CAMARILLO

Centering for Busy Minds course set

The Centering for Busy Minds course will be offered from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for six Tuesdays beginning this Tuesday through Aug. 26.

In "A New Earth," author Eckhart Tolle teaches some basic centering techniques. These techniques and more are introduced weekly in the course, which emphasizes that the end result is more important than the means you use to get there. The course will be taught by Integrative InSight's Meenal Kelkar. Take a yoga mat or something comfortable to lie on.

The $78 course will be at the Camarillo Health Care District, 3639 E. Las Posas Road, Suite 117. For more information, call 388-1952, ext 117.

Home Depot to hold Family Day July 26

The Home Depot in Camarillo will host a Family Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 26 at the parking lot of the store at 401 W. Ventura Blvd.

Activities will include a Kid's Clinic Workshop, vendor demonstrations and prize drawings.

For more information, call Alison Trester at 389-9918, ext. 457.

Head Start program is recruiting

The Head Start program in Camarillo is recruiting for the coming 2008-09 school year.

Head Start is a comprehensive preschool program that serves children 3-5.

For more information, call 485-7878, ext. 541.

Grand opening, ribbon cutting set

Mega Care Health will hold its grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 333 N. Lantana St., Suite 124.

The event will include complimentary hors d'oeuvres catered by DJ's Restaurant, business networking and raffle prizes.

Mega Care Health is a staffing agency bonded and insured that specializes in hiring and recruiting medical and nonmedical staff members. It also offers in-home care for seniors, post-natal care (mother and newborns) and care for the disabled.

Services include ambulatory and nonambulatory assistance, geriatric care management and personal care. For more information, call 445-9900, or visit http://www.megacarehealth.com, or e-mail info@megacarehealth.com.

OJAI

Master class for singers offered

The Ojai Community Chorus will host a singers' master class to improve singing technique. The class will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Ojai Wesleyan Church, 105 E. Topa Topa Drive.

The class will include an overall review and reminder of basic singing techniques, training in a cappella singing, breathing and vowel formation.

Connie Woodson, director of the chorus for the past three years, will facilitate the class. She is a professional singer and director.

Students are asked to pre-register by Friday so written materials may be prepared. Take a sack lunch and drink, including water. The registration fee is $55 and will include an extensive handbook of information and singing techniques.

For more information on the class and to register, or for information on the Ojai Community Chorus, call Marilyn McCandless at 640-0468.

OXNARD

Fun With Arts and Music program set

Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer will offer a Fun With Arts and Music community arts program from 2:30 to 5:15 p.m. Aug. 4-8.

The program, which is in its fourth year, is designed for children in first through sixth grades.

The theme is Sweet Land of Liberty. Activities will include recorder and bell-ringing lessons of American folk songs; learning patriotic songs; weaving and a demonstration from a representative of the Ventura County Weavers Association; candle making; leather working; demonstration and history of a 100-year-old quilt by Margaret Anderson; and clogging and square dance lessons. The New West Symphony music van of instruments will also be on loan for the children to experience firsthand that week.

There will also be a program for families and friends in the church social hall at 5 p.m. Aug. 8. Hot dogs, beans, potato salad and watermelon will be served on the church's back lawn.

Fees are $30 for the week for the first child and $25 for additional children in the family. The program is partially funded by Thrivent Financial and the Brinkman Family Produce Co. Professional and credentialed staff members are program organizers.

The church is at 721 Doris Ave. For more information, call 983-0612 or Betty Sahota, FUNWAM director, 484-7682.

Festival committee seeks volunteers

Oxnard's Commission on Community Relations has announced its preparation for the 13th annual Multicultural Festival. The festival committee is seeking volunteers to host international booths, representing cultures and countries from around the world.

There will be a meeting to learn more about hosting a booth from 6 to 7 p.m. July 28 in the Human Resources Activity Room, 300 W. Third St.

Booths will provide visitors with information on culture, religious beliefs, history, economics and provide activities for the youths and adults visiting.

Additionally, a booth contest will be held to honor the best booths in the following categories: Best Information Provided, Best Decorations and Traditional Clothing, and Best Activities.

A 10-by-10 space with a canopy will be provided by the committee for free but must be staffed and decorated by the volunteers representing the country or culture.

The committee is also seeking retail and food vendors along with performers. Vendor and booth applications can be downloaded from http://www.ci.oxnard.ca.us.

The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 4 in Plaza Park.

For more information, call Rachel Crandall at 385-8351 or e-mail her at Rachel.Crandall@ci.oxnard.ca.us.

RSVP seeking volunteers

The Oxnard RSVP is seeking men and women 55 and older to invest their time and skills in one of the many local nonprofit agencies in western Ventura County:

n Brown Bag site coordinator: Design and implement Brown Bag grocery distribution at a Port Hueneme community center on Monday mornings. Must have good organizational skills, a compassionate and caring attitude, interact well as a team member and be able to lift 35 pounds.

n Brown Bag grocery delivery: Pick up grocery bags at an Oxnard location and deliver to homebound seniors in Oxnard and Port Hueneme on Wednesday mornings. Must have own car.

n Water aides: Assist children with special needs during their private recreation swim time — from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in Ventura.

