City Appeals Planning Commission Vote Against Solar Panels at NP Library

Tonight the City Council will consider overturning a planning commission decision during a public hearing that begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Thousand Oaks Staff recommends the City overturn the planning commission's decision that did not allow parking lot renovations, landscaping modifications, stormwater quality control measures and the construction of a carport with solar power panels on its roof in front of the Newbury Park Library. The public is invited to speak or provide written comments so the council may consider their opinions.

Whizin Market Center Proposes New Signage to Planning Commission

The over 50-year-old Whizin Market Center is moving forward with proposed signage at the 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, Agoura Hills planning commission public hearing. If approved as recommended by the city, the signage change may happen early next year along with Phase I of a remodel of the inside atrium/arcade area approved in 2008. The signs include individual tenant signs that will be put on the outside of the building near the parking area. Plans for parking lot improvements were approved in September, but work has not begun. The hearing will be Agoura City Hall, 30001 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills. Anyone may speak on the agenda item after filling out a speaker card at the desk by the door and submitting the card to the recording secretary before that item is heard.

Thousand Oaks City Council Reorganization Meeting is Tuesday, December 7th

Each December, at the Thousand City Council Reorganization, City Councilmembers choose a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem for the coming year.  Scheduled for December 7, 2010, residents are welcome to attend the meeting and short reception that follows.

Cronies Sports Grill is Coming to Newbury Park Early Next Year!

Cronies Sports Grill will be opening a new location at 1620 Newbury Road, Newbury Park (in the Stagecoach Plaza where the post office and In N Out Burger are) sometime next February or March!

Cronies is celebrating 20 years in Ventura County next month. Its 3 current locations are in Camarillo, Ventura and Simi Valley.

While Cronies is best known for its icy cold 20 oz FROZEN beer schooners, they also have great burgers, sandwiches and salads. I've been to the Camarillo location probably over a hundred times. Always great, always friendly service. The beer here is truly outstanding. Usually a half schooner does it for me being the lightweight that I am.

Visit www.cronies.com for more information.

Planning Commission Approves New 35 Foot Tall Auto Mall Sign for Freeway

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission approved a 35-foot-tall sign with a LED color screen last night. The vote on the freeway sign was 3-2 with Commissioners Daryl Reynolds, Mark Lunn and Barry Fisher in favor of the sign and Tina Grumney and Al Adam voting against it. All the commissioners approved adding 364 new parking spaces, changes in landscaping and additional direction signs on surface streets.

The existing sign is 20 feet tall by 30 feet wide. The new sign will be 35 feet tall by 40 feet wide. The new sign will remain approximately 40 feet from the freeway, near the existing spot.

Stuft Pizza Becomes Draughts Restaurant & Bar in Thousand Oaks

Popular restaurant Stuft Pizza was recently renamed after operating in Thousand Oaks for over 10 years. It is now called Draughts Restaurant & Bar. Draught is an English term that means "serving of a drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg, as in "they served beer on draft."  I was erroneously pronouncing it is "draft" when in reality it sounds more like "drot." 

Otherwise the place is the same! 20 HDTVs, fresh pizzas, pastas, salads and a full bar featuring dozens of beers.

Visit their website at www.draughtsrestaurant.com or call call 805.777.7883. Draughts is located at 398 N. Moorpark Road, in the Best Buy Shopping Center next to Ross (and across the parking lot from Mimi's Cafe).

City Council Race Voter Update Keeps Gillette in Lead Over Adam

Separated by only 79 votes, Mayor Dennis Gillette is ahead of challenger Al Adam. The Ventura County Clerk's office must continue to count votes for at least another week. So, supporters for both sides will just have to continue to hold their breaths. Earlier the two were 57 votes apart.

Firefighters to Run in Memory of Young Fire Crew Member Bryan Banister

Firefighters will be taking to the streets tomorrow for the Bryan Banister Marathon in memory of one of their own who died last year after being struck by an SUV. Those participating will be running 26 miles or a half marathon of 13 miles beginning at the top of Wendy Park at the Sycamore Canyon Trail head. Or some will just come to the barbecue at noon at the finish line at Russell Park in Westlake Village where Bryan Banister's Memorial Tree is planted near Fire Station 31.

Bryan was 23 when he was killed while putting fuel in his pick-up truck on the shoulder of the I-5 Freeway on Nov. 10, 2009. He and a good Samaritan who was helping him died instantly when they both were struck by the SUV.