Hideout Indoor Playground in Thousand Oaks Grand Opening on March 1st

The new Hideout Indoor Playground is opening this Saturday in Thousand Oaks at the North Ranch Pavilion Center, 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, Unit A7. The grand opening event takes place from 11am to 4pm and will feature free activities, raffle prizes, entertainment and refreshments.

This brand new facility was custom designed by Sherry Ehya, with a play area that was uniquely designed with a modern tree house, play stage, art studio, indoor climbing area and more. There's also a spacious parent lounge with comfortable seating, TV and free WiFi.

Learn more at www.hideoutplayground.com.

Claim Jumper Thousand Oaks Closed Its Doors Yesterday, February 23, 2014

The rumors this weekend were true. Claim Jumper at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks closed its doors at close of business yesterday, Sunday, February 23, 2014. Claim Jumper opened in 2005, when The Lakes first opened. Always sad to see a popular restaurant closing, but I suspect we will hear something else coming here soon. If you still a hankering for Claim Jumper, the nearest location to Ventura County is in Northridge. Visit claimjumper.com for more information.

"The Vernacular Bestiary" Exhibition at Santa Paula Agriculture Museum 3/1 to 6/15

The Premiere Exhibition of “The Vernacular Bestiary” and a Call for Poetry

From March 1 through June 15, 2014, the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will present the first exhibition of “The Vernacular Bestiary: Animal Snapshots from A to Z.” This collection of anonymous amateur photographs has been collected by photographer and gallerist John Nichols over the past two decades and has never been publiclyexhibited.

Dog, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

The abecedarian display of creatures is comprised of photographs taken over the past 120 years.   An adjacent kids’ reading and exhibit area will encourage children and their families to read and write poems, as well as draw and display their own responses to the animal-themed exhibition. Animal poems by published poets will also be shared, in binders that can be carried around the exhibition area. 

Fish, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

Call for Poetry: Writers are invited to preview selections from The Vernacular Bestiary online immediately at http://flic.kr/s/aHsj5133kr or see the original snapshots at the Agriculture Museum, beginning on March 1.  They may submit up to three original poems of up to 25 lines each inspired by any of the snapshots. Submission implies that the poems can be used by the Agriculture Museum non-commercially to publicize the exhibit (credit will be given) and copyright reverts back to author. Poems must be submitted to VBpoem@gmail.com by March 29. A panel of judges will select poems to be shared at the “An Afternoon of Animal Verse” to take place in April. Poets will be contacted and asked to read their selected poems at the event; poet Jackson Wheeler will read the poems of any who cannot attend.

The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula. Information about the museum can be found at www.venturamuseum.org or call 805.525.3100.  Museum hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 – 4.  For more information about the exhibition and the call for poetry, contact John Nichols at sespenichols@gmail.com or at (805) 525-7804. 

Colt, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

55 Hour Closure of 118 / 23 Freeway Interchange 10PM Feb 21 Until 5AM Feb 24

55-HOUR CLOSURE OF SR-118/SR-23 INTERCHANGE PLANNED 2/21-2/24

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the westbound Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118) connector to the southbound Moorpark Freeway (SR-23) at Princeton Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday, February 21 until 5 a.m. Monday, February 24

The closure is required to implement repairs of bridge joints on the westbound side of the Arroyo Simi Overhead structure. Caltrans is urging motorists to avoid the interchange if at all possible and to expect delays.

Westbound traffic will be directed to exit at Princeton Avenue, travel southbound on Princeton and turn left on Spring Road to Los Angeles Avenue. A right turn on Los Angeles will turn into westbound SR-118; a left turn will take motorists back to SR-23.

An alternate route will be posted directing motorists to exit westbound SR-118 at Madera Road, take Madera Road south, then turn right on Tierra Rejada Road back to SR- 23; westbound SR-118 traffic will take Route 23 north to Los Angeles Avenue.

Work will take place around the clock and may generate noise and dust for residents adjacent to the freeway. Otherwise, the work is not expected to involve significant community impacts.

A 50 percent reduction in traffic was achieved during the February 7-9 55-hour closure of the eastbound SR-118 connector. Caltrans urges motorists to avoid the interchange, if possible, and thanks the public for its cooperation.

Source: Caltrans District 7 www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/news

Straight Up Ventura County 2014 Youth Drug and Alcohol Awareness Video Contest

Straight Up Ventura County announces return of youth video contest; seeks videos from young people ages 12-25; focus on drug and alcohol awareness 

Straight Up, the Ventura County-wide youth advocacy project, has opened its most recent video contest for submissions from young people in Ventura County.

Entrants can choose from topics on underage and binge drinking, impaired driving, prescription drug abuse (and the links to heroin use) and the impact to the adolescent brain with marijuana use. 

2011-2012 California Healthy Kids Survey results showed that Ventura County youth continue to abuse prescription drugs and use heroin and marijuana. For example, 20% of 11th graders and 14% of 9th graders have used prescription pain medications to get high. Marijuana use doubled for 5th graders between 2009 and 2012. Heroin continues to be an escalating problem -- several young people in Simi Valley and elsewhere have fatally overdosed in recent years. Often, the problem starts with prescription drug abuse with the user "graduating" to heroin for similar effects. 

Alcohol use and impaired driving also continue to be a local issue. In Ventura County, alcohol use is highest among 18- to 20-year-olds not old enough to legally purchase it, and is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes.

The contest is open to Ventura County young people 12-25 years of age who live or go to school within Ventura County. Short videos (30-90 seconds) are preferred, but longer videos are welcome as well. A grand prize of $500 will be awarded, as well as several runner-up prizes. Entries must be received by Friday, May 16, 2014. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 30.

Downloadable rules and guidelines can be found at www.straightupvc.org/contest. Information sessions, training and equipment lending can be made available. Call 805.647.4622 with any questions.

Straight Up Ventura County (a project of Ventura County Behavioral Health Department Alcohol and Drug Programs) works closely with young people to raise awareness and create change around the issues of alcohol and drug abuse. Advocacy training, reality improv workshops and video projects are some of the way youth can get engaged and become empowered.

Winner of the 2013 contest:

Mama's Hummus Coming Soon to Conejo Gateway Plaza in Newbury Park

Update 2/19/14: Mama's Hummus is opening tomorrow, Thursday, February 20th according to a post on its Facebook page.

Update 2/4/14: Mama's Hummus indicates on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mamashummus that it is "coming soon in February." Authentic Lebanese food with fresh, hand-picked ingredients. And they have a nice new sign up facing Wendy Drive.

Originally posted 12/25/13:

There's a new "coming soon" sign up and it sounds pretty good to me! Mama's Hummus will be opening "soon" at the Conejo Gateway Plaza, 779 N. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park, in the space adjacent to Tomodachi Sushi.  The sign on the door says kabobs, shawarma and falafel....authentic Mediterranean cuisine. www.mamashummus.com

The mere mention of hummus reminds me of the famous Mordecai and Rigby of The Regular Show, who appreciate the deliciousness of hummus.

Los Agaves Mexican Grill in Thousand Oaks, Which Reopened, Recently Closed Again

Ed G of Thousand Oaks also pointed out to us that Los Agaves Mexican Grill at 2350 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, which closed mid-last year, opened as a new restaurant, but subsequently opened again as Los Agaves Mexican Grill, is now closed. The sign on the door, pictured below, indicates that may try to open again at a new location in the future. Los Agaves served Thousand Oaks for ten years.

Akash Cuisine of India Opened in Thousand Oaks in Late January

Update 8/25/18: Akash Cuisine recently closed its doors.

A tip from Ed G via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook page led me to the newly opened Akash Cuisine of India at 2130 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks at the Select Plaza, adjacent to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. This is the space previously occupied by Cafe Provencal that closed its doors in March 2012. The sign indicates they specialize in Bangladeshi and Indian food. No website. Call 805.379.4849.

Hmm, in searching for what Akash means, I discovered it is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system in India. Yikes! In Hinduisum, Akasha, or Akash, means the basis and essence of all things in the material world. That sounds better. All righty then. In any case, I'm hungry for some good Indian food!

Team VFD to Participate in Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle on March 9th

Team VFD is a group of ten Ventura City Fire Department members determined to make a difference. Team VFD is preparing to participate in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle, a timed race up the stairs at the Columbia Center in Downtown Seattle.  They will dress in full fire gear and self contained breathing apparatus as they climb 69 flights of stairs, 1,311 steps and 788 feet of vertical elevation. The group is climbing to support two causes – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and 11 year old Ventura resident Emma Bowles.

LLS is dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Every day, more than 347 LLS sponsored researchers come closer to the goal of finding a cure for leukemia and related blood cancers. Locally, LLS funds research in the Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo county areas. Your support and commitment to the mission of LLS enables us to continue this important work of saving lives and aids us in our ability to reach patients in our community

Honoree Emma BowlesEmma Bowles was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in August 2013. Emma is a very enthusiastic and positive girl who always looks at the glass as half full. Her favorite color is pink and for the last year she has been taking classical guitar lessons. Together with your help and participation Team VFD will climb for a cure and help Emma and her family in this difficult time.

To learn more and to donate to the cause, visit www.teamvfd.com. Team VFD will be hosting a fundraising event at Barrelhouse 101 in Ventura on March 1st and is selling wristbands and T shirts to support Emma. See video below to learn a bit more about Emma. Donate at www.teamvfd.com/donate.