UPDATE: Caltrans Announces Point Mugu State Park Trails/Beaches Now Open

Update 2/3/15: Caltrans today announced that nearly six miles of the nine mile closure on Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1) between Las Posas Road and Yerba Buena Road are open to public access.  SR-1 is now open from Las Posas Road to the Sycamore Cove Day Use Area.  The public will now have access to trails and beaches in Point Mugu State Park.  The highway remains closed between the Sycamore Cove Day Use Area and Yerba Buena Road.  The damaged section of SR-1 is expected to be closed until the end of February. www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/pch

Update 1/27/15: Today Caltrans announced that Pacific Coast Highway between the Sycamore Campground and Yerba Buena Road will continue to remain closed until the end of February. The slopes below the highway washed away, requiring extensive repairs that will require the highway to be closed another month. No motorists, pedestrians or cyclists will be permitted access beyond the campground.

Union Engineering of Santa Paula, California was awarded this $7 million emergency contract. The state will be reimbursed for the costs of this project under the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Fund.

Due to the closure of Pacific Coast Highway and weather-related damage to Point Mugu State Park, the park is also closed to the public through the end of February. This includes Thornhill Broome campground, La Jolla Day-Use, Mugu Beach, Sycamore Cove, Sycamore Canyon Campground and the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

For updates, visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=712 or the California State Parks Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaStateParks.

Point Mugu State Park, located in the Santa Monica Mountains, features five miles of ocean shoreline, with rocky bluffs, sandy beaches, sand dunes, rugged hills and uplands, two major river canyons and wide grassy valleys dotted with sycamores, oaks and a few native walnuts. There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails. The beach also features swimming, body surfing and surf fishing. The park includes the jagged pinnacles of the Boney Mountain State Wilderness Area.

Looking for other local hikes? No worries! Check this link.

Assurance Wireless Offers Free Cell Phone Service to Low Income Residents

Assurance Wireless, powered by Virgin Mobile, offers a free cell phone with monthly service that includes 250 minutes and unlimited texts to low-income individuals who qualify through the Federal Lifeline Assistance Program.

The Lifeline Assistance Program is funded by the federal Universal Service Fund, which is funded by wireless carriers, who in turn generally tag on a fee to consumers in their monthly bills.

The Lifeline Assistance program is available for only one account per household. Separate households that live at the same address are eligible, such as residents of homeless shelters and nursing homes. Residents with temporary addresses are also eligible.

As a California resident, you can qualify if you participate in certain public assistance programs or if you below certain income levels:

• Medicaid/Medi-Cal

• CalFresh

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka Food Stamps)

• National School Lunch Program

• California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS)

• Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)

• Various other public assistance programs

• Income levels falling within the following Federal poverty level guidelines (as of January 2015):

  • $25,500 for a household of 1-2

  • $29,700 for a household of 3

  • $35,900 for a household of 4

  • Add another $6,200 for each additional household member above 4

The program also allows individuals to purchase additional minutes; $5/month for each additional 250 minutes. To learn more, visit www.assurancewireless.com.

Views From Angel Vista Peak on This Sunny Winter Day in the Conejo Valley

Today is January 17, 2015 and we are not quite one third of the way into the winter season. But winter weather has taken a break for a bit. Skies are blue and visibility is outstanding today, as can be seen here from Angel Vista Peak in Newbury Park. Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands can clearly be seen past the Oxnard Plain on the beautiful day.

Angel Vista Peak can be accessed via the Rosewood Trail off of Lynn Road (just west of Regal Oak Ct) or the Los Robles Trail (either the Thousand Oaks side accessible at South Moorpark Road and Greenmeadow Ave or Newbury Park side off of Potrero Road).

Mid-July to December 2014 Restaurants New and Restaurants Adieu in Ventura County

Here's the latest compilation of restaurants in the Conejo Valley and throughout Greater Ventura County that opened, announced plans to open or closed during the period mid-July through December 2014.

(Click here for previous 2014 activity.) Let us know of any we missed!

Consistent with previous reports, the number of new eateries in the area continues to outnumber closed eateries by quite a large margin.

Restaurants That Have Opened Since Mid-July 2014

• Lovi's Delicatessen, Bakery/Restaurant/Bar opened in mid-December in Calabasas
• Larsen's Grill opened at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard in December
• Sprinkles Cupcakes Westlake Village briefly closed its doors re-opened a few doors away as Sprinkles Cupcakes, Ice Cream and Cookies!
• Smashburger opened at the Camarillo Premium Outlets in November
• Additionally, Chipotle, PizzaRev, Yogurtland and Pick Up Stix also opened at the Camarillo Premium Outlets in the November/December time frame. Fast food heaven!
• The acclaimed Westlake Village In-N-Out Burger opened to much fanfare and traffic jams on November 5th
• Veggiemore Restaurant opened in Agoura Hills in the latter summer time frame
• Greens Up! opened at The Shoppes at Westlake in October
• Bowl of Heaven Acai Bowls, Smoothies & Juice Bar opened in Westlake Village in Oct
• Jeannine's Gourmet Food Hall opened at The Shoppes at Westlake in October
• Hook Burger also opened at The Shoppes at Westlake in October
• A new McDonald's opened near The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard
• Jax Pizza opened in Moorpark in July at the former home of Lamppost Pizza
• The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery opened at the former home of The Mermaid Tavern (and previously Roxy's Deli) in Thousand Oaks last October
• MOD Pizza opened "superfast" pizza eatery in Newbury Park in October
• Cronies opened its new Agoura Hills location on September 11th
• The Joi Cafe opened its organic, plant-based food eatery in Westlake Village in Sept
• Nekter Juice Bar opened in Westlake Village in late August
• The spacious new Starbucks opened on the Thousand Oaks CLU campus last summer
• Lal Mirch Indian Cuisine opened in the former Agoura Hills Pizza Hut location in August
• 9021Pho opened at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks on August 18th
• Aroha New Zealand Cuisine opened in Westlake Village in September
• Rita's Roman Recipes Take-Out Kitchen and Coffee Shop opened in Agoura Hills in July
• Hummus Brothers Greek Grill opened at The Oaks Mall last summer

