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CONTENTS

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editor’s note

JANUARY|FEBRUARY 2018

6 Reaching for the Light

FE ATUR E S 11 Winter Weekend Getaways

travel

North or south, there are some fabulous destinations for winter adventures in 2018.

20 Love and Light

profile

Ventura artist Elain Thompson pays homage to her hometown.

33 Bird Man

cover story

The remarkable journey of ornithologist René Corado.

39 High Point

about town

Exploring Mount Pinos, Ventura County’s highest peak and snow-sport playground.

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42 A preview of local happenings COVER: René Corado, Collections Manager of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo. Photo by Michael Moore

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T CHRISTIAN GAPEN

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EDITOR’S NOTE

REACHING FOR THE LIGHT

itting down to write this Editor’s Note is giving me a powerful sensation of déjà vu. It wasn’t so long ago (October) that I was musing on the tragedies that had befallen Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Within days of that issue hitting newsstands, the fires in Napa and Sonoma Counties broke out. We covered a few of the local efforts to bring relief to the communities affected by those natural disasters in our November issue. A few days after the December issue went to print, the fire that would become the largest in California history broke out, devastating parts of Santa Paula, Ventura, Ojai, Carpinteria, Montecito and Santa Barbara. And this week, the rain and mudslides came. Hearts have been heavy for many of us going into the new year, a time generally reserved for fresh starts and new hope. So with this issue we aim to boost spirits a little with stories that offer encouragement and inspiration. The story of René Corado, featured on our cover, does both. The renowned oologist (an ornithologist specializing in eggs and nests) and collections manager of Camarillo’s Bird Museum began his journey in a small, poor village in Guatemala. He traveled many miles — literally and figuratively — to overcome his impoverished background and build a life in Ventura County. His story is one of optimism, self-determination and perseverance in the face of the improbable.

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JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018

“You never know what you’re capable of until you try,” he says. Wise words for us all. The work of artist Elain Thompson is a balm for the soul. Her light-infused depictions of Ventura are soft, warm, familiar and beautiful — each one a visual love letter to her home town. Thompson’s work is a poignant record of the many good things that make Ventura special. More importantly, her paintings remind us that this is what the fire-scarred city still is, and will continue to be in the future. We also feature a few different destinations to check out when the travel bug bites. Enjoy an easy weekend getaway to Monterey (northbound), San Diego or La Jolla (southbound) and explore these other cities-by-the-sea that each offer something unique — and possibly some attractions you’ve never heard of! Closer to home is Mount Pinos, a drive up Interstate 5 and the highest point in Ventura County. Beautiful hiking in fair weather, and a snowy playground — the only one in the county — once winter storms arrive. Yesterday’s dark days continue to cast shadows, as we pick up the pieces and the community goes into recovery mode. But let us take heart: Ventura County is strong, and resilient, filled with much good and hope for the future. It’s a new year, after all — let’s face it with joy and optimism. . – Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer nancy@ventanamonthly.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer ART DIRECTOR T Christian Gapen CONTRIBUTORS T Christian Gapen Chuck Graham Michael Moore Chris O’Neal Leslie Westbrook GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Bret Hooper Vicki Linares ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Warren Barrett Jon Cabreros Barbara Kroon Diane Newman Kelly Spargur Dave Stephens CIRCULATION Tori Behar HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Lam ACCOUNTING Sharon Huie PUBLISHER David Comden

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COMMUNITY

1 VENTURA IMPROV COMPANY NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY Ventura’s own improvisational comedy troupe rung in 2018 with dozens of fans and friends at the annual New Year’s Eve Gala at the Rubicon. The evening included food and champagne, and an endlessly entertaining show courtesy of the VIC’s talented and funny cast, who moved through their completely unscripted sets with aplomb, good humor (naturally) and no small amount of courage. Laughing the night away: An excellent way to end — or begin — any year. 1. Jesse Armitage, Kyle Johnson, Tom Mueller, David Sharp, Judy Gottlieb, Amanda Armitage, Gary Best, Cody Roberts, Becky Haycox, Amy Nash, Chris O’Toole, Monique Rosario, Jim Bruckner, Zach Spencer. 2. Gary Best and Jim Bruckner. 3. Zach and Brynn Spencer. 4. Kyle Johnson and David Egan.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF VENTURA IMPROV COMPANY

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TRAVEL

WINTERWEEKENDGETAWAYS North or south, there are some fabulous destinations for winter adventures in 2018.

BY LESLIE A. WESTBROOK

hat is it about turning the annual calendar that makes us want to make a fresh start? A new year brings new resolutions. For me, that includes exploring new places and revisiting old favorites. When winter doldrums threaten, a weekend jaunt, by car or train, can chase the blues away. Valentine’s Day arrives in February: Even if you don’t have a honey, treat yourself and a friend or family member to a cheerful change of scenery. Here are two great winter weekend getaways that won’t break the bank and promise to put a swing in your step before we spring forward.

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE Jazzy San Diego and La Jolla Although just 20 minutes apart, downtown San Diego and tony La Jolla offer two completely unique yet wonderful getaways. La Jolla STAY: It’s hard to imagine how a lodging without a pool, spa or onsite restaurant is the No. 1 rated hotel on Trip Advisor in San Diego and La Jolla . . . unless you stay at La Jolla’s Pantai

Inn. This gem of a boutique hotel earned its welldeserved five stars thanks to outstanding service and personal touches that make the traveler feel like a guest in someone’s home. Add a Balinese décor/vibe, proximity to the beach and delish breakfast prepared by an onsite chef, and you’ll see why these spacious studios, suites and cottages — many with fireplaces, patios and ocean views — along with the inn’s cozy public spaces have earned this hidden treasure its kudos. Pantai Inn, 858.224.7600, www.pantai.com. }}

TOP: Pantai Inn features Balinese décor, an onsite chef and exceptional ocean views. Many of La Jolla’s best restaurants and shops are an easy stroll away. ABOVE: Diego Rivera’s “Portrait of María Félix (Retrato de María Félix)” (1948) is one of the many works on exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.

JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018 |

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Photo courtesy Carnaval de Québec, Dany Vachon

DINE: Seaside La Jolla is awash with restaurants and shops, all within walking distance of the inn. Drink in the views over cocktails and sunset dinner from the rooftop at George’s Ocean Terrace and the recently opened Hawaiian fave Duke’s La Jolla (don’t miss the lilikoi poke or fish encrusted with macadamia nuts and herbs). For Italian, Catania’s appetizers —smoked duck liver mousse, arancini and crispy octopus — are off the charts. Service is divine and tasty entree portions are huge. Tiramisu? Why not! You’re on vacation. Drive, rideshare or taxi to one of my favorite La Jolla discoveries, Galaxy Taco, for amazing Mexican fare in a vibrant, art-filled setting where wood-grilled trout and any of nine killer tacos lure. I had to drive home after lunch, but I’d bet 500 pesos the margaritas are killer, too. All of the above have great happy hours. George’s at the Cove, 858.454.4244, www.georgesatthecove.com Duke’s La Jolla, 858.454.5888, www.dukeslajolla.com Catania, 858.551.5105, www.cataniasd.com Galaxy Taco, 858.228.5655, www.galaxytaco.com Don’t Miss: The lovely Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, with high-caliber art shows and intimate recitals in an acoustically perfect room, is a treasure. 858.454.5872, www. ljathenaeum.org. San Diego The smartest thing I ever did was take Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner to San Diego — and skip the 405. Thanks to Lyft and Uber it was easy, fun and inexpensive to get around without a car. STAY: Much to my surprise and delight, I became enamored of The Westgate Hotel. I’d been here previously to hear fantastic jazz in the Plaza Room, a fancy lounge reminiscent of NYC’s Carlyle Hotel. If you like old-fashioned opulence and chandeliers, then this historic downtown high-rise is for you: quiet glamour, turndown service with chocolates and royal treatment. If, like me, you happen to love jazz, then you will definitely want to spend a weekend here. In the summer, jazz by the pool is a big hit. The Westgate Hotel, 619.238.1818, www.westgatehotel.com PLAY: I never tire of Balboa Park. Every time I visit, there are new things to discover. The terrific Modern Masters from Latin America: the Perez Simon Collection running through March 11, 2018, at the San Diego Museum of Art is just one of the many things to take in here: The park boasts 17 noteworthy museums worth exploring. I was surprised to discover the location of a former nudist colony (there’s a plaque) in this splendid, photogenic public park that hosted the 1915 PanamaCalifornia Exposition. Who knew? www.Balboapark.org DINE: Hello vegans! Gourmet plant-based food is being devoured at trendy restaurants, and Kindred (voted

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| JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018

best vegan bar in the USA!) is no exception. You’d think you were eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes (cornmeal-crusted Gardein, parsnip potato mash) at this hip South Park joint. Carnivores and vegans alike should check out Officine Buona Forchetta in Liberty Park (the original is in South Park). Amazing veal osso bucco Milanese, salads and pizzas are to die for (there is even pizza in a jar) and very charming Italian staff. Kindred, 619.546.9653, www.barkindred.com Officine Buona Forchetta, 619.548.5770, www.officinebuonaforchetta.com

POINTS NORTH Do You Know the Way to Monterey? Monterey is a great family getaway destination — there’s the noteworthy Monterey Bay Aquarium that amazes children as well as adults. The jellyfish exhibits are mesmerizing, the sea otter feedings delightful. While prices for T-shirts and souvenirs in the gift shops within the aquarium are exorbitant, it’s fun to stroll Cannery Row for inexpensive souvenirs, especially during off-season sales. STAY: The Hyatt Regency Del Monte and Spa is popular for weddings and less expensive than staying on Monterey Bay. Three-story buildings have comfortable rooms with views to the golf course or Monterey Bay in the distance; some have patios with pool or garden views. TusCA Ristorante is excellent for dinner. The real draw for me is the great live jazz in the Fireplace Lounge on the weekends. This Hyatt is where the noteworthy Monterey Jazz Festival was founded, and the hotel houses many of the artists during the annual September event. Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, 831.372.1234, www.monterey.regency.hyatt.com PAMPER: Skip the Marilyn Monroe Spa at the Hyatt and high-tail it over to the terrific Cinq Mondes Spa Carmel, tucked into a shopping mall just 10 minutes away. The French-run day spa offers a meditative color therapy relaxation room, private Japanese soaking tub, Turkishstyle hammam, massages and facials using the organic/all natural Cinq Mondes skincare line from France. Cinq Mondes Spa Carmel, 831.625.4410, www.cinqmondesspacarmel.com PLAY: You could mosey down to twee Carmel. But better yet, hit the old-fashioned town of Pacific Grove. On your way home, stop in Salinas at the National Steinbeck Center that celebrates the noted author and screenwriter with interactive exhibits and enlightening facts. Take a pit stop for great grub at Industrial Eats in Buellton for the final part of your journey. National Steinbeck Center, 831.796.3833, www.steinbeck.org v For more information on Monterey, visit www.seemonterey.com. For more information on San Diego/La Jolla, visit www.sandiego.org.

BLISS OUT: After jazzing it up at the Hyatt and visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, take it easy at Cinq Mondes Spa in Carmel, where pampering options include color therapy, a Japanese soaking tub and a Turkish-style hammam.

JANUARY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FEBRUARY 2018 |

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approaches your dental care with expertise and real regard for your well-being and comfort, helping you to make the best decisions for your health. 3922 Telegraph Road, Ventura. (805) 654-0880 www. ashwooddental.com. The Vein Center AD of Ventura was created to provide diagnosis and PROOF

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Dominic J. Tedesco, M.D. • Lamar J. Bushnell, M.D. 168 North Brent Street • Suite 508 • Ventura

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•

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Laurie McCall, MD • Samuel Bern, MD

Ventura Plastic Surgery

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Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244 caring and friendly environment. 3959 Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, Telegraph Road, Ventura. (805) 658-1588 www.thesmileshapers.com. AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JAN / FEB 2017 C ON TI N UE D ON PA GE 16

Biological Dentistry for theFAXEntire NOTICE: PLEASE THIS PROOFFamily TO Date:_____________ This proof is to check for accuracy and is not

• Mercury andtoLatex Free Environment intended show quality of reproduction. • BPA-Free Fillings • Same DAY Porcelain Crowns • Ozone Dentistry • Dental Implants • Metal Free Braces • Laser Dentistry

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thesmileshapers.com 3959 Telegraph Rd., Ventura

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Follow WestCoastPlasticSurgery on NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Date: Eliminate wrinkles with Instagram and Facebook Signature: __________________________ (805) 648-2245 ASAP

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2 FOR TUESDAY’S

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y and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, The Home Furniture family has been a part of this county since meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JAN / FEB 2018 1964. We are heartbroken over the recent wildfire devastation our community has suffered. Although it is difficult to see anything Bacon, Lettuce, good or positive in these fires, we are reminded on a daily basis Avocado & Tomato how, in times like this, humanity bands together.

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Monday - Friday 8AM - 10PM • Saturday, Sunday &THIS Holidays 9AM - 5PM • Open Most Holidays Date:_______________________________ NOTICE: PLEASE FAX PROOF TO Client: Pacific Neuroscience Ad Executive: Warren Barrett

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Ralston St.,Ventura Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10am - 6pm Sun. 12 after - 5pm the 1st or 2nd Proofs, nd is not FURNITURE Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all5725 corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”,__________________________ “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no •proof Signature: (Victoria Village) uction. AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JAN / FEB 2017 Just look for the sign of the white, grey & red cross. 805-482-2760 COMPANY, INC. 1369 Del Norte Rd., Camarillo, CA 93010 PROUDLY SERVING VENTURA COUNTY SINCE 1983 658-2273

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NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO IS MEMORY LOSS (805) 648-2245 ASAP AFFECTING YOU OR IS IS MEMORY MEMORY LOSS LOSS AFFECTING YOU AFFECTING YOU OR OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE? SOMEONE YOU LOVE? This proof is to check for accuracy and is not intended to show quality of reproduction.

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LOVE? Date:_______________________________ NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THISSOMEONE PROOF TO YOU Signature: __________________________ A local study is now enrolling people aged 50 to 85. People with memory (805)research 648-2245 ASAP loss or early Alzheimer’s disease and a enrolling regular support partner may be eligible. A isis now aged to A local local research research study study now enrolling people people aged 50 50 to 85. 85.

People with loss Alzheimer’s and People with memory memory loss or or early early Alzheimer’s disease disease and aa A local research study issupport now enrolling people aged 50 to 85. regular partner may be eligible. support partner may eligible. For moreregular information, callbe805-278-4148 People with memory loss or early Alzheimer’s disease and a For For more more information, information, call call 805-278-4148 805-278-4148 All study-related care (including investigational drug and study-related doctor visits) regular support partner may be eligible. All Allstudy-related study-relatedcare care (including (includinginvestigational investigationaldrug drugand andstudy-related study-related

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The

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PROFILE FAMILY TREES: Elain Thompson in her Ventura home, with “Two Trees and Brown Hills.” One of Ventura’s most famous landmarks, the artist’s connection to the scene is much more personal: She as well as her daughter, son and father all live within sight of it.

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| JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018

& LOVE LIGHT Ventura artist Elain Thompson pays homage to her hometown. BY NANCY D. LACKEY SHAFFER | PHOTOS BY T CHRISTIAN GAPEN

Photo by George Medovoy

“I’ve always been optimistic,” says painter Elain Thompson. “This is our town. We’re lucky.” In a few short sentences, she sums up much of what makes her work so special. Her lovingly rendered depictions of Ventura make even the most banal or familiar spaces feel special. The soft, warm colors she prefers create a sense of serenity. And with an astute eye and skillful hand, Thompson makes these images glow with an inner light. Her work has been shown in several locations around town — Very Ventura Gift Shop, Palermo, Simone’s Coffee Shop, just to name a few — featured on the cover of the Ventura Visitors Guide (in 2006) and collected near and far. It’s easy to see why: Every piece is a love letter to, and about, Ventura. In the aftermath of the Thomas Fire, her work is a sorely needed reminder of the beauty that once was, and continues to be, found here. Thompson is a Ventura County native, growing up in Oxnard and living in Ventura for most of her adult life. The creative bug bit early and hard. “I knew I was going to be an artist in second grade,” she recalls. After graduating from Oxnard High School in 1968 (where she was voted “most talented”) she attended the shortlived but influential Santa Barbara Art Institute, and also studied at Ventura College, where she learned from the school’s great artistic movers and shakers: Gerd Koch, William McEnroe, Carlisle Cooper, Bernard Dietz. “At the time . . . it was more [about] abstract expressionism,” Thompson recalls. “It was very creative. Even though it wasn’t traditional . . . it taught you to see, to look outside the box.” Her own work was largely based in realism, but she took cues from her more unorthodox

teachers. “She was a rebel painter,” her son, Roger Thompson, says, referencing the way she sometimes played with perspective, added motifs for their aesthetic value or mixed conflicting elements, such as an ornate bench in a largely modern, linear scene. “She paints what’s in her heart, how she feels it.” Thompson admits that some of these flourishes, added for the sake of nostalgia rather than composition, didn’t always work. But recognizing those flaws helped her learn how to deviate in a powerful way. Years later, she took a watercolor course from Hiroko Yoshimoto, who critiqued one of Thompson’s paintings by saying, “You broke just about every rule. But it works.” In her early years, Thompson’s work was “more figurative, real expressive.” She did a lot of portraits on commission, and fell in love with pastels, developing some innovative techniques for blending that almost led to her becoming a rep for art supplier Sennelier. The dust became too much, however, so she turned to oil paints — almost exclusively her medium now. By the 1990s, she was largely focusing on landscapes. “I think it was the city of Ventura,” she says simply of her inspiration. “What I really wanted to do was all of these Ventura paintings.” Familiar landmarks like the pier, City Hall and Two Trees do have a prominent place in her body of work, and have been snatched up by collectors all over the county for their connection to the city. But her artist’s eye sees extraordinary beauty in the unexpected. Driving along Pacific Coast Highway, it’s not the crashing waves or dramatic hillsides that capture her imagination, }}

JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018 |

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| JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018

may have lost some of Thompson’s art in the fire and need assistance with valuation for insurance claims. Thompson herself is currently in the midst of a break as she contemplates her next evolution as an artist. She has this sense that she’ll “re-emerge in the fall. I want to take a new look,” she explains. Regardless of what her new direction as an artist will be, one thing is certain: Her work will be driven, as always, by love and light. v For more information on Elain Thompson, visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ElainThompson-49998798607/ or call 320-4758.

Photo courtesy Carnaval de Québec, Fred Photo Video

but the odd angles of the telephone poles and the linear quality of the electric lines. Shadows cast by street signs and trees add interest to an otherwise ordinary sidewalk. A narrow street with broken asphalt and rundown houses becomes a vision of simple, everyday serenity. “I like when they’re not so pretty,” Thompson explains. “I like the authenticity, and I like the way the light plays.” She’ll fixate on an element, such as trees coming up out of the asphalt, and build a painting around it, letting the composition come together organically. “As I paint, it tells me where to go,” she says. “The painting wants to ‘be’ something.” But the biggest impetus? “It’s all about the light,” Thompson states emphatically. “What I like about oil painting is that if it catches different light at different times of day, you’ll see different colors. For some of the paintings, I get up before the sun rises, and just wait for the light. And I always get excited in the early evenings, because the colors are so rich.” Many of her paintings are the same scene, painted at different times of day. Careful layering provides a richness that unifies and anchors each composition. As traditional as her works appear on the surface, it’s a very sophisticated technique that brings them to life. Thompson has an especially close family, with many members living within a few miles of each other. Her kindness and warmth have fostered deep bonds of love, while her artistic spirit has enriched the lives of her children and grandchildren in its own way. “We as a family value creative expression,” Roger says. “Mom has also encouraged the ability to go after different kinds of careers — she helped me see the path because of what she’s done.” Thompson supported Roger in his various endeavors, from surf shop owner to the founder (with longtime best friend the late Tim Garrety) of Skate Street Ventura to his current work as an author. She also lent her talents to the cause: Her murals could be found on every wall at Skate Street, while today you can see her hand-drawn maps in Roger’s most recent book, We Stood Upon Stars. She’s very involved in the lives of all her grandchildren, and has helped Roger’s young sons create artwork for their skateboards. Roger and wife Melissa handle sales and inventory for Thompson’s art, and business will be picking up over the next few months as the family gets ready to release a series of giclée prints of Thompson’s most popular work. “We want to help put what Ventura is back in people’s imaginations,” says Melissa. She has reached out to local collectors who

LOCALS ONLY: Scenes from around Ventura include the instantly recognizable (“California Palms”) to those that may take non-residents a few moments to identify (the Erle Stanley Gardner Building, featured in “Palm, Shadows and Coffee”). Also shown: “Poli Street,” “Poinsettia City” and “Inspiration Point.”

JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018 |

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y and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JAN/FEB 2018 S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI ON

Home&Garden Showcase

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Kitchen Places – where “your place is our passion”. Now is the time to visit our beautiful showroom and meet the Kitchen Places team at (New Location) 1500 Callens Road, Ventura. (805) 658-0440.

Established in 1993 • License # 764241 F I N E

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We are a direct importer of granite, marble, quartz, travertine, onyx, Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244 805.658.0440 limestone, quartzite & soapstone. Visit our indoor warehouse, ppen Please_check_this_proof_over_carefully_and_indicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof”.__If_we_receive_no_proof_after_the_1st_or_2nd_ 1500 Callens Road, Ventura, CA 93003 to the public and trade. 3130 Paseo Mercado, Oxnard. Proofs,_ad WIll ruN as Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: dEC 2016 kitchenplacesventura.com

Client: Buena Tile

(805) 278 0777 www.pacificshorestones.com.

innOvative sOLutiOns

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Date:_______________________________ Signature: __________________________

design YOur PrOject

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oof West Coast Sash & Door 244 Client:WESTERLAY ORCHIDS F I N E

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Ad Executive: Warren Barrett

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Please check thisarray proofofover carefully andand indicate corrections clearly. You will A wide exotic orchids otheralltropical flowers await you at have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, or_2nd_ RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on Via the Real, 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JAN / FEB 2017 Orchids. Visit our retail shop at 3504 Carpinteria 2016 AD WILLWesterlay (805) 684-5411 www.westerlayorchids.com

NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Your Complete Window and Door Store (805) 648-2245 ASAP

Date:________

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Signature: ___

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Email questions to: Arlien@wcsd1.com JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018 |

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d indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, s your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JAN / FEB 2018

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Home&Garden Showcase

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We have been providing residential and commercial window coverings in Southern California since 1975. We specialize in beauty, privacy and improved comfort and energy efficiency. 5917 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. (805) 642-2300. www.arjayswf.com.

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Client: Westerlay Orchids

Ad Executive: Barbara Kroon

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31 Peking St., Ventura, CA 93001 Please_check_this_proof_over_carefully_and_indicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof”.__If_we_receive_no_proof_after_the_1st_or_2nd_ Our unique process of digital measuring and photographic layout is 805.648.4098 Proofs,_ad WIll ruN as Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: dEC 2016 available for your project. Showroom & factory at 31 Peking Street, www.pacificstoneworks.net Ventura. (805) 648-4098 www.pacificstoneworks.net

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Our newest import is Altiplano, an estate quality stone of depth and character suitable both indoors and out. Buena Tile + Stone is at 1717 Palma Drive, Ventura. www.buenatile.com

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We pride ourselves on shutters that will last for decades at a cheaper dicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof”.__If_we_receive_no_proof_after_the_1st_or_2nd_Proofs,_ad price than anyone else in Ventura County. 1851 Holser Walk, Suite pproval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. ISSuE: july / AuguSt 2017 205, Oxnard. (805) 983-1735 www.WoodCraftShutters.com

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Rebuilding The V

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Contractors and Architects listed on the website pledge to donate time and resources toward rebuilding the homes of the firefighters who lost their homes in Ventura.

Photo by Robert Gray

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CA Contractors Lic. # 903106

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J A N U A R Y — F E B R U AY 2 0 1 8

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COVER STORY

BIRD MAN The remarkable journey of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology’s René Corado.

BY NANCY D. LACKEY SHAFFER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL MOORE

he Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology is one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for avian biology — and possibly Ventura County’s best-kept secret. Tucked away in Camarillo’s industrial zone is this hotbed of data and research, home to over a million eggs (one of the largest collections in the world), thousands of nests, hundreds of live mounts and more. Ornithologists come from all over the globe to explore its archives, library and vast collection. Helping to oversee all of this is collections manager René Corado, an intelligent, affable and outgoing researcher whose own story is as incredible as the remarkable holdings of the institution. His path from humble beginnings in Guatemala to the ornithology institution would be a long and meandering one. “I was born in 1960 in a little village, with only 13 houses,” Corado says. El Chicał in central Guatemala, near the Rio Motagua, was a rural and impoverished place. It was nevertheless something of a paradise for the young Corado. “In that little village, I had the largest garden in the world,” he recalls. The Rio Motagua is the largest river in the state, an important corridor for migratory birds and home to such species as the magpie jay, the green parakeet, hummingbirds, orioles and the laughing falcon. “I was very interested in birds as a child. I thought they were amazing.” When he was 8, Corado moved with his family to Guatemala City. There was more opportunity in the city, but it was a hardscrabble existence. “I didn’t have any shoes until I was 12,” Corado notes. Like other

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impoverished kids, he supplemented his meager diet with food found in the trash heaps, fighting stray dogs for the scraps left behind. Even at a young age, Corado displayed the pluck and opportunism that would serve him well throughout his life. He had a cousin who made money shining shoes and wanted Corado to join the business. Corado’s father was reluctant — he wanted his children to focus on their education — but eventually agreed, with one caveat: He wasn’t allowed to start work until the school day was over. Corado attended classes in the morning, and in the afternoons took up a post as a lustrador (shoeshine boy) across the street from the National Palace. There he received a different kind of education. “It was really interesting,” he recalls. “When you clean shoes, people ignore you. And they’d talk to each other about their trips — to California, Mexico, Spain, New York City.” Dreams of travel began to fill the young lustrador’s head. One of his regular customers was the director of the newspaper Diario La Nacion, and the enterprising Corado began to ask him for a job. Incessantly. “He didn’t hire me, but he appreciated that this kid never quit,” Corado says with a laugh. “He told me he’d give me a job once I finished sixth grade.” (At the time, sixth grade was considered a reasonable education level for Guatemalans of a more modest background.) The newspaperman was true to his word. Twelve-year-old Corado initially started as a janitor. But he was very bright, a quick study with a curious mind, and he eventually worked his way into the printing room. “By 17, I was in charge of the printing department,” he says. He married a few years later. (He and wife Mary are still together, 38 years later.) Guatemala had been embroiled in a civil war since 1960, and many Guatemalans emigrated in the 1970s and 1980s to escape the violence. Remembering the stories he heard shining shoes, “I decided that the U.S. was where the dream was,” Corado recalls. After one failed attempt in 1979, Corado returned in 1981 and made his way to California. A variety of odd jobs kept him afloat until he settled in Los Angeles as a gardener. Mary and his young daughter, Claudia, joined him shortly thereafter. Corado found work at the Bleitz Wildlife Foundation, run by wildlife photographer Donald L. Bleitz. In addition to tending the grounds, he cared for some 80 exotic birds, live butterflies and thousands of orchids, and acted as a photographer’s assistant. “The pay wasn’t great,” he admits. “But the love for that work led me to something that I really love.” Bleitz died in 1986, and left the foundation’s collection to the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, founded in 1956 by Ed N. Harrison, a natural historian, photographer and avid collector who had started the WFVZ out of his house in Brentwood. He kept Corado on and taught him the tricks of his trade: taxidermy, egg blowing, cataloging — everything necessary to preserve and catalog specimens for research. The two men developed a deep and abiding friendship. “I called him my American father,” Corado says fondly of Harrison, who died in 2002. With Harrison’s encouragement, Corado learned English through adult education classes, and took online courses to earn his high school diploma. His work at the WFVZ deepened, and he had the opportunity to learn from the likes of renowned condor researcher Lloyd Kiff and wildlife illustrators Dana Gardner and N. John Schmitt. “I got trained by these big guys,” Corado notes. He accompanied them to the Amazon, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala as a field biologist. It was an immersive education. When Harrison moved the WFVZ to Camarillo in 1992, Corado came with it, and was officially named collections manager in 1994. He’s been }} here ever since.

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TENDING THE FLOCK: With the museum since 1986, Corado has helped turn the WFVZ into one of the most prestigious research and education institutions in the world. Its holdings include over a million eggs, thousands of nests and hundreds of live mounts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; many of which Corado himself collected or prepared.

JANUARY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FEBRUARY 2018

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The ever-curious Corado has pursued plenty within and outside of the WFVZ. Now a resident of Oxnard, he serves on the advisory board for the Extended Opportunity Program and Services for Oxnard College, and on the Art Commission for the Cafe on A/Acuña Gallery and Cultural Center. He’s participated in numerous ornithological studies at home and abroad, and given countless presentations in local schools. He and Linnea Hall, the WFVZ’s current executive director, have collaborated on numerous publications, and he wrote two autobiographies: 2014’s El Lustrador (in Spanish) and the bilingual children’s book The Adventures of René Corado: The Shoeshine Boy, published in 2016. Sales from these books support his El Lustrador Foundation, a nonprofit he founded to improve educational opportunities for underprivileged youths in Guatemala. Corado’s books have been a great success in his native country, and through presentations and television interviews, where he’s readily recognizable by his moustache, wide smile and black cowboy hat, he’s become something of a celebrity there. He’s also revisited Rio Motagua. A census of breeding species revealed alarming levels of contaminants in the bird populations of the heavily polluted river. Corado brought these findings to the government, and was initially ignored. Once the books made him a recognizable figure, he used his platform to advocate for the river’s cleanup and conservation. In 2015, he discussed his concerns with then-presidential candidate Jimmy Morales, whom he met when both were part of a television interview. After Morales won the election, the new president invited Corado to the 2016 inauguration . . . and committed to helping the rivers. “It didn’t happen until I had a book,” Corado notes. “It’s sad that you have to be something of a star to get them to listen to you. They don’t listen to the biologists. But it’s a tool to really help the environment.” Corado’s work in conservation and education has led to significant recognition. In 2016 alone, he was named a Distinguished Guatemalan by the Central American Confederation of California, a Distinguished Guatemalan Abroad by the Congress of Guatemala, and also received an award from Guatemala’s Department of the Environment . . . among many other honors throughout recent years. Corado has accomplished enough for several lifetimes, and yet his work continues. Research in Central and South America (and locally in the Santa Clara River) is ongoing. Plans are currently underway to make El Lustrador a film, and he is also involved in the founding of a new museum in Guatemala. Corado and Hall are trying to raise funds for a bus to bring low-income students to the WFVZ, and to hire more museum staff. He hopes “to expose kids to birds, so they might become the new biologists.” That little boy who fought stray dogs for food in the trash heap sure has come a long way. He’d like to spare others the ordeals he experienced, but he recognizes the value of his journey. “Yes, my life was hard,” Corado says. “But that was a lot of experience in life. Now, I appreciate everything more.” v Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo 805.388.9944 or www.wfvz.org. El Lustrador Foundation 805.744.7341 or elustrador@yahoo.com

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EGGS ANYONE?: Corado is an oologist, an ornithologist who specializes in the study of eggs, nests and breeding behavior. He has traveled to Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Amazon Rainforest and his native Guatemala studying and monitoring avian species.

SPECTACULAR MOUNTAIN VIEWS

PREPARE TO BE DAZZLED

RANCH HOME IN HEART OF OJAI

VENTURA COUNTY’S NEWEST COMMUNITY

This beautiful, ranch-style home sits on a large 8624 square foot corner lot where this quiet street intersects a cul-de-sac. Every room in the home has SPECTACULAR MOUNTAIN VIEWS! Walk to town or catch the Ojai Trolley to the Arcade with its many one-of-a-kind shops and eateries. It is just 2 blocks from Topa Topa Elementary School! This unique home affords original hardwood floors with tastefully updated kitchen and baths. The front

garden was designed by a landscape architect with cascading water-feature! The pavered driveway & garage has parking for 6 cars; it wraps around thru a side gate to a perfect grilling area! There is a separate backyard ‘mini house’ which would make a perfect ARTIST’S STUDIO! Enjoy total privacy in the expansive rear garden with fire-pit & entertaining deck! Just off the master bedroom there is another private deck with therapy spa,

completely enclosed with a large gate that also opens to the backyard with a mature grapefruit tee and huge oaktree, providing shade yearround! www.917Sunset.com Contact Blake Mashburn, Century 21 Troop Real Estate, 805 -368-0202. BEDROOMS:

BATHROOMS:

PRICE:

$799,000

With lush landscaping, welcoming streetscapes and a mountaintop backdrop, The Gallery is residential community living at its best. Residents will enjoy a great recreation center inclusive of an outdoor fireplace, pool/spa, as well as open greenway, and parks for family gatherings all within the comfort of their gated community. The Gallery is adjacent to the River Ridge Golf Course and

a quick two-minute drive to The Collections center in Oxnard, featuring Whole Foods and many other shops and restaurants to explore. Or follow those ocean breezes and be at the beach in less than 5 miles. Contact Kirby at the Sales Center for Gallery at River Ridge, 805-365-0100. BEDROOMS:

3 TO 5

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ISLAND-INSPIRED GEM

WELCOME TO PARADISE ON PIERPONT! One block from the beach, this home was completely renovated and expanded in 2008 and 2009. Highlights include a spacious upstairs family room with balcony to enjoy the ocean breezes, a private gated entry through a tropical courtyard, and a large backyard. The renovation combined expanding the home by adding a second level and reconfiguring the first floor with NEW: kitchen, b a t h r o o m s , e l e c t r i c a l , plumbing, solid-core doors, flooring, roof; AND the construction of a 2-car garage

with additional space for storage, laundry and tools. Enjoy air conditioning, a lovely hot tub and a patio for dining al fresco. The master suite is on the second floor and there are two bedrooms on the first. Sought-after elementary is less than a block away! Contact Ariel & Karen, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, 805-746-2070. BEDROOMS:

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PRICE:

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$1,029,000 |

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ISSUE: JAN / FEB 2018

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TRAVEL

HIGH POINT

Exploring Mount Pinos, Ventura County’s highest peak and snow-sport playground. BY CHUCK GRAHAM

s I hiked through a towering forest of Jeffrey pines, I reached a clearing on the lofty summit of Mount Pinos. Looking west toward the expanse of the Chumash Wilderness, I spotted a California condor soaring across huge swaths of the Los Padres National Forest, taking advantage of afternoon thermal updrafts. Hiking in the forest is certainly a popular activity on Mount Pinos, but Ventura County’s highest peak is also a unique winter sports destination. Who would think that, come winter, those chaparral-choked mountains deep in this remote forest transform into a backcountry Mecca ideal for snow-sports enthusiasts. At 8,847 feet, Mount Pinos is considered to be one of the best places in all of Southern California for backcountry and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. “The tops of many of the mountains in Southern California are, in effect, fairly narrow ridges,” said Tod Fitch, patrol representative for Mount Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol. “For cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, this means that many routes are limited to out and back. Once above 7,500 feet, Mount Pinos is more of a table with rolling terrain. This means that you can make a number of loop tours of varying difficulty.” Fitch is part of Nordic Base, its facility

located in the parking lot near the summit on Mount Pinos since 1988. Before that, the ski patrol worked out of a series of campground host travel trailers. Construction of Nordic Base was a joint effort between ski patrol and the U.S. Forest Service. The facility is maintained by volunteer labor, courtesy of members and friends of the ski patrol. The base is equipped with a patient treatment room, an “ops center” with radio base station and situation maps and a bunk room. The “ops center” is used by the patrol each weekend. Nordic Base is also in service for coordinating patrollers and for search and rescue, serving as the incident command post for missing-person searches on the mountain. Every season a number of rescues occur on the mountain, although much depends on varying snow surface conditions. “Last year the snow never got very icy and we had few injuries,” said Fitch. “In other recent seasons we’ve typically worked between one to six incidents per weekend day.” Fitch said there were good skiing conditions throughout the drought but snow conditions were far better in 2016-17 than in the previous season. Last year, snow conditions were good from late December through mid-March, with 2 to 3 feet of snow on the ground during much of the season. A

TOP: On a clear day, the summit of Mount Pinos provides a view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in one direction, the Channel Islands in another. ABOVE: A condor soars over the Chumash Wilderness. Photos by Chuck Graham

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few storms even brought snow down to Interstate 5. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO “More often, the snow level was around what we call ‘the Y,’ Mount Pinos is an easy drive from the intersection of Cuddy Valley Road, Mount Pinos Road and Mil most points in Ventura County, but trafPotrero Highway,” said Fitch. “Mount Pinos is a bit further north fic during the best snow conditions can be and west of the other tall mountains in Southern California. Because excessive. “Last year, when we saw 100,000of that, Mount Pinos usually gets a bit more snow from a typical plus visitors per day, it took five hours winter storm.” to drive 10 miles,” recalls Rachel Unell, There are a few items winter travelers to Mount Pinos shouldn’t president of the Mountain Communities leave home without. The most important one is knowledge. The Chamber of Commerce. The parking lot recent fires in Ventura County have affected parts of the Los Padres National Forest, resulting in some closures. Visitors should check forest closure status, traffic conditions and road closures before embarking on a trip. Another necessary item: tire chains. In fact, during winters of heavy snowfall, it might be impossible to drive to the summit. Many bound for Mount Pinos have been turned away because they were without chains. Lastly, all visitors need an Adventure Pass, to ensure unfettered access. SNOW COUNTRY: Mount Pinos is the only snow-sport destination in Ventura County, offering “Starting last year, the exceptional cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and just plain wintertime fun. various agencies that proPhotos courtesy of Mount Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol vide law enforcement and safety services changed how Adventure Passes and chain control are enforced,” said Fitch. “With at Mount Pinos has a 1,000-car capacity, these changes, if the snow is good, you are unlikely to be able to and snow play areas near Frazier Mountain get up the mountain without tire chains and an Adventure Pass. have even fewer parking spots. Road cloA number of local businesses sell Adventure Passes and the Forest sures are also possible. Service makes an effort, aided by members of the ski patrol, to make “We truly love visitors and encourage Adventure Passes available at the ‘Y.’ ” people to come enjoy the winter beauty,” Fitch didn’t want to reveal his favorite backcountry routes on Unell says. “It is highly recommended that Mount Pinos, and understandably so. Local knowledge is everything folks plan ahead for a mini-vacation, rather when chasing those outdoor pursuits. Some of the mountain’s most than driving out for a quick day trip. We popular excursions, however, include trips to nearby Sheep Camp want people to enjoy their visit!” She notes on Sawmill Mountain, and, if snow conditions allow, there is a fun that cabins for rent (some on beautiful descent all the way to Pine Mountain Club. tracts of privately owned land) and nearby “The trail map published by the ski patrol has a number of routes hotels make for a delightful way to experisuitable for different skill levels,” said Fitch. “A very popular route for ence Ventura County’s own winter wonmost is the 500-foot gain, a mile-and-a-half route to the top of the derland. v mountain. On a clear day, from there you can see the Channel Islands in one direction and the Sierra Nevada in the other.” Mount Pinos Ranger District 34580 Lockwood Valley Road, Frazier Park 661.245.1526 or www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5289349 Mount Pinos Nordic Base www.nordicbase.org Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce 661.245.1212 www.mymountainchamber.com 40

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SHORT LIST DAY OF THE DOG Jan. 20, 10 a.m. | Oxnard Shores They say every dog has his or her day, and at Oxnard Beach Park that day has come. Well-mannered and socialized dogs are invited to join the off-leash fun, while their human counterparts enjoy original Americana and blues music from Kelly’s Lot and friends as they present an acoustic performance. The Humane Society of Ventura County and Canine Adoption Rescue League will have dogs available for adoption as well. Local vendors and the world’s largest Downward Dog Yoga Tunnel will be on hand for both human and dog entertainment. Oxnard Beach Park, 1601 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard. For more information, visit www.oxnardbeachdogpark.org.

POP ART AND THE AMERICAN DREAM

Jan. 20, 1 p.m. | Ojai In the years following World War II, the United States enjoyed an unprecedented period of economic and political growth, which led to an explosive change in our culture. Television, dishwashers, cars, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe were suddenly everywhere. Taking inspiration from the world around them, American pop artists began creating art directly from everyday items, consumer goods and mass media. This talk, presented by Shirley Waxman from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, explores the works of the most celebrated American pop artists, including Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, Roy Lichtenstein and more. Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. For more information, visit www. vencolibrary.org.

BUYER & CELLAR

Jan. 24-Feb. 11 | Ventura Alex, a struggling actor in L.A., takes a job working in the Malibu basement of a beloved megastar. One day, the Lady Herself comes downstairs to play. It feels like real bonding in the basement, but will their relationship ever make it upstairs? Buyer & Cellar is a seriously funny slice of absurdist whimsy about the price of fame, the cost of things and the oddest of odd jobs. Don’t miss award-winning actor Brian McDonald in this irresistible one-man play, directed by Stephanie Coltrin. Tickets: $20-55. For more information, visit www.rubicontheatre.org.

POETRY READING: ART ABOUT AGRICULTURE

Jan. 27, 2-4 p.m. | Santa Paula Ventura County Poet Laureate Phil Taggart hosts an afternoon of poetry at the Santa Paula Art Museum, exploring the theme of the museum’s current exhibition, Art About Agriculture. Some of the most original voices in Southern California will read selections, including Taggart, Mary Kay Rummel, Marsha de la O, Ann Buxie and many others. Lovers of verse and oral storytelling won’t want to miss this very special event. Admission is free. 117 N. Tenth St., Santa Paula. For more information, visit www. santapaulaartmuseum.org.

CHAMBER ON THE MOUNTAIN: TRIO VALTORNA

Jan. 28, 3 p.m. | Ojai Trio Valtorna brings exceptional chamber music to appreciative audiences in the United States and abroad, with a repertoire that includes both classic and contemporary works. This is the Trio’s first performance in Ojai and is bound to delight chamber music lovers, who are invited to stay and meet the artists at a reception immediately following the concert. The trio consists of renowned violinist Ida Kavafian, French horn player extraordinaire David Jolley, and pianist Gilles Vonsattel. Tickets: $25. Logan House, 8585 OjaiSanta Paula Road, Ojai. For more information, visit www. ChamberOnTheMountain.com.

ventana

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE PRESENTS ASTRONAUT TERRY VIRTS

Feb. 2, 8 p.m. | Thousand Oaks As a NASA astronaut, pilot of the space shuttle Endeavour and crew member on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, Virts spent 200 consecutive days in space as commander of the International Space Station — one of the longest continuous space missions of any NASA astronaut. Virts will speak on his breathtaking portraits of Earth taken from space while aboard (and outside) the International Space Station, highlighting our magnificent blue planet and humanity’s impact on it. Tickets: $36-46. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. For more information, visit www.civicartsplaza.com.

JANUARY 20

OJAI

MARJORIE AND BOB MOSKOWITZ: COLLABORATIVE WORK

Feb. 2 – 28 | Ventura Marjorie is a landscape painter with roots in abstraction and influences as broad and diverse as Diebenkorn and Monet. Bob is a figurative painter first influenced by Caravaggio, Velazquez and Eakins, and the chair of the Ventura College Art Department. Through a mutual approach of looking at the peculiar nature of people and the world, the artists collaborated on a series of hybrid pieces drawn from photographs taken on their travels from California to Maine and back again. Opening reception on Friday, Feb. 2. 643 Project Space, 643 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. For more information, visit f5projects.squarespace.com.

FEBRARY 2

THOUSAND OAKS

FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS

Feb. 2 – March 4 | Camarillo In Academy Award-winner Alan Ball’s (True Blood, Six Feet Under) hilarious comedy, five very different bridesmaids find themselves hiding together in an upstairs bedroom, hoping to escape the wedding reception of a bride that — they soon realize — none of them really likes! $15-20. Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo. For more information, visit skywayplayhouse.org.

LADY WASHINGTON AND HAWAIIAN CHIEFTAIN TALL SHIPS

Feb. 6 —13 | Oxnard These one-of-a-kind tall ships based out of Grays Harbor, Washington, will be docking at the Channel Islands Harbor for tours and cruises. These ships are authentic replications of vessels that would have brought tea, spices, pelts and more to the colonies in their heyday. $5-45. Channel Islands Harbor, 3900 Pelican Way, Oxnard. For more information, visit www.historicalseaport.org.

ON THE HORIZON NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE JUNIORS CHARITY GALA

March 10 | Ventura For the 12th consecutive year, the Juniors of Ventura County is supporting the Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Program, having raised over $1.2 million for this charity to date. This year, the Juniors have also begun working to fund a Ronald McDonald Family Room, which will be part of the Ventura County Medical Center’s repurposing in 2018. Further, the Juniors will add Thomas Fire relief and reconstruction of the Ventura Botanical Gardens to its causes for this event. The gala will feature a 1920s theme, dubbed “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” with dancing and much more. Majestic Ventura Theater, 26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura. For more information, visit www.ncljuniorsventura.org.

JANUARY — FEBRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY 6 —13

OXNARD

ADPROOF WILL (APPROVED)” RUN AS IS. Ifbox, this date proofand meets approval on the ISSUE: 1st proof,JAN check/ off ets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL signyour at the bottom. FEB“FINAL 2018 PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom.

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Have You Considered a Modular Home?

• Custom Home Design • High Quality Materials • Better Price Per Square Foot • Smaller Environmental Footprint ~ Upcoming Events ~

VC HOME & GARDEN SHOW March 16-18 Fri., Sat. & Sun.

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SANTA BARBARA HOME SHOW Feb. 24 & 25 Sat. & Sun.

AD PROOF

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Client: Marianne Romo

Katherine & David Hackett Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244

Call for Free Consultation

888-640-6575

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The Finest Waterfront Living in the Channel Islands Harbor Date:_________

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1715 Emerald Isle Way, Channel Islands Harbor 3 Bedrooms, 4 Baths Offered at $1,689,000 This prime, sunny location is truly one-of-a-kind and a very rare offering so don’t wait years for another opportunity! Over 4000 SF Plan D Penthouse facing SOUTH WEST on the main channel in scenic Channel Islands Harbor. Only one hour from LA nestled between Malibu and Santa Barbara with three white sandy beaches five minutes away. Your own private elevator takes you to the third level with INCREDIBLE VIEWS everywhere and an elegant floor plan. Two huge master suites, each with fireplace, walk-in closets and large bathrooms. There’s a third BR/Office and two more baths. Indoor laundry room. Two water heaters, two forced air heaters and two A/C units. Two balconies overlook the main channel and those fabulous sunsets over the beach. This private, gated community with pool is adjacent to Seabridge Marina with many shops and restaurants to enjoy.

#1 in Beach/Marina Offices Production - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Quarters 2017 Marianne Romo Realtor 112 Los Altos St, Oxnard, CA 93035 • Cell (805) 302-4900 • www.MarianneRomo.com CalBRE #00846720 J A N U A R Y — F E B R U AY 2 0 1 8

Date:

ventana

EXCELLENCE IN REAL ESTATE

An Open Letter to Our Community

On the evening of December 4th of last year, what started as an all-too-common brush fire fed by low humidity and high easterly winds, became the largest and most destructive wildfire in Southern California history. The communities of Santa Paula, Ventura, Ojai and others sustained unthinkable losses to neighborhoods that have stood the test of time and endured countless other fires throughout the years. We are grieving along with so many others in these communities that are facing so much uncertainty. Although we have no damage done to our own personal properties, many of our friends, clients, and fellow Realtors have lost everything.

Albert Jen Bob Judy Tina 805-901-3654 805-512-6986 805-320-1811 805-827-2399 805-218-5926

We will be here to help anyone in need and to serve our community as best we can! #VenturaStrong

www.FairchildAndRidgway.com

Through all this, however, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support and commitment from countless others throughout these devastated communities. From the outstanding and tireless work by the First Responders, to individuals who manned garden hoses to help ward off the advancing flames in their neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (and at times strangerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) yards, and to each and every individual, group, committee, and company who have donated clothing, money, and housing to those displaced by the fire, we salute you! And as a strong supporter of our beautiful cities, we want everyone to know that we are here to help guide anyone who has been affected by this tragedy. Many of you may be having difficulty in understanding what direction they need to go. Please feel free to reach out to us.

