Free Screening of "The Wizard of Oz" at The Shoppes at Westlake on Friday, August 10th

Free Movie Night at The Shoppes: Wizard of Oz

The Shoppes at Westlake Village and Tifa Chocolate & Gelato are presenting a Free Outdoor Movie Night featuring The Wizard of Oz on Friday, August 10th at 8pm. The screening will take place at the front fountain outside of Tifa.

Tifa will be handing out special treats during the screening of the movie. Guests should be sure to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

All ages welcome! Come early to secure a seat, grab dinner to-go from one of the Shoppes restaurants, and get ready for a perfect summer evening with the family.

Location: 30770 Russell Ranch Rd., Westlake Village

http://shoppesatwestlakevillage.com/outdoor-movie-night-the-wizard-of-oz

Humane Society of Ventura County Birthday Bash & Open House in Ojai on June 9th

Stop by the Humane Society of Ventura County between 10-3 on Saturday, June 9, 2018 to celebrate 86 years of service to Ventura County. Get a behind the scenes peek at the facility, interact with animals, tour the kennels and clinic, meet the staff, and learn about different volunteer opportunities. Bring the whole family to enjoy refreshments, participate in a treasure hunt and learn more about how YOU can make a difference in the lives of animals in need!

Humane Educator, Robin Satnick, will have a variety of activities for children along with information on responsible pet ownership. Our Humane Officers will be on hand to give you a look at the responsibilities and duties of protecting animals throughout the county. We are pleased to welcome back Firefly Ceramics and their Tiles for Tails program. For a $25 donation benefiting our new kennels, you can design your own tile that will be permanently displayed on site here at the Shelter. 

What would a visit to a shelter be without the main attraction—the animals! There will be a full house of critters available for adoption; you never know when you are going to meet your new best friend!

When: Saturday June 9th from 10-3

Where: Humane Society of Ventura County. 402 Bryant St. in Ojai. Call 805-646-6505 for more information or visit www.hsvc.org/86th_birthday_bash_open_house.

Arbor Earth Day Event at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden on Saturday, April 28, 2018

The Conejo Chinese Cultural Association (CCCA) Youth Project will host an Earth Day celebration at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden on Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 1-4pm to increase awareness of natural grown native plants.

Activities will include distributing local grown plants free of charge to participants, demonstrating the paper making process where you can create your own paper from recycled materials; face painting and paper folding.

The event will take place at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden's Kids' Adventure Garden, located at Jeaunine Dr. Thousand Oaks. Free Admission.

Conejo Chinese Cultural Association website: www.ccca-tocs.org/beta.

New Venture Ventura County Event at Cal Lutheran Thousand Oaks on May 5, 2018

New Venture Ventura County

Supporting the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow

New Venture Ventura County (NVVC) showcases student entrepreneurs from grade school to grad school. The event, free and open to the public, will take place on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 10am to 1pm.

The event includes:

• 6th Annual New Venture Challenge Student Entrepreneur Expo and Pitch Competition
• Makerspace Expo showcasing some of the cool things students and community members do at local Makerspaces
• Coding Bootcamp Demo designed to better prepare students for college college degrees and careers in IT

More information at www.newventurevc.com.

JPL Hosts "A Ticket to Explore" Public Event the Weekend of June 9-10, 2018 (SOLD OUT)

(SOLD OUT!)

"A Ticket to Explore JPL” is a special weekend when JPL opens its doors to the public and displays all the ways they are  exploring the solar system and beyond. Advance tickets are required to this event on June 9-10, 2018 from 8:30 am to 4 pm.

Tickets are free, but limited, and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning April 7, 2018 starting at 9 a.m. at https://explore.jpl.nasa.gov. Maximum number of tickets per requestor is five and must be reserved for specific names.

At "Explore JPL," visitors will have the opportunity to see, among other things, a life-sized model of InSight -- the next mission to Mars, scheduled to launch in May -- and Mars rovers, plus JPL's machine shop, where precise parts are made for spacecraft. This event coincides with the 60thanniversary of NASA. The agency was created in 1958.

Although children under two do not require a ticket, experiences at the event are not intended for very young guests.

More information available at www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/special-events.php.

9th Annual Sights of Conejo Drum Line and Winter Guard Show on Saturday, March 10, 2018

The Thousand Oaks High School Lancer Band will present the 9th Annual Sights of Conejo Drumline and Winter Guard exhibition at 7 on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Thousand Oaks High School Gym, 2323 N. Moorpark Road. Doors open at 6 p.m.

This event will feature performances by percussion ensembles and/or color guards from middle schools and high schools from the Conejo Valley.

Food and refreshments will be available for sale. Tickets are $5 per person and $3 for students at the door, cash only. For more information, visit www.tohsband.org.

