As you walk the meadows, mountains and valleys of Southern California, do you find yourself wishing you knew more about the elusive mushrooms you encounter? Turn your wishing into learning on Saturday, February 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. when Herb Walks with Lanny Kaufer hosts a workshop in Ojai with acclaimed forager/chef Jess Starwood, author of Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager’s Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using More Than 25 Wild Fungi!.

Starwood will join Kaufer, author of Medicinal Herbs of California: A Field Guide to Common Healing Plants, at a diverse Ojai habitat that is home to several species of fungi and native plants. Of course, they can’t guarantee which mushrooms they’ll find as that is unpredictable, dependent on rainfall, weather, and other factors. In any case, Starwood will bring dried samples from her pantry to fill in the gaps.

The workshop will start out at 9 a.m. at the Ojai Meadows Preserve for some plant ID and mushroom foraging. At 12 noon the group will move indoors to Fisher Hall at St. Andrews Episcopal Church for a wild food lunch demonstration, followed by more learning in the afternoon. At 3 pm. Kaufer’s mobile bookshop will be open for purchasing either title and many more. The authors will sign their respective books.

This will be Starwood’s only Ojai workshop during mushroom season this year. All three of her 2022 mushroom workshops sold out so those interested are encouraged to act soon if they want to be able to participate in this very special event.

The cost for the workshop, including all materials, is $145. Registration and more information can be found at HerbWalks.com or by calling 805-646-6281. This workshop will go on rain or shine with a change of morning venue in case of a heavy downpour.

In preparation for the upcoming H20 Show at the Ojai Art Center, 24 Pastel Society of the Gold Coast (PSGC) members have been busy creating works of art in various mediums – all in the name of environmental love.

Although this group of artists is generally known for creating beautiful pastel paintings – they are also extremely talented in various mediums and this particular show will showcase their broad range of talent.

Not only are these artists doing this in the name of art, but they want to build awareness as well, through their art, of our most precious resource: water. And in so doing, they will also be raising funds to support the tireless efforts of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC).

The H20 Show opening will be held Saturday, March 4th, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center. Everyone is invited to come meet the artists and bid on some beautiful pieces to support the environment as well as the arts! If you can’t make the reception, H20 will be on display from March 4th through March 29th. The Ojai Art Center is located at 113 So. Montgomery Street in downtown Ojai.

Events by Ana Baker

Do you want a Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we

will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

Livingston is pleased to announce a new free 10-week grief support group program for our LGBTQ+ community. The group will meet every Tuesday from February 7th through April 11th. The group will meet in person at our Camarillo Grief Center. Space is limited. All support groups are free for the community. Please get in touch with Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program for reservations at 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Visit www.LMVNA.org for more information.

Feb. 7, 21: Please join the Ventura Senior Men’s Group (VSMG) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. Be 55+ and not gainfully employed. All topics except religion or politics are on the table. Our meeting agenda is 11:30-12 p.m. Social-12-12:45 p.m. lunch. Food Affair by Stacy. $25 but free to first-time visitors. 12:45-1 p.m. Business meeting, 1-1:30 p.m. Speaker (local organizations and information). February 7 topic is capitalizing on the real estate market in Ventura County. February 21 topic is the many features of Ventura, including fun places to visit, sights to see, special events, and great places to eat. Need transportation? Call Lyle Hotzler 805-341-9820

Feb.11: Plant & Collectibles Sale at the Dudley House Museum on Saturday, 8 – 2 p.m. Bromeliads, orchids, and succulents will be on sale along with various collectibles. Vendors, please call Charlie at 805-746-4317 for details. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets at 197 N. Ashwood.

Feb. 12: Olivas Adobe Sunday, 11- 3 p.m. Quilts from the mid-1900s, 1940s, 1960, and a modern quilt will be on display through the end of February. History is made and preserved with each layer and stitch. Olivas Adobe Historic Park is open to the public Sundays 11 – 3 pm, free.

Small Adobe exhibit: The Olivas Adobe in focus, a look at the historic site through the lens of the Thousand Oaks Photo Group. Docent lead tours are offered for a small fee. The gift shop is open, as well as the small adobe with art and gifts for sale.

4200 Olivas Park Drive  www.cityofventura.ca.gov/olivasadobe.

Feb.14: Ventura Audubon Society’s February Program “Sea to Summit: The Marvelous Hummingbird” will be held via Zoom at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.  Join us from Alaska to the high Andes of South America for the historical magic of hummingbirds!  Speaker Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand, BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus), in coastal Alaska, Central America, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Ecuadorian Amazon.  Pleasthrought https://www.venturaaudubon.org/monthly-speakers for more information and the Zoom Link

February 14: The San Buenaventura Women’s club is meeting on Tuesday, at the Poinsettia Pavilion for lunch ($20 – Noon) , program and business meeting. Guests welcome. Reservations required. (805) 320-2702. Special program is Mer by the Seaside Chinese dance troupe.

