Beyond The Acorn Spring 2016 Camarillo

• a c o r n n e w s pa p e r s •

Beyond spring 2016

The Acorn

Winged Spring

Inside:

Butterflies, Berries and the Birth of Thousand Oaks

Plus:

Your Goofiest Kid Pix Camarillo

That’s Us. The Tall, GoodLooking Rate On The Right.

Learn more about all the ways that Logix is smarter banking.

$100k .70%

.03%

Bank of America

.01%

.01%

.01%

Chase

Citibank

Wells Fargo

Logix

Source: Informa Research Services, Inc. as of 2/26/16

Now you don’t have to move your money around to get the best rate in town. Our Money Market rate stacks up as one of the heftiest around. So, say goodbye to short-term specials and enjoy the peace of mind of steady returns.

MONEY MARKET RATE COMPARISON - % APY*

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Logix Federal Credit Union, proudly serving members since 1937. *Minimum balance required to earn 0.70% APY (Annual Percentage Yield) is $100,000. The APY is variable, is accurate as of 2/26/16, and is subject to change after the account is opened. The Money Market Account is a tiered-rate account and rates on each balance tier are currently: 0.35% APY thru $7,499.99; 0.40% APY thru $9,999.99; 0.45% APY thru $24,999.99; 0.50% APY thru $49,999.99; and, 0.55% APY thru $99,999.99. Fees may reduce earnings. Logix membership and eligibility criteria apply.

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Costuming & Styling

on Ventura Boulevard Provides charming shopping & dining experiences for Camarillo locals & out of town visitors. It’s also the site for the weekly Farmer’s Market. Dating back to 1910, Camarillo was a packing town built beside the Southern Pacific Railroad depot. With its rich history, sculptures, Spanish bell tower, giant clock and fancy streetlights, Old Town became the go to street for quaint restaurants, cute shops & boutiques.

Old Town is the strip of Ventura Blvd. that runs parallel to Highway 101 between Oak Street & St. Mary Magdalen Church 2000 - 2500 block of Ventura Blvd.

Free Parking

Panther Martial Arts Center We specialize in Martial Arts and Fitness. Serving Camarillo for 20 years. We offer expert instruction in: Taekwondo, Bamboo Temple Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Fitness Kickboxing and Chinese Kickboxing (SANDA). Classes for ages 3 & up. Martial Arts special of 1 month of training for $39.95 including a free uniform. We also have a Fitness Kickboxing special of 3 months unlimited training for only $200. This special includes gloves and enrollment fee. tel: (805) 384-BEST (2378) hours: 4pm-9:30pm web: www.panthermac.com

Bags to Riches Boutique

The 805 Pour House

1942 Ventura Blvd. tel: (805) 384-2247

When you walk through the doors of The 805 Pour House, you are immediately transported onto another world... an inviting and eclectic world wrapped in peace and warmth and all set in a lounge-like atmosphere. Once you’ve settled in, it will then be time for you to take yet another journey; one surrounded by award-winning cuisine, amazing craft beers and incredible wines from throughout California and around the world.

Green Goddess Boutique 2215 Ventura Blvd. tel: (805) 482-4061

Designer Resale & Vintage Collection Casual • Classic • Elegant • Glamorous • BCBG • Brighton • Coach • Gucci • Prada 20% off purchase with Gift bag web: www.thegreengoddessca.com

tel: (805) 383-8800 hours: Tues 4pm-10pm, Wed-Sun 11:30am-11pm, Closed Monday web: www.805pourhouse.com

Los Arroyos Mexican Restaurant and Take out

Camarillo Carpet & Flooring

Los Arroyos Mexican Restaurant and Take out is a family owned and operated restaurant with three locations in Santa Barbara, Montecito and Camarillo. We serve authentic homemade food crafted each day using only the freshest and finest ingredients. Tony Arroyo’s original recipes originate from the dishes his mother would make back in his hometown of La Piedad Michoacan, Mexico.

Flooring Camarillo with excellence since 1985. We are locally owned and operated. We have quality carpeting & laminates at affordable prices. With one of Ventura County’s largest selections with installation and expert assistance! Free estimates.

Come by and we will have our flooring professionals help you choose the perfect floor that fits your lifestyle and budget.

tel: (805) 987-4000 hours: Mon - Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am - 8pm web: www.losarroyos.net

tel: (805) 445-4700 hours: M-Fri 9am-5:30pm Sat 10am-4pm Closed Sunday

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table of contents

spring 2016

Features 31 winged beauty

How butterfly sanctuaries and habitats

are helping the delicate insects thrive.

34 maison magnifique

41 lions, tigers and the birth

of thousand oaks

Revisiting the days when Thousand Oaks

was home to Jungleland theme park.

46 cinco de mayo celebration

Los Agaves Restaurant shares its favorite recipes for eating—and drinking— your way through the fifth of May.

20

Departments READERS CORNER 54 kiddin' around

10 Welcome from beyond

Greetings from the publisher and editor.

Readers share pictures of their

goofy youngsters in action.

NEIGHBORS 18 gojira guru

NESTING 58 spring cover-up

Godzilla aficionado Peter H. Brothers

reveals what the movie monster meant

to its original audience.

20 flights of hope

24

Tom and Sharon Cummings combine their

medical and aeronautical skills to provide

healthcare to a small village in Mexico.

ACORNUCOPIA 22 green clean

Natural cleaning products to give your

home an eco-friendly shine.

SHOPS 26 natural instincts

Three stores to help you bring the

outdoors inside.

Fresh textiles and tiles that celebrate the blossoming season.

OUT AND ABOUT 61 around town & BEYOND

Our calendar will help you stay busy

as a bee in spring.

RESOURCES 73 A guide to the people and vendors

mentioned in this issue.

SNAPSHOT 74 Calling All Cowboys

Conejo Valley Days marks its 60th year.

MICHAEL COONS

JOAN PAHOYO

The owner of à la Maison drew from

French inspiration to design her daughter's Agoura Hills home.

AROUND THE TABLE 28 strawberry fields forever

34 Cover photo by David McMartin A monarch butterfly shows off its brilliant colors. Photographed at Ragged Point in California's Central Coast region.

RICHARD GILLARD

Our guide to planting, picking, eating and

celebrating the succulent strawberry all

season long.

FEELING GOOD 50 Express yourself

The healing powers—and fun—of

multimedia journaling.

LOOKING GOOD 52 finger tips

Six local nail artists pinpoint the top

trends in nail design.

8 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

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welcome

From the Publisher and Editor

T

S

Lisa Rule, Publisher lisabeyond@theacorn.com

Until next time,

he phrase “beating the odds,” is a life theme for me. I’ve learned, over and over again, life isn’t what happens to me but how I deal with unexpected events.

After I scored poorly on my first round of SATs, my counselor said to my mother—while I was sitting next to her—“Maybe college isn’t the best path for Lisa. She’d make a very nice homemaker.” My mom banished me to my bedroom with study books, and those SAT scores rose significantly. I got into college.

When April 3 rolls around this year, I’ll mark a trifecta of lifealtering events.

April 3, 1982—After five years of dating, my husband and I married. This year we will celebrate our 34-year anniversary. People said it wouldn’t last. In this day and age, I feel blessed to still be sharing my life with someone I love and respect so much. We work together every day and spend 90 percent of our time in each other’s company. I am so happy to have such a fun, slightly evil best friend and husband to share this life adventure with.

April 3, 1996—We bought the first Acorn newspaper. Jim had been the Acorn’s publisher for Baker Communications for 10 years. We tried to make a graphic business work during a two-year interim. That year we lost our biggest client. Actually, five adults in our family had lost their jobs. It was a scary time.

The Acorn came up for sale and Jim worked tirelessly to get the money together to buy the paper. It was a court-ordered sale and a big company from Orange County was bidding against him.

Jim went to the last dollar amount we could afford. He called me from the court—we had ourselves a newspaper with 19 employees.

Many told us it was a terrible idea, print was dying. Now it’s 20 years, five papers, one magazine, 50 employees later. We beg to differ with that opinion.

April 3, 2012—We found my breast cancer. I’m still standing and loving life . . . enough said. One year later, Jim kicked my behind gently, said to stop moping and create something. Spring 2013—Beyond the Acorn magazine debuted.

So two days after this magazine is at your door, dear reader, I will be celebrating and very thankful for continuing to beat the odds.

In honor of goofy kids on page 54, here are mine, Andrea and Amber.

10 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

un’s out, buds are bursting and spring is definitely in the air and, with that, we have so much in store for you in this issue of Beyond.

Take our luscious article on strawberries, the succulent sweet that The Haukoos practically defines our in the din triplets, once upon a time, ing room that served as an community. Who hasn’t oversized playpen until the stopped to pick up big enough to hop the fen inmates were ce. freshly picked Oxnard strawberries from a roadside vendor, or roamed the farmers market tasting strawberries at more than one stall, just for the nibbles?

Our story on strawberries tells you where you can pick your own berries, gives tips on how to grow them and shares two winning recipes from the annual Strawberry Festival. Yum. We also loved to learn about the fascinating history of Thousand Oaks. Did you know that lions roamed the land that now is the Civic Arts Plaza? Those of you old enough to recall going to childhood birthday parties in the 1960s may have ridden an elephant at Jungleland once upon a time. The historic photos we unearthed may help jog your memory.

There’s so much in this issue of Beyond and, as always, we had a blast putting it together for you. What elicited the most giggles out of the Beyond team was putting your goofy kid photographs into a very entertaining photo spread. French fries up the nose? Q-tips in the ears? Wading in the toilet? You gotta see this one.

In the spirit of disclosure, I’m sharing a photo of my triplets— yes, triplets. They’re 22 now and should be sufficiently embarrassed by this photo so, all said, mission accomplished!

I can’t resist sharing some late-breaking news: We’re quite excited to announce that Beyond the Acorn received three Maggie Award nominations. The Maggies recognize excellence in magazines published in the western United States. We’re excited to be applauded by our professional peers. Awards are in May. Wish us luck!

Also, I want to congratulate our fearless publisher, Lisa Rule, for winning a Bravo Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners, Ventura County Chapter. Lisa was named Community Advocate of the Year and we are all very proud of her. Bravo, Lisa!

Leslie Gregory Haukoos Editor-in-Chief beyond@theacorn.com

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Severe injury or illness affects the whole person - body, mind and spirit.

In caring surroundings where residents and families experience the comforts of home, Windsor’s physicians, nurses, therapists, dieticians and case managers also offer social and spiritual services as well as enrichment activities.

Providing sub-acute services such as ventilator therapy, inhalation therapy, tracheotomy care, intravenous therapy, tube feeding, and complex wound care, Windsor’s mission is to stabilize the patient and safely return them to their lives as soon as possible.

Windsor Services • Recreational Therapy • Pet Therapy • Daily Activities • Personal Bedside TVs • In-House Movies • Beauty and Barber Shop • Business and Banking Services • Religious and Spiritual Services • Multi-Lingual Staff • Volunteer Programs

w

• Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Respiratory Therapy • Speech Therapy • IV Therapy • Wound Care • Complex Post-Surgical Needs • Pain Management • Stroke, Cardiac, Diabetic Care • Respite and Short-Term Care

illo

Windsor’s Personal Touch

W

Rehabilitation Services

Fa

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Rd

.

.

Ln r.

Rehabilitation

Heartfelt, compassionate personcentred care delivered by trained, interdisciplinary teams.

Personalized therapy programs that provide comprehensive treatment.