For more information about these opportunities and many more, call 385-8020 or visit RSVP in the Wilson Park Complex, 350 North C St. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

VENTURA

Book festival slated for July 26

Ventura Book Festival 2008 will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 26 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel at Harbor Boulevard and California Street.

Produced by the California Literacy Arts Society, the family event will feature a variety of books for adults, as well as books written by children and published by the CLAS. Children's book publishers as well as book stores will be exhibiting. There will also be a story time for children with rhyming story books read by professional actors.

Other events on the program are writing seminars, a discussion of women's fiction vs. men's fiction by award-winning authors, readings and book signings. There will also be raffles.

Entrance to the book festival and the educational and entertaining programs are free.

For more information, call 643-3385, or visit http://www.literaryarts-ca.org.

Group therapy sessions to begin

Dr. Priscilla Partridge de Garcia, clinical psychologist and resident artist at Spa by Diane Loring Inc. at the Historic Love House, is presenting an ongoing series of group therapy sessions — "The Power of Your Mind and Getting What You Want, Through Meditation." The sessions will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at 119 S. Figueroa St.

Cost is $25 per session. For more information or to make reservations, call 641-0022 or e-mail info@spaventura.com.

Singles barbecue and potluck planned

Ventura County Jewish Federation Singles for those 40 and older will hold a singles beach barbecue and potluck at noon July 27 at Marina Park.

Take a side dish to share for five people. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided at no cost.

For reservations, call 766-2147.

Meeting regarding foster families set

Aspiranet Foster-Resource Family will hold a meeting for potential foster families from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 1838 Eastman Ave., Suite 100.

To be a foster family it takes time to care for a child or children, appropriate space in your home to accommodate them and a concern for children's well-being in the community. There are additional requirements that individuals and couples must meet. Attend the initial training, complete the applications, obtain a fingerprint background check, have a health screening and provide information about your home, vehicles, and obtain a DMV driving record printout. Aspiranet respects all types of relationships and family configurations.

For more information, call 289-0120.

Rummage sale benefit is today

The employees of Southern California Edison's Ventura District are hosting their second annual rummage sale. The sale is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at 10080 Telegraph Road.

Donations are also being accepted for clean, sellable items.

The proceeds of this event will benefit Teen Challenge of Ventura County, which has been a member of the community for almost 50 years. Each year the organization graduates 70 women from its one-year drug recovery program which is offered at no charge to anyone needing help. For more information about Teen Challenge and its services, contact Christina Hardin at 648-3295.

For more details about the sale, call Monique Castro at 654-7282 or Angela Ochoa at 654-7258.

VENTURA COUNTY

Bone Builders instructors sought

Training is being offered for those interested in becoming an RSVP Bone Builders instructor. For the first time, Bone Builders is being offered outside Oxnard. Two classes will be held in Camarillo through a Camarillo Health Care District service contract. At least four volunteer instructors are needed to lead the Camarillo classes.

No special skills are required; volunteers just need to enjoy working with people. Anyone with a positive attitude, enthusiasm and an interest in staying healthy can lead the class.

Volunteers attend a six-hour training session and receive support and supervision from the program coordinator and an ongoing in-service schedule.

The next new volunteer training will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Wilson Park Complex, 350 North C St.

Volunteers must be willing to lead a one-hour class twice a week and must be 55 or older to participate. It is an opportunity to volunteer with a friend, as instructors teach in pairs.

RSVP Bone Builders classes include balance exercises and strength training with light weights. There is no charge for participants or instructors, and weights are provided.

For more information or to register for the training, contact Jaci Gutierrez, RSVP Bone Builders coordinator, at 385-8019 or rsvp@ci.oxnard.ca.us.

Sponsorships sought for SOW VIII

The eighth annual gala event, Symphony of Wine VIII, offers an opportunity for local food and wine enthusiasts and business leaders to indulge their taste buds and have their business recognized as a supporter of the New West Symphony's children's youth programs. The event will be at 3 p.m. Sept. 21 at the new Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village.

SOW has raised more than $1 million to date for youth programs at the NWS, which performs at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Barnum Hall in Santa Monica and the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Ninety-three percent of the funds raised go directly to the music programs, and purchases made at the auction are tax-deductible for winning bidders. Depending on the level (Grand Cru, Premier Cru and Cuvée) sponsorships include tickets, prominent business recognition at the event and press materials and a pre-tasting opportunity with event committee members.

This year's gourmet four-course dinner will feature dishes prepared by internationally trained executive chefs from top restaurants led by the executive chef of the Westlake Village Four Seasons. The meal will be complemented by wines from well-known, award-winning vineyards.

The live and silent auctions will include wines that can only be obtained at Symphony of Wine, luxury vacations and other items. This year's event will honor Bob Long of Napa's Long Vineyards, founded in 1977.

The New West Symphony provides the community accessible world-class performances and educational opportunities.

The cost of the dinner event is $275 per person, and seating is limited to 300 guests. For information on sponsorships, call Jeanne Feder at 373-1100 or e-mail Jeanne@mayersonmarketing.com.

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