Feb. 18: The Ventura County Genealogical Society presents Free Family History Program

online with Zoom. Saturday, 1- 4 p.m. Presenter: Cyndi Ingle, Tracking Your Digital Breadcrumbs: bookmarks, toolbars, notes, and other applications. Cyndi Ingle, a genealogist for more than 42 years, is the creator and innovator behind the award-winning and globally recognized. All our monthly lectures and workshops are free to our members and the public. Non-members should request a Zoom invitation at

https://venturacogensoc.org/request-invitation-to-lecture/. CyndisList.com.

February 19: 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 11:00. There will be a mart where items will be for sale followed by lunch. An informational meeting and a presentation on a topic on clocks or watches will start at 1:00 pm. Anyone interested in watches and clocks, (modern & antique) is invited to visit and join our chapter. Bring a watch or clock for a free evaluation.

Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Ventura College location. More information about chapter 190 can be found at www.nawcc-ch190.com.

Feb. 25: Local Ventura County author Olaf Engvig will visit the E.P. Foster Library at 2 p.m. on Saturday to deliver a talk on his book The Ships That Built the West: The Scandinavian Navy, WAPAMA, and VÆRDALEN. These events are free and open to the public. This informal and fun lecture focuses on material from Engvig’s latest book. Mr. Engvig will sign and sell his book at a discount after his presentation. Contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The E.P. Foster Library is located at 651 East Main Street. Service hours are 10 – 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 – 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday.

February 25: The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA) will be conducting an in-person boater safety class on Saturday February 25, 2023, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The class is taught by Auxiliary instructors experienced in recreational boating. Location is the Coast Guard Auxiliary Training Room 4202 S. Victoria Ave in Oxnard.The course, Boat America, is a boating certificate class that offers an introductory and interesting boating safety course.

Mar. 4, 5: The Ventura Gem Show: 60th Annual Gem, Mineral, Jewelry Arts & Fossil Show

Saturday the 4^th, 10 – 5 p.m. Sunday the 5^th, 10 – 4 p.m. Fifty gems, minerals, fossils, lapidary & jewelry arts exhibits. Proceeds support a $1000 scholarship to a local college student & also support our free educational outreach efforts for schools, teachers, homeschoolers & youth groups. We are located at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Admission: Free (note, however, the Fairgrounds charge a parking fee).

Website: www.vgms.org

Offering neighbors, collectors and the curious a rare opportunity to experience world-class artwork in the spaces where it’s made. Studios across the Ojai Valley will open to the public in neighborhood-specific tours on the second Saturday of every month from February through August.

Painters, sculptors, potters, weavers, printmakers, glass artists, jewelers and apparel makers are participating in the Ojai Studio Artists (OSA) Second Saturday program, kicking off on February 11 with eleven artists in and around the Oakview area opening their doors.

Unlike the October tour, a three-day extravaganza in which more than 70 OSA artists open their doors, Second Saturdays offer a more casual and intimate opportunity to see Ojai artists at work. Crowds are smaller and artists are more available to meet and talk.

“Second Saturdays are the best-kept secret of the local arts scene,” says Linda Taylor, OSA’s president. “There’s no way to see everything in the October tour – there’s just too much ground to cover. By breaking up the artists into smaller neighborhoods, Second Saturdays gives you a chance to take your time and really appreciate the incredible array of artwork being made here.”

The February Oakview lineup includes landscape painter Shahastra Levy, painter of fantastical dreamscapes of the Ojai valley, Carlos Grasso, maker of gorgeous mystical abstractions and famed fashion printmaker Leslie Plimpton.

The March event features 14 artists from the East Side of the Valley, followed in April by a Downtown group, the Arbolada in May, Mira Monte in June, the West End in July and Meiners Oaks in August. Check the OSA website for a full list of participating artists.

Ojai Studio Artists supports community education that promotes art awareness, preparing the next generation of artists, and celebrating the importance of the arts within the region. To date, OSA has given more than $200,000 in art scholarships. It also purchases art books for local libraries, partners with schools in teaching classes and mentoring students, and supports public art projects and other community programs.

For more information and a full list of artists, see the OSA website: www.ojaistudioartists.org.