Hampshire Rd.

ill D oth

Fo

Skilled Nursing

250 FAIRVIEW ROAD

For more information, visit our website at www.WindsorCares.com or call us at (805) 494-1233

Good & Healthy Fattoush Salad

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 Contributing Writers Ela Lindsay, Allison Montroy, Erin Newman, Julie Mondimore Wilke Copy Editors Erin Newman, Ela Lindsay editorial assistant Allison Montroy ART contributing designers Sarah Ely, David Lopez, West Maätita, Beth Thayer WEB DESIGN Beth Thayer, David Lopez photoGRAPHY staff photographers Michael Coons, Joan Pahoyo advertising account executives Mona Uttal, Richard Singer, Sue Martin, Jennifer Carlo-Valdez, Diane Verner, Stacey Janson, Stephanie Alatorre 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 www.facebook.com/BeyondTheAcorn @BeyondtheAcornMag

Mediterranean Cuisine Happy Hour Monday - Friday 4:00-7:00pm Live Music - Wednesday - Saturday 6-9pm Belly Dancer – Fridays 7:30pm

3731 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

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805-497-6767 • 805-807-7222 Restaurateur & Owner Ahed Rabadi

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BEHIND THE SCENES: Graphic designer David Lopez is all business as he discusses nail art designs with editorial assistant Allison Montroy.

Jump off the Fence...

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“We had already painted and installed new carpeting, so I thought we were done.

Kathy convinced us we would sell more quickly, for a higher price and likely have multiple offers if we “re-staged” our furniture and “re-thought” our accessories. She brought in an interior design expert and Viola! e placenew never looked better!

Her online was “We had already painted andTh installed carpeting, so I thought we weremarketing done. beautiful and we sold in the fi rst week for over-asking.

Kathy Smiley knows how to market a home!”

Kathy convinced us we would sell more quickly, for a higher price and likely have ersTh if we “re-staged” Jason &multiple KristenoffA., ousand Oaksour furniture and “re-thought” our accessories. She brought in an interior design expert and Viola! The place never looked better! Her online marketing was beautiful and sold the first wonderful week for over-asking.

Smiley knows how to service market she a home!”

“WOW!!! Th ereweare notinenough things to Kathy say about Kathy and the provided Jason & Kristen A., Thousand Oaks

to us. From the first phone call she was friendly, engaging, and showed her desire to meet us and really understand what we needed for our family. She always had time for us and her follow-up “WOW!!!

There notable enough things about Kathy and the service she provided was amazing.

Sheare was to fiwonderful nd a hidden gemtoinsay a fast-moving market; Positioned our offer to us. From the first phone call she was friendly, engaging, and showed her desire to meet us and strategically to be accepted among multiple offers; Researched the property to make sure we really understand what we needed for our family. She always had time for us and her follow-up were aware of the condition and price tag of upcoming work all while working closely was amazing. She was able to find a hidden gem in a fast-moving market; Positioned our offer with our to ensure smooth transaction.

Having through thissure process strategically to lender be accepted amonga multiple offers; Researched the been property to make we unsuccessfully before we know just how blessed we were to have found her were aware of the condition and price tag of upcoming work all while working closely and had herlender on ourtoside EVERY steptransaction. of the way. Her wide netthrough of professionals she knows with our ensure a smooth Having been this process in the fi eld made a HUGE diff erence and allowed us to close ON TIME unsuccessfully before we know just how blessed we were to have found her and had and home.

Weofare thankful appreciative of all that she her on obtain our sideour EVERY step the BEYOND way. Her wide net ofand professionals she knows in the fihas eld done madefor a HUGE difference allowed us to close us. What a gemand Kathy Smiley is!!! “ ON TIME and obtain Sevet our home.

We areJ.,BEYOND thankful and appreciative of all that she & Myron Moorpark has done for us. What a gem Kathy Smiley is!!! “ Sevet & Myron J., Moorpark

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You can also request more information online at WEFIrequest.com WEFI is an initiative of Life and Annuity Masters

neighbors

Peter H. Brothers

How a gargantuan radioactive lizard became political commentary on America's bombing of JAPAN

Gojira Guru Peter H. Brothers, a Godzilla aficionado, has written two books about the movie monster.

Written by ALLISON MONTROY

Photo by RICHARD GILLARD

N

ot many people would call Godzilla much of a friend.

But to Peter H. Brothers, Ishiro Honda’s monster from the deep is practically family.

The superfan remembers when his grandmother turned on “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” for the first time in 1960.

“I was completely transfixed by this picture.” He was 7, growing up in the golden age of monster movies, in a time when TV guides were entertainment bibles and every home sported a black-and-white screen.

“I was just completely amazed,” Peter recalls. “I wish I had footage of myself as a kid watching it.”

The now-retired data entry specialist published his latest book, “Atomic Dreams and the Nuclear Nightmare: The Making of Godzilla (1954)” as the monster celebrates its 60th anniversary in the U.S. Peter 18 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

wrote the book following his 2009 Ishiro Honda biography.

“I waited for 30 years for someone to write a book about Honda, and finally just did it myself,” he says.

His obsession with and great respect for the film stemmed from the hunch, even as a young child, that there was a darker reality bubbling beneath the surface of Godzilla’s rampage through Tokyo. And he was right. The young fan soon learned that Japan’s gargantuan radioactive lizard was a metaphor for the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ensuing U.S. nuclear weapons tests.

The opening scenes of “Godzilla” recall the tragedy of The Lucky Dragon, a Japanese fishing vessel that was caught in the crossfire of a thermonuclear bomb test conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in 1954. Because of a grave miscalculation, the blasts yielded 15 megatons (1,000

times more powerful than the atomic bombs nine years prior).

All 23 crew members aboard the vessel suffered terrible radiation poisoning and, in the chaos, some of the radioactive tuna were brought to land and sold in Japanese markets.

The horrific events incited a nationwide anti-nuclear movement and inspired Honda to make a monster more destructive and catastrophic than any before. The 1954 Gojira (a mashup of the Japanese words for gorilla and whale) was the first movie monster to destroy an entire city. Scenes of patients covered in radiation burns and panicked residents fleeing city streets are eerily reminiscent of the 1945 atomic attacks.

By the time Godzilla invaded Peter’s TV set in 1960, Hollywood had Americanized the film, changing the title to “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” The Hollywood version added Raymond Burr as an American reporter and cut out close to 40 minutes of the original film. To the American masses, the 1956 “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” was just another monster movie.

It was 20 years later, in the early ’70s, that Peter stumbled onto his first piece of “Godzilla” memorabilia: a green and red poster from the original film. He had been “babbling Godzilla” to a friend at Pierce College who recommended he visit a North Hollywood movie memorabilia shop: Eddie Brandt’s Saturday Matinee. Peter struck gold.

He bought a three-sheet poster for $10 and an 11-by-14-inch lobby card for $3.50. “I thought at the time I was being overcharged.”

Today, a three-sheet is worth several thousand dollars.

Peter’s current collection includes an autographed photo of Raymond Burr, Godzilla models and the original movie posters.

The monster movie guru, who is also a poet, actor, playwright and author of five books, often gives lectures about the iconic films. He has spoken at Monsterpalooza, Comic-Con and on a number of local panels.

One could say he’s a lifelong fan—the 62-year-old sports a ‘Gojira’ license plate—but his wife doesn’t quite share in his affinity for the monster.

“We were still dating (when) the picture came out on VHS in the ’80s . . . I told her, ‘come over on Friday, we’re going to watch this great film.’ About the time Tokyo was on fire (in the movie), I look over and she’s asleep. It’s pretty much been that way ever since.” Still, she often helps him at lectures and good-naturedly welcomed his expansive Godzilla collection into the Agoura Hills home they share with their daughter.

Prior to the VHS release, Peter saw the film every time it was broadcast—about three times a year for 30 years. To date, he has seen “Godzilla” (combined 1954 and 1956 versions) at least 500 times.

“We see these films as kids and we hang on to them. They keep us young, and remind us of times when we had no worries. I find as I get older I’m more and more moved by songs and films of my past.”

That explains why Peter focuses his collection on the original Godzilla movie. He enjoys Honda’s other films and the Godzilla sequels (“King Kong vs. Godzilla,” “Mothra” and dozens of others, only two of which were made in Hollywood) but to Peter, the original king of monsters isn’t just a movie icon; he’s an old friend.

Peter H. Brothers will be speaking about his latest Godzilla book at the Agoura Hills Library at 6 p.m. on Mon., April 18.

Oaks Christian School A COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL SERVING GRADES 5 THROUGH 12

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neighbors

Tom & Sharon Cummings

Flights of

HOPE

Written by Julie Mondimore Wilke Photo by joan pahoyo

W

hen operating room nurse Sharon Cummings first saw the white strips of exam-table paper billowing from a clothesline and buckets of bleach-soaked surgical sponges at Buen Pastor Hospital in San Quintin, Mexico, she thought she may have stepped through the looking glass.

20 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

“I knew we were going to a poor area that needed our help, but I wasn’t prepared for what we found,” Sharon says.

Along with her husband, Dr. Thomas Cummings, Sharon had signed up for an impromptu mission with the San Luis Obispobased Gold Coast chapter of Flying Samaritans International.

The nonprofit organization is made up of doctors, nurses, pilots, translators and other volunteers who bring free medical care to people in poor and remote villages in Mexico such as San Quintin, a small town south of Ensenada.

Tom, an anesthesiologist at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, was at work when he first learned about a call for volunteers.

“I had heard about the Flying Samaritans and thought about volunteering as a pilot since I fly,” the doctor says. “When I found out about the specialty clinic—that I could go down as a pilot and do anesthesia—I knew it was a good fit for me.”

Sharon, also a licensed pilot as well as a nurse, knew Tom and the other volunteers could use her help in the hospital and in the air. She signed up to go, too.

That was in October 2002. It became the start of a journey the couple is still on today.

“I thought it would be a one-time thing,” Sharon says, “but once we started, we were hooked in.”

Gathering the basics

Nurses told Sharon the hospital was so poor they had to wash exam-table paper in bleach, hang it to dry and reuse it. Surgical sponges were also routinely soaked in bleach so they could also be used again.

Courtesy of Tom Cummings

The hospital, run by Medical Director Dr. Alejandro Gonzales, does a lot with very little.

“When we first started going down to Buen Pastor, no one knew exactly what was needed,” the nurse remembers.

While visiting doctors brought some medical supplies, the hospital was in dire need of basics like operating tables, lights, sutures and other disposable supplies.

The doctor and nurse duo also make it their personal mission to bring much-needed supplies with them every time they return.

“When our hospital would upgrade, I would ask for the old equipment,” Sharon says. “We started collecting donations, outdated supplies, anything that could help and wasn’t needed here, and would take it down to Mexico.”

Tom and Sharon fly their own six-seater Beechcraft Bonanza and fill it “floor to ceiling” each mission with donated supplies.

Of all the Flying Samaritan clinics, the one in San Quintin is the only one to provide surgical procedures to those in need.

“The other chapters offer family practice-type care, but we are the only one that does surgeries,” Sharon explains. “People are in such desperate need of procedures, they travel up to 15 hours by bus or sometimes walk for miles just to be seen.”

The San QuintinSharon and Tom Cummings prep for based specialty clinic surgery on an infant during a recent trip to is usually scheduled San Quintin, Mexico. on the third weekend of the month, and each three-day mission operates at a breakneck pace offering a different surgical focus during each trip.

Volunteer doctors perform urological and gynecological, ear-nose-throat, plastic, orthopedic and general surgeries depending on the scheduled specialist. During a recent constructive and plastic surgery clinic, the team performed 12 procedures, including a cleft lip revision, a mastectomy and an eyelid reconstruction.

The surgeons make an average of two trips a year but since every surgery needs an anesthesiologist and an operating room nurse, Tom and Sharon are needed on almost every trip.

“Right now, we go down about six to eight times a year,” Tom says.

Sharon, Tom and the rest of that month’s team leave on Friday mornings and hit the ground running.

When she started volunteering, the nurse recalls it was “more than a bit chaotic.” Nowadays they have a system down.

Neither Sharon nor Tom speaks Spanish, so they have a flights ON PAGE 67

acornucopia

Unique buys

ROCKIN' GREEN Laundry Detergent

This biodegradable powder detergent was created by a Texas mom sick of products falsely touting themselves as eco-friendly. Rockin’ Green has no phosphates, parabens, dyes or fillers. The bag is packed with 90 loads’ worth of cleaning power and is 100 percent recyclable once empty. Plus, it’s got a lower pH so it’s mild enough for baby clothes. Also comes in lavender mint scent. rockingreensoap.com (855) RNG-SOAP $17.95

Biodegradable Cleaner Dr. Bronner’s is a one-stop-shop for Earth-friendly goodies. The super concentrated, long-lasting Sal Suds is good for all-purpose surface cleaning, laundry, dishes, floors, produce, carpets, glass, windows and pet gear. Also, its pure spruce and fir essential oils are gentle on skin and vegan, too. www.drbronner.com (877) 786-3649 32 oz. $18 16 oz. $13.99

Grapefruit Kitchen Cleaner

It took one spray of this delicioussmelling cleaner for us to hop on board. Kitchens, ovens and grills were left streak-free and smelling fantastic. Frosch is a trusted household cleaning brand in Germany and the vegan spray is also EU Ecolabel Certified, meaning the cleaner was proven to have a reduced environmental impact. froschusa.com (212) 697-7034 16.9 oz. $4.50

Lavender Floor Soap

Floors see a lot of action.

The Good Home Co. helps banish dirt and bacteria.

Its wood and tile soap is phosphate- and sulfatefree for a gentle, natural clean with a calming lavender fragrance. www.goodhomestore.com (888) 442-2862 32 oz. $18

green clean Written by ALLISON MONTROY

We scoured the markets and scrubbed everything in sight to find Earth-friendly products to clean—and green—your home.

No harsh chemicals, no icky ingredients— just the good stuff.

Spaghetti Scrubs

Enjoy your dinner with a side of toxic chemicals? Simply put, using synthetic oil-based square sponges and phosphateladen soap on your dishes just isn’t appetizing. Goodbye Detergent’s fun little scrubbers work without soap and dry fast for no mildew. Plus, they’re all-natural, so no chemicals can creep onto your dishes.

Choose between gentle (peach pits) or coarse (corn cobs). www.goodbyedetergent. com (800) 321-2226 2 scrubs from $11 to $15 See dealers for price

Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner

When life gives you lemons, turn them into a zestyfresh natural cleaner and spray it all over your home. J.R. Watkins uses extracted lemon peel oil to deodorize and rid your house of bacteria. Plus, it’s a pro at cutting through tough grease and grime. www.jrwatkins.com (800) 243-9423 24 oz. $4.99

Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls

These New Zealand-wool dryer balls shorten dry times, rid clothes of static and soften without harsh chemicals present in most commercial dryer sheets. The balls are made sustainably in Nepal and packaged by work-at-home moms in Utah. Each ball keeps clothes fresh for more than 1,000 loads. www.smartsheepdryerballs.com 3-pack $19.95 | 6-pack $29.95

All-Natural Sponge

This sponge wasn’t originally intended for household messes.

The plant-based foam was designed to mop up oil in the 2010 Gulf oil spill. With a noscratch walnut shell scrubber, the Pura Naturals kitchen sponge is tough on grease and can absorb 14 times its weight but the hydrophobic foam keeps bacteria at bay, no matter the size of the mess: kitchen counters, juice spills . . . the Gulf of Mexico. puranaturalsproducts.com (855) 326-8537 $1.99

BeechWood Toilet Brush Stand

Even the ugliest of chores can be done with a beautiful tool in hand.

Bürstenhaus Redecker, a German company that has been handcrafting brushes for 75 years, uses untreated, sustainably sourced beechwood to make their toilet brush stand. The design and accompanying ceramic edge cleaner allows the pig bristle brush to dry quickly, preventing mold and ensuring that future powder room visitors will be sitting pretty. www.rodales.com (888) 891-8900 $34

Citrus Fresh Dish Soap

Kitchen and Bath Scrubber

This scrubber kicks grease and dirt to the curb.

Because Better Life fills bottles with only the good stuff, you won’t have to worry about harsh chemical residue invading the kids’ (or your) next bubble bath.

Rubber duckies, rejoice! www.cleanhappens.com (877) CLN-HPNS 16 oz. $7.99

Life Tree’s concentrated dish soap is super tough on food messes, but don’t let that fool you. The biodegradable and phosphate-free aloe vera and calendula formula is ultra gentle on both the environment and your hardworking hands. The earth is happy, your hands are soft and the dishes are squeaky clean. Could you really ask for anything more? www.lifetreeproducts.com (800) 824-6396 16 oz. $6.50

Fair Trade Household Gloves

Double Fruity Freshness

Method knows green clean. Their two latest scents, honeycrisp apple and orange tangerine starring in method’s AllPurpose Cleaner and Daily Granite Cleaner, respectively, pretty much named themselves. Both are biodegradable, nontoxic, streak free and packaged in a 100% recyclable bottle. methodhome.com (866) 963-8463 (All-purpose) 28 oz. $4 (Granite) 28 oz. $5

The natural rubber in these sturdy reusable gloves is sourced from a responsibly managed plantation. With a 100 percent natural cotton lining, hands are comfortable cleaning the dishes, walls, toilet, dog or wherever the mess may lead. buy.ifyoucare.com (888) 281-6400 $3.89

Powder Cleanser

Surprised to see this old favorite? We were, too.

But it turns out Mom’s go-to powder was making cleaning green before “green” was even a thing.

Tried and true, Bon Ami leaves just about any surface gleaming without scratching away the shine thanks to its feldspar and limestone abrasives. It's hypoallergenic and has no chlorine. www.bonami.net 14 oz. six-pack $8.95

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Shops

NATURAL INSTINCTS We’re spoiled living in this area. Most days are filled with sunshine. We’re surrounded by beautiful hills and grand mountains. We have easy access to fine beaches. And, even during a major drought, we have a ton of lush trees to delight the eye and soothe the soul.

So why bother to bring the outdoors in? Experts say that connecting to nature is essential for well-being and can help to decrease stress, improve overall mood and can even inspire creativity.

We went on the hunt for local shops that help bring the outdoors into our indoor lives and found these gems.

Top: Serenity Calling in Agoura Hills carries a wide selection of rocks, crystals and gemstones. Center: a coral-base lamp from Room at the Beach in Malibu could be lighting a mermaid's den. Left: a chair from Jalan Jalan Imports looks as though it has grown out of the ground ready to seat someone.

26 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

Chair photo courtesy of JALAN JALAN IMPORTS

Written by ela lindsay Photos by joan pahoyo

Jalan Jalan Imports Plan to spend a leisurely afternoon perusing all the warm and inviting wood, shell and stone furnishings and décor at this store, located by Owl Falls in the heart of Topanga Canyon.

This is a great place to find one-of-a-kind whimsical chairs, stools, benches and tables that have been coaxed out of the roots of trees, branches and trunks. Or select a petrified wood slab for a tabletop, a carved stone or wooden room divider, or a volcanic stone statue or panel that will add character to any interior.

And don’t miss the opaque shell lamps that will bring the feel of the ocean inside.

Bottomless Mimosas

525 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Topanga (310) 455- 2254 jalanjalanimports.com

Serenity Calling You’ll feel a sense of peace and inspiration surrounding the large, beautiful crystal geodes and other rare gemstone and natural stone pieces found here.

If you’re seeking unique certified sustainable furniture and décor, check out the Amazon rainforest hardwood pieces that are not only glorious to look at, they make a definite statement.

Add a Zen garden or a fountain to your room and you’re ready to embrace the peace of nature in your home.

Whizin Market Square 28914 Roadside Drive Agoura Hills (818) 275-2174 www.serenitycalling.com

Room at the Beach

As its name suggests, Room at the Beach offers a plethora of sea-related goodies that you’ll want to cart home.

Guests will love the starfish dishware and won’t want to vacate the beachy guest room with a serene Savannah bed and white herringbone matelasse bed coverlet.

Designing a comfy sitting room or an inspired office is as easy as introducing a coral seashell lamp or bubble sphere paperweights. Add a Malibu Signature scented candle and you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a seaside resort.

Discover a variety of ocean-inspired trinkets, beach-themed signs, cutting boards, pillows, candles, wicker and all sorts of fun tchotchkes. You’ll swear you almost hear ocean waves crashing just outside.

Malibu Country Mart 3835 Cross Creek Road, Ste. 23 Malibu (310) 456-9777 www.roomatthebeachmalibu.com

Come join us for Sunday Brunch Between 10am and 2pm Enjoy everything from house made biscuits to Bloody Marys at our Full Bar Lunch items also available

&

Adolfo Grill Daily Bar 67 Daily Drive, Camarillo (Las Posas Plaza)

805|482|3200 adolfogrill.com

around the table

Seasonal

Strawberry

Fields Forever

here’s something about strawberries. Whether it’s the mid-bite sensation of juice dribbling down the chin or the taste of sweet springtime that tingles the taste buds, California’s succulent, plump red berry seduces the senses and delights the palate like no other. This season, experience the strawberry harvest to the fullest. Here’s our guide to grow, pick, celebrate and taste your way through strawberry season.

Where to pick your own berries* Underwood Family Farms

Moorpark Farm Center 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark (805) 529-3690 Somis Farm Center 5696 Los Angeles Ave., Somis (805) 386-4660 www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com

McGrath Family Farm

1012 W. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo (805) 983-0333 www.mcgrathfamilyfarm.com

Summerset Farm

3450 Baseline Ave., Santa Ynez (805) 245-0989

Cal Poly Strawberry Center

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (805) 756-2150 strawberry.calpoly.edu

Tanaka Farms

5380 ¾ University Drive, Irvine (949) 653-2100 www.tanakafarms.com * Strawberry-picking season typically begins in early summer. Call before visiting.

RICHARD GILLARD

T

Written by Allison Montroy

Backyard Berrylicious Six Steps to growing Your Own Strawberries Types

Strawberries are perennials. There are three main types: “ever-bearers,” which yield fruit most abundantly in spring and fall, “June-bearers,” producing the largest berries, and “dayneutral,” which produce the smallest berries but will deliver a good yield in the first year.

Including two types in your garden will provide an abundant harvest.

Planting Make sure the crown of the plant is barely above ground—any lower and it will rot, any higher and it will dry out. Strawberries love slightly acidic soil that’s loaded with organic matter (think compost). Space plants 10 to 18 inches apart.

Drainage Proper drainage is key for successful strawberries. The plants have shallow roots and often do better in raised containers.

Care In summer, the plants begin producing runners, or stolons. For a small, backyard garden, allow fewer stolons. The plant will produce larger fruit more abundantly. It’s important to pinch the runners in the first season to keep plants healthy.

Sun Strawberries love sunshine. Plant where they will get six to 10 hours of daily sun to yield the largest, juiciest berries.

Harvest

Strawberries will be at peak picking capacity four to six weeks after blossoming. One harvest usually lasts about three weeks.

California Strawberry Festival This might be California’s tastiest festival. Now in its 33rd year, the twoday California Strawberry Festival is a yearly tribute to our state’s multibillion-dollar berry industry. It’s held in the mecca of strawberry farming— Oxnard. Along with a decadent array of strawberries (fried, baked, shortcaked, fermented and chocolate dipped), the festival features live music, contests, cooking demonstrations, arts and craft fairs and a kids’ carnival. Stop by the Community Connections booth to see how the festival has donated more than $4.5 million through the years to charities and local organizations.

May 21 and 22 | 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Strawberry Meadows of College Park 3250 S. Rose Ave,. Oxnard strawberry-fest.org | (888) 288-9242

The Camarillo Ranch Foundation

Camarillo Ranch Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to stewarding the legacy of Adolfo Camarillo.

