Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Seeks Input on its 20th Anniversary Season!

/

October 2014 will mark the 20th Anniversary of the grand opening of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. This special Anniversary season will be comprised of command performances by artists who have appeared on the Civic Arts Plaza stages over the last 20 years and we need your help.

Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/tocap_20 and select the artists that you would most like to see return to the Civic Arts Plaza during its 20th Anniversary Season by choosing up to 5 favorites in each category.

Do check out this survey! You will be amazed at how many popular performers have appeared here in the Conejo Valley! Some of the names you'll see include comedians like Bill Cosby, Don Rickles, John Cleese, Bob Newhart, Howie Mandel and musicians such as Kenny Loggins, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Chris Botti, Cheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, and over 100 others.

If an artist you select is added to the 20th Anniversary schedule, you will be eligible to win two front row seats and an opportunity to go backstage to meet the artist.* All entries are due by Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 4:00 PM.

*Winner will be chosen at random among all eligible entries. One entry per person.

To learn more about the Civic Arts Plaza or perhaps buy tickets to an upcoming show, visit www.CivicArtsPlaza.com or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/civicartsplaza.

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce Supports Local Business

/

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, professionally-staffed nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the region's business community in the communities of Thousand Oaks (including Newbury Park), Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.

There are approximately 1,400 business and professional firm memberships in the Chamber, making it one of the largest chambers in California. It provides a range of opportunities, services, benefits and resources to local businesses looking to network and grow in the community. There are networking groups, committees, mixers, brown bag educational sessions, promotional opportunities and more.

To learn more about the chamber, visit www.conejochamber.org or call 805.370.0035. The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is located at 600 Hampshire Road, Suite 200, Westlake Village (at the Townsgate intersection).

TSA to Allow Small Pocket Knives and Some Sporting Goods Carry-Ons Starting April 25

/

Update 4/22/13: National news sources have indicated that the TSA has delayed implementing these proposed changes to carry-on policies. No other details at this time. So you can leave those lacrosse sticks and 2.36 inch pocket knives in your checked bags for the time being.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced yesterday that certain items currently prohibited as carry-ons will become allowed on board beginning April 25, 2013.

TSA has decided that allowing the following items as carry-ons will free up more time to find really bad stuff like explosives:

  • Small Pocket Knives (with non-locking blades smaller than 2.36 inches and less than 1/2 inch in width)
  • Small Novelty Bats and Toy Bats: Bats 24 inches or shorter in length or 24 ounces or less; or bats longer than 24 inches and less than 24 ounces.
  • Ski Poles, Hockey Sticks, Lacrosse Sticks, Billiard Cues, Golf Clubs (up to 2 golf clubs).

It will be interesting to see if TSA will actually free up time with these new rules given they'll have to whip out the scales and measuring tape to determine if a plastic bat is over 24 ounces or if a pocket blade knife is shorter than 2.36 inches. I'm looking at a ruler right now and am having a hard time discerning exactly what .36 inches is. Ah ha, I've figured it out now from the following handy TSA chart...2.36 inches equals 6 centimeters!

They really drill into the details in the following chart. Might be a great time to start selling non-locking pocket knives with half inch wide, 6 cm blades and non-molded grips to take advantage of these new rules!

Read More

Snow on the Santa Susana Mountains this Brisk Wednesday, February 20th

/

Marcella Ketelhut of local Los Robles Hills Winery grabbed her camera for some shots of snow blanketing the Santa Susana Mountains today after last nights brief storm. This was a rare and welcome sight this winter season in the Conejo Valley.

Snow means skiing! Click HERE for several local ski clubs in the Conejo Valley/Ventura County area!

Women's Economic Ventures Helps Local Entrepreneurs Succeed and Grow

/

Since 1991, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) has helped low-and moderate-income women and men achieve self-sufficiency through self employment training, consulting, and access to capital. The following WEV services are available to women and men in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

Business Plan Courses

WEV’s 14-week Self-Employment Training (SET) and six-week Business Plan Intensive (BPI) courses provide guidance on starting or expanding a business by teaching the skills to assess feasibility, avoid costly mistakes and create a well conceived business plan. Graduates benefit from a local network of fellow entrepreneurs, expert guest speakers and an instructor experienced in owning a small business.

SET courses in Ventura and Camarillo begin in February and September. The BPI course in Ventura begins in September. Attendance of a free, 1-hour orientation is required in order to enroll in WEV’s courses.

