Beyond
SUMMER 2014
THE ACORN
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table of contents
SUMMER 2014
FEATURES 29 ROAD TRIP!
RV travel is a family-friendly way to experience the great outdoors in comfort. Enjoy the journey.
32 MY SPACE
Three kids’ rooms that reflect the robust children who call them home.
JIM GROSS PHOTOGRAPHY
36 THE FIRST FAMILY OF CAMARILLO A glimpse of the larger-than-life man who helped carve a thriving city out of his family’s sprawling rancho.
40 TOP DOGS
We ate our way through the Conejo and parts beyond to track down the very best hot dogs in town.
44 PETS AND THEIR PEEPS
Readers share photos of their beloved four-legged family members. So gooey cute you won’t be able to stand it.
32 DEPARTMENTS 8
HOW
48 THROW A FABULOUS FAMILY REUNION Call the relatives and order the matching
LETTERS FROM BEYOND
Greetings from the publisher and editor.
WHO
12 LEADING LADIES
An up-and-coming opera singer is following in her grandmother's footsteps.
24
14 GRANDPARENTS STEP UP TO THE PLATE Family takes on a different shape for a 9-year-old boy being raised by his grandparents.
WHAT
16 THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER
Great ideas for family outings in the area as well as memory-making day trips within easy driving distance.
T-shirts. It’s time for the annual family get-together.
ACORNUCOPIA
54 BOARD GAMES
Ditch the electronics and rediscover the fun of family night with a terrific new generation of board games.
RESOURCES
65 A guide to the people and vendors
in this issue.
FINAL WORD
66 TAKE A WALK
WHEN
21 OUT AND ABOUT
ON THE COVER:
Rob and Trish Rasmussen of Oak Park with their children, Tatum, Robert and Delaney, and pooches Ginger and Seamus, enjoy picture-perfect family time at Oak Canyon Community Park in Oak Park.
Cover photo by MICHAEL COONS 6 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
WHERE
23 FANTASTIC PLAYGROUNDS
These cool outdoor places will make you wish you were still a kid.
WHY
26 ROOTS AND WINGS
To let go or not to let go? That's the question for parents of college-age kids.
23
Left and far left: RICHARD GILLARD
44
The calendar is spilling over with fun and family-oriented events from concerts and festivals to air shows and fundraisers.
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Letters
Neither of my parents had siblings, so our “traditional” family unit was pretty darn tiny. Or was it? The township of Sparta, N.J., with a population of barely 6,000, was where my brother, Dave, and I grew up. It was a time when it seemed that everyone was your parent or knew your parents. The whole “It takes a village to raise a child” idea was our town personified. Everybody knew your business and was in your business. And, as a child, you had better mind your business. It was actually a lot of fun. We were “adopted” by my mother’s best friend, my Aunt Jimmie, whose family seemed to stretch on forever. We would come to their Fourth of July and holiday parties, where a mass of 50-plus people young and old would gather to feast, laugh and become even more tightly woven. It was dazzling. Children, teens and young adults all played, fought and caused a general ruckus together. No one was excluded. Growing up in a small town also meant making friends that stayed around. I have friends from as far back as kindergarten who are as close as my brother and I. These people share my cares and woes and will support me as well as celebrate with me. One good thing about today’s social technology is it makes it easy to keep up with those people. Now that my own children are finding their way in the world, my other “family” bonds are becoming even stronger. My physically-in-the-home family has shrunk. I’m minus two lovely young adults, three cats, a dog and some fish. Now I’m spending my time with a loving husband, Jim, and a silly blue bird named Morgan. Family is really anyone who is important to you, whether it’s made up of blood relatives or people you have chosen to share life’s adventure with you. You can be just two people and a pet or a cast of many. And, you may have several different families that revolve around your work, play or religious inclination. I often refer to our “Acorn family.” So, as a gift from one family to our larger family, please enjoy this issue of Beyond the Acorn. We hope you have a wonderful summer. And, as always, I will delight in your comments and suggestions.
Lisa Rule, Publisher lisabeyond@theacorn.com
Family. The word describes the people you call on when there’s no one else to call. They’re the ones you hang out with when the party is over, the people whom you feel bonded to in a way that’s strong and dependable. They may be yours by blood or by choice, but either way they are fundamentally your people. In this issue of Beyond we look at Family from several different vantage points. We get a glimpse of the first family of Camarillo, those who rode the tide of development through the rancho period into the baby stages of cityhood. We also look at the roots and the wings that parents strive to provide to their children, especially in that crucial time when the chicks are preparing to leave the nest and head to college. And if you think there’s an easy answer to that one, think again. We meet grandparents who have redefined family, pulling in the ranks to raise their grandson after his mother’s untimely death. We also meet a family whose legacy is music—it must be in their genes. Both grandmother and granddaughter have found their voices on the stage. On the lighter side, if you are looking for fun things to do this summer, we’ve gathered more local, family-friendly activities than you could ever partake of in one season. We hope you’ll have a great time trying to make your way through the list. But if you’re itching to venture farther from home, check out our feature on RV travel. A road trip’s a great way to spend time together while having an adventure. We also tried something new in this issue of Beyond: We asked our readers to send in photos of their pets. The response was fabulous and we received many more pictures than we could publish, so please visit www. beyondtheacorn.com to see the rest of your “pet family” photos. Talk about redefining the concept. How many of us describe our pets as family? Guilty as charged. That’s a photo of me with my new “kids.” Just when things were starting to get quiet at home with two sons off to college, we adopted these Australian cattle dogs. We found Callie and Jack through L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue (great organization, by the way), and now I’m hopelessly in love with them, even when they are barking to wake the dead or chewing through my favorite sandals. That’s family—you love ’em no matter what. I hope you enjoy this issue of Beyond. We certainly had fun putting it together for you, our “family” of readers. Until next time,
Leslie Gregory Haukoos, Editor-in-Chief beyond@theacorn.com 8 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
RICHARD GILLARD
WELCOME
Beyond THE ACORN
PUBLISHER Lisa Rule EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Leslie Gregory Haukoos ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Nick Oliveri CREATIVE DIRECTOR David McMartin ART DIRECTOR Timm Sinclair PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Richard Gillard
EDITORIAL CONSULTING EDITOR Kyle Jorrey CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stephanie Bertholdo, Anna Bitong, Rick Hazeltine, Ela Lindsay, Erin Newman, Becca Whitnall COPY EDITORS Idie Emery, Carol Pond, Erin Newman ART CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS Sarah Ely, David Lopez, West Ma채tita, Karma Christine Salvato, Beth Thayer WEB DESIGNER Beth Thayer PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Coons, Iris Smoot
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLLER Andy McGinnis ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Marilyn Burin, Donna Bondy Beyond the Acorn is published by the Acorn Newspaper Group in association with J. Bee NP Publishing, Ltd. Address correspondence to 30423 Canwood St., Ste. 108, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 706-0266. Send editorial comments to: beyond@theacorn.com For advertising: beyondsales@theacorn.com
www.beyondtheacorn.com
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T r i u n f o C r e e k . c o m
Who
Leading Ladies
Soprano Jean Baker is Marguerite and famed operatic bass Jerome Hines is Mephistopheles in the 1943 production of "Faust" with the Opera Association of the Golden West. Top left, Susanna is Eurydice in Jacques Offenbach's comic opera "Orpheus in the Underworld" in a 2012 Opera UCLA production. Top right, Susanna performs in Opera UCLA's 2013 production of Ravel's "L'Enfant et les Sortilèges." 12 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
Classical singer Susanna Lucarelli tells timeless stories with the soaring inflections of her voice each time she performs in an opera. And when she steps onstage she is carrying on with what she describes as the family business. “It’s not all roses at your feet and grand after-parties,” she says. “I’m here really investing my life into music. But there’s nothing else that I would work this hard for. I really feel like it chose me. It’s in my DNA.” The musical legacy stretches back two generations. Susanna’s mother, Sherryl Nelson, was the founding director of Spivey Music Hall at Clayton State University in Atlanta. Susanna’s grandparents were both performers during the golden era of Hollywood. Her grandmother, soprano Jean Baker, nee Forward, sang the part of Susan Alexander, acted by Dorothy Comingore, in the 1941 Orson Welles film “Citizen Kane.” In another star turn, she provided the voice of opera singer Nellie Melba in the 1944 movie “It Happened Tomorrow.” Jean Baker sang with Lena Horne on studio album recordings and can be heard in the choruses of films made by most of the big studios—MGM, 20th Century Fox and
Warner Brothers. She met her husband, David Laughlin, when the two sang the leads in a 1943 production of “Faust.” Laughlin, who was under Columbia Artists Management—“a pretty big deal,” his granddaughter says—starred in the radio show “Tune-up Time.” In the 1930s the tenor also performed lead roles for companies in New York and Opera-Comique in Paris. His wife’s career slowed after they eloped, and they toured the Philippines and Japan with the USO, starring in a production of “Rosalinda.” At the time, Jean was pregnant with Susanna’s mother. “She got prematurely stopped in her tracks,” Susanna says. “It’s such a pleasure of mine to be able to provide her with every minute detail about what I’m doing because I know that she so intimately understands the peaks, the valleys and everything in between.” Now it is Susanna’s turn and, according to her grandmother, it’s just a matter of time. “She has everything it takes to be a riproaring success,” says Jean. “She has a beautiful singing voice and a range that I didn’t have. Her top notes are extraordinary.” Susanna started her career as a studio
Courtesy of SUSANNA LUCARELLI
Written by ANNA BITONG
Jean as Yum-Yum in Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" in 1945. Top, Jean and her husband, tenor David Laughlin, in "Rosalinda" while touring with the USO in Okinawa, Japan, in 1946. Far right, Susanna and Jean greet each other after Susanna's performance as Poppea in Opera UCLA's production of Monteverdi's "L'Incoronazione di Poppea" in 2012.
singer, writing and performing hooks for pop and hip-hop recording sessions. When she became disenchanted with the youth-obsessed industry, Susanna enrolled at Moorpark College to study journalism while she took care of her grandmother in Camarillo. The two had always bonded over their shared love of singing. Each says they are inspired by the other. “I stayed away from studying (classical music) because I loved it so much. I think in the back of my mind I was so afraid to fail at the thing I really treasured the most,” Susanna says. The soprano, who has sung leading roles in Opera UCLA productions of Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld” and Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea,” earned her degree in vocal performance with an emphasis in opera from UCLA in June and plans to continue her studies. “People in our younger generation see opera as an antiquated and dying art form. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” she
says. “There are some pieces that I will have to sing maybe five times through before I can sing them without tearing up. That’s magical. That needs to happen. That can’t die with my generation. I won’t let it. “After singing something, some of us will look at each other and are at a loss for words,” she says of her UCLA classmates. “We’ll laugh; we’ll have tears in our eyes simultaneously. I feel extraordinarily blessed for having this be my family business. “I was fortunate enough to come from a background that really fostered my love for music and supported me. I’ve completely found my home.”
