CLU Receives Upward Bound Grant to Help Low Income Science & Technology Students

CLU Awarded $1.6 million Upward Bound Grant

Math and Science Center will serve more students

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded California Lutheran University a $1.6 million grant to expand its TRIO Upward Bound Math and Science Center over the next five years.

Upward Bound Math and Science students (Photo courtesy of CLU)The grant will enable the center to prepare 75 low-income students each year to continue their education beyond high school in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. This is an increase of 20 students per year.

The students, all aspiring to be among the first generation in their families to go to college, attend Channel Islands, Hueneme, Oxnard and Pacifica highschools in Oxnard, Hawthorne and Leuzinger high schools in Los Angeles County, Fillmore High School and Santa Paula High School.

The center, which has been on the CLU campus for 22 years, has served more than 275 students in the last five years. All participants graduate from high school and 86 percent graduate from a post-secondary school. This year’s high school graduates included a student who earned a full-ride scholarship as a Posse Scholar and another who received a $20,000 scholarship as a Dell Scholar.

Students take classes in literature, composition, math, science and foreign languages and participate in cultural and recreational activities throughout the academic year and during a six-week residential program in summer. Center staff also provide tutoring,advising and assistance with test preparation and college-application completion.

The Federal TRIO Programs, which also include traditional Upward Bound, are designed to identify and provideservices for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. CLU has the distinction of having four TRIO programs: two traditional Upward Bound, Student SupportServices and Upward Bound Math Science.

Evolution of the Former El Torito in Thousand Oaks Through the Holiday Season

The former Thousand Oaks El Torito on 449 N. Moorpark Road closed on January 24, 2012. Chick-fil-A is said to be considering the location for a sit down restaurant. In October it became "The Best Halloween Store Ever!" And now, beginning November 29th, the Christmas Store, specializing in Christmas decor. fresh wreaths, decorated trees, custom centerpieces, garlands and potted poinsettia, will open for the upcoming holiday season. Phone is 805.494.5300. For over 100 upcoming Conejo Valley and Ventura County area holiday season events, CLICK HERE!

Latest temporary occupant of the old El Torito in Thousand Oaks

This Halloween Store occupied the Former El Torito spot during October

And in memory to the prior occupant of this space. We miss your margaritas, El Torito!

Updated Ventura County / Conejo Valley Election Results as of November 9th

The Ventura County Clerk & Recorder updated results from the November 6th general election at recorder.countyofventura.org/elections as of 12:12 pm today.

The number of votes cast and counted increased by 13,924, from 256,927 to 270,851. Voter turnout as a result grew from the initially reported 60.18% to 63.44%. The County Clerk's office indicates this as "Semi Official Update #1" which infers we may be seeing another update.

No changes were noted in the placement of candidates based on this update.

Here are some updated and still "unofficial" Ventura County only results:

President (268,873 votes - previously 255,107)

• Barack Obama (Dem) 51.37% (138,119 votes)
• Mitt Romney (Rep) 46.09% (123,919 votes)
• Gary Johnson (Lib) 1.1% (2,946 votes)

U.S Senator (259,189 votes)

• Dianne Feinstein (Dem) 53.77% (139,363 votes)
• Elizabeth Emken (Rep) 46.23% (119,826 votes)

Overall preliminary vote in California Feinstein 61.5%,  Emken 38.5%.

26th Congressional District

• Julia Brownley (Dem) 52% (110,715 votes)
• Tony Strickland (Rep) 48% (102,219 votes)

State Senator District 27 (Ventura County only)

• Todd Zink (Rep) 56.4% (66,552 votes)
• Fran Pavley (Dem) 43.6% (51,456 votes)

Districtwide (Ventura/LA counties, Pavley 52.5%, Zink's 47.5%).

