Gateway Community School in Camarillo For At-Risk Kids Lauded in New Book

Gateway Community School in Camarillo, which serves some of Ventura County’s most troubled kids, is receiving recognition for major reforms that have made it a model for schools across the country.

It’s About Time: Planning Interventions and Extensions in Secondary School, edited by Mike Mattos and Austin Buffum, dedicates a full chapter to the changes Gateway has undergone since it began implementing reforms in 2010. In the chapter titled “From a Last Resort to a Model School of Choice,” the book describes Gateway’s transformation from a troubled, underperforming school to an example of success. The chapter was authored by Dr. Jane Wagmeister, the Executive Director of the Curriculum and Instruction Department at the Ventura County Office of Education.

Students are sent to Gateway Community School from their home districts due to repeated suspensions, expellable offenses, severe substance abuse and gang involvement. Prior to the reforms, Gateway suffered from low attendance and frequent disciplinary problems, with only 30% of students passing the state high school exit exam.

To address these issues, the Ventura County Office of Education, which operates the school, began a complete restructuring that included the hiring of James Koenig as the new Principal. After a careful assessment of the reasons for the school’s troubles, an extensive series of reforms were put in place. These included improved training of teachers and staff, an updated curriculum, adjustments to the school schedule and separating the middle school from the high school. Perhaps the most important change was shifting the school culture to one that gives students positive feedback, emotional support and a clear understanding of expectations.

The results were dramatic: the daily attendance rate at Gateway increased from 75% to 88%, the number of eleventh and twelfth graders passing the high school exit exam rose from two to 15, and the number of suspensions due to physical altercations decreased from 451 to 14.

Another positive outcome is that Gateway students have a newfound respect for service to the community. They are working at giving back by organizing blood drives, serving as volunteers at the local animal shelter and collecting donations for the homeless in Ventura County.

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 and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at www.vcoe.org

Chipotle, PizzaRev, Smashburger, Pick Up Stix and Yogurtland Opening Soon at Camarillo Premium Outlets

Chipotle, PizzaRev, Smashburger, Pick Up Stix and Yogurtland all will soon be opening at the Camarillo Premium Outlets, in the parking area of the west end of the Outlets, at 660 E. Ventura Boulevard.

Employees on site indicated PizzaRev will be opening a week from today, on Wednesday, November 5th. A Chipotle employee indicated Chipotle is anticipated to open on Thursday, November 13th. These of course are subject to change.

Smashburger opened on Nov 26th. Pick Up Stix opened in late November. Yogurtland opening TBA.

N'Awlinz 805 Grill Recently Opened in Oxnard's Centennial Plaza

Update: On December 5th, owners announced that N'Awlinz 805 Grill has closed its doors...sheesh, that was short-lived! However, they will continue to offer their delicious French/Creole style food through Conejo Valley Catering at www.conejovalleycatering.com.

N'Awlinz 805 Grill opened last week at 221 W. 5th Street in Oxnard's Centennial Plaza. This is great news for local cajun style food fans who miss the former N'Awlinz Bistro in the same location. Same owners with a new concept and new menu. The new menu features Po' Boys, burgers, cajun favorites like jambalaya, gumbo and fried catfish, a delicous assortment of gourmet hot dogs, salads and more. Learn more on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nawlinzbistro and www.nawlinz805grill.com (new site will be out mid-November).

Greens Up! to Open at the Shoppes at Westlake Village on Thursday, October 22nd

Greens Up!, with two locations in Santa Monica, is opening a 3rd location right here in the Conejo Valley at the Shoppes at Westlake Village, 30760 Russell Ranch Road, Suite B. The grand opening is tomorrow, Thursday, October 22nd at 11 am.

Greens Up! offers freshly prepared salad meals in a matter of minutes, using locally grown, sustainable produce.  You can create your own salad at Green Up!, including your one or more greens (spring mix, romaine, spinach, arugula and kale) and up to four toppings and a dressing for $7.50. Additional toppings, including proteins, fruits and crunchies vary in cost.

Or you can order chef's selections, such as the Spa (spinach, orange segments, red onion, dried cherries, goat cheese, sliced almonds), Sonoma Coast (romaine, spring mix, roasted turkey, red grapes, orange segments, honey-roasted walnuts, mozzarella), Jarvis (romaine, roasted turkey, croutons, tomato, smoked bacon, swiss cheese, bleu cheese) and others.

Open seven days a week, 11am to 9pm. Visit www.greensupsalads.com or call 818.735.9770 for more information.

Greens Up! is located in front of the Shoppes fountain, adjacent to Bowl of Heaven and across the way from Jeannine's Gourmet Food Hall

PizzaRev to Open Location at Camarillo Premium Outlets This Fall

Update 10/18/14: PizzaRev Camarillo is anticipating a grand opening date of November 6th.

Pizzas soon to be devoured at PizzaRev Oxnard

Original Post: 5/25/14: PizzaRev "Craft Your Own" Pizza opened its first Ventura County location in Oxnard in August 2013. Recently I noticed a Camarillo PizzaRev location is "coming soon" on the PizzaRev website. I asked PizzaRev when and where and the indicated the new Camarillo PizzaRev will be located at the Camarillo Premium Outlets and is anticipated to open "October-ish." For updates, visit the PizzaRev website at PizzaRev.com.

