Upcoming Events and Free Programs at the Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park Branch Libraries

Thousand Oaks (Grant R. Brimhall) Library.

There are two great Thousand Oaks libraries; the Grant R. Brimhall Library at 1401 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks (805.449.2660) and the local Newbury Park Branch is at 2331 Borchard Road (805.498.2139).  These libraries provide year-round free events, activities and programs for all ages. Selected events from time to time will be covered here.

Visit the library website at www.toaks.org/library to learn more. 

The following is a list of programs happening at the Thousand Oaks Library during the month of December, with GRB denoting Grant R. Brimhall Library, and NPL denoting Newbury Park Library. All programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. For the latest information on Library events, please visit www.tolibrary.org/calendar.

ALL AGES 

Holiday Classics with Silver Strings

Tuesday December 10 • 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Local chamber music group Silver Strings will present a special holiday concert at the Thousand Oaks Library.

Gosh Yarn It

Friday, December 13 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Relax, crochet, and socialize at our crochet club! Beginners and experts alike are welcome to bring your own supplies and hang out with fellow crocheters as we sip tea and work on our projects. For ages 11+.

LevelUp Lounge 

Fridays • 10:00 am – 5:30 pm • GRB Teen Space

Access all ages gaming with the Library’s Xbox Game Pass! Hang out and relax with games like No Man’s Sky, Powerwash Simulator, Forza, Sea of Stars, and over 250 more options!

Stay & Switch

Newbury Park Library

Join the fun by exploring our newest addition to the Library of Things. Stop by the Newbury Park Library Information Desk to check out a Nintendo Switch Lite, loaded with exciting digital games! You can borrow it with your library card and enjoy gaming while you’re in the Library.

KIDS 

Homework Help

Mondays • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Tuesdays • 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Wednesdays & Thursdays • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Struggling with challenging school assignments? Our volunteers are here to help! For students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Runs September 2024 to May 2025; closed on CVUSD holidays and breaks. No Homework Help on December 23 through December 31.

Fall Storytimes & Playtime

Baby Storytime

Tuesday, December 3 • 10:15 am – 10:35 am • GRB Community Room

This is a lapsit storytime for babies 0-12 months. Walk-ins welcome!

Toddler Storytime

Wednesday, December 4 • 10:15 am – 10:35 am & 11:00 am – 11:20 am • GRB Community Room

This is a toddler storytime for ages 12-36 months. Registration required.

Preschool Storytime

Thursday, December 5 • 10:15 am – 11:00 am • GRB Community Room

This is a preschool storytime & craft for ages 3-5 years. Walk-ins welcome!

Enrichment Playtime

Join us for 30 minutes of unstructured playtime from 10:15 am – 10:50 am.

For babies (0-12 months): Tuesday, December 10 • GRB Community Room

For toddlers (12-36 months): Wednesday, December 11 • GRB Community Room

For preschoolers (3-5 years): Thursday, December 12 • GRB Community Room

For NPL toddlers (12-36 months): Thursday, December 12 • NPL Meeting Room

Dog Days

Tuesdays, December 3 & 10 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • GRB Children’s Program Room

Thursday, December 5 • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Readers of all levels and abilities are invited to come and read to a certified therapy dog! Participants will sign up for a brief 10-minute session with a dog and their owner.

Music Time with Mr. Michael

Thursday, December 5 • 10:15 am – 11:00 am • NPL Meeting Room

A fun-filled, interactive concert where children sing, clap, and play along to a lively mix of classic and kid-friendly tunes. With acoustic guitar and percussion instruments, Mr. Michael creates a joyful atmosphere for kids and parents alike. Registration required.

Mini Masters: Frank Lloyd Wright - Designing Homes

Sunday, December 8 • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm • GRB Children’s Program Room

Read the story Shape of the World: A Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright, learn about architecture, and craft home designs. Led by a Teen Volunteer. For grades 1-5. Registration required.

Writing Buddies

Thursday, December 12 • 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Students in grades 2-5 are invited to share their creativity by writing a short story. Registration required.

Music & Movement 

Saturday, December 14 • 10:15 am – 10:45 am & 11:15 am – 11:45 am • GRB Community Room

Dance, clap, and sing along with Ms. Cheryl and her guitar during this fun, interactive program for ages 0-5 years. Registration required. 

Future Einsteins: Density and More

Sunday December 15 • 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm • GRB Community Room

Learn about density and more using a cartesian diver. Led by a Teen Volunteer. For grades 1-5. Registration required.

Let’s Chill

Wednesday December 18 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Join Art Trek for a wintery art experience at the Library! For grades K-5. Registration required.

Winter Mitten Craft Table

Monday, December 23 – Friday, January 3 • Both Libraries

Visit the Library to color a pair of paper mittens. For grades K-5.

Winter Scavenger Hunt

Monday, December 23 – Friday, January 3 • Both Libraries

Visit the Library and participate in a scavenger hunt! Locate all the correct items and enter to win a Mo Willems Gift Bag filled with goodies featuring beloved characters from Mo Willem’s books. One submission per person.

TWEENS & TEENS

Holiday Cards and Gifts

December • Both Libraries

Visit the Library to create your own custom holiday cards and craft gifts for friends. For grades 6-12. While supplies last.

Coding Lab

Mondays, December 2 & 9 • 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Wednesdays, December 4 • 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Learn how to code by exploring your own interests at your own pace through Fiero Code. Register for sessions you can attend. Bring your own laptop and headphones. For grades 6-12. Led by Teen Volunteers. Registration required.

Craft Gifts with CReATE STUDIO

Tuesday, December 3 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Teen Space

Make some craft gifts for the holidays like a pompom bookmark and picture holders. For grades 6-12. Registration required.

Reading Rocks Book Club

Tuesday, December 10 • GRB Children’s Program Room

Rocks (Grades 4-5): 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Boulders (Grades 6-8): 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Join us monthly to discuss books with strong female characters. This month’s books are The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages for the Rocks and The Pear Affair by Judith Eagle for the Boulders. Registration required.

Comics and Manga Club

Tuesday, December 17 • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Dive into any comic, manga, or graphic novel! Share your favorites, chat about epic storylines and awesome artwork, and make new friends every third Thursday of the month. This month’s suggested reading theme is “fantasy books.” For grades 6-12. Registration required.

Books for Buttons and Boba

Come to the Library and pick-up a “Books for Buttons and Boba” form. Finish a book with more than 200 pages, get a button and enter for a chance for a Boba gift card. For grades 6-12.

Teen Volunteers Needed

Sign up to help with Homework Help, Thousand Oaks Teen Advisory League, and other programs and activities at the Library. Go to www.tolibrary.org/teens, setup your CERVIS account, and apply to volunteer for various opportunities.

ADULTS

Conversations with Mom 

Tuesdays, December 3, 10, & 17 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • GRB Community Room

This free support group is for moms and their newborns to get together, express their joys and concerns, and meet other new moms in the community.

Virtual Author Talk - Unearthed: Exploring the Smithsonian National Gem Collection with Dr. Jeffrey Post

Wednesday, December 4 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • Virtual

Join us for an absolutely dazzling presentation with the emeritus curator of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection, Dr. Jeffrey E. Post as he talks about The Smithsonian National Gem Collection Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.

Many Voices Book Club

Wednesday, December 4 • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Join us in reading and discussing books in a wide variety of genres by authors from a wide variety of cultures. This month’s book is Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer. Walk-ins welcome.

Free Movie Matinées

Friday, December 6 • 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Mondays, December 9 & 23 • 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Catch free movie matinées at the Library! Explore our online schedule to see what's showing and join us for a fun film outing.

Exploring Family Oral Histories with Dr. Mary Gordon

Saturday December 7 • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Dr. Mary Contini Gordon will share examples from worldwide interviews she conducted for Family Oral History Across the World (FOH, Routledge 2024).

Spanish at Your Library 

Beginner: Monday, December 9 • 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Advanced: Wednesday, December 11 • 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Enhance your Spanish fluency through guided conversations led by facilitators. Registration required.

Happily Ever After Book Club

Monday, December 9 • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Join us as we chat about our favorite romance novels, where a Happily Ever After (HEA)—or a Happily For Now (HFN)—is always guaranteed. This month’s book is We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian. Walk-ins welcome.

Board Game Club

Tuesday, December 10 • 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm • GRB Community Room

Adults are invited to join us monthly to play strategy board games like Forbidden Island, Dungeon Mayhem, and Wingspan. Walk-ins welcome.

Virtual Author Talk - On Pulse-Pounding, Family Driven Mysteries: A Conversation with Laura Dave

Wednesday, December 11 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm • Virtual

Join us for a captivating conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave, as she chats with us online about her newest book The Night We Lost Him.

Open Mic Poetry Nights

Wednesday, December 11 • 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Come listen to local poets and share your own work every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, in collaboration with The Ventura County Poetry Project. No Open Mic Poetry Night on December 25.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Conversation Group 

Thursday, December 12 • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • GRB Technology Training Room

Practice speaking English in an informal and friendly group setting. Open to all non-native English language speakers.

Crafternoon

Friday, December 13 • 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm • NPL Meeting Room

Friday, December 20 • 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm • GRB Community Room

Adults are invited to join us at the Library to socialize and make a different craft each month! Materials provided. Registration required. 

Ivor Davis: Up Close and Personal with Malcom McDowell at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, March 25th

Join us at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, March 25, 2023 @ 6:30PM—8PM for the next installment of Ivor Davis: Up Close & Personal. Returning, this time in-person, is legendary actor and raconteur extraordinaire Malcolm McDowell, winner of Ojai Film Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

McDowell’s impressive career puts him in the pantheon of the all-time great British-born actors from Laurence Olivier to Michael Caine to Anthony Hopkins. McDowell’s dazzling career has spanned more than 50 years, where he has starred in scores of movies, including Stanley Kubrick’s iconic “Clockwork Orange,” Lindsay Anderson’s “O Lucky Man!,” “Caligula,” “Bombshell,” “Time After Time,” and “The Artist.” His vast television credits include “Entourage,” the animated series “South Park” and “Mozart in the Jungle.”

MVC Members can attend in-person or tune-in on Zoom for free. Non-Members can purchase in-person tickets for $10 or $5 for Zoom tickets.

The Museum is located at 100 E Main Street in Ventura.

Purchase tickets at www.venturamuseum.org/event/ivor-davis-up-close-and-personal-with-malcom-mcdowell

Moorpark College and Ventura County Astronomical Society Present "Total Solar Eclipse" Presentation on Friday, March 17th

Moorpark College and the Ventura County Astronomical Society present a stargazers event, “Total Solar Eclipse,” on Friday, March 17th at 7:30 p.m.

On April 8, 2024, the moon’s shadow will sweep across Mexico and the United States, bringing the most spectacular nature’s event close to us. Where will you be in the 4+ minutes of totality? Professor Hal Jandorf will present an exciting illustrated lecture about past total solar eclipses and how to plan, observe and photograph this coming one. He has observed and photographed eight total solar eclipses around the world.

This is a free event at the Moorpark College Forum, 7075 Campus Road, AA building, room #147. RSVP to mcfoundation@vcccd.edu.

MoorparkCollege.edu/Give 805-553-4761

Moorpark College and Ventura County Astronomical Society Presents "A Trip to Mars" Presentation on February 24th

Moorpark College Astronomy Department in Partnership with the Moorpark College Foundation and Ventura County Astronomical Society (VCAS) presents Dr. Brian Moncelli of JPL/NASA on Friday February 24, 2023 at 7:30 PM at the Moorpark College Forum, 7075 Campus Rd, Moorpark.

Dr. Brian Moncelli will discuss the recent Rover Perseverance and SHERLOC and Watson. These instruments will investigate past micro-bionic life in Martian geology. This will be an exciting and fact filled slide show/lecture!

Dr. Moncelli is a Principal Optical Engineer and Technical Group Supervisor at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was part of the team that assembled, aligned, integrated and tested SherLOC.

RSVP to mcfoundation@vcccd.edu

Last meeting was standing room only.

Please arrive early to make sure you find a seat.

MoorparkCollege.edu/Give www.moorparkcollege.edu/events/join-dr-brian-moncelli-nasajpl

Please RSVP to mcfoundation@vcccd.edu. More info at 805-553-4761

CSU Channel Islands Presents Black Scholars on Black Lives Virtual Presentations in Feb/Mar

CSUCI Broome Library presents Black educators across the nation for “Black Scholars on Black Lives” virtual presentations

Imagine analyzing the horrors aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad which was used to transport enslaved Africans to Cuba in 1839, or touring the Underground Railroad Museum in Kentucky—without ever leaving your home or classroom.

That’s the revolutionary teaching technique used by Morehouse University Assistant Professor of History Ovell Hamilton, who uses virtual reality in his “Metaversity,” which has proven so successful, that other departments are now using virtual reality for other disciplines at Morehouse such as biology, nursing, sociology and journalism, to name a few.

Hamilton will detail his use of virtual reality to teach Black History on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 9 to 10 a.m. with “The history of the African Diaspora in the Metaverse,” one of several online presentations in the “Black Scholars on Black Lives” lecture series, coordinated by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s John Spoor Broome Library.

The “Black Scholars on Black Lives” lecture series will be held periodically throughout the year, but there will be weekly lectures throughout the month of February in honor of Black History Month.

“We know Black scholars don’t get their works published as much as white scholars,” explained Library Head of Instruction, Engagement and Assessment Colleen Harris. “Their research methods are not as valued—especially because much of their research is community-based, which bears the consequence of not valuing Black communities. This was an effort to shine a spotlight on Black scholarship.”

Harris began putting together the online library lecture series during the pandemic as a means to keep students engaged while learning remotely. They were so popular, that she has continued to search for and arrange for Black scholars across the nation to speak to CSUCI students and the public.

“The lectures are free and open to the public, and because it’s virtual, we can invite Black Scholars from around the world to speak,” Harris said.

University of California Merced Associate Professor of Sociology Whitney Pirtle will present “I Didn’t Know What Anti-Blackness Was Until I Got Here: Exploring the Unmet Needs of Black Students at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)s” from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Many universities, including CSUCI, have received the federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution because of a number of factors including the percentage of Hispanic students and specific programs designed to support their success.

But how well do HSIs serve Black students? That’s the question Pirtle has explored with research she has conducted indicating that a significant number of Black students’ perceptions are that they feel underserved and experienced a sense of anti-Blackness on an institutional, organizational and interpersonal level.

And finally, on Thursday, March 2, from 4 to 5 p.m., University of California Santa Barbara Assistant Professor of Race and Higher Education Antar A. Tichavakunda will present “Black Joy and Why it Matters in Higher Education.”

Tichavakunda’s presentation will address the experiences Black students have at predominately white colleges and universities, and more broadly, take a look at the sociology of race and higher education.

“He’s going to be talking about how Black students build ‘worlds’ to protect and nurture themselves as they move through an environment that was never built for them and has been actively hostile toward them,” Harris said. “He will show how we can build a sense of community for our Black students.”

Five CSUCI students who attend the lecture will win a copy of Tichavakunda’s book “Black Campus Life: The Worlds Black Students Make at a Historically White Institution,” which is about the intersection of a limited number of college graduates in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, and the state of race relations in higher education.

The presentations are free and open to the public. Registration for each session is available online:

Feb. 15, Whitney Pirtle - "I Didn't Know What Anti-Blackness Was Until I Got Here": Exploring the Unmet Needs of Black Students at HSIs. Register at https://csuci.libcal.com/event/10161991

Feb. 21, Ovell Hamilton - "The History of the African Diaspora in the Metaverse" https://csuci.libcal.com/event/10162666

March 2, Antar Tichavakunda - "Black Joy and Why it Matters for Higher Education" https://csuci.libcal.com/event/10052724

Additional information is available at https://libguides.csuci.edu/events/black-scholars-series.

Upcoming Events and Activities at the Camarillo Public Library

The City of Camarillo Public Library is located at 4101 Las Posas Road and is open Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm and Friday through Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. It can be reached at 805.388.5222. The library hosts year-round free activities and programs for the general public at www.camarillolibrary.org.

Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area Programs in Ventura County

Free events and programs at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area locations in Ventura County and adjacent areas are highlighted below! (updated periodically to remove past activities). For additional details and other event locations, visit samofund.org/calendar.

Most activities subject to cancellation if there's significant rain.

7/24 8:30-10:30pm: The Moon in Action program at Paramount Ranch - Much like the sun during the day, the Moon is the dominant bright gem of the night sky. Join us at Paramount Ranch to learn about the surface features of the Moon and the influence it has on the Earth.

The program will start with a demonstration on how the Moon reflects sunlight and why we see the different phases. The demonstration will be followed by telescope and binocular viewings of the surface of the Moon, including interactive activities for children and families to learn about the surface features.

Sat TBA 8:30-10am - Birds of the Santa Monica Mountains Walk at King Gillette Ranch - Bring your binoculars, bird guide, and/or camera and join us for an easy bird walk around the grounds of King Gillette Ranch. This area attracts many songbirds, water birds, woodpeckers, and raptors and we are always treated to something interesting. Kids are welcome and the walk is less than a mile at a very easy pace as we stop often to observe the birds. We leave promptly at 8:30 from the flagpole. Heavy rain cancels (but I will be there for anyone who wants to walk in it!). See you there!

Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center in Calabasas

King Gillette Ranch - View from near Inspiration Point

Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Newbury Park

Directions to various locations

Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons: Ventura Fwy (101) to Chesebro Rd exit. Turn north on Palo Comado Canyon Rd then right on Chesebro Rd. Go north 1 mile to park entrance. Turn right and follow road to parking lot.

Circle X Ranch: Pacific Coast Hwy to Yerba Buena Rd. Turn inland; go 5.4 miles to Circle X Ranch contact station.

Sandstone Peak Trailhead: 1 mile north of Circle X Ranch contact station on Yerba Buena Rd. Parking lot is on left.

Mishe Mokwa Trailhead: 1.75 miles north of the Circle X contact station along Yerba Buena Road. Parking lot is on right.

King Gillette Ranch: Ventura Fwy (101) Exit Las Virgenes Rd. Go 3 miles south on Las Virgenes Rd to Mulholland Hwy intersection (traffic light). Turn left on Mulholland Hwy. Park entrance is 0.1 mile on right.

Malibu Creek State Park: Ventura Fwy (101) Exit Las Virgenes Rd. Go 3 miles south on Las Virgenes Rd to Mulholland Hwy intersection (traffic light). Park entrance is 0.25 mile south of the intersection on Las Virgenes Rd. From Pacific Coast Hwy: north on Malibu Canyon Rd to park entrance on left.

Paramount Ranch: Ventura Fwy (101) to Kanan Rd exit. South on Kanan 0.5 mile. Left on Cornell Way and veer to right. South 2.5 miles, entrance is on right side of the road.

Peter Strauss Ranch is located at 30000 Mulholland Highway, Agoura Hills.

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa: Ventura Fwy (101) to Lynn Rd exit. South on Lynn Rd 5.25 miles to Via Goleta. Park entrance is on the left at Via Goleta. Continue all the way to a parking lot where the road ends. To get to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center, walk 0.3 mile up gravel road from the parking area to brown wooden building. 

Wendy Trailhead: Ventura Fwy (101) to Wendy Dr. exit. South on Wendy Dr to dirt pullout at intersection with Potrero Rd.

Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch: From Ventura Fwy (101): Exit Las Virgenes Rd. Go 3 miles south on Las Virgenes Rd to Mulholland Hwy intersection (traffic light). Turn left on Mulholland Hwy. Go 0.1 mile and turn right into entrance of King Gillette Ranch. The visitor center is the first building on your right. 26867 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas.

19th Annual YMCA Prayer Breakfast at Cal Lutheran on Thursday, May 3, 2018

Join us for the 19th Annual YMCA Prayer Breakfast with keynote speaker, Cody Jones, USA Paralympian and California Lutheran University graduate. Our goal is to bring people of all faiths together to pray for the nation and reflect on, discuss and celebrate our many blessings.

Last year’s Prayer Breakfast was attended by nearly 400 community members, and we expect another great turnout this year with an inspiring program and theme: Pray for America - UNITY.

Participants will include spiritual and community leaders from Agoura Hills, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village.

We hope you will join us for this special event. To reserve your seat on May 3, please visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/ymca-prayer-breakfast-2018-tickets-41479427083