Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History October 31 to November 2

From Thursday, October 31 to Saturday, November 2, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will host a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) community celebration to share the cultural importance of this Mexican festival. Guests will enjoy activities including a Monarch Migration Quest, face painting, crafts, altars, and more. Día de los Muertos attire is encouraged.

After more than a decade hiatus, the Museum’s Education Department, spearheaded by Community Education Manager Stefanie Coleman and Astronomy Programs Manager Javier Rivera, is reviving and expanding the celebration to invite more community participation.

“I grew up with Day of the Dead in Mexico,” Rivera recalls. “I remember it fondly. For several days, you hang out with family, you cook, you prepare, you enjoy, you remember those who passed away. And on that day, you celebrate. You’re not mourning, you’re celebrating the fact that they’re revisiting you for a while in your memory.”

Rivera particularly wishes that this year’s events will welcome many people from the Spanish-speaking community to the Museum, so the institution can better serve all of Santa Barbara. “This should be Santa Barbara’s Museum of Natural History. This is one good step in that direction.” He and Coleman hope this will lead to partnerships with community groups to plan involvement in next year’s celebration.

Coleman adds, “This year we are focusing on the connection between butterflies and Día de los Muertos. The migrating Eastern population of Monarch Butterflies is often abundant in Mexico during the Day of the Dead. We are sharing the cultural and ecological importance of the species in a fun quest that takes guests around the Museum. According to traditional belief, Monarchs are the souls of ancestors returning to Earth for their yearly visit. Marigold flowers guide the spirits to their altars using vibrant colors and pungent scent.”

“However,” she continues, “Monarch Butterfly populations in North America are in decline due to climate change, pesticides, and habitat loss. Join us at the Museum to go on a Monarch Migration Quest and learn more about the natural history behind Mexican traditions and how to help the butterfly population.”

In addition to the other activities, from Saturday, November 1 to Sunday, November 2, La Calenda will host a pop-up trunk show selling authentic hand-made textiles, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, and Día de los Muertos themed goods from artisans in Oaxaca and other Mexican states.

Schedule of Activities

Saturdays in October

• Noon–2:00 PM: Festival preparation craft and decor workshops

Thursday, October 31

• 11:00 AM: Ghost Wings storytime in the Museum Library

• Noon: Marigolds and papel picado craft and decorating workshop in the pavilion

• 3:00 PM: Día de los Muertos planetarium show

Friday, November 1

• 11:00 AM: Calacas (skeletons) craft workshop in the pavilion

• Noon: La Catrina (grande dame skeleton) craft and decorating workshop in the pavilion

• 3:00 PM: Día de los Muertos planetarium show

• 5:30–8:30 PM: Coco movie night and Alebrije (painted animal figurine) tour

Purchase tickets for movie and tour at sbnature.org/tickets.

Saturday, November 2

• 11:00 AM: Nichos (altar frames) craft workshop in the pavilion

• Noon: Ofrenda (altar) building demonstration in the pavilion

• Noon–2:00 PM: Face painting in the pavilion

• 3:00 PM: Día de los Muertos planetarium show

• 10:00 AM–5:00 PM: La Calenda Trunk Show

Sunday, November 3

• 10:00 AM–5:00 PM: La Calenda Trunk Show

El Latino, the only bilingual newspaper on the Central Coast, is the official media sponsor for these events.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

Archaeology Day at Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch on October 19, 2019

October is California Archaeology Month, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is celebrating it with Archaeology Day on October 19 from 10 to 4 p.m. The family friendly event will take place at the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch.

The following activities will take place:

• Native American performances

• An opportunity to dig up “artifacts” like an archaeologist in the hands-on excavation box

• Practice throwing an atlatl spear at a target

• Watch flint knapping demonstrations as experts turn stone into arrowheads

• See genuine local artifacts on display

• Learn more about history and prehistory with our hands-on replica artifact tables

• Learn about the difference between archaeologists and paleontologists (hint: archaeologists don’t dig for dinosaur bones)

• Presentations by local archaeologists

• Learn about anthropology programs in local schools

• Learn about Native American history and become a Junior Ranger!

