Hike to the Teepee, Paradise Falls and Indian Cave at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

One hiking experience that everyone in the Conejo Valley and neighboring areas has to experience is Wildwood Park. With 14 trails covering 17 miles in the nearly 1,800 acre park managed by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, there is plenty to see and do in Wildwood Park.

One particularly fun and fairly easy family hike at Wildwood takes you from the main parking lot at the west end of Avenida de los Arboles to the Teepee, Paradise Falls and Indian Cave. Take the Mesa Trail about a 3rd of a mile until you see the sign below, then take a left.

Another third of a mile and you're at the teepee, where you'll find another clearly marked sign pointing you in the direction of Paradise Falls.

Hike down some switchbacks and stairs and you'll see be at the beautiful Paradise Falls. Always a fun place to take the kids, though we're warned not to go into the water.

But it is sure popular and enjoyable to sit back and enjoy this year-round waterfall that is so nicely hidden yet so close to hustle and bustle of suburban Thousand Oaks.

The Indian Cave is roughly half a mile east of Paradise Falls and can be access from the trail directly above the Falls or by hiking back up to the teepee and going the other direction.

Trail adjacent to Paradise Falls that takes you towards the Indian Cave

A quarter of a mile or so and you'll see the sign below.

Here's the sign indicating you are near the Indian Cave in Wildwood Park

Another 100 yards or so and you've reached the staircase that will take you up to the Indian Cave.

Large enough to actually hang out in, though the last time we walked in there were signs of rodents.

You can literally climb through the cave to an exit at the top and hike your way up to a connector trail that will lead you back towards the parking lot. My kids love this and so do I!

Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream, Gelato and Other Frozen Treats Around Ventura County

Frozen yogurt is everywhere these days, ice cream is as popular as ever and gelato is gaining steam! Here's a handy list of frozen yogurt, ice cream and gelato places in and around Ventura County for your dining pleasure. There are over 80 such establishments in Ventura County and surrounding areas!

(Current as of 4/20/14. Things change...call to confirm....let us know of any changes!)

Conejo Valley (TO/WLV/NP)

• Baskin Robbins 2389 Michael Drive, Newbury Park (805.499.3777)
• Baskin Robbins 1769 E. Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks (805.409.7431)
• Baskin Robbins 2823 Agoura Road, Westlake Village (805.495.6184)
• Bericup Frozen Yogurt The Oaks Mall Thousand Oaks (805.449.9347)*
• Cold Stone Creamery Janss Marketplace Thousand Oaks (805.557.0600)
• Conejo Coffee 2860 Camino Dos Rios, Newbury Park has gelato (805.498.7420)
• Fosters Freeze 2750 Camino Dos Rios, Newbury Park (805.480.9050)
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers 391 Hampshire Road, Westlake Village (805.497.3344)
• Haagen-Dazs The Oaks Mall (805.371.4440)
• Haagen-Dazs - A 2nd Scoop Shop in Thousand Oaks is opening this spring
• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt Promenade at Westlake (805.777.7000)*
• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt The Oaks Mall (805.557.0700)*
• Paciugo Gelato The Oaks Mall (805.497.4449)
• Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt 3835 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Westlake Village (805.777.7779)
• Shave It! Shaved Ice 11 East Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks (805.496.4800)
• Swirl Frozen Yogurt The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch in Newbury Park
• Tizzy Yogurt Cafe 1404 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (805.496.4653)
• Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt 1015 Broadbeck Drive, Newbury Park (805.480.3800)*
• Wild Cherry Frozen Yogurt 1724 Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (805.449.1140)*
• Yogurtland 111 South Westlake Blvd, Westlake Village (805.497.9763)*
• Yozen Frogurt 2900 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village (805.230.3800)*

Agoura/Calabasas/Malibu

• Baskin Robbins 5697 Kanan Road, Agoura (818.991.9106)
• Golden Spoon 22259 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas (818.222.5260)
• GROM Gelateria 3888 Cross Creek Road, Malibu (310.456.9797)
• Menchies Frozen Yogurt 4776 Commons Way, Calabasas (818.222.1158)*
• Sweet XO Life Fulfilled 5825 Kanan Road, Agoura (818.889.9696)*
• Tifa Chocolate & Gelato 2888 Roadside Drive, Agoura (818.879.0685)

Moorpark/Simi Valley

• Baskin Robbins 557 W. Los Angeles Ave, Moorpark (805.52

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Oxnard High School Stadium is Named After Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Houser

I was at a kids track meet at Oxnard High School the other day when I stopped to admire the school track and field records reflected on the large sign shown above. In admiring my way through the impressive array, I did a double take when I saw the boys' shot put record. Bud Houser has the record of 56' 3" that was set in 1922. This record is 92 years old!!

