Donations Sought for Battered Women

* The Mary Baird Women’s Center at Moorpark College is accepting donations of clothing, toiletries and children’s toys to be distributed to battered-women’s shelters in Ventura County. The center is in the college’s upper library, Room 241, 7075 Campus Road. Collections will continue through October. Information: 378-1492.

Silent Auction Features Local Artists’ Work * The Camarillo Art Center will hold a silent auction of work by local artists today at 3150 Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo. Bidding will begin at 1 p.m. and close at 3:30 p.m. Artists featured in the auction will include Pam Solakian, Judy Koenig and Ray Ayers. Proceeds will support Interface Children Family Services and the art center. Free admission. Information: 445-7061.

Garden Party to Feature Food, Drink, Music * The Boys & Girls Club of Ventura will hold its seventh annual Garden Party by the Sea from 2 to 5:30 p.m. today at the Pierpont Inn, 550 Sanjon Road, Ventura. More than 40 restaurants and wineries will provide food and drink samples. The party will include a silent auction and music by guitarist Carlos Gonzales. $40. Tickets: 641-5585.

Group Plans Halloween Swing Dance Party * The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Ventura County will present a “Swinging Halloween Happenin’ ” swing dance party from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura. Swing music from the 1930s to ‘50s will be provided by Ed Nani and the Moonlight Orchestra. Prizes will be awarded for best costume and best dancers. $12.50 per person. Reservations: 644-6863.

Masquerade Ball to Benefit Symphony * The Tower Club Masquerade Ball, a benefit for the New West Symphony, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at 300 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. The masked, black-tie event will include dinner and performances by the symphony’s Brass Quintet. Dance music will be provided by the Fifth Avenue Orchestra. $150. Reservations: 984-8826.

Carnival Booths to Aid Classrooms * The Colina Middle School carnival will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at 1500 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. There will be food, games and other family events. Homeroom teachers and their classes will operate their own booths, with proceeds going toward classroom supplies. Free admission. Information: 495-7429.

Freedom Fund Banquet to Help NAACP * The Ventura County NAACP Freedom Fund banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Residence Inn by Marriott at River Ridge, 2101 W. Vineyard Ave., Oxnard. George McKenna III, deputy superintendent of the Compton Unified School District, will be the keynote speaker. The program will include entertainment, silent auction and sale of African American artwork. Proceeds will benefit the local NAACP chapter. $40. Information: 983-4584 or 577-7604.

Girl Scouts to Honor Women in Community * The Girl Scouts of Tres Condados Women of Distinction Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Radisson Hotel, 600 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. The luncheon will honor women in the community who have shown high standards of excellence and achievement and who inspire other women and girls in the community. Honorees include Susan Abundis, senior vice president of Bank of America; Judy Adams and Leeann Lidz of Ventura’s Kids’ Art program; Jane McAndrew Rozanski, chief executive of the Camarillo Health Care District; Daisy Tatum, principal of Pacific View High School, and community activist Patricia Weinberger. Proceeds will support Tres Condados outreach programs. $40. Reservation deadline is Friday. Call 564-4848.