Nuts for Mutts – The Walk & Festival, set for Sunday, April 18 at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, will be presented in conjunction with the Calabasas Rotary Club and the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center.

This fun-filled family fundraiser, now in its sixth year, will feature a 5K walk-a-thon through the crystal clear rolling hills of Calabasas.  Route highlights will include "pawzstations" with plenty of water, food and fun for pets of all kinds and their human companions.

New for 2010 include an expanded pet-friendly exhibit area and children’s activities, a canine fashion show, a dog training clinic, and more.  The Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center is located at 27040 Malibu Hills Road, Calabasas.  Nuts for Mutts – The Walk & Festival hours are 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. To register and start signing up your walk sponsors, visit www.nutsformutts.org or call 818-880-2993.

About New Leash on Life: New Leash On Life, www.newleash.org, founded in 1997, has been responsible for the spaying and neutering of thousands of pets and the rescuing and placement of over 3,000 dogs.  In addition, they provide free educational seminars at local shelters and schools, set shelter rescue priorities on “hard to place” animals requiring medical or special care, founded the Lend A Paw Program which rescues dogs from shelters, rehabilitates them and transforms them into Assistance and Therapy dogs, founded the P.E.T.’s program (Pet Educational Trainers) and co-founded Partners for Life, which saved hundreds at the East Valley Animal Shelter. 

About Calabasas Rotary: The Calabasas Rotary Club www.calabasasrotary.org is dedicated to providing humanitarian services, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations, and helping to build goodwill and peace by contributing time and resources to others in the local community and throughout the world.  Funds raised at The Walk help support the Foundation to administer a variety of programs including the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner which feeds over 600 seniors, Quarterly Food Drive for the West Valley Food Pantry, Neighbors In Need program in partnership with the City of Calabasas, Water Purification Project, Casa de Paz Orphanage in Baja, Mexico and many other life altering projects.

About The Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center:  The Agoura Hills / Calabasas Community Center www.ahccc.org is dedicated to providing recreational, social and educational services and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to enhance the quality of life of the individual and the community.  Funds raised at The Walk help support the programs and operations of the Center, including our after school teen program, The Underground.  The Underground provides after school activities, homework time and social interaction to middle school students in the area in a positive and fun atmosphere.  This program and others are instrumental in the growth and nourishment of the entire community.  Through Parks and Recreation….the benefits are endless!

A FREE series to engage the public in interesting science and history topics related to the Channel Islands, supported by the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Lectures are one hour long. Visit www.channelislands.noaa.gov for more information.

Apr. 13 & 14: Bringing Back the Samala Chumash Language, Richard Applegate, Language Program Linguist, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Nakia Zavalla, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

May 11 & 12 Film Presentation: “Six Generations,” History of a Chumash Family Ernestine Ygnacio-De Soto, Chumash Elder, John Johnson, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

June 8 & 9: Water Quality & Harmful Algal Blooms in the Channel Islands, Gregg Langlois, California Department of Health Services

July 13 & 14: Global Climate Change & West Coast Sanctuaries, Bill Douros, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Aug. 10 & 11: Channel Islands National Park 2010 Film: "A Treasure in the Sea" Russell Galipeau, Channel Islands National Park

Sept. 14 & 15: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary 30 Year Anniversary & Film, Chris Mobley, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Oct. 12 & 13: Collaborative Lobster and Fishery Research Project, Hunter Lenihan, University of California at Santa Barbara

Nov. 9 & 10: History of San Miguel Island’s Nidever Adobe Site, Julia Costello, Foothill Resources Ltd.

No lecture is scheduled for December 2010

Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara (www.sbmm.org)

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura

Ventura County to Come Together for Town Hall Meeting, Performance and Discussion about Underage Drinking

Ventura County is one of thousands of communities nationwide that will hold a Town Hall Meeting the week of March 22-26 to raise awareness about today’s trends in underage drinking. The Ventura Unified School District, in collaboration with Straight Up Ventura County and the Federal Government’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, is sponsoring the event. 

Parents, teachers, law enforcement, youth, and other local leaders will come together to explore underage drinking as a social and community issue and to discuss strategies for positive change. The agenda will include a performance by local youth, panel discussion, a “Reality Party for Parents” performance (a reenactment of a teen drinking party), and a chance to ask questions, create dialogue, and seek solutions.  Parents should note that some information being presented may not be appropriate for children under the age of 13.

In a national survey, about one in twenty 8th graders reported being drunk at least once in the past month. Nearly one out of every seven 10th graders, and about two out of every seven 12th graders reported being drunk at least once in the last month.
 
Locally, Ventura Unified School District survey respondents reported even more dire numbers. Nearly one

Ventura Harbor Village fills with the sights and sounds of family-fun on Saturday, March 27th, for the annual Cottontail Day event from 10 AM - 3 PM at the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn. Meet the Easter Bunny, bring a basket for the $1 egg hunt (Ages 1-7 years) every 30 minutes 11 AM - 2:00 PM. (while supplies last), Jumpies, kids' arts and crafts, pedal boats, face painting and more!

Enjoy the springtime air and come early for Sunday breakfast or lunch at one of the many harbor-view restaurants or take the family on a Harbor cruise. Stop by the Village Arcade for a fun family game. Need an extra sweet for the baskets? Take home delicious homemade fudge, or homemade waffle cones from Coastal Cone Ice Cream. Enjoy unique items and a seaside experience at the Ventura Harbor Village shops along the promenade. More info at www.venturaharborvillage.com.

This elegant event is complete with linen and china service, fresh floral centerpieces on your table, and a professional wait staff. By yourself or with a group of friends, our First Lady Tea and Tour is truly an exceptional experience. Following the tea, all guests will receive a docent-led tour of the spectacular White House in Miniature exhibit and the Air Force One Pavilion. This all inclusive offer is only $49.95 per person.  Event starts at 1pm and ends at 3:30pm.

For more information and to make reservations please visit www.reaganfoundation.org/events or call (805) 577-4057.

Topanga Earth Day Organizing Committee

&  Rock and Stone / IH Center Non Profit 501C-3 present…
            Topanga Earth Day The 11th Annual Celebration

on April 17th & 18th, 2010 (10am to Sunset)

1 Festival, 1 ton of Biodegradable Compost, 1.3 tons of Recyclables, 2 Days, 3 Music Stages, 4 Causes, 5 visual artists... 10 bags of garbage...15 guest speakers... 20 Bands... 30 Production Coordinators...and… Infinite inspiration!

Topanga Community House Fairgrounds 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd Topanga

Authentic musical performances, guest speakers, a gallery of ecological artists, non-profit organizations, biodegradable & sustainable solutions, innovative environmental demonstration area, ecological products and services, alternative energy, healing arts, primitive skills & living by example workshops, organic food & beverages, a free bio-diesel shuttle, composting, water conservation, and native planting for all ages and all cultures.

Visit www.topangaearthday.org for more information (I love the website!).

United Studios of Self Defense (USSD) Kidfest 2010

This event is geared towards kids of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. USSD Kidfest also features a community expo with exhibitors and local vendors showcasing their products and services.  There will also be a silent auction and raffle. Parking is also free but is limited - but there is plenty of parking across the street at the soccer fields.

For more information, visit www.kidfest.us or call 661.904.5919.

Become a sponsor or exhibitor at the event!  Contact Darren Miller at kidfest2010@yahoo.com for information.