Special Events for Adults
Saturday September 12th – Local Author Event – Focus on Fiction & Focus on Nonfiction 2-4pm Topping Room
Wednesday September 23rd – Collage Workshop 6 pm in the Topping Room

Ongoing Events
Children & Teens
Early Literacy Class – Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10:30 to 11:30
PAWS for Reading (kids read to dogs) – Saturdays at noon
Lego Lab- September 1st, 15th, & 29th at 3 pm
Library LAB Open Workshop – Wednesdays 4:30-6:30 pm
Homework Center for kids and teens – Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-5 pm
Youth Chess Club – Mondays 3-5
TAG (Teen Advisory Group) — 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 4-5 pm

Adults
Library LAB Open Workshop – Wednesdays 4:30-6:30 pm
Poetry Open Mic Night – Thursdays at 7:30 in the Topping Room
Ukulele Jam Session- 2nd and 4th Monday at 7 pm in the Topping Room

Events by Ana Baker

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.5: On Saturday, at 11a.m., international gospel recording artist Michael Harris will be in concert at the Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church featuring Songs and Testimony from the Heart.  No charge for admission.  Address is 6300 Telephone Road.  For more information, call Polly at 642-5387.

Sept. 5: The Ventura Tennis Club, in cooperation with the Ventura Recreation and Community Services, is hosting a Community Tennis Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at the Camino Real Tennis Park. Events will include clinics for adults and kids from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with

Tennis pro Scott Burton and other staff. Then there will be racquet demos. After the clinics, there will be a barbecue lunch for members and their guests 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. www.venturatennisclub.com

Sept. 8 & 23: 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. Tuesday, Sept. 8 – A Perfectly Paleo Day-Pumpkin Pancakes with Italian Breakfast Sausage

Arugula with Wild Salmon and much more.

Wednesday, Sept.23 – Gleefully Gluten Free-Parmesan Walnut Red Hummus-Caraway Pork & Potato Braise and much more. 6:30pm – 8:30pm 576 E. Main St. 628.3267 spice-topia.com.

Sept. 8: The program of the Ventura Audubon Society features Frank De Martino presenting a very interactive, entertaining and educational program on “Being a Better Bird”.  This is aimed at helping everyone from novice backyard birdwatchers to expert county listers.  Frank will address such classic Ventura County issues as Laguna Fever, Private Property, commonly misidentified species, reporting sensitive birds, participating in bird counts, how to not get run over while birding the tams, and more.  The meeting starts at 7:30 pm at the Poinsettia Pavilion.

Sept. 8: Los Angeles author Nancy Cole Silverman will speak to the Ventura County Writers Club at 7p.m. in Camarillo at the Pleasant Valley Senior Center located at 1605 Burnley Street. The public is invited to attend free-of-charge.

Sept. 10: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a critique meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. A professional photographer from the area will critique members’ prints and digital images. Each month a special topic is chosen which features some interesting aspect of photography. September will feature the topic “Action”. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. See the club’s web site for more information about the club and examples of member’s work or call 908-5663. WWW.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com

Sept.11: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution September luncheon meeting will feature their annual awards program to honor members of the chapter.  The luncheon will take place at 11:30 AM, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant.  All SAR & DAR Compatriots, friends,  and visitors are welcome to join.  The cost for lunch is $20 per person, and includes a slice of Marie Callender’s pie.  For additional information call Bill Bays  650-3036 or Robert Taylor 216-7992.  For information regarding SAR membership and chapter activities,  http://pattonpatriots.org .

Sept. 11: 13th Annual Firefighters & Heroes Gala to honor Ventura County’s outstanding firefighters and civilian heroes. At the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach 450 E. Harbor Blvd. on Friday from 6:30p.m. to 11 p.m. Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Ventura, this public event recognizes the heroic achievements and ceaseless dedication of our fire services men and women and local civilian heroes.  Tickets are $40 for dinner, awards, and dancing, with music generously provided by DJ Bruce Barrios.  Tickets at venturakiwanis.com.

Sept. 12: Ventura Audubon Society: Saturday,  8:30 a.m.  Emma Wood State Beach/Ventura River Estuary.  Leaders: David Wappler and David Torfeh  794-5334.

We will begin at Emma Wood State Beach,  target Snowy and Semipalmated Plovers and Caspian Terns. Ventura River Estuary. The estuary is always an exciting place to bird, and target birds will include:  Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Whimbrel, Black Turnstone, Red-necked Phalarope and Forster’s Tern. There will be a fair amount of walking, so please dress appropriately in layers and comfortable shoes.

Sept. 12: The Bookkeepers Association of Ventura County will present a seminar from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, at the Ventura Adult Education Center, 5200 Valentine Road.  This seminar will cover Tips and Tricks for Quickbooks and Excel, Construction Accounting in Quickbooks and an HR presentation.   The seminar costs $65 for members and $80 for non-members.  A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.  Visit website, bavc-online.org for details and a sign-up sheet, or call Donna Gordon at 218-1425.

Sept. 12: “Amazon”, given by Rae Lee and Justin, will be the 11 a.m. program for the Ventura Beginners PC Users Group on Saturday. The 9:15 a.m. workshop continues understanding Word’s ribbon commands, followed by Q&A for those with computer questions. Meetings are held at Cypress Place, 1220 Cypress Place. It is open to all beginning and intermediate PC users. Call 648-1368 for further information.

