January programming focuses on local talent. “Discover wonderful new local talent,

meet new artists and begin new friendships at Namba!” Tickets at NambaArts.com.

January 18, 8pm, “A Celebration of Joni Mitchell” features Kimberly Ford. This is a rocking tribute to the most iconic singer-songwriter of the Woodstock generation. Mitchell touched millions with her nearly 40-year career spanning genres from contemporary folk to jazz to full-throated pop-rock.

January 20, 7pm, “New Blood Comedy” Niki Marinis and Eric Crispin have been putting on great comedy open mics and shows in the 805 for years and now Local and SoCal comedians flock to New Blood Ventura bringing their wildly successful comedy to NAMBA.

January 25 & 26, 8pm, “A Mama Mia Sing-Along and Fundraiser” for the Unity Theatre Collective, a new production partner at Namba. Bring your friends and sing along to your favorite ABBA songs! Plus, there’s a ’70s Costume Contest so dress the part!

January 26, 11am-2pm, Namba keeps 2019 focused on local talent in partnership with Jodi Farrell for another “Performance Workshop”! But don’t let the title fool you, this is a Trial by Fire for Ventura’s finest new entertainers. Do they have what it takes to enchant an audience… namely you?

January 27, 4pm, If you hear the term ‘acoustic duo’ you imagine two people sitting on stools, lightly strumming guitars, singing about how life has treated them poorly, think again. Danika & the Jeb are dynamic, uplifting, and fun, while their music is a soulful combination of artfully written songs and powerful musical phrasing.

January 27, 7pm, “New Blood Comedy” Niki Marinis and Eric Crispin have been putting on great comedy open mics and shows in the 805 for years and now Local and SoCal comedians flock to New Blood Ventura bringing their wildly successful comedy to NAMBA.

Namba 47 So. Oak Street, Ventura. Visit www.NambaArts.com regularly for programming updates!

Avenue Library
Children & Family Events
Mini STEAM Fair
2/25 Wednesday @4-5
Visit the Ventura Region libraries during the last week of February for a Mini STEAM Fair. All ages!
Bilingual Early Literacy Class
2/4, 11, & 25 Mondays @ 5:30-6:30pm
Join us for storytelling, nursery rhymes, flannel board fun and more!

Adult Classes & Events
Laubach Literacy English Classes in the Meeting Room
2/4, 11, & 25 Mondays @ 10:30-11:30am
2/5, 12, 19, & 26 Tuesdays @ 9-10am & @ 10-11am
2/6, 13, 20, & 27 Wednesdays @ 11:30am -12:30pm
2/7, 14, 21, & 28 Thursdays @ 10–11am
Introductory English classes offered through Laubach Literacy at Avenue Library. Make an appointment today, call (805) 385-9584
E.P. Foster Library
A California Native Plant Society Lecture
2/19 Tuesday @ 7-9pm
Please join us for an interesting and enlightening lecture series presented by the California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter.
Vision of Warriors Documentary
2/9 Saturday@ 1pm
Join us for the showing of Visions of Warriors in the Topping Room.. “Veteran’s battle mental illness with a powerful new weapon——photography.”

Children’s Events
Early Literacy Class
2/5, 12, 19, & 26 Tuesdays &
2/6, 13, 20, & 27 Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!
Teen Happenings
Mini STEAM Fair
2/27 Wednesday @4-7
Visit the Ventura Region libraries during the last week of February for a Mini STEAM Fair. All ages!
Hill Road Library
Family & Children’s Ongoing Events
Early Literacy Class
2/6, 13, 20, & 27 Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!
Children’s Special Events
Discover Science
2/12 Tuesday @ 4pm
Join us for this monthly exploration of science concepts through hands-on experiments with Rachel Chang. Ages 8+
Mini-STEAM Fair
2/28 Thursday @ 4pm
Visit all four Ventura libraries (Avenue, Hill, Foster, and Saticoy) during the last week of February for a Mini-Maker Fair. All ages!