Member of the Assembly 44th District

• Jeff Gorrell (Rep) 53.34% (70,191 votes)
• Eileen Macenery (Dem) 46.66% (61,405 votes)

Conejo Valley USD Board Member (Vote for 2)

• Betsy Connolly 37.86% (25,417 votes)
• Peggy Buckles 32.88% (22,074 votes)
• Tony Dolz 29.05% (19,506 votes)

Thousand Oaks City Council (Vote for 2)

• Jacqui Irwin 24.21% (18,964 votes)
• Al Adam 15.77% (12,351 votes)
• Ed Jones 14.39% (11,271 votes)
• Jim Bruno 13.70% (10,727 votes)
• Mic Farris 12.32% (9,652 votes)
• Deborah Birenbaum 9.01% (7,053 votes)
• Others 7,903 votes

Conejo Recreation and Park District (Vote for 2)

• George Lange 44.33% (28,300 votes)
• Charles B. Huffer 25.00% (15,959 votes)
• Dennis Anderson 18.06% (11,526 votes)
• Clint R. Matkovich 12.36% (7,888 vote)

For results of other local races, visit recorder.countyofventura.org/elections.

Home Invasion Robbery in Thousand Oaks the Morning of Tuesday, October 30th (2nd Burglary on November 2nd)

Update 11/7/12 from Thousand Oaks PD City Watch Update:

Thousand Oaks Police Detectives are working hard at solving these cases. We are trying to identify and stop the suspects from further burglaries. We are asking for the public's help in reporting any suspicious vehicles or persons in your neighborhood.

Things to look for:

• Vehicles driving slow on your street
• Parked vehicles which are occupied
• Unknown vehicles parked in front of neighbors homes
• Suspicious subjects or unknown people walking through your neighborhood.
• Suspicious subjects walking toward or away from your neighbor’s homes that you cannot identify as your neighbors.

If you are on a walk or run I encourage you to carry your cell phone so you can call in suspicious persons or vehicles while you are out. If you have a camera feature on your phone take photographs of vehicles or suspicious persons if possible and without detection. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND OR INTERFERE WITH THE SUSPECTS.

If you see anyone who appears suspicious or suspicious vehicles in your neighborhood you are asked to call sheriff’s dispatch immediately at (805) 654 9511 or 911.

Update 11/5/12 from TOPD: At about 2:50 p.m. on November 2, 2012, the Thousand Oaks Police Department received a call of a burglary in progress in the 3900 block of Cloverleaf Street in Thousand Oaks.  Upon arrival, officers discovered that several suspects entered the victim’s residence while they were away and stole property.  Police officers, assisted by a Ventura County Sheriff’s helicopter and two canine units, thoroughly searched the area and determined the suspects had fled prior to officers’ arrival. 

Witnesses described three of the suspects as black males in their 20’s to 30’s.  The suspects were also believed to be associated with two vehicles.  They were described as a dark sedan and a light colored sport utility vehicle.  At this point, investigators are considering the possibility that this crime may be associated with the recent home invasion robbery that occurred on Skelton Canyon Circle on October 30, 2012 (discussed below).

The Thousand Oaks Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in solving these crimes.  We request that anyone with information contact investigators at (805) 494-8201.  We also request that you keep a watchful eye on your neighborhood and report any suspicious activity by calling (805) 654-9511.  Or if you believe it may be an emergency, call 911.

Posted 10/31/12: The Thousand Oaks Police Department reports that three unidentified men confronted a woman at gunpoint inside her residence Tuesday morning, October 30th, during a home invasion robbery in the 3900 block of Skelton Canyon Circle, Thousand Oaks (just a mile north of the intersection of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Boulevards).

The victim’s husband had left for work just minutes before the suspects entered the home and confronted the woman, who was home alone.

The suspects wore ski masks and hooded sweatshirts. At least one of the men displayed a handgun during the robbery. The men left with jewelry and cash after tying up the victim. The woman was able to free herself after several minutes and call 9-1-1.

The victim was not injured during the robbery, and there is little known about the suspects at this time. They were described as black males, with no further details given, other than they drove away in a sedan in an unknown direction.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact investigators at (805) 494-8201.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Preliminary Ventura County / Conejo Valley Election Results as of Early This Morning

The Ventura County Clerk & Recorder website has a nicely organized election results section at recorder.countyofventura.org/elections that provides easy to access, up to date election results.

