Robbery During Business Hours at Newbury Park Check Cashing Business on Jan 10th

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Thousand Oaks - Man Climbs Through Roof and Robs Check Cashing Business

According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, on Thursday, January 10th at about 9 a.m., a robbery occurred at Conejo Check Cashing, located at 2454 W. Hillcrest Drive in Newbury Park in the Hillcrest Plaza. The suspect forced his way through the roof of the location, which dropped him into a secured area of the business.

The robbery occurred during business hours while the clerk was helping customers. The suspect confronted the clerk and demanded money from the business. The suspect fled the area with an undisclosed amount of money.

The clerk was able to escape during the robbery and was not seriously injured.

Thousand Oaks Police detectives are asking anyone with information about the crime to contact Detective Todd Welty at (805) 494-8224.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Johnny Rockets in Agoura Hills Closed Its Doors on December 3, 2012

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The Johnny Rockets (formerly) located at 5015 Cornell Road in Agoura Hills closed its doors on December 3, 2012. This is the second Johnny Rockets in the Conejo Valley to shut down during 2012, following closure of The Oaks Mall location early in the year.

This leaves us with a total of zero Conejo Valley Johnny Rockets. However, there are still two other local Johnny Rockets locations: at The Promenade section of the Camarillo Premium Outlets and the other at The Commons at Calabasas.

One thing to note for Johnny Rockets and movie fans is that both of these locations currently offer a "Movie and a Meal" deal. Buy a regular entree and drink and you can purchase a discounted movie ticket at the Edwards Camarillo Palace Stadium 12 and Edwards Calabasas Stadium 6 near each location. For example, at the Camarillo Johnny Rockets, they will sell you a movie ticket for $7.50, saving $3 off of a regular adult movie ticket of $10.50. At the Calabasas location, they currently sell movie tickets for $7.75, saving you nearly $5 off tickets normally priced up to $12.50.

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures During Months of November, December 2012

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The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division protect public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following closures were noted for the months of November and December 2012. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

DECEMBER 2012

Angel Donuts, 320 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/20/12, Date reopened - 12/21/12

Akrey's Tavern, 1228 Newbury Rd., Newbury Park;

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Whale Watching Excursions at Channel Islands Harbor Dec 26th to Mid-April

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The Channel Islands Harbor celebrates the migration of the Pacific Gray Whale with the annual “Celebration of the Whales.” See a sight you'll never forget. View these magnificent mammals of the deep as the Pacific Gray Whale migrates through the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel on their way to the lagoons of Mexico. Whale watching excursions to the Channel Islands National Park are offered daily from Channel Islands Harbor.

Island Packers offers half-day trips from December 26th through mid-April. Call 805-642-1393. Channel Islands Sportfishing Center provides excursions from January through March. Call 805-382-1612.

Channel Islands Art Exhibit at Museum of Ventura County Dec 2, 2012 to Mar 3, 2013

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Diebenkorn Included Among Artists in Santa Cruz Island Foundation Collection

Exhibit Opens December 2 at Museum of Ventura County

The beauty of California's remote Channel Islands has captured artists for more than a century. Santa Cruz Island rancher Dr. Carey Stanton was captured not only by their beauty, but also by the art the islands have inspired. See many of the works of art he collected, including studies, sketches, drawings and small paintings by his close friend Richard Diebenkorn, on exhibition at the Museum of Ventura County in Island Treasures: Artworks from the Santa Cruz Island Foundation. The exhibit opens to the public December 2, 2012 and continues through March 3, 2013.

Warm Afternoon at Santa Cruz Island 1997 oil on canvas - Richard Schloss, Santa Cruz Island Foundation Collection

Island Treasures also includes pieces collected more recently by the foundation, such as views of the northern Channel Islands. The non-profit Santa Cruz Island Foundation, established by Stanton in 1985, owns and continues to add to the most unique

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Authentic New York Pizza at Greco's New York Pizzeria in Thousand Oaks

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That's what the wife says! She had never actually been to Greco's New York Pizzeria, located in the food court section of Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, until today. While I slave here over a hot keyboard, she's out entertaining the kids on winter break. My wife is a self-proclaimed "foodie" and is very picky about what she eats. She's also a full-blooded Italian who spent summers in New York as a kid.

Last summer she raved about the pizza in New York. Today she raved about the authentic New York style pizza at Greco's. She was so excited about the taste and authenticity of this pizza that she emailed me this picture. That is quite a large pizza. I just hope she doesn't eat the entire thing on her own! The kids and their friends are apparently helping out.

This is a 28 inch Greco's pizza, allegedly (and I believe it) larger than 3 large pizzas!

I was unable to find a website for Greco's but they can be reached at 805.777.7271.

Find a Conejo Rec & Park District 50th Anniversary Geocache Commemorative Coin!

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Conejo Recreation and Park District Celebrates its 50th anniversary by hiding commemorative coins around the Conejo Valley!

The Conejo Recreation and Park District is celebrating 50 years of proudly serving the Conejo Valley. One of the many ways the Park District is celebrating this momentous occasion is by hiding commemorative coins in Geocaches around the Conejo Valley. Geocaches are hidden boxes that are found using hand held GPS units or your Smartphone.

To find out where these coins are hidden, to find out more about Geocaching or to take a class on Geocaching visit the Conejo Recreation and Park District’s Geocaching page on its website at www.crpd.org/geocaching. Partaking in the sport of geocaching and finding the coins is absolutely free!

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Introduces Free iPhone App

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Originally posted 11/21/12. Late December update: Now an Android app is available too!

In the ongoing effort to keep the community informed by reaching out through a variety of channels, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has developed an iPhone app that is available to the public at no charge.

The app can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store by searching one of the following key words: VCSO, VCSD, Ventura, or Sheriff.

The app allows users to access crime maps showing the locations of various offenses, locate information about inmates currently in custody, read press releases, and learn about current patrol events. In addition, there is information about the history of the Sheriff’s Office and a directory of phone numbers and locations of Sheriff’s substations. 

The app also features a link to Ventura County Crimestoppers so the public can be aware of those people in the community who are wanted on outstanding warrants.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing the public with convenient access to our services. With the number of smart phones steadily increasing, giving people an easy way to learn about what we are doing in the community is important.

The Sheriff’s Office is also working on a version that will be compatible with Android devices.

Visit the Ventura County Sheriff's Office website at www.VCSD.org for more information.