Community meetings bring people together for exchange of ideas and memorable shared experiences. Here’s a sampling of meetings and charity/volunteer events in the San Fernando Valley area.
Feb. 20
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. Location, 7401 Shoup Ave., West Hills. Contact Ed Reynolds, 818-884-4013. www.wingsoverwendys.com
Filing for Neighborhood Council Elections in the San Fernando Valley: Thinking about filing as a candidate for a neighborhood council?
Feb. 3 was the opening date for filing if you are a stakeholder in one of these nine councils: Arleta, Foothill Trails District, Mission Hills, North Hills East, Pacoima, Panorama City, Sunland-Tujunga, Sun Valley Area and Sylmar (filing closes for these councils on March 20). Stakeholder requirements to participate vary by council. For information on qualifications: empowerla.org/about-neighborhood-councils.
For other neighborhood councils (21) in the San Fernando Valley, check the filing dates in February here: bit.ly/3isaQ3H
Feb. 21
Southern California Garden Club: Meeting includes a plant market and country store plus a plant specimen display, 9:30 a.m.; business meeting, 10 a.m.; club member Alexis Slafer gives a report on “Planting a Vine for Arbor Day,” at the 10:30 a.m. workshop; Amy Darvish, owner of the Sleepy Florist in Encino, gives a talk, “Flower Preparation Tips,” 11 a.m. Vines are the club’s signature plant to be displayed and studied at club meetings this year. Bring-your-own lunch, noon. Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. 818-996-3530. www.socalgardenclub.org; www.facebook.com/southerncaliforniagardenclub
Clases de conversacíon en inglés/English Conversation Class: Join the class and develop communication, grammar and vocabulary skills, 2-3:30 p.m., and also every Tuesday. Sun Valley Branch Library, 7935 Vineland Ave. 818-764-1338. Details: bit.ly/3hPaOmG
Arleta Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom here: bit.ly/3QxMxy6. By phone, 833-548-0276 and use ID: 81800673600 and #. www.facebook.com/ArletaNC. arletanc.org/
Reseda Neighborhood Council: A special board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom here: bit.ly/3wEMJRN. By phone, 877-853-5257 and use ID: 84974428499 and #. Email: info@resedacouncil.org. www.facebook.com/ResedaNC. Facebook newsletter: bit.ly/3Z4knOB
Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom: bit.ly/3bF2M9O. By phone, 669-900-9128 and use ID: 97941372867 and #. Voicemail, 818-971-9134. Email: info@gtlnc.org. www.facebook.com/GTLNC. www.gtlnc.org/
Feb. 22
Channel Islands Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America: The group gives a class on blackwork embroidery, 9:30 a.m. Make a reservation to attend through the email. United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo. Email: president@channelislandsega.org. www.channelislandsega.org
Van Nuys Airport Land Use Vision Study – Online Open House: The Los Angeles World Airports holds the online event, 6 p.m. Also, the Los Angeles City Planning Department will provide information on the Southwest Valley Area Community Plans Update. Register for the Zoom link here: bit.ly/3xxkoPh
Mystery and Thriller Book Club with Studio City Branch Library – Online: Discusses “Take Your Breath Away” by Linwood Barclay, 6:30 p.m. Request the Zoom link by email in advance to studio@lapl.org (put “Mystery and Thriller Book Club” in the subject line). 12511 Moorpark St. 818-755-7873. Details: bit.ly/3H2BrOS
Canoga Park Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 7 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom here: bit.ly/3Y9TokX. By phone, 877-853-5257 and use ID: 88313948851 and #. Voicemail, 818-856-1060. Email: info@canogaparknc.org. canogaparknc.org or bit.ly/3hIrvwQ
Encino Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 7 p.m. Check the agenda page on the website for how to join the meeting on Zoom or by phone. 747-282-0450. www.encinonc.org
Neighborhood Council Valley Village: A board meeting is scheduled, 7 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom: zoom.us and use ID: 81193061287. By phone, 669-900-6833 and use the ID and #. Voicemail, 818-759-8204. Email: info@myvalleyvillage.com. www.myvalleyvillage.com
Feb. 23
