CSU Channel Islands to Transition to Virtual Instruction Due to COVID-19 Concerns

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has announced that it will begin to transition to virtual instruction following its spring break. The campus continues to remain safe and there are zero presumptive and no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on or related to CSUCI.

A message was sent to the campus community indicating that out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with Ventura County Public Health, local educational partners, the Chancellor’s Office, and the academic and student leadership, CSUCI would begin to transition to virtual instruction.

CSUCI will remain open during every phase of these planning efforts and students will continue to be welcomed on the campus for all student services including student housing, dining services, Student Health Services, CAPS, Career Services, Academic Advising, services within the Broome Library, Enrollment Center, as well as all other services across campus.

In order to provide time for faculty and the University to make this significant shift, instructors who are prepared and willing to teach virtually are encouraged to begin voluntary virtual instruction for all in-person classes beginning Friday, March 13 and continue through Friday, March 20. Faculty will notify students directly how classes will be adjusted during this specific time period.

Following spring break, all in-person classes will be suspended Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3 in order to allow faculty additional time to prepare for virtual instruction. The campus will be closed Tuesday, March 31 for the Cesar Chavez holiday.

Mandatory virtual instruction will begin Monday, April 6 and continue through May 1, at which time CSUCI will reassess whether virtual instruction will continue for the remainder of the spring semester.

CSUCI will continue to monitor any spread of COVID-19 in the local community and issue additional notices to the campus community as necessary. Information is available and will also be regularly updated on the University’s website at: go.csuci.edu/covid19.

Timeline Summary

· March 13-20: Voluntary, but encouraged virtual instruction begins

· March 23-29: Spring Break

· March 30, April 1-3: Classes suspended in order for faculty to adjust and prepare classes

· March 31: Campus closed for Cesar Chavez Holiday

· April 6: Mandatory virtual instruction begins through May 1.

Thousand Oaks Thursday Certified Farmers' Market to Move to Northwest Side of The Oaks Mall

The Thousand Oaks Certified Farmers’ Market held at the Oaks Shopping Center will soon have a new location. The market, operated by the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA), will move from its soon to be former site at the East End Parking Lot on Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard to the Front Northwest Outdoor Lot, immediately adjacent to the Oaks Parking Structure, and across from the Macy’s Women Store.

The move will take place on Thursday, March 26 and the market hours will be from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The relocation is a result of new construction moving into the East End Parking Lot that has been the market’s home for over 20 years. Last year, an attempt was made to move the market into the front food court area, however, the market was too large to fit into the delivery lane and disrupted the traffic patterns in the area. This time, the market will fit directly into the Northwest Parking Lot and provide a safe and secure location for shoppers and farmers alike.

“We are looking forward to moving into a new market area for our customers,” stated Karen Schott, Operations Manager for the VCCFMA. “Shoppers will have access to ample parking within the parking structure and the nearby lower level parking lots, allowing for easier access to the market,” continued Schott. “In addition, we hope to introduce the market to a new audience with exposure to the Parking Structure, Children’s Area and Food Court,” she added.

For more information, call 805-529-6266, or visit the website at www.vccfm.com.

The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room Thousand Oaks Has Closed Its Kegs

No more Dudes at Janss Marketplace. The Dudes' Brewing Co. Tasting Room that originally opened in July 2016 has closed its kegs and its doors. I enjoyed The Dudes’ from time to time. Sorry to see them leave.

According to The Dudes’ Brewing Company Management Team:

After another year of remarkable growth, the national award-winning THE DUDES’® BREWING COMPANY has announced the expansion of two groundbreaking 13,000+ square foot “Beervana” super locations in Hollywood and Anaheim!

In an effort to best streamline the company’s efforts moving forward, The Dudes’® will be closing two of their existing locations in Huntington Beach and Thousand Oaks effective immediately.

“We greatly enjoyed our last three years in both Huntington Beach and Thousand Oaks and are so very proud of what we’ve done and of our incredible and loyal fans and staff,” said The Dudes’® owner Toby Humes. “At this time however, we felt it important to refocus the direction of the company and move from the suburban environments to more urban environments.”

The existing The Dudes’® Brewing Company locations in Santa Monica, Santa Clarita and Torrance will remain in operation. Resources from the closing locations will be reallocated to the new restaurants while both locations are currently searching externally to fill the many needed positions in both Hollywood as well as Anaheim.

Interested parties are encouraged to view the latest openings listed on The Dudes’® website: https://thedudesbrew.com/work-for-us

“We are still very much continuing to grow as a company. Concentrating our focus and energies to our bigger restaurant locations is the next step in our growth,” said VP of Marketing Sean Fanton. “ Our amazing new 13,000 square foot Hollywood location is weeks away from opening with Anaheim scheduled to launch Quarter 2 of this year.”

The new Hollywood location is conveniently located amidst the perennially foot-trafficked Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard at Cherokee Ave and will feature the only brewery tap room in Hollywood. Equipped with 90 taps of cold, freshly-brewed beer, the restaurant is scheduled to officially open in mid-March with Anaheim’s unveiling in the second quarter of 2020.

“People from all over the world flock to Hollywood,” Fanton continued. “In terms of convenience and foot traffic, our newest location on Hollywood Boulevard is second to none.”

Featuring a rustic industrial decor, a state of the art scratch kitchen and three bars - each with 30 flowing taps - the Hollywood location will serve as a destination for beer lovers everywhere as it will feature the only outdoor deck on Hollywood Boulevard. The new location will also offer a professionally curated wine selection.

The Hollywood and Anaheim locations will mark the newest restaurants for the family-owned and operated The Dudes’® Brewing Company. Other locations include Santa Monica, Santa Clarita and their flagship location in Torrance. In 2019, The Dudes won two category awards at the Great American Beer Festival®, taking home medals for their Los Dudes Cerveza Lager Mexicana and Grandma’s Pecan Brown. The newest location will feature the award winners as well as other customer favorites like their CalifornIPA®, JuiceBox Series®: Peach Sour and Double Trunk® DIPA.

The aforementioned award-winners can be found on tap at all The Dudes’® Brewing locations and also available for take-home enjoyment in canned four-packs. If you are in California, Reno or Las Vegas you can get these beers delivered straight to your doorstep via our online store. Check out www.thedudesbrew.com for additional details on ordering as well as information on applying for positions in either Hollywood or Anaheim.

Meanwhile, expect Pedals & Pints Brewing Company at The Oaks Mall to be opening real soon. The recently started their on-site brewing processes.

Quik & Ezy Market in Camarillo Recently Closed

I drove by Quik & Ezy at 2071 Ventura Boulevard in Camarillo a million times, but never stopped by. I loved the name. Quite an efficient use of space. No need for the c in Quick and no need for the a in Easy.

Quik & Ezy was a drive through market, which brought me back to my childhood.. I remember my parents stopping by either an Alta Dena or a Jerseymaid drive through to pick up milk and eggs and the like on the way home. Quite the convenience.

Given the popularity of Starbucks drive-thrus and fast food drive-thrus, you would think there would still be a demand for drive-through markets. But I don’t see them anymore.

What originally resided at this Quik & Ezy? That I don’t know, but if I had to guess, perhaps it was a Foster’s Freeze. That’s what it looks like to me.

Funburger Opened in Simi Valley in April 2019

Yes, we’re a bit late on this one, about 10 months late, but better late than never.

Funburger opened at 2490 Sycamore Drive in Simi Valley in April 2019, soon after Hook Burger, which was located here since September 2015, decided to close its doors .

Funburger’s menu is full of fun - Beef Fun Original (6oz patty), Beef Fun Chipotle, Beef Fun BBQ, Beef Cali Fun, Beef Fun Double, Onion Deluxe Fun, Chickfun Spicy, Chickfun Original, Chickfun Chipotle, Tuna Fun (Grilled), Veggie Fun (Grilled), Shrimp Fun (Fried), Falafel Fun (Fried), Fun Salad, Fun Fries, etc. Some interesting looking items on the menu, like Avocado Fries, Cauliflower Fries, Mushroom Fries and String Bean Fries.

Funburger is neighbors with Chick-fil-A, which opened on February 21, 2019.

Learn more at www.funburgergrill.com.

Hobby Lobby Coming to Former Walmart Location in Simi Valley (Opened October 2, 2020)

UPDATE: Hobby Lobby Simi Valley opened its 60th California location at Cochran Street and Sycamore Drive in Simi Valley on October 2nd. The 53,000 square foot facility is open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.hobbylobby.com/stores/search/933?lat=34.2694474&long=-118.781482

Don’t know the timing yet, but Hobby Lobby will be opening at some point in the former Walmart space at 2801 Cochran Street in Simi Valley. Hobby Lobby will be occupying two-thirds of the building, with Planet Fitness occupying the other third.

Walmart opened in January 2013 and closed in mid-2018. prior to that it was a Mervyns.

www.hobbylobby.com

Camarillo Health Care District Hosts Free "Produce Day" 2nd Thursday of the Month

Camarillo Health Care District Hosts Free "Produce Day" in Partnership with FOOD Share

The Camarillo Health Care District, in partnership with FOOD Share, hosts a free “Produce Day” on the 2nd Thursday of each month, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at District offices located at 3639 E. Las Posas Road, Suite 117, in Camarillo.  Participants can select, at no charge, from a variety of seasonal produce items. Produce is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring bags (the flyer above says bags will be provided; but this has changed). There are no eligibility requirements. 

The District usually posts what produce is being offered the morning of each Free Produce Day event on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CamarilloHealthCareDistrict.

Health screenings and other services are also available in conjunction with this event, held every second Thursday of the month, at no charge. There are no eligibility requirements and produce is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call to register, (805) 388-1952, ext. 100.

The Camarillo Health Care District is a public agency formed in 1969 by the voters of the Pleasant Valley and surrounding areas to provide community health, wellness and safety services. Learn more at www.camhealth.com.

Jersey Mike's is Coming Soon to Former Subway Location in Westlake Village

Jersey Mike's is "coming soon" to the former Subway (closed last October) in the North Ranch Gateway (TJ Maxx) Plaza in Westlake Village. Located between Muzen Sushi and The Royal Egg Cafe.

 (Thanks to Debbie J for the heads up. via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page.)

Limeña Peruvian Eatery "Coming Soon" to Thousand Oaks (Now Open)

UPDATE: Limena opened on July 28, 2020.

Rachel L provided this photo showing Limeña Peruvian Eatery is "coming soon" to 2388 Thousand Oaks Blvd, in the former home of Natas Pastries and prior to that Pizzeria la Piccola. (And near Harold's House of Omelettes). Limeña means “a female native or resident of Lima, Peru.”

Their website, not currently functional, is limenaeatery.com. (805) 497-3653