Who
Grandparents step up to the plate FAMILY IS REDEFINED FOR A NEWBURY PARK BOY WHO IS BEING RAISED BY HIS GRANDPARENTS
Todd Gunterman preps for a wind-up after a PONY baseball game. His grandparents, Matt and Barbie Heavrin, are right behind, supporting his every move.
14 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
Todd Gunterman is quite the utility player for his Newbury Park PONY baseball team. The 9-year-old plays first, second, third, pitcher and catcher for the Padres of the Mustang division. And, according to his grandpa, he’s good at all of them. Baseball is just one of the young boy’s activities his mom will never get to watch. She’ll never know that Todd’s a math whiz or that if he can’t be the next Mike Trout he’d like to combine his talents and one day be the manager of a big-league team. “Maybe after I’m done playing, maybe I could be a manager because I could work with batting averages and stuff,” Todd says. His mom will never know he inherited many of her mannerisms and facial expressions. That’s because Army Spc. Hannah McKinney died in 2006 in an accident while serving in Iraq. Todd was only 2 at the time, so he knows his mother mostly through stories and photographs. There’s one on the front of the binder he carries to school and more on the walls of his home, where he lives with his grandparents, Barbie and Matt Heavrin. Todd’s biological father took himself out of the picture before the boy was born, his grandmother says. Todd’s never met him. And although his stepfather visited early on, he hasn’t seen the child in a long time. But the Heavrins have been there all along. Hannah was living with her parents in Newbury Park when her baby was born. She took Todd with her to Washington state for a short time while she was stationed at Fort Lewis, but when she was deployed to the Middle East, she brought Todd to her parents. He’s been in their care ever since. “She had a choice and could have left him with anyone, but she chose us,” says Barbie, 54. “I thought we were done (parenting). The only problem for me is I was 20 years younger the first time we did this.” Barbie says she comes home tired after her work as a hospice nurse and taking Todd to baseball practice. The last thing she wants to do is head over to Walnut Elementary to attend a function at Todd’s school. But she goes because her grandson wants her to. “I think, ‘I didn’t want to do this anymore,’ but I do it because it’s the right thing, and I ultimately end up enjoying myself and I’m
RICHARD GILLARD
Written by BECCA WHITNALL
NO WATERING! NO MOWING!
Courtesy of the HEAVRIN FAMILY
Army Spc. Hannah McKinney cuddles with Todd in 2005 shortly before she was deployed to Iraq. Left, Hannah in 2002. Todd's mother was 20 when she died.
always glad I did,” she says. “You kick yourself in the behind and go, ‘Oh, I would have missed this!’” The real joy, says Todd’s grandfather, is just being around the energetic young boy. Matt, 53, and a power plant operator for L.A. County Sanitation District, finds being stuck on a school schedule difficult when the family wants to pick up and have some fun, but being so directly involved with his grandson makes it worth it. “I get to teach him how to ride a bike and all the fun things the parent would do and the grandparent would just hear about,” Matt says. One thing Todd enjoys with his grandparents is going to the annual Snowball Express event. Sponsored by American Airlines, the event honors and provides support to children whose parents have died while on active military duty. The purpose is to build new memories, Barbie says. “Not that they’re ever going to forget their loved one who sacrificed their life . . . but it takes one to know one, so when they gather together, it’s a unique group,” she says. At school, she adds, Todd is the only child who’s lost a parent to war. It can be difficult when friends at school ask where his mother is or how she died. “There’s no empathy,” Barbie says. Classmates may offer sympathy but only others with similar experiences understand what it’s like to live through that kind of loss. “That’s unique to that group of people.” Although he visits his late mother’s grave from time to time, Todd spent this last Mother’s Day morning making breakfast in bed for his grandmother Barbie. With his grandparents and his extended family, Todd is building new memories with each new day.
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What
The
FAMILY That
What to do when you don’t know what to do
As the lazy days of summer stretch before you, and the kids are melted on the sofa asking the age-old question: “What are we doin’ today?” it’s probably a good time to check out the nearby places that offer fun for the whole gang.
PLAYS TOGETHER
Written by ERIN NEWMAN
In the neighborhood America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
Boulderdash Indoor Rock Climbing Rock climbing, in addition to being great exercise, is a great sport for interacting with one another. Boulderdash features more than 10,000 square feet of sculpted climbing surface with various terrains. 880 Hampshire Road, Ste. A, Thousand Oaks (805) 557-1300 www.boulderdashclimbing.com
Conejo Valley Archers Thanks to the “The Hunger Games,” interest in archery has taken off. Families can learn the sport for only $5 per person per session from Conejo Valley Archers club’s coaches, who provide equipment, training and guidance every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Children must be at least 8 years old.) 4651 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley (805) 530-1339 www.cvarchers.com
Iceoplex Lace up your skates and get out on the ice for some family fun at this Olympic-size ice rink. Rent a skating walker for the little ones or give 16 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
Courtesy of VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE
Who knew there’s a zoo right around the corner? This 5-acre, student-run zoo is part of the college’s exotic animal training and management (EATM) program. The Teaching zoo is small, open only on weekends, and has no concessions. But unlike larger public zoos, here visitors are able to get up close to the exotic creatures in a low-key setting. The shows, demonstrations and discovery stations provide an interactive experience. Staff members, who are EATM students, are on hand to answer questions. 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark (805) 378-1441 zoo.moorparkcollege.edu hockey or curling a try. 131 W. Easy St., Simi Valley (805) 520-7465 www.iceoplexsimivalley.com
Let’s Get Cookin’ Work together as a team to make delectable creations at workshops for families with kids age 6 to 12. Each workshop centers around a particular theme at this cooking school, which also offers classes and camps for children and teens and a broad selection of classes for adults. 4643 Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village (818) 991-3940 www.letsgetcookin.com
Leonis Adobe Museum This historic site is in the heart of old-town Calabasas. Tour the 1884 adobe, check out vintage farm equipment, feed the animals or simply soak up the Old West atmosphere. Pop next door for a meal at the Sagebrush Cantina or picnic at Calabasas Creek Park and you’ve got yourself a full day. 23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (818) 222-6511 www.leonisadobemuseum.org
Ventura Harbor Village
This charming working harbor features restaurants, shops, galleries and an arcade with a 32-animal carousel, in addition to tons of weekend entertainment and seasonal family-friendly events. For the active family, pedal boating, kayaking and paddle boarding are offered for water lovers and bicycling is available for landlubbers. Other families may prefer to stroll the promenade with ice cream cones in hand, watching the boats glide through the harbor. The Ventura Harbor is the gateway to Channel Islands National Park and is walking distance to the beach. Free admission and parking make it an ideal summer destination. 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura (805) 642-8538 www.venturaharborvillage.com
Courtesy of UNDERWOOD FAMILY FARMS
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY
Underwood Family Farms
This working farm provides an invaluable hands-on educational family experience that shows kids where food comes from. On weekends, tractor-drawn wagons take visitors out to pick fruits and veggies growing in the farm’s fields and orchards. Check the website calendar to see what produce is available for harvesting each month. Additional activities at Underwood include farm animal viewings, feedings and shows; pony rides; haystack climbing; and a 30-minute animal show. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy mini-train rides, the trike trail, electric train, electric tractors and cow train. 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark (805) 529-3690 www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com
MB2 Raceway Families looking for an exhilarating experience (and who have kids taller than 4 feet) may find that go-kart racing fits the bill. A quarter-mile indoor racetrack provides the setting for whizzing along in an electric European go-kart at speeds of up to 45 mph. 1475 Lawrence Drive, Thousand Oaks (805) 214-9999 www.mb2raceway.com
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Paramount Ranch The filming location, used for decades, is now a fun Western town where little ones can imagine themselves as cowboys and gunfighters. Hiking trails that venture into the scenic Santa Monica Mountains branch out from the town. 2903 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/paramountranch.htm
Platinum Sports Center Platinum is known for world-class gymnastics classes and now they offer activities for families to do together. Their X-Zone includes an urban obstacle course, a rock-climbing wall and a trampoline park that includes basketball and dodgeball. Families can also use gymnastics equipment including spring floors, foam pits, padded apparatus and tumble tracks. 160 W Cochran St., Simi Valley (805) 527-6662 www.platinumsportscenterus.com
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Santa Susana Railroad Depot Visit this 1903 depot for a step back in time. Kids can learn about railroad life a century ago and view model trains traveling through a miniature version of Simi Valley as it was in the 1950s. 6503 Katherine Road, Simi Valley (805) 581-3462 www.santasusanadepot.com
Conejo Valley Botanic Garden
Fifteen specialty gardens plus nature trails beckon visitors to this amazing free gem in Thousand Oaks. Children can run and play while learning about nature and gardening in the Kids’ Adventure Garden. Everyone can explore the nature trail, butterfly garden, tree house, hydroponic pod, carnivorous plant bog and “zoo” garden. The garden is free, but the Kids’ Adventure Garden portion is only open on Sundays. 350 Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks (805) 494-7630 www.conejogarden.org
Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center Visit an interpretive center that has Chumash huts, stroll through a garden with indigenous plants or take a family-friendly nature hike through a beautiful meadow in the shadow of Boney Mountain. Workshops, music, stories and crafts are offered as well. 4126 W. Potrero Road, Newbury Park (805) 375-1930 www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/rsvsatwiwa.htm
Scooter’s Jungle Extra energy can be expended at this tropical-themed indoor playground suited for all
ages. Family fun events enable everyone (including parents) to jump, climb, slide and play games together on giant inflatables. Open play and toddler times are also available; check the website calendar. 2250 Union Place, Simi Valley (805) 203-9200 www.scootersjungle.com
Sky High Floors and walls made of trampolines offer an active opportunity for family recreation. Play dodgeball or basketball, launch into a foam pit, or simply jump—it’s all fun exercise. A parent lounge with TVs and free Wi-Fi is available for moms and dads who can’t keep up with the kids. 166 Aviador St., Camarillo (805) 484-6300 www.jumpskyhigh.com
Day trips
Casitas Water Adventure Cool off at this inexpensive, small water park located next to Lake Casitas and especially suited for families with young children. Tots can splash and play in the shallow jungle gym lagoon complete with small slides, waterfalls and squirters. The lazy river allows guests to float along on inner tubes while soaking up the sun. 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura (805) 649-1122
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a unique opportunity to try something new for families with older children (kids must be at least 7 years old and 4 feet tall to ride). 4790 W. Lynn Road, Newbury Park (805) 499-9512 www.rockingkhorserentals.com
Fillmore & Western Railway Catch a ride on a vintage train through scenic and historic Heritage Valley farmland. The railway has special seasonal activities such as picking pumpkins in the fall and holiday treats like cutting your own Christmas tree and going to the “North Pole” with Santa. 364 Main St., Fillmore (805) 524-2546 www.fwry.com
Turn hurt into hope for a child!
Golf N’ Stuff This miniature golf course provides a great outdoor excursion in Ventura’s temperate climate. Golf N’ Stuff also has go-karts, bumper cars, bumper boats, lazer tag and an arcade for all-day fun. 5555 Walker St., Ventura (805) 644-7131 www.golfnstuff.com
Gull Wings Children’s Museum
Courtesy of NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Hands-on kids will love Gull Wings. Nearly every exhibit, or station, engages children in projects, explorations or creations. Kids can meet live sea creatures in a touch tank, imagine they are astronauts in a space station
Exposition Park
This collection of world-class museums is worth the drive to downtown L.A. Built more than 100 years ago, the Natural History Museum is known for its mammal dioramas and Dinosaur Hall, featuring fossils that include 20 complete dinosaurs. In summer, walk through the Butterfly Pavilion to encounter butterflies flying free in their own habitat. Bring a picnic lunch to eat in the expansive rose garden and then walk over to the California Science Center to enjoy more than 100 mind-stimulating hands-on exhibits—for free! The Science Center is also home to the space shuttle Endeavour. Exposition Park is also the site of the African American Museum and an IMAX theater showing educational movies on a seven-story screen, and it is adjacent to the historic Los Angeles Coliseum. 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles (213) 744-7458 www.expositionpark.org/venues
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and create in the Lego room. 418 W 4th St., Oxnard (805) 483-3005 www.gullwings.org
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center This one-of-a-kind destination invites all the generations to journey together in a giant wooden ark filled with whimsical hand-crafted animals. There are opportunities for exploration, interaction, making music and new friends all while learning the value of diversity and community. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles (310) 440-4500 www.skirball.org
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This century-old museum houses fascinating artifacts and specimens and includes handson activities. Guests can venture into the backyard to explore the nature trail, look for tadpoles in the creek, dig for dinosaur bones or meet birds of prey. Visit in the summertime to experience a greenhouse filled with 1,000 butterflies. 2559 Puesta Del Sol, Santa Barbara (805) 682-4711 www.sbnature.org
Skating Plus Visit this indoor roller rink for exercise and family fun rolled into one. Great music, creative lighting and games make this an engaging outing for all ages—yes, even parents! 1720 Mesa Verde Ave, Ventura (805) 644-2121 www.skatingplus.com
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Bowling alleys: Bowling is great way to
get the family moving when it’s too hot outside. Kids of all ages can play—just be sure to request bumpers. Here are a few local spots. Brunswick Bowl 5255 Cochran St., Simi Valley (805) 584-2695 www.bowlbrunswick.com
805.379.2242
3195 Willow Lane, Westlake Village | www.LIFESTYLEOUTDOOR.com
20 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
clean, wide stretch of sand and plenty of nearby parking, Leo Carrillo State Beach with its famous tidepools or Marina Park in Ventura, which has a big “ship” moored in the sand with a zip line, plus swings, slides and a large grassy area.
ACTIVITIES ON PAGE 51
When
THERE’S A LOT GOING ON IN TOWN THIS SUMMER. HERE ARE A FEW HAPPENINGS CLOSE TO HOME.
OUT AND ABOUT SATURDAY, JULY 19 Music in the Park 6 p.m. Rancho Madera Community Park 556 Lake Park Drive, Simi Valley Free concerts. Bring picnic or purchase food. July 19 features Gold Rush Country; Aug. 16 is Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute. Visit www.rsrpd.org Call (805) 584-4400 “Love Me Tender” under the stars Talk at 7 p.m.; film at dusk Reyes Adobe Historical Site, 5464 Reyes Adobe Road, Agoura Hills Agoura Hills Cultural Arts Council/91301 Film Series presents the Elvis Presley movie and a talk by Allyson Adams, whose dad was a friend of Presley’s. Bring seating. Call to RSVP. Admission is free; donations support Reyes Adobe. Visit www.91301.org Call (818) 597-7361
Pooch Parade Dog Walk & Pet Expo
Bring Fido to San Buenaventura State Beach Park on July 20 for a barking good time. Lots of doggie demos and vendors.
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The Fan Halen tribute band will finish the summer season of free outdoor concerts in Agoura Hills. Presented by the City of Agoura Hills and the Acorn Newspapers, Summer Concerts in the Park will get Agoura dancing.
SUNDAYS, JULY 20, AUGUST 3 AND AUGUST 17 Summer Concerts in the Park 6:00 p.m. Agoura High School, 28545 West Driver Ave. Chumash Park, 5550 Medea Valley Drive, Agoura Hills The Acorn Newspapers and the City of Agoura Hills proudly present Summer Concerts in the Park. The Conejo Valley
Community Concert & Jazz Bands take the stage on July 20 at Agoura High School. On August 3 Ambrosia will perform at Chumash Park. The season wraps up with Fan Halen on August 17 at Chumash Park. Free admission. Visit www.agourahillsrec.org CALENDAR ON PAGE 58
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THE DAYS OF CLIMBING IN CARDBOARD BOXES AND RUNNING THROUGH THE SPRINKLERS ARE OVER. TODAY'S KIDS HAVE MORE TO EXPLORE.
Fantastic Playgrounds Written by ERIN NEWMAN
Gavin Valdez and Lucas Realivasquez, both 4, try out their best Indiana Jones moves, leaping from the back of an excavated dinosaur at Mayfair Park in Simi Valley. The park has lots of faux fossils to excavate and explore. Below, William Realivasquez, 2, joins Gavin in an empty dinosaur egg. Now, where could that baby dino be . . . ?
RICHARD GILLARD
YOUNG ADVENTURERS WANTED Dinosaur enthusiasts will love Mayfair Park, located on a quiet street in Simi Valley. A simulated excavation site with faux dinosaur fossils ready to be explored has recently been added. The giant T. rex skeleton, dinosaur eggs and other bones buried in the sand are adjacent to a new tot lot with tubes, slides and a rock climber geared for children ages 2 to 5. Cross a footbridge for handball, volleyball and basketball courts and a fitness circuit.
Mayfair Park 2550 Caldwell St., Simi Valley (805) 584-4400 • www.rsrpd.org SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 23
When summer starts to sizzle, take the kids to cool off in one of the community’s splash pads where they can stomp on water spouting up from the ground, shoot streams at their friends, or run under a rainbow of droplets while parents relax and watch the fun—unless they decide to join in, that is. Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District’s two splash pads, one in Simi Valley and one in Oak Park, are open through Labor Day Weekend and are a welcome resource for families looking for a free activity on hot summer days. Check website for hours.
MICHAEL COONS
Sprays of water send Isabelle Tanzman, 8, skyward at Rancho Tapo Community Park. Right, Baron Yager, 19 months, is delighted to get a splash in the face, while his buddy Georgia Manger, 16 months, keeps a safe distance at Oak Canyon Community Park splash pad.
Gates Canyon Park 25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Calabasas (818) 880-6461
RICHARD GILLARD
ACCESSIBLE FUN Brandon’s Village at Gates Canyon Park is a place for children with disabilities to play alongside those with typical abilities on equipment that’s fun for everyone. Designed by Shane’s Inspiration, a nonprofit that designs and builds universally accessible playgrounds, Brandon’s Village was built in 2006, a project spearheaded by Calabasas attorney Dina Kaplan, whose son Brandon has multiple disabilities. Even though Brandon is now a 20-year-old, Kaplan still coordinates Brandon’s Buddies, a free monthly playdate at the park for children of all abilities.
Lily Cota, 7, of Newbury Park plays on the equipment at Brandon's Village at Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas, unhindered by the device she needs to help her walk.
• www.cityofcalabasas.com Email: brandonsbuddies@pacbell.net 24 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
Far left and right: IRIS SMOOT
WATER PLAY
We are not the right school for every student… ...but for the right student we may be the perfect school. Since 1977 Hillcrest Christian School has been providing outstanding biblically based education from preschool through high school. Our students enjoy small class sizes, student centered learning and a diverse offering of academic and extracurricular activities, all at an affordable price. Ryan Giardino and Kamran Ghafarzada, both 8, are seeing stars and keeping cool at the Rancho Tapo Community Park splash pad.
Oak Canyon Community Park 5600 Hollytree Drive, Oak Park Rancho Tapo Community Park 3700 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley (805) 584-4400
• www.rsrpd.org
Bigger does not equal better. Our students are accepted at some of America’s most competitive colleges and universities. Why? Because they have outstanding teachers who take a personal interest in their success. Because they can play on CIF championship athletic teams. Because they can excel as students and as individuals. We are a Christian school. It’s not just part of our name, it’s who we are, it’s what we do. We teach from a biblical world view. We seek to partner with Christian families to raise up students who will impact the world for Jesus. If this is important to you, then maybe you are just the family we’ve been looking for. Hillcrest Christian School
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GIVING CHILDREN THE GROUNDING THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND THE FREEDOM THEY NEED TO FLY IS PROBABLY MOST CONFOUNDING WHEN THEY'RE PREPARING TO LEAVE HOME Written by STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO Illustration by BETH THAYER
Driving a car, first dates and going off to college are milestones in life that teens relish. But of them all, the college send-off probably marks the most dramatic shift in the relationship between parent and child. With every baby step toward adulthood, parents can’t 26 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
help but fret. Will my gregarious son be safe behind the wheel, or will his overconfidence push him to speed? Can my sensitive daughter emotionally weather a broken heart, or will she crumble when she suffers that inevitable firstlove loss?
But going off to college is altogether different than learning how to drive or navigating the dating scene. Parents cannot readily step in and fix a problem while their sons or daughters are away at school. When the metaphoric cord is severed at the dorm room door, parents will no longer have the luxury of knowing the company their son keeps, or whether or not their daughter is surviving on junk food and three hours of sleep per night. Let’s face it, at the age of 18 your child, your baby, is an adult—kind of. Legally he or she can vote, go to war and sign contracts. Drinking booze is still a legal no-no, but has anybody heard of a college where this law is routinely enforced? Neuroscience tells us that the teen brain is not fully baked until the age of 25 or so. Your child may be completely prepared to tackle the academic rigors of college, but can he or she balance the emotional challenges that come with the territory? Parents cross their fingers and hope that they have given their sons and daughters the roots of wisdom during their first 18 years at home, experience that will help them withstand adversity and allow them to advocate for themselves with teachers, friends and foes. These roots provide the foundation for the emotional grit—or wings—necessary for teens to make the grade in college and withstand the vicissitudes of life. Judy Wiener, an Agoura Hills family therapist and clinical social worker, has helped many teens and families prepare for transitions, including the move from home to college. Almost half of the college students starting school in 2006 failed to graduate within six years, according to a report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. How does one know if a child is ready to tackle college and the emotional booby traps inherent to the higher education experience? Wiener says that while each child matures at a different rate, most teens provide clues in high school as to whether or not they are ready to move out of the house and into the dorm. First, it’s normal for some kids to rebel against their parents toward the end of high school, says Weiner. Though the rebellion can create a chasm between parent and child, some of the push-pull home drama is healthy.
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SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 27
Make Every Room a Famliy Room
“Kids want to be self-sufficient,” Wiener says. Teens, she says, who have established some distance from their parents at this stage might actually be better prepared to leave home for college. Wiener has witnessed parents helping their child far too much. She says if a teen has been accepted into college based on his own merit, he is academically prepared, but if mom has assisted her child with homework and projects throughout high school, she may want to take a step back and reconsider whether her child is truly ready for the challenge on his own. College life provides an education above and beyond what is learned in classes. “It’s important for students to have developed skills to live independently,” Wiener says. “They need emotional, social and life skills.”
