For Mommy
      My 4-year-old son wanted to write a special message to his mommy for Mother's Day, so he dictated his thoughts to me and I wrote them down as follows: Mommy, I love you very much for Mother's Day. I love you every day because I always want to be happy, and you always make me happy.
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Ahoy, mates! Pirate Faire returns to Ojai
Family event starts tomorrow
      The 18th annual Ojai Renaissance Pirate Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 at Lake Casitas in the Ojai Valley, 12 miles inland from Ventura, off Highway 33. The fair will feature three stages with ongoing presentations and plays.
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Gone fishin'
Local families gather at Rancho Simi Community Park to test the waters in the 33rd annual Huck Finn Fishin' Derby last Saturday
Photos by Iris Smoot
      Derby results Derby r 0 to 9 years old (heaviest catfish) Christopher Jones 3.9-lbs. Ricardo Guiterez 3.5-lbs. Kyle Horton 2.11-lbs. 10 to 15 years old (heaviest catfish) Hunter Laxton 3.8-lbs. Joey Thurman 3.4-lbs.
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Turn baby's everyday moments into times of discovery
      Whether trekking to the grocery store, tackling laundry or racing to a meeting, today's parents are busier than ever. As the frenzied pace of daily life becomes the acceptable norm, parents feel it is increasingly difficult to spend quality time with their children, especially infants.
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St. Peter Claver Social and Travel Club to host dinner dance
      The Social and Travel Club of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church will host a dinner dance on Saturday, May 17 at St. Peter Claver Parish Hall, 5649 Pittman St., Simi Valley. A chicken dinner catered by Green Acres will be served from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. Pavia a...
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Give your mom a stress-free Mother's Day this year
What she really wants is some rest and relaxation
      It's a day for breakfast in bed, bouquets of flowers, special gifts and simply saying "thank you." For all the work mom does throughout the year she deserves to be pampered on Mother's Day. So what do moms really want the most?
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Trail ride will benefit St. Jude's hospital
      The Greater Los Angeles Paint Horse club, serving Ventura and Los Angeles counties, will hold a charity trail ride at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10 at the First Street Arenas, Bridle Path, Simi Valley. Sign in is at 9 a.m. and ride out is 10 a.m.
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Time to start planning those summer vacations
      Rosemary Chieppo, author of the book "Clutter, Chaos & the Cure" and longtime member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, offers tips for organizing a lowstress summer vacation. •Make sure everything at home is in order so returning home is more enjoyable.
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