Buenaventura Art Association Announces Open Competition Prize Winners

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Ventura Art Group Awards Open Competition Prizes 

The Buenaventura Art Association has announced the winners of its 27th annual Open Competition. Their works were chosen by juror Katrina McElroy, a Moorpark College art instructor, from entries submitted by artists from throughout Central and Southern California.

The two- and three-dimensional pieces are on exhibit through Jan. 26 at the organization’s Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara Street in downtown Ventura, which is adding Sunday, Jan. 20, 12-5pm to its schedule to allow more people to see this show. More than $1,500 in cash prizes and BAA membership benefits were awarded at a Jan. 12 reception and ceremony.

“Transcendence,” an oil painting on canvas by Erika Craig, was judged Best of Show and earned top prize of $400 for the young artist, an Honorable Mention winner in the nonprofit association’s 2012 Emerging Artist Cup student competition.

“Transcendence,” an oil painting on canvas by Erika Craig, judged Best of Show

First place among the two-dimensional entries was “Glance,” a digital print by Julia Bagdasaryan, who earned a Merit Award in last year’s student competition. Second went to “Bonsai Paradise” by Erik Abel, who used acrylic paints and mixed media on a wooden panel.

Third place in 2D was awarded to Patti Post for a charcoal on paper drawing titled “Entering Elysian Fields” and Honorab

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January 2013 Thousand Oaks Police Department City Watch Update

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Here is the latest "City Watch" alert from Senior Deputy Tim Lohman of the Thousand Oaks Police Department. If you would like these updates directly from via email, click here for more information.

The month of January is rapidly coming to an end.  I am in hopes most of you have been able to maintain the New Year resolutions you set for yourself.  Although difficult, I am sure with a little push we can all accomplish what we set out to do.

In light of the recent shooting at the school in Connecticut and other schools throughout the country, the Thousand Oaks Police Department has been committed to working with the all of the schools in our community to prepare for any such incident.  Our priority has always been the safety of the community as we strive to develop a plan to ensure the residents are kept safe during a catastrophic event like a school shooting.

Community Event

Parents, do you want to know what goes on at underage parties? Straight Up Ventura County in collaboration with the Conejo Unified School District, Breakthrough, Engage Recovery and the Thousand Oaks Police Department is going to expose parents to underage binge drinking and the drug culture. 

Many adults feel drinking and partying is a rite of passage and think teen parties are the same as when they were young.  Parents need to face the current realities and learn why and how adults need to help change these dangerous norms. 

The participants will tour a local home set up to portray a teen party with youth actors. The event is open to the public (adults only) and it is FREE.  If you are interested you must register online at www.straightupvc.org/register or call 805 647-4622.

On the Crime Front:

Scams

A victim recently informed me someone claiming to be with the Social Security Office contacted her.  They had her name and address.  The caller told her they needed to send out a new Medicare card, but before they do they needed to verify the bank where her deposits go.  The victim questioned the reasons for inquiring about the banking information

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Hiking Up To the Ancient Oak Trees at Juan Bautista De Anza Park in Calabasas

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We've been going to Juan Bautista de Anza Park in Calabasas from time to time for years. The park is well maintained, has decent play areas, plenty of flat walkways for scootering and more. But before this sunny Martin Luther King Day holiday we never made the trek up the steep little trail directly behind the picnic table  area on the right hand side of the park.

Steep, but it isn't that far. Views are outstanding. There was filming taking place at the very top. But the stars of the show are the ancient oaks that dot the path.

Do you see eyes in the shadows? I do...but it certainly wasn't planned!

The sun, just slightly older than these oaks on the hill, smiles down on all of us this warm MLK Day.

Celebrate Conejo Recreation & Park District's 50th in 2013 with the Play Conejo Challenge!

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The Conejo Recreation & Park District turns 50 in 2013! To celebrate, CRPD presents the Play Conejo Challenge! The Play Conejo Challenge entails completing activities and attending events throughout the year, accumulating at least 50 points and receiving a cool "PLAY CONEJO CHALLENGE CHAMPION - 50 FOR THE 50TH" t-shirt for your efforts!

Visit www.crpd.org/playlist to download the Play Conejo Challenge activity list, find things to do, and start accumulating points. Then either have a CRPD staff member write in the completion date or keep track yourself by writing down an observation. You have the entire year to acccumulate points!

This is about more than getting a free t-shirt! This is about having fun and celebrating along with CRPD! There are over 100 activities to choose from and as many as 151 points achievable. Activities and events on the list include the following CRPD locations and available points:

  • Conejo Valley parks (up to 5 points)
  • Borchard Community Center (up to 11 points)
  • Conejo Community Center (up to 11 points)
  • Thousand Oaks Community Center (up to 14 points)
  • Dos Vientos Community Center (up to 7 points)
  • Goebel Senior Adult Center (up to 12 points)
  • Alex Fiore Teen Center (up to 13 points)
  • Hillcrest Center for the Arts (up to 14 points)
  • Therapeutic Recreation Unit (up to 8 points)
  • Aquatics (up to 7 points)
  • Districtwide/General Activities (up to 33 points)
  • CRPD Partner Events (up to 16 points)

Have fun with the Play Conejo Challenge!

Cold, Clear Saturday Makes For Wonderful Conejo Valley Views From Angel Vista

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The temperatures have been particularly cold these last several days, with nighttime temps in the low 30s and highs only in the mid 50s in the Conejo Valley.  With barely a cloud in the sky, these conditions make for optimal hiking around town! This morning I took the Rosewood Trail up to Angel Vista in Newbury Park. Here are some of the views I took in.

Angel Vista has panoramic views stretching from Camarillo/Newbury Park to Thousand Oaks, Hidden Valley and beyond. And a bench and picnic table to boot. It can be accessed via the Rosewood Trail off of Lynn Road (just west of Regal Oak Ct) or the Los Robles Trail. The Conejo Open Space Foundation provides a useful map at www.cosf.org/website/html/los-robles-angel-vista.html. Other trails and hiking options at THIS LINK here on CVG.

Looking to do something fun around Ventura County and adjacent areas but don't like the cold weather outside? No worries...check out one of over 40 museums around town.

Cool, Blustery New Year's Day 2013 in the Conejo Valley

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Today was a beautiful, dry New Year's Day in the Conejo Valley, with cool temperatures, partly cloudy skies and plenty of wind. We were out and about around town  and plenty of people were enjoying the outdoors, appropriately dressed!

If one of your new year's resolutions is to become more active, you are in the right place! Here are some great activities to look into in 2013:

Trails and hiking around Ventura County

Hiking groups around Ventura County

Hundreds of community parks around Ventura County

Fish and fishing options around Ventura County

Golf courses and tennis courts around Ventura County

Horseback riding options around Ventura County

Running and cycling groups throughout Ventura County

Some Great Residential Holiday Light Displays Around Ventura County

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One of our favorite winter holiday activities is driving around and looking at the light displays around town. There are colorful lights all over the place but these four really stand out! If you are aware of other neat residential Christmas light displays around Ventura County, please let us know!

The holiday light display by the Higgins family at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks is a 20 minute display synchronized with music and over 150,000 lights. We're talking Disneyland in the Conejo Valley here. Spectacular!

The Fuchs residence on Via Patricia (near Via Ricardo intersection) in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park is back again this year wiith another 50,000+ light display synchronized with music. Outstanding!

A great destination each year is the neighborhood in the vicinity of Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street in Camarillo each year. Numerous homes are lit up and decorated with cartoon characters, trains, Santas, snowmen, and plenty of lights and othe

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