52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards Begins with Remembrance of Borderline Shooting Victims

Garth Brooks began the 52nd Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards on November 14th with a remembrance and moment of silence for the victims of the Borderline Bar & Grill shooting one week prior.

Brooks said “On behalf of our country music community, I want to say that tonight’s show is lovingly dedicated to the 12 individuals whom we lost far too soon just a week ago tonight at the Borderline in Thousand Oaks, California,” Brooks said, referring to those who died after a gunman opened fire at the country dance bar. Tonight, let’s celebrate their lives. Let the music unite us with love, and their enduring memory.”

IN MEMORIAM

November 7, 2018

Sean Adler

Cody Coffman

Blake Dingman

Jake Dunham

Sgt. Ron Helus

Alaina Housley

Daniel Manrique

Justin Meek

Mark Meza Jr.

Kristina Morisette

Telemachus Orfanos

Noel Sparks

Today is the 50th Anniverary of The Release of "Hey Jude" by the Beatles

Fifty years ago today, August 26, 1968, the Beatles released the song "Hey Jude."

The song was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon and McCartney.

Originally "Hey Jules" in support of John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce, "Hey Jude" was the first single released by the Beatles' record label, Apple Records.

Seven minutes, 11 seconds in length, Hey Jude was one of the longest singles ever released at that time. It spent 9 weeks at number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the longest of any Beatles song.

The single has sold over 8 million copies in the U.S. placing it in the top 50 selling songs of all time, topped by just one other Beatles song, "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

Conejo Valley Rabbit Montage and Some Local Area History

Here's a fun montage of conejo photos and footage from the ring of trails surround the Conejo Valley. If you're looking to take your own rabbit photos on the trails of the Conejo Valley, check out this compilation of over 50 local hiking and trail areas at THIS LINK. 

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT NEWBURY PARK

Beach Views at Mussel Shoals in Ventura

Driving the 101 through Ventura towards Santa Barbara, we all pass through Mussel Shoals and see the man-made Rincon Island off in the distance, but we're usually either rushing through to get to our destination and stuck in traffic! So we decided to stop by and actually check out the beach in person.

Mussel Shoals is a small beach community with around 50 homes. There are about a dozen public parking spots along Old Pacific Coast Highway, paralleling the 101, The Cliff House Inn is a quaint hotel with spectacular ocean views. Dine at their Shoals restaurant and relax with the waves breaking on the rocks below.

Rincon Island was built in 1958 for well drilling and oil and gas production, so it's not open to the public. But the kids and I fantasize about having our own island like that, with palm trees growing. Here's a closer look, thanks to the person who shared it at Wikipedia. Looks like an electric guitar to me.

DIRECTIONS TO DOZENS OF LOCAL VENTURA COUNTY AREA BEACHES

100 Year Old Joyce From Newbury Park Fulfills Her Dream of Meeting Alex Trebek

"We're going to be all over social media" says Alex Trebek as he slowly walks 100 year old Joyce Pesner of Newbury Park back to the audience.

The Dream Foundation grants wishes for terminally ill adults, and Joyce's wish was to meet Alex. She has watched Jeopardy! every night before bed since the show has been on the air.

(Fellow Conejo Valley inhabitant and friend L David Irete was the lucky person who shot this video.)

More: www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/features/dream-foundation-100-year-old-fan

Sauces Canyon Bald Eagle Footage on Santa Cruz Island During April 5 Earthquake

There is a live cam in place in the Sauces Canyon of Santa Cruz Island that allows researcher and the general public to observe a bald eagle nest. This nest was in for some action today as a 5.3 magnitude earthquake originated just south of the island! 

Watch the video feed below for live action.

Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month at Amgen "Spotlight Myeloma" Skylight in Thousand Oaks

On Monday night I noticed a skylight in Newbury Park and assumed it must have related to a business. I tried to track it down but decided it was too late, so I went home.

Tuesday night, March 6th, I noticed the same skylight, a bright blue line that could be seen from the 101 in Thousand Oaks. At first I thought it was coming from Brendan's Irish Pub off of Ventu Park Road, but to no avail. But I followed Ventu Park up towards Amgen and, wallah, I managed to track down the light. It was coming from the roof of a parking structure.

I learned from an Amgen friend that this was part of a month-long multiple myeloma awareness initiative at Amgen in March. 

According to Amgen's BloodCounts.com website, "Blood Counts is a national effort to raise awareness about multiple myeloma through the sharing of personal stories. Through real-life accounts of persistence and hope, Blood Counts aims to shed a light on what matters most when it comes to treating blood cancer."

Multiple myeloma, also known as plasma cell myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells. There are no cures for this cancer that affects about .7% of the U.S. population. Without treatment survival rate is typically seven months. With current treatments, survival can be four to five years.