A view from the San Fernando Valley: The doors of the newly renovated Taxco Theatre on Owensmouth Avenue in Canoga Park, seen here on Jan. 17, 2024, have opened. Located in what was the Clyde Porter Playhouse, the venue is the only city-owned ‘arts incubator’ where local artists can develop new theater, dance or music productions. (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.
Feb. 19
Wings Over Wendy’s: Veterans from all services and ages, and their supporters, 8:30-11 a.m. Due to the Presidents Day holiday today and a school holiday at the West Hills venue where the group normally meets, the group meets at Canoga Park Elks Lodge, 20925 Osborne St., Canoga Park. Contact Ed Reynolds, 818-884-4013. www.wingsoverwendys.com
Feb. 20
Southern California Garden Club: Meeting includes a plant market and country store, both for fundraising, plus a plant specimen display, 9:30 a.m.; business meeting, 10 a.m.; club member Terri Taylor leads a hands-on workshop “Garden of Love,” 10:30 a.m.; guest speaker Lisa Cosand, vice president of Conejo Valley Garden Club, presents a program “Sogetsu Design Made Easy,” 11 a.m. Bring-your-own lunch, noon. Club meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month, Sept.-June. Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. 818-996-3530. www.socalgardenclub.org and www.facebook.com/southerncaliforniagardenclub
Arleta Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Location, Osborne Neighborhood Church, Fellowship Hall, 13501 Osborne St. www.arletanc.org
Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Toluca Lake Elementary School, auditorium, 4840 Cahuenga Blvd. 818-971-9134. Email: info@gtlnc.org. www.gtlnc.org/
Feb. 21
Book Club for Adults at Studio City Branch Library: Discusses “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro, 6:30 p.m. Location, 12511 Moorpark St., 818-755-7873. Details: tinyurl.com/5c4r29rn
Ask the Psychiatrist Night – National Alliance on Mental Illness – San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys: Guest speaker Dr. Alex Kopelowicz, from Olive View – UCLA Medical Center, answers your questions about mental illness and mental health, 7-8:45 p.m. online on Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3bMNm1Y. By phone, 669-900-9128 and use ID: 81835523630 and # and Passcode: 692327. Information for resources on mental health, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health: dmh.lacounty.gov. www.facebook.com/NAMISFV.ORG. Information about the local NAMI group and their support groups, www.namisfv.org
North Hollywood Northeast Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Los Angeles Fire Department, Station 89, community room, 7063 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Email: board@nhnenc.org. www.nhnenc.org
Northridge East Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 7 p.m. Check the agenda page on the website for meeting venue. Voicemail, 818-527-2913. Email: info@nenc-la.org. nenc-la.org/
Studio City Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Location, Radford Studio Center, 4024 Radford Ave., MPR-3 (enter at the Radford Gate, north of Ventura Boulevard). 818-655-5400. www.studiocitync.org/
Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association: Guest speaker Jim McDonnell, former Los Angeles County Sheriff, discusses crime in Los Angeles, homelessness and policing and other community policing concerns, 7:15 p.m. Prior to the meeting, a social hour, 6:15 p.m. Also, streamed on Zoom (check the website for the link). Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 818-377-4590. Email: soha914@gmail.com. www.soha914.com
Feb. 22
Cover to Cover Book Club at Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library: Discusses “Ordinary Grace” by William Kent Krueger, 6 p.m. Upcoming: “The Glass Hotel” by Emily St. John Mandel, March 28. Location, 16244 Nordhoff St., North Hills. 818-895-3650. Details: tinyurl.com/j4ntw33m
Sylmar Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Discovery Charter Preparatory School, 13570 Eldridge Ave. Voicemail, 818-833-8737. Email: board@sylmarnc.org. www.sylmarnc.org
Northridge South Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Northridge Middle School, library, 17960 Chase St. Email: northridgesouthnc@gmail.com. www.facebook.com/NorthridgeSouthNeighborhoodCouncil. www.northridgesouth.org. www.northridgesouth.org/calendar
San Fernando Valley Historical Society: Maya DeBus discusses “The Life of a Lady in 1901,” 7 p.m. DeBus is an 8-year-member of the SFVHS and its newsletter editor for 6 years, and also a tour guide at the Leonis Adobe museum in Calabasas. Free to attend the meeting; donations appreciated. Meeting at New Life Church of the Nazarene, 10650 Reseda Blvd., Porter Ranch. sfvhs.com and www.facebook.com/SFVHS/
Feb. 24
Get Ready for College – Questions about Standardized College Testing: Students and parents are invited to learn about the SAT and ACT tests and how these tests influence college application, 11 a.m. Platt Branch Library, 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386. lapl.org/teens/college-career. Details on the workshop: tinyurl.com/58sfjkdu
Safety with Dogs Puppet Show: Stephanie Parke, from Actors and Others for Animals, presents a program for ages 4-8 on safety around dogs, and also responsibilities that come with having a dog, 1-3. The branch library’s teen group, Platt’s Paw Protectors hosts the event. Platt Branch Library, 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386. Email: platt@lapl.org. Details: tinyurl.com/bde6f43v
Feb. 26
Book Club with Sherman Oaks Branch Library – Online: Discusses “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson, 6:30 p.m. Request the Zoom link in advance and by email to shrmno@lapl.org (put “Book Club, Feb. 26” in the subject line). Library, 14245 Moorpark St. 818-205-9716. Details: tinyurl.com/4tnbj8ma
Feb. 28
Sci-Fi Book Club at Van Nuys Branch Library: Discusses “Dune – Messiah” by Frank Herbert, 5 p.m. The discussion is moderated by John Tommasino (tinyurl.com/2s4ceww7). Location, 6250 Sylmar Ave. 818-756-8453. Facebook: tinyurl.com/bdea8azm. Details: tinyurl.com/y9dewzfj
Mystery and Thriller Book Club at Studio City Branch Library: Discusses “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave, 6:30 p.m. Location, 12511 Moorpark St. 818-755-7873. Details: tinyurl.com/y7d8uccz
Van Nuys Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. (meeting was rescheduled from the normal second Wednesday of the month due to Valentine’s Day; tinyurl.com/437yavhz). Email: info@vnnc.org. vnnc.org/
Farmers markets
Canoga Park Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Rain or shine. Location, 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, between Sherman Way and Wyandotte Avenue. www.instagram.com/mainst.canogaparkfarmersmarket
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/
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. www.elnidofamilycenters.org/farmers-market
Woodland Hills Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Location, 5650 Shoup Ave. 818-300-3023. Facebook: bit.ly/44cFl0P
Send information at least two weeks in advance to Holly Andres at holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.
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