1920s Tea by the Sea at Heritage Square in Oxnard on Saturday, May 13th

The Friends of Heritage Square will offer their annual Spring Tea on Saturday, May 13, 2017. This year takes on a 1920s theme, honoring 1926, when Oxnard was considered “The New Hollywood”.  Visitors can enjoy a total Roaring Twenties experience, including the lingo of the day, how to do the Charleston and find out why Tinsel Town stars came to Oxnard to live, work and play.

An expanded Marketplace featuring 1920s items and more will open at 11:00 AM for last minute Mother’s Day gifts. Participants can also shop for their favorite gift baskets provided by The Friends of Heritage Square.

Guests are encouraged to wear 1920s themed outfits for a chance to win a prize. Ideas for 1920s styles will be posted on www.heritagesquareoxnard.com and www.facebook.com/heritagesquareoxnard. Search Heritage Square’s Tea by the Sea.  For those who don’t have time to create their own 20’s look, there will be moderately priced items available for purchase to slip into before tea time.

Seating and tea service begins at 1:30 pm.  Piano music of the Roaring Twenties will be provided by Ray Mautner.  Refreshments include tea sandwiches, scones and desserts, catered by La Dolce Vita Restaurant. Tea service will be delivered by costumed docents. 

In addition to tea service, “Prohibition Cocktails” will also be available, no host, compliments of Ventura County’s 1920s woman bootlegger.

Prices: $40 per person, $35 per person for group of 6. Tables available for groups of six or eight. $20 for children under 12.  Tickets available online www.heritagesquareoxnard.com or call 483-7960.

Proceeds benefit the Friends of Heritage Square and their educational programs. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible.

The Friends of Heritage Square (FOHS) is a self funded volunteer organization founded 25 years ago. The mission of the FOHS is to help people of all ages to appreciate the importance of our local cultural and historical heritage as well as the art and architecture of the homes that were moved to Heritage Square.  This is accomplished through tours and special events throughout the year that celebrate history as well as educate and entertain the public.

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

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.