Community meetings bring people together for exchange of ideas and memorable shared experiences. Here’s a sampling of meetings in the San Fernando Valley.
Wings Over Wendy’s: Veterans of all services and ages, and their supporters, meet from 8:30-11 a.m. every Monday of the month. Guest speakers scheduled for meetings. Currently, the group is also offering the meetings on Zoom. Location, 7401 Shoup Ave., West Hills. Contact Ed Reynolds for the Zoom link, ID and password and other information. 818-884-4013.
Book Club at Sun Valley Branch Library: Discusses “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” by Trvor Noah, 4:45 p.m. Aug. 9. Request the Zoom link in advance by email to ebarrera@lapl.org (Put “Book Club” in the subject line). www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/book-club-5
Briefing on the Proposed Redesign of Van Nuys Airport Departure Procedures: Los Angeles World Airports host the Zoom meeting, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 9. Register in advance here: bit.ly/3xVyEju
North Hills East Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3nauizC. By phone, 669-900-6833 and use ID: 83160320531 and press #. Agenda includes; clean up planning, seating committee chairs and vacant seats. Voice mail, 818-672-6674. northhillseast.org
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3fBnlG4. By phone, 833-548-0282 and use ID: 85140543942 and press #. voice mail, 818-503-2399. www.shermanoaksnc.org
Northridge West Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:15 p.m. Aug. 10. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/2WWpW3A. By phone, 669-900-9128 and use ID: 94115763566 and press #. Voice mail, 818-697-0639. Email: board@northridgewest.org. northridgewest.org
Winnetka Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10. Check the agenda on the website for how to join the Zoom meeting or by phone. winnetkanc.com
Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:15 p.m. Aug. 11. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3uN9Ho1. By phone, 669-900-6833 and use ID: 94783511596 and press #. Voice mail, 818-217-0279. prnc.org
North Hollywood Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3jt0MV7. By phone, 877-853-5257 and use ID: 84002480226 and press #. www.nohonc.org
North Hollywood West Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Join the Zoom meeting here: zoom.us and use ID: 88015164562. By phone, 669-900-6833 and use the ID and press #. Voice mail, 818-446-6469. Email: nohowestnc@empowerla.org. nohowest.org
Book Club with Pacoima Branch Library: Discusses “The Giver of Stars” by Jojo Moyes, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Request the Zoom link by email to lziman@lapl.org (put “Book Club Aug. 11” in the subject line). bit.ly/3jubFGe
Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Check the agenda on the website for how to join the Zoom meeting or by phone. Voice mail, 818-639-9444. whcouncil.org
North Hollywood North East Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Aug. 11. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/37qFsd6. By phone, 669-900-6833 and use ID: 85757507556 and press #. Email: board@nhnenc.org. www.nhnenc.org
Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Aug. 11. Join the Zoom meeting here: https://bit.ly/34LG1gi. By phone, 888-475-4499 and use ID: 91892785703 and press #. Voice mail, 818-951-7411. www.stnc.org
Van Nuys Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Aug. 11. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3g4f3Yl. By phone, 669-900-6833 and use ID: 83366296988 and press #. Voice mail, 818-533-8662. Email: info@vnnc.org. www.vnnc.org
Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers & Native Plants classes: “California Native Container Plants,” with Flora Ito, 8:30-9:45 a.m. Aug. 12 (in-person; $25; bit.ly/2VaiggC). “Native Plant Maintenance Basics,” a walk and talk with Erik Blank, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Aug. 26 (in-person; $15; bit.ly/3lf3v76). “Clipper Maintenance,” with Louise Guerin, 9 a.m. Aug. 28 (in-person; bring your own clippers to practice on; $20; bit.ly/37qndEK). Register in advance for all classes. For classes on Aug. 12 and 26: Read instructions on what to wear for classes that takes place outdoors and involve walking on steep and uneven surfaces for up to one hour. The foundation’s nursery is open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday with a time slot reservation (see the website). 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley. 818-768-1802. theodorepayne.org
