Happy Face Hill in Simi Valley Has Brought Smiles to 118 Freeway Drivers Since 1998

Perhaps the most visible cultural icon in Simi Valley is "Happy Face Hill" seen by westbound drivers on the 118 freeway just west of Kuehner Drive.

Although Northridge gardener Sonny Klamerus does not own the land used to display his creation that has been there since 1998, apparently it is here to stay, even with 66 townhomes in development at the base of the hill.

They say the Happy Face is 150 feet wide, which is half the length of a football field!

I've driven by it dozens of times and was impressed at how nice it looked after the recent rains. The smiley face becomes a bit brown and barren looking, though still visible, for large stretches of the year.

According to this LA Times article, others in the community, including the Rotary Club and other citizens have made adjustments to the smiley face to tidy it up. Others have installed solar light

Perhaps every city needs a Happy Face Hill.

"Have a Nice Day" as you drive through Simi Valley westbound on the 118 Freeway!

Whales, Seals, Birds and Wildflowers on Display at Point Dume in Malibu

Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography shared these photos of her recent outing at Point Dume Natural Preserve headlands and Westward Beach in Malibu. Whales, seals and flowering coreopsis are out in force. Learn more about local beaches ranging from Malibu through Oxnard at this link.

Breaching whales near Westward Beach

Seals sunning themselves at Point Dume State Beach

An egret without regret on this beautiful, sunny day

Iconic Ed Lawrence Photo on Display at the New Mendocino Farms Westlake Village

Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market opened on Monday, February 2nd in The Westlake Plaza at 966 S. Westlake Boulevard.

This is the 9th location of Mendocino Farms and its first in Ventura County. They have certainly made a special effort to capture the heart of the Conejo Valley crowd in several ways.

Photographer Ed Lawrence with his iconic 1965 photo of Moorpark Road at Thousand Oaks Blvd

A iconic photo taken by well known Conejo Valley photographer Ed Lawrence is prominently displayed on the back wall of the restaurant. Look up as you walk in the door and you can't miss this 1965 shot of a flock of sheep crossing Moorpark Road near Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Mendocino Farms is located in the former home of Jack's Deli, which opened in 1977 and operated for over 30 years before closing its doors on November 20, 2011. 

An oak tree that fell ill was used as a prominent table in the eatery, adding another nice localized touch.

The restaurant is open and airy, uniquely appointed and fun. There's a kids area that has a Foosball table (I lost the game to a 9 year old) and coloring table.  The kids menu had $3.95 pricing on it, which looked pretty good to me too. And, oh yes, the food that I sampled was outstanding. There's also a nice outdoor seating area.

Painting the Light: California Landscapes of Richard Schloss Opens Dec 7 in Ventura

The Museum of Ventura County presents Painting the Light: California Landscapes of Richard Schloss, an exhibition of more than thirty-five paintings spanning the painter’s 40-year-career. Exhibit opened December 7, 2014 and open until March 22, 2015.

Summer Morning East Mesa (Richard Schloss)

The oil paintings of Richard Schloss are a testament to the beauty of the land and sea that surrounds us—traditional, impressionistic and yet always unique in the genre of landscape painting.  His exceptional and dramatic treatment of light creates and captures a moment in time that evokes memories of an unspoiled California.

Topa Topa (Richard Schloss)

Richard graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a Master of Fine Arts in 1979 and a BA in Italian in 1981.  Following his graduation, he lived and painted in the Santa Barbara area for many years.  It was during those years that Schloss became part of  a movement of landscape painters known as the Oak Group. This group of artists was committed to preserving open spaces by bringing public awareness to preservation efforts in areas throughout California, including the Channel Islands, Santa Barbara, the eastern Sierra and Marin County.

Featured in the exhibition are works culled from private collections and galleries throughout California as well as four new works created recently which have never before been exhibited.

Richard Schloss is recognized as one of California’s best landscape artists. He is part of a tradition of California plein air painters and Impressionists, reminiscent of the early twentieth century artists including Edgar Payne, Maurice Braun, William Wendt, Granville Redmond and others who, over one hundred years ago led the way.  These artists, whether classically trained academic painters or self-taught artists, chronicled the scale, the scope and the picturesque expanse of California’s incredible vistas.  Today, Richard Schloss continues that same dedication to his subject matter in the form of his light-filled canvasses and awe-inspiring natural landscapes. www.rschloss.com

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5.00Adults (18 years & older) $3.00 Seniors (65 and older), Students & AAA members with ID, $1.00 Children (17-6 years old) Children 5 years old & younger are FREE. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, and the first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.

UPDATE: Caltrans Announces Point Mugu State Park Trails/Beaches Now Open

Update 2/3/15: Caltrans today announced that nearly six miles of the nine mile closure on Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1) between Las Posas Road and Yerba Buena Road are open to public access.  SR-1 is now open from Las Posas Road to the Sycamore Cove Day Use Area.  The public will now have access to trails and beaches in Point Mugu State Park.  The highway remains closed between the Sycamore Cove Day Use Area and Yerba Buena Road.  The damaged section of SR-1 is expected to be closed until the end of February. www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/pch

Update 1/27/15: Today Caltrans announced that Pacific Coast Highway between the Sycamore Campground and Yerba Buena Road will continue to remain closed until the end of February. The slopes below the highway washed away, requiring extensive repairs that will require the highway to be closed another month. No motorists, pedestrians or cyclists will be permitted access beyond the campground.

Union Engineering of Santa Paula, California was awarded this $7 million emergency contract. The state will be reimbursed for the costs of this project under the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Fund.

Due to the closure of Pacific Coast Highway and weather-related damage to Point Mugu State Park, the park is also closed to the public through the end of February. This includes Thornhill Broome campground, La Jolla Day-Use, Mugu Beach, Sycamore Cove, Sycamore Canyon Campground and the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

For updates, visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=712 or the California State Parks Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaStateParks.

Point Mugu State Park, located in the Santa Monica Mountains, features five miles of ocean shoreline, with rocky bluffs, sandy beaches, sand dunes, rugged hills and uplands, two major river canyons and wide grassy valleys dotted with sycamores, oaks and a few native walnuts. There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails. The beach also features swimming, body surfing and surf fishing. The park includes the jagged pinnacles of the Boney Mountain State Wilderness Area.

Looking for other local hikes? No worries! Check this link.

Assurance Wireless Offers Free Cell Phone Service to Low Income Residents

Assurance Wireless, powered by Virgin Mobile, offers a free cell phone with monthly service that includes 250 minutes and unlimited texts to low-income individuals who qualify through the Federal Lifeline Assistance Program.

The Lifeline Assistance Program is funded by the federal Universal Service Fund, which is funded by wireless carriers, who in turn generally tag on a fee to consumers in their monthly bills.

The Lifeline Assistance program is available for only one account per household. Separate households that live at the same address are eligible, such as residents of homeless shelters and nursing homes. Residents with temporary addresses are also eligible.

As a California resident, you can qualify if you participate in certain public assistance programs or if you below certain income levels:

• Medicaid/Medi-Cal

• CalFresh

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka Food Stamps)

• National School Lunch Program

• California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS)

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)

• Various other public assistance programs

• Income levels falling within the following Federal poverty level guidelines (as of January 2015):

  • $25,500 for a household of 1-2

  • $29,700 for a household of 3

  • $35,900 for a household of 4

  • Add another $6,200 for each additional household member above 4

The program also allows individuals to purchase additional minutes; $5/month for each additional 250 minutes. To learn more, visit www.assurancewireless.com.