The Pumpkin Chucker at the Pumpkin Patch at Faulkner Farm in Santa Paula

A trebuchet is a catapult that works by using the energy of a raised counterweight to throw a projectile. It was popular in medieval times for hurling large stones and missiles. It became obsolete in the 15th century with the introduction of gunpowder.

However, in recent years, the Pumpkin Chucker at the Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch in Santa Paula has brought this ancient projectile thrower back into the spotlight!

For $5 (or 3 for $10), visitors to the pumpkin patch can select a small pumpkin that is carefully placed into a launch position on the Pumpkin Chucker, ring the Pumpkin Chucker bell, then pull the rope that triggers a 500 lb counterweight that projects the pumpkin 200 feet away towards a target.

In our recent visit, I was surprised to experience about a 45 minute wait for the Pumpkin Chucker! But that didn't seem to bother anyone, as everyone enjoyed watching the airborne pumpkins and cheering as they came close to the target. It was so popular in fact that I think this could be a great year-round business opportunity...flinging pumpkins, watermelons, canteloupes and other worthy produce!

Pumpkin commencing its 200 foot flight from the Pumpkin Chucker

The Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch, run by the Rotary Club of Santa Paula since 2007, is typically open on weekends in October each year. Learn more at www.faulknerfarmpumpkinpatch.com.

Pumpkin Chucker target area and post-flight remnants of pumpkins at Faulkner Farm

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.

My Vote For Cutest Video: Micah, the Baby Who Laughs Hysterically at Ripping Paper

This video was published in January 2011 and as of May 2013 has nearly 60 million views on YouTube (88.6 million views as of December 2016). There's a good reason for that. Micah, the baby who laughs hysterically at paper ripped in front of him, is extraordinarily cute. Posted here to bring a smile to your face today.

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

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!

"Twenty Twelve" Piece by Chuck Trunks in Tribute to Mayan 2012 Doomsday Prophecy

The end is almost here!

December 21, 2012 is a date that signals the cataclysmic end of a 5,125 year cycle in the Mayan calendar when our sun aligns with the Milky Way galaxy. We’ve been able to read the Mayan calendar for over 100 years and the corresponding hieroglyphics have been completely deciphered for about 30 years. What does this all mean? 

Camarillo pop artist Chuck Trunks believes it means nothing more than hitting a giant, cosmic reset button.

“Twenty Twelve” is Trunks' tribute to this historic date. While the temples and dragons in the piece offer a nod toward the Mayan culture, the sundials and Stonehenge refer to the cleverness of those ancient civilizations that linked celestial movements to time. As for the magic eight balls and surfer dudes...even though 12/21/12 will pique the interest of the spiritual and scientific, it is still just another random day to do what you love and to share it with those around you. 

Visit trunksart.com for more of Chuck's signature work.

Facebook Rolls Out New Gift Giving Service On Your Friends' Timelines Today

Facebook rolled out a new feature today that just kind of started appearing on friends' Facebook Walls today. This feature I believe is called "Facebook Gifts" and you pretty much can't help but notice it. Simply go to a friend's wall and you'll see where you can post a message, a photo, or now, wallah, now give them a gift!

So from there all you do is click the "Gift" icon to see what type of choices you have to give. You'll find everything from $5 Starbucks gift cards to flowers, candy, beef jerky, Star Wars USB storage devices, cupcakes, to, well, you name it! They have "recommended gifts" to help you out.

You choose a gift and the next screen gives you additional information about the selection.

The following screen allows you to select a card to accompany the gift. Choose the occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.).

Then customize the card. In the next screen you decide whether to post the gift on your friend's Timeline or not. After your friend "opens" the wrapped gift on their timeline (or otherwise), they will be asked to provide shipping information (when applicable) and you will be asked to pay. Kind of interesting actually that you don't pay until they actually "open" the present on their Wall.

Here's a preview of how it looks on their wall (recipient's name removed to protect the innocent from false expectation of receiving a gift from a cheapskate like me).

This is actually pretty clever. What better venue to provide a quick and easy way of giving a gift to a friend than in Facebook! I believe this is Facebook's first mainstream foray into the eCommerce world. Given how ubiqutious Facebook birthday messages are, this could really become huge!

This rollout applies so far only to individuals in Facebook and not to Facebook Pages, such as the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page at facebook.com/ConejoValleyGuide (hint, hint, follow us there for fun daily tidbits). However, feel free to friend me at facebook.com/ConejoJoe if you happen to be in the mood to test this new Facebook Gifts service (hint, hint, again).