Adult Events
Author Talk with Kimberly Basso
2/24 Sunday @ 12pm
Award Winning Finalist for Humor, 2018 International Book Awards. “Panicking never helps.” Tuesday’s breakfast was interrupted by a stroke, and the only available help is the author’s second grader. Kimberly will walk (or rather shuffle) readers through her experience in an honest, hilarious look at the site of the world’s smallest zombie apocalypse – her brain.

Book Club: The Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
2/26 Tuesday @ 6pm
Join us for a lively discussion of our book for the month of February. All are welcome who have read the book!
Saticoy Library
Children & Family Events
Mini STEAM Fair
2/23 Wednesday @4-5
Visit the Ventura Region libraries during the last week of February for a Mini STEAM Fair! All ages!
Early Literacy Class
2/5, 12, 19, & 26 Tuesdays @ 10am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft & fun!
Adult Classes & Events
English Classes
2/4, 11, & 25 Mondays &
2/6, 13, 20, & 27 Wednesdays @ 3- 5pm
One on one instruction in English hosted by Laubach Literacy of Ventura County
Closures this Month
18th– Closed in observance of President’s Day

The City of Ventura invites residents of all ages to help design the new playground at Arroyo Verde Park. The park’s previous play structure was destroyed in the Thomas Fire, and the City plans to build a brand-new inclusive playground where children of all abilities can play. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 16, from 6-7 pm, in the Wright Event Center at Ventura College, 57 Day Road.

“Families love going to parks with innovative design features,” said Mayor Matt LaVere. “As a father of two young daughters, I am very excited about the new playground and an inclusive design that welcomes children of all abilities. I encourage both youth and adults to attend and share their ideas at the upcoming design meeting.”

Representatives from Pacific Coast Land Design and the City of Ventura will conduct the outreach meeting to collect input from the community on the design concepts for the project. The playground will incorporate various features and integrate play opportunities to create a space for all to play. A significant portion of the project will be funded publicly to help with the cost of play space surfacing and structures needed for inclusivity.

Arroyo Verde Park, located at Foothill and Day Roads, was closed for approximately 10-weeks after the Thomas Fire to ensure safe conditions for park users. The Interpretive Center, pump house, playground, and slopes on both sides of the park were burned during the fire.

To provide input or to donate please contact Katrina Maksimuk at [email protected] or 805-658-4775.

We are in the process of gathering information to shape the Museum’s priorities for the next five years. We would really appreciate your taking the time to envision the future with us. Please share your thoughts by completing this brief survey. It is simple and should take less than five minutes overall. The information gathered will be compiled by our consultant and shared with the leadership team and the members of the Board.

You can take the survey anonymously. You can also choose to provide us with your name and e-mail address and we will enter you into a drawing to win one of the following exciting prizes:

• Signed Print by Ryan Carr
• Museum of Ventura County Mug
• History of Us Museum Journal
• Museum Collection Note Cards

Winners will be notified via email February 6, 2019 and can collect their prizes at the Museum of Ventura County at 100 E Main Street any day we are open.

You have until Jan.25 to complete the survey. Take the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MuseumofVenturaCounty.

The New Year is a great time to join CAPS Media, where Member/Producers can explore any subject that interests them and CAPS will broadcast the story on television and stream it online.

CAPS Media is a public access television and radio center that fulfills a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment. As a free society, the public has the right to have personal opinions published in the newspaper and on the the airwaves. CAPS Media provides Member/Producers the vehicle to express themselves on TV, radio and online.

The highly professional and friendly staff trains members how to master the use of cameras and editing equipment to produce their own story. CAPS provide them with all the tools and support they need to produce it. All this for an annual membership fee of only $25.

The first step of membership is to attend an orientation meeting which includes a tour of the CAPS Media Center and an open question and answer discussion of membership expectations and benefits. Orientation meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6pm. The next steps are HD videography/camera classes which are held on the 2nd Thursday and Final Cut postproduction editing classes held on the 3rd Thursday. Trained member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their story and use our postproduction editing suites to craft the story they want to tell.

