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Vol. 16, No. 21 – July 12 – July 25, 2023 – Mailbox

Saga of the Exploded Refrigerator

Apparently for two days a fridge was set out on the sidewalk near a small park down the street from us with a “Free” sign on it. The doors were still on it, we are told—dangerous of course.

Then it was blown up a day or so later. Then a huge bomb of some sort went off last night around 10:15 pm inside it. It had a metallic ring to it. It burned half of a grapefruit tree and a nearby shrub.

This morning my wife saw it on her walk and called the police. They looked it over and left. Other neighbors told us that the fire department had been there (a day?) before.

There it sits as a relic of a misbegotten 4th of July celebration or a kinetic postmodern sculpture.

Robert Chianese

Robert: You had more fun than most of us.

 

Oooops

Oooops, we had this photo in our last issue with a wrong description. These are residents of Aegis Living Peter, Sally, Carol, Jerry and in the back is Don.

Seniors Among Us

Cheryl was a registered nurse for 17 years.

by Patricia Schallert

I met Cheryl Immel almost immediately upon moving into the Ventura Marina Community Park. She is a senior among us who continues to live a life that can be considered a successful and happy story.

Cheryl was born in Sherman Oaks, located in the San Fernando Valley. She and her husband Dean were given a sailboat as a wedding gift in 1994 and it was stored at the Channel Island Marina. They often came up to sail here and fell in love with the community of Ventura and always kept Ventura in mind for future retirement.

As a registered nurse for 17 years, Cheryl received her teaching credentials and taught Science at Burbank High School. She also taught at the New York Film Academy campus located at Universal Studios. Dean, Cheryl’s husband, taught instrumental music at Burbank High School and then went on to teach music at USC.

Cheryl and her husband decided to retire when felt they were ready to move on and were old enough after teaching for so many years. Always keeping Ventura in mind  Cheryl and her husband settled into the Ventura community full time in 2013.

The friendships that she has made in her community have made her very happy and it is evident in her infectious smile and laugh. She and her husband have joined the Ventura County Concert Band through Ventura’s Adult Education program. She plays the flute and Dean plays the bassoon and he is a also guest conductor.

Cheryl has reflected on the many things she has learned as a retired person. She is the editor of the monthly community newsletter, “The Village Voice” and is Vice President of the HOA Board of Directors at the Ventura Marina Community Park.

She currently works with the Activities Committee and is the director of the “Footlighters Theater Company”.  During the pandemic, Cheryl had time to write a play called “Come Sail Away” for the “Footlighters Theater Company” and she is proud to have it being performed September 8, 9, 10, 2023 on stage in the Ventura Marina Park Community.

Retirement has given Cheryl opportunities to do many things she didn’t have time to do before retirement.  She continues to follow her interest in music, theater and writing along with discovering other possible projects as she goes along.  Cheryl is not afraid to try new things and have new experiences. Taking the time to listen to stories from friends and families is important to her and allows patience…. And she always has a good book lined up to read.

When Cheryl looks back on her life, her most treasured event was meeting her husband Dean.  He encourages her to go after her dreams and most of them include him which also makes her happy. As retirement seems to fit Cheryl, she continues to be open to new experiences and ideas while traveling different paths with her husband. Her values include kindness, helping others and not to be afraid to ask for help if needed.

I loved meeting Cheryl as she shares her joy in life with those around her.

Vol. 16, No. 21 – July 12 – July 25, 2023 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

I’m super excited to catch the X Games at the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend of Friday July 21 through Sunday, July 23, I secured tickets as soon as they went on sale. I’ve read there will be live music entertainment, what if any remains to be seen, but of course the main show will the skateboard, BMX and Moto X competitions.

Having lost their location at the Fairgrounds due to the X Games setting up for the show, Tequila and Tacos Music Festival will be held at the Ventura State Beach this year with more traditional music from Ezequiel Pena, Vilma Diaz y la Sonora and Adelaide (tribute to Selena) on Saturday, July 15, then it’s rapper/singer, Flo Rida, headlining with Vilma Diaz y la Sonora, and Upstream on Sunday, July 16.

The Happy Together Tour lands at Libbey Bowl on Thursday, July 13. Along with The Turtles are Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV and The Cowsills. Between all the bands you’re sure to hear some of the best pop tunes from the 60s including “Happy Together,” “Goin’ Out of my Head,” “Young Girl,” “Turn Around Look at Me,” “Spooky,” and “Hair.”

