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.
Post other items directly to the Community Announcements section of the site.
Corrigan’s Steak House in Thousand Oaks closed its doors in late 2018. The building was sold and has undergone remodeling since then. Today, the signs of the new eatery went up - “Old Oaks Steakhouse.” No other details or time frame at this point. There is a website at oldoakssteakhouse.com that presumably is associated with this new eatery.
Cafe Ficelle opened on Wednesday, April 10th at 1710 Thousand Oaks Blvd, across from Denino's Pizza. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Beautiful buildout. www.cafeficelle.com
Modern Kitchen at The Shoppes at Westlake has closed its doors. It opened on April 12, 2023 in the former home of The Gallery Restaurant, which closed in February 2023.
Kaia Tollefson, Jenn Perry, Asha Ramachandra, Matthew Vestuto, Richard Yao, Salvador Tumamait-Ambriz
A Chumash dialect spoken by the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians thousands of years ago is alive and thriving with a new online Chumash language dictionary hosted by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI).
Ventureño Chumash, also called mitsqanaqan, is one of six (some say seven) documented Chumashan languages, each named after a mission. There have been other Chumashan dictionaries, but this is the first online dictionary specific to the Barbareño/Ventureño Chumash. These are the indigenous people who lived in Ventura County and the northern Channel Islands for thousands of years.
Matthew Vestuto, Chairman of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (BVBMI) Tribal Council who is a self-trained linguist, has been working for years to get an online presence for the mitsqanaqan dictionary, which was developed by Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) Linguistics Lecturer Timothy Henry-Rodriguez and released in 2019.
Henry-Rodriguez began developing the dictionary when he was in graduate school in 2005 and was later aided by a National Science Foundation Documenting Endangered Languages award for $25,000. He studied the notes of linguist and ethnologist John Peabody Harrington (1884-1961), who specialized in California indigenous people.
After graduate school, Henry-Rodriguez met Vestuto, who helped do more research with the aid of other members of the BVBMI.
“Our last native speakers died in the 1960s and so we’re reliant upon the archival record,” Vestuto said.
When the dictionary was released in 2019, Henry-Rodriguez described it as a labor of love for him, his student researchers, and the researchers from the Barbareño/Ventureño tribe.
“First and foremost are the various Chumash speakers who, despite oppressive social conditions and economic constraints, still understood the importance of recording their language and the urgency to do so,” Henry-Rodriguez wrote. “While they may not have known that all their hard work would come to fruition in the form of a dictionary, it is my hope that this work will honor all the hard work they did. Their bravery and strength truly inspire me continually.”
Although Henry-Rodriguez did the initial research and created the dictionary, he credits the BVBMI with working to get it online, which took place recently thanks to the expertise of CSUCI’s Information Technology Services team and the John Spoor Broome Library staff.
Vestuto and fellow researcher Salvador Tumamait-Ambriz were guests at a recent campus event in which the first phase of the dictionary was rolled out, with phases two, three and four to follow in the future.
CSUCI President Richard Yao took the podium to talk about the campus tradition of honoring the place where the University now sits, and the people who dwelled here. Yao also spoke about the President’s Chumash Advisory Council (PCAC), which was formed in 2023 between CSUCI and the BVBMI.
“In creating this Council, we acknowledge that the Chumash are the first people of the lands on which the University operates, and that CSUCI’s campus is on the unceded territory of the BVBMI,” Yao announced when the council was formed. “CSUCI has the responsibility and desire to maintain strong relationships with the BVBMI, and together we share a commitment to working in collaboration to be stewards of the land and of its natural and cultural heritage.”
The language began to disappear when the Spanish missionaries arrived in 1769 to build 21 missions up the California coast, forcing Chumash to work for them and introducing European diseases to which the Chumash had no natural immunity. The Chumash way of life - and their language - changed.
“The age-old American story is that when indigenous people went to boarding schools, they were taught their language was savage and not worthy and to not speak it,” Vestuto said. “That affects people. For a university to say, we hold your language in high esteem - to say it’s something we want to support - also affects us in a good way.”
CSUCI Professor of Anthropology and Executive Director of Regional Educational Partnerships Jennifer Perry, explained why this project is named the “House of Language.”
“By calling it the House of Language, we are referring to a living repository,” Perry said. “It’s not intended to preserve a static language, but to keep it alive and in practice and constantly evolving.”
Plans are underway to incorporate the Chumash language into the signage around campus, offering the name of a tree or plant, for example, in both English and Chumash. There are also plans to incorporate the Chumash language into the University curriculum.
“To us, the language is not imposed upon the land it comes from the land,” Vestuto said. “Language all around the world is like a living entity that pulses through the ages carrying crucial knowledge through the centuries, but it requires new breath. Our language was disrupted. We’ve developed a partnership with this campus and in doing so, we’ve also developed a friendship. The hosting of an online dictionary in our language is a major step toward assisting us in our healing.”
To access the mitsqanaqan (Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians) dictionary, visit ciapps.csuci.edu/ChumashDictionary.
The 2024 Thousand Oaks Reads: One City, One Book (OCOB) selection is The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi! OCOB is a citywide literary event that encourages community members to collectively read and discuss the same book.
Alka Joshi’s debut novel, The Henna Artist, is set in post-Raj 1950s Jaipur and follows Lakshmi — a skilled henna artist and confidante to the upper class — as she navigates the delicate balance between her dreams of independence and the shadows of her past. Books are available in paperback, large print, eBook, and eAudiobook, and are now available at both libraries.
