KFCF Community Calendar: Updated 10/24/14 To post an event on our calendar e-mail the information to [email protected], at least 2 weeks before the event. DAILY CALENDAR (Multiple Day and Ongoing Events are at end of posting) public, and accessible to the handicapped. Friday, October 24th Cineculture presents “Grandma’s Tattoos” with discussant Suzanne Khardalian (Director/Producer). Grandma’s Tattoos lifts the veil of thousands of forgotten women— survivors of the Armenian Genocide—who were forced into prostitution and tattooed to distinguish them from the locals. “As a child I thought these were devilish signs that came from a dark world. They stirred fear in me. What were these tattoos? Who had done them, and why? But the tattoos on grandma’s hands and face were a taboo. They never spoke about it,” explains Khardalian. Grandma’s Tattoos is a journey into the secrets of the family. Eventually, the secret behind Grandma Khanoum’s blue marks are revealed. “Grandma was abducted and kept in slavery for many years somewhere in Turkey. She was also forcibly marked—tattooed—as property, the same way you mark cattle. The discovery of the story has shaken me. I share the shame, the guilt, and anger that infected my grandma’s life. Grandma Khanoum’s fate was not an aberration. On the contrary, tens of thousands of Armenian children and teenagers were raped and abducted, kept in slavery,” she explains. The story of Grandma’s Tattoos is a personal film about what happened to many Armenian women during the genocide. It is a ghost story—with the ghosts of the tattooed women haunting us—and a mystery film, where many taboos are broken. As no one wants to tell the real and whole story, and in order to bring the pieces of the puzzle together, the director makes us move between different times and space, from today’s Sweden to Khardalian’s childhood in Beirut. The screening will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Peters Education Center Auditorium (West of SaveMart Center in the Student Recreation Center Building). For more information and the full fall line-up, go to cineculture.csufresno.edu. Friday, October 24th The Reedley Peace Center presents speaker Andrew Fiala on the topic of Peace and Forgiveness. The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1208 L Street, Reedley, in the Fellowship Hall at Reedley’s First Mennonite Church. For more information, call Don Friesen at (559) 638-3091 or e-mail [email protected]. The event is free, open to the Friday, October 24th and Saturday, October 25th The "Stronger Together Disability Summit" takes place at Fresno Pacific University Special Events Center, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno. This event is co-sponsored by Joni and Friends and FPU. Keynote address will be by Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends founder and CEO. Admission discounts are available through October 13th. Regular admission is $55, or $40 each for groups of four or more, and $25 for students. For more information, go to www.joniandfriends.org/church-relations/stronger-together, call 559-227-5664, or e-mail [email protected]. Saturday, October 25th As part of its fall film series, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno will screen the film “Look Around, Follow Me” at 7 p.m. at 2672 E. Alluvial Avenue, between Chestnut and Willow, Fresno. Admission is free and the venue is wheelchair accessible. This locally produced documentary begins with a whimsical running tour of Fulton Mall, followed by a detailed background of the artists and the historic buildings. It examines the politics of the decision to destroy the mall and replace it with a street. Several commentaries focus on the effect on the mall of Fresno’s downtown “revitalization” planning policies and how the strong public sentiment for preserving the mall was ignored . Told in a vibrant storytelling fashion, with actors and music, this is a new kind of documentary designed to be engaging, fun and informative. Prepare to be entertained! The filmmaker will be present and there will be light refreshments available. For more information, go to uufresno.org, call 559=291-1590, or e-makil [email protected]. Saturday, October 25th The 17th Annual Coarsegold Tarantula Festival takes place at 10:30 with the final tarantula race starting at 5 pm. The small town celebrates the emergence of the eightlegged creatures as they come out of their burrows in search of a mate before they hunker down over the winter. In the foothills, tarantula sightings forecast both cooler temperatures and the approaching rainy season, something central valley and foothill communities welcome. While some people may shy away from them, the tarantulas are harmless and an important part of the local ecosystem. One of the purposes of the event is to educate people on the importance of tarantulas. The event features numerous activities including the popular tarantula races, hairiest leg contests for both men and women, as well as costume contests, baking contests and art activities for kids. There are also various vendors and the chance for kids to learn about tarantulas from experts, and even hold one. Go to www.coarsegoldhistoricvillage.com for more information. Saturday, October 25th There will be an artist’s reception for Aileen Imperatrice and her Mini Retrospective, being displayed at FPU Art Gallery, Sattler 104, between September 2nd and October 31st. The Artist Reception takes place from 4-7 p.m. and Fresno Pacific University is located at 1717 S. Chestnut Ave. Fresno Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from 12-4 pm. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/FPUArt. Saturday October 25th The Komen Central Valley Race for the Cure takes place at Fresno State!! Marilyn Bolin has graciously agreed to be the Team Captain again this year! On line registration began May 1, 2014. Marilyn can be reached at the Sisterhood of Survivors office on Wednesday between the hours of 9 am to noon. Please give her a call at the office (439.2183), if you have questions. Saturday, October 25th Garden of Innocence Fresno County, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing dignified burials for abandoned children, cordially invites you to attend their upcoming burial service. They will be honoring "Tomas, Manuel, Jean, Ellen, Lillian, Linton, and Andrew. Please help them send these babies home with the love and dignity they deserve. The burial takes place at 10:00 a.m. Garden of Innocence is located in the beautiful Mountain View Cemetery at 1411 W Belmont Avenue, Fresno CA. For more information visit www.gardenofinnoccence.org/ourgardens/goifresnoco. Saturday, October 25th There will be a Sanger Art Hop and Shop in the city of Sanger from 10am to 4pm. Call 905-3517 for information. Tuesday, October 28th Assemblymember Henry T. Perea, in partnership with the Fresno County Department of Public Health, will moderate a discussion based around the information we know about the Ebola Virus. Experts will present the most up-to-date facts about this deadly disease, and what we are doing federally, statewide and locally to keep you and your families safe. They welcome the public to join this evening to gain an understanding and be informed of the hot-button medical issue making headlines each and every night. The Ebola Symposium is from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Fresno High School Student Senate Chambers, 1839 N. Echo Ave. in Fresno. For more information, call 559-445-5532. Wednesday, October 29th The Fresno City College Speakers Forum is hosting a presentation by author and UC Berkeley Professor Dr. Seth Holmes on his new book, “Fresh Fruit-Broken Bodies, Migrant Farmworkers in the United States.” Dr. Holmes is an anthropologist and MD. In his book, “Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies,” he chronicles the everyday lives and suffering of Mexican migrants, based on five years of research in the field (including berry-picking and traveling with migrants back and forth from Oaxaca up the West Coast), Dr. Holmes uncovers how market forces, anti-immigrant sentiment, and racism undermined health and health care. He will talk about the book and the back-breaking work of bringing food to our plates. He focuses his work on the Oaxacan community whose population in the Central Valley is the largest in California according to the