City of Thousand Oaks Adopts Drought Action Plan to Conserve Water

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Per the State of California issued mandates, Thousand Oaks must reduce water consumption citywide by an average of 32%. In response, the Thousand Oaks City Council has adopted a comprehensive Drought Action Plan and declared a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage with a series of water conservation measures which impact residents, businesses, City operations and other local agencies.

Community Measures:

  • Outside irrigation is now limited to 2 days a week for no more than 15 minutes per station per day
  • Outdoor irrigation prohibited between 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Watering is prohibited during or 48 hours after rainfall

City Measures:

  • Removal of over 916,000 square feet of turf in street medians
  • Removal of non-essential turf at all City facilities
  • Establishment of new watering systems to provide water to trees in the medians
  • Emptying of The Civic Arts Plaza fountain 

Enforcement of the new requirements will be focused on voluntary compliance through education, but fines of up to $500 per occurrence are possible for repeat offenders. A host of water conservation information, rebates and resources can be found at www.toaks.org/savewater. A water hotline is available to report water waste and to request a free in-home water conservation consultation at (805) 375-5747.

New Splash Pad and Picnic Shelters at Rancho Tapo Community Park

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A new and improved splash pad was set to premier on Friday, May 22nd BUT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO NEXT WEEK at Rancho Tapo Community Park in Simi Valley. The new splash pad is 55% larger, has a water treatment and recycling system and had three different play areas! Yay!

VC Star Reports That Wagon Wheel Bowl in Oxnard to Close This Month

The Ventura County Star reported yesterday that the Wagon Wheel Bowl is set to close at the end of this month. Built in 1953, the Wagon Wheel Bowl was designed by Arthur Froehlich, who also designed Hollywood Park Racetrack and Hanna Barbera Studios in 1962.

We just so happen to have stopped by recently. A blast to the past this place is...soon to be was. As much as the Wagon Wheel is in need of upgrade, we are vary sad to see it go.

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You don't see many of these scoring devices in more modern bowling alleys.My bowling shoes had quite a worn in feel at the Wagon Wheel Bowl...

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures February 2015 to Mid-May 2015

The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division protect public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following closures were noted in February 2015 through mid-May 2015. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

May 2015

Spring Garden, 1795 South Victoria Avenue #101-A, Ventura;

Cockroach infestation; unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 05/14/15; Date reopened - 05/15/15

Simi Valley High School Football/Gymnasium Snack Bar,
5400 E. Cochran St., Simi Valley;
Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 05/12/15; no reopen date

Peking Inn, 330 N. Lantana St. # 31, Camarillo;

Serious and repeated violations, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement;

Date closed - 05/11/15; No reopen date

New Flavor Chinese Restaurant, 2950 Johnson Dr #134, Ventura;

No permit to operate; no plans submitted for review and approval;

Date closed - 05/05/15; No reopen date

April 2015

El Asadero, 920 N. Ventura Avenue, Ventura;

Unsanitary conditions; Unsafe temperatures of potentially hazardous foods;

Date closed - 04/29/15; Date reopened - 04/30/15

Carniceria Mexicana El Rio, 2651 Vineyard Ave, Oxnard;

Cockroach infestation; rodent infestation; inoperable warewashing sink; unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 04/29/15; Date reopened - 04/30/15

Gladstone Donuts, 664 Lindero Canyon Road, Oak Park;

Cockroach infestation; unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 04/28/15; Date reopened - 05/01/15

The Vitamin Shoppe, 4860 Telephone Road, Ventura;

No toilet facilties available for employees; no water available at facility;

Date closed - 04/27/15; Date reopened 04/28/15

Top Of The Hill, 530 Ventura Avenue, Oak View;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 04/15/15; Date reopened - 04/22/15

Namaste Spiceland, 2707 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 04/14/15; Date reopened - 04/15/15

La Gloria Market (Independent Food Preparation Area), 430 S. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard;

Inoperable plumbing;

Date closed - 04/13/15; Date reopened - 04/13/15

Lupita's Restaurant, 616 Cooper Road, Oxnard;

Rodent and cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 04/07/15;Date reopened - 04/08/15

Atlas Food Lic. 5K19784, 921 Richmond Avenue, Oxnard;

No approved commissary;

Date closed - 04/01/15; No reopen date

Atlas Food Lic. 6P52618, 921 Richmond Avenue, Oxnard;

No approved commissary;

Date closed - 04/01/15; Date reopened - 04/14/15

March 2015

Shanghai Beer Garden, 34 N. Palm Street, Ventura;

Unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 03/30/15; Date reopened - 04/03/15

Exotic Thai Bistro, 1555 Simi Town Center Way, #770, Simi Valley;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 03/23/15; Date reopened - 03/24/15

Yogurtland, 111 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks;

Inoperable refrigeration resulting in unsafe food temperatures;

Date closed - 03/20/15; Date reopened - 03/20/15

Pavilions, 2938 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley;

no toilet facilities;

Date closed - 03/17/15; Date reopened - 03/18/15

Del Taco, 4393 Main Street, Ventura;

Inoperable equipment; unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 03/12/15; Date reopened - 03/13/15

La Placita Restaurant, 305 W. Sixth Street, Oxnard;

Inoperable equipment; cockroach infestation; unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 03/10/15; Date reopened - 03/11/15

Yolie's Mex Grill, 26 South Garden Street, Ventura;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 03/09/15; Date reopened - 03/12/15

Maria's Kitchen Lic. 4JK1290, 2557 Cortez St. Oxnard;

No approved commissary;

Date closed - 03/02/15; Date reopened - 03/19/15

Hot Dog Factory MSU, 921 Richmond Ave., Oxnard;

No approved commissary;

Date closed - 03/02/15; Change of ownerhip

February 2015

3 Steps to Success,  129 Dean Dr. Santa Paula;

Inoperable plumbing, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/27/15; Date reopened - 02/27/15

Corrigan's Irish Pub, 75 E. High Street, Moorpark;

Inadequate supply of hot water for hand washing and untensil washing, cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/26/15; Date reopened - 02/27/15

Mia's Place, 1129 Petit Avenue, Ventura;

Serious and repeated violations, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement;

Date closed - 02/25/15; Date reopened - 02/26/15

Mupu Grill, 930 E. Main Street, Santa Paula;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/24/15; Date reopened - 02/26/15

Mc Donalds, 138 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula;

Sewage overflowing inside the facility, inoperable employee restroom;

Date closed - 02/24/15; Date reopened - 02/24/15

Dona Rosa's Mexican Food, 2801 Wagon Wheel Road, Oxnard;

Serious and repeated violations of Health & Safety Code;

Date closed - 02/23/15; Date reopened - 03/04/15

Montezuma Restaurant, 112 Stroube Street, Oxnard;

Rodent infestation, inoperable warewashing sink, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/18/15; Date reopened - 02/20/15

El Rey Cantina, 2302 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/18/15; Date reopened - 02/19/15

Wendy's, 2551 Vineyard Avenue, Oxnard;

Inoperable warewashing sink;

Date closed - 02/12/15; Date reopened - 02/12/15

Mercado Numero Uno, 1616 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 02/10/15; Date reopened - 02/13/15

Tacos El Monoraca (Lic. 4LN2781), 2958 Sturgis Rd. Oxnard;

No approved commissary;

Date closed - 02/09/15; Date reopened - 03/20/15

7- Regiones Restaurante (Lic. 1W18274), 2958 Sturgis Rd. Oxnard;

No approved commissary;

Date closed - 02/09/15; Date reopened - 02/23/15

Las Sirenas, 2091 N. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard;

No valid health permit;

Date closed - 02/04/15; Date reopened - 02/04/15

El Dorado Mexican Restaurant, 601 S. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard;

No hot water available for utensil washing or hand washing;

Date closed - 02/02/15; Date reopened - 02/03/15

The Tower Club, 300 E. Esplanade Drive #1680, Oxnard;

Inoperable hand wash sink in food preparation area;

Date closed - 02/02/15; Date reopened - 02/02/15

The Melt Will Be Opening at The Promenade at Westlake in Spring 2015

And another update...The Melt Westlake Village closed its doors in December 2015.

Update: Official grand opening date is Monday, May 18th.

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The Melt will be opening this spring at The Promenade at Westlake, in the former home of Pick Up Stix (which in turn is in process of opening a new location at the Shoppes at Westlake).

The Melt is a fast casual eatery that "combines chef-inspired, all-natural, wholesome food with innovative online ordering technology in an eco-friendly environment."

The company is headquartered in San Francisco and has expanded to 11 locations in California, including Burbank. The menu includes burger melts, chicken melts, grilled cheese melts, mac & cheese, soups, salads and more.

If you take a look at their menu at www.themelt.com, you'll see an interesting, customizable menu concept which gives you plenty of options. For example, the "Italian Job" grilled cheese melt comes with fontina and provolone and mushrooms on spicy garlic bread for $4.95. You can add charred jalapeno, fresh tomato and grilled onions for no charge. For an additional $1.50, you can add bacon or spinach. Add another $2.95 for Caesar salad on the side.

Four Seasons Westlake Village to Open Stir Coffee Bar and Gourmet Eatery

UPDATE 5/19/15: Stir will be opening to the public this afternoon.

Last week, the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village announced that Stir Coffee Bar and Gourmet Eatery will be opening in the Hotel's lobby sometime this month.

Stir will feature "grab and go" style dining options and will serve artesianal Stumptown Coffee. Executive Chef Jesse Hansen and Pastry Chef David Couch are creating a selection of housemade menu items for the eatery.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a Portland based coffee roaster, sourcing the highest quality coffee beans from throughout the world. Stumptown fosters a direct relationship with coffee farmers, ensuring quality and fair prices, and allowing Stumptown to provide input in the coffee bean growing and harvesting process. Stir will be the first Four Seasons partnership with Stumptown and will feature Stumptown’s signature and seasonal coffee blends, along with the brand’s acclaimed cold brew coffee.

Stir will transform the Hotel’s lobby with a bright and airy design, complete with coffee bar, bistro tables, indoor and outdoor seating, retail shop, and central self-serve “smart coffee” display. One of the first to implement this technology, Stir will serve a barista-less custom coffee experience where guests will order and pay for their drinks from their smartphones. Is that cool or what?

Menu items at Stir will include a selection of fresh baked pastries such as the Westlake citrus marmalade scone with orange glaze, gluten-free chocolate chip muffin, and zucchini walnut bread to compliment the variety of coffee drinks. The fast casual dining outlet will also serve a variety of gourmet bites on-the-go including panini sandwiches, seasonal fruit parfaits, and salads such as the EVOO salmon salad with baby kale, blueberries, spiced sunflower seeds and avocado vinaigrette, and the veggie protein salad with grilled marinated tofu, edamame, purple spinach, quinoa and green harissa vinaigrette. Pressed juice, housemade gelato, chocolate confections and energy bars round out the menu.

To learn more, visit www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/dining/lounges/stir.

EMC Seafood and Raw Bar to Open at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard

Update: No update other than EMC still indicates this location is "coming soon." Hmm.

EMC Seafood and Raw Bar opened in Koreatown in 2013, serving up fresh seafood, oysters, live uni and more. The Collection at RiverPark announced that EMC will be opening sometime this year. It will be located behind Maria's Italian Kitchen and across from H&M. EMC is also planning to open a Canoga Park location by this summer. www.emcseafood.com

 

 

VC Star Reports That Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in Oxnard Has Closed

Just 11 months after opening its doors, the Ventura County Star reported tonight that Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard has closed its doors. This was confirmed by checking the Toby Keith's website at tobykeithusa.com, where there were no signs of an Oxnard location.