Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Kids Kaleidoscope

First Sensory Room in SB Opens April 13th: The Hidden Haven: A Place to Feel Safe.

In a groundbreaking partnership, the Grace Fisher Foundation (GFF) and Autism Embrace are proud to announce the creation of The Hidden Haven, an inclusive sensory room designed to be a transformative space where families navigating autism and other sensory needs can feel truly welcome. More than just a room, The Hidden Haven is a message: We want you here.

In the Hidden Haven, sensory experiences are celebrated, not managed. Every detail is intentional. This space is a haven where movement, sound, and touch create comfort, not overwhelm. For families who often feel like they have to adapt to the world, the Hidden Haven is a world designed for them—a space where all abilities, all emotions, and all experiences are welcomed, embraced, and supported.

The Hidden Haven is being built within GFF’s The Inclusive Arts Clubhouse in the La Cumbre Plaza Mall. Families will have access to Autism Embrace sensory bags, filled with carefully curated tools designed to help regulate and support sensory experiences, available for checkout or purchase. Open to the wide community siblings, friends, and the typical population will be entranced by the immersive experience as well.

The Grace Fisher Foundation has long been committed to making the arts accessible to all abilities; including the healing arts. All programs are offered free of charge made possible by community grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. This partnership takes that mission one step further. By integrating Autism Embrace’s expertise in sensory-friendly experiences, Hidden Haven will be a model for how public spaces can thoughtfully and intentionally welcome neurodivergent individuals and their families without the burden of insurance paperwork. GFF will be welcoming new volunteers and college interns to effectively manage the experiences. “Community collaborations and engagement are at the core of Grace’s vision in all of GFF’s creative outreach initiatives. We want everyone and every age and every ability to experience creativity,” commented Jana Brody the Director of Development and Operations.

This partnership is about more than just creating a space—it’s about building a lasting community. Autism Embrace isn’t just a resource; it’s a movement to ensure families continue to feel supported long after they leave the walls of Hidden Haven. By providing ongoing access to educational tools, advocacy, and a welcoming network of support, Autism Embrace ensures that the message doesn’t end at the door—it carries on into everyday life.

“The Hidden Haven is a place to feel safe, and Autism Embrace is a community to stay supported,” said JJ McLeod, Founder of Autism Embrace. “When we create inclusive spaces, we tell them, ‘We see you, we value you, and we want you here.’ And when we connect them to a larger community like Autism Embrace, we’re saying, ‘When you leave here, you are not alone. You have resources. You have a community. You belong.’”

The Hidden Haven will officially open its doors on April 13th, coinciding with the 2nd anniversary of the Inclusive Arts Clubhouse in La Cumbre Plaza 1:00-3:00 pm (across from William Sonoma), marking the beginning of a new era for inclusive play and community support. We invite families, educators, and advocates to experience this one-of-a-kind sensory haven and be part of a movement that fosters belonging, understanding, and empowerment.

Helen Reyes’ winning artwork for the 39^th Annual California Strawberry Festival was revealed at an April 1 gathering of dignitaries and festival sponsors at Yolanda’s Mexican Café in Oxnard. The luncheon officially kicks off activities for the 2025 festival celebration taking place May 17 and 18 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Entries were evaluated by a judging panel looking for creativity and the best use of a strawberry design. “Helen’s artwork perfectly captures the vibe of the seaside festival,” says Dean Kato, California Strawberry Festival board chair. “Her design will be on the festival poster, in our marketing campaign and on festival merchandise.”

Reyes, 27 and an Azusa resident, studied illustration at the Cal State University, Fullerton. “Since the festival is so close to the beach, I thought, wouldn’t it be a cool idea to have a strawberry on a surfboard?’,” says Reyes. She says it took about three weeks of sketching the design and choosing the right colors until it was complete.

This is the second time she entered the festival’s art contest. She attended the festival for the first time last year. “I absolutely love strawberries, especially strawberry ice cream and strawberry shortcake,” says Reyes, who has won art contests in high school and college. “I’m honored and grateful that the festival selected my design. I was in complete shock when I received the news.”

Strawberry-themed nachos, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry funnel cakes, strawberry kabobs, popcorn, and margaritas are just a few of the tasty choices available at the festival. Freshly picked, locally-grown strawberries are used by vendors in their foods.

The festival also features 150 artists and crafters, a Strawberryland for kids, live entertainment on three stages, carnival rides, and a "build-your-own" strawberry shortcake experience.

Festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. General admission is $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8, and children 4 and under are free.

Visitors are encouraged to use the free shuttle service at seven nearby locations. The Ventura Amtrak Station is across the street from the fairgrounds so visitors can ride Amtrak and MetroLink for easy access to the festival. For more information, go to www.CAStrawberryFestival.org.