Happenings

Happenings includes community events, meetings, classes, resources, needs and Arts Listings. To submit an item for inclusion email to: happenings@vcreporter.com

THANKSGIVING MEALS FOR THOSE IN NEED

VENTURA COUNTY RESCUE MISSION | Thursday, Nov. 25, Lunch, 11 a.m., Dinner,

5:30 p.m. In addition to lunch and dinner served daily, the VCRM will be doing mobile meals throughout the week partnering with local churches. Daily hot meals being served at the Oxnard location, at the following times: Lunch, 11 a.m.; Dinner, 5:30 p.m. Ventura County Rescue Mission, 234 E. 6th Street, Oxnard.

THANKSGIVING LUNCH | Thursday, Nov.

25, 12-1 p.m. A free Thanksgiving lunch served hot for those in need. Second Missionary Baptist Church, 1063 Pacific Ave., Simi Valley.

THANKSGIVING IN THE PARK | Thursday,

Nov. 25, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Young and old, rich or poor — whether homeless, living alone, or wanting to connect with neighbors this season, all are welcome to this community event. Live music and fantastic food. Hosted and organized by the Calvary Chapel and held at Libbey Park, 210 Signal Street, Ojai. www.calvaryojai.org

THURSDAY HAPPY THANKSGIVING

VENTURA TURKEY TROT | 8 a.m. The Ventura Land Trust is hosting a 5K and a children’s 1K. $40. www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/Ventura/ VenturaTurkeyTrot

FRIDAY

DUDLEY HOUSE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE | 12 - 5 p.m. Nov. 26, 27, 28 and Dec. 4, 5, 11 and

12. The annual fundraising event for the 1892 historic house museum is open again. Look for the perfect gift, or something special for your own home from among the quality crafts, home décor, antiques and collectibles. Don’t miss the bargain basement and silent auction. Sundays include a festive flea market. Admittance is free. The Dudley House, 197 N. Ashwood Ave., Ventura. VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS | Thursday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thanksgiving Day FREE Admission. All are welcome to explore the 107 acres of pathways and vistas of the Ventura Botanical Gardens for free on Thanksgiving Day. Ventura Botanical Gardens, 505 Poli St., Ventura.

SATURDAY

CHRISTMAS AT THE RANCH – TREE SALE |

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Local nonprofit Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) has 100 donated Christmas trees grown sustainably in Northern California which are being sold as a fundraiser for the organization. Trees are available for preorder online and can be picked up today at Petty Ranch in Saticoy or delivered for a fee. Details at www.seeag.org.

SUNDAY

LIGHT UP DOWNTOWN – FIRST NIGHT OF

CHANUKAH | 4-7 p.m. Gather in the heart of downtown Ventura for the lighting of the Grand Menorah for the first night of Chanukah. Enjoy a live concert with music from Cedars of Lebanon, fresh donuts and Chanukah kits. Gather at the corner of California and Main St., Ventura. www. chabadventura.com

MONDAY HAPPY CHANUKAH

LETTERS TO SANTA - CAMARILLO | Through

Dec. 13 Children can drop a letter to Santa Claus in the big red mailbox at the Camarillo Community Center and receive a letter back (include a return address). Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St., Camarillo. LIGHTING OF THE MENORAH | 12 p.m. In celebration of the first day of Chanukah, gather with local community leaders to light the Grand Menorah. Ventura County Government Center, Front Plaza, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.

GOD EXISTS, HER NAME IS PETRUNYA | 3:30

and 6:30 p.m. screenings The Oxnard Film Society continues it’s Monday night International film screenings with this Macedonian film. In Stip, a small town in Macedonia, every January the local priest throws a wooden cross into the river and hundreds of men dive after it. Good fortune and prosperity are guaranteed to the man who retrieves it. This time, Petrunya dives into the water on a whim and manages to grab the cross before the others. Her competitors are furious — how dare a woman take part in their ritual? All hell breaks loose, but Petrunya holds her ground. She won her cross and will not give it up. Macedonian with English Subtitles. $11.25. Youth and Senior discounts. Plaza Cinemas 14, 255 W. Fifth Street, Oxnard. www.oxnardfilmsociety.org

TUESDAY

SANTA PAWS PET PHOTO NIGHTS | Tuesdays

through Dec. 21, 5-8 p.m. Furry friends are invited to join in the fun every Tuesday evening at Santa Paws Pet Nights, sponsored by Pet Food Express. Our four-legged friends are part of the family and are also welcome to meet Santa himself with a reservation for a special photo. The Collection, Oxnard.

WILD LIGHTS AND DISCO NIGHTS | 6 – 8:30 p.m. Through Dec. 6. Visit the zoo at night under disco lights. Bring family and friends for this outdoor, cozy, holiday event at the zoo at Moorpark College. Stroll through a sparkling disco ball forest and visit Ira the Lion under his Den Canopy of Lights. Dance and groove in the Arctic Lights with holiday music, treats and enjoy a special evening visit with the animals. $7-$11. Call: 818-493-4966 for more information. America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. www.moorparkcollege.edu/teaching-zoo

SEE YOU IN THE STUDIO – WITH ARTIST

GAYEL CHILDRESS | 6:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom into the artist’s studio for a glimpse at the process Gayel Childress uses to create her whimsical and off-beat landscapes and figures. FREE. Registration is online at www.focusonthemasters.com

WEDNESDAY

LETTERS TO SANTA | Through Dec. 20 It’s never too early to get your wish list to the North Pole. Starting today families can bring their cards from home or use a postcard at The Collection’s Guest Services to drop off in the North Pole mailbox on Collection Boulevard. Santa and Mrs. Claus will reply to every letter that includes a return address. The Collection, Oxnard.

