California Minimum Wage Earners to Receive 12.5% Raise on July 1, 2014

Since January 1, 2008, the minimum wage in California has been $8 per hour. Effective July 1, 2014, the minimum wage will be $9 per hour, increasing to $10 per hour on January 1, 2016.

The coming increase on July 1st represents a 12.5% increase. Wow, sounds pretty good, doesn't it!? But wait. If the minimum wage was tied to inflation, $8 in 2008 equates to $8.81 in 2014, which is pretty darn close to where it will be next month.1

If you are a California sheepherder, however, since January 1, 2008, your minimum monthly salary has been $1,422.52. This will be raised on July 1, 2014 to $1600.34 also a 12.5% increase) and to $1777.98 effective January 1, 2016. Based on a standard 2080 work year, sheepherders' miniumum wage will be $9.23 on July 1st, or 23 cents more than non-sheepherding professions. Gotta love our California laws.

The Federal minimum wage has stood at $7.25 since July 24, 2009. $7.25 in 2014 dollars equates to about $6.56 in 2009 dollars.

To learn more about California minimum wages, visit www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_minimumwage.htm. Federal minimum wage laws are at www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/minimumwage.htm.

Looking for a job that perhaps earns more than the minimum wage? Check out THIS LIST of nearly 300 employers in Ventura County and surrounding areas.

1. Calculated using Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator at www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm.

Impressions of the Conejo Valley Presentation by Photographer Ed Lawrence

The Thousand Oaks Library Special Collections contain some amazing items, including one of the largest American Radio Archives in the world, a Local History Collection containing thousands of books, pamphlets, maps, photos and other items, and a 300 volume Book Arts Collection. Learn more about the Special Collections at www.tol.lib.ca.us/Specoll/index.html.

The Local History Collection contains well over 100,000 photographs from Ed Lawrence, The News Chronicle and professional photographers Frank Knight, Herb Noseworthy and Scott Harrison.

The Ed Lawrence Collection chronicles the growth of Thousand Oaks with over 15,000 images of the Conejo Valley through more recent times. Through a partnership between the Thousand Oaks Library Foundation, the City of Thousand Oaks, Conejo Recreation and Park District, and California Lutheran University, the Lawrence Collection is now permanently part of the Thousand Oaks Library archives.

In the 50 minute video below, Lawrence takes us through a journey of the history of Thousand Oaks in "Impressions of the Conejo Valley."

To see more of Ed Lawrence's photos, visit edlawrencephoto.com. You can actually purchase high quality prints of some of his best photos there.

Help Your Kids Swim Safely This Summer: Drowning Prevention Tips

Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. Let's put a stop to this, courtesy of these reminders from the CDC.

Tips to help you stay safe in the water

• Supervise When in or Around Water. Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing in or around water. Supervisors of preschool children should provide “touch supervision”, be close enough to reach the child at all times. Because drowning occurs quickly and quietly, adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity (such as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn) while supervising children, even if lifeguards are present.
• Use the Buddy System. Always swim with a buddy. Select swimming sites that have lifeguards when possible.
• Seizure Disorder Safety. If you or a family member has a seizure disorder, provide one-on-one supervision around water, including swimming pools. Consider taking showers rather than using a bath tub for bathing. Wear life jackets when boating.

• Learn to Swim. Formal swimming lessons can protect young children from drowning. However, even when children have had formal swimming lessons, constant, careful supervision when children are in the water, and barriers, such as pool fencing to prevent unsupervised access, are still important.
• Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save someone’s life. HANDS-ONLY CPR INSTRUCTION VIDEO
• Air-Filled or Foam Toys are not safety devices. Don’t use air-filled or foam toys, such as "water wings", "noodles", or inner-tubes, instead of life jackets. These toys are not life jackets and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Avoid Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.
• Don’t let swimmers hyperventilate before swimming underwater or try to hold their breath for long periods of time. This can cause them to pass out (sometimes called “shallow water blackout”) and drown.

If you have a swimming pool at home:

• Install Four-Sided Fencing. Install a four-sided pool fence that completely separates the pool area from the house and yard. The fence should be at least 4 feet high. Use self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward with latches that are out of reach of children. Also, consider additional barriers such as automatic door locks and alarms to prevent access or alert you if someone enters the pool area.
• Clear the Pool and Deck of Toys. Remove floats, balls and other toys from the pool and surrounding area immediately after use so children are not tempted to enter the pool area unsupervised.

Information courtesy of the CDC at www.cdc.gov/safechild.

COMPILATION OF LOCAL VENTURA COUNTY AREA SUMMER SWIMMING OPTIONS

Another Outstanding Baby's First Laugh Video Guaranteed to Make You Smile

Everyone needs a good laugh, including 3 month old babies. This father can't stop laughing after experiencing the giggles, repeatedly, from his little one. Thanks to Conejo Valley Guide Facebook follower/friend Deanna for bringing this must watch video to our attention.

Although the primary goal of this site is to highlight events, activities and things to do around Ventura County and surrounding areas, we're suckers for a great laugh. Here's another recent great laughing baby video.

Baby Laughing Hysterically at Dog Eating Popcorn is Sure to Bring Joy to Your Day

If this video does not bring a smile to your face, let alone a good laugh, I don't know what will!

Click this link for over 70 activities geared towards little ones and for birthday party options in and around Ventura County check out this popular compilation.

Artist Explores Modern Womanhood at Buenaventura Gallery in Downtown Ventura

"No Women Allowed" by Gwenlyn Norton
Buenaventura Art Association will exhibit recent works by Gwenlyn Norton in a solo show, Counterpoised — One Woman’s Perspective, from June 17-July 12 at the Buenaventura Gallery in downtown Ventura.

“The artworks depict the fractured roles of the contemporary woman and how we may be poised to redefine and ease those fractures,” said Norton, who has expressed herself in many media over a 50-year art career, often about women’s issues.

This exhibition will include eight or more creations by the Oak View artist in oil paints and mixed media on canvases 3 by 4 feet to 4 feet square, plus some associated poetry, that she said represent her reflections on the 20th and 21st-century woman. Their titles include “American Burqa,” “Ageism,” “No Women Allowed,” and “Letter to Granddaughter.”

Norton’s vividly painted pieces often incorporate wood, modeling paste, paper and gel. She will be present to talk about her art and her artistic process at an opening reception 5-7 p.m. June 21 at the gallery. Among the adjectives she uses to describe her work are “bold, dramatic, twisted, distorted, unnerving, exploratory” and “asymmetrical.”

In addition to oils, Norton works in pencil, pastels, acrylics, cold glass, and in mixed media that include textures from sawdust to cheesecloth layered into her paintings.

Examples of Norton’s artistry in a range of media and subjects can be viewed online at www.gwenlynsgallery.com.

Her solo exhibition will be on view at the Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St., open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday.

For more about the show or the Buenaventura Art Association, a nonprofit artists cooperative celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, visit www.buenaventuragallery.org or phone 648-1235 during gallery hours.