John Fogerty and Family Perform "Green River" with the Conejo Valley Sunset in the Background

John Fogerty and his family have been giving weekly performances on Fogerty’s YouTube channel over the last month while in COVID-19 quarantine. John is joined by his sons Shane and Tyler and daughter Kelsy. All of their performances have been great; this rendition of “Green River” was also visually spectacular as we were treated to a birds eye view of a Conejo Valley sunset. Yes, many of you may see your homes from this vantage point, peaking into Newbury Park towards the Conejo Grade, Oxnard plain and beyond.

Shane and Tyler are members of the Los Angeles band Hearty Har.

Thank you to the Fogerty famlly for entertaining us during this coronavirus stay at home time.

Earlier videos shown below:

Moreton Bay Fig Tree at Plaza Park in Downtown Ventura Planted in 1874

Moreton Bay Fig Tree at Plaza Park in Ventura

If you're ever out and about in Downtown Ventura, you may want to stop by Plaza Park and admire the historic Moreton Bay Fig Tree thriving at the northwest corner of the park at E. Santa Clara Street and S. Chestnut Street - just one block down from Main Street, near The Majestic Ventura Theater.

This tree, formally called Ficus macrophylla, was planted by someone in 1874 and now stands at over 73.5 feet tall, with a branch spread of 139 feet and root spread of 87 feet. That is one heck of a tree, only slightly smaller than its slightly younger and more famous brother in Santa Paula.

For other things to do in Ventura, visit THIS PAGE.

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.

Virtual Performances By Well Known Singers During the Coronavirus Stay at Home Order

We’ve been in a “Stay Well at Home” order in Ventura County since March 20th that has been extended to May 15th. All places of gathering have been closed and in my case I was looking forward to seeing Kansas perform at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center Thousand Oaks the day before the order was put into place (the concert has been postponed).

A number of well known singers have taken to the Internet from their homes to entertain us during this bizarre time. Enjoy them!

Bonnie shares a message of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic and a performance of the song "Home," which first appeared on her 1977 album, Sweet Forgiveness....

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If you like this then listen to Dennis DeYoung and Julian Lennon sing "To The Good Old Days" from Dennis DeYoungs' upcoming album "26 East" on Frontiers Reco...

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Neil Diamond sings "Sweet Caroline" with updated lyric for safety during Covid-19 pandemic. Stay safe out there!

Neil Sedaka has been performing daily mini-concerts on his YouTube channel since April 6th.

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Carole King shares words of encouragement along with a slightly revised version of "So Far Away" during these challenging times. Listen to Carole King: https...

On Easter Sunday (April 12, 2020), by invitation of the City and of the Duomo cathedral of Milan, Italian global music icon Andrea Bocelli gave a solo perfor...

Plenty of Snow Seen From the Conejo Valley on the Saturday Before Easter 2020

It's pretty rare to see this much, if any at all, snow in the Los Padres National Forest and Topatopa Mountains in the middle of April. Then again, it's pretty rare, actually, unprecedented, that income tax returns are not due until July 15th of this year as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Nature is working with us I guess. This nice pack of snow won't last too long so I just had to capture some of it while out on a run on Lynn Road in Newbury Park this morning.

Rainy Week Ends in Colorful Ending in the Conejo Valley This Good Friday 2020

This past 3rd week of Ventura County “Stay Well at Home” orders was a very wet one, with six straight days of measurable rain. The week ended on Good Friday with clouds giving way to blue skies and this colorful rainbow signaling something positive is in store for us .

Photo Credit: L. David Irete

Photo Credit: Steve Hunter

Photo Credit: Nick Goldstein

Photo Credit: J. Stewart

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.