Mullin Automotive Museum to Reopen to the Public on Friday, April 9th

The Mullin Automotive Museum will reopen to the public on Friday, April 9, 2021, establishing a new schedule of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Fans of the museum and new visitors will see Concours “Best of Show” winners such as the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, 1938 Hispano-Suiza Dubonnet H6B “Xenia,” and the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Goutte d’Eau; as well as crowd favorites such as the 1994 Bugatti EB 110 Supersport “Le Mans” and the world’s most extensive collection of Bugatti artwork, sculpture, and furniture.

The museum will follow health and safety guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State of California, and County of Ventura to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Staff members, docents, and visitors will have their temperature taken prior to entry and must always wear protective face coverings. No personal items such as purses, bags or backpacks will be allowed in the museum. Additionally, the museum will enforce social distancing guidelines of at least six feet between unrelated groups. The museum will also increase the frequency of routine cleaning and provide hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility.

Visitors must purchase tickets in advance on the museum website. For more information about the Mullin Automotive Museum and its exhibits, visit MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com.

The museum is located at 1421 Emerson Avenue in Oxnard.

IRS Announces Individual Tax Returns Due May 17, 2021

The IRS announced yesterday that the tax filing deadline has been moved from April 15th to May 17th for individual tax returns. The State of California has conformed to this change.

You can still file an extension to file your returns as late as October 15th, though you are required to pay your taxes, by May 17th or risk penalties and interest. www.irs.gov

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