Sept.13,14 & 15:  The Chabad Jewish Community Center of Ventura will be hosting High Holiday Services for both Rosh Hashanah, Sep 13,14 and 15 and Yom Kippur, Sep 22 and 23 at the Pierpont Inn, 550 Sanjon Rd. Chabad and the Pierpont Inn are also offering a full Holiday “Retreat”   in conjunction with the services. You can join Chabad for sumptuous and spirited holiday meals on both nights of Rosh Hashanah, Sep 13 & 14 following services and you can take up lodging at the hotel for the nights of Rosh Hashanah and/or Yom Kippur at specially discounted rates. Participating in the Chabad Retreat will add a whole new dimension and flavor to your holiday experience.

The cost for each dinner is $45 for adults and $30 for children (under Bar/Bat Mitzvah). Menu options include Moroccan Lamb Tagine on the first night and Traditional Brisket Dinner on the 2nd night.

Dinner and High Holiday Seat Reservations can be made online at www.ChabaVentura.com.

Sept. 21: Channel Islands Parliamentarians will feature a lesson, “Which One Do We Use? A Lesson on Committee of the Whole and its Variations,” presented by Sandra Sanders.  The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 E. Main Street.  Those wishing to order food should arrive at 6p.m. Non-members are welcome.  Membership is $25 per year.  Peggy O’Brien Brown, RP at 390-4518.

Sept. 25: Ventura County Bird Club is having its annual live and silent auction, fundraiser.  Free Admission and open to the public. The auction will consist of jewelry, art, sports and bicycle equipment, in addition to coffee, tea, spa, beauty, gardening and many other gift baskets.  The Auction will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Ventura Moose Lodge #1394, 10267 Telephone Rd.  For further information call  VCBC Treasurer Sue Rockholt 488-6244.

Interested in lowering your carbon footprint and making your home healthier? Visit emPower Ventura County at the 24th Annual Ventura Home and Garden Fall Show September 18th – 20^th at the fairgrounds. emPower staff will be offering advice on how you can improve the efficiency, comfort and indoor air quality of your home, while saving money 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 at your whole’s home energy performance. You will also learn how to take advantage of utility incentives up to $6,500 and low-interest, unsecured financing that starts at 5.9%.

Date: September 18 – 20

Time: Friday: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday:    10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Seaside Park, 100 W. Harbor Blvd.

Cost: $5, Get a free ticket courtesy of emPower by emailing [email protected]

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

Copenhagen is a Tony Award-winning drama written by Michael Frayn. This poetic and powerful play centers around a mysterious historical meeting in 1941 in Denmark between German physicist Werner Heisenberg and his mentor Niels Bohr. The play explores questions of moral responsibility in the face of discovery, and examines how those questions created explosive consequences for those on the forefront of a new scientific frontier during World War II. The play is helmed by internationally acclaimed director Judy Hegarty Lovett and stars stage and screen veterans Linda Purl, Brett Rickaby and Peter Van Norden.

Previews: Wednesday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m. ($25), Thursday, September 3 at 8:00 p.m. and Friday, September 4 at 8:00 p.m. ($30)
Press Nights: Friday, September 11 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m., Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Closes: Sunday, September 27

Regular performance times and prices:
Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ($44) and 7 p.m. ($49) (Talkbacks following Wednesday evening shows except during previews)
Thursdays at 8 p.m. ($44)
Fridays at 8 p.m. ($44) (Preshow presentations on Quantum mechanics at 7:00 p.m.)
Saturdays at 2 p.m. ($54) and 8 p.m. ($54)
Sundays at 2 p.m. ($54)

By Kat Merrick

What better way to learn about local food than to experience it firsthand? The Taste of Local is about bringing together farmers, chefs and community to celebrate our local harvest and the diversity of great food we have right here in Ventura County. It’s sure to be the epicurean event of the year.

Over 50 area chefs, wineries brewers, farmers and purveyors are expected to showcase their culinary expertise during the inaugural Taste of Local Event on Sept. 11 at Cal State Channel Islands.  The event will be in conjunction with the 2015 Ventura Ag Summit which will be held on Sept 11th . The Summit is hosted by Ventura County’s Ag Commissioners office. For more information go to http://www.venturacountyagsummit.com/taste-of-local-expo/

The theme of this year’s event is “We are Different”

Rich Soil, Mediterranean Climates, Innovative Farmers & Diverse Crops.

Ventura County Agriculture Helps to Feed our Community and the World.

Ventura County is known as one of the top agricultural producers in the world and that translates into one of the best cuisine scenes that Californian has to offer.  Locally grown, locally produced and locally owned are some of the key ingredients in this year’s Taste of Local event.

Guests will be able to meet and chat with chefs, farmers and purveyors as they taste and learn about the bounty that is Ventura County. To add to the ambiance they will be treated to the live music of The Dan Grimm Band & Twice Western Music Association Cowboy Poetry nominee, Andria Kidd ‘s Cowboy Poetry (other musicians to be announced) all while sipping local wines and brews.  Each guest will receive a “passport” providing information about participating farms and chefs and purveyors.

All this fun and it gives back. A percentage of the profits from the event will go to Treasure our Farms.

Treasure our Farms is an education campaign designed to engage and inform our local community about the value and beauty of Agriculture and Farming in Ventura County. Join us at http://treasureourfarms.com/

A limited number of tickets are available for the Taste of Local Event!

The Taste of Local will take place on Saturday, September 12 from 12:00 – 4:30p.m at Cal State Channel Islands.

Tickets are $65.00 and can be purchased at http://www.venturacountyagsummit.com/taste-of-local-expo/

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]