That's not something you see every day. So I took a look at the Oxnard High School website alumni section, which indicated that 1922 graduate Clarence "Bud" Houser went on to compete at the 1924 Olympics in Paris and won the gold medal in both the shot put and the discus throw! No one ever since has won gold medals in both of these events at the same Olympics.

He returned to the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam and earned another gold medal in his only event that year, the discus throw. Competing in the Olympics three times and earning the gold medal each time is pretty darn epic if you ask me. Bud Houser is a legend. I'm not the only one to observe that as the Oxnard High School stadium is named after him!

Houser was a three time national champion in the discus and two time champion in the shot put (including 1921, while he was still in high school). He held the world record of 158 feet, 1 3/4 inches in the discus throw from 1926 to 1929.

In 1979, at the age of 78, Bud was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. He later enrolled in the dentistry program at USC and opened a dentistry practice in Palm Springs. He died in 1994 at the age of 93.

Upcoming Ventura County Area Car Shows

Looking for automotive fun around Ventura County!?  CLICK HERE for upcoming car shows in and around Ventura County.

And of course be sure to stop by the awesome Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard on weekends, the spectacular Mullin Auto Museum in Oxnard (only open a few days/month; must buy tickets in advance), and fantastic The Nethercutt Museum in Sylmar (free admission; open Tuesday to Saturday).

Looking for local car clubs? Check the Social/Hobby Clubs section of CVG. Or here's a great list of car and motorcycle clubs.

And also check the Events Calendar and Event Listings for additional events that you will enjoy!

"Hands Free Hondas" by Camarillo Artist Chuck Trunks (Click the art for a link to his site)

Homeless Prevention Rental Help Available to Ventura County Residents

Through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Ventura County Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) makes federal funds available to local residents who are homeless or about to be evicted. County and city government have joined efforts to operate HPRP, ensuring that eligible County residents receive help when they need it most.

Basic eligibility criteria includes:

• Homeless or facing eviction within 21 days
• Household income limit based on family size
• You have no other options or resources to find or keep housing
• Financially able to maintain housing after rental assistance is received
• Ventura County resident and U.S. citizen or qualified resident alien

Eligible HPRP applicants may receive various types of assistance, including eviction prevention rental payment, rental deposit, short-term rental payment, credit counseling, utility deposit/payment, moving and storage costs and case management.

Case managers work closely with clients to develop and implement a service plan to ensure that they receive full benefits.  Through HPRP, clients are stabilized in housing and assisted comprehensively to help ensure that they do not face homelessness again.

Visit www.vchsa.org/hprp or call 805.385.8585 for additional information.

Other resources for low income residents of Ventura County:

Free cell phone service from Assurance Wireless

Ventura County shelters and meal programs for those in need

Conejo Valley area shelter and meal programs

U.S. National Park Service Free Entrance Days

As of March 2014, there are 401 national parks covering over 84 million acres throughout the United States and its territories.  The majority of these parks do not charge entrance fees (though parking fees often apply). As for 133 national parks that do have entrance fees, there are a number of designated "fee free" days each year.

Here are the National Park Service Free Entrance Days in 2014:

• January 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
• February 15-17 (President's Day Weekend)
• April 19-20 (National Park Week opening weekend)
• August 25 (National Park Service Birthday)
• September 27 (National Public Lands Day)
• November 11 (Veterans Day)

The parks that normally charge a fee that are free on the above dates are listed at www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm. California parks in this category include:

• Cabrillo National Monument
• Death Valley National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Lava Beds National Monument
• Muir Woods National Monument
• Pinnacles National Monument
• Sequoia National Park
• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
• Yosemite National Park

Plenty of other amazing national treasures are on this list, like Grand Canyon National Park.

And of course there are two national parks in Ventura County that are always worth exploring:

• Channel Islands National Park
• Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

For more information about the National Park Service, visit www.nps.gov.

Compilation of Great Trails and Hikes In and Around Ventura County

Looking for a good hike around Ventura County and nearby areas? We've highlighted a number of our favorite hikes in the Do Something section of Conejo Valley Guide.

Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks (Paradise Hills Hike in Wildwood Park)

Los Robles Trail System in Thousand Oaks

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park (Hidden Valley Overlook, Danielson Monument and Waterfall Hike in Rancho Sierra Vista) (Boney Mountain Peak Hike in Newbury Park) (Old Boney Trail)

China Flat Trailhead in Oak Park

Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu

El Encanto Trail in Newbury Park

Lone Oak at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa

Hillcrest Open Space Preserve in Thousand Oaks

Chumash Trail in Pt Mugu State Park

Oakbrook Regional Park in Thousand Oaks

Lang Ranch/Woodridge Open Space in Thousand Oaks

Triunfo Creek Park in Westlake Village

King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas

Potrero Ridge Trail in Newbury Park

Sierra Vista Trail in Newbury Park

Paramount Ranch Recreation Area in Agoura Hills

Vista Del Mar Trail in Newbury Park

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Identify Local Sex Offenders Using California Megan's Law Website

California was the first state in the nation to initiate a Sex Offender Tracking Program in 1947, but until 1996, when California Megan's Law (CML) was initiated, information about sex offenders was not publicly available. 

Megan's Law is named after seven year old New Jersey girl Megan Kanka, who was raped and killed by a known molester who lived across the street from her family. All states now have a form of Megan's Law. On September 24, 2004, AB 488 was signed into law in California, providing the public Internet access to sex offender information at www.meganslaw.ca.gov.

As of April 2014, there are nearly 82,000 sexual offenders in the CML database, compared to over 63,000 offenders in the CML database, including nearly 42,000 with home addresses listed due to the nature of their crimes and 12,000 listed by zip code only.

This is a website that deserves a look, particularly by anyone who is a parent. While the website is not meant to "punish" sex offenders, it is a useful awareness tool. The powerful search engine on the site allows you to search by name, address, city, zip and county, as well as within a two mile radius of parks and schools. You can also review the results of your search in both map and listing format, making it quite convenient.

Within seconds you can identify the 760 (as of April 2014) registered sex offenders in Ventura County, including photos,  names, vital stats like date of birth, height and weight, their offenses and, where applicable, their addresses. The five cities with the largest sex offender counts as of mid-April 2014 are Oxnard (189), Ventura (152), Simi Valley (75), Camarillo (52) and Port Hueneme (41). Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park combined has 44 sex offenders.

The information in the CML database is not always up to date for each individual. The severity of the offenses for each individual vary from the more violent (rape, battery) to statutory rape, indecent exposure, etc. I see quite a bit of "LEWD OR LASCIVIOUS ACTS WITH A CHILD UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE" in the database.

To protect yourself and your family from sexual assault, visit www.meganslaw.ca.gov/protect.aspx from time to time to be aware.

Over 140 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 140 summer day camps and residential camps and programs in the area. Actually, there are hundreds and hundreds of individual camps available. We've attempted to categorize the camps into 3 main groups; Traditional/Learning, Sports and Music/Arts, though many camps cover many fun activities all in one.

Know of more? Submit them here!

No doubt there will be some typos/errors on this list, so let us know if you find one.

Traditional Day/Overnight/Learning/Misc Camps

• Adventure Weeks Day Camp at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, grades K-5 in the fall, June to Aug, fun trips each Thursday, www.calvarycc.org or 818.575.2257
• Bizzy Girls Tween Entrepreneur Camp at The Oaks Mall ages 7-12. Make line of fashion accessories, write biz plan, sell your products at pop up store www.bizzygirls.com  424.201.5448
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley offers a variety of camps in Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Calabasas, Newbury Park, Jun to Aug for grades 1 to 9 www.bgcconejo.org/camps-programs/summer-camp.aspx
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme Summer Day Camps, ages 6-13, 3 locations bgcop.org/programs/Daycamps.html
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Simi Valley "Summer Club" www.bgcsimi.com/p_summer.html
• Calvary Community Church summer camps in Westlake Village www.calvarycc.org/events.aspx?parentnavigationid=08
• Camp Calabasas at DeAnza Park in Calabasas for all ages, 4 through teen www.campcalabasas.org 818.878.0162
• Camp Conejo Girl Scout Day Camp in Thousand Oaks several 1 week for girls ages 5-11. Theme of camp is "Going for Gold" campconejo.shutterfly.com
• Camp Funtastic day camp in Camarillo www.pvrpd.org/recreation/community/day/funtastic.asp or 805.482.1996 x18
• Camp Gan Israel at Chabad Jewish Center in Camarillo in July for 2 to 5 year olds www.chabadcamarillo.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2210245/jewish/Summer-Camp.htm
• Camp Helping Hands service/learning camp at CLU and CSUCI. Make a difference and have at it. July/Aug, ages 6-14,  www.camphelpinghands.com or 805.244.5071
• Camp Keystone Summer Day Camps in Agoura Hills for ages 3 to 14 (4 different camps) www.campkeystone.com or 818.889.2224
• Camp Kinneret Summer Day Camp in Agoura Hills campkinneret.com 818.706.8255
• Camp Summertime at Calamigos Ranch in Agoura/Malibu for ages 4 to 14, June to August www.campsummertime.com 818.706.7335
• Camp Turtle Rock at CLU in Thousand Oaks June to August www.campturtlerock.com or call 805.375.2267
• Camp Young Set in Thousand Oaks for kindergarten to middle schoolers, June to August www.youngsetclub.org/summer-with-young-set-club 805.495.2104
• City of Agoura Hills Camp Agoura Hills Summer Camps www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/government/departments/community-services-parks-recreation/events-activities 818.597.7361
• City of Calabasas Summer Camps www.cityofcalabasas.com/recreation.html
• City of Malibu Summer Day Camps www.malibucity.org/index.aspx?NID=336 or 310.317.1364
• City of Moorpark Recreation Division Summer Camps in June to August moorparkca.gov/211/Camp-Moorpark or 805.517.6300
• City of Oxnard Recreation & Community Services Summer Camps www.oxnardrec.org
• City of Santa Paula Summer Camp for 1st to 8th grades, www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us/CommunityServices.htm

