Santa Barbara Zoo Announces Birth of Another Masai Giraffe Named Parker

The Santa Barbara Zoo’s Masai giraffe Betty Lou gave birth to a calf today, August 6th at 9:38am in the Zoo’s Giraffe Barn after 45 minutes of labor. The calf has been named “Parker” by donors, the Hutton Parker Foundation.  The sex of the calf will be determined at a veterinary exam tomorrow morning, August 7th.

NOTE: The calf is not currently available for viewing. Viewing date will be announced via SB Zoo social media.

This is Betty Lou’s third pregnancy. Giraffe calves are born after a gestation of roughly 14.5 months and are typically 125 to 150 pounds and six feet tall at birth. Parker should grow approximately three feet during the calf’s first year of life. 

The calf stood 50 minutes after being born and was nursing 30 minutes after standing up.  The Santa Barbara Zoo animal care team remarked that Betty Lou is a very attentive mother.

The Zoo’s giraffe herd is part of the population of 120 Masai giraffes that live at 28 North American zoos accredited by the AZA. Michael, the calf’s sire, is considered the most genetically valuable male Masai giraffe in captivity because he has few relatives in zoos other than his offspring born here in Santa Barbara, which now numbers six. He arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo in January 2012.

The SB Zoo’s herd now consists of Michael, females Audrey and Betty Lou, Audrey’s calves Chad (born March 26, 2016) and Buttercup (born November 13, 2014), and now Betty Lou’s calf Parker.

There are an estimated 37,000 Masai giraffes in Kenya and Tanzania, but a more thorough census is required. They are at risk due to poaching and habitat loss and environmental degradation. Giraffes are the tallest land mammal, and the Masai is the largest subspecies, growing up to 17 feet tall and weighing 2,700 pounds.

Iconic Species Fights for Survival 

According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, there are nine recognized subspecies of giraffes with some subspecies numbering only a few thousand such as Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffe camelopardalis rothschildi), a few hundred to under 100.  Overall giraffe populations have plummeted 40% in just 15 years in the plains and forests of Africa.

Stick Your Neck Out for Giraffes!

The public can support the SBZ herd and welcome this long-necked arrival by becoming a Foster Feeder sponsor of the giraffe calf.  A donation of $50 helps with the cost of feeding the growing giraffe family. New giraffe Foster Feeders receive a baby photo of the calf along with a certificate, giraffe fact sheet, and recognition on the Zoo’s Foster Feeder board. For information, visit www.sbzoo.org.

About the Santa Barbara Zoo

Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres of botanic gardens and is home to nearly 500 individual animals in open, naturalistic habitats. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), representing the highest level of animal care, and participates in AZA endangered species programs for Asian elephant, California condor, Channel Island fox, and Western lowland gorilla, among others.

A private nonprofit corporation, the Santa Barbara Zoo depends on community support, not tax dollars, for operations and improvements. 

The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; general admission is $17 for adults, $13 for seniors aged 65+, $10 for children 2-12, and children under 2 are free. Parking is $7. Visit www.sbzoo.org.

Two New Western Lowland Gorillas Have Arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Two new Western lowland gorillas arrived today (7/27/16) at the Santa Barbara Zoo from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.

Nzinga (age 18) and Bangori (age 12) are brothers, and will be on view to the public after a thirty day quarantine. The public debut date will be announced on the Zoo’s social media.

The Zoo’s previous gorillas, named Goma and Kivu, had resided at the Zoo since 1997 in the Forest’s Edge exhibit and departed this spring. Goma and Kivu are now playing a vital role in adding to the genetic diversity of North American gorillas having joined family groups at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado (Goma) and the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas (Kivu).

About Western Lowland Gorillas
Found in the lowland tropical forests of central Africa and the Congo Basin, the Western lowland gorilla population is critically endangered. Main threats stem from human-disease transmission, poaching and habitat loss due to mining and timber industries. According to the World Wildlife Fund, even if all threats to Western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate the population would require at least 75 years to recover due to naturally low birth rates.

Currently, there are 353 Western lowland gorillas that reside in 51 Association of Zoo & Aquarium (AZA) institutions throughout North America.

