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FREE! Hundreds of FREE Summer Ventura County Events!!

Over 100 Summer Camps and Programs in Ventura County!

Ventura County Upcoming 5K, 10K and Other Fitness Events!

Ventura County Birthday Party Places and Ideas!

Conejo Joe's Marathon Training Blog! Tips and Advice!

Sunday, November 8th! 1800+ Runners! Awesome Goodie Bags!

Ventura County Area 4th of July Events, Activities!

23 Years of Conejo Valley Expertise! (818) 338-1100 adobe@century21.com

OVER 150 LOCAL FREE SUMMER MOVIES!!!

FREE Event in Thousand Oaks! Weekend of July 25th and 26th!

Yum! Stuft Pizza, Moorpark Road near Best Buy! 805/777-7883

Latest H1N1 (Swine) Influenza Updates

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Inaugural Race Sunday, 12/6!

Bad Weather?? Click the Rain Cloud for Indoor Activities and Fun for the Kids!

Crafts & Fun at Pandora's Paintbox in Newbury Park!


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Looking for things to do in and around Ventura County? Conejo Valley Guide is a comprehensive source of local events and activities! The "Welcome" blog has great information and ideas (click here for archive). Check out the Local Events, Events Calendar, Do Something, Kids' Activities and Fitness and Sports pages for hundreds of listings. Now go out and have some fun!

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Friday
03Jul

4th of July Events and Activities In and Around Ventura County

Thank you to Kelli McKay of KVTA AM 1520 Ventura County News/Talk Radio for inviting me to your show this morning! Kelli interviewed me on her "Locals Only" program about all these GREAT Independence Day Weekend activities!

CHECK OUT THIS PODCAST FROM THIS MORNING'S LOCALS ONLY SHOW WITH KELLI MCKAY!  YES, CONEJO JOE HAS A VOICE! :>


 

America's 233rd birthday is THIS COMING SATURDAY! Here are some local fireworks and festivities in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Calabasas, Oxnard, Camarillo, Ojai. Agoura, Fillmore, Malibu, Ventura and surrounding areas!

Enjoy FIREWORKS!? Catch them 3 days in a row...Moorpark on Friday, the 3rd, one of many places (T.O., Ventura, Simi, etc.) on the 4th and then in Agoura on the 5th! Gotta love it! So many things to do this holiday weekend!!!

Thousand Oaks

The annual Conejo Recreation and Park District and City of Thousand Oaks 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is launched from the hill behind the Hillcrest Center of the Arts in Thousand Oaks. Best viewing will be at the Oaks Shopping Center and Janss Marketplace parking lots. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Call the Conejo Recreation and Park District for more information at 805.381.1247.

CRPD is hosting a Pancake Breakfast on 4th of July morning from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Borchard Community Center (Reino and Borchard in Newbury Park). Cost is only $3 ($2 for seniors and kids 6 and under). More info at 805.381.2791. There will be a Home Run Derby at Borchard Park Field #2 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at a cost of $5 (call 805.495.4674 for details) and a Senior Home Run Derby from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in field #1 for $4 (call 805.381.2744). Also, FREE swimming at CLU, NPHS and TOHS swimming pools from noon to 4 p.m. (call 805.495.4674) and lastly a FREE concert featuring the Conejo Pops Orchestra starting at 5 p.m. at Conejo Community Park, 1175 Hendrix Avenue.

The Janss Marketplace will host its annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular event with a viewing of the Thousand Oaks fireworks display on the top floor of its parking structure and the Fountain Courtyard areas. Dress retro for this year's event as it will be 70s style, with disco band "Boogie Wonderland" from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., a live DJ from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and top 40 band "Copycats" in the Fountain Courtyard from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Events for the kids include balloons, jumper and face painting. Lots of great food available for purchase.

The event starts at 4 p.m. and ends after the fireworks. There is plenty of room but seating is limited to the parking structure (access to roof begins at 4 p.m and limited to 2500 guests, so get there early to secure a spot (bring a blanket and chairs to pad your place on the concrete!). You'll be rewarded with an outstanding view of the fireworks.

