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Forget fighting the beach crowds. Come to serene Ojai for a relaxing afternoon of smooth jazz with Grammy-winning musicians on Saturday, August 27, 2 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center. GK Soul/Jazz Party, led by Gregg Karukas, featuring Thom Rotella and Tyler Hammond, offers a soothing blend of expressive tunes.

Gregg Karukas is a Grammy winning keyboardist/composer and a founding member of The Rippingtons. He toured with Boney James, Peter White, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Melissa Manchester, Larry Carlton, Sergio Mendes, Brenda Russell, Jeffrey Osborne, Dori Caymmi and Ricardo Silveira. He’s also performed with Ivan Lins, Oscar Castro Neves, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Toots Thielemans and many others. Gregg's eleven, all-original CDs garner solid reviews for his signature piano touch, pristine production, and melodies, both soulful and sophisticated.

Thom Rotella performed and recorded with Frank Sinatra, Stanley Turrentine, Tom Scott, Rick Braun, Gerald Ablright, Gregg Karukas and many others. He’s appeared on numerous movie soundtracks, including "Ted," "Ted 2," "Splash," "Same Time Next Year," "The Gods Must Be Crazy," "Rumblefish," and "Mississippi Masala." As a bandleader he’s recorded thirteen albums.

Tyler Hammond has performed with Lewis Porter, Karl Hunter, Matt Von Roderick, Bevan Manson, Kevin Fox, Ken Wild, Lady Gaga, Jacob Scesney, Santino Tafarella, Sean Riddle, Randy Tico, Alex Sill, Tom Etchart, Bryan McCann, Danny Young, Hans Ottsen, SicNarf and many others. He held a jazz residency in Hollywood for more than three years as drummer, band leader and music director.

Doors open at 1 p.m.. Tickets cost $25 online and $25 at the door. For more information call: 805-746-0936.

“Climate Change and Drought Extremes: A Critical Perspective from Ancient Trees in California” presented by Daniel Griffin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Geography, University of Minnesota

How is extreme drought in California connected to climate change and human activities? What can be learned about past and future climate using tree rings from old growth forests in California? Dr Griffin, a dendrochronologist (scientist who studies tree rings) connects the dots between humans, climate change, extreme drought, and native plants in the Golden State.

An online talk presented as part of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s 2022 Summer Virtual Lecture Series which addresses biodiversity, climate change, and California native plants and animals. Registration is $12 for the public and $10 for Garden members. Once registered, participants receive an email with Zoom link.

Daniel Griffin studies the variability of past climate, contemporary climate change, and the climate-modulated coupling of ecosystem processes, often through the development and interpretation of high quality tree ring data. Work in his lab group at the University of Minnesota is field-based, student centered, and highly collaborative. Their efforts have been supported by research grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation and other funding sources.

Current projects are focused on hydroclimate in California and the upper Midwest, and on developing sustainable technologies to achieve open science standards in dendrochronology. He participates in climate services for improved adaptation capacity, and have long been interested in catalyzing connections between field-based research and decision making in natural resources management.

Just imagine if you now had to take a government civics test every year to remain a U.S. citizen… would you be able to pass? Could you identify the co-equal branches of government and what their functions and responsibilities are? Explain the electoral college? The U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights? Identify your Congressional representatives? Explain the concept of “gerrymandering or our National Debt? Know your responsibilities and "power" as voters? American Civics 101+ is a timely 6-part discussion that provides a simple but comprehensive path to understanding what every person applying for U.S. Citizenship today need to know… how our U.S. Government and Democracy actually works!

Alan Perper is currently a founding member of VoteAsIf.org, an LA based consortium of marketing, advertising and publicity professionals seeking to increase 2020 voter registration and turnout through 501C3 nonprofit partnerships, new media platforms and high-profile endorsements.

He has previously trained with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services to develop an adult U.S. Citizenship curriculum and has taught numerous Citizenship classes at Temple Judea in Tarzana, CA.