California Institute for Rural Studies. The event takes place at 12 noon in the Old Administration Building Auditorium. It is co-sponsored by T&D Willey Farms. There is free entry and free parking, and the event includes a reception and book signing. For more information, call (559) 489-2218 or go to www.fresnocitycollege.edu/speakersforum. Wednesday, October 29th The State Center Community College District Candidates Forum takes place at Fresno City College, from 7 – 9 pm in the Old Administration Building (OAB), Skylight Room, Room 251. Friday, October 31st The Reedley Peace Center presents speaker Jerry Linscheid and Ted Loewen who will offer an analysis of the ballot propositions. The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1208 L Street, Reedley, in the Fellowship Hall at Reedley’s First Mennonite Church. For more information, call Don Friesen at (559) 638-3091 or e-mail [email protected]. The event is free, open to the public, and accessible to the handicapped. Friday, October 31st Cineculture presents “Nosotros los Nobles” with discussant to be announced. When successful construction mogul Herman Noble accidentally stumbles onto his children's credit card statements, he discovers they are spending money beyond control. His oldest son Javier, neglects the family business in exchange of his own ridiculous business ideas. His daughter Barbara gets engaged to a 40 year-old gigolo just to spike her father, Herman, and his youngest son Charlie was expelled from college after having sex with the teacher. Herman realizes his children are spoiled beyond redemption and decides to teach them a lesson, before it’s too late. Nosotros los Nobles is a 2013 Mexican comedy film directed by Gary Alazraki, the most successful Mexican film of all time. In Spanish with English subtitles. For a preview of the film, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvhIeGXM2OU, The screening will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Peters Education Center Auditorium (West of Save-Mart Center in the Student Recreation Center Building). For more information and the full fall line-up, go to cineculture.csufresno.edu. Friday, October 31st There will be a free concert at the Fresno State Concert Hall at 8 p.m. This concert is a collaborative effort between members of Brave New Works and the Fresno State New Music Ensemble, under the leadership of senior composition student Joseph Bohigian. Featured on this program will be works by Bohigian, Caleb Hugo, Joe Hisiaishi, Eric Mandat, Daniel Adams, Joshua Marquez, and David Biedenbender, and Louis Andriessen. Attendance is free (and costumes are welcome!). Saturday, November 1st Brave New Works will perform an adventurous program of leading American composers. Included on the program are works by Forrest Piece, Steven Stucky, Sean Shepherd, Suzanne Sorkin, and Kenneth Froelich. Brave New Works will perform this program on November 1st, 8:00 pm, in the Fresno State Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for staff and faculty, and FREE for students. Tickets are available online at http://www.fresnostate.edu/music/concerts. Saturday, November 1st Teatro de la Tierra presents “Singing for the Living,” a fundraising concert featuring Agustín Lira, Patricia Wells, Ravi Knypstra, Merlinda Espinosa, Generaciones Students and the Zunzún Kids’ Ensemble, at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2672 E. Alluvial Ave. in Fresno. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds will be used to keep the music and theater classes open in the community. Please help them change the lives of our youth. There will also be a silent auction and Pan de muerto & hot Mexican Beverages for sale, If you can't come to the concert please purchase tickets & donate for lowincome families OR donate through their website, www.teatrodelatierra.net. For tickets or more information, call (559) 485-8558, e-mail [email protected], or go to www.teatrodelatierra.net. You can also get tickets through Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/877751. Saturday, November 1st The Warnor’s Theater presents its second annual screening of the original silent film the Phantom of the Opera. David Moreno, a professional pipe organist from Sacramento will be providing the musical score for this Silent Film on our antique Robert Morton theatre pipe organ. The organ is on a lift that allows it to rise up from the organ pit, and was originally installed to accompany silent films in 1928 when the theatre first opened. Today, we utilize the same instrument to show silent films for the Central Valley. David is also bringing a special surprise with him: his friend Linda, a classically trained opera singer, who will be providing operatic accompaniment for many of the scenes in the film. So when the silent film actress mimics opera on screen, the crowd (you) will actually hear opera. It's like no other show you’ve ever seen! Anyone in a Phantom of the Opera Costume will get in for free, and all others are just $5! As with our other films, concessions will be available at a much more affordable cost than modern movie theatres. The doors will open at 6:00 pm followed by the film at 7:00 pm. Make sure to come early to get a good seat and be able to see this original film in Warnors historic theater. The theater is located at 1400 Fulton Street in downtown Fresno. Saturday, November 1st The Y's Menette’s Huge Yard Sale takes place from 8 am to 2 pm at 451 S. Armstrong Ave., South of Kings Canyon Ave.in Fresno, sponsored by the YMCA ladies service organization. Items for sale include women’s, men’s and children’s clothes, household items, toys, beddings, shoes, purses, books, records, collectibles, tools, hardware, Christmas decorations, and much much more. Saturday, November 1st There will be a live concert featuring the music of Hamed Nikpay with dance by Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam, sponsored by the Iranian Culture and Art Club of Fresno and taking place at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2672 E. Alluvial Ave. Fresno. Come see the magic that has awed and moved audiences all over the world! Hamed Nikpay's velveteen voice and beautiful compositions, and Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam's enchanting choreography and dance will create magic on the stage of Unitarian Universalist. A Baby Sitter is available for $10.00 a child during the program. For more information, go to www.iraniancultureandartclub.com or call (559) 709-3851. Saturday, November 1st The 4th annual Pomegranate Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Madera Airport, 4020 Aviation Drive in Madera. There will be cooking demonstrations, kid’s activities, live music, pomegranate gift items and inspired food, and a zoomobile. For more information, call 673-3563. Saturday, November 1st he Purple Ones, A 10-Piece Tribute to Prince, celebrates the season with hit after hit from A sides to B sides including classics such as Little Red Corvette, 1999, I Feel for You, Controversy, Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Lets Go Crazy, along with many lively Prince staples, without forgetting the well-loved Prince/Sheila E tunes. The concert takes place at Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero St. in Fresno, starting at 9:30 p.m. Tickets re $12 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, call (559) 412-7400 and for tickets, go to www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/504229. Tuesday, November 4th Author of the “Take Control” series of consumer technology books, Joe Kissell, is coming to Fresno to speak at the next open meeting of the Fresno Mac-Apple Users Group. There is no charge and refreshments are included. The 6:30pm meeting will be at the U.C. Center, 550 East Shaw Ave, across from Fashion Fair. Thursday, November 6th In tandem with their 40th Anniversary Exhibit at the Fresno Art Museum, Gallery 25 members will exhibit their earlier work and current work for the month of November. Gallery 25 members consist of a contemporary group of artists working in various mediums including paintings, drawings, photography, digital imagery and mixed media. In addition, this exhibit will feature new Gallery 25 member, El Choco Fresh whose inspiration is influenced by studio art and graffiti. The dynamic visual impact for this body of work is created by combining the process