Community meetings bring people together for exchange of ideas and memorable shared experiences. Here’s a sampling of meetings in the San Fernando Valley.
Jan. 31
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 and other information. 818-884-4013.
Live Large in 2022: Best Friends Animal Society, Los Angeles Animal Services (www.laanimalservices.com/adopt/), Los Angeles County Animal Care Centers (animalcare.lacounty.gov/) and other animal welfare organizations are offering free or discounted adoption fees for dogs 40-pounds and over, through Jan. 31. Details about the campaign and locations here: bit.ly/3Gq4VmV. Best Friends in Mission Hills and NKLA in Los Angeles are two that are offering free adoptions. bestfriends.org
Feb. 1
Volunteers Cleaning Communities: Join the group for cleaning up streets and other areas. Meet in the parking lot at Home Depot at 16800 Roscoe Blvd. (park near the Roscoe side of the lot), 8-10 a.m. (clean-up to proceed east on Roscoe toward the railroad tracks). Look for the people with yellow vests. Must sign a waiver to participate. For more information send an email to Jill Mather at jillmather@earthlink.net. The group has a Gofundme donation site: bit.ly/3INyb83. 818-519-7567. Check the website for more upcoming clean-up opportunities, volunteerscleaningcommunities.com
Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom here: bit.ly/3bJst8l. By phone, 833-548-0282 and use ID: 98538834487 and #. Email: info@ghnnc.org. ghnnc.org
Feb. 2
San Fernando Valley Chapter of the National Active Retired Federal Employees Association: Lunch, 11:30 a.m., followed by a meeting, 12:30 p.m. Lunch is on-your-own payment. Lulu’s Restaurant, 16900 Roscoe Blvd., Van Nuys. David, 818-901-8331.
Book Club with Chatsworth Branch Library: Discusses “The Best We Could Do – An Illustrated Memoir” by Thi Bui, 1:30 p.m. Request the Zoom link in advance by email to sstamm@lapl.org (put “Book Club” in the subject line). 21052 Devonshire St. www.lapl.org/branches/chatsworth
Chatsworth 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. Voice mail, 818-464-3511. Emails: info@chatsworthcouncil.org; president@chatsworthcouncil.org. chatsworthcouncil.org
Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council: A board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Join the meeting on Zoom here: bit.ly/3eXnU9O. By phone, 669-900-9128 and use ID: 93626962330 and #. Email: info@lakebalboanc.org; also, see board of directors contact page. lakebalboanc.org
Feb. 3
Chef Jet Tila – An LA Made Program: Author-chef-restaurant owner discusses Thai cuisine, 4 p.m. Tila is the author of “101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die.” Watch on the Los Angeles Public Library’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary or YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary. More LA Made programs from the LAPL here: www.lapl.org/lamade. Details here: bit.ly/3r4GN43
Granada Hills South 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. Voice mail, 818-217-0511. ghsnc.org
West Hills 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. Voice mail, 818-254-9378. westhillsnc.org
Feb. 7
Love and Chocolate: Sherman Oaks Friends of the Library presents a talk on the subject by Maite Gomez-Rejón, 6:15 p.m. Register in advance for the Zoom link, bit.ly/3ABhVUC
Greater Valley Glen 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. www.greatervalleyglencouncil.org
Mission Hills Neighborhood Council: A board meeting is scheduled, 7 p.m. Check the agenda page on the website or a posting on Facebook for how to join the meeting on Zoom or by phone. Voice mail, 818-869-4577. www.facebook.com/MissionHillsCouncil; mhnconline.org
Feb. 8
Book Club with Northridge Branch Library: Discusses “H Is for Hawk” by Helen MacDonald, 1-2:30 p.m. Request the Zoom link in advance by email to nrthrg@lapl.org (put “Book Club” in the subject line). 9051 Darby Ave. Details here: bit.ly/30XEJ3C
Feb. 9
Mystery Book Club with West Valley Regional Branch Library: Discusses “Pretty as a Picture” by Elizabeth Little, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Request the Zoom link in advance by email to wvalley@lapl.org (put “Mystery Book Club” in the subject line). 19036 Vanowen St., Reseda. Details here: bit.ly/3E6CQyU
Feb. 11
Santa Clarita Encore Chorale: A nonprofit musical arts program for ages 55 and older begins with a rehearsal, 4-6 p.m. Feb. 11. Auditions are not required. Introductory rehearsal is free; $150 tuition (covers music and facilities cost). Rehearsals are on Fridays. New singers accepted through March 4. The chorale prepares during a 12-week semester for a spring concert “Santa Clarita Encore Chorale Goes to the Theatre” on May 13. Must be fully vaccinated and able to sing with a mask on. Rehearsals are at Newhall Church of the Nazarene, 23857 The Old Road, Newhall. Contact, Roberta Kessler, 661-296-5085 or rkessler1367@gmail.com.
Book Club at Sun Valley Branch Library: Discusses “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro, 4:45-5:30 p.m. Request the Google Meet link in advance by email to ebarrera@lapl.org (put “Book Club” in the subject line). 7935 Vineland Ave. Details: bit.ly/2XJ1Xoh
Charity and Volunteer
American Red Cross Los Angeles Region: Seeking volunteers for Transportation Specialists (www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/deliver-blood.html) and also Disaster Action Team Member (www.redcross.org/volunteer/disaster-action-team.html).
Send information at least two weeks in advance to Holly Andres at holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.