Ventura County Celebrations

Toting a blue plastic bag that was bigger than her, 6-year-old Wynsum Kearns knew exactly why she was picking up garbage at wind-whipped San Buenaventura Beach Park on Saturday morning. "I want to save the world," she said as she shuffled through blowing sand, scooping up paper, bottle caps and other trash either dumped by someone else or tossed ashore by the pounding surf. "I can help keep our environment clean and help the animals on land and sea."

Toting a blue plastic bag that was bigger than her, 6-year-old Wynsum Kearns knew exactly why she was picking up garbage at wind-whipped San Buenaventura Beach Park on Saturday morning. "I want to save the world," she said as she shuffled through blowing sand, scooping up paper, bottle caps and other trash either dumped by someone else or tossed ashore by the pounding surf. "I can help keep our environment clean and help the animals on land and sea."

Members of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is will string together multicolored ribbons to symbolize cultural equality when the group holds Race Unity Day at Mission Park in downtown Ventura on Sunday. The 2 p.m. event will feature music and guest speakers, including Ventura Mayor Greg Carson, to focus attention on what Baha'is believe to be the most challenging moral issue facing the country: prejudice.

The jubilant rhythms and vibrant colors of folklorico dancing will be on display this weekend in Sacramento, Ventura County's contribution to inaugural festivities for incoming Gov. Gray Davis. The Inlakech Dancers are scheduled to perform Sunday as part of a fair highlighting the diversity of California and its youth.

Today is Earth Day, 1993. But it's turning out to be a pretty uneventful one in Ventura County. The two biggest Earth Day events in the county today are a brown-bag brunch by the California Garden Club in Ojai and a benefit dinner in Ventura for a coalition of environmental groups.

As people throughout Southern California celebrated the heroism of America's veterans, a West Los Angeles ceremony Monday focused on the thousands who once defended the country but now live on its streets. Nearly 200 people gathered on the grounds of the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center, where a group of politicians, homeless activists and veterans said the government must recognize those now fighting for shelter, jobs and medical assistance.

Heads bowed, hands clasped, 40 men and women stood in front of the flagpole at Thousand Oaks City Hall on Thursday and prayed for American leaders to heed their vision of the nation's future. Touching on topics as diverse as Bosnia and the local parent-teacher association, they voiced their fears and comforted one another with assurances that their prayers would be heard.

Recent rains may have damaged some of the Southern California strawberry crop, but there will still be plenty of big red berries at the fifth annual California Strawberry Festival today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Channel Islands Harbor. With 25 to 30 stands around Oxnard selling berries, and other booths selling various foods made with strawberries, there "won't be any shortage of berries," Dr. Tsujio Kato, festival chairman, said. He should know--his brother Ron is an area grower.

Nine-year-old Brandon Hernandez looked up curiously from his unbitten candy apple to listen closely to his father. Victor Hernandez, an engineer for the Northrop Corp. who commutes from Oxnard to Los Angeles during the week, spent a minute Sunday reflecting on what Cinco de Mayo means to him and his family. "It's the celebration of Mexico," he said. "It's good to come out and see your culture's still alive." Young Brandon appreciated the history lesson, but kept his priorities more focused.

Christmas decorations and celebrations at some Ventura County schools are restricted as districts seek to comply with state laws requiring that a variety of religions be represented in holiday celebrations, or none at all. Should Christmas decorations or celebrations be allowed on public school campuses? Rabbi Moshe D.

The jubilant rhythms and vibrant colors of folklorico dancing will be on display this weekend in Sacramento, Ventura County's contribution to inaugural festivities for incoming Gov. Gray Davis. The Inlakech Dancers are scheduled to perform Sunday as part of a fair highlighting the diversity of California and its youth.

When William S. Hart deeded his Newhall house and ranch to the Los Angeles County as a museum and park, he hoped to "pay back the people who gave their nickels, dimes and quarters to see me." Today, 51 years after the silent-movie star died in 1946, his generous bounty is still with us: 265 acres of hiking, riding and nature trails, camping and picnic areas, an assortment of farm animals, plus a herd of bison, which were donated by Disney Studios in 1962.

Ventura County astronomy buffs have had more than a few reasons to look up lately. And on Saturday, they shared their fascination with hundreds of others during a celebration marking National Astronomy Day. More than 1,000 devoted and would-be stargazers participated in the event organized by the Ventura County Astronomical Society. Held in the parking lot of the Sycamore Plaza in Simi Valley, the celebration brought scores of astronomers, from the professional to the backyard amateur, who enthusiastically shared their knowledge and fascination with those who weren't as familiar with the wonders of the firmament.

Mary Cimino of Simi Valley recalls those days in wartime Washington as if they were yesterday. "I was working in the Pentagon; he was in the Air Force," said Cimino, 75, flamboyantly colorful at the Ventura County Fair on Tuesday in a red top and brightly patterned patchwork skirt. "I was from Rhode Island; he was from Pennsylvania." Cimino smiled at her solemn-faced husband of 52 years, John, 72, seated beside her. "The Air Force had a dance, and he came up and asked me to dance," she said.

Sean Hanley, 8, stuffed his big winnings into the pockets of his Boy Scout uniform. The youngster and members of his troop spent the afternoon amassing the loot by tossing rings onto cones and pitching balls into baskets at Moorpark's Labor of Love picnic, the city's annual Labor Day gathering. "Winning stuff is the best part," said Sean, jamming seven packs of animal crackers, a green pencil and two key chains into his front pockets. "It's neat."

About 400 Filipino-Americans gathered Saturday in Oxnard to celebrate Philippine Independence Day by holding a 40-car motorcade parade and cultural activities. It was the first time Filipinos in Ventura County united as a group to celebrate their country's holiday, said Buddy Valencerina, chairman of the event. The eight-hour celebration, centered in College Estates Park in south Oxnard, featured a one-hour motorcade ride through Oxnard, Filipino foods, folk dances and other entertainment.

Standing behind a folding table laden with pamphlets on the dangers of pesticides, Linda Dillon looked approvingly at the passing throng Saturday at Ventura's Arroyo Verde Park. "Usually at Earth Day, we're preaching to the converted," she said. "This time, we're seeing people we haven't seen before."

Ventura County astronomy buffs have had more than a few reasons to look up lately. And on Saturday, they shared their fascination with hundreds of others during a celebration marking National Astronomy Day. More than 1,000 devoted and would-be stargazers participated in the event organized by the Ventura County Astronomical Society. Held in the parking lot of the Sycamore Plaza in Simi Valley, the celebration brought scores of astronomers, from the professional to the backyard amateur, who enthusiastically shared their knowledge and fascination with those who weren't as familiar with the wonders of the firmament.

Members of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is will string together multicolored ribbons to symbolize cultural equality when the group holds Race Unity Day at Mission Park in downtown Ventura on Sunday. The 2 p.m. event will feature music and guest speakers, including Ventura Mayor Greg Carson, to focus attention on what Baha'is believe to be the most challenging moral issue facing the country: prejudice.

Heads bowed, hands clasped, 40 men and women stood in front of the flagpole at Thousand Oaks City Hall on Thursday and prayed for American leaders to heed their vision of the nation's future. Touching on topics as diverse as Bosnia and the local parent-teacher association, they voiced their fears and comforted one another with assurances that their prayers would be heard.