Studio Channel Islands Art Center Moves to New Location on Ventura Boulevard

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Art Center Celebrates Move To New Location With Rededication Ceremony on Saturday, August 3rd

A rededication ceremony on Saturday, August 3 will celebrate the conversion of Pleasant Valley School’s former auditorium to Studio Channel Islands Art Center’s regional offices and new Blackboard Gallery.

State and local dignitaries will speak at the ceremony which begins at 2:00 p.m. with speakers including state and local officials, as well as school district and art associations’ dignitaries. The school auditorium was added to the Pleasant Valley Elementary School in 1949, when it was dedicated by then School Board Chairman Adolfo Camarillo.

The celebration will continue with a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music, refreshments, art activities for children, and artists’ demonstrations. From 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. a free public art reception will open in the new Blackboard Gallery for the exhibit “Unlimited,” juried by contemporary artist Gary Lang.

The Art Center move will unite all their activities, classes, exhibits and programs on the former elementary school campus in Old Town Camarillo. Since 2010, more than 40 working artist studios have been located in converted classrooms behind the former auditorium. The new facility includes not only the new Blackboard Gallery which is three times the size of their former space, but an enlarged art gift store, a stage for performances, and offices.

The new address for Studio Channel Islands Art Center offices and gallery is 2222 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo. Hours are Tuesday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The artists’ studios behind the new gallery are open to the public every First Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit our website www.StudioChannelIslands.org or call the office at 805.383.1368.

City of Thousand Oaks Seeks Entries for 2nd Annual Photo Contest

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Deadline extended by the City to August 1, 2013 5pm.

Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in the City of Thousand Oaks “Faces, Places, & Open Spaces” Photo Contest. The photo contest is returning for a second consecutive year featuring a new Instagram category!

Photos may be submitted in four categories: Environment, People & Places, Mobile, and Instagram snapshots using hashtag #FacesPlacesOpenSpaces. Winning photos will be judged based on creativity, photo quality, and representation of Thousand Oaks and featured on TOTV, in citywide print and electronic marketing materials, and social media channels. First, second, and third place winners in each category will be awarded a certificate by the Mayor at a future City Council meeting.  

There is no cost to enter and contestants may submit up to five photos per entry by Mail or drop-off to: City of Thousand Oaks, Attn: Photo Contest, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd; Email mobile photos to rwagner@toaks.org; Upload Instagram photos to the Instagram mobile application using hashtag #FacesPlacesOpenSpaces. A signed entry form and participation agreement is required for eligibility and entries must be received by July 1, 2013 at 5:00 PM (EXTENDED TO AUGUST 1, 2013 AT 5PM).

Visit www.toaks.org/photocontest for contest details and to download entry forms.

See some of the winners of last year's contest at this link.

 

City of Port Hueneme Cancels Sand Sculpture Events Due to Beach Erosion

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The City of Port Hueneme issued a news release today stating that due to severe beach erosion, the Sand Sculpture Demonstration scheduled for Saturday, August 17 and the Sand Sculpture Contest scheduled for Sunday, August 18 are cancelled. These events have been a popular part of the annual Hueneme Beach Festival the last four years.

See scenes from last year's Sand Sculpture Contest at this link.

In late April, City officials announced they are seeking emergency funding to restore the rapidly eroding Hueneme Beach. According to the City, since January, high winds, abnormally high tides and large waves along the Ventura County coastline have reduced the sand relocated by the Army Corps of Engineers from the Channel Islands Harbor last December.

The erosion is threatening infrastructure and flooding to homes, businesses, the deepwater of Port of Hueneme and Naval Base Ventura County. More information at www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/340.

Simi Valley Public Library to Close June 15-30 As It Transitions to Municipal Library

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The City of Simi Valley has announced that the Simi Valley Public Library will be closed from Saturday, June 15, 2013 through Sunday, June 30, 2013 for refurbishment as it transitions from the Ventura County Library System to a municipal city public library. During the closure, patrons may use their Ventura County Library card to check out materials from other Ventura County Libraries, the nearest site being the Oak Park Library.

Beginning July 1, 2013, library patrons will need a new Simi Valley Public Library card to check out materials from the Simi Valley Public Library. Patrons may pre-register for their new library card online at www.simivalleylibrary.org beginning June 15, 2013 and will have the opportunity to select one of three new card designs. Once they have pre-registered, at their first visit to the Library, patrons will be issued their card.

Patrons who wish to obtain their new card prior to July 1 may register for the new card in person from Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 28 at the Simi Valley Senior Center and City Hall. Representatives will be available at the Senior Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at City Hall for Library card registration. No appointment is necessary.

The public is invited to attend the Grand Opening of the Simi Valley Public Library on Monday, July 1 at 10:00 a.m. The event will feature a ribbon cutting of the refurbished facility, presentations by local, elected officials, the Summer Reading Program Kick-off by Mr. Nifty’s Balloon Show at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., tours of the refurbished Library that will feature an enhanced collection of materials, new furniture, a refreshed interior, enhanced technology and computers, new signage, the addition of a Teen Lounge, and more.

The Simi Valley Public Library is located at 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, the Simi Valley Senior Center is located at 3900 Avenida Simi, and Simi Valley City Hall is located at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road. For questions, or more information, call (805) 583-6861 or visit www.simivalley.org or www.simivalleylibrary.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County to Receive Grant From Verizon FiOS SoCal

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Verizon FiOS SoCal Partnering with Habitat for Humanity to Influence Change

Habitat receiving $5,000 grant; Employees providing A Brush with Kindness!  

