Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Launches "SBnature From Home" Website

The Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) is a common songbird found in the Santa Barbara area and likely to be seen in many backyards.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History recently launched a new online resource called SBnature From Home, a carefully curated collection of ways to connect to science and nature while the Museum is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Museum strives to teach visitors that it and the Sea Center are not the final destination, but rather base camps for exploration. Everything the Museum does is meant to inspire the public’s curiosity and desire to connect with nature. In this spirit, SBnature From Home is a collection of ways online visitors can do this in any circumstances, with advice about how to enjoy nature while following state and federal guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19. The site includes content for all ages, organized by activities that can be done outdoors, indoors, or online. Activities include kid-friendly guides for neighborhood birding and backyard observations, tide pooling resources for those who live near beaches, stargazing guides, downloadable coloring sheets from Museum antique art collections, a feature inviting locals to ask the Museum’s scientists about backyard discoveries, links to citizen science projects and more.

Within the first 48 hours of launching, the page received over 2,100 unique visits with the average length of stay time on the page double that of other Museum webpages. Public response to the resources has been overwhelmingly positive as families and adults find themselves at home with a desire to learn and stay connected to the great outdoors.

Museum President & CEO Luke J. Swetland shared, “This is a wonderful success and we are so delighted to be able to continue to engage and educate our community in this new stay-at-home world in which we find ourselves. We will continue to add content to SBnature From Home and we fully anticipate that this part of our website will continue to be an exciting and much-used resource even after the Museum and Sea Center are back open for on-site business.”

New content will be added to SBnature From Home periodically, with notices about updates shared via the Museum and Sea Center’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and eblasts.

For more information, visit sbnature.org/from-home.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

IRS Issues an Update on "Economic Impact Payments"

Economic impact payments:

What you need to know

Check IRS.gov for the latest information: No action needed by most people at this time

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment.

Who is eligible for the economic impact payment?

Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible.

Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Parents also receive $500 for each qualifying child.

How will the IRS know where to send my payment?

The vast majority of people do not need to take any action. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the economic impact payment to those eligible.

For people who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For those who have not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.

The IRS does not have my direct deposit information. What can I do?

In the coming weeks, Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online, so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail.

I am not typically required to file a tax return. Can I still receive my payment?

Yes. People who typically do not file a tax return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment. Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax.

How can I file the tax return needed to receive my economic impact payment?

IRS.gov/coronavirus will soon provide information instructing people in these groups on how to file a 2019 tax return with simple, but necessary, information including their filing status, number of dependents and direct deposit bank account information.

I have not filed my tax return for 2018 or 2019. Can I still receive an economic impact payment?

Yes. The IRS urges anyone with a tax filing obligation who has not yet filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 to file as soon as they can to receive an economic impact payment. Taxpayers should include direct deposit banking information on the return.

I need to file a tax return. How long are the economic impact payments available?

For those concerned about visiting a tax professional or local community organization in person to get help with a tax return, these economic impact payments will be available throughout the rest of 2020.

Where can I get more information?

The IRS will post all key information on IRS.gov/coronavirus as soon as it becomes available.

The IRS has a reduced staff in many of its offices but remains committed to helping eligible individuals receive their payments expeditiously. Check for updated information on IRS.gov/coronavirus rather than calling IRS assistors who are helping process 2019 returns.

Ventura County Library Provides Virtual Services During COVID-19 Shutdown

Ventura County Library continues to provide services during the COVID-19 emergency while staff and customers are sheltering at home.

DATE: Ongoing

Ventura County Library continues to provide services during the COVID-19 emergency while staff and customers are sheltering at home. Many library services continue to be available.

Those services include: eBooks and eAudiobooks are available in our CloudLibrary collection at: https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/venturacountylibrary/Featured. Ventura County Library has recently dedicated extra funds to this collection to aid our customers during the County’s Stay Well at Home order.

eLibrary online resources at https://www.vencolibrary.org/elibrary including streaming music and movies, reference resources, newspapers, language learning, and literacy resources.

Storytimes – recorded on our YouTube channel at: https://bit.ly/VCLstory and https://bit.ly/vclSTEAM

Storytimes – live streamed on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Ventura-County-Library-68759970694/

• Monday-Friday at 10:30am and Friday at 3:30pm

  • Including a STEAM storytime on Thursdays at 10:30am

• Bilingual Storytime Monday at 3:30pm

Don't have a card? Check our Get a Library card page https://bit.ly/VCLcard to get a temporary number.

Due to the local COVID-19 emergency all Ventura County Library branches have closed and all programs and events canceled.

During this time, due dates for borrowed materials are being automatically extended, with no late fines assessed. Once the library reopens, customers may return materials. Until then, customers are asked to enjoy the items at home. Book drops are locked during our closure.

Placing holds is suspended and we encourage customers to keep lists of items and place holds once we reopen. The holds queue for materials is also paused, and when we reopen customers will have one week to pick up held items.

