Cool Ventura County Residential Holiday Light Displays This 2014 Holiday Season

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UPDATE: 2015 residential holiday light displays are compiled at THIS LINK.

We are in the home stretch of the winter holiday season 2014 and once again are fortunate to have a number of great residential light displays thanks to the amazing efforts of local Ventura County residents. This is just a sampling of what's out there...please let us know if you come across other noteworthy displays around town!

In Camarillo on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street, dozens of homes are decorated once again with cartoon characters, Santas, snowmen and tens of thousands of lights and other decorations.

Do I detect Dora at this house on Gemini St in Camarillo!?

Do I detect Dora at this house on Gemini St in Camarillo!?

Every holiday season, one of Ventura County's biggest residential light displays lights up the historic section of Downtown Oxnard on F and G streets between 5th and Palm.

The holiday light display by the Higgins family at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks is a 30 minute display synchronized with music and over 150,000 lights.

This image of the epic light show on El Dorado Drive display does not do it justice!

This image of the epic light show on El Dorado Drive display does not do it justice!

There's a breathtaking display of lights, decorations and falling snow at Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Night, until Christmas from 5:30 to 9:00pm the lights at 4903 Pathfinder in Westlake Village that is highlighted in more detail at this link.

Take Walter Avenue off of Kimber Drive in Newbury Park and you'll be treated to what may be the tallest inflatable Rudolph in Ventura County! And homes have joined in on the fun.

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The Winter Wonderland home at 469 Highland Road at Sinaloa in Simi Valley is a sight to behold!

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Simi Sue reminded us of a neat display wooden animated Disney figures at the house at the corner of Timberlane and Fearing in Simi Valley.

There are some nice displays on Camino Dos Rios in Thousand Oaks and Silverwheel Place in Newbury Park. More details at this link.

A late edition! The outstanding animated holiday light display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue in Newbury Park is back! Lights synchronized with lively music simulcast on 100.5 FM. Really fun, sparkly display!

A fantastic music and lights display at 538 Brisbaine in Newbury Park

A fantastic music and lights display at 538 Brisbaine in Newbury Park

There's a synchronized music/light display at 3167 Gold Hill Circle (at Sundance Street) in Thousand Oaks, off of Lynn and Wildwood. Check out some footage at this link.

There's a particularly festively decorated residence on Shetland Place in North Ranch worth a look!

For other local holiday events and activities in and around Ventura County, click here!

The. Most. Awesome. Holiday. Light. Show. You. Will. Ever. See. In. Thousand. Oaks!

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2016 Update: The Higgins family moved and thus no more display. Plenty of other awesome displays in and around Ventura County though at THIS LINK.

UPDATE FALL 2014: The display is back again this year, longer than ever!

Located at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks. Take Janss Road east off the 23 Freeway, turn right on El Monte Drive (past the Thousand Oaks Library), then left on El Dorado. Be mindful of the neighbors!

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The Higgins family of Thousand Oaks may have the most entertaining and fun residential holiday light show in the Conejo Valley.

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Photo of the Higgins' holiday light show in 2012.According to Ed Higgins, this amazing display was constructed with over 150,000 lights, over 3 1/2 MILES of hard wire extension cords, 192 digital channels and over 1,000 feet of Cat 5 cable in the "Old Oaks" section of Thousand Oaks at 1566 El Dorado Drive.

Higgins admits "we're nuts" but they obviously have a passion and talent for this. And the neighbors are great about it they say. Ed and his wife Valerie are often out on Friday/Saturday nights with tables of cocoa and whipped cream, cookies, cider and cinammon twists!

Below is footage of the display in 2012. This short video does not do it justice. Go check it out!

A Visit to the Newly Opened Discovery Cube Los Angeles Science Center

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Discovery Cube Los Angeles is a 71,000 sq ft hands-on science and education museum that opened on November 13th in Lakeview Terrace at the Hansen Dam Recreational Area.

This is a beautiful, two-story, open, airy and fun facility geared towards children but fun for all family members. We stopped by and explored the various interactive exhibits and wow, what an impressive array they have!

There's a great array educational exhibits on display at Discovery Cube LA. In the Inspector Training Course, kids receive touch screen tablets and learn to conserve resources and in a real-life home. Fun, educational and very interactive! The Aquavator is a virtual elevator that takes you into the earth's crust for a tour. Race to Zero Waste is a game-based exhibit teaching guests the correct way to sort trash and divert materials from the landfills.

Children are given tablet computers as they inspect this home for resource efficiencies!

The Discovery Market is an impressively put together supermarket where kids use computer-equipped shopping carts to learn how to read package levels, learn about nutrition and make healthy choices. The Making the Grade Gallery provides grade-specific interactive, scientific exhibits. The Planetary Research Station uses a suspended, animated globe to highlight information about the solar system, natural disasters and climate change.

The Discovery Market is an interactive learning experience that almost looks like a real store!

The Helicopter Tour gives a simulated birds-eye view

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Job Seeker Services and Resources Provided by the Ventura County Job & Career Center

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The County of Ventura and Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County provide both virtual and in-person job seeker services to county residents. The Ventura County Job & Career Center (VCJCC) website at www.venturacountyjcc.org provides job postings and job seeking tips and services such as figuring out what careers are right for you, resume building, letter writing, job training and much more.

I took a look at jobs posted on the VCJCC site on 10/9/11 and there are definitely a lot of jobs posted in there. Over 500 within a 5 to 10 mile radius of Newbury Park. Also notable is that while there is some level of dup

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Live Beehive on Display at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum

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The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula contains nearly a thousand vintage farm items ranging from tractors, machines and tools as well as rotating art and photo exhibits as well as educational sessions for all ages. One other unique aspect of the Agriculture Museum is this live beehive exhibit, which bees can access through the exterior wall. Fascinating to see in person! This is a permanent display at the museum.

General public admission to the Agriculture Museum (as of February 2015) is $5 adults, $3 seniors, students and AAA members and $1 for children 6-17. Kids 5 and under are free. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (changing to Fri-Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3/1/15)

For more information, visit the Museum of Ventura County website at www.venturamuseum.org or call 805.653.0323.

Upcoming Free Programs at Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center in Newbury Park

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The Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center is located in the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa hiking area in Point Mugu State Park. 

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The Center hosts year-round cultural workshops and programs every other Sunday, including arts and crafts, music, storytelling and much more.  Visit www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/rsvsatwiwa.htm for more information.