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.
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Jügo Organic Eatery & Wellness Bar will be opening its doors in soft opening mode this coming Tuesday, May 16th in the Oakbrook Plaza in Thousand Oaks, 1772 Avenida De Los Arboles, Suite I (between Subway and Supercuts). They will offer juices, smoothies, acai bowls and pure shots. They will open 8 a.m. Daily. More info at www.jugoorganic.com.
Veggie Grill at 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village has closed its doors. It originally opened at the North Ranch Shopping Center on October 30, 2013, giving it about a nine and a half year run. Sorry to see them go. There are other Veggie Grill locations in Woodland Hills, Encino and Pasadena, amount other locations. www.veggiegrill.com
The new Board & Brew at The Shoppes at Westlake Village is slated to “soft open” on Friday, May 12th from 10am to 8pm. Additionally, there is a grand opening celebration planned for the weekend of June 23-25. Sign up at boardandbrew.com/grand-opening to get a buy one, get one free sandwich offer.
On April 23, National Park Service biologists captured and radio-collared a 210-pound black bear in a natural area of the western Santa Monica Mountains south of the 101 Freeway. Photos here.
The male bear, dubbed BB-12, is estimated to be about 3-4 years old. Biologists performed a full workup on the bear, including collecting biological samples, taking various body measurements, attaching an ear tag, conducting a physical exam, and fitting a GPS radio-collar around its neck.
Though there have been bear sightings over the years, this is the first time biologists have captured and radio-collared a bear in the Santa Monica Mountains. The nearest population of black bears is in the Santa Susana Mountains, north of the 118 Freeway. Although bears have occasionally been documented in the Simi Hills, south of 118, and even in the Santa Monica Mountains, south of the 101 Freeway, there is no evidence of a breeding population in either area.
“He appears to be the only bear here in the Santa Monica Mountains, and he’s likely been here for almost two years based on our remote camera data,” said Jeff Sikich, the lead field biologist of the park’s two-decade mountain lion study. “This seems to be our first resident bear in the 20 years we have conducted mountain lion research in the area. It will be interesting to see how he shares the landscape with our other resident large carnivores.”
In July 2021, a young black bear was spotted lumbering along Reino Road in Newbury Park. Since then, images of a bear have been seen on wildlife trail cameras in half of the Santa Monica Mountains - from Malibu Creek State Park to the range’s western border in Point Mugu State Park. Biologists say BB-12 may be the same bear.
Though there have been bear sightings over the years, this is the first time biologists have captured and radio-collared a bear in the Santa Monica Mountains. The nearest population of black bears is in the Santa Susana Mountains, north of the 118 Freeway. Although bears have occasionally been documented in the Simi Hills, south of 118, and even in the Santa Monica Mountains, south of the 101 Freeway, there is no evidence of a breeding population in either area.
Bears are omnivores and can live between 15 and 25 years. They will eat whatever is available, primarily fruits, nuts, roots, and insects. They will also eat small animals, up to and including deer, if they can get them, human food (such as in cars or at campsites), pet food, unsecured trash, and consume dead animals they find.
“As this bear gets older and is looking to mate, it might attempt to move back north and cross the freeway again,” Sikich said. “There is no evidence of an existing population here in the Santa Monica Mountains, and therefore likely no females. With the radio-collar, we can track its movements and hopefully know where it may attempt to cross the freeway. This can help us better understand habitat connectivity for wildlife in the area.”
Bear sightings have been rare in the Santa Monica Mountains. In the early 2000’s, a bear carcass was discovered under a landslide in Malibu Creek State Park. In 2016, a bear was documented three times over three months on wildlife trail cameras in the central portion of the mountains but then never detected again.
Other black bears have occasionally been spotted through the years north of the 101 Freeway in the Simi Hills. Previous news reports include a bear spotted near Westlake High School in 2006 and one that was killed by a vehicle on the northbound 101 Freeway near Lindero Canyon Blvd.
The nearest population of black bears is in the Santa Susana Mountains. Grizzly bears formerly roamed the entire state but became extinct in the early 1900’s. Black bears, however, are not native to Southern California.
In the 1930s, about 30 bears from Yosemite National Park were translocated into the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. From there, their population grew and expanded, biologists say.
Black bears rarely become aggressive when encountered, and attacks on people are uncommon. If you encounter a bear while hiking, keep a safe distance and slowly back away. Let the bear know you are there. Make yourself look bigger by lifting and waving your arms and making noise by yelling, clapping your hands, using noisemakers, or whistling.
DO NOT run and do not make eye contact. Let the bear leave the area on its own. If a bear makes contact, fight back.
NPS biologists say they are excited to add this bear, as a new species, to its wildlife study in the Santa Monica Mountains. They expect it will help provide new insights on how wildlife utilizes this urban, fragmented landscape.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.
UPDATE 10/31/23: La Princiere is now open in “soft opening” mode as it awaits installation of its point of sale system. Taking cash, Venmo and PayPal in the meantime.
La Princiere French Bakery, Patisserie and Cafe is opening in about a month in the Northstar Plaza in Thousand Oaks (1321-1345 Thousand Oaks Blvd). Owner and Thousand Oaks resident Ahlam Ziani is originally from France and has worked as a baker and pastry chef for years. She will be offering fresh, long-fermentation artisanal breads, French baguettes, and sourdough starters that have been part of her family for 250 years. All sauces, soups and breads will be made in-house.
Initially, they will be serving breakfast and lunch, and when fully staffed, dinner. They will also be offering sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza, and a full lunch menu from meat to fish and other delicious French dishes. La Princiere is named for Ahlam and husband Chris' son Luca, their little prince.
Follow their Facebook page for updates at www.facebook.com/frenchbakerypatisseriecafe.
Grand opening date of the new Amy's Drive Thru at 400 Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks has not been announced yet, but looks to be soon. They are hosting a Hiring Fair this Tuesday/Wednesday, May 2-3 from 10am to 6pm. Amy's offers American fast food "redefined," using organic, 100% plant-based ingredients. They will be interviewing for all positions - front and back of house, team leads, trainers and management and indicate they will be making offers on the spot. More info at www.amysdrivethru.com..
Bree’s Cakes is premiering at the Simi Valley Town Center on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Bree’s offers cupcakes, brownies, stuffed cookies, Rice Krispy treats, cake pops and more.
The extensive cake flavor list includes Strawberry Shortcake, Pina Colada, S’mores, M&M, Banana Pudding, Cookies N’ Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Nutella Churro, Vanilla Confetti, Cookie Dough, Margarita, Mint Chocolate Chip, Banana Split and Chocolate Birthday Cake.
Learn more at www.breescakes.com.
Thanks to Kassandra B for the heads up that Charcoal Niku recently opened its doors at the Oak Park Plaza at the northeast corner of Kanan and Lindero Canyon Roads, next to Cafe Sapientia (in the former Tantra Indian Cuisine). Charcoal Niku offers Japanese steaks, seafood, sushi and more.
Visit www.charcoalniku.com for more information. Call 818-206-3308 to make reservations. Opens nightly at 5pm.
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