Every Now and Then Theater Wins 2011 International Communicator Gold Award

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20TH YEAR RADIO DRAMA GETS GOLD WITH THIRD AWARD

Every Now and Then Theatre's 20th year anniversary radio drama, Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story, has won a 2011 International Communicator Gold Award for audio excellence. 

To highlight their 20th year, the troupe brought back the talents of previous celebrity hosts Tim Conway, Jamie Farr, Cheryl Ladd and Charlene Tilton to co-host.  The show aired several times in 2009 on both KVTA and KKZZ.  In 2010, the production won an International Davey Silver Award and an International OMNI Silver Award, both for radio entertainment.

According to Communicator Awards spokesperson Linda Day, the Communicator Awards is the largest and most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals.  Entries are judged and overseen by a Who's Who of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms.

"In the years we've produced the Dickens' classic, we've chosen to present it as the ghost story he intended it to be," said Producer and co-Director James Wortman from Ventura.  "Thi

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Lifeguards Return to Harbor Cove Beach in Ventura for the Summer

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Lifeguards Return to Harbor Cove Beach for the Summer

Beautiful views of the Ventura hills, small lapping waves, and windblown sand dunes are just a few things that attract local families to Harbor Cove Beach during hot summer days. Coined as one of the safest beaches in Ventura, locals often refer to this protected shoreline as, “Mother’s Beach.”

But two years ago, the future of lifeguard services at this hidden gem were in jeopardy due to budget changes. The safety of this beach cannot only be attributed to the breakwater that keeps it protected from high tides and large waves, without lifeguards, beachgoers at even the safest of beaches can be at risk. The Ventura Port District realized the importance of these services to the people of Ventura and visitors alike and negotiated a contract with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation that would allow lifeguard services to remain intact at Harbor Cove Beach.

Oscar Peña, the General Manager of the Port District believes this is an important service for visitors and local residents to feel secure as they enjoy the summer season. Peña said, “The Board of Port Commissioners feels this is money well spent in our community.”

Lifeguard services will be offered now through September 5, Labor Day, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Ample showers and free parking are just a few perks of Harbor Cove Beach. Conveniently located next to the Ventura Harbor Village, spending the day at Harbor Cove Beach is a great way to relax in the sun and enjoy the laid back lifestyle of the Ventura Harbor.

Also located next to the Harbor Cove Beach is the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center with FREE daily admission from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. With a newly opened tidal pool exhibit located inside the visitor’s center and the recently released Channel Islands movie narrated by Kevin Costner, “A Treasure in the Sea” there is something for everyone.

And when lunchtime rolls around, the kid-friendly Harbor Cove Café is located right across the street and is a great place for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner.

For more information about Harbor Cove Beach contact: Pat Hummer, Senior Harbor Patrol Officer for the Port District at 805-642-8618.

Off Leash Dog Park Pilot Program at Two Camarillo Parks Starts on June 13th

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The Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District Board of Directors recently approved an off-leash pilot program at two parks beginning Monday, June 13. A designated area of each park is available for off-leash use Monday - Friday from 6am - 9am and 5pm - 7pm.

 

Mission Oaks Park: See map for designated off-leash area

Springville Park: See map for designated off-leash area

Please be considerate of others and do not allow your dog to be off-leash outside the designated times and locations. This is a pilot program and off-leash hours will be in effect until September.

Looking for another location to exercise your pooch? Check out Camarillo Grove Park.

Message From the Department of Fish & Game: Please Don't Feed the Coyotes!

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The Department of Fish & Game (DFG) recently informed Oak Park residents that someone is placing food out for coyotes at the creek between Oak Park High School and Medea Creek Middle School. Doing so can cause coyotes to become curious and aggressive. Please be aware of this issue and use extra caution when in local trails never to approach coyotes.

Additional information from the DFG regarding using caution around coyotes:

If you’re in the outdoors anywhere in California this spring, you might cross paths with one of the state’s most common predators – the coyote. Clever, nimble and quick, the coyote may at first glance appear to be more of a nuisance than a direct threat. But don’t let your guard down, the DFG warns.

Coyotes – especially those who live in urban settings and have grown accustomed to humans – can become emboldened to the point where they become a public safety threat.

“Once coyotes become habituated to people, they begin to exhibit increased levels of aggression, which can lead to biting incidents,” explained Kevin Brennan, a DFG biologist who works out of Idyllwild (Riverside County). Brennan has responded to hundreds of coyote incidents and is familiar with the inevitably unhappy result when coyotes become accustomed to humans.

The coyote (Canis latrans) is a member of the dog family and is native to California

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Ventura County Habitat for Humanity Launches New Home Rehab Program

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Habitat to offer low-cost home repairs to qualified, low-income homeowners

Ventura County Habitat for Humanity will now begin repairing homes in partnership with qualified, low-income homeowners.  The new housing repair program called “Preserve a Home”, is rolling out “A Brush with Kindness”, which is aimed at providing simple exterior (only) repairs such as painting, window, minor siding and trim repair, landscaping and/or clean-up, brush/junk removal to low-income homeowners in need.

