How to Be Coyote Aware in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County

Living in the Conejo Valley, surrounded by thousands of acres of open space, most of us come into contact with coyotes from time to time. Coyotes are a vital component of rural and urban communities, deserving of respect for their adaptability, resilience and intelligence. Below are some tips on coyote awareness, courtesy of Project Coyote.

Facts:

• Coyotes are members of the dog family; they are curious, adaptable, and learn quickly.

• Coyotes often mate for life, are devoted parents, and are highly communicative (barks, yips, howls).

• Coyotes weigh 18-35 pounds in the West.

• Coyotes may be more protective of dens/territories during pup rearing (April-Aug).

• Coyotes eat large numbers of rodents and rabbits, as well as fruit, vegetation, insects and carrion. They help keep ecosystems vital, healthy and clean.

• Coyotes are naturally wary of people but can habituate to our presence and the reliable food sources that we provide.

Safety:

• DON’T FEED COYOTES. Their life and your safety depend on coyotes remaining wild and naturally wary of people.

• Remove attractants; pick up trash, secure garbage, and feed pets inside. Don’t leave food or pets outside at night.

• Walk dogs on leashes, especially during pup rearing season (April-Aug). Pick up your small dog if you see a coyote and don’t let pets roam.

• If approached, don’t run. Wave arms, make noise and walk toward the coyote until he retreats. Be “Big, Bad and Loud.”

• Avoid areas where coyotes may be denning or feeding/hiding pups.

• Appreciate coyotes from a distance. Share this information with family and friends.

Additional information found on the City of Calabasas website at www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/public-works/environmental-igr-division/living-with-coyotes-in-calabasas.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Locations in Ventura County

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program recruits volunteer tax preparers to provide free preparation of federal and state income tax returns to taxpayers with incomes less than $64,000 in 2023. VITA benefits these taxpayers by eliminating the cost of commercial tax return preparation and by securing valuable tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit and EITC.

Local VITA location sites are as follows (see this IRS link for details, including dates and times and contact information for making appointments, when required):

• Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road - Wednesdays 10am to 4pm, 2/7/24 to 4/10/24. Appointments not required.

• Conejo Creek South Park, 1350 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks - Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4pm, 2/1/24 to 4/12/24. Appointments not required.

• Many Mansions, 2725 East Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks - 2/6/24 to 4/30/24. Appointments are required.

• Calvary Church, 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village - 2/6/24 to 4/9/24. Appointments are required.

• Moorpark College - 2/1/24 to 4/30/24. Appointments are required.

• East County Job and Career Center, 2900 N. Madera Road, Simi Valley - 2/7/24 to 4/30/24. Appointments are required.

• CLU Oxnard Campus: 2201 Outlet Center Drive, Suite 600 - 2/6/24 to 4/30/24 - Appointments are required.

• Oxnard College, 4000 South Rose Avenue - 2/6/24 to 4/30/24. Appointments are required.

• United Way of Ventura County, 702 County Square Drive #100, Ventura. 2/1/24 to 4/30/24. Appointments are required.

• Ventura Community Service Center, 4651 Telephone Road, 2nd Floor. Appointments are required.

What to bring:

• Proof of identification (photo ID)

• Social Security cards for you, your spouse and dependents

• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter may be substituted for you, your spouse and your dependents if you do not have a Social Security number

• Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN

• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return

• Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-Misc) from all employers

• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)

• Health Insurance Exemption Certificate, if received

• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available

• Proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit such as a blank check

• To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms

• Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number

• Forms 1095-A, B and C, Health Coverage Statements

• Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable

www.irs.gov/individuals/checklist-for-free-tax-return-preparation

The IRS partners with software companies to provide “IRS Free File” guided tax software for taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) or $79,000 or less for the 2023 tax year. Learn more at apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile. Providers for 2023 filings include FreeTaxUSA, 1040.com, FileYourTaxes.com, 1040NOW, TaxAct, OLT.com, TaxSlayer, and ezTaxReturn.com

All About the Previously Owned Clean Vehicle Credit

A brand new tax credit, the Previously Owned Clean Vehicle Credit, came about from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This new credit applies to pre-owned all-electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2023 through 2032. The credit, which is non-refundable, is 30% of the sales price, up to a maximum credit of $4,000.

