CAMARILLO

Classical guitar group to meet Wednesday

The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Senior Center, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo.

David Adele, classical guitarist, will be the group's guest. He will play at 8 p.m.

For more information, call 482-6224 or visit http://www.vccgs.com.

Christian Women's Club to mark 15th birthday

The Camarillo Christian Women's Club will celebrate its 15th anniversary when it meets for a luncheon at 11 a.m. May 4 at Spanish Hills Golf and Country Club, 999 Crestview Ave., Camarillo.

There will be a cake-decorating demonstration by Ann Mohr in celebration of the anniversary, and professional floral designer and wedding planner Bee Bareng will tell her story of a journey from a tropical hometown.

The cost is $21 and guests are welcome. Reservations are due by April 27. Call JoAnne at 987-7134.

Plant physiology, soils topic for Rose Society

The Ventura County Rose Society will meet at 7 p.m. April 26 at the Cowan Conference Center, 550 Airport Way, Camarillo.

Featured speaker Anthony Hepton, a leading master gardener and avid rose grower, will speak on plant physiology and soils

The club's lending library, featuring books and videos, will be available, and refreshments will be served. Visitors are welcome.

Visit the Web site at http://www.venturarose.org for more information or call Dawn-Marie Johnson at 523-9003.

Newbury Park

Garden club to discuss nontoxic pest control

The Conejo Valley Organic Garden and Herb Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road.

Members and guests will discuss pest management using beneficial insects and other nontoxic methods to eradicate pests.

The club is dedicated to teaching the principles and practices of successful organic gardening. To that end, members share seeds, plants and produce.

The meeting is free and open to the public. For information, call 498-1623.

OXNARD

White elephant sale and lunch slated

The Oxnard Republican Women's Club will have a luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club, 2600 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard.

This meeting will include a white elephant sale. Cost for the lunch is $23. For reservations, call Joanne Linder at 985-7216.

Handweavers and Spinners Guild to meet

The Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild will have its monthly meeting and program at 9:30 a.m. April 28 at 701 S. Del Norte Blvd., Units 115 and 120, Oxnard.

Los Angeles-based weaver Anna Zinsmeister will discuss weft twining as used by the Maoris of New Zealand and people of the Pacific Northwest. She will demonstrate various twining techniques and show samples of work from around the world.

The program is free and open to the public. For information, call Chris Villalovos at 527-1915 or go to http://www.venturaweaveandspin.homestead.com.

Federal Employees Association will meet

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will meet at 11:30 a.m. April 26 at 801 South A St. in Oxnard. Luncheon will be served at noon.

Dr. Bob Warnagieris will present an update on healthcare-issue legislation proposed for the coming election.

Cost is $8 for the luncheon. All federal employees, retirees, their spouses or survivors are welcome.

For information, call 382-8826.

Embroiderers' Guild presents Stitchers' Faire

The Channel Islands chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America will present the Stitchers' Faire, a judged needlework show and boutique. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard.

Donations at the door are $5 for adults and $2 for children 8 to 12.

For more information, call 376-3015.

PORT HUENEME

Spring book sale announced

The Friends of the Port Hueneme Library will have its annual spring book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in front of the library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme.

All proceeds from the sale are given to the library to help buy more books for its collection or to support programs and services at the library. For more information, call 985-8960.

Simi Valley

Rotary Club's Gator Run/Walk set for May

The 2007 inaugural Gator Run 5K/10K Run/Walk presented by the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset will take place May 27 at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley, and will be in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise's 18th annual Cajun Creole Music Festival.

Proceeds from the Gator Run will benefit the Ventura County Fire Department's Fallen Firefighter Memorial Fund.

Entry fees include bib number, T-shirt, one free ticket to the Cajun Creole Music Festival, door prizes and refreshments. Prize money of $100, $75 and $50 will go to first, second and third place overall for males and females in both the 5K and the 10K. Awards will go to the top three finishers in each of 13 age groups.

Registration is $25 until May 10 and $30 afterward. Packet pickup will be available from noon to 4 p.m. May 26 at Foot Pursuit Run Shop, 4324 Cochran St., Simi Valley.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on registration or to become a sponsor, visit http://www.simicajun.org, call 583-4971, or e-mail GatorRun@mac.com.

