Events by Ana Baker

Would you like to meet new friends? Whatever the reason, Ventura’s Conversation Group is the right place for you. This eclectic group meets Wednesdays from 4p.m. to 5:45p.m. Located at the Yolanda’s Mexican Restaurant at 2753 Main St. Several people usually stay for a drink and a bite to eat afterward. Be sure to bring an interesting topic to discuss.

Free admission stage show, 2p.m. to 4p.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 9:45p.m. Located at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill. Ballroom, swing, Latin, mixers and line dancing. Members $9, non-members $11. Call 407-9971 for more information.

DBSA Ventura, the local chapter of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) hosts two regular, confidential, peer-led, self-help support groups in the County. The evening meeting takes place every Tuesday from 6:30p.m. to 8p.m. at Bible Fellowship Church located at 6950 Ralston Street in Room 301 of Building 300. Email [email protected], visit facebook.com/DBSA.Ventura or call 253-3289 for more information.

The daytime meeting is held from 1p.m. to 3p.m. at the New Visions Center in Ventura on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Turning Point Foundation’s New Vision Center is located at 1065 E. Main Street. Email [email protected], visit facebook.com/DBSA.Ventura or call 746-3106 for more information.

Dec.11: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution December luncheon meeting will feature the program “Colonial Christmas”, presented by Mr. 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.  All SAR & DAR Compatriots, friends, and visitors are welcome to join us.  The cost for lunch is $20 per person, and includes a slice of Marie Callender’s pie.  For additional information or for assistance in determining your possible Revolutionary War genealogical roots, please call Bill Bays 650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992.  For information regarding SAR membership and chapter activities, please visit the chapter website at http://pattonpatriots.org.

Dec.12: You are warmly invited to an Advent Evensong on Saturday at 5 p.m.  Three charming choral Advent pieces by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707), the originator of Abendmusik will open our program, followed by Bach’s glorious Cantata 51, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, featuring Patricia Lathrop-McPherson, soprano and Randy Jones on trumpet.  Finally, Nick Akdag on bassoon will present Vivaldi’s pastoral F major concerto for bassoon. Helen Farson directs from piano and harpsichord.  Admission is always free. Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church.  6300 Telephone Rd. Call 641-9646 for more information.

Dec.12: Amnesty International Local Group #452 will be holding their annual Write-a-thon on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event is part of Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign, the world’s largest letter writing event, which engages people to speak out on behalf of prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders and communities at risk from around the world.

All are invited to drop in to write letters. We furnish paper, pens, stamps, snacks and good company.  Jon Portera and friends will inspire us with live music again this year. Located at College United Methodist Church, 4300 Telegraph Road.

Dec.13: What’s Blue Christmas Service? This special evening can be a meaningful experience for anyone who may be having difficulty during this holiday season, due to a significant loss in his or her lives.

At the Blue Christmas Service we’ll have music, a heartfelt message, special readings and candle lighting.  Each household will receive a small ornament to serve as a reminder of the hope and wholeness that we all look forward to. Service will be held on Sunday at 6 p.m. at Ventura Vineyard Church 1956 Palma Drive, Suite A.

Dec.13: Christmas Sing Along located at The Open Door Coffee House, 1338 E. Santa Clara Street, First United Methodist Church. Wesley Center invites the community to a delightful evening of singing Christmas carols and secular traditional and seasonal favorites, at 6p.m.   (5p.m. to 6 p.m. Candlelight Labyrinth walk adjacent to Coffee House) 643-8621

Dec.15,16: There will be a final Year 2015 Auxiliary Gift shop sale “Accessory Mania”.  Please drop by Community Memorial Hospital 147 N. Brent Street and shop for yourself or Holiday gifts.  The sale will be located in the first floor main lobby.  Keep in mind the Auxiliary is always looking for new volunteers.  While shopping, pick up an application at the front door.

Dec.19: Ventura County Genealogical Society annual holiday potluck luncheon and U.S. Marine Corp Toys 4 Tots Toy Drive at 12p.m. Located at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Auditorium

3501 Loma Vista Road. Please bring a friend and a new, unwrapped toy, $20 or less.

A U.S. Marine will be present to accept your donation. This is your chance to tell your story to people who will actually listen. You may find help from the group. Please bring your favorite appetizer, salad, main dish or dessert to share. For more information, visit http://venturacogensoc.org/

Dec.31: The Santa Barbara Symphony, under the baton of Maestro Nir Kabaretti, will usher in the year 2016 with a rousing New Year’s Eve pops concert at the historic Granada Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara. Featuring a guest appearance by award-winning soprano Lisa Vroman, and a program of popular classics and favorites from stage and screen, the performance will begin at 8:30 p.m.