Face it, at the age of 18 your child, your baby, is an adult—kind of.
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Can they do their own laundry? If not, they’d better learn while living at home. Can your child manage money, write a check and use an ATM? If not, they may not be able to handle routine errands at college or even register for classes on their own. Wiener suggests getting a teen ready for an independent life while they’re still under the same roof as mom and pop. She recommends letting kids experience what it’s like to be away from home before moving to college. Camp or other activities that require that the child be on their own for at least a day or two is one early step. Shari Hill, a Lake Sherwood resident and past president of the international organization SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted), agrees that academic readiness should not be the deciding factor when determining if a child should head off to a four-year university right out of high school. “Kids who aren’t ready are distractible, disruptive,” Hill says. “Parents have to prepare their children in so many ways.” Hill says parents need to take a look ROOTS AND WINGS ON PAGE 52
BILL ESTES
Courtesy of GO RVing
BY ERIN NEWMAN
So you want to explore the great outdoors, but you’d rather not leave behind the comforts of home? You want to tumble out of bed and breathe in the freshness of pine trees in the morning sun. Still, you hate starting the day without a decent shower. And when Mother Nature waters her fields, you’d rather be cozy inside, playing cards with the kids, safe and dry, listening to the patter of rain on the roof. You love telling stories around the campfire, roasting marshmallows on wire coat hangers and counting the millions of stars overhead, but when it’s time to sleep, you want to crawl into a soft bed. Traveling in a recreational vehicle can be a great getaway for all kinds of families. With an RV, the journey is part of the fun. You can stop along the way whenever and wherever you want, and you have all the comforts of home—your own belongings, your food, even your pets. RV road tripping is perfect for uninterrupted family time. Jeana Esler of Simi Valley says that RVing provides a great way to make memories. “Camping really gets us away from the everyday grind. It’s a chance for us to reconnect and focus on what is important: family. We can park our motorhome near the peaceful waves of the beach or among the redwoods in the forest. For more adventure, we take our dirt bikes to the desert or tow our boat to a lakefront spot for some wakeboarding fun.” The adventure can begin long before your departure date. Planning a trip together gets everyone on board and sets the anticipation in motion. Once you’re on the road, there are lots of benefits to RV travel. Kids are free to explore and discover new things in a less structured setting than with other types of travel. A SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 29
Courtesy of GO RVing
Traveling by RV offers families a great opportunity to get away from it all— together. Try leaving behind the electronics—yes, even your iPad.
campground is also a great place to congregate with other families. You can reserve a group site or a few sites situated near each other— maybe make it an annual tradition. Marty Estes of Westlake Village often travels in his RV with other families. “Camping as a group gives us a chance to reconnect with family and friends. My kids love playing outdoors with their cousins and buddies, and the adults have a chance to relax and enjoy some good conversation and downtime around the campfire.” Get going If you want to give it a try, begin by renting an RV for a weekend adventure to see if the experience works for you. The RV will provide everything—yes, even the proverbial kitchen sink—a refrigerator, microwave, bathroom/shower, TV/DVD player and sleeping 30 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
accommodations for at least four. It’s usually wider and longer than a car but is not difficult to drive after a short get-acquainted period. A rental agency can help you choose the type of RV suited for your needs and show you how to operate it. RV rentals may be motorhomes, truck-based campers, or trailers, the most popular of which is the Type C motorhome, an RV body built on a heavy-duty van chassis. They’re relatively easy to maneuver. Or choose a campground that features a pre-parked RV, probably a travel trailer, which is set up and waiting for you when you arrive at your destination. And there’s no problem finding those destinations. California offers a great diversity of beaches, deserts and mountains. Campgrounds range from the primitive to the luxurious. RVs are designed for a certain level of self-containment, the ability to ROAD TRIP ON PAGE 53
WHERE TO RENT OR BUY
LOCAL CAMPING
101 RV Rentals 850 W. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley (805) 210-7391 www.101rvrentals.com
Lake Casitas 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura (805) 649-2233 www.casitaswater.org
Conejo Wholesale Auto and RV (sales) 299 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks (805) 496-8700 www.conejowholesaleauto.com
Leo Carrillo State Park 35000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (818) 880-0350 www.parks.ca.gov
Expedition Motor Homes (rentals) 23981 Craftsman Road, Calabasas (818) 225-8239 www.expeditionmotorhomes.com Road Bear RV Rentals and Sales 28404 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills (818) 865-2925 www.roadbearrv.com Simi RV Sales 1568 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley (805) 522-1221 www.simi-rv.com RESOURCES
www.gorving.com www.recreation.gov www.reserveamerica.com www.parks.ca.gov www.koa.com
Malibu Creek State Park 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas (818) 880-0350 www.parks.ca.gov Ventura Ranch KOA 7400 Pine Grove Road, Santa Paula (805) 933-3200 koa.com/campgrounds/ventura-ranch PRE-PARKED RVs Camping Adventures (various locations) (805) 797-7460 www.campingadventuresrentals.com Santa Barbara Auto Camp 2717 De La Vina St., Santa Barbara (888) 405-7553 www.autocamp.com
DON’T FORGET TO PACK THE MARSHMALLOWS Here’s a new twist on the s’more classic crowd pleaser that goes great with stories under the stars. CAMPFIRE CONE 1 ice cream cone 20 mini marshmallows 20 chocolate chips Aluminum foil Place a marshmallow in the bottom of the cone. Follow with a few chips. Continue layering marshmallows and chips in the cone until full to slightly brimming. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Heat in campfire 3 to 5 minutes or until contents are melted and gooey. Enjoy! Lick sticky fingers. Repeat as needed to ensure sweet dreams under the stars. GET CREATIVE: Try updating the classic s’more by adding: Andes chocolate mints Crumbled Oreo cookies Colored sprinkles Nutella or peanut butter Banana or strawberry slices Whole caramel or caramel spread SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 31
MY E C A SP Turning a child’s roomreat into a personalized ret Written by LESLIE GREGORY HAUKOOS
32 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
JIM GROSS PHOTOGRAPHY
T
he 16-year-old Westlake Village girl who lives in this tropical paradise loves to surf—when she’s not on the basketball court, that is. Her room was completely remodeled from floor to ceiling and now reflects her love of the ocean. The teenager worked directly with interior designer Genoveve Serge on the various design choices. “She and I were thrilled with the results,” Genoveve says. “The bold colors have grown on the rest of the family.” New furniture wasn’t necessary to make this room personal. The girl and her father painted an older bed and nightstand white with inset panels the same aqua as the walls. The bedding is all machine-washable, a must in any kid’s room, says the designer. The room remodel included installing an aluminum slider with an interior wood frame in the place of a previous small window so the teen could enjoy the grove of oaks just outside her room. Add the final touches—the photo enlargement on canvas hanging above the bed, an online find, and a skateboard the teenager made in her art class at school—and the result is a very personal, comfy teen retreat. “It’s important to allow kids to have their own voice in their design,” Genoveve explains. “It empowers them and their bedroom becomes a true reflection of who they are.”
With a contemporary chair and durable bedding from Target, this teenager's room is a personal as well as affordable haven. The skateboard, the result of a school art project, has “beach life� written in Byelorussian.
e c a p S r e H When designer Janice Peters conceived of this Newbury Park room for her own little girl, her goal was to create a room that would grow along with her child. She chose colors that “weren’t too specific to a girl or 34 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
a boy,” splitting the room into two colors, using the chair rail as a separation point. Her plan was to keep the more neutral yellow and eventually change only the green paint to whatever color her little girl chose once
she was old enough to voice an opinion. “Sure enough, (she) is asking for a color change now that she’s 9,” Janice says. The bed originally had a pine finish. Janice painted it white and added a wood applique on the headboard and footboard to tie in with the new dresser’s detail. The flower hooks were an online find. Janice found a similar flower stamp at Jo-Ann craft store. “I just dabbed the stamp in a white acrylic paint and then hand-painted the yellow centers,” she says. “I wanted the back wall to look like wallpaper without the commitment.” As the little girl grows, the displayed wardrobe changes with her. What began as a series of sweet little baby clothes has evolved into a place to hang the favorite outfits of an older child. Dragonfly and butterfly accents, discovered at a local children’s store, offer the final touch of whimsy to a magical room.
JANICE PETERS
With a nightstand from Costco, bedding from Target and rug from IKEA, this little girl's room is a creative and affordable beauty. The designer painted flowers on the wall and added crystals to the hanging chandelier for a touch of whimsy.
His Space Designer Janice Peters took on a different challenge in her son Jason’s room. Now 13, Jason is an avid reader, so he needed a cozy place to read as well as shelves to display his books and gem and mineral collections. Janice added a built-in, floor-toceiling bookshelf and supplemented that with hanging shelves from Pottery Barn. “Jason’s dad installed a small rounded desk/shelf under the window to give him a place to do his homework and also act as a nightstand,” to optimize every bit of the 10'x10' room, Janice says. The wall-mounted swing arm lamp provides good reading light without taking up any surface space so Jason has more room for his books and personal treasures. Jason originally wanted an entirely blue room, but his mom/designer knew
JANICE PETERS
The designer kept the room from feeling cluttered while utilizing every inch of this relatively small space to accommodate Jason's books and collections. Though the boy wanted a solid blue room, the designer, aka Mom, opted to break up the blue with a calm, neutral beige.
that would be “too much,” so she chose a complementary beige that would “keep his space calm and interesting.” She repeated the colors in various design elements throughout the room. “Originally, the big blue stripe was a headboard accent color but . . . Jason moved his bed on the diagonal and the blue stripe still looks great.” The wall appliques known as Wallter circles are available through various online soures. They come primed and with adhesive on the back for easy color coordinating and hanging. An oversized initial J, discovered at a yard sale, adds a touch of modern fun to the room while a laminated poster from a museum gift shop reflects Jason’s personal interests. SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 35
t s F r i amily F e h T
of
CAMARILLO BY RICK HAZELTINE Images courtesy of the Camarillo Ranch Foundation
A
dolfo Camarillo stood 4 feet, 11 inches tall, and even when he wore his trademark fedora he was usually the shortest man in the room. But in terms of the impact he made on his namesake city and Ventura County, he was nothing short of a giant.
This stretch of Ventura Boulevard, just west of the railroad tracks, is the eastern end of Old Town Camarillo today. St. Mary Magdalen Chapel would be built on the right side of this stretch of road, just up a gentle hill.
36 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
When he died in 1958 at the age of 94, more than 800 people paid homage at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo. The Archbishop of Los Angeles presided over the ceremony. Flags were flown at half-staff at the Ventura County Courthouse and the newly opened Adolfo Camarillo High School, and every store in Camarillo was closed during the funeral Mass. At the time, a young editor of the weekly Camarillo News named Gerry Olsen wrote in the newspaper’s front-page obituary: “The history of Adolfo Camarillo is, in many ways, the history of Camarillo, Ventura County and California.”
Adolfo Camarillo and his wife, Isabella Menchaca Camarillo, had seven children.
