A Memorable Conejo Valley Sunset This First Night of November 2012

Beautiful sunset tonight in the Conejo Valley and throughout Ventura County!

King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas Features The Biggest Loser and Much More!

Recently I visited the King Gillette Ranch, off of Las Virgenes Road and Mulholland Drive in Calabasas. While parking my car, noticed a group of about 10 pretty large people on a walk. I didn't think too much of it, until a few minutes later, when I came across The Biggest Loser building on the King Gillette property shown below.

Since I've never watched The Biggest Loser, I had no idea it was filmed in our backyard here in the Santa Monica Mountains. An hour later while driving back to Mulholland Drive, I passed a group of The Biggest Loser participants who were walking and jogging. Several of them waved and smiled at me. Apparently they are now in the midst of taping Season 14, which will begin airing in January 2013. I did not see Jillian Michaels, who is coming back to the show this season.

But there's much more in store at King Gillette Ranch and it is well worth going out of your way for! The recently opened Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center features a wealth of information about our Santa Monica Mountains and has an array of interesting and interactive exhibits for all ages. The staff is really nice and eager to help visitors out. Parking is covered and free for two hours, as is admission into the Center.

Anthony C. Beilenson Visitor CenterThe 588 acre King Gillette property is also home to numerous interpretative programs year round. Learn more at lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=670. A short hike up the hill adjacent to the Gillette Mansion and The Biggest Loser set gets you to Inspiration Point, where you will be treated to some fantastic views of the surrounding Las Virgenes mountains. Go check it out and have fun!

View of King Gillette complex from Inspiration Point

Photos of 2012 Pepperdine University Waves of Flags Tribute to 9/11 Victims

For the last five years, students and volunteers from Pepperdine University have honored the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a display of flags at Alumni Park, Malibu (corner of PCH and Malibu Canyon Road). Each of the nearly 3,000 victims is memorialized with a flag reflecting their nationality.

Local photographer Scott Harrison took a number of photos of the 2012 display, some of which are shown below. The display will be up for another week. See more of Scott's work at www.harrysonpics.com.

Pepperdine’s Annual Waves of Flags Display Honors Victims of 9/11 Attacks

Pepperdine’s Annual Waves of Flags Display Honors 9/11 Victims

To honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Pepperdine will once again stage a display of flags on its expansive lawn at Alumni Park, Malibu—with one flag, of the victim’s nationality, for each of the nearly 3,000 lives lost on that tragic day. 

The installation of the flags, which will be on display until Founder's Day and the close of Pepperdine's 75th anniversary celebrations on September 19, was conceived and led by the University's chapter of the College Republicans in 2008.

Since that time, the display has come to be a focal point in the Malibu community to gather in remembrance and meditation of the innocent lives lost on 9/11, including Tom Burnett, alumnus of the Graziadio School of Business and Management.

Burnett's heroism as a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 has been well documented. As a result of the passengers' attempt to take control of the hijacked airliner and divert it from reaching the terrorists' target, United 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania rather than striking a building or landmark in the nation's capital, causing more loss of human life.

As it has annually since September 2001, the University will conduct a brief prayer service on September 11 at the Heroes Garden, a 14,880-square-foot outdoor sanctuary that overlooks the Pacific Ocean on one of the highest bluffs on the Malibu campus. This year's service will begin at 8:30 a.m., led by University Chaplain, Dave Lemley. The garden serves as a public space to pause, reflect, and honor those who sacrificed their lives on 9/11, including Burnett.

Source: www.pepperdine.edu

Great Labor Day Weekend Culminates in a Rainbow Above the Conejo Valley

The weather was seasonably warm this Labor Day weekend and under partly cloudy skies most of the day. To me the weather seemed picture perfect, and I believe this rainbow photo taken from the North Ranch section of Westlake Village sums up what a great weekend it was.

Photo courtesy of Ed Garnett. Speaking of Ed, he is a Board Member of the Conejo Free Clinic, which provides medical and legal services to local residents in need. I encourage you to take a look at this worthy local non-profit that helps our local community. .

Here were some of those clouds a little earlier tonight above Conejo Mountain, seen from the 101 Freeway in Camarillo.

Sand Sculpture Contest at the 2012 Hueneme Beach Festival Was a Hit!

The 14th Annual Toni Young Hueneme Beach Festival took place the weekend of August 18-19, 2012. I had the opportunity to beat the Conejo Valley heat and head out to the festival on the 19th. What a treat it was!

While not the largest festival around Ventura County, the Hueneme Beach Festival sure is one of the more engaging and relaxing festivals around town. Like other festivals, there were vendors, a fun car show (lots of low-rider cars on display), great entertainment and family fun with games and rides.

View of the Hueneme Beach Festival from the beach.

To top it off, the 4th Annual Sand Sculpture Contest was a blast! As you can see below, competitors carved away as we watched them work their magic in the sand. With the Hueneme Beach Pier in the backdrop, attendees were able to enjoy cool ocean breezes while gazing upon these master sandcrafters.

The Hueneme Beach Festival generally takes place the 3rd weekend of August each year. The event is now dedicated to Toni Young, former Port Hueneme Mayor and city councilman for 16 years, who passed away after a sudden illness in December 2008. This is a wonderful event in her honor and definitely worth going out of your way for.

For information about public beaches spanning from Santa Barbara to Malibu, click here.