2018 Moorpark Rotary Blue & Gray Civil War Reenactment in Moorpark on March 17-18

The Blue & The Gray Civil War reenactment in Moorpark is the largest battle reenactment on the West Coast. Now in its 17th year, the event will take place March 17 and 18 at Hitch Ranch (100 West High St., Moorpark, entrance adjacent to the Moorpark Post Office).

Hundreds of re-enactors from all over the country come to Moorpark each year to participate.

Activities include four battle reenactments (with cannon and musket fire), Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, solider and civilian encampments, Confederate army surrendering to the Union army and period dancing and music. The featured battle this year is the Battle of Gettysburg. Presented by the Rotary Club of Moorpark, the event is designed to educate the public about the historical significance of the Civil War and its effect on the United States including the abolishment of slavery.

Hours: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Admission:  $20/adults (online, $22 at the gate), $15/ages 6 through 17 (online, $17 at the gate), free/ages 5 and under. Bleacher seats: an additional $4 per person, per battle. Parking: $5 per car. A free shuttle will take visitors to the event site. Discount packages are available online. For more information: go to www.MoorparkCivilWar.com, CivilWar@MoorparkRotary.com, 805-279-5253.

SCENES FROM THE 2010 EVENT

"My Father's Dragon" Family Show at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on Sat, January 20th

Embark on an adventure with My Father’s Dragon at the Bank of America Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.

Based on Ruth Stiles Gannett’s beloved, award-winning and best-selling Dragon trilogy, Enchantment Theatre Company’s My Father’s Dragon features talking animals, flying dragons and buried treasure! Elmer sets off on a daring adventure to rescue a baby dragon being held captive by the ferocious animals of Wild Island. With pluck and ingenuity Elmer makes his way to the island, outwits the wild animals and saves Boris, the dragon. But can they find their way back home? Using life-size puppets, expressive masks, magical scenic effects and original music, Enchantment brings to life this remarkable tale that reminds us all that we are never too young to make a difference.

The Enchantment Theatre Company awakens imaginations of every age with its whimsical telling of new and classic fables, myths and legends. For this production, they bring to vivid life a story that has been honored by Newbery and the American Library Association, named among the top 100 books for children by the School Library Journal, and is celebrating its 70th anniversary of publication in 2018. With “delightfully logical nonsense, appealing characters, and irrepressible humor,” (the New York Times), the production is a tale of derring-do and laughter, too. 

Single tickets are priced at $29-$19 with group discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com (or more specifically, THIS LINK) or through the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.

Ventura County Animal Services to Host Movie Nights Under the Stars 7/15, 22, 29

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ShelterLife is a nine-part documentary about Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS).

BINGE-WATCH all 9 Episodes This Summer!

Episodes 1 - 3 Saturday, July 15th, 2017, 8:00pm - 9:30pm

HERITAGE SQUARE - 715 South A. Street, Oxnard

Episodes 4 - 6 Saturday, July 22nd, 2017, 8:00pm - 9:30pm

CAMARILLO PREMIUM OUTLETS - 740 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo (Next to Chipotle.)

Episodes 7 - 9 Saturday, July 29th, 2017, 8:00pm - 9:30pm

SIMI VALLEY TOWN CENTER - 1555 Simi Town Center Way, Simi Valley

(Park near Marshall's. Event is next to Charming Charlies.)

vcas.us/ShelterLife

Stars and Stripes Fireworks Festival in Simi Valley July 3rd and 4th, 2017

NOTE: The VC Star reported in January 2018 that the Rotary Club of Simi Valley will no longer be hosting the annual fireworks show as it has done for the last 48 years.  The city and park district both contribute to the annual show and a new host is being sought.

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The Rotary Club of Simi Valley and co-sponsors City of Simi Valley and Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District are upping the ante this 2017 Independence Day by hosting a two day Stars and Stripes Festival on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4, 2017.

The festival opens on Monday, July 3rd from 3pm until 10pm with carnival rides and live music. Admission is $5 entry on Monday with ages 5 and under free. $20 carnival ride wristband is good for all day unlimited rides. Active military with ID free entry.

On Tuesday, July 4th, the festival continues from noon to 10pm and admission is free this day. $20 wristbands will be available for all day unlimited carnival rides. Pie eating contest at 1pm. Robert Singer's Performing Dogs at 2pm. Live music starts at 2:45pm. Flyover by vintage aircraft at 6pm. Fireworks at 9pm. Food vendors, food trucks, craft beers, wine garden and other vendors on hand.

Location: Rancho Santa Susana Community Park 5005 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley

Bring blanket and chairs, then dance and enjoy!

Visit starsandstripesfireworksfestival.org for more information.