Ventura County School Districts Announce Closures Due to Coronavirus

Ventura County School Districts Announce Closures Due to Coronavirus

Closures to Begin Monday, March 16

After careful consideration and consultation with Ventura County Public Health, all school districts in Ventura County have decided to close their schools for a limited period in response to the coronavirus. For most school districts, the closures will begin Monday, March 16 and continue through Friday, March 20. Some districts have announced longer closures. The Moorpark Unified School District and the Simi Valley Unified School District will be closed from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. The Ventura Unified School District will be closed from Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 10. Districts will decide whether to extend their closures based on the developing circumstances with the spread of the virus. For details on each districts’ plans, please visit their websites. A list of school district websites is available at this link.

The move to close schools countywide comes after Ventura County Public Health declared a local health emergency, which will provide additional resources for coronavirus response. “The decision to close schools is never any easy one,” said Stan Mantooth, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “We are all devoted to the education of our children, but in this case, the health and safety of the community has to take top priority.” The closures are in support of the recommendations from public health officials to encourage “social distancing” to slow the spread of the virus. It is strongly recommended that students stay home during the closures as much as possible and do not gather in public places.

We understand that school closures have significant impacts on our students, families and employees, and we hope to resume normal operations as soon as possible. For the latest updates on how schools are responding to the coronavirus, please visit the coronavirus information page on the VCOE website at www.vcoe.org/coronavirus.

About the Ventura County Office of Education

The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.

City of Thousand Oaks Declares State of Emergency

At the City of Thousand Oaks, the health and safety of our residents are paramount. It is with careful thought and planning that the City has declared a formal state of emergency. This declaration allows critical services and operations to continue while enacting social distancing measures and the closures of non-essential city facilities. This declaration does not relate to any possible illness inside the City limits, it is simply a tool to help slow the spread of disease.

At this time, the Bank of America Performing Arts Center will close through the end of March. If you are a ticketholder for a show during this time, please check your email for updates regarding rescheduling of specific performances. Our box office staff will be working tirelessly to ensure all ticketholders are cared for, and patience is appreciated as staff navigates this unprecedented event in the venue's history.

Additionally, both Thousand Oaks libraries will be closed to the public during this time. However, our libraries offer a robust collection of materials online and will be adding additional resources for children, teens and adults. There will be a unique telephone reference service offered from 9 am to 5 pm daily. During this closure, late fines will be waived as well as DVD rental fees. Patrons will be able to utilize the Virtual Library services through the web and register for a library card online. Services are subject to change during this time, so please visit www.tolibrary.org for the most up-to-date information.

City Hall will be offering regular services at this point, however, there may be some instances of prolonged wait times on permits and other document requests due to modified staffing configurations. Hours and service delivery is subject to change as circumstances are evolving. Please visit our website for a menu of virtual services and updates on hours and operations at www.toaks.org.

As the current public health situation evolves, we encourage everyone to continue practicing the CDC guidelines for health and safety during flu season which include washing your hands regularly for 20 seconds and staying home if you feel sick. For the latest updates on the situation in Ventura County, please visit www.vcemergency.com.

Ventura County Community College District Announces Move to Virtual Classes

Chancellor Greg Gillespie has announced that after monitoring the status of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic daily and consulting with and reviewing information from local, regional, state, and federal health agencies, Moorpark, Oxnard, Ventura colleges and Ventura College – East Campus will begin transitioning to virtual and alternative instruction for lecture classes beginning the week of March 16 through March 20. Following the week-long transition, lecture classes will move to virtual and alternative instruction beginning March 23. Student services on campuses and other support resources—such as libraries, computer labs, food pantries and admissions and records—will continue to be open and available to students.

“We are initiating the changes to our classes out of an abundance of caution,” said Gillespie, who noted that there are currently no cases of COVID-19 at any VCCCD campus. “We value our students, classified staff and faculty and want to support everyone in their educational and work efforts by maintaining a healthy and safe environment.”

“We made the decision after thorough consultation with Ventura County Public Health, our educational partners in the community, the State Chancellor’s Office, and our academic, classified, and student leadership,” added Board Chair Bernardo M. Perez. “Moving to virtual instruction enables our colleges to continue meeting the educational needs of our students and our community, while implementing a proactive approach that addresses concerns about everyone’s health and well-being.”

Courses that do not readily fit into a virtual format—especially in career education areas and other specialized disciplines—will be excluded from the requirement. At this time, laboratory classes, performing arts courses and activity courses (physical education/kinesiology) will continue as scheduled while implementing social distancing practices. Online courses and dual enrollment classes in the high schools will both continue as usual.

Virtual instruction will continue until April 6, which is VCCCD’s Spring Break. Classes are expected to resume April 13 and continue through the end of the semester. Due to the ever-evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the district will continue ongoing assessment regarding student instruction.

Effective March 16 through April 13, all public events and other activities expected to draw 250 or more people to any VCCCD campus will be postponed, modified, or canceled. This is in accordance with the latest guidelines from California Department of Public Health on events and gatherings, which recommends increasing social distancing and limiting large events. The decision regarding canceling, modifying or postponing graduation ceremonies for the colleges will be made at a later date.

All interested community members are encouraged to visit VCCCD Alerts for comprehensive campus information and latest updates.

About Ventura County Community College District

The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 115-campus California Community College system, and serves more than 32,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges—Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura—offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit vcccd.edu and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

CSU Channel Islands to Transition to Virtual Instruction Due to COVID-19 Concerns

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has announced that it will begin to transition to virtual instruction following its spring break. The campus continues to remain safe and there are zero presumptive and no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on or related to CSUCI.

A message was sent to the campus community indicating that out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with Ventura County Public Health, local educational partners, the Chancellor’s Office, and the academic and student leadership, CSUCI would begin to transition to virtual instruction.

CSUCI will remain open during every phase of these planning efforts and students will continue to be welcomed on the campus for all student services including student housing, dining services, Student Health Services, CAPS, Career Services, Academic Advising, services within the Broome Library, Enrollment Center, as well as all other services across campus.

In order to provide time for faculty and the University to make this significant shift, instructors who are prepared and willing to teach virtually are encouraged to begin voluntary virtual instruction for all in-person classes beginning Friday, March 13 and continue through Friday, March 20. Faculty will notify students directly how classes will be adjusted during this specific time period.

Following spring break, all in-person classes will be suspended Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3 in order to allow faculty additional time to prepare for virtual instruction. The campus will be closed Tuesday, March 31 for the Cesar Chavez holiday.

Mandatory virtual instruction will begin Monday, April 6 and continue through May 1, at which time CSUCI will reassess whether virtual instruction will continue for the remainder of the spring semester.

CSUCI will continue to monitor any spread of COVID-19 in the local community and issue additional notices to the campus community as necessary. Information is available and will also be regularly updated on the University’s website at: go.csuci.edu/covid19.

Timeline Summary

· March 13-20: Voluntary, but encouraged virtual instruction begins

· March 23-29: Spring Break

· March 30, April 1-3: Classes suspended in order for faculty to adjust and prepare classes

· March 31: Campus closed for Cesar Chavez Holiday

· April 6: Mandatory virtual instruction begins through May 1.

Thousand Oaks Thursday Certified Farmers' Market to Move to Northwest Side of The Oaks Mall

The Thousand Oaks Certified Farmers’ Market held at the Oaks Shopping Center will soon have a new location. The market, operated by the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA), will move from its soon to be former site at the East End Parking Lot on Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard to the Front Northwest Outdoor Lot, immediately adjacent to the Oaks Parking Structure, and across from the Macy’s Women Store.

The move will take place on Thursday, March 26 and the market hours will be from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The relocation is a result of new construction moving into the East End Parking Lot that has been the market’s home for over 20 years. Last year, an attempt was made to move the market into the front food court area, however, the market was too large to fit into the delivery lane and disrupted the traffic patterns in the area. This time, the market will fit directly into the Northwest Parking Lot and provide a safe and secure location for shoppers and farmers alike.

“We are looking forward to moving into a new market area for our customers,” stated Karen Schott, Operations Manager for the VCCFMA. “Shoppers will have access to ample parking within the parking structure and the nearby lower level parking lots, allowing for easier access to the market,” continued Schott. “In addition, we hope to introduce the market to a new audience with exposure to the Parking Structure, Children’s Area and Food Court,” she added.

For more information, call 805-529-6266, or visit the website at www.vccfm.com.

The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room Thousand Oaks Has Closed Its Kegs

No more Dudes at Janss Marketplace. The Dudes' Brewing Co. Tasting Room that originally opened in July 2016 has closed its kegs and its doors. I enjoyed The Dudes’ from time to time. Sorry to see them leave.

According to The Dudes’ Brewing Company Management Team:

After another year of remarkable growth, the national award-winning THE DUDES’® BREWING COMPANY has announced the expansion of two groundbreaking 13,000+ square foot “Beervana” super locations in Hollywood and Anaheim!

In an effort to best streamline the company’s efforts moving forward, The Dudes’® will be closing two of their existing locations in Huntington Beach and Thousand Oaks effective immediately.

“We greatly enjoyed our last three years in both Huntington Beach and Thousand Oaks and are so very proud of what we’ve done and of our incredible and loyal fans and staff,” said The Dudes’® owner Toby Humes. “At this time however, we felt it important to refocus the direction of the company and move from the suburban environments to more urban environments.”

The existing The Dudes’® Brewing Company locations in Santa Monica, Santa Clarita and Torrance will remain in operation. Resources from the closing locations will be reallocated to the new restaurants while both locations are currently searching externally to fill the many needed positions in both Hollywood as well as Anaheim.

Interested parties are encouraged to view the latest openings listed on The Dudes’® website: https://thedudesbrew.com/work-for-us

“We are still very much continuing to grow as a company. Concentrating our focus and energies to our bigger restaurant locations is the next step in our growth,” said VP of Marketing Sean Fanton. “ Our amazing new 13,000 square foot Hollywood location is weeks away from opening with Anaheim scheduled to launch Quarter 2 of this year.”

The new Hollywood location is conveniently located amidst the perennially foot-trafficked Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard at Cherokee Ave and will feature the only brewery tap room in Hollywood. Equipped with 90 taps of cold, freshly-brewed beer, the restaurant is scheduled to officially open in mid-March with Anaheim’s unveiling in the second quarter of 2020.

“People from all over the world flock to Hollywood,” Fanton continued. “In terms of convenience and foot traffic, our newest location on Hollywood Boulevard is second to none.”

Featuring a rustic industrial decor, a state of the art scratch kitchen and three bars - each with 30 flowing taps - the Hollywood location will serve as a destination for beer lovers everywhere as it will feature the only outdoor deck on Hollywood Boulevard. The new location will also offer a professionally curated wine selection.

The Hollywood and Anaheim locations will mark the newest restaurants for the family-owned and operated The Dudes’® Brewing Company. Other locations include Santa Monica, Santa Clarita and their flagship location in Torrance. In 2019, The Dudes won two category awards at the Great American Beer Festival®, taking home medals for their Los Dudes Cerveza Lager Mexicana and Grandma’s Pecan Brown. The newest location will feature the award winners as well as other customer favorites like their CalifornIPA®, JuiceBox Series®: Peach Sour and Double Trunk® DIPA.

The aforementioned award-winners can be found on tap at all The Dudes’® Brewing locations and also available for take-home enjoyment in canned four-packs. If you are in California, Reno or Las Vegas you can get these beers delivered straight to your doorstep via our online store. Check out www.thedudesbrew.com for additional details on ordering as well as information on applying for positions in either Hollywood or Anaheim.

Meanwhile, expect Pedals & Pints Brewing Company at The Oaks Mall to be opening real soon. The recently started their on-site brewing processes.

Quik & Ezy Market in Camarillo Recently Closed

I drove by Quik & Ezy at 2071 Ventura Boulevard in Camarillo a million times, but never stopped by. I loved the name. Quite an efficient use of space. No need for the c in Quick and no need for the a in Easy.

Quik & Ezy was a drive through market, which brought me back to my childhood.. I remember my parents stopping by either an Alta Dena or a Jerseymaid drive through to pick up milk and eggs and the like on the way home. Quite the convenience.

Given the popularity of Starbucks drive-thrus and fast food drive-thrus, you would think there would still be a demand for drive-through markets. But I don’t see them anymore.

What originally resided at this Quik & Ezy? That I don’t know, but if I had to guess, perhaps it was a Foster’s Freeze. That’s what it looks like to me.

Funburger Opened in Simi Valley in April 2019

Yes, we’re a bit late on this one, about 10 months late, but better late than never.

Funburger opened at 2490 Sycamore Drive in Simi Valley in April 2019, soon after Hook Burger, which was located here since September 2015, decided to close its doors .

Funburger’s menu is full of fun - Beef Fun Original (6oz patty), Beef Fun Chipotle, Beef Fun BBQ, Beef Cali Fun, Beef Fun Double, Onion Deluxe Fun, Chickfun Spicy, Chickfun Original, Chickfun Chipotle, Tuna Fun (Grilled), Veggie Fun (Grilled), Shrimp Fun (Fried), Falafel Fun (Fried), Fun Salad, Fun Fries, etc. Some interesting looking items on the menu, like Avocado Fries, Cauliflower Fries, Mushroom Fries and String Bean Fries.

Funburger is neighbors with Chick-fil-A, which opened on February 21, 2019.

Learn more at www.funburgergrill.com.

Hobby Lobby Coming to Former Walmart Location in Simi Valley (Opened October 2, 2020)

UPDATE: Hobby Lobby Simi Valley opened its 60th California location at Cochran Street and Sycamore Drive in Simi Valley on October 2nd. The 53,000 square foot facility is open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.hobbylobby.com/stores/search/933?lat=34.2694474&long=-118.781482

Don’t know the timing yet, but Hobby Lobby will be opening at some point in the former Walmart space at 2801 Cochran Street in Simi Valley. Hobby Lobby will be occupying two-thirds of the building, with Planet Fitness occupying the other third.

Walmart opened in January 2013 and closed in mid-2018. prior to that it was a Mervyns.

www.hobbylobby.com