New Ventura County Office of Education Building to Serve Needs of Students with Autism

The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) today marked the completion of the new Mary E. Samples Education Services Center building in Camarillo.

The 29,944 square- foot, two-story building at 5250 Adolfo Road. was finished just over two years after construction began. The building is the new, permanent home of VCOE’s Triton Academy, which serves students with autism in 3rd through 12th grades. It also houses the administrative offices of VCOE’s Special Education Department and has space reserved for what could become a high-tech makerspace lab for middle school students throughout the county.

The building is named after Mary E. Samples, a longtime champion of children with special needs in Ventura County. Before she retired in 2018, Samples served for 14 years as the leader of the Ventura County SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area), the agency that administers special education programs for public school students countywide. That capped a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades in Ventura County public education.

Plans to bring students back to class in the new building are temporarily on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. Once it’s safe for them to return, students will find state-of-the art classrooms equipped with smart video screens, the latest specialized learning tools for children with autism, and an interactive outdoor play area. A formal dedication and grand opening ceremony for the new building will be held at a future date when conditions allow.

The $15 million in funding for the new building came from Proposition 51, a statewide school facilities bond measure that voters approved in 2016. The Mary Samples Center was built by Oxnard-based Viola Constructors and designed by DC Architects. Additional information, including a time lapse video of the building’s construction, is available at www.vcoe.org/msc.

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, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.

Caribbean Haven Announces It Will Be Opening a New Location in Thousand Oaks

UPDATE: Announcement made 10/15/22 that the Thousand Oaks location will not be opening.

Caribbean Haven announced via its Instagram page that it has signed a lease and will be the new occupant of 593 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. This was the former home of Pieology (closed in July 2018), Fit2BeThai (late 2012) and awhile back, Olga’s Kitchen.

Caribbean Haven's first location in Montalvo Square in Ventura is a very highly Yelp rated fast casual eatery offering Caribbean, Filipino and vegan food. Learn more about them at www.caribbeanhaven.com.

The owner is anticipating an opening date somewhere between mid-Dec and Feb 1 (which based on my experience watching local grand opening time frames means late summer to early fall 2021 lol). We shall see and be optimistic.

Congrats to our soon to be new Conejo Valley eatery.

The Los Angeles Zoo is Reopening on August 26th

The Los Angeles Zoo has announced its plans to reopen on Wednesday, August 26th. Advance, timed-entry reservations will be required for all guests. And of course, face coverings and physical distancing will be required.

While most outdoor animal exhibits will reopen, a number of activities will remain closed, such as giraffe feedings, flamingo mingle, photo safari , the LAIR, aviary and certain other areas.

Learn more and buy your tickets at www.lazoo.org/reopening.

Higher Education Tax Credits Available For Certain Taxpayers

Tax credits can help offset the cost of higher education

Whether it’s online, in-person, part-time or full-time, higher education can be expensive. The good news is there are tax credits that can help offset these costs. These credits reduce the amount of tax someone owes. If the credit reduces tax to less than zero, the taxpayer could even receive a refund.

Taxpayers who pay for higher education in 2020 can see these tax savings when they file their tax return next year. If taxpayers, their spouses or their dependents take post-high school coursework, they may be eligible for a tax benefit.

There are two credits available to help taxpayers save money on schooling, the American opportunity tax credit and the lifetime learning credit. Taxpayers use Form 8863, Education Credits, to claim the credits.

To be eligible to claim either of these credits, a taxpayer or a dependent must have received a Form 1098-T from an eligible educational institution. There are exceptions for some students.

Here are some key things taxpayers should know about each of these credits.

The American opportunity tax credit is:

• Worth a maximum benefit of up to $2,500 per eligible student.: 100% of the first $2,000 in qualified expenses; 25% of the next $2,000 of qualified expenses.

• Only for the first four years at an eligible college or vocational school.

• For students pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential.

• 40% of the credit is refundable for most taxpayers.

• The catch: The credit is phased out at modified adjusted gross income of $160K to $180K (married filing jointly) or $80K to $90K (filing single). You can’t claim the credit if you are claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.

