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.
Dec. 11
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 “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese, 4:45 p.m. Request the Google Meet link in advance and by email to ebarrera@lapl.org (put “Book Club, Dec. 11” in the subject line). Library location, 7935 Vineland Ave. 818-764-1338. Details: tinyurl.com/m8np7bjx
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. 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/
Dec. 12
Northridge West Neighborhood Council: A board meeting with holiday party, 6:15 p.m. Make a reservation to attend this meeting to jkraft@northridgewest.org. Northridge Christian Church, 18901 Chatsworth St. Email: board@northridgewest.org. northridgewest.org.
Winnetka Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Winnetka Convention Center, 20122 Vanowen St. Email: board@winnetkanc.com. www.facebook.com/winnetkanc. winnetkanc.com
Dec. 13
Indoor Model Airplane Flying: Join the “Old Farts Flying Club” meeting, 9 a.m.-noon. Wednesdays. Members provide advice on how to build and fly balsa models. They also hold monthly contests. Call to confirm meetings in December. Stonehurst Recreation Center, gym, 9901 Dronfield St., Sun Valley. Bill Watson, 805-304-6087.
North Hollywood West Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Madison Middle School, auditorium, 13000 Hart St. Email: board@nohowest.org. www.nohowest.org
North Hollywood East 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
Van Nuys Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. Marvin Braude San Fernando Valley Constituent Service Center, conference room, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd. (at Sylvan Street). Voicemail, 818-533-8662. Email: info@vnnc.org. Facebook: bit.ly/3lsRQOQ. vnnc.org
Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization – Online: Virtually meet guest speaker Susan Shelley, opinion columnist and editorial writer for the Southern California News Group, who discusses issues up for vote on the March 5, 2024 ballot, including two proposed state amendments that would make a change on property taxes covered by the 1978 Proposition 13, 7:30 p.m. Register to attend the Zoom meeting from the website link. Also, the newsletter is now only emailed to members before a meeting (join the group for $25 per year). whho.com/
Dec. 14
Northridge South Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 7 p.m. (change of date for December’s general board meeting; see the website). Northridge Middle School, library, 17960 Chase St. Email: northridgesouthnc@gmail.com. northridgesouth.org
Dec. 16
Chatsworth Chapter National Society Of the Daughters of the American Revolution: Meeting begins with a social time, 9:30 a.m., followed by the meeting and a talk by guest speaker Karen Theofanides on “Flowers of Colonial America,” 10 a.m. Meeting location provided to anyone interested in attending as a potential DAR member or as a guest at the meeting, contact Jane Penn at chatsworthchapterdar@gmail.com. chatsworth.californiadar.org
Dec. 20
Science Fiction Book Club at Van Nuys Branch Library: Discusses “A Scanner Darkly” by Philip K. Dick, 5 p.m. Location, 6250 Sylmar Ave. 818-756-8453. Details: tinyurl.com/sv6cvj2t
Dec. 27
Mystery and Thriller Book Club at Studio City Branch Library: Discusses “I Have Some Questions for You” by Rebecca Makkai, 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
Parks Chapel AME Church Community Holiday Toy Drive: Donate new, unwrapped toys to be given out to children in the local community on Dec. 16. Donations may be dropped off: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 13-14. Location, 1102 Fourth St., San Fernando. 818-898-1833. More information at 848-568-2493 or 818-617-8349.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel’s Holiday Toy Drive: Donate new, unwrapped toys that will benefit the West Valley Food Pantry’s holiday outreach to families in need, 4-6 p.m. Dec. 12. ONEgeneration, 17400 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys. 818-380-2460. asmdc.org/gabriel
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 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
Flair Cleaners Holiday Drive for Clothing and Shoes: Donate gently used and clean items, new clothing and shoes during the 21st 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
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.