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.
After the shock of hearing that both Brendan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant locations closed their doors today, it was another surprise to hear this afternoon that Cafe Firernze in Moorpark is also closing its doors…TODAY.
Management indicated its lease had ended after 11 years in operation and they were unable to reach an agreement on new lease terms.
Let’s hope for some better news as we make our way into the new year.
Vegiterranean Kitchen, located at 481 East High Street in Moorpark (at Spring Road), opened on Saturday, November 16th, offering healthy, vegan Mediterranean soups, salads, wraps and entrees for take-out and catering. Learn more at vegiterraneankitchen.com. Grab and go for a healthy meal!
America’s Teaching Zoo (ATZ) at Moorpark College has raised over $550,000 to build Ira’s Kingdom, a new enclosure for Ira, the Zoo’s African lion. The announcement was made Nov. 9 at Rendezvous at the Zoo, ATZ’s largest annual fundraiser.
The funds will be used to build a larger enclosure for ATZ’s 5-year-old lion to roam and play in. The project funding was made possible through the generosity of over 100 donors and a $200,000 donation from Moorpark College.
At the event, more than 270 attendees caught the first glimpse of the area where Ira’s Kingdom will be located. Attendees also enjoyed animal and student presentations, hors d’oeuvres and wine donated by Malibu Family Wines. A silent auction took place with prizes including an African safari. The event raised over $30,000, with all proceeds going toward ATZ’s Master Plan, which funds expansion projects.
“We are thankful to the community and all those who contributed to help give Ira a new home,” said Mara Rodriguez, Zoo staff at ATZ. “Ira’s Kingdom is just one of many facility improvements for our wildlife that we hope to make in the years to come.”
ATZ is home to over 130 animals and regularly acquires exotic and endangered animals as space allows. Ira’s Kingdom is just the first in a larger campaign to improve and expand accommodations for its animals. The campaign’s next project includes Rajah’s Retreat, a larger enclosure for the Zoo’s Bengal tigers.
The Zoo is open to the public from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. It is located on the Moorpark College campus, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. For additional information, call Mara Rodriguez at (805) 378-1441.
About Moorpark College
Moorpark College is one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District and annually serves more than 14,000 students. Founded in 1967, Moorpark College is fully accredited and has the highest six-year completion rate within the California Community College System. The Campaign for College Opportunity named Moorpark College a 2019 Champion of Higher Education for the Associate Degree for Transfer Pathway. It is also a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. The college’s signature career/technical programs include nursing, radiologic technology, biotechnology and journalism. The college’s America’s Teaching Zoo is the only associate’s degree exotic animal training program in California. To learn more, visit MoorparkCollege.edu or follow @MoorparkCollege on social media.
Moorpark College recently started offering degree programs for busy adults that includes a mix of fully online and Saturday classes.
PACE enables students to complete an Associate degree in Business Administration or Early Childhood Education in about two years.
PACE students take two courses every eight weeks. Most courses are offered either 100 percent online or in a hybrid format (part of the course is online but will also include some face-to-face meetings on Saturday mornings).
Once you complete your Associate degree, you have the option to pursue your Bachelor’s degree at one of our transfer partner Universities that also have programs built for busy adults, including CSU Channel Islands, Cal Lutheran University and more.
Learn more at www.moorparkcollege.edu/departments/student-services/pace.
Residential Short-Term Rentals (STRs) are defined as residences that are rented out for periods of 30 days or less, frequently through online rental marketplaces such as AirBnB, Homeaway and VRBO.
In October 2018, the Moorpark City Council voted to ban STRs because of concerns of disrupting neighborhoods.
Rentals are still allowed in the city for over 30 days at a time, such as renting a room to a student or doing a vacation house swap.
STRs are also banned in Calabasas and Ojai as well as unincorporated areas in the Ojai Valley.
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, the nation’s fastest-growing, extreme-value grocery retailer, is opening a new store in Moorpark, creating 30 new jobs in the community.
Location is 425 Los Angeles Avenue. groceryoutlet.com/moorpark-coming-soon
Following the unique grand opening ceremony at 8:55 a.m. on Thursday, September 13, a donation will be presented on behalf of Grocery Outlet to Moorpark Boys and Girls Club at 11 a.m. In true Grocery Outlet fashion, the amount that shoppers saved on their grocery purchases during the store’s first hour of operation will determine the donation amount. The first 200 customers of the day will also receive Grocery Outlet Bargain Bucks in “mystery” amounts ranging from $5 to $200. All shoppers will receive a free reusable bag, while supplies last. Lastly, starting Thursday, September 13 through October 11, 2018, customers may enter for a chance to win a Grand Prize of Free Groceries for 1 Year!
“Unlock Savings” Grand Opening Celebration-- Thursday, September 13, 8:55 a.m.
First 200 customers will receive Grocery Outlet Bargain Bucks gift cards ranging from $5 to $200 (must be 18 years of age or older). All shoppers will receive a free reusable bag, while supplies last.
Moorpark Boys and Girls Club Donation Presentation -- Thursday, September 13, 11 a.m.
Donation amount is determined by the amount of savings that customers generate during the store’s first hour of operation.
Community Celebration -- Saturday, September 15, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
The community event will include family-friendly activities and prizes such as the chance to spin and win on the Wheel of Bargains. Catered by Famous Taco, complimentary lunch will be provided with $10 minimum purchase from Moorpark Grocery Outlet, while supplies last. Vendors will be offering free food and beverage samples, and kettle corn will also be available for purchase. Representatives from the Boys and Girls Club of Moorpark will be bagging groceries and accepting tips to raise money for their organization.
Enter for a chance to win FREE Groceries for 1 year!
Between September 13 – October 11, 2018, customers may enter for a chance to win a Grand Prize of Free Groceries for 1 Year! ($100 per month for one year, a $1,200 value). The Grand Prize drawing will take place at the end of the day on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Moorpark Grocery Outlet. (Must be 18 years of age or older. One entry per person, per day. No purchase necessary. Winner need not be present to win but must claim the prize within three days of notification or another winner will be chosen. No cash value and no substitutions.)
The Moorpark City Council recently approved the installation of three pickleball courts at Tierra Rejada Park, 11900 Mountain Trail St, Moorpark. The courts will replace on tennis court at the park and will be installed sometime in the summer of 2017.
When completed, the Moorpark pickleball courts will join courts in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Port Hueneme and Oak Park.
More on local area pickleball options and information about the game (truth be told; it is not played with an actual pickle), visit THIS LINK.
The former site of Community High School in Moorpark, 5700 Condor Drive, is reborn as a second campus of the Ventura County Office of Education’s (VCOE) Career Education Center.
The new facility is the result of a partnership between VCOE and the Moorpark Unified School District. VCOE will lease the facility from the district for one dollar per year for the next five years, allowing the district to host additional programs and services for local students.
Fall programming will include classes in cybersecurity, game design, engineering and medical science.
More information about the VCOE Career Education Center is available at www.vcoe.org/cec.
Custom Melt, which opened its doors in May 2012, announced on August 31st that it has closed. The owners continue to operate Custom Pie next door at 6593 Collins Drive in Moorpark.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