Ventura County Library is in constant communication with other departments, local officials, and health authorities. Stay updated on the latest regional developments of COVID-19 at https://www.vcemergency.com.

For additional information, contact Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Director at (805) 256-8535

National Park Service Closes All Trails in Los Angeles County Until Further Notice

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is Modifying

Operations to Implement Local Health Guidance

All Trails in Los Angeles County Closed

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), in response to guidance from the State of California and Los Angeles County, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

As of March 28, 2020, SMMNRA will offer very limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. At SMMNRA, the following services and operations will be modified to support health orders issued by the state and county:

All trails and restrooms in Los Angeles County are now closed.

We ask that the public please observe all posted signs.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at SMMNRA is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the park resumes full operations, the public will be notified via the website www.nps.gov/samo and our social media channels (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook). For updates regarding general NPS operations, visit www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Park rangers at SMMNRA are available to answer questions at 805-370-2301 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

If contemplating a visit to a national park during this pandemic, the NPS asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safer and healthier.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.

Sabor Cocina Mexicana at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks Is No Longer There

Sabor on Saturday, March 28th. Signs no longer there.

Sabor Cocina Mexicana at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks is no longer there. That leaves five businesses at The Lakes: Lassen's, P. F. Chang"s, CPK, Sunlife Organics and Kalologie Skincare.

A few folks on the CVG Facebook Page have asked if this is temporary (due to the COVID-19 crisis) or permanent. What leads me to believe this is a permanent closure:

• The signs are completely gone from the front of the restaurant.

• Sabor is no longer listed as a business on The Lakes’ website shoplakes.com.

• Only one Sabor location is listed on the Sabor website and it ain’t Thousand Oaks (they operate at the Bridgeport Marketplace in Valencia). www.saborcocinamexicana.com

• Their phone number is not functional.

Sabor about a week ago. Closed, but signs still up.

County of Los Angeles Issues Temporary Closure of Public Trails, Beaches and Piers Effective March 27th

The County of Los Angeles issued a Health Officer Order on March 27th that temporarily closes all public beaches, public trails and trailheads, piers, beach bike paths and beach access points in the county.

The order follows an unusually high volume of beach and trail users last weekend, seriously impeding the practice of safe and necessary social distancing measures to stem the local transmission of COVID-19.

The order is effective immediately and continues through April 19, 2020. EXTENDED TO MAY 15, 2020 ON APRIL 10TH. SEE www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/FAQ-SaferatHomeOrder.pdf.

Violation of or failure to comply with the order is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

The order indicates residents may continue to use currently open and publicly available park space, not prohibited by the order, for passive recreational activities, while practicing social distancing.

Conejo Open Space Trails Closed Immediately Until Further Notice (Order Given Friday Night, March 27th)

Although Ventura County Public Health has not ordered the closure of public trails in Thousand Oaks, the SMMC/MRCA and County of Los Angeles have closed their parks, trails and beaches. Friday evening, State Parks has also determined to close its parks and beaches in the Angeles District. The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) indicates it cannot handle the anticipated tidal wave of trail users from our own community combined with the millions of neighbors in west LA County who no longer have trails, parks and beaches available to them.

Therefore, COSCA trails in Thousand Oaks are closed effective immediately in order to protect the health of the public and our beloved open spaces during this unprecedented pandemic.

A Plea to Reduce Crowding at Popular Trails in the Conejo Open Space Due to COVID-19 Concerns

Conejo Valley Open Space trails are anticipated to re-open (closed due to muddy conditions) on Wednesday but most parking lots will be closed to help reduce foot traffic.

If appropriate 6 foot social distance protocols on the trails continues to be an issue, we risk losing access to these trails.

Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) encourage use of less crowded trails in the area. "Crowding or loitering at trailheads will result in trail closures." Please avoid Wildwood Park, Hill Canyon and Los Robles trailheads as crowding in these popular areas will determine the fate of all open space areas during this COVID-19 crisis.

More details on the COSCA Facebook page at THIS LINK.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to Temporarily Close Parking Areas Due to COVID-19

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), in collaboration with a state parks order issued by the Governor of the State of California on March 24, 2020, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

As of Tuesday, March 24, SMMNRA will offer very limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. The following visitor services and operations will be suspended in order to comply with coronavirus protective guidelines.

• All SMMNRA parking areas will be closed to vehicles.

• Previously announced closures are still in effect. This includes Solstice Canyon in Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas and Satwiwa Native American Culture Center in Newbury Park.

• The park will not issue permits nor conduct on-site public or educational programs.

The park remains open to day-use walkers, hikers and bicyclists. The NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.

Park rangers at SMMNRA are available to answer questions at 805-370-2301 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

When the park resumes full operations, the public will be notified at www.nps.gov/samo and our social media channels (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook).