California Crisp Cafe in Westlake Village Closes Its Doors

Lauren R tipped us off on the CVG Facebook page that the California Crisp Cafe, previously located at 5794 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village in the Albertson's/Michael's plaza, is closed. Hmm, I'd never even heard of the place. It actually looks (or I should looked) pretty good based on the menu at www.californiacrisp.com/westlake_wraps.htm. If they re-open somewhere else around town and I actually hear about them, I will definitely try them out!

CLU Receives $4.67 Million Scholarship Endowment From Estate of John R. Manken

CLU receives $4M scholarship endowment

Late donor got student aid, wanted to pay it forward

California Lutheran University has received its largest-ever donation for scholarships, a $4.67 million estate gift from a Pacific Palisades educator.

The endowment funded by John R. Manken’s bequest will provide about $240,000 each year in Manken Family Scholarships to students who are seeking teaching credentials or majoring in math, physics or religion. This will boost the university’s scholarship outlays from endowed funds by about 20 percent.

Manken died of a heart attack at the age of 89 on March 27, 2012, but CLU just received the funds. About $23,000 can be distributed in 2014 and the full awards will be available in 2015.

The child of a couple who ran a plumbing business, Manken received a scholarship to attend college and wanted to give others the same opportunity. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree and a doctorate in music from the University of Southern California, but after a year touring as a concert pianist he decided that wasn’t the life he wanted. He returned to USC and earned a doctorate in educational administration. He had a 40-year career as an elementary school teacher and principal and retired in 1993.

Manken, a Lutheran, first connected with CLU when he came to the Scandinavian Festival on campus in 1988 and met the university’s vice president of development. An only child who never married and had no descendants, he began working with Della Greenlee, the now retired director of scholarships and foundation relations, to establish the scholarships to be funded upon his death by the bulk of his estate. Prior to his passing, his only gifts to the university were two oak and glass display cases that hold a collection of Reformation-era Bibles and rare religious books that were donated by his friend.

Della Greenlee with the late John R. Manken (Photo Courtesy CLU)

Hideout Indoor Playground in Thousand Oaks Grand Opening on March 1st

The new Hideout Indoor Playground is opening this Saturday in Thousand Oaks at the North Ranch Pavilion Center, 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, Unit A7. The grand opening event takes place from 11am to 4pm and will feature free activities, raffle prizes, entertainment and refreshments.

This brand new facility was custom designed by Sherry Ehya, with a play area that was uniquely designed with a modern tree house, play stage, art studio, indoor climbing area and more. There's also a spacious parent lounge with comfortable seating, TV and free WiFi.

Learn more at www.hideoutplayground.com.

Claim Jumper Thousand Oaks Closed Its Doors Yesterday, February 23, 2014

The rumors this weekend were true. Claim Jumper at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks closed its doors at close of business yesterday, Sunday, February 23, 2014. Claim Jumper opened in 2005, when The Lakes first opened. Always sad to see a popular restaurant closing, but I suspect we will hear something else coming here soon. If you still a hankering for Claim Jumper, the nearest location to Ventura County is in Northridge. Visit claimjumper.com for more information.

"The Vernacular Bestiary" Exhibition at Santa Paula Agriculture Museum 3/1 to 6/15

The Premiere Exhibition of “The Vernacular Bestiary” and a Call for Poetry

From March 1 through June 15, 2014, the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will present the first exhibition of “The Vernacular Bestiary: Animal Snapshots from A to Z.” This collection of anonymous amateur photographs has been collected by photographer and gallerist John Nichols over the past two decades and has never been publiclyexhibited.

Dog, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

The abecedarian display of creatures is comprised of photographs taken over the past 120 years.   An adjacent kids’ reading and exhibit area will encourage children and their families to read and write poems, as well as draw and display their own responses to the animal-themed exhibition. Animal poems by published poets will also be shared, in binders that can be carried around the exhibition area. 

Fish, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

Call for Poetry: Writers are invited to preview selections from The Vernacular Bestiary online immediately at http://flic.kr/s/aHsj5133kr or see the original snapshots at the Agriculture Museum, beginning on March 1.  They may submit up to three original poems of up to 25 lines each inspired by any of the snapshots. Submission implies that the poems can be used by the Agriculture Museum non-commercially to publicize the exhibit (credit will be given) and copyright reverts back to author. Poems must be submitted to VBpoem@gmail.com by March 29. A panel of judges will select poems to be shared at the “An Afternoon of Animal Verse” to take place in April. Poets will be contacted and asked to read their selected poems at the event; poet Jackson Wheeler will read the poems of any who cannot attend.

The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula. Information about the museum can be found at www.venturamuseum.org or call 805.525.3100.  Museum hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 – 4.  For more information about the exhibition and the call for poetry, contact John Nichols at sespenichols@gmail.com or at (805) 525-7804. 

