U.S. Adults with College Degrees More Likely to Be Married Than Non-Degreed Adults

The Pew Research Center recently published an report of the education gap in marital status in the United States. Here are some highlights of the study:

  • Overall, approximately 50% of adults are married today, down from 59% 25 years ago and 72% in 1960. That said, the rate has been fairly stable at 50% in recent years.
  • Marriage rates are down because the median age for first marriage has increased by 7 years since 1960 and there's a higher proportion of never married Americans as well adults living with a partner instead of a spouse.
  • Marriage rates vary quite a bit based on level of education. In 2015, 65% of adults 25+ with a four year college degree were married, compared to 55% with some college and 50% who did not attend any college.
  • Marriage rates have always varied by race and ethnicity. As of 2015, marriage rates for 18+ adults were 54% of whites, 61% of Asians, 46% of Hispanics and 30% of blacks. Pew noted that this marriage gap has been existed for many years.

So bottom line is, you're more likely to be married if you have a college degree. Read more at this link.

And if you ARE looking to tie the knot for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or beyond time, there's a compilation of over 170 local venues throughout Ventura County, stretching to Santa Barbara and Malibu at THIS LINK.

Ventura County Area Public Agencies Auction Off Surplus Items at PublicSurplus.com

Shh, don't tell anyone about this little secret...many local Ventura County public agencies auction off stuff they don't need on a website called www.PublicSurplus.com!

Public Surplus is an auction website that was designed specifically for public agencies, enabling agencies to manage their surplus inventory, while  maintaining compliance with State regulations and policies. The system's specific features allow for the reallocation or auctioning of surplus items without actual, or the appearance of: waste, favoritism or collusion.

I happened to come across the site through the County of Ventura website but it took a little digging to find. But a quick search of the site indicated that a number of other Ventura County agencies are signed up to auction items off on the site, including:

Read More

Beautiful Rainbow Brightens This 1st Day of August 2017 in the Conejo Valley

It was cloudy and relatively cool this morning and then we saw hot and humid monsoonal weather the rest of the day, this first day of August 2017 in the Conejo Valley.

The temperatures gradually cooled as the clouds built up again in the late afternoon to early evening, when we were greeted by this beautiful rainbow around 7pm tonight.

Rattlesnake Combat Dance in Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park on August 1, 2017

What a way to start out the month of August! Avid local runner and prolific age group top placer Susan Kielsmeier caught this rare sight this morning on a trail in Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park.

Although the initial thought was that this was a mating dance, I believe this is actually a "combat dance" between two males to win the heart of a nearby female.

HIKES AND TRAILS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

2017-2018 Ventura County Area School Year Start, End and Winter/Spring Break Dates

Everyone is on different school schedules...from Conejo Valley to Moorpark, Camarillo, Ventura, etc. Let's take a look at the first/last days of school as well as extended days off from school over the 2017-2018 school year.

Note: This list is for informational and amusement purposes only.  Please be sure to double-check school start dates with your local school to be sure! This list does not include minimum school days and other single days off.

The first day of school for the 2017-2018 school year ranges from August 8th in the Oak Park Unified School District to August 30th at Camarillo schools that are part of the Pleasant Valley School District.

Schools listed below by order of first day of school.

Oak Park Unified School District

  • 1st Day of School: Tue, August 8
  • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Friday, November 24 (1 week)
  • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Friday, January 5 (11 days - elementary) and Mon, January 8 (12 days - secondary)
  • Spring Break: Fri, March 30 to Fri, April 6 (6 days)
  • Last Day of School: Fri, May 28

    Santa Paula Unified School District (Elementary)

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 16
    • Fall Break: Mon, November 20 to Friday, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Friday, January 5 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Wed, March 28 to Friday, April 6 (8 days)
    • Last Day of School: Thu, June 7

    Santa Paula Unified School District (Middle, High Schools)

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 16
    • Fall Break: Mon, November 20 to Friday, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Monday, January 8 (12 days)
    • Spring Break: Wed, March 28 to Friday, April 6 (8 days)
    • Last Day of School: Thu, June 7

    Simi Valley Unified School District

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 16
    • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Friday, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Thu, December 21 to Monday, January 8 (13 days)
    • Spring Break: Fri, March 30 to Friday, April 6 (6 days)
    • Last Day of School: Fri, June 8

    Oxnard School District (Elementary/Middle Schools)

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 16
    • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Fri, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Mon, December 18 to Friday, January 5 (3 weeks)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Friday, April 6 (2 weeks)
    • Last Day of School: Thurs, June 14

    Oaks Christian High School and Middle School

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 16
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Monday, January 8 (11 days)
    • Easter Break: Fri, March 30 to Friday, April 6 (6 days)
    • Last Day of School: Thurs, May 31

    Fillmore Unified School District

    • 1st Day of School: Thurs, August 17
    • Fall Break: Mon, November 20 to Fri, November 24
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Fri, January 5 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Tue, April 3 (7 days)
    • Last Day of School: Not posted as of 7/30/17

    Santa Monica-Malibu School District

    • 1st Day of School: Tue, August 22
    • Winter Break: Mon, December 25 to Friday, January 5 (2 weeks - elementary) and January 8 (secondary students)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Fri, April 6 (2 weeks)
    • Last Day of School: Fri, June 8

    Carpinteria Unified School District

    • 1st Day of School: Tue, August 22
    • Winter Break: Mon, December 18 to Friday, January 5 (3 weeks)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Friday, March 30 (1 week)
    • Last Day of School: Fri, June 8