Heritage Days Midsummer Block Party in Old Towne Camarillo runs the weekend of Wednesday, July 12 through Sunday, July 16 with live music (Friday – Sunday). Admission is free, but tickets are required for the carnival rides. Bands scheduled to play include Highway Starr, Todd Stanford Country Band, Hard Six, SkaDaddyz, Shaky Feelin’ and more.

Harbor View Park 2023 Concerts by the Sea series has kicked off with shows 4-6 pm on Saturday afternoons. The Dive Bar Messiahs play July 15, and Psychedelic Summer on July 22 (you’ll want to sport your best hippie attire for that one). Located at 3850 Harbor Blvd. in Oxnard, you’re welcomed to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs.

The Rubicon Theatre has a couple of live music concerts coming up in August. Get tickets now before they sell out. First, it’s Kids for Kids Benefit Concert featuring the music of Burt Bacharach on August 19; this one helps to raise scholarship funds for young people who might not otherwise be able to afford to participate in Rubicon’s education programs. And then it’s “The Platters: Many Voices ONE Name” show with five performances over the weekend of August 25 – 27. You know their hits such as “The Great Pretender,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Harbor Lights,” and more.

Quick Notes: “Brit Floyd, Celebrating 50 years of the Dark Side of the Moon,” plays the Ventura Theater on Friday, July 14; Bombay has a special day of live music on Saturday, July 15 with Hol!day, Aaron Orbit, Brian Mikasa, Kyle Edward Hunt, Joey6Strings, and Ardi; the monthly Channel Cities Jazz Club dance event at House of Dance will feature Flattop Tom and the Jump Cats on Sunday, July 16 (1-3:30 pm); and Iam Tongi (Season 21 winner of American Idol) plays two shows at the Ventura Music Hall on Saturday, July 22.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Vol. 16, No. 21 – July 12 – July 25, 2023 – Music Calendar

For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

Angry Ferret
11990 Hertz St., Moorpark
Fri 7/14: Whole Hog
Sat 7/15: Delta by the Beach

Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Music 6-9; except Sundays 4-7
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; Bluegrass Jam
Fri 7/14: Finnhead Dave
Sat 7/15: Déjà vu Three
Sun 7/16: Epitome of Dreams
Tues 7/18: Noah Thoresen
Fri 7/21: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 7/22: Karen Eden w/ Bill Macpherson
Sun 7/23: Ken Devoe
Tues 7/25: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples

Bombay Bar and Grill
143 California St., Ventura
Sat 7/15: Hol!day, Aaron Orbit, Brian Mikasa, Kyle Edward Hunt, Joey6Strings, Ardi

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 7/14: Caught Red Handed
Sat 7/15: Fish Fry w/ the Vonettes
Fri 7/21: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 7/22: Heart and Soul

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi

Constitution Park
601 Carmen Dr., Camarillo
Sat 7/22: the 805 Social Club

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Mondays: Glenn Bennett
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Sun 7/16: Heart and Soul
Sun 7/23: House Arrest Band

Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Sat 7/15: Kelly McFarling, Trudy Monk
Thurs 7/20: Bea Red and the Tailor Maide
Sat 7/22: Jeffrey Silverstein, Nydia Gonzalez

Enegren Brewing Co.
444 Zachary St., Moorpark, CA
Thursdays: Glenn Bennett

Feros Ferio Winery
310 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sun 7/23: Jerry Breiner

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
(Fridays 6-8:30; Sundays 1-3:30)
Fri 7/14: Inna Rude Mood
Sun 7/16: Frank Barajas duo
Sun 7/23: Brandon Ragan & Al

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Sat 7/15: Honey Owl, The Mercer
Fri 7/21: Californiaomatic w/ ZeeCeeKeely, Skyler Lutes
Sat 7/22: Brittney & the B-Sides

The Grape
2733 E. Main St., Ventura
Tues: The Gratitude Jazz Jam
Thurs Happy Hour: Tom Etchart & Friends
Friday Happy Hour: Fred Kaplan
Wed 7/12: Ben Scholz Trio
Thurs 7/13: Richie Goods & Chien Chien “Connected”
Fri 7/14: George Colligan quartet feat. Zyanna
Sat 7/15: Art Farmers (2 pm); Poncho Sanchez – sold out
Wed 7/19: Doug MacDonald Group
Thurs 7/20: The Idiomatiques
Fri 7/21: Anibal Seminario
Sat 7/22: Donna Deussen w/ Jim Fox (2 pm); Jacque Voyemant Septet (8 pm)