The Oaks will allow pedestrian viewing of the CRPD/City of Thousand Oaks fireworks event from the top floor of its parking deck. The deck will be closed to vehicles but open to those looking for an awesome view of the show!

4th of July Celebration at Bethany Church on the Hill in Thousand Oaks (200 W. Bethany Court) starts at 5 p.m. Concerts, BBQ, giant water ride, free balloons, kids' bouncer, petting zoo, face painting, gourmet coffee cart and pony rides! Not to mention, they claim to have the BEST view of fireworks in Thousand Oaks! For more info visit www.BethanyTO.com or call 805.495.7029. Admission is FREE.

The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West will be performing at Gardens of the World, 2001 Thousand Oaks Boulevard on Friday, July 3rd from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. This will be an evening of popular, lively, patriotic music.

Westlake Village

The City presents its 40th Annual 4th of July Parade, preceded by the Westlake Village Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast from 7 am to 9:15 am, followed by music, inflatable, games, popsicles, etc. at Berniece Bennett Park until noon. CLICK HERE for details.

Click to read more ...

Friday
03Jul

Roadrunner Tours to Offer "Fan Vans" to Michael Jackson Memorial at Staples Center July 7th

Roadrunner Tours to Offer “Fan Vans” to Michael Jackson Memorial at Staples Center

$20 Roundtrip Tickets Available Online or Onboard Tuesday

Departures from Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura and Rancho Road Park/Ride in Thousand Oaks Begin at 5 AM on Tuesday, July 7th

Register for Michael Jackson Memorial at www.staplescenter.com/memorial.php and for Fan Van at www.rrshuttle.com/mjfanvan

WHO: Michael Jackson vans wanting a safe and sane way of getting to Staples Center Memorial Service

WHAT: Roadrunner Tours Fan Vans, leaving hourly from Ventura County to Staples Center for round trip cost of $20.

WHEN: Hourly departures beginning at 5 AM through 8 AM on Tuesday from Ventura, on the half hour from Thousand Oaks, returning hourly beginning at 1 PM from Staples Center

WHERE: Reardon Funeral Home is located at 757 East Main in downtown Ventura (between Fir and Ash Streets) Phone # is 805.643.8623 The funeral home will be open and Michael Jackson Memorial Tribute Book will be available for signing.

WHY: Michael Jackson is a pop culture icon and his music is loved by thousands of Ventura County residents who may be challenged by the daunting downtown Los Angeles traffic. Roadrunner, as Ventura County’s #1 transportation provider, delivers yet another transportation solution to Ventura County residents wanting to pay their respects to “MJ” and spend part of a Tuesday in LA.

HOW: Visit www.shutttle.com/mjfanvan, call Roadrunner at (805) 389-8196 or just arrive at Reardon Funeral Home or Rancho Park and Ride. Additional vans and buses will be dispatched as needed by Roadrunner.

For more information on other tours offered by Roadrunner Tours please visit www.rrshuttle.com.

Friday
03Jul

Celebrate 4th of July With Sweet & Spicy Cherry Cola Ribs and Bourbon Baked Beans!

It’s Fourth of July!

Why not host a memorable gathering to celebrate the Fourth of July with a sticky sweet smile on your face! What could be better than delicious sweet and spicy Cherry Cola Ribs and Bourbon Baked Beans! I suggest buying baby back pork ribs, in particular, from Costco – they are high quality, priced appropriately and are easier to eat and less fatty than pork spareribs. Add some delicious fresh fruit or a crunchy slaw and you will have a crowd pleasing meal. Enjoy!

Jill Fisher, a good friend of mine going waaayyyyy back to high school, has a B.S. in Food Science and Nutrition and is a licensed Personal Chef. She teaches cooking classes at Conejo Valley Adult School and Williams Sonoma in Thousand Oaks. Jill has also written articles for local food magazines such as 805 Living. To contact Jill, let us know!

Cherry Cola Ribs

4 - 12 oz cans cherry cola (flat)

2 cups cherry preserves

2/3 cup Dijon mustard with horseradish

3 Tbsp soy sauce

Click to read more ...

Friday
03Jul

Conejo Recreation and Park District, City of Thousand Oaks Fireworks Spectacular on July 4th!