The CAPS Media Center also includes CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1), a low power public service radio station. Radio training is on the 4th week of the month on Wednesday and Thursday evenings starting at 6pm. CAPS Radio requires an additional annual fee of $50 for DJs.

ECTV continues to rack up award nominations. The recognition for the El Camino High School students in the CAPS Media ECTV program continues with the crew’s five nominations as finalists for the 2019 Alliance for Community Media WAVE Awards (Western Alliance Video Excellence). The ECTV categories include Underserved Voices, Community Issues, Educational Access, Culture, and Informational Talk Shows. The ECTV nominations are part of an impressive ten nominations for the entire CAPS Media Member/Producers.

The Ventura Police Department is working with CAPS Media producing community updates. Hosted by Ashley Bautista, VPD Civic Engagement Specialist, and VPD officers, the series includes public awareness tips, weekly crime statistics, and other information vital to the community. The reports are posted on Ventura City and Police websites, social media and broadcast and streamed on CAPS Channel 6 & 15, capsmedia.org and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.5 FM.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Join our community of enthusiastic member/producers. To find out more go to capsmedia.org or call 805.658.0500.

Find out how at the next Informational Session at court appointed special advocates (“CASA”) for foster children.

Today, there are nearly 1,000 children in the Ventura County Dependency Court System who are victims of abuse and neglect. With a string of people, often including their own parents, in and out of their lives, these children are in desperate need of a stable adult. A CASA Volunteer becomes that adult. The one adult who stands up for them. A CASA Volunteer commits to advocating for the child until he/she is placed in a safe, permanent home.

CASA needs more volunteers! Please consider attending the next CASA Informational Session on Tuesday, January 22nd, to learn how you can make a difference in the life of a child in our community.

For more information or to reserve your seat, contact Rebecca at (805) 389-3120 or [email protected]. Address will be provided upon registration.

What are those large blue pipes in the empty lot at Seaward and Harbor?

Veronica Usher

As always (When possible) we ask the experts.

Veronica:
These are 36” PVC sewer pipes that will go in Harbor Blvd. from the Arundell Barranca (near the Harbor) to San Pedro. The existing lines will be abandoned and these will go into new ditches. The bid was given to Toro Enterprises in Oxnard for a base price of $8,538,334. Occasionally unforeseen conditions are found that could result in costs above the base bid. Ground water will be encountered but this was included in the bid. The construction is scheduled to be completed in 270 calendar days.

Thank you,

John Ilasin Ventura Senior Civil Engineer

Have a question send to [email protected] and we will try to get you an answer?

The African Children’s Choir melts the hearts of audiences with their charming smiles, beautiful voices and lively African songs and dances. The program features well-loved children’s songs, traditional Spirituals and Gospel favorites. Performances support African Children’s Choir programs, such as education, care and relief and development.

Music for Life (The parent organization for The African Children’s Choir) works in the African countries: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa. MFL has educated over 52,000 children and impacted the lives of over 100,000 people through its relief and development programs during its history. MFL purpose is
to help create new leadership for tomorrow’s Africa, by focusing on
education.

The African Children’s Choir has had the privilege to perform before
presidents, heads of state and most recently the Queen of England,
Queen Elizabeth II, for her diamond jubilee. The Choir has also had
the honor of singing alongside artists such as Paul McCartney, Annie
Lennox, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Michael W. Smith, and other
inspirational performers!

Promotional support of this community concert is greatly appreciated.

The African Children’s Choir is a nonprofit humanitarian and relief
organization dedicated to helping Africa’s most vulnerable children
today so they can help Africa tomorrow.

No tickets. Donations appreciated.

Hosted by the Oxnard Musical Youth Theater at the Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church,3175 Telegraph Road on Saturday, February 2, 7:15 PM.
(805) 642-7966‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬, www.africanchildrenschoir.com .