The Hangar Bar and Grill
824 E. Santa Maria St., Santa Paul
Sat 7/22: Lucky Break

Harbor Cove Café
1867 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Saturdays 10 am: The Cool Hand Ukes
Fri 7/14: Jason Ho
Sat 7/15: Jill Martini & the Shrunken Heads
Fri 7/21: Sea Hunters

Harbor View Park: Concerts by the Sea
3850 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard (4-6 pm)
Sat 7/15: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sat 7/22: Psychedelic Summer

Heritage Days Midsummer Block Party
Old Towne Camarillo
Fri 7/14: Highway Starr, Todd Stanford, No Class
Sat 7/15: Hard Six, Mad Dog & Smokin Js, Zerocks, Skadaddyz, the Brandon Ragan Project
Sun 7/16: Mariachi Camarillo, Foster Campbell & Friends, Full Clip, Shaky Feelin’

Heritage Square Summer Concert Series
715 S. A St., Oxnard
Fri 7/14: Los Cool Arrows
Fri 7/21: Decadent Decades

House of Dance
3007 Bunsen Ave, Suite E, Ventura
Sun 7/16: Flattop Tom and the Jump Cats

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Fri 7/14: Pull the Trigger
Sat 7/15: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 7/22: Pull the Trigger

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 7/13: Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night
Fri 7/14: Top Shelf
Sat 7/15: Jacob Marquez & the Good Vibes
Sun 7/16: Mestizo Beats
Fri 7/21: Keyth & the Universouls
Sat 7/22: Morie & the Heavy Hitters
Sun 7/23: One People
Libbey Bowl
210 S. Signal St., Ojai
Wednesdays: Ojai Summer Band Concert
Thurs 7/13: Happy Together
Fri 7/21: al Jardine & Friends w/ the Wilson Sisters
Sat 7/22: Classic Albums Live: Fleetwood Mac Rumours

Madewest
1744 Donlon St., Ventura
Sat 7/15: Doc Strange

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Fri 7/14: Brit Floyd: 50 years of The Dark Side of the Moon
Tues 7/25: Aquabats, The Aggrolites, Left Alone

Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Wed 7/12: Warren Takahashi
Fri 7/14: Tour Support
Sat 7/15: Jeanne Tatum
Wed 7/19: Robert Van
Fri 7/21: Lisa Ritner Duo
Sat 7/22: Pam and Hollywood

Margarita Villa
1567 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Fri & Sat 7-10; Sundays 5-8 pm
Fri 7/14: Joe Delia
Sat 7/15: Operation 90s
Sun 7/16: James Brothers
Fri 7/21: Smokey & Friends
Sat 7/22: Crosscut 805
Sun 7/23: Corsican Brothers

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 7/14: Musica Nortena
Sat 7/15: Andrew Langaker
Sun 7/16: Teresa Russell
Sat 7/22: Swing Shift
Sun 7/23: Mark Masson & Friends

Music Under the Stars
Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olvias Park Dr., Ventura
Sat 7/15: Blue Breeze
Sat 7/22: Twisted Gypsy

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Sat 7/15: Stacy Antonel & Pi Jacobs
Thurs 7/20: Franck L. Goldwasser

Oceanview Pavilion Performing Arts Theater
575 E. Surfside Dr., Port Hueneme
Fri 7/14: Don’t Look Back, Katie Leigh
Sat 7/22: Devotional, Notorious, Just Pretending

Ojai Great Goods
114 N. Padre Juan Ave., Ojai
Sat 7/15: Turning Trees, Sue Laws

Ojai Valley Brewing
307 Bryant St., Ojai
Fri 7/14: Sophie Holt
Sat 7/15: The Van Allen Twins
Fri 7/21: Moondawgs
Sat 7/22: Keyth Garcia

The Ojai Underground
616 Pearl St., Ojai
Sat 7/22: The Linda Rondstadt Experience

Poseidon Brewing
5777 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura
Fri 7/14: Lil Bit of Everything
Sat 7/22: Steve and Sally Williams

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri & Sat 8 pm; Sunday 2 pm
Fri 7/14: Jayden Secor Band
Sat 7/15: Red Rhythm
Sun 7/16: Doc Rogers
Fri 7/21: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 7/22: Brandon Ragan Project
Sun 7/23: Teresa Russell

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 7/14: Jake McClelland (4 pm); No Biggee (8 pm)
Sat 7/15: Sin Chonies
Sun 7/16: Los Amigos
Fri 7/21: Doc Ventura & Eddie (4 pm); Nuestro (8 pm)
Sat 7/22: Goleta Sound
Sun 7/23: Pull the Trigger

Strey Cellars
951 N. Rice Ave., Oxnard
Sat 7/15: Hogers Heroes
Sun 7/16: David Brookings
Sat 7/22: Bad Habit
Sun 7/23: Michelle Tyler

Tequila & Taco Music Festival
San Buenaventura State Beach
901 San Pedro St., Ventura
Sat 7/15: Ezequiel Pena, Vilma Diaz y la Sonora, Adelaide
Sun 7/16: Flo Rida, Vilma Diaz y la Sonora, Upstream

Tony’s Pizzeria
186 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Wed 7/12: Whiskey Business
Thurs 7/13: Ventura Irites Posse
Sun 7/16: House Arrest
Wed 7/19: Caught Red Handed
Thurs 7/20: Stone FLys
Sun 7/23: 90’s Babies

Topa Topa Brewing
4880 Colt St., Ventura
Sun 7/16: Katie Leigh

Topa Topa Brewing
2024 Ventura Blvd. Camarillo
Fri 7/14: Teresa Russell
Sun 7/16: Katie Shorey
Sun 7/23: Steve and Sally Williams

The Twist
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Thurs 7/13: Mark Masson Jam Session
Fri 7/14: Jesse James Harris
Sat 7/15: Anthony Kouglaz, Joe Delia (12 & 4); CRV (8pm)
Sun 7/16: Matt Kelley, Morrison Dr (12 & 2:30); Keyth G (5pm)
Fri 7/21: Heathers on Fire
Sat 7/22: Adam Lenhard, Mark Masson (12 & 4); Operation 90s (8 pm)
Sun 7/23: Kris Simeon, Jazzmen Suites (12 & 2:30); Lynnzee Fraye (5 pm)

Twisted Oak
2433 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo
Sat 7/15: The 90s Babiez

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter
Wednesdays: Tribal Me
Fridays: Noche de Paranda

Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tues 7/18: Larry’s Market Run
Thurs 7/20: The Downhill Jam
Fri 7/21: Heartless Bastards
Sat 7/22: Iam Tongi (two shows)

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 2 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 7/13: Brandon Ragan
Fri 7/14: The James Broz Band
Sat 7/15: McGuire/Moffett Band
Sun 7/16: Colette Lovejoy
Tues 7/18: Open mic w/ Jenna Rose
Thurs 7/20: The Pipes
Fri 7/21: RJ Mischo
Sat 7/22: Doc Ventura
Sun 7/23: Johnny & the Love Handles

Dance Your Heart Away

Leslie Sokol’s students having fun, being active and dancing their heart away! 

by Leslie Sokol

It’s summertime, so let’s celebrate with friends and family! Summer is a great time to get active and take part in physical activities that make you feel better and give you more energy. A wonderful physical activity that I love to recommend is dance. It doesn’t matter if you danced in the past or have never set foot on the dance floor – it’s never too late to take it up again or try it for the first time! Dance is so much more than a great form of exercise – it is a joyful and fun activity that engages your mind and body and keeps you fit and healthy. When you dance, you stimulate your mind to release the hormone serotonin, which lifts up your mood, relieves stress and reduces negative emotions.

There are numerous types of dance classes you can try: aerobic dance, jazz dance, ballroom dancing, line dancing, the cha-cha-cha, ballet and salsa, just to name a few. You can also find dance classes that focus on movement therapy which enhances your cognitive, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. All types of dance can bring joy and a host of physical and physiological benefits.

Dance and fitness classes typically synchronize movement with music which doubles the pleasure! As you dance, the different rhythms and speeds of the music work both your slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibers, waking up your body and training it to move at different speeds.

Science says it’s (almost) all good to dance. Dancing can maintain and improve cognitive skills in healthy older adults. One to two hours of dance per week bolsters brain health via multi-sensory stimulation and social interaction. Memorizing choreography increases brain activity, improves neural connectivity and helps long-term memory and spatial recognition. It is also a social and community-oriented activity and a wonderful way to make new friends.

