Mother's Day is the Second Sunday of May

Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May each year.

On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that the observance of Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May serves as a "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."

Mother's Day was initiated on May 10, 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia. On that day, Ann Jarvis organized a celebration at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, now called the International Mother's Day Shrine (a National Historical Landmark), with 407 children and their mothers in attendance. The custom caught on and led to the Federal observance in 1914.

Jarvis trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day" - purposefully putting the apostrophe before the "s" as the holiday is for each family to honor their mother.

Mother's Day is not considered a Federal Holiday. It is considered a day of Federal "observance" - a reminder to pause and show appreciation for all of the mothers in our lives.

Mother's Day 2018 is Sunday, March 13th!

West Virginia Governor William Glasscock's Proclamation of Mother's Day Dated April 26, 1910

"Wild Things" Winning Photos of Animals on Display at Santa Barbara Zoo through August 7th

Robert Houchen’s image of a tree frog emerging from behind a leaf.

Earlier this year, animal-loving shutterbugs were invited to snap and submit photos of animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo as part of the first-ever “Wild Things” contest, and now the winning works are on view. Sponsored by the Zoo and the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, the “Wild Things” exhibit features more than 40 winning images by adults and “juniors” (aged 17 and younger). The exhibit is hung in the Zoo’s Volentine Gallery through August 7, 2018, and is free to view with Zoo admission.

Of 265 entries in the adult category, 20 winners were chosen. Of 75 junior entries, 21 were chosen. The juried exhibit gave prizes for first, second, and third place in both age groups. The photographs are for sale, with prices from $40 to $500. Proceeds from sales benefit the artists, Zoo, and Wildling.

Kirsten Henke’s 2nd prize “Bright-eyed and Bushy Tailed”

Top Winners Announced

Robert Houchen’s image of a tree frog emerging from behind a leaf was the “Wild Things” First Prize winner. Kirsten Henke’s “Bright-eyed and Bushy Tailed” won Second Prize and captures the long tongue of an infant giant anteater as it rides on its mom’s back. Third Prize went to Hunter Anglemoyer for “The Rainbow Plumage,” which shows a scarlet macaw’s plumage from an unusual angle.

Top winners in the Youth category include “Tastes Like Chicken” by Madisyn Iversen, aged 16, which captures Masai giraffe Michael with his long tongue in one nostril. Second place went to 

11-year-old Emma Lossing’s image of a fennec fox. “Am I Blue,” a portrait of a blue and yellow macaw, won third prize for 11-year-old Aislinn Wilson.

Prizes include memberships and passes to both the Zoo and the Wildling, gift cards and gifts for each’s gift stores, artwork created by Zoo animals, and more.

“Wildling at the Zoo”

This is the second collaboration between the two organizations. Last year, the Wildling staff curated an exhibit of student art at the Zoo which tied into the “Animals from A to Z” exhibit in their Solvang location. This partnership, formalized as The Wildling at the Zoo, continues with this contest and exhibit, and with future coordinated projects at the two locations.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres of botanic gardens and is home to nearly 500 individual animals in open, naturalistic habitats. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), representing the highest level of animal care. A private 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, the Zoo depends on community support, not tax dollars, for operations and improvements.

The Wildling Museum, where art and nature meet, offers visitors a unique perspective on the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Through the eyes of artists, education and field experiences, guests can renew their relationship with the wilderness and understand its fragile nature – hopefully leaving more committed toward ensuring those spaces remain for future generations.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster

California Poppy Reserve in mid-April 2017 (Photo Credit: Joe Longo)

April 20, 2018 Bloom Status Update: As of April 20th, we don't have a lot of flowers blooming due to the late winter rains and the flowers we do have are fading after last week’s heat. There are only a few small poppies blooming along the trails, but most of them are going to seed. The goldfields and lacy phacelia are in bloom but have started fading. A few belly flowers such as forget me nots and rattlesnake weed can be found along many of the trails.

Just 75 miles from the Conejo Valley is the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve in Lancaster.

The Reserve comes alive each spring with seasonal wildflowers, lasting from as early as mid-February through May.

There are eight miles of trails, including a paved section for wheelchair access.

The public is asked not to walk in the wildflowers as this causes lasting damage. No dogs, bikes on trails, drones, or picking flowers.

The Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center is open March 1st through Mother's Day, with wildflower and wildlife exhibits, an orientation video, a gallery of Jane's botanical watercolor paintings, and a gift shop benefiting the non-profit association. The Interpretive Center is only open during the spring wildflower bloom and for special events.

The reserve is located 15 miles west of Highway 14 near the city of Lancaster. The visitor center is located 1/2 mile north of the intersection of 150th St W & Lancaster Road.

Visitors may park on Lancaster Road and walk in for free, but must stay along the entrance road and enter at the kiosk; visitors entering the park through the fenceline or by walking across the open fields from the road will be fined.

Parking is $10 ($9 for 62+). Learn more at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627.

Photo Credit: Joe Longo

Photo Credit - Joe Longo

For a more local display of poppies and wildflowers, try the Ray Miller Trail / La Jolla Canyon in Point Mugu State Park. (NOTE: This areas is also a bit dry in 2018; no wildflowers of significance as of April 2018).

Muvico Brand is No More in Thousand Oaks After Placement of AMC Signs

Muvico Theater at The Oaks Shopping Mall in Thousand Oaks opened its doors on February 27, 2009.

Four and a half years later, Carmike Cinemas purchased nine Muvico theaters in Florida, Illinois and California, including the Thousand Oaks Muvico. However, Carmike did not re-brand the Conejo Valley based Muvico as it continued to operate as Muvico.

On November 15, 2016, Carmike announced it was purchased by AMC Theatres. The merger was completed on December 20, 2016. 

While the theatre promptly changed its online branding to AMC Dine-In Thousand Oaks 14, the iconic Muvico sign continued to be prominently displayed. Until now.

The Muvico signs are finally gone.

100 Year Old Joyce From Newbury Park Fulfills Her Dream of Meeting Alex Trebek

"We're going to be all over social media" says Alex Trebek as he slowly walks 100 year old Joyce Pesner of Newbury Park back to the audience.

The Dream Foundation grants wishes for terminally ill adults, and Joyce's wish was to meet Alex. She has watched Jeopardy! every night before bed since the show has been on the air.

(Fellow Conejo Valley inhabitant and friend L David Irete was the lucky person who shot this video.)

More: www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/features/dream-foundation-100-year-old-fan

Sauces Canyon Bald Eagle Footage on Santa Cruz Island During April 5 Earthquake

There is a live cam in place in the Sauces Canyon of Santa Cruz Island that allows researcher and the general public to observe a bald eagle nest. This nest was in for some action today as a 5.3 magnitude earthquake originated just south of the island! 

Watch the video feed below for live action.