Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
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El Taco Chico is now open at the former Baba's Cafe at 640 Lindero Canyon Road (at Kanan) in the Oak Park Shopping Center. Baba's Cafe opened in May 2017 in this former home of the Sub Contractor.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu includes a full array of Mexican fare, scramble bowls, burgers, tortas, salads, sandwiches and more.
In response to a federal recommendation and student requests, California Lutheran University this semester joined a small but growing number of colleges offering a for-credit personal finance course.
The U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission, which includes members from the U.S. departments of Education and the Treasury, last year recommended that higher education institutions require financial literacy courses to equip students to make critical decisions during and after college.
“It’s not if, but when, this mandate will come from either the federal or state level,” said Chia-Li Chien, director of the financial planning program at Cal Lutheran. “Higher education institutions must be prepared to have such a course in place to meet the requirement.”
Chien helped develop Introduction to Personal Finance, the new optional one-unit elective being taught by William Klepper, a senior adjunct faculty member and certified financial planner with more than 30 years of experience. Cal Lutheran began with one section, hoping to attract 18 students. Enrollment has climbed to a near-capacity class of 23 as students continue to add it. The course covers saving, taxes, credit scores, bank accounts, budgets, loans, housing decisions, investments and risk management. Students will put together budgets and financial plans for themselves.
“Understanding spending limits and being conscious of financial decisions during college will help students establish good financial behaviors before they enter the workforce,” said Chien, an assistant professor in the School of Management. “These foundational skills will go a long way toward helping students reach their goals in life.”
Even though many U.S. students take out loans to help finance their education, a 2019 Trellis Research report found that only 21% of undergraduates could correctly answer three questions related to loan terms, interest rates and repayment options. In a 2018 Brookings Institution study, U.S. undergraduate students demonstrated low levels of financial literacy, with just 28% getting three multiple-choice questions on inflation, interest and risk diversification correct. The study showed that financial knowledge was lower among students in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
Although personal finance courses are popular with students, a 2011 report from the Financial Security Project at Boston College found that offerings are sporadic with about 100 U.S. colleges offering for-credit classes. Community colleges were the first to adopt the courses in large numbers, the report said. A few universities mandate that all students complete a for-credit financial literacy course, and others require a short online module. An increasing number of universities have begun offering optional workshops, with Harvard and Princeton universities offering them for the first time last year.
Lemmo’s Pizzeria opened at 4223 Tierra Rejada Road in Moorpark on Monday, January 20th. The specialty pizza menu looks fantastic, with options that include “Lemmo’s Family Pie” (Onion, Bell Pepper, Mushrooms, Pepperoni, Sausage and Olives), “The Godfather” (Pepperoni, Sausage, Ham, Meatballs, Canadian Bacon and Salami), “The Meadow” (Vegan, with Mushrooms, Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Black Olives, Vegan Cheese and Vegan Meatballs) and more.
Lemmo’s Pizzeria also serve a variety of salads, sandwiches and appetizers. Tuesday Night 75 cent Wing Night too!
Learn more at lemmospizzeria.com or call 805.553.6667.
Farmer Boys®, the Southern California-based fast casual concept known for its award-winning burgers and exceptional service, has opened doors at 1057 Academy Drive in the Newbury Park area of Thousand Oaks, Calif. The new location is operated by long-time Farmer Boys franchisee, Omar Mawas, and a Grand Opening celebration is planned in March 2020.
For nearly 40 years, Farmer Boys has developed a loyal customer base. The secret is serving high quality, farm fresh food that’s cooked to order and served in a comfortable environment by friendly and attentive team members. Farmer Boys’ menu consists of award-winning burgers, cooked-to-order breakfast served all day, hand-chopped salads, specialty sandwiches, and more. Produce is delivered fresh and whole to each restaurant every morning, meaning it doesn’t sit in a warehouse for weeks and can be enjoyed at its pinnacle of crispness and flavor. By going the extra mile for delicious, flavorful food, Farmer Boys’ guests can count on fresh, cooked-to-order meals every time they visit.
The Thousand Oaks location is open Monday through Thursday 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and offers dine-in, take-out and drive-thru service. To learn more about Farmer Boys, view their menu of farm fresh fare, or find the restaurant nearest you, visit www.farmerboys.com and follow the brand at @FarmerBoysFood on Instagram and Facebook, and @FarmerBoys on Twitter.
Original post 2/17/19:
Rumor has it that Farmer Boys is opening its first Ventura County location later this year here in the Conejo Valley; specifically in the Newbury Park section of Thousand Oaks, in the new Lowe’s / LA Fitness area.
