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Ivor Davis was a foreign correspondent for the London Daily Express and the Times of London, covering some of the biggest stories in North America in the 1960 and 1970s. In 1962 he was smuggled onto the campus of the riot-torn University of Mississippi when James Meredith was enrolled as the first black student on campus. Three years later he was in the front lines as Los Angeles’ Watts riots erupted. He was the only British daily newspaper correspondent to cover The Beatles’ first American tour from start to finish, given unparalleled access to John, Paul, George and Ringo. Ivor was in the kitchen at the Ambassador Hotel when Robert Kennedy was assassinated. He was one of the “Boys on the Bus” chronicling the life of actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan, first in his campaign for governor of California, then for president. He also covered some of the biggest trials including that of Sirhan Sirhan.

Join us for a fascinating trip through Ivor’s eyewitness accounts of monumental American events!

Ivor Davis was a foreign correspondent for the London Daily Express and the Times of London. He penned a weekly entertainment column for the New York Times Syndicate for over 15 years, interviewing some of the biggest names in show business, from Cary Grant to Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton to Tom Cruise and Muhammad Ali to Jane Fonda. As a foreign correspondent, he traveled throughout the western hemisphere covering riots, floods, earthquakes and politics. As Editor at Large for Los Angeles Magazine, he and his late wife Sally Ogle Davis wrote over 100 major magazine and cover stories. Davis is the author of the award winning “The Beatles and Me on Tour.” Davis also coauthored “Five to Die” the first book ever published about the murder of Sharon Tate. His most recent book is, “Manson Exposed: A Reporter’s 50-year Journey into Madness and Murder” the real inside story of the crimes that shook the world

He currently lives in Southern California and is working on three new books: one about his adventures in Hollywood-- the other a true crime book about a friend who turned out to be a mass murderer and a third an updated 60th anniversary version of his award winning “Beatles and Me on Tour.”

When one thinks of Memphis, W.C. Handy and Elvis always come to mind, and maybe some long forgotten funky hits. Nashville is only 200 miles North, and has always overshadowed its Southern sister. Truth be told, this two-part lecture will uncover the real facts of that musical mecca- hit after hit and great artists of all genres, including the Box Tops, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Presley. Come join us for a nostalgic trip down the Mississippi as we stop at one of the more unusual music centers of America!

Tony Moon has spent 60 successful years in the music business. Beginning in 1960, he joined the L.A. group Dante and The Evergreens, which was managed and produced by Lou Adler and Herb Alpert. He later moved to Nashville, becoming the guitarist and conductor for Brenda Lee. Tony also began playing on recording sessions and was Nashville's first rock independent music producer, working with five major labels. He scored several big hits for The Vogues, including "5 O' Clock World." Tony has won several awards as a songwriter and music publisher. His songs have been released by artists as diverse as Porter Wagoner, Willie Nelson, Vickie Carr, Pearl Jam, and The Beatles.

He currently administers several Music Publishing Companies and a New York Entertainment Company.

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic symbols of America. Few public objects portray more powerfully American ideals of acceptance and freedom. Yet is it possible that the Statue of Liberty is most appropriately considered a Jewish statue? How might we define a work of art as Jewish? Is it determined by the identity of the face depicted or cultural identity of the sculptor? Or by the sponsor and champion who brought it into the public space?

While the face of the statue is not of a Jew nor was the sculptor Jewish, many attributes of the statue reflect a deep Jewish connection, specifically the imprint on the status made by the Jewish American poet, Emma Lazarus. The message at the pedestal beckons the world to “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Significantly, Lazarus based this poem on ideas that are distinctly Jewish, words drawn straight from the Torah that state how we are to treat the stranger. This lecture will explore the efforts of Emma Lazarus as philanthropist, social reformer, and poet, specifically her work to bring the Statue of Liberty into public display and through her poetic inscription installed at its pedestal that has provided its unique cultural significance. We will assess if these contributions sufficiently define the Statue of Liberty as a Jewish construction.

Clifford Wilcox, Ph.D., is a historian who focuses on American intellectual and cultural history and Jewish Studies. His courses concentrate on the intersection of culture, ideas, politics, and religion in American history. He is Director of Education and Operations at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, CA and has taught in the CLU FAB program since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

This lecture will celebrate Cal Lutheran’s Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival; focusing on “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “King Lear,” the plays to be performed at this year’s festival. The first hour of the lecture will focus on the origins, production histories, and challenges presented by each play. In the second hour, Michael Arndt will be joined by members of the company for an interactive discussion of Kingsmen Shakespeare and the plays.

