A Gardena community yard sale is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at Mas Fukai Park, 15800 S. Brighton Ave., Gardena. Ten feet x 10 feet space are available (includes tent) for $25. Tables and chairs are also available for rent. Call 310-217-9537.
The Okinawa Association of America (OAA) will host its “Camp Warabi,” a five-day summer program for middle school students to learn about Okinawan culture and arts, from Monday to Friday, July 8-12 , 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the OAA Center, at 16500 S. Western Ave., Gardena.
College-age counselors will be selected and trained to lead campers as each day will be filled with “fun learning and connecting with one’s Okinawan roots,” OAA organizers said.
Registration is required due to limited space. The fee is $225 for OAA members and $260 for non-OAA members — check to see if the deadline was extended. The registration fee will help to cover daily lunches, snacks, and drinks; camper T-shirts; and workshop materials. Contact the OAA office (weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at oaamensore@gmail.com or 310-532-1929.
The fifth annual Community Day, sponsored by the Gardena-Torrance Baptist Church, is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at 1457 W. 179th St., Gardena. There will be food, vendors and raffle prizes. Call 310-329-0501 for information about getting a vendor’s table ($25). Go to www.gtbaptistchurch.org.
The 20th annual Keep Gardena Beautiful Day from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 21 in various location of Gardena. Volunteers are needed to help in the clean-up and beautification effort of parks, rights-of-way and neighborhoods. Some assignments involve painting, plantings, litter removal and minor landscaping. A lunch and awards ceremony will follow at Fukai Park. Call 310-217-9503 or email to volunteer@cityofgardena.org.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters will lead a community meeting on the United States Census 2020 starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday Sept. 21 at the Los Angeles Southwest College Little Theater, 1600 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles.
Waters will provide information on why the Census “ensures that Californians receive federal funding for important programs and services, and how it will create job opportunities at the Census Bureau for local residents. To RSVP, visit hhps://waters.house.gov and click on the community meetings and event link in the lower right corner. Or call 323-757-0900.
The 10th annual Food, Wine, Beer and Cigar Festival Fundraiser is planned for Saturday, Sept. 28, from noon to 6 p.m. at the City Hall Complex, 1700 W. 162nd St., Gardena.
This event aims to raise money for the city’s Alzheimers Clinic at the Senior Day Care Center, and to bring awareness to the Alzheimers disease. Attendees can experience varieties of wine, food samples from local restaurants, live music
Serra High will host a “Dedication to Excellence and Celebration of the Arts” event to honor the accomplished poet and writer and Serra High alumni, Dana Gioia, at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30. Gioia launched his writing career after working for General Foods corporation for 15 years. In 1991, he published an essay titled, “Can Poetry Matter?” in the Atlantic Monthly which sparked international attention with the essay receiving more attention than any other piece that the magazine had published.
The event will be filled with music and poetry, with high school seniors Jonah Copeland and Jordan Sanez contributing original pieces and sophomore Jeffrey Johnson performing the viola. An art show will also be present with sculptures on display. Timothy Philen, president of the Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation, will be the master of ceremonies and introduce Gioia. Philen will present an ode to Gioia, in which he will be awarded a plaque and be the final speaker of the night.
Serra High is a co-ed catholic private and college preparatory school that was founded in 1950 and is located on 14830 South Van Ness Ave., Gardena. The event is open to the public.
To request an invitation, contact Vince Kates, the alumni contact for Serra High, at 310-324-6675 ext. 1012 or vbkates@la-serrahs.org. Dinner will be provided for guests in attendance. The proceeds will go toward benefitting the students of Serra High.
The Gardena Police Department will host its annual Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Nakaoka Community Center, 1670 W. 162nd St., Gardena. Breakfast is $5 per person, and donations are welcome. This event benefits the GPD K-9 program.
The annual Gardena Heritage Festival and Street Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at the City Hall Complex. There will be more than 80 booths of retail vendors, community organizations, and food vendors. Highlights to include live entertainment on two stages and a children’s area. For booth information, call the Recreation Department at 310-217-9537.
The Italian Catholic Federation, branch 237 which is in partnership with Gardena St. Anthony of Padua Parish and School, will have its annual Columbus Day Dinner and Dance on Saturday, Oct. 12.
“We reach out with high school and college scholarships,” a spokesperson said. “Our Community support includes these and more: Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, The L.A. Mission, Parish Thanksgiving Baskets and Gardena’s Helping Hands Food-Bank.”
This year, the ICF is celebrating its 50 years of “faithful service to our Church and Community. Join us on our mission to continue to ‘Light a Fire.’”
For additional information or to purchase tickets, call Rose Moore at 310-516-0480.