THURSDAY

THE OTHERWORLD ARTISTS RECEPTION | 4

p.m. The Otherworld is an exhibit of paintings that depict alternative realities. It seeks common ground among psychedelic explorations of the California hippie movement, science fiction, fantasy, spiritual visions and artistic conceptions of how the world might be re-created. Come meet some of the many faculty member artists at this free reception. California Lutheran University, William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art, 160 Overton Ct, Thousand Oaks. www.rollandgallery.callutheran.edu

“COVID-19, MIGRATION AND CHALLENGES TO WOMEN-LED ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN

MEXICO” | 5:30 p.m. Zoom panel discussion with Fabiola Lara, co-founder and creative director of tlali-pani, will moderate a discussion with Oaxaca residents Eva Lepiz, a photographer and visual educator, and Jiceel Luis, a researcher and educator, on economic and social challenges in Mexico. Cal Lutheran’s Center for Global Engagement is sponsoring the free event. For more information, contact Christina Sanchez at global@callutheran.edu or 805-4933750. To register or get more information, visit CalLutheran.edu/events.

COMMUNITY NEEDS, OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

12TH ANNUAL COZY HOLIDAY GIFT AWAY and ADOPT A FAMILY | Kids and Families

Together is asking for donations from the community help provide gifts, toys, blankets and pajamas to 150 foster/resource, kinship, adopted and bio children from families who the nonprofit organization currently serves and to ADOPT A FAMILY who is caring for a child who cannot be at their own home. Financial donations are always welcome, as well as items from the groups Amazon “Wish List” or direct donation of various requested items including new toys, pajamas, cozy throw blankets, games, art kits, and gift cards for teens. A full list and links to wish lists are online. Donated items for the Holiday Gift Away can be delivered to Community Partner, Ford of Ventura, 3440 E. Main Street, Ventura, during regular business hours Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or schedule a pick up by calling 805-643-1146 ext. 131 or by emailing events@kidsandfamilies.org Details at www. kidsandfamilies.org.

VENTURA WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE |

Donate by Dec. 1 The city of Ventura is hosting a winter clothing drive to provide stay-warm packs to local unhoused residents this winter season. Requested items include jackets and rain ponchos, blankets, socks and hand warmers, burying bags for items. Donations can be dropped off at River Community Church, located at 859 E. Santa Clara Street, Ventura.

TOYS FOR TOTS | Donate by Dec. 15 The public is invited to donate new, unwrapped toys by placing them in drop boxes located at participating Mechanics Bank branches. The toys will then be distributed locally by Toys for Tots volunteers. Donation locations: 304 East Main St., Ventura; 1171 South Victoria Ave., Suite 2A, Ventura; 410 Ventura Ave., Oak View; 1207 Maricopa Highway, Ojai; 470 Arneill Rd., Camarillo; 156 West 5th St., Oxnard; 3815 East Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite A, Westlake Village. Parents and guardians who want to request for a toy for a child can visit Toys for Tots’ local “Request Toys” webpage (https://port-hueneme-ca.toysfortots. org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/requesttoys.aspx) for more information. ♦

SNOW N GLOW HOLIDAY FESTIVAL | through Jan. 2 Grab your snow boots and mittens because the forecast is calling for a blizzard — at the beach! The rare storm event will create a magical wonderland to stroll through and there will be enough snow for sledding! Enjoy the million twinkling lights through snowy pathways leading to winter games, hot cocoa and winter treat stands. For those wanting to liven up a private party, or create a unique romantic setting with some winter flare, private igloos are available for rent. Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. www.snownglow.com.

GIVING TUESDAY EVENTS FOR VC NONPROFITS

Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, is a global event promoting the power of the masses in donating to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of people around the world — and locally. Here are some local Giving Tuesday events in support of Ventura County-based organizations.

THE ABUNDANT TABLE | This Camarillo-based nonprofit works to close the divide of food injustice. An active Giving Tuesday campaign will support a used school bus being refashioned into a mobile produce market to bring local, organic and affordable produce to neighborhoods far away from grocery stores, usually where migrant farmworkers, BIPOC and poor people live, pointing to structural inequities based on race and class. www.theabundanttable.org/ giving-tuesday/

FOCUS ON THE MASTERS | Purchase a ticket for an opportunity to win a drawing by artist Gerd Koch in support of the organizations’ arts archive and library. $10 per ticket or three for $25. The winning ticket will be drawn on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, during the Zoom event with artist Gayel Childress. Tickets online at www.focusonthemasters.com/opportunity-drawing-for-gerd-koch-painting/