The 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, coordinated by Conejo Recreation and Park District, The City of Thousand Oaks and other local sponsors, takes place on the hill behind the Hillcrest Center of the Arts in Thousand Oaks. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Call the Conejo Recreation and Park District for more information at 805.381.1247.

Speaking of Thousand Oaks fireworks, here's a shot of them over the 101 Freeway looking east from Borchard Road, 27 years ago (boy do I feel old)! Photo courtesy of Scott Harrison (www.harrysonpics.com).

Friday
03Jul

Swine Flu Outbreak Information and Updates

We have been reporting daily Swine (H1N1) Flu tallies and updates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization since April 27th and will continue to do so until they stop reporting the stats. Why?  I dunno...my wife asks me the same question.  When reviewing these stats, keep in mind that the CDC started reporting information weekly in early June, the WHO reports updates 3 times per week and there is usually a lag between reported tallies in states, the CDC tally and the WHO tally.

Update Fri 7/3 9 AM: WHO update #57 shows 89,921 confirmed swine flu cases and 382 related deaths around the world. This is nearly 13,000 more than reported on Wed, 6,000 of which came from yesterday's CDC update. Today 42% of global confirmed swine flu cases are outside of North America, up from 35% a week ago.  A very significant increase.

The Mexico tally broke over 10,000, Chile grew to 7,376 cases, nearly the same number of cases reported in the UK. Making the list for the first time are Bosnia and Hezegovina, Palau and Uganda. North Korea still isn't on the list. This means that there are 2 good reasons to live there: 1) No swine flu and 2) ruling dictator always has really cool haircut.

Update Thurs 7/2 1 PM: CDC has updated its swine flu tally today as tomorrow is a Federal holiday. Tally is 33,902 cases, 6185 cases, or 22% more than a week ago, and 170 deaths (127 last week). Top swine flu states are WI 5861 cases, TX 3991, IL 3166, NY 2499, CA 1985, PA 1748, MA 1308, FL 1301, CT 1247 and NJ 1159. Highest death totals in NY 45, CA 21, TX 17, IL 13 and AZ 10.  The WHO swine flu tally will be updated tomorrow, but including today's CDC toll the count will be over 83K global cases and 375 deaths.

Update Wed 7/1 9 AM: WHO update #56 includes 77,201 global swine flu cases and 332 reported deaths, 6,308 more cases than reported just 2 days ago. The UK total leaped over 50% to 6,538 cases, Thailand grew over 80% to 1,414, Chile went up another 20% to 6,211 and Brazil grew 50% to 680. The first reported case in Kenya was reported...what else but a 20 yr old UK student who stopped by Nairobi for the weekend. Other first time reporters are Mauritius (7 cases), Myanmar (1) and Saint Lucia (1). Still no North Korean cases.

The CDC will update the U.S. county on Friday but it looks to be yet another significant jump. Texas today for example reported 3,992 cases, 1,000 more than last week.

Update Mon 6/29 9 AM: WHO update #55 shows 70,893 swine flu cases and 311 deaths today, reflecting the latest CDC tally from 6/25. The Australian tally jumped to over 4,000 cases, Canada jumped to 7,775, China is now at 1,442, Phillipines doubled to 861, Singapore more than doubled to 599 and North Korea still shows no swine flu...good for them.  The latest additions to the list are Nepal, Lithuania, Monaco and 10 reported cases in Iraq.  There have been 29 reported cases in Brunei Darussalam.  And there you have it.

Update Fri 6/26 8 AM: Once again the WHO update does not reflect the latest CDC tally due to timing. So including yesterday's CDC count, today's WHO update indicates 66,082 global swine flu cases 303 related deaths, with 65% of cases in North America (down from 67% earlier this week).  Australia has 3,280 confirmed cases, New Zealand 453 and Chile 5,186. Earlier this week Iran reported its first case...a 16 year old living in the U.S. who returned to Tehran.

Click to read more ...

Thursday
02Jul

Original Conejo Valley Area Landscape Paintings by Karen Winters

Karen Winters gave us permission to display these original oil paintings here on Conejo Valley Guide. She is a published author, award-winning designer, Emmy award-winning producer and now first and foremost a talented artist based in La Canada (near Pasadena/Glendale).  Visit her website at www.KarenWinters.com and visit her blog at www.karensblog.com  Beautiful work, Karen! Thanks for sharing!

Boney Mountain as Viewed Near Circle X Ranch

"Sunset Spendor" Satwiwa Village Area of Sycamore Canyon

Click to read more ...

Wednesday
01Jul

FREE Movies All Summer Long in Ventura County!

Here at Conejo Valley Guide we are obsessed with providing the most comprehensive and complete information on activities throughout Ventura County.  But the list of FREE EVENTS this summer is getting so long, we felt the need to provide this separate list of over 150 FREE MOVIES

Agoura: Outdoor Movies at Reyes Adobe Park (Saturdays): 6/13, 7/11, 8/8

Calabasas: Regal Grand Palace Commons Free Movies (Tues/Wed Mornings): 6/23-8/19 (18 movies)

Camarillo: Friday Night Movies at Cam Community Ctr Park: 6/5 to 8/28 (12 movies)

Camarillo: Arts Council Movies at Constitution Park (Saturdays): 6/27, 8/29

Camarillo: Regal Palace Stadium Free Movies (Tues/Wed Mornings): 6/16 to 8/12 (18 movies)

Malibu: Free Outdoor Movies at Malibu Bluffs Park (Sat Nights): 7/18, 8/1, 8/29

Newbury Park: Paraiso at Dos Vientos Free Outdoor Movies (Thursday Nights): 7/2 to 8/27 (9 movies)

Oxnard: Saturday Night Outdoor Movies at Various Parks:  6/6 to 9/12 (13 movies)

Simi Valley: Regal Civic Center Stadium Free Movies (Tues/Wed Mornings): 6/16 to 8/12 (18 movies)

Simi Valley: Outdoor Movies at Simi Valley Town Center (Monday Nights): 6/22 to 8/24 (10 movies)

Simi Valley: Outdoor Movies at Rancho Simi Park (Friday Nights): 6/19, 7/17, 8/14

Simi Valley: "Dive In" Movies at Rancho Pool ($3) (Sunday Nights): 7/12, 8/9

Thousand Oaks: Mann Janss Marketplace Free Movies (Mon/Wed Mornings): 6/15-8/12 (18 showings)

Thousand Oaks: Movie Matinees at T.O. Library (Mondays): 6/8, 7/13, 8/10, 9/14

Thousand Oaks: Muvico 14 Summer Family Film Fest (Tues/Wed Mornings): 6/16 to 8/5 (16 showings)

Thousand Oaks: Classic Movies at The Lakes (Wed Nights): 7/15, 7/22, 7/29

Westlake Village: Mann Westlake Promenade Free Movies (Tues/Thurs Mornings): 6/16-8/13 (18 showings)

Woodland Hills: Movies at Warner Ranch Park (Saturdays): 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8, 8/15, 8/22

Wednesday
01Jul

Birthday Party Places In and Around Ventura County

All of us parents scratch our heads trying to figure out what to do for our kids' birthday parties.  While having a backyard birthday party is always great for the little ones, it involves planning, time and cleanup.  So here is a list and links to nearly 70 birthday party options in Ventura County and surrounding areas, spanning from Ventura to Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Westlake Village, Newbury Park as well as some surrounding areas.  We hope this gives you a few new ideas.

We have attempted to categorize by "type" as best we can.  We know this list is not complete, so  contact us if you have something to add! And don't forget to invite us to your party!! :>

ShindigZ Deal of the Day

Indoor Play Places

Entertainment Centers/Arcades

Gymnasiums and Jumpy/Bouncy Play

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
30Jun

Disney Warehouse Sale in Camarillo at the Old Linens and Things

We were just passing by when we noticed forms of life in the Linens and Things store closed in Fall of last year.  Yay, once again the Disney Warehouse Sale is in town (it was at Janss Marketplace awhile back).  The AMS website indicates this temporary warehouse sale is on from June 5th to July 12th.  If you enjoy rummaging through boxes looking for Disney themed bargains, you gotta stop by. 

I had two feisty kids with me so I didn't stay long today, but there was certainly a lot of clothing to choose from.  We bought a $7 shirt and a $4 pirate watch (there was a huge box of these), so I got off cheap.  I noticed an abundance of High School Musical merchandise.  In addition to clothing (shirts, jackets, shoes, etc.), there were lots of little knick knacks, stuffed animals, toys, etc.

The videos below are not very good but give you a flavor as to how much stuff is in this store.  Happy bargain hunting!  I didn't note the store hours so either stop by the store during "normal" hours or call AMS at 615.855.1274.  The store is located in the Camarillo Town Center, 275 W. Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, adjacent (to the right) of Target and Ross.

Tuesday
30Jun

Hundreds of FREE! FREE! FREE! or Nearly FREE! Summer Concerts, Movies, Activities in Ventura County!

The Conejo Valley Guide Economic Stimulus Package is now available at the click of your mouse.  Yes!  Here, upon popular demand, is the most comprehensive list of HUNDREDS of FREE summer concerts, FREE movies and other FREE or nearly FREE events and activities in the Conejo Valley, Ventura County and outlying areas known in the FREE world. Literally HUNDREDS of FREE activities! Nothing better than FREE outdoor entertainment all summer long! Oh, did I mention these were all FREE!?  More FREE events will be added to this list as we get them. Spend all your FREE time at FREE events! Feel FREE to FREELY share this FREE list of FREE events with your friends! (UPDATED 6/25/09)

SEPARATE LIST OF FREE MOVIES AROUND TOWN

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
30Jun

Thousand Oaks City Watch Update - 6/30/09

Here is the latest "City Watch" alert from Deputy Jim DeSoto of the Thousand Oaks Police Department. If you are interested in receiving these updates directly from him via email, click here for more information.

Crime Fighters,

I hope everyone had a great week and enjoyed our wonderful Conejo Valley weather. The longer days of sun, warm weather and summer time activities make this area a special place to live.

Kids are out in full force and so are their shenanigans. An exuberant yet destructive person has been putting super glue in the locking mechanisms of many apartments on Warwick. A crime of this type would usually not be mentioned, however, this person has struck multiple times, caused hundreds of dollars in damage, and most importantly has inconvenienced and disturbed many families. BB gun delinquents are still causing damage to property in the Newbury Park area. Children have fun with their toys but those same toys can be very destructive to lives and property.

Keeping with the shenanigan theme, someone punctured multiple tires while the vehicles were parked overnight in the east area of the city. All the vehicles were randomly targeted but again the cost of the

Click to read more ...

Monday
29Jun

Easy Breezy Mac 'N' Cheesey - Yum!

Here is an easy, weeknight version of mac 'n' cheese that doesn't utilize processed cheese, canned soup or Kraft products, courtesy of Master Chef, Kirk Leins. Get more cooking videos and free recipes at www.NoTimeToCookDinner.com.

EASY BREEZY MAC 'N' CHEESEY (serves 6)

2 C Barilla elbow macaroni
2 C sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 C Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
1 16-oz container of whole milk ricotta cheese, or small curd cottage cheese
1 8-oz container of sour cream

Click to read more ...

Sunday
28Jun

Take Advantage of AAA Membership

The Auto Club has over 50 million members, including 6 million in Southern California.  If you are not already a member (roughly half of Southern California households are not members), you should consider becoming one.

You get a lot of value for the basic $47 per year membership ($71 for two adults), including towing up to 7 miles, discounted rental cars, emergency fuel delivery, locksmith service, access to AAA offices and services, free maps and traveling planning, etc.  For additional fees you can upgrade these basic services.

But where membership can really pay off are savings on products and services.  Here are a few that really stand out (these are current as of 6/28/09 but of course are subject to change).

