Ventura County Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance Passed in January 2017

At its January 10, 2017 meeting, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors passed the Ventura County Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance

The ordinance prohibits smoking in the unincorporated areas of the county and at nearly all County-owned and operated buildings, campuses and properties.

In addition to the ban at County properties, the ordinance prohibits smoking in dining areas, entryways, recreation areas (except golf courses), service areas, public events and outdoor worksites.

The definition of smoking includes tobacco products, e-cigarettes and marijuana.

The Board passed the item on a 4-1 vote with Supervisor Parks casting the dissenting vote. The reason she did not vote for the ordinance is for two reasons. The ordinance allows for an exception on golf courses; and the ordinance negatively impacts psychiatric patients addicted to nicotine that are confined to a inpatient psychiatric unit.

The ordinance will become operative 180 days after its effective date.

I always am amused by the specific signage requirements for ordinances.

Section 6711 of the Ordinance specifies the posting of signs by those that have control of an area in which smoking or use of tobacco products is prohibited. The sign should indicate "No Smoking and No Vaping" or "Smoke-Free" at each entry point to the area and at least one other conspicuous sign within the area. 

"The signs will have letters of no less than one inch in height and shall include the international "No Smoking and No Vaping" symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette, marijuana leaf and e-cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it."

The penalties for violations of this ordinance are as follows: Infraction for first offense; $50 fine for second offense within one year; $100 for third violation within one year; $200 for fourth or subsequent violation within one year. In other words, you are given one free violation per year.

Ordinance at THIS LINK.

Water Flows at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park After 6-8 Inches of Rain

The river is back again near the Wendy and Potrero trailhead to the Wendy Trail in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. It was here a month ago, dried up quickly, and of course now is back. This and other water flows near the Satwiwa Center, "Lake Satwiwa" near the parking lot and more captured here. Best to stay off the trails until they dry up a bit though I did tiptoe down the side of the Wendy Trail to capture the water flow. 

More on local hikes and trails around Ventura County at THIS LINK.

Seasonal pond next to main parking lot at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. I like to call this "Lake Satwiwa" though there is no official name for it to my knowledge.

Bacon, Avocado and Grilled Onions Top List of Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers' Favorite Hamburger Toppings

The burger from Bandits' Grill and Bar Thousand Oaks that inspired the drawing.

Yes, this is breaking news. Very important stuff. To celebrate reaching 12,000 followers on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, we teamed up with Bandits' Grill and Bar Thousand Oaks for a gift card drawing. To enter the six-hour drawing, we asked folks to name a favorite burger topping.

The drawing ended at 11PM and as always, when CVG Facebook followers are offered the chance to win free food, they do not hesitate to participate.

After selecting the winner, I decided to tabulate the responses to see if there was a clear-cut favorite topping.  It was not particularly surprising that bacon received 19% of total votes, making it the #1 choice.

But avocado gave bacon a clear run for its money, with 16% of the vote. As I was tabulating, midway through the count I thought avocado was actually going to pull out an upset win. But in the end, "bad fat" prevailed over "good fat," though not by much!

In a tie for third place were grilled onions and cheese, with 12% of the vote each. Rounding out the next four spots were blue cheese (this one surprised me a bit), mushrooms, onion strings/rings and BBQ sauce. Pickles, jalapenos, fresh tomato were noted several times.

Speaking of burgers and restaurants, visit THIS LINK for a rundown on local area eateries that are newly opened or soon to be opening.

Happy Face Hill in Simi Valley Looks Happy Again After the Recent Rainstorms

Happy Face Hill, the icon seen off the 118 freeway in Simi Valley, is looking quite happy and green after several months of above average rainfall.

The Happy Face has been there since 1998. Sonny Klamerus created it and other residents and community groups have kept this 150 foot wide icon well-groomed over the years. 

Recently 60 to 70 townhomes were built adjacent to Happy Face Hill, but you can still see it. And on the other side of the hill is a heart - not quite as prominent as the Happy Face, but you can see it driving eastbound on the 118.

And here's a comparison shot from March 2015, prior to the addition of the townhomes.

And in drier times...this one taken in October 2015.

Statue in Recognition of CLU Football Founding Father Bob Shoup at William Rolland Stadium

Many if not most residents of Thousand Oaks will visit California Lutheran University from time to time, be it for events open to the public at the university, sporting event, a visit to the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art, the community pool at Samuelson Aquatics Center, or Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, or just a walk around the campus.

Next to the Rolland Gallery in University Plaza is a statue dedicated to Bob Shoup, the founding father of CLU football. The bronze statue, "Champions," was unveiled on October 18, 2014 in homage to Shoup's Kingsmen football team that won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Championship in 1971.

Bob Shoup was CLU football coach from 1962 to 1989 as well as Athletic Director from 1969 to 1977. He was inducted into the NAIA 2008-2009 Hall of Fame. Shoup now lives in San Marcos, California.

Pacific Coast Highway Was Originally Called the Roosevelt Highway

The 1400 mile stretch of road called the Roosevelt Highway (U.S. 101) in the 1920s was re-named Pacific Coast Highway in 1941.

This postcard, from back in the days when it cost only a penny to mail a postcard (the 1930s) indicates "the varying scenery, such as oil being drilled out of the ocean, makes motoring an interesting pastime in California." It shows an image of the Roosevelt Highway between Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Bob then indicates to his dear friend Jane, "Just dropping a line to say all is well in Calif. There's lots of strange things to see in this state. You should be taking your Sunday rides out here."

Now what does Bob mean by that? Well, never mind. Speaking of Ventura and Santa Barbara beaches, visit THIS LINK for public beaches spanning from the Ventura Harbor through Carpinteria and THIS LINK for Santa Barbara area beaches.

The Calleguas Creek Watershed in Southeastern Ventura County

The Calleguas Creek Watershed covers approximately 343 square miles in southeastern Ventura County. The Watershed includes Conejo Creek, Arroyo Santa Rosa, Arroyo Simi, Arroyo Las Posas, and Calleguas Creek, as well as Revolon Slough and Mugu Lagoon.

Calleguas Creek Watershed Map (from Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County)

The northern boundary is formed by the Santa Susana Mountains, South Mountain, and Oak Ridge Mountains. The southern boundary is distinguished by the Simi Hills and Santa Monica Mountains.

About half the watershed is open space, 25% is agricultural and 25% is urban land use. 

The watershed ultimately drains to the Pacific Ocean through Mugu Lagoon.

Learn more about the Calleguas Creek Watershed at www.ventura.org/wcvc/calleguas.htm.

Here is the Calleguas Creek in Camarillo, along side the Calleguas Creek Bike Path, after some significant rains in January 2017.