    Rio School District (El Rio, Riverpark, portions of Oxnard)

    • 1st Day of School: Tues, August 22
    • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Fri, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Friday, January 5 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Friday, April 6 (2 weeks)
    • Last Day of School: Thurs, June 14

    Conejo Valley Unified School District

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 23
    • Fall Break: Mon, October 16 to Fri, October 20 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Friday, January 5 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Mon, April 2 (6 days)
    • Last Day of School: Thurs, June 7 (Elementary) and Fri, June 8 (Middle/High School)

    Ventura Unified School District

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 23
    • Fall Break: Mon, October 23 to Friday, October 27 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Mon, December 25 to Friday, January 5 (2 weeks)
    • Spring Break: Fri, March 30 to Friday, April 6 (6 days)
    • Last Day of School: Thurs, June 14

    Ojai Unified School District

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 23
    • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Fri, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Mon, December 18 to Mon, January 1 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Mon, April 2 to Friday, April 6 (1 week)
    • Last Day of School: Thurs, June 14

    Las Virgenes Unified School District (Agoura/Calabasas)

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 23
    • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Friday, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Mon, December 18 to Monday, January 1 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Fri, March 30 to Fri, April 6 (6 days)
    • Last Day of School: Thu, June 14

    Moorpark Unified School District

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 23
    • Fall Break: Mon, November 20 to Fri, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Friday, January 5 (2 weeks)
    • Spring Break: Fri, March 30 to Friday, April 6 (6 days)
    • Last Day of School: Fri, June 15

    Oxnard Union High School District

    • 1st Day of School: Tues, August 29
    • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Fri, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Friday, January 5 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Fri, March 30 (1 week)
    • Last Day of School: Not specified on calendar; graduation is Fri, June 16

    Hueneme Elementary School District

    • 1st Day of School: Tues, August 29
    • Winter Break: Mon, December 18 to Tues, January 2 (12 days)
    • Spring Break: Mon, April 6 to Friday, April 17 (2 weeks)
    • Last Day of School: Thurs, June 21

    Pleasant Valley (Camarillo) School District

    • 1st Day of School: Wed, August 30
    • Thanksgiving Break: Mon, November 20 to Fri, November 24 (1 week)
    • Winter Break: Fri, December 22 to Friday, January 5 (11 days)
    • Spring Break: Mon, March 26 to Fri, March 30 (1 week)
    • Last Day of School: Fri, June 15

    La Reina High School

    • 1st Day of School: Not posted
    • Winter Break: Not posted
    • Spring Break: Not posted
    • Last Day of School: Not posted

    "Newbury Park Rocks" Group Proves to Be Quite Popular on CVG Facebook Page

    I didn't think much of it when a Facebook Page called "Newbury Park Rocks" contacted us to share a little about but what they do. 

    So what do they do? Well, apparently this is becoming "a thing" throughout the country. The group paints, hides and finds decorative, painted rocks in the Newbury Park area.

    Grab a rock and paint something whimsical, funny, inspirational and/or uplifting on it. After it dries, place it somewhere, partially hidden, such that someone will discover and enjoy that rock.

    Well that certainly is a fun idea! So I thought, OK, I'll make mention of it on a Monday late morning, on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page and I'm sure a few folks will find it interesting.

    Well on one count, I was right. Some folks did indeed find it interesting. But I was wrong on "a few," as over 160 people have clicked the "Like" button and the interest has been very strong. I'm certain other rock hiding groups will pop up throughout Ventura County.

    Cute idea!

    Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers Comment on Their Favorite Local Hamburgers

    In a recent survey on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, followers were asked what their favorite hamburgers were in the local area, including the Conejo Valley and adjacent areas.

    What prompted the question was a 2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend® that concluded on a national level that the top burger restaurants in America currently are:

    1. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
    2. In-N-Out Burger
    3. Shake Shack
    4. Wendy's
    5. Culver's
    6. Whataburger
    7. McDonald's
    8. SONIC
    9. Smashburger
    10. Steak 'n Shake

    Out of the top 10 above, burgers available in the Ventura County area currently include Five Guys, In-N-Out, Wendy's, McDonald's and Smashburger. 

    We asked a more specific question - what is your favorite burger. A bit of a popularity contest. The winner, hands down, was In-N-Out Burger, with 39% of the vote. The closest competitor was Habit Burger, with 17% of all votes.

    Five Guys is a much newer brand to our local area and thus I suspect only a fraction of folks that have eaten at In-N-Out Burger for nearly seven decades have actually tried a Five Guys burger.  It received only one mention in our survey.

    Other eateries that were mentioned by 4-8% of commenters were Hook Burger, Red Robin, Stacked and Umami Burger.

    Others mentioned at least once included BLVD BRGR in Old Town Camarillo, Twisted Oak Tavern in Agoura, P&L Burger in Thousand Oaks, BJs, Freddy's Steakburgers in Westlake Village, Finney's Crafthouse and Kitchen in Westlake Village, Grinder Restaurant in Moorpark, Dog Haus in Thousand Oaks, Wood Ranch BBQ, Lucky Dogs at Janss Marketplace, Smashburger, Winchesters Grill in Ventura, Little Craft Creamery in Thousand Oaks, the Scratch Food Truck, Fusion Grill, Vintage Grocers, Cheesecake Factory, Breakfast Cafe, Ranch Hand BBQ and Marmalade Cafe.

    So if you're looking for a good burger, this list may come in handy. Feel free to comment on your own best burger in the local area.