This event & parking is free and open to the public. Sign up is optional and can be done here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/archaeology-day-tickets-72413323199

Questions about this event? Call (805)-370-2301 or email: Samo_Interpretation@nps.gov.

Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitors' Center - King Gillette Ranch is located at 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas.

New West Symphony 25th Season Salute with Jazz Trio in the Classical Form in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo October 5-6

New West Symphony launches its 25th anniversary season with jazz trio improvisation in the classical form and musical tales of adventure.

Saturday, October 5, 2019 | 7:30 PM

Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Sunday, October 6, 2019 | 3:00 PM

Rancho Campana PAC, Camarillo

Program

Michael Christie, conductor

Glwyn and Ruth Chase Music Director Chair

Marcus Roberts Trio, guest artists

• Corigliano Salute

• Gershwin Concerto in F

• Rimsky-Korsakov Sheherazade

ENTR’ACTE

• Puts …this noble company

Concert Highlights

• John Corigliano wrote Salute for Michael Christie’s first concert as Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic in 2005, and we welcome him here in the same way – with a surprise!

• Gershwin’s Concerto in F is jazzy enough, but the virtuosic Marcus Roberts Trio takes it a step further with their near “telepathic” communication on stage. We’ll hear Gershwin’s orchestral vision enhanced with the swinging spontaneity of improvisation.

• Rimsky-Korsakov was the youngest of “The Mighty Handful,” five Russian composers who sought to make music “authentically Russian.” Sheherazade was inspired by tales from The Arabian Nights. Delightfully fun and full of adventure, it’s a perfect way to highlight members of our orchestra as soloists.

Tickets at newwestsymphony.org/25th-season-salute

25th Anniversary of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Family Event on Sunday, October 13th

25th Anniversary Celebration with City of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

October 13, 2019 1pm-4pm

The City of Thousand Oaks invites you to a complimentary afternoon of fun for the whole family! Celebrate the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s 25th Anniversary with theater tours, Touch-A-Truck-Event, live music performances, interactive booths, a kid-friendly firefighter agility course, food trucks and more!

Located at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Hosted by:

• The Thousand Oaks Library

• Conejo Valley Recreation and Park District

• Ventura County Fire

• Ventura County Sheriff

• The Lakes at Thousand Oaks

shoplakes.com/events/25th-anniversary-celebration-with-city-of-thousand-oaks-civic-arts-plaza

Fall Open House at Camarillo Bird Museum on Saturday, October 12, 2019

THE WESTERN FOUNDATION OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY, a.k.a, “THE CAMARILLO BIRD MUSEUM” INVITES YOU TO ITS 17th Annual Fall Open House!

The Museum will be open on Saturday, October 12, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a rare opportunity to tour the Foundation’s extensive bird, nest, and egg collections!

Guest Appearance: Ojai Raptor Center's Live Birds of Prey

Raptors of Southern California & Behind the Scenes of the WFVZ

Chumash Storyteller Alan "Spirit Hawk" Salazar

Silent Auction, Arts & Crafts, Short films, and Raffles

Gift items will be available for purchase.

Admission is $5.00 per person. Free for kids 5 and under. Free for members!

439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo www.wfvz.org 

Directions:  From south of Camarillo, take Hwy 101 to the Pleasant Valley/Santa Rosa Rd. off-ramp, and turn left at the end of the off-ramp, going back over the freeway. Follow Pleasant Valley west for 2 miles to where it crosses Lewis Road. Continue heading west on Pleasant Valley to the second street on the right, Calle San Pablo.  (If you cross the railroad tracks, you have gone too far.) Turn right on Calle San Pablo. The Foundation is the fifth building up on the left (439 Calle San Pablo).

From north of Camarillo, take Hwy 101 south to the Las Posas Rd. off-ramp, and turn right at the end of the off-ramp. Follow Las Posas for 0.8 miles to the intersection with Pleasant Valley Rd. Turn left onto Pleasant Valley, and follow it east for 1.6 miles to where it crosses the railroad tracks and comes to a stop sign. Be careful of traffic crossing at this intersection, since it does not stop. Proceed east after the stop sign to the first left -- Calle San Pablo. Turn left here.  The Foundation is the fifth building up on the left (439 Calle San Pablo).