That story starts long before Adolfo was born. Patriarch Juan Camarillo arrived in the area in 1834 with an expedition of about 250 colonists from Mexico. Juan first settled in Santa Barbara, then moved to Ventura and opened a general store. Juan was an astute businessman and earned enough money to purchase Rancho Ojai, a nearly 18,000-acre Mexican land grant in 1856. Juan sold the land in 1864— the year Adolfo was born—and by 1875 had purchased Rancho Calleguas, a 10,000-acre Mexican land grant that encompasses what is now the city of Camarillo. In all, he paid $36,950 for the property, including $3,000 in gold coin. By the time Adolfo was born, the ways of the California ranchos were fading into history. Many landowners were forced to sell their property to pay for legal fees when they were required to prove ownership of the land after the United States won the MexicanAmerican War in 1848. Adolfo was ushered in as Camarillo family patriarch when his father died in 1880. Adolfo was just 16 years old but by
all accounts ran the ranch as efficiently and effectively as his father. Adolfo was 23 when he married Isabella Menchaca, the daughter of a Ventura merchant. Their first child, Minerva, was born the following September and died seven months later. Adolfo and Isabella had seven children, including another daughter who died within her first year. Frank Jr. was the only son and, though he married, he had no children to carry on the family name. Rosita Petit Marvel, born in 1925 and living in Nevada, is Adolfo and Isabella’s only surviving grandchild. Adolfo and Isabella originally lived in an adobe. After that home burned down, Adolfo started construction on what is now the Camarillo Ranch House. The family moved into the Queen Anne Victorian home in 1892. Visitors can tour the house and grounds on Camarillo Ranch Road today. A modern city’s birth It is impossible to look at Camarillo today without seeing the impact of the Camarillo family, primarily Adolfo but also his younger brother, Juan Jr. Juan donated the land for St. Mary
Left, Adolfo’s father, Juan Sr., and two of the deeds for land that would eventually become part of the city of Camarillo. Above, Adolfo Camarillo rides in a parade at the Ventura County Fair in 1929. SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 37
St. Mary Magdalen Chapel, built by Adolfo’s brother, Juan Camarillo, was named for Juan and Adolfo’s older sister Magdalena who died at 10 years old. Below, Carmen Camarillo Jones rides Sultan in the Santa Barbara Fiesta parade in 1933. Bottom, Frank Camarillo, Adolfo and Isabella’s only son. Magdalen Chapel and helped fund construction of the building, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. He also donated the land for St. John’s Seminary. Juan, who never married, spent more than a decade cattle ranching in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was Adolfo who was the face and force of the Camarillo family and a ubiquitous presence in the community. Adolfo was often called “the last Spanish Don.” Although he embraced the vast changes that California was undergoing during his lifetime, he also reflected his Spanish ranchero heritage. Granddaughter Carmelita Nicholson described in her 1944 Stanford University master’s thesis the festival Adolfo held in 1924 when his brother, Juan, returned from Argentina on a visit: “Seven hundred and fifty guests celebrated his arrival in the old Californian style. In keeping with the Californian tradition of hospitality, everything the host had was at the disposal of his guests, who came early and stayed late. Several steers and lambs were killed for the barbecue. . . . Tortillas, frijoles, Spanish salsa, Spanish rice, enchiladas, tamales, empañaditas and assorted salads were served by waitresses in Spanish and Mexican costumes, and a Spanish orchestra played during the barbecue and the dance which followed in an outdoor pavilion.” Although he loved fiestas and could be counted on to attend most celebrations, Adolfo was not one to live in the past. He 38 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
always had his eyes on the future, for his family, his rancho and his community. Adolfo donated 50 acres to Oxnard Union High School District for the building of a school, aptly named Adolfo Camarillo High School. He also donated land to the state for the widening of the road that jutted its way up the Conejo Grade. His civic contributions were many and included serving 56 years as a trustee for Pleasant Valley School District and eight years as a member of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. Adolfo was even more influential in business, helping the West County to grow and transition from cattle ranching to agriculture. When he was 43, he helped found Peoples Lumber Company. While his company supplied materials, his banking efforts provided the capital, especially as the county turned toward agriculture. In 1903, he joined with Achille Levy to form Bank of A. Levy, serving as a director until his death and also serving on the boards of five other banks. Olsen relates a popular story about Adolfo and Achille: They would get up well before dawn and ride a buggy or horses around county farms. If they saw a light on that early, they figured the owner would probably be able to repay a loan. If the house was dark, however, they’d likely pass on granting the loan. As a leader in agriculture, Adolfo was among the first to plant lima beans, the No. 1 CAMARILLO ON PAGE 64
CAMARILLO WHITE HORSES Of Don Adolfo Camarillo’s many lasting legacies, the closest to his heart was likely the Camarillo White Horses. Their story began in 1921, when Adolfo purchased a Spanish white stallion named Sultan for $500 at the California State Fair in Sacramento. He bred Sultan with Morgan horses and, occasionally, the foals would be pure white. Eventually the white horses became a breed all their own. When white horses were studied to determine what caused the color variation, it was found that Camarillo White Horses have a unique gene mutation responsible for not only the color but other characteristics. It’s now possible to determine if a horse is simply white or if it is a Camarillo White Horse. The unusual and striking vision of the Camarillo White Horses made them popular at parades and festivals. Adolfo first rode Sultan at the 1924 Santa Barbara Fiesta
~ Save the date ~ INFO ON Camarillo’s Adolfo 150th celebration this year birthday celebration atdetails the Camarillo Ranch tk tk tk tk tk House on October 26 For details, visit www.camarilloranch.org
parade and the 1925 Tournament of Roses parade. Adolfo never sold a White Horse, although he was known, on rare occasions, to give them as gifts. His youngest daughter, Carmen, oversaw the Camarillo White Horses after Adolfo died in 1958. Carmen died in 1987 and in her will dictated the horses be sold at auction. Several people who knew the historical significance of the breed purchased horses at the auction and then created the Camarillo White Horse Association in 1992. At that time there were 11 Camarillo White Horses. Today more than 20 Camarillo White Horses exist, according to Sherry Reynolds of the Camarillo Ranch Foundation docents. Three mares currently in foal could add to the total. “We never know until they hit the ground what color they’ll be,” she says.
Adolfo Camarillo bought Sultan at the California State Fair in 1921. The Spanish white stallion would sire a line of white horses for the Camarillo family.
Docents dressed in period garb greet visitors to the Ranch House.
Condiment lettering by Kim Cummings Research by Ela Lindsay
Written by LESLIE GREGORY HAUKOOS Photos by MICHAEL COONS
W
e scoured the Conejo, searched Simi, careened through Camarillo and made our way around Moorpark searching for the best hot dogs in town. Here are our favorites, in all of their juicy, hot, spicy perfection, along with more than you ever wanted to know about the ubiquitous dog.
Dayne’s Chicago Dawg has all the classic ingredients but is assembled in a way that makes it less likely to land in your lap.
The Classics Chicago-style Water-simmered or grilled and garlicky all-beef dog topped with yellow mustard, chopped sweet onions and tomato, dill pickle, bright green sweet relish, hot peppers and celery salt on a poppy-seed bun.
Corn Dog A wiener coated in cornmeal batter, deepfried and served on a stick.
Detroit/Coney Island Hot Dog Natural-casing beef wiener, topped with beanless beef chili and chopped raw white onions, with one or two stripes of yellow mustard. May include shredded cheddar cheese.
Dodger Dog Grilled or steamed 10-inch beef-pork blend frank with ketchup and mustard served on a steamed bun. Super Dodger Dogs are 100 percent beef. Mexican Dodger Dogs are topped with chili, salsa and jalapeños.
New Jersey Italian-style all-beef dog, often deep-fried. Topped with peppers, sauteed onions and fried potatoes and served on an Italian roll.
San Francisco Bacon-wrapped or bacon-topped dog with caraway seed, mayo, pickles, shallots, tomatoes and shredded lettuce.
The Sonoran Bacon-wrapped dog topped with pinto beans, mustard, mayo, chopped tomatoes, onions and hot sauce, with a side of hot pepper for some Arizona heat.
Atlanta
The Milwaukee Anti-Hot Dog
Plain hot dog topped with creamy coleslaw.
Sausage on a toasted hard roll with butter, spicy mustard, sweet pickles and sauerkraut.
Beanie Weenies
Pigs in a Blanket
Chopped wieners in baked beans.
Wiener wrapped in dough and baked.
Kansas City
West Virginia Dixie Dog
Grilled all-beef wiener, corned beef, Swiss cheese, caraway seeds, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing.
Frank topped with coleslaw and savory meat sauce.
Where’d they come from?
Although sausage was mentioned in Homer’s “Odyssey” a few thousand years ago, most frank fanatics agree that hot dogs originated in Germany. In 1987, the hot dog’s 500th birthday was celebrated in Frankfurt, where pork sausages similar to hot dogs were common fare in the 15th century. In the late 1600s, German butcher Johann Georghehner created the “dachshund,” a sausage he reportedly promoted in Frankfurt. “Wiener” refers to Vienna, Austria, home of a pork-andbeef sausage. Sometime in the 1800s, hot dogs crossed the pond, soon becoming as American as baseball and apple pie. In 1871, German immigrant Charles Feltman opened the first Coney Island hot dog stand, selling dachshund sausages in a milk roll, and by 1893 sausages had become standard fare at ballparks. Hot dog carts started popping up in New York City in the early 1900s. The world-renowned Nathan’s hot dog is credited to Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker, who developed a dog from his wife Ida’s recipe in 1916 in Coney Island, N.Y. And the rest, as they say, is history.
SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 41
Sooo Cali Dog
Picnic Dawg
King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls 100% beef skinless dog Wild arugula Tomato Avocado Crispy fried onions Aioli sauce
100% beef hot dog Bacon Baguette Baked beans Dayne’s Creamy Kickin’ Coleslaw
Break off a three-bun section of King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls. Butter two sides of the bun and place on the grill until lightly browned. Slice open the side of the bun. Layer several wild arugula leaves and the hot dog. On one side of the dog, place two thin tomato slices. Layer two or three slices of avocado on the other side of the dog. Top with crispy fried onions. Squirt a zigzag of spicy aioli sauce on top. The Sooo Cali dog is one of the favorites on the Dog Haus menu with fresh arugula, avocado, crispy onions and Dog Haus special aioli sauce, a delicate blend of basil and serrano with a real kick to it. Dog Haus makes its own crispy onions using lightly battered and seasoned onion slices, deep-fried until golden brown. Substitute store-bought crispy onions at home. The latest Dog Haus will be opening in our own backyard next month, following close on the heels of the Canoga Park Dog Haus, which opened in June.
DOG HAUS 50 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks www.doghaus.com
Wrap hot dog in bacon slice and grill. Place in bun, top with baked beans and a generous scoop of Creamy Kickin’ Coleslaw. DAYNE’S CREAMY KICKIN’ COLESLAW ½ cup distilled white vinegar ½ cup sugar ½ tsp. Kosher salt 2 cups mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream 3 tbsp. Sriracha hot sauce 1 tbsp. grated ginger Mix vinegar, sugar and salt until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and whisk well. Add to shredded cabbage of choice. Dayna Haupt waited a long time to open her own restuarant. The private chef, who worked at the Four Seasons Westlake and Tuscany, realized the area lacked an authentic Italian beef sandwich, so she created her own inspired by her childhood in Chicago. Soon after opening in 2013, Dayne’s was brimming with customers who came to the small eatery in search of the real thing. Be sure to try the shrimp dawg . . . yum.
