Jungleland Tiger Trainer Mable Stark of Thousand Oaks on What's My Line, August 27, 1961

Mable Stark was a world famous tiger trainer who began her long career in the 1920s and finished her career at Jungleland in Thousand Oaks until 1968. She was severely mauled numerous times by lions and tigers over the years but bravely continued on in her 50+ year career.

Here’s an August 27, 1961 episode of What’s My Line, with a panel that included Jerry Lewis. The panel was completely stumped as to Mable’s line of work.

Wonderful Messages in Sidewalk Chart Art Posted by Thousand Oaks Resident

Now how cool would it be to be neighbors with sidewalk chart artist Dawn Wagner in Thousand Oaks. She tagged us on Instagram with these photos of her fantastic chalk work in Thousand Oaks.

Words of wisdom:

"Enjoy the little things in life."

"Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So, today is my new favorite day."

"Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."

Really strikes a chord today as we enter our third week of statewide “Stay at Home” orders.

Dawn’s work really resonated with folks on Facebook today at THIS LINK. Refreshing to see such positivity!

President Trump Issues Executive Order to Postpone Easter Sunday to Sunday, July 5th

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order to defer celebration of Easter Sunday from April 12th to July 5th, 2020. Here is a transcript of Trump’s remarks at signing of the order.

Trump: The whole world is inflicted with this horrible, horrible virus. With Easter just 11 days away, I decided we need to do something big, very, very big, to show the children of this country that they are not forgotten. This was a tremendous decision that I have to say, no other President in the history of the United States has ever done. Huge, very huge. A tremendous, tremendous decision, the likes of which no one, I’m told, by many other people, that no one, no one, has ever even thought about doing.

By rescheduling Easter to Sunday, July 5th, the day after July 4th, we have a terrific opportunity to do something never done in history. And it will be a very, very great thing. Something that is, just, incredible., really incredible. Melania and I will be hosting the largest Easter egg hunt in history on the White House lawn that day. Believe me, it will be the greatest Easter egg event ever seen. People have told me that it would be spectacular. We’ll have eggs with chocolate, jelly beans, maybe other things. Maybe money. A lot of it. We’ll see what happens.

Vice President Pence: I can’t emphasize enough the incredible decision that President Donald J. Trump, has made. Moving Easter Sunday 12 weeks into the future gives us the opportunity to stretch Lent out by another 12 weeks. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

Trump: Good ole’ Mike. I can’t wait. Now stand over there. You’re too close to me. Remember, folks, to practice social distancing. Mike, you’re a good man. But you need to give me six feet clearance. Now, press, we have time for one question, then we have to go. Jim, go ahead.

Jim Acosta: Mr. President, I understand that Easter Sunday will be a challenge to celebrate this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. But does it really make sense to push this holy day back 12 weeks?

Trump: That is a terrible question. You are fake news. Thank you everyone!

The Easter Conejo

APRIL FOOL’S!!

Neil Diamond Sings "Sweet Caroline" Updated with a COVID-19 Reminder in the Lyrics

Neil Diamond released “Sweet Caroline” in May 1969, well over 50 years ago. Diamond’s inspiration for the song was John F. Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, who was 11 when the song was released.

Today he released a slightly modified version of Sweet Caroline on his YouTube channel with a subtle COVID-19 reminder to wash your hands!

“Hands,

Washing hands,

Reaching out,

Don’t touch me…

I won’t touch you.”

For local area COVID-19 updates in the Ventura County area, visit THIS LINK.

Compilation of Personalized License Plates in the Conejo Valley and Nearby Areas

With all the local driving I do, I started to zero in on just how many folks out there have personalized license plates. There’s a lot of them!

I carry a little camera with me in the car and started taking photos of some of plates that I could use to form sentences and perhaps write a story. Yes, a story written solely with personalized plates.

Whether I actually do that or not, I thought it would be fun to patch together some of these photos for all of you to enjoy. It took a bit of time to do.

I’m sitting here thinking, these plates cost $98 front and $78 per year thereafter. If you invested that money for 40 years, putting $78 a year into something earns a 6% return, you would have over $13,000 saved up, JUST on saving money on personalized license plates alone! Something to ponder.

The Number of Registered Voters in Ventura County Has Increased Nearly 10% Over the Last Seven Years

The Ventura County Registrar of Voters website has up to date counts of the number of registered voters in Ventura County. We like to track the totals from time to time to see the trends.

On May 12, 2012, there were 406,644 registered voters in Ventura County, consisting of:

• 157,539 Democrats

• 150,919 Republicans

• 77,994 Nonpartisans

• 20,192 Other

Approximately seven years later, in May 2019, there are 445,217 registered voters, a 9.5% increase, including:

• 176,712 Democrats, a 12% increase

• 130,228 Republicans, a 14% decrease

• 110,225 Nonpartisans, a whopping 41% increase

• 28,052 Other, also a large 39% increase

Update as of 12/8/19: Total registered voters 454,872, up 2.2% in six months, including 183,994 Democrats (up 4.1%), 132,142 Republicans (up 1.5%), 108,208 Nonpartisan (down 1.8%) and 30,528 Other (up 8.8%).

Can’t remember if you are eligible to vote? Look it up at THIS LINK. What I’ve found with this Voter Eligibility Search function is that, unlike a search engine, your search terms have to be precise. If you are registered as Richard King, if you type Rich King into the search, it will not find you.

Register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov.

The Best Ever Pumpkin Bread Recipe!

Here's a delicious pumpkin bread recipe from Jill Fisher. Jill has a B.S. in Food Science and Nutrition and is a licensed Personal Chef. She has taught cooking classes at Conejo Valley Adult School and Williams Sonoma in Thousand Oaks and has written articles for local food magazines such as 805 Living.

The Best Ever Pumpkin Bread!

1 cup salad oil (not olive)

2/3 cup water

3 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 cups pumpkin

Whisk together in a large bowl.

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

1 ½ tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

3 ½ cups flour

1 cup chopped pecans

Whisk together in a small bowl.

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  Mix well.  Pour into individual mini loaf pans (approximately 4-5) that have been sprayed with Pam cooking spray.

Bake at 350F for 55 minutes.

Cool and slice.  These loaves freeze very well.

Note from Conejo Joe:  This recipe looks so easy that even I, an incompetent nincompoop in the kitchen, can make this pumpkin bread recipe!