Piuma Road Overlook Views in the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu

Most of us in Ventura County take Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road down to PCH from time to time.  We look up and feel dwarfed by the canyons of the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains. What do these canyons look like from the hills above? Well make your way up Piuma Road in Malibu to find out!

Views towards PCH and Malibu Canyon Road from first of two overlooks.

Piuma Road is the road we pass as we're driving to the beach, but rarely stop to think about....unless we're driving to Saddlepeak Lodge for a great meal. And daring cyclists and motorcyclists may know about this winding, hilly joy ride to the ocean. But rarely do the rest of us give it a thought as we're busily navigating our way down Malibu Canyon Road.

Views of Las Virgenes Canyon looking north from Piuma

Well if you're looking to take in some eye popping, panoramic views of Malibu Canyon down to Malibu Lagoon, towards Catalina Island looking south, as well as the Las Virgenes Valley on the other side, take a detour up Piuma Road. From the corner of Malibu Canyon Road and Piuma Road to several overlooks is about 4 1/2 miles. Whoever is driving better concentrate because, as you can see, the road is very winding, the elevation rises to 1500' and the views are jaw dropping.

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There are several overlooks where you can stop and park your car. The first one gives you a straight-on view of Malibu Canyon Road and the second provides views of the coastline towards Santa Monica.

Views from the second Piuma overlook looking down the Pacific coastline.

Deep Malibu Canyon Gorge below. A Gorgeous Gorge it is!

About a 1/4 mile before you reach these overlooks, you'll pass the Malibu Canyon Piuma Ridge area, which has a small picnic area. The views of the canyons will take your breath away. The map below, courtesy of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, shows this Ridge area in relation to the overlooks. Don't drive too fast as it is easy to pass by.

Piuma Ridge and Overlook Map excerpt courtesy of Santa Monica Mountains ConservancyAfter you take in the views at the Ridge and/or overlooks, you can either head back or drive another six winding miles to PCH via Las Flores Canyon Road, where you end up at Duke's Malibu.

If you can handle the sound of my noisy kids, here's some footage from the Piuma Overlooks:

Views on a Clear Day From Rancho Potrero Open Space in Newbury Park

A short walk up the trailhead of the Rancho Potrero Open Space in Newbury Park, where Lynn Road becomes Potrero Road, provides beautiful views of the surrounding area. On a clear day you can easily see several of the Channel Islands from here. Learn how to get there at this link.

Ventura County Area Daily Deals, Coupons and Other Bargain Hunting Websites

Groupon popularized the deal-a-day concept for daily discounted "coupons" or gift certificates good for deals at local retailers and service providers. Groupon launched in November 2008 and typical deals include spa treatments, classes, restaurants, massages, tanning salons, haircuts and the like typically offer 50% up to as much as 90% off retail price.

An entire industry has been spawned by Groupon and there are now hundreds of daily deal sites around the world. Locally here in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County, ConejoDeals.com was the first site to launch a daily deal program, back in April 2010.

Deal-a-day sites can be addictive. Some people I know buy deals all the time, while others like to take a look every now and then. Generally you purchase a deal, pay, print the certificate and use it before it expires.

Below are websites that offer daily deals, anytime deals and/or good old fashioned coupons in the Ventura County area*:

ConejoDeals.com - Daily deals centered in the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas.

Conejo Valley Corridor - Offers a discount card fundraising program that benefits local schools and non-profits while offering everyday discounts at over 85 local area businesses.

SimiDeals.com - Companion site launched by owners of ConejoDeals.com

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Laugh it Up! Live Comedy in and Around Ventura County

Looking for laughs around Ventura County? Here are some great options to consider.

The Ventura Harbor Comedy Club (shockingly located at, yes, the Ventura Harbor), features top-notch comedy five nights a week. Admission is generally $15 plus a two drink minimum. The club is owned by comedians Andy Fernandez and Randy Lubas.

Ventura Improv Company, located in Downtown Ventura, offers live improv on Friday and Saturday nights. Family fun for only $8 to $10 admission. VIC also offers up improv workshops and other classes for those so inclined.

