The best things to do in Poway, Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch: Week of Oct. 16-29

Editor’s Note: Send event details (who, what, where, when, cost and contact information) in an email to ehimchak@pomeradonews.com. The deadline is noon Friday. Items run on a space available basis. Questions? Call 619-806-7305.

Thursday, Oct. 16

Early bird networking: The Poway Chamber of Commerce hosts speed networking at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at Cully’s Restaurant, 13252 Poway Road. Non-member guests can attend free of charge for their first event. For details, visit Poway.com.

Worldly topics: Abel Julio Gonzalez will talk about protecting people from radiation during the 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 World Affairs Council North County meeting. It will be at The Remington Club, 16916 Hierba Drive in Rancho Bernardo. For details, visit northcountyworldaffairs.org.

Save a life: The Community Church of Poway is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at church, 13501 Community Road. To schedule an appointment or for details visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “Poway” for the sponsor code.

Silver Screeniacs: Adults age 50-plus are invited to watch the free movie, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” from 1 to 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center – Oak Hall East, 13094 Civic Center Drive. Complimentary popcorn will be provided. For details, call 858-668-4671.

Planners to meet: The Rancho Bernardo Planning Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 in the Bernardo Heights Community Center, 16150 Bernardo Heights Parkway in RB. For the agenda, visit RBPlanningBoard.com.

Friday, Oct. 17

Textile treasures: Make a pumpkin pillow while exploring natural and synthetic fibers during a class for adults age 50-plus from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17 at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center – Willow Room 306 in Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive. Cost is $15 per participant; registration is required. For details, call 858-668-4671.

Help the blind: The Rancho Bernardo Lions Club will be holding its annual White Cane Fund Drive from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 outside the Rancho Bernardo Albertson’s, 12475 Rancho Bernardo Road.

Teen party: Teens ages 11 to 17 years old can play laser tag and enjoy pizza at a free after-hours party at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. Registration is required. For details, call 858-513-2900.

Bingo: San Rafael Catholic Church Women’s Fellowship is hosting a bingo night on Friday, Oct. 17 in the Parish Hall, 17252 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Play starts at 7 p.m. Cost: $10 to play eight games with three chances to win each game. Cash prizes and light snacks. Proceeds go to charity. Men and women ages 18 and up welcome.

Saturday, Oct. 18

Like poodles? The annual Poodle Palooza Extravaganza benefitting 4 Paws of Love pet therapy organization will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 in Webb Park, 16826 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo. Viewing is free and open to the public. There will be a poodle parade around the park (9:30 a.m.), dog and non-dog related vendors, a silent auction, swag bags for poodle participants, contests, games and more. Cost: $25 per poodle. For details, visit 4pawsoflove.org.

Tool sharpening: The Seven Oaks Woodworking Club will sharpen knives, serrated knives, scissors and garden and hand tools. Drop off items between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Seven Oaks Community Center, 16789 Bernardo Oaks Drive in Rancho Bernardo. Pick up late Saturday or Monday. Cash or check. No chainsaws, power tools or saws. For details, call 858-487-4058.

Help the blind: The Rancho Bernardo Lions Club will be holding its annual White Cane Fund Drive from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 outside the Rancho Bernardo Albertson’s, 12475 Rancho Bernardo Road.

Pumpkin craft: Adults are invited to make a succulent pumpkin craft from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. Sign-up is required. For details, call 858-513-2900.

Diwali: The Rancho Bernardo Library will hold its free celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Participants will make and decorate Diyas (traditional oil lamps) and enjoy light refreshments. This is for all ages. The library is at 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. For details, call 858-538-8163.

Teen science: Teens in grades 6 to 9 are invited to unearth nature’s wonders with experiments and encounters with animals during a Teen Program Series from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center – Oak Hall in Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive. Cost is $6 participant; registration is required. For details, call 858-668-4671.

Sunday, Oct. 19

Diwali: The Poway Library will hold its free celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 at the library, 13137 Poway Road. The event features dance performances and crafts for kids. For details, call 858-513-2900.

Free concert: Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church will present a free concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 in the church sanctuary, 17010 Pomerado Road. Organist Christoph Bull will perform rock music and other genres on the organ. He is a university organist and organ professor at UCLA as well as organist-in-residence at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, which houses one of the largest pipe organs in the world. All are welcome. For details, email liz@rbcommunity.org.

