Simi Valley Public Library to Close June 15-30 As It Transitions to Municipal Library

The City of Simi Valley has announced that the Simi Valley Public Library will be closed from Saturday, June 15, 2013 through Sunday, June 30, 2013 for refurbishment as it transitions from the Ventura County Library System to a municipal city public library. During the closure, patrons may use their Ventura County Library card to check out materials from other Ventura County Libraries, the nearest site being the Oak Park Library.

Beginning July 1, 2013, library patrons will need a new Simi Valley Public Library card to check out materials from the Simi Valley Public Library. Patrons may pre-register for their new library card online at www.simivalleylibrary.org beginning June 15, 2013 and will have the opportunity to select one of three new card designs. Once they have pre-registered, at their first visit to the Library, patrons will be issued their card.

Patrons who wish to obtain their new card prior to July 1 may register for the new card in person from Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 28 at the Simi Valley Senior Center and City Hall. Representatives will be available at the Senior Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at City Hall for Library card registration. No appointment is necessary.

The public is invited to attend the Grand Opening of the Simi Valley Public Library on Monday, July 1 at 10:00 a.m. The event will feature a ribbon cutting of the refurbished facility, presentations by local, elected officials, the Summer Reading Program Kick-off by Mr. Nifty’s Balloon Show at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., tours of the refurbished Library that will feature an enhanced collection of materials, new furniture, a refreshed interior, enhanced technology and computers, new signage, the addition of a Teen Lounge, and more.

The Simi Valley Public Library is located at 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, the Simi Valley Senior Center is located at 3900 Avenida Simi, and Simi Valley City Hall is located at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road. For questions, or more information, call (805) 583-6861 or visit www.simivalley.org or www.simivalleylibrary.org.

Parking Lot Renovations at Newbury Park Library During Next Several Months

The parking lot at the Newbury Park Library is over 20 years old and has reached the end of its useful life. Over the next two to three months, the asphalt lot will be replaced with new asphalt and pavers. There will also be water storage tanks installed for stormwater retention and upgrades to landscaping, with more drought tolerant plants and low-flow irrigation.

For more information about the project, visit the City of Thousand Oaks website at www.toaks.org or call 805.449.2225.

The library and businesses (B of A, Burt's Pharmacy, The Alamo, etc.) located at this location, at the west corner of Borchard Road and Michael Drive in Newbury Park, will remain open during renovations. A large portion of the lot is currently fenced off, so do plan for some extra time for parking during these summer months.

The farmers' market that was located here on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm has temporarily been relocated to the nearby King of Glory Church parking lot at 2500 Borchard Road.

Construction on Lynn Road Bike Lanes in Thousand Oaks to Begin on June 18th

The City of Thousand Oaks announced today that construction on the Lynn Road Bike Lanes Project will get underway on June 18, 2013. The project will add bike lanes in both directions along Lynn Road, between Hillcrest Drive and Avenida De Los Arboles. The addition of the bike lanes will connect to existing bike lanes on both ends of the project area, increasing vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian safety.

View Larger Map

Currently, bicyclists share a travel lane with vehicles or share the sidewalk with pedestrians along this 2.5 mile stretch of Lynn Road. The roadway will be expanded by narrowing the median between Camino Manzanas and Avenida de los Arboles and by widening the southbound roadway between Hillcrest Drive and Camino Manzanas. The project does not require the removal of any trees in the median. Vertical curbs and new sidewalks will be constructed in areas where rolled curbs currently exist. Drainage improvements will also be made in the project area. Two vehicle lanes of travel in each direction will remain after the project is completed.

Major project improvements will be completed in two phases:

Phase 1

Southbound Lynn Road - Hillcrest to Camino Manzanas (June 18 – Late August)

Northbound Lynn Road - Camino Manzanas to Arboles (June 18 – Mid September)

Phase 2

Southbound Lynn Road - Camino Manzanas to Arboles (Late August – Late November)

Northbound Lynn Road - Hillcrest to Camino Manzanas (Mid November – Late November)

Single-lane closures will be necessary to perform construction work throughout each phase of the project.

