Register to Vote for the November 6, 2018 General Election by October 22nd

The State of California makes it easy to register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov. The system will search the DMV database for your California driver license or ID card, date of birth and last four digits of your Social Security Number.

While registering to vote, you will be asked if you want to disclose a political party preference, which currently includes: American Independent, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom, Republican and "Other." Or you can indicate that you prefer not to disclose your preference.

While registering, you can also choose a permanent vote by mail ballot, which is a nice feature that I've used for years.

The Ventura County Clerk and Recorder Elections Division will contact you when the registration is approved or if additional information is needed.

You can also use the online registration to re-register when you 1) move to a new permanent residence; 2) change your name; or 3) want to change your political party preference.

All U.S. citizen residents of California age 18 or older on Election Day are eligible to vote, unless you are found to be mentally incompetent by a court or are in jail, prison or on parole for certain felonies (described in more detail at this link).

You can also register to vote the old fashioned way by picking up a paper voter registration application at the Ventura County elections office, library, DMV or post office.

Can you vote online? Nope. You'd think that we'd have figured out a way to do that by now, but the State indicates "For security reasons, California law prohibits casting a ballot over the Internet. This also means that county elections officials cannot accept marked ballots sent via email from military and overseas voters." (who may only vote by mail or fax).

To vote for the November 6, 2018 Statewide General Election you must be registered by October 22, 2018!

Registered Voters in Ventura County

Here in Ventura County, as of October 12, 2018 there are 442,333 registered voters, compared to 433,324 on October 29, 2014. That’s a 2% increase. (Update 11/3/18: 449,053 registered voters in Ventura County.)

By party:

• 176,426 Democrats, up 6,560, or 7.5%, from 169,866 registered October 29, 2014. (Update 11/3/18: 178,471)

• 131,884 Republicans, down 16,272, or 11%, from 148,156 registered October 29, 2014. (Update 11/3/18: 132,970)

• 110,375 Non-Partisan, up 18,751, or 20.5%, from 91,624 registered October 29, 2014. (Update 11/3/18: 113,459)

• 23,648 Other Parties, almost the same as the 23,628 registered October 29, 2014. (Update 11/3/18: 24,153)

Exercise your right to vote! Learn more about Ventura County elections on the Ventura County Registrar of Voters website at recorder.countyofventura.org/elections.

Harold's House of Omelettes Has Served the Conejo Valley Since 1961 (Now Bo's House of Omelettes & Waffles)

UPDATE: Harold’s closed its doors on May 7, 2021, but was subsequently acquired and reopened in February 2022 as Bo’s House of Omelettes & Waffles. Open 7 days a week, 7 am to 3 pm. houseofomelettesto.com

Harold's House of Omelettes opened its doors to the hungry citizens of Thousand Oaks, before Thousand Oaks was even a city of its own, on January 19, 1961. Harold's has the distinction as the oldest restaurant in the Conejo Valley - a distinction previously held by Lupe's Mexican Restaurant, which originated in 1947 and closed in August 2016.

Harold's is located at 2440 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in the Camelot Plaza, directly across from Thousand Oaks Toyota, and has been there for some time.

The eatery was originated by its namesake, Harold Warner, who was born in Green Bay, moved to the west coast in 1949, where he became a chef at Du-pars restaurant at Hollywood and Vine. He moved to Thousand Oaks to work at the new Du-par's Thousand Oaks. Instead of that, he opened Harold's House of Omelettes and was the chef until the late 1990s.

Here's a photo from the Thousand Oaks Library "Conejo Through the Lens" collection of Harold's at its original location next to the Green Lantern Tavern at 1938 Thousand Oaks Boulevard (now occupied by Enhanced Landscape Management).

Harold's House of Omelettes and the Green Lantern Tavern at 1938 Thousand Oaks Boulevard (just west of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza) in 1962. Photo Credit: Pat Allen via the Conejo Through the Lens collection maintained by the Grans R. Brimhall Library.

Harold's, also known as Herold's Restaurant, serves much more than omelettes (though there are 51 omelette varieties on its menu). Its menu includes hot cakes, crepes, waffles, Mexican breakfast and lunch specialties, breakfast burritos, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, soups and more.

To learn more, visit www.eatatharolds.com. Open daily from 6am to 3pm.

Join a Local Ventura County Moms Club

If you're looking for local Ventura County groups to meet up with other moms for playgroups, activities and socializing, look no further than this list (includes only organizations with websites... Contact Us for additions).

