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.
Edelweiss German Bierhaus (previously Julie's Alps and originally Jeanette's Edelweiss…and before that remember Brats Brothers and of course Lamppost Pizza) has closed its doors and sold its contents this past weekend. Jeanette's Edelweiss originally opened on March 27, 2015.
Sorry to see them go; we shall see what is next in this spot.
URBAN VEJJIE CLOSED ITS DOORS IN THE MARCH 2021 TIME FRAME. SORRY TO SEE THEM GO.
Urban Vejjie at The Shoppes at Westlake opened its doors yesterday, June 23rd, offering vegetarian/vegan specialties - salads, toasts, veggie/vegan burgers and sandwiches, bowls, soups and desserts. Visit www.urbanvejjie.com for the menu. Open 11am to 8pm Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday. 818-699-6484
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 487 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks has permanently closed, according to Coffee Bean’s corporate office.
Other local Coffee Bean locations, like The Oaks mall and on Avenida de los Arboles, are open. coffeebean.com
News release from City of Ventura on June 18, 2020 regarding statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of City Hall:
Dear City of Ventura Residents and Community Stakeholders,
In the last few days, we have seen a groundswell of support from some members of the community requesting that the City of Ventura remove the statue of Father Junipero Serra from its location near City Hall. To that end, Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere organized a meeting with representatives from the Barbareño/ Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash) and Father Tom Elewaut of Mission San Buenaventura. This meeting resulted in a friendly, collaborative, and honest dialogue where everyone recognized that the time for action is now.
The three of us are confident that a peaceful resolution regarding the Father Junipero Serra statue can be reached, without uncivil discourse and character assassination, much less vandalism of a designated landmark. As stated by Julie Tumamait Stenslie, the Tribal Chair of the Barbareño/ Ventureño Band of Mission Indians: “True conversation starts with an open heart and mind. Change comes when there is no judgement or assumptions. To listen to and to be heard is crucial.”
We have listened and we have heard the calls from those in the community and believe the time has come for the statue to be taken down and moved to a more appropriate non-public location. But a historic decision such as this must involve the Ventura City Council, the voices of the Chumash tribe and residents of Ventura. It is our priority to be receptive to community concerns and provide an environment where all voices are heard and respected. To honor the cultural heritage of Ventura and its earliest residents is our ultimate goal.
We all believe that the removal of the statue should be accomplished without force, without anger, and through a collaborative, peaceful process. This process has already commenced through our initial meeting and we look forward to continuing the discussion with the community to help guide further action on this.
The public will be invited to engage in this process and share their input. When a community discussion has been scheduled to discuss the Father Junipero Serra statue, this information will be shared openly and transparently by the City of Ventura.
The letter was signed by Matt LaVere, Mayor of Ventura, Father Tom Elewaut and Tribal Chair Julie Tumamait Stenslie.
The City of Thousand Oaks announced today that The Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks (BAPAC) will remain closed for live events until January 2021.
All programs that are on the calendar through December will be rescheduled. All patrons will be notified as soon as the new dates are confirmed. If a show must cancel, patrons will be notified of refund options.
When performances resume in January, the building will have been without live performances for 41 weeks. This unprecedented dark period is a direct result of the prolonged safety and health concerns arising from COVID-19. Although the venue will not hold live events with audiences, the theatres may be used for potential filming and streaming opportunities without live audiences.
BAPAC is one of the largest performing arts centers between Los Angeles and San Francisco and is funded through a unique public/private partnership between the City of Thousand Oaks and Thousand Oaks Alliance for the Arts (TOARTS). It consists of the 1,800-seat Fred Kavli Theatre for the Performing Arts and the 394-seat Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre, which combine outstanding arts and entertainment with state-of-the-art technology and acoustics. Historically, over 200,000 patrons and 50,000 school children attend more than 300 performances annually.
For more information and updates as they occur, please visit our website at www.BAPACthousandoaks.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For ticketing questions, please call the box office at 805 449 2787.
Today the California Department of Health provided updated guidance for the use of face coverings to fight the spread of COVID-19:
The guidance mandates that face coverings be worn statewide in the following circumstances, with certain exceptions:. It does not substitute for existing guidance about social distancing and hand washing.
People in California must wear face coverings when they are in the high-risk situations listed below:
• Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space (unless exempted by state guidelines for specific public settings like school or childcare centers)
• Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank;
• Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
• Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when:
• Interacting in-person with any member of the public;
• Working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time;
• Working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others;
• Working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities;
• In any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance.
• Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, face coverings are strongly recommended.
• While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.
The following individuals are exempt from wearing a face covering:
• Persons age two years or under. These very young children must not wear a face covering because of the risk of suffocation.
• Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance.
• Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
• Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
• Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.
• Persons who are seated at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, while they are eating or drinking, provided that they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence.
• Persons who are engaged in outdoor work or recreation such as swimming, walking, hiking, bicycling, or running, when alone or with household members, and when they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet from others.
• Persons who are incarcerated. Prisons and jails, as part of their mitigation plans, will have specific guidance on the wearing of face coverings or masks for both inmates and staff.
Note: Persons exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition who are employed in a job involving regular contact with others should wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it.
More information at covid19.ca.gov.
The Las Posas Emporium gift and card shop at the Las Posas Plaza, 528 Las Posas Road in Camarillo has closed its doors after operating for 50 years.
Camille S. tipped us off that the Tuesday Morning store in the Conejo Valley Plaza, 1350 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, is closing its doors. There’s currently a store closing sale in process.
Tuesday Morning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 27th as a result of the financial strain placed on its business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it will continue to operate as it moves through the bankruptcy process, certain underperforming stores will be closed. They plan to emerge from bankruptcy in early fall 2020.
The Camarillo, Ventura, Granada Hills and Woodland Hills stores currently are NOT slated for closing. The Pasadena and Culver City are on the store closure list.
Press Release from CRPD today:
The July Fourth Fireworks show from atop Fireworks Hill - above the Oaks Shopping Center and Janss Marketplace - is a decades-long family tradition drawing tens of thousands or viewers to gather in parks, parking lots, homes and roof-tops.
After careful consideration, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and City of Thousand Oaks are cancelling the traditional Fireworks Display this year.
This event generates large crowds akin to concerts or sporting events. Such large gatherings are prohibited until we move into “Stage 4” of the covid reopening plan under the current statewide health orders. In addition, virtually every surrounding City has canceled their 2020 fireworks show, and if the Thousand Oaks Fireworks show were to proceed, it would likely generate even greater interest and attendance than usual.
For similar reasons, the Conejo Recreation and Park District will not be holding the traditional Pancake Breakfast and July Fourth Concert in the Park.
We look forward the day soon when we can resume large gatherings and community building events.
The Fireworks Committee has representatives from CRPD, City of Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks Police Department, Ventura County Fire Department, CHP, CalTrans, KHAY 100.7, Janss Marketplace, the Oaks Shopping Center, National Park Service, JW Enterprises and Pyro Spectacular by Souza. We appreciate and thank the committee for all the work they do year after year planning, coordinating, and working to deliver a safe and smooth event.
As a reminder, we live in a very dry area where fires can start and spread easily. Every year fireworks cause fires, property damage and personal injury. Given this reality, igniting personal fireworks within the City of Thousand Oaks is not permitted.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
