Hobby Lobby Coming to Former Walmart Location in Simi Valley (Opened October 2, 2020)

UPDATE: Hobby Lobby Simi Valley opened its 60th California location at Cochran Street and Sycamore Drive in Simi Valley on October 2nd. The 53,000 square foot facility is open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.hobbylobby.com/stores/search/933?lat=34.2694474&long=-118.781482

Don’t know the timing yet, but Hobby Lobby will be opening at some point in the former Walmart space at 2801 Cochran Street in Simi Valley. Hobby Lobby will be occupying two-thirds of the building, with Planet Fitness occupying the other third.

Walmart opened in January 2013 and closed in mid-2018. prior to that it was a Mervyns.

www.hobbylobby.com

Camarillo Health Care District Hosts Free "Produce Day" 2nd Thursday of the Month

Camarillo Health Care District Hosts Free "Produce Day" in Partnership with FOOD Share

The Camarillo Health Care District, in partnership with FOOD Share, hosts a free “Produce Day” on the 2nd Thursday of each month, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at District offices located at 3639 E. Las Posas Road, Suite 117, in Camarillo.  Participants can select, at no charge, from a variety of seasonal produce items. Produce is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring bags (the flyer above says bags will be provided; but this has changed). There are no eligibility requirements. 

The District usually posts what produce is being offered the morning of each Free Produce Day event on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CamarilloHealthCareDistrict.

Health screenings and other services are also available in conjunction with this event, held every second Thursday of the month, at no charge. There are no eligibility requirements and produce is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call to register, (805) 388-1952, ext. 100.

The Camarillo Health Care District is a public agency formed in 1969 by the voters of the Pleasant Valley and surrounding areas to provide community health, wellness and safety services. Learn more at www.camhealth.com.

Jersey Mike's is Coming Soon to Former Subway Location in Westlake Village

Jersey Mike's is "coming soon" to the former Subway (closed last October) in the North Ranch Gateway (TJ Maxx) Plaza in Westlake Village. Located between Muzen Sushi and The Royal Egg Cafe.

 (Thanks to Debbie J for the heads up. via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page.)

Limeña Peruvian Eatery "Coming Soon" to Thousand Oaks (Now Open)

UPDATE: Limena opened on July 28, 2020.

Rachel L provided this photo showing Limeña Peruvian Eatery is "coming soon" to 2388 Thousand Oaks Blvd, in the former home of Natas Pastries and prior to that Pizzeria la Piccola. (And near Harold's House of Omelettes). Limeña means “a female native or resident of Lima, Peru.”

Their website, not currently functional, is limenaeatery.com. (805) 497-3653

Young Artists Art Exhibit Winners Announced by the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley

1st Place: Hadley Brady, Grade 8, “Lady in Black” Charcoal (Photo by Paul Cranmer)

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley held its annual HANG WITH THE BEST 20/20 art show featuring art by young artists in grades 6 through 12 in different mediums including paint, photography, 3D and drawing. An awards reception was held on February 12 form 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.

Cash and prizes were awarded to winning entrants, along with certificates. Over sixty students participated in this show, and the largest category was photography.

Hang with the Best provides an opportunity for young people to display their art in a professional public gallery. All eligible entries are placed on exhibit and funding for this event is provided through the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley.

WINNERS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL CATEGORIES INCLUDE: ARTS COUNCIL OF THE CONEJO VALLEY (ACCV) BOARD AWARD: Katie Kersnick, Grade 10, “La Mariposa de Immigrante” Digital Photography, HCFA STAFF: Enola Lagrave, Grade 12, “Ocean of White” Digital Photography, GREG COLE MEMORIAL AWARD: Kate Robinson, Grade 9, “Flower Girl” Painting Brian Racalbuto, Grade 12, “Kid Culture” Painting.

CERAMICS/SCULPTURE: Special Award: Francie Pavon, Grade 12 “Winged Figure” Mixed Media Sculpture.

DRAWING: 1st Place: Kaiden Pemberton, Grade 11, “Liftoff ” Ink & Colored Pencil 2nd Place: Aidan Purcell, Grade 11, “Peace in the Land of Giants” Charcoal, 3rd Place: Grace Pei, Grade 9, “A Portrait of a Young African Lady” Charcoal

PAINTING: 1st Place: Emily Crain, Grade 12, “Muerte Vida” Ink Wash 2nd Place: Charissa Shang, Grade 10, “Untitled” Watercolor 3rd Place: Julia N Kulyk, Grade 12, “Bird of Happiness” Painting

PHOTOGRAPHY: 1st Place: Tyler Peterson, Grade 12, “Drip” Digital Photography 2nd Place: Vivek Kanchi, Grade 12, “Got Milk?” Photography 3rd Place: Leon Burg, Grade 12, “Pursuit of Happiness” Photography Honorable Mention: Alex Hahn, Grade 11, “Untitled” Digital Photography Honorable Mention: Ryan Paige, Grade 12, “Together” Digital Photography.

WINNERS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL INCLUDE: 1st Place: Hadley Brady, Grade 8, “Lady in Black” Charcoal 2nd Place: Catherine Xie, Grade 8, “Koi Fish” Oil Honorable Mention: Sierra Bernhardt, Grade 6, “Friendships” Watercolor Honorable Mention: Eileen Zhang, Grade 8, “On Wings of Autumn” Watercolor

The Arts Council for the Conejo Valley (ACCV) was established in 1969. During its over four decade span, the ACCV has gone through extensive changes in its programs and services. Established as a regional Federation of Arts organization that was formed to promote the community’s cultural development, the ACCV has evolved into a membership support agency that also delivers and co-sponsors many cultural programs. Member services include marketing, technical assistance workshops, and lowered rent at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts. The ACCV has a history of successful partnership in the community. It has joined forces and worked toward a common with three major partners – the City of Thousand Oaks, the Conejo Recreation and Park District, and the Conejo Valley Unified School District. The ACCV, in collaboration with Art Trek, created the Conejo Cottontail Project to promote public art throughout the community.

The Hillcrest Galleria is open during business hours and some evenings and weekends and is free to the public at 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

Katie Kersnick, Grade 10, “La Mariposa de Immigrante” Digital Photography (Photo by Paul Cranmer)

Barone's Pizza of Westlake Village is Moving to Its Thousand Oaks Location Effective February 18th

Barone’s Pizza of Westlake announced today that its last day at its Westlake Village location is this coming Monday, February 17th but delicious Barone’s pizzas and other specialties will continue being served up at its newer Thousand Oaks location in the Northstar Plaza, 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Barone’s Westlake has been in operation since April 20, 2015 for a nearly five year run at this location across from Lure Fish House.

That said…Barone’s indicate in a comment on the CVG Instagram post at www.instagram.com/p/B8mZrlIgiqH/ that it has a new Westlake Village location and is working towards a late spring opening.

Tifa Chocolate & Gelato Now Open in Calabasas

The Calabasas Tifa Chocolate & Gelato opened this week at 23655 Calabasas Road, across the street from The Commons at Calabasas. The gelato looked and tasted fantastic today! tifachocolateandgelato.com/calabasas-ca

El Taco Chico Now Open in Oak Park

El Taco Chico is now open at the former Baba's Cafe at 640 Lindero Canyon Road (at Kanan) in the Oak Park Shopping Center. Baba's Cafe opened in May 2017 in this former home of the Sub Contractor.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu includes a full array of Mexican fare, scramble bowls, burgers, tortas, salads, sandwiches and more.

Cal Lutheran Now Offers Financial Literacy Course

In response to a federal recommendation and student requests, California Lutheran University this semester joined a small but growing number of colleges offering a for-credit personal finance course.

The U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission, which includes members from the U.S. departments of Education and the Treasury, last year recommended that higher education institutions require financial literacy courses to equip students to make critical decisions during and after college.

“It’s not if, but when, this mandate will come from either the federal or state level,” said Chia-Li Chien, director of the financial planning program at Cal Lutheran. “Higher education institutions must be prepared to have such a course in place to meet the requirement.”

Chien helped develop Introduction to Personal Finance, the new optional one-unit elective being taught by William Klepper, a senior adjunct faculty member and certified financial planner with more than 30 years of experience. Cal Lutheran began with one section, hoping to attract 18 students. Enrollment has climbed to a near-capacity class of 23 as students continue to add it. The course covers saving, taxes, credit scores, bank accounts, budgets, loans, housing decisions, investments and risk management. Students will put together budgets and financial plans for themselves.

“Understanding spending limits and being conscious of financial decisions during college will help students establish good financial behaviors before they enter the workforce,” said Chien, an assistant professor in the School of Management. “These foundational skills will go a long way toward helping students reach their goals in life.”

Even though many U.S. students take out loans to help finance their education, a 2019 Trellis Research report found that only 21% of undergraduates could correctly answer three questions related to loan terms, interest rates and repayment options. In a 2018 Brookings Institution study, U.S. undergraduate students demonstrated low levels of financial literacy, with just 28% getting three multiple-choice questions on inflation, interest and risk diversification correct. The study showed that financial knowledge was lower among students in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

Although personal finance courses are popular with students, a 2011 report from the Financial Security Project at Boston College found that offerings are sporadic with about 100 U.S. colleges offering for-credit classes. Community colleges were the first to adopt the courses in large numbers, the report said. A few universities mandate that all students complete a for-credit financial literacy course, and others require a short online module. An increasing number of universities have begun offering optional workshops, with Harvard and Princeton universities offering them for the first time last year.