A study examining the effects of eleven types of physical activity, including cycling, golf, swimming, tennis and dance, showed that dance lowers the risk of this debilitating disease. Risks of falling are lower in older adults who dance. Dancing improves balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, posture and more! It is also one of the best weight-bearing exercises that you can do.

Summertime brings warmer weather and more outside time. Stay aware of how much time you’re spending in the sun and make an effort to stay hydrated. Over sixty-five percent of your body is made up of water and it critical that you constantly replenish the fluids you lose through sweating. Be sure to drink fluids before, during and after exercise. Water is a great choice but you can also eat fruits that are mostly made up of water, such as watermelon (eating fruit is also a great way to take in additional vitamins after your work out!)

I highly encourage to get started today and have some fun dancing your heart away! For exciting and active dance classes and videos, please contact me to learn more about my Young at Heart Adult Dance and Fitness program.

Leslie Sokol is the creator and founder of the adult dance and fitness program For the Young at Heart. She has been teaching adults and children for forty-five years. You can watch For the Young at Heart by visiting her YouTube Channel or on TVSB. She also teaches in retirement communities throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

For more information contact Leslie at [email protected] 805-312-8089
or visit the website: www.LeslieSokolDance.com

Vol. 16, No. 21 – July 12 – July 25, 2023 – Community Events

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday each month. Men of all descriptions are always welcomed to stop in to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. at 12:30. All levels of play and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30pm. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Come meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30am. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water

July 16: Anyone interested in timepieces, both antique and modern, can join the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors for a watch/clock marketplace, lunch, and a presentation on a horological topic.  

Bring a watch or clock for a free evaluation. 11am.  Dudley House Museum  197 N Ashwood Ave. Contact nawcc-ch190.com. 

For Details contact: Bob McClelland Director, Public Information

(818) 225-8212 [email protected]

July 16: Channel Cities Jazz Club proudly presents Flattop Tom and the Jump Cats and invites you to our dance event at the House of Dance. You don’t have to dance; you can sit and enjoy the reverberating sounds of a live dance band with front-row seats.

1:00 PM to 3:30 PM House of Dance 3007 Bunsen Ave. Ventura

July 20: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) will meet virtually at 7 PM. Visit the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/ for the Zoom meeting link. The agenda includes the East Ventura police report from Cmdr Brown, followed by a presentation from the City of Ventura’s Housing Services Manager, Leona Rollins.The City of Ventura manages a variety of programs to provide affordable housing to Ventura residents

The purpose of the EVCC is to encourage residents to understand East Ventura problems, needs and expectations, and to recommend, initiate and/or participate in the development and implementation of programs or solutions. The EVCC facilitates communications between the community and government or other service agencies.

July 22: 7:00 – 11:00 pm. VCAS Annual Open House at the Moorpark College Observatory. Members of the Ventura County Astronomical Society will set up their telescopes early so you can see them in the day. Professor Hal Jandorf will point out the coolest objects in the sky and give fun facts about them. The Dome will be Open. 7 to 11:00 pm, gates open at 6 pm. 7075 Campus Rd. Moorpark. Free Parking and Admission. www.vcas.org

July 26: The College Area Community Council in Ventura, will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, July 26th at 7pm. Council meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest, including public safety and economic development. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.”

Taking in the outdoors while hiking at Arroyo Verde Park

Feel free to bring your dog but they need to be on a leash.

by Hadie Tobar

Whether you are in need of a quick nature walk with your furry friend, getting a workout on a trail run or simply enjoying some fresh air to decompress, Arroyo Verde Park hiking trails provide different ways to experience the peacefulness of its environment. 

After a few minutes of warming up on the trail, I begin to feel much better and it keeps me motivated during my weekend hikes. It takes me about an hour and fifteen minutes to hike roughly two miles of the trail loop. But it can also be a short hike if you choose to go on the trails on the lower part of the mountains. Sometimes I like to explore through other connecting paths that add to the adventure – which also means it adds more time to complete. It’s fun going around the hills. I’ve caught different kinds of small birds playfully flying in and out of trees and shrubs. They’re a source of natural entertainment.

Some trails have an incline that gives you a good challenge up the hills. Then there are other trails I take to cool down while heading towards the back parking lot. In the summer, it gets very hot on the open trails so it feels refreshing to walk under the tree’s shady sections. I enjoy hiking through the Arroyo Verde trails because it feels good to get away from the city rush and take in the respite that nature provides.