Panorama City Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 6:30 p.m. Check the agenda page on the website for how to join the meeting on Zoom or by phone. Voicemail, 818-927-0003. www.panoramacitync.org
Northridge South Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 7 p.m. Check the agenda page on the website or Facebook for how to join the meeting on Zoom or by phone. Email: northridgesouthnc@gmail.com. Updates: www.facebook.com/NorthridgeSouthNeighborhoodCouncil. www.northridgesouth.org/
San Fernando Valley Historical Society: Guest speaker Marc Wanamaker discusses “Hollywood’s Trains and Trolleys – The History of the Southern California Transport System and the Motion Picture Industry,” 7 p.m. Free/donations are appreciated. Location, New Life Church, 10650 Reseda Blvd., Porter Ranch. sfvhs.com and www.facebook.com/SFVHS/
Feb. 25
2023 West San Fernando Valley Preparedness Fair: Learn to be prepared for natural disasters at home or while driving, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 25. The event includes demonstrations on CPR, using a fire extinguisher and how to turn off utilities. Free admission. Use the college parking lot 7, off of Victory Boulevard at Mason Avenue. Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. 818-347-4737. www.woodlandhillscc.net
Author talk at Canoga Park Branch Library: Ghanaian American author Kwei Quartey discusses African literature and his own fictional crime series (the Inspector Darko Dawson and the Emma Djan Investigations mysteries), 1 p.m. Discussion is for adults. Program is presented by the Friends of the Canoga Park Branch Library. Location, library’s community room, 20939 Sherman Way. 818-887-0320. www.kweiquartey.com. Details: bit.ly/3Rp8Oio
NoHo In-Person Book Club: Discusses “John Woman” by Walter Mosely, 4 p.m. North Hollywood Regional Branch Library, 5211 Tujunga Ave. 818-766-7185. Details: bit.ly/3Y3FhNp
Feb. 26
CicLAvia – The Valley: CicLAvia returns to the San Fernando Valley for 5-miles of closed street for riding a bike, skate boarding, roller skating, jogging and walking, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Route: Sherman Way, from Shoup Avenue to Lindley Avenue (from Canoga Park, through Winnetka, to Reseda; or, the reverse). There is no set start or stop for the event; choose how short or long or round trip you prefer. Visit businesses along the way. The free event is not a race. Read the rules here: www.ciclavia.org/ciclavia-safety. The map: bit.ly/3XeJdtL. Details on the event: bit.ly/3YvLiT9
Charity and Volunteer
Our House Grief Support Center’s Walk ‘n’ Run for Hope: Register for the “early bird” fee now through Feb. 28 for the 5K event around Lake Balboa, 7:30 a.m.-noon April 30. Early registration fee $35/$25 children (fee increases to $40/$30, March 1-30; $45/$35, April 1-29; event day $50/$40). The event location, Woodley Park, 6076 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys. ourhouse-grief.org/runforhope
LA Sanitation and Environment’s City Facilities Recycling Program’s Clothing Drive: Donations of new or gently-used (washed and clean) jackets and sweaters, pants, shirts and socks for children, men and women are accepted through March 3. Items may be donated, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed, however, on Feb. 20). Two locations in the San Fernando Valley: East Valley District Yard, 11050 Pendelton St., Sun Valley, and West Valley District Yard, 8840 Vanalden Ave., Northridge. See other drop-off locations on the website. 213-485-2260. Email: san.cfrp@lacity.org. lacitysan.org
Tujunga Monday Night Bingo with Knights of Columbus: The organization holds the game night that generates funds for local charities. Early bird games, 6:30 p.m., and regular games at 7:30 p.m. Bingo games are set for multiple Monday dates. Buy-in $15. Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, auditorium, 7144 Apperson St., Tujunga. Details on Eventbrite: bit.ly/3S22nkb
Volunteers Cleaning Communities: Join the group for clean-up projects in the San Fernando Valley. Find a list of upcoming projects, and also how to make a donation for clean-up supplies, volunteerscleaningcommunities.com
Send information at least two weeks in advance to Holly Andres at holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.