The Foundation hosts a variety of family-oriented events each year that promote history, education, and community.

Plan your visit to the Camarillo Ranch at www.camarilloranch.org.

House Tours & Gift Shop

2016 Events

Learn the history of Adolfo #TBT Food Truck Festival Camarillo and his beautiful Car Show & Food Truck Rally Ranch while touring the 1892 Adolfo Camarillo’s Birthday Victorian Mansion.

Santa Nights Saturday-Monday 11am-3pm Christmas at the Ranch Subject to Change

201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo, CA 93012 805.389.8182 www.camarilloranch.org info@camarilloranch.org

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4065 Mission Oaks Blvd. Camarillo | www.allvetcare.com 30 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

Here are a couple of creative, decadent dessert recipes courtesy of the California Strawberry Festival’s Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest. Enjoy!

Strawberry Coconut Poke Cake 2015 Berry Blast Off Co-Winner Alethia Shih of Los Angeles Serves 8 Cake 2 eggs ½ cup sugar ½ cup cake flour ½ tsp. baking powder ⅛ tsp. salt 6 large ripe strawberries, hulled and chopped Coconut Soak 7 oz. cream of coconut 7 oz. sweetened condensed milk Strawberry Purée Sauce

2 cups large ripe strawberries, hulled

⅓ cup white sugar

Fill a rice cooker halfway with water and place steamer rack on top. Close lid, plug in rice cooker and press cook. Bring water to boil. (Can also be done in a large pot with steamer rack.)

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs with a hand mixer on high speed for 5-7 minutes until eggs are light, pale and extremely fluffy.

Add sugar and continue beating for 1-2 minutes or until sugar dissolves completely.

In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture with a spatula until incorporated.

Divide batter evenly among eight ramekins, filling each slightly more than halfway. Sprinkle several pieces of chopped strawberries into each ramekin.

Arrange ramekins on steaming rack. Water in rice cooker should be hot and/or boiling. Close lid, allowing cakes to steam 8-10 minutes, until cakes are light and fluffy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. strawberries ON PAGE 68

Winged Beauty Written by Erin Newman

Joan Pahoyo

N

othing says spring like a garden full of butterflies flitting about, gracing gardens and meadows with their cheerful colors and jaunty aeronautics.

Here in Southern California we are blessed with butterflies year-round, as they enjoy our warm weather.

Monarchs, in particular, adhere to distinct migration patterns to escape the cold. East of the Rocky Mountains, they head down to the Gulf Coast or Mexico to hibernate for the winter. On the West Coast, monarchs stick around, huddling together in Southern California’s eucalyptus groves while waiting for spring.

Unfortunately, many species of this fragile insect face an uncertain future due to loss of habitat, pollution, shifting climate factors and herbicide use.

We can help keep butterflies happy and healthy by creating habitats for them.

Gardens that provide pesticide-free nectar sources for adult butterflies and host plants for their offspring, along with a small mud or sand puddle and shelter from the wind, will give them respite and a place to thrive.

A patchwork of such residential gardens spotted through cities and rural areas can help restore healthy butterfly communities while providing visual delight.

Some butterfly lovers take it a step further, opening nurseries that supply plants for butterflies throughout their developmental stages.

Monarchs, in particular, benefit from their own network of safe havens, called Monarch Waystations. These official habitats at homes, schools, businesses and on random spare plots of land help assure the preservation of the species.

Butterflies have been on earth 50 million years. Taking care of them allows future generations the privilege of experiencing the beauty and wonder of these delicate creatures.

Kim Delaney

david mcmartin

When she’s not playing golf, Kim Delaney can usually be found in her backyard, a visual delight and an oasis for all types of butterflies.

Kim and her husband, George, North Ranch residents for the past 25 years, have filled their expansive back garden with an abundance of lush vegetation. Pathways lined with flowers and rare fruit trees are interrupted by vine-covered arbors and archways that lead in different directions; one meanders to a gazebo graced with an artist’s mural, another to a romantic tea pavilion.

It’s no coincidence this paradise has been featured in the Westlake Garden Tour five times.

But Kim’s main motivation isn’t to please human visitors. Most of what she cultivates are plants that butterflies of all shapes and sizes love to nibble on.

She became interested in the creatures about five years ago and dedicates her time and resources to rearing them and providing a lush habitat for them.

Kim, who was born in Korea and raised in Hawaii, meticulously tends to the raised flower beds, growing cabbages for the white butterflies, passion vine for the Gulf fritillary, milkweed, salvia and lilac for monarchs, plus hundreds of other plants.

She often checks her milkweed for monarch eggs.

When she finds some, she carefully breaks off the leaves containing eggs and brings them into her sun porch, where she has incubators for them. She also tends to a couple of small quail, chickens, a macaw and an Amazon parrot.

Kim says she is perfectly content to tend to her garden all day, planting and nurturing her colorful collection of butterfly-friendly plants.

Despite the fact that butterflies “gobble up money,” she says she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Joan Pahoyo

Butterfly Retreat

black swallowtail

32 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

Monarch butterflies are clustered together, hibernating until spring. Monarchs can be seen in local overwintering sites from November through January. These areas—near the coast in Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles counties—can vary year to year.

Visit www.monarchprogram.org for more information.

Butterflyfriendly plants

Joan Pahoyo

Fill your garden with these food sources:

Butterfly bush Butterfly flower Coneflower Flat-flowered types of sage Gloriosa daisy Heliotrope Jupiter’s beard Lantana Marigold Mexican sunflower Pincushion flower Tickseed Salvia Shasta daisy Sky flower Star cluster Verbena Yarrow

And don’t forget host plants, where butterflies lay eggs: Fennel Milkweed Passion flower

This is a Monarchy Rick Krause and Lynne Godin’s home in the Bridle Path neighborhood of Simi Valley could be called a mecca for monarch butterflies.

As a Monarch Waystation, their lush backyard is host to 50 to 350 monarchs each day and has a bevy of monarch-friendly plants in the private nursery.

Rick and Lynne are passionate about all things monarch and are involved in providing a habitat for them and educating others about the importance of helping the butterflies. Their operation, which they call “This is a Monarchy,” does both.

After seeing a newspaper ad that simply said “Got Milkweed,” Rick obtained several of the plants, which monarchs use to lay their eggs. The couple took on the mission of helping the winged creatures flourish. Their garden became an official Monarch Waystation in the fall of 2011.

When finding pesticide-free milkweed became a challenge, they began growing it themselves, along with several other nectar plants. They opened their nursery in early 2013.

Rick and Lynne hold monthly open houses, where they educate families about caring for monarchs. Children can see and hold the insects in their various life stages as well as learn about them through videos, coloring pages and demonstrations. The backyard koi pond and horses are also a hit with visitors.

Lynne also spreads the word by visiting schools, libraries, garden clubs and the like as well as hosting cutting and transplanting classes. Visitors to their nursery come from all over Southern California.

And more than 900 email clients buy milkweed for monarch eggs and caterpillars, and nectar plants for adult butterflies.

Cultivating hundreds of plants, rearing and releasing monarchs, and educating the public keep the couple very busy, but they find the project well worth the effort, knowing they are part of a community of monarch lovers working to keep the beautiful butterfly off the endangered species list.

Lynne Godin and Rick Krause

painted lady

These plants are water-wise.

M

aison Magnifique

Designer creates French country comfort for her daughter’s family home

R

Written by Leslie Gregory Haukoos Photos by Michael coons

ed. It’s the color of passion, of blood, of fire. Red Mary, who owns à la Maison, a design business with a storefront in Westlake Village and a growing online clientele, loves all is a color that cannot be ignored.

It’s also the bold visual statement that ties to- things French. Though she works in other styles as well, she says all gether the interior design of Bo and Dawn Eason’s of her design work is strongly influenced by European styles. But the Eason home is all French.

Agoura Hills home.

It’s not often that one is surrounded by deep red walls soaring “My mom has always just really liked that style,” says Dawn. up some 18 feet. But, rather than overwhelm, this bold color state- “She’s always said that when my friends were doing all that Holment serves to warm a cavernous space—a space lywood glamour (in their homes) the trending designed for an active young family.

The only way to make it styles would go quickly. The more traditional “The rooms are large, so they can carry warmer and cozier was styles last longer.” it,” says designer Mary Radenbaugh, who is Though the design feels effortless, the proto take the dark color cess to get to that point involved extensive work.

Dawn’s mother. “But you have to carry the color through the room. through the house.”

Mary, who is also a contractor, basically gutted Dawn says Mary began with a three color the house. “We created the archways everysamples: she already had the fabric for the kitchen shades, a red chenille where, opened the kitchen to the dining room, moved the bar in they would use for the living room couch, and a taupe towel. “She used the family room,” Mary explains. those three things and went from there,” Dawn recalls. “That’s where Some of the structural changes were just commonsensical, you have the continuity. And every single room has the taupe.” like adding a door that leads from the kitchen directly to the

As for the dramatic living room, Mary says “the only way to dining room.

Other changes were less obvious. Mary removed the freestandmake it warmer and cozier was to take the dark color through ing bar in the family room and inset it into the wall, using space the room.”

The Eason family gathers in their living room. Bo and Dawn Eason, left of fireplace, and their kids Eloise, Axel and Lyla, are joined by Dawn's mother and the home's designer, Mary Radenbaugh, far right. Mary, a designer and contractor, used cast cement to mimic limestone on the fireplace. Floors are also cement, fabricated to look like stone. The rug was a consignment store find that, coincidentally, was the perfect red.

Floor-to-ceiling drapes are a dramatic silk stripe.

from an under-stair coat closet. That opened up the family room for a game table where the Eason kids—Eloise, Axel and Lyla—like to do homework.

Some of the hanging kitchen cabinets had to go to open up the space and, upstairs, Mary enclosed a loft area to make a bedroom with a dressing foyer for her eldest granddaughter, Eloise.

36 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

She also reconfigured the master suite to make the most of the space. The result is a bedroom, sitting room and a master bath that are both elegant and functional.

Mary has her own cabinet shop to craft the oversized, hand-carved and hand-distressed cabinetry, commissions her own iron work, and has furnishings made to her specifications.

“A lot of the time you can’t buy the stuff you’re looking for,” Mary explains. “That’s why I started designing what I needed."

Bathroom vanities are among the pieces Mary designs. The Eason master bath has one of her vanities.

Many of the other furnishings in the Eason home are French antiques, others are reproductions that Mary has commissioned.

Mary created archways between rooms after removing existing columns. The dining room hutch is an antique Mary imported from France. She had it stained red and upholstered inside.

Below, the designer removed an existing built-in bar in the family room and created this smaller bar, inset into a wall and utilizing space from an underthe-stair coat closet. The custom, hand-carved cabinetry matches that of the kitchen. Many of the decorative items are Paris flea-market finds.

spring 2016 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 37

And finishing touches, such as the fabrics for the kitchen Roman shades and upholstered breakfast chairs, are treasures she’s found in France on her biannual trips there.

But the design is all hers. “Everyone says our house is so homey,” says Dawn.

“I feel like all of the homes my mom does are like that.”

That doesn’t mean they are filled with rough and tumble nonbreakables. Everywhere you turn in the Eason home there are 38 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

fine antiques, crystal vases and other fragile pieces. All that, in a house with three kids?

“You just have to teach them to take care of the house,” says Dawn. “The kids really appreciate the way our house looks and they like it.”

Mary agrees, and recalls how she taught her own kids how to respect fine things.

The end result is a home that works for the busy Easons—“busy” being a bit of an understatement.