As with pretty much every tax law, lawmakers made sure to make the requirements for this credit as confusing as possible. Here are the main parameters:

• The sales price, exclusive of taxes ad fees, much be $25,000 or less.

• The model year of the car must be at least two years prior to the calendar year the car is purchased.

• The car must be purchased from a licensed dealer, not a private party.

• The buyer’s modified adjusted gross income (AGI) cannot exceed $150,000 for married filing jointly taxpayers, $112,500 for head of household filing status and $75,000 for other taxpayers, in either the year of purchase or the previous year.

• The buyer cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.

• You can’t claim the credit more than once every three years, based on the actual purchase date of the car.

• The credit is applicable per taxpayer; the IRS as of this writing has not clarified if both spouses could claim the credit within the same three-year period. (That said, in theory they could file separately in the years they claim the credit.)

There are other specifics listed at www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxused.shtml#requirements.

Another important detail is that vehicles are only eligible for the credit for the first qualifying sale taking place on or after August 16, 2022. In other words, a used clean vehicle is not eligible for the credit after the first time, after 8/16/22, it is re-sold for $25,000 or less. How in the world will we know if that’s the case? Ask the dealer. They will know. What this means is that two cars with the same make, model and features offered at the same price of $25,000 or less…one them could be eligible for the credit while the other one is not.

As mentioned above, this is a non-refundable credit. This means that if you take the credit on your tax return, but your federal taxes are less than the credit, the excess goes away.

But wait…there’s a solution for that beginning in 2024! Starting this year, the credit can be transferred to the dealer and applied towards the sales price. The dealer, in turn, will receive the full credit from the IRS. The only catch is that you have to meet the AGI requirements mentioned above. If you file your tax return and do not meet those requirements, you’ll have to pay back the credit with your return. Whether you claim the credit at the dealer or on your return, you have to report the purchase on Form 8936.

Let’s use an example:

George is single and decides he wants to purchase a used EV. George expects his income to be $90,000 in 2024, but his 2023 return showed $70,000 in AGI, which qualifies him for the credit in 2024. He goes to the CarMax website and searches for electric cars at a price of $25,000 or less that are shown at www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxused.shtml.

George finds a 2013 Chevy Bolt for $13,000 but it shows it has had two owners. If it was already re-sold by a dealer to the 2nd owner after 8/16/22 for $25,000 or less, it is not eligible for the credit. The dealer will be able to tell you if this is the case. But let’s assume the previous sale took place before that date. George purchases the car for $13,000 plus sales taxes, license fees, etc., less the credit, because he chooses to transfer the credit to the dealer. The credit is 30% times $13,000, or $3,900. Enjoy your used Chevy Bolt, George! (Let’s hope the car’s battery still holds a decent charge.)

Looking for information on NEW clean vehicle car tax credits? Visit www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml.

Senior Adult Centers and Programs Throughout Ventura County

Here is a list of senior centers and programs throughout Ventura County. For more extensive information about serving the needs of seniors, visit the County of Ventura Area Agency on Aging website at www.vcaaa.org

The Goebel Senior Center is located at 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, between the Thousand Oaks Teen Center and Grant R. Brimhall Library. Open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.mm, Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday noon to 4 p.m. The 21,000 sq ft facility offers classes, events, excursions, drop-in programs and more. The facility also has meeting rooms, kitchen/dining room, billiards room, putting green, horseshoe pits and more. Senior Nutrition Program 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays. Suggest donation $3 for ages 60+. Visit www.crpd.org/programs-sports/adults-seniors or call 805-381-2744.

The Simi Valley Senior Center at 3900 Avenida Simi is a 22,000 square foot enrichment and learning center for adults. The center provides learning programs, exercise classes, meal programs, health services, excursions, computer classes, book clubs, support groups, billiard room, social services, art classes and more. For ages 50+. The Rendezvous Café operates weekdays and offers hot lunch for a suggest donation of $3 for 60+ seniors and $7 for others. Visit www.simivalley.org/departments/city-manager-s-office/community-programs-and-facilities/senior-center or call 805.583.6363.