The Santa Barbara Zoo’s role in this effort is to house all male groups called bachelor troops. Bachelor troops play a critical role in the development of young, male gorillas. When it’s time for teenage males to leave their birth families, they join a bachelor troop until they are old enough to establish a family troop of their own.

The species is also known by one of the more memorable the scientific names in the animal
kingdom, Gorilla gorilla gorilla.

“Support the Troop”
The public can help the Zoo celebrate the arrival of Nzinga and Bangori by becoming a Foster Feeder sponsor for Western lowland gorillas. A donation of $50 helps with the cost of feeding the gorillas. New gorilla Foster Feeders receive a plush gorilla (while supplies last) along with a certificate, fact sheet, and recognition on the Zoo’s Foster Feeder board. For information, visit www.sbzoo.org/donate and choose Sponsor an Animal.

Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres ofbotanic gardens and is home to nearly 500 individual animals in open, naturalistic habitats. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), representing the highest level of animal care, and participates in AZA endangered species programs for Asian elephant, California condor, Channel Island fox, and Western lowland gorilla, among others.

A private nonprofit corporation, the Santa Barbara Zoo depends on community support, not tax dollars, for operations and improvements. The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; general admission is $17 for adults, $13 for seniors aged 65+, $10 for children 2-12, and children under 2 are free. Parking is $7. Visit www.sbzoo.org.

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit at Museum of Ventura County Celebrates Asian American History

Vietnam refugees (photo courtesy of U.S. Department of the Navy)

Asian and Pacific Americans make up more than 5 percent of the U.S. population—more than 17 million people—and those numbers are growing. Their ancestral roots represent more than 50 percent of the world, extending from East Asia to Southeast Asia, and from South Asia to the Pacific Islands and Polynesia.

In commemoration of this important history, “I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story” will open at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura, on Saturday, June 18th as part of a 21-city national tour. “I Want the Wide American Earth” was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibition is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

In this first exhibition of its kind, the Smithsonian celebrates Asian Pacific American history across a multitude of diverse cultures and explores how Asian Pacific Americans have shaped and been shaped by the course of the nation’s history. “I Want the Wide American Earth” tells the rich and complex stories of the very first Asian immigrants, including their participation in key moments in American history: Asian immigrants panned in the Gold Rush, hammered ties in the Transcontinental Railroad, fought on both sides in the Civil War and helped build the nation’s agricultural system.

Through the decades, Asian immigrants struggled against legal exclusion, civil rights violations and unlawful detention, such as the 120,000 Japanese who were interred during World War II. Since the 1960s, vibrant new communities, pan-Asian, Pacific Islander and cross-cultural in make-up, have blossomed.

The Ventura County presentation will be enhanced by artifacts, photos and documentary materials drawn from its own collection and from local residents.  These items will tell the stories of and celebrate the rich heritage of the Asian-American populations in the Central Coast region.

The banner exhibition is complemented by an e-book, which is a 14-page illustrated adaption of the exhibition. Produced in collaboration with SI Universe Media, creators of the first-ever Asian Pacific American comics anthology, the e-book will tell the Asian Pacific American story in graphic narrative, featuring work by seven Asian Pacific American comic artists. The e-book is free to download and viewable on all tablet devices and e-readers.

The exhibit also features a free mobile tour app (available on the App Store under “Wide Earth”), which includes interviews with authors Maxine Hong Kingston and Monique Truong; U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta; Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center director Konrad Ng; activist Deepa Iyer; and U.S. retired major general Antonio Taguba.

Curated by Lawrence-Ming Bùi Davis, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Initiative coordinator, “I Want the Wide American Earth” is a moving, dramatic and evocative narrative of Asian Pacific American history and culture.

The Museum of Ventura county’s presentation of this national exhibition was made possible by the generous support of Susan Van Abel and Eric Oltmann, Tolman & Wiker, and the Downtown Ventura Organization.

Regal Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks Grand Opening on Thursday, June 9th

The new Regal Cinemas at Janss Marketplace is offering a “soft opening” fundraiser event June 5, 6 & 7 that will benefit three local charities - Play Conejo., Variety - The Children's Charity and Make-a-Wish Tri Counties.

100% of proceeds raised on the $3 tickets, $3 popcorn and $3 soft drinks will be divided evenly among the three charities.

Visit www.regmovies.com/Theatres/Grand-Openings/Regal-Janss-Marketplace-9 for more information. Tickets will be available at the box office only, beginning the morning of Sunday, June 5.

The official grand opening is Thursday, June 9

FREE Small Popcorn & FREE Small Fountain Drink  with each paid admission June 9 - June 16 at Regal Janss Marketplace 9 Only.

Posted in March 2016:

As anticipated when the Janss Regency Theater closed its doors on December 31, 2015, Regal Cinemas will be "coming soon" to Janss Marketplace, as noted by Janss on the Janss Marketplace Facebook Page.

For movie theaters throughout Ventura County, visit THIS LINK.

Oil Painting Exhibit at Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center in Calabasas 5/1-6/8

Summer Days are Here Again (Marnie Smart Piuze) 12x24

Flowing out of over three decades of exploring and enjoying the coastal shores, bluffs, and mountains, Marnie Smart Piuze’s plein air oil paintings are a grateful expression of the peace and wonder they impart.

“I feel like I’m having a vacation every time I’m painting,” says Piuze, who has lived in Malibu since 1971, always taking advantage of the trails and scenery. “I love nature. That’s why I’ve always hiked and raised my kids to value natural resources.”

Piuze has been painting for 15 years and is a member of the Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore. Her work will be on display May 1 through June 8 at the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center. An opening reception will be held there on Sunday, May 1 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The visitor center is located at King Gillette Ranch, 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. For more information, call 805-370-2301

Gull Wings Children's Museum to Close on January 10 to Procure New Location

Gull Wings Children’s Museum Board of Directors voted last week to close the 4th Street museum site in Oxnard on January 10, 2016, after 28 years in residence there to focus on procuring a new location to expand programming and exhibit space.

As a preview of exciting programs to come, the Museum will offer a special activity every day starting on December 22, 2015 with a 3D printing workshop where children can make
their own snowflakes (9am -1pm). On Wednesday, December 23rd, children will learn about matter with an “instant snow workshop” at the Museum. Please visit gullwings.org for the entire calendar of activities. There will be a community celebration on the last day at the current location, and all are welcome. New schedule of hours: 9am - 1pm Tuesday - Sunday.

Why is the 4th Street facility being closed? Throughout 2015, the Gull Wings' Board has been working towards expansion and development of the GWCM. The board has agreed that the current facility has stagnated progress and as a result, has decided to close the current location, but NOT the Museum.

The Board is now focused on the strategic mission and vision of GWCM and taking "Explore, Giggle, Grow" to a new level. The board would like to thank the residents of Oxnard and Ventura County for their continued support and invite them to soar with Gull Wings to a new location.

Immediate support for the move and continued programming can be made online or at the Museum. “Friends of Gull Wings” donation levels: 0 - $50 = egg; $51 - $100 = hatchling ; $250 nestling ; $500 fledgling ; $1000 seagull. 

The new permanent destination is in the process of being defined by the Board, and the Gull Wings website will be updated to share new information as it is confirmed. During this process, the Museum plans to develop mobile programs, a possible temporary location, and a continuing website and social media presence to continue Gull Wings’ mission of providing engaging experiences that excite the senses and inspire young minds to ask questions. Gull Wings Children’s Museum will continue its role as the premier children’s Museum in Ventura County cultivating empathy, imagination, creative expression, and inventive thinking in tomorrow’s mindful leaders.

Woodland Hills Ice Outdoor Winter Ice Rink

Sad announcement: The Woodland Hills Ice Rink will not be open for the 2016-2017 holiday season for reasons beyond their control. But they hope to bring it back in the future.

