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.
Oct. 16
Wings Over Wendy’s: Veterans from 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
Book Club at Sun Valley Branch Library – Online: Discusses “The London Séance Society” by Sara Penner, 4:45 p.m. Request the Google Meet link in advance and by email to ebarrera@lapl.org (put “Book Club, Oct. 16” in the subject line). Library location, 7935 Vineland Ave. 818-764-1338. Details: tinyurl.com/4hc39ah5
Telescope Nights with the Sidewalk Astronomers: Members of the Sidewalk Astronomers set up their homemade telescopes, discuss how to make your own telescope and take a look at objects in the night sky (weather-permitting), 6:30-7:45 p.m. Upcoming dates: 5-7 p.m. Nov. 27 and Dec. 19; and also dates in 2024. Sylmar Branch Library, 14561 Polk St. 818-367-6102. Details: tinyurl.com/yck6wfh6
North Hills East Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Carl’s Jr, 9505 Sepulveda Blvd., North Hills. Voicemail, 818-672-6674. www.facebook.com/NorthHillsEast. northhillseast.org
Reseda Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Location, 18118 Sherman Way. Email: info@resedacouncil.org. www.resedacouncil.org
Oct. 17
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.; Debbie James, a club member, gives a workshop on “Dividing and Conquering Iris Clumps,” 10:30 a.m.; a member of the Sansui Kai Bonsai Club presents a talk “Bonkers for Bonsai” that covers history of bonsai, care, feeding and pruning, 11 a.m. Bring-your-own lunch, noon. Club meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month, Sept. through June. Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. 818-996-3530. www.socalgardenclub.org; www.facebook.com/southerncaliforniagardenclub
Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan meeting: City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, in partnership with Los Angeles City Council Districts 2, 3, 4 and 6, holds two meetings to give an update on the “Vision Plan” and a presentation on the draft plan for the basin’s future. The public will be able to ask questions directly to the project’s team members at an in-person presentation and open house meeting, 6-8 p.m. today (Encino Community Center, 4935 Balboa Blvd.). Also, a presentation on Zoom, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 18. Zoom link: (bit.ly/sbvpcm3). Reservations requested, but not required, for meetings: bit.ly/cm3sbvp
Arleta Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Osborne Neighborhood Church, Fellowship Hall, 13501 Osborne Ave. www.arletanc.org
Chatsworth Historical Society: A talk on “The Gray Family in Chatsworth,” 6:30 p.m. The soon-to-be prominent family in Chatsworth moved to the area in 1893 and lived on an 80-acre ranch north of Lassen Street and west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Meeting at the Homestead Acre, 10385 Shadow Oak Drive. Or join on Zoom: www.zoom.us/join and use ID: 84843234310 and Passcode: 100200. voicemail, 818-882-5614. Email: chatsworthhistory@gmail.com. www.chatsworthhistory.com. www.facebook.com/HomesteadAcre/
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. (rescheduled from Oct. 9). Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center at Van Nuys – Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd. (corner of Hartsook Street), Sherman Oaks. www.shermanoaksnc.org/
Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Toluca Lake Elementary School, auditorium, 4840 Cahuenga Blvd. Voicemail, 818-971-9134. Email: info@gtlnc.org. www.facebook.com/GTLNC. www.gtlnc.org
Oct. 18
The Supreme Court, the Second Amendment and the Growing Threat to Public Safety: League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles presents a talk by Adam Winkler, from UCLA School of Law and a Connell professor of law, 12:30 p.m. Register for the Zoom link: tinyurl.com/5d4mj7vd
Adult Book Club at Studio City Branch Library: Discusses “Trust” by Hernan Diaz, 6:30 p.m. Location, 12511 Moorpark St. 818-755-7873. Details: tinyurl.com/3mbjvv7h
Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association: Guest speaker is Assemblymember Laura Friedman, 7:15 p.m. Prior to the meeting, a social hour, 6:15 p.m. Also, streamed on Zoom. Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 818-377-4590. Email: soha914@gmail.com. www.soha914.com
Ask a Psychiatrist Night – Online: National Alliance on Mental Illness – San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys present guest speaker Dr. Nicholas Athanasiou answering questions about mental illness, 7-8:45 p.m. 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. Information about the local NAMI group and their support groups, www.namisfv.org
Northridge East Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Northridge Woman’s Club, 18401 Lassen St. Voicemail, 818-527-2913. Email: info@nenc-la.org. nenc-la.org/
Oct. 19
Children’s Bureau – Resource Parents Online Orientations: Learn how to help children in the foster care system by becoming a resource parent or how to become adoptive parents with a talk by a Children’s Bureau team member and a foster parent, 4-5 p.m. Request the Zoom live meeting link or a learn-at-your-own-pace online presentation, by sending an email to Rfrecruitment@all4kids.org. 800-730-3933. Details about the orientations: www.all4kids.org/programs/family-foster-care-and-adoption. Learn more about the nonprofit that was established in 1904 here: all4kids.org
Metro Telephone Town Hall: The public is invited to give feedback on the agency’s fiscal year 2025 budget process, 6 p.m. Feedback is welcome on projects and programs that involve public safety, cleaning and service. Register for the meeting: tinyurl.com/mr2j5ydv. Alternatively, join by phone: 888-400-1932 (English) or 888-400-9342 (Español). More information: budget.metro.net/tth/
Oct. 21
For Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts – Jamboree on the Air field day event: An international radio event for boy scouts and cub scouts to attend with a registration in advance, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event was suggested by Malik Nerad Sultan, a 14-year-old scout in Troop 10 in Reseda. Participants will attempt to contact other scouts in the United States and countries around the world. Participation may qualify scouts to earn requirements for certain badges. Held in conjunction with the San Fernando Valley Amateur Radio Club, w6sd.com. Location, Nike Missile Control Site LA-96, 17500 Mulholland Drive, Encino. General information on Jamboree on the Air that connects scouts around the world, Oct. 20-22: www.jotajoti.info. Parents sign up their scout for the local event on Oct. 21 here: bit.ly/SFV-JOTA2023. Contact Michael Hart, assistant scout master for Troop 307: staidly@gmail.com
Charity/volunteer
American Cancer Society Relay for Life – Across the Greater Valley: Register as an individual, create a team or join a team for the event that includes walking laps around a set course, fundraising game booths by registered teams, live music and raffles, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 21. There will be a Luminaria Ceremony, 6:30 p.m. and a “silent” lap honoring those who have been affected by cancer. Goal to be raised at this event: $160,000. Register in advance to receive a walk tee shirt (none will be sold at the door). Los Angeles Valley College, soccer fields next to parking lot F, 5792 Ethel Ave., Valley Glen. 661-855-4541 or email: abby.smith@cancer.org. Details and to register here: www.relayforlife.org/ratgvca
Whiskey, Wine and Jazz – Valley Cultural Foundation: Bassist Trey Henry, a seven time Grammy Award nominee, performs at a benefit for the foundation’s programs, with whiskey and wine tasting, 6 p.m. Oct. 21. Minimum age: 21. Tickets $135 (by noon Oct. 21); at the door $170. Tickets include all tastings and light hors d’oeuvres. Marriott Warner Center, 21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. Details and purchase tickets: valleycultural.org/event/2023-whiskey-wine-jazz/
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.