Application to Request Funds From Conejo Valley Victims Fund Now Open, through February 18, 2019

Following the tragedy that occurred at Borderline Bar & Grill on November 7, 2018, Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF), in coordination with other local organizations established the CONEJO VALLEY VICTIMS FUND.  After immediately distributing $310,000 in cash assistance and $500 prepaid gift cards related to the Borderline shooting, VCCF is now inviting individuals affected by the tragedy to submit applications for funding.

Funding Application for Conejo Valley Victims Fund: conejovalleyvictimsfund.org
Deadline for application submittal: February 18, 2019.

100% of the funds that have been raised will be used to assist the families of those who lost loved ones, the victims who were physically injured and those present inside the Borderline Bar & Grill the night of November 7, 2018. The payments from the Conejo Valley Victims Fund are to be apportioned in accordance with the severity of the injury to the victims arising from the event. 

VCCF has partnered with Give An Hour, which will lead efforts to provide mental health, emotional and case support to victims during the application process. In addition to opening up their Provider Network for mental health support, Give an Hour providers and staff are available to help those needing assistance with the Victim’s Fund Application. Three Victim Assistance Clinics will provide assistance to those who need help with the application. Licensed mental health clinicians will be on site at the Victim Assistance Clinics to offer support. 

Victims’ Assistance Clinic Dates, Times at Community Room Engage, 660 Hampshire Road, Suite 101, Westlake Village:

• Monday, January 14, 12:00 noon to 8:00pm

• Wednesday, January 16, 9:00am to 6:00pm

• Saturday, January 19, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Additionally, VCCF will host two public forums to give concerned community members and those impacted by the Borderline shooting an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about this Draft Final Protocol which will determine the process and distribution protocols for awarding financial support to qualified applicants. The Final Distribution Protocol will be developed by the Special Oversight Committee, incorporating feedback from the Public Forum meetings held on January 3, 2019, and is subject to approval by the Ventura County Community Foundation.

The Draft Final Protocol document can be found at www.ConejoValleyVictimsFund.org. To submit your feedback on the Draft Final Protocol, please submit your comments to info@conejovalleyvictimsfund.org or attend a public forum held on:  

Thursday, January 3, 8:00am - 9:30am or 6:00pm - 7:30pm. 
at the Scherr Forum at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.   

Financial contributions are still welcome and can be made at www.vccf.org. 

For more information, please contact Vanessa Bechtel at (805) 330-6676.

The Tunnel Beneath Gainsborough Road in Thousand Oaks, Connecting Tarantula Hill to Conejo Community Park

It is just a tunnel, but this passageway underneath Gainsborough Road between Tarantula Hill on the north and Conejo Community Park on the south provides the connection for a fun-filled day.

Tarantula Hill is the tallest peak located within Thousand Oaks, at 1,057 feet. There's a bench at the top as you enjoy the view. There's also a small, fenced-in reservoir up there. No need for trail shoes getting to the peak, as it is almost entirely paved (with the exception of the vary top of the hill, leading to the bench). You can also take a trail to near the top, directly leading to the tunnel shown above.

Conejo Community Park has a nice play area, the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, plenty of grass and a creek that runs through the park as well as the Kids' Adventure Garden (open on Sundays only, from 11am to 3pm).

So if you’re looking for something FREE, close by and fun to do with the kids here in Thousand Oaks, this is a viable option for you.

The Newbury Park Branch Library Broke Ground in March 1990 and Opened Its Doors on January 19, 1991

For those of you who moved to the Conejo Valley over the last 10, 20, 25 years, you probably weren’t aware that the Newbury Park Branch Library, part of the Thousand Oaks Library system, was previously a Ralphs supermarket.

The ground breaking ceremony took place on March 31, 1990 at 2331 Borchard Road. The 31,000 sq ft facility cost $4 million.

Ground breaking of the Newbury Park Branch Library on March 31, 1990, including City of Thousand Oaks City Council members Alex Fiore and Larry Horner. (Photo Credit: Thousand Oaks Library Conejo Through the Lens collection.)

M*A*S*H Set in Malibu Creek State Park Before and After the Woolsey Fire

Here are some scenes of the M*A*S*H set in Malibu Creek State Park in prior years (mostly March 2017, some prior older) compared to how it currently looks, six weeks after the Woolsey Fire tore through the area.  Amazed at how little damage there was to the set, given the ferocity of the flames.

Additional scenes of the MASH site post-Woolsey Fire.

MASH Set at Malibu Creek State Park Survives the Woolsey Fire

We know the Woolsey Fire tore through Malibu Creek State Park last month and we also read news reports that the MASH set was “destroyed” by the fire.

NOT SO!

The park reopened to the public on December 18th and today, December 22nd, I was able to make my way down Crags Road from the MCSP parking lot to check things out.

Greening up nicely in Malibu Creek State Park after some recent rains, roughly six weeks after the Woolsey Fire devastated the area on is way to Malibu.

There were hundreds of charred trees on the way to the MASH site, along with plenty of downed trees and rocks on the path. The hike is not for everyone, especially at this early stage. And there are few points where the path is not particularly clear - unless you already know the way there from prior visits.

But when I got there, to my pleasant surprise, pretty much all of the MASH set items that were previously there were still there, looking pretty much the same. The exception to that is that the iconic M*A*S*H signpost was a bit hard to read. The sign was still there though, apparently unharmed. It may be in need of some refurbishment, however.

As you can see, getting to the MASH site has some challenges resulting from the Woolsey Fire and subsequent rainstorms. Best to wear very solid hiking shoes and stay on the path as best you can.

Alan Alda discusses the final episode of MASH and talks about the fire that raged through Malibu Creek State Park at the time. The final episode was actually filmed before the fire came through.

Stunning Orange Sunset the Night of Friday, December 14, 2018 from the Conejo Valley

‘Twas another beautiful evening in the Conejo Valley tonight, Friday, the 14th of December. Here are some shots of what the orange glowing sunset looked like from the Potrero Ridge Trail in Newbury Park.

Happy Face Hill in Simi Valley Shown in Green and Not So Green Times

"Happy Face Hill" was created by Northridge gardener Sonny Klamerus in 1998, making it 19 years old.  This video documents the changes in its looks over the last several years. The hill is seen by westbound drivers on the 118 freeway just west of Kuehner Drive.

Happy Face Hill in mid-December 2018 looking happier than ever with some nice, bright, apparently new set of LEDs.