December 05, 2014

A Visit to the Newly Opened Discovery Cube Los Angeles Science Center

December 05, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Discovery Cube Los Angeles is a 71,000 sq ft hands-on science and education museum that opened on November 13th in Lakeview Terrace at the Hansen Dam Recreational Area.

This is a beautiful, two-story, open, airy and fun facility geared towards children but fun for all family members. We stopped by and explored the various interactive exhibits and wow, what an impressive array they have!

There's a great array educational exhibits on display at Discovery Cube LA. In the Inspector Training Course, kids receive touch screen tablets and learn to conserve resources and in a real-life home. Fun, educational and very interactive! The Aquavator is a virtual elevator that takes you into the earth's crust for a tour. Race to Zero Waste is a game-based exhibit teaching guests the correct way to sort trash and divert materials from the landfills.

Children are given tablet computers as they inspect this home for resource efficiencies!

The Discovery Market is an impressively put together supermarket where kids use computer-equipped shopping carts to learn how to read package levels, learn about nutrition and make healthy choices. The Making the Grade Gallery provides grade-specific interactive, scientific exhibits. The Planetary Research Station uses a suspended, animated globe to highlight information about the solar system, natural disasters and climate change.

The Discovery Market is an interactive learning experience that almost looks like a real store!

The Helicopter Tour gives a simulated birds-eye view

November 29, 2014

Live Beehive on Display at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum

November 29, 2014/ Conejo Joe

The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula contains nearly a thousand vintage farm items ranging from tractors, machines and tools as well as rotating art and photo exhibits as well as educational sessions for all ages. One other unique aspect of the Agriculture Museum is this live beehive exhibit, which bees can access through the exterior wall. Fascinating to see in person! This is a permanent display at the museum.

General public admission to the Agriculture Museum (as of February 2015) is $5 adults, $3 seniors, students and AAA members and $1 for children 6-17. Kids 5 and under are free. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (changing to Fri-Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3/1/15)

For more information, visit the Museum of Ventura County website at www.venturamuseum.org or call 805.653.0323.

October 26, 2014

Views From the Old Boney Trail in Pt. Mugu State Park on Last Sunday of October

October 26, 2014/ Conejo Joe

October is almost done and Halloween is this coming Friday. And today is another sunny day, blue skies, with temperatures in the mid 70s, making this yet another nice day for a hike. If you're looking for a bit of a strenuous hike in the Boney Mountain State Wilderness, the Old Boney Trail is something to consider. Accessible from Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park, plan on half a day of hiking for panoramic views covering Boney Mountain, the Oxnard Plain, Conejo Valley and Hidden Valley.

October 20, 2014

New Farm Motif Playground at Borchard Community Park in Newbury Park

October 20, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Borchard Community Park is located at Reino Road and Borchard Road in Newbury Park. Recently a new play area was completed in this cool barnyard motif. Based on initial response on the CVG Facebook page, this new playground is already a big hit!

This nicely appointed park and community center also has softball/soccer fields, restrooms, tennis courts, a labyrinth and fitness area, skate p a rk, basketball courts and more. Visit crpd.org for more information.

September 10, 2014

2014 Pepperdine University Waves of Flags Display and 9/11 Memorial Service

September 10, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Pepperdine University continues to honor lives lost on 9/11 this year with its stunning display of flags at Alumni Park, Malibu. Each flag, reflecting each victim's nationality, represents each of the nearly 3,000 victims of that tragic day. The flags will be on display until Monday, September 22nd.

Tom Burnett, an alumnus of Pepperdine's Graziadio School of Business and Management is one of the heroes remembered in this tribute. Burnett was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93, in which 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 Office of the Chaplain, the Department of Public Safety, and the Office of the President will host a brief memorial service at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 11th, 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. The garden serves as a public space to pause, reflect, and honor those who sacrificed their lives on 9/11, including Burnett.

Guiding the time of prayer will be John D. Barton, visiting associate professor of religion at Seaver College and associate director of the Center for Faith and Learning, who will offer a brief devotional. This brief service brings together the Pepperdine and greater Los Angeles communities to remember, honor, and look ahead towards peace and reconciliation.

September 08, 2014

City of Thousand Oaks 50th Anniversary Parade Planned for Saturday, September 27th

September 08, 2014/ Conejo Joe

The City of Thousand Oaks celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year! As part of this celebration, the City is hosting a parade on Saturday, September 27th with the theme "Remembering the past, honoring the memories." The parade will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thousand Oaks Boulevard from Duesenberg Drive to Erbes Road.

The Thousand Oaks 50th Anniversary Parade will honor the past with a down home feel. There will be vintage (1964 and older) cars, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Mounted Police, antique fire engines, local Conejo Valley area high school marching bands, equestrians, floats and much more. The parade is FULL, with over 100 entries!

A special edition to the parade is the 9/11 Angels, five Camaros dedicated to those who lost their lives on 9/11. Each Camaro displays every hero lost on 9/11 by name in gold lettering. There is an Angel vehicle for each of two Trade Towers, First Responders, Pentagon and Pennsylvania Flight.

The Parade begins at 9:00 am with a military flyover and Color Guard, followed by City officials, VIP’s, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, some of the original mayors who helped form the city, local school bands and drill teams, local service clubs, antique autos, police service units, floats from various organizations, horses, fire trucks and much more.

John Short, well known locally for his role as President of Thousand Oaks Little League for 12 years and other community endeavors, has been designated as

September 06, 2014

2014 Pepperdine University Waves of Flags Display in Honor of 9/11 Victims

September 06, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Once again, Pepperdine University students and volunteers have staged a display of nearly 3,000 flags in honor of each of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The display is at Alumni Park, at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road. Each victim is memorialized with a flag reflecting their nationality.