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

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Old Car Buy Back Incentive Program

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) old car buy back program will pay you $1,000 to voluntarily retire your 1995 or older car, pick-up truck, van, or SUV. Funding of this program is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis until each year’s grant funds are depleted.

Motor vehicles produce more than half of the air pollution in Ventura County. Removing older, high-emitting vehicles from the roadways helps clean up the air.

To qualify for the buy back program, vehicles must be operational and registered in Ventura County. Additional eligibility requirements apply. To find out if your car qualifies, visit www.oldcarbuyback.com/ventura.php or call the Old Car Buy Back Hotline: (800) 717-7624.

You generally must show that the vehicle has been registered with the DMV under a Ventura County address for at least 24 months to be eligible. Other requirements must also be met.

APCD is required by state regulations to offer to sell any eligible vehicle to the public and hold the vehicle for a minimum of 10 days during which the vehicle will be made available for public inspection prior to dismantling. There is an Excel spreadsheet link at www.oldcarbuyback.com/ventura.php showing the vehicle inventory.

Homeless Prevention Rental Help Available to Ventura County Residents

Through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Ventura County Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) makes federal funds available to local residents who are homeless or about to be evicted. County and city government have joined efforts to operate HPRP, ensuring that eligible County residents receive help when they need it most.

Basic eligibility criteria includes:

• Homeless or facing eviction within 21 days
• Household income limits based on family size
• You have no other options or resources to find or keep housing
• Financially able to maintain housing after rental assistance is received
• Ventura County resident and U.S. citizen or qualified resident alien

Eligible HPRP applicants may receive various types of assistance, including eviction prevention rental payment, rental deposit, short-term rental payment, credit counseling, utility deposit/payment, moving and storage costs and case management. Payments go directly to vendors.

Case managers work closely with clients to develop and implement a service plan to ensure that they receive full benefits.  Through HPRP, clients are stabilized in housing and assisted comprehensively to help ensure that they do not face homelessness again.

Visit www.vchsa.org/hprp or call 805.385.8585 for additional information.

Other resources for low income residents of Ventura County:

Free cell phone service from Assurance Wireless

Ventura County shelters and meal programs for those in need

Conejo Valley area shelter and meal programs

Ventura County 2-1-1 service

Looking for an Inexpensive Date in Ventura County? Here are Some Ideas!

"Perfect Match" by Local Artist Chuck Trunks

Yes, most of us know that, living in the Conejo Valley and it seems most of Ventura County, many places seem to close by 10 pm.  So why not get to bed early and check out some of these great daytime activities around the area!  Most of these make for a great "cheap" date!  Others are not so inexpensive but worth checking out!

Boats, Bikes, Biplanes and Other Speedy Activities

Landmarks and Local History

Theater, Music and Art Activities

Comedy and Improv

More Music as Well as Fine Arts and Dance Groups

Museums

Outdoor Fun

Bowling

A Grab Bag of Other Fun Activities (Indoor Rock Climbing, Fencing, Kayaking, etc.)

Local Movie Theaters

Go Running or Cycling

Have Fun With Some of These Local Hobby/Social Clubs

The of course there's all sorts of upcoming events in the area! Check the Events Calendar or check out upcoming events by "type" by CLICKING HERE.

HERE'S A COMPILATION OF LOCAL VENUES WITH LIVE MUSIC AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

This covers many, but not all things to do in Ventura County!  Explore the site for more ideas and LET US KNOW if we're missing something you think should be in here!  We're always adding new stuff to do!!  Now go out and HAVE SOME FUN!!

Budget-Friendly Summer Travel Tips

Budget-Friendly Summer Travel

by Mira Reverente

The New Year usually means a couple of things to me - put holiday decor away and start planning for summer vacation. Actually, even before the onset of the holidays, I usually have my eye on a couple of destinations or adventures already.

I have pretty straightforward criteria: budget-friendly and kid-friendly. A blog post on train travel planted the seed. Considering that his blog post has been shared 3.9 million times already I thought I must be onto something here.

So, I researched rail passes, which I found out you can purchase for 15, 30 or 45 days on amtrak.com, allowing you to make 8, 12 or 18 stops, respectively. I purchased the 15-day rail pass for $459 ($229.50 for children 12 and under), which my daughter and I are planning to use soon to tour the Midwest and the East Coast. You can’t beat that price for a seven-state tour we plan to do.

Lodging can get pretty pricey too. Fortunately, we’ll be staying with a college friend for the DC-Virginia-Maryland leg of our tour. For all the other stops, I have found good deals on Airbnb. Depending on your comfort level and privacy needs, you can choose from many options: anywhere from a parked RV to a couch, to a private room or even a villa.

I just keep an eye on extra fees like cleaning, security deposit, extra occupant, etc. because they do tend to sneak up on you if you’re not paying attention. I have had great experiences on Airbnb over the years and have received good reviews from the hosts as well.