Colt, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

55 Hour Closure of 118 / 23 Freeway Interchange 10PM Feb 21 Until 5AM Feb 24

55-HOUR CLOSURE OF SR-118/SR-23 INTERCHANGE PLANNED 2/21-2/24

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the westbound Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118) connector to the southbound Moorpark Freeway (SR-23) at Princeton Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday, February 21 until 5 a.m. Monday, February 24

The closure is required to implement repairs of bridge joints on the westbound side of the Arroyo Simi Overhead structure. Caltrans is urging motorists to avoid the interchange if at all possible and to expect delays.

Westbound traffic will be directed to exit at Princeton Avenue, travel southbound on Princeton and turn left on Spring Road to Los Angeles Avenue. A right turn on Los Angeles will turn into westbound SR-118; a left turn will take motorists back to SR-23.

An alternate route will be posted directing motorists to exit westbound SR-118 at Madera Road, take Madera Road south, then turn right on Tierra Rejada Road back to SR- 23; westbound SR-118 traffic will take Route 23 north to Los Angeles Avenue.

Work will take place around the clock and may generate noise and dust for residents adjacent to the freeway. Otherwise, the work is not expected to involve significant community impacts.

A 50 percent reduction in traffic was achieved during the February 7-9 55-hour closure of the eastbound SR-118 connector. Caltrans urges motorists to avoid the interchange, if possible, and thanks the public for its cooperation.

Source: Caltrans District 7 www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/news

Straight Up Ventura County 2014 Youth Drug and Alcohol Awareness Video Contest

Straight Up Ventura County announces return of youth video contest; seeks videos from young people ages 12-25; focus on drug and alcohol awareness 

Straight Up, the Ventura County-wide youth advocacy project, has opened its most recent video contest for submissions from young people in Ventura County.

Entrants can choose from topics on underage and binge drinking, impaired driving, prescription drug abuse (and the links to heroin use) and the impact to the adolescent brain with marijuana use. 

2011-2012 California Healthy Kids Survey results showed that Ventura County youth continue to abuse prescription drugs and use heroin and marijuana. For example, 20% of 11th graders and 14% of 9th graders have used prescription pain medications to get high. Marijuana use doubled for 5th graders between 2009 and 2012. Heroin continues to be an escalating problem -- several young people in Simi Valley and elsewhere have fatally overdosed in recent years. Often, the problem starts with prescription drug abuse with the user "graduating" to heroin for similar effects. 

Alcohol use and impaired driving also continue to be a local issue. In Ventura County, alcohol use is highest among 18- to 20-year-olds not old enough to legally purchase it, and is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes.

The contest is open to Ventura County young people 12-25 years of age who live or go to school within Ventura County. Short videos (30-90 seconds) are preferred, but longer videos are welcome as well. A grand prize of $500 will be awarded, as well as several runner-up prizes. Entries must be received by Friday, May 16, 2014. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 30.

Downloadable rules and guidelines can be found at www.straightupvc.org/contest. Information sessions, training and equipment lending can be made available. Call 805.647.4622 with any questions.

Straight Up Ventura County (a project of Ventura County Behavioral Health Department Alcohol and Drug Programs) works closely with young people to raise awareness and create change around the issues of alcohol and drug abuse. Advocacy training, reality improv workshops and video projects are some of the way youth can get engaged and become empowered.

Winner of the 2013 contest:

Mama's Hummus Coming Soon to Conejo Gateway Plaza in Newbury Park

Update 2/19/14: Mama's Hummus is opening tomorrow, Thursday, February 20th according to a post on its Facebook page.

Update 2/4/14: Mama's Hummus indicates on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mamashummus that it is "coming soon in February." Authentic Lebanese food with fresh, hand-picked ingredients. And they have a nice new sign up facing Wendy Drive.

Originally posted 12/25/13:

There's a new "coming soon" sign up and it sounds pretty good to me! Mama's Hummus will be opening "soon" at the Conejo Gateway Plaza, 779 N. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park, in the space adjacent to Tomodachi Sushi.  The sign on the door says kabobs, shawarma and falafel....authentic Mediterranean cuisine. www.mamashummus.com

The mere mention of hummus reminds me of the famous Mordecai and Rigby of The Regular Show, who appreciate the deliciousness of hummus.

Los Agaves Mexican Grill in Thousand Oaks, Which Reopened, Recently Closed Again

Ed G of Thousand Oaks also pointed out to us that Los Agaves Mexican Grill at 2350 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, which closed mid-last year, opened as a new restaurant, but subsequently opened again as Los Agaves Mexican Grill, is now closed. The sign on the door, pictured below, indicates that may try to open again at a new location in the future. Los Agaves served Thousand Oaks for ten years.