(Last update September 2018...subject to change.)

Calvary Community

Church MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) - Meets every other Tuesday morning

Conejo Valley Homeschoolers (Home school support group)

Conejo Valley Mothers of Multiples

MOMS Club of Camarillo - East

MOMS Club of Camarillo - West

MOMS Club of Newbury Park

MOMS Club of Simi Valley - East

MOMS Club of Simi Valley - West

MOMS Club of Thousand Oaks

MOMS Club of Ventura

MOMS Club of Westlake Village

MOMS (Making our Mothering Significant) Ventura

Moorpark Moms Meetup Group

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) - Find Local Clubs

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) of Newbury Park (ages 0 to 5)

Stroller Strides and Our Village of Conejo Valley

Ventura MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)

There are a number of local La Leche League groups in the area. Visit lllusa.org to find them.

Additional links and information at www.conejovalleyguide.com/moms-clubs.

Throwback to 1987 When May Co., The Broadway and Robinson's Anchored The Oaks Mall

Throwback to 1987 and this Thousand Oaks postcard, when May Co., The Broadway and Robinson's anchored The Oaks mall.

May Co. was founded by David May in 1877. JW Robinson's was founded in 1883 by Joseph Winchester Robinson. May Co. merged with Robinson's in 1993 to form Robinsons-May. In 2005, Robinsons-May was acquired by Federated Department Stores and became Macy's, which still has two anchor stores at The Oaks.

The Broadway was founded in 1896 by Arthur Lettis, Sr. In 1996, 100 years later, The Broadway was acquired by Federated.

The Oaks mall turned 40 in April 2018. Happy birthday! Anchor stores when it opened in 1978 were The Broadway, May Co., J.W. Robinsons and J.C. Penney. Bullocks opened in 1980.

Anchor stores today are Macy's/Women, Macy's/Men's/Home/Children's, J.C. Penney and Nordstrom.

Speaking of malls, HERE'S A COMPILATION of kids' activities at shopping malls throughout Ventura County.

Rolling Pin Donuts in Camarillo Captured in Oil Painting by Local Artist

Rolling Pin Donuts in Camarillo (Artist: Linda Dark)

Long-time Camarillo resident and artist Linda Dark enjoys capturing local scenes in oil paint. Rolling Pin Donuts has operated at 2153 Las Posas Road since 1992 and has quite a loyal following at this stand-alone location. Dark has lived in Camarillo since 1978 and recalls it was previously called Donna Lee Donuts.

Have a donut craving? Rolling Pin is open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. You'll want to stop by for sure after checking out their creations at www.facebook.com/RollingPinCamarillo.

Rolling Pin Donuts on Rainy Day (Artist: Linda Dark)

Today is the 50th Anniverary of The Release of "Hey Jude" by the Beatles

Fifty years ago today, August 26, 1968, the Beatles released the song "Hey Jude."

The song was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon and McCartney.

Originally "Hey Jules" in support of John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce, "Hey Jude" was the first single released by the Beatles' record label, Apple Records.

Seven minutes, 11 seconds in length, Hey Jude was one of the longest singles ever released at that time. It spent 9 weeks at number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the longest of any Beatles song.

The single has sold over 8 million copies in the U.S. placing it in the top 50 selling songs of all time, topped by just one other Beatles song, "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

Conejo Valley Veterans Memorial at Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks

Veterans Memorial Fountain

The Conejo Valley Veterans Memorial is a fountain memorial with two ponds located at Conejo Creek Park North, 1379 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. 

The inscription on the memorial says "We the people of the Conejo Valley proudly dedicate this memorial to our local veterans. Their courage and sacrifices serve as a shining example for future generations."

Conejo Creek Park is a local treasure. Completed in 1992, the park has a fitness trail, two playgrounds, a stream that meanders between two large ponds, three large picnic structures, over two dozen picnic tables and more. 

There is plenty of parking surrounding Conejo Creek Park, which is also a popular venue for community events and festivals.

Another great feature is the bridge that connects the park to three other community gathering spots - the Grant R. Brimhall Library, Thousand Oaks Teen Center and Goebel Senior Adult Center. When my kids were younger, we used to park at and visit the library, place our books in the car, then walk or scooter across the bridge to the park.

The bridge leading from the Thousand Oaks Library to Conejo Creek Park North.