La Conchita, Located on Western End of Ventura County

La Conchita is an unincorporated, beachside community of about 300 residents in the westernmost section of Ventura County.

We all pass by La Conchita as take the 101 to Santa Barbara. From time to time, though we pull off the 101 at Santa Barbara Avenue, where we are promptly "greeted" by the sign shown below after crossing the railroad tracks.

The WARNING sign indicates "The La Conchita Community is a geologic hazard area. County officials advise against entry into the hazard area. Based on the present information known about ancient landslides and the 1995 and 2005 landslides, the following geological hazards are present:

1. Catastrophic Failure: The large ancient landslide mass located above the Community could potentially fail, impacting residences within the Community AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT WARNING.
2. Mudflows: Mudflows could potentially impact all residences and access roads within the Community.
3. Catastrophic Failure and Mudflows: Should both events occur simultaneously, the Community could be impacted.
4. No excavation (removal of earth material) or grading should be performed in the Community without recommendations from a geologist and/or geotechnical engineer and review by the County of Ventura, Public Works Agency.

THERE IS NO WARNING SYSTEM FOR THESE HAZARDS. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.

What prompted this dire warning is what happened on January 10, 2005. After 26 inches of rain poured in 16 days in the area, 400,000 tons of mud slid down the bluff above La Conchita, taking the lives of 10 residents, destroying 13 homes and seriously damaging 23 others.

Preceding the 2005 landslide were landslides in 1995 that demolished 14 homes (no lives were lost). Experts indicate that landslides have taken place here for quite a long time.

The community of La Conchita (Spanish for little conch shell) was first established in 1924 with the creation of 200 mostly single family residences.  It is a beautiful little beach community with quick access to the beach via a tunnel under the 101. I can see what keeps folks here. But let's hope that if and when additional landslides take place, the remaining homes are not impacted.

Reference: U.S. Geologic Survey Report "Landslide Hazards at La Conchita, California"

History on Display at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum in Oxnard

Located in the Channel Islands Harbor next to The Whales Tail Bar & Grill, the Channel Islands Maritime Museum houses an outstanding collection of maritime art, objects and unique ship models.

The Museum is home to a permanent collection of extensive marine art, featuring works by 17th century Dutch and Flemish artists Willem van de Velde and Bonaventura Peeters. Noted modern artists in the collection include John Stobart, Montague Dawson, David Thimgan, Roy Cross and Christopher Blossom.

The museum houses one of the two largest collections of antique Napoleonic prisoner of war sailing ship models in the country. Three thousand years of maritime history are illustrated by historic ship models, including the life's work of renowned builder Edward Marple. Exhibits on whaling, sailors' arts and the history of the Channel Islands Harbor and Port of Hueneme round out the collection.

The Museum also hosts lectures. temporary exhibits, open houses and more.

The museum is open Thursday to Monday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $7 for Adults, $5 for Seniors (62+) and $3 for children ages 6 to 17 (as of October 2016). Admission is FREE the 3rd Thursday of each month. For more information, visit www.channelislandsmaritimemuseum.org or call 805.984.6260.

"The Roots of our Lives" Living Time Capsule at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

The Roots of our Lives "Living Time Capsule" located at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

The City of Thousand Oaks was incorporated in 1964 after a majority vote on September 29, 1964. Thirty years later, City leaders decided to do something very special by creating a "Living Time Capsule" designed to grow over the years.

In the front of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, on the east side behind the large Mary and Richard Carpenter Plaza Park sign, is "The Roots of our Lives," an area that contains the living time capsule.  A geocache led us here. Learn more about geocaching at this link.

Here is the inscription on a sign next to the "Living Time Capsule" bench:

"A time capsule is encased within the bench below the specially designed oak tree and mountainscape relief with the time capsule theme, "The Roots of our Lives." It is filled with documents and artifacts reflective of the City of Thousand Oaks' rich historical heritage, and current public and private activities.

It is called "A Living Time Capsule" for it was designed to grow as our City grows, with each succeeding generation contributing to the contents of four time capsule containers. This is accomplished through a unique program, whereby:

• A group of fifty ten year-old children were designated "Guardians of the Time Capsule" at the dedication on October 9, 1994. They will be back for the next opening of the time capsule when a new generation of "Guardians" will be chosen. This process will continue for the next three openings of the time capsule.

