5th Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival Announces Top Tamales in 2012

The 5th Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival took place on a wet Saturday, December 1, 2012. This year's overall, and now two-time winner is BG's Cafe, 428 South A Street, Oxnard. If you're looking for a great tamale, BG's apparently is where it's at! Visit their website at www.bgscafe.com or call 805.487.0700. They are open 7 days a week.

BG's Cafe has been in business for over 40 years. Originally founded by Bill and Gloria Stuart (hmm, their initials are B and G, I wonder if that's a coincidence) in 1971 and was sold to Jose and Veronica Rodriguez in 2004, who have expanded the menu and added catering services.

Top 3 savory and sweet tamales at the event as determined by a panel of hungry judges:

Savory Tamale:

• First Place; Frias Catering of Oxnard
• Second Place; El Taco De Mexico of Ventura
• Third Place; Panaderia La Mexicana Bakery of Oxnard

Sweet Tamale:

• First Place; BG's Coffee Shop and Deli (aka BG's Cafe) of Downtown Oxnard
• Second Place; Sugarbeets Restaurant & Bar of Downtown Oxnard
• Third Place; Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales of Pacoima

This year's tamale tasting judges included: Hon. Steven Hintz, Ventura County Treasurer/Tax Collector, Catherine Hintz, Wife of Hon. Steven Hintz, Hon. Mark Lunn, Ventura County Clerk/Recorder,, Hon. Fred Bysshe, Ventura County Superior Court, Joe Mulrooney, Treasurer of Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs Association, John Ragan, ARC of Ventura County, Chef Gerard Turbush, Chef Paul Tavakoli, Nakita DiGuardi, Toni Valdez, Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters Ventura County, Chef Henry Patey of the Oxnard College Culinary Arts Program and Terrel Harrison, Director of Oxnard Police Activities League.

Stay tuned for next year's 6th Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival at www.oxnardtamalefest.com or by following their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oxnardtamalefestival.

Proceeds from the Oxnard Tamale Festival supports local non-profits and recreation projects that benefit local youth. Community grants have supplemented programs for at-risk youth, veterans, prevention of homelessness, cancer research, food pantries, recreation centers and mentally disabled individuals. Past recipients have included Oxnard City Corps, Oxnard Police Activities League, Food Share of Ventura County, ARC of Ventura County, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts Troop #228, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Santa Clara Church, American Cancer Society, and Oxnard College Veterans Club.

50,000 Light Residential Holiday Light Display in Newbury Park Back for a 4th Year

Brian Fuchs will be bringing back his fantastic 50,000+ light synchronized light display for a 4th year at his residence on Via Patricia in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park. The show will take place most nights from 5pm to 10pm, beginning I believe the first weekend of December.

Fuchs hand crafts the entire amazing display himself, welding together trees, wreaths and other decorations. It takes him over 400 hours to put this display together!

There are no "physically" moving parts to this display...but there are moving, flashing, blinking light displays that will mesmerize you.  The display is synchronized with fun holiday music played on FM 99.1 (listen in car or bring a small radio).

Display will be closed on rainy nights. Please be mindful of the neighbors. Below are some photos from the display last year.

Here's what it looks like during daylight hours...quite complex looking!

This was taken on Friday, November 26, 2010. This residence on Via Patricia in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park has an incredible holiday light display synchronized with music played on 99.1 FM (bring a small radio to enjoy the simulcast).

Conejo Valley Adult School "P.O.W.E.R. Project" for Pregnant and Parenting Teens

CVAS Parent Education Presents…THE P.O.W.E.R. PROJECT 

An Educational Support Program for Pregnant and Parenting Teens 

To help support the parenting success and academic achievement of our pregnant and parenting teens, the Parent Education Program has developed the P.O.W.E.R. Project (positive outcomes with education and respect).  The goal of the project is to provide specialized education and social/emotional support, specific to the pregnant and parenting teen. The program actively promotes healthy adolescent development, increases parenting skills, improves birth outcomes and provides a strong understanding of what teen parents and their children need.

Available Classes/Topics Include:

• Pregnancy and Newborns (includes childbirth preparation and lactation support)
• Baby Care
• Parenting Education
• Child Development
• Teen Parenting- Preparing for your child’s first year
• Adolescent Development
• Child Abuse Prevention

Groups are held at Horizon Hills on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. One to one consultations by appointment are also available (i.e.- family support, lactation counseling).

The P.O.W.E.R. Project is coordinated by Brenda Hunter, M.S. who has provided counseling and educational support for thousands of pregnant and parenting teens and their families, over the past 30 years. She specialize in teen pregnancy related issues, parenting education, child development, teen sexuality, and child abuse prevention. She is a credentialed Adult Education teacher who is a trained Lamaze Childbirth Instructor, Certified Lactation Consultant, and Certified Infant Massage and Red Cross CPR Instructor. She holds a BA degree in Sociology/Social Work and a MS degree in Human Resource Development.

For more information or to refer students please call 818-599-8420.