The lifetime learning credit is:

• Worth a maximum benefit of up to $2,000 (20% of the first $10K of qualified expenses) per tax return, per year, no matter how many students qualify.

• Available for all years of postsecondary education and for courses to acquire or improve job skills.

• Available for an unlimited number of tax years.

• The credit is non-refundable, meaning, if you only receive the credit to the extent you owe taxes.

• The catch: The credit is phased out at modified adjusted gross income of $116K to $136K (married filing jointly) and $58K to $68K (filing single). You can’t claim the credit if you are claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.

More information about these and other federal tax credits at www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals.

IRS Is Sending Interest Payments Averaging $18 to 13.9 Million Taxpayers This Week

13.9 million Americans to receive IRS tax refund interest; Taxable payments to average $18

This week the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service will send interest payments to about 13.9 million individual taxpayers who timely filed their 2019 federal income tax returns and are receiving refunds.

The interest payments, averaging about $18, will be made to individual taxpayers who filed a 2019 return by this year’s July 15 deadline and either received a refund in the past three months or will receive a refund. Most interest payments will be issued separately from tax refunds.

In most cases, taxpayers who received their refund by direct deposit will have their interest payment direct deposited in the same account. About 12 million of these payments will be direct deposited.

Everyone else will receive a check. A notation on the check − saying “INT Amount” − will identify it as a refund interest payment and indicate the interest amount.

By law, these interest payments are taxable and taxpayers who receive them must report the interest on the 2020 federal income tax return they file next year. In January 2021, the IRS will send a Form 1099-INT to anyone who receives interest totaling at least $10.

This provision is different from the long-standing 45-day rule, generally requiring the IRS to add interest to refunds on timely-filed refund claims issued more than 45 days after the return due date.

Instead, this year’s COVID-19-related July 15 due date is considered a disaster-related postponement of the filing deadline. Where a disaster-related postponement exists, the IRS is required, by law, to pay interest, calculated from the original April 15 filing deadline, as long as an individual files a 2019 federal income tax return by the postponed deadline − July 15, 2020, in this instance. This refund interest requirement only applies to individual income tax filers − businesses are not eligible.

Interest is paid at the legally prescribed rate that is adjusted quarterly. The rate for the second quarter ending June 30 was 5%, compounded daily. Effective July 1, the rate for the third quarter dropped to 3%, compounded daily.

Where the calculation period spans quarters, a blended rate applies, consisting of the number of days falling in each calendar quarter. No interest will be added to any refund issued before the original April 15 deadline.

For more information, visit IRS.gov.

Naru Bento Coming Soon to Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks

A new eatery called Naru Bento is "coming soon" to Janss Marketplace in the former Subway location, next to one of my favorite boba places in town, Matcha. No other details at this time. Bento meals usually include rice or noodles, fish or meat, veggies and other items.

Compilation of soon to be opening eateries and recently opened eateries throughout Ventura County at THIS LINK.

Shark Seen in the Skies of Oxnard

As if we didn’t have enough going on already this year…pandemic, heat wave, mass unemployment, murderous hornets, Kobe, looting…now we have our own Sharknado. Seen in the skies yesterday in Ventura County.

What’s next? Locust or earthquake?

Reminds me of the bunny cloud formation seen here from the Conejo Valley a couple years ago.

And more recently this bunny cloud seen in the Conejo Valley.

Construction of ALDI at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks Finally Underway

Former Toys R Us store wall taken down as construction gets underway.

It has been just under 13 months since we first announced that ALDI is slated to open at the former Toys R Us store at Janss Marketplace. Finally, we’re seeing some activity.

Last month, ALDI announced it had opened its 2,000th store in the U.S. and plans to open 70 new stores by the end of 2020. ALDI anticipates becoming the third largest grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022.

Mile Stretch of State Street in Santa Barbara Closed to Vehicular Traffic

Since May 22, State Street between Sola Street and Haley Street in Downtown Santa Barbara has been closed to vehicular traffic. This has allowed restaurants to expand their outdoor seating options during the pandemic.

There’s plenty of parking in the adjoining streets and parking lots.

Bicyclists are allowed in this promenade area, but must ride at a safe pace.

Wear your masks and enjoy your visit!

Learn more at www.downtownsb.org.