The Morice stove is a French import. It's situated beneath a handpainted vent that bears the initial of the Eason family. Cabinets are hand-carved, stained and distressed. The limestone counters butt against a Calcutta gold marble subway tile backsplash. The kitchen island is an antique French pastry table that Mary topped with a Calcutta gold marble slab. She had the legs lengthened to bring the island up to counter height.

An antique confectioners' scale, by the sink, makes an interesting conversation piece.

Top right, the antique grandfatherstyle Morbier clock in the dining room (background) dates from the 1820s or '30s. Mary says the clock was designed for a monastery and rings on the hour (to summon the monks to prayers) and again five minutes after the hour, signaling prayers' end.

The breakfast table is a French antique reproduction Mary had made and imported.

She found the fabrics for the Roman shades and breakfast chairs in France. spring 2016 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 39

After playing in the NFL for five years, Bo Eason wrote and performed a oneman stage play that ran both on- and offBroadway—twice. The show, called “Runt of the Litter,” loosely tells the story of Bo and his brother Tony Eason, who also played in the NFL. The play is now being developed as a motion picture.

“I told myself if I can express myself on a stage the way I did on the field, I’ll be employable,” Bo explains.

Out of that success grew The Bo Eason Experience, the motivational company he now runs with wife Dawn. She books and produces the shows and Bo’s on stage, coaching people on how to tell their own stories, whether for business or personal success.

Those speaking engagements frequently take Bo and Dawn on the road. The couple also entertains clients, so they need a house that can comfortably suit large groups.

“When my mom is doing a house she always asks, ‘how is this going to flow for the parties?” says Dawn.

“You definitely want a house that’s livable and comfortable,” Mary says.

And, in this case, a home that’s oh-somagnifique.

The master bedroom is sparsely furnished for a simple, elegant effect.

An oversized vanity, one of Mary's designs, is a focal point in the spacious master bath.

Gilded mirrors and light fixtures bring a touch of old world charm to the room.

"Working with Dawn is easy," Mary says.

"But, if she doubts one of my ideas, she asks her sister, Lyndee."

Mary's other daughter, Lyndee Rothbard, works with her mom at à la Maison.

Lions, Tigers, and the Birth of

Thousand Oaks Written By Allison Montroy

Barbara Stanwyck and Elvis Presley

Louis Goebel and Sammy

jungleland ON PAGE 44

ejo S Civic Arts Plaza-

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he lion wasn’t always just king of the jungle. In the mid-20th century, he also ruled Thousand Oaks—or, as the locals knew it, Jungleland.

It all started in 1926. Louis Goebel, a New York-bred butcher’s son, purchased several lions from his former employer, Universal Studios, when the studio decided to close the menagerie where Goebel worked.

“He bought the lions with the idea that he would rent them back to the company,” explains Bruce Hamilton, Jungleland exhibit curator at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park.

But Goebel’s idea didn’t go exactly as planned. When he was denied land in L.A. County to house his lions, Goebel decided to venture a few miles north into unincorporated Ventura County. He bought five lots— 20 acres—for $10 each on the swath of land where Thousand Oaks City Hall, The Lakes and the Civic Arts Plaza now stand.

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Above, famed big cat trainer Mabel Stark introduces her Sumatran tigers, circa 1920. Left, Sammy, one of the MGM “Leo”lions, surveys the parade crowd as the Conejo Valley Days Parade Grand Marshal in 1967. The driver, Joe Raffell, and his son, Stuart, were Sammy’s owners and trainers.

El de Parq la ue Pa z

Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza was built in 1994 on the former Jungleland site. Though Jungleland is long gone, several remnants still remain. The Crowley House at El Parque de la Paz was the Goebels' home, and many play structures in the park are a nod to the former Jungleland.

Clark Gable was one of many celebrities who frequented Jungleland. Here, the actor poses with two lion cubs.

Bert Nelson was a lion trainer and vaudeville performer in the ’20s and ’30s. He spent time at Goebel's Lion Farm and toured with the Ringling Bros. and Al G. Barnes circuses. Nelson was also a stunt double in the 1930s “Tarzan” films.

• Louis Goebel • Jungleland founder Louis Goebel moved to California at the age of 23 and spent several years preparing horse meat for Gay’s Lion Farm and then the Universal Studios zoo before the serendipitous lion acquisition that launched Jungleland.

One night, in the early years of Goebel’s Lion Farm, Louis was confronted by a resolute young woman who lived down the road. Kathleen Parks was frustrated that Goebel’s lions’ roars kept her cows up at night and intended to speak her mind.

“Well, Goebel takes one look at (Kathleen) and says ‘you’re beautiful,’” laughs Bruce Hamilton, curator of the Jungleland exhibit. “Three months later the two were married and that solved that.”

Louis and Kathleen Goebel began traveling the world in search of exotic animals to sell to other zoos around the country. The two were soon running an exotic animal import-export business at the park. During the next several decades, Goebel sold at least one animal to every zoo in the United States, including most of the animals for Hawaii’s first zoo (now Honolulu Zoo) in 1947.

To Hamilton, it seems that Goebel was more attached to the circus world than he was anything else. Jungleland was home to a plethora of circus-trained entertainers including animal trainers Mel Koontz, Louis Roth, Mabel Stark and Chucko the Clown. When it closed, Goebel donated Jungleland’s iconic circus wagons to the Circus World Museum.

In Jungleland’s heyday, Goebel owned about one-third of Thousand Oaks. His farm was the first property in town to have gas, phone and electricity.

As the Goebels’ success grew, so did their philanthropy. Louis built and donated a fire station next to the Lion Farm in 1931, prompting the Ventura County Fire District to send Conejo Valley’s first fire engine to the park.

Kathleen led the fundraiser for Thousand Oaks’ first church, where the Conejo Valley Masonic Lodge stands today. In the 1950s, Louis donated all of the water used during the construction of the Ventura Freeway. The previously unpaved roads and lack of tow trucks meant Goebel’s elephants would often pull out cars stuck in the mud on rainy days.

In the 1970s, when Jungleland had closed and the dust had settled, the Goebels made one more contribution to their town and founded the Goebel Adult Community Center at the Thousand Oaks Library.

Louis and Kathleen Goebel rest at the Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, just a few miles down the road from the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in Calabasas, the resting place of their old friend, Leo the MGM Lion.

After closing its doors in 1969, the vacant Jungleland property served as an unofficial skate park for several decades before it was sold to the city of Thousand Oaks.

All that remains of Jungleland today is a plaque at the Civic Arts Plaza.

jungleland from PAGE 42

“The whole thing just kind of fell into (Goebel’s) lap really . . . he tied up his three lions to an oak tree along Ventura Boulevard (now the 101 Freeway),” Hamilton says. “Of course, everyone that drove by went ‘Oh I gotta see this!’ and turned around to go and see these lions.” Pretty soon, Goebel started charging a quarter.

With that, Goebel’s Lion Farm was born. In the years following its official opening in 1929, Goebel’s farm expanded to almost nine times its original size. The zoo was sold in 1946 and renamed the World Jungle Compound. It changed hands several more times (though Goebel always managed to come back as owner) and was eventually called Jungleland under 20th Century Fox.

Goebel did not originally intend for his animal training facility to turn into an amusement park but quickly realized that the money from visitors could be used to feed his costly animals. “He (Goebel) was doing anything to make a buck,” Hamilton explains. The zoo quickly turned into a roaring cacophony of animal exhibits and crowded stadiums.

While the public enjoyed hippopotamus drinking fountains, mechanical swan boats, circus-like spectacles and 75-cent elephant and tortoise rides around the park, behind the scenes Jungleland was housing and training celebrity animals, including Jackie, another of the MGM “Leo” lions, and Cheeta, Tarzan’s chimpanzee.

In all, Goebel’s animals appeared in 600 films. In 1951 Tamba, the “Jungle Jim” chimpanzee, teamed up with Ronald Reagan in “Bedtime for Bonzo.” And in 1967 a number of animals starred alongside Rex Harrison in “Dr. Dolittle.”

“Birth of a Nation,” “Tarzan” and “The Adventures of Robin Hood” were just a few of the movies featuring Jungleland’s animal ac-

tors. But animals weren’t the only celebrities to call Jungleland home: in 1938 the world’s first female tiger trainer, Mabel Stark, began performing in the park.

Jungleland was a thriving theatrical spectacle that brought exotic animals and Hollywood magic to small, rural Thousand Oaks—sometimes a little too closely, such as when a black panther nearly escaped from the park, earning its title as Newbury Park High School’s mascot. It was Jungleland, arguably, that helped the then-unknown town of Thousand Oaks find its way onto the map.

In the park’s heyday, passersby often saw trainers and their animals strolling down Thousand Oaks Boulevard “mostly for exercise, but also for attention,” Hamilton explains. Even “Leo” the MGM lion made several trips down the boulevard, but he had the luxury of cruising in the backseat of a Conejo Valley Days Parade car as the Grand Marshal in the early ’60s.

Jungleland closed its doors for the last time in October 1969. The rising popularity of Disneyland and a near-fatal incident involving a lion and actress Jayne Mansfield’s son, Zoltan, were partially the cause.

When the park closed, 1,800 animals were auctioned off, including 120 camels, 32 lions, 50 zebras, 43 monkeys and nine elephants.

But the era of Jungleland didn’t end without leaving behind a few souvenirs and a little mystery. A lion skull was later found on the property (it’s available for viewing at the Stagecoach Inn Museum) and rumors prevail that one of the other iconic MGM lions is still buried where Jungleland once stood.

And, when it’s quiet, you can almost hear the triumphant elephant shouts and roar of the lions calling you back to a time when wild things roamed the land.

Birthday parties were a common sight at Jungleland and usually involved an appearance by Chucko the Clown (Charles Runyon). Above, Chucko’s son hosts a party.

• Mabel Stark • While the swan boats were mechanical, kids could also ride live tortoises and elephants through the park. There was also a guided tram and, in later years, a sky tram.

Photos and original graphics courtesy of Conejo Valley Historical Society at Stagecoach Inn. Special thanks to Bruce Hamilton.

The world’s first female tiger trainer was a spunky, stubborn, rebellious woman who loved her big cats more than anything, or anyone, else.

Mabel Stark was known for her worldwide tours with Al G. Barnes Circus and later the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The petite, steely-eyed woman had raised and trained big cats for 27 years before she came to Jungleland in 1938.

Though the star had a lifelong love for wild animals, she began her career as a nurse—and her medical training once saved a Jungleland employee when a cobra spit in his eye. She also made her big screen debut in 1933, standing in as a stunt double for Mae West in “I’m No Angel.”

Her original claim to fame was her wrestling act with a 500-pound Bengal tiger, Rajah, which she had raised from a cub. But once at Jungleland, Stark became a local star. She was an Honorary Grand Marshal of the Conejo Valley Days Parade and elected Thousand Oaks’ first honorary mayor.

Stark’s personal life remains a series of mysteries. She survived several maulings and several marriages, enduring the last of both during her 30-year tenure at Jungleland.

The trainer knew that a wild animal could never truly be tamed, but her love for her big cats never wavered—even when two tigers sank their teeth into her back during a show. She finished that performance before heading to the hospital. Three hundred and seventy-eight stitches later, she returned to the arena with open arms.

Strife with Jungleland’s new owner, 20th Century Fox, brought Stark’s tigertraining career to an unsettling end in 1968. After one of her beloved tigers escaped from Jungleland and was shot, the already-troubled Stark took her own life at the age of 79, marking the end of a remarkable life.

CINCO De Mayo CELEBRATION

Sibling portrait courtesy of los agaves restaurant

The Luna siblings: Carlos, Montserrat and Christian.

Chef Ricardo Garcia, below, who is married to Montserrat, has been a friend of the Lunas since their childhood in Guadalajara. Below right, Los Agaves guests can watch as the tortillas are made fresh daily in the open air kitchen.

