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...

Home + Design

Housing Trust Fund VC

Community Fundraiser Breaks Records Photography by Provided Hundreds of community members, business leaders and elected officials gathered at Housing Trust Fund Ventura County’s 7th Annual Compassion Campaign, raising more than $200,000 for affordable housing and breaking the organization’s fundraising records. Held May 7 at Tierra Rejada’s Walnut Grove, “The Sweetest Investment”-themed event reflected on the lasting returns that local commitment to affordable housing generates for the entire...

Health + Wellness

Relay For Life of Conejo Valley

Article by Cristy Warner | Photography by American Cancer Society More than just a fundraiser, Relay For Life is  is a community united by hope, compassion and action. Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, whether through a family member, friend, coworker or personal journey. Relay provides the opportunity to stand together and say that no one faces cancer alone. Every lap walked, every dollar raised and every team formed helps the American Cancer Society continue its...

Home + Design

Elite Local Masters: Home Specialists to Fit Your Style

Article and Photography by The Akeena Group 394 E Main St. #201 Ventura, CA 93001  805.846.6241 |  TheAkeenaGroup.com Founded in 2013 by Laura Kay Dunbar, a licensed architect and general contractor with more than 30 years of experience. Services: Design-Build Architecture & Construction, Construction Management, Custom Homes, Residential Remodeling, Additions, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Commercial Projects and Project Management  What is your primary trade specialty...

Life + Culture

Operation Blankets of Love

Teaching Kindness Through the Humane Education Learning Program Article by Alicia Doyle | Photography by Provided Eighteen years ago, Eileen Smulson visited a local animal shelter on a cold, rainy day and witnessed something that would change her life: puppies shivering on hard cement floors with no blankets to comfort them. “In about one month, I collected a few hundred items. And I thought, ‘wow this is my calling,’ and I made it into a nonprofit,” says Eileen, founder and CEO of...

Education

Dogs, Children and Summer Safety  

Ensuring a Safe Environment for All Article by Bailee Gates | Photography by Provided Summer is here, and that means kids are out and about doing kid things, like running, swimming, playing, screaming and making loud noises. So, what does this have to do with dogs? It’s easy to overlook how these activities may affect the family dog or other dogs around us. Dogs can view kids’ rambunctious behavior as prey-like and over stimulating, as it simulates prey behavior, which dogs may be interested...

Life + Culture

Bella’s Bakes

Lighting Up Lives With Custom Cakes Article by Tracy Marcynzsyn | Photography by Provided Mixing creativity, compassion and initiative, local teen Isabella Gertz concocted a recipe to serve up joy to families in need. After visiting a local food bank, the 16-year-old Agoura High School junior had a lightbulb moment that sparked her into action. “I realized that while families often receive basic necessities, birthdays and celebrations are frequently overlooked,” shares Isabella. Inspired to...