Verizon FiOS SoCal and local communities are teaming up to support local non-profits. In phase one of Verizon’s SoCal Experience, more than $20,000 was donated to non-profit organizations in Palm Springs, Inland Valley and Victor Valley. In phase two, Verizon is donating to another three non-profits.  Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County will receive a $5,000 grant from Verizon, and a team of Verizon employees will volunteer their time to provide a ‘hand-up’ to a family in need of home repairs.

On Friday, June 14, Verizon FiOS SoCal employees will deliver A Brush with Kindness in El Rio (Oxnard).  For this special Home Preservation, we are proud to be serving a homeowner who also happens to be a two-time Veteran.  A Brush with Kindness is a Habitat for Humanity program that helps preserve homeownership by partnering with low-income homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live.  Depending on the home’s location, some low income families may qualify for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help purchase building materials.  Repairs include, but are not limited to landscaping, painting, and other minor repairs. 

About Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County is a locally-run and locally-funded affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Over the past 30 years, 56 new home builds have provided homeownership opportunities for families in need and hundreds of homes have been repaired, providing a safe, clean, decent living environment for lower income homeowners. The Preserve a Home program, which began with a new focus only two years, ago is being embraced by several cities and the county

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Ventura County Reports First Frozen Berry-Related Case of Hepatitis A

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Ventura County Reports First Frozen Berry-related Case of Hepatitis A

As previously reported, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has warned consumers not to eat Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend of frozen berries sold through Costco stores, and possibly other retail outlets, as they have been linked to a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections.

Ventura County now has its first documented case of hepatitis A associated with the frozen berry blend.  The affected individual is a male who used the product in preparing a smoothie. He has been ill at home for about 2 weeks and has not required hospitalization.

He is among over 40 cases that are being investigated nationwide. Three of these individuals have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.  In California, seven confirmed illnesses in persons who consumed this product have been reported from Humboldt, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino (2), San Diego, and now, Ventura counties.

People who are immune to hepatitis A are not at risk for getting this infection after exposure to the berry mixture product.  Immunity can come from previous immunization, which has been recommended as a part of the routine immunization series for children in California since 1999, or from a prior hepatitis A infection.  Many people who were raised outside of the United State will have had hepatitis A infection as a child without having had any symptoms.

Consumption of the Townsend Farms frozen berries that have been cooked or baked will have inactivated the hepatitis A virus and will therefore not make someone ill.

In the 3 weeks prior to being removed from the shelves, the Ventura County Department of Public Health believes about 400 packages of the berry mixture were sold to Ventura County residents. Ventura County Public Health advises if you have this product in your freezer, please discard it.

Costco removed this product from stores as of May 30 and is notifying their member customers who have bought this product.

Ventura County Public Health is working with the California CDPH to provide further guidance for the public and clinical providers, and will release new information as it’s warranted.

Symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection include fever, fatigue, loss

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Parking Lot Renovations at Newbury Park Library During Next Several Months

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The parking lot at the Newbury Park Library is over 20 years old and has reached the end of its useful life. Over the next two to three months, the asphalt lot will be replaced with new asphalt and pavers. There will also be water storage tanks installed for stormwater retention and upgrades to landscaping, with more drought tolerant plants and low-flow irrigation.

For more information about the project, visit the City of Thousand Oaks website at www.toaks.org or call 805.449.2225.

The library and businesses (B of A, Burt's Pharmacy, The Alamo, etc.) located at this location, at the west corner of Borchard Road and Michael Drive in Newbury Park, will remain open during renovations. A large portion of the lot is currently fenced off, so do plan for some extra time for parking during these summer months.

The farmers' market that was located here on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm has temporarily been relocated to the nearby King of Glory Church parking lot at 2500 Borchard Road.

Construction on Lynn Road Bike Lanes in Thousand Oaks to Begin on June 18th

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The City of Thousand Oaks announced today that construction on the Lynn Road Bike Lanes Project will get underway on June 18, 2013. The project will add bike lanes in both directions along Lynn Road, between Hillcrest Drive and Avenida De Los Arboles. The addition of the bike lanes will connect to existing bike lanes on both ends of the project area, increasing vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian safety.


View Larger Map

Currently, bicyclists share a travel lane with vehicles or share the sidewalk with pedestrians along this 2.5 mile stretch of Lynn Road. The roadway will be expanded by narrowing the median between Camino Manzanas and Avenida de los Arboles and by widening the southbound roadway between Hillcrest Drive and Camino Manzanas. The project does not require the removal of any trees in the median. Vertical curbs and new sidewalks will be constructed in areas where rolled curbs currently exist. Drainage improvements will also be made in the project area. Two vehicle lanes of travel in each direction will remain after the project is completed.

Major project improvements will be completed in two phases:

Phase 1

Southbound Lynn Road - Hillcrest to Camino Manzanas (June 18 – Late August)

Northbound Lynn Road - Camino Manzanas to Arboles (June 18 – Mid September)

Phase 2

Southbound Lynn Road - Camino Manzanas to Arboles (Late August – Late November)

Northbound Lynn Road - Hillcrest to Camino Manzanas (Mid November – Late November)

Single-lane closures will be necessary to perform construction work throughout each phase of the project.

Additional information about the Lynn Road Bike Lanes Project, including funding sources, project background and history, construction timelines, lane closures, renderings, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found online at www.toaks.org/lynnroad.

Oxnard Police Department Launches "Stay in Touch" Program for Local Residents

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The Oxnard Police Department recently introduced "Stay in Touch," a service that emails you notifications about public safety issues and crime activity in your specific neighborhood in Oxnard. To sign up, you simply provide your email address and name and selected your neighborhood. Learn more and sign up at stayintouch.oxnardpd.org.