• At its dedication on October 9, 1994, two of the four time capsule containers were filled and sealed.

• The third container will be filled and sealed at the time capsule's opening on the City's 50th Anniversary, in the year 2014. This process will be repeated with the fourth container, on the City's 75th Anniversary, in the year 2039.

• A final opening of all four containers will take place on the City's 100th Anniversary, in the year 2064."

Time Capsule created by the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce was buried on November 20, 1989 and will be opened on November 20, 2039. Makes one ponder....will I be around to witness this?

Carpinteria and Indian Village of Mishopshnow California Registered Landmark No. 535

California State Registered Landmark No. 535 is located at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History as well as at 1000 South Carpinteria Avenue (pictured above).

The landmark was registered on May 31, 1955 as "La Carpinteria" - The Carpenter's Shop.

The Chumash (which means "bead maker") have lived along the California coast for over 13,000 years. The Chumash Indian village of Mishopshnow, discovered by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo on August 14, 1542, was located 1/4 mile southwest of the monument.

Fray Juan Crespí of the Gaspar de Portolá Expedition named the village San Roque on August 17, 1769. Portolá's soldiers, observing the Indians building wooden canoes, called the village La Carpinteria.

These canoes, or tomol, came in handy for catching fish in deep waters. The advanced design of the tomol utilized the naturally occurring asphalt in the area to seal them. The tar still oozes today at Carpinteria State Beach at Tar Pits Park, one of five natural asphalt lake areas in the world.

Learn more about the Chumash at the Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks.

"Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art" at Reagan Library Extended to September 11

UPDATE 8/18/16: The Reagan Library has announced that, due to the extraordinary popularity of the Vatican Splendors exhibit, it will be extended to September 11, 2016.

Due to the large crowds, the public is encouraged to book tickets in advance at www.reaganlibrary.com/tickets.  In addition to extending the exhibit through September 11th, the Reagan Library will now be open all Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. until the exhibit closes. On weekdays, the museum will remain open at its regular hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Originally Posted 2/24/16:

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is the exclusive West Coast destination of Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art, opening March 6, 2016.  This 12,000 square foot exhibition, comprising one of the largest Vatican collections ever to tour the United States, includes an extraordinary collection of historical and religious objects, some of which date to the first century, as well as works of art by Michelangelo, Bernini, Guercino and others. 

The Holy Family with Two Angels (Photo copyright 2015 © Città del Vaticano)

From the opening theater experience, where visitors will become immersed in the grandeur of the Vatican, to the closing object of a cast of Saint John Paul II’s hand (which guests may grasp), visitors will encounter the art, history and culture of the Vatican with unprecedented access and insight. This special presentation of art and objects includes many never before on display in North America, and some not on view to the general public, even in Rome. Pre-sale tickets for the exhibit, which include admission into the main Reagan Library Museum and Air Force One Pavilion, are now available at ReaganFoundation.org/VaticanSplendors.

“Throughout his life, my husband had great affinity for the Catholic Church and as President of the United States, his relationship with the Vatican was very strong,” said former first lady Nancy Reagan. “He established a unique and very special friendship with Saint John Paul II.  Remarkably, they shared similar personal backgrounds and together, they worked very hard mostly in secret to free the people of Poland and other captive nations from Communist rule.  My husband would have been honored to know that his presidential library will be sharing this remarkable Vatican exhibition with the American people.”

Cast of the Hand of Blessed John Paul II, Pope (Photo copyright 2015 © Città del Vaticano)

Following its time at the Reagan Library, the items will return to the Vatican, from which they cannot be absent for more than one year.  The exhibit includes one of Michelangelo’s signed documents and a rarely seen bas relief sculpture created towards the end of his career. Other objects include venerated remains (bone fragments) of Saints Peter and Paul, artifacts discovered at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul, and historical objects from the modern and ancient basilicas of Saint Peter’s in Rome.  The objects are presented in galleries and recreated environments designed to enhance the understanding of their historical and artistic significance.  Visitors will feel transported to the Vatican, from the underground catacombs where the remains of Saint Peter were discovered to the magnificent papal chambers found above ground.  From the sights and sounds of the grand Basilica to a touchable cast of Saint John Paul II’s hand, the exhibition is a multi-sensory experience. It’s a true “insiders” view of the Vatican, including its spiritual, artistic and ceremonial treasures.

