West county community briefs: Fundraiser to help school athletics

March 01--Camarillo

Forum to address women's issues

The Ventura County Woman's Forum Collaborative will present "Through a Gender Lens: Issues of Importance to Women" in a two-part program March 9-10.

There will be a screening of the film "First Generation" at CSU Channel Islands, 1 University Drive, Malibu Hall Room 100.

There also will be a panel discussion and viewing of key movie scenes from 5:30-7 p.m.March 10 at the Ventura County Community Foundation, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd.

"First Generation" tells the story of four California high school students -- an inner-city athlete, a small-town waitress, a Samoan warrior dancer and the daughter of migrant field workers -- who set out to break the cycle of poverty and bring hope to their families and communities by pursuing a college education.

The forum and film are free to members, with a suggested $10 donation for nonmembers. Annual membership is $15 for individuals and $25 for organizations. Visit http://www.vcwf.org/Membership.php or call Sue at 231-4152 for more information.

Speaker helped to found Invoca

The Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics at CSU Channel Islands will host speaker Jason Spievak, CEO of Invoca, as part of the spring speaker series offering lessons from successful entrepreneurs and executives.

Spievak's presentation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday in Malibu Hall Room 100.

Spievak is one of the founders of Invoca (formerly RingRevenue), a multimillion-dollar public company that provides enterprise inbound call marketing solutions.

Admission is free and includes lunch. Visit http://business.csuci.edu/events to register.

Program will focus on forgiveness

The Lifetree Café will host a program titled "The Struggle to Forgive: Finding a Way Forward" at 7 p.m. Thursday at 71 Loma Drive.

The program will feature the filmed story of Alicia Brady, the victim of a gang-related drive-by shooting.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages will be available.

Visit http://www.lifetreecafe.com, email [email protected] or call Phil Hamilton at 482-3313 for more information.

Event will benefit United Way effort

Meathead Movers, in conjunction with the United Women's Leadership Council, will host a girls' night out fundraiser from 6-9 p.m.March 19 at Spanish Hills Country Club, 999 Crestview Ave.

The event will feature music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres, food stations and a silent auction. Tickets are $50.

Proceeds will benefit the United Way of Ventura County'sUnited Women's Leadership Council. Visit http://www.vcunitedway.org or call 485-6288, ext. 265, to RSVP.

Chorus will host dinner, show

The ChannelAire Chorus will have a spaghetti dinner and show at 3 p.m.March 8 at the Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St.

The show will start at 3 p.m. with performances by the chorus and featured quartets. The show will be followed by a homemade spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. with Mary's special sauce, garlic bread, soft drinks, coffee and dessert. Wine will be available for purchase.

Tickets are $20, or $10 for children ages 5-10 and free for under age 5. Visit http://www.channelaire.org or call 482-5557 to buy tickets.

Art program plans student exhibit

The art program at CSU Channel Islands will present a student exhibit titled "Dreams, Fables & Histories, Captured and Framed" from Monday through March 21 at the CI Palm Gallery, 92 Palm Ave.

The exhibit features video and animation projects.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Email [email protected] or call 437-2772 for more information.

Fundraiser to help school athletics

There will be a fundraiser to benefit Cornerstone Christian Schools athletics at El Tecolote Mexican Restaurant from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at 333 N. Lewis Road.

The restaurant will donate 20 percent of food sales to the school. Guests can tell the server they are there for the fundraiser for the school to receive the donation. The fundraiser applies to dine-in and takeout customers.

Call 482-0628 for more information.

Ojai

Retreat to build songwriting skills

The "Inner Circle" songwriting retreat will be March 15-16 at the Ojai Retreat, 160 Besant Road.

The weekend will be hosted by Alan Roy Scott. The weekend will include a master class, collaborations with guest songwriters and with each other, a "jam session," performance opportunities and more.

Visit http://www.songwritingretreat.com for more information. Call 646-2536 to register.

Artist to share various paintings

Artist Merilee Allen will show her paintings at the Ojai Community Bank, 402 W. Ojai Ave., through April 4.

There will be a wine-and-cheese reception from 5:30-7 p.m.March 13. The paintings will include oils, acrylics and encaustic paintings.

