Recheck It Out

Ventura offers a double dose of literary events in the downtown district today.

First is the grand reopening ceremony for the E.P. Foster Library at 651 E. Main St., which begins with a ribbon-cutting at noon.

Scheduled speakers include Ventura County Supervisor Susan Lacy, Mayor Jim Friedman and County Library Director Starrett Kreissman. You will be entertained by the Buena High School Jazz Ensemble, barbershop quartets, Chumash Indian tales and Ella the Storyteller. Tours of the library, which won’t open for business until Nov. 29, and refreshments are also on the docket.

Immediately after the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, a Literary Walk-Along has been planned by downtown merchants and business owners.

Authors from various disciplines--fiction, nonfiction, religious, poetry, children, mystery and even bird talk--will be in downtown stores for book signings.

If you’re not familiar with downtown Ventura and don’t hang out in bookstores, this is an opportunity to get acquainted with the neighborhood and authors.

At Franky’s Restaurant, 456 E. Main St., author Len Lamensdorf will be signing “The Crouching Dragon,” which he hopes will appeal to those who like the Harry Potter books.

In the Zander Building across from Franky’s at 433 E. Main St., look for Fairy Princess Tarra Lynne. She’s written two children’s books, “Seven Little Fairies” and “Children of the Dawn,” which features children of mixed heritage. The Simi Valley author is a dance instructor and children’s entertainer.

At the Book Mall at 105 S. Oak St., Patti Teel, a songwriter and touring artist with the California Arts Council, will sign “The Floppy Sleep Game,” an audio bedtime story for children that she has produced in CD and cassette format.

At the same location, Ventura author Frank Stewart will be signing “River Rising.”

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If you are interested in the environment, head over to Cafe Voltaire at 12 N. Ash St. and meet authors Stephen E. Blewett and Mary Embree, who have written “What’s in the Air: Natural and Man-Made Air Pollution.” Nearby, you can catch poetry readings by local poets at the Daily Grind, 607 E. Main St., Suite A.

Meanwhile, at Pamela’s Garden & Home Emporium at 566 E. Main St., Bobbi Blackburn, owner of Birds & B’s in midtown, will be signing “Everything You Want to Know About . . . “ She discusses how to the choose the right bird for your family and what else you need to know as a bird owner.

Tucked into the El Jardin Courtyard at 451 E. Main St. at Sharon’s Antiques & Gifts, local author Richard Senate will sign “Erle Stanley Gardner’s Ventura” and “Ghost Stalkers’ Guide to Haunted California.”

Next door at My Last Hurrah and Attic Trunk at 450 E. Main St., you can find Mandalay Shores author Morris Heldt, a screenwriter and director who will be signing the novels “Hollywood Syrup” and “Deadly Ambition.” At the same location, local attorney Al Yablon, another Mandalay Shores resident, will be signing the novel “America Gonnif” under his pen name, E.M. Nolbay.

Moving right along, you can catch Fawn Parish at Bank of Books on the corner of Oak and Main streets. The Camarillo author of “Honor” plans to give a workshop at 1 p.m. on how to deal with difficult relationships in one’s life, as well as sign her book.

At Smith & Smith, 71 S. Oak St., you will find author D.R. Taylor signing “Off Hollywood.” At Things From Heaven, 365 E. Main St., owner and author Keith Richardson will sign “Andy Lakey’s Psychomantiem.”

Whether you join the walk-along or tour the remodeled library, it’s all about books today--a feast for any page turner.

HAPPENINGS

* Sunday: 12:30-2 p.m. Author and illustrator Naomi Howland will present her new book, “Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat,” a Hanukkah story. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura, 650-9688.

* Sunday: 1-4 p.m. Pam Ripling will discuss and sign her novel “In Too Deep,” at the monthly meeting of Gold Coast Fiction Writers. Ripling, who writes as Anne Carter, will also discuss copyright basics and how to minimize libel claims. Free to members and first-time guests. Brunch at your own expense. Nona’s Courtyard Cafe, 67 S. California St., Ventura. Contact Carol Givner at (310) 454-6264 or e-mail goldduets@aol.com for more information.

* Tuesday: 4:30 p.m. Sacagawea will be the subject of the Life & Times biography program for school age kids. Stories and games. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd. 446-2820.

* Tuesday: 7 p.m. Story time with the Caldecott Award Winner, “The Polar Express,” by Chris Van Allsburg. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. Story time will feature “Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit” by Alyssa Capucilli and “The Story of Thanksgiving” by Nancy Skarmess. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Wednesday: 7 p.m. The American Girls Club Meeting will focus on how Addy, Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten, Molly and Samantha celebrated the holidays. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Saturday: 10:30 a.m. Reba’s First Book Club, a monthly story time that benefits the national nonprofit organization “First Book.” Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Saturday: 3 p.m. Activities for children 6 to 12 years old using the Klutz books as a resource. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

Information about book signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40@aol.com or faxed to 647-5649.