Furn Saj Bakery Coming Soon to The Summit at Calabasas (Now Open - May 2021)

UPDATE: Furn Saj opened in last May 2021.

Furn Saj is a Lebanese bakery, with locations in Granada Hills, Glendora, and coming soon, The Summit at Calabasas, 26791 Agoura Road.

Their menu includes a variety of plates served with fresh saj bread, such as shawarma, soujouk, gyro and kebab. They also serve oven-baked mana’ish, a flatbread covered with various toppings. There’s quite a large variety of these on their menu at www.furnsaj.com/menu.

Formerly at this location were the short-lived Village Fish Market & Restaurant and more recently, Chipotle (which closed in 2018). Let’s hope for something more lasting with Furn Saj!

www.furnsaj.com

If You Don't Receive an Economic Impact Payment, You Can Still Receive a Recovery Rebate Credit on Your 2020 Federal Form 1040 Income Tax Return

There's another round of "Economic Impact Payments" that many of you may have already received in January via direct deposit. Generally, U.S. citizens and resident aliens who are not eligible to be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s income tax return are eligible.

You'll automatically receive payments of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for married couples and up to $600 for each qualifying child.

Generally, if you have adjusted gross income (AGI) on your 2019 federal income tax return up to $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 if filing as head of household and $150,000 for married filing joint returns, you will receive the full amount.

Payments are reduced if your income is more than that, phasing out 5% of the amount your AGI exceeds the amounts shown above. They phase out completely at an AGI of $87,000 for single or married filing separately, $124,500 for head of household and $174,000 for married filing joint taxpayers.

Question: My income precludes me from getting an Economic Impact Payment based on my 2019 tax return but it dropped in 2020. Do I still get a payment?”

Answer: YES! According to the draft IRS Form 1040 Instructions published December 31, 2020, “The recovery rebate credit was paid out to eligible individuals in two rounds of advance payments called economic impact payments. The economic impact payments were based on your 2018 or 2019 tax year information. The recovery rebate credit is figured like the economic impact payments except that the credit eligibility and the credit amount are based on your 2020 tax year information. If you didn’t receive the full amount of the recovery rebate credit as economic impact payments, you may be able to claim the recovery rebate credit on your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR.”

So in other words:

• The first two payments in 2020 and 2021 were called Economic Impact Payments

• They were based on your 2019 or 2018 tax information.

• If you did not receive them or did not receive the full amount, you can recalculate the payments on your 2020 tax return based on your 2020 adjusted gross income.

• The refundable credit for this stimulus on your tax return is called “Recovery Rebate Credit.”

• If you are indeed eligible for a payment based on your 2020 AGI and did not previously receive a full payment, you will receive a refundable credit on your tax return that you can either apply to any taxes due or, if no taxes are due, receive a refund.

Thousand Oaks Police Department Vulnerable Population Officers Help to Assist the Homeless

Thousand Oaks Police Department Vulnerable Population Officers continue their efforts to assist our homeless community, collaborating with area social services to arrange placement in assistance programs. The latest success was helping deliver a homeless man to a substance abuse rehabilitation program after months of interaction.

On January 6, 2021, deputies assisted Ventura County Behavioral Health in taking the homeless person to a facility to begin a 7-10 day program for substance abuse rehabilitation. The program includes housing and treatment. The process began after Vulnerable Population Officers assisted Ventura County Behavioral Health with an assessment on the person and space was located for him at the facility. After that, Ventura County Behavioral Health will follow-up to pursue additional placement for housing and further treatment. This opportunity was openly accepted by the homeless person to take the positive steps forward for help. This success is an example of the continuous and dedicated work by collaborators, sometimes over a span of weeks, months, or even years, to maintaining contact with and find placement for homeless persons in need of assistance in our community.

Over the past two years, Vulnerable Population Officers, Senior Deputy Juan Cordova and Deputy Josh Richter, have collaborated with stakeholders to find needed assistance for our homeless population. A local area focus group was established that includes the City of Thousand Oaks, Harbor House, Lutheran Social Services, Ventura County Health Care Agency, Ventura County Continuum of Care, Many Mansions, faith- based organizations, Ventura County Superior Court - Homeless Court, Ventura County Public Defender, and other non-profit organizations.

If you know any homeless person in Thousand Oaks who is willing to take a positive step forward to get help, the Vulnerable Population Officers are interested in contacting those who suffer from mental health, drug addiction, disabilities, or are in need of medical assistance. You can reach out to Sr. Deputy Cordova at juan.cordova@ventura.org, dial 2-1-1 (in Ventura County), or call Ventura County Behavioral Health Homeless Services at (805) 981-4200.

local.nixle.com/alert/8465720

Everbowl Opened June 4th at the North Ranch Mall in Westlake Village

UPDATE: Everbowl opened on June 4th.

