Life + Culture

What’s Your Style?

Article by Kim Pagano Lately, something unexpected has been happening. Complete strangers have stopped me to say, “I love your style.” At first, I smiled and thanked them, but afterward I found myself thinking, Do I really have a style? I know I have a brand for my business, but I never really thought about having a personal style. The more I heard it, the more I realized that style isn’t about following trends, rather, it’s about expressing who you are. Recently, I cleaned out my closet...

Food + Beverage

A Toast to Community:

The Story Behind Margarita MixOff & More Photography by Provided There's a moment every September when the Conejo Valley seems to pause—not for a holiday or a parade, but for something uniquely its own. The sound of laughter drifts across the courtyard. Fresh appetizers disappear almost as quickly as they're served. Guests debate which restaurant crafted the evening's best margarita while local wineries and breweries pour another sample. Friends reconnect, new friendships begin and for a few...

Health + Wellness

Smiles 4 Life:

Rooted in Gratitude Article by Alicia Doyle Some people build businesses. Others build communities. For nearly two decades, Pantea Choroomi has quietly done both. Today, as co-founder of Smiles 4 Life – All Ages Dental & Braces and Agoura Dental Group, Pantea is known as a business leader, entrepreneur and healthcare advocate. But behind the success of her practices is a deeply personal story shaped by resilience, faith and an enduring sense of gratitude. Her journey began far from Conejo...

Life + Culture

MANDO: Mentoring Youth for Life

Article by Alicia Doyle | Photography by Provided In communities across Ventura County, a quiet but powerful movement is reshaping the lives of young people who have been touched by gang culture, incarceration and the heavy weight of trauma. It’s called M.A.N.D.O.—Mentors. Against. Negative. Decisions. Outreach.—a nonprofit founded by Marcos Aviles, a man who knows firsthand what it means to walk through darkness and choose a different path. Born in Torrance and raised in Newbury Park, Aviles...