DAYNE’S 2951 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks (805) 371-8889 www.dayneschicagobeef.com
Club Dog
Ferrari Dog
Sesame seed Italian roll 100% beef hot dog Cheddar cheese, grated Bacon, cooked and chopped Tomato, chopped Avocado, sliced Mayonnaise
Slice roll open and generously sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese. Melt cheese. Add hot dog, chopped bacon, chopped tomato, avocado slices. Top with mayonnaise to taste.
100% beef Sabrett hot dog Hot dog bun Brown mustard or deli mustard Squeezed cheddar cheese Onions, chopped and seasoned
Assembly is simple. Place the dog in the bun, add a generous squirt of brown mustard, smother with squeezed cheddar cheese and top with seasoned onions. Chili is optional.
Cronies Sports Grill, which operates restaurants in Simi Valley, Newbury Park, Camarillo and Ventura, is adding a new location in the Agoura Meadows Shopping Center in Agoura Hills. Hungry diners looking for a family restaurant with a sports theme—not a sports bar—will feel at home at Cronies. That translates into sports on large flat-screen TVs as well as video games for the kids so the whole family can enjoy good eats and entertainment. We like Cronies’ Club Dog, a new take on the classic club sandwich.
Only loyal customers know to ask for the Ferrari dog from Smiley’s hot dog stand in Westlake Village but then just about everyone who tries a dog at Smiley’s becomes a loyal customer. The single hot dog cart has been a landmark in the area for the last 30 years. Smiley’s has changed hands at least two times. Joe Spina, owner of Bellini Westlake, took over earlier this year. Smiley’s cart is available to cater parties and events, and Spina has plans to expand with another hot dog cart or two.
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2649 Townsgate Road Westlake Village 818-661-7713
petspeeps W
AND THEIR
e asked our readers to submit their favorite photos of the furry or four-legged members of their families who, though they aren’t human, are (almost) as beloved as the kids. We were delighted with the piles of photos you all sent in. To see more, visit www.beyondtheacorn.com.
Karen and Attila Benko of Oak Park ride their Harley with Tilly, 4, a Chihuahua/terrier mix, on board.
Mary Abell of Old Agoura shows some a 22-year- old palomino quarter horse. love to Doolie, 44 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
buff Jordan Eason, 3, holds Rapunzel, 2, her grandmother’sSoph ie, Orpington hen, while her sister Shelby, 6, hangs on to 2, who lays blue eggs. They’re from Simi Valley.
Taters, 7, hitches a ride on Barbara Peterson of Simi Valley.
RICHARD GILLARD
Craige Story of Westlake Village cuddles with her labradoodle Grace, 9.
Sky, a one-year-old Siamese, only has eyes for Mirage Witzer, 12, of Calabasas.
Paige Moungey, 4, of Simi Valley goes cheek-to-cheek with Cali, 1, a maltipoo.
Nick Zeto, 12, of Calabasas paddles while Paris, 7, a longcoat Akita, enjoys the ride.
Bo, 13, a paint quarter horse,and En sweet nothings while waiting for Matt andzo, 7, a golden palomino, whisper Suzy Tritenbach to get on with their ride in the Simi Hills. SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 45
Agoura High student Natalie Hoy, 14, bathes Archie, 6, a Welsh corgiborder collie mix.
Charlotte, 9, the potbellied pig, cuddles up with Karlee Glickman, 20, in Simi Valley.
Baby Mikayla Miller, 3 months old, snuggles with Boobas, 13, in Simi Valley.
Dennis McManus of Solimlyi , Valley relaxes with M 4 months, a Yorkie.
Rachel Hess, 20, mugs for the camera with Wilbur, a 2- year -old yellow Lab in Moorpark.
To see more pix of pets and their peeps, visit www.beyondtheacorn.com.
poop THE
ON
pets
Americans are particularly in love with their pets. Here are a few fascinating tidbits culled from the annual AP-Petside polls conducted between 2009 and 2011.* • About 30 percent of married women say their pets are better listeners than their spouses. • A majority of pet owners polled said they planned on buying their pet a present to put under the Christmas tree. • About one-fourth of pet owners celebrate their pet’s birthday or mark the day the pet came to live with them. • Over 40 percent of pet owners have taken a pet on vacation, dogs more so than cats. • Over 20 percent have taken their pets to their workplace. • Most pet owners admit to feeding their animals human food.
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• 19 percent have bought an outfit for their pet but 43 percent said their pet had its own “sense of style.”
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Saturday Night, October 11, 2014 Las Posas Country Club
Bath time at Star and David Espinoza’s Simi Valley home is lots of fun for Molly, Mac, Miles and Murphy.
• Real golf, on a real golf course, at night! • Have fun doing something you’ve always wanted to do at least once and for a great charity: Camarillo Dog Parks Foundation • Lots of prizes and contests to win • Aren’t you the alpha dog? Only 72 spots available. Be the pack leader and sign up today!
*The Associated Press-Petside.com poll is conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. SUMMER 2014 | BEYONDTHEACORN.COM 47
How
2
7
Family Day
Throw a fabulous
Written by ELA LINDSAY Illustration by WEST MAÄTITA
FAMILY REUNION
Throwing a family reunion can be as simple as gathering everyone at a local park for a barbecue or as extravagant as jetting to an exotic location with the whole extended family. Either way, reunions create precious opportunities for family members to connect, share stories and renew bonds. Here are some tips for creating a fun and memorable event.
Spread the word
From the start, engage as many family members as possible so they’ll feel connected to the event—plus it’ll mean less work for you. Ask everyone to spread the word. Social media makes inviting relatives as easy as posting messages on Internet sites such as Facebook and Twitter, especially for 48 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
large families or ones that have lost touch. Make sure you don’t forget to invite anyone. You don’t want a family feud on your hands. Online networks such as Ancestry.com can help find people not even known to be part of your family, and websites like Peoplefinders and Peoplesmart can help find longlost relatives. Creating a family reunion website can make online registration a snap. Websites also provide a place for posting photos and videos. Free website providers include Blogger, WordPress and Tumblr.
Choose a theme
The theme should reflect your family’s uniqueness or values. Incorporate it throughout, in the invitations, venue and food, as well as decorations, costumes and activities.
An All-American celebration, for example, can feature everything red, white and blue. Think Fourth of July barbecue with hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pie. Add some flags, patriotic shirts, games and invitations, and you’re good to go. A Hawaiian luau theme can lead to an exotic buffet and prizes for the most outrageous Hawaiian shirts—with coconutinspired invitations to get the ball rolling. Be creative. Other fun themes might include sports, cartoon characters, TV shows or films, a Mexican fiesta or a country and western extravaganza. A giant birthday bash is a great way to honor all family members at once. Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year’s celebrations in July can be fun as well.
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Try going retro with a groovy 1960s theme, including peace signs and tie-dye shirts, or entice folks with a 1970s disco party with happy-face invitations.
Find the perfect spot
Where the festivities take place will depend on budget, where most family members live, number of guests, timing and theme. Some popular ideas are cruises and trips to Disneyland or other family-friendly destinations. Use your imagination. Renting a beach house, for instance, would offer plenty to do, and it’s ideal for families that want to cook and share informal meals together. If traveling is viable, pick a popular U.S. city to explore, or consider tracing family roots and heading to your country of origin. Camping can be a fun alternative—or “glamping,” aka glamour camping, for those who don’t appreciate roughing it— and an all-season resort will appeal to most. Of course, there are always local parks, banquet halls and community centers, or home-hosted events for backyard fun. Some families have a set place (a local park) and a set time (the first Saturday in August) so there’s never an excuse for missing the annual event. Venues should be accessible to all generations, and if lodging is involved, give out-of-towners time to travel. Opt for off-peak times and locations for lower rates.
Plan fun activities
The location will dictate many of the activities—the key is
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to keep the fun flowing by involving as many people possible. Games and sports can lead to great interaction for family members of all ages. Picture an egg toss with Grandpa as well as the family’s toddlers all in a row. Keep adults happy by keeping kids busy: Get children involved in crafts such as making keepsake bookmarks for everyone. Supply white Tshirts and colorful fabric markers so everyone can sign each other’s shirts. Icebreakers and family trivia games for old and young alike are a must, as is viewing family videos and old photos. (Be sure to include a mention of this on the invitation so everyone’s sure to bring their favorite photos to share.)
Document the day
Assign someone to take photos or give everyone disposable cameras so they can get those candid shots. Encourage tech-savvy relatives to take snapshots on cellphones,
and be sure they upload them to the family website afterward. Set up a video camera on a tripod or have one to pass around so family members can record the fun or tape a message for future generations. Photo booths with eventthemed costumes are not only a blast, they give guests fun—and instant— mementos of the reunion. Give everyone a mug with a family theme or other souvenir to take home with them. Consider having T-shirts made with a photo of the original family home, a map of the family’s country of ancestry or a phrase in the ancestral language: Famiglia da sempre (which means "family always" in Italian). Afterward, send or email a video compilation of the festivities or create a calendar with photos from the reunion—and circle a potential date for the next family gathering. Most of all, keep the buzz alive by staying in touch with the relatives until you all meet again.
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©2012 Cummins Power Generation. All rights reserved. Cummins and the “C” logo are registered trademarks of Cummins Inc.
50 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
Courtesy of JIM HALL TRACK TIME
ACTIVITIES FROM PAGE 20
Harley’s Camarillo Bowl 305 Arneill Road, Camarillo (805) 482-0747 www.harleysbowl.com Harley’s Simi Bowl 480 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley (805) 526-4212 www.harleysbowl.com Woodlake Lanes 23130 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills (818) 225-7181 www.amf.com/woodlakelanes
Farmers markets: Local markets provide a fun taste of the country that includes sampling fresh local produce and products that can help little ones broaden their palate.
Home Depot/Lowe’s: Check with the
location near you about the free weekend kids’ workshops, where children can learn new skills and come home with a creation they made themselves.
Libraries: Story times, teen book and film clubs, homework help and various family events such as movies, music and performances.
Malls: Many malls offer kids’ clubs with crafts, performances and music. Outdoor malls in our region have lovely settings that include ponds and creeks with interesting things to see like ducks, koi ponds and turtles. The Commons at Calabasas: (818) 222-3444 Janss Marketplace: (805) 495-4662 Las Posas Plaza, Camarillo: (805) 469-9664 The Oaks, Thousand Oaks: (805) 495-2032 The Promenade at Westlake: (818) 637-8923 Simi Valley Town Center, Simi Valley: (805) 581-1755
Movie theaters: Watch for free or
value-priced kids’ movies. They often are scheduled at a specific time and day each week, all summer long.
