by Jill Forman

People still love books! (and bargains)
Book sale a big success

On Saturday morning the 6^th, before the sale even started, booklovers were pouring in the doors of the Foster Topping Room and checking out the children’s tables outside the library. Hundreds of folks came through, many with boxes and folding carts, looking for bargains. At $4 a bag ($3 for Friends members) there were definitely bargains to be had.

The Friends are fortunate to have Venturans donating literally tons of books; we sort through every one and categorize them. Every once in a while we need to clear out our warehouse, and have what we call a “Bag Sale.” Every genre is offered, at prices readers can’t resist. In fact, the workers always have a stack hidden somewhere for them to buy after we are finished working. You’d think we’d be sick of looking at them…nope!

Our goals for all sales are to raise funds for the library, to reach out to the community and inform the community of all the events and services the libraries have to offer, and to get books in the hands of people who will appreciate them. We made over $700 this sale, an amazing amount considering the pricing.

Thanks to Foster’s staff, Boy Scout Troop 155, and all our exhausted volunteers. A special shout-out to David Bayer, Clyde Hofflund and David Young; without their strong backs and trucks this sale would not have been possible.

Library Happenings

Here’s something I just found out about, one more service the library offers:

Mobile Career Center, Foster Library on Monday, November 29, 11am to 5 pm.
Staff can assist with resumes, applications, training, and more.

This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Event updates:

The irrepressible Ukulele Jam returns to the Topping Room.
Mondays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m

Virtual Open Mic Thursdays, 7:30 to 10:00 pm. Free and open to the public! Virtual Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9607501600
Meeting ID: 960 750 1600

Fall Reading Challenge:  

October 4 – December 17, 2021

Read books, earn activity badges, and win prizes! Kids and adults! Register at  https://vencolibrary.beanstack.org/reader365

December book discussion groups:

Foster: December 4, Crescendo by Allen Cheney. Topping Room, 10 a.m.

Hill Road: November 30, The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd. 5 p.m.

Teen Volunteers:

Opportunities for those 13-17 include in-person and virtual environments. Teens research and recommend books for library purchase, recommend websites for teens, and help develop Summer Reading Challenge, STEAM, and Makerspace activity ideas. To begin the application process, fill out an application at a branch or email [email protected].

Over the past several months, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Church of Scientology of Ventura have been busy cutting fabric, sewing seams and gluing decorations to make 170 holiday stockings that are given to families whose babies are born in the month of December at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

In 2015, the tradition nearly came to its demise. Hearing the possibility that the tradition would end, Jan King of the Women’s Auxiliary decided to keep the tradition alive. She immediately went into action and organized volunteers to make the stockings.

And seeing the need, each year, beginning in early July, Ms. King organizes her group of volunteer that come together to hand craft stockings for the project. “I didn’t want the hospital to lose something that is so positive,” said Ms. King. “It is such a great tradition and is something that needs to go on.”

The volunteers normally make and deliver 150 stockings to Cottage Hospital. But this year, 20 additional stockings were made for the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). NICU provides around-the-clock care to sick or premature babies.

The Women’s Auxiliary of the Church of Scientology of Ventura has been volunteering and working with community leaders and organizations for over 20 years.

“A community that pulls together can make a better society for all.” L. Ron Hubbard – Humanitarian, Philosopher and Founder of the Church of Scientology.

To celebrate OAKtober, ten new coastal oaks were recently planted at the Ventura Community Park (Kimball) to shade benches along the multi-purpose path.

The City of Ventura Urban Forestry staff collaborated with the Ventura Tree Alliance, Sierra Club and East Ventura Community Council. The Ventura Tree Alliance donated the trees, and many volunteers helped to plant, mulch and stake them.  

www.venturatreealliance.com 

by Carol Leish, MA

By being involved in theatre and art, to name two of her talents, Shirley Lorraine is definitely a woman of many talents! Through dancing, acting, and being artistic, too, Shirley displays her creativity.

