Good morning, Ventura.

Underwood Family Farms kicked off its Fall Harvest Festival on Oct.

3 in Moorpark with a 50-foot pumpkin drop that sent candy flying for families, and the event features live music, tractor rides, and a maize maze while One Acre Farm opened its pumpkin patch at 8400 Santa Rosa Road.

Families can enjoy fall fun and Halloween activities across Acorn country this month with pumpkin patches, hay rides, and ghost tours scheduled in local towns; events include today’s City Celebration at the Westlake Village Civic Center (3 to 8 p.m.) and themed festivals through Oct. 31.

SpaceX will launch its Falcon 9 rocket today from Vandenberg Space Force Base after three delays to send 21 Tranche 1 satellites for the Space Development Agency into orbit.

The booster will land back at the pad & local residents may hear sonic booms.

Ventura Unified’s advisory committee recommended closing Lemon Grove and Mound Elementary schools at its Oct.

8 meeting at Portola Elementary. The school board will hold a town hall on Oct. 15 to review the report amid declining enrollment challenges.

At a meeting one year ago along the wildland-urban interface, wildfire prevention experts debated additional fuel reduction strategies for local properties (hand crews and goats were suggested) while COSCA cautioned that clearing chaparral could encourage flammable grasses.

The discussion continues as officials balance protecting native habitat and keeping homes safe.

Officials held a briefing (Oct.

8) to share progress on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which will open in December. The project is nearing completion as it takes shape for its upcoming debut.

A new California law now requires vegetation-clearing operations to carry basic firefighting tools (an extinguisher and shovel) to help workers tackle accidental ignitions, following the 2024 Mountain Fire (which burned nearly 20,000 acres in Ventura County).

Santa Barbara City College football fell behind early and lost 41+21 at Moorpark College, leaving the Vaqueros winless with a 0-6 record this season.

The Friday Football Focus report recapped last Friday’s close game where Ventura edged Santa Barbara 24 — 21 in the Channel League.

Regional teams, including St. Joseph and Arroyo Grande, also recorded competitive wins across several matchups.

At Newbury Park High School on Oct.

1, Oaks Christian beat Newbury Park 3 to 1 to stay first in the Marmonte League + on Oct. 2 at Royal High School, Royal won 42 to 24 after recovering a Santa Paula fumble and will face Dos Pueblos on Oct. 9.