Perper also received his secondary education teaching credential thru CA State University, Northridge and has taught high school Economics, Government and Business classes at two charter LAUSD campuses.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

"One might argue that death in war is merely a matter of increased probability, but not different in principle from death in time of peace. But this would be a superficial view, for it is not the frequency of death but the manner of dying makes a difference.”
Humans are not unique in resorting to violence to slack desire, defend or assert themselves. Animals kill and hunt in packs. But the constituent degree of organization and appeal to justification are distinctly human.
In two sessions, we reflect on the nature and changing character of war. Are we “hard-wired” to destructiveness? What is the attraction of war? How do changes in technology (nukes and drones), economy (computers and globalization) and social values (democracy and equality) impact its practice? Intending an end to war, can we afford not to prepare for it? In a nuclear and global age, what is war?

Dr. Herbert Gooch is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at California Lutheran University. He formerly served as Director of the Masters in Public Policy and Administration program and Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies at Cal Lutheran. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley in History, he holds a M.B.A in Management and both masters and doctoral degrees in Political Science from U.C.L.A. He has written extensively and is a frequent commentator on political affairs locally and statewide. He has been at Cal Lutheran since 1987 and lives in Newbury Park with his wife. His interests include politics, film and travel.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

On Friday, August 26, 2022 at 7:00 PM, the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Conejo Valley Branch will present teacher members performing music by women composers in celebration of Women’s Equality Day and the certification of the 19th Amendment. Compositions for piano, winds, and piano quartet will be performed by Kay Min, Tomiko Taylor, Tachell Gerbert, Bradley Gregory, Ann Erwin, Fred Beerstein, and the Luminoso Piano Quartet.

Rev. Sherri James is the featured speaker at Unity of Ventura, Sunday, September 4. Services are at 10:00 a.m. at the Santa Paula Room in the Poinsettia Pavilion (3451 Foothill Rd., Ventura). Her topic is: “Fulfilling the Law.”

Rev. Sherri invites us to join her for a powerful conversation on the Universal Force that harmonizes, synthesizes and smooths out everything concerning our lives. Through the discussion we will learn how to awaken more love in our experience with practical, actionable things we can do today.

An ordained minister with the Universal Foundation for Better Living, Rev. Sherri serves as Senior Minister for Understanding Principles in Los Angeles. She is the Founder of The Sherri James Company, home to the Bible Hangout as well as her new course, Manifesting Money. Professionally, Rev. James serves as the Director of Operations for retirement planning firm EFC Wealth Management.

Music during the service will be provided by Smitty and Juljia, Ojai-based artists known for their uplifting sounds and beautiful vocal harmonies. Unity of Ventura celebrates diversity and honors our oneness. All lifestyles, faiths, genders and ethnicities are welcome. Following the service is an informal gathering for coffee/tea/snacks on the Poinsettia Pavilion patio with its panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

For more information, contact Jana Rector at 805-794-5787 or go to www.UnityofVentura.org.

Dirty Cello – cello like you’ve never heard before! Combine the virtuosic wail of Jimi Hendrix, the soul of BB King, and the fire of Bill Monroe, and add a whole lot of cello, and you get the Dirty Cello band.

Dirty Cello performs all over the world, from Iceland to Israel, from Scottish castles to underground caves presenting an energetic and wild show that’s been described as, “Dirty Cello’s music is all over the map: funky, carnival, romantic, sexy, tangled, electric, fiercely rhythmic, and textured, and only occasionally classical.” by Oakland Magazine.

Hailed by John Renbourn as ‘the best Celtic guitarist in the world’ Tony McManus has also been listed as one of the 50 transcendent guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Tony has both extended and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. Ranked by peers and predecessors alike alongside the guitar world’s all-time greats, his fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic world, along with still further-ranging flavours such as jazz and eastern European music. Long applauded for his uncanny ability to transpose the delicate, complex ornamentation characteristic of traditional bagpipe or fiddle tunes – even the phrasing of a Gaelic song – onto his own six strings, McManus is increasingly being acknowledged also as a pioneering figure in bridging the realms of Celtic music and other guitar genres.

The Ventura Improv Company is a collective of improvisers that gather to grow in our craft and co-create. We exist to enrich people’s lives through excellent improv education and hilarious shows.

Our vision is a world filled with laughter.
Our passion is creating joy.

Esteban Ramirez
If you love romance, you’ll love Esteban!

Esteban Ramirez and his quartet ensemble combine his mastery of the acoustic grand piano interspersed with select poetry readings to inspire the senses. With touching ensemble accompaniments consisting of cello, flute, violin, and clarinet, his original neo-classical instrumental compositions will touch your heart and his poetry will move your soul.