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.
Nov. 20
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
Hidden Los Angeles – The Chinese Experience in Los Angeles: Eugene Moy, vice president of the Chinese Historical Society, discusses the topic, 6:15 p.m. on Zoom. The lecture is presents by the Sherman Oaks Friends of the Library. Request the Zoom link on Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/2s442yjh
Nov. 21
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 and NGC gardening consultant Rosemary Ecker gives a workshop on “Let’s Go on a Garden Hunt,” 10:30 a.m.; guest speaker Jamie Kneitel, PhD, gives a talk on “Carnies and Vampires or How I Learned to Love the Alternative Lifestyles of Plants, 11 a.m. Kneitel is a professor in the Department of Biological Studies at California State University, Sacramento. 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 and www.facebook.com/southerncaliforniagardenclub
Arleta Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Osborne Neighborhood Church, Fellowship Hall, 13501 Osborne St. www.arletanc.org
Nov. 22
Indoor Model Airplane Flying: Call in advance to confirm if the “Old Farts Flying Club” meets, 9 a.m.-noon, on this date (Thanksgiving Eve). Members provide advice on how to build and fly balsa models. They also hold monthly contests. Stonehurst Recreation Center, gym, 9901 Dronfield St., Sun Valley. Bill Watson, 805-304-6087.
Classics Book Club with Granada Hills Branch Library – In-Person and Online: Discusses “Raise High the Roof Beam” and “Seymour” by J.D. Salinger, 1:30-3 p.m. Request the Zoom link in advance and by email to grnhls@lapl.org (put “Classics Book Club, Nov. 22” in the subject line). Location, 10640 Petit Ave. 818-368-5687. Details: tinyurl.com/3s65kxe4
Nov. 23
Volunteers Cleaning Communities and Thanksgiving Day Clean-Up: Join the group for a project cleaning up area around Tampa Avenue train tracks, 8-10 a.m. Park in the lot at ULTA, north of the train tracks on Tampa Avenue, Northridge. Look for volunteers in yellow vests. Schedule of events: volunteerscleaningcommunities.com/schedule-of-events. 818-519-7567. Email: jill@vcc.world
Nov. 27
Telescope Night 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), 5-7 p.m. Sylmar Branch Library, 14561 Polk St. 818-367-6102. Details: tinyurl.com/e4jer5vm
Book Club at Sherman Oaks Branch Library – Online: Discusses “When Women Were Dragons” by Kelly Barnhill, 6:30 p.m. Request the Zoom link in advance and by email to shrmn0@lapl.org (put “Book Club Nov. 27” in the subject line). Library location, 14245 Moorpark St. 818-205-9716. Details: tinyurl.com/3x2eec3m
Nov. 29
Science Fiction Book Club at Van Nuys Branch Library: Discusses “Dune” by Frank Herbert, 5 p.m. Moderated by John Tommasino. Location, 6250 Sylmar Ave. 818-756-8453. Details: tinyurl.com/yen4zbnw
Mystery and Thriller Book Club at Studio City Branch Library: Discusses “The Golden Spoon” by Jessa Maxwell, 6:30 p.m. Location, 12511 Moorpark St. 818-755-7873. Details: tinyurl.com/yc5xxa4e
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
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
Charity/volunteer
Flair Cleaners Holiday Drive for Clothing and Shoes: Donate gently used and clean items, new clothing and shoes during the 121st annual event, through Dec. 31. Requested items: business attire; pajamas; clothing in extra-large and tall sizes; children, men and women’s clothing; new socks and underwear. Drop off items at Flair Cleaners locations: 4060 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City (818-761-3282); 27011 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661-753-9900); 720 Montana Ave., Santa Monica (310-395-9354). Call for store hours; drop off items inside store. Items will be donated to the National Council of Jewish Women, San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army – Santa Monica. www.flaircleaners.com
Los Angeles Councilmember Bob Blumenfield’s 2023 Holiday Drive: Make a reservation to attend, 4-7 p.m. Dec. 7. Donation wish list: new, unwrapped toys; new socks; hygiene products; non-perishable canned and dry goods; gently-used and clean blankets and jackets. Winnetka Recreation Center, 8401 Winnetka Ave. 818-774-4330. www.facebook.com/BobBlumenfieldSFV. Make a reservation here: tinyurl.com/34frmd4y
LA Sanitation and Environment’s City Facilities Recycling Program’s Blankets and Socks Drive: Donations of new or gently-used (washed and clean) blankets, sleeping bags, quilts and socks are being accepted now through Dec. 29. Items may be donated, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday (however, locations will be closed on Nov. 23-24 and Dec. 25). 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 the four other drop-off locations on the website. 213-485-2260. Email: san.cfrp@lacity.org. lacitysan.org/donationdrives
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.