The cool ocean breeze is very soothing while walking under the sun’s warmth. It’s especially wonderful to stop and rest on the bench at the top of a hill. It has a beautiful view of the sea to the west where the afternoon fog makes its way inland over the city. On the other side behind the hill, you can see so much greenery surrounding the area. And, just as beautiful wildflowers are blooming after a super rainy winter, so is poison oak. Watch out for its leaves-of-three when stopping to smell the flowers. Hiking is supposed to be good for your well-being but getting an uncomfortable reaction from something of nature can affect your health. Have fun on hikes but be safe.

Typically, on the weekends or later in the weekday afternoons, there are more hikers sharing the trails. Since the trails are open all year long that means you can plan your hiking routine to any day that works best for you. And you can start anytime between 7:00am and 6:00pm seven days a week. 

Feel free to bring your dogs but they need to be on a leash when they’re with you on a trail. If you plan to have your dogs off their leash, the big grassy area is designated for that on Tuesdays through Sundays between 6:00am and 9:00am, but not on holidays or if the park has a special event happening. 

The main entrance to Arroyo Verde Park is at Foothill and Day Road. It’s free to park your vehicle inside the lots Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, Sundays and on holidays, parking is $2 per hour or $5 maximum for all day. There’s also free parking outside on the nearby side streets, which in some cases provide a bit of a warmup while you walk from your vehicle to a trailhead just a bit north of the main entrance.

It’s a good thing the city of Ventura turned this land into recreational use more than 60 years ago. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the chance to experience this nice green landscape near my favorite blue tides.

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Mary Olson

Ventura County Library Summer Reading Program continues with — Musician Craig Newton presenting Voice of America’s Fun Songs. Get ready for foot stomping, toe tapping, hand clapping, sing-along fun as musician Craig Newton brings a variety of instruments to the library. This free event is sponsored by the Ventura Friends of the Library.

  • Monday, July 17th at Hill Road Library, 3:00 pm
  • Monday, July 24th at Avenue Library, 3:30 pm
  • Thursday, July 27th at Saticoy Library, 1:30 pm

For more information, contact Sienna Sydlaske, Youth Librarian Specialist, at (805) 648-2716.

Wildlife Presentation with Saving Wildlife International

Explore, discover, and learn about the natural world through Saving Wildlife International’s unique live animal presentation. This exciting presentation is sure to entertain and educate! This free event is sponsored by the Ventura Friends of the Library.

  • Thursday, July 13th at Saticoy Library, 1:30 pm and at Avenue Library, 4:00 pm
  • Tuesday, July 25th at E.P. Foster Library, 11:00 am and at Hill Road Library, 2:00 pm

Find Your Voice! Family Musicals Film Fest and Coloring at Hill Road Library offers fun family musicals, drawing, and coloring for all ages.

  • Tuesday, July 18, 3:00 to 5:00 pm: Trolls World Tour
  • Tuesday, August 1, 3:00 to 5:00 pm: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Foster Library’s Young Readers Book Club

For children ages 9-12 (4th or 5th grade reading level). E.P. Foster Library, Saturday, July 22, 1:00 to 2:00 pm: Discuss Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi & create a graphic novel character.

Summer STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art and math):

E.P. Foster Library: Summer STEAM, Wednesdays, July 12 & 26, 2:00 to 4:00 pm; Maker Lab 3D Printing, Tuesdays, July 18 & 25, 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

Hill Road Library: Maker Lab, Thursdays, July 13, 20 & 17, 3:30 to 4:30 pm; Little Lab for ages 3 to 7, Tuesdays, July 18 & 25 & August 1, 10:30 to 11:30 am.

Hill Road Library Book Club: Tuesday, July 25, 5 to 6 pm: The Unlikely Adventures Of The Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal. To join the mailing list for this Book Club, please email [email protected].

Looking for a beach book? Or an audiobook for that long drive ? Or a jigsaw puzzle for your staycation?

Ventura Friends of the Library Bookstore in E.P. Foster Library is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 pm

We also invite you to browse anytime at our Online Bookstore for local sales. https://venturafol107753.square.site/s/shop We are in the process of remodeling our online store, adding new categories such as Just Added! and Art, Architecture and Photography. Just order and pick up at the bookstore in E.P. Foster in as little as two days. Look for new arrivals of art books in the store in E.P. Foster, as well!