Friends of Library to salute volunteers

Sixty-seven volunteers seniors and teens will be honored by the Simi Valley Friends of the Library at the annual Volunteer Recognition Day at 2 p.m. April 29 in the community room of the Simi Valley Library

Featured speaker Moorpark College Professor Barbara Outland Baker, author of "Arnold and Me: In the Shadow of the Austrian Oak," will discuss her book in a speech titled "The Face of Creativity."

There will be a question-and-answer period after her talk. The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For further details, call Angelin Lucht at 526-6207.

The library is at 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley.

Women's Information Network will meet

The Women's Information Network of Simi Valley will meet for luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Secret Garden Restaurant, 255 High St., Moorpark.

The featured guest will be Deborah Gallant, who will talk about how to use the Internet to market a small business, even with a limited budget and little technical background.

For information and reservations, go to http://www.womensinfonetwork.com.

THOUSAND OAKS

Group to celebrate Astronomy Day

The Ventura County Astronomical Society will celebrate National Astronomy Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Lakes, 2200 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

The celebration will include displays, children's activities and more.

There will also be an evening event at 8 p.m. at the Charles Temple Observatory at Moorpark College, if weather permits. There will be a short presentation about the night sky followed by viewing through telescopes. The evening event is suitable for adults and children 8 and older. The group recommends red-light flashlights and warm clothing or blankets.

Both events are free. For more information, call 520-9666.

Transplant Recipients International to meet

The Transplant Recipients International Organization Ventura County/West Valley chapter will meet at 7 p.m. Friday in the auditorium of the Baxter Building, 1 Baxter Way, Thousand Oaks.

Members will welcome as speakers two of their own, Ventura residents Jim and Sharon Daly. Jim is a UCLA liver transplant recipient and Sharon is the daughter of missionaries who founded the Mossyfoot Foundation. The couple travels to Africa several times a year to oversee the project that aims to stamp out mossy foot, a debilitating condition found primarily in rural districts on people that work in soil of volcanic origin. This condition causes swelling and ulcers in the feet and lower legs.

The lecture and a slide show are free and open to the public. For information and directions, call Jackie Colleran at 492-9810.

Arts Council offers art career workshop

Practical Advice for Advancing Your Art Career is the title of a workshop by Ashley McLean Emenegger to be presented by the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley from 6 to 9 p.m. May 2 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The workshop is aimed at taking some of the mystery of self-promotion for artists and their work. Attendees can learn practical tools and no-nonsense advice in obtaining exhibitions, building their résumés, promoting and marketing their work, and finding gallery representation.

The cost is $20. Information and registration is available at http://wwwconejoarts.org or 381-1246.

VENTURA

University Women meeting set

The Ventura branch of the American Association of University Women will meet for a continental breakfast at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at 2846 Grove St., Ventura. Guest speaker will be Cassie Sorenson, director of The Lighthouse (a women's and children's mission). There is no charge to attend. Members are asked to bring toilet articles such as soap, shampoo, diapers, laundry soap, etc. RSVP to 659-3031.

'Negotiating with Power' luncheon topic

Ventura County Leadership Academy will hold a luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at the Orchid Room, Local Building 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo.

The program, Negotiating with Power, will be presented by Gina Rae Hendrickson of ACCORD Mediation Services, who will discuss how to get what you want professionally and personally by learning the 10 sources of power and how to improve problem-solving and negotiating skills.

Seating is limited. Cost is $40 and all reservations must be prepaid. Reserve and charge by calling 485-6288, ext. 260, or reserve online at http://www.vcunitedway.org. (Click on events).

For more information, call Lin Holzinger at 650-6695.

Pest control topic for Garden Club

The Ventura Organic Garden Club will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Topping Room, adjacent to the E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Ventura.

Master gardener and professional garden designer Lisa Burton will speak on integrated pest management. Burton emphasizes a holistic approach to a balanced, healthy, sustainable landscape in which garden pests are easily managed. An opportunity for questions will be provided.

Admission is free; donations will be gratefully accepted. For more information, call Margaret Morris at 648-4323.

Potter's guild celebrates anniversary

The Ventura County Potter's Guild is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The group meets every fourth Monday at 7 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura.

Meetings include ceramic talks and presentations. For more information, call 646-2770 or 987-6287.

Nancy Carlberg to speak to Genealogical Society

The Ventura County Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ventura LDS Family History Center, 3501 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.

Guest speaker Nancy Carlberg will speak on "Research in Salt Lake." Carlberg is a former librarian, author of more than 50 books, and a lecturer and genealogy teacher throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties.

For more information, call 644-4753 or visit http://www.rootsweb.com/~cavcgs.

Eastern Star to serve breakfast Sunday

The Channel Islands Chapter Order of the Eastern Star will be serving the annual aebleskiver breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. The breakfast will be on the second floor of the Ventura Masonic Center, corner of Santa Clara and California streets, Ventura.

The breakfast will include homemade aebleskivers, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit cup, orange juice, coffee, tea or milk.

Suggested donation is $7.

There will also be plants and pots available for sale.

For more information, call Ginny Stout at 659-4980 or Worthy Matron Becky Burson at 647-9204.

VENTURA COUNTY

Notre Dame clubs set annual gathering

The Notre Dame Clubs of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and the Central Coast are gathering for the annual UND celebrations at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Courtyard by Marriott, 600 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard.

Mass at 11 a.m. will be followed by a social hour and silent auction featuring football tickets, among many other items. The luncheon will begin at 1 p.m., with Tom Monaghan from the Notre Dame Alumni Association as keynote speaker.

For more information, contact Cindy Neff at 987-3581 or via e-mail at CindyCNeff@gmail.com.

Workshop on Amish stitching offered

Channel Islands Chapter Embroiderer's Guild of America will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Camarillo United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo.

The program will include a workshop on Amish basket band stitching.

Beginners are welcome. For more information, call 498-5956.

Submarine Veterans of Ventura County to meet

The World War II Submarine Veterans and Parche Base USSVI of Ventura County will have a joint monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday at Island Brewing Co., 5049 Sixth St., Carpinteria.

Bill Reitz will report on the success of the submariners' food sales at the recent Point Mugu Air Show. Discussions will include programs to help youth and plans for the Wives and Daughters of WWII Submariners Picnic.

Submariners of all eras are invited at no charge. For information and directions, call Bob Harmuth at 985-8718 or e-mail saltymate@aol.com.

Retired Officers Wives to gather for lunch

The Retired Officers Wives Club will have its monthly luncheon April 26 at the Bard Mansion, Naval Base Ventura County. Social hour will begin at noon, to be followed by luncheon at 12:30.

Bill Boerricher, one of the founders of the Gold Coast Pipe Band of Ventura County, will be guest speaker. Cost is $10 per person. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, call 484-1857.

Barbershop harmony group seeks singers

The Channel Islands Clippers men's barbershop chorus is seeking volunteers to sing at various events. The chorus is a nonprofit group that meets from 7 to 9:30 p.m. each Tuesday at the Wilson Park Center, 350 North C St., Oxnard. For more information, call Bill Butala at 650-9940.

"Extrasolar Planets" topic for astronomers

The Ventura County Astronomical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. April 27 in the multipurpose room at Mesa Union School, 3901 Mesa School Road, Somis.

Speaker for the evening will be Michael Jura, professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA.

Jura's presentation is titled "Extrasolar Planets." Jura has worked on the astrophysics of cold, low-density environments. His major current interest is extrasolar planetary systems such as comets, asteroids and planets. His long-term goal is to determine if there is life on these planets.

For more information, call 520-9666.

Path to 9/11 topic for Republican mixer

The Ventura Republican Party will be holding a mixer at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Air Force One Pavilion at 7 p.m. April 25.

The evening will include a talk from special guest speaker Cyrus Nowrasteh, writer and producer of "The Path to 9/11."

There will be a raffle and refreshments will be served.

Attendees are asked to bring items which will be collected to send to the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Items needed are phone cards, sunscreen, lotion, socks, pens, CDs, DVDs, canned food, magazines, batteries and other small items.

Cost of admission is $20. To RSVP, contact Natalie Panossian at 217-2465 or e-mail venturacountygop@gmail.com.

Lions set seventh ice cream social

The Saticoy Lions Club is hosting their seventh annual ice cream social from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura.

The Main Street Jazz Band will provide musical entertainment. Admission is $10. Proceeds benefit the club's sight and hearing projects, Saticoy Little League and community college scholarships.

For more information, call 647-3749 or 320-0576.

Casino night on tap for bowlers

Ventura County U.S. Bowling Congress Women's Bowling Association will hold a fundraising casino night event from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday. at the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley, 2850 Lemon Drive.

This benefit will include door prizes and a no-host bar. Advance donation of $20 buys $1000 in fun bucks. Donation at the door is $25. Reservations are suggested.

For more information, call 527-2758.