of self expression and using spray paint, acrylics and recycled materials on wood panels. The exhibit runs from November 6 – 30, and begins with an Arthop on Thursday: November 6 from 5-8 p.m.. Gallery 25 is located at 660 Van Ness Avenue (at Mono in downtown Fresno). For more information, call 559-264-4092 or go to gallery25.org. Friday, November 7th The Reedley Peace Center presents speaker Jack Nolden, former TV news anchor. On the topic of Thomas Picketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century. The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1208 L Street, Reedley, in the Fellowship Hall at Reedley’s First Mennonite Church. For more information, call Don Friesen at (559) 6383091 or e-mail [email protected]. The event is free, open to the public, and accessible to the handicapped. Friday, November 7th Fresno City College will honor all veterans at its annual Veterans Ceremony. This year, the college will also give special recognition to the contributions and sacrifices of Hmong veterans. The annual Veterans Ceremony will begin at 12:00 p.m. in front of the Veterans Peace Memorial located in the Free Speech Area. All veterans and the public are welcome. A reception will follow. The ceremony, a tradition at Fresno City College, will include music performances by the FCC Concert Band, placing of a wreath and a salute to all branches of the armed forces. Mr. Charlie Waters will be the keynote speaker. This year’s Citizen Soldier Award will be presented to Mr. Brian Speece, retiring Associate Vice Chancellor, Business and Operations with the State Center Community College District. Mr. Speece, a U.S. Navy veteran, has worked at the College and District for more than 29 years. For more information contact the FCC Veterans Office at (559) 442-8224. Friday, November 7th Aileen Imperatrice will have a Solo Exhibition at The Brush & Easel Gallery November 7th-20th with an Opening Reception on Friday, November 7th, 4-6pm and the ArtHop Reception on Thursday, November 20th, 5-8pm. The Brush & Easel Gallery is located at 1476 W. Shaw Ave. Fresno. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10am 6pm and Saturday from 10am-4pm. For more information, go to www.aileenimperatrice.com. Saturday, November 8th Arte Américas will present a jazz performance by the Richard Giddens Trio and special guest Larry Koonse, at 7pm. The performance will give Central Valley jazz lovers the opportunity to hear world-class metropolitan jazz amidst a casual gallery setting. The ensemble is headed by Fresno native Richard Giddens, a Roosevelt School of the Arts graduate who moved to NYC in 1998 and holds a BFA and MFA from the California Institute of Arts. He currently tours internationally as professional jazz musician. He is also the newest faculty member in the music school at CSU, Fresno. Special guest for the evening is legendary Los Angeles guitarist Larry Koonse, who first met Giddens at California Institute of the Arts, where he is a professor of jazz guitar. Local musicians Brian Hamada and Tom Wilson will round out the ensemble. Doors to the venue will open at 7pm, and the band will begin their first set at 7:30. Admission is $5 per person and refreshments will be available for sale. This event is open to all ages, and jazz students are encouraged to attend. Arte Americas is located at 1630 Van Ness in downtown Fresno. For more information, go to www.arteamericas.org. Saturday, November 8th The 3rd Annual KYJO BBQ Cook-Off/Bring It Home Weekend is free and open to the public. This year we will kick off with casino night at Club 500 on Thursday, November 6th. Come out and meet your favorite Bulldogs of old and play a round of cards and win some prizes. If you can't make it to Club 500, then bring the entire family to the BBQCook on Saturday. Come join Fresno State Football Legends as they team up with local and regional BBQ Pitmasters in KYJO's 3rd Annual BBQ Cook-Off! This year's event will be November 8th, 2014 from 11:00am to 2:00pm at O'Neill Park (Cross streets are Barstow Ave. and Woodrow Ave.) For more information go to www.kyjo.org. Sunday, November 9th “Bones In The Vineyard,” a fundraiser poetry reading at a great local cafe, needs you. The event begins at 2 pm at Mia Cuppa Cafe at 610 E Olive Ave in Fresno. Your $10 suggested donation will send Fresno's first poet laureate to represent us at a national writer's conference in March. There will be readings by James Tyner, Connie Hales, Bryan Medina and others. This event is sponsored by the Chicano and Latino Writers Association, Random Writers Workshop and The Gillis Library Poets. For more information, contact Andrea De Zubiria at 559 824-1083. Sunday, November 9th "Let There Be Light" is the name of the program the Fresno Pacific University Concert Choir will bring to St. Aloysius Catholic Church. The free public concert begins at 4:00 p.m. at the church, 125 E. Pleasant Ave., Tulare. Selections include "Let There Be Light." by Craig Courtney; "Arise, Shine For thy Light Has Come," by Edwin Fissinger; "O God, Author of Eternal Light," by Jean Pasquet; "Ubi Caritas," by Maurice Durufle; "Gloria," by Dominick Argento; "True Light," by Keith Hampton; "In Dulci Jubilo," arranged by Matthew Culloton; "Nativity Carol," by John Rutter; "Kuimba!" by Victor C. Johnson; and "Prayer," by Rene Clausen. Earlier in the weekend the choir will have participated in the 2014 Biola University Choir festival with Clausen, D.M.A., professor of music at Concordia College, Moorehead, MN. The Concert Choir is FPU's premier vocal group. The approximately 40 men and women perform for high schools and churches locally, go on tour and attend choral festivals. Music comes from all periods, Classical to the 21st century, a cappella and accompanied. The primary focus is on sacred texts such as hymns and spirituals. Milton Friesen, M.A., director of choral activities at FPU, is the conductor. This event is free. For more information, call 559453-2267 or e-mail [email protected]. Wednesday, November 12th The Fresno Center For Nonviolence Second Wednesday video will be “The Canary Effect.” This film follows the terrifying and horrific abuses instilled upon the Indigenous people of North America, and details the genocidal practices of the US government and its continuing effects on present day Indian country. The film brings together the past and present in a way never before captured so eloquently and boldly on film. It features interviews with the leading scholars and experts on Indian issues including controversial author Ward Churchill. This film is from multi-award winning directors Robin Davey and Yellow Thunder Woman. It will be screened at 12 noon and at 7 p.m. (potluck at 6:30), at the Center for Nonviolence,1584 N. Van Ness Ave (SE Corner McKinley and Van Ness) The event is free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible. For more information go to www.theCanaryEffect.com Wednesday, November 12th As part of the Valley Town Hall Lecture Series, Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, will be speaking at the William Saroyan Theatre at 10:30 a.m. on Social Responsibility and an Innovative Business Philosophy. When Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen opened their storefront in Burlington, Vermont more than 30 years ago, neither could have predicted that their passion for ice cream would spark a revolution in social and business strategy that would be copied by conglomerates and small businesses alike. They just knew they liked ice cream and they liked local cows. All these years later, as Ben & Jerry's serves its ice cream around the world, its co-founder is still thinking about ways that successful business can help develop social responsibility into a win win for the company and the community. Greenfield's mission and vision is to grow a business in a socially responsible way. He will share his ideas about social spirit, America's entrepreneurial landscape and ice cream with his signature fun and creative flair. For more information and this and other speakers in this year’s series, go to valleytownhall.com. Thursday, November 13th The annual autumn food bazaar at California’s oldest Armenian Church will pay tribute to a landmark American Thanksgiving. The First Armenian Presbyterian Church of Fresno will hold its 2014 Merchants’ Lunch and Country Store from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gathering will celebrate the 225th Anniversary of the first National Day of Thanksgiving in the United States of America. The harvest season gathering will take place at the Church Campus, 430 South First Street at Historic Huntington Boulevard, near Downtown Fresno. The event will feature lunch at $14 per person, with seasoned lulu kebab, rice pilaf, cheese boureg, garden salad, pickled tourshee, fresh peda bread, paklava, and beverage, among the offerings. Meals will be available to guests who wish to dine-in, take-out, or drive through. Advance orders may be placed on or before November 10 by calling (559) 237-6638, faxing (559) 237-9526, or e-mailing [email protected]. The drive-through lane will be located on the Raisina Street side of the Church Campus, one block west of First Street between Huntington Boulevard and Balch Avenue. The Country Store will be open throughout the luncheon hours for holiday shopping. The Store will offer such ethnic delicacies as choreg, sourberag, paklava, yalanchi, bottled grape leaves, gutah, tourshee, rojik, and basdegh. The abundant produce of the San Joaquin Valley and a host of homemade breads will round out the comestibles in the Store pantry. Friday, November 14th The Reedley Peace Center presents speaker Dani Lee on the topic of Diet, People & Planet: Did you know that you make over 200 decisions a day about food? Learn how the choices you make on a daily basis impact the planet, the lives of others and your health.. The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1208 L Street, Reedley, in the Fellowship Hall at Reedley’s First Mennonite Church. For more information, call Don Friesen at (559) 638-3091 or e-mail [email protected]. The event is free, open to the public, and accessible to the handicapped. Saturday, November 15th As part of its fall film series, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno will screen ‘The Weight of Chains” at 7 p.m. at 2672 E. Alluvial Avenue, Fresno. This film addresses what we weren’t told about the war in Bosnia and Serbia. It is a Canadian documentary film that takes a critical look at the role the U.S. , NATO, and the EU played in the tragic breakup of a once peaceful and prosperous European state – Yugoslavia . The film, with rare stock footage never before seen by Western audiences, is a creative first-hand look at why the West intervened in the Yugoslav conflict. Not supported by any big production company and without corporate sponsors, the film was produced thanks to the hundreds of mostly small donations by contributors who wanted the given ideas to be incorporated into a movie. It is a movie that analyzes the consequences of the colonial exploitation of the Yugoslav states by Western powers in the economic, political and military sense. There will be a discussion post-film. Admission is free and the venue is wheelchair accessible. Light refreshments will be available. For information go to uufresno.org or contact Glenda Roberts by e-mail to [email protected] or by phone to 559-291-1590. Wednesday, November 19th There will be a general meeting of the Tehipite Chapter of the Sierra Club at 7 p.m.., with a screening of the film “Promised Land.” This film follows two corporate salespeople who visit a rural town in an attempt to buy drilling rights (for hydraulic fracturing) from local residents. This event is free and open to the general public. It takes place at the UC Center, 550 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno (across from Fashion Fair between Fresno and First). Wednesday, November 19th Pacific Brass will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. at Fresno Pacific University, Butler Church, 4884 E. Butler Ave., Fresno. For more information, call 559-453-2267 or e-mail [email protected]. Thursday. November 20th There will be an Arthop at the Brush & Easel Gallery which is exhibiting the work of Aileen Imperatrice from November 7th through 20th. The ArtHop Reception on November 20th is from 5-8 pm. The Brush & Easel Gallery is located at 1476 W. Shaw Ave. Fresno. Hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 am – 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am-4 pm. For more information, go to www.aileenimperatrice.com. Thursday, November 20th Fresno Pacific University Jazz Band will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. at Ashley Auditorium, McDonald Hall, FPU Main Campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno. For more information, call 559-453-2267 or e-mail [email protected]. Friday, November 21st Cineculture presents “Couleur de Peau: Miel” with discussant Dr. Rose Marie Kuhn. Couleur de peau: Miel was codirected by French director Laurent Boileau and Koreanborn Belgian comic book artist Jung Sik-jun. It tells Jung’s own story who, as a young boy, was adopted by a Belgian family and grew up in Belgium. Based on Jung’s eponymous comic book series, this film chronicles the important moments of his childhood and adolescence and alternates between documentary footage of live action, animation sequences in 2D and 3D, and archival images. The film received several awards in 2013 including: the Grand Prize for Animation at the Japan Media Arts Festival, and both the Grand Prize and Audience Award at the World Festival of Animated Films in Zagreb, Croatia, in French and Korean with English subtitles. For the trailer, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTz4nWpL5DI. The screening will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Peters Education Center Auditorium (West of Save-Mart Center in the Student Recreation Center Building). For more information and the full fall line-up, go to cineculture.csufresno.edu. Friday, November 21st The Reedley Peace Center presents speaker Paul Gilmore, history instructor at Fresno City College. The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1208 L Street, Reedley, in the Fellowship Hall at Reedley’s First Mennonite Church. For more information, call Don Friesen at (559) 638-3091 or e-mail [email protected]. The event is free, open to the public, and accessible to the handicapped. Friday, November 21st As part of its fall film series, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno will screen “The American Ruling Class” at 7 p.m. at 2672 E. Alluvial Avenue, Fresno. America rules the World but who rules America? This is one of the most unusual films to be made in America in recent years, both in terms of form and subject. The form is a first – a “dramatic-documentary-musical” - that re-invents all three genres. And the subject is our most taboo topic: class, power, and privilege in our nominally democratic republic. Part Monty Python, part Michael Moore, “The American Ruling Class” is a quirky and entertaining clarion call for all citizens to consider who has power, how they acquired it, and most importantly, how they keep it. There will be a post-film discussion. Admission is free and the venue is wheelchair accessible. Light refreshments will be available. For information go to uufresno.org or e-mail Glenda Roberts at [email protected] or by phone at 559-291-1590. Saturday, November 22nd Sr. Helen Prejean, author of "Deadman Walking", will be the key speaker at a lecture/seminar sponsored by Community United Church of Christ from 8:00am-2:00pm. Limited tickets are available for $25.00 each. Call the church office at 559-435-2690 for more information. Saturday, November 22nd Fresno AIDS Walk takes place from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at Woodward Park (7775 E Clubhouse Drive Fresno. The Walk is free to register and those who raise $20 will receive a t-shirt. Join hundreds of walkers and runners at Woodward Park to raise awareness & community support for this worldwide epidemic in this third annual Fresno AIDS Walk. All proceeds benefit Fresno's only HIV/AIDS social support center, The Living Room, a project of WestCare California Inc. Walkers and runners of all ages are welcome. This year's event features a 5K run. Sunday, November 23rd A Festival of Lessons and Carols performed by Fresno Pacific University music ensembles will take place at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. at. First Presbyterian Church, 1540 M St., Fresno. The cost is $10. For more information, call 559-453-2267 or e-mail [email protected]. Tuesday, November 25th Fresno Pacific University