Make your own pizza is the latest big food trend! Locally we've also seen Pieology open in Thousand Oaks in August 2013, MOD "Made on Demand" Pizza coming to Newbury Park in late summer 2014 and Pitfire Pizza coming to Westlake Village at some point soon.

Bowl of Heaven Acai Bowls, Smoothies and Juice Bar Opens in Westlake Village

Bowl of Heaven opened late last week at the Shoppes at Westlake Village, 30768 Russell Ranch Road, Suite D. Bowl of Heaven serves up health and tasty Acai bowls, smoothies and juices. Each Acai bowl is custom made with fresh, frozen and exotic super fruits. Learn more at bowlofheaven.com or call 818.991.0234.

Tried and liked this Sea Sider Acai Bowl

The Annex to Bring Local Artisan Marketplace to Oxnard in 2015

Shea Properties and CenterCal Properties recently announced the newest addition to The Collection at RiverPark called, The Annex, a 13,800 square foot collection of microshops, artisan boutiques and epicurean discoveries, opening in 2015.

The Annex will showcase unique local retailers and craft food and beverage purveyors. The community-oriented marketplace will bring together a mix of tenants who wish to share their passions with a wider audience. Archtecturally, the Annex will have a contemporary feel, with wi-fi and comfortable seating available throughout.

The Annex will offer a combination of local shops, boutiques and eateries in a communal layout that encourages social interaction. A craft brew coffeehouse, wine and cheese bar, boutique retailers and small restaurant concepts, such as a noodle bar and taco shop, will be among the types of vendors to open at The Annex. Leases will be announced as they are confirmed.

For more information about The Annex, visit www.tcrpannex.com. 

About Shea Properties

Shea Properties, headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, is a diversified real estate company responsible for the acquisition, design, development, construction and management of business parks, shopping centers, apartment communities and mixed-use environments. Since beginning operations in 1969, annual revenues have grown steadily to more than $250 million, while the overall value of the portfolio has grown to more than $3 billion. Shea Properties owns and operates approximately 6,300 apartment units and 5 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space in California and Colorado. Currently, Shea Properties has nearly $1 billion in development projects underway. For more information, visit www.sheaproperties.com.

About The Collection­

The Collection at RiverPark is a 650,000 square foot, open-air specialty retail center located in the heart of West Ventura County. Inspired by the beauty of the California coast, The Collection reflects the unique atmosphere of the surrounding seaside communities. Built around a pedestrian friendly grid of retail streets, the center includes a carefully crafted assortment of established and contemporary designer shops, distinctive dining, and signature entertainment venues. Anchors include Target, Century RiverPark 16, REI, Whole Foods Market and H&M. Restaurants include Yard House, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, and Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana. Visit www.thecollectionrp.com.

CURVE Boutique is Now Open at Malibu Country Mart

The Malibu Country Mart announces the introduction of CURVE, a woman’s boutique offering well-known designers from Phillip Lim to Alexander Wang and more.

CURVE boutique brings a collection of luxury pieces and provides shoppers with a personalized experience, with trained stylists who hand-select styles from numerous designers. CURVE carries brands including Jean Paul Gaultier, Proenza Schouler, Emanuel Ungaro, Rodarte, and CURVE founder Nevena Borissova’s own signature line sold exclusively at CURVE stores.

The Malibu location is CURVE’s fifth store, with other locations in New York, San Francisco, Miami and Los Angeles. Its interior features an industrial aesthetic with concrete floors, marble countertops and oversized mirrors. Track lighting and exposed beams create more of an art-gallery feel with muted colors to make its signature designer pieces stand out.

The store is located at 3835 Cross Creek Road, Suite 17. Open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m  

Having started as a standalone store on Robertson Boulevard, CURVE was first founded by Nevena Borissova, who opened the Los Angeles store in 1997 at just 22 years old. With a discerning eye for detail and what would be popular each season, Nevena began to discover and promote new fashion talent and became known for being a buyer that was always “ahead of the curve.” Today, with an extremely loyal clientele and a devout following of costume designers, stylists, editors, celebrities and fashionable women worldwide, CURVE remains one of the original pillars of cutting-edge style in retail.

For more information, please visit www.shopcurve.com or call 310-456-9944.

About the Malibu Country Mart

The Malibu County Mart encompasses six acres of prime real estate in the heart of Malibu. The 67 unique tenants comprised of high-end retail, dining, and service offerings are housed in an eclectic mix of architectural styles including Mediterranean, modern and rustic influences. The structures are complimented by world-class gardens, unique sculptures, outdoor dining and picnic areas, and the popular children’s playground. The Malibu County Mart is leading the trend in Malibu in eco-friendly practices, from three electric car charging stations to a chemical-free sandbox in the children’s playground. www.malibucountrymart.com

Jeannine's Gourmet Food Hall Now Open at the Shoppes at Westlake Village

Jeannine's Gourmet Food Hall officially opened its doors this past Sunday, October 12th, at the Shoppes at Westlake Village, 30770 Russell Ranch Road, Suite G.

Jeannine's Bakery & Restaurant has operated in Santa Barbara since 1985, serving up unique items from its bakery and other natural, authentic foods. Open for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast menu includes egg dishes, benedicts and sweets and grains such as pancakes, french toast and oatmeal dishes. Lunch menu includes burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. Conejo Valley and surrounding area residents now can enjoy Jeannine's right here in town.

Dawn B provided this photo of the breakfast menu.

More information at www.jeannineswestlakevillage.com.