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.

Sept 17: Ventura City Councilmen Carl Morehouse will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the East Ventura Community Council. Councilmen Morehouse will address issues of concern to residents, including water and traffic, especially pertaining to new residential developments planned for the area. The council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, 346 N. Kimball Road. The public is encouraged to attend and participate. Books in good condition are always accepted by San Buenaventura Friends of the Library, and are very much appreciated. Check our Facebook page for updated agenda items. For more information call 804-7558.

Sept.19: Want to do something about the garbage patch in the ocean? Here’s your  chance! Stop plastic in its tracks before it gets out to the sea! Come down to the Santa Clara River Gateway inland site for Coastal Clean Up Day.  Here in our neighborhoods, plastic and other trash flows into the storm drains, into the Santa Clara River, onto the beach and out to the ocean making the Great Pacific Garbage patch bigger. You can change that!

Coastal Clean Up Day at Santa Clara River Gateway Puente Site  (Johnson/Hwy 101)

Saturday Sept 19, 9am – noon

Park in the lot at Mission Church (Johnson/N. Bank Rd. and walk to the sign in table)

[email protected]

Wear long pants and closed shoes, they provide gloves and containers. High school community service eligible (check with your school). All ages welcome! Perfect for company green teams and scouts. Freeebies courtesy of Coastal Clean Up Day, The Nature Conservancy and Cal-Trout. Personal satisfaction awaits you!

Sept 19: Ventura Audubon Society’s Field Trip starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Surfer’s Knoll/Santa Clara River Estuary. Leader: Neil Ziegler 982-7207. Hope to see a variety of shorebirds including Snowy Plovers, grebes, turnstones, Whimbrels, godwits, cormorants and sandpipers, as well as many ducks and gulls.

Sept 19: International Folk Dance Festival. If you love dancing, join folk dancers from Southern California in the picturesque village of Somis on Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. There is an $8 per person donation fee. Proceeds will be used to help fund introductory folk dance festivals in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County regions. The sponsors of this festival are The Officers of the Folk Dance Federation of California, South in conjunction with the Ventura International Folk Dancers. Festival will be located at the lovely Thursday Club in Somis, 5380 Bell Street For more info, 647-1634 or [email protected]

Sept.22:  PFLAG provides support, education, and advocacy to the families and allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.  PFLAG’s goal is to strengthen families and help them through the often difficult adjustment when a family member comes-out.  The Ventura chapter of PFLAG has a core group of parents who are active in the community and committed to promoting the civil rights of the LGBT family members they love.

PFLAG meets the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston St.  Free to the community.  Please spread the word.

Contact Gary Zinik, 650-3327, [email protected]

Sept. 23 &29: Spice-Topia will be hosting cooking classes by Chef Amy Tyrrell of Morsels as You Wish. Each class fee is $35 and includes a complete recipe book and sampling of all dishes on that evening’s menu.

Wednesday, September 23rd – Gleefully Gluten Free, Parmesan Walnut Red Hummus, Caraway Pork & Potato Braise, Apple Pie Brussels, Sweet Potato Biscuits with Orange Butter, Polenta Cake with Spiced Plums and Whip Cream. Tuesday, September 29th – Slow Cooker Supper, Muffalata Dip with Focaccia Toast, Sweet & Slow Briscuit, Slow Cooker Ratatouille, Slow Cooker German Potato Salad, and Slow Cooker Chocolate Orange Cake. Classes start 6:30 p.m. to 8:30p.m. Located at 576 E. Main St.

More info 628.3267 or spice-topia.com

Sept. 24:  “How to get sued by your employees” 7:30-9am. Koinonia Business Network (KBN)   meets weekly. Alma Via Assisted Living – 2nd floor, 2500 Ponderosa Dr. North, Camarillo

Alonzo Garcia, President of Employer Services Group (ESG) will be sharing his personal insight and knowledge on current workplace challenges (including new laws)we must pay attention to, in order to avoid costly litigation, etc. Free admission

Sept. 25: 1-2 pm “Book Publishing 1-2-3”.Packed with stories and practical tips, this popular program will empower and inspire writers of fiction and nonfiction alike. Join us for a quick glimpse at the book business (including traditional, electronic, and self-publishing), then hear some ideas for connecting with editors and literary agents, and explore the craft of writing and promoting books.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (4360 E. Main, Ventura) $20 plus drink purchase. RSVP not needed.