• City of Ventura Parks & Recreation Department Summer Camps www.cityofventura.net/cs
• Conejo Recreation and Park District camps, large variety of camps for all ages all summer www.crpd.org or 805.495.2163. www.crpd.org/parkfac/conejo/

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Easter Egg Hunts and Other Fun Easter Activities Around Ventura County

Here at Conejo Valley Guide we have a special place in our heart for Easter fun! The bunnies of the Conejo Valley and surrounding Ventura County areas are planning ahead to make this Easter memorable.

We have the Germans to thank for the Easter Bunny concept, which came about in the 1500s. Hares and bunnies are signs of fertility and eggs signify rebirth. The Germans brought Easter traditions to America and it wasn't until after the Civil War that Easter became widely celebrated. Now we celebrate by gorging ourselves on candy!

Easter Sunday 2014 is April 20th! Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox. As a result, Easter Sunday ranges from March 22nd to April 25th. So complicated!  Easter next year is April 5, 2015 for you advance planners.

Upcoming Easter season events and activities in and around Ventura County: WELL I'LL BE DARN, EASTER 2014 HAS COME AND GONE! SEE YOU IN 2015!

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Ventura County Fire Department Offers Free Car Seat Safety Inspections

For those of you with kids looking for some help in ensuring your child safety seats are properly in place, consider the Ventura County Fire Department Child Passenger Safety Program.

Members of the Department are trained and certified through the National Highway Transportation Safety Association as a Car Seat Safety Technician. The Program educates parents on proper use and installation of child safety seats. The department provides free car seat inspections, installation guidance, product recall checks and informative literature.

Program locations near the Camarillo Airport, CHP Ventura, Crowley House in Thousand Oaks, CHP Moorpark and Moorpark Family Resource Center. More information at this link.

Volunteers from the VCFD Child Passenger Safety Program are knowledgeable and friendly!More on California child passenger seat belt laws and safety information

Farmers' Markets and Farm Fresh Produce Around Ventura County

Looking for fresh produce in Ventura County? "Lettuce" help you! There are nearly 20 farmers' markets in and around Ventura County throughout each week, not to mention another dozen or so stores and Community Supported Agriculture programs that sell organic produce.

Times, dates and places subject to change. Let us know of any updates!

FARMERS' MARKETS (In "day of the week" order)

VENTURA: Wednesdays 9 am to 1 pm at Pacific View Mall in front of Red Robin. Call 805.529.6266. vccfarmersmarkets.com/ventura

CAMARILLO: NEW MARKET PREMIERING 5/21/14: Wednesdays 3pm to dusk at the Camarillo Community Center parking lot, 1605 E. Burnley Street. Click THIS LINK for more info.

VENTURA: Wednesdays 3pm to 7pm at corner of Kellogg and Ventura Avenue. Visit theharvestgathering.vpweb.com (Closed winter months. Check www.facebook.com/EastandWestVenturaFarmersMarket for updates)

OXNARD: Thursdays 9 am to 1 pm at Plaza Park (5th and C Streets). Call 805.643.6458. www.coastalpacific.info/oxnard.php

THOUSAND OAKS: Thursdays 1:30 pm to 6 pm at the Oaks Shopping Center east parking lot. Produce, flowers, food and more! vccfarmersmarkets.com/thousand-oaks

VENTURA: Thursdays 3pm to 7pm at Ventura Community Park, 901 South Kimball Road Visit theharvestgathering.vpweb.com or www.facebook.com/EastandWestVenturaFarmersMarket for more information. Open rain or shine.

