Wildlife Out and About in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Post-Springs Fire

The National Park Service estimated that some 70% of the 1,170 acre Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area in Newbury Park was impacted by the Springs Fire this past May. The impact on wildlife was staggering. With so much of the landscape charred, wildlife is frequently seen foraging around for food...deer, coyotes, rabbits, etc. More on Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center (thankfully not impacted by the fire due to the efforts of firefighters) at THIS LINK.

Where's the bunny? (Click image for link to larger image in Pinterest)

Where's the coyote? (Click image for link to larger image in Pinterest)

No problems spotting this beautiful King Snake crossing the trail.

And below are some deer caught foraging for food next to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center on a recent morning.

Beatles Tribute Band "Ticket to Ride" Performs True to Form Beatles Classics

Beatles tribute band Ticket to Ride looked the part yesterday at The Oaks Mall on the lawn adjacent to the Muvico theater as the crowd was serenaded with a wide range of Beatles classics. It was a perfect summer evening as the sun set behind us and we enjoyed both the great music and antics of this solid local tribute favorite. Enjoy a few snippets from their performance below.

Ticket to Ride is playing several more times this summer, including the Janss Marketplace Summer Concert Series and Concerts on the Green at Warner Park in Woodland Hills. CLICK THIS LINK for a compilation of free summer concerts in and around Ventura County.

The City of Moorpark Announces its 30th Anniversary is July 1, 2013

In a recent letter to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the City of Moorpark City Clerk announced the City will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary next month. Also provided was some facts about Moorpark that may be of interest. I certainly learned a few new things about Moorpark after reading this!

The City of Moorpark was founded by Robert W. Poindexter in 1887. He named the city after the Moorpark apricot, which grew throughout the valley. Poindexter plotted city streets and planted pepper trees in the downtown area. Articles of incorporation for the City of Moorpark were filed on July 1, 1983.

The City of Moorpark enjoys excellent park and recreation opportunities with a total of 17 city parks, including the newest addition of Mammoth Highlands Park, 7000 Elk Run Loop, in 2009. Poindexter Park was expanded to include the city's first permanent skate park in 2009 and a dog park was completed at College View Park, 15400 Campus View Drive, in 2010.

The city mentions recreation opportunities in Moorpark such as the Moorpark Country Club, nearby Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park and America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College. Other fun Moorpark activities of note include Underwood Family Farms (a family must-do activity in Ventura County) and High Street Arts Center. And of course, for as many years as I can remember, the City off Moorpark has hosted a 3rd of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Arroyo Vista Park, a great treat for many residents throughout Ventura County looking for a head start to the Independence Day holiday.

Since its 25th anniversary, the city has completed the Veterans Memorial at the corner of Spring Road and Flynn Street, relocated the U.S. Post Office to High Street, expanded Arroyo Vista Recreation Center and purchased 80 acres of open space in the Tierra Rejada green belt, among other noteworthy achievements.

Over the last 30 years, the population of Moorpark has grown from 11,000 to nearly 35,000. The City takes pride in its residents' everyday life, their hard work and involvement in city government. To learn more about the City of Moorpark, visit www.moorparkca.gov.

Only One in Five Adults Meet CDC Physical Activity Guidelines - Time to Fix That!

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:

Upcoming 5K and 10K runs

Running and cycling groups and activities

Gyms and fitness facilities

Pilates

Gymnastics and dance facilities

Martial arts

Swimming

Local hiking and trails

Antonio Sabato Jr. Talks About His Acting Academy in Westlake Village, Planned Film Debut, and Living in the Conejo Valley

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.

Major Abraham Lincoln Exhibit at the Reagan Library Starts June 1 through Sept 30

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.