League Sponsors Benefit Theater Party

* The League of Women Voters will sponsor a benefit theater party at a production of Ronald Harwood’s “Taking Sides” at 2 p.m. today at the Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 South 7th St. Wine, cheese and hors d’oeuvres will be served at intermission. Proceeds will benefit the league’s voter education programs. $20. Information: 581-0220.

Program to Benefit Ventura College Opera

* Arias and ensembles from “La Boheme,” “Marriage of Figaro” and other operas will be presented in the “Opera in the Afternoon” fund-raiser at 4 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church, 1338 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura. Proceeds will benefit Ventura College Opera. $15 general, $12 seniors and students. Tickets: 641-3839.

Dinner to Raise Funds for Marquee

* The Oxnard College Foundation will host a celebrity waiter dinner Thursday at the Whale’s Tail Restaurant, 3950 Blue Fin Circle, Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard. A social hour and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of a digital marquee to be placed outside the campus along Rose Avenue. $40. Tickets: 986-5808.

Troupe to Present Murder Mystery

* The Gypsy Players theater troupe will present “Murder at Rutherford House,” an interactive murder mystery and dinner, at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dakota’s Mesquite BBQ & Steak House, 2525 Stow St., Simi Valley. Proceeds will benefit the Gypsies in a Trunk ensemble which presents the Fairy Tales in the Park theater series each summer. $29.95. Reservations: 522-0449.

Animal Care Group to Hold ‘Shower’

* Wildlife Care of Ventura County, a nonprofit group that takes in orphaned and injured baby animals, will hold a wild baby animal shower from 3 to 5 p.m. May 30 at Patagonia, 259 W. Santa Clara St., Ventura. For admission, guests are asked to bring animal gifts including heating pads, wild bird seed, Gerber baby food, pet carriers and Pedialyte. Birds of prey and baby animals will be on hand. Information: 498-8653.

Concert to Benefit Habitat for Humanity

* “This Is the Moment,” a show tune concert to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, will be presented at 2 and 7 p.m. May 30 at the Ventura City Hall foyer, 501 Poli St. $35. Information: 485-6065.

Youth Club Roast to Honor Farm Official

* The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula will present a roast to honor Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner Earl McPhail on June 4 at the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main St., Santa Paula. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Xavier Montes will provide the music. $55. Information: 527-4437.

Villanova Alumni Group Plans Golf Event

* The Villanova Preparatory School Alumni Assn. will present the eighth annual Wildcat Golf Classic beginning at noon June 4 at Soule Park Golf Course, 1033 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. Proceeds will go toward the Father John Glynn, O.S.A. Scholarship Fund. The fund-raiser will include an awards barbecue from 1 to 5 p.m. at the school, 12096 Ventura Ave., Ojai. $125 general, $75 for current students and graduates of the last five years. Registration deadline is Friday. Call 646-1464.

Foundation Plans Sidewalk Art Festival

* The Oxnard Elementary School District Educational Foundation will hold its third annual “Chalk One Up For Kids” street painting festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 5-6 at Plaza Park, 5th and C streets. Children, adults and groups will create chalk art, with sidewalk drawing space available for $7 to $100. Proceeds will benefit the Educational Foundation’s teacher grant program. Information: 312-0458.

Love Run to Assist Meals on Wheels

* The sixth annual Love Run to benefit the Conejo Valley Senior Concerns’ Meals on Wheels program will be held June 6 at the GTEL building, 2801 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. with 5K and 10K runs and a one-mile walk starting at 8 a.m. $15 for the runs, $10 for the walk through May 30; $17 and $12 thereafter. All entrants will receive a T-shirt. Information: 496-0088 or 497-0189.

Ventura Youth Club to Host Auction

* A Rolex watch, a 1973 Volkswagen Bug and a trip to Switzerland will be among 300 items up for bid at the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura 32nd annual live and silent auction June 12 at the Doubletree Hotel, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd, Ventura. The silent auction and a champagne reception will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the live auction at 7:30 p.m. The theme will be “Celebrate the Century” and guests are encouraged to dress in attire representing different time periods. $75. Tickets: 641-5585.

Greek Festival to Include Benefit Runs

* The Greek Festival 5K and 10K, a benefit for the Ventura County Food Share program, will be held June 12 at the Camarillo Airport on Skyway Drive. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., with the 5K and 10K runs starting at 8:30 a.m., a one-mile run at 9 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $20 for the 5K and 10K, $12 for the mile run by June 7; $22 and $12 thereafter. Entry fee includes a T-shirt and admission to the Greek Festival being held June 11-13. Information: 650-5350 or 482-1273.

Symphony Fund-Raiser Offers Horse Events

* The New West Symphony will hold its sixth annual Day at Ascot fund-raiser from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 13 at David Murdoch’s Ventura Farms, 555 Potrero Road, Thousand Oaks. The program will include an Arabian horse parade, an equestrian show and jumping competition, an auction, lunch, music and boutiques. Proceeds will go toward the symphony’s youth programs. $125 general, $65 children 14 and younger. Reservations: 495-3151.

Heart Association to Present Car Show

* The Ventura County chapter of the American Heart Assn. will hold its seventh annual “Get Your Heart in Gear” car show and silent auction June 13 at the Camarillo Business Center, 751 Daily Drive. The show will include vintage vehicles as well as restored classic cars, motorcycles, race cars and trucks. Registration of vehicles will begin at 7 a.m. $15 registration fee per vehicle by May 30, $20 thereafter; $8 extra for a T-shirt. Information: 445-7050.

*

Community Chest, a weekly listing of charitable fund-raising events, is compiled by Leo Smith. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number, to Community Chest, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.