Greater Conejo Valley Chamber Announces Director of Government and Economic Affairs

Assembly Legislative Aide Adam Haverstock Joins The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce as Director of Government and Economic Affairs

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce announces the hiring of Adam Haverstock, former aide to California State Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, as Director of Government and Economic Affairs.  Haverstock will oversee relations with local, state and federal government officials and assist in managing the Conejo Valley Tourism Improvement District.

Adam Haverstock is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Recreation and Tourism Management.  He graduated with Leadership Honors and served as Associated Students President, traveling to Sacramento many times to advocate for higher education policies on behalf of CSUN.

Haverstock worked on the campaign for State Senator Tony Strickland and served as Campaign Manager to for Assemblyman Jeff Gorell during both of his campaigns for State Assembly.  He served on Assemblyman Gorell’s staff as a Field Representative from 2010 to 2013.  A resident of Moorpark, he also serves as a Commissioner on the Moorpark Parks and Recreation Commission.

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest chambers in the state of California with approximately 1100 business members, serving the cities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.  It is one of only five 5-Star Chambers in  California, as rated by the accreditation arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, placing the Chamber in the top 1% of chambers of commerce nationwide.

For more information, please visit www.ConejoChamber.org or call 805-370-0035.

Ventura County Public Health Encourages Residents to Get Flu Shots

Ventura County Public Health keeps watchful eye on influenza activity, encourages public to get flu shots

In response to Kern County Public Health reports confirming that eight Kern County residents have been diagnosed with severe 2009 influenza A (H1N1) influenza that required hospitalization, Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) officials have been keeping close tabs on flu activity in Ventura County. Several Kern County flu patients have been placed in the intensive care unit and, in some cases, have required support on a ventilator. Kern County borders Ventura County to the east.

So far, flu activity has been relatively low in Ventura County with only two patients hospitalized with confirmed cases of H1N1 and one patient hospitalized with a suspected H1N1 case. Because flu season generally does not peak until January or February, VCPH officials are encouraging anyone who has not yet received an annual flu shot to do so immediately. Most years, flu shots are especially important for the most vulnerable - the very young, very old and those with chronic illness. Because the H1N1 influenza is different from the average flu virus and tends to hit young, healthy people through middle-aged adults harder, it is very important that everyone be vaccinated this year.

“The 2013 – 2014 flu vaccine is a good match for the viruses that are currently making people sick,” said Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County Health Officer. “This year’s shot includes the 2009 H1N1 strain, which is responsible for 97.7% of all flu illnesses so far this season.” According to the CDC, influenza and related complications are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and influenza was associated with an estimated 381,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. last year. The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older, including pregnant women.

Although the flu typically causes the most severe cases in children, the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions, during the 2009 worldwide pandemic, young, healthy people were impacted in greater numbers by the H1N1 virus. That year, the flu caused more illness in children and young and middle-aged adults than in older adults.

“Being vaccinated will reduce your chances of catching H1N1,” said Levin. “In addition, if you do get H1N1, the vaccine will help lessen the severity of your illness.”

For a list of Ventura County flu shot clinics, go to: http://www.vchca.org/public-health/publichealth- clinics and click on the red “Get Your Flu Shot” button for the January and February schedules.

For more information on the 2013 – 2014 flu season, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

Tizzy Yogurt Cafe Recently Opened in Thousand Oaks

UPDATE Dec 2014: Tizzy has announced that it has closed both of its locations - Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks :(

After posting an update about eateries that have opened and closed during the last half of 2013, Danielle M told us about Tizzy Yogurt Cafe at 1404 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks at what used to be Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt. Tizzy opened in the mid-December time frame.

According to the Tizzy Yogurt Cafe Facebook page, the previous owners left the Golden Spoon franchise* and under the same management, changed the decor, menu and experience to become a cafe that serves shakes, smoothies, homemade waffles, homemade oatmeal and illy expresso and cafe, as well as frozen yogurt.

More information at www.facebook.com/pages/Tizzy-Yogurt-Cafe/616860551710287.

In related news, the Simi Valley Golden Spoon has also been changed over to become a Tizzy Yogurt Cafe. No website or Facebook as of yet but their phone number is 805.579.1133. They open around lunchtime.

* This was the last Golden Spoon location in the Conejo Valley. Newbury Park and Agoura locations closed in January 2013. The other Thousand Oaks location closed in summer 2013.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit to Open Location in Simi Valley This Summer

Final Update 12/31/13: Grand opening 1/1/14!

Update 12/18/13: Grand opening date delayed a bit longer with date TBA.

Update 12/6/13: Grand opening date anticipated December 19th.

Update 11/20/13: Grand opening anticipated by the end of November!

Update 9/24/13: Grand opening anticipated around October 31. For updates, visit the Dickey's Barbecue Pit Simi Valley Facebook Page.

Original Post 6/18/13: Good news for barbecue fans...another Dickey's Barbecue Pit is coming soon to Ventura County. The first location opened on February 28th in Ventura.

We've been to Dickey's Ventura and definitely enjoyed the quality of the food, the reasonable prices and the free ice cream! We enjoyed the beef brisket and turkey as well as the barbecue beans, baked potato casserole as well as the green beans with bacon. In fact, I just slobbered on the keyboard as I typed this. Good stuff! Also, they have a Kids Eat Free deal every Sunday!

A second Dickey's Barbecue Pit location will open later this summer, possibly August, at 2902 Tapo Canyon Road, Suite B in Simi Valley. For updates, visit the Dickey's Barbecue Pit Simi Valley Facebook Page.

N'Awlinz Bistro Closes Its Doors in Newbury Park to Focus on New Oxnard Location

December 21, 2013 was N'Awlinz Bistro's last day of operation at its Newbury Park location that originally opened in February 2012. It opened its beautiful new Downtown Oxnard Centennial Plaza location in September. The Newbury Park location will remain available for catering for the time being....so if you do cater a party using N'Awlinz Bistro, be sure to INVITE ME! :)

Mouthful Eatery Opened in Thousand Oaks in Mid-November

Mouthful Eatery opened on November 13, 2013 in the space previously occupied by Garage Dogs at 2626 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, across the street from 24 Hour Fitness.

According to its Facebook page, Mouthful Eatery offers handcrafted sandwiches with serious meat that is brined, basted and roasted. Bread is made from scratch.

Their food has a Peruvian flair. Sandwiches include hand carved roasted turkey, roasted chicken, roasted pork loin, "meatballs of fire" (turkey meatballs), potato crusted cod and roasted portobello veggie. Salads and "Powerbowls" include chopped salad, tuscan kale, southwestern salad and the "arnold bowlzenegger" (eight ounces of roasted turkey, steamed red quinoa, roasted veggies, chipotle-bbq sauce).

The pictured "arnold bowlzenegger" was quite tasty, with fresh ingredients, though a bit on the small side.

Sounds great! Visit www.mouthfuleatery.com for more information or call 805.777.9222.

(Thanks to Lauren T for pointing this out on the CVG Facebook page.)

Yes, They Demolished the Thousand Oaks El Torito to Pave the Way For Chick-fil-A

Grand opening is Thursday, May 29, 2014.

Yes indeed, as several people have inquired on the CVG Facebook page, the historic, or at least kind of historic, El Torito restaurant at the corner of Moorpark Road and Brazil St in Thousand Oaks that poured its last margarita on January 24, 2012 is now demolished. Was that a run-on sentence? Well that means I need a margarita. Blended, light salt, please.

I digress. This location will continue not serving margaritas for the foreseeable future as a new Chick-fil-A restaurant has been approved for the site and is anticipated to start pulling building permits for the location early next year. No details on the timing of the grand opening of this soon-to-be second Thousand Oaks Chick-fil-A location but I'd imagine we're looking sometime perhaps in the summer 2014 time frame. Just my guess.

The Thousand Oaks El Torito was reduced to rubble last week.

Ah yes, the El Torito we shall always remember. I for one will miss this place.

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que to Open at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard on Dec 18

NOTE: Famous Dave’s Oxnard closed its doors in January 2019, after five years in business. In fact, there are no remaining Famous Dave’s in Ventura County.

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que is opening its third Ventura County location next Wednesday, December 18th, at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard. Famous Dave's is known for serving up mouth watering hickory-smoked ribs and barbequed meats,  sandwiches, burgers and salads.

Learn more at www.famousdaves.com/oxnard. Other locations at the Simi Valley Town Center and in Thousand Oaks at 3980 Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Wendy Drive/101 Overpass Widening Project in Newbury Park Will Take 18 Months

Update 12/11/13: the NP 101 onramp at Wendy Drive now is expected to open tomorrow, December 12th, after Caltrans programs the traffic controller sometime tomorrow morning!

Update 11/26/13: According to the City of Thousand Oaks, the northbound 101 onramp at Wendy Drive now is anticipated to open on Monday, December 16th due to other requirements from Caltrans and the completion date for the entire project is by the end of December.

Update 9/19/13: In May 2013, the City entered into a reimbursement agreement with the Seventh Day Adventist Church to construct intersection improvements at Academy Drive and the 101 Freeway. These improvements are being added to the existing project and will elongate the project period. Doing the improvements now as part of the existing project will take advantage of the equipment and contractor that is already mobilized and will reduce further inconvenience to motorists in the future.

The project is now 70% complete and is anticipated to be done by November to mid-December. 90% of the bridge's pavement is complete. Remaining items to be completed include traffic signal installations/modifications (estimated completion date 10/20/13), drainage improvements on the NB 101 onramp, asphalt overlays for the offramps, as well as street lights, fencing and landscaping to be finished at the end of the project.

Total cost with the additional improvements is $15.8M, including $10.8M in Federal Highway Grants, $2.1M in gas taxes and $2.9M in developer fees (including $1.4M from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, as approved by City Council on May 28, 2013). the $1.4M will be paid once the site, once considered by Costco as a site, is developed.

We are in the home stretch!

Update 2/5/12 from the City of T.O. Website: Construction period Feb 2012 to Aug 2013. Total cost $14.3 million ($10.9 million Federal funds, $2.1 million gas tax, $1.3 million developer fees. Construction crews begin mobilization February 13th.

"The City plans to improve the Wendy Drive/101 Freeway overcrossing by adding a travel lane in each direction, widening the northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp, and adding bike lanes and signal modifications for enhanced public safety. Periodic night-time full freeway closures will occur. During these closures, motorists will be directed towards the on/off ramps to exit and re-enter the freeway. In addition, the freeway on/off ramps will be intermittently shut-down between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, and re-opened between 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily."

Update 1/31/12: Initial work is slated to start now in the mid-February range but will not have a significant impact on traffic according to the City. The City is awaiting detailed plan updates. Click here to see updates on the City of T.O. website and to sign up for email updates directly from the City.

Originally posted 12/30/11:

Beginning in January the City of Thousand Oaks is widening the Wendy Drive/101 Freeway overcrossing by adding a travel lane in each direction, northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp, and adding bike lanes and signal modifications. The goal of the project is to mitigate traffic congestion in the area (I can vouch for that problem...).

The project starts sometime next month. The project plan on the city website indicates January 30th but I thought I saw a sign showing mid-month closure. Whatever the actual start date is, expect delays and detours over the next 18 (ugghh!!) months! Final striping of the new lanes are currently anticipated for the week of July 15, 2013. But of course actual dates may vary.

This area already gets mighty congested during the morning/evening rush hours, so be prepared. Try getting on/off the 101 at Borchard/Rancho Conejo. There are detour maps on the city website at www.toaks.org/wendy101 but frankly I'm having a hard time deciphering them. Regardless, I certainly will be avoiding that area as much as possible during construction.