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.
First the heat, then the clouds, then the gale force winds late in the afternoon, followed by a smattering of raindrops, cooling off, then heating up again. Hot, humid, bizarre weather day it was today in the Conejo Valley! Thanks to Jonathan Stewart for sharing this picture of clouds surrounding Boney Mountain.
Was a perfect night to be outside after a warm spring day in the Conejo Valley. A short hike up the Potrero Ridge Trail in Newbury Park brings great panoramic views of the surrounding areas, including Boney Mountain.
Chris Rowell of Newbury Park captured the essence of spring nicely in this colorful photo in Thousand Oaks today. Blue skies and the budding of wildflowers marks this time of year!
A great time to be outdoor for upcoming festivals, fairs and expos, and local health and fitness events. Or try some local hikes and trails, visit a botanic garden, go horseback riding and much more.
After rain and thunderstorms the better part of the week, blue skies appeared again this beautiful Saturday, April 14, 2012 in the Conejo Valley and throughout Ventura County. From my vantage point, this was a perfect day. Blue skies dotted with some clouds...and temperatures in the low to mid 60s. Just the way I like it. Cold for some, perfect for me!
For a variety of trail and hiking options in the area, CLICK HERE.
As most of us hopefully know by now, individual tax returns for 2011 must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 17th. Why the 17th and not the 15th this year?
Two reasons. The first and most obvious one is that April 15th falls on a Sunday. When April 15th falls on a weekend or a holiday, Tax Day is pushed to the next business day.
However, this year, Monday, April 16th is Emancipation Day, a holiday that is observed in the District of Columbia. According to federal law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have two extra days to file this year.
Emancipation Day is celebrated in Washington D.C. to commemororate Abraham Lincoln signing the Compensated Emancipation Act for the release of about 3,100 enslaved persons in the D.C. on April 16, 1862. That would make this coming Emancipation Day the 150th Anniversary of that event.
Coincidentally, it was Abraham Lincoln on August 5, 1861 that signed the Revenue Act of 1861, which imposed a federal income tax on individuals for the first time to pay for the Civil War...a 3 percent tax on annual incomes over $800. Ah yes, the good ole days.
More info on taxes but of course is available at www.irs.gov. California follows federal guidelines for Tax Day.
This new piece entitled "Arcade Pop" by Camarillo artist Chuck Trunks was inspired by his visits to the local arcade to play Pac Man and Space Invaders circa 1975. See Trunks' other work on Conejo Valley Guide here.
While arcades are not as prevalent in this day and age with the advent of Xbox, Playstation, DS, iPads, iPhones, Facebook and the like, there still are some around town:
LazerTag Extreme in Camarillo (CLOSED 3/18/12 - TO BE RELOCATED)
Big Z Family Fun Center in Simi Valley
By Nancy Needham
Singers from areas that include Ventura County, Santa Clarita and Pasadena come together in Oak Park once a week for three hours to rehearse serious choral works.
The Los Robles Master Chorale, a 100-voice community choral ensemble, has performed in Ventura County for over 34 years. Membership has more than doubled since it began on the campus of Moorpark College in 1978.
"Those who come to listen will hear excellence in music. They will always come again," Master Chorale Executive Director Lenard Geres said.
The singers are all talented volunteers. Many are trained professionals. Their artistic director Lesley Leighton is on a mission to preserve Southern California's rich choral music tradition. She's a long-standing Los Angeles Master Chorale member and principal artist who has traveled the world performing.
The Master Chorale performs at local churches four times a year with two performances at Christmas time. The Consort Singers, a 26 member group taken from the Master Chorale, perform twice a year--in the fall and spring. The Master Chorale has yearly auditions in June.
For more information, visit www.losroblesmasterchorale.org.
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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