Borchard Skatepark Expansion and Renovation Project in Newbury Park

The Conejo Recreation & Park District voted to approve the expansion and renovation of the Borchard Skatepark in April 2025. The Skatepark is located at Borchard Community Park, 190 Reino Road in Newbury Park, at the corner of Reino and Borchard.

The project will entail demolishing the existing 10,000 sq ft facility and existing parking area to construct a new 20,000 sq ft multi-use facility. Improvements include enhanced lighting, four shade structures, a covered picnic area, spectator seating, and more. The larger facility will offer additional amenities, while providing inclusivity and accessibility to patrons of all abilities.

Total project cost is $4.5 million. Construction is anticipated to begin late this year after final permits are secured.

Learn more at www.crpd.org/planning.

Bikanervala Now Open in Thousand Oaks

Bikanervala opened yesterday at the North Ranch Shopping Plaza at 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, offering Indian food, sweets, chaat, and snacks. It is located in the space previously occupied by Hunan Restaurant that closed in December 2021.

Learn more at www.bikanervalausa.com or call 805-491-6085.

Boochies Matcha Bistro Coming to Camarillo This Fall

Boochies Matcha Bistro looks to be coming this fall to The Plaza Mission Oaks at 4986 Verdugo Way in Camarillo, in the space previously occupied by Cold Stone Creamery and Subway, and a few doors down from Old New York Deli.

Visit their website www.boochies.com for full menu and other information.

Sora Handroll Bar is Coming Soon to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks

Sora Handroll Bar is coming soon to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. According to The Lakes, "Sora is a modern handroll sushi bar that blends Japanese tradition with a fresh, contemporary dining experience. Focused on simplicity, quality and craftsmanship, Sora serves made-to-order handrolls using the finest fish, warm seasoned rice and crisp nori. Guests enjoy an interactive counter-style experience where rolls are prepared right in front of them, highlighting both freshness and hospitality."

Sora operates at a rooftop location at The Grove in Los Angeles - "LA's first rooftop temaki experience." Learn more at www.sorarestaurant.com or check them out on IG at @soralosangeles

Whole Foods Market Coming Soon to The Promenade at Westlake in Thousand Oaks

Today, The Promenade at Westlake announced that Whole Foods Market is coming soon to the space previously vacated by Amazon Fresh that closed its doors this past April.

Founded in 1980, Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic foods retailer, with more than 530 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. This will be Whole Foods’ 3rd Ventura County location - others on Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks and at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard.

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

City of Thousand Oaks Public Hearing on August 25th to Consider Application from Raising Cane's

The City of Thousand Oaks Planning Commission will host a public hearing on Monday, August 25th, to consider an application from Raising Cane's to make some changes to the former Amy's Drive-Thru eatery space in the Best Buy Plaza at 400 N. Moorpark Road. The proposal is for a 12% reduction in parking spaces, landscape changes, and other matters. For more info on this and other public hearing notices, visit the city's website at toaktoaks.org..org.

RED O Taste of Mexico Opens August 18 in Westlake Village

RED O Taste of Mexico, the acclaimed upscale Mexican restaurant known for its bold flavors and vibrant atmosphere, will open its fourth location at The Promenade at Westlake on August 18, with limited hours and reservations. Merging elevated cuisine, immersive design, and warm hospitality, RED O offers more than a meal—it delivers an experience.

Designed by internationally renowned designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, the space channels the relaxed sophistication of a bohemian beach town, using caba cloth, woven rattan, rope-wrapped elements, and antique Oaxacan textiles to create a setting that’s both exotic and inviting. Guests enter through a dramatic tequila tunnel lined with glowing bottles, emerging into a space that features a rope-wrapped bar, lush greenery by The Living Canvas, a custom lantern-lit plaster tree, original Mexican artwork, and a bespoke boho mural.

The kitchen, helmed by Corporate Executive Chef Armando Martinez and Executive Chef John Pigott, takes the same elevated approach. The menu starts with Oaxacan-style cooking, and brings in flavors and techniques from all over Mexico.

Signature dishes include:

• Surf & Turf Tablita – 32oz tomahawk steak, 1 lb lobster tail, house guacamole, red rice, beans, and fresh-pressed tortillas

• Branzino Zarandeado – Whole grilled branzino with chile-citrus soy butter and heirloom tomato

• The Cocorita – A tropical margarita served in a fresh young coconut

• Alacrán Margarita – Featuring housemade serrano chile agave

Beyond the plate, RED O Westlake Village will feature lunch, dinner, happy hour, Taco Tuesdays, and weekend brunch, all delivered with the brand’s signature hospitality and elegance. Guests can look forward to live music, exclusive pop-up dinners, seasonal specials, and a rotating calendar of curated events that cater to modern diners' craving for experience as much as flavor.

Details for the official Grand Opening celebration will be announced in the coming weeks. Learn more at www.redorestaurant.com.

Fishbone Seafood Restaurant Grand Opening in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, August 16th

Fishbone Seafood Restaurant is opening August 16th in the Palm Plaza, 2709 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. Fishbone Seafood offers southern style seafood specialties, such as grilled or fried red snapper, filet of sole, catfish filet, salmon, oysters, jumbo shrimp, and more. From noon to 3pm on the 16th, they will be giving out free samples and there will be a DJ on hand. Learn more at fishboneseafood.com.

Ventura County Transportation Commission to Remove Call Boxes Along Ventura County Highways

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) recently announced the end of its emergency call box program, marking a significant shift in how roadside assistance will be provided across the county’s highways. Since 2004, over 58,000 calls have been made from the 427 call boxes maintained by VCTC, but usage has dropped dramatically due to the widespread adoption of personal cell phones. In 2005, the system handled more than 5,800 calls, but by 2024, that number had plummeted to just 849. Faced with declining demand and mounting maintenance challenges, VCTC voted in May to decommission the program and begin removing the call boxes, with full removal expected by September 1, 2025.

The call boxes, which operate on AT&T’s 4G network and connect directly to California Highway Patrol dispatch, have become increasingly difficult to maintain. The state’s only maintenance contractor suspended its regular inspections, and VCTC’s contract for upkeep expired in June 2025. With no viable alternatives that meet state guidelines for call box technology, VCTC decided not to renew the contract. The system’s annual operating costs—between $350,000 and $400,000—are funded by a $1 vehicle registration fee collected from Ventura County residents.

In place of the call box system, VCTC is exploring several alternative motorist aid services. These include expanding the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP), which has offered free roadside assistance since 2021 along segments of Highways 101, 118, and 23 during peak hours. Other options under review include increasing signage for the SoCal 511 emergency phone system and enhancing traffic enforcement through extended agreements with the CHP. These initiatives aim to maintain and improve emergency support for motorists while making more efficient use of public funds.

More details about the FSP and SoCal 511 programs can be found at goventura.org/fsp and go511.com, respectively.