  • Getting a AAA rate on a hotel like Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton and others can easily save you 5% to 10% on your room, which can more than pay for your AAA membership with a 5 night stay or even less.
  • Barnes & Noble offers a 10% AAA discount on onlin purchases (www.AAA.com/BarnesandNoble).
  • Use AAA for a 6% discount on all purchases at Dell (www.AAA.com/Dell).
  • Target offers a 10% AAA discount on all online purchases (see www.AAA.com/Target). 
  • Save 10% at Discount Tire Centers
  • Visit a local AAA office (Ventura County locations in Thousand Oaks, Simi, Camarillo, Ventura) and buy Regal (includes Edwards) Movie Theater tickets at up to 40% off regular prices!
  • Save 20% at Reebok and Rockport Outlet Stores! (I know they have these at the Camarillo Premium Outlets.)
  • Save 10% on up to 4 adult entrees at El Torito.
  • Save 10% on Amtrak rides and 10% to 15% on airport parking at LAX.
  • Save up to 10% or more at family entertainment venues, like Knotts Berry Farm, Aquarium of the Pacific, Universal Studios, Legoland, Sea World, etc. (but no Disneyland :<).
  • 20% off at Shoes.com.
  • 10% off at Sit & Sleep.
  • And many, many more!

So even if you don't think you'll need roadside assistance or towing, it could really pay off having a AAA membership.  Visit the Auto Club of Southern California website at www.aaa-calif.com for more information.

Sunday
28Jun

Classic Humor With Debbie Downer on Saturday Night Live - 5/1/04

I caught this from Saturday Night Live rerun last night and had to share it.  This initial appearance of Rachel Dratch as "Debbie Downer" is classic because the actors couldn't stop laughing through the skit, which also features Linday Lohan.  According to a Wikipedia article about Debbie Downer (gotta love Wikipedia), part of the reason for uncontrollable laughter was that the actors hadn't rehearsed with the "wah wah" sounds heard after Debbie's cynical, depressing lines.

Sunday
28Jun

Over 90 Summer Camps and Programs In and Around Ventura County

Looking for a summer camp within range of Ventura County? Here's a list of over 90 summer camps (well, now the list is over 100!) - mostly day camps but many overnight camps too! and programs in the area with contact information. Know of more? Submit them here!

Traditional Camps/Learning Camps

  1. Conejo Recreation and Park District camps, large variety of camps for all ages all summer www.crpd.org or 805.495.2163
  2. Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District camps in Camarillo, large variety, check out the summer catalog at www.pvrpd.org or 805.482.1996
  3. Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes, 10 weeks of camps Jun to Aug for all ages www.bgcconejo.org or 805.449.1309
  4. Ventura County Council Boy Scouts summer camps www.vccbsa.org
  5. Camp Summertime at Calamigos Ranch in Agoura/Malibu for ages 4 to 14 www.campsummertime.com 818.706.7335
  6. Westlake Montessori School Summer Camp www.westlakemontessori.com/summer_camp.html or 805.495.2962
  7. City of Agoura Hills Summer Camps brochure available at http://ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/
  8. City of Agoura Summer Shuttle Beach Bus! http://ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/Index.aspx?page=67
  9. Lazy "J" Ranch Camp in Malibu 140 acres in Malibu, coed ages 5 to 15 www.LazyJRanchCamp.com or 310.457.5572
  10. Little Oaks School Day Camp in Thousand Oaks, ages 4-12 www.littleoaksschool.com or 805.495.5513
  11. Phoenix Ranch Day Camp in Simi Valley, ages 5-13, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.phoenixranch.org/camp.html or 805.526.0136
  12. Fitness by the Sea Kids Camp in Malibu 6/22-9/4 ages 5-14 www.fitnessbythesea.com or 310.459.2425
  13. Camp Keystone Summer Day Camps in Agoura Hills for ages 3 to 14 (4 camps) www.campkeystone.com or 818.889.2224
  14. Little Oaks School Day Camp 4 1/2 to 12 years www.littleoakschool.com 805.495.5513
  15. Plank Institute Summer Science Camp at Pepperdine University, 1 week residential 8/3-8/8, for incoming 7th-9th graders, www.plankinstitute.com or 800.377.5265
  16. Girl Scouts of Central Coast summer camps www.girlscoutsccc.org or 800.822.2427
  17. Robotics Camp in Agoura, July/Aug www.roboticsandthings.com or 805.660.1809
  18. Thousand Oaks Teen Center typically has over 100 summer programs www.thousandoaksteencenter.com or 805.494.5156.
  19. Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District Summer Day Camps in Simi and Oak Park www.rsrpd.org or 805.584.4400 (Simi grades K-6) or 818.865.9304 (Oak Park grades PreK-5)
  20. Camp Funtastic day camp in Camarillo www.pvrpd.org/CampFuntastic.htm or 805.482.1996 x18
  21. Triunfo YMCA Day Camps in Westlake Village www.triunfoymca.org/Triunfo or 818.338.2314
  22. Miller Family YMCA Day Camps in Dos Vientos www.millerymca.org/miller or 805.480.0839
  23. Conejo Valley YMCA Day Camps in Thousand Oaks www.triunfoymca.org/conejo/ or 805.523.7613
  24. YMCA of Southeast Ventura County Camps www.sevymca.org or 805.497.3081 x104
  25. The Little Gym in Thousand Oaks summer camps www.thelittlegym.com/thousandoaksca/Pages/announcements.aspx or 805.492.8020
  26. Ojai Valley School has various camps including performing arts, equestrian, junior camp, etc. www.ovs.org or 805.646.1423
  27. Oaks Christian Summer Programs for kids (sports camps) ages 5-14 and summer school grades 6-12, http://www.oakschristian.org/academics/summer.aspx or 818.575.9284
  28. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Ty Warner Sea Center Summer Camps for kids ages 4-12, topics include fossils and dinosaurs, astronomy, marine animals, nature and ecology, anthropology, oceanology, www.sbnature.org/education/natadv.php or 805.682.4711 x171
  29. City of Agoura Summer Shuttle, Beach Bus and Junior Lifeguard Express for ages 10-15, http://ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/Index.aspx?page=67 (only $1 each way! a bargain!) 818.597.7361
  30. America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, Junior Safari Zoo Camp, ages 6-14, various sessions all summer, www.moorparkcollege.edu/current_students/teaching_zoo/junior_zoo_info.shtml or call 805.378.1441
  31. Santa Barbara Zoo Camps for ages 3 to entering 7th grade, Jun to August www.santabarbarazoo.org/zoocamps.asp or 805.962.5339

