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By Jack Dunphy Exciting things are unfolding on the hill above San Buenaventura City Hall at the Ventura Botanical Garden in central California.Through the vision and volunteer efforts of many caring citizens the botanical garden plans to offer much more than a garden. Doug Halter, past President of the Garden, […]

When I first saw Marina del Rey, California, all I could think of was, “I wonder exactly how many boats there are here?” That’s because when you look at the harbor of this city of about 8,000 people, all you see are the bobbing boats and masts that go on […]

By Jack Dunphy Spanish missionaries built a chapel in what is now the center of Ventura California in 1782. Father Tom Elewaut, the current pastor, explained the early missionaries built the church with the hope of bringing Christianity to the 1200 native Chumash Indians. San Buenaventura Mission has endured for three […]

Mark Rey has his priorities straight.  As we sat at a picnic table beside St Buenaventura State beach park and slurped down the oysters grown on farms he owns in Baja California, I asked him about celebrity customers who have enjoyed his products. “The most important people  are the people […]

By Jack Dunphy If you are lucky enough to find yourself in Big Bear Lake California a must visit is the Wine Room. After your day of skiing at Snow Summit or hiking or any of the numerous outdoor activities here the Wine Room offers a delightful place to relax. […]

We drove across southern California today, from Big Bear Lake down a winding road, plunging from 7000 feet to sea level and across the state to the coast to Ventura. The drought stricken landscape included vast empty streambeds and vegetation that looked like it would catch on fire any minute. […]

Dallas Goldsmith is a Big Bear guy down to his toes. He grew up here, and then moved away and to be a golf pro at the Presidio, in San Francisco. But the pull of the family business and the perks of being stockholders at the local ski areas, Big […]

We took a scenic drive up a winding mountain road and as the temperature dropped and the altitude soared, we finally reached Big Bear Lake tonight.  Soon it was time to meet a local resident and find out what people are talking about up here in this resort community with […]

Art McLean passed away in May, 2013  in his Sunderland home. He had a long, happy career at the Valley Advocate and in later life he had difficulty getting around after a broken leg hobbled him and kept him from his beloved walks in the woods. He was 66 years […]

I decided to take up running after my gym membership expired and I got tired of having to drive to Greenfield every day just to get a work-out.  I decided that if I did a short burst, say, 25-30 minutes of running every day it would accomplish much the same […]