Friday, Feb. 5 from 8 to 10 p.m.

Open Mic Night at Tia Chucha'sCelebrates Black History Month with Brett-Candace

Candace is described as a vivid emerging young and stylish poet. Open mic night encourages creative expression in a welcoming atmosphere of support. Free, but donations are appreciated.

13197-A Gladstone Ave., Sylmar. (818) 528-4511. www.tiachucha.com/.

Saturday, Feb. 6 from Noon to 3 p.m.

Public Hearing on Sunshine Canyon Landill Odor Issues

The Air Quality Management District is holding a public hearing in Van Nuys to provide information to the public and take questions about recent reports of foul odors coming from Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

Van Nuys City Hall, 14410 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys.

Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Free Foreclosure Prevention Clinics

LA County NeighborWorks Center for Foreclosure Solutions is offering weekly foreclosure clinics and monthly foreclosure fairs throughout 2010 at California State University, Northridge Student Union Building Parking at structure G3.

For a complete schedule or other information, call (213) 381-2862 ext. 204 or visit www.lanhs.org/.

Saturday, Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. tp Noon

InformationMeeting for Families Interested in Foster Care and Adoption

Qualifying families receive training, certification, benefits (including medical benefits for the children) and 24-hour support to aid in the care of their foster or adoptive children.

Children Bureau's House, 11815 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood. (800) 730-3933. www.all4kids.org/.

Saturday Feb. 6 at 1 p.m.

Financial Aid Seminar

Learn about the financial aid process and how it affects college admissions. This seminar is provided by Princeton Review instructors.

Sylmar Branch Library. 14561 Polk Street (at Glenoaks). (818) 367-6102.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:00 pm.

Book Club

Join us for a discussion on "The Curious Incident of the Dog" in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.We have copies available for pick-up at the library. Come for the Book Club and stay for the Friends of the Library meeting to find out more about library activities that benefit the community.

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

Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

All About Business Loans

A free event. Contact Lucero Montañez at (818) 907-9922 or

VEDC, 5121 Van Nuys Blvd. 3rd Floor, Van Nuys, CA 91403.

Thursday, Feb. 18

Start-Up Do's & Don'ts

A free event. Contact Lucero Montañez at (818) 907-9922 or VEDC, 5121 Van Nuys Blvd. 3rd Floor, Van Nuys, CA 91403.

The Orange Line Extenstion

Metro contruction on the Canoga Ave. extension of the Orange Line busway will extend the Orange Line from its current end point at Warner Center in Woodland Hills to Chatsworth Depot Train Station where it will connect to Metrolink services. The new expanded parking lot at the north end of Chatsworth Depot was completed in Nov. 2009.

To receive updates by email about the Metro Canoga Orange Line Extension construction activities and traffic impacts, send an email to In anticipation of construction activities along the route, the Community Relations Team will be available to make safety presentations to community groups.

To request a presentation or to receive materials about construction or safety, call (213) 922-3668 or email

Artists All Aboard

Metro Call to Artists Metro is seeking artists for the public art at each of the busway's station. The artwork will include porcelein enamel steel panels and platform floor paving. The deadline for submission is Friday, Mar. 12.

For information about submission requirements visit www.Metro.net/Art and click "Artist Opportunities" or call (213) 922-4Art.

Exhibit open now through March 20 La Galeria Gitana presents Urban Spaces: The San Fernando Valley.

A group exhibits of images by primarily local artists who share the images of familiar places, icons and mundane scenes from the valley.

120 N. Maclay Ave., Suite E (behind Coldstone Creamery).

ONGOING:

Mission Hills Makeover

The Mission Hills Neighborhood Council Beautification and Cultural Affairs Committee are seeking ideas for projects to carry forward in 2010.

For those who have ideas to make the area a more beautiful place to live, join the monthly meetings. All committee meetings are held at the Mission Community Police Station 11121 Sepulveda Blvd. Mission Hills.

For more information contact the committee chairperson: (818) 504-3911.

The 2010 U.S. Census West Valley Office is Open

Find out how you can participate in this historic process. Every 10 years, everyone living in the country is counted. The Census provides the government crucial information about the current characteristics of the country and how it is evolving which determines how many congressional representatives are allocated to each state and how much federal money goes to local areas, for schools, roads, elderly care, and other vital services.

Find out more about job and volunteer opportunities.

For more information, call (818) 518- 1460 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov/. 8407 Fallbrook Ave., Suite 270, West Hills.z