Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
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The new Freedom Dog Park, located at Freedom Park at 275 E. Pleasant Valley Road in Camarillo, will host a grand opening event on Monday, October 2nd from 6-8PM. Located near the Camarillo Airport and Ventura County Animal Services. Great place to bring the pooch at night as they have lights! Open until 9pm. www.pvrpd.org/freedom-dog-park-c1fe3e4
Rendering of the proposed “The Commons Lane” renovations proposed by Caruso
In May, Caruso Affiliated submitted its “The Commons Lane” plan to the City of Calabasas to make enhancements to the 25 year old The Commons at Calabasas.
According to information on The Commons Lane website at thecommonslane.com, most of The Commons will remain the same. The plan “will enhance a small portion of the west side of the center” and includes new shops and restaurants with ample space for outdoor dining. The new area will also include pedestrian walking areas and new apartment homes.
The proposal includes up to 119 residential units. Most of the units will replace the Regency movie theater at The Commons. Ten percent of the units will be reserved for residents who meet certain income requirements.
The plan also includes hundreds of new parking spaces and separates residential parking from the surface parking area used by the community.
Timing at this point is to be determined and is contingent on review by the City of Calabasas.
The Thousand Oaks City Council adopted an ordinance establishing the City’s first City Council district map and district-based elections.
Starting with the November 2024 election cycle, residents of Thousand Oaks will vote for one City Councilmember to represent the district they live in. Districts 4 and 5 are up for election in 2024, and Districts 1, 2, and 3 are up for election in 2026.
On March 15, the City received a letter challenging the City’s at-large election system and asserting that the system violated the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The City of Thousand Oaks began the districting process in April 2023 to protect itself from financial and legal risks and hired National Demographics Corporation as the demographers and Tripepi Smith to assist with community outreach efforts.
The City launched the process by creating a dedicated districting website, maptoaks.org, which provided background information about districting, a schedule of upcoming meetings, a form to submit communities of interest, mapping tools, draft maps submitted throughout the process, and answers to frequently asked questions. The website was regularly updated with new and relevant information throughout the process.
To gather public input and feedback on the district formation process, the City of Thousand Oaks held five public hearings and four community workshops:
May 9, 2023 - First public hearing
May 11, 2023 - Virtual community workshop
May 16, 2023 - Second public hearing
June 3, 2023 - In-person community workshop
June 20, 2023 - Third public hearing
June 22, 2023 - Virtual community workshop
June 24, 2023 - In-person community workshop
July 11, 2023 - Fourth public hearing and first reading of the ordinance
July 18, 2023 - Fifth public hearing and second reading of the ordinance
The community workshops gave residents an opportunity to learn more about why the City was pursuing a move to district-based elections and share input on communities of interest, and draft maps once they were available. The City’s demographer also demonstrated how to use the mapping tools made available for the public to create maps.
In addition to community workshops, the City encouraged Thousand Oaks residents to get involved in the process through regular outreach emails, phone calls to community-based organizations, social media posts, flyers, and pop-up events.
At the public hearings, City Council received an overview of the process, reviewed public comments, and examined draft maps submitted by the public and created by the demographer. After extensive public feedback and engagement in the process, the Council selected Map 106 B for adoption at the July 11 City Council meeting. Map 106 B divides the City into five districts and follows the legal criteria set forth in the CVRA.
District 1 encompasses Newbury Park up to Ventu Park Road and follows the 101 Freeway as the northern border.
District 2 includes the area surrounding Wildwood Regional Park, California Lutheran University and Los Robles Hospital. The district follows Moorpark Road on the northeast and includes Conejo Creek Equestrian Park. The southern region of the district follows Janss Road, down Lynn Road and goes west along the 101 Freeway.
District 3 includes the communities east of Moorpark Road and follows Avenida de Las Flores as the southern edge. This district includes Lang Ranch Park and its surrounding open space.
District 4 includes the Westlake Village area and the eastern side of Newbury Park from Ventu Park Road, containing the surrounding residential and commercial areas.
District 5 includes the core of Thousand Oaks and takes in the business areas along Moorpark Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard up to Westlake Boulevard. The western region of the district includes the California Botanical Garden.