The Pleasant Valley Senior Center is located at 1605 E. Burnley Street in Camarillo. The center is open M-F from 9am to 4pm and offers a variety of recreation and leisure program, a meal site for ages 60+ and social services for local residents. Programs and activities are not limited to Camarillo residents.

Visit www.pvrpd.org/senior-center or call 805.482.4881. More information on senior meal programs available from the Camarillo Health Care District at www.camhealth.com/senior-meals-program..

City of Oxnard Recreation and Community Services offers 3 senior centers. The Wilson Senior Center at 350 N. C Street is open M-F 10am to 4pm (805.385.8028), South Oxnard Senior Center at 200 East Bard Road is open M-F 8:15am to 2:15pm (805.385.8042) and Colonia Senior Center at 126-B Amelia Court, open M-F 8:30am to 2:30pm (805.385.8163). Visit www.oxnard.org/recreation/senior-services for more information.

The Moorpark Active Adult Center is located at 799 Moorpark Avenue. The center is open M-F from 8am to 4pm and offers classes, programs and more to ages 55+. Home delivered meals available to local 60+ residents and meals offered for low cost at the center. Visit moorparkca.gov/200/Active-Adult-Center for more information or call 805.517.6261.

The City of Agoura Hills runs a Senior Recreation Program for ages 50+ at its Recreation Center, located at 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd.  The program offers fitness, social, educational and other great events and activities. Visit https://www.agourahillscity.org/department/community-services-parks-recreation/senior-recreation-program or call 818.597.7366 for more information.

The City of Ventura Senior Services program offers computer, recreational, specialty, social, health and fitness programs to 50+ at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 N. Ventura Avenue, 805.648.3035, and satellite sites at the Salvation Army (east Ventura), Pacific View Mall, TowneHouse, Ventura College and YMCA. A Travel Program office and special events are held at the Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara St, 805.648.2829. Visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/669/Adult-Senior-Services for more information.

Ventura's Senior Lunch Program operates Monday through Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. $3 suggested price for ages 60 and up; $6.75 for others (as of January 2024). Nutritious hot entree with fresh fruit and vegetables plus special events. Westside Cafe located at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 N. Ventura Avenue. Call 805.648.3035 for more information.

The Santa Paula Senior Center is located at 530 W. Main Street and is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone is 805.933.4272. The center offers classes, card games and meal programs to seniors. spcity.org/403/Senior-Center

The City of Fillmore Active Adult Center is located at 535 Santa Clara Avenue and is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone is 805.524.4533. Meals, games, activities and classes are offered. www.fillmoreca.com/177/Active-Adult-Center

The Orvene S. Carpenter Community Center is located at 550 Park Avenue in Port Hueneme and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The city's Senior Nutrition Program offers meals to those in need and classes are offered. Visit www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/facilities/facility/details/orvenescarpentercommunitycenter-2 or call 805.986.6542 for more information.

The Little House Multipurpose Center in Ojai at 111 W. Santa Ana Street next to Ojai City Hall is run by Help of Ojai, Inc., a non-profit organization that has been serving the needs of Ojai's seniors since 1968. The center offers programs, services, recreation and meals. Visit www.helpofojai.org or call 805.646.5122 for more information.

And for thousands of classes each year specifically geared towards seniors, check out THESE LINKS to community recreation programs throughout Ventura County.

Hazardous Waste Disposal and Recycling Programs in Ventura County

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) website highlights common products that we use in our daily lives that contain potentially hazardous ingredients, thus requiring special care when disposed of.

Items that are banned from the trash are as follows:

Lights, Batteries and Electronics

• Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes ("old school" incandescent bulbs can be thrown in the trash.). Remember that LED light bulbs and holiday light strands are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed off properly. Here’s a Home Depot guide on how to dispose of light bulbs.

• Batteries of all types and sizes, AAA, AA, C, D, button cell, 9-volt, etc., both rechargeable and single use, as well as lead-acid batteries such as car batteries.

• Computer and television monitors including cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal diode (LCD), and plasma monitors.

• Electronic devices including computers, printers, VCRs, cell phones, telephones, radios and microwave ovens.

Household and Landscape Chemicals

• Flammables and poisons such as oil-based paints and reactive and explosive materials

• Acids, oxidizers, and bases including some pool chemicals and cleaners

• Pesticides and herbicides

• Paints and Solvents - latex paint, oil-based paint, non-empty aerosol paint and solvent cans, and solvents such as paint thinners, nail polish remover, etc.

• Building materials that contain asbestos and wood treated with chromium copper arsenate.

• Automobile items including antifreeze, batteries, motor oil and filters and tires (tires are not considered hazardous but are banned from the trash for other reasons).

• Items Containing Mercury including electrical switches and relays in old appliances, old style thermostats, pilot light sensors in some gas appliances, some gauges and mercury thermometers.

• Other items such as propane tanks, hypodermic needles, syringes, expired/unwanted medications etc.

So what to do with these items? Recycle and reuse them! Here are some local Ventura County resident options:

The City of Thousand Oaks has a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal Facility with details at THIS LINK. Appointments are required for HHW drop-offs. Materials accepted during regular operating hours include household items like aerosol sprays, nail polish, used frying oil, etc., items in the garage like antifreeze, brake fluid, oil, etc., as well as things like paint thinners, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Click the link above for more detailed information.

City of Thousand Oaks battery recycling centers at THIS LINK. Dropoff options as of October 2022 include Borchard Community Park (front entrance), Dos Vientos Community Center (front lobby), Goebel Senior Center (front lobby), Thousand Oaks Library (both entrances), Newbury Park Library (front entrance), Thousand Oaks City Hall (front entrance), Thousand Oaks Community Center (front entrance) and Thousand Oaks Transportation Center (lobby). (Also Home Depot, but rechargeable batteries only.)

Thousand Oaks area computer and electronics recycling centers at THIS LINK.

Unwanted and/or expired medications can be dropped off throughout Ventura County at designated police stations. Details at THIS LINK.

Medicine disposal bin at East Valley Police Station in Thousand Oaks

The City of Westlake Village offers free monthly hazardous waste collection service via Waste Management. www.wlv.org/faq.aspx?TID=25

City of Simi Valley hazardous Waste Drop-Off Program on six Saturdays per year at THIS LINK.

City of Simi Valley household battery recycling options at THIS LINK includes Simi Valley Public Library, G.I. Industries/Waste Management and Anderson Rubbish.

City of Camarillo hosts household hazardous waste program drop-off events on the 2nd consecutive Friday/Saturday of each month. View upcoming dates and make appointments at www.cityofcamarillo.org/residents/trash___recycling/hazardous_waste.php.

Cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme household hazardous waste collection events www.oxnard.org/household-hazardous-waste

Cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme Antifreeze, Batteries, Oil and Paint Recycling www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=1022

City of Moorpark hazardous waste drop-off events www.moorparkca.gov/150/Hazardous-Waste

Ventura County needle collection facilities crma.org/home-generated-sharps

City of Ventura hazardous waste collection events www.cityofventura.ca.gov/2103/Household-Hazardous-Waste-HHW-Events

City of Ojai hazardous waste collection options at THIS LINK (pdf doc)

Hazardous waste collection in Calabasas at THIS LINK.

Hazardous waste collection in Agoura Hills at THIS LINK.

Ventura County Area Crime Maps Online

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office serves the County of Ventura and five contract cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, and Thousand Oaks. There is a wealth of information on the VC Sheriff's website at www.venturasheriff.org, including phone numbers for patrol stations.

One tool available that shows recent crimes in these jurisdictions is located at CrimeMapping.com, a website that provides information, in map format about crimes committed on a rolling 180 day basis.

To use CrimeMapping.com, simply go to the site and type in a location - address, landmark or zip code. From there, you’ll see a map of crimes reported over the most recent week, which is the default time frame. You can change this time frame using filters on the site, up to 180 days’ worth of data. Here’s what the map looked like over a 180 day period:

You can learn more about individual crimes by clicking the icons on the map. Crimes include arson, assault, burglary, disturbing the peace, drug/alcohol violations, DUI, fraud, homicide, auto theft, robbery, sex crimes, theft/larceny, vandalism, vehicle break-in and weapons.

The number 3 in a red circle in the image above indicates multiple records. I clicked it and there were 2 possession of a controlled substance - one in the 300 block of Hillcrest Drive on July 17th at 1:30pm and the other in the 2400 block of Hillcrest Drive on July 17th at 12:30pm. The third violation was fraudulent use of access card on April 1st at midnight.. Note that exact addresses are not provided; they report as specific as block number.

The first icon at the bottom right side of the image was an assault (battery) in the 2200 block of E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard at 10:05am on August 7th.

You may also create alerts on the CrimeMapping site that are sent to you via email. Click “Receive Alerts,” choose location (city, landmark, address or zip) and search distance (ranges from 500 feet to 2 miles).

More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Serving Jury Duty in Ventura County

Jury duty in Ventura County is not so bad! Ventura County Jury service consists of one jury trial or one day of service in Ventura County. If you are not assigned to a courtroom at the end of your first day of appearance, you will have completed your service. Jury service is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you are summoned for duty, the night before your service you will be instructed to check online or to call after 4 p.m. for reporting instructions for the next day. If the "group number" you were assigned is called, you show up the next day.

If your group number has not been called by the end of your summoned week, your service will automatically be completed without having to appear. If this "call in" process is inconvenient, Ventura County Superior Court will allow you to schedule a firm date of appearance.

If you cannot perform jury service during the week you are summoned, you may reschedule for another time up to 90 days in the future. There’s one catch - if you reschedule, you will be required to appear on that rescheduled date. You will no longer be on call.

Hall of Justice Building

Jury trials in Ventura County average four days in length. The trial judge will advise jurors of the expected duration and may excuse prospective jurors from serving on a particular case if the service would amount to an extreme hardship.

Ventura County is one judicial district so all jurors are summoned to the county seat at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura for jury service. 

Get there early if you can. There is plenty of free parking but sometimes you have to walk a ways to get to the building. When entering the building you will be screened through a security device. Do not bring knives, scissors, handwork needles, metal fingernail files, tools, wallet chains, handcuff keys or any items that may possibly be used as a weapon.

The Jury Assembly Room has plenty of chairs, with some tables, electric plugs, etc. I highly recommend that you bring things to keep yourself busy...a laptop, magazines, newspaper, book, iPad, etc. They do have a TV available in one room but you'll want to bring something else to do too. There's also wireless internet access. For lunch and snacks, there is an in-house cafeteria as well as a variety of restaurants nearby.

No fees or mileage are paid for the first day of service. $15 per day and 34¢ per mile, one way from the juror’s home to the courthouse are paid for your second and additional days of service (as of December 2023; which is unchanged from the first time I checked in 2014).

[Jury duty fees are set by the California State Legislature, which consists of the 80 member California State Assembly and the 40 member California State Senate. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 215 sets the fees and mileage rate. Well guess what…it has been the same fee and mileage rate since July 2000. Cumulative inflation from 2000 to 2023 is 76%, which means the $15 would have grown to over $26. The IRS mileage rate for 2024 is 67¢ per mile, nearly double 34¢ per mile.. Might be time to write your local Assemblymember to address the issue.]

When I last served, the judge in my courtroom called us back the next day. We showed up and he subsequently cancelled the trial and we were excused to go home (or back to work). Two weeks later I received a check for $15 in jury fees and $7.82 in mileage from the Conejo Valley. YIPPEE!

Courtyard area in front of Hall of Justice building

Jury service is not voluntary, and there is no permanent excuse to serving. Any request for excuse must be submitted in writing. Any request to be excused from serving on a jury trial due to loss of income and/or business closure must be directed to a trial judge, only after you have appeared and have served one day as summoned. Unless notified in writing that your request for excuse is granted, you may assume it has been denied. If the date of appearance is not satisfactory, you may request a postponement to a future date within 90 days. When listing reasons such as medical, job, or dependent care issues, be prepared to receive a postponement and not an excuse.

For more information about Jury Service in Ventura County, visit www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/JuryService.