Datebook

THURS., OCT. 18

Thanks To Firefighters Douglas Emmett, Valley Cultural Center present Grateful Hearts third annual Food Faire and Fundraiser to honor L.A. Fire Department, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Oxnard St. between Owensmouth Ave. and AMC Place, Warner Center. 25 restaurants serve samples. Emcee Erik Estrada, Smoke and Mirrors LAFD band plays. (818) 593-6266.

Ground Up Pleasant Valley Garden Club meets Camarillo Seventh-day Adventist Church, Fireside Room, 3975 E. Las Posas Road, Camarillo. 9 a.m. social time, 9:30 a.m. meeting. Guest speaker Brian Critchley from Agromin discusses ground preparation, planting tips, soil amendments and supplements. New members welcome. Sandy Roth, (805) 484-5484.

FRI., OCT. 19

Swing It Big band dance at Pierce College, Woodland Hills. Woody James and his orchestra play 1920s-'40s swing music 8 to 10 p.m. Warm-up dance lesson 7 to 8 p.m. General admission $10. Seniors, Pierce students, staff $8. (818) 719-6425.

Pancake After Pancake Council on Aging Fall Arts and Crafts Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Saturday, Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Free admission. Rotary Club hosts allyoucan-eat pancake breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Senior Center. $4 donation. (805) 583-6363.

Black Hole Harmonies Ventura County Astronomical Society meets 7:30 p.m., multipurpose room, Mesa Union School, 3901 Mesa School Road, Somis. Speaker: Omer Blaes, UC Santa Barbara astrophysics professor. Topic: "Black holes that sing." Public invited. Carl Ashley, (805) 642-5166, vcas1@aol.com, vcas.org.

SAT., OCT. 20

Colonial Roots Ventura County Genealogical Society Inc. hosts annual seminar, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ventura LDS Family History Center, 3501 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Guest speaker: Linda Jones, director of McLean Family History Center in Virginia, discusses Colonial America. Exhibits, refreshments, lunch, door prizes, genealogy books for sale. $35 society members, $40 nonmembers. Gwenda Tucker (805) 485-7930, bisbeenme2@aol.com.

A-1 Tip, Plus Level Ripsnorter Square Dance Club hosts plus-level dance with A-1 tip, Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St. 7 p.m. rounds, 8 p.m. squares. Dick Hodnefield caller, Gus DeFore cuer. Black and white dance. $6. (805) 482-3201.

Style In Spotlight Casa Pacifica Angels presents sixth annual fashion event "Spotlight on Style- Portrait of a Lady," 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. Tom Scavo of "Desperate Housewives" is emcee. Champagne, drawings, live auction. Proceeds go to Casa Pacifica, crisis care for children. (805) 484-7144.

'U.S. vs. Bush' author Democratic Women's Council of Conejo Valley hosts brunch, book signing 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Boccaccio's restaurant, 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. Author Elizabeth de la Vega, a former federal prosecutor, presents her book, "United States Versus George W. Bush et al." $29 includes silent auction. RSVP required, Mary Kay Donahue (805) 495-1515. dwccv.org.

Childhood Discoveries Moorpark College Child Development Center presents semiannual fundraiser Discovery Day, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road. Educational activities for children ages 2 to 10. Entertainment by Toymaker Gene West, the Sunshine Band, noon to 1 p.m. $5 child, $3 adult. (805) 378-1401.

Getting The Spirit Rotary Club of Westlake Village hosts "The Spirit of the Season," benefit dinner party, North Ranch Country Club, 4761 Valley Spring Drive, Westlake Village. Fine wines, gourmet dinner, entertainment, auctions. Benefits local charities. $110 individual; $1,000 table of 10. RSVP Gloria Rocca, (818) 706-1810.

Spinning The

Wheels Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild hosts open house, show and sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Studio Channel Islands Art Center, CSUCI campus, Camarillo. Demos, silent auctions, sales of fibers, looms, books, yarns, beads, wearable art. All fiber arts welcome.