For more information regarding the districting process and to see the district in which you reside, visit maptoaks.org.
One of the Conejo Valley’s most popular running events has found new life.
For 15 years, the YMCA-led Turkey Day Dash was among the preeminent Thanksgiving traditions in Ventura/Los Angeles counties, regularly attracting 3,000-plus attendees to run the streets of Thousand Oaks on the morning before the big meal. That tradition came to a halt in 2020 when the spread of the coronavirus forced the Southeast Ventura County YMCA to cancel the event out of an abundance of caution.
When the Dash did not return in 2021 and 2022, a group of community members led by Five07 Coffee Bar owners Sean and Amber Rendineo approached the Y about forging a partnership that would allow the tradition to resume.
“I never thought I’d be one of those people who wakes up early on their rare day off from work to run three miles, but the Dash ended up being something that Sean and I found great joy in,” Amber said. “It’s a beautiful opportunity for us all to do something active with our neighbors on a day that centers around gratitude.”
Y president and CEO Ronnie Stone welcomed the effort, providing Five07 a roadmap to repeat the Dash’s past success and offering his team to help.
“Since the pandemic, the Y has had to significantly reduce our workforce. It is great that we are able to partner with Five07 to bring back this popular event,” Stone said. “This is just another great example of our incredible community coming together for each other. The Turkey Day Dash will always be a wonderful Y event for all our communities to enjoy.”
Under the new arrangement, Five07 will serve as host with support from three groups that will share the event’s profits: the YMCA, Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks and Conejo Valley Boy Scouts.
Incoming Kiwanis Club President Paul Lopez said his organization is thrilled to be part of the Dash’s comeback tour. Lopez and his family are longtime race participants.
“The Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks is always looking for an opportunity to make an impact on the children and families in our community,” Lopez said. “Being involved in bringing back the Turkey Day Dash and working in partnership with Five07 is such a thrill. We share the goals of providing a brighter tomorrow for the city of Thousand Oaks.”
New this year will be the inaugural Zack Zernik Mile, an untimed run/walk that will begin at 8 a.m. on race day before the main event. It is named for a Conejo Valley native and lifelong “Dasher” who lost his life in January 2023 at the age of 22. Zachary Zernik, a graduate of Thousand Oaks High School, was climbing near Mount Boney outside Newbury Park when he lost his footing and fell.
Zack’s parents, Fred and Elizabeth, felt the Dash was the right venue to honor Zack because the event has meant so much to their family over the years.
“We have great family memories of the Conejo Valley Turkey Day Dash, going back to the very first one at Dos Vientos,” Elizabeth said.
Each year, Zack would collect a different Dash T-shirt he would proudly wear around town and to sports practices.
“We have these and many other happy memories of ‘Fitness before the Feast,’ including running and cheering on grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends, so we thought helping bring back the Dash to the Conejo Valley was a way to honor Zack’s adventurous spirit and pay tribute to the community that he had the opportunity to grow up in,” the Zerniks said.
The 2023 Five07 Turkey Day Dash will start at 7 a.m. Thurs., Nov. 23 at Cal Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. To register, go to www.five07turkeydaydash.org. Early sign-up and family discounts available.
For information on becoming a sponsor, email race organizer Kyle Jorrey at dash@thefive07.com or call (805) 244-1731. Among the first to sign on as sponsors: Athens Services, Road Runner Sports, Negley Law, Newbury Park Adventist Academy, Candu Graphics and Open Wall Systems.
ABOUT FIVE07
FIVE07 exists to support creativity and community, representing the intersection of civic engagement, art, music, food and drink. The name symbolizes the five steps to creating something of importance–1) inspiration, 2) build-up, 3) resistance, 4) overcoming and 5) collaboration–happening seven days a week. Learn more or shop at www.TheFive07.com.
The City of Agoura Hills Summer Beach Bus is back for 2023. Runs June 19 to August 18 (except July 4) Monday through Friday from three designated locations to/from Zuma Beach. Service is $2 each way. Exact change required. Open to anyone (not just Agoura Hills residents). www.agourahillscity.org/department/community-services-parks-recreation/beach-bus.