805-643-3337

KELLER WILLIAMS West Ventura County

1071 S. Seaward Ave., Ventura | 2831 N. Ventura Road, Oxnard

CalBRE#01060428

VENTANA HOME SALES INDEX HOMES SOLD

➡

-14.7%

AVERAGE PRICE

N PE

4.1%

DECEMBER 2016 VS. 2017 TREND

CAMARILLO

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

DECEMBER ‘16

DECEMBER ‘17

89 $610,900

61 $792,400

15 $512,400

10 $401,500

41 $704,300

39 $761,400

32 $637,500

35 $737,400

18 $893,000

13 $714,700

120 $552,900

102 $596,000

FILLMORE

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE NEWBURY PARK

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE MOORPARK

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE OJAI

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE OXNARD

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE PORT HUENEME

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

25 $341,200

16 $392,900

10 $345,600

11 $466,500

125 $545,200

101 $576,600

76 $796,100

84 $758,500

SANTA PAULA

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE SIMI VALLEY

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

PEBBLE

AUGUSTA

Cluster Style From the high $500,000s

Classic Single Family From the low $700,000s

• 6 Floor Plans with Approx. 1,922 - 3,036 Sq. Ft. • 3-4 Bedrooms With Optional 5th Bedroom Floor Plans • Gated, Pool/Spa, Large Recreation Building, Golf Course Adjacent • No Mello-Roos Tax • Close to the Collections Shopping Center, US-101, and the Beach

THOUSAND OAKS

Ave S. V

78 $552,000

645

550

Ventana Monthly Home Sales Index is presented each month as part of the real estate section. The figures are sourced from sales reported to MLS for the period of 12/1/17 to 12/31/17. Ventana Monthly Home Sales Index © Ventana Monthly, 2018.

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in W. V

Ave.

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Blvd.

94 $540,000

. vde. a AR Oxnard

TOTAL # OF SALES

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VENTURA

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

SALES CENTER NOW OPEN! ria

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

Corner of N. Ventura Rd. and Vineyard Ave., Oxnard, CA 93036 Phone: (805) 365-0100 Email: kirby@galleryriverridge.com www.galleryriverridge.com

Prices, plans, and terms are effective on the date of publication and subject to change without notice. Square footages shown are approximate and actual square footages may differ. Representation of homes or other features are artist conceptions. Finishes, amenities, landscape and other items shown may be decorator suggestions that are not included in the purchase price and availability may vary. Represented by Cape West Holdings, Inc. California Real Estate License No. 01964646.

J A N U A R Y — F E B R U AY 2 0 1 8

ventana

We Are Proud To Serve West Ventura County We support our friends, clients and colleagues who are recovering and rebuilding their lives after the devastation of the Thomas Fire. If you are considering a real estate change as a result of the fire and would like to know what options exist for you, we will be happy to provide assistance.

Ariel Palmieri | Karen Stein

2507 Pierpont Blvd., Ventura Beach

10055 Willamette Street, East Ventura

Paradise one block from the beach! Expanded and completely renovated in 2008 and 2009, this 3 BD 2 BA home has a tropical courtyard entry and large private backyard with hot tub. More than 1600 SF, with air conditioning too! $1,029,000

Own a single family home in sought-after East Ventura! The floor plan features the kitchen, dining area, family room and powder room on the first level and 3 BD and 2 BA on the second floor. Built in 1996, this home also has a patio for entertaining and room for a garden. $492,000

N EW L I S

TING

Y IN ESC D A E R L A and

ROW

SOLD!

2901 Peninsula Road, Unit 246, Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard

3561 Ocean Drive, Hollywood Beach

Fabulous West-facing Channel Islands Waterfront Home with spectacular views. One of the largest 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom floorplans. Highly-desired location in center of building with straight ahead water views! Gorgeous remodeled kitchen and bath. Spacious balcony with views of the outdoor pool, sparkling harbor and a peek of the ocean. $385,000

1920s beach cottage with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and superb views. Beachfront location plus permanent beach access to the North means open space and more view! Extra large oceanfront deck, spacious living room with high coved ceilings and fireplace. $1,895,000

www.ArielandKaren.com (805) 746-2070 â&#x20AC;˘ (805) 824-2004 Ariel Palmieri Calre #01501968

Karen Stein Calre #01505059

BETTER CALL BLAKE ! JUST LISTED IN THE OJAI VALLEY! BETTER CALL BLAKE!

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF OJAI VALLEY This beautiful, ranch-style home sits on a large 8624 SF corner lot where this quiet street intersects a cul-de-sac. Every room in the home has SPECTACULAR MOUNTAIN VIEWS! Walk to town or catch the Ojai Trolley to the Arcade with its many one-of-a-kind shops, eateries & 2 blocks from Topa Topa Elementary School! This unique 4BR, 2BA home affords original hardwood floors & tastefully updated kitchen & baths. The front garden was designed by a landscape architect with cascading water-feature! The paved driveway & garage has parking for 6 cars & wraps around thru a side gate to a perfect grilling area! There is a separate backyard ‘mini house’ which would make a perfect ARTIST’S STUDIO! Enjoy total privacy in the expansive rear garden with fire-pit & entertaining deck! Just off the master bedroom sits another private deck with therapy spa, completely enclosed with a large gate that also opens to the backyard with a mature grapefruit tee & huge oak-tree, providing shade year-round!

OFFERED AT $799,000 Visit: www.917Sunset.com

NEW OFFERING! BETTER CALL BLAKE!

DESIRED NORTH OXNARD NEIGHBORHOOD! 3BR, 2BA, 1350 SF on 6434 SF lot! Kitchen opens to family/dining room! En-suite master! Newer A/C! ONLY $435,000 | Visit: www.BlakeMashburn.com

Due to the Thomas Fires, we need your listing now! If you’re considering selling your home, please call now for a free market analysis and to have your house advertised here & on-line for a fast, top-dollar, hassle-free sale! Competitive broker fees! Call now! BLAKE MASHBURN “Better Call Blake!”

PENDING! READY TO BUY OR SELL? BETTER CALL BLAKE!

RIVER PARK AT THE COLLECTION!

Desirable 3BR,2BA townhouse! Open floor plan! Brite kitchen w/granite counters & center island! 3rd floor master-suite & 2 bedrooms & bath on main level. Large covered balcony! 2-car garage! ONLY $395,000 | Visit: www.BlakeMashburn.com

COMING SOON!

SOLD! READY TO BUY OR SELL? BETTER CALL BLAKE!

VENTURA KEYS CONTEMPORARY! 4BR, 4BA, 2956 SF. Custom remodel from the studs, out! Call for price & availability! EAST END BEAUTY! 4BR, 3BA, 2029 SF, 6487 SF lot, built in 1994. Call for price & availability!

OFFERED AT JUST $295,000 | Visit: www.BlakeMashburn.com

MID-TOWN SPANISH! 3BR, 2BA, 1050+/- SF, Fplc, 2-car garage! Call for price & availability!

805-368-0202

www.BlakeMashburn.com CalB.R.E. #01065624

Your #1 Choice for Ventura County Real Estate... since 1990!

Visit Lynn’s Jewelry Studio

To See Our Selection of Original Heart Designs

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Let us create new memories with you. For more information please visit our website

www.LynnsJewelry.com

4572 Telephone Road, #906 Ventura, CA 93003

805.642.5500

All of our custom designs have been made from 100% recycled gold for more than 40 years. Respect for the Earth is not a new idea at Lynn’s.