In addition to works by Gershwin, Berlin, and Strauss, musical selections will include well-known passages from The Phantom of the Opera, Back to the Future, and Star Wars. A musical celebration spanning several traditions, from Viennese New Year’s concerts up to and including some of the most iconic and beloved tunes from Broadway and Hollywood,” said Maestro Kabaretti, now in his 10th season as the Santa Barbara Symphony’s music and artistic director. Tickets start at $38 and can be purchased at www.granadasb.org or by calling 899-2222.

On Saturday, December 19, from 1 to 2 p.m., Jill Swaim will visit the Ojai Library to deliver a talk entitled Road Scholar: Adventures in Lifelong Learning. Love to travel? Enjoy learning new things, exploring interesting places, and meeting people who share a love of adventure? Swaim will speak about Road Scholar, the world’s largest—and America’s first—educational travel organization for adults. Road Scholar offers nearly 8,000 affordable programs each year in about 90 countries worldwide. These programs offer a chance to expand your mind while being in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, City Librarian, at 218-9146.

From December 16 to December 23, the Ojai Valley Libraries will be marking the
launch of the MakerBox Collective by holding numerous 3D printing demonstrations using a LulzBot Mini 3D printer. This printer is featured in one of seven MakerBoxes, each containing materials and instructions for a different activity. These boxes will travel between the participating libraries of the MakerBox Collective, bringing the maker experience to library users across Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

The Ojai Library will have the 3D printer until Sunday, December 20, during which time they will hold occasional demonstrations and information sessions. The printer will then travel to the Meiners Oaks Library on Monday, December 21, and to the Oak View Library Tuesday and Wednesday, December 22 and 23.

These events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, City Librarian, at 218-9146. The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The Meiners Oaks Library is located at 114 North Padre Juan. Monday hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Oak View Library is located at 555 Mahoney Avenue in Oak View. Tuesday and Wednesday hours are 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Ventura County Library is available 24/7 at www.vencolibrary.org.

A new show by visionary artist Joyce Huntington, “Painting in the Light,” will fill the Ojai Art Center from January 9 through February 3, 2016. A reception for the artist will take place on Saturday, Jan. 16th, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Center, 113 S. Montgomery St.

The internationally known Huntington spent most of her childhood in the desert southwest. A precocious, dance-obsessed child, she faced a near-death bout with polio, which left her confined to a wheelchair. No longer able to dance, her creative spirit found new expression in painting. She has since dedicated her life to bringing feelings of peace, healing, and inspiration to others through her artwork, which springs from visions she receives in meditation.

In addition to many gallery showings, her paintings have illustrated many children’s books, as well as the cover of Ojai-resident Rev. Karen S. Wylie’s Into Me See.

Cabrillo Music Theatre brings its yearly Holiday Show for the troops back to the Civic Arts Plaza, with Cabrillo’s 2015 Holiday Family Celebration!  For years, Cabrillo has been putting on a specially-prepared variety show exclusively for the troops and their families presented at the Naval Base in Ventura County.  Due to the great success of last year’s Holiday Family Celebration, Cabrillo will once again transfer this memorable show to the Scherr Forum on Sunday, December 13th.  This year, Cabrillo Music Theatre is proud to announce a collaboration with Montecito Bank and Trust, who has chosen to sponsor this holiday celebration in honor of our troops.  Cabrillo audiences will get to enjoy this unique performance, featuring Cabrillo Music Theatre show stars, the Kabrillo Kids, The Cabrillo Teen Project, plus familiar holiday characters, audience sing-a-longs, a pre-show reception with audience and cast, and an appearance by Santa Claus himself! Perfect and affordable for the entire family.

Performance is at the Scherr Forum of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on Sunday, December 13th, at 7pm, and will be preceded by a reception outside the theatre with the cast and Santa Claus.  The performance runs 90 minutes, and is perfect for the entire family.  Tickets are $25 each, and are on sale now at www.cabrillomusictheatre.com or at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza box office.

Discover how Old California Rancho families prepared to celebrate the year-end holidays with a free candlelight tour of the City of Ventura’s historic 1847 rancho – the Olivas Adobe, located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive – on Sunday, December 13, beginning at 5:30 pm. Tours are conducted in groups and offered every twelve minutes – dress warmly. Tours are free but reservations are requested by calling 658-4726.

The Holiday Candlelight Tours are a great way for families to get into the spirit of the season and have fun learning about life at a California Historical Landmark. The Olivas Adobe also features a gift shop that has traditional handcrafted items that visitors can purchase as gifts for the holidays.

The Candlelight Tours are presented by the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters, a volunteer non-profit group dedicated to preserving the only Monterey Style adobe home in Southern California from the Gold Rush era. Docents make the history of the Olivas Adobe come to life by celebrating its Chumash, Old West, Rancho and Latino heritage through weekend tours and year round special events.