“The Reagan Foundation hosts many exhibits at the Reagan Library, but few, if any, that make us more proud than this one,” said John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. “Vatican Splendors is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that one has to see to believe.”

Brick from Saint Paul’s Tomb (Photo copyright 2015 © Città del Vaticano)

Vatican Splendors is organized and circulated in conjunction with the Congregazione per l’Evangelizzazione dei Popoli of the Vatican City State.  Items in the collection—which include mosaics, frescoes, paintings by Renaissance masters, works by well-known sculptors, intricately embroidered silk vestments, precious objects from the Papal Mass, uniforms of the Papal Swiss Guard, historical maps and documents and relics are on loan from The Reverenda Fabbrica of Saint Peter, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Vatican Library, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Apostolic Floreria, the Papal Swiss Guard, the Vatican Museums, Pontifical Urbaniana University, Private Papal Storehouse and private collections. The exhibition is produced by Evergreen Exhibitions.

The Reagan Library is located at 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley, California.  Public hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.  The Museum is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.  For Museum Admission fees, please visit www.reaganlibrary.com.  Museum exhibit tickets may be pre-purchased at www.reaganlibrary.com/tickets.  For more information, call (800) 410.8354 or visit www.reaganlibrary.com/vaticansplendors.   

Aerial Views of Dos Vientos Ranch in Newbury Park in 1956

Aerial View of Dos Vientos Ranch in 1956 (Photo Credit: Howard D. Kelly, Kelly-Holiday Collection of Negatives and Photographs/Los Angeles Public Library)

According to several Oxnard Press-Courier articles in September/October 1958, evangelist O.L. Jaggers purchased the 5,415 acre Dos Vientos Ranch from M.S. Clark Enterprises on June 21, 1957 for $2.9 million, with the goal of creating the "World Church City."

According to a 1994 L.A. Times article, Jaggers and his wife Velma talked about making Dos Vientos (now part of Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks) a 26,000 resident city, "situated under a perpetually hovering 'glory cloud' that would emit a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night. Airliners would be diverted so passengers could witness the phenomenon."

After years of lawsuits brought against Jagger and his World Church by investors in the project, the land was acquired in 1965 by Louis Lesser Enterprises of Beverly Hills.

Another Aerial View of Dos Vientos Ranch in 1956 (Photo Credit: Howard D. Kelly, Kelly-Holiday Collection of Negatives and Photographs/Los Angeles Public Library)

The Thousand Oaks City Council approved development of Dos Vientos Ranch as a 2,350 home residential project in 1988 and construction began after years of planning and lawsuits in 1997. At the time, the land was owned by Courtly Homes Inc. and Operating Engineers Pension Trust Inc.

A 1997 Los Angeles Times article noted that Dos Vientos was the largest residential project ever in Newbury Park and the third-largest in the city's history. Dos Vientos is surrounded by two connecting roads that form a loop: Rancho Dos Vientos and Via Las Brisas. Lynn Road fronts the development on the south and Borchard Road serves as its main artery.

A more recent view of Dos Vientos from one of the many trails surrounding the area.

There are some nice hiking trails in Dos Vientos, including Sierra Vista Trail, Park View Trail, Vista Del Mar Trail, El Rincon, El Cerro and Las Brisas Trails, El Encanto Trail and Conejo Mountain Edison Road Trail.

Also located in Dos Vientos is The Village at Dos Vientos retail/business center, Dos Vientos Community Park and the newer Del Prado Playfield.

Aerial View of Central Thousand Oaks, Including Tarantula Hill, in 1957

Walt Dibblee opened his commercial studio in Ventura in 1949 and as Ventura County grew, the demand for aerial photography expanded. Walt bought a plane, learned to fly and for the next three decades photographed the cities of Ventura County from above.

The 1957 aerial shot above took place on a foggy day and captured Tarantula Hill on the right and what is now Conejo Community Park and the prominent Conejo Valley Botanic Garden hill in the foreground.

While we don't have an aerial shot of this scene from today, here's a look from the Los Robles Trail.

More recent view of Tarantula Hill from the Los Robles Trail East; The Oaks Mall in the foreground.

Walt's son Steve continues the tradition today with over 30 years of professional experience. Steve has shared some of Walt's work from the mid 1950s to the late 1960s at VenturaViews.com.

See other scenes from the smaller hill near Lynn Road and Gainsborough Road southwest of Tarantula Hill looking east and looking west.