The Bamboo Room is Opening at The Shoppes at Westlake Village on Thursday, June 10th

The Bamboo Room is opening its doors at 8pm tomorrow at The Shoppes at Westlake Village, next to 101 North. The Bamboo Room is an indoor/outdoor craft cocktail lounge and private event space where you can reserve a table for bottle service or walk in on a first come, first serve basis. They also plan to offer live music. More information at www.bambooroomwlv.com.

Bamboo Room will be open weekly Thursday-Sunday from 8 p.m. to close. Bamboo Room’s wide range of signature cocktails include, but are not limited to, craft cocktails, beer, sake, wine and bottle service.

Sweetgreen is Opening August 31st at The Promenade at Westlake in Westlake Village

UPDATE: Sweetgreen is opening to the public on Tuesday, August 31st.

sweetgreen is coming soon to The Promenade at Westlake here in the Conejo Valley. I believe it will be located in the space formerly occupied by Lemonade.

sweetgreen is a fast casual eatery that serves salads and grain bowls. Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka recently became an investor in sweetgreen and has a bowl named after her that includes warm quinoa, baby spinach, cilantro, tomato, tortilla chips, raw carrots, avocado, goat cheese, blackened chicken, lime cilantro jalapeno vinaigrette and sweetgreen hot sauce.

sweetgreen currently has 121 locations, including Studio City, Brentwood, Santa Monica and Century City.

Learn more at www.sweetgreen.com.

National Park Service Discovers Bobcat Kittens in Oak Tree Cavity

Bobcat Kittens Found in Oak Tree Cavity

Scientists Believe the Unusual Den Location is the Result of the Effects of the Woolsey Fire

A bobcat captured and collared more than a year after the Woolsey Fire gave birth to three kittens recently - B-379, B-380, and B-381, according to the National Park Service.

Using VHF radiotelemetry and GPS points from the mother’s (B-370) collar, National Park Service biologists located the female bobcat in a cavity of a large oak tree on April 15, 2021. She was in an area that was intensely burned during the Woolsey Fire that swept through Calabasas and other areas in the Santa Monica Mountains in November 2018.

Since 1996, biologists at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) have been studying the ecology and conservation of bobcats in and around the park to learn more about how they persist in an urban landscape.

Last month, biologists suspected that B-370 was “denning” because she repeatedly returned to the same spot, an indication that a female has likely given birth. However, when they arrived on-site, they had trouble locating the den because it wasn’t in a typical location.

“I swear she’s in this tree, but I can’t find her,” biologist Joanne Moriarty recalls saying into her hand-held radio to another biologist nearby. “Then I look up into this little tiny hole in the tree, and her face is just poking out at me. Of course, she’s been staring at me the whole time. I just happened to be in the right spot.”

On this occasion, Moriarty used a remote camera held on an extension pole to peek into the tree to confirm the presence of a bobcat and three kittens. The biologists then left the area and returned the following day while the mother was away from her den, presumably hunting.

Using a ladder, biologists captured the kittens, one by one, and brought them down safely. The kittens were weighed, measured, and given a general health check by researchers. They were also ear-tagged for the purpose of future identification before being returned to their tree cavity home.

Moriarty has been studying bobcats in the area for 17 years, and she says what is striking about this den is its location. Dens are often in hollow areas found in thick brush, specifically in chaparral or coastal sage scrub vegetation. The second most common location for bobcat dens is in woodrat nests, the large piles of sticks and leaves that woodrats build and live in for generations. Denning in a tree is unusual, she said.

Scientists believe the bobcat used the tree cavity as a den because much of the existing natural habitat in the surrounding area was destroyed after the Woolsey Fire. Very little vegetation has grown since the devastating fire destroyed close to half of the natural area in the Santa Monica Mountains and about 2/3 of the natural habitat in the Simi Hills.

B-370 was initially captured in the Simi Hills. When captured, biologists noted that she appeared to have nursed in the past. They took hair and tissue samples and fitted her with a radio collar so her movements could be tracked. She was then released.

An average bobcat litter size is two to three kittens. The sex ratio overall in litters are generally split, 50/50 male and female. B-370’s litter had one female and two males. These kittens weighed in at 500-600kg, and they were about 30 days old.

Bobcat kittens typically stay in the natal den for four to five weeks, then the family will move on to other dens that they use for shorter periods. Researchers are not sure why they do this, but they speculate that it’s likely an anti-predator behavior. The mother will typically also keep them in dens until they are 12 weeks of age, and then at that point, they will follow her as she hunts and goes about her day.

The mother cares for the kittens, in general, until they are nine to 11 months of age. They then slowly become independent, but they will still occasionally check in with her every so often.

Between October and February, researchers generally employ from 6 to 12 traps to monitor the population by capturing, tagging, and radio-collaring animals. Trapping ceases in late winter because female bobcats give birth in early spring and care for their young.

The bobcat trapping season ended earlier this year, in February, with three new bobcats captured. B-370 lives in the southeast end of the Simi Hills, and biologists are also tracking a bobcat (B373) in the Santa Clarita area as part of a project evaluating the effects of the 5 Freeway.

To learn more about the bobcat study, visit www.nps.gov/samo/learn/nature/bobcats.htm.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.

Farmers' Market at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard to Open Every Saturday Starting June 19th

Beginning on June 19th, The Collection at RiverPark will be hosting a farmers’ market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in partnership with California Certified Farmers Market and Raw Inspiration. Presented by Community Memorial Health System, the farmer’s market will be located on Collection Boulevard across from The Annex Food Hall.

On opening day, June 19, The Collection will kick off the farmers market with fun festivities for all ages, including live music, arts and crafts, photo opportunities and more.

The farmers market will be open weekly, rain or shine.

thecollectionrp.com/connect/events/detail/325/farmers-market

Ventura County Library Welcomes the Public Back Into Buildings

Since April 7, 2021, the Ventura County Library System libraries, including libraries in the cities of Ojai, Ventura, Port Hueneme, and Fillmore, have welcomed the public back for limited indoor services including browsing and checkout of collections and computer use. Customers have up to 50 minutes per day to conduct activities in the library.

Since summer of 2020, customers have also been able to place holds for library materials online and pick them up when ready just outside the front doors of the libraries. Throughout the pandemic, the library system has worked closely with public health officials and within state guidelines for libraries to provide safe library services and programs.

The safety of customers and staff remain the first priority and customers may notice enhanced safety measures when they come back to the library, such as plexiglass barriers at service desks, availability of hand sanitizer, and socially distanced computer workstations. The library has covered additional costs throughout the pandemic associated with paying janitorial crews for more often and extra deep cleaning measures and upgraded filters on HVAC systems. The library continues to provide numerous online programs and resources, but also has plans to implement some in-person programs again as early as this summer. When the state reopens, public seating and tables will be made available again for study and reading, and time limits for library use per day eliminated.

At the Ventura County Library System, 42% of library employees were redeployed over the course of the pandemic to serve as Disaster Services Workers for other county agencies, performing tasks such as delivering meals to seniors, contact tracing and working at vaccination clinics. During the pandemic, several customer service modifications were made, some of which the library is planning to continue after the pandemic because they were so successful, such as offering live online tutoring for students in both English and Spanish, chat reference services, virtual STEAM and Storytime programs, and enhanced ebook collections. For a seven-month period in the past year, over 2,000 students received live tutoring online through the library. Over 25,000 people received virtual library cards online to access ebooks and databases, including many students accessing these resources for schoolwork. And from July 2020 to April 2021 an average of 15,600 items were checked out from the libraries per month. Ebook usage increased 75% over the past year, and eaudiobook usage increased 25%. From March 2020 to April 2021, staff produced 621 live Storytime programs on Facebook which had 70,044 unique views. In partnership with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, the Mobile Library delivered Face Mask Kits, containing face masks for children and adults, hand sanitizer and information for older family members, to some of the hardest hit areas of the county. In September 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved the library to go permanently fine free for overdue library materials, meaning there are no overdue fines that could prevent people from using the library. This positive change removes barriers to library services for some of the most vulnerable populations who need library services the most.

The Ventura County Library continues to partner with other agencies and non-profits to share resources and implement impactful programs designed specifically to meet the needs of people in Ventura County. Acknowledging that basic needs must be met before people can participate in lifelong learning and education, many of these partnerships focus on addressing the mental and physical well-being of community members in addition to providing library and literacy services. Other partnerships address the need for access to technology and digital literacy. For example, the library will soon implement Parent and Child Together classes in collaboration with First 5 of Ventura County to address the social and emotional needs of children and their parents and develop early literacy skills; and, a program to provide technology and workforce training through the Mobile Library in partnership with the