Monday, Oct. 20

STEAM for kids: A science, technology, engineering, arts and math activity will feature slime at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. For details, call 858-513-2900.

Tuesday, Oct. 21

RB safety: A representative from Navy Federal Credit Union and an expert in fire prevention-home hardening will speak at the 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 Rancho Bernardo Neighborhood Watch community meeting. It will be at the Seven Oaks Community Center, 16789 Bernardo Oaks Drive in Rancho Bernardo. For details, visit RBNW.org.

Council meeting: The Poway City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 in the City Council Chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive.

Wednesday, Oct. 22

Aloha ukulele: Adults aged 50-plus are invited to learn tablature, sheet music, chords and lyrics through ukulele strum-and-sing sessions from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center – Willow Room 306 in Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive. Sheet music is provided and limited ukuleles are available for class use.

Canasta: Adults aged 50-plus are invited to play the popular Canasta card game that combines elements of Bridge and Rummy from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center – Willow Room 301 in Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Drive.

Thursday, Oct. 23

Teen craft: Teens ages 11 to 17 years old are invited to make Halloween candles at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct 23 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. For details, call 858-513-2900.

Bocce: Adults ages 50-plus are invited to play bocce ball from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 at Poway Community Park’s Bocce Ball Courts, 13094 Civic Center Drive. Playing is free and instruction is provided during the first hour.

Chamber mixer: The Poway Chamber of Commerce invites community members, organizations and businesses to meet, network and collaborate with food, drinks and drawing prizes at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 at The Hop Stop, 14055 Midland Road. Free for chamber members and first-time guests; $25 for returning guests. For details, visit Poway.com.

Saturday, Oct. 25

Band tourney: The 48th annual Mt. Carmel Tournament of Bands will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Mt. Carmel High School, 9550 Carmel Mountain Road in Rancho Peñasquitos. It will feature 38 bands from across Southern California and feature parade and field show competitions. Field shows start at 8 a.m. and continue into the evening in Sundevil Stadium. The parade review starts at 11:45 a.m. in the school’s parking lot. Field show general admission tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for students, seniors and military; and free for children 5 and under. Reserved seating is $35. Watching the parade is free. For the schedule and to buy tickets visit tinyurl.com/MCHS-band25.

Dog adoption: Coldwell Banker Realty will host a Homes for Dogs Project from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 25 at its office, 16787 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 6 in The Plaza at Rancho Bernardo. Its adoption partner will be A New Life Rescue. In the days leading up to the event it will also accept donations of pet items for A New Life Rescue and Love Your Feral Felines. For details, call 858-676-6138.

Halloween carnival: The National Charity League will present the annual Halloween carnival with games, candy and a haunted hallway at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. For details, call 858-513-2900.

Sunday, Oct. 26

Choir performers: The Haneen Choir will sign traditional Syrian songs at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road. For details, call 858-513-2900.

Trunk-or-treat: The Community Church of Poway is hosting its free Trunk-or-Treat from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 in the church’s parking lot, 13501 Community Road. There will be games, prizes, hot dogs and snacks along with decorated vehicles and lots of candy. For details, call 858-748-3304.

Tuesday, Oct. 28

For women: The Rancho Belles women’s social organization will discuss the benefits of participatory arts during its 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 gathering in the Eastview Community Center, 17520 Drayton Hall Way in Rancho Bernardo. Participatory arts are forms of artistic expression that enable shared ownership of decision-making processes that aim to generate dialogue, social activism and community mobilization. For details, email Ranchobelles@gmail.com.

Open house: The Poway Chamber of Commerce is hosting an open house to give the public the chance to meet the staff, board members, local business owners and city officials from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 13029 Danielson St., Suite 120. For details, visit Poway.com.

Concert: The Kensington Baroque Orchestra will perform at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 in the Rancho Bernardo Library’s community room, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. Admission is free, but donations are welcome to support the Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library concert series. For details, call 858-538-8163.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

Learn more: San Diego Oasis will hold its catalog pick up party from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 at its Rancho Bernardo location, 17170 Bernardo Center Drive. Learn what classes and other activities it has to offer to adults 50 and older in coming months. There will be free refreshments and opportunity drawings for Oasis gift cards. For details, call 858-240-2880 or visit san-diego.oasisnet.org.