On Sunday evening, February 5, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Ojai author and naturalist Lanny Kaufer will lead a Full Moon Sunset Nature Hike to vista point above the Ojai Valley where his group can watch the near-simultaneous sunset and moonrise.

Kaufer’s group will meet at the trailhead at 3:45 p.m. for a 4:00 p.m. start, then gradually hike about 1.5 miles to the viewing site, experiencing some elevation gain on a well-worn, dirt fire road with uneven footing in places. Along the way they’ll stop to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants, including Black and Purple Sage, Blue Elderberry, Coastal Sagebrush, Horehound, and Toyon. They will also identify Poison Oak.

After witnessing the sunset and moonrise, they’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead by 7:00 p.m. Kaufer will have copies of his book, Medicinal Herbs of California,for sale and signing before and after the hike.

Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or chance of thunderstorms will cancel the hike. No dogs or smoking, please.

The cost for the hike is $35/person. Senior, student and child discounts are available by request. Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email a few days prior to the event with all necessary info, including what to bring, weather forecast, and directions to the trailhead. Afterwards, they will receive a follow-up email with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. Register now at HerbWalks.com or by calling 805-646-6281.

Actress Cynthia Killion hosted the Ojai Art Center Theater’s 2023 Season Preview on Sunday, January 8. Always one of the highlights of the Art Center Theater, this “annual” taste of the season event returned for the first time since 2020.

Killion, Managing Director of Flying H Group Theater Company, and a longtime actress and Improv performer, stars as Becky in the OACT season opener, Becky’s New Car.

After an 18-month investigation into more than 100 cases of sexual abuse at the Thacher School Ventura County law enforcement officials announced that none would proceed to court.

Thacher School trustees started the investigation in June, 2021, when they released an independent, 91-page report on the boarding school’s handling of sexual abuse.

Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies and prosecutors from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office studied the report and other records submitted by the school.

Local Ojai author Cynthia Louise Grier will visit the Ojai Library at 1pm on Saturday, January 28, 2023, to deliver a talk titled “Magic or Medicine? Grimoires and Healing Amulets in The Muse of Freedom: a Cevenoles Sagas Novel.” Grier, who writes under the nom de plume Jules Larimore, will share a bit of history and examples of these healing devices often thought to be magic.

Set in late Renaissance France, 1695-97, The Muse of Freedom: a Cevenoles Sagas Novel tells a story of a young nobleman training as an apothecary as he unravels his Huguenot family’s legacy of secrets and embarks on an odyssey in search of his spiritual identity and the meaning of love. In the Gorges du Tarn, he meets a mystic holy-woman who reveals ancient healing mysteries and inspires his quest for freedom. But persecutions by Louis XIV’s dragoons force him to make a fateful decision—recreant, rebel, or refugee.

Jules lives primarily in Ojai, with time spent around the U.S. and in various countries in Europe gathering more treasures in a continued search for authenticity. For more information, visit www.juleslarimore.com.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.

The Ojai Art Center is planning an exciting art exhibit for the month of February and looking for artists to participate. The theme of the show is “Anything Goes” and means just that.

“Anything Goes” is an open show with no central theme. “The gallery committee wanted to offer artists an opportunity to work without the restrictions of a theme, to paint or sculpt whatever they like,” said gallery chair, Bonnie Riege.

Artists should bring two and three-dimensional pieces to the Art Center on Friday, February 2, 10 a.m., to 1 p.m. Work must be framed or have finished gallery edges and be carefully wired for hanging. No wet paint. All work must be available for purchase. There will be a size limit of 48” wide. Three-dimensional work is welcome. There is an entry fee of $15 each or $40 for 3 pieces. A prospectus is available at ojaiartcenter.org (under art branch) or at the Art Center which is located at 113 N. Montgomery Street in downtown Ojai.

For more information, please contact: Teri Mettala

[email protected] 805 646-0117

Events by Ana Baker

Grief support during the holidays

It’s that time of year when the expectations we place on ourselves can be unrealistic, especially when faced with the absence of a loved one. Livingston Memorial’s Grief and Bereavement Program can offer compassion and understanding during this difficult time of year. Livingston offers multiple support groups that focus on restorative activities, seeking meaning and purpose, identifying changes to self, and receiving support in making life good again. All support groups are free for the community. Visit www.LMVNA.org for more information.

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are always welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820 or Rick Follenweider at 650-520-1098 can supply details.

Do you want a Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30. All levels of play, and we guarantee a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are

available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or

[email protected]. All Welcome.

Jan. 7: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will conduct our monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic.