L

Written by ELA LINDSAY

|

ike spring exploding into full bloom, the Cinco de Mayo celebration is a feast for the senses. Mexican culture comes alive in the upbeat tunes of mariachi bands and the colorful attire of people celebrating in festive parades and folk dances.

But the essence of the occasion can best be captured in the delightful tastes and smells that serve up Cinco de Mayo here in the U.S.

To discover some of the authentic dishes of the season, we asked the team at Los Agaves, a one-year-old restaurant at the Shoppes of Westlake Village, to prepare a Cinco de Mayo celebration meal.

“I like to share the spirit of my culture with our cuisine and the joy of family that I feel with our customers,” says Carlos Luna, who co-owns four Los Agaves restaurants with his brother, Christian. The other three are in the Santa Barbara area.

The Luna brothers have known Chef Ricardo Garcia since their

Photos by MICHAEL COONS

childhood in Mexico. While growing up in Guadalajara, the youngsters dreamed about having a business. But a lot had to happen between then and now.

For one, after graduating college as a business major, Carlos moved to Santa Barbara, where he was born and where his mother was raised. Among other things, he learned the ropes of the restaurant business by working in management in several restaurants.

“You wear a lot of hats in the restaurant business and the knowledge learned helped pave the way to operating four successful restaurants today,” Carlos says.

Chef Ricardo says he discovered his passion for food as a child, watching the women in the family gather together to create meals while sharing stories and laughter. After graduating from the International Culinary School with an emphasis on Mexican cuisine, he developed his culinary skills at restaurants in Guadalajara and, later, in the states.

Left: Tinga de Pollo is served with plantains, rice and beans and a Blackberry Cassis Margarita. spring 2016 | www.beyondtheacorn.com 47

Ceviche Verde is a refreshing cold seafood salad. Chef Ricardo serves it with plantain garnish. The Chile en Nogada, a stuffed pepper smothered in a creamy sauce, is garnished with pomegranate seeds, almonds and parsley, calling to mind the colors of the Mexican flag.

Menu CHILE EN NOGADA TINGA DE POLLO CEVICHE VERDE SEAFOOD MOLCAJETE BLACKBERRY CASSIS MARGARITA LA GRANADA POMEGRANATE MARGARITA

La Cocina

Los Agaves’ special menu changes often, but both Carlos and Chef Ricardo agreed that chile en nogada was an ideal dish to capture the essence of the special occasion.

“Chile en nogada was invented in the 1800s by nuns in Puebla to celebrate Mexico’s independence. It honored the colors of the Mexican flag,” Carlos explains. The dish, a stuffed pepper covered in a creamy sauce, is garnished with pomegranates, chopped almonds and parsley and, when plated, it calls to mind the hues of the Mexican flag.

Los Agaves prides itself on featuring authentic dishes with the freshest ingredients. That means freshly made chips and handmade tortillas. Diners can watch tortilla makers as they mold and work the masa.

“Women spend years learning the secrets of making the perfect tortilla and pass (the knowledge) down to (younger) generations,” says Carlos.

Los Agaves is a cozy spot where guests can enjoy the bold flavors and spices of its many signature dishes or the seasonal daily specials. An open-air kitchen allows diners a view of what it takes to create fine Mexican cuisine as they eat—or drink.

And the full bar features an impressive lineup of delicious margaritas.

After all, they named the restaurant Los Agaves for a reason.

“The agave plant is very iconic of where I’m from in Mexico,” says Carlos. “The agave plant is also where tequila comes from. I love both very much.”

Chile en Nogada Serves 4 to 6

6 poblano peppers 1 lb. ground beef 1 lb. ground pork ½ cup canola or grapeseed oil ½ cup white onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 tomatoes, chopped 2 Tbsp. salt 2 Tbsp. sugar ½ cup parsley, chopped ½ cup olives, chopped 1 Tbsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp. cinnamon 1 Tbsp. orange zest 1 cup pecans, chopped 1 cup almonds, sliced 1 cup pine nuts 1 cup raisins ½ cup green apple, chopped ½ cup pear, chopped ½ cup peaches, chopped ½ cup pomegranate seeds 2 Tbsp. chopped parsley 2 Tbsp. sliced almonds

Nogada Sauce

½ 1 1 1

cup goat cheese cup walnuts cup sliced almonds cup cream cheese

2 2 2 ½

cups whole milk tsp. sugar oz. Port wine tsp. cinnamon

Prepare poblano pepper by charring and peeling skin. When cool enough to handle, make a small slit and remove seeds.

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles on contact.

Sauté the ground beef and pork in oil. Add onions, garlic and season with salt and sugar.

After about 15 minutes, add tomatoes, parsley, olives and spices and cook for 5 additional minutes.

Add orange zest, nuts, raisins and fruits.

Remove from heat.

Carefully stuff the mixture into the peppers through the slit. Transfer the stuffed poblanos to a serving platter.

To prepare sauce, blend all ingredients in a blender. Pour into saucepan and simmer until sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Should be the consistency of a heavy cream.

Cover stuffed poblanos with nogada sauce and garnish with pomegranate seeds, parsley and almonds. recipes ON PAGE 70

The Seafood Molcajete is a tasty stew with chunks of freshly grilled fish served in a tomato-based broth. It's one of the chef's specialties.

CINCODe MayoCELEBRATIONS other local hot spots for Cinco de Mayo fun

Cisco’s Mexican Restaurant 1712 E. Avenida de Los Arboles Thousand Oaks (805) 493-0533 925 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village (805) 778-1191 www.ciscos.biz Westlake: Block party May 5 and 6—beer and tequila gardens, music, giveaways, cigar rolling, fresh grilled tacos, beer pong.

Casa Escobar 2809 Agoura Road, Westlake Village (805) 777-7747 22969 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (310) 456-1999 www.casaescobar.com Food and drink specials; live music in Malibu.

Los Arroyos Mexican Restaurant The Promenade, Camarillo Premium Outlets 630 E. Ventura Blvd., Ste. 1217 Camarillo (805) 987-4000 www.losarroyos.net Lupe’s Mexican Restaurant 1710 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks (805) 495-3573 lupesmexicanrestaurant.menutoeat.com Expect a full house and authentic, traditional Mexican cuisine.

Money Pancho 3661 Las Posas Road, Ste.165, Camarillo (805) 484-0591 www.moneypancho.com

Sabor Cocina Mexicana 2200 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (805) 497-2457 saborcocinamexicana.com Fiesta theme: ‘cantarito’ drink special, dish of the night created by chef, tequila shots, giveaways.

Sagebrush Cantina 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (818) 222-6062 sagebrushcantina.com Lunch buffet, evening drink and food specials and live band 6 to 10 p.m.

Margaritas 702 Lindero Canyon Road, Ste. 704, Oak Park (818) 879-7901 www.margaritasmexgrill.com Happy hour, drink specials, draft beer specials, giveaways, mariachi band.

feeling good

Multimedia journaling

Written by Ela lindsay Artwork by NICOLA JANE

T

oday’s journals can be things of beauty— evolving, growing pieces of artwork. Unlike the simple “Dear Diary” spiral notebook of yore, multimedia journals involve much more than pen or pencil.

50 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

“Creative or therapeutic journaling is all about expressing emotions on paper,” says Agoura Hills resident Scarlit Bloome, a mentor and artist who teaches creative art journaling classes at the Conejo Valley Adult School. Bloome encourages each student to find their unique voice and use various media including collage, image transfer, stenciling and texture for inspiration.

“There is no right or wrong way of doing it. Releasing feelings is the goal of a completed piece,” she says. “Expressive journaling can be therapeutic because of the catharsis of putting down on paper emotions of anger, hurt, pain, depression, trauma, secrets, and any unwanted feelings through words, art or both.”

The process allows you to “free your mind of all the thoughts that are going round and round in your brain,” she says.

A pioneer in the study of expressive writing as a way to healing, Dr. James Pennebaker, author of “Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions” and “Writing to Heal,” has completed research indicating that short-term, focused

writing can be beneficial.

“When people are given the opportunity to write about emotional upheavals, they often experience improved health,” Pennebaker says, according to the University of Texas at Austin website. “They go to the doctor less. They have changes in immune function.”

Author Dr. Lucia Capacchione, a frontrunner in the field of cre- press your emotions through color, colativity and healing, developed the Cre- lage, doodle, paint or draw(ing).” ative Journal Method. She says journaling Nicola Jane, who has been creative can be a tool for “personal growth, health journaling for years, uses a combination and healing, inner-child work, creativity of techniques. development, life planning, career and “My inspiration to start art journaltalent development, parenting kids and ing was a need to create and express myself teenagers, and spiritual practice.” from spirit. It’s about having something Bloome says the only rule with ex- inside and getting it out.” Nicola found pressive journaling is there are no rules. inspiration and learned techniques from “Throw out everything you know the magazine Somerset Studio: The Art of about writing—grammar, spelling, com- Paper and Mixed Media, along with utiplete or run-on sentences, punctuation lizing a mixed-media journal from artist Beyond_Acorn_9-16-15_Layout 1 9/16/15 9:16 AM Page 1 and anything you learned in school. Ex- Kelly Rae Roberts.

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“Color, short phrases or just one word inspire me.”

Bloome agrees that “sometimes writing or art on its own is not enough. Perhaps an art page needs words, sentences, poems, or a thought to complete a feeling. Or maybe a color or a doodle is needed on a page filled with words,” she says. “Expressive journaling is using whatever you choose to help you release and express your feelings and emotions without ever being in the wrong.”

“The benefits I get are many,” adds Nicola, who is also a jewelry maker. “(Art journaling) is a healthy way to escape and relax, it helps me to get quiet. . . . It’s almost meditative. I love getting all the supplies out on the kitchen table and making a mess.

“I love the paint on my hands, and my cat Luna, jumping up on the table to join the fun . . . the color, words and the process through mess. I think life is like that sometimes. It’s all about finding that ‘Zen’ place and creating something from spirit.”

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looking good

Nail art “Remember, your nails are jewels, not tools!”—Krystal

Finger Tips Written by allison montroy Photos by richard gillard

1 2 3 4

5

6

"I love putting glitter on everything." — Dana "Diamonds and sparkles are great for formal occasions."—Jennifer

Shape up

10 9 8 7

"Nails do not all have to be just one color anymore!" — Terry

The perfect nail design starts with shape.

“The coffin shape (#9, also called ballerina slipper) has become very popular, but the classic square shape remains at the top of the list,” says Krystal Cornelius of Rak Nail Bar in Thousand Oaks.

Kristen Powers, a nail artist at Newbury Park’s Polish’d Nail Bar, says that oval or rounded nails (#8) “can really elongate your nail beds and fingers.”

Also trending: almond-shaped nails (#5).

Healthy canvas

Healthy, strong nails are key to longlasting manicures.

“Our hands and feet are very important, and we need to take care of them,” says The Canyon Salon’s Terry Hendershot. Start with a daily vitamin rich in biotin, iron, zinc and B12.

Jennifer Bui from EnVogue salon in Simi Valley also recommends gelatin.

Dana Dubell at Hair Impressions uses hand lotion

Kristen used gel color to hand paint palm trees and ocean on an ombre background.

FREE! Open Seating Friday, April 22, 2016 7 PM: How to Create New Behaviors “Add accents of glitter, which adds a formal, yet fun, appeal.” —Nena

and cuticle oil to prevent pesky hangnails.

To keep nail art looking fresh, “you can keep (gel nails) shiny by cleaning them with rubbing alcohol,” says Kristen.

With design in mind

When it comes to occasions like prom or a wedding, “You don’t want your nails to outdo your dress, but you want them to look good,” says Dana, who has been a nail technician for more than 30 years. “Stick with blacks, whites and pinks or do something simple with a little burst of sparkle, like a French tip with glitter.”