With all 630 Ventura County precincts reporting, there were 426,948 registered voters and 256,927 votes cast, or a 60.18% voter turnout. While these numbers reflect many of the Vote by Mail ballots received before election day, the numbers will certainly change to some degree to reflect Vote by Mail ballots received at polling locations on Election Day.

Here are some selected (with a focus towards Conejo Valley elections) unofficial Ventura County only results posted on that site updated just after 2 AM this morning.

President (255,107 votes)

• Barack Obama (Dem) 51.16% (130,512 votes)
• Mitt Romney (Rep) 46.32% (118,156 votes)
• Gary Johnson (Lib) 1.09% (2,784 votes)
• Others 1.43% (3,655 votes)

There were 1,820 ballots that did not place a vote for President.

U.S Senator (245,932 votes)

• Dianne Feinstein (Dem) 53.57% (131,742 votes)
• Elizabeth Emken (Rep) 46.43% (114,190 votes)

Overall preliminary vote in California is Feinstein 61.4% vs Emken 38.6%.

26th Congressional District

• Julia Brownley (Dem) 51.85% (104,225 votes)
• Tony Strickland (Rep) 48.15% (96,774 votes)

State Senator District 27 (Ventura County only)

• Todd Zink (Rep) 56.45% (64,146 votes)
• Fran Pavley (Dem) 43.55% (49,486 votes)

Districtwide (Ventura/LA counties, Pavley has 52.6% vs Zink's 47.4%).

Member of the Assembly 44th District

• Jeff Gorrell (Rep) 53.53% (66,830 votes)
• Eileen Macenery (Dem) 46.47% (58,009 votes)

Conejo Valley USD Board Member (Vote for 2)

• Betsy Connolly 37.86% (24,120 votes)
• Peggy Buckles 32.78% (20,886 votes)
• Tony Dolz 29.15% (18,572 votes)

Thousand Oaks City Council (Vote for 2)

• Jacqui Irwin 24.20% (18,044 votes)
• Al Adam 15.83% (11,802 votes)
• Ed Jones 14.34% (10,694 votes)
• Jim Bruno 13.69% (10,206 votes)
• Mic Farris 12.32% (9,187 votes)
• Deborah Birenbaum 9.03% (6,737 votes)
• Others 7,903 votes

Conejo Recreation and Park District (Vote for 2)

• George Lange 44.22% (26,797 votes)
• Charles B. Huffer 25.08% (15,199 votes)
• Dennis Anderson 18.10% (10,970 votes)
• Clint R. Matkovich 12.36% (7,488 vote)

For updates and results of other local races, visit recorder.countyofventura.org/elections.

Hilton Foundation Opens New Campus in Agoura Hills: Plans to Double in Size

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has formally moved into its new campus here in Agoura Hills! The structure has been carefully designed as a cutting-edge, environmentally sensitive and energy-efficient building to meet Platinum LEED-certified green standards.

In 2007, the Foundation's board of directors decided in favor of building a permanent home for the organization to continue carrying out Conrad Hilton's legacy for generations to come. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is a family foundation established in 1944 by the man who started Hilton Hotels, which provides funds to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the world.

"This new home in Agoura Hills will prepare the Hilton Foundation for the time it will double in size and staff," said Hilton Foundation President and CEO, Steven M. Hilton. "My father, Barron Hilton, has pledged his intent to follow in the footsteps of his father, Conrad Hilton, and contribute 97% of his entire net worth at the time of his passing. This building is the first phase of a four-phase campus that will allow us to grow accordingly into the future."

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world's disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance abuse, helping children affected by HIV and AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton's support for the work of Catholic Sisters. Following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $1.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants, distributing $82 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2011. The Foundation's current assets are approximately $2 billion.

Visit www.hiltonfoundation.org to learn more.