Free Family Fun Day at Big Rock Nature Preserve in Ventura on Saturday, August 6th

On Saturday, August 6, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host Family Fun Day at their Big Rock Nature Preserve from 10 a.m. - 12 Noon. This free, family-friendly, open-to-the-public outdoor event will include nature-themed crafts, an environmental scavenger hunt and a biologist-led hike along the banks of the Ventura River.

“It has been several months since our generous volunteers helped us plant the 500 trees that are taking root at our Big Rock Preserve and we are eager to show off our work,” said Derek Poultney, VHC Executive Director. “We invite the public to explore our preserve, learn about the delicate habitat along the Ventura River and the importance of preserving it.”

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that has operated in the Ventura region since 2003 and currently manages nearly 80 acres of the Ventura River. In addition to preserving and restoring natural areas, VHC provides outdoor education programs where school students and community residents can learn about important environmental issues in our community.

Family Fun Day is appropriate for people of all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees should wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Please note that the trails at Big Rock Preserve are not stroller friendly. There is no cost to attend but reservations are strongly encouraged. To RSVP, visit www.venturahillsides.org and click on the Events tab.

VHC is seeking support for future outdoor educational programming. For more information, contact VHC Development Director, Adrienne Stephens at: (805) 643-8044 or adrienne@venturahillsides.org.

African Children's Choir to Perform in Oxnard on Friday, July 29th

Please join us in welcoming the African Children's Choir all the way from Uganda! This is a FREE event for all ages. The choir is composed of children ages 7-10 years old and most have lost one or both parents to disease, devastation of war, famine and disease. This choir will warm your hearts singing well-loved children's songs, hand clapping, traditional spirituals and contemporary tunes. Hosted by O'My (Oxnard Musical Youth) Theater and featuring additional Ventura County Choirs. Event begins at 6:30PM at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, OxnardCA 93030. Please RSVP for your FREE tickets at: info@omytheater.org

Pants Off Racing's 4th Annual Almost 10/5K Again for Pancreatic Cancer in Calabasas on Oct 22

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Pants Off Racing's 4th annual Almost 10/5K, Again for Pancreatic Cancer is planned at Malibu Creek State Park on October 22, 2016 and will include a 1 mile fun run/walk, 5K and 10K distances. All proceeds from the event are used to assist families and support pancreatic cancer victims.

Pants Off Racing's mission is to provide service to those lives affected by pancreatic cancer through time, energy, and goodwill; to integrate and unite generations, through sport participation, while creating public awareness about pancreatic cancer.

Visit pantsoffracing.com/event/4th-annual-pants-off-racing-almost-105k to register.

20th Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival at Cal Lutheran Features "Henry V" June 24 to July 10

Photo credit: Brian Stethem/Cal Lutheran

Photo credit: Brian Stethem/Cal Lutheran

To celebrate the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival’s 20th season and the 400th anniversary of the Bard of Avon’s death, the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company is kicking off the summer with a play that was one of the most popular with its audiences.

Performances of “Henry V” will begin at 8 p.m. June 24 through 26, July 1 through 3, and July 8 through 10 in Kingsmen Park on the Thousand Oaks campus of California Lutheran University. The festival grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking and entertainment.

Michael J. Arndt, a founding member of the festival and the company’s artistic director, directs. Ty Mayberry, who debuted at the festival in 2013 as Hamlet, will play King Henry.

The play contains one of Shakespeare’s most famous lines related to war: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers….” Many Kingsmen veterans reunite in this “band of brothers” revival. Marc Silver, who appeared in the first season and many thereafter, plays Pistol. Returning after several years’ absence is octogenarian Robert Nairn in the role of Sir Thomas Erpingham. Other returning Kingsmen favorites are Michael Faulkner, Angela Gulner and Ross Hellwig. John Slade, who directed “Henry V” at the 2004 festival and has played King Lear and other Kingsmen roles, will portray the Archbishop of Canterbury and Charles the Sixth, King of France. Jason Rennie, who was in the first Kingsmen Apprentice Company and performed as the pre-show “fire breather” in the early years, is choreographing several battle sequences employing most of the 35 cast members.

“Henry V” is one of the Bard’s most-produced history plays. It tells the story of the real 15th-century English king, a brutal and heroic monarch. The play’s vast scope moves from religious and political intrigue at the courts of England and France to scenes of delicate romance, ribald comedy and sweeping battle.

This play is the only one of Shakespeare’s histories that features a chorus character who narrates the action, inviting audience members to use their imagination. The Kingsmen production sets the play in the historical period of the real King Henry, but the chorus character will be portrayed as a 21st-century news reporter, presenting the story as if she were narrating a documentary film.

The production will feature a distinctive set by Erik Diaz, period costumes by Howard Schmitt, lighting by Leigh Allen and an original electronic music score by Christopher Hoag.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company is the professional theater company of Cal Lutheran. The company also provides apprentice programs for professional and aspiring Shakespearean actors, an educational tour program and summer youth theater camps.

General admission is $20 for adults and free for children under 18. Individual tickets are available at the door only. For lawn box reservations, visit kingsmenshakespeare.org or call 805-493-3014.

18th Annual "The Wild Brunch" Event in Malibu on Sunday, September 25th

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The California Wildlife Center's 18th Annual "The Wild Brunch" event is planned for Sunday, September 25th from 1-5PM at Gull's Way Estate, 26800 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Join hundreds of animal lovers for the wildest party in Malibu, to include:

  • Selections from the finest Malibu and Napa Valley vintners
  • Gourmet vegetarian cuisine from local chefs and restaurateurs
  • Hundreds of unique shopping buys in the Live and Silent Auctions
  • Kids Wild Zone with buffet, art activities and educational animals
  • Complimentary private psychic and healing sessions
  • Release of a rehabilitated CWC patient
  • And much more!

