The City of Ojai has established a Second Residential Dwelling Unit Compliance process to allow property owners to legalize dwellings constructed without record of permits. Such units are often guest houses where kitchens have been added or garages which have been converted.

The program is operative for a limited time only ending December 21, 2015; units may not be currently recognized in the City’s inventory of housing. At the end of the program, unpermitted second dwelling will become subject to all City codes and regulations currently in effect.

Property owners who believe they may have a second residential dwelling unit which could meet the program criteria are encouraged to obtain a preliminary consultation with the City’s Building Official or the City-credited Ombudsman. The Ombudsman support process allows property owners to seek out the assistance of parties independent of the City to assist in determining if a unit qualifies to be legalized as a second dwelling unit on your property. Information provided to the Ombudsman is confidential and will not be provided to the City or other agencies.

If you have any questions regarding the information above or processing of a project in general, please contact the City’s Building Official at 646-5581 x116 or via e-mail at [email protected]

The management of diabetes, a common disease that causes long-term damage to the body, will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System, held on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Tricia Westhoff-Pankratz, M.D., a clinical endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid disorders, diabetes and pituitary diseases, will lead the discussion during the seminar to be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the banquet room at Soule Park Golf Course, located at 1033 E. Ojai Ave. in Ojai.

Dr. Westhoff-Pankratz will cover new therapies available to treat diabetes and ways patients can limit prescriptions to reach their goals. She also will discuss current blood glucose goals and how they change with age; the new modalities in treating diabetes; and whether patients can “get rid” of diabetes.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800/838-3006.

Future scheduled Speaker Series events include: the Treatment of Low Back Pain on Sept. 1 at Community Memorial Hospital; Ethics in Healthcare event: Disneyland, Measles and Vaccines: Should Parents Call the Shots, on Sept. 10 at the Museum of Ventura County; and the Breast Cancer Symposium on Oct. 3 at the Ventura Beach Marriott.

Course 2 of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition Food Preparation Series is a sourdough bread and cheese making class on Saturday, August 22nd, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Instructor, Katie Zack, will share the basics of sourdough bread making and how to make a soft goat cheese.

There is a suggested donation of $35 for OVGC supporting members and $40 for non-members. Reservations are required and the class is limited to 12 participants. Visit ojaivalleygreencoalition.org for full details or call (805) 669-8445.

galerie102 presents Britt Ehringer’s “Insanely Beautiful” from August 22 – September 20. Opening reception with the artist will be on Saturday, August 22 from 5 – 7 p.m.

Artist Britt Ehringer examines the subjective expression of beauty in our culture and its outer boundaries in a solo show of new works featuring paintings, photography and sculpture. Straddling beauty and insanity, Ehringer questions what is considered beautiful and to what degree beauty exists in counterpoint to society’s, oft-times, rigid judgement of the beauty found on the “fringes” of “proper society.”

A self-taught artist with an irreverent pop-art sensibility and a penchant for tongue in cheek social commentary, Britt Ehringer deftly layers color, image and social message, with his multiple use of mediums, that defy easy definition of his work into a specific art canon.

Ojai Raptor Center, (ORC) a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization is dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of birds of prey and other wildlife, and to providing educational programs to teach communities about wildlife and our shared environment.

Sunday October 25th 2015, ORC will open its doors to the public for a rare opportunity to meet our non-releasable “ambassador” raptors, and tour the Center which is home to the largest flight aviary in CA. The Center is closed to the public year-round due to the sensitive nature of wildlife in rehabilitation.

Hawks, falcons, and owls will be on hand to greet guests along with stage presentations the entire afternoon. There will be plenty of fun activities for children, a silent auction, and a chance to release a raptor with ORC staff. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.

Ojai Raptor Center Open House asks for a suggested donation of five dollars for entry. This is a dog-free event. Handicapped parking will be available. Additional parking will be located 1 mile from the Center with a Pegasus shuttle running every 10 minutes. Please visit www.ojairaptorcenter.org for more info.

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.

Aug. 20: Michael Badner, of Williams Homes, will talk about the “Farm Project”, a housing development to be built at Saticoy and Telegraph, on land held formerly by the UC Hansen Trust. Chairperson John McNally will report on his recent tour of the Walker-Hearne Ranch, and an update on the Water Rate Increase by the council’s development chair, Dan Cormode.