Lorraine got started in theatre with the Plaza Players in Wagon Wheel Junction, here in Ventura County, in 1968, when she was still in high school. She graduated from Ventura High and Ventura College.

Through getting involved in the formation of several theater companies in Ventura County, Lorraine said that she was involved in all aspects of theatre. “This included being an actor, costumer, make-up artist, choreographer, a director and whatever else that was needed. I had a custom theatrical costuming business: ‘Show Clothes,’ for a number of years. Even though it was low paying, it was truly a labor of love.”

Shirley said, “As a dancer, I was a member of the Pure Joy, the Mackinnon Dance Academy performance group. I was an ‘unofficial’ mime for the City of Ventura’s First Sunday in the Park for many years.”

“With my late husband, Jim Spencer,” Shirley said, “we had a theater review column: “Two on the Aisle” for the ‘VC Reporter’ for over 12 years. We also instituted REP (Reporter Excellence in Performance) awards for county theaters. We wrote theater reviews (and more) for the ‘Ventura Breeze’ for about 10 years (solo for last 5, following Jim’s passing). Over a span of 30 years, the only actual stage performance we did together was ‘Love Letters’ for the Camarillo Theatre.”

“In regards to magic,” Shirley said, “I was encouraged by Jim to incorporate magic with the mime that I was already doing. This led to a solo stage performance and several awards. We formed Spencer/Lorraine Entertainment in 1988. We were also members of the Academy of Magical Arts (Magic Castle). I did Entertaining card and crystal readings as Lady Lorraine (not Tarot). Now, I only perform occasionally.”

Besides her acting background, Lorraine worked for the American Cancer Society, and a pediatrics office in Oxnard. She also enjoyed retail work for fine jewelry in Mervyn’s.

Shirley worked at the Tri-Counties Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled for 23 years, beginning there as a medical secretary. She retired as a Facilities and Purchasing Manager. She was instrumental in orchestrating numerous moves for six offices located from Simi to Atascadero.

Lorraine also worked as a teacher at the Santa Barbara Business College (SBBC), Ventura campus, for 11 years. “I was awarded the Teacher of the Year in 2011. I taught classes to students in the Medical Front Office program. These classes included: medical terminology; office procedures; billing and insurance; and more. Sadly, SBBC is now closed.”

Lorraine has been involved with several networking, arts, and community focused groups in Ventura County. She’s been involved with the San Buenaventura Women’s Club for 16 years, serving on the board for most of them, and is currently President-Elect. She’s also a Distinguished Toastmaster.

“Since I’m continuously learning,” Lorraine said, “I’m glad to be involved with Just4FunCreations-by making jewelry and framed art using vintage and broken jewelry. I write cowboy poetry, and won the Ventura County Fair cowboy poetry contest one year, and placed 2^nd another year. I have also performed at cowboy gatherings.”

Thus, the woman of many talents continues to be active and creative.

Karen Grassle, the actress best-known for playing Ma on Little House on the Prairie, has published her memoir Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss and Love from Little House’s Ma.

Karen grew up in Ventura from the first grade on, graduating from Ventura High School in the Class of 1959 before heading north to college at UC Berkeley. She got her start in acting in Ventura, starring in the senior play and studying with Barbara Brent and performing all over the county with the Barbara Brent Dancers. Her father Gene F. Grassle was the first president of the Ventura Realty Board and had an office on Main Street. He was the first person many people who moved there met!

On Saturday, November 20th at 4pm, she’ll be back on Main St., appearing at Timbre Books to talk about her new book and all things Little House on the Prairie. Fans can come to meet Karen, hear her talk about her life, and get her autograph in their own copy of her book. The store asks that attendees RSVP via email to [email protected].

In the memoir, there are surprising and never-before-told details of what really happened on the Little House on the Prairie set, but there’s so much more for anyone looking for an inspirational, true story of a woman determined to find meaning for her life. Bright Lights, Prairie Dust is a raw and authentic account of Grassle’s struggles with alcoholism, depression, and lack of self-worth as she journeyed from struggling theatre actress in London and New York to a world-recognized and adored television star.