More information and tickets at www.cawildlife.org/80-news/241-the-wild-brunch-return-to-the-wild.

California Wildlife Center (CWC), a nonprofit organization, has cared for more than 32,000 native animals since its founding in 1998. It is run by a dedicated small staff and trained volunteers who believe that our wild neighbors deserve a second chance at life. As a result, sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife receive quality medical care and rehabilitation in a quiet area of the Santa Monica Mountains with the intent of releasing them back into the wild. Our goal for this event is to raise $200,000 to fund the free services and programs CWC provides, including paramedic rescue and rehabilitation and coexisting with wildlife education to Southern California residents. Your contribution to this event will make a difference for wildlife now and in the years to come. 

Downtown Ventura Farmers' Market 30th Birthday Celebration on Saturday, June 4th

The Downtown Ventura Farmers’ Market will celebrate its 30th birthday on Saturday, June 4, 2016 with a community event complete with all types of fun activities for all ages.  The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the farmers’ market area and also throughout the Main Street Mini Park, located on the corners of East Santa Clara and Palm Streets, south of the 300 block of Main Street.  A special presentation will beheld at 8:30 a.m. to thank the original visionaries and participants who brought the market into Downtown Ventura.

One of the main highlights of the event is a chef demonstration by award winning chef, author and farmers’ market advocate, Amelia Saltsman who will demonstrate recipes utilizing the theme, ‘Making the Most of the Summer Market’.  Saltsman is the author of the award-winning ‘The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook:  Simple Recipes, and Stories from the Market and Farm’ and ‘The Seasonal Jewish Kitchen,’ her latest release.  She will use recipes from both books in her cooking demonstration.  Saltsman is passionate about helping everyday cooks make the connection between small-farmed foods and real-life meals.  In her warm style, she streamlines today’s desire for healthier, sustainable foods.  The chef demonstration will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Mini Park.

Along with the chef demonstration, the celebration will feature a customer appreciation booth with free giveaways, a children’s area with face painting and activities, community information booths and tasty birthday cake, which will be given out while supplies last.  Special food offerings will include a tri-tip BBQ from the Busy Bee Café and several food trucks including Scratch, a local favorite.

Gene West, toy maker will also be on hand to share his handmade wooden toy creations.  Now 85, West, known as the ‘Toy Man’ has allowed children all over the county to play with his nearly 700 handmade wooden toys.  A retired mechanical engineer and an Oxnard resident for more than 40 years, West started his toy making during his retirement and continued delighting young and old alike, still active today.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Jerry McWorter and the Hot Roux Band from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Hot Roux is very well known in southern California with a Louisiana flavored blues and swampy rock & roll sound.  Musician and band leader, Jerry McWorter comes from a rare tradition of ‘singing drummers’ such as Levon Helm, Sam Lay and Buddy Miles.  The Ventura County based band features Jerry McWorter on drums/lead vocal, Brent Harding on bass/backup vocals, Ed Berghoff on guitar/backup vocals and Frank Goldwasser on guitar.

The Environmental Sustainability Division for the City of Ventura’s Public Works Department will provide attendees with information on food waste prevention, edible food recovery and backyard composting.  In addition, the community can also learn how the farmers’ are adapting to the drought by viewing a continuous screening of ‘Water Woes:  We Plan for Your Eating’, a film by Diana Rodgers, a small farmer and farmers’ market manager.  The film will provide a look at the implications of the drought for both farmers & consumers and provide information on how the drought is affecting the local food supplies.

About the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association

The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association serves the community of Ventura with two weekly markets -- Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall, front west parking lot on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays in Downtown Ventura on the corners of East Santa Clara and Palm Streets from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.  The Thousand Oaks Farmers’ Market is held Thursdays at The Oaks Shopping Center at the east end parking lot, Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard from 1:30 to 6:00 p.m.  Santa Clarita Farmers’ Market is held on Sundays at the College of the Canyons, parking lot 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.  

For more information on the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association, visit www.vccfarmersmarkets.com or call 805-529-6266.

Ojai Earth Day Event Planned for Saturday, April 23, 2016

In celebration of sustainable living, global awareness, and the joy of nature Food for Thought, Oak Grove School, Ojai Valley Green Coalition, and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy are teaming up again to host this once-a-year community event – Earth Day 2016 – Trees for our Valley – 11:00AM – 4:00PM. Speaking at this year’s celebration is world-renowned eco-activist Vandana Shiva. The day will include local school involvement, environmental exhibits, arts and outdoor activities for all ages, live entertainment, world foods and more. Everything takes place under the trees on Oak Grove School’s 150-acre campus, 220 W. Lomita Avenue, Ojai. Admission is free. Visitors will also have ample opportunities to find ways to live greener and appreciate the natural wonders we all share. Earth Day 2016 will be filled with color and creativity. Exhibitors will share their earth-friendly products and services, provide hands-on activities, and present informational and interactive displays. Free rides available from Ojai Trolley to the event. See you there! www.ojaiearthday.org.

Fundraiser for Gull Wings Children's Museum in Ventura on Saturday, May 14th


 Join us on May 14th for our exciting fundraiser hosted by Blue Moon Betties!

Where? Bombay Bar & Grill (143 S California St. Ventura)

When? May 14th 11 am – 2 am 

Tickets? Tickets at the door/all ages!

What? There will be music performances (daytime children bands and nighttime entertainment), cars, children’s activities, exhibits, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and much more yet to be announced!