Click to read more ...

Friday
26Jun

Train for an Upcoming 5K, 10K and Other Ventura County 2009 Fitness Events!

"Race Day" by Camarillo artist Chuck Trunks.

Whether you are a novice, a seasoned competitor or someone who enjoys casual running with friends, now's the time to start training for an upcoming 5K, 10K or other local fitness events this year! Since it rains so rarely here in the Conejo Valley and greater Ventura County, you can train year-round. And the beauty of training for a running event is that it costs pretty much nothing other than the cost of decent running shoes.

Here at Conejo Valley Guide, we know that finding local running/walking events can be challenging. Well we've made it easy for you by tracking local events and including links to their websites. Now go on, get moving, lace up those shoes and start training!

SEE CONEJO JOE'S SANTA BARBARA MARATHON TRAINING BLOG BY CLICKING HERE.

Apr 28 to Sep 8: Santa Barbara Reef & Run Duathlon Series on Tuesday Nights

May 6 to Sep 2 Santa Barbara Nite Moves Run, Swim and Duathlon Series on Wed Nights

May-Oct: Splash N Dash Run/Swim Series in Ventura

July 2nd to Aug 6th: Harbor Lights Summer Sprint Series 1/2 Mile Swim, 3 Mile Run

July 4th: 5th Annual Channel Islands Harbor 4th of July 5K, 10K Runs

July 4th: 55th Semana Nautica 15K Race in Santa Barbara

July 4th 31st Annual Calabasas Lakeside Fun Run 4 Mile, 2 Mile and Kids' Runs

July 11th: 2nd Annual Oxnard Salsa Dash 5K, 10K, 1 Mile Kids Fun Run

July 11th: 5th Annual Three Harbors Bike Tour Century, Metric and Quarter Century

July 19th: Strawberry Fields Triathlon/Duathlon at Oxnard Beach Park

August 2nd: 1st Annual Elite Sports Oxnard Duathlon

August 15th: 15th Annual Cool Breeze Century 38, 63, 102, 125 Mile Rides in Ventura