Battle Royal Royal High School Band Boosters hosts the 24th annual Royal Classic marching band and color guard competition, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the school, 1402 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. More than 25 school bands compete. Two award ceremonies for small, large bands. $7 at gate. Royalbands.com.

Unforgettables Thousand Oaks Dance Club hosts dance, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Goebel Senior Adult Center ballroom, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Doors open 7 p.m. Music by The Unforgettables. Singles, couples welcome. Light refreshments. $5 members, $7 nonmembers. (805) 381-2744.

L.A. Winery Visit Calabasas Historical Society visits San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles. Guided tour of cellars, lunch at Maddalena restaurant. Meet to carpool 10 a.m. McDonalds, 23340 Ave. San Luis and Valley Circle, Woodland Hills. RSVPKarl Wedemeyer (818) 3336306.

SUN., OCT. 21

Tower Clocks Ventura and Santa Barbara county chapter of National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors meets at noon, Ventura College, Building B, cafeteria. Ken McWilliams presents "Tower Clocks," history of Seth Thomas Tower Clocks, restoration of Santa Paula town clock. Watches and clocks on display, sale. Public invited at $3 admission; members free. (805) 988-1764, nawcc.org.

Cherry Corvettes National Corvette Restorers Society hosts fall judged meet and show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Commons, 4799 Commons Way, Calabasas. sccncrs@ncrs.org.

Camarillo's Past Friends of Camarillo Library meet 2 p.m., Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. Speaker: Eric Daily discusses Camarillo history. Free. (805) 388-5222.

Play In The Street Thousand Oaks Rotary Club presents 16th annual Thousand Oaks Street Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Moorpark Road between Hillcrest Drive, Wilbur Road. 250 arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, "Taste of the Conejo" refreshments. Admission, parking free. Proceeds benefit Rotary Club projects. (805) 378-5106.

Cats,' Dogs' Picnic Humane Society of Ventura County hosts "Cats in the Canyon, Hounds in the Hollow," picnic/wine tasting fundraiser, 2 to 5 p.m., Old Creek Ranch Winery, Oak View. Entertainment, silent auction. $30, all proceeds to Humane Society. Tickets (805) 646-7505.

La Reina Reservations Reservations due for La Reina High School Parent Guild 24th annual dinner auction, "Starry Starry Night," Sat., Nov. 3, Air Force One Pavilion, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. $90 includes dinner, auction, valet parking. Patt Tudman (805) 917-7112.

TUES., OCT. 23

Relay Committee 2008 Agoura Relay for Life hosts first committee meeting, 6:30 p.m., 28700 Conejo View Drive, Agoura Hills. Open to anyone wanting to be part of event on May 3 to 4 at Willow Elementary School.

Pine Needle Baskets Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area hosts craft event, Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center at Lynn Road and Via Goleta, Newbury Park. Kathryn James teaches how to make pine needle baskets. Identical sessions 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Free, for all ages. (805) 370-2301.

WED., OCT. 24

McAllister Performs Ventura County Classical Guitar Society meets at Recreation and Park District Senior Center, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo. 7 p.m. ensemble, solos. 8 p.m. guest artist Matthew James McAllister plays. Public welcomed. (805) 482-6224, vccgs.com.

'50s Sock Hop Park View Center School hosts Red Ribbon Sock Hop '50s Dance, 6 to 7:30 p.m., school cafeteria, 1500 Alexander, Simi Valley. Students asked to wear red, must be accompanied by parent. Sylvia Gelfman, (805) 5273565, jevia@roadunner.com.

Water Wise Conejo Valley Garden Club meets United Methodist Church, 1000 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. 10 a.m. Lisa Cosand gives design demonstration. 10:45 a.m. Derek Stucki of Calleguas Water District discuses water use for home garden. Business meeting at noon. Maggie Crane (805) 341-3363.

