Ventura County Star Stories: Lifestyle

Santa Barbara Museum habitat puts Conejo kids close to winged beauties

kgregory@venturacountystar.com (Kim Lamb Gregory) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

A pipevine swallowtail butterfly rests on the hat of Jacob Lucero of Thousand Oaks in the Butterflies Alive exhibit at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.

Emotional Fitness: Here's letter-by-letter primer for finding your inner strength

Barton@BartonGoldsmith.com (Barton Goldsmith) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

Learning how to rebuild and maintain your self-esteem is essential to having a fulfilled life. There will always be things that come along and make you question if you are good enough. When that happens to you, using these tools will get you back in touch with your personal power.

Cook du Jour: Good recipes from the good book

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

Steven Bushnell, who is known also as the Bible chef, researched how to make masgouf, a dish from Iran made by the fishermen of the Tigres and Euphratis rivers, for a Sunday school class.

Nash: Recounting county's bounty brings new appreciation

bnash805@aol.com (Bill Nash) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

The old saying is that familiarity breeds contempt. Contempt may be too strong a word, but there’s no doubt that familiarity can foster complacency. I realized that fact when I became the co-chair for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ conference that was held in Ventura last weekend.

Harley dealer to hold women's charity ride

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

The fourth annual Ventura Harley-Davidson Heels & Wheels Ride for women is scheduled for July 18, starting in Camarillo, to raise funds for Amazon Heart Thunder and attention to breast cancer awareness and education.

Despite watering restrictions, heat, yards can flourish

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

New watering restrictions come just as July heat typically takes its toll on landscapes. However, prudent planning using drought-tolerant plants, watering schedules and soil preparation can mean gardeners can still enjoy beautiful landscapes despite sizzling summer days, says Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of soil products.

Ways to spruce up your patio

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:01:00 -0000

As summer approaches, thoughts turn to vacations, but many cash-strapped families are taking a step back and looking to alternatives to enjoy the summer without breaking their budget.

Garden tips: June 21, 2009

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:01:00 -0000

T.O. yard planted in succulents just sips water

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:01:00 -0000

Imagine a front yard that is beautiful and green year-round but barely needs to be watered and requires no mowing, edging, fertilizer or chemical pesticides. Oh, and you don’t need a gardener to take care of it either.

Plan can make moving easier

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:01:00 -0000

When it comes to moving, a little preparation goes a long way. HGTV’s FrontDoor.com offers 10 time-saving tips to make moving fast and efficient.

Cafe society: Scheck & Shay’s Rockin’ Diner celebrates anniversary with Drop da Bomb eating contest

lmckinnon@venturacountystar.com (Lisa McKinnon) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

For many of us, celebrating an anniversary includes going out for a celebratory meal. But what happens when the restaurant itself has a milestone? Two recent but very different answers to that question come from opposite ends of the county.

Wine 101: Pinot noir specialists tap many vineyards

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

I am a big fan of pinot noir wines and I enjoy pinot noirs from many regions of California and Oregon. Sometimes choosing one comes down to the vineyard, reputation of the winemaker and past quality vintages. A lot of times, when in doubt, I will grab a bottle of pinot noir from Siduri Wines, as it fits all of these criteria.

Farmers market: Seafood vendor plugs local, sustainable

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

Jason Woods, who has been working the fisherman’s markets around Ventura County for some time, has a new mission: local foods.

Cook du Jour: Good recipes from the good book

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

Steven Bushnell, who is known also as the Bible chef, researched how to make masgouf, a dish from Iran made by the fishermen of the Tigres and Euphratis rivers, for a Sunday school class.

Irish pub & grub has taste

ritamoran@earthlink.net (Rita Moran) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:00:00 -0000

An Irish pub in Santa Paula? Saints be praised! While the combination of Celtic fare and the agriculturally fertile town seems surprising, it’s clear that lots of attention has been paid to giving Garman’s Restaurant & Irish Pub a good start at its Main Street location.

The truth about risks of summertime overexposure

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0000

We couldn’t do without the sun. It keeps us warm, fuels photosynthesis so we have spinach to eat and helps our bodies make vitamin D. We couldn’t see across the street without the sun.

Big changes to Medi-Cal will affect 100,000 in county

tkisken@venturacountystar.com (Tom Kisken ) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:14:00 -0000

The jury is still out on whether coming changes in the way Medi-Cal is run will help more than 100,000 poor people in Ventura County and the doctors and hospitals that take care of them.

But a Ventura County Board of Supervisors vote Tuesday made it clear changes are coming.

County healthcare leaders are planning the transformation of the state-run Medi-Cal into a locally administered managed care program, which will alter how treatment is delivered and how providers are paid.

Exercise in existentialism

Sun, 24 May 2009 07:01:00 -0000

More than a mere exercise, the humble push-up can be viewed as nothing less than a metaphor for life itself. Think of its motion as mirroring the cyclical, up-and-down nature of existence, almost Sisyphean in movement. Often, as in life, you are pushing against your own weight, seeking to overcome self-imposed limits. To perform it well, it takes backbone, both literally and in terms of fortitude.

Lessen your health risks without too much effort

Sun, 24 May 2009 07:01:00 -0000

There is an intense debate brewing across America about the economic and practical viability of our current healthcare system.