Saturday, July 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Chinese Auction

The Sylmar/San Fernando Optimist Club is sponsoring a Chinese Auction, with salad buffet, raffle prize drawings and a silent auction. This event will be held in the First Assembly of God Church, 1501 Seventh St. (at Harding Street), San Fernando.

If you would like to buy a ticket, donate an item or learn more about the club, contact Sylmar/San Fernando Optimist Club president Robert Razo at (818)-373-9702.

Saturday, July 31 at 5:30 p.m.

Dance- A-Thon Benefit to assist women in Nepal Sfactor, Dance A Thon II

Dance all night long in a donation event, with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit Maiti Nepal, a crusade to protect the rights of Nepal women.

For more information, contact Sfactor Encino, 17253 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 817-4585, or visit www.sfactor.com.

Sunday, August 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Post 3834 Auxiliary Breakfast

Support our veterans by enjoying a buffet breakfast at the VFWin San Fernando.

111 North Hagar St., San Fernando, (818) 361-9003

Tuesday, August 3 starting at 7 p.m.

National Night Out and Free Outdoor Movie

A free family outing is scheduled at the next "Movies Under the Stars," a series of free outdoor films in public parks in Northridge Park. This event is held in conjunction with the LAPD Devonshire Division and National Night Out to raise awareness about crime and drug prevention, improve community/police relationships, support local anti-crime programs, and strengthen neighborhood spirit. A screening of the animated film "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" begins at nightfall. There will be free picnic dinners (while supplies last), free popcorn, facepainting, and prize drawings. There will also be kids activities, police vehicles on display, public safety information and more. Bring blankets, chairs and picnics. No alcohol, dogs or barbeques. The Northridge Pool at Northridge Park will also be available before the movie.

Northridge Park, 10100 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, (818) 756-8501. For information about pool hours and activities, visit http://laparks.com/dos/aquatic/pdf/poolP rg/northridge.pdf.

Sunday, August 1 at 7 p.m.

"FIRE&SOUL: LA WOMEN UNITE"

Sylmar-based Tia Chucha's fourth annual benefit concert at the Ford Amphitheatre. The concert presents a lineup of women performers including Grammy nominated vocalist, composer, and arranger Perla Batalla, and alternative Latin rock singer Ceci Bastida. Other scheduled performers include singers Juana Molina and Nelly Furtado, poet Wanda Coleman, performance artist Kristina Wong and the East LA sketch comedy group Las Ramonas. This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2010 Summer Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series.

For more information, visit www.FordTheatres.org

Now through August 3, Monday-Friday

Community Feed

San Fernando Middle School and San Fernando Institute for Applied Media provides free meals for children in the community ages 1-18. This includes breakfast and lunch. Meals are free of charge. Tickets and applications are not required. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and lunch from 12:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.All meals will be served through the service windows of the Student Cafeteria, accessed by entering the front gate on Brand Boulevard. The school will provide supervision and parents may accompany their children.Adult meals are available for purchase, $2.50 for breakfast and $3.90 for lunch.

1130 North Brand Blvd., San Fernando, (818) 837-5400.

Tuesdays at 6 p.m., through July 31 Story time

Family Story time is back at the San Fernando Library.

San Fernando Library, 217 N. Maclay Ave., San Fernando, (818) 365-6928.

Now through September 7, Monday- Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Free Summer Lunch Program at El Cariso Park

Served to youngsters under the age of 18. There is no additional requirement and no applications are required. Lunch is served outside the recreational hall near the tennis courts.

100 Hubbard St., Sylmar, (818) 367-7050.

The Sylmar Library is having two fun summer reading clubs for children and teens. Kids and teens can sign up online or in person at the information desk. Teens can go online to the LAPL Teen website, www.lapl.org/ya, to sign up for the Teen Reading Club and create a LOGIN ID to participate in the online component of the 2010 Teen Summer Reading Club.

Get your free summer reading club bag and folder at the Sylmar Branch Library, 14561 Polk St. (at Glenoaks Blvd.), Sylmar, (818) 367-6102.

COMING SOON:

Ortiz traces his odyssey from Cuba to Venezuela and Columbia through music at the Big!World!Fun! family show in the Ford Amphitheatre. Kids and parents can create simple instruments during the 9 a.m. pre-show activities, led by staff from the Autry National Center. The hour-long Big!World!Fun! performances are designed for the enjoyment of children ages 4-10, parents and grandparents. The series is presented by the Ford Theatre Foundation. Booklists related to each series event are provided by the Los Angeles County Library, and are available at www.fordtheatres.org.

To reserve or purchase tickets, call the Ford box office at (323) 461-3673, or visit www.fordtheatres.org.