An Afternoon with Alka Joshi is the culminating author talk, discussion, and book signing. This program will be held on Sunday, April 28 at 2:00 pm in the Bank of America Performing Arts Center - Fred Kavli Theatre. FREE TICKETS are required for this event. Digital tickets are now available via Ticketmaster. Paper tickets will be available starting April 1 at both libraries. Friends of the Library members will enjoy priority entry 30 minutes before the event. For membership information, visit the library information desks. For more details, visit www.tolibrary.org/ocob. One City, One Book is generously sponsored by The Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library.
OCOB Kick off with Chili Beatz & Beautiful Henna with Suchita
Kick off this year’s One City, One Book with Southern California's top Bollywood band, Chili Beatz. Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of live Bollywood music. Additionally, Suchita, an experienced henna artist with more than 20 years of skill, will be offering small henna designs during the Chili Beatz concert. This program will be held on Saturday, March 30 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Grant R. Brimhall Library.
Henna 101 with Henna Me Beautiful
Learn about the history of henna, and the basics of how to create simple and beautiful design elements. Henna Me Beautiful's lead artist, Afshan Khan, is certified through ICNHA (International Certification of Natural Henna Arts). With her guidance you will learn how to create beautiful henna designs. Best suited for teens and adults. Materials and supplies provided. This program will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room. Space is limited. Registration required.
Tea Tasting with Alaya Tea
Join us to try a variety of teas! Alaya is an Indian, women-owned tea company. Their name comes from “Himalaya,” a region where some of the finest teas grow and thus, inspired the founders Esha Chhabra and Smita Satiani to build a tea company. This program will be held on Sunday, April 7 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room. Space is limited. Registration required.
Dot Mandala Crafternoon
Transform a compact mirror into a vibrant mandala masterpiece. This program will be held from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 13 in the Newbury Park Library Art Gallery, and on Sunday, April 21 in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room. Registration required.
Kathak Dance Demo & Follow Along with Sona Lewis
Indian classical “Kathak” dance artiste and performer Sona Lewis will present Kathak dance. There will be a “follow-along” segment for anyone who wants to learn more about Kathak. No prior dance knowledge is needed. Sona Lewis is a Kathak Indian Classical Dance Instructor, Choreographer and Artiste. Sona was professionally trained in Kathak under renowned Guru Pandit Munna Shukla ji, New Delhi, India for over 15 years. For ages 11-adult. This program will be held on Sunday, April 14 from 12:15 pm to 1:30 pm in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room.
Cal Lutheran Faculty Panel Discussion
Professors explore unique perspectives and offer thoughtful responses to many of the themes and issues presented in The Henna Artist. Sponsored by University Relations. This program will be held on Wednesday, April 17 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room.
Story Slam: Inspired by The Henna Artist
Calling for submissions! Writers of all ages are invited to submit a story based on the themes of family, found family, culture, tradition, new starts, unexpected change, or independence. Eight selected stories will be read on stage by the authors on Friday, April 26th at 7:00 pm. Audience favorite will win a $50 gift card. Submission guidelines: Stories must be able to be read in under seven minutes and be between 1,000-2000 words. Story content must be library appropriate. Email to info@tolibrary.org with the subject heading “Story Slam.” Print: Submit entry in-person at the Information Desk. Entries must include your name and contact information. Submission Deadline: April 12, 2024. Selected authors will be notified on April 19, 2024. This program will be held on Friday, April 26 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room.
Paint & Sip: Elephant Art Class
Paint, snack, and socialize as you are taught step by step how to create this painting inspired by the Munnar Tea Plantations in Kerala, India. Painting will be done on a 16”x20” canvas using acrylic paints. Painting can sometimes be messy, so we recommend that you keep that in mind when selecting your outfit for the afternoon. Light refreshments will be served. This program will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Newbury Park Library Art Gallery. Space is limited. Registration required.
Tea Kit
Experience the rich flavors of India! Each kit includes a tea bag and one of the following loose-leaf teas: Darjeeling First Flush, Darjeeling Second Flush, Masala Chai, or CTC Assam. Tea sources from The Healing Tree, a local small business with a vast selection of over 1,000 bulk exotic teas and traditional herbs from around the globe. Please check the ingredients if you have any dietary restrictions or concerns. Kits are available at both libraries starting March 30. While supplies last.
More information at www.tolibrary.org/ocob.
The former Exotic Thai in the North Ranch Pavilions shopping center at 1145 Lindero Canyon Road (at Kanan) is now The Pan Kitchen - Thai / Mini Hotpot / Boba. Located next to Lamppost Pizza. Learn more at thepankitchen.com
Looks like "La Poblana" is in the works at the former home of The Raspado House (and before that, The Healthy Place) in the Village Square Shopping Center at 540 N. Moorpark Road, just south of Wilbur. No other details at this point in time.
The grand reopening of the Calabasas Community Center is planned for Saturday, March 16th from 8am to 6pm. Event will feature facility tours, food trucks, DJ, science and reptile tours, free classes and more. Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/ccc for more information about this 30,000 sq ft community center. Located at 27040 Malibu Hills Road.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide® covers thousands of events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County, California and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide is a participant in the following affiliate programs: Amazon Associates, Groupon Affiliates and from time to time other affiliate programs. These affiliate advertising programs are designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the respective eCommerce sites. Some links on the site may be affiliate links. We get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site. Learn more at paidforadvertising.com.