Business Loans

WEV’s Small Business Loan Fund provides loans up to $25,000 to start-up businesses and up to $50,000 for existing businesses. The Loan Fund was created to diversify and expand the local economy and create new jobs by providing capital to small businesses that do not quality for conventional bank financing. Applicants must have resided in Santa Barbara or Ventura County for over a year.

Specialized Long-Term Consulting

Thrive in Five® provides long-term, individualized training, consulting and coaching for entrepreneurs in business at least one year. Regular one-on-one meetings with a business specialist and quarterly roundtables with peers keep the business owner acc

Read More

California Sales and Use Taxes Set to Increase by .25% on January 1, 2013

/

Due to voter approval of Proposition 30, the statewide sales and use tax rate will increase one quarter of one percent (0.25%) on January 1, 2013. The higher tax rate will apply for four years – January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016.

This is the first sales and use tax rate change since July 1, 2011, when rates in most of Ventura County dropped from 8.25% to 7.25% (except Port Hueneme and Oxnard, where rates dropped from 8.75% to 7.75%). Oxnard and Port Hueneme both voted in a Transactions and Use Tax of .5% effective April 1. 2009 that is reflected in these rates.

Thus, effective January 1, 2013, sales and use tax rates in all of Ventura County, except for Port Hueneme and Oxnard, will increase to 7.5% (8% in Port Hueneme and Oxnard).

Our neighbors in the L.A. County portion of Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Malibu and Calabasas will pay 9% effective January 1, 2013, while most of our neighbors in Santa Barbara County will be paying 8% (except Santa Maria, which will be at 8.25% because they added a .25% Transactions and Use Tax in that city effective October 1st of this year).

The highest sales and use tax rates in the state will continue to be in Pico Rivera and South Gate, where rates will be to 10% effective January 1st. In November 2012, La Mirada voters approved a 1% temporary sales tax rate increase that will expire in five years. As a result, La Mirada joins the 10% sales and use tax club effective April 1, 2013.

There are a number of cities currently at a 9.5% effective rate, include Avalon, Santa Monica. El Monte, Inglewood and South El Monte. Effective April 1, 2013, the City of Commerce and Culver City join this list.

This is taxing just writing about this stuff!

For updates, visit the California Board of Equalization website at www.boe.ca.gov.

Here is a history of sales and use tax rates (excluding district taxes) in California going back to August 1, 1933.

  • 8/1/33:  2.5%
  • 7/1/35:  3%
  • 7/1/43:  2.5%
  • 7/1/49:  3%
Read More

Applying for a Job is a Lot Different Than Buying a Lottery Ticket

/

Originally posted in February 2011

Recently I posted a job in craigslist for an Office Assistant position. The posting listed specific job duties and requirements, from administrative to accounting to human resources, as well as other desired qualities.

We were overwhelmed with the response. Over 120 applicants within the first 24 hours and 200 in less than a week. Nearly 300 in total. A very eye opening reminder that there are a lot of people in need of jobs out there.

Let me first say that there were numerous very capable, outstanding people that applied for the job. I was very impressed by quite a number of resumes and cover letters and we are still contemplating the best candidate for a job offer.

But at the same time I was SHOCKED at how many applicants didn't treat the process seriously. Many appeared to be applying for the job without reviewing the job qualifications and editing the resume.

APPLYING FOR A JOB IS DIFFERENT THAN BUYING A LOTTERY TICKET!! Purchasing a lottery ticket is easy. Buy a ticket and hope for the best. It sure felt like a lot of people treated the job-hunting process in an equally nonchalant way!

Getting your dream job is hard work. It takes more than just submitting your resume. You must review the job requirements and make sure your resume highlights your relevant work experience. Where your experience is lacking, you need to sell yourself in the cover letter and point out what you bring to the table.

Here are some observations and advice based on some of the resumes I received.

Typos: One important requirement noted in the job posting was solid writing skills. As kind of a test I indicated that candidates should pay close to attention to proofing their submissions for typos. I literally said “Please no typos or grammatical errors in your submission,” yet the majority of applicants had typos. Now I can understand  one or two blatant typos as, heck, I’m often guilty of that myself. But when applying for a job, you’ve got to go the extra mile.  Use a Word or even Gmail editor and correct any typos, but better yet, re-read the resume several times. Or have someone else check it.

Example: "I am certain that my senior level executive/administrative assistant skills and experience when linked with thee vision of your company will serve to crea

Read More