Ronald Reagan Ate Jelly Beans to Give Up Smoking While Running for Governor in 1966

According to Reagan Library archives, when Ronald Reagan ran for Governor of California in 1966, he began eating jelly beans made by the Oakland based Herman Goelitz Candy Company. Why? To give up pipe smoking. It worked. 

He continued receiving Goelitz Mini Jelly Beans from the company for the duration of his two terms. Then he continued receiving shipments from Goelitz, which in 1976 launched a new brand, Jelly Belly. 

Then in 1981, 3 1/2 tons of red (Very Cherry), white (Coconut) and blue (Blueberry) Jelly Belly jelly beans were shipped to Reagan's Presidential Inauguration ceremony.

And the Jelly Belly jelly bean brigade continued for the duration of Reagan's eight years in office. His favorite Jelly Belly flavor was licorice.

And as many of you know, there's an image of Reagan done completely in Jelly Belly jelly beans at the Reagan Library. It took about 10,000 of them to complete this work of art.

More information at www.reaganlibrary.gov/reagans/ronald-reagan/jelly-bellyr-jelly-beans-and-ronald-reagan.

More on the Reagan Library at THIS LINK.

Jelly Belly is a privately-owned company based in Fairfield, California. Open for tours at www.jellybelly.com.

"You can tell a lot about a fella's character by whether he picks out all of one color or just grabs a handful."  - President Reagan (in reference to jelly beans)

Join the Audience at a TV Show Taping in the Los Angeles Area

Hollywood is only 40 minutes from Thousand Oaks (depending on traffic). How many of you have been to a TV show taping?  It’s free and can be a lot of fun! Out of town guests? They'll love the experience of sitting in a live audience! Talk shows, game shows, sitcoms, you name it!  Here are some websites to visit to track down free seats in the Los Angeles area, along with currently available shows as of June 2022:

On-Camera Audiences www.ocatv.com - Currently available shows include American’s Got Talent, American Idol, Big Brother, Dancing with the Stars, Dr. Phil, So You Think You Can Dance?, The Price is Right and more.

TVTix.com www.tvtix.com - Currently available shows include Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, One Day at a Time, Mad About You, Man with a Plan, Sports Jeopardy and more.

1iota.com www.1iota.com - The Voice, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with James Corden and others.

Note: Each show has different age minimums, locations, timing and rules, so make sure to read the fine print. For example, if you want to be on The Price is Right, you must be 18 years of age or older and arrive 4 hours in advance of the 2 hour taping. That could be a long day!  Wheel of Fortune, filmed at the Sony Studios in Culver City, however, allows audience participants as young as eight.

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers Come Up with One Hundred Ways to Spell Conejo

In a recent daily gift card drawing on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, we asked folks to enter the contest by coming up with an incorrect spelling of the namesake of the Conejo Valley but to keep it phonetically correct. We do have a clever fan base; in less than 12 hours, they came up with over 100 alternative spellings of Conejo. And here they are:

1. Cahnayho

2. Ca-nay-hoe

3. Caneho

4. Ca-neigh-ho

5. Co nay ho

6. Co nay hoe

7. Coe nay ho

8. Coh nay hoe

9. Coh ney ho

10. Cohn eyyy ho

11. Connayo

12. Conaho

13. Conaeho

14. Conaiho

15. Cone-a-ho

16. Cone Eh Hough

17. Cone a ho

18. Cone eh? Oh!

19. Ca-neigh-ho

20. Co-neigh-ho

21. Coneho

22. Coneighho

23. Coneayyyho

24. Coneheyyo

25. Coneighho

26. Co-neigh-hoe

27. Coneigho

28. Coneighoe

29. Cone-heigh, ho

30. Coneyehho

31. Cow-nay-hoe

32. Cuh-nay-hoe

33. Cuh-neigh-ho

34. Cunayhoe

35. Ka nay ho

36. ka nay o

37. Ka neigh hoe

38. Kahnayoh

39. Kah-neigh-oh

40. Kahnejho

41. Kanaeho

42. Kanaho

43. Kanayho

44. Kanayhoe

45. Ka-nay-oh

46. Kaneho

47. Kanehoe

48. Kanehyo

49. Kanyeho

50. Keneho

51. Khoneigho

52. Khonayhoeh

53. Khonehhoe

54. Khoneeighho

55. Khoneighhoe

56. Khoneighho

57. Kho-ney-hoe

58. Kneighoe

59. Ko Nay Ho

60. Ko Nay Hoe

61. Ko neigh ho

62. Ko neigh hoe

63. Ko ney oh

64. Koe nay hoe

65. Koenaho

66. Koenayho

67. Koenehhoe

68. Koh nay ho

69. Koh Nay Hoe

70. Koh nay yo

71. Koh ne ho

72. Kohnayeoh

73. Kohnayho

74. Kohnejo

75. Kohnehoe

76. Kohneighho

77. Kon a ho

78. Konaeo

79. Konaho

80. Ko-nai-ho

81. Konaihoe

82. Konayho

83. Konayhoe

84. Konayo

85. Kone-ho

86. Koneayo

87. Koneheyo

88. Koneho

89. Konehoe

90. Koneighho

91. Koneighhoe

92. Koneyho

93. Konheee-hoe

94. Kuhnaiho

95. Kuh-nai-hoh

96. Kuhnayho

97. Kuhneho

98. Kunaho

99. Kunayho

100. Kuneho

101. Kuneigho

Hillview Homes in Thousand Oaks in the Mid-1960s

Perhaps some of you live in the Hillview tract in Thousand Oaks, off of Erbes Road and Sapra Street.

"When you see the homes at Hillview you'll realize just how much you really knew about the home you've always wanted. It’s like coming home from a long journey - and you know the search for contentment and security is ended."

Care-free comfort and convenience includes electric built-in double ovens and countertop range, decorator carpeting, underground utilities and special added feature: ELECTRIC AIR CONDITIONING (included in price of home!).

"Here you can relax with family and friends in the quiet country charm of Thousand Oaks."

From $27,500 to $32,500 in 1966.

Live Stream of Anacapa Islands Cove in Channel Islands National Park

Explore.org is the largest live nature cam network on the earth. In partnership with the National Park Service and Ventura County Office of Education, Explore has a local cam in place on Anacapa Island here in Ventura County off the coast of Port Hueneme.

There are several views from this webcam located within the landing cove on the east islet of Anacapa. There is a view north towards the mainland, a view east towards Arch Rock, a view southeast towards the historic Anacapa Island lighthouse, a view east towards a seabird rookery and a view downward towards the landing cove.

Anacapa has the unique distinction as being the only Channel Island that does not have a Spanish-derived name. Anacapa is derived from a Chumash word for "mirage island." The island is composed of narrow islets stretching six miles. 

There are actually eight Channel Islands, five of which are part of Channel Islands National Park. Anacapa is the second smallest of the eight islands at only 1.14 square miles. Santa Barbara is the smallest, at 1.02 square miles.

Visit Anacapa Island through Island Packers.

More on Channel Islands National Park at THIS LINK.

On a clear day you can see Anacapa Island from Newbury Park at the Rancho Potrero Open Space and other locations.

Would You Like Slides with That? Fast Food Places in Ventura County with Play Areas!

Sometimes it's fun to take the kids out where you know they'll be able to burn off some steam after their chicken nuggets and fries. Mind you, my kids much prefer going to a park to play, but sometimes it’s nice to eat and play at these (mostly) indoor play areas.

Here are places to eat that have play areas.  Know of other places?  Well then, give me the scoop (the news, not the fries).

McDonalds Locations with Play Areas

• 1730 North Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (805.777.9162)

• 501 New Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark (805.532.2043)

• 3120 South Saviers Road, Oxnard (805.486.1245)

• 401 West Channel Islands Blvd., Port Hueneme (805.985.3298)

• 1495 East Los Angeles Street, Simi Valley (805.527.9975)

• 2375 Tapo Street, Simi Valley (805.526.2222)

Carl's Jr Locations with Play Areas

• 411 South Reino Road, Newbury Park (805.499.0014)

• 1208 Madera Road, Simi Valley (805.522.8627)

Chick-fil-A Locations with Play Areas

• Chick-fil-A Ventura at 1321 Eastman Avenue (805.339.0977)

• Chick-fil-A Thousand Oaks at 449 N. Moorpark Road (805.379.1611)

• Chick-fil-A Simi Valley at 2460 Sycamore Drive

Other Places with Play Areas

• Chuck E. Cheese's in Thousand Oaks and Ventura of course have big time play areas and small/big kids' arcades.

• Kids World Indoor Playground in Oak Park has an eatery you can chow down at while your kids play in the massive play structures.

• Most of the local Ventura County shopping malls have kids' play areas, some inside, some outside, and there is always food close at hand.

Residential Holiday Lights and Decorations on Gemini/Waverly in Camarillo

NOTE: The post below was originally mad in December 2012 but still applies now in 2019! For a compilation of local area residential holiday light displays, visit THIS LINK.

Every year that I can recall, a vast majority of the homes on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street in Camarillo are lit up and decorated with cartoon characters, trains, Santas, snowmen, and plenty of lights and other decorations. Quite a sight! Either drive the route or park and walk it. Plenty to see and your kids will love it.  From the direction of the 101, take Arneill north past Ponderosa to Dunnigan. Turn right on Dunnigan and Gemini is the 4th street on your right.

Brief tour of the display in 2010 with whiny kids in the background: