Harley's Valley Bowl and Harley's Camarillo Bowl to Open for Business Starting March 24th

Harley’s announced today that it will be reopening its Harley’s Valley Bowl (east Simi Valley) and Harley’s Camarillo Bowl locations as “training and fitness” facilities per CDPH guidelines starting March 24th. The Harley’s Simi Bowl location will not be operating at this time.

Guidelines announced include:

• Reservations must be made in advance at harleysbowl.com

• Bookings are for practice/training bowling sessions.

• Masks must be worn at all times.

• Outside food and beverages are prohibited (water bottles available for purchase).

• All bowling sessions are for 1 1/2 hours at $30 per lane, including shoes,if needed, for up to 4 people per lane.

Ventura County Moves to the Red Tier Beginning Wednesday, March 17th

According to the County of Ventura, the County will move to the State’s Red Tier beginning 12:01 am Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

The State’s Blueprint tracks three metrics: the seven-day adjusted case rate, the seven-day testing
positivity rate and the health equity metric. Ventura County’s case rate is 6.5, testing positivity is 2.8%
(orange tier) and health equity testing positivity is 5.0% (orange).

Moving from the purple tier into the red tier for the County means:
• Restaurants can open indoors with 25 percent capacity or a maximum of 100 people, whichever
is fewer. The 11 pm closure requirement is lifted. The single household dining limitation is lifted.
State gathering guidance limits gatherings to 3 households or less.
• Retail establishments can open indoors at 50 percent capacity.
• Indoor shopping malls can increase capacity to 50 percent with common areas remaining closed;
food courts can open at 25 percent capacity adhering to the restaurant guidance for indoor
dining.
• Movie theaters can open indoors with 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Gyms, fitness centers, yoga and dance studios can open indoors with 10 percent capacity with
6-ft social distancing instead of the previous requirement of 12 ft.
• Museums, zoos, and aquariums can open indoor activities at 25 percent capacity.

• Breweries, wineries and distilleries that do not serve meals can open outdoors only with
modifications. The modifications include ensuring that patrons have reservations and patrons
observe a 90-minute time limit. Service for on-site consumption must end by 8:00 p.m.
• Bars that do not serve meals remain closed in the Purple and Red tiers.
• Private gatherings can occur both outdoors and indoors with up to 3 separate households.
• Schools are permitted to re-open for in-person instruction adhering to all state and county
directives. This includes grades 7-12. Grades kindergarten - 6 already had the option of opening.
• Family entertainment centers (kart racing, mini-golf, batting cages) can open outdoors with
modifications.
• Personal care services can continue to operate indoors following state guidance.

Additional updated guidance:
• Golf carts do not need a partition between members of different households. They are
recommended but not required.
• Local HOA pool guidance has been lifted. HOA pools are encouraged to follow suggested County
guidance. Public or community pools continue to follow state issued guidance.
• 2 swimmers per lane are permitted in a public outdoor swimming pool.
• Wind instruments are allowed outdoors with bell covers and 6 feet distance between
instruments. There must be 20 feet distance at a minimum between the instruments and the
audience.

For more information please visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org or by calling the COVID Business
Compliance line at 805-202-1805.

Ventura County Poised to Move Back Into COVID-19 Red Tier on Wednesday, March 17th

According to the County of Ventura, there is a distinct possibility that the County will be moving from the Purple Tier that we’ve been in since November 18, 2020 to the less restrictive Red Tier. Here are the details from the County:

The state has announced that once 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are administered in the most vulnerable communities in the state that the state will modify the case rate requirements. The state reached 2 million doses were achieved on March 12th. As a result, Ventura County may achieve the Red Tier on Wednesday, the 17th.

Here's what can be open once the County is in the Red Tier:

• Hair salons: open indoors with modifications

• Retail: open indoors at 50% capacity

• Malls: open indoors at 50% capacity and limited food courts

• Places of worship: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Nail salons: open indoors with modifications

• Electrolysis: open indoors with modifications

• Personal care services (body waxing, etc.): open indoor with modifications

• Tattooing and piercing: open indoors with modifications

• Museums, zoos and aquariums: open indoors at 25% capacity

• Movie theaters: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Hotels: open with modifications, plus fitness centers can open at 10% capacity

• Gyms: open indoors at 10% capacity 6 feet social distancing

• Restaurants: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Wineries, breweries and distilleries: outdoor only until 8 pm

• Bars: closed

• Family entertainment centers: outdoor only, like mini golf, batting cages and go-kart racing

• Non-essential offices: remote work only

• Professional sports: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

• Schools: can reopen for in-person instruction after five days out of the purple tier

• Theme parks: can reopen at 15% capacity starting April 1

• Live performances: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

Once 2 million vaccine doses have been administered, a new set of metrics will be used for determining tier placement:

• Widespread (purple): Counties with more than 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

• Substantial (red): 4 to 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

• Moderate (orange): 1 to 3.9 daily new cases per 100,000

• Minimal (yellow): Less than 1 daily new case per 100,000

The County of Ventura has a current case rate of 9.1, which means the County will meet the new state metrics and be in the Red Tier by March 17.

Covid is still spreading in Ventura County. Continue wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick and not gathering to help slow the spread.

More info about the state's tiers at: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

On a related note, the County of Los Angeles moves to the Red Tier effective Monday, March 15th.

Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library Launches Online Bookshop, Good Friends, Good Books

Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library (FTOL) has launched an online bookshop, Good Friends, Good Books.

The Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library Good Friends, Good Books online bookshop currently offers over 4,000 titles, including children’s books, adult fiction and nonfiction as well as CDs, DVDs and gift books.

The shop includes books and other items that have been donated by the community and range in quality from like new to gently used. All proceeds support the Thousand Oaks Library; all sales are final.

Items ordered before Friday evening will be ready for COVID-safe pickup the following Sunday morning at the main entrance of the Library between 9:30 am and 11:00 am.

If you miss visiting the FTOL bookshop inside the Grant R. Brimhall Library, this is the next best thing! The Library is located at 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

The mission of the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to increase awareness of, raise funds for, and actively assist the Thousand Oaks Library and its branch(s) to promote learning, literacy and cultural knowledge via materials, programs such as Summer Reading, materials and technology and services made available to the community.

Visit the bookshop at shopftol.org.

Stagecoach Inn Museum Newbury Park to Re-Open on Saturday, February 20th

The Stagecoach Inn Museum welcomes visitors back starting February 20th for a safely socially distanced outdoor museum experience, Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 pm. Guests will enjoy doorway viewing and docent presentations at seven structures on our beautiful four-acre property, with rose-garden, heritage farm trail, and nature trail, all for a suggested donation of just $5 per person (card or exact cash please).

In addition to the historic landmark inn, built in 1876 as the Grand Union Hotel, a one-room schoolhouse, Carriage House, working Blacksmith Shop, Pioneer Home, California Adobe, and Chumash Ap, await those wanting to experience what life was like in the early days of the Conejo Valley. Several exhibits are augmented with new QR code signage, offering “Virtual Tour” video enhancements via your smart phone. The Emporium will also be open, offering books, specialty historic items, unique gifts, and crafts made by our blacksmiths, woodworkers, and other volunteers.

In February, docents will be demonstrating tools, machinery, gadgets and various “modern conveniences” that households and businesses enjoyed in the mid-late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Some of the items that may be demonstrated include a sausage stuffer, butter churner, miniature sewing machine for travel, iron and laundry equipment, woodworking tools and blacksmith forge.

In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month with the return of our Ladies of the Conejo old-time radio show broadcast on the Grand Porch at 2:00 select Saturdays beginning March 6. This fun and informative performance features eight inspiring women from Conejo Valley history sharing their stories, including Mabel Stark, world’s first female tiger trainer, Donna Fargo, founder of Conejo Valley Days, and others. The show is included in the price of admission.

Now open for outdoor-Covid safe tours from 1-4:00 PM Saturdays. Masks are required and there is a suggested donation of $5 per person-exact cash or debit/credit card preferred.

The original Stagecoach Inn, called the Grand Union Hotel, was built in 1876 at the southwest corner of what is now Ventu Park Road and the Ventura Freeway and is now designated City of Thousand Oaks Landmark No. 1.

Stagecoach Inn Museum, 51 S. Ventu Park Rd., Newbury Park. 805.498.9441 stagecoachinnmuseum.com.

Regional Stay Home Order Has Been Lifted; Ventura County is Back to the Purple Tier Effective January 25th

From the County of Ventura:

State of California Lifts Regional Stay at Home Order for All Regions

Ventura County in the State’s Purple Tier Effective Immediately

The California Department of Public Health has announced that the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted in Southern California. Four-week ICU capacity projections for the region are above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order.

The action allows Ventura County to return to the rules and framework for the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity. Services and activities, such as outdoor dining and personal services, may resume immediately with required modifications. Tier updates will be provided weekly on Tuesdays by the California Department of Public Health

“We ask our residents to continue to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities from COVID-19 by limiting gathering with anyone you don’t live with, wearing a face covering whenever you leave home, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from anyone you don’t live with and washing your hands frequently,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Public Health Director.

In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are permitted for OUTDOOR operations only until further notice. These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization):

• Restaurants

• Gyms and Fitness Centers (12 feet social distancing required)

• Places of worship

• Playgrounds and recreational facilities

• Family Entertainment Centers (e.g. bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, kart racing, and arcades)

• Movie theaters

• Museums, zoos, aquariums

• Wineries

• Cardrooms, satellite wagering

Bars, pubs, brewpubs and breweries may operate outdoors if they are offering sit-down, outdoor meals. Outdoor operations may be conducted under a tent, canopy, or other shelter if no more than one side is closed.

Additional information for outdoor dining establishments:

•Sit down dining may only take place with members of the same household, it must be outdoors and must end by 11 pm.

•Maximum time a patron may be on the premises is 1 and ½ hours.

•Restaurants can remain open for takeout or delivery past 11 pm as their permit allows.

In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are open for INDOOR operations. These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization) and modifications:

•All retail (maximum 25% capacity)

•Critical infrastructure

•Hair salons and barbershops

•Libraries (maximum 25% capacity)

•Nail salons and electrolysis operations

•Personal care services (e.g. body waxing, estheticians, tattoo, massage)

•Professional sports (without live audiences)

•Shopping centers (e.g. malls, destination centers, swap meets, excluding food courts and common areas) (maximum 25% capacity)

To learn more about the State’s Tier system and specific allowable activities for Ventura County, visit the State of California's COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy website. More information at www.venturacountyrecovers.org

If You Don't Receive an Economic Impact Payment, You Can Still Receive a Recovery Rebate Credit on Your 2020 Federal Form 1040 Income Tax Return

There's another round of "Economic Impact Payments" that many of you may have already received in January via direct deposit. Generally, U.S. citizens and resident aliens who are not eligible to be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s income tax return are eligible.

You'll automatically receive payments of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for married couples and up to $600 for each qualifying child.

Generally, if you have adjusted gross income (AGI) on your 2019 federal income tax return up to $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 if filing as head of household and $150,000 for married filing joint returns, you will receive the full amount.

Payments are reduced if your income is more than that, phasing out 5% of the amount your AGI exceeds the amounts shown above. They phase out completely at an AGI of $87,000 for single or married filing separately, $124,500 for head of household and $174,000 for married filing joint taxpayers.

Question: My income precludes me from getting an Economic Impact Payment based on my 2019 tax return but it dropped in 2020. Do I still get a payment?”

Answer: YES! According to the draft IRS Form 1040 Instructions published December 31, 2020, “The recovery rebate credit was paid out to eligible individuals in two rounds of advance payments called economic impact payments. The economic impact payments were based on your 2018 or 2019 tax year information. The recovery rebate credit is figured like the economic impact payments except that the credit eligibility and the credit amount are based on your 2020 tax year information. If you didn’t receive the full amount of the recovery rebate credit as economic impact payments, you may be able to claim the recovery rebate credit on your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR.”

So in other words:

• The first two payments in 2020 and 2021 were called Economic Impact Payments

• They were based on your 2019 or 2018 tax information.

• If you did not receive them or did not receive the full amount, you can recalculate the payments on your 2020 tax return based on your 2020 adjusted gross income.

• The refundable credit for this stimulus on your tax return is called “Recovery Rebate Credit.”

• If you are indeed eligible for a payment based on your 2020 AGI and did not previously receive a full payment, you will receive a refundable credit on your tax return that you can either apply to any taxes due or, if no taxes are due, receive a refund.

Regional Stay Home Order Goes Into Effect Sunday, December 6th for at Least Three Weeks in Southern California, Including Ventura County

State’s Stay Home Order Triggered in Southern California Region, Effective December 6, Midnight

The State of California’s Stay Home Order will go into effect on Sunday, December 6 at midnight in Ventura County and in all Counties in Southern California, after the Southern California Region's hospital ICU capacity dropped below 15%. The order closes many businesses and activities and urges people to stay at home whenever possible.

The California Department of Public Health reported on Friday evening that Southern California's ICU capacity dropped to 13.1%, triggering the Stay Home Order.

