Cal Lutheran to Dedicate Bronze Statue of Richard Pederson on April 18th

After five years in the making, a bronze statue of the farmer who donated his land for the California Lutheran University campus in Thousand Oaks will be dedicated at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18.

The statue of Richard Pederson, a son of Norwegian immigrants, will be dedicated during the Scandinavian Festival, but the site will be accessible to people who are not attending the event. The statue stands next to Soiland Humanities Center near the flagpoles on Memorial Parkway. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Cal Lutheran President Chris Kimball will preside over the event. Pederson’s niece, Janet Pederson Reeling of Bishop, plans to attend.

While serving as an artist-in-residence during Cal Lutheran’s 50th anniversary in 2009, Paul Lucchesi of West Virginia decided to sculpt a statue of Pederson based on a black-and-white photograph of him looking out over his ranch. With the statue now at the top of an incline near the center of campus, Pederson will forever look out over the university he made possible.

The original clay sculpture sat in storage until last spring, when the Cal Lutheran Community Leaders Association, Artists and Speakers Committee and University Advancement paid for Lucchesi to return to campus to create a wax mold and prepare it for casting in bronze.

Pederson had been ready to retire a bachelor when he donated his 130-acre ranch in 1957 so California Lutheran College could be built. The ranch’s chicken coops were converted into the first offices and classrooms. Classes began in 1961 with 330 students. Today, the university has 2,800 undergraduate and 1,350 graduate students who come from around the world and represent a diversity of faiths and cultures.

Pederson’s parents, Lars and Karn Pederson, had paid $3 an acre for the ranch land and $2 an acre for the hillside in 1890 when they became one of the founding families of the Norwegian Colony.

After Lars Pederson died, the family moved to Santa Barbara, but Richard and his brother Peder returned in 1913 and their mother later joined them. They lived in a Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog kit house, which today is the home of the Music Department. They grew alfalfa, hay, tomatoes and grapefruit and raised chickens, selling about 9,000 eggs a day. Pederson died in 1976 at the age of 81.

Kneady Bakery Open to the Public Fridays through Sundays in Moorpark

Kneady Bakery is now open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. inside the Community Marketplace located at 709 Science Drive in Moorpark.   Grand opening weekend is April 3 - 5, with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, April 3 at 1:00 p.m. at the Kneady booth #436. The Ceremony will include VIP Guests and fresh-baked goodies for visitors.

The Kneady bakers are confectionary nerds, rebelling against your ordinary, everyday bakery. They do not make cakes or cupcakes, but instead specialize in gourmet dessert and brunch bars, custom gift baskets, and unique treats.  Founders, artist Ashley Guerrero and globe-trotter Kati Angelini, personally oversee the baking of each product. Kneady participates in official parties and style lounges for the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, Sundance Festival, Coachella, and Grammys, with treats such as chocolate chunk Wookies, Robert Brownie Juniors (made in an Iron Pan), and their most famous Ed MacaRooneys.

If you can’t visit their storefront, items can be ordered by the dozen through the online bakery and delivered throughout Los Angeles, Ventura County and the coastal cities.  Kneady Bakery also does On-Set Catering, Private Celebrity Events, and Fundraisers. 

Donating their time for a good cause is part of their culture, and they have donated their baked treats to several different charities and fundraisers including Toys for Tots, Cancer Awareness, and the Entertainment Aids Alliance.  Their gift baskets are often found on the desks of Hollywood’s hardest working executives and creatives. They provide personal catering for VIP parties, and special events and occasions, with past events including book signings, music releases and theatre openings.  Kneady Bakery uses mostly organic ingredients, and recycled and green packaging materials.  Gluten free and vegan items are offered alongside anything you might be craving. If they haven’t invented it yet, it might be time.

To find out more about the 2 Baked Girls, visit www.kneadybakery.com.

Mountains Restoration Trust Seeks Volunteers at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park

Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT) has received a $94,469 grant from the Ventura County Tree Mitigation Fund and will work closely with the National Park Service (NPS) to to revive native trees and plants at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park. Rancho Sierra Vista is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Elementary school students plant native plants at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park. The National Park Service and Mountains Restoration Trust are seeking volunteers to help plant nearly 5,000 native plants and trees. (Credit: National Park Service)The project encompasses 24 acres and consists of planting, monitoring and regular maintenance of 2,000 trees, including coastal live oaks, valley oaks, walnuts and sycamores. In addition, there will be 3,000 understory plants, including shrubs such as sage, bunchgrass and herbs. All plants and trees will be maintained and monitored over a 10-year period.