Symphonic Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Church, 4884 E. Butler Ave., Fresno. Admission is $5 general or $2 for all students. For more information, call 559-453-2267 or email [email protected]. Friday, November 28th and Saturday, November 29th The Sweet Home Ranch Annual Art Show and Holiday Gift Sale, featuring Paul Buxman original oil paintings, lithographs and art cards; farm crafted foods and gifts from Sweet Home ranch and neighboring farms, takes place at the Fellowship Hall of the First Mennonite Church, on 'L' street between 12th and 13th streets in Reedley, Californial. For more information, call Don Friesen at 260-0504 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Saturday, November 29th As part of its fall film series, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno will screen “Fed Up” at 7 p.m. at 2672 E. Alluvial Avenue, Fresno. This film addresses the negative health effects of a corporate and government supported food industry that intentionally puts sugar in 80% of the food we eat. “FED UP” blows the lid off everything we thought we knew about food and exercise, revealing a 30-year campaign by the food industry – aided by the U.S. government – to mislead and confuse the American public. Exposing the hidden truths contributing to one of the largest health epidemics in history, the film follows a group of families battling to lead healthier lives – and reveals why the conventional wisdom of “exercise and eat right” is not ringing true for millions of people struggling with diabetes, childhood obesity, and other serious conditions. There wil be a post-film discussion; Admission is free and the venue is wheelchair accessible. Light (healthy!) refreshments will be available. For information go to uufresno.org or contact Glenda Roberts by e-mail to [email protected] or by phone to 559-291-1590. Monday, December 1st World AIDS Day will be commemorated with an HIV Awareness Event from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Fresno State, Free Speech Area (5241 N Maple Ave Fresno). This free event is presented by Fresno State Public Health Student Association to raise awareness regarding HIV and AIDS on campus. The event takes place on World AIDS Day in the University's Free Speech Area. There will also be free Rapid HIV Testing from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at The Living Room, 901 E Belmont Avenue Fresno, and Monday through Thursday, December 1st through 4th from 8:30 am - 11:00 am and 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm at the Fulton Mall Specialty Clinic Area (1221 Fulton Mall Fresno). The Free Testing is Presented by the Fresno County Department of Public Health In conjunction with World AIDS Day/Week, Thursday, December 4th Three sections from AIDS Memorial Quilt, The NAMES Project Foundation will be on display at The Painted Table for this annual World AIDS Day celebration in the Tower District. The panels on display include memorials to people from Fresno and surrounding counties who have died from AIDS. The Painted Table is located at 1211 N Wishon Avenue Fresno. The event is free and presented by the Fresno County Department of Public Health, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Friday, December 5th Join the Fresno Art Museum in celebrating the closing of World AIDS Day week in Fresno with a candlelight vigil and reading of names in front of the Fresno Art Museum, 2233 N, First St., from 4-7 p.m., weather permitting. Four sections of The AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on view, including several early AIDS activists and actor Brad Davis, best known for his roles in Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire, and Roots. Free and open to the public. Friday, December 5th Cineculture presents “Siddharth” with dicussant Richie Mehta (Director). After sending away his 12 year-old son Siddharth for work, Mahendra (a chain-wallah who fixes broken zippers on the streets) is relieved – his financial burdens will be alleviated. But when Siddharth fails to return home, Mahendra learns he may have been taken by child-traffickers. With little resources and no connections, he travels across India in pursuit, with the hope that whatever force arbitrarily took his child away will return him unharmed. The film is inspired by a true story and is in Hindi with English subtitles, For the trailer, go to http://siddharththefilm.com/. The screening will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Peters Education Center Auditorium (West of Save-Mart Center in the Student Recreation Center Building). For more information and the full fall line-up, go to cineculture.csufresno.edu. Friday, December 5th The Reedley Peace Center presents speaker Karen Crozier, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Fresno Pacific University, on the topic “The Voice of a Community for Educational Justice, Fresno Unified School District's controversial hiring of a cultural studies teacher.” The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1208 L Street, Reedley, in the Fellowship Hall at Reedley’s First Mennonite Church. For more information, call Don Friesen at (559) 638-3091 or e-mail [email protected]. The event is free, open to the public, and accessible to the handicapped. Friday, December 5th The Ultimate Beatles Tribute, “The Fab Four,” will perform at the Tower Theatre, 815 East Olive Ave. in Fresno, starting at 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:00). This is an all ages event, and ticket prices range from $29.50, $35.00 and $47.50 in advance. All tickets $2.50 higher day of show. The Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles Tribute due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles' songs, the Fab Four will make you think you’re watching the real thing. This incredible stage show includes three costume changes representing every era of the Beatles ever-changing career. Tickets are available from the Tower Theatre Box Office. For more information, call (559 485-9050). Sunday, December 7th Save the Date for KFCF’s annual banquet, featuring Laurie Lewis speaking on the role of music in social change, and performance be Laurie Lewis and her band. More information to follow. Friday, December 12th The Reedley Peace Center presents speaker Chucho Mendoza, Chicano and Latin American Studies major at CSUF The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1208 L Street, Reedley, in the Fellowship Hall at Reedley’s First Mennonite Church. For more information, call Don Friesen at (559) 638-3091 or e-mail [email protected]. The event is free, open to the public, and accessible to the handicapped. Wednesday, December 17th The Tehipite Chapter Sierra Club holds its General Meeting and will screen a slideshow entitled “A Tale of Two Winters.” Enjoy the spectacular High Sierra scenery in Dan Saunders' slideshow about two very different ski tours. The first was in spring 2011 after a high precipitation winter season, and the second was this past winter, the driest season in 35 years. Let's hope for a wet one this year as we enter the winter season. This event takes place at 7 p.m. at the U.C. Center, 550 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno (across from Fashion Fair between Fresno and First Street). Wednesday, January 21st As part of the Valley Town Hall Lecture Series, Valerie Plame, author of “Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House,” will be speaking at 10:30 a.m. at the William Saroyan Theatre. As a covert CIA Officer, Valerie Plame worked to protect America's national security for more than twenty years and worked to ensure that Iraq did not acquire nuclear weapons. But in 2003, Plame found herself at the heart of a political firestorm when senior White House and State Department officials revealed her CIA status to several national journalists. Plame, who remained silent throughout the controversy, eventually wrote her New York Times best-selling autobiography Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House. In 2010, Fair Game was made into a motion picture starring Sean Penn. Plame will share her expertise on international security and deliver a candid analysis of the "security versus privacy" debate dominating political and media circles today. For more information and this and other speakers in this year’s series, go to valleytownhall.com. MULTIPLE DAY EVENTS: Throughout 2014: The Lure and Lore of Yosemite is the most comprehensive exhibition to date of art, literature and ephemera relating to the history of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove. The Exhibit will be on display at the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau in Oakhurst, CA throughout 2014. Materials on display range from Lafayette Bunnell’s account of the ‘discovery’ of the Valley, in 1851, to John Muir’s famous Century Magazine articles (published in 1890) that led to the creation of Yosemite National Park. Visitors to the exhibit will get a powerful sense of the impact of tourism on Yosemite in the decades between 1870 and 1900. Examples of rare 19th century ephemera on display – rail and stage company brochures, guide-service pamphlets, stock certificates and trade cards for early hotels – all attest to the intense commercial activity of this period. Yosemite was also a mecca for artists for artists and photographers, many of whose works appear in this exhibit. Highlights include: lithographs by San Francisco artist George Holbrook Baker, magnificent mammoth plate photographs by Carleton Watkins, and an original pencil sketch (from 1855) by Thomas Ayres – who was the first artist ever to draw Yosemite. For more information, contact Christi Long at the Yosemite Visitor’s Bureau, (559) 683-4636. May thru October On Saturdays from 8 - 11:30 a.m. the Clovis Farmers' Market will be held in the old DMV Parking Lot in Old Town Clovis. Join them for honey, duck, turkey, and chicken eggs, orange and pomegranate juice, nuts, herbs, flowers, cheese, and fresh organic milk in bottles from certified, organic farmers. Contact [email protected] for more information. Thursday, September 18th through Sunday, November 9th Based on the cartoon that inspired the popular television series, The Addams Family is a new addition to Good Company Players’ 2014 Season at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater! With a frightfully funny script by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and killer score by Andrew Lippa, this musical about the original creepy, kooky, spooky - and altogether ooky - Addams Family is a fresh take on an old favorite. The play will be performed Thursdays through Sundays, with two shows most Sundays. Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater is located at 1226 N. Wishon, at Olive and Wishon in The Tower District. On Thursdays a buffet is served beginning at 5:30 p.m., with a Pre-Show featuring Good Company Players’ Junior Company at 7:00 and the performance at 7:30 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays dinner is served beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the Pre-Show at 7:30 p.m. and the performance at 8:00 p.m. For Sunday matinees a brunch buffet is served beginning at 11 a.m., with the Pre-Show at 1 p.m. and the performance at 1:30 p.m. On Sunday evenings a buffet is served beginning at 5:00 p.m., with the Pre-Show at 7:00 p.m. and the performance at 7:30 p.m. The cost for the Thursdays and Sundays Buffet & Show is $46.00 per person (Show Only for $29.00) The cost for Fridays and Saturdays, Served Meal & Show, is $50.00; or Show Plus (includes the show, 1 dessert, 1 drink, tax and tip) is $37.00. Groups of 16 or more are eligible for discounts and should call Group Sales at 559-266-9493 for information and reservations. For tickets or more information, call 559-266-9494/800-371-4747 or reserve online at rogerrockas.com. Tuesday, September 23rd through Thursday, January 15th The Fresno County Department of Public Health has scheduled influenza vaccination clinics for the 2014-15 flu season at multiple locations throughout the county. The cost of each vaccination will be $6.00. Medi-Cal for children and Medicare part B will also be accepted. The 2014-15 flu vaccine is designed to protect against the viruses that are most likely to cause disease this season. In accordance with federal and state guidelines, it is recommended that each person six months of age and older should be vaccinated each year. Flu viruses are always changing. Flu vaccines protect against 3 or 4 viruses and cannot prevent all cases of flu, but it is the best defense against the disease. Vaccination is the best protection against the flu and its potential complications. It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop after the vaccination, and protection lasts several months to a year. For children 8 years and younger, if this is their first flu shot they should receive two shots this season separated by 4 weeks. The flu vaccine also helps prevent spreading the flu virus from person-to-person. Fresno County residents with insurance coverage should contact their health care provider regarding flu vaccination availability. Vaccines may also be available at physician’s offices, clinics, pharmacies, and at special flu vaccination events promoted in retail stores. Information regarding flu vaccination opportunities can be found at www.flu.gov. For dates, times, and locations of the Department of Public Health flu vaccination clinics for Fresno County residents, please visit www.fcdph.org/flu or call the toll-free Immunization Information Line at 1-888-993-3003. Friday, September 26th through Sunday, January 4th In partnership with StageWorks Fresno, the Fresno Art Museum is proud to present four sections of the internationally celebrated AIDS Memorial Quilt - the 54-ton, handmade tapestry that stands as a memorial to the more than 94,000 individuals lost to AIDS - on view through the end of 2014. Exhibition visitors will be invited to contribute to the exhibition in two ways: the first of which is to create a supporting message to those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS; secondly visitors can place a red ribbon with or without a name on a pedestal within the gallery as part of a cumulative sculpture created entirely by visitors to the exhibition, as a tribute to anyone they know who has passed away from AIDS. To coincide with the exhibition, the Fresno Art Museum is working with a number of community partners, including All About Care, StageWorks Fresno, The Living Room, a project of WestCare California Inc., and the Fresno County Department of Public Health to promote a full line-up of programming for World AIDS Day 2014. Observed worldwide on December 1st since 1988, World AIDS Day is the time when millions of people come together across the globe to commemorate those who have lost their lives to HIV, and to encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care around the world, particularly in high prevalence countries. From 2011-2015, the World Health Organization's World AIDS Campaign is organized around the theme of, "Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDSrelated deaths." The Quilt will be on exhibition at the Fresno Art Museum, 2233 N. First Street. General Admission is $5 and free for Museum Members. The Exhibition Opening Reception is Friday, September 26th from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Wednesday, October 1st through Friday, November 21st Fresno County Public Library, in conjunction with Cal Humanities, is pleased to host a full schedule of events as part of “War Comes Home”, a series of programs intended to bring Californians together to explore important topics through reading and discussion. Highlights include: Wednesday, October 8th: Karl Marlantes in Conversation. The author of “What it is Like to go to War” is interviewed by Mary Menzel from the California Center for the Book, at 7 pm in the Old Administration Building at Fresno City College. Sunday, October 12th: The Secret War in Laos. Features a panel discussion by the Lao Veterans Association, at 2 pm at the Sunnyside Regional Library. Thursday, October 16th: “War at Home,” a film discussion hosted by Paul Kaser, professor and Vietnam War Veteran, at 6:30 pm at the Fig Garden Regional Library. Saturday, October 18th: “The Vietnam War: A Personal Experience,” with Paul Kaser, professor and Vietnam War Veteran discussing relations between Americans and the Vietnamese people, at 2 pm at the Auberry Branch Library; Saturday, October 25 at 2 pm at the Bear Mountain Branch Library; and Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 pm at Kingsburg Branch Library. Thursday, November 6th: The Dynamics of Drone Warfare, featuring 5,000 Feet is Best, a 30 