Everbowl is coming soon to the North Ranch Mall, 3835 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Unit H, Westlake Village (a few doors down from Trader Joe’s and Petco).

Established in 2016, Everbowl is a quick-serve restaurant that features build-your-own superfood bowls and smoothies featuring acai, acerola, pitaya and graviola as the base ingredient along with unlimited fresh fruit toppings and other healthy add-ins. They also offer Superfuel Coffee with acai and other superfoods blended in. Learn more at www.everbowl.com.

And for your history fans, previously located here was Nekter Juice Bar, which opened in August 2014. Before that it was a Robeks Juice Bar

New Drive-Thru Starbucks at Janss Marketplace to Open in Four Days

As of Tuesday, December 29, 2020, the new drive-thru Starbucks at Janss Marketplace is opening in 4 days. That’s what the sign says, courtesy of Kira K. The Starbucks a block away next to Jamba Juice is now closed. No word on timing of Wingstop and California Fish Grill. I’d imagine fairly soon in 2021.

The old Starbucks, now closed, at The Village at Moorpark, next to Jamba Juice.

El Taco Chico Opened 2nd Location in Moorpark on December 19th

Pretty impressive! El Taco Chico, which opened its first location early this spring at 640 Lindero Canyon Road in Oak Park, announced it just opened a 2nd location at 888 New Los Angeles Avenue, Suite D in Moorpark. To open up not one, but TWO locations during the challenging times of this pandemic is impressive!

Learn more at www.facebook.com/El-Taco-Chico-111477747041837 and eltaco-chico.com.

Japanese Sushi and Ramen Eatery "E + MON" Coming to Westlake Commons (NOW OPEN)

E+ MON is now open

UPDATE: 12/24/20: They are opening real soon. They indicate before the end of this wonderful year 2020! Stay tuned, or follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/E-MON-100212308652662.

A new Japanese sushi and ramen eatery is coming to the Westlake Commons plaza at 2805 Agoura Road in Thousand Oaks. The new place appears to be called E + MON according to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control transfer notice on the door.

Previous occupants of this space included Cake Monkey Bakery (Aug 18 to Sep 19), Tonino's Place Pizzeria (Jul 16 to Feb 19) and awhile back, Bad Ass Coffee, then Royal Aloha Coffee.

ALDI Thousand Oaks to Open in December (December 14th)

Follow-up 12/14/20: ALDI Thousand Oaks is now open.

The ALDI U.S. website indicates the ALDI Thousand Oaks store at Janss Marketplace will be opening its doors on Monday, December 14, 2020. However, there were no signs at the store confirming that specific date, nor would ALDI U.S. confirm the date that has been displayed on their website for the last week.

What I can tell you is that store certainly looks ready to open on the 14th! The shopping carts are in place in front of the store and the shelves appear fully stocked.

So….if you’d like to be one of the first ones into the store, 9am tomorrow (Monday) morning may be it. Or maybe not. But the actual date is quite soon.

Several folks have asked what ALDI is. ALDI is retail grocery chain, with over 2,000 stores in 37 states. The German chain anticipates becoming the third-largest grocery retailer by store count in the U.S. by the end of 2022.

www.aldi.us

Salsa & Beer Authentic Mexican Food From Jerez Zacatecas Coming Soon to Calabasas

December 2024 Update: No updates since January. We are now at 4 years since the original announcement. Patience is a virtue :)

January 2024 Update: The signs are long gone since this original post in December 2020 but the Mayor of Calabasas indicated in January 2024 that building permits have been pulled for this anticipated new eatery. www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=769359395225750&set=a.547916184036740

The yellow signs are up at 4895 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. Salsa & Beer Mexican Grill Family Restaurant from Jerez Zacatecas is coming soon to the former Coco’s location visible from the 101 south.

With locations in North Hollywood and Van Nuys/Lake Balboa, Salsa & Beer offers authentic Mexican food from the town of Jerez, located in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.

The municipality of Jerez was founded in 1569 and its official name is Jerez de Garcia Salinas in honor of local politician Francisco Garcia Salinas in 1952. The original founders of Jerez came from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Back to the restaurant itself…the menu includes traditional Mexican combination plates, fajitas, sizzling spicy Molcajete dishes, Spicy Zacatecas Carnitas, Tampiquena Chicken, Carne Asada Encebollada Charbroiled Steak, their “famous” tortas and much more.

Don’t know the timing as of yet, but the signs are certainly up.

More info at www.salsaandbeernorthhollywood.com.