Laurie Gibson has served more than 150 independent authors as well as proofreading classic novels such as “The Color Purple” and the writing of musician Jimmy Buffett and success guru Brian Tracy. For several years, Laurie also taught editing for the Extension programs at UCSD and UCLA.

Contact (858) 635-1233 or [email protected] for more information

Sept 26: Ventura Audubon Society’s Field Trip starts at 8:30 am.  Laguna Tams & Arnold Rd.  Leader: Kay Regester 258-1025. The tamarisk trees at Laguna Rd are a migrant hot spot. Migrating birds are attracted to the insects in the trees and a number of uncommon to rare birds often show up at this location.

Sept. 26: Garden of Innocence full memorial service in the newly renovated section of Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura, for abandoned babies Junior, Alice and Cindy — to be held on Saturday at 10 a.m.  The community is invited and volunteers/donations are welcome and needed.

Founder Elissa Davies and Director Lori Sanchez of Garden of Innocence by the Sea are holding the memorial service.  Each baby has a new name, a handmade carved urn, poem — written just for them, their own new Beanie Baby and quilt. There will be a full color guard display by The of Knights of Columbus, a personalized non-denominational service, music and release of doves.

Sept 30: 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, 4667 Telegraph Road. The regular 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. There will be a mart where items will be for sale followed by an informational meeting and a program.

This month’s program will be a presentation by Ray Marsolek on Making Your Own Tools. Anyone interested in watches and clocks. There is a $3 admission charge. You can learn more about the NAWCC at www.nawcc.org.

Oct 4: Ventura Crop Walk to fight hunger 5km and 10km walks. Walk Begins at 2 p.m. Check-in From 1p.m. to 1:45p.m. at 1338 E. Santa Clara Street. Contact: 658-7446 or [email protected]

For more details:  https://www.facebook.com/VenturaCROPWalk

Oct 10: The Tortilla Flats Legacy Committee is sponsoring a fundraiser dance on Saturday, at 7pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 36 S. Figueroa Plaza. The David Diaz Band will provide music for dancing and listening enjoyment. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. For advance tickets call 509-7309 or 889-7414 or send a $35 check to the Tortilla Flats Committee at P.O. Box 6064, Ventura, Ca 93006. Make checks payable to Tortilla Flats. More information call 509-7309.

On Saturday September 26^th, from 11 am – 5 pm at Bank of Books, 748 East Main St. 11 am-1 pm meet several outstanding writers of science fiction.

11-1 Marc Zicree author of The Twilight Zone Companion. Marc Scott Zicree has written and produced hundreds of hours of TV programs and worked for virtually all the major studios and networks. Zicree’s landmark book The Twilight Zone Companion has been credited with creating the modern genre of books on TV series and inspiring a generation of series creators and filmmakers

1-3 pm Stephen Woodworth and wife Kelly Dunn. He is best known for his books Through Violet Eyes and With Red Hands, she is the editor of Mutation Nation. Through Violet Eyes “In a world where the dead can testify against the living, someone is getting away with murder. Because to every generation are born a select few souls with violet-colored eyes, and the ability to channel the dead. Both rare and precious—and rigidly controlled by a society that craves their services—these Violets perform a number of different duties.” Mutation Nation “The scariest monsters may not be the supernatural creatures we’ve been taught to fear. We can run from the marauding zombie, refuse to invite a hungry vampire, or turn on the light to banish the ghost in the dark.”

3-5 pm Larry Niven .  He best known as the creator and writer for the Ring World series, but will also be featuring many of his other books.  Larry Niven is the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Ringworld series, along with many other science fiction masterpieces. He lives in Chatsworth, California. Ringworld “A new place is being built, a world of huge dimensions, encompassing millions of miles, stronger than any planet before it. There is gravity, and with high walls and its proximity to the sun, a livable new planet that is three million times the area of the Earth can be formed. We can start again!”

Volunteers come from all backgrounds and professions.