Restaurants That Announced They Are Opening Soon

• Dickey's BBQ Pit is still "opening soon" at the North Ranch Plaza in Westlake Village
• Margarita's Mexican Grill announced they are opening in Oak Park in early 2015
• Barone's The Pizzeria Express to open in Westlake Village in early 2015
• Ice Cream Lab indicates Westlake Village location will open in the March time frame
• Luna's Mexican Tradition is opening 2nd location at Centennial Plaza in Oxnard
• Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market is targeting a January opening in Westlake Village
• Pieology is opening a 2nd Conejo Valley pizzeria at former ZPizza in Westlake Village
• No less than eight Ventura County Dunkin' Donuts locations will be opening in 2016!
• The Beach Bowl will offer acai bowls, smoothies and juices at The Collection in Oxnard
• Tifa Chocolate and Gelato anticipated to open at The Shoppes at Westlake in mid-Jan
• Urban Pizza in Westlake Village appears to be on the verge of opening soon
• Still slated to open at The Shoppes at Westlake Village over the coming months are Los Agaves Restaurant, Olio e Limone Ristorante, Olio Pizzeria,Which Wich® Superior Sandwiches,  The Gallery Seafood and Figueroa Mountain Brewing.
• Sabra Fish Grill is opening sometime this year at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard, as well as Maria's Italian Kitchen Pronto and a Ben & Jerry's.
• Rokabab Mediterranean Grill is coming soon to Thousand Oaks
• Dog Haus is coming soon to Thousand Oaks in the former Denny's spot next to also forthcoming Urbane Cafe Thousand Oaks, which says it is opening in early 2015
• Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill hopefully is still "coming soon" to Janss Marketplace

Sharky's Thousand Oaks...we waited patiently for you in 2014 but we're still here in 2015!

Restaurants That Have Closed Since July

• Cigale Cafe in Oak Park closed in October
• Kora Bistro and Sushi Bar in Westlake Village closed after a short stint
• N'Awlinz 805 Grill opened and subsequently closed in Oxnard
• Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Company in Calabasas closed its doors last fall
• Mandarin Buffet Closed its doors sometime last summer
• The Moorpark Lamppost Pizza closed sometime last year
• Burger Werkz in Westlake Village shut its doors last August
• On the frozen yogurt front, Tizzy Yogurt Cafes in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks and Menchies Frozen Yogurt at The Promenade at Westlake closed last year

Cool Ventura County Residential Holiday Light Displays This 2014 Holiday Season

UPDATE: 2015 residential holiday light displays are compiled at THIS LINK.

We are in the home stretch of the winter holiday season 2014 and once again are fortunate to have a number of great residential light displays thanks to the amazing efforts of local Ventura County residents. This is just a sampling of what's out there...please let us know if you come across other noteworthy displays around town!

In Camarillo on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street, dozens of homes are decorated once again with cartoon characters, Santas, snowmen and tens of thousands of lights and other decorations.

Do I detect Dora at this house on Gemini St in Camarillo!?

Every holiday season, one of Ventura County's biggest residential light displays lights up the historic section of Downtown Oxnard on F and G streets between 5th and Palm.

The holiday light display by the Higgins family at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks is a 30 minute display synchronized with music and over 150,000 lights.

This image of the epic light show on El Dorado Drive display does not do it justice!

There's a breathtaking display of lights, decorations and falling snow at Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Night, until Christmas from 5:30 to 9:00pm the lights at 4903 Pathfinder in Westlake Village that is highlighted in more detail at this link.

Take Walter Avenue off of Kimber Drive in Newbury Park and you'll be treated to what may be the tallest inflatable Rudolph in Ventura County! And homes have joined in on the fun.

The Winter Wonderland home at 469 Highland Road at Sinaloa in Simi Valley is a sight to behold!

Simi Sue reminded us of a neat display wooden animated Disney figures at the house at the corner of Timberlane and Fearing in Simi Valley.

There are some nice displays on Camino Dos Rios in Thousand Oaks and Silverwheel Place in Newbury Park. More details at this link.

A late edition! The outstanding animated holiday light display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue in Newbury Park is back! Lights synchronized with lively music simulcast on 100.5 FM. Really fun, sparkly display!

A fantastic music and lights display at 538 Brisbaine in Newbury Park

There's a synchronized music/light display at 3167 Gold Hill Circle (at Sundance Street) in Thousand Oaks, off of Lynn and Wildwood. Check out some footage at this link.

There's a particularly festively decorated residence on Shetland Place in North Ranch worth a look!

For other local holiday events and activities in and around Ventura County, click here!

Secret Santa and Local Sheriff's Department Surprise Kansas City, Missouri Residents

CBS Sunday Morning covers the Secret Santa of Kansas City, Missouri and how he teamed up with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department to the surprise and delight of local residents. Great story!