Nail embellishments take nail art to an entirely new level, adding 3-D interest. At Polish’d Nail Bar, nail artist Nena Murray recalls her favorite nail design: she used confetti, dried flower charms and glitter, sealing them in a clear, hard gel.

Terry loves to give her clients metallic designs using Minx Nails, a shiny foil that she presses onto the nail.

Terry says marbelizing nails, which creates a watercolor effect, is also popular. The artist places drops of polish in a cup of water, manipulates the polish using a small tool, then places the nail in the design which adheres to the nail.

Also on the rise: stamping a design onto nails using polish.

When it comes to hand painting designs, Dana has seen it all. “Whenever someone comes to me with a hand-painted idea, it’s always pretty crazy. One time I hand-painted an underwater scene complete with smiling starfish and octopus . . . but usually, it’s holiday-themed.”

Sometimes, though, less is more. “Negative space nail art, where you paint the nail a design and leave (uncolored nail) spaces, is definitely trending,” says Kristen.

Jennifer loves saving the bling for the ring fingers. “Painting your ring finger a different color or design is really popular,” agrees Dana.

But, is it art?

“I love that I get to be so creative and help people feel good about their nails,” says Kristen.

Krystal agrees. “Nail art gives individuals a chance to express themselves artistically . . . the possibilities are endless.”

Above nail art: 1. Krystal Cornelius 2. Nena Murray 3. Jennifer Bui 4. Dana Dubell 5. Terry Hendershot 6. Kristen Powers 7. Dana Dubell 8. Kristen Powers 9. Dana Dubell 10. Nena Murray.

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readers corner

Goofy kids

Tastes delicious! Bella Brown of Newbury Park helps out in the kitchen.

d d i i n’ K Around

Say cheese! Wynn Reznick of Newbury Park shows off his ketchup-y smile.

We asked Beyond readers to share their children's goofiest moments. Some of these kids are all grown up now­­—this should sufficiently embarrass them, eh?

Sarah Desha Burgos finds a new friend at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.

Sean Hansen of Camarillo takes his potty training to heart.

Megan Cummings of Thousand Oaks gets lost in a sea of her favorite stuffed animals.

"Look mom, I fit through the doggie door!" says Ryder Alvarez of Newbury Park.

Calabasas kid, Connor Abbot, gets up close and personal with his sweet potato French fry.

Debbie Paul of Camarillo caught her grandson making a silly—and irresistible—face.

It's a perfect fit! Matt Montroy of Thousand Oaks tries on his dad's SCUBA gear.

Cameron and Parker Levin of Oak Park (now teenagers) still prefer taking silly pictures to straight-faced ones, says mom Cara.

Codey James Doherty of Thousand Oaks used toothpaste to make a beard to match that of his "Pepere."

Bella McCloskey of Thousand Oaks loves her new locks.

Katianna, Alexander and Marika Tron of Camarillo pose for a Christmas portrait.

Owen Newman of Simi Valley dives into his first birthday cake.

Nicole Davis of Westlake Village makes the goofiest of goofy faces.

Marika Tron of Camarillo likes to coordinate her tongue with her outfit.

Amanda Gibson of Camarillo says, "Don't worry, Mom and Dad, I chose the safety Q-tips!" while playing doctor.

est things in b e h T “ life are ­­ — Scott Adams,

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Paige Robinson of Newbury Park seems destined for stardom.

Surf's up! Bella McCloskey is ready to ride the waves . . . or the sand.

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COMING UP:

Zane Reznick of Newbury Park shows off his strength.

We want to see your bad pet pix.

Fido gnawing on your pricey silk pillows, Fifi unrolling the TP, Snuggles tasting the Thanksgiving turkey.

You know, Trouble with a capital 'T'.

Send photos to: beyond @ theacorn.com

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Around Town & beyond THEATER APRIL 1 – Nunsense

Runs thru May 8  Camarillo Skyway Playhouse 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo (805) 388-5716, skywayplayhouse.org

APRIL 8 – Children of Eden

Runs thru April 17 Cabrillo Music Theatre  Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, (805) 449-2787 www.cabrillomusictheatre.com

APRIL 8 – Shakespeare and the Beatles: A Surprise Concert

Runs thru April 24  Hillcrest Center for the Arts 403 W. Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks (805) 381-2747, www.hillcrestarts.com

APRIL 13 – eXtras

Runs thru May 1  Rubicon Theatre 1006 E. Main St., Ventura (805) 667-2900, www.rubicontheatre.org

APRIL 15 – On Golden Pond Runs thru May 8  High Street Arts Center 45 East High St., Moorpark (805) 529-8700 www.highstreetartscenter.com

MAY 19 – Sweeney Todd

Runs thru May 22 Youth Musical Theatre  Scherr Forum Theatre Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks (805) 449-2787 www.youthmusicaltheatre.com

JUNE 3 – The Addams Family Runs thru July 3  High Street Arts Center 45 East High St., Moorpark (805) 529-8700 www.highstreetartscenter.com

JUNE 9 – Hollywood Fringe Festival Runs thru June 26 Various venues in and around Hollywood Hundreds of shows produced by the artists who created them. www.hollywoodfringe.org

JUNE 5 – Broadway and the Big Screen

Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras Concert  Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, (805) 523-8045, www.cvyo.org, 3 p.m.

June 24 – Henry V

Also June 25-26, July 1-3 and 8-10  Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival Cal Lutheran University 160 Overton Court, Thousand Oaks www.kingsmenshakespeare.org

POETRY APRIL 21 – Poetry Slam!

 William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art Cal Lutheran Univ2ersity, 160 Overton Court, Thousand Oaks, (805) 493-3697 5 to 6:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC APRIL 2 – Broadway Concert Series: Children of Eden Runs thru April 3  Rubicon Theatre 1006 E. Main St., Ventura (805) 667-2900 www.rubicontheatre.org

APRIL 10 – Gold Coast Wind Ensemble

 Scherr Forum Theatre Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks (805) 449-2775 www.gcwe.org

APRIL 10 – Wild Things: Music of Birds, Beasts and Bugs!

Areté Vocal Ensemble  Samuelson Chapel, Cal Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, 2 p.m.

MAY 13 – The Symphony Rocks

New West Symphony  Oxnard Performing Arts Center 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard (805) 497-5800, newwestsymphony.org Also Sat., May 14 at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

ART APRIL 21 – CLU Seniors' Art Exhibit Thru May 14  William Rolland Gallery of Art Cal Lutheran University 160 Overton Court, Thousand Oaks Senior art majors exhibit their work.

DANCE MAY 5 – Ventura College Dance Performance

Runs thru May 8  Ventura College Performing Arts Center 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura (805) 289-6307 www.venturacollege.edu/pac 8 p.m. thru Saturday;1 p.m. Sunday

Festivals & FAMILY FUN APRIL 16 – Conejo Valley Home Remodeling Show

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APRIL 16 – California Poppy Festival Runs thru April 17  Lancaster City Park 43011 N. 10th St., West, Lancaster www.poppyfestival.com 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

APRIL 16 – Herman Bennett Foundation Fundraiser  Departs from Fillmore Train Station Round-trip vintage locomotive train ride, scavenger hunt.

(805) 445-7171, www.fwry.com Noon to 4 p.m.

APRIL 16 – Round-Up Country Music Extravaganza  Hummingbird Nest Ranch 2940 Kuehner Drive, Simi Valley Simi Kiwanis (805) 807-5100, www.roundupsimi.com 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

APRIL 17 – California Jazz and Wine Fest

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(805) 380-6010, californiajazzwine.com 1 to 5 p.m.

APRIL 17 – Westlake Village Garden Club Tour

 Five private Westlake and Conejo Valley home gardens Funds four scholarships. www.westlakevillagegardenclub.com 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

APRIL 22 – Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days

 Point Mugu State Park Free camping on Fri. and Sat.; volunteers do trail maintenance on Sat. and Sun. www.smmtc.org

APRIL 24 – Chili Cook-Off and Classic Car Show  Conejo Creek Park North 1379 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks www.chili-cook-off.com 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

April 28 – Malibu Guitar Festival

Runs thru April 30 Casa Escobar and Malibu Village, Malibu 22969 Pacific Coast Hwy. malibuguitarfestival.com

APRIL 30 – Ventura County Blues Festival

 Studio Channel Islands 2222 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo Ventura County Blues Society; proceeds benefit Food Share. venturacountyblues.com 10 a.m.

MAY 8 – Mother’s Day Brunch

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MAY 11 – Conejo Valley Days

Runs thru May 15  Conejo Creek Park South 1300 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks (805) 498-0624, www.conejovalleydays.us 5 to 10 p.m. weekdays; 5 to 11 p.m.

Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday

MAY 14 – Simi Valley Street Fair

 Cochran Street between Sequoia and Galena avenues.

Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce (805) 526-3900 members.simivalleychamber.org/events 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MAY 21 – Relay For Life / Conejo Valley

MAY 28 – Cajun and Blues Music Festival

Runs thru Sun., May 29  Rancho Santa Susana Park 5005 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise (805) 517-9000, www.simicajun.org 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

JUNE 12 – Ojai Wine Festival

 Lake Casitas Recreation Area Rotary Club of Ojai-West (800) 648-4881, ojaiwinefestival.com Noon to 4 p.m.

ongoing Comedy Ventura Harbor Comedy Club

 Conejo Creek Park 1300 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Proceeds benefit American Cancer Society www.relayforlife.org 9 a.m. to 9 a.m.

MAY 21 – California Strawberry Festival

Runs thru May 22  Strawberry Meadows of College Park 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard (888) 288-9242, www.strawberry-fest.org 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

1559 Spinnaker Drive, Ste. 205 Ventura (805) 644-1500 www.venturaharborcomedyclub.com

Laugh Out Loud Comedy Nights

 Westlake Village Twin, First Wednesdays  Regency Paseo Camarillo Cinemas, Third Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Comedy Improv Show

 Ventura Improv Company 34 N. Palm, Ventura (805) 643-5701, venturaimprov.com Weekly Friday and Saturday nights, 8 p.m.

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31111 Via Colinas, Westlake Village (818) 991-9463 Comedy Nights First and third Thursday of month. Music Friday and Saturday nights. www.aldabellawinery.com 7 p.m.

Farmers Markets CALABASAS Calabasas Farmers Market

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Old Town Calabasas 23504 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (818) 591-8161 www.cityofcalabasas.com/farmersmarket.html

CAMARILLO Camarillo Certified Farmers Market Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon Old Town Camarillo 2220 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo (805) 389-6870

McGrath Family Farm Roadside Market

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MOORPARK Moorpark Farmers Market

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OXNARD Downtown Oxnard Farmers Market Thursdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Plaza Park, 5th and B streets (805) 643-6458, www.coastalpacific.info

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THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks Certified Farmers Market

Thursdays 1:30 to 6 p.m.  The Oaks Shopping Center, east end parking lot 222 W. Hillcrest Drive (805) 529-6266, vccfarmersmarkets.com

VENTURA Ventura Certified Farmers Markets Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Pacific View Mall, 3301 N. Main St. Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to noon Corner of Santa Clara and Palm streets vccmarkets.com

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flights from PAGE 21

translator at Buen Pastor who helps the team assess the people hoping for surgical help. Their current translator has been helping the Flying Sams for two years and is getting to be “a pretty good diagnostician.”

If the translator’s not there, Sharon uses paper and pencil and “draws, points, whatever it takes” to try and figure out what the patients and hospital staff need.

Surgeries typically start Friday night. After a few hours of rest, the team is back at the hospital by 8 a.m. Saturday morning, working until around 10 p.m. to try and accommodate as many people as possible.

After checking in on the patients Sunday morning, Sharon and Tom fly back home and get ready to go to their day jobs in Ventura on Monday.