The City of Thousand Oaks is offering Summer Beach Bus Service in 2023 from June 19 to August 11 (except July 4) to Zuma Beach. Two round trips will be available daily Monday through Friday. NEW: 1st through 12th grade and college students will ride for FREE! For others, the round trip fare is $4 ($1 for seniors and persons with disabilities). Cash only.
The City of Moorpark is offering round trip bus service to/from Harbor Cove Beach in Ventura this year on Wednesdays through Fridays, June 14 to August 11, 2023. $5 round trip for adults/students. $2 for seniors. Must have exact change. Free for ages 5 and under (accompanied by fare paying passenger age 16+). NEW for 2023: 1st through 12th as well as college students ride free, with student ID. See www.moorparkca.gov/821/Beach-Bus
The City of Calabasas is offering beach bus service to Zuma Beach for residents of Calabasas and Hidden Hills. $5 round trip or $50 for a season pass. $2 round trip for seniors 65+. Tickets & Passes must be purchased at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Way or by emailing PWPermits@CityofCalabasas.com. Tickets will not be sold at the shuttle. Weekdays June 19 to August 18, 2023 (except July 4).
More info at www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/public-works/transportation-transit/public-transit-services/beach-bus
The City of Moorpark has announced limited beach bus service to Harbor Cove Beach and Ventura Harbor Village for summer 2023 on Wednesdays through Fridays, June 14 through August 11. Bus leaves from designated stops in Moorpark. Service is $5 round trip for adults; $2 for 65+ seniors and ADA certified individuals. NEW: 1st through 12th grade and college students ride free - show student ID. www.moorparkca.gov/821/Beach-Bus
(Photo credit: Karen Quincy)
At California Lutheran University, 356 storage boxes, in view behind glass walls, are filled with the archived papers of Ventura County’s longest-serving congressman, Elton W. Gallegly, a member of the House of Representatives from 1987 to 2013. The Gallegly Center Archive and Collection, housed within Cal Lutheran’s Pearson Library, is now open.
The extensive collection includes correspondence, reports, bills, testimonies, voting records, invoices, photographs, newspaper clippings, constituent requests and more from Gallegly’s long career in public service as congressman for three different congressional districts that cover Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and the San Fernando Valley.
Highlights of the archive, donated in 2017, include records related to his work on immigration, European Union expansion, the 9/11 Commission, the Good Friday Agreement, the Clinton impeachment hearings, the U.S. Patriot Act and the fight against cruelty to animals. Of local interest are materials that address his efforts associated with Ventura County child welfare, agriculture, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) at Naval Base Ventura County, development of the Port of Hueneme, California redistricting, and cleanup at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.
The collection is generally divided by Gallegly’s three congressional districts, with subcategories for administrative, legislative, constituent, media and voting record files. Access is available by appointment.
To request an appointment, or to explore the archive’s finding aid, visit www.callutheran.edu/centers/gallegly/archive.html. Appointment requests are also available by sending an email to CLUlibrary@callutheran.edu. Note that the Pearson Library will be closed due to renovations through the summer; access to the archives will begin in the fall.
City of Thousand Oaks Summer Beach Bus Service Returns For 2023
The City of Thousand Oaks will once again offer the Summer Beach Bus: a regularly scheduled public transit service traveling between Thousand Oaks and Zuma Beach in Malibu. The service runs Monday through Friday from June 19 through August 11 except for July 4.
NEW: 1st through 12th grade and college students will ride for FREE! For others, the round trip fare is $4 ($1 for seniors and persons with disabilities). Cash only.
Two round trips will be available daily Monday through Friday. The Beach Bus departs from two locations -- Borchard Community Center Parking Lot and the Thousand Oaks Teen Center Bus Stop. The Beach Bus drops off and picks up at Zuma Beach parking lot #8.
For exact departure times please refer to the timetable posted at each stop or for more information about the Summer Beach Bus, visit the Thousand Oaks Transit website at www.totransit.org/beachbus. Please note that seating for this program is limited and riders will be boarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival, at least 15 minutes in advance is encouraged.
Parents and riders may track the bus location in real-time by visiting www.govcbus.com/map.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
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