The order requires bars, wineries, nail salons, hair salons and barbershops, and other personal care services to close. Private gatherings of any size are prohibited. Restaurants can stay open for takeout and delivery, but they have to shut down both indoor and outdoor dining.

The Southern California Region Ventura County was placed in has, by itself, more than half the State’s total population. The region includes 11 counties. The County is urging the Governor to consider smaller, more targeted regions. The County, along with 58 Counties throughout the State, are also urging the Governor to consider additional, immediate assistance for impacted workers, families and businesses. The County of Ventura will continue to advocate and engage with the State on behalf of our County on a regular basis.

Schools opened while Ventura County was in the purple tier can stay open. K-6 schools that were given a waiver to reopen will be allowed to stay open. Retail stores will be allowed to stay open at 20% capacity.

Additionally, all non-essential travel is temporarily restricted statewide. Hotels and motels are now restricted to guests traveling for an essential reason.

Ventura County and all Counties in the Southern California Region are required by the State to stay under the lockdown for at least three weeks. After that, state health officials will evaluate ICU capacity and transmission rates to project at least four weeks into the future to determine if the stay home order can be lifted.

All Ventura County residents are further urged to help slow the spread by wearing a mask, social distancing and not gathering during this critical time. “Given the significant increase we have been experiencing in our county with COVID-19 with cases, test positivity, and hospitalizations, this order is the only remaining measure to flatten the curve as soon as possible,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Ventura County Public Health Director.

“Since it will take several weeks for these additional restrictions to slow in particular the very concerning rising hospitalizations, collectively and as the strong community that Ventura County is known for, I urge every resident and sector to support the measure in this order so that we can once and for all, given also the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine, get this virus under control. We will then be able to return to the path toward fully opening our business, schools and other sectors,” added Vargas.

The following activities and sectors must close by midnight on Sunday, December 6:

• Indoor and outdoor playgrounds

• Indoor recreational facilities

• Hair salons and barbershops

• Personal care services

• Museums, zoos, and aquariums

• Movie theaters

• Wineries

• Bars, breweries and distilleries

• Family entertainment centers

• Cardrooms and satellite wagering

• Limited services

• Live audience sports

• Amusement parks

Other sectors that will be allowed to stay open when operating remotely is not possible include:

• Critical Infrastructure

• Schools that are already open for in-person learning

• Non-urgent medical and dental care

• Childcare and pre-K

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

• Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.

• Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

• Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

• Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.

• Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery. No indoor or outdoor dining.

• Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.

• Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.

• Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

More information about the Stay Home Order can be found at: covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs. Local information at www.venturacountyrecovers.org.

vcportal.ventura.org/covid19/docs/2020-12-05_Stay_Home_Order_Triggered_in_Ventura_County_and_So_Cal_Region.pdf

Regional Stay Home Order Announced Today Goes Into Effect When ICU Availability Drops Below 15%

Today the Governor announced a Regional Stay Home Order, it will go into effect within 48 hours in regions with less than 15% ICU availability. It prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing in all others.

The order will remain in effect for at least 3 weeks and, after that period, will be lifted when a region’s projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15%. This will be assessed on a weekly basis after the initial 3-week period. Learn more about this order.

The State projects the Southern California Region, including Ventura County, to fall below 15% capacity as soon as tomorrow, and likely within a week.

When a region is placed under an order, these sectors will be closed:

• Indoor and outdoor playgrounds

• Indoor recreational facilities

• Hair salons and barbershops

• Personal care services

• Museums, zoos, and aquariums

• Movie theaters

• Wineries

• Bars, breweries, and distilleries

• Family entertainment centers

• Cardrooms and satellite wagering

• Limited services

• Live audience sports

• Amusement parks

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.

Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.

Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery. No indoor or outdoor dining.

Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.

Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.

Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

The following sectors are allowed to remain open when a remote option is not possible with appropriate infectious disease preventative measures including 100% masking and physical distancing:

• Critical infrastructure

• Schools that are already open for in-person learning

• Non-urgent medical and dental care

• Child care and pre-K

The State could make the announcement of the Stay At Home Order being implemented in our County as soon as tomorrow.

Read more about the State orders at: covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs

This is a critical time to work together to slow the spread. Community members are encouraged to wear masks, social distance, wash hands frequently and not gather.

Once we learn of the State's decision for our region information will be posted. Until then businesses can still operate under the guidance in the purple tier.