Diversity Collective Ventura County (DCVC) is proud to bring this event back to Ventura, in partnership with Ventura County Department of Public Health, and with the help of numerous volunteers and sponsors.  Collectively, DCVC aims to reduce and stop the spread of HIV and AIDS in Ventura County.

In the 2014 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, the Ventura County Department of Public Health (VCDPH) reported 77% newly diagnosed (or re-ascertained) cases occurring in those under 35 years of age (VCDPH, 2015). The agency also reported both HIV and AIDS diagnoses rose over the previous year.  Joseph Summers, DCVC Vice President stated, “We need as much community support as we can get. We are actively seeking donors, sponsors and volunteers, including healthcare organizations, to join us to inform the community on various resources available to them.”

If you would like to be a sponsor, volunteer, or for general information, please visit http://www.diversitycollectivevc.org/aids-walk-ventura.html. Health Fair Vendor booths will be free of charge.  In kind donations and monetary sponsorships are tax-deductible. Contact Joseph Summers at [email protected] or 619-5428 or further questions.

Mayor Erik Nasarenko will deliver the annual State of the City Address at the Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City Breakfast on Thursday, March 10 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach. Mayor Erik Nasarenko will discuss the present and future of Ventura.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce hosts the breakfast every year.  “The State of the City address is the perfect opportunity for the business community to engage with City Hall and hear directly from the Mayor about his priorities and vision for the coming year,” says Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO for the Chamber. “We look forward to hearing Mayor Nasarenko’s address and exploring how the business community can work to support his objectives,” she adds.

The event will include a networking session starting at 7:30am, breakfast at 8:00am, followed by Mayor’s State of the City address, “Invest in Ventura, Now and for a Strong Tomorrow.” The event takes place at the Top of the Harbor Ballroom at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach.

The cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members, and $5 more at the door. Registration is required: www.venturachamber.com/stateofthecity. For more information, contact the Chamber’s Events Director at [email protected] or 643-7222.

3/2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Wednesdays 12-2 pm

some stress relieving coloring. Coloring sheets and pencils provided. Available from 12pm to 2pm so stop by for a minute or ten!

Oil spills and microbes: How does nature remediate massive petroleum discharges?
3/6 @ 3pm
Channel Islands Lecture Series
Patricia Tavormina, Lecturer

Spontaneous Chess
3/12 & 22 @ 1 pm
Calling all chess players! Keep your skills sharp with this one-hour, drop-in session of free play. Boards will be set up and ready to go. Bring your best moves!

Opera Santa Barbara
3/18 @ 12 pm
These concerts, featuring members of the Mosher Studio Artist Program,

eLibrary Gadget Fest
3/26 @ 11 am
Want eBooks but just haven’t had the time to figure out how to get them from the library? Learning a language and want access to free learning tools?

Assemblage Workshop
3/30 @ 6pm
Local Artist Ron Smith will conduct an Assemblage workshop.

Library LAB Open Workshop
3/2, 9, 16, 23, 30 4:30-6:30 pm Come by the library on Wednesday evenings to learn more about our 3D printer and laser cutter—or to use them yourself!

Poetry Open Mic Night
3/3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Thursdays 7:30-9 pm On these Thursday nights, come join this group of writers as they meet in the Topping Room to share their work.

Ukulele Jam Session
3/7 & 21 Mondays 7-10 pm Locals gather to play the ukulele on the first and third Monday of the month.

Early Literacy Class     3/1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, & 23                                                             Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10:30am
A great way to introduce your child to early literacy and the library.

Homework Center      3/1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22 & 24
Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-5pm                                                                                                 Homework Helpers will be available to help students in grades K through 12 with their homework assignments.

Paws for Reading        3/5, 12, 19, & 26
Saturdays noon- 1pm
Read aloud to a registered service dog (sign-up required).

TAG Teen Advisory Group
3/2 & 16 Wednesdays 4 pm
Active members will get credit towards School Community Services Hours. TAG meetings are in the Young Adult area on the 2nd floor.

Knitting with Anacapa Fine Yarns
03/03, 10, 17, 24, 31 Thursdays 3 pm
Learn to knit or improve your knitting skills with Anacapa Fine Yarns.

Youth Chess Club
3/7, 14, 21, & 28 Mondays 3 pm
Learn to play chess or improve your current ability! Assisted by Class A tournament player Jack Cashman.

College Planning Workshop
03/1 Tuesday 7 pm
This workshop is put together and facilitated by Linda Kapala and is suitable for parents and students in Grades 9-12.  It will be held in the Topping Room.

Makeshop
3/8 & 22 Tuesdays 3-5 pm
Building fun at the library! Makerspace event.

Lego LAB: Build, Learn, and Play!
3/1, 15,& 29 Tuesdays 3 pm
3/5 Saturday 10 am
Exciting challenges every meeting. Bring your imagination and experiment with creative designs. Children of all ages welcome!

Spring Crafternoon
3/16 Thursday 3 pm
A craft in the afternoon themed to the Spring season.

Dance Party!
3/11, 3/17, and 3/25 Fridays and Thursday 10-11 am
Enjoy non-stop music and movement for children ages 2-5 and their grownups in the Topping Room!

Jim Mangis was an integral part of all that is good in Ventura and life. From running FOOD Share, the Food Forward Family, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, board member at Ventura City Corps he brought light and joy to volunteers and staff alike.

Jim Mangis, died at 62 from an apparent heart attack.

His life-long commitment to social justice, fighting hunger, peace and teaching the next generation made him a person we can all be inspired by. Jim worked to help the most vulnerable people for much of his life, creating profound change in his community. With his guidance, FOOD Share in Oxnard went from a volunteer-run gleaning organization to the county’s largest food bank. He also ran and led anti-hunger efforts in the Central Valley.  Mangis headed FOOD Share for 12 years before stepping down in 2006 to go on to making other wonderful contributions.

Food Forward is a non-profit organization which started out on LA but has since grown to encompass Ventura Country as well under Jim Mangis leadership. Food Forward is primarily a volunteer run food collection organization with a focus on harvesting fruits and produce that would otherwise go to waste and transport these fruits and vegetables to local food banks and distribution areas for low income and in need families. Under Jim’s leadership, the Ventura County operations saw a doubling in volunteers, a tripling in receiving agency partners and a 125% increase in produce gleaned and donated to families in need. But, more than this work and these accomplishments, he was the warmest and most humble of souls. He personified the word “gratitude.

One of his loves was gardening and organic farming which was just another way of making this a better world.

Mangis was born in New Mexico, and raised in Bethesda, Maryland. He attended Kalamazoo College in Michigan and Humboldt State University.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 27 at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Contributions may be made in his memory to Food Forward or the Ventura City Corps.

Opera Santa Barbara will present a series of Free Noontime Concerts at the Ojai Library on the second Thursday of March, April, and May. Each concert will begin at 12 p.m. in the main room of the library and will last approximately 45 minutes. The concerts will feature members of the Mosher Studio Artist Program, a residential training program for accomplished young singers. These concerts are offered free. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, City Librarian, at 218-9146.

Persons interested in serving as Ojai’s next City Clerk have until March 30 to apply for the part-time position. The elected position is currently held by City Clerk Rhonda Basore, who announced in January that she will be retiring from the City in April. Her term as the elected city clerk will expire in November.

Because the city clerk is selected by voters, the City Council had to determine whether to fill the remainder of Basore’s term via election or appointment. The Council determined on February 9 to appoint someone to complete the term until voters choose a successor in the November 2016 election.

To apply for City Clerk, please submit a City Clerk application (available at Ojai City Hall) or go to the City website for more information.

The City is also recruiting separately to fill the appointed position of records manager. That position is appointed by the city manager. The deadline to apply for the records manager position is also March 30.

For more information please contact Deputy City Manager Steve McClary at  646-5581, extension 101 or [email protected] or go to www.ojaicity.org/jobs.

On Monday, March 14th at 7 p.m., the Ojai Art Center Literary Branch will host John Nichols, essayist and photographer, who will read from his latest book, “Essay Man,” and share his publishing knowledge.  John’s gallery in Santa Paula displays vintage, vernacular and contemporary  photography. $5 donation suggested. For more info www.johnnicholsgallery.com or [email protected].

As the Ojai Music Festival anticipates the upcoming 70th Festival (June 9-12, 2016) with Music Director Peter Sellars, Artistic Director Thomas W. Morris announces the artists who will serve as Music Directors through the Festival’s 75th anniversary in 2021. Following previously announced future music directors Vijay Iyer (June 8-11, 2017) and Esa-Pekka Salonen (June 7-10, 2018), soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan will be the 2019 music director (June 6-9), violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaya in 2020 (June 11-14) and pianist Mitsuko Uchida in 2021 (June 10-13). Since the late 1940’s, the Ojai Music Festival’s tradition has been to welcome a new Music Director each year to ensure vitality and diversity in programming across Festivals.

The Ojai Film Society will screen three art-related films in March at the Ojai Art Center Theater. The theme for this special trio of documentary films is Celebration of the Arts: Music, Fashion, Fine Art. The series features three extraordinary artists who have each excelled in their craft.

Amy, on March 13, tells the haunting story of the talented British pop icon, Amy Winehouse. Iris, on March 20, portrays the flamboyantly dressed, 93-year-old style maven, Iris Apfel. Hockney, on March 27, explores the life of one of Britain’s most important artists, David Hockney.

The films will be shown at the Ojai Art Center Theater, located at 113 S. Montgomery, at 5 pm. Admission is $10 general admission and $7 for seniors and students. Tickets are sold at the door. For more information visit www.ojaifilmsociety.org.

Local Ventura artist Ellie Tu will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, to deliver a talk entitled “Channel Islands National Park Guide Book Illustrations and a Glance at Traditional Botanical Art.” This talk will include a brief history of traditional botanical art and explain the equipment and materials Ms. Tu uses for painting and drawing.

Ms. Tu will also speak on the process of creating the Channel Islands National Park guide book illustrations and give a drawing demonstration. She will bring some plant samples for guests to experience from a botanical illustrator’s point of view. This event is free and open to the public.

“The Addams Family” musical is based on Charles Addams’ New Yorker cartoons. Immensely popular on Broadway, it showcases a ‘normal’ couple, Mal and Alice and their son, meeting the off-beat Addams Family with hilarious and discordant results. Youth actors will take over the lead roles during the 2 p.m. Saturday matinees. It runs from March 11 to April 3 at Ojai ACT, 113 S. Montgomery St., at an earlier-than-usual time, 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are only $18 general, $12 for seniors, students and Art Center members and $5 for youth 12 and under. Either call for reservations at 640-8797 or go online: www.OjaiACT.org

On Sunday, March 13,  from 12:30-3 pm Community Bible Church of Ventura will be hosting a Grand Opening for all the community at the  new home/property located at 5040 Telegraph Road, across from Ventura College, where Day Road meets Telegraph.

They will be providing delicious food provided by local business partnerships, hosting tours, giving away free raffle prizes…  and Mayor Erik will be attending to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Thier vision is to add value to our community, and have partnered with Project Understanding, FOOD Share, Aegis Senior Living, Montalvo Elementary and several local businesses in an effort to meet the needs of Ventura County residents.

They are a non-denominational church of less than 200 and growing.

For more information contact Pastor Bob DuPar [email protected]– 906-7302.