Not only do all the Flying Sams doctors, nurses, pilots and staff volunteer their time, the organization also pays Buen Pastor a fee of around $1,500 each time a clinic is held there. The fee covers the cost of electricity, water, staff and follow-up doctor fees the nonprofit incurs. Until three years ago, that fee was covered by a private benefactor.

“This was a huge loss for us,” Sharon says. “When the fee was covered, we could use Flying Sams fundraising dollars for supplies but now we need to use that money to cover these operating costs.”

Sharon, Tom and the rest of the Gold Coast Flying Sams are hopeful another private or corporate donor might step in to cover this expense.

“Every time we go, we make a dent, but we are sadly still turning people away,” says Tom. “So we make plans for the next clinic, ask people to come back and hope we can reach more people who need surgery.”

The couple is motivated “We’ll keep going until we’re too old to fly,” Sharon promises.

Flying Samaritans The Flying Samaritans organization was founded in 1961 when American pilot Aileen Saunders Mellott and her friends were forced to make an emergency landing near the remote village of El Rosario, Mexico. Grateful for the assistance they received and moved by the poverty they saw, Saunders Mellott and her friends, one of whom was a doctor, returned with clothing, food and other supplies. What they found was the village, with no regular medical services, needed a doctor most of all.

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Visit www.flyingsams.org for more information.

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strawberries from PAGE 30

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As cakes steam, prepare coconut soak by combining ingredients in a medium bowl.

While cakes are still hot, use a chopstick to poke a few holes in the top of each. Do not poke through to the bottom of the cakes.

Pour coconut soak slowly over each cake, using a brush to help the cake absorb as much of the mixture as possible. Let cool.

To make strawberry sauce, purée fresh strawberries until smooth. Add sugar and continue blending for 30 seconds. Drizzle on cakes.

Serve with whipped cream, sliced strawberries and sweetened coconut flakes.

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1 ¾ ¾ ¾ ¼ 8 ¾ ½ 8 7

lb. fresh strawberries, sliced cup fresh orange juice, divided in half cup shredded, sweetened coconut cup canned coconut milk cup sugar oz. mascarpone cheese, room temperature* cup powdered sugar tsp. coconut extract oz. Cool Whip oz. ladyfingers**

*Cream cheese may be substituted **One 12 oz. pound cake may be substituted Wash and slice strawberries and place in bowl with 2 Tbsp. orange juice. Stir gently and set aside.

Heat coconut in a single layer in a pan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until golden brown, about 7-10 minutes. (Note: it burns easily.)

Combine coconut milk, remaining orange juice and ¼ cup sugar in a saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

Using a mixer, cream together cheese, powdered sugar and coconut extract and continue to beat until just combined.

Fold Cool Whip into mixture.

For the first layer, pour the coconut milk mixture into a large shallow bowl. Dip ladyfingers in mixture and let soak for several seconds. Place ladyfingers into an 8-inch square dish or six 4-inch glass bowls.

Spread half of the cheese filling over the ladyfingers.

Arrange a single layer of strawberry slices over the filling, drizzling a bit of the liquid from the strawberries. Sprinkle with half of toasted coconut.

Add the last layer of soaked ladyfingers. Drizzle ladyfingers with remaining coconut milk mixture.

Spread remaining cheese filling over the ladyfingers.

Serve with remaining toasted coconut and sliced strawberries.

Can be served immediately or refrigerated to serve the next day.

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recipes from PAGE 49

Tinga de Pollo Serves 4 to 6 2 lb. chicken breast, bone in 1 white onions, ½ sliced, ½ minced 1 small bay leaf 1½ Tbsp. olive oil ¼ cup chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped* ½ cup dried chipotle pepper 1 lb. Roma tomatoes, chopped 4 cups tomato juice 3 garlic cloves, 2 smashed, 1 minced ½ tsp. dried oregano ½ tsp. ground black pepper ½ tsp. dried cumin ½ cup Knorr Suiza chicken boullion* Boil chicken in large stock pot with enough water to cover. Add sliced onion, smashed garlic cloves and bay leaf.

Boil until cooked, approximately 30 minutes. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken and put it in separate bowl.

Heat a large sauté pan on medium heat

and add olive oil. When warm, add minced onion, minced garlic, chipotle pepper in adobo sauce and dried chipotle peppers and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes, until onions are translucent.

Add diced tomatoes, tomato juice, dried spices and chicken boullion. Boil 15 minutes. Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor.

Return the sauce to the pan, add chicken and simmer over low heat so all the ingredients come together.

Serve with warm tortillas. *These can be found in the Mexican food aisle of a supermarket.

Ceviche Verde Serves 4 to 6

1 4 3 1 1

lb. fresh fish (halibut or sea bass) cups fresh lime juice tsp. salt tsp. white vinegar tsp. ground black pepper

Salsa

1 bunch fresh cilantro 6 basil leaves 4 jalapeno peppers 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup Spanish (or yellow) onion, minced 1 cup fresh orange juice ½ cup olive oil 1 tsp. ground black pepper 2 tsp. kosher salt Cut fish into 1" cubes. Allow to marinate in lime juice, vinegar, salt and pepper for six hours.

Blend salsa ingredients in blender or food processor.

After fish has marinated, remove from the lime juice mixture and place in a separate bowl.

Add salsa.

Garnish with seasonal fruit or veggies (1 cup, chopped). Suggested garnishes: green apples, fresh pineapple, cucumber, jicama, loquats.

Mix and serve.

Residents are the heart of our community.

AlmaVia of Camarillo, a non-profit community opened in 2001, prides itself on its intimate setting and the close friendships that develop among its residents and staff. This community, located near St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital, celebrates the dignity and individuality of its residents while focusing on best-in-class, personalized care. AlmaVia of Camarillo provides a holistic approach to wellness, and encourages a fun and active lifestyle.

Won’t you join us for lunch?

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805-388-5277

Why Choose AlmaVia of Camarillo?

• High standard of clinical services with lower than average hospital readmission rates • Above the industry average in resident and family satisfaction • Spiritual Care Director available for all denominations • Excellent care and service - happy staff translates to very satisfied residents!

• Pet-friendly • Transportation available for local appointments, outings, or errands • Housekeeping & laundry services included • Exercise, educational and musical activities offered

Call today to schedule a visit! 805-388-5277 2500 Ponderosa Dr. N, Camarillo, CA 93010 | www.eldercarealliance.org AlmaVia of Camarillo, an Elder Care Alliance community, is a nonprofit, faith-based assisted living and memory care community cosponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Midwest Community & the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. RCFE Lic. #565800682. ©2014 Elder Care Alliance

Seafood Molcajete Serves 4 to 6

Seafood*

1 lb. clams 1 lb. mussels 1 lb. scallops 1 lb. shrimp 1 lb. halibut 1 lb. salmon 1 lb. langostino *Choose three or four of these.

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12 Roma tomatoes 4 cups tomato juice 3 green bell peppers ½ cup garlic cloves 1 tsp. black pepper ½ cup chicken base ½ yellow onion ½ cup chipotle pepper 1 tsp. cumin 6 cups water

Steam, grill or sear seafood separately, depending on which fish you choose.

In a large Dutch oven or sauce pan, combine all sauce ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Purée cooked sauce in a blender.

Pour sauce into serving bowl and add cooked fish. Serve hot.

Blackberry Cassis Margarita Serves 4 to 6

2 1 1 ¼

oz. tequila blanco (Sauza Blue) oz. Edmond Briottet Creme de Cassis* oz. fresh lime juice oz. (dash) agave nectar**

Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker. Shake rigorously with ice. Strain into glass over new ice. * Leopold Bros. Rocky Mountain Blackberry Liqueur or Giffard Cassis Noir De Bourgogne Liqueur may be substituted. **Très Agaves agave nectar is recommended, or use one that is mix ready (not thick).

La Granada Margarita

2 oz. 100% agave tequila blanco 1¼ oz. fresh squeezed, strained lime juice 1 oz. Pom syrup* Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake rigorously with ice. Strain into glass over new ice. *Purchase pom syrup or visit www.beyondtheacorn.com for recipe.

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DISCOVER

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resources

Back Pain?

People and vendors in this issue

NEIGHBORS Page 18 “Gojira Guru” www.encinonostalgia.webs.com Page 20 “Flights of Hope” www.flyingsams.org AROUND THE TABLE Page 28 “Strawberry Fields Forever” California Strawberry Festival strawberry-fest.org FEATURE STORIES Page 31 “Winged Beauty” This is a Monarchy 1491 Mellow Lane, Simi Valley www.thisisamonarchy.weebly.com North American Butterfly Association www.naba.org Page 34 “Maison Magnifique” à la Maison 31143 Via Colinas, Ste. 509 Westlake Village www.alamaisonwlv.com (818) 338-3301 The Bo Eason Experience boeason.com Page 41 “Lions, Tigers and the Birth of Thousand Oaks” Stagecoach Inn Museum 51 S. Ventu Park Road Newbury Park (805) 498-9441 www.stagecoachmuseum.org Page 46 “Cinco de Mayo Celebration” Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant 30750 Russell Ranch Road Westlake Village (818) 874-0779 www.los-agaves.com FEELING GOOD Page 50 “Express Yourself” Nicola Jane @njbeadedjewelry

LOOKING GOOD Page 52 “Finger Tips” Hair Impressions 2863 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks (818) 203-0353 @meshuganails Polish’d Nail Bar 119 N. Reino Road Newbury Park (805) 498-0003 @Polished.Nailbar En Vogue 1928 Erringer Road, Simi Valley (805) 527-1708 The Canyon Salon 3693 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks (805) 777-1140 @RockTerrysNails Rak Nail Bar 3900 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Ste. 105, Westlake Village (805) 379-4492 @RakNailBar NESTING Page 58 “Spring Cover-up” Genoveve Serge Interior Design genovevesintdzn@gmail.com (805) 499-8998 www.kravet.com www.brunschwig.com www.leejofa.com www.walkerzanger.com www.grandinroad.com SNAPSHOT Page 74 Conejo Valley Days (805) 498-0624 www.conejovalleydays.us Ed Lawrence Photography edlawrencephoto.com Thousand Oaks Library Special Collections (805) 449-2660 research.tolibrary.org/specoll

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snapshot

Local lore

Jack McGrath of Thousand Oaks Liquor rides in the 1965 Conejo Valley Days parade in a bathtub, spraying the crowds as he goes.

Cowboys Calling All

Conejo Valley Days captures the spirit —and heritage— of our special community

Photo by ED LAWRENCE

Sixty years ago a small group of friends and neighbors began what would grow into the largest annual party in the area.

Celebrating our rich heritage, Conejo Valley Days drew from the spirit of the Old West with the cowboys, wagon trains and pioneer gumption that helped this town grow.

The very first Conejo Valley Days, then called Circus Days, was held on the Jungleland property in 1946. As the years passed, the festivities grew. Carnival rides and camel races were added to the fun. Movie stars would make appearances and a circus queen would be crowned each year.

The festival came to mean cowboys and whiskeroos, steaming barbeque and ladies in old-fashioned western dresses. In 1949 a parade was added to the lineup of activities. Locals used to joke that there were more people in the parade than there were watching it.

74 www.beyondtheacorn.com| spring 2016

But at its core, Conejo Valley Days, which got its current name in 1957, has always been about supporting the services and projects in our community through fundraising. And that continues to this day as CVD celebrates its 60th year.

Conejo Valley Days will run from May 11 through 15 at Conejo Creek Park South in Thousand Oaks. The five days will be packed with live entertainment, carnival rides, motocross freestyle exhibitions, good grub and the infamous outhouse races. There will also be displays by the Chumash Indian Museum and a newly added home décor and gardening show.

You could say the spirit of the Old West lives on in our hometown, and the best of the west will be showcased at CVD again this year.

— LGH

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