Farmer Boys offers breakfast, burgers, salads, sandwiches and more in a fast-serve setting.
Learn more at www.farmerboys.com.
BL Dancehall and Saloon at 29020 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills is soft opening tomorrow, January 24th, from 6pm to 2am. They are done with their first stage of renovations.
As a reminder, the owners of Borderline Bar & Grill are opening BL while they are in the process of reconstructing the original Borderline location. BL will be open Fri/Sat nights. Ages 21+ only. Learn more at www.BLSaloon.com.
California Lutheran University has formed a new school focused on education beyond traditional bachelor’s and graduate degrees.
The School for Professional and Continuing Studies includes the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program, the Center for Nonprofit Leadership and a new Center for Lifelong Learning.
“Our goal is to provide a continuum of educational experiences for post-traditional students that supports degree attainment, lifelong learning, professional development, leadership excellence and service to the region,” said the school’s newly appointed dean, Lisa L. Buono, who has directed the Professionals program for seven years and served on the university’s faculty since 2004. “We will meet these individuals where they are and provide tailored programs and resources for them.”
In late spring, the university plans to launch a Fifty and Better program for older adults who want to take non-credit classes for the joy of learning and social engagement as part of the new Center for Lifelong Learning. The center already offers non-degree opportunities such as continuing education for educators
The Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program has been serving students with previous college credit since 1985. Offered in an accelerated format in Thousand Oaks, Oxnard and Woodland Hills, its night classes enable students who are juggling work and family commitments to complete their degrees.
The students served by the Professionals program are the fastest-growing group of learners nationwide and more diverse than traditional populations. Sixty percent of Cal Lutheran’s Professionals are first-generation collegegoers, compared with 27% of traditional undergraduate students. Sixty-four percent of Professionals students are from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented on college campuses. About 15 percent are veterans, many are single parents, and some are grandparents.
To serve more of these students, Cal Lutheran is exploring additional majors such as healthcare management and scheduling classes at new times and in new formats.
Cal Lutheran’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership will continue to provide affordable and locally relevant professional development to help staff, board members and volunteers sustain and improve their organizations.
“I am grateful for the work of Dr. Buono and her team to strengthen existing programs and create new opportunities for Cal Lutheran to serve this region,” said Leanne Neilson, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
For more information, go to CalLutheran.edu/spcs.
According to Marco, owner/operator of Tavern 101 Grill & Tap House in Agoura Hills, he opened another eatery today - 101 BBQ Hut, at 1610 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks (near Nothing Bundt Cakes). Menu includes BBQ sandwiches, wraps, salads and more.
No website or social media presence as of yet. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: We stopped by on a hunch on the 26th and it had opened that day. Enjoy checking it out!
Well it looks like the first Ventura County Farmer Boys will be opening on Monday, January 27th at 1007 Academy Drive, Newbury Park, across from Lowe's. Farmer Boys is a fast-serve eatery that serves up breakfast (pancakes, egg dishes, breakfast burritos), lunch and dinner (burgers, salads, sandwiches, wraps, etc.). Learn more at www.farmerboys.com.
UPDATE 1/11/20: “Opening February 3rd” sign is up.
Cracker Barrel from Los Posas Road on December 15, 2019.
UPDATE: Last month, the Mayor of Camarillo said February 2020 is the latest anticipated grand opening date of the Camarillo Cracker Barrel. Subject to change, as we know. www.facebook.com/crackerbarrel.camarillo.
The iconic Cracker Barrel shape is starting to take hold.
POSTED 1/25/19: Today the City of Camarillo posted a long-awaited update about Cracker Barrel to its Facebook page. Cracker Barrel is anticipated to begin construction in March and open by November 2019. It will be located within the Camarillo Promenade section of the Camarillo Premium Outlets.
The last update last August was a planned ground breaking in the Fall of 2018 with March/April 2019 opening date. The city noted that Cracker Barrel, based in Tennessee, decided to expand for the first time in California and has four locations (including Camarillo) in the works. But they experienced delays as they had not been prepared for accessibility and Title 24 (energy efficiency and green design) requirements in this state.
The popular eatery opted to commit to completing stores in Victorville, Sacramento and Santa Maria) before moving forward with Camarillo. Sacramento and Victorville are now open; Santa Maria is near completion. That means Camarillo will soon be on the way.
Courtesy of City of Camarillo Department of Community Development
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