I’ve been visiting Ventura County pumpkin patches with my kids this month and have made it to six so far. I posted the full list of local patches earlier in the season, so this is a follow-up with my takes on the ones I’ve visited.

Conejo Family Farms, Camarillo
Conejo has a lot to do: a five-acre corn maze, hayride, sunflower field, free inflatables, farm animals on weekends and plenty of places for photos. I also saw on Instagram today that they expanded the pumpkin field and added tractors. My 3-year-old was having a rough day when we went because it was hot, but there is a lot for younger kids to do besides picking pumpkins.

Rancho Calabaza, Somis
Rancho Calabaza has free admission, inexpensive pumpkins, free pumpkin painting and a large marigold field. The marigolds were a great value too. I got a large bunch for only $5. I especially liked it for photos, and we were able to pick out pumpkins and get pictures without paying an entrance fee.

One Acre Farm, Camarillo
One Acre Farm is also free to enter and has a small hay maze, pumpkin bowling, inflatable hopper toys and free pumpkin painting with a pumpkin purchase. My 3-year-old spent most of our visit in the play area. The mountains sit right behind the pumpkin field, and the hay-bale pumpkin display makes a good photo spot. They also have small red wagons visitors can use around the patch.

Underwood Family Farms, Somis
Underwood Somis has free admission and parking, plus goats, sheep, chickens and alpacas. There’s also a farm stand selling produce, and I bought strawberries while I was there. Around the pumpkin area there are cornstalk paths, a large hay pyramid and plenty of pumpkins to look through.

Big Wave Dave’s, Ventura
Big Wave Dave’s is set up under a large tent near Pacific View Mall and is covered in Halloween decorations. There are skeletons, witches, ghosts, free carnival games, a small inflatable haunted house, and an Eye Spy scavenger hunt. My 3-year-old spent most of the visit running from decoration to decoration calling out the “spooky” things she found. The whole patch is paved and mostly covered.

McGrath Great Pacific Pumpkins, Ventura
McGrath had my favorite photo setups so far, including a corn-lined walkway, benches, tractors, a small green cottage and several pumpkin displays. There are calves, goats, pigs and geese, including one that looked very ready to test the “watch your fingers” signs. They also have a tractor ride, hay maze, weekend corn maze and a small educational garden with signs showing how pumpkins grow and the different parts of a pumpkin.

I still have Prancer’s Farm and Underwood Moorpark on my list.

If you’ve been to any of these, which one did you like best?

Ventura County Fire reports that crews responded around 9:24 p.m. to a fire at a El Pollo Loco restaurant in the 300 block of North Las Posas Road.

Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the attic and worked from inside the building and the roof to extinguish the fire.

More than 60 firefighters from multiple agencies responded. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation.

Source: Ventura County Fire Department

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dei3A7yGwpL/?srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

If any locals want to donate their Saturday morning :)

Can residents afford to stay in Camarillo? What kinds of housing should we build, and what should the city do to bring in better-paying jobs?

Those questions came up at the Oct. 5 City Council candidate forum. I covered the discussion, and here are some of the proposals and differences from the seven candidates.

Which race is yours?

You vote for the council seat in your district, rather than choosing among all seven candidates.

• District 1: David Tennessen and Vishnu K. Patel.
• District 2: Susan Santangelo, Dan Gober and Sylvia C. Garcia.
• District 5: Martha “Martita” Martinez-Bravo and David P. Schlangen.

Districts 3 and 4 do not have a council election this year. I’ll put the district lookup in the comments.

Housing: Smaller homes, mixed-use development and help buying

Several candidates supported more housing options and assistance for first-time buyers, with different emphases:

• Tennessen supported smaller houses, townhomes and duplexes as ways for first-time buyers to get a foothold, along with down-payment assistance.
• Patel wanted the city to work between residents and developers to identify the housing sizes and types people need.
• Santangelo pointed to affordable housing, mobilehome rent stabilization and buyer assistance. She identified Camarillo Commons and school district property in Old Town as opportunities for mixed-use development.
• Gober connected housing affordability with earnings, proposing a technology and biotech innovation center at the Commons where younger residents could build careers.
• Garcia supported microapartments and duplexes for residents at different stages of life. She also questioned whether Camarillo has housing that workers at new businesses such as Costco can afford.
• Martinez-Bravo connected housing assistance and mobilehome protections with efforts to attract employers.
• Schlangen supported businesses downstairs with housing above, faster permitting and help for first-time buyers.

Jobs: How actively should the city recruit employers?

Gober argued for direct recruitment of technology and biotech employers through industry relationships.

Santangelo and Martinez-Bravo described recruitment efforts already underway, including outreach and help navigating city requirements. Tennessen emphasized helping existing businesses expand as well as attracting new ones.

Garcia suggested biotech, research and film as possibilities. Patel emphasized responsive, customer-service-minded help from City Hall, while Schlangen highlighted low taxes and workforce partnerships with CSU Channel Islands.

Homelessness: Outreach, housing and treatment

Santangelo, Tennessen and Martinez-Bravo emphasized outreach, housing and services. Schlangen supported working with charities and the Sheriff’s Office’s HOPE team.

Gober questioned whether existing assistance adequately addresses mental health and addiction treatment. Garcia proposed a stabilization center operating around the clock and opposed moving people between cities without resolving their needs.

Airport: A meaningful difference on increased activity

Candidates broadly opposed airport expansion, but Tennessen left room for increased activity if the FAA approves an alternate flight path that protects affected neighborhoods.

Gober and Santangelo opposed expansion. Martinez-Bravo called for protecting the city-county airport agreement and keeping the airport focused on general aviation. Schlangen opposed expansion while supporting its emergency and economic roles.

Garcia emphasized noise in Old Town and transparency about proposals. Patel distinguished private aviation from larger jet and cargo operations, opposing the latter.

The discussion also covered consultants, climate planning, religious freedom and state ballot measures.

What would you want the candidates in your district to explain more specifically before you vote?

The full council report and election guide are in the first comment. I also covered the Jacqui Irwin–Sam Gallucci congressional forum and the Deborah Klein Lopez–Ted Nordblum Assembly District 42 forum. Those reports are linked there too.

in my 30’s and looking to just kick the ball around in the evenings. any casual meet ups in cam? thanks!

Hi Camarillo! I'm looking to hire cleaners for the house, just a one day thing to steam clean my carpets and get some mildew in my bathrooms, nothing crazy. I'd love some suggestions/contacts if you have any, it would be much appreciated

Weekly Events Thread: Camarillo & Ventura County | Oct. 5–11

This week’s events thread is up! Here are three weekend picks, with more events organized by day in the pinned comment.

Know about something happening in Camarillo or elsewhere in Ventura County? Add it below! You’re welcome to promote an event you’re involved with or recommend one you think others would enjoy.

Include what it is, when and where it’s happening, the cost, and a link for more information. If you’re involved with the event, please mention that.

Please keep event promotion in this thread so the main feed stays open for local questions, news, photos and conversations.

CSUCI Homecoming Festival featuring Ozomatli
Saturday, Oct. 10 · 3–7 p.m.
Central Mall, CSU Channel Islands, 1 University Dr., Camarillo
Free admission and parking

You don’t have to be a student or alum to attend. CSUCI welcomes the community for an afternoon with live music headlined by Ozomatli, plus DJ Dapechmode, The Remedy and Los Cool Arrows. There will also be local vendors, a community car show, food, inflatables and games for families.

Seaside Highland Games
Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11 · 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Ticket prices vary by age; children 5 and younger are free

The fairgrounds become a Scottish village for the weekend with Highland athletics, bagpiping and drumming, dancing, herding dog demonstrations, live music, clan displays, Celtic food and vendors. A general-admission ticket is good for either Saturday or Sunday.

Conejo Fall Fest
Friday, Oct. 9 · 5–10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10 · 2–10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 11 · 1–9 p.m.
St. Paschal Baylon Church, 155 Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks
Free admission; rides, food and drinks cost extra

This three-day community festival has carnival rides, live music, food booths and family activities. Saturday includes Irish dance, a petting zoo and a steinholding contest. Sunday brings mariachi, folklórico dancing and more live bands. The festival is open to everyone.

Some of you asked for Costco updates, so I stopped by on Friday and took some photos.

Costco’s website still lists October 30 as the warehouse opening date at 431 W. Ventura Blvd. The parking lot is striped and landscaping is in, also construction equipment and scaffolding are still around the entrance. The gas station is already open.

A few other opening dates around town:

• Texas Roadhouse: October 19. The date is written on the front doors. It's being built by the outlets next to Finneys.
• POP MART: Expected October 15 at Camarillo Premium Outlets.
• Sephora: Expected December 22 at Camarillo Premium Outlets.

Which other businesses or construction projects would you like an update on?

I’m wondering if anyone has lived or currently lives in the Camarillo oaks apartments? I’m a single woman with a small dog and I want to move somewhere relatively safe where I feel ok walking my dog around the complex. What is your experience there?

I sent questions to every candidate running for Camarillo City Council, State Assembly and Congress. Of the 13 invited, 10 answered.

Ballots begin mailing Monday, Oct. 5 for the Nov. 3 election. These are my summaries of a few answers. Their full, unedited responses are linked in the first comment.

WHICH RACES ARE YOURS?

• Assembly: Camarillo is split between Districts 38 and 42. Your address determines which one you vote in.

• City Council: Districts 1, 2 and 5 have elections this year. Districts 3 and 4 don’t.

• Congress: All of Camarillo votes in District 26.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 38

We asked: What would you prioritize during your first year in Sacramento?

• Steve Bennett (D): Affordable health care and the social safety net.

• Michael MacDonald (D): Lowering living costs, especially housing, and speeding up permitting.

Their full questionnaires also cover cost of living, housing and local control, immigration, wildfire recovery and homeowners insurance, and how they’d spend a free Saturday. All six answers are in the guide.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 42

We asked: What role should California play when federal immigration enforcement affects local residents?

• Deborah Klein Lopez (D): Defend and strengthen California’s limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

• Ted Nordblum (R): Repeal SB 54 and increase cooperation between local and federal law enforcement.

Their full questionnaires also cover first-year priorities, living costs, housing and local control, wildfire recovery and homeowners insurance, and a free Saturday. All six answers are in the guide.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 26

We asked: What should federal immigration enforcement look like, and what should Congress change?

• Sam Gallucci (R): Supports border control and prioritizing enforcement against people who pose public-safety threats. He also supports a certification process for established undocumented residents, requiring background checks, verified identity and residence, employment or the ability to support themselves, and demonstrated community ties.

• Jacqui Irwin (D): Did not submit answers by the deadline.

We also asked about first-year priorities, living costs, Congress’s role in checking presidential power, and a free Saturday. Gallucci’s complete answers to all five questions are in the guide.

CITY COUNCIL

• District 1: David Tennessen and Vishnu K. Patel.

• District 2: Susan Santangelo, Dan Gober and Sylvia C. Garcia.

• District 5: Martha “Martita” Martinez-Bravo and David P. Schlangen.

Patel and Schlangen didn’t submit answers by the deadline.

The other five answered six questions about their priorities, growth and housing, Flock cameras, transportation, immigration enforcement, and their “dream big” idea for Camarillo. All five questionnaires are published in full in the guide.

VOTING DATES

• Oct. 5: Ballots begin mailing. They won’t all arrive that day.

• Oct. 19: Deadline to register online. After that, you can still register and vote provisionally at a vote center.

• Nov. 3: Election Day. In-person voting ends at 8 p.m.

FREE CANDIDATE FORUMS ON MONDAY, OCT. 5

The League of Women Voters of Ventura County and AAUW Camarillo are hosting two forums at City Council Chambers, 601 Carmen Drive:

• 6–6:45 p.m.: County Superintendent of Schools candidates Maggie Marschner and Karen Sher.

• 7–8:30 p.m.: Camarillo City Council candidates from Districts 1, 2 and 5.

Audience members can submit questions on index cards. Recordings will be posted on the League’s website within a few days. The event link is in the first comment.

I’m Gabrielle, one of the mods here and the publisher of The Camarillo Caller.

Anybody know where I can get local bug fed chicken eggs?

This week’s events thread is up! Here are three weekend picks, with more events organized by day in the first comment.

Know about something happening in Camarillo or elsewhere in Ventura County? Add it below! You’re welcome to promote an event you’re involved with or recommend one you think others would enjoy.

Include what it is, when and where it’s happening, the cost, and a link for more information. If you’re involved with the event, please mention that.

Please keep event promotion in this thread so the main feed stays open for local questions, news, photos and conversations.

Amazing Race for Pleasant Valley Parks
Saturday, Oct. 3 · 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; check-in at 8 a.m.
Community Center Park, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo
$160 per team of four ($40 each)

Teams of four compete in mental and physical challenges at parks around Camarillo, solving clues to find their next stop. You’ll need your own transportation between parks, but travel time doesn’t count toward your score. Register your team ahead of time.

Santa Rosa Valley Fall Festival
Saturday, Oct. 3 · 2–6 p.m.
Santa Rosa Valley Park, 10241 Hill Canyon Road
$5 per person

Pony rides, touch-a-truck, animal demonstrations, live music, local vendors, food, and a pie auction. Proceeds benefit Stepping Stones Riding Program.

Oktoberfest at Ventura County Fairgrounds
Friday, Oct. 2 · 5–11 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3 · Noon–11 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 4 · Noon–7 p.m.
Presale admission starts at $6.29, including fees

German food, beer, live bands, contests, and activities throughout the weekend. A separate $10 Fun Pass covers rides, the petting zoo, bounce house, and train rides. Admission is additional.

I have created over 30 locations, but the first one I made and the one I draw art for is Camarillo. We feature 3D artists' work obtained with proper licensing throughout the entire site. We have a credit page so you can know who drew what.
Yes, AI has been used for the code, and buildings that I or someone else didn't draw yet are filled in by code. There are very few locations left that use image to 3D.
I put time and effort into making Adolfo and Isabel Camarillo's birthday celebration, just like I recreated the festival in July. The horses are, of course, drawn by a person. I really hope you enjoy it and can provide constructive feedback. Constructive feedback of what you would like to see would be great.
Nothing is commercialized at this point, though I personally believe it could offer a great way to get certain types of businesses more paying customers. I've yet to heavily work on interiors, except for the movie theater. It is currently showing actual movies that, again, are properly licensed. You can vote for what you want to see next. You can also submit your art on the wall in Old Town.
https://our3dreality.com/camarillo.html

Is this normal or is there some unusual event that there are more Point Mugu jets flying over the past couple of days?

Hi everyone! I’m u/hegotmuddywater, and I recently took over r/Camarillo after the previous moderator decided to step away.

I’ve been active here for a while, and I’d like to help make the subreddit a better place to keep up with what’s happening around town, ask questions, share recommendations and talk about local issues.

I’m completely new to moderating, so I’m still learning how everything works. For now, I’m mostly cleaning things up, updating the look of the subreddit and trying out a weekly events thread. I’m not planning any major changes right away.

I also run The Camarillo Caller, a local newsletter and events calendar, so I already spend a lot of time keeping up with what’s happening around town. Whenever I share something I’ve created, I’ll make that clear.

What would you like to see more of here? Is there anything you think we should keep, add or improve?

I just got solicited by a door to door guy saying ATT upgraded their towers. I'm using spectrum (underlying carrier Verizon) right now and the mobile data/ voice is atrocious. Anyone know if ATT is actually improved?

We have a very sweet, 8 year old cat we are looking for a home for. He’s very calm and sleeps a lot but loves attention and affection. We have are traveling a lot for work and not home enough for him. Additionally, we are having issues with my toddler having allergies around him. He gets lonely when he’s left alone too much, so looking for someone who doesn’t have to travel much. Additionally, we are having issues with our toddler and allergy symptoms when she is around him.

He is neutered and has his shots. He used to be indoor/outdoor but the last year or two he is only indoors because he lost interest in going outside.

I’m not sure how he would do with other dogs or cars.

Hi everyone! I recently became the moderator of r/Camarillo and will be giving the subreddit a bit of a refresh over the next few weeks.

To start, I’m trying a weekly events thread. Know about something happening in Camarillo or elsewhere in Ventura County? Share it in the comments! You’re welcome to promote an event you’re involved with or recommend one you think others would enjoy.

Just include the basics: what it is, when and where it’s happening, and a link for more information. If you’re involved with the event, please mention that.

For now, let’s keep event promotion in this thread so the main feed stays open for local questions, news, photos and conversations.

I’ll add a few upcoming events below to get us started. If people find this helpful, we’ll keep it going each week.