Additional information about the Lynn Road Bike Lanes Project, including funding sources, project background and history, construction timelines, lane closures, renderings, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found online at www.toaks.org/lynnroad.

Wendy Drive NB 101 Freeway On-Ramp Closure in Newbury Park for 6 Weeks

The northbound on-ramp along the 101 Freeway at Wendy Drive will be closed for up to six weeks beginning Thursday, March 28th to allow for the next phase of construction on the Wendy/101 Interchange Improvement Project. The onramp is expected to re-open in May.

Currently, the only bike and pedestrian access on the Wendy overpass is along the north side. To maintain a safe passage of travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, and the contractor, Caltrans and City staff agreed a six-week full on-ramp closure is needed. The closure will provide ample space for the contractor as well as pedestrians and bicyclists crossing.

During the six-week closure, motorists traveling south on Wendy Drive wishing to go northbound, will be directed southbound on the 101 Freeway to Borchard Road for the Borchard Road northbound 101 Freeway on-ramp. City staff has notified Caltrans, law enforcement, and emergency responders of the planned closure.

View of the Wendy overpass from down below (southbound 101 Wendy offramp).

Motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are requested to use caution when traveling though the construction zone for their own safety and the safety of construction workers, and allow extra time due to the temporary construction congestion.

The Wendy/101 Interchange Improvement Project is scheduled to be completed on-time in September 2013. To learn more about the project, view detour maps and road closures please visit www.toaks.org/wendy101.

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.

Posting Political Signs in City of Thousand Oaks for November 6, 2012 Election

September 22, 2012 marks the first day that political signs for the upcoming November 6, 2012 General Municipal Election can be posted in the City of Thousand Oaks. All political signs must be taken down no later than November 13, 2012. The term "political sign" refers to signs created prior to an election to advise or identify a candidate, campaign issue, election proposition, or other related matters.

The City asks that all candidates for public office, along with local residents and business or commercial property owners, comply with the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code for the placement of political signs.  The City seeks to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance, while providing sufficient opportunity to increase voter awareness.

The following rules and guidelines apply to the posting of political signage in the City:

a) signs may be no more than 12 square feet and no higher than 6 feet;

b) signs may not be placed on public property, including parks, open space areas, or freeway ramps;

c) signs may not block or interfere with pedestrian walkways or vehicle sight distance at driveways or intersections; and

d) signs may not be attached to traffic signs, traffic signal poles, street light poles, street trees or any other structure in the street right-of-way. 

For questions or complaints regarding signs placed in the public right-of-way, please contact the Municipal Service Center at (805) 449-2499 and press “0” for assistance.  For compliance related issues regarding political signs on private property, please contact Code Compliance at (805) 449-2300.

Complete information on political sign regulations can be found on the City's website at www.toaks.org/government/depts/city_clerk/elections/default.asp.

Simi Valley Youth Employment Service Offers No-Cost Assistance to Local Businesses

Businesses interested in hiring youth and young adults, ages 16 to 22, are encouraged to utilize the Simi Valley Youth Employment Service (YES). YES is a non-fee service provided by the City of Simi Valley to assist youth in finding employment, as well as, providing basic employment services for employers to assist with their recruitment needs.

Employers are invited to post their job openings directly at www.simivalley.org/YESJobPosting, or to call (805) 522-HIRE (4473). YES Staff will refer youth based on the employers’ hiring requisites and preferences. Postings will remain active until the positions are filled. To assist local businesses, YES also hosts the annual Job and Career Expo, provides assistance with local labor market information, and refers to employment-related resources.

Additionally, youth, ages 16 to 22 seeking employment are encouraged to call (805) 522-4473 to schedule a one-on-one job coaching appointment. On average, appointments last 30 to 45 minutes and include interview skill assessments, job search techniques, appropriate interview etiquette, workplace professionalism to help retain employment, and referrals to employers currently hiring.

To register with the Youth Employment Service, businesses and youth should contact Kristin Tignac, Youth Employment Service Coordinator, at (805) 522-4473.