Somis Nut House Has Been a Ventura County Tradition Since 1959

The Somis Nut House has served the cravings of Ventura County residents since 1959. Originally it was a walnut processing plant that processed locally grown walnuts in the area. Today it serves up a wide selection of nuts, interesting snacks, trail mixes, seeds, candies, dried fruits, other edibles and gift baskets.

What I really like about this place is that it is a throwback to another era. The inside of the Somis Nut House looks as if it has never changed. Although the original founder of the store passed away in 2009, his family continues to operate the Nut House.

Front of the store from the 118 (Los Angeles Ave) east of Bradley Road.

One might ask, why would I want to drive from, say, Thousand Oaks, to buy nuts at the Somis Nut House? We can go to Trader Joes, Sprouts, Lassens, Whole Foods, etc. Well, I'll tell you that none of those places have the same retro ambiance and great selection of the Somis Nut House! And the freshness of the items here is outstanding.

The Somis Nut House is located at 4475 E. Los Angeles Avenue in Somis. From Thousand Oaks, take the Santa Rosa Road exit off the 101 and turn right. Take a left on Adolfo to Lewis Road, where you'll turn right (north) until you reach Los Angeles Avenue. Turn left and your destination will in a mile on the right.

More information at www.somisnuthouse.com or call 805.386.1211.

Somis is an unincorporated community of about 3,000 residents in Ventura County that was established in 1892. The name Somis means “water of the scrub oak” in the Chumash language, indicating the presence of water.

Mugu Canyon Rest Area in Oxnard

The Mugu Canyon Rest Area is located at 5735 Pacific Coast Highway in Oxnard, at the corner where PCH veers due north near Naval Base Ventura County.

“Rest Stop for Weary Travelers”

There is a viewing platform at the rest area with a bronze dedication tablet affixed to a rock, as well as two interpretive panels.

The tablet reads “Dedicated One July, Nineteen 1975 to Professor Emeritus and Mrs. George E. MacGinity in recognition of their scientific efforts for over fifty years to preserve the vital estuaries of California and the United States as a whole, and for their leadership in the field of marine and estuarine biology. This husband and wife team exemplify the need for people from all walks of life to work together so that man may live and prosper in harmony with his environment.”

The first interpretative panel points out that the Mugu Lagoon is the largest remaining coastal wetland in Southern California, providing much-needed food, shelter and breeding habitat. Naval Base Ventura County preserves and protects this area for wildlife and bird lovers.

The second panel describes the Chumash “House of the Sea,” a tomol, or plank canoe. Chumash mariners would paddle on a tomol, built by splitting driftwood, sewing planks with cordage and caulking with tar, as far as the Channel Islands. They would fish the open waters, return to this lagoon and the nearby Chumash village of Muwu.

El Tecolote Cafe in Camarillo Captured by Local Artist in Oil Painting

El Tecolote by Linda Dark of Camarillo.

Linda Dark has lived in Camarillo since 1978. For the last 12 years she has captured local scenes in oil paint. Here is her rendition of the historic El Tecolote, located at 333 N. Lewis Road, in the image above. El Tecolote serves up delicious, authentic Mexican food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

According to the El Tecolote website, World War II veteran Mike Loza opened his restaurant in Moorpark in 1946. The owls occupying the trees surrounding the restaurant were the inspiration for the name El Tecolote (The Owl).

The cafe was moved to a small house in Camarillo in 1948. It was so small that a frustrated customer helped finance a move to its current location in 1952. The restaurant is now owned and managed by the Guardado family. Visit www.facebook.com/eltecoloterestaurant or call 805.482.4318 for more information. 

El Tecolate the night of Monday, September 8, 2014.

The Ventura County Fair Has Operated at Seaside Park in Ventura Since 1914

Although the Ventura County Fair traces its roots back 145 years, it commenced operating at its current location at Seaside Park in Ventura in 1914.

Seaside Park was donated to the county by E. P. Foster in 1909 and the first Ventura County Fair to take place there was in 1914.

This ad from 1926 is for the 12th Annual Ventura County Fair at Seaside Park. Fifty cents in 1926 dollars equals about $7.25 in 2020. Back then they had horse races. whippet (dog) races, chariot races and more.

The 2020 and 2021 Ventura County Fair were cancelled as a result of the pandemic, but the VC Fair Board of Directors has announced the fair will be back August 3 to August 14, 2022!

El Parque de la Paz "The Peace Park" in Thousand Oaks

El Parque de la Paz "The Peace Park" is located at 2580 Pleasant Way in Thousand Oaks, tucked south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard behind Mouthful Eatery, Allen Motors, Harold's House of Omelettes and other businesses.

This five acre park dotted with oak trees was dedicated in 1990 by Thousand Oaks City Council.  Amenities include a Jungleland themed playground area, horseshoe pits, basketball court, picnic tables and restrooms. Learn more at www.crpd.org/park/el-parque-de-la-paz.

Jungleland themed drinking fountain.

Adjacent to the park is Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 109, the Crowley House.

Who has horseshoes to use at these horseshoe pits!? Looks fun!

Emergency Response Systems in Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

VC Alert is a free service provided by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services and participating cities. It launched in January 2012.

All 10 cities in Ventura County utilize the VC Alert system - Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Simi Valley as well as unincorporated areas of Ventura County.

The VC Alert database includes all listed and unlisted landline telephone numbers serviced by AT&T and Verizon.  If you would like to ensure that you will be contacted on your home phone, cellular phone, work phone, TTY device, email, fax or text messaging, you must register that information using the opt in VC Alert portal. All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential.

VC Alert alerts residents about emergencies and other important community news.  The system enables officials to provide essential information quickly when there is a threat to the health or safety of Ventura County residents. To learn more and to register online, visit www.vcalert.org or call 805.648.9283.

The official Ventura County incident information site is vcemergency.com, which posts up-to-date incident information, public safety power shutoffs, current evacuations, emergency shelters and road closures.

The City of Westlake Village uses Blackboard Connect for telephone emergency response recordings for hazards, warnings, evacuations, updates, etc. Land lines are already in the database but you may register additional lines. westlakevillage.bbcportal.com. More info at www.wlv.org/191/Emergency-Notifications.

The City of Agoura Hills also uses Blackboard Connect for emergency response services at cityofagourahills.bbcportal.com/Entry. More info at www.agourahillscity.org/i-want-to/sign-up/connect-cty. There’s also a call-in emergency information line available at 818.597.7301.

City of Calabasas residents are also encouraged to sign up for emergency updates through its Blackboard Connect system at calabasase911.bbcportal.com/Entry. There’s also a call-in emergency info line available at 818.224.1600.

The City of Malibu’s call-in emergency hotline is 310.456.9982. The city's radio station is WPTD AM 1620. The City of Malibu has its own emergency alerts system at member.everbridge.net/index/453003085613099

Los Angeles County residents in Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, etc. can sign up for Alert LA County. a free mass notification system for Los Angeles County residents at www.lacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la.

Ready Ventura County is a local emergency response planning and information reporting site that is used extensively during local emergencies. www.readyventuracounty.org

Ventura County emergency alert radio stations: KVTA 1590 AM, KHAY 100.7 FM, KMLA 103.7 FM (SPANISH)

Ventura County Sheriff's Department 805.654.2380

Ventura County Fire Department 805.389.9710

Ventura County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Office 805.981.5331

Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services 805.654.2551

Department of Homeland Security Disaster Response 202.282.8000

California Office of Emergency Services 916.845.8510

And of course, there's 9-1-1 for immediate help.