August 22nd: Bulldog 50K and 25K Trail Runs in Malibu Creek State Park

September 6th: Pier to Peak Half Marathon in Santa Barbara

October 3rd: Inaugural Ojai Valley Half Marathon

November 8th: 6th Annual Calabasas Classic 5K, 10K, 1 Mile Fun Run

November 8th: 1st Annual Elite Sports Thousand Oaks Duathlon

December 6th: Inaugural Select Staffing Santa Barbara International Marathon

Previous Events - Want to see what ya missed!?  CLICK HERE

For great running shoes from local businesses that know a lot about them, try: Future Track Running Shoe Store in Agoura Hills, Inside Track Running Shoe Store in Ventura and Road Runner Sports in Newbury Park.

Friday
26Jun

Nestlé Voluntary Recall of Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Cookie Dough Products

This was originally posted on 6/19.  Here's an update from the CDC today.  There have been 70 confirmed cases of E. coli infection resulting from eating raw, refrigerated, prepackaged cookie dough in 29 states.

"Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (average of 3-4 days) after swallowing the organism, but some illnesses last longer and are more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. Most people recover within a week, but some develop a severe infection. A type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can begin as the diarrhea is improving; this can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and the elderly."

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7. If consumers have any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their home they should throw them away. Cooking the dough is not recommended because consumers might get the bacteria on their hands and on other cooking surfaces. The recall does not include Nestle Toll House morsels, which are used as an ingredient in many home-made baked goods, or other already baked cookie products."

The following press released dated 6/19/09 is from the FDA Recalls website. DARN IT! I've been eating raw cookie dough for years but never got E. coli from it (or maybe I did and just didn't notice).

But the key messages are: 1) return your Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough to the store for a full refund and 2) do what I say, not what I do...DO NOT EAT RAW COOKIE DOUGH.

Click to read more ...

Thursday
25Jun

Where (Not) to Smoke in Thousand Oaks, Calabasas and Moorpark

Most of you have heard about last week's Moorpark City Council vote last week to prohibit smoking in most public places.  The new law, which becomes effective in August, is summarized below along with other state and local bans.  There are no federal smoking bans, though roughly 70% of the country has some type of workplace smoking ban (inversely, 30% of the U.S. population can still smoke at work).

State of California

Smoking in enclosed workplaces and within 20 feet thereof has been banned in California since January 1995.  The law also applies to restaurants and bars.  The law has certain exceptions, such as workplaces with up to 5 employees (assuming no minors and all employees consent), up to 65% of hotel rooms, etc.  Since 1/1/08, smoking in a car with a minor has been illegal in California.  Since 1/1/02, it has been illegal to smoke within 25 feet of a public playground (unless you are smoking on a public sidewalk within 25 feet of the playground, in which case it is perfectly legal).

City of Calabasas

The City of Calabasas smoking ban has been in place since 3/16/06 and outlaws pretty much all public places, both inside and outside...streets, sidewalks, parks, restaurants, stores, you name it. You are allowed to smoke in your home and in designated smoking areas.  You are also allowed to smoke in any outdoor area in which no non-smoker is within reasonable distance and due to the time of day you

Click to read more ...

Thursday
25Jun

Mama Don't Take My Kodachrome Away!

This past Monday, 6/22/09, Eastman Kodak announced it is discontinuing Kodachrome, the film it has manufactured since 1935. Kodachrome is now yet another relic of the past, like VHS tapes, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, GM, analog TV and unsliced bread. But the film certainly has its place in history, including its use in this well known 1985 Steve McCurry photo of a young Afghan girl.

While Kodachrome will soon be gone, it will forever be memorialized by Paul Simon's 1973 song named after the 35mm film that peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. I love this song.

When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all

Click to read more ...

Wednesday
24Jun

See The Latest "Buzz" About Obama's Preemptive Fly Swat on CNBC!

OK, this is funny.  Thousand Oaks resident and master Obama impersonator Iman Crossan and local video parody writer Cory "Mr Safety" Williams do battle with pesky mosquitos.

And of course the original Obama fly swatting episode from a week ago.