WORDS AND IMAGES : Preserving Our Past : Ambitious source book on Victorian architecture showcases Oxnard’s Petit House and Ventura’s Rose Wedding Chapel.

Two beautifully preserved local buildings are featured in “America’s Painted Ladies,� a big, gorgeous book dedicated to the preservation of Victorian architecture. The authors, San Francisco literary agents Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen, and photographer Douglas Keister traveled 40,000 miles visiting hundreds of communities to record and photograph the Victorian “painted ladies.� Because so many of these priceless buildings are being destroyed or “remuddled�--a preservation term for remodeling gone awry--places such as the Petit House in Oxnard’s Heritage Square and the 105-year-old Victorian Rose Wedding Chapel in Ventura are considered rare architectural jewels. The book includes a resource list of painters, architects and craftspeople (some local) and preservation organizations. If you know of restored Victorian buildings, the authors encourage you to contact them at 1029 Jones St., San Francisco 94109.

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The Chinese display celebrating the lunar year of the rooster will be on view through Saturday in the lobby of the Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme.

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According to the critics, the 1978 film “La Cage aux Folles,� winner of a Golden Globe Award as best foreign film, includes some of the most brilliant comic turns since Charlie Chaplin ate his shoe in “The Gold Rush.� The Ojai Film Society will show the movie at the Ojai Playhouse, 145 E. Ojai Ave. at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

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Writing news or publicity releases is a craft that can always be improved. And if you are handling your own publicity and wondering why your releases don’t get printed, consider attending a workshop on “Writing for the News Media� conducted by public relations/development consultant Laine Waggoner and local newspaper feature writer Rex Waggoner. The seminar on how to create and target effective news releases and stories will be offered on three Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning Feb. 4 in the Camarillo community Center, 1605 E. Burnley. The fee is $25 for residents of the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District. There is a small additional charge for those who live outside the district. Register at 482-1996.

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Moorpark College has a Grammar Hotline where students offer quick, expert assistance to wordsmiths with syntax block. According to coordinator Michael Strumpf, the Hotline fields 300 calls a week from people all over the world and has even had calls from the White House and the Pentagon. Call 378-1494 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.