minute film exploring drone warfare followed by a panel presentation, at 7 pm at Fresno Pacific University, North Hall 132. (BC Lounge) Sunday, November 15th: An Author event: Colby Buzzell. Blogger and author of “My War: Killing Time in Iraq” will share his opinions and observations, at 7 pm at Woodward Park Regional Library and Sunday, November 15 at 2 pm at Arte Américas Casa de la Cultura, 1630 Van Ness Avenue Fresno. In addition, a “Welcome Home Photo Exhibit,” a rotating display of historic war photos from the National Archives and the Library of Congress is featured in this exhibit at: o Woodward Park Regional Library, October 1-9 o Fig Garden Regional Library, October 10-20 o Politi Branch Library, October 21-30 o Clovis Regional Library, October 31 - November 10 o Central Library November, 12-21 o Sunnyside Regional Library, October 1-9 o Gillis Branch Library October, 10-20 o Sanger Branch Library October, 21-30 o Kingsburg Branch Library, October 31 - November 10 o Fowler Branch Library, November 12-21 Friday, October 31st through Saturday, November 8th Fresno State University Theatre presents “The Maids” by Jean Genet, franslated by Bernard Frechtman and directed by Ruth Griffin. Genet loosely based his play on the infamous Papin sisters, Lea and Christine, who brutally murdered their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France, in 1933, although the play is not the story of the Papin sisters as such. According to Jean-Paul Sartre, Genet's original intention was that the three protagonists, Madame and the maids Solange and Claire, be performed by male actors. Some productions have cast men in the roles, but most have cast women. Solange and Claire are two housemaids who construct elaborate sadomasochistic rituals when their mistress (Madame) is away. The focus of their role-playing is the murder of Madame and they take turns portraying both sides of the power divide. Their deliberate pace and devotion to detail guarantees that they always fail to actualize their fantasies by ceremoniously "killing" Madame at the ritual's dénouement. The play will be performed every day but Monday, and all shows are at 8 p.m. except the Sunday show which is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for Fresno State Faculty/Staff, Seniors, Alumni & Military, and $10 for all students. For more information, call 559-2782216, or e-mail [email protected]. Friday, December 5th through Saturday, December 13th Fresno State’s University Theatre presents “Cabaret,” the Tony-winning musical about following your heart while the world loses its way. Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd—and to leave their troubles outside. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through their dangerous times? Come hear some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including "Cabaret," "Willkommen" and "Maybe This Time." Right this way, your table is waiting at CABARET. The play will be performed every day except Monday, and all performances are at 8 p.m. except on Sunday when it’s at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $17 for Fresno State Faculty/Staff, Seniors, Alumni & Military, and $12 for all students. For more information call 559.278.2216 or e-mail [email protected]. Friday, March 13th 2015 to Saturday March 21st 2015 Winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize. “Somewhere in Philadelphia” will be performed at the Fresno State Woods Theatre Speech Arts Building, Elliot has returned from Iraq and is struggling to find his place in the world. Somewhere in a chat room, recovering addicts keep each other alive, hour by hour, day by day. The boundaries of family and community are stretched across continents and cyberspace as birth families splinter and online families collide. WATER BY THE SPOONFUL is a heartfelt meditation on lives on the brink of redemption. Performances are every day except Monday, and all performances are at 8 p.m. except the Sunday performance which is at 2 p.m. Tickets for adults are $17, for Fresno State Faculty/Staff, Seniors, Alumni & Military, $15, and for all students, $10. For tickets or information, call 559.278.2216 or e-mail [email protected]. ONGOING Every Day Occupy Fresno is at Fresno’s Courthouse Park (on the south end, off Tulare between Van Ness and M Street). They hold a General Assembly every day at 6 p.m. and there have been arrests every day, shortly after midnight. For more information, go to http://occupyfresnoca.com/ Every Tuesday Starting 8/27/13, the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno will be holding classes on the Quran focusing on pronunciation and memorization. The classes are free (donations appreciated) and start at 7 p.m. If interested please contact Rebecca by e-mail to [email protected]. No registration is needed. Every Tuesday through Thursday The Fresno County Department of Public Health offers free confidential rapid HIV testing at the Fresno County Department of Public Health building at 1221 Fulton Mall, Specialty Clinic Area, First Floor, from 8:30 am – 11:00 am and 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm For more information, contact Jena Adams, Supervising Communicable Disease Specialist, at (559) 600-3434. Every Wednesday through the 2014 school year New Horizons Music provides adults a fun entry or reentry into music making! Whether you were in school band or orchestra, would like to learn a new instrument, or have only dreamed of playing, New Horizons offers a welcoming environment that offers you the chance to participate and progress at your own rate. Rehearsals are going on each Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m. for string instruments and 6:30 p.m. for band instruments. Groups perform at least two concerts each school year. All meetings are at the Bullard High School Band Room, 5445 N. Palm, Fresno. For more information, contact Craig Erker at [email protected] or Archie Rader at 559-273-8309. Every Wednesday and Friday Patricia Wells Solorzano and Agustin Lira, founders of El Teatro Campesino), have formed a theatrical group with Fresno youth that will raise awareness of the problems negatively affecting the health of boys and young men of color, such as drugs, gangs, obesity, teen pregnancy, high numbers of youth incarcerated or expelled from schools, unemployment and poverty. The Theater for Boys and young Men of Color will be composed of youth ages 16-28 who will be trained in acting to the extent that they will be capable of performing before general audiences. The participants will be engaged in the creation of skits, one-act plays and in the development of a one and a half hour theatrical production with music to be performed toward the end of this year long project. Along with theater, musical presentations will also take place performed by the participants who will also receive musical training. This project will be taking place at The Cecil C. Hinton Community Center, 2385 South Fairview Ave., 93706, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Gwen Morris at (559) 412-7118. Every Saturday There is a medical clinic for the homeless, actively injecting drug users and prostitutes every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. or until the last patient is served. You can find them near Hughes and Olive Ave. The clinic is staffed by Dr. Marc Lasher and volunteers. Financial donations are accepted. For more information, call 266-0444. Every Saturday Food Not Bombs feeds the hungry from 1 - 2 p.m. near the Olive Ave entrance to Roeding Park. If you would like to help them prepare the meal, they meet every Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church (1343 E. Barstow) at 10am. For more information email [email protected] or visit the official FNB website, foodnotbombs.net. Most Saturdays Most Saturdays there is a Fresno Free Bicycle Repair Clinic from 1- 3 p.m. near the Olive Ave entrance to Roeding Park, beside Food Not Bombs. Donations of bicycle parts, inner tubes, and blinky lights are welcome. Volunteers are needed to help with minor repairs. For more info and to arrange donations, e-mail: [email protected]. 