Parks and recreation departments: In addition to a variety of classes,
you can find details and locations of parks, family game or movie nights, concerts in the park, drop-in programs for teens, and seasonal events. In the summer, look for public pools and splash pads.
If you want even more . . . Check out Resources on Page 65 for several websites that can help you plan more family adventures.
Jim Hall Track Time
For families with older kids looking for an exhilarating outing, Jim Hall Track Time fits the bill. No reservation is needed for racing at any experience level using small, lowto-the-ground, four-stroke powered go karts. Once riders are fully outfitted in safety gear, and the operations and rules are explained, they’re off! Families can race each other or race the clock down the 1/3-mile, asphalt outdoor track. A personalized score sheet is available after each race based on an electronic timing system. Racers can compare themselves to all the drivers that day, or even that month. Children of any age can race as long as they are at least 4’6” tall. Jim Hall Track Time alternates between two locations: one at Seaside Park in Ventura and one in Oxnard. Check the website to find the current location. 10 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura 2600 Challenger Place, Oxnard (805) 654-1329 www.jimhalltracktime.com
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at the company their children keep in high school. If junior is pulling A grades, but is hanging out with kids who have routinely gotten in trouble for risky behavior, there’s a good chance the child will seek out the same kinds of friends at college. Amanda Thompson (name changed for privacy) excelled in school. Amanda earned A’s in Newbury Park High School’s International Baccalaureate program, yet she struggled with social and emotional issues during most of her four years of public school. Her stellar grades landed her an acceptance at her dream school—UC Berkeley—but after some soul-searching, Amanda decided that she wasn’t quite ready to attend a big university. Instead, she attended Moorpark College for two years and transferred to UC Santa Barbara after she realized that the beach scene was more her style than the Bay Area’s gritty city. “There’s no stigma in attending a twoyear college first,” Hill says. “You put on your resume where you graduate from.” Wiener says that students generally know whether they are ready to make the leap and go away to school. But peer pressure can add to the agony of making that decision. If your child’s friends are hitting the road for a college far from home—and your kid has the grades to make the cut—the decision to postpone the four-year college route requires insight from parents and students. “Everybody faces challenges,” Wiener says. “We grow from challenges. The more we are able to successfully face challenges, the more confidence we gain.” But being ready also means being able to recognize when they need help, she says. “Students must be able to seek it out . . . Going off to college doesn’t mean that they have to do everything on their own.” The good news is that if a child has developed the roots of trust and self-reliance in childhood, they are more than likely prepared to fly out of the nest and into a college dorm. If not immediately, then soon enough.
The teen brain is not fully baked until the age of 25.
ROAD TRIP FROM PAGE 30
function without connections to utilities, or “hookups.” Temporarily living “off the grid” can be an interesting experience in public agency campgrounds such as those managed by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and state parks. Many of those sites do not offer hookups, while some provide the basics: just water and electricity. The payoff is that they are often close to streams, lakes, hiking trails, stunning scenery and opportunities for fishing, hiking, snow sports, bicycling and off-road recreation. Campgrounds in those areas can put you at the doorstep of America’s great outdoors and its natural wonders. In contrast, RV resorts have full hookups, manicured sites, Wi-Fi and many other amenities. Some are destinations in themselves, with attractions like on-site fishing ponds, bike paths, pools, splash pads, mini water parks, miniature golf or game rooms. Some have organized activities like movie night and ice cream sundae night. Wine and espresso bars, boutiques and spas can be found at some
RV resorts for those who prefer “glamping,” the affectionate term for glamorous camping. RVs are ideal for traveling to football games or NASCAR races around the country, where you can tailgate in style. They also come in handy for transporting the whole clan to visit relatives, other cities and tourist destinations. Those trips usually are a whole lot cheaper when you travel by RV. A road trip by car typically involves hotel and restaurant expenses, and flying usually means renting a car once you’re arrived. When you RV, you can cross those expenses off the list. The RV rental fee, types of campgrounds you choose and the amount of fuel used will determine the cost of your trip. Preparing your own meals saves a lot of money and is part of the fun when you’re outdoors. Some people make RVing a lifestyle. Fulltimers pare down their belongings and make an RV their home, which can be an affordable and adventurous way to live, especially for seniors. Cost may not even be the main factor. Traveling in a rolling condo may be the lifestyle of choice for those whose goal it is to enjoy a broad variety of destinations while maintaining independence and family togetherness.
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We love the classics— Monopoly, Scrabble, Risk. But some of the newer games in town may serve as a great excuse for fun family time. Ticket to Ride
It's all aboard for this crosscountry train adventure where players create continuous routes to connect cities by collecting and playing matching cards. 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up $50 Days of Wonder www.daysofwonder.com
Tapple
Word on the Street
Word is this game’s not only fun, it’s educational. Kids learn vocabulary and spelling, and families can develop simple gaming strategies together.The race is on to spell out answers before time runs out. 2 to 10 players, ages 10 and up $27.99 Out of the Box Publishing www.otb-games.com
54 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
This fast-paced word game will tap your brain and tickle your funny bone as players race against time to name something in one of 144 categories or think of a name starting with one of the wheel’s 20 letters before time runs out. 2 to 8 players, ages 8 and up $19.95 USAopoly www.usaopoly.com
Acornucopia Written by
ELA LINDSAY
Five Crowns
Casual players and card buffs alike will enjoy this five-suited, rummy-style card game. Begin with three cards and add a card at each consecutive round. But beware, the excitement grows until the very last second when the kings go wild. 1 to 7 players, ages 8 and up $12.99 Set Enterprises www.setgame.com/fivecrowns
The Settlers of Catan
The race is on to settle the beautiful island of Catan, a land rich in natural resources. Your expedition must strategically build two settlements and trade resources wisely in order to gain supremacy. 3 to 4 players, ages 10 and up $42 Mayfair Games www.catan.com
Tsuro: The Game of the Path
Players embark on a journey across a beautiful game board depicting the intertwining paths of life. Twin forces of luck and destiny propel you on a quest toward enlightenment—or your journey may end abruptly if your stone reaches a dead end. 2 to 8 players, ages 8 and up $30 Calliope Games www.calliopegames.com
Blokus
Deceptively simple, this Mensa Award-winning game requires creative, strategic thinking. Start in your corner and build out as many tiles as you can, corners touching, and exercise your brain while you’re at it. 2 to 4 players, ages 5 and up $29.99 Mattel www.mattel.com
Pandemic
The clock is ticking as you and your team rush to save humanity from the spread of deadly diseases. This cooperative game depends on the individual strengths of team members. 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up $39.99 Z-Man Games www.zmangames.com
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This party in a box will have every member of the family applauding for more. Players sing songs containing the trigger words. Talent is not required for this game but it helps to have a song in your heart. 4 to 10 players, ages 9 and up $29.99 Spontuneous Games www.spontuneous.com
Quelf
This game has only one rule—obey the instructions on the card, no matter how absurd or embarassing. 3 to 8 players, ages 12 and up $24.99 Spin Master www.quelf.com
Say Anything
This game of questions and answers gets everyone talking—and laughing. There is no right or wrong—it’s the personal opinions and creative responses that make it entertaining. 3-8 players, ages 13 and up $19.99 North Star Games www.northstargames.com
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Combine the classic game of telephone with drawing and the result is laughter in a box. And the more generations that play, the more the miscommunications grow. Players draw what they see on their card; the next player guesses what it is and draws his own version until everyone’s had a turn. Then LOL at the results. 4 to 8 players, ages 12 and up $29.99 USAopoly www.telestrations.com
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SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JULY 19 AND 20 ArtWalk Ventura Noon to 8 p.m. Sat.; noon to 5 p.m. Sun. Downtown Ventura and Westside Cultural District Artwork from 500 artists, street festival, music, vendors and car display. Free. Visit www.artwalkventura.org SUNDAY, JULY 20 Pooch Parade Dog Walk and Pet Expo 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. San Buenaventura State Beach Park, Ventura Dog walk, expo, pet demos, dog contests, silent auction, vendors, pet adoptions. Walkers raise money for Project Second Chance Adoption Program. Free admission. Visit www.poochparade.org Call (805) 644-7387 Summer Concerts in the Park 5 p.m. Conejo Community Park 1175 Hendrix Ave., Thousand Oaks Tribute to the music of Chicago. Food and drinks available. Free admission. Next concert is Sun., Aug. 10 with AbbaFab. Visit www.crpd.org FRIDAY, JULY 25 Camarillo Cruise Night 5 to 8 p.m. 2200 block of Ventura Boulevard parking lot, between Elm and Fir streets Presented by Camarillo Old Town Association on fourth Friday of each month for owners and admirers of cars 1980 or older. Call Tom Maloney at (805) 443-9219 Email shalaletom@aol.com FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, JULY 25 AND 26 Citrus Classic Balloon Festival 5 to 11 p.m. Fri.; 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sat. 18249 E. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula Sunset wine dinner on Friday night; classic car show on Saturday, plus wine and beer tasting; kids’ zone; tethered balloon rides; flybys. Fri.: $25 adults; $20 youths; Sat.: $15 adults; $5 youths. Visit www.citrusclassicballoons.com Call (805) 525-2057 SATURDAY, JULY 26 Saturday Concerts in the Park 7 p.m. Berniece Bennett Park, 31800 Village Center Road, Westlake Village Free country music concert featuring Silverados. Next concert Sat., Aug. 9 features Super Soul Band. Tables available on first-come, first-seated basis. Food available for purchase at 6 p.m. Visit www.wlv.org
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JULY 26 AND 27 Oxnard Salsa Festival 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Plaza Park, Fifth and B streets Salsa recipe contest, bands and tastings, vendors, international foods, Kids’ Korner, cooking demos, dance contest for charity. Admission and parking free. No pets. Visit www.oxnardsalsafestival.com Call (805) 247-0197
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 30 TO AUGUST 10 Ventura County Fair “A Country Fair with Ocean Air” 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; carnival opens at noon Ventura County Fairgrounds 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura Rides, food, shows, live music, exhibits, Uncle Leo’s barnyard livestock. Visit www.venturacountyfair.org Call (805) 648-3376
A Taste of Camarillo 5 to 9 p.m. Sat. Wine Auction Gala Camarillo Ranch’s Red Barn 301 Camarillo Ranch Road Meadowlark Service League presents live and silent auctions, gourmet dinner, live music. $80. Open to 21 and over. And: 1 to 4 p.m. Sun. Wine and Food Festival Adolfo Camarillo Ranch “The British are Coming!” theme featuring wines and gourmet food samplings. Proceeds benefit Ventura County charities. Festival $85 in advance; $95 at the door; VIP tickets $125; Both events $165. Visit www.tasteofcamarillo.com
