State of California Unveils "Blueprint for a Safer Economy" Plan for Reopening with COVID-19

Blueprint recognizes that COVID-19 will be with us for a long time and that we all need to adapt and live differently to get through this

New plan imposes risk-based restrictions on sectors across state; expands time between changes

On Friday, August 28, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a statewide, stringent and slow plan for living with COVID-19 for the long haul. The plan imposes risk-based criteria on tightening and loosening COVID-19 allowable activities and expands the length of time between changes to assess how any movement affects the trajectory of the disease.

This new framework makes a number of changes to the state’s previous resilience roadmap.

Californians can go to covid19.ca.gov to find out where their county falls and what activities are allowable in each county.

The Blueprint builds on lessons learned from the first six months of the disease – and the new scientific understanding that has been collected – to create a new system for regulating movement and COVID-19 transmissions. It includes:

• At least 21 days to expand activities beyond the initial tier to liimit the spread of the virus;

• Mandatory metrics – case rates and test positivity – to measure how widespread COVID-19 is in each county and guide what is allowed;

• A uniform state framework, with four categories instead of 58 different sets of rules;

• A more nuanced way of allowing activity: Instead of open vs. closed, sectors can be partially opened and progressively add to their operations as disease transmission decreases; and

• A new process for tightening back up again quickly when conditions worsen.

Based on recent data, each county will fall into one of four colored tiers – Purple (Widespread), Red (Substantial), Orange (Moderate) and Yellow (Minimal) – based on how prevalent COVID-19 is in each county and the extent of community spread. That color will indicate how sectors can operate.

For example, in the Purple tier where the disease is widespread, restaurants can only operate outdoors. But once a county has achieved a lower level of disease transmission and moved into the Red (Substantial) tier, restaurants can operate with 25 percent capacity indoors or 100 patrons, whichever is fewer.

It relies on two leading health metrics: number of cases per 100,000 residents and percentage of COVID-19 tests that come back positive. In addition, counties will also be required to show they are targeting resources and making the greatest efforts to prevent and fight COVID in communities and with individuals with the highest risk, and demonstrate improvements in outcomes.

Counties must remain in every tier but purple for a minimum of 21 days before being eligible to move into the next tier. Each Tuesday, California will update each county’s data for the previous week and make corresponding changes to tiers. In order to move into a less restrictive tier, a county must meet that tier’s criteria for two straight weeks.

Conversely, counties that fail to meet the metrics for their current tier for two consecutive weeks must move to the next most restrictive tier. The plan also includes an “emergency brake” where the state can intervene more immediately for concerning factors like hospitalizations.

Purple (Widespread) is substituted for the previous County Data Monitoring List (which has equivalent criteria to Purple). Schools in the (Purple) Widespread tier aren’t permitted to reopen for in-person instruction, unless they receive a waiver from their local health department for TK-6 grades. Schools can reopen for in-person instruction once their county has been in the Red (Substantial) tier for at least two weeks.

The plan also emphasizes that no matter what restrictions the state puts in place, COVID-19 will get the upper hand if Californians don’t adapt their behaviors for the duration of the pandemic.

That means, until an effective vaccine is distributed, Californians must wear a mask every time they’re with people outside their household. Residents must take activities outside and maintain distance even with loved ones who do not live with them. Californians must realize that the safest place to be is still at home. And the elderly and those with medical conditions should still stay away from others as much as possible.

The Governor today also announced new PSAs highlighting the dangers of social gatherings during the pandemic and partnerships with Yelp, Facebook, Google and OpenTable, which will now encourage businesses to share COVID-19 safety precautions through new features so that customers can make informed decisions to protect their health and safety.

Jack's Donuts Thousand Oaks Announces It Has Served Its Last Donut

Today around 4pm I was at the opthamologist’s office waiting for my eyes to dilate. But I still was able to check out the CVG Instagram feed when I received a message from the folks at Jack’s Donuts Thousand Oaks. The message said “Last Day Open!”

Wait, what!?

Jack’s opened its doors not even a year ago, on November 9, 2019.

But the owners, who are extremely nice folks, decided not to continue operating. They indicated they have been particularly hit hard by the pandemic.

I stopped by, wearing my dark post-eye appointment glasses, to pay my last respects and to purchase half a dozen farewell donuts. Very sorry to see them go.

Limena Peruvian Eatery Now Open in Thousand Oaks

Limena Peruvian Eatery opened on July 28th at 2388 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks in the former home of Natas Pastries and Pizzeria la Piccola.

Everything looks, smells and tastes delicious. The menu includes Peruvian favorites like Lomo Saltado (stir-fried beef with red onions, tomatoes, green onions, cilantro and french fries served on white rice), Chaufa de Quinoa Con Vegetables (quinoa in the style of Peruvian fried rice, with bean sprouts, peas, carrots, egg and green onions), fried yuca, and much more.