Here in the Conejo Valley, the Holiday Ice Rink at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks is always so popular from mid-November through mid-January. If you're looking for even more outdoor holiday skating action in the local vicinity, check out the Woodland Hills Ice Outdoor Winter Ice Rink, located at the Westfield Promenade, 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills (in the northwest corner of the parking lot at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street),

The rink is open November 11, 2015 to January 24, 2016, including holidays.

Woodland Hills Ice has been open during the winter months since 1989. Open 7 days a week including holidays, the outdoor ice rink hosts daily public skating, birthday parties, field trips, fundraisers and special events on 7,000 sq ft of ice.

Admission prices, which includes skate rental, are $15 for ages 9+, $13 for ages 8 and under and free to ages 3 and under. Hours vary.

Visit www.woodlandhillsice.com or call 818.854.4151 to learn more.

Bulldog Auction House and Retail Location in Camarillo

Recently I happened upon the Bulldog Auction House, located at 3233 Mission Oaks Blvd, Unit A in Camarillo (near the Technicolor facility).

Bulldog is on online auction house with locations in Canoga Park and Camarillo locally, offering a variety of items for auction, including home goods, toys, appliances, furniture, auto supplies, cleaning supplies, baby supplies and a wide range of other items. Timing of the auctions vary.

But the Camarillo Bulldog Liquidators location also has a retail store with an interesting array of items for sale. Coffee, office supplies, chairs, furniture, tools, toys, games, household cleaning, food items (lots of coffee), and much more.  We're talking kind of a Big Lots in a warehouse with an eclectic assortment of items at discount items.

 Bulldog has been here for a number of months. Since it is co-located in corporate/industrial space, there is zero visibility from the main street, but it is just off the 101, west of Flynn Road.

I asked where the items came from and was told mostly overstock items. There did appear to be some used, perhaps returned items. Like a Trivial Pursuit game in an opened package that truly looked unused. There was quite an interesting assortment of items on hand for bargain hunters out there. There were also a lot of diapers, child seats and other items.

You can also check out items in the online auction. We're talking a massive assortment of kitchen electronics and other household/personal items like diapers, detergent and so much more.  The current auction has 800 items for sale. If you are the high bidder, you pay a 12% premium (be sure to take that into account in your bidding) and sales taxes.

Current retail store hours are Mon-Wed 8 am to 4 pm and Thurs-Sat 8 am to 5 pm. Learn more at www.bulldogauctionhouse.com or call 805.312.0327.

An interesting array of items at the Bulldog Liquidators warehouse in Camarillo

Explorers' Emporium in Simi Valley May Be the Most Unique Store in Ventura County

Update 11/3/17: Owners announced via Facebook that they will be moving out of state 1/1/18 but that their online store will remain open.

Explorers' Emporium may well be the most unique store in Ventura County. 

A friend from Simi Valley has a son who has an interest in fossils. He received a good deal of help on his project at the store and told me I had to check it out.

I stopped by and it took me awhile to take it all in. Explorers' Emporium is a small store yet carries a jaw-dropping, eclectic assortment of items geared towards creative types.

An entire section of the store contains replicas of dinosaur teeth and other items like shark teeth. There is a huge assortment of archery supplies, Dungeons & Dragons gaming, crafts, steampunk, Renaissance Faire costumes, science projects, board games and much more.

There's an entire display of dinosaur replica items, like teeth and claws available for purchase for both educational and hobby/collecting use. I on the other hand couldn't help but purchase these Tyrannosaurus rex teeth for a few hard to shop for friends.

Located in the Stone Gate Shopping Center at 5766 E. Los Angeles Avenue (at Yosemite) in the east end of Simi Valley. Explorers' Emporium opened this past summer but its owners have been providing creative, science and learning programs to the local community for over 25 years.

Emplorers' Emporium offers a variety of programs, both on-site and at local schools and organizations, including fossil/dinosaur programs, archaic man programs, Dungeon and Dragons encounters, science/nature workshops, Magic: the Gathering sessions, Tandy leather classes, miniature/figurine painting, music, gaming and more. Visit www.explorersemporium.com/programs.php for details.

Learn more at explorersemporium.com or call 805.791.3002.

Renaissance Fair and Steampunk garb available for purchase at Explorers' Emporium