"This is an exciting and important restoration because we are connecting to 10 acres we planted last year in the upper reaches of Potrero Creek," said Irina Irvine, a restoration ecologist for the National Park Service. "We will be creating a functioning, self-sustaining riparian corridor which will benefit overall watershed health, reduce flashy fuel loads and provide water, forage and shelter to wildlife."

The public is invited to volunteer either a few hours or on a more long-term basis to help with planting and weeding. More information is available at www.volunteermatch.orgsearch/opp1943238.jsp.

All trees and plants will be grown locally at native plant nurseries operated by the two agencies.

Mountains Restoration Trust is a non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving natural land in the Santa Monica Mountains through restoration, education and land acquisition. Founded in 1981, MRT collaborates with government agencies in an ongoing effort to maintain a cooperative relationship between urbanization and native land. More information is available at www.mountainstrust.org.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 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 encompasses 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.

The Ventura County Tree Mitigation Fund distributes funds for projects that result in the planting and maintenance of protected trees, including restoration and/or maintenance of their associated habitat. The program is administered by the Ventura County Planning Department.

City of Thousand Oaks Special Election on June 2nd to Fill City Council Vacancy

Former City of Thousand Oaks City Councilmember Jacqui Irwin resigned from City Council on November 25, 2014 to assume her newly elected role as California District 44 Assemblymember.

As a result, the City of Thousand Oaks is holding a Special Municipal Vacancy Election on Tuesday, June 2nd to fill her term that expires in November 2016.

The estimated cost of the election to be incurred by the Ventura County Clerk's Office is $200,000 and will be reimbursed by the City of Thousand Oaks.

The City Clerk's office started accepting nomination papers for the special election on February 9th and will continue accepting them until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6th.

To run for office, you must be a registered voter in the City at the time of nomination, must be a City resident and at least age 18. You must also obtain a minimum of 20 valid signatures of other City of Thousand Oaks registered voters to run.

The newly elected councilmember will start his/her new role in the June/July timeframe, after election results are certified.

Contact the Thousand Oaks City Clerk at 805.449.2151 or visit toaks.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=2677 with questions.

So when will start seeing political signs around town? Signs may be posted starting 45 days prior to the election, which will be April 18th.

The last day to register to vote in this election is May 18th.

More on the City Council:

The City Council has five elected members that serve four year staggered terms. Elections are normally held in November of even-numbered years. The Council's meets at least two Tuesday night each month, except for August and its duties include appointing a City Manager, City Attorney and members of City Boards and Commissions, adopting a two year budget, enacting legislaton and establishing City policy. The Council also appoints one of its members as Mayor each year to preside over its meetings.

Councilmember compensation is currently $1,750 per month. Benefits include health insurance, vision and dental insurance, 7% retirement plan contribution and other benefits highlighted in City Council Resolution 2011-070.

The winner of this Special Election will be joining councilmembers Al Adam (Mayor), Joel Price (Mayor Pro Tem), Andy Fox and Claudia Bill-de la Pena.

Flu Vaccine Required for Ventura County Health Care Workers Beginning Jan 1, 2015

January 1, 2015, all health care workers (HCWs) in Ventura County hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, ambulances and other licensed health care facilities are required to receive an annual influenza immunization or wear a protective mask while in contact with patients.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza infection affects 5-15% of the U.S. population every year, leading to an estimated 3.1 million days of hospitalization and 31.4 million outpatient visits. Influenza accounts for an estimated 36,000 excess deaths in the U.S. each year, 90% of which are in persons ages 65 years and older.

This is the first time Ventura County has issued a mandatory flu vaccine mandate. The order will remain in effect throughout flu season which generally is defined as December 15 – March 31 of the following year.

Those HCWs who refuse to receive the influenza vaccination for religious or other reasons will be required to wear a face mask in patient care areas during the influenza season. Mandatory vaccination or masking policies have been shown to increase HCW vaccination rates to above 95%.

The new rule is part of a growing trend among health-care facilities nationwide. Similar orders have been issued in 23 other California counties.

The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. While circulating flu viruses vary from one year to the next, the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the four main flu viruses that researchers predict will cause the most illness during the upcoming flu season.

More info about Ventura County Public Health at www.vchca.org/public-health.

City of Westlake Village Continues Its Prohibition of Pot-Bellied Pigs

The City of Westlake Village municipal code prohibits large animals, farm animals and livestock (except horses) such as pigs, hogs, cows, sheep, goats and wild animals, from city limits.

Up to four dogs and cats are allowed per residence, as are most tropical fish and up to three small birds for every 1,000 sq ft of land area. Betcha didn't know that.

Certain other animals are allowed, assuming minimum lot size requirements are met. For example, up to three pigeons, at least three months old, are allowed for each 1,000 sq ft of land area. Yes, you heard it here, pigeon fans.

Chickens, turkeys, peacocks, geese and ducks are permitted on parcels of 15,000 sq ft or larger, provided that not more than six (6) such fowl are maintained on the premises.

That said, pot-bellied pigs are considered livestock in Westlake Village and thus are unable to enjoy living in this fine city.

But a Westlake Village resident tried to change that at the City's July 9, 2014 City Council meeting.

At that meeting, this resident, I would assume to be a pot-bellied pig fan, proposed the possibility of unplugging this particularly unpleasant pot-bellied pig prohibition.

The City Council's Administrative Committee met on July 24th, September 19th and October 16th, involving "a considerable amount of research and discussion" according to a City report that will be presented at the November 12th City Council meeting.

Ultimately, the Committee decided that the demand for keeping pot-bellied pigs in the City was not sufficient to warrant a change to its regulations. Unless City Council overrides this conclusion on the 12th, pot-bellied pigs' preclusion from partaking in pleasureful partying in Westlake Village will be propagated in perpetuity.

If you are a pot-bellied pig, we feel your pain. Join us in Thousand Oaks, where municipal code allowas you to habitate, along with other livestock pals, assuming you have at least 50 sq ft of pen per pig and are maintain a distance of at least 40 feet away from your human's pen.

City of Westlake Village Municipal Code: www.municode.com/library/ca/westlake_village/codes/code_of_ordinances

City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code: www.amlegal.com/thousandoaks_ca

Gateway Community School in Camarillo For At-Risk Kids Lauded in New Book

Gateway Community School in Camarillo, which serves some of Ventura County’s most troubled kids, is receiving recognition for major reforms that have made it a model for schools across the country.

It’s About Time: Planning Interventions and Extensions in Secondary School, edited by Mike Mattos and Austin Buffum, dedicates a full chapter to the changes Gateway has undergone since it began implementing reforms in 2010. In the chapter titled “From a Last Resort to a Model School of Choice,” the book describes Gateway’s transformation from a troubled, underperforming school to an example of success. The chapter was authored by Dr. Jane Wagmeister, the Executive Director of the Curriculum and Instruction Department at the Ventura County Office of Education.

Students are sent to Gateway Community School from their home districts due to repeated suspensions, expellable offenses, severe substance abuse and gang involvement. Prior to the reforms, Gateway suffered from low attendance and frequent disciplinary problems, with only 30% of students passing the state high school exit exam.

To address these issues, the Ventura County Office of Education, which operates the school, began a complete restructuring that included the hiring of James Koenig as the new Principal. After a careful assessment of the reasons for the school’s troubles, an extensive series of reforms were put in place. These included improved training of teachers and staff, an updated curriculum, adjustments to the school schedule and separating the middle school from the high school. Perhaps the most important change was shifting the school culture to one that gives students positive feedback, emotional support and a clear understanding of expectations.

The results were dramatic: the daily attendance rate at Gateway increased from 75% to 88%, the number of eleventh and twelfth graders passing the high school exit exam rose from two to 15, and the number of suspensions due to physical altercations decreased from 451 to 14.

Another positive outcome is that Gateway students have a newfound respect for service to the community. They are working at giving back by organizing blood drives, serving as volunteers at the local animal shelter and collecting donations for the homeless in Ventura County.

About the Ventura County Office of Education

The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at www.vcoe.org

World Record LEGO Chain Event in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, September 27th

World Record LEGO Chain Event is taking place on Saturday, September 27th from 9 AM - 4 PM at Thousand Oaks City Hall.

We are attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Records by building the World Longest LEGO Chain. We need your help to do it.  We have over 100,000 LEGO bricks and need some families who love building with LEGOs to help us build it.

This charity event is a collaboration between the Conejo Recreation & Park District, Rotary International, and Play-Well TEKnologies to raise money to build a state of the art special needs playground at Old Meadows Park in Thousand Oaks.

By signing up to help build the world's longest LEGO chain, you will help bring this playground to the community.  To learn more and to register (only $5/participant), visit bit.ly/WorldLongestLEGOChainEvent