Habitat for Humanity’s “A Brush with Kindness” has a goal to serve low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes.  The work is done by volunteers who use donated materials whenever possible.  The homeowner must meet have a demonstrated need, willingness to partner with Habitat and the ability to re-pay a no interest loan.  Payments made by the partner family are placed in a revolving fund to help ABWK serve others in need.   

“Preserve a Home and its “A Brush with Kindness” is part of our larger Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI). This initiative gives us a great opportunity to help more families in need, as well as have an impact on the entire neighborhood” said John Kistler, Construction Manager, Ventura County Habitat for Humanity. “Helping people repair and maintain their homes fits in seamlessly with Habitat's core mission of making decent, affordable housing available to low-income families.”

A Brush with Kindness is underwritten by a grant from Valspar, Habitat’s National

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City of Thousand Oaks Tree City USA Recipient for 13th Consecutive Year

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The City of Thousand Oaks will be recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA Community for its commitment to urban forestry.  Thousand Oaks has earned this national designation since 1998.  A special ceremony will be held at the May 24, 2011 City Council meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. recognizing the City of Thousand Oaks as a Tree City USA recipient.  The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

To become a Tree City USA community, agencies need to coordinate a citywide approach for tree management that includes tree care as part of its municipal code, an adopted forestry program, and annual recognition of Arbor Day.

“We commend Thousand Oaks elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” states John Rosenow, Chief Executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.

The City of Thousand Oaks annually maintains 27,000 City street trees of 160 different species. The City releases 700,000 beneficial insects each year as a part of our integrated pest management program to help reduce the need for insecticides.

In 1989, the City Council adopted an Urban Forestry Master Plan.  The overall goal of the Master plan is to provide the City with a sound basis for the creation and management of its community forest and to set policies that provide the greatest benefit for residents.

The City of Thousand Oaks understands the importance of caring for trees because they help reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings.  Trees also help to moderate the climate, conserve water, and provide vital habitat for wildlife.

Note from Conejo Joe:

Other local cities that were on the previous year Tree City USA list include Calabasas (12 years), Ojai (1 year), Oxnard (26 years) and Simi Valley (10 years).

New KCLU Broadcast Center to be Dedicated on Friday, May 20th

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Dedication for new KCLU building slated
Center expands production, educational opportunities

A dedication for the new KCLU Broadcast Center will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, May 20.

The $2.9 million center on the California Lutheran University campus in Thousand Oaks houses four state-of-the-art production rooms. Dubbed The Paulucci Studios, they will include the National Public Radio station’s first dedicated newsroom.

The two-story KCLU Broadcast Center also provides facilities for educational opportunities and community events that the previous center couldn’t accommodate. The Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Education Suite features a fully digitized classroom next to a student lab, providing an observation and workshop environment to train CLU broadcast journalism students. The second student lab will house a student-run digital Internet radio station.

There is also a community room that will be used for meetings and special events.

The new 6,570-square-foot center will replace the tiny studio in CLU’s Mountclef Residence Hall where the KCLU staff has produced award-winning local news and public affairs programs since it signed on in 1994. KCLU, which serves about 70,000 weekly listeners in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, has received more than 140 awards for broadcasting excellence in the last decade.

The public is invited to the dedication. Following the ceremony, people can take self-guided tours of the center. The site is north of Olsen Road on Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks. It is located on the east side of the street.
 
KCLU, a community service of CLU, broadcasts local and national programming in Ventura County on 88.3 FM and in Santa Barbara County at 1340 AM and 102.3 FM. Live streaming and archives are available at www.kclu.org.

Lifestyle and Relationship Expert Lissa Coffey Launches Interactive Video-Zine "CoffeyBuzz" Website

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CoffeyBuzz is an entertaining and informative weekly lifestyle video-zine that presents a fresh look at what’s new in lifestyle, fashion, health and popular culture. What makes us different is that the viewer, using the groundbreaking Hyperspots™ technology, can push a shopping cart through the video and interact with goods and services AS THEY APPEAR ON SCREEN. With Hyperspots™, viewers simply click on an item in the show and they are immediately provided with a direct link to either make a purchase, or learn more about the subject matter. Visit www.coffeybuzz.com to check it out for yourself! Pretty cool!

CoffeyBuzz is hosted by lifestyle and relationship guru Lissa Coffey.  Coffey, a Westlake Village resident, is a bestselling author and a frequent contributor to several talk shows. Emmy Award winning actor Charles Shaughnessy (Days of Our Lives, The Nanny) and his brother, Emmy Award winning producer David Shaughnessy (The Young and the Restless) produce the show along with Coffey to bring you this thrilling new online concept delivered in an engaging and fun weekly video magazine. Combining the very latest in online entertainment and online technology, CoffeyBuzz has your lifestyle…wired!

The Barkley Pet Hotel and Day Spa is the topic of the CoffeyBuzz show that will be posted May 10.  Tune in to meet Bunjee, Chloe, Marilyn Muttroe and many other VIPs, Very Important Pets!