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 Summer Star Festival Starts at sunset Paramount Ranch 2903 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills National Park Service event will include a tour of the night sky. Bring flashlight with a red lens or a red cellophane filter. Free. Call the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center at (805) 370-2301 Fred W. Robinson Classic Car Show 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Freedom Park 480 Skyway Drive, Camarillo Celebrating the Arc of Ventura County’s 60th anniversary; live music, including
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Johnny Cash tribute band. Visit www.arcvc.org Call Julie Duran at (805) 650-8611 Ventura County Fair Parade, 5K Run 10 a.m. Corner of Main and Aliso streets, Ventura Fair begins at fairgrounds, Seaside Park, Ventura. Free for spectators. Visit www.venturacountyfair.org SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 Free Jazz Concert Series 5 to 6:30 p.m. Gardens of the World, 2001 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys. Lawn seating. Series continues August 10 with the Eric Ekstrand Ensemble, August 17 with the Modernaires, August 24 with Riverboat Dixie Jazz Band. Visit www.gardensoftheworld.info
Celebrating the Golden Age
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 Concerts in the Park 7:30 to 9 p.m. Constitution Park, Camarillo
Beatles tribute. Bring seating and picnic. Also August 23, Best of 1964; and September 6, Elvis tribute. Visit www.ci.camarillo.ca.us Call (805) 987-7847 SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 Midsummer Eve Wine Festival 4 to 7:30 p.m. Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village Benefits Ventura County Special Olympics and Thousand Oaks Rotary Foundation; Sonny Mone of Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse performs. For adults ages 21 and older. Advance tickets $60 before Aug. 1; $80 after. Visit www.thousandoaksrotary.org Call (818) 378-8999 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 AND 17 Toni Young Hueneme Beach Fest 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hueneme Beach Park 550 E. Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme Beatles and Stevie Nicks tribute bands. Visit www.huenemebeachfest.org
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 22 TGIF at Westlake Village 7 p.m. Westlake Village Civic Center 31200 Oak Crest Drive Free Big Band Night featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band. Visit www.wlv.org
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24 Don and Doñas Celebration Barbecue 1 p.m. Camarillo Ranch House 201 Camarillo Ranch Road Lunch to honor the dons and doñas. $50 adults, $15 children under 13. Visit www.pvhsonline.org/events
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23 Agoura Hills Historical Tour 1 to 3 p.m. Reyes Adobe Historical Site 5464 Reyes Adobe Road, Agoura Hills Light walking. $25 includes “Images of America: Agoura Hills” book. Call (818) 591-7361
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Brew Fest 4 to 8 p.m. Conejo Creek Park North 1379 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Admission includes tickets for beer and appetizers: $35 in advance, $45 at the door. Visit www.tobrewfest.com
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 AND 24 Camarillo Air Show 9 a.m. gates open; flying segment from noon to 4:30 p.m. Camarillo Airport, Skyway Drive, Camarillo Air show and displays, family fun, classic cars. $15; kids under 12 free. Online discounts available through July 31. Visit www.WingsOverCamarillo.com
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 Camarillo Chili Cook-Off and Music Festival 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Camarillo Ranch, 201 Camarillo Ranch Road Chili competition, music, classic car display, poker tournament, kids’ zone. Fundraiser for Camarillo Hospice. $10; free for kids under 10 and active military. Visit www.camarillochilicook-off.com
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How Green is My Valley? At Tri-Valley, we offer a complete line of “green” products that work hard to clean your home and office and help clear the air, including the Simplicity Vacuum. Ask our friendly professionals for helpful advice on how to keep your valley green! -Simplicity Vacuums -Fresh Wave -Bona Wood Care -Dupont Stone Care -Charlie’s Soap -Mrs. Meyers -Laundress -Audra’s Natural -Carpet Cleaner Rentals -Pet Urine/Odor Spotters -Vacuums – Sales & Service
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Led Zeppelin tribute concert 5 p.m. Conejo Community Park 1175 Hendrix Ave., Thousand Oaks The Thousand Oaks Acorn is sponsoring Led Zepagain, the only Led Zeppelin tribute band endorsed by Jimmy Page. Free admission. Visit www.crpd.org/concerts WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Jason Love Comedy Show Fundraiser 6 p.m. The Dugout, 109 Cochran St., Simi Valley Show, raffle, silent auction to benefit Beauty for Ashes International. $20 tickets for reserved seating. Visit www.beautyforashesintl.com Call (805) 334-3223 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Day of the Horse 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Conejo Creek Equestrian Park, 1300 Avenida de Las Flores, Thousand Oaks Demonstrations, drill teams, dressage, exhibitors, costumed Arabians, Charityville Jail. Free for spectators. Call Barbara Kloster at (805) 494-8755 Email computersnoway@verizon.net SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 AND 14 Conejo Valley Home Remodeling Show 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Hyatt Westlake Plaza 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village More than 150 home improvement vendors; food trucks. $4 entry at door. Visit www.conejovalleyhomeshow.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Punky to the Rooftop Kickoff for Calabasas Pumpkin Festival 5:30 to 7 p.m. Acura 101 West 24650 Calabasas Road, Calabasas Festival mascot placed on roof, food vendors, raffle, kids’ activities, balloon creations. Free. Calabasas Chamber and City of Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is Sat. and Sun. Oct. 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Juan Bautista de Anza Park. Visit www.calabasaschamber.com
62 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
MICHAEL COONS
Camarillo Air Show
Things will be looking up when the Camarillo Air Show takes off August 23 and 24 at the Camarillo Airport.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Banana Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Port of Hueneme 105 Port Hueneme Road, Port Hueneme Food, banana desserts, live bands, port tours, vendors, arts and crafts marketplace, and kids’ activities. Free admission and parking. Visit www.BananaPortFest.com Call (805) 535-4060 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 THROUGH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark Tractor-drawn wagon rides, kids’ corral, live bands and lots more. $15 weekends; $3 Monday through Friday. Visit www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/fall_harvest_festival.html Call (805) 529-3690 THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9 TO 12 Reyes Adobe Days Historic Reyes Adobe Rancho, 5464 Reyes Adobe Road, Agoura Hills Family festival with music, performance stages, rancho activities, historical demos, pony rides, petting zoo, vintage general store, gift gallery, food vendors, beer and wine garden and museum tours. Visit www.reyesadobedays.org Call (818) 597-7361
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To submit an event for the next Beyond calendar, send information to Lindsay.Ela@gmail.com before August 30. The next calendar will cover events taking place from October through December, 2014.
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CAMARILLO FROM PAGE 38
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crop in Ventura County for decades until tastes changed and strawberries rose to the top. But it was his astute business sense that gave rise to the city of Camarillo. Before the turn of the 20th century, there was no town, only the Camarillo ranch. Springville was the closest town, about two miles away at what is now the western edge of Camarillo. The only remaining signs of that settlement are a couple of older homes and a new Springville freeway off-ramp. As Adolfo looked to make agriculture the focus of the ranch, he gave the Southern Pacific Railroad the right of way to lay track and build a train stop on his land. Adolfo and Juan asked the U.S. Post Office/Department of Interior to name the stop Calleguas after the original Mexican land grant. The government entities decided the name was too difficult to say and named the stop Camarillo. Although it had a train depot, Camarillo wasn’t a town in the eyes of the
government because it had no businesses. Adolfo asked Springville’s general store owner, John Sebastian, whether he’d move if the Camarillo family built him a store across from the train station. Sebastian agreed, and in 1899 the store was built at what is now Lewis Road and Ventura Boulevard, where the Establos Meat Market is today. Two years later, Camarillo was officially recognized as a town by the U.S. Post Office. Although time has a way of reducing one’s blemishes, Olsen, who is writing an autobiography of Adolfo, says he was surprised that, through years of research, he’s yet to come across anything negative about Adolfo Camarillo. He did hear some good stories, however. One favorite captured Adolfo’s reputation as a stellar horseman. When he was courting Isabella, Adolfo, riding at full speed, could lean over the side of his horse, pluck a flower from the ground and return upright. He would then present the bloom to his future wife. In many ways, Adolfo was indeed larger than life.
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FEATURE STORIES Page 32 “My Space” Designer: Genoveve Serge Interior Design (805) 499-8998, www.gs-interiordesign.com Wall color: Dunn-Edwards “Port Hope” LETTERS FROM BEYOND Chair, bedding, area rug: Target Drapes, Page 8 white linen fabric: Robert Allen Shades: L.I.F.E.: www.lifeanimalrescue.com custom made natural woven with thermal lining and inset blackout shade WHO Page 34 Page 14 “Grandparents Step Up To the Plate” “Her Space” Snowball Express: www.snowballexpress.org Designer: Janice Peters, Distinctive Decor (805) 506-4150 www.d-decor.com Wall colors: Dunn-Edwards “Sheepskin” WHAT and “Trailing Vine” Basket liners: Pottery Page 16 Barn Dragonflies and butterflies: www. “The Family that Plays Together” bugs-n-blooms.com Flower stamp: Jo-Ann www.macaronikid.com Fabric & Craft Stores Hanging chandelier: www.conejovalleyguide.com The Decor Store, Simi Valley Dresser: www.ventura-ca.parentclick.com Stanley Furniture Bedding: Target Area rug: www.daytrippen.com Ikea Valances, seat cushion: Kravet Fabrics www.socalwithkids.com Lamp: Target Nightstand: Costco Page 35 WHY “His Space” Page 26 Wall colors: Benjamin Moore “Dark Beige” “Roots and Wings” Judy Wiener, 30497 Canwood St., Ste. 103, and Dunn-Edwards “Astral” Wallter Circles: Design Public Wall shelves: Pottery Barn Agoura Hills, (818) 273-1918
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66 BEYONDTHEACORN.COM | SUMMER 2014
L
Final Word
ife’s adventure continues into the warm, lazy days of summer. This anxiously anticipated season offers more than time off from work, it provides families and friends more time to draw closer, to bond, to nourish meaningful relationships. School’s out (for most) and our daily schedules are less structured. The conditions are ripe for making lasting memories. The less frenetic days allow us all to connect—as long as we take advantage and choose to live in the moment. Taking a walk, with a cellphone in hand, tweeting or texting each step of the way is not being there. It’s only a family walk if everyone is present, physically and mentally. Have the patience to watch the lizard doing push-ups in the sun, to count the butterflies in the marigolds or to listen to each other’s dreams or fears. Celebrate your common interests and your differences. It takes so little effort and delivers such rewards. So come together, enjoy each other and, most importantly, be in the moment. There’s no better time than summer to do so. —L. Rule
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an upscale senior Condominium Community.* • Calabasas’ First Active Senior Community • Multiple Floor Plans (up to 1,450 sq. ft.) • Outdoor Pool • Serene Cul-de-Sac Location • Indoor Garage Parking
Live in Luxury Resort-style Gated Condominium Community
Open Wed -Sun, 12 noon - 5 pm Mon By Appoi-Tue, ntment
*age restricted – must be 55 and older
ReseRve youR home today — 888-643-3442 26705 Malibu Hills Road, Calabasas, CA 91301 • www.horizons55.com
• Natural & Manufactured Stone • Concrete Pavers • Stucco • Natural Thin Veneer • Valori Precast Products • Drywall & Accessories • Rebar • Block • Outdoor Kitchens • BBQ’s, Fireplaces & Much More
We Carry Products by:
El Dorado, Sparkstone, Olsen Pavers, Belden & much more!!
Mention Beyond Magazine
1515 Flynn Rd. Camarillo 805|484|4391
www.thompsonbldg.com
at the beginning of sale
for 15% off