City of Ojai to Require Use of Face Coverings at Essential Businesses Effective April 10th

On April 8, 2020, the City of Ojai announced the implementation of executive order 20-02, requiring that, effective April 10, 2020, employees and customers at an essential business wear a face covering over their nose and mouth. Face coverings are not required when driving or when you are outside in a location where you are unlikely to encounter others in close proximity; but residents are reminded to practice good social distancing at all times.

The notice requests that residents not purchase N95 or surgical masks needed by medical professionals, but instead requires face coverings from bandanas, scarves, or cloth masks. The City will provide signage to essential businesses advising customers of the requirement.

This order is intended to protect both residents and employees who are performing essential services.

Most Ventura County Area Coco's and Carrows Locations Closed Last Week

UPDATE: Coco’s Simi Valley at 698 E. Los Angeles Ave closed in September 2022. No more Coco’s in Ventura County. The closest Coco’s is now in Mission Hills.

According to Nation's Restaurant News, the new owners of Coco's Bakery and Carrows has closed approximately half of the eateries' locations that were deemed to be underperforming. CVG Facebook readers noted this too and we have confirmed that the following Ventura County locations have been closed:

• Coco's: Camarillo and Ventura (as well as the neighboring location at 4895 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas)

• Carrows: Oxnard and Ojai

That leaves us with a single Carrows in Ventura and a single Coco's in Simi Valley.

(Carrows in Ventura closed in mid-2019.)

AJ Chinese Cuisine to Open in Ojai on Thursday, September 12th

HEALTHY AND EXOTIC CHINESE FOOD COME TO OJAI
AJ Chinese Cuisine’s Grand Opening September 12^th

A new Ojai restaurant officially opens Thursday, September 12^th at 11:30 AM, offering a wide variety of classic and regional Chinese dishes. AJ Chinese Cuisine located at 842 East Ojai Avenue, will have free wine for all diners on opening day to go with their meals. Restaurant owners Jessica Oestreich and Alice Ramsey are from mainland China, were married in America and now reside in Ojai. They believe Ojai needs a good Chinese restaurant that offers a wide selection of dishes from different regions of China.

The restaurant has two chefs from China One is from a 5 star hotel, where he specialized in seafood dishes. The other chef, from the famous Lui Ding Restaurant in Hong Kong, will focus on hotter, spicier dishes. Dishes will be made with fresh, locally grown vegetables with no preservatives. The chefs select choice pieces of meat and chicken breast, which are then thinly sliced for quick cooking.

New dishes will continue to be added to the extensive 7-page menu. Monthly specials created from seasonal crops will be featured along with luncheon specials. The restaurant went through a total renovation prior to test opening in late August. A full bar includes wines from all three Ojai wineries, serves appetizers and several TV screens. Skylights have been added throughout the restaurant to lighten the interior and conserve energy. A private dining room is available for meetings up to 70 people.

For more information call 805.640.0201. Their website will be launching in mid-September at www.AJChineseCuisine.com.

Ojai Police Department Reports an Increase in Reported Phone Scams

Ojai Police are warning Ojai Valley residents of an increase in reported phone scams. The suspect(s) have been targeting elderly residents and posing as family members in need of large sums of money or an official calling on the behalf of the family member because they are in jail and need money to bail out. Victims have reported the suspect(s) request the victim(s) to send the money to locations in Vancouver, B.C. Canada, or overseas to countries in the Middle East.

If any area residents receive phone calls of this nature, or any other suspicious nature, they are encouraged to call law enforcement. This type of phone scam is one of many that occur throughout the year and increase during holiday seasons.

Here are some recommendations to protect yourself from telephone scams:

1. Always know whom you are talking to and get information on the business and a call back number.
2. Never provide your confidential information, such as date of birth, social security number, or bank account numbers.
3. Discontinue transactions if someone coaches you on how to send money or respond to questions from money order service employees.
4. Always check with other family members when a suspect calls and poses as a family member requesting money and call the family member the officials are talking about.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to
the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller
may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village Wins AAA Five Diamond Award Again in 2011

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL WESTLAKE VILLAGE GARNERS PRESTIGIOUS AAA FIVE DIAMOND AWARD FOR 2011

Service and Teamwork are Key to Creating an Exceptional Guest Experience

For the third consecutive year, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village received the coveted Five Diamond award by the American Automobile Association (AAA).  By achieving this designation, the 270-room Hotel remains the only AAA Five Diamond rated hotel in the Conejo Valley.

“We are thrilled and honoured to continue to receive this award which would not be possible without the tireless efforts of our employees,” said Regional Vice President and General Manager Thomas Gurtner.

This is a general manager who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to collecting precious stones.  Mr. Gurtner has a perfect score of achieving Five Diamond ratings or the equivalent for each of his 22 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in destinations as varied as New York, Hong Kong, Newport Beach and Boston.  According to Mr. Gurtner, the secret in garnering so much “bling” is surrounding himself with a team of extraordinary people providing exceptional service throughout his career.

“It’s all about the team,” said Mr. Gurtner.  “I know that the best success is shared success.  After all, organizational success is rarely about an individual.  In the end, it's the team of inherently caring, service-minded individuals who create our unique guest experience that makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary.”  

To select AAA Five Diamond accommodations, the property is anonymously rated by 75 different benchmarks while the staff is evaluated by 228 individual standards.   Less than one-half of one percent of more than 31,000 inspected hotels achieves the AAA Five Diamond designation.

Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village opened in November 2006 offering a 40,000-square-foot Spa and well-being programs at California Health & Longevity Institute in addition to extensive function space and diverse dining options in ONYX and Hampton’s.  For more information or reservations for Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, please visit www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage, call the Hotel directly at (818) 575-3000, or contact a travel professional.  

Note From Conejo Joe: The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is the other hotel in Ventura County to make this Five Diamond list in 2010. This is the 5th year in a row that they have made the list.