I have noticed something interesting at Mission Oaks Plaza.  Some of the trees had unusually black barks, as if they were burnt a long time ago.

So I took a closer look.
And I took off a piece of the skin.  This is what I saw

I see these black tree barks all over Camarillo.  I see them at Arneil Road, close to Albertson as well. 

I assume that there was a big fire a long time a go.  They burnt the skins but didn't kill the trees.  A lot of trees are carrying the scars now.  It was a fascinating found for me.

I tried to look up local history for wild fire, but I couldn't find any.  If these trees can talk...

** Mission Oaks Plaza: 93,545 square feet of shopping center located at Mission Oaks Blvd and Weedcreek Rd.

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Photographed May 7, 2006Click for larger view. (Pardon my bad photography)

Dizdar Park is one of 28 parks governed by Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District. Dizdar Park is located at 20 S. Glenn Drive, Corner of Ventura Boulevard & Glenn Drive. It's a small park located between St. Mary Magdalene Church and Camarillo Chamber of Commerce.

It is a Mexican culture for ranch owners to build churches as they first settle in the new land. That's exactly what Adolfo Camarillo did. Adolfo Camarillo brought people from Mexico City (Mexico) to build St. Mary Magdalene Church (Chapel, currently at 2532 Ventura Boulevard). It is common for Mexican culture to have a cemetery next to the church. Before Dizdar Park, there was Pleasant Valley Cemetery (also known as Camarillo Cemetery). Cemetery was owned by Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. About 70 bodies were buried there. Henry Lewis was buried there, but I am not sure if he is THE Henry Lewis, father of Joseph Lewis, or somebody with the same name. Lewis Road was named after them.

As the city grew, the cemetery needed to be relocated. Also the place was being neglected. A Yugoslavian immigrant named Mike Dizdar donated money and started a movement to replace cemetery with a park. Most bodies were relocated to Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Camarillo. Number of bodies were reclaimed by the family and relocated elsewhere. Some local kids were paid to land the hands as well. The park was finally ready around 1945 and they celebrated Adolfo Camarillo.

Dizdar Park now has a statue of Adolfo Camarillo sitting on the horse and is a main stage for Camarillo Fiesta and Street Fair we hold every July. Statue of Don Adolfo Camarillo is in Dizdar Park since 2000.

As of February of 2007, this area is a part of city's beautification project "Ventura Boulevard Streetscape Redevelopment Phase III". It's scheduled to be completed by June of 2007, just in time for Camarillo Fiesta and Street Fair

PS. They used to turn on Christmas lights on the big tree at Dizdar Park. For last two Christmas seasons (2005 & 2006), they didn't turn on the lights. They never took the lights down. Old lights are still handing all over the tree.

Construction images photographed Feb 13, 2007

Photographs of Christmas trees were taken December 2003 and July 2006

Los Primeros Structured Elementary School at Elm Drive & Ventura Boulevard, Old Town Camarillo.

We have 2 HomeTown Buffets in Ventura County.  One HomeTown Buffet is in Oxnard, the other one is located in Simi Valley.

I like HomeTown Buffet, but I don't eat there as often.  Whenever I am at an all-you-can-eat restaurant, I tend to lose control and eat too much.

Today I went to Hometown Buffet at Simi Valley for lunch.  As I was eating, unusual amount of older folks started to walk in.  They were all talking to each other, so I guessed they are together.  There were a lot of people, about 30-40 of them. They all looked kind of folksy, and they were all older folks (60's and older).  They all seemed nice and cute.

I didn't think much of it and enjoyed my meal.

As I walk out from HomeTown Buffet, below is what I saw... a lot of classic cars. 

It turned out that they come to HomeTown Buffet in Simi Valley every Friday and display their cars this way.  They use HomeTown Buffet as a club house of some sort.  They come in, chit chat, and enjoy meal for a while. 

- Simi Valley Home Town Buffet -

Photography: I took all these pictures with a Canon Powershot A series camera ($180.00).  Whenever I get the chance, I try to promote "Photography is a cheap hobby".  The Sun was setting fast.  I set my camera at 200ASA and photographed at shutter speed between 1/15 and 1/50. I didn't want to set my camera at 400ASA because cheap camera has its limitation.

There are 2 Hometown Buffets in Ventura County

Home Town Buffet Simi Valley:
1855 Cochran St. Simi Valley, CA 93065 (805)583-3382
Home Town Buffet Oxnard:
1901 Lockwood St Oxnard, CA 93030  (805) 983-8873
http://www.hometownbuffet.com/

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Camarillo Public Library is located at 4101 Las Posas Rd, Camarillo

I photographed these pictures on February 4th.

At that time, Camarillo Public Library was still under construction.  These are the temporary mailbox we had until the building was ready.

At the parking lot, there was a camper with somebody living in there.  I think one of his duties were checking this mail box.  He was peaking out to see if I was doing anything funny.  It was a little awkward, but everything was cool.

The other side of the mail box.  I couldn't make out what BBCM meant.

These are pictures from 4 years back (2002) in Camarillo
Typical happy homes in display.  Merry Christmas.
At that time I had a brand new Nikon point and shoot digital camera.

Photograph taken Dec 18, 2006
This is the water tower in Old Town Camarillo.
They always put these lights up during the Christmas Season.
More pictures of this water tower (during daytime, off season)

Images of Morgan Stanley building are located here. 

Topa Tower Club is an exclusive, "membership only", club located on top floor (22nd floor) of Morgan Stanley Building in Oxnard.  You can dine, exercise, and party in style.  This club hall is also available for weddings and business meetings.  I had an opportunity to be up there for the Christmas Party hosted by some business organization.

Looking Down from Top floor of Morgan Stanley building, Oxnard

Since I'm a computer guy, I let our sales associates to do the talking.  I'm usually in the corner taking pictures and score wine and shrimp cocktail.  Pictures didn't come out good, but I thought I should post them anyway.  "Looking down" shots are especially bad, it was a bad time to take pictures.  I couldn't do much about the reflections.

Christmas Tree at the main lobby - First Floor

Below are two more shots of looking down.
Left: 101 freeway looking South bound at Rose overpass.
Right: Big 5 at Oxnard Blvd.
**click for large images.
  

Below images do not click...  a few detail shots inside Topa Tower Club.

El Tecolote is a Mexican restaurant on Lewis Road by the railroad track.  Most of us can recognize the sign.  El Tecolote is a Camarillo's landmark.  It's been there for a long time since when the surrounding city block was almost empty.

I didn't confirm, and I could be wrong, but there is 99% chance that Mr. Adolfo Camarillo ate there, possibly many times with the entire family.  The place was established in 1946 and they have been in the same location since 1952.   (Mr. Adolfo Camarillo died in 1958)

I went there for lunch a few times with my coworkers.  I love Margaritas there.  Food is great and people are nice. It's a popular spot in Camarillo.  I hope they never turn off that sign as it's part of Camarillo.

El Tecolote
http://www.eltecolote.com/
333 N. Lewis Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012
Phone: 805.482.4318 Fax: 805.482.0628

* Some information cited from http://www.eltecolote.com/

There is a party store behind Costco in Oxnard.
They have invited a special guest (Mr. Death) for Halloween.

I happened to look out the window one night and saw the thickest fog of the year at Camarillo. I hurried out with my camera. I normally do not use tripod when I take pictures for fun. This time, I brought my tripod because I had to take long exposures.

(FYI: I always carry a tripod when I go out for wedding gigs)

After taking several photographs around the clock tower, I was going to drive to different places. But the fog disappeared very fast.  I was lucky to save a few shots.

Old Town Camarillo looked amazing in the fog.

Happy Halloween Ventura County.  I hope you have a lot of fun.
Pumpkin patch in Camarillo, CA - at 101 Freeway Century off ramp (October 23, 2006). This is an amazing, fun place.  I had to stop whatever I was doing and drop by. 

Below picture was taken outside of Ralphs, October 8, 2006.  I made a 10"x13" print of this shot and hung it over the kitchen wall.  I enjoyed it a lot, then it fell off the wall while I was watching a horror movie.  I hung a cross in that same spot.  If that cross turns upside down by itself... 

As usual, Camarillo Plumbing lead an annual event for Old Town Camarillo.  This attracts a lot of young people (2-5 years olds who's too young to go out trick-or-treating at night)

Christmas here we come~!!

There is a famouse empty lot in Simi Valley at Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road. Most of the time this place looks empty and useless.

But, this dirt ground is a huge part of Simi Valley. It holds various events such as carnival, pumpkin patch, Christmas tree sales, etc.. Their seasonal displays bring whimsical feeling to everyone. Simi Valley will not the same without this empty lot.

If you live in Santa Paula, you should know exactly where this is.
I love Santa Paula.  I get a lot of wedding photography clients from Santa Paula.
I took this shot as I was following the limo (in front).
I photographed a wedding at Santa Paula and I was on my way to the reception in Camarillo.