The Conejo Valley Guide "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, highlights of local things to do, compilations and other items. Focus is on information relevant to Ventura County and surrounding areas, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark, Somis, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Barbara and Moorpark.
The Conejo Valley Guide® "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, local things to do, holiday event compilations, announcements and more.
On a visit to Conejo Creek Park in Thousand Oaks (one of our favorite local parks, next to the Thousand Oaks Library, Senior Center and Teen Center), a family was feeding the ducks. The sheer number of voracious ducks was both amusing and startling! But we survived.
This reminded me of a previous experience observing Turtles Going Wild at the beautiful Alice Keck Memorial Gardens in Santa Barbara.
One in five adults meet overall physical activity guidelines
About 20% of U.S. adults are meeting both the aerobic and muscle strengthening components of the federal government's physical activity recommendations, according to a report recently published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (catchy name, eh?), a journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get at least 2½ hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as walking, or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, such as jogging, or a combination of both. The guidelines also recommend that adults do muscle-strengthening activities, such as push-ups, sit-ups, or activities using resistance bands or weights. These activities should involve all major muscle groups and be done on two or more days per week.
The report finds that nationwide nearly 50 percent of adults are getting the recommended amounts of aerobic activity and about 30 percent are engaging in the recommended muscle-strengthening activity.
The report also found that the West (24%) and the Northeast (21%) had the highest proportion of adults who met the guidelines. Women, Hispanics, older adults and obese adults were all less likely to meet the guidelines.
For more information about the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, including ways to get and stay active, visit www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity. Learn more about CDC's efforts to promote walking by visiting www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/walking.
Here in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County with such great weather year-round, it should be easy to meet CDC's Physical Activity Guidelines. Here are some local options:
Running and cycling groups and activities
Antonio Sabato Jr. is an American actor, born in Rome, Italy, with over 70 film and TV appearances, including roles in General Hospital, Melrose Place, The Bold and the Beautiful. Early in his career Antonio modeled Calvin Klein underwear and was Janet Jackson's close acquaintance in her Love Will Never Do (Without You) music video.
He continues to perform frequently, including a 2012 Celebrity Wife Swap episoide and The Three Stooges movie and upcoming performances in an episode of ABC's Baby Daddy and as a celebrity judge on Fox's Hell's Kitchen.
Sabato has lived in the Thousand Oaks area for eight years! Antonio, his wife, Cheryl, and two year old son, Antonio III, love living in the Conejo Valley...but more on that a bit later. I had a chance to meet with the Sabatos recently to learn about his current initiatives.
Two years ago, the Sabatos opened the Antonio Sabato Jr's Acting Academy for Children and Young Adults in Westlake Village. Antonio enjoys teaching children and young adults all aspects of the trade, from acting fundamentals and techniques to working with agents, managers and finding gigs. He currently conducts weekly classes for kids in the 8 to 10 and 11 to 17 age ranges. Antonio also gives back to the community from time to time by conducting free workshops at The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley.
This June and July, Sabato's Acting Academy will be hosting several Summer Acting Camps for ages 8-10 (June 27-29), 11-13 (July 11-13) and 14-16 (July 18-20). Additionally, Sabato is hosting a special Celebrity Acting Camp for ages 12-16 on July 24-26. Featured guest speakers will include Virginia Madsen, Michael Dudikoff and Debbie Gibson (subject to availability). What better way to land professional work than to work with professionals! Visit www.myactingacademy.com for more information and to register.
I chatted with Antonio about another major undertaking. He is thrilled to be directing, starring in and co-producing his debut movie, Intikam. Intikam, Turkish for "Revenge," is a drama about an orphaned boy who is taken in by a man with a son his age, grow up, and have a falling out. Then comes betrayal...and Intikam. The screenplay, which was also co-written by Sabato, will be filmed in Istanbul, Turkey. Sabato indicates the film will have some elements of Papillon (1973) and Midnight Express (1978).
Sabato and co-executive producer Annemarie Davin have raised funds to produce the film and have cast Turkish actor Cemal Hunal and Australian actor Robert Rabiah for this unique undertaking. Sabato is particularly excited because he is auditioning students from his own academy for the female role of "Mina" in the film. Visit www.facebook.com/Intikamthemovie.
Uploaded by Annemarie Davin on 2013-06-13.
Antonio recently launched his own Antonio Sabato Jr. app for both Apple iOS and Android smartphones. Although his fans can also interact with him in Twitter and Facebook, this app connects you even closer to what is going on in his life. Sabato also recently became celebrity spokesperson for international dating site AnastasiaDate.com.
The last thing I asked Antonio and his wife Cheryl about is what they enjoy doing in the area. Antonio chimed in that Barton's Steakhouse in Simi Valley is one of their favorite dinner spots and that date nights at Cinepolis in Westlake Village are awesome. Other favorites around town include MB2 Raceway in Newbury Park, Carrara Pastries in Moorpark and Agoura, Farfalla Trattoria in Westlake Village, The Stonehaus in Westlake Village for coffee and outdoor ambiance, and Paciugo Gelato at The Oaks Mall for a sweet treat.
And my favorite quote came from Cheryl, when asked what they use to find things to do around town: "Whenever we need to know of any upcoming events, camps, outdoor concerts or even updates on our community, we use Conejo Valley Guide. Anything that is family oriented we know that Conejo Valley Guide will always provide us with exactly what we are looking for."I LIKE IT!
Antonio Sabato Jr displaying a really cool cap
Cheryl Sabato (also known as Cheryl Moana Marie), is also quite a celebrity. Originally from Kauai, she is a former NFL Oakland Raiderette, Miss Kauai America, Miss Asia USA, and has appeared in over 15 national commercials for Heineken, Federal Express, General Motors, Miller Genuine Draft, Mervyn's and others. She is also a singer, spokesmodel and interviewer. Learn more at www.cherylmoanamarie.com. Here she is in a 2011 IHOP commercial.
Twenty-Five renowned Abraham Lincoln collectors and DreamWorks Studios joined the Reagan Library for a major Abraham Lincoln Exhibit June 1st through September 30, 2013, including one of only three of President Lincoln's stovepipe hats in existence, a bloodied pillow from the night he died on April 15, 1865, a Lincoln-signed Emancipation Proclamation, sets from DreamWorks' "Lincoln" movie and hundreds of other artificacts.
An amazing, larger than life Abraham Lincoln model on display at the Reagan LibraryThe exhibit delved deep into the life of our sixteenth president with the help of twenty-five of the country’s most well-known Lincoln collectors, including Louise Taper, Hildene (the Lincoln Family Home), Ford’s Theater, the National Archives, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, as well as with DreamWorks Studios.
Here's a peak at some of the items that were on display.
The nearly 150 year old pillow where Lincoln's head rested the day he died.
A set from the Lincoln movie on display.
Lincoln's final paycheck, issued in advance, which was later returned and on display here.
A lock of Abraham Lincoln's childhood hair on display.
The Reagan Library is located at 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley. Public hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Museum is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day. The Museum admission fees are $16.00 for general admission, $13.00 for seniors 62 and over, $10 for children 11-17, $6 for children 5-10 and free for children 4 years of age and under. Museum exhibit tickets may be pre-purchased at www.reaganlibrary.com/tickets.
More images on the CVG Facebook page at THIS LINK.
For more information, call (800) 410.8354 or visit www.reaganlibrary.com.
The Springs Fire started the morning of May 2nd along the 101 freeway on the Conejo Grade and burned over 28,000 acres through portions of Camarillo, Newbury Park and the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Aea until it was fully contained the following week.
Portions of Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa re-opened on Tuesday, May 14th. Remaining trails in Pt Mugu State Park were opened by the National Park Service last Friday, May 24th, giving the public access to Sycamore Canyon, Boney Mountain Wilderness and other marked trails.
Local residents Dianne Avery of Dianne Avery Photography and her photo model Renee Simon captured some of the moment yesterday in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa.
Photo by Dianne Avery; Picture is Renee Simon. Both are local Newbury Park residents who frequently explore the trails in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa.
And below are a few other shots taken while exploring the area.
Source: Uploaded by user via ConejoJoe on Pinterest
Source: Uploaded by user via ConejoJoe on Pinterest
Additional photos available at www.facebook.com/ConejoValleyGuide
Fire on the Conejo Grade morning of May 2nd
Burned areas in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and Dos Vientos on May 5th
Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa on May 14th
Pt Mugu State Park up to Danielson Monument on May 24th
Sycamore Canyon to Danielson Multi-Use Area in Pt Mugu State Park on May 25th
As schools let out and summer approaches, remember to stay healthy and safe under the sun and in the water. Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most deadly kind of skin cancer. Just a few serious sunburns at any age can increase a person’s risk of skin cancer. We all share the water we swim in, and each of us needs to do our part to help keep ourselves, our families, and our friends healthy while swimming.
To help protect yourself and others from disease and germs, here are a few easy and effective steps to take this season:
Enjoy your time outdoors and in the water, and take steps to be healthy.
Here are some great outdoor activities in and around Ventura County this summer:
Beaches spanning from Carpinteria to Ventura
Beaches spanning from Oxnard to Malibu
4th of July festivities and fireworks
Today the National Park Service announced that all major trails in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area burned areas in Pt Mugu State Park will re-open tomorrow, Friday, May 24th, including Sycamore Canyon Fire Road, the trail to the Danielson Monument, Sycamore Canyon and La Jolla campgrounds, etc., as long as the trails are authorized, marked and mapped. Expect some trail closures for repair intermittently. Here are some before and after shots of a few scenes in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Pt Mugu State Park.
View looking down Sycamore Canyon on May 5, 2013.
View from top of Sycamore Canyon on February 10, 2013.
Another post-Springs fire view down Sycamore Canyon.
Another view looking down Sycamore Canyon on 2/2/13.
Boney Mountain Trail sign in Rancho Sierra Vista post-Springs fire 5/5/13.
Boney Mountain Trail sign in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa on 2/10/13.
Bench at Sycamore Canyon Overlook on 5/14/13.
Bench at Sycamore Canyon Overlook on 2/10/13.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide® covers thousands of events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County, California and surrounding areas.
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