Bank hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 6 p.m. Friday.

Oxnard

Event to examine human trafficking

First Presbyterian Church will have an event on human trafficking Thursday at 850 Ivywood Drive.

There will be a community awareness walk from 5:30-6:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., speakers will include Jessica Midkiff, survivor and child-abuse victims' advocate, <person>Michelle Guymon, project manager of the sex trafficking unit in Los Angeles and Debra Deem, of the FBI special victims unit in Ventura County.

Call Debbie Gohlke at 320-5215 with any questions.

Santa Paula

Public can hear Santa Paula group

The Santa Paula-based group the R & B'z will perform from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday at the Museum of Ventura County'sAgriculture Museum,

The R & B'z features Robert Guizar, Robert Pond, John Avila and Brian Hernandez.

The Underground Gourmet food truck will park outside the museum from 7-9 p.m. and sell burgers, wraps and tacos.

Admission is $10 for the general public, $5 for museum members and $2 for children with an adult. Seating is first come, first seated.

Thousand Oaks

Biotech matters to get spotlight

CSU Channel Islands will hold a series of monthly biotechnology law breakfast seminars titled "Science and Society: Legal, Economic and Ethical Concerns in New Technologies."

The next seminar is "From Bench-Top to Bank -- Monetizing Scientific Expertise" with Michael Ram. The seminar will be from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Ventura Bio Center, 1176 Tourmaline Drive.

The free event is open to the public. Email [email protected] for more information.

Ventura

Workshops to share info on insurance

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging will host Covered California education and enrollment workshops throughout March at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging office, 646 County Square Drive, Suite 100.

Workshops will be offered:

From 1-5 p.m. Thursday.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.March 13.

From 1-4:30 p.m.March 14.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.March 19.

From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.March 21.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.March 25.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.March 28.

The last day to enroll in a Covered California health plan is March 31. Call 844-238-2262 for more information.

Resource center will assist veterans

A new veterans resource center will open at 4 p.m. Friday at the E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St.

The center was assisted by a grant from the state librarian. The center, staffed by library volunteers trained by CalVet, will make it easier for veterans and their families to learn about the state and federal benefits they have earned through military service and how to claim them and about the local services available.

Volunteers are welcome. Call Sara Roberts at 641-4414.

Speaker will give talk on creativity

Amit Goswami will discuss "Creativity in the Time of Crisis and Paradigm Shifts" at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living, 101 S. Laurel St.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Visit http://www.venturacsl.org or call 643-1933 for more information.

Ventura County

Classes to address joint replacement

The Livingston Visiting Nurse Association will have a variety of free joint replacement classes to prepare individuals for knee or hip replacement surgery.

Home preparation, exercises and rehabilitation information will be discussed.

Classes will meet:

From 1-2 p.m. Thursday at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave, Room 109 in Ventura.

From 10-11 a.m.March 12 in the third-floor classroom at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital, 2309 Antonio Ave. in Camarillo.

From 1-2 p.m.March 12 at the Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks.

From 1-2 p.m.March 19 in the activity room at Sunrise Senior Living, 190 Tierra Rejada Road in Simi Valley.

Call Barrie Gilster at 797-7699 to register.

Groups offer help with grieving

Livingston Hospice will have several adult bereavement support groups to help those who have experienced a loss.

Here's the schedule:

From 3-4:30 p.m. Wednesday and again March 12, 19 and 26 at First Presbyterian Church, 850 Ivywood Drive in Oxnard.

From 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday and again March 12, 19 and 26 at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave., No. 112 in Ventura.

From 10:30 a.m. to noonMarch 11 and 25 at Help of Ojai, 370 Baldwin Road.

From 6-7:30 p.m.March 13 for the newly bereaved at Livingston, 1996 Eastman Ave., No. 112 in Ventura.

Call 642-1608 for more information.

Positions open on committee

The Community Leadership Committee has four openings:

Family member of a child consumer of mental health services.

Family member of an adult consumer of mental health services.

Transitional youth age 18-25 representative.

General community member.

Each position will need an alternate.

Applications are available at http://www.vchca.org/behavioral-health/community-leadership-committee and due by Friday. Email completed applications to [email protected]. Call 981-6440 with any questions.

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