WORDS AND IMAGES : Edwardian Saga : ‘Howards End’ is entertaining in book form or on the big screen. The Ojai Film Society will show the film Sunday.

I read M. Forster’s “Howards End” about a year ago and, for reasons I can’t quite articulate, found the novel unsettling. I wanted desperately to rearrange the lives of the characters--to challenge the author’s dark and cynical vision of life in Edwardian England. If you haven’t done so already, read “Howards End” and see the movie, which has garnered nine Oscar nominations, including best film. A collaborative creation of producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, the film stars Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave and Helena Bonham Carter. The Ojai Film Society will screen the film at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Ojai Playhouse.

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“Spin, Spider, Spin,” an after-school program for children 6 to 10, featuring stories and special activities, is a salute to the incredible creatures who terrify some people. The arachnid adventures will unfold at 4 p.m. Monday in the Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road. A valid library card is your ticket to the event. Call 497-6282.

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The Daughters of the American Revolution, Conejo Valley Chapter, invite the public to a meeting honoring winners of the DAR History Essay contest. They will read their essays on “Famous Landmarks of the American Revolution” at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Thousand Oaks Library. Call 496-6142 for details.

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The Conejo Valley Genealogical Society Computer Interest Group will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Newbury Park Branch Library, 2331 Borchard Road. Anyone interested in genealogy and computer research is invited to attend. Call 497-8293.

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Formerly known as Romance Writers, the reorganized Gold Coast Fiction Writers will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Carrows Restaurant at 2401 E. Harbor Blvd., at South Seaward Avenue. The group welcomes queries from all serious fiction writers. Contact them at P.O. Box 106, Ventura 93002. Call 683-6340 or 498-0968.

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How to conduct an effective publicity campaign will be covered in “Introduction to Publicity” by public relations consultant Laine Waggoner. Sponsored by Oxnard College Community services, the class will meet on three Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 at Los Altos School in Camarillo. The $35 fee includes handouts. Register at 986-5822.

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As a follow-up to the above item, I appeal to publicity chairfolk, professionals and volunteers to check carefully your events notices. We are drowning in carelessly written releases that neglect to provide dates, addresses and telephone numbers and often include typos and misspelled names--ours and the people you write about!

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Richard Cormack will conduct a one-day workshop on “Writing and Selling Magazine Articles” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Thousand Oaks campus of Learning Tree University. Call 497-2292.