A drone’s eye view of motorists going to or away from the San Fernando Valley, with some using The Old Road. In the photo: The Old Road, looking south, is to the right of the 5 Freeway in Santa Clarita on Monday, March 18, 2024. Los Angeles County has earmarked funds to improve The Old Road in the unincorporated area west of Santa Clarita, which is frequently used by locals and commuters when traffic on Interstate 5 is snarled due to roadwork or emergency closures. Improvements will also include updating the bike path to connect to the Newhall Ranch development. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Community meetings bring people together for exchange of ideas and memorable shared experiences. Here’s a sampling of events in the San Fernando Valley area.
April 29
Wings Over Wendy’s: Veterans from all services and ages, and their supporters, meet at 8:30 a.m. Location, auditorium at 7401 Shoup Ave., West Hills. Contact Ed Reynolds, 818-884-4013. www.wingsoverwendys.com
May 1
Sherman Oaks Woman’s Club: Prospective new members are invited to meet the group, 10:30 a.m. Reservations required to attend. The group welcomes women for “friendship, fun and philanthropy.” Location, 4808 Kester Ave., Sherman Oaks. Make a reservation in advance to Joan, 818-781-2894. www.facebook.com/shermanoakswomansclub/
San Fernando Valley Chapter of the National Active Retired Federal Employees Association: The public is invited to the group’s monthly meeting — Chapter 61 of the association — for lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by a business meeting, 12:30 p.m. Lunch is your choice and on-your-own payment. Lulu’s Restaurant, 16900 Roscoe Blvd., Van Nuys. David Rittenberg, 818-901-8331.
Chatsworth Library Book Club – In-person and Online: Discusses “The Roaring Days of Zora Lily” by Noelle Salazar, 1:30 p.m. Request the Zoom link in advance and by email to sstamm@lapl.org (put “May 1 Book Club” in the subject line). Location, 21052 Devonshire St. 818-341-4276. Details: tinyurl.com/muv9kv5z
Chatsworth Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Lawrence Middle School, library, 10100 Variel Ave. 818-464-3511. Emails: info@chatsworthcouncil.org; for the board, president@chatsworthcouncil.org. www.chatsworthcouncil.org/
Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Gault Street Elementary School, 17000 Gault St. 818-779-9026. Email: info@lakebalboanc.org. lakebalboanc.org/
May 2
Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Granada Hills Charter High School, Rawley Hall, 10535 Zelzah Ave. ghsnc.org/
West Hills Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Location, de Toledo High School, 22622 Vanowen St. 818-254-9378. www.facebook.com/WestHillsNC. www.westhillsnc.org
May 3
Secrets to Self-Publishing lecture series at Platt Branch Library: Allison Miriam Smith, from Unnamed Press, presents a program on “The Secrets of Savvy Book Marketing,” 1 p.m. Location, 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386. Details: tinyurl.com/e5m6jt69
May 4
Document and Paper Shredding: First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills holds the event, 9 a.m.-noon. Limit: no more than four office bankers box-style boxes per person. No binder clips, paper clips or metal hanging folders; stapled documents are accepted. Location, 10400 Zelzah Ave. 818-360-1831. Details on the flyer: www.facebook.com/fpcgh/
California Writers Club – San Fernando Valley: Guest speaker Luis J. Rodriguez (“Always Running – La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.”) presents a talk “The Transformative Experience of Writing My Memoir,” 1 p.m. Rodriguez’s talk will be presented on Zoom. To attend the meeting on Zoom or in-person viewing on a wide-screen, register on the website before noon May 3 (cwc-sfv.org/contact-us). Saban Wellness Center, Motion Picture and Television Fund, 23388 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills. www.facebook.com/luis.j.rodriguez3/. www.cwc-sfv.org
May 8
Mystery Book Club at West Valley Regional Branch Library – In-person and Online: Discusses “Secret Identity” by Alex Segura, 10:30 a.m. Request the Zoom link in advance and by email to wvalley@lapl.org (put “Mystery Book Club, May 8” in the subject line). Location, 19036 Vanowen St., Reseda. 818-345-9806. Details: tinyurl.com/24k8pwys
Mystery Book Club at Sylmar Branch Library: Discusses “One Puzzling Afternoon” by Emily Critchley, 2 p.m. Location, 14561 Polk St. 818-367-6102. Details: tinyurl.com/4c7mk9e8
May 10
Current Events Nonfiction Book Club at Studio City Branch Library: Discusses “The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet” by Jeff Goodell, noon. Location, 12511 Moorpark St. 818-755-7873. Details: tinyurl.com/mr3mnwsx
Charity, Fundraiser and Volunteer
NAMIWalks: Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness – San Fernando Valley group at the 20th anniversary of NAMIWalks Greater Los Angeles County event to raise awareness of mental illnesses and reduce the stigma of mental illness, and raise funds for mental health programs, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 4. All participants need to register. No fee to register. Register online is advised; or register at 10 a.m. May 4. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. The 5K walk begins at 11:15 a.m. Also, the event welcomes dogs on leashes (there will be a pet costume contest, 10:15 a.m.). Register to walk as an individual or with a team. Raise and donate $100 for event T-shirt. Frequently asked questions: tinyurl.com/3xuwwubt. Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1315 N. Spring St., Los Angeles. Email for the walk manager, Gigi de Pourtales, at gdepourtales@namiglac.org. 310-850-9519. www.namiwalks.org. Details on the event and to register here: tinyurl.com/mw7jxnm3
Classic Chevys of Southern California Car Club’s Classic Car Show: The 41st annual display of cars from the Model T through the classics and hot rods to muscle cars of today, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. May 5. Registration of your car on day of show, $35. Free admission for spectators. Rancho San Antonio, also known as Rancho San Antonio Boys Home, sells a barbecue lunch. The fundraiser for the non-profit event also includes a scale model car show (laskiscale.com), musical entertainment, a baked goods and silent auctions, raffles and vendors. Rancho San Antonio, 21000 Plummer St., Chatsworth. Find out how to register your car, 818-360-9025. Or, email: yesterdayschevys@gmail.com. classicchevysofsocal.com
Valley Community Healthcare – Celebrating 54 Years Gala: The disco-theme fundraiser, hosted by comedian and author Paula Poundstone, includes dinner, dancing and entertainment, 6:30 p.m. May 23. Tickets $300. The nonprofit medical center, with locations in North Hills and North Hollywood, offers low-cost primary care to low-income families and individuals. Location, Skirball Cultural Center, Ahmanson Ballroom, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. valleycommunityhealthcare.org. www.facebook.com/vchcare. Details and to purchase tickets on Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/ykkzyc45
William Shatner’s Priceline Hollywood Charity Horse Show: The event is a fundraiser for various Los Angeles-area charities. The 45-minute-long equestrian show, 5 p.m. June 1, is free for the public to attend to attend (no reservations are required to attend the horse show). Purchase tickets by May 30 for the dinner and entertainment — an Elvis Presley tribute concert by Las Vegas-style Elvis Presley impersonator James Cawley — that follows the equestrian show. Tickets $300 (entry and dinner); VIP dinner ticket $400 (entry, dinner and a table photo opportunity with William Shatner); check the website for table-for-10 ticket options. Ticket sales end on May 30. The fundraiser also includes an online silent auction with “unique” and signed items, beginning on May 13 to noon June 2 (for how to bid: horseshow.org/silent-auction/). Sponsors of the event include Banc of California and Priceline. Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Charities to benefit: www.horseshow.org/charity-recipients. Details and to purchase tickets: www.horseshow.org/the-event-and-tickets/
Volunteers Cleaning Communities: Join the group for clean-up projects in the San Fernando Valley. Find a list of upcoming projects: https://volunteerscleaningcommunities.com/schedule-of-events. Information on the group and how to make a donation for clean-up supplies: volunteerscleaningcommunities.com
Farmers markets
Canoga Park Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Location, 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, between Sherman Way and Wyandotte Avenue. www.instagram.com/mainst.canogaparkfarmersmarket
El Nido Farmers Market – Pacoima: El Nido Family Centers and the City of Los Angeles present the market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Location, Pacoima Family Source Center, 11243 Glenoaks Blvd. Facebook: tinyurl.com/2p8rmtc2. www.elnidofamilycenters.org/farmers-market
Woodland Hills Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Location, 5650 Shoup Ave. 818-300-3023. Facebook: bit.ly/44cFl0P
Encino Farmers Market: ONEgeneration presents the market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Location, 17400 Victory Blvd. (between Balboa Boulevard and White Oak Avenue). Farmers market manager, 818-708-6611 or email: farmersmarket@onegeneration.org. www.onegeneration.org/farmers-market/
Good Times Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Los Angeles Valley College, parking lot A, 5800 Fulton Ave. (at Burbank Boulevard), Valley Glen. goodtimesfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Instagram: tinyurl.com/mrxcaxrn
Send information at least two weeks in advance to Holly Andres at holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.
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