Michael J. Arndt has been a Professor of Theatre Arts at California Lutheran University for the past forty years and is the artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company. As a theatre director, he has directed over 200 theatre productions. Among the awards he has received are the Cal Lutheran President’s Award for Teaching Excellence, The Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region VIII-Outstanding Theatre Educator, and the Alliance for the Arts’ Exemplary Arts Educator Award. He was named a “local hero” by the Ventura County Reporter and “Patriotic Citizen of the Year” by the Conejo Valley Chapters of the Military Order of the World Wars and The Military Order of the Purple Heart.

A Vietnam combat veteran, Michael created Under Fire: Stories of Combat Veterans Across Generations. He is currently co-authoring a book: Making Contact: The Way to Healing from the Trauma of Combat.

Join us as we examine the life and art of silent film’s most versatile actor – Lon Chaney. From underpaid bit performer to the undisputed master of makeup artistry, Chaney left behind a remarkable legacy despite the fact that so many of his performances have been lost to time. Born to deaf parents, Chaney’s ability to express himself through gesture and body language became not only his way of communication but the ultimate expression of the art of silent film acting. Part one of this two part lecture we will explore the 15 years Chaney struggled as a working actor transitioning from the stage to film. Part-two will delve into Chaney’s years as a movie star, diving deeply into Chaney’s surviving movie roles where we will see that even without any make-up, Chaney really was the greatest actor of his time.

Matthew Weisman received his MFA in Film from Columbia University School of the Arts where he also taught classes in Cinema Studies and directed the Cinematheque film program. His undergraduate degree in English is from Boston University. A professional screenwriter and producer, he taught Graduate Screenwriting at the USC School of Cinema for fifteen years. He is a retired member of The Writers Guild of America. He has taught several continuing education courses in film and television history and appreciation both online and in the classroom.

For 24 years, this event has raised funds for United Way initiatives and programs. In the fall of 2020, we were unable to hold an in-person event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event took the form of a virtual campaign that brought together donors from across the county and beyond to help support our programs.

For our 24th annual celebration, we are honored to be able to come together to hold an in-person Red Feather Ball. Our theme this year is Birds of a Feather, to commemorate a year of community and partnership that carried us through the effects of a global pandemic.

Saturday May 27 & Sunday May 28 at 4pm, Megill & Company Dances... with friends at NAMBA, in historic Downtown Ventura. Featuring new dance work by Megill & Company and pieces by Nathalie Wutkee and Connor Casavan.

Thirty of Santa Barbara County’s top wineries will serve tastings, chefs will serve appetizers, and Grammy-nominated musicians will play jazz in a shady park at the 17th annual Los Olivos Jazz and Olive Festival on Saturday, June 10.

Singer Denise Donatelli will again lead her all-star “A Team” band of Los Angeles musicians from 1 to 4 p.m. in Lavinia Campbell Park in charming downtown Los Olivos.

Local makers of olive oil and related products will also be offering free samples and sales of their wares.

The 100th Anniversary Celebration is a celebration event recognizing local organizations and individuals for their contributions to the community and United Way. Awards are given out in a variety of categories. Join us for United Way's 100th Anniversary Celebration, celebrating decades of partnership with local organizations, businesses, and service agencies committed to building brighter futures for local individuals, children, and families.

"Curious About EVs?" is the topic of a Community Forum that will feature a car show spotlighting electric autos, to be followed by an in-person and online discussion subtitled, "An Introduction to Owning and Driving an Electric Vehicle."

The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, with an EV car show outside Chalice Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Conejo Valley at 3327 Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park. Attendees will get a close-up look at electric autos in different price ranges and have an opportunity to talk to owners about the experience of owning an electric vehicle.

That will be followed at 7 p.m. by a forum, both in-person at Chalice and online via Zoom, conducted by EV owners from the community. Panelists are Kent Bullard, Brian Pletcher and Spencer Pletcher, EV Field Representatives of EV Advocates of Ventura County. Also presenting will be John Brooks, Senior Sustainability Analyst (Water and EVs) with the City of Thousand Oaks, who will talk about efforts to place EV chargers and how the community can get involved.

Topics of the forum will include: Is an EV right for me? How does charging work? Finding an affordable EV. Incentives for new or used cars and charging equipment. Costs of ownership. Common misconceptions. Road trips, and Expansion of the EV charging network. The discussion will include incentives for buying used plug-in hybrids and how people who don't have convenient access to chargers can thereby benefit and reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

The event is presented by Chalice Community Forum, a program of Chalice Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Conejo Valley.

To register to attend in person or online via Zoom, visit forum.chaliceuu.org. The forum is free; donations are welcome to support the programs. For information, visit the forum website or contact Randall Edwards via e-mail at forum@chaliceuu.org or by calling the church office at (805) 498-9548.