1st Saturday of each month: The South Valley Peace Center holds a demonstration for peace at Mooney and Walnut in Visalia, from 1-2 p.m. For more information visit southvalleypeacecenter.org. 2nd Saturday of each month: Divorce Options Workshops are offered on the second Saturday of every month by Central Valley Collaborative Law Affiliates. This program provides information about the divorce process and the options available to anyone considering divorce. Each workshop is presented by an interdisciplinary team of legal, financial and mental health professionals on the second Saturday of each month at the Fresno Ramada Inn, 324 East Shaw Avenue, Fresno, California from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It is offered at NO CHARGE to attendees as a public service of Central Valley Collaborative Law Affiliates. Pre-registration is recommended due to limited seating. Further information and preregistration may be obtained at divorcefresno.eventbrite.com, or contact John McDaniel at (559) 226-4420. Every Sunday Food Not Bombs serves free food at Courthouse Park to anyone who is hungry. They start cooking at 1 PM and serve the food at 3 PM (meet at the Tulare side of the park). For more information go to http://cafefresno.org. First Wednesday of each month: A Women in Black Silent Vigil takes place from noon to 1 p.m. at the Fresno County Courthouse, 1100 Van Ness Ave. Show your support for peace and negotiated settlements of current U.S. military actions. Stand silently and advocate for peace. For more information, call 559-278-7140 or 559-225-2850. This vigil takes place the 1st Wednesday of each month. The “Goodie Bag Project” is collecting small toiletry items brought home from hotels and vacations to provide gifts for women incarcerated in Central Valley Women’s Prisons. This is a collaborative effort of the CCWF Inmate Family Council, the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno Social Justice Committee, and the United Methodist Church of Merced. They are seeking sample/travel size bath gels, body soap, lotions, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, small combs and pocket sized packages of tissues (no food, candy, edibles, drinkables, mouthwash or anything containing alcohol). They are also collecting all kinds of greeting cards, wooden pencils and clear, colorless pens, as well as paper scratch pads and picture postcards. Items may be dropped off at the Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., south of McKinley, during open hours, M - F, 11 AM - 3 PM. Checks can be made out to "FCNV Prison Ministry - Goodie Bags," and mailed to the Center at the above address, or dropped off in person. Receipts will be given. All donations are tax-deductible. For additional information or to see if an item is allowable under prison rules, call Maria Telesco at 559-255-9492. Please remember all items must be SMALL. Volunteers Needed: Collective for Arts, Freedom, and Ecology (CAFE) Fresno, whose mission is to provide a safe space for all people and provide programs and events that provide enrichment and information to Fresno and the Central Valley, is looking for volunteers, especially for Food Not Bombs, an organization that provides a nutritious meal to anybody that would like and need one. Food Not Bombs is in dire need of physical and financial help, and will accept anything that might go to waste that is still useful. This includes but is not limited to: clothing, toys, tools, and furniture. All of these items will be redistributed to others that need them. Food Not Bombs meets on Sundays at CAFE Infoshop (935 F. Street in Fresno) at noon sharp, to chop and cook until 3. At 3 p.m., they serve at the courthouse park. For more information call Vanessa at (559) 485-3937 or e-mail [email protected]. Host an International High School Exchange Student High school students from around the world come to the US to spend a year or a semester in American schools. Your family can learn about Germany, China, Finland, Italy, or another country by hosting a student. International Experience is a non-profit that helps you connect with an exchange student hoping to study abroad and invites you to share your home with a student who will become a part of your family. Students in the International Experience program must meet strict guidelines and complete multiple screenings in their home countries. During their stay they are covered by their own health insurance and provide their own spending money. These students want to come to the US to practice English and learn about our culture. As a host family, you simply provide a bed, family meals and invite your student to participate in your family’s traditions and introduce them to our American culture. To learn more about the opening your heart and home to an exchange student contact International Experience at 888266-29 21. or visit ie-usa.com. Every Thursday: On Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. guitarist and singer/songwriter Steve Ono is hosting the Smugglers Open Mic Night. The Smuggler's lounge is like a large living room with a small PA set up in the corner. Listening will be encouraged. Musicians, singers and spoken word are all welcome. The content must be family friendly. Each guest artist will be playing 2 to 3 songs depending on the number of participants. Minors are allowed when accompanied by a responsible adult. Steve will play back up guitar or read sheet music (lead sheets preferred) for the artists on request. Steve Ono has been playing and teaching guitar in the Fresno/Clovis area for more than 35 years with hundreds of former students. The Smuggler's at the Park Inn is a full service restaurant with a full bar. There is a two drink minimum. Dinner is available. The restaurant is located at 3787 North Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. For information, call (559) 230-8450 Every Friday and Saturday Organic Fresno pairs a 4 course Farm to Fork Dinner and an Original Murder Mystery Dinner Theater experience. The current show, “A Story of Love,” concludes on June 1st. The new show, “Let it Burn,” is a cooking competition. The 4 judges are comprised of two chefs, a teacher and a marketing maverick. “Sizzler specializing in the art of BBQ and has a fascination with fire and meat. Arrogant, successful, highly competitive and ruthless, the audience loves to hate Sizzler” says Tara Hamilton of her journalistic character. Searing Susan is patterned after the owner of Joe’s Steakhouse, a firm believer in downtown and family run businesses. The teacher is patterned after Klaus Tenbergen of Fresno State. “Let it Burn” opens on June 7th and will run until July 13th. Each show is performed at Organic Fresno at 903 N. Parkway Drive, Fresno. Dinner and Show are $25 and run from 6 pm to 8:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free and Meat options are available. Show only tickets are $10, and include ice cream. Guests should arrive by 7 pm. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 559-284-3976 For more information, go to www.organicfresno.com. Ongoing: The AMVETS Call of Duty Endowment Career Centers provide FREE career training and employment assistance to veterans, active duty service members, National Guard, and Reserve members and spouses. For additional information please call 877-7268387, once again that is 877-726-8387. Fresno County Public Library is recruiting skilled volunteers to assist teens and parents fill out applications for college and financial aid. When schools are closed, rural students throughout the county often find it difficult to access materials and computers that can help with this milestone in a student’s life. The Fresno County Public Library not only provides a safe and welcoming environment for these students and families, but also has the needed technology and print materials to help them navigate the college and career path. Those with Spanish language skills are encouraged to apply. By becoming a College Prep Coach, volunteers will dedicate a few hours each week to help families unfamiliar with the task of completing important applications. "All students must have direct access to materials and technology to succeed in life,” says County Librarian Laurel Prysiazny. “By staffing several rural branches with trained volunteers, the Library’s College Prep Program will assist students and families with laying the groundwork for making college a reality.” If you would like to help a teen go to college visit http://www.fresnolibrary.org and click on the volunteer banner, or call Elizabeth Finkle at (559) 600-9230.
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