Learn more at limenaeatery.com.

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers Chime In On Favorite Items at Urbane Cafe

Today, the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page hosted its 36th day in a row of daily gift card drawings at local eateries. We’ve been raising funds from local residents and businesses and using these funds to purchase gift cards and gift certificates. In turn, we’ve been giving free publicity in the form of a drawing each day, rewarding one lucky participant the gift card. It’s been a lot of fun and we plan to continue these drawings as long as we continue to receive donations.

Donations can be made via credit card at bit.ly/CVGFund or via PayPal at paypal.me/ConejoValleyGuide.

(We’ve covered quite a number of eateries so far, including Country Harvest, Grabbagreen, Little Calf Creamery, Prawn and Basil, Parma Pizza, P&L Burger, El Sancho Loco, Hatch Cafe, Coaches Ice Cream, Tifa Chocolate & Gelato, Made in Italy, Pedals & Pints, Toppers Pizza, The Latigo Kid, Vegan Thyme, Thousand Oaks Fish & Chips, Five 07 Coffee Bar, Mouthful Eatery, Los Agaves, Side Street Cafe, Twisted Oak Tavern, Joi Cafe, Cafe Sapientia, Jack’s Donuts, Tabu Shabu, Holdren’s Steak House, Chocolatine, Q Sushi, Newberry Candy, Snapper Jacks, Novo Cafe, D’Amore’s Pizza, Pacific Fresh Grill, Bandits BBQ, Carrara Pastries, Historia Bakery, Boney Mountain Pizza Co., Los Dos Amigos and Urbane Cafe.)

Tom Holt opened the first Urbane Cafe in 2003 in Ventura and this popular fast casual eatery has since grown to 19 locations. Urbane Cafe Thousand Oaks opened in April 2015. There are also local locations in Agoura Hills, Camarillo, Simi Valley and Oxnard. Their menu includes freshly made, sandwiches, salads, bowls and soups. Their freshly-baked focaccia bread is a standout! Learn more at urbanecafe.com.

Here the Urbane Cafe menu items that received the most attention from CVG fans:

• Cranberry Brie Sandwich received quite a bit of love!

• Lots of support for the Farmers Market Salad

• Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich sounded good to many

• Meat lovers would like to sink their teeth into the Chimchurri Steak Sandwich

• Pesto and Sundried Tomato sandwich is loved by many

• The Santa Maria BBQ Sandwich has a lot of supporters

• The So Cal Sandwich is quite popular

• The Californian Sandwich - very popular with our vegetarian friends

• Other items receiving mentions include Cilantro Chicken Salad, Cilantro Torta, UC Banh Mi, Turkey Club Sandwich, the Ahi Salad (a favorite of mine, along with the Cranberry Brie), Bella Portobello Sandwich, Protein Salad, Fiesta Bowl and others.

Jessica remarked “GET THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! Your life will never be the same.” Others echoed her sentiment. Keep that in mind as you perhaps go on a run to pre-burn some calories!

New Ventura County Office of Education Building to Serve Needs of Students with Autism

The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) today marked the completion of the new Mary E. Samples Education Services Center building in Camarillo.

The 29,944 square- foot, two-story building at 5250 Adolfo Road. was finished just over two years after construction began. The building is the new, permanent home of VCOE’s Triton Academy, which serves students with autism in 3rd through 12th grades. It also houses the administrative offices of VCOE’s Special Education Department and has space reserved for what could become a high-tech makerspace lab for middle school students throughout the county.

The building is named after Mary E. Samples, a longtime champion of children with special needs in Ventura County. Before she retired in 2018, Samples served for 14 years as the leader of the Ventura County SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area), the agency that administers special education programs for public school students countywide. That capped a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades in Ventura County public education.

Plans to bring students back to class in the new building are temporarily on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. Once it’s safe for them to return, students will find state-of-the art classrooms equipped with smart video screens, the latest specialized learning tools for children with autism, and an interactive outdoor play area. A formal dedication and grand opening ceremony for the new building will be held at a future date when conditions allow.

The $15 million in funding for the new building came from Proposition 51, a statewide school facilities bond measure that voters approved in 2016. The Mary Samples Center was built by Oxnard-based Viola Constructors and designed by DC Architects. Additional information, including a time lapse video of the building’s construction, is available at www.vcoe.org/msc.

About the Ventura County Office of Education

The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.

Caribbean Haven Announces It Will Be Opening a New Location in Thousand Oaks

UPDATE: Announcement made 10/15/22 that the Thousand Oaks location will not be opening.

Caribbean Haven announced via its Instagram page that it has signed a lease and will be the new occupant of 593 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. This was the former home of Pieology (closed in July 2018), Fit2BeThai (late 2012) and awhile back, Olga’s Kitchen.

Caribbean Haven's first location in Montalvo Square in Ventura is a very highly Yelp rated fast casual eatery offering Caribbean, Filipino and vegan food. Learn more about them at www.caribbeanhaven.com.

The owner is anticipating an opening date somewhere between mid-Dec and Feb 1 (which based on my experience watching local grand opening time frames means late summer to early fall 2021 lol). We shall see and be optimistic.

Congrats to our soon to be new Conejo Valley eatery.

The Los Angeles Zoo is Reopening on August 26th

The Los Angeles Zoo has announced its plans to reopen on Wednesday, August 26th. Advance, timed-entry reservations will be required for all guests. And of course, face coverings and physical distancing will be required.

While most outdoor animal exhibits will reopen, a number of activities will remain closed, such as giraffe feedings, flamingo mingle, photo safari , the LAIR, aviary and certain other areas.

Learn more and buy your tickets at www.lazoo.org/reopening.

Higher Education Tax Credits Available For Certain Taxpayers

Tax credits can help offset the cost of higher education

Whether it’s online, in-person, part-time or full-time, higher education can be expensive. The good news is there are tax credits that can help offset these costs. These credits reduce the amount of tax someone owes. If the credit reduces tax to less than zero, the taxpayer could even receive a refund.

Taxpayers who pay for higher education in 2020 can see these tax savings when they file their tax return next year. If taxpayers, their spouses or their dependents take post-high school coursework, they may be eligible for a tax benefit.

There are two credits available to help taxpayers save money on schooling, the American opportunity tax credit and the lifetime learning credit. Taxpayers use Form 8863, Education Credits, to claim the credits.

To be eligible to claim either of these credits, a taxpayer or a dependent must have received a Form 1098-T from an eligible educational institution. There are exceptions for some students.

Here are some key things taxpayers should know about each of these credits.

The American opportunity tax credit is:

• Worth a maximum benefit of up to $2,500 per eligible student.: 100% of the first $2,000 in qualified expenses; 25% of the next $2,000 of qualified expenses.

• Only for the first four years at an eligible college or vocational school.

• For students pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential.

• 40% of the credit is refundable for most taxpayers.

• The catch: The credit is phased out at modified adjusted gross income of $160K to $180K (married filing jointly) or $80K to $90K (filing single). You can’t claim the credit if you are claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.

The lifetime learning credit is:

• Worth a maximum benefit of up to $2,000 (20% of the first $10K of qualified expenses) per tax return, per year, no matter how many students qualify.

• Available for all years of postsecondary education and for courses to acquire or improve job skills.

• Available for an unlimited number of tax years.

• The credit is non-refundable, meaning, if you only receive the credit to the extent you owe taxes.

• The catch: The credit is phased out at modified adjusted gross income of $116K to $136K (married filing jointly) and $58K to $68K (filing single). You can’t claim the credit if you are claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.

More information about these and other federal tax credits at www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals.

IRS Is Sending Interest Payments Averaging $18 to 13.9 Million Taxpayers This Week

13.9 million Americans to receive IRS tax refund interest; Taxable payments to average $18

This week the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service will send interest payments to about 13.9 million individual taxpayers who timely filed their 2019 federal income tax returns and are receiving refunds.

The interest payments, averaging about $18, will be made to individual taxpayers who filed a 2019 return by this year’s July 15 deadline and either received a refund in the past three months or will receive a refund. Most interest payments will be issued separately from tax refunds.

In most cases, taxpayers who received their refund by direct deposit will have their interest payment direct deposited in the same account. About 12 million of these payments will be direct deposited.

Everyone else will receive a check. A notation on the check − saying “INT Amount” − will identify it as a refund interest payment and indicate the interest amount.

By law, these interest payments are taxable and taxpayers who receive them must report the interest on the 2020 federal income tax return they file next year. In January 2021, the IRS will send a Form 1099-INT to anyone who receives interest totaling at least $10.

This provision is different from the long-standing 45-day rule, generally requiring the IRS to add interest to refunds on timely-filed refund claims issued more than 45 days after the return due date.

Instead, this year’s COVID-19-related July 15 due date is considered a disaster-related postponement of the filing deadline. Where a disaster-related postponement exists, the IRS is required, by law, to pay interest, calculated from the original April 15 filing deadline, as long as an individual files a 2019 federal income tax return by the postponed deadline − July 15, 2020, in this instance. This refund interest requirement only applies to individual income tax filers − businesses are not eligible.

Interest is paid at the legally prescribed rate that is adjusted quarterly. The rate for the second quarter ending June 30 was 5%, compounded daily. Effective July 1, the rate for the third quarter dropped to 3%, compounded daily.

Where the calculation period spans quarters, a blended rate applies, consisting of the number of days falling in each calendar quarter. No interest will be added to any refund issued before the original April 15 deadline.

For more information, visit IRS.gov.