The council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue. Books in good condition are always accepted by San Buenaventura Friends of the Library, and are very much appreciated. 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! Check our Facebook page for updated agenda items. For more information call 804-7558.

Aug. 23: The Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura invites the public to join them to review ways we as individuals can help reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in our community.  Come hear about the many ways you can make a difference in a homeless person’s life and in your life.  Join us Sunday, at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary at 5654 Ralston St.  For more information, email [email protected].

Aug. 25: Dine Out and Donate, support Pier into the Future while enjoying a night out at Winchesters. Winchesters Grill and Saloon will donate 20 percent of sales to Pier into the Future. Free Pier Wine Glass to the first 50 in attendance. 632 E. Main Street from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Aug. 29: August 29: Interested in lowering your carbon footprint and making your home more energy and water efficient? Visit emPower Ventura County at the Golden Lawn Conservation Expo. emPower staff will be offering advice on how to improve your home’s health and indoor air quality, while saving on utility bills.

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

12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 500 Main Street (between Parking Structure and Main St).

For information on the emPower program, call 654-3834 or email [email protected].

Aug. 29: You are warmly invited to an end-of-summer Evensong on Sat., at 5 p.m.  Musical offerings will feature Haydn’s elegant St. Nicholas Mass as well as excerpts from Saint-Saëns’ Sonata for bassoon and Bach’s serene aria Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust (Pleasurable rest, beloved soul’s delight) from BWV 170.  Directed by Helen Farson with artists including Nick Akdag, bassoon, Louis Grace, oboe and Mariana Smith, flute as well as members of the Ventura Chorale. Admission is always free.  Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church, 6300 Telephone Rd.  Please call 641.9646 for more information.

Sept. 1: Mended Hearts of Ventura group will meet at the Health Science Building at Ventura College, Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come share if you have had heart surgery or stent implant. Contact for more info: Richard Hatcher 644-2733

Sept. 6: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent-led tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. accompanied by period music in the parlor and upstairs library landing. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets. For information please call 642-3345 or visit the website at www.dudleyhouse.org.

Sept. 1: Ventura Retired Men’s Group will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ventura Elks Lodge, 2126 Knoll Drive. Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. For more information on VRMG and its future events, please visit http://www.VenturaRetiredMen.org/fp.html , call Gene Wink at 647-2513, or email [email protected]

Sept. 7,21: The Ventura County Philatelic Society will have their Stamp trading and camaraderie event.

Mondays from 7:30p.m. to 9:30p.m. at the Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Road.  Admission and parking are free. Come for a great evening.  They are a fun group. Contact: [email protected] or 320-1601

Sept. 14: The Master Children’s Choir is auditioning Children ages 6 through teens, for the fall session. The choir sings light classical music arranged for children and shares a traditional Christmas Concert at the historic Mission in Ventura in December and an annual Spring Concert in Camarillo.  The award-winning choir competes in festivals and plans to attend the International Children’s choir Festival in England, July 2016.  Rehearsals begin in Camarillo Monday. Auditions are friendly.  Call now for an appointment and more information 390-6500. Scholarships available.

September 26: The Ventura & Santa Barbara chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors will hold a 2 day introductory workshop on antique clocks on September 26 & 27, at the Dudley House Museum at 197 N. Ashwood. Hours are from 8:30 am to 4:00pm each day. The workshop is open to the public and no prior experience is required. Class size will be limited to 10 students.

Topics to be covered include a brief history of the American clock industry, tips on clock collecting and care and theory of how clocks work.  Each student will disassemble and reassemble a clock movement. All tools and the clock movements will be supplied.

There is a charge of $100 for the workshop.For registration or information contact Mike Schmidt  988-1764 or [email protected]

Events by Ana Baker

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club meets every Monday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill. Ballroom, swing, Latin, mixers and line dancing. Members $9, non-members $11, first time dancers are free. Call 407-9971 for more information.
Free admission stage show, 2p.m. to 4p.m. First Sunday of every month.  Old Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. Poinsettia Pavilion. For more Information call 517-1131.

DBSA Ventura, the local chapter of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) hosts two regular, confidential, peer-led, self-help support groups. The evening meeting takes place every Tuesday from 6:30p.m. to 8p.m. Hope for recovery at Bible Fellowship Church,6950 Ralston Street in Room 301 of Building 300. Attendees should enter the parking lot off Johnson Drive. Email [email protected], visit facebook.com/DBSA.Ventura or call 253-3289 for more information.
The daytime meeting is from 1p.m. to 3p.m. at the New Visions Center 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.

May 14: Population changes of seal and sea lion species at the Channel Islands, including the recent high abandonment rate of California sea lion pups, will be discussed by marine biologist Dr. Brent Stewart during the From Shore to Sea lecture. Stewart is a Senior Research Scientist at Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute. At 7p.m. on the second Thursday of May, September, October, and November at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Dr. The programs are free and open to the public.

May 16: Families and children invited to free Kids Swap Meet, at Barranca Vista Park 7050 Ralston St. Shop for gently used games, toys, clothes, bikes and books at the City of Ventura’s annual Kids Swap Meet. Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The swap meet “for kids by kids” up to 18 years of age encourages them to clean out their closets or garages of items to sell or trade. Some children, service and church groups have used their booths to raise money for camps, mission trips and charity causes such as breast cancer, MS or disaster victims.

May 16: A crowd will join hands forming a line across the beach in a local “Hands Across the Sand” gathering. This is one of hundreds of synchronized events globally to raise awareness about the dangers of dirty fuels and the need to speed the transition to available, affordable clean energy solutions.  Citizens from Ventura County will be joined by Surfrider Foundation and Ventura County Climate Hub at noon on Saturday, at Surfers Point Park.

May 16: Ventura County Genealogical Society Monthly Program
Saturday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Ventura County Public Health Center, 3147 Loma Vista Rd.
The speaker will be Eric Seiss. Topics “Follow the Path to the Old Country with Emigration Records and the GPS (Genealogical Proof Standard)”

May 17:  “A History of A People: The LGBTQ Movement” at noon. This program will feature Michael Oliveira, archivist at ONE Gay & Lesbian Archives at USC on the history of the LGBTQ movement in the U.S., the role of the Archives, and preserving personal papers and photographs for research and future generations. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston St. For more information, call 665-3323 or [email protected]. Presented by Interweave LGBTQ & Friends of Ventura UU Church.

May 17: The Jimmy McConnell 18 Piece Big Band is the feature band at the Channel Cities Jazz Club.  Bring your dancing shoes, your friends and be a part of the wonderful world of swing. Dancing starts at 1 p.m. to 4:30p.m. Sunday at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club2600 South Harbor Blvd. Oxnard. The Jazz club audience consists of all classes and ages from mature jazz fans to students, who are discovering this vital American roots music for the first time. Members $7 and General Public $10.  All meetings and events are open to the public

May 18: Channel Islands Parliamentarians will feature a lesson, “Let Me Interrupt,” presented by Sharon Hillbrant.  The meeting is held at 7p.m. at the Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 E. Main.  Those wishing to order food should arrive at 6p.m. Non-members are welcome.  Membership is $25 per year. For information call 390-4518.

May 19: Ventura Retired Men’s Group will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ventura Elks Lodge, 2126 Knoll Drive.  Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Steve Treanor, retired Southern California Division Chief of the Calif. State Park System, will tell about the CA State Parks and the Ronald Reagan Ranch. For more information on the Group & future events, visit http://www.VenturaRetiredMen.org/fp.html or call Gene Wink at 647-2513.

May 21: Mark your calendars for the Mayor’s reception with readings by the winners of the 2015 Art Tales contest. Reception and poetry readings will be held at the E.P. Foster Library second floor at 5:30 p.m. A record 104 poets and writers entered the contest.  Details will follow when winners are announced here in the next week to ten days. Winners also have the opportunity to participate in the Library’s Thursday night poetry series.

May 21: Circus Vargas, America’s favorite traveling Big Top circus continues to thrill and enchant children of all ages with their new and amazing 2015 edition, Arlequin.  Steeped in tradition and devoted to all things magnificent and happy, Circus Vargas presents an array of unparalleled artists and performers dedicated to captivate and astound you. A world of wonder and awe await you under the big top at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 21 thru 25.

May 24: The Ventura Tennis Club, in cooperation with the Ventura Recreation and Community Services, is hosting its bi-annual Ventura Tennis Day on Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Camino Real Tennis Park.
The event will include clinics for adults and kids from 10:30 to 12:00 p.m. with tennis pro Scott Burton and other staff. Then there will be racquet demos. After the clinics, there will be a barbecue lunch at noon followed by organized doubles play.
The Ventura Tennis Club is a non-profit community based club bringing tennis enthusiasts of all abilities together for social and competitive play.
Information: http://www.venturatennisclub.com

Footworks Youth Ballet is proud to announce a unique production of the classic fairy tale Snow White with performances on May 30 and 31 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Snow White is not known as a traditional classical ballet but is often choreographed in the classical ballet tradition.

Artistic director and choreographer Kirsten Oakley from Oakley Ballet Center (the studio associated with Footworks Youth Ballet) has hand-selected classical music to accompany her original choreography to tell this enduring tale of good overcoming evil.

After spending hours researching and listening to different classical music, Oakley primarily landed upon the Russian composer Alexander Glazunov, a leading composer in the generation after Tchaikovsky (composer of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty). A Romanticist at heart, Glazunov’s music, puzzle-fit together by Oakley, became the inspiration for the characters to develop within the story of Snow White. By hand-selecting the music, Oakley could also create choreography to showcase her young dancers, their personalities and their individual abilities. Snow White is performed by Ariana Castillo (Saturday) and Katelyn Sanchez (Sunday), Mikaela Roth performs the Evil Queen, and the three mirrors—Envy, Vanity and Pride—are performed by Evelyn Augros/Katelyn Sanchez, Ariana Castillo/Grace Story and Maya Holbrook. Snow White’s sweet friend, the Bluebird, is performed by Tessa Gallagher and the lead Deer is performed by Grace Story/Evelyn Augros.

The remaining cast of 65 dancers, ranging in age from 6-18 years of age, represent the woodland animals that Snow White encounters and the ever-endearing Seven Dwarfs.

Aside from the usual humor that Oakley injects into her ballets, an aspect of particular interest is the drama of the Queen who, in Oakley’s interpretation, is plagued by her character flaws of Envy, Vanity and Pride. She tries to rid herself of these evil traits, but when she goes to the Mirror, they always rise up and take control of her.

True to their mission to provide educational opportunities to young people through the art of ballet, Footworks Youth Ballet employs classical ballet as a teaching tool for their students. Each year they perform two full-scale productions.

Footworks Youth Ballet also continues to reach to the community through Outreach Performance, providing access to school children who might otherwise not be able to attend. The Snow White Outreach Event is sold out and will reach over 3,000 students on May 29th at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

Family Educational Hour is held one hour prior to each show. Learn about this unique production, the costumes, ballet history and the original score of this enchanting forest fantasy.

Snow White , Saturday May 30th and Sunday May 31st  2 p.m.

Tickets at http://www.footworksyouthballet.org or  486-2424.

Circus Vargas, America’s favorite traveling Big Top circus continues to thrill and enchant children of all ages with their new and amazing 2015 edition, Arlequin! Steeped in tradition and devoted to all things magnificent and happy, Circus Vargas presents an array of unparalleled artists and performers!

An amazing experience, built on tradition with vision and innovation, to create new and treasured memories for generations to come!

A world of wonder and awe await you under the big top at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 21-25!

On May 17th, dozens of volunteers will fan out across Ventura to harvest fresh surplus fruit from backyard fruit trees in the first annual Citrus Sunday, sponsored by Food Forward.  All of the harvest will be donated to local food pantries feeding our neighbors in need. Volunteers can either register for a pick organized by Food Forward or harvest their own trees in a Do It Yourself (DIY) pick using boxes and equipment provided by Food Forward.  After the event, Food Forward will host a picnic at their office at 77 N. California St. (Across from city hall)

“We are seeking fruit trees to harvest, and volunteers to participate,” said Jim Mangis, Food Forward’s Ventura County Branch Manager. “This will be a great day of food rescue, fellowship, and sharing. Citrus, kumquats, vegetables, are all perfect foods for our program. “

Volunteers, and fruit donors can sign up at foodforward.org or by calling 630-2728.   DIY(Do it Yourself) Pick participants can pick up boxes to fill with fruit prior to the event and then drop off once they have collected fruit. For more information, and pick up and drop off locations contact [email protected].

Food Forward is a non-profit organization that organizes volunteers to harvest fresh, local produce that would otherwise go to waste, connecting this abundance with people in need. 3,600 volunteers have harvested over 9,000,000 pounds of fruit since 2009.