The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills is known primarily for great music acts but they also have top-notch comedians on hand all the time! Ticket costs vary. Reserve a dinner table and get guaranteed seating!

Clean Up Comedy is a 90-minute comedy improv show that performs one Friday night a month in Newbury Park. The group performs family-friendly comedy free of foul language (though fowl language is not barred from their shows). A measly $5 gets you into this fun show.

Hosted by local comedian Jason Love, Thursday Night Laughs is a monthly comedy show at Muvico Theater in Thousand Oaks. Several top-notch comedians provide comic relief in one of the comfortable theaters for a $20 admission fee. No drink minimum.

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is host to all types of performances...musicals, concerts, lecture, ballet, dances, plays and, sometimes, comedy!

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce Supports Local Business

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, professionally-staffed nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the region's business community in the communities of Thousand Oaks (including Newbury Park), Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.

There are approximately 1,400 business and professional firm memberships in the Chamber, making it one of the largest chambers in California. It provides a range of opportunities, services, benefits and resources to local businesses looking to network and grow in the community. There are networking groups, committees, mixers, brown bag educational sessions, promotional opportunities and more.

To learn more about the chamber, visit www.conejochamber.org or call 805.370.0035. The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is located at 600 Hampshire Road, Suite 200, Westlake Village (at the Townsgate intersection).

Scenes From the Ventura Farms Inaugural Concours Invitational Fundraiser Today

The Ventura Farms Concours took place today at the private, 2,200-acre Hidden Valley ranch owned by David H. Murdock, CEO of Dole Foods Company. Murdock, with a recent net worth of $2.4 billion and ranked #613 on the 2013 Forbes World Billionaires List (#213 in the United States) opened the California Health and Longevity Center at the Four Seasons Westlake Village in 2006 and welcomed visitors to his ranch today to help raise funds to build a new Westlake Village Park and YMCA on an 18-acre site located on the north side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, west of Lindero Canyon Road.

Ventura Farms features various gardens such as the Family Garden, Secret Garden, English Garden, Rose Garden, Grand Allee of Thai Sculptural Boulders; mined from the River Kwai in Thailand, and Redwood Allee. A herd of Santa Gertrudis cattle, Reindeer, Kashmir sheep, Arabian horses and about 800 Koi in a large lake are part of the estate's zoological interests. Fascinating architectural beauty abounds, such as the Chinese Scholar House, Sound of Water Pavilion, Poet's House, Japanese Tea House and an 18,000 sq. ft. conservatory that houses over 25,000 orchids.

So how could I pass up the opportunity to visit the ranch of a billionaire just a few miles away! Here are some photos from the event, which featured amazing cars and great food from local vendors.

Quite an appropriate car to have on hand on St. Patrick's Day

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Lizard Rock in Wildwood Park Backed by a Cloudy Thousand Oaks Sunset

For quick access to great views any night in Thousand Oaks, one need not go far. One such sunset viewing standout is Lizard Rock in Wildwood Park. Lizard Rock is just over a mile from the main entrance to Wildwood Park at the east end of Avenida de los Arboles. Walk/run/hike over Mesa Trail towards Lizard Rock and you will be treated beautiful views of the surrounding spaces where shows like Gunsmoke and The Rifleman were filmed. Tonight the clouds and moisture in the air provided plenty of eye candy.

The entrance area and dirt parking lot at the Wildwood Park main trailhead.Lizard Rock in the distanceTaking in the surrounding sceneryAlmost thereI guess it does kind of look like a LizardView from on top of the lizardLet's call it a night

Bench Yourself in the Conejo Valley

We have over 140 miles of public multi-use trails surrounding us here in the Conejo Valley managed by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) and hundreds of miles more in the neighboring Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Many of these great trails are highlighted here on Conejo Valley Guide.

All of this hiking, biking and running can make one tired. Not to worry...there are benches in strategic spots all throughout the area. And they all have great views! Here we highlight some of them. Click the images for more information about the trails leading to them.