MOORPARK: Fridays 2 pm to 7 pm at Miller Parkway and Los Angeles Avenue (Village at Moorpark Shopping Center - Petco and Staples parking lot) (805) 290-5670

SIMI VALLEY: Fridays 11 am to 3 pm at Simi Valley Civic Center Plaza, 2757 Tapo Canyon Rd., next to TGI Friday's. www.coastalpacific.info/simi_valley.php or 805.643.6458 (reconfirmed 3/15/14)

SIMI VALLEY: Fridays 4 pm to 8:30 pm at

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Beam Yourself Up to Some Great Upcoming Events Around Ventura County!

"Beam Me Up" by local artist Chuck TrunksDoesn't matter what time of year...there's ALWAYS something to do in and around Ventura County. Here are links to some of our favorite types of events and activities.

FREE EVENTS

FAMILY EVENTS

KID EVENTS

FESTIVALS

FUNDRAISERS

5K/10K RUNS

FAIRS/EXPOS

And there's movies, museums, theaters, community classes, pilates, pole dancing, kids eat free, skateboarding, shopping, volunteering, bowling and so much more!  Have fun!

Ventura County Public Health Launches "Health Matters in Ventura County" Website

Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) recently launched Health Matters in Ventura County (www.healthmattersinvc.org), a website for accurate and timely health-related data for Ventura County. The website’s database, developed in partnership with Healthy Communities Institute (HCI), tracks more than 75 health and quality-of-life indicators in Ventura County using local, state and federal data.

In the same way that a car’s dashboard displays if a car is running well or not, www.healthmattersinvc.org’s dashboard displays health information in the form of a gauge – with green indicators showing better-than-average performance and red indicators highlighting areas needing improvement.

The unveiling of the new website corresponds with National Public Health Week (NPHW), an annual celebration sponsored by the American Public Health Association to recognize the contributions Public Health departments make in the communities they serve. This year’s NPHW theme is Public Health: Start Here.

Much like how VCPH programs help educate residents about making the right choices to achieve and maintain good health, www.healthmattersinvc.org is designed to provide decision-makers with a starting point to use when looking for the information they need to identify key health problems and develop initiatives to combat those problems. VCPH hopes that the site serves as a valuable resource to government agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions, students and community members.

The site serves as a data depository for health indicators such as HIV/AIDs, diabetes, obesity, cancer, STDs, as well as other infectious diseases. In addition, there is data for quality-of-life indicators including rates of smoking, DUIs, fast food restaurant density, water quality, violent crime and more. 

In addition to health indicators, the site also houses VCPH’s newly released health status report entitled “Transforming Ventura Communities: Understanding the Health Status and Needs of Ventura County.”  This report, funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Community Transformation Grant, looks closely at the socio-economic factors influencing five strategic directions: (1) Health Eating and Active Living, (2) Tobacco-Free Living, (3) High Impact Clinical Preventive Services, (4) Social and Emotional Wellbeing and (5) Healthy and Safe Physical Environments.

When I Pass Away Will My Social Media Presence Be Here to Stay?

Social media is still in its infancy. Facebook became available to everyone 13 and older on September 26, 2006. Twitter was launched for public use on July 15, 2006. LinkedIn was launched on May 5, 2003. But as the years pass, we will all eventually be faced with the question of what to do with our social media presence after our time is up.

Afterlife and Facebook

Do you want to stay on Facebook after you die? No? Well, perhaps the easiest solution is to give someone you trust your login information and have them permanently delete your account when you die. This can be done by clicking the account menu at the top of your Facebook page, pick Account Settings, click Security in the left-hand column, then click "Deactivate your account." Or perhaps more officially, make this request in your will.

The current Security Settings screen in Facebook as of December 2013

If you haven't planned for your afterlife Facebook page, your immediate family members or executor can still submit a special request to remove your account. Facebook will require a death certificate or other proof to do so.

Or you can also simply do nothing and continue having your presence be shown in Facebook. A good friend of mine passed in 2013 and his page is still up and running. In fact, many of his friends posted happy birthday messages on his page later in the year.

Lastly, your family, friends, even co-workers may make a Memorialization Request by submitting the deceased's email address and proof of death. The requestor reports the information under penalty of perjury. Facebook will not provide login information for the deceased's account.

When an account is memorialized, Facebook keeps the account information static. Friends can still post to the deceased's page (subject to the account's privacy settings). When a Facebook Timeline is memorialized, it does not show up in others'

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