There is no charge, and all are welcome. Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice, we want to help you improve your casting and learn to enjoy this great sport. If you still need a fly rod, don’t worry; just come and use one of ours. Please join us at Chumash Park, Petit, and Waco, 9 – 11 a.m., in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd. For more information: Casting Program Coordinator Thomas Hall (805) 377-5249

www.sespeflyfishers.org

Jan. 8: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.

Sunday 2 – 4 p.m. Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Rd. Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free parking. Open to the Public. For more information, call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA.

Jan. 17: At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, program staff from Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) will join the Ventura County Library to lead a Financial Education Webinar titled “How to Navigate your Budget with Confidence and Purpose.” This program will take place virtually via Zoom. Are you ready to navigate your financial mindset and its role in your finances? Join us during this 75-minute workshop to identify your financial priorities so you can manage your numbers and budget with confidence and purpose. This session will be facilitated by Irene Kelly, WEV’s Financial Education, and Community Engagement Manager. A Spanish-language version of this program will take place on Wednesday, January 18, from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. To register for this event, visit bit.ly/VCLWEV17. Contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected]. Instructions for registering for this event on Zoom can also be found on our online calendar at www.vencolibrary.org/library-events.

Historian and writer Vincent Burns and professor of journalism Stephen Bates will visit the Ojai Library at 1pm on Saturday, January 14, 2023, to speak about their book Rincon Point in a presentation titled “A History of Rincon Point in Photographs.”

Rincon Point is renowned as the Queen of the Coast, one of the premier surfing spots in the world, but that is only a fragment of its rich history. Before the arrival of Europeans, it was a Chumash village called Shuku. Banditos, nudists, movie stars, long-boarders—they have all shaped Rincon Point, a place immortalized by novelists, poets, painters, photographers, and the Beach Boys.

Vincent Burns has deep roots in the area. He helped build his grandmother’s house on Rincon Point and writes regularly on surf history. An historian, he had a 30-year career in publishing, bringing tens of thousands of books into print. He has a PhD in History from the University of Wisconsin.

Stephen Bates is a professor of journalism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the author of five books, most recently Rincon Point. His family owned the Rincon del Mar Ranch in Carpinteria for more than a century.

The book features unique photographs from the Bateses and other early settlers, pioneer surfers of the 1950s and 1960s, the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, and elsewhere. This presentation will include a slide show of historical photos, particular information on the surfing history of Rincon Point, and tips on how (and how not) to write a local history book!

Rincon Point is available for purchase through Amazon and at www.arcadiapublishing.com/.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday each month. Men of all descriptions are always welcomed to stop in to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820 or Rick Follenweider at 650-520-1098 can supply details.

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL sanctioned duplicate bridge games  every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. at 12:30. All levels of play and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

Free tutoring for adults (18 and over) wanting to learn or improve their English and learn American culture. One-to-one tutoring is arranged by the tutor and adult learner. Next tutor training in early 2023.

We have tutors available in Ventura County. Locations can be in public libraries, coffee shops, churches, outdoors, or any place convenient to the tutor and adult learner.

Tutoring is usually 60 to 90 minutes per week.

Laubach Literacy of Ventura County has been teaching English for free for over 40 years in Ventura County.

Free-For more information contact Laubach Literacy of Ventura County (805) 385-9584 Please leave a message and we will call you back. Website: [email protected].

Dec.17: The Rotary Club of Ventura is co-hosting a free Holiday Event for Ventura West End Families on Saturday, at Arise Ventura, 831 N. Olive St. Families who live in the Ventura Avenue neighborhood are welcome to participate from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., or from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The event served 300 kids last year and expects about 500 this year. Kids will receive a jacket, a toy, a pair of earrings for mom, a box of food for the family, a Chick-Fil-A breakfast entree gift card, and a photo opportunity with Santa and his Elf. Some new Van shoes for teens will be given out in limited sizes. Hosting the event are Arise Ventura, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura, Chick-fil-A, Coats for Kids, Foodshare. Rotary Club of Ventura. and a generous donation of coats from SoCalGas.

Dec. 18, at 7pm Namba Performing Arts Space and Burch Studio will present Rock and Roll High a showcase for middle school/high school kids. Since 2004, Rock and Roll High has been southern California’s premier teen band program. Students have gone on to perform at Coachella, Jimmy Kimmel, and many successful bands in the music industry. The founder of Rock and Roll High, Aaron Burch opened Burch Studio in Ventura where he teaches the course today.

Presented at Namba Performing Arts Space 47 S. Oak Street, Ventura.

Tickets: Tickets for this show are $10-$20 and may be purchased at the Namba Arts website www.nambaarts.com