If you are the adventurous and outdoorsy type, summer and camping probably go hand-in-hand for you. With a few one-time basic investments - a tent, a sleeping bag and a small stove - you are good to go camping.

In the past, I have found affordable campsites on recreation.gov and reserveamerica.org. The main difference between the two is that the latter includes state and private parks. You can book popular campsites like the Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park on recreation.gov. Last summer, our Glacier campsite was only $23 per night, while Yellowstone was $28 per night.

CAMPGROUNDS AND RV FACILITIES IN VENTURA COUNTY AND NEARBY AREAS

From my hiking buddies, I have heard that campendium.com is also a good resource for a listing of free campsites in eight states including CA. Just remember that although there may be no nightly rate for camping, there may be permits needed and they may not always be free. Another site, hipcamp.com, though not free, has an enticing listing of camping deals and new destinations.

More budget-friendly summer travel tips:

1. First rule of summer travel, avoid it if you can (just kidding). Some child-free friends of mine avoid it by traveling during “shoulder season” like early May or mid-late September when the kids are still or back in school. Prices also drop as soon as summer break is over.
2. Set a budget and stick to it. We all get carried away by dreamy pictures of the sand, sea and sangrias, but they all come with a price. Get on the same page with your spouse, significant other and family members as to how much you can afford to spend, so there are no surprises long after the vacation thrill has worn off.
3. Research. Use social media to find good deals and tips. Ask friends if they’ve been to your intended destination/s.
4. Plan well. If you are planning to visit NYC for three days, for example, and would like to hit the museums and popular landmarks, you can save money by buying discounted passes such as CityPass.
5. Stay in places which have basic kitchen facilities. Those restaurant meals out do add up quickly. Look for lodging with a kitchenette or a microwave at the very least, for heating up leftovers and preparing basic meals.

Happy summer traveling!

Conejo Valley resident Mira Reverente a.k.a. The Money Savvy Mommy, loves finding and sharing money saving strategies just as much as the next person. Her first book on money and thriving post-divorce is available on Amazon. Get your money savviness fill on themoneysavvymommy.com or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers Share Their Favorite Desserts at Local Eateries

As part of a one day ticket drawing on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, we asked folks to tell us their favorite desserts at any restaurant in the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas. Boy oh boy did we get the best compilation of great sounding desserts EVER! 

We are going to share these comments with you but be sure to keep in mind, eat desserts only after finishing your dinner. To quote a Pink Floyd lyric "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!" ("Another Brick in the Wall" 1979)

And here they are, in no particular order:

• Pastries from Champagne Bakery
• Strawberry Shortcake at Boccali's in Ojai
• Butter cake at Mastro's Steakhouse Thousand Oaks (mentioned 27 times)
• Pizookie at BJ's Restaurant in Thousand Oaks (mentioned 44 times)
• Cinnamon Puffs from Pizza Nosh in Agoura Hills
• Creme Brulee at Aroha Restaurant in Westlake Village
• Richie's Magic Bar at Pearl District (mentioned 2 times)
• Warm peach cobbler at Lazy Dog Restaurant
• Cheesecake Factory (mentioned 42 times - banana, Oreo, strawberry, chocolate fudge, key lime, tiramisu, Limoncello, banana cream, red velvet, Snickers, peanut butter, White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Linda's Fudge Cake, Dulce de Leche Caramel, Godiva, Peanut Butter)
• Apple fritters at Best Donuts
• Chocolate cake at Bandits' BBQ
• Banana cream pudding in Mason jar at Public School 805
• Carrot cake at Boney Mountain Tavern (mentioned 2 times)
• White chocolate pretzel cheesecake at Lazy Dog Restaurant
• Creme brulee or cobbler at Blue Stove in The Oaks Mall (mentioned 2 times)
• Donuts and cupcakes at Karma Baker (mentioned 3 times)
• Carmelized almond bowl with white chocolate laced chantilly cream and fresh berries at Mediterraneo in Westlake Village
• Creme brulee at Lazy Dog Restaurant (mentioned 2 times)
• Cheesecake with blueberries at Stonefire Grill 
• Creme brulee or pecan pie at Mastro's
• Cannoli at Roma Deli in Newbury Park (mentioned 2 times)
• Blackberry crumble at Lure Fish House
• Salted chocolate chip cookie at Urbane Cafe
• Banana cream pie at Paul Martin's (mentioned 3 times)
• Sprinkles Cupcakes (mentioned 4 times)
• Fudge brownie sundae at Bandits BBQ
• Key lime pie at Mastro's
• Green tea ice cream at Kabuki
• The Wonderbar at Pearl District (mentioned 2 times)
• Apple strudel at Jeanette's Edelweiss in Newbury Park (mentioned 2 times)
• Mountain High Mud Pie at Red Robin
• Chocolate fondue at The Melting Pot (mentioned 7 times)
• Ice cream sundae at Stacked
• S'Mores at Holdren's in Newbury Park
• Menchies Frozen Yogurt
• Kona Pie at Islands
• Butter cake with vanilla ice cream at California Pizza Kitchen (mentioned 3 times)
• Fried cheesecake at Sutter's Mill in Simi Valley
• Tiramisu at Marcello Ristorante in Thousand Oaks
• Brownie ice cream sundae at Pickles Deli in Newbury Park
• Brownie at Stonefire Grill (mentioned 3 times)
• Bread pudding at Twenty88 in Camarillo
• Donuts at Dunkin' Donuts
• Deep fried ice cream at Cisco's
• Chocolate Dome at PF Chang's
• Caramel apples from Newberry Candies in Thousand Oaks
• The gooey center of a Cinnabon
• Black and white cookie at Brent's Deli (mentioned 2 times)
• Chocolatine French Cafe
• Salted caramel cheesecake at Blue Stove
• The Melting Pot - any dessert
• Sweet quinoa cake from Grabbagreen in Thousand Oaks
• Cinnamon chips at Snapper Jack's Taco Shack in Camarillo
• Ice cream at Lure Fish House
• Dessert sampler at Holdren's in Newbury Park
• Chocolate cake at Brent's Deli (mentioned 2 times)
• Apple pie at Stella's in Newbury Park
• Banana spring rolls at PF Chang's
• Baklava at Mama's Hummus
• Spotted dick at Crown and Anchor in Thousand Oaks
• Pavlova at Aroha Cuisine
• Shave It (mentioned 4 times)
• Gelato at Urban Pizza
• Banana pudding bread at Cafe Firenze in Moorpark
• Carrot cake at Stonefire Grill (mentioned 6 times)
• Shakes at In-N-Out Burger
• Apple fritters at Rolling Pin Donuts in Camarillo
• Little Calf Creamery in Thousand Oaks (mentioned 26 times)
• McDonald's strawberry and cream pies
• Molten chocolate cake at Lure Fish House
• Lava cake at Chili's in Newbury Park (mentioned 2 times)
• Macaroons from Lemonade
• Ice cream at Rite Aid (mentioned 2 times)
• Creme Brulee at Tuscany in Westlake Village (mentioned 2 times)
• Cotton candy at Zin Bistro in Westlake Village
• Fried ice cream at Yolanda's in Camarillo (mentioned 2 times)
• Molten Chocolate Cake at Marmalade Cafe in Westlake Village
• Salted caramel pudding from California Pizza Kitchen
• Fruit cobbler at Lazy Dog Cafe
• Chocolate mousse cake at Blue Stove (mentioned 2 times)
• Eclairs at Brent's Deli
• Carrot cake at Old New York Deli in Newbury Park
• Mud Pie at Holdren's
• Ice cream sandwiches at Stacked
• Raised chocolate donut at Foster's Donuts
• Nutella and Biscotti Semifreddo at Cafe Firenze
• Frozen yogurt at Tutti Frutti
• Nutella cheesecake at Lemonade in Westlake Village
• Chocolate chip brownie sundae at Lazy Dog Cafe (mentioned 2 times)
• Chocolate cake at Paul Martin's
• Chocolate souffle at Mastro's
• Berry cobbler at Lure Fish House
• Chocolate lasagna at Olive Garden
• Brownie sundae from Sunset Terrace
• Florentine art dessert at Mediterraneo
• Churros (Nutella filled) at Sabor (mentioned 2 times)
• Baskin Robbins (mentioned 10 times)
• Cannoli at Italia Deli & Bakery
• Baklava at Baba's Kitchen
• Nothing Bundt Cakes (mentioned 14 times)
• Black Forest Cake at Paul Martin's
• Strawberry cake at Jeannette's Edelweiss
• Sticky rice at Sawadee Thai in Camarillo
• Neapolitan Shake from In N Out Burger
• Pastries and tiramisu at Al Mulino Eataliano
• Hot fudge sundae at McDonald's
• Sticky coconut rice and mango at Bangkok Avenue
• Strawberry shortcake at Country Harvest in Newbury Park
• Pizza cookie at Topper's Pizza
• Peruvian cookies at Mouthful Eatery
• Baklava at Mediterranean Pita Grill
• Flan at Don Cucos
• Fruit tart at Viktor Benes
• Butter cake at Lazy Dog Cafe
• Ras Malai and Gulab Jamun at Anarbagh in Westlake Village
• Cold Stone Creamery (mentioned 3 times)
• Wild Cherry Yogurt
• Carrera's Bakery (mentioned 15 times for items like triolgia, fritelle, gelato, cannoli)
• Tifa Gelato (mentioned 6 times)
• Sweet Arlene's (mentioned 6 times)