Club Serenaded Thousand Oaks Woman's Club meets 10:30 a.m., Palm Garden Hotel, 495 Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. Italian buffet, entertainment by singer Jimmy Chapel. $23.50. (805) 499-8039.

Memorial Foundation Global Exchange Ventura County Supporters host Jane and Jim Bright, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Grant Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Brights are Newbury Park residents, established foundation in memory of Evan Ashcraft, son killed in action in Iraq. Jim Yarbrough (805) 3759939, globalexchange.org.

African Adventures Organic Herb and Garden Club meets 7 p.m., Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road. Club president gives slide show of recent trip to South Africa. (805) 498-1623.

Embroidering: Truth Channel Islands Chapter, The Embroiderer's Guild of America meets 9:30 a.m., Camarillo United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive. Beginners welcome. (805) 498-5956.

THURS., OCT. 25

Mixing It Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts reception, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Calabasas Mercedes Benz, 24181 Calabasas Road. RSVP (818) 889-3150.

Meet The Roses Ventura County Rose Society meets at Ventura County Office of Education Conference Center, 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo. 6:30 p.m. Q&A with consulting rosarians. 7 p.m. rose show. Tom Carruth of Weeks Roses introduces new roses. Refreshments. Visitors welcomed. venturarose.org.

Book Bargains Friends of the Woodland Hills Library hosts book sale, 22200 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. 5 to 7:30 p.m. today for members only. Open to public 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Tapes, videos, records, CDs, collector's books. All proceeds to library. Bette Caraway, (818) 3 4 8 - 6 2 7 5 , bnbcaraway@earthlink.net.

FRI., OCT. 26

Order Enchiladas Orders needed for Soroptimist International of Camarillo annual Enchilada Sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat., Nov. 3 at Chile Peppers, 601 Mobil Ave., Camarillo. $25 per dozen beef, chicken or cheese enchiladas. Proceeds benefit community service projects, scholarships. (805) 383-6807, (805) 987-7575.

Seeking Volumes Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library sponsors used book sale 6 to 8:30 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road. LPs, craft books, 10,000 books for sale. 35 cents children's books, 50 cents paperbacks, $1 hardbacks. Admission, parking free. Tracey Hannel (805) 493-2648, ftol.org.

SAT., OCT. 27

Treats, Not Tricks Moorpark presents 17th annual Halloween Party and Trick or Treat Village, 4 to 7 p.m., rain or shine, Arroyo Vista Recreation Center, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark. Costume parade 6 p.m. Safe trick-or-treating, carnival games, arts and crafts, giant slide, bounce tent, obstacle course. (805) 5176300, ci.moorpark.ca.us.

Musical Boutique New West Symphony hosts fall boutique, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 826 Caliente Lane, Ventura. Clothing, accessories, handmade jewelry, home decor items, gourmet cookies, more. Event benefits symphony's children educational programs. Sandy Galin (805) 497 5883, sgalin@newwestsymphony .org, newwestsymphony.org.

Cider At Circle X National Park Service staff host seventh annual Cider at Circle X, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Circle X Contact Station, 5.4 miles north on Yerba Buena Road, Malibu. Cider, cookies, candy for kids. Self-guided hike. (805) 370-2301.

High Street High Jinks Dream on Theaterworks presents fourth annual Historic Haunts of High Street, today and Sunday. Tours leave 7 and 8 p.m., Secret Garden restaurant, 255 E. High St., Moorpark. Meet city's "ghosts," talk to Channel Island ghost trackers. $12 adults, $9 seniors and students, $5 children under $5. Proceeds benefit youth drama workshop, melodrama. (805) 341-5908.

Haunted Plumbing Camarillo High School Band Boosters host 17th annual Haunted House, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Camarillo Plumbing, 2401 Ventura Blvd. $1 admission, $2 fast pass admission, free for children under 3 feet tall. Janet Shelton, event director (805) 482-8963.