Meet Clarence the 85 Year Old Galapagos Tortoise at Moorpark College's America's Teaching Zoo

The Exotic Animal Training and Management Program was established at Moorpark College in 1974. Since then, hundreds of students have graduated from the program. Over 150 wild, exotic animals now live on a five acre site overlooking Moorpark College in what is called "America's Teaching Zoo."

The Zoo is open every weekend from 11 am to 5 pm and admission is only $8 for adults, $6 for kids 2 and up and seniors (as of September 2015). Some of the animals you'll encounter are a water buffalo, reptiles, exotic birds, monkeys, lemurs, bobcats, baboons, hyenas, lions and much more.  You'll enjoy the animal shows led by zookeepers in training and live carnivore feeding demonstrations.

One of my family's favorites is Clarence the Galapagos Tortoise. The Galapagos Tortoise is the largest living tortoise, originating from the Galapagos Islands off the coast of South America. Clarence happily weighs in around 500 lbs and seems quite content living in Moorpark.  He is pretty friendly.

Here is an updated photo of Clarence at age 90 in 2015...looking good!

Clarence we discovered is about 85 years old and originally came to this country in 1928 on an expedition by C. H. Townsend, Director of the New York Aquarium, along with 107 of his buddies, in an effort to help save this critically endangered species. Clarence lived for awhile at the Houston Zoo and later moved to the L.A. Zoo. He has been on indefinite loan to America's Teaching Zoo since 2001. Amazingly, Clarence is expected to live another 100 years or so! (Must be his healthy vegan diet or something!)

So stop by and say hello to Clarence and his pals at America's Teaching Zoo. This is not a fancy zoo, but the students, faculty and staff of Ventura County's only zoo love what they do and you will enjoy checking it out, with or without the kids.

The City of Moorpark Announces its 30th Anniversary is July 1, 2013

In a recent letter to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the City of Moorpark City Clerk announced the City will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary next month. Also provided was some facts about Moorpark that may be of interest. I certainly learned a few new things about Moorpark after reading this!

The City of Moorpark was founded by Robert W. Poindexter in 1887. He named the city after the Moorpark apricot, which grew throughout the valley. Poindexter plotted city streets and planted pepper trees in the downtown area. Articles of incorporation for the City of Moorpark were filed on July 1, 1983.

The City of Moorpark enjoys excellent park and recreation opportunities with a total of 17 city parks, including the newest addition of Mammoth Highlands Park, 7000 Elk Run Loop, in 2009. Poindexter Park was expanded to include the city's first permanent skate park in 2009 and a dog park was completed at College View Park, 15400 Campus View Drive, in 2010.

The city mentions recreation opportunities in Moorpark such as the Moorpark Country Club, nearby Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park and America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College. Other fun Moorpark activities of note include Underwood Family Farms (a family must-do activity in Ventura County) and High Street Arts Center. And of course, for as many years as I can remember, the City off Moorpark has hosted a 3rd of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Arroyo Vista Park, a great treat for many residents throughout Ventura County looking for a head start to the Independence Day holiday.

Since its 25th anniversary, the city has completed the Veterans Memorial at the corner of Spring Road and Flynn Street, relocated the U.S. Post Office to High Street, expanded Arroyo Vista Recreation Center and purchased 80 acres of open space in the Tierra Rejada green belt, among other noteworthy achievements.

Over the last 30 years, the population of Moorpark has grown from 11,000 to nearly 35,000. The City takes pride in its residents' everyday life, their hard work and involvement in city government. To learn more about the City of Moorpark, visit www.moorparkca.gov.

PennyMac Loan Services Has Fast Become the Largest Employer in Moorpark

Headquartered in Moorpark, PennyMac is a family of companies that provides a full range of mortgage services, which include a registered investment advisor that manages a REIT and other private vehicles that invest in troubled mortgages and a best-in-class loan servicing operation that works with borrowers to stay in their homes. PennyMac has designed a new, more comprehensive business model that addresses the problems in the mortgage industry and provides a more sustainable business for the future that aligns the interests of consumers, investors and the public.

The company was established in January 2008 and now services more than $2 billion in residential loans. In addition, during 2009 PennyMac raised over $647 million in private investment funds and $314 million in its public offering and its loan servicing portfolio has grown to over 13,000 loans and $2.6 billion.

PennyMac is a national lender with over 1,000 employees, making it the largest employer in Moorpark! And they continue to hire...check out their jobs listings at www.pennymacusa.com/careers.php.

If you have tried unsuccessfully to refinance in the last year or so, programs and rates have changed enough, along with rising home values for many in the Conejo Valley, that you may be able to reduce your rate or monthly payment this time.

Call PennyMac today at 888-457-0218 or visit them website at THIS LINK to learn more about PennyMac and your options for refinancing and lowering your monthly mortgage payments.

Scenes in Moorpark: Rolling Green Hills Under Dark Cloudcover

Local photographer Patrick Taillon took these picture of rolling green hills under dark cloud cover while at the Moorpark College campus yesterday, March 26th. He used an Olympus XZ-1 camera with it's built-in photo filters for these pics. For more of Patrick's work, visit his website at www.patricktaillon.com.

Moorpark Police Seeking Help Re: Indecent Exposure Case

From the City of Moorpark City Watch Crime Alert System:

Nature of Incident: Camarillo man arrested after committing an indecent exposure

Location: Tierra Rejada Road at Peach Hill Road, Moorpark

Date & Time/ RB#: Aug. 25, 2009 @ 6:20 a.m. / 09-20732

Unit Responsible: Moorpark P.D. Investigations

Suspect: Alberto Vaca, Age 19, Camarillo

Narrative: On the morning of 08-25-09, at about 6:20 a.m., a city of Moorpark resident (woman) reported that a green Ford Mustang was slowly following her while she was out jogging on Tierra Rejada Road. The woman confronted the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle about his intentions. The woman described the driver as a Hispanic male. When the woman confronted the driver, the suspect remained in the vehicle and exposed himself to the woman. A passerby in another vehicle rendered aid to the woman jogger. The driver of the older model green Ford Mustang drove away from the scene.

Moorpark patrol deputies spoke with the victim and a witness who rendered assistance to the victim. These persons described the vehicle as a forest green, late 1990’s Ford Mustang two-door vehicle, with possible collision damage on the passenger side of the vehicle. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, about late 20’s in age, dark skin, and slender to medium build.

On the morning of 08-26-09, a 19-year-old Camarillo resident was arrested after being identified as the man responsible for exposing himself to the woman in the city of Moorpark. Subsequent investigation revealed Alberto Vaca, frequently drove his green 1997 Ford Mustang around Tierra Rejada Road just east of the high school and just west of Spring Road this past month looking for women jogging or walking. This occurred between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. When he found a target, he would pull up alongside the woman and expose himself. Vaca targeted at least three different women. The first incident occurred in Moorpark within the past month.

Investigators are interested in speaking with anyone who has been the victim of this type of crime with the above-described vehicle while on Tierra Rejada Road or its vicinity recently. Anyone with information about Vaca’s activities is asked to contact Detective Ilano at (805) 532-2714.