I'm Getting Hungry. Is It Time for the 138th Annual Ventura County Fair Yet?

It's about that time. In fact, tomorrow, Wednesday, July 31st, is the first day of the 138th Annual Ventura County Fair. This year's theme is "Boots, Barns and Banjos."

This year's 12 days of fun includes all the usual great activities...rides, exhibitions, live entertainment, livestock, motor sports, rodeo, games, vendors, socializing and whatnot. But the big draw for many of us is the FOOD! Learn more about the fair at venturacountyfair.org.

Here's a sneak peak at just a few of the many great fair foods in store. CLICK HERE for scenes from the 137th Ventura County Fair in 2012. And check out the AMAZING entertainment lineup at the 2013 event, including such well known acts at Styx, Hall & Oates, Air Supply, Plain White T's and Kool and the Gang among other great artists!

The City of Moorpark Announces its 30th Anniversary is July 1, 2013

In a recent letter to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the City of Moorpark City Clerk announced the City will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary next month. Also provided was some facts about Moorpark that may be of interest. I certainly learned a few new things about Moorpark after reading this!

The City of Moorpark was founded by Robert W. Poindexter in 1887. He named the city after the Moorpark apricot, which grew throughout the valley. Poindexter plotted city streets and planted pepper trees in the downtown area. Articles of incorporation for the City of Moorpark were filed on July 1, 1983.

The City of Moorpark enjoys excellent park and recreation opportunities with a total of 17 city parks, including the newest addition of Mammoth Highlands Park, 7000 Elk Run Loop, in 2009. Poindexter Park was expanded to include the city's first permanent skate park in 2009 and a dog park was completed at College View Park, 15400 Campus View Drive, in 2010.

The city mentions recreation opportunities in Moorpark such as the Moorpark Country Club, nearby Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park and America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College. Other fun Moorpark activities of note include Underwood Family Farms (a family must-do activity in Ventura County) and High Street Arts Center. And of course, for as many years as I can remember, the City off Moorpark has hosted a 3rd of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Arroyo Vista Park, a great treat for many residents throughout Ventura County looking for a head start to the Independence Day holiday.

Since its 25th anniversary, the city has completed the Veterans Memorial at the corner of Spring Road and Flynn Street, relocated the U.S. Post Office to High Street, expanded Arroyo Vista Recreation Center and purchased 80 acres of open space in the Tierra Rejada green belt, among other noteworthy achievements.

Over the last 30 years, the population of Moorpark has grown from 11,000 to nearly 35,000. The City takes pride in its residents' everyday life, their hard work and involvement in city government. To learn more about the City of Moorpark, visit www.moorparkca.gov.

Make a Splash: Stay Healthy Under the Sun and In the Water This Summer

Make a Splash!

Stay healthy under the sun and in the water this summer - a reminder from the CDC

As schools let out and summer approaches, remember to stay healthy and safe under the sun and in the water. Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most deadly kind of skin cancer. Just a few serious sunburns at any age can increase a person’s risk of skin cancer. We all share the water we swim in, and each of us needs to do our part to help keep ourselves, our families, and our friends healthy while swimming.

To help protect yourself and others from disease and germs, here are a few easy and effective steps to take this season:

• SEEK shade- especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.
• PROTECT your body- wear clothing that protects the skin such as a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face, head, ears, and neck; and wraparound sunglasses that block as close to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible (sunglasses safeguard the eyes from UVA and UVB rays, protect the tender skin around the eyes from sun exposure, and reduce the risk of cataracts).
• APPLY sunscreen- sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Remember to reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, and toweling off.
• CHECK pools– before getting into the water, check the pool to see if it is at the proper chlorine level (1–3 mg/L or parts per million [ppm]) and pH (7.2–7.8) to maximize germ-killing power.
• KEEP the poop and pee out of the water while swimming- don’t swim when ill with diarrhea; chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly; mixing of chlorine with pee and sweat uses up the germ-killing chlorine in the pool and creates those chemicals that sting your eyes and make you cough.
• DON’T swallow the water you swim in.

Enjoy your time outdoors and in the water, and take steps to be healthy.

Here are some great outdoor activities in and around Ventura County this summer:

Beaches spanning from Carpinteria to Ventura

Beaches spanning from Oxnard to Malibu

4th of July festivities and fireworks

Water parks, splash pads and community swimming

Summer concerts in the park

Morning Rainbow in Newbury Park This Soon to Be Rainy Friday, February 8th

Caught a partial rainbow in this shot from Lynn Road in Newbury Park this morning. Would have loved to see where the rainbow ended. Perhaps Camarillo.

No rain yet but the clouds are coming in for a brief appearance. Looking for things to do with the kids when the rain actually makes an appearance? Check out this list of Things to Do in Ventura County When It's Wet Outside!

Or perhaps this list of Movie Theaters Throughout Ventura County will come in handy.

Celebrate Conejo Recreation & Park District's 50th in 2013 with the Play Conejo Challenge!

The Conejo Recreation & Park District turns 50 in 2013! To celebrate, CRPD presents the Play Conejo Challenge! The Play Conejo Challenge entails completing activities and attending events throughout the year, accumulating at least 50 points and receiving a cool "PLAY CONEJO CHALLENGE CHAMPION - 50 FOR THE 50TH" t-shirt for your efforts!

Visit www.crpd.org/playlist to download the Play Conejo Challenge activity list, find things to do, and start accumulating points. Then either have a CRPD staff member write in the completion date or keep track yourself by writing down an observation. You have the entire year to acccumulate points!

This is about more than getting a free t-shirt! This is about having fun and celebrating along with CRPD! There are over 100 activities to choose from and as many as 151 points achievable. Activities and events on the list include the following CRPD locations and available points:

• Conejo Valley parks (up to 5 points)
• Borchard Community Center (up to 11 points)
• Conejo Community Center (up to 11 points)
• Thousand Oaks Community Center (up to 14 points)
• Dos Vientos Community Center (up to 7 points)
• Goebel Senior Adult Center (up to 12 points)
• Alex Fiore Teen Center (up to 13 points)
• Hillcrest Center for the Arts (up to 14 points)
• Therapeutic Recreation Unit (up to 8 points)
• Aquatics (up to 7 points)
• Districtwide/General Activities (up to 33 points)
• CRPD Partner Events (up to 16 points)

Have fun with the Play Conejo Challenge!

Cool, Blustery New Year's Day 2013 in the Conejo Valley

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Today was a beautiful, dry New Year's Day in the Conejo Valley, with cool temperatures, partly cloudy skies and plenty of wind. We were out and about around town  and plenty of people were enjoying the outdoors, appropriately dressed!

If one of your new year's resolutions is to become more active, you are in the right place! Here are some great activities to look into in 2013:

Trails and hiking around Ventura County

Hiking groups around Ventura County

Hundreds of community parks around Ventura County

Fish and fishing options around Ventura County

Golf courses and tennis courts around Ventura County

Horseback riding options around Ventura County

Running and cycling groups throughout Ventura County