Benches at the top of Big Sycamore Canyon Road.in Point Mugu State Park (adjacent to Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park).

Another bench that overlooks Sycamore Canyon from the Boney Mountain Trail

Bench on the west side of Tarantula Hill in Thousand OaksOakbrook Vista Trail bench off of Lang Ranch Parkwayin Thousand OaksThough not captured in this photo, the view from this bench on Angel Vista Peak in Newbury Park in my humble opinion has the most spectacular views of any benches in the Conejo Valley!

This bench on a hill connected to the Rancho Potrero trail in Newbury Park faces the west and gets you some nice views of several of the Channel Islands on clear daysBench off the Lizard Rock Loop trail on the west side of Wildwood Park.

Bench with a view of Boney Peak from the Potrero Ridge Trail in Newbury Park.

There are dozens of benches facing all directions in the beautiful hilltop Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in the heart of Thousand OaksOne final parting shot of a bench on the west side of top of the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden

I know there are other benches out there that have not been captured in this compilation, like the bench on Lizard Rock Trail in Wildwood Park (thanks Chris R). Contact us with any others that we've missed!

Building of the Norwegian Grade from Conejo Valley to Camarillo 1909 to 1911

This historic photo and information was generously provided by Gerry Olsen, grandson of Nils Olsen, one of the original settlers in the Conejo Valley in the 1890s.

Back at the turn of the century, farmers in the Conejo Valley grew dry crops like barley and wheat and had to take their harvest to Port Hueneme/Oxnard via horse-drawn wagons. Their only routes were the treacherous (at the time) Potrero Road or down the unpaved Norwegian Grade to Santa Rosa Road.

So in 1909, with a $60 donation from the county to purchase dynamite, Norwegian families Olsen, Pedersen, other volunteers and paid helpers blasted into the hillside from Nils Olsen's property, 1 1/2 miles down to Santa Rosa Road.

It took two to three years to finish the project using the dynamite, manual labor and horse-drawn earth moving machines called Fresno Scrapers (named after a Scottish chap in 1883 who formed the Fresno Agricultural Works to manufacture it).  Here is a historic photo of these early Conejo Valley roadbuilders.

I used to run up the grade from time to time and that was a pretty tight squeeze, with its steep descent and cactus on the side of the road. While most of us take the 23/101 freeways to get to/from Thousand Oaks/Moorpark/Camarillo these days, the Norwegian Grade provides an alternate 2-lane route with a direct linkage to the gritty Norwegian settlers who had the guts and determination to build it.

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Mountains Restoration Trust Preserves Land in the Santa Monica Mountains

Based in Calabasas, Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT) is a non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving natural land in the Santa Monica Mountains, a range transversing from Griffith Park to Point Mugu in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. through restoration, education and land acquisition. MRT was founded in 1981.

Restoration projects are a top priority for MRT. Non-native plant invasion has been occurring in the fragile ecology of the Santa Monica Mountains since early explorers arrived with mustard seeds to mark their trails. Non-native grasses, trees and plants have found a similar home far from their lands of origin, and are a threat to native plants and animals.

Non-native, invasive crayfish in Malibu Creek eat native amphibians and fish, wrecking havoc on the creek's ecosystem. Volunteers have removed over 11,000 crayfish from the creek! MRT encourages volunteers every Thursday through Saturday to help remove these crayfish. I signed up with my kids and it certainly was fun, interesting and rewarding!

We learned how to tell a male from a female crayfish from the biologist volunteer.After retrieving the crayfish from traps set by MRT staff, my kids helped measure their length for a long-term study.

The kids had a blast. Sign up to help at www.mountainstrust.org/restoration/crayfishremoval.html.

In addition to restoration projects, MRT hosts nature walks, rattlesnake avoidance training, youth naturalist programs, summer camps, senior programs and more.

To learn more, visit www.mountainstrust.org or call 818.591.1701.