Conejo Valley Adult School Parent Education Horizon Hills Campus, 33 Greta Street, Thousand Oaks. 805-492-8837 www.conejoadultschool.org

Full Nighttime Freeway Closures at Wendy/101 Interchange in Newbury Park Nights of November 5-9 and 13-14

The 101 Freeway at Wendy Drive in Thousand Oaks will be closed for bridge construction from Monday, November 5^th through Friday, November 9^th from 11 PM to 5 AM and on Tuesday, November 13^th to Wednesday, November 14^th.

Beginning at 7 PM on each closure night, travel along the bridge will be limited to one lane in either direction to allow for mobilization of construction equipment and materials.

Motorists traveling northbound will be directed to exit the freeway at Wendy Drive and immediately re-enter the Freeway by making a left turn and using the northbound on-ramp.

Motorists traveling southbound will be directed to exit the freeway at Wendy Drive, turn right onto Wendy Drive, right onto W. Hillcrest Drive, right onto Rancho Conejo Boulevard/Borchard Road, and then use the US-101 southbound on-ramp loop to re-enter the Freeway.

During the freeway closures, construction will include erecting steel bridge girders utilizing cranes placed on the Freeway. During the closures, 15 steel girder segments up to 100 feet long and weighing over 30,000 pounds each will be placed along the bridge. California Highway Patrol units will be stationed at the off-ramps to ensure traffic is properly detoured. 

The 18-month Wendy/101 Interchange Improvement Project is scheduled for completion in August 2013. Residents can visit www.toaks.org/wendy101 to learn more about the project, view detour maps and closures, as well as sign-up for weekly road closure notifications.

Grand Opening of the Springville Dog Park in Camarillo on Friday, September 28th

The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District & Friends of Camarillo Dog Parks celebrates the Grand Opening of Springville Dog Park at 801 Via Zamora, Camarillo on Friday, September 28th from 5:30-6:30pm. All people and pooches are invited.

The event will begin with a ribbon cutting followed by light refreshments and treats for humans and pups alike.  Bring the whole family for a fun evening at the new Springville Dog Park!

Donate to Springville Dog Park! Purchase an engraved DONOR BRICK to show your support and pave the dog park entrance. Buy a brick for your favorite dog or dog owner as a gift!  What a great gift to give to any dog lover you know?  Your donation will support your local dog park and be memorialized with a personalized brick.  Learn more at www.camarillodogparks.com

View Larger Map

Posting Political Signs in City of Thousand Oaks for November 6, 2012 Election

September 22, 2012 marks the first day that political signs for the upcoming November 6, 2012 General Municipal Election can be posted in the City of Thousand Oaks. All political signs must be taken down no later than November 13, 2012. The term "political sign" refers to signs created prior to an election to advise or identify a candidate, campaign issue, election proposition, or other related matters.

The City asks that all candidates for public office, along with local residents and business or commercial property owners, comply with the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code for the placement of political signs.  The City seeks to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance, while providing sufficient opportunity to increase voter awareness.

The following rules and guidelines apply to the posting of political signage in the City:

a) signs may be no more than 12 square feet and no higher than 6 feet;

b) signs may not be placed on public property, including parks, open space areas, or freeway ramps;

c) signs may not block or interfere with pedestrian walkways or vehicle sight distance at driveways or intersections; and

d) signs may not be attached to traffic signs, traffic signal poles, street light poles, street trees or any other structure in the street right-of-way. 

For questions or complaints regarding signs placed in the public right-of-way, please contact the Municipal Service Center at (805) 449-2499 and press “0” for assistance.  For compliance related issues regarding political signs on private property, please contact Code Compliance at (805) 449-2300.

Complete information on political sign regulations can be found on the City's website at www.toaks.org/government/depts/city_clerk/elections/default.asp.

Suspect Assaults Jogger on Thousand Oaks Trail on Thursday, August 30th

Suspect Assaults Jogger on Thousand Oaks Trail

Nature of Incident: Attempted Sexual Assault of Jogger

Report Number: RB#12-19626

Location: Lindero Creek Trail, Thousand Oaks

Date & Time: August 30, 2012 1:05 pm

Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Sexual Assault Unit

Narrative: A woman was assaulted as she was jogging on a secluded dirt trail in the area of Bowfield Street and Rockfield Street. She was knocked to the ground and struck in the face. During the fight, she was able to strike her attacker and then run to safety and call the police.

View Larger Map

Suspect concealed his face from victim. He also fled the scene in an unknown direction.

The Thousand Oaks Police Department is seeking information from the public regarding this incident. We also want to remind citizens to exercise with others and stay away from secluded areas whenever possible.

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).

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Department release 8/31/02

From Burrito to Boo! Retail on Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks This Fall

As CVG readers know, the Thousand Oaks El Torito on Moorpark Road served its last burrito on Tuesday, January 24th. Later it was announced that Chick-fil-A may be considering the vacant spot smack dab between Hooters on one side and Five Guys on the other. But...in the meantime...this fall something seasonal is coming to this spot at Moorpark Road.

And in memory to the prior occupant of this space. We miss your margaritas, El Torito!