2019 Ventura County Aviation Career Day for High School and Middle School Students on October 25th

Ventura County middle and high school students can explore exciting career opportunities in the aviation industry on October 25 at the Camarillo Airport. Students will have a chance to speak with industry professionals and learn how to pursue careers as pilots, drone operators, weather forecasters, aircraft mechanics and more.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to fly drones and participate in a “Make Garbage Fly” glider contest in which the gliders are built from recycled materials. There will also be fly-overs by vintage WWII aircraft and demonstrations of the Ventura County Fire Department’s airport crash and rescue truck.

WHAT: Aviation Career Day

WHEN: Friday, October 25, 2019 • 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Optional Tours: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm

WHERE: Camarillo Airport Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Hangar, 455 Aviation Drive

REGISTER: www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-aviation-career-day-tickets-58010351523

About the Ventura County Office of Education

The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.

Free Admission to America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College on September 21, 22, 2019

Moorpark College invites the community to experience America’s Teaching Zoo free of charge on September 21 and 22. Guests will experience wild animal encounters and presentations, as well as big cat feedings and animal training demonstrations. These demonstrations provide unique opportunities to witness operant conditioning and the student/animal bond.

“We want our community to know that we appreciate their support, and what better way to do that than to invite them in for free?” says Mara Rodriguez, zoo staff at America’s Teaching Zoo. “We hope first-time visitors will take advantage of this promotion and come to appreciate our Zoo as a community resource.”

America’s Teaching Zoo is located on the Moorpark College campus, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. Operation hours and animal presentations will be from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wild animal encounters and presentations will be at noon and 2 p.m. The event is free to all attendees.

America’s Teaching Zoo is also home to an important program that trains the next generation of animal stewards. The Exotic Animal Training and Management program (EATM) provides students with high-quality instruction in exotic animal care and training, giving them hands-on experience while caring for nearly 200 animals at the Zoo.

For more information, call (805) 378-1441 or visit moorparkcollege.edu/zoo.

30th Annual United Way of Ventura County Day of Caring on Saturday, September 28th

United Way of Ventura County invites the community to participate in its 30th Annual Day of Caring to take place on Saturday, September 28, 2019 from 9am to noon. This event will bring together teams and individual volunteers to help nonprofit organizations in the community with a variety of tasks. Volunteer projects are available in cities throughout Ventura County.

United Way is seeking volunteers to help community organizations across Ventura County. Day of Caring will be a fun, free and easy way for individuals, families and teams to work together and create real change in the community.

In 2018, over 550 individuals, families and teams volunteered at 29 project sites.

Some of the volunteer projects will include leading arts and crafts activities for children, painting and freshening up community centers, creating a garden of hope for cancer patients, sorting food at food banks and pantries and more!

Volunteers will receive a Day of Caring T-shirt for their participation. To register as a volunteer and to view full descriptions of the available Day of Caring projects, visit vcunitedway.org/day-of-caring.

14th Annual Denim, Diamonds & Stars for Autism in Westlake Village on Sunday, October 6, 2019

14th Annual Denim, Diamonds & Stars for Autism
Sunday, October 6, 2019
4:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village

This star-studded, red carpet charitable event raises funds to provide direct care and treatment to children with autism. Event will 

The fundraiser will feature a VIP & general cocktail reception, silent & live auctions, live entertainment, seated gourmet dinner catered by Four Seasons Hotel award-winning chefs, and an exciting program of celebrity presenters, live entertainment, and a special tribute to 2019 honorees.

For complete details and to purchase tickets, go to: www.DenimAndDiamondsForAutism.net.

10th Annual Simi Valley Dream Cuisine Event at St. Rose of Lima on Sunday, October 13, 2019

The 2019 Simi Valley Dream Cuisine will be held Sunday, October 13, 2010 at St. Rose Of Lima Catholic School. This food and wine festival will feature gourmet foods, wine, beer and desserts from 50 of the finest restaurants in the area. There will also be live music by the popular "Ronny & the Classics." Learn more and sign up at www.svdream.com.