Historical and Cultural Landmark Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village in Simi Valley

Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village in Simi Valley is a California Historical Landmark, Ventura County Cultural Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bottle Village is a .3 acre lot located at 4595 Cochran Street that contains shrines, walkways, sculptures and buildings from recycled items and discards from local landfills. All of these structures were built by hand over a 25 year old period by Tressa "Grandma" Prisbrey, beginning at age 60 in 1956 until 1981. Thirteen buildings and 22 sculptures in total.

A non-profit organization, Preserve Bottle Village (PBV), was formed in 1979. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake caused extensive damage to the Bottle Village site. PBV has embarked on a campaign to develop a master plan for the restoration of significant site components. Learn how you can help at www.bottlevillage.com and the Bottle Village Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BottleVillage.

Grandma Prisbrey sold the property in 1972 to care for an ailing son, but came back several years later to continue building and to give tours.  She died in 1988 at the age of 92.

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Over 200 Job Websites in Ventura County and Adjacent Areas!

Looking for local jobs in and around Ventura County!? Here are over 200 (now over 275) links to job listings at employers throughout Ventura County (Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Somis, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ojai, Ventura, Port Hueneme) and adjacent cities like Calabasas, Agoura, Malibu, Woodland Hills, Chatsworth, West Hills, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara as well as the San Fernando Valley.

Tell me about your success.  Feel free to contact me or add a comment to this blog post.

Some practical resume submission tips

Local volunteer opportunities

Corporate, School, Healthcare Career Websites

Next to each listing is the number of local jobs listed at a particular date. Obviously these will change over time but we try to update these regularly to give you a feel for what's out there.

Ventura County Star www.scripps.com/job_search (7 Camarillo jobs 5/22/13)

Ventura Unified School District: www.venturausd.org/classhr/positionvacanciesandapplicationforms.htm (12 jobs 5/22/13)

Verengo Solar: www.verengosolar.com/careers (Various jobs 5/22/13)

Vitesse: www.vitesse.com/careers/employment.php (6 Camarillo jobs 5/22/13)

VPI: www.vpi-corp.com/jobs.asp (Various Camarillo jobs 5/22/13)

Wellpoint: www.careersatwellpoint.com (Search for local area jobs 5/22/13)

Wells Fargo: https://employment.wellsfargo.com (12 Ventura County jobs 5/22/13)

West Hills Hospital & Medical Center www.westhillshospital.com/careers (21 West Hills jobs 5/22/13)

Western Saw: www.westernsaw.com (Oxnard - submit application)

Westlake Hyatt: hyatt.jobs (8 full/part time jobs 5/22/13)

Westlake Village Inn: www.westlakevillageinn.com/employment (No jobs 5/22/13)

Wyle Labs: http://careers.wylelabs.com/careers.aspx (1 Camarillo, Pt. Mugu job 5/22/13)

Xirrus: www.xirrus.com/Company/Careers.aspx (10 Newbury Park jobs 5/22/13)

Yardi: www.yardi.com/US/CareerOpportunities.aspx (15+ Santa Barbara jobs 5/22/13)

Zebra Technologies: www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/a

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NatureBridge Brings Field Science Education to Over 30,000 Students Each Year

NatureBridge is the largest residential education partner of the National Park Service. Each year, 30,000 students and teachers learn and explore in NatureBridge campuses in Yosemite, Golden Gate, Olympic, Santa Monica Mountains, Channel Islands and Prince William Forest National Parks. For over 40 years, NatureBridge programs have changed the lives of more than one million students and teachers.

NatureBridge believes environmental field science education should be a part of every child’s life. The organization's priority is to open children’s hearts and minds to the wonder and science of nature and ignite in them the courage to take actions that make the world a healthier place.

Through hands-on environmental science education, children and teens build critical thinking skills, knowledge and self-esteem. Students are challenged to see their world in a new way. They conduct scientific research that drives well-informed choices and gives them a stronger understanding of our interconnections with the natural world.

NatureBridge has a local office based in Woodland Hills that offers programs in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Channel Islands National Park to students in grades 4 to 12. These programs are two- to five-day residential outdoor science programs led by experienced educators, customized to enhance school curriculums.

From the top of Sandstone Peak to the Arroyo Sequit watershed, students explore the Santa Monica Mountains' Mediterranean ecosystem and learn through academic and physical challenges how their actions impact the world. At Channel Islands, students leave everything familiar behind, studying isolated landscapes and seascapes, experiencing unique animals and plants and beginning to think differently about the world and their place in it.

NatureBridge is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, funded by donations and its programs. Annually, over $1 million in NatureBridge scholarships ensure that diverse youth from underserved urban and rural communities experience the magic of living and learning in our national parks. On average, 35% of NatureBridge's students receives scholarship assistance.

To learn more about local NatureBridge programs, visit www.naturebridge.org or call the Woodland Hills office at 818.914.7660.

The Parent Project® Training Program for Parents of Adolescent Children - Upcoming Ventura County Classes Available

The Parent Project® was created for parents with difficult or out-of-control adolescents between the ages 11 and 19. Parents learn and practice specific prevention and intervention strategies for destructive behaviors - truancy, alcohol and other drug use, gangs and other criminal behavior, running away, violence and suicide. Parents are self-referred or can be referred to Parent Project classes by officers in the field, juvenile detectives, diversion programs, court systems, mental health professionals and school officials.

This program is available locally in various Ventura County locations.  Many programs are free or charge only a small fee for a Parent Project workbook.

Some upcoming local Parent Project classes as of March 2013 are below. Providers and costs vary. Click the link above to register online for most classes, or call the phone numbers below.

• Simi Valley: Simi Valley Police Department is offering a 10 week session on Tuesday nights starting April 2, 2013. Call 805.583.6290 Monday thru Thursday. Free ($20 deposit required)
• Moorpark: Moorpark Unified School District is offering 16 week Tuesday night Spanish language sessions that started January 8, 2013 at 240 Flory Avenue. Call 805.558.5151 to register. $45.
• Thousand Oaks: Ventura County Sheriff's Department 10 sessions on Thursday nights in Thousand Oaks starting April 4, 2013. Call 805.371.8362.
• Ventura: Pacific Coast Center for Family Counseling is offering 10 sessions beginning June 5, 2013. Call 805.794.0646. These classes do have fees.
• Camarillo: VC Sheriff and Camarillo PD will be offering 10 sessions on Wednesday nights in Camarillo beginning May 29, 2013. No charge for session

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TSA to Allow Small Pocket Knives and Some Sporting Goods Carry-Ons Starting April 25

Update 4/22/13: National news sources have indicated that the TSA has delayed implementing these proposed changes to carry-on policies. No other details at this time. So you can leave those lacrosse sticks and 2.36 inch pocket knives in your checked bags for the time being.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced yesterday that certain items currently prohibited as carry-ons will become allowed on board beginning April 25, 2013.

TSA has decided that allowing the following items as carry-ons will free up more time to find really bad stuff like explosives:

• Small Pocket Knives (with non-locking blades smaller than 2.36 inches and less than 1/2 inch in width)
• Small Novelty Bats and Toy Bats: Bats 24 inches or shorter in length or 24 ounces or less; or bats longer than 24 inches and less than 24 ounces.
• Ski Poles, Hockey Sticks, Lacrosse Sticks, Billiard Cues, Golf Clubs (up to 2 golf clubs).

It will be interesting to see if TSA will actually free up time with these new rules given they'll have to whip out the scales and measuring tape to determine if a plastic bat is over 24 ounces or if a pocket blade knife is shorter than 2.36 inches. I'm looking at a ruler right now and am having a hard time discerning exactly what .36 inches is. Ah ha, I've figured it out now from the following handy TSA chart...2.36 inches equals 6 centimeters!

They really drill into the details in the following chart. Might be a great time to start selling non-locking pocket knives with half inch wide, 6 cm blades and non-molded grips to take advantage of these new rules!

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