On October 6^th,  6:30-8:30pm the 1st Annual Ventura Volunteer Summit Kicks off to join non-profit organizations and the public at the Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center,  5880 Olivas Park Dr.

Free admission for all attendees

The Volunteer Summit is an opportunity for all non-profit volunteer organizations in Ventura County to interface with one another, lay out a common goal in the community and meet potential volunteers. Ventura Rotaract is organizing this event to help create a better local network for both Ventura based projects and international projects.  The volunteer summit is like a job fair for volunteers, laying out a variety of opportunities by all of Ventura County’s volunteer organizations who are looking to connect with the community on a variety of projects.  The goal is to get more people involved with doing good things and fun projects in our local community.

Rotaract is a humanitarian organization for young professionals between the ages of 18 and 35. Rotaract Clubs are dedicated to contributing to local and international charity work.  Their efforts are not only financial by laborious for the task at hand. They are a true non-profit. Their volunteers donate their time and energy to eliminate any type of overhead, allowing all proceeds to be contributed to the cause.

Rotaract clubs are located all around the world.  Each club in an independent organization within the Rotary international family.  Their ideals, standards and code of ethics are shared, however each club has its own projects and causes. They follow the 4 avenues of service Club Service, Community Service, International Service and Vocational Service.

Ventura Rotaract chartered in District 5240 in May 2010.  They hit the ground running, taking up service and volunteer projects in support of Rotary, and local non-profit organizations.  To date, they have joined over 50 events and benefits within Ventura County.

http://www.venturarotaract.com/ventura-volunteer-summit

For more information please contact Jen at  827-1095.

Starting October 1, Conejo Valley Adult School in Thousand Oaks will be offering an eight-week class, Writing a Bestseller. Taught by award-winning author/humorist Sheli Ellsworth, the class will explore plots, characters and narrative drive of over twenty bestsellers of the last decade. Writers at all levels of proficiency are welcome. The class meets on Thursday mornings from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Enroll by phone at 497-2761 or go online to conejoadultschool.org and click on writer’s program. Contact Sheli Ellsworth at 499-3490 for more information.

Sheli Ellsworth is the author of The Psychoanalysis of Everyday Life: Sometimes I Pee When I Laugh (BeachHouse Books, 2012), Confessions of a Pet Au Pair: the ABCs of pet ailments (BeachHouse Books, 2014) and co-author (with Sheldon Brown) of My Winter Holiday by Noah (Ventura Breeze Press, 2014).

Live entertainment will be provided by Sunday Mornin’ and others at Harmony for Hunger

Ventura CROP Hunger Walk invites all to attend “Harmony for Hunger” on Friday, September 18, 6:30pm – 9:00pm, at The River Community Church located at 889 E. Santa Clara St.

Harmony for Hunger is a pre-event in promotion and preparation for the upcoming Ventura CROP Hunger Walk on October 4th. All who attend will learn about the CROP Hunger Walk, will be able to sign up to volunteer or walk, meet fellow walkers and supporters, and learn about this year’s beneficiaries—

Project Understanding of San Buenaventura and 1 Family 1 Restaurant (1F1R).  There will also be live entertainment by local bands including Sunday Mornin’, Blues Fever, and Kris Simeon and the Lonely Onlies.

Admission for the event is $5 or three canned goods. For more information, please call 658-7446 or email [email protected].

Project Understanding  will be holding their 3rd annual Starlight Supper Club event on Saturday, November 7, from 5:30pm – 10:00pm. The event will be a night of taste and sophistication with a touch of 1940s glamour, and will include a sit down dinner, raffles, silent auctions, and live entertainment.

The Starlight Supper Club is a fundraising event to benefit Project Understanding in support of the many programs they provide including the Food Pantry, SHORE (Supportive Housing Opportunities in a Residential Environment, Homeless to Home, Tender Life Maternity Home, and the various tutoring centers throughout Ventura County.

General admission for the Starlight Supper Club is $75. Tickets are still available and may be purchase online by visiting http://starlightsupperclub2015.eventbrite.com or by calling  236-1309 or  652-1326.

For more information on the Project Understanding or 1F1R, please visit www.projectunderstanding.org or www.1F1R.com.