A Big Read Book Discussion with West Valley Regional Branch Library: The group discusses “Fuzzy Mud” by Louis Sachar, with guest speaker Cameron Geller, from USC-Irvine, addressing the science in the book with an emphasis o microbial variants and mutations, 4 p.m. Aug. 12. Register in advance here: bit.ly/2U0JlCD. www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/big-read-discussion-science-theme
NoHo Book Club: Discuss a favorite book of your choice, 10 a.m. Aug. 13. Request the Zoom link at least two days in advance by email to nohlwd@lapl.org (put “NoHo Book Club, Aug. 13” in the subject line). Upcoming: the group is reading “Paris to the Moon” by Alan Gopnik, 10 a.m. Aug. 27. bit.ly/3mC5rVc
Divorce Workshop – Phone-in Meeting: A family law attorney from the Law Collaborative in Woodland Hills discusses the divorce process and issues including state guidelines for child custody and support, financial and tax concerns by phone, 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 14. Free. 609-663-5450. www.thelawcollaborative.com
Culinary Historians of Southern California: A discussion on “Sushi Before Sushi, Umami Before Umami – The Hidden (Fermented) History of Japanese Food” by author Eric C. Rath (“Oishii – The History of Sushi”), 10:30 a.m. Aug. 14. Free. Register in advance for the Zoom meeting (reservations close 24-hours before meeting): bit.ly/2WAnDq5. Email: info@chsocal.org. www.chsocal.org
Inner Peace Through Meditation: Long-time meditator Doug Frankel presents a meditation technique, 11 a.m. Aug. 14. Sign up in advance by sending an email with your email address to Marc at mschatkun@lapl.org (put “Aug. 14 Meditation” in the subject line). Class is offered on Zoom by Platt Branch Library in Woodland Hills. bit.ly/3lIr9sK
Virtual Book Club with Sherman Oaks Branch Library: Discusses “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16. Request the Zoom link in advance by email to shrmno@lapl.org (put “Virtual Book Club, Aug. 16” in the subject line). bit.ly/2XuA84m
Online Tuesday Evening Book Club with Calabasas Library: Discusses “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell, 6 p.m. Aug. 17. Request the Zoom meeting link in advance by email to Barbara Lockwood at blockwood@calabasaslibrary.org (put “Online Tuesday Evening Book Club” in the subject line). bit.ly/3xfNUXg
Wednesday Morning Book Club at Calabasas Library: Discusses “Truman” by David McCullough, 11 a.m. Aug. 18. The meeting is in-person and also on Zoom. Request the Zoom meeting link in advance by email to Karilyn Steward at ksteward@calabasaslibrary.org (put “Wednesday Morning Book Club” in the subject line). 200 Civic Center Way, Calabasas. 818-225-7616. bit.ly/3C9xBiq
Book Club with Granada Hills Branch Library: Discusses “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett, 1:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Request the Zoom link in advance by email to grnhls@lapl.org (put “Book Club, Aug. 18” in the subject line). bit.ly/3chQ3al
Book Club for Adults with Studio City Branch Library: Discusses “French Exit” by Patrick DeWitt, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Request the Zoom link in advance by email to Emily at eaaronson@lapl.org (put “Book Club for Adults, Aug. 18” in the subject line). bit.ly/2U9HOqF
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse: Dr. John Tsuang, affiliated with Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, discusses the topic at an online meeting of the National Alliance on Mental Illness – San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, 7-8:45 p.m. Aug. 18. Join the Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3bMNm1Y. By phone, 669-900-9128 and use ID: 81835523630 and Pass code: 692327. Email: info@namisanfernandovalley.org. www.namisfv.org; www.facebook.com/NAMISFV.ORG/
Santa Susana Storm Water Expert Panel: Hear an update on storm water sampling at the former Santa Susana Field Laboratory site during a Zoom webinar, 4-6 p.m. Aug. 19. Register in advance here: bit.ly/3fgifPb (a Zoom link will be sent after registration). Questions about the meeting may be sent to: stormwater-survey@geosyntec.com. General questions about the site: kamara.sams@boeing.com. www.chatsworthcouncil.org
CHARITY
American Red Cross-Los Angeles Region: The organization is calling for blood donations, particularly type O and giving platelets. Search for a donation site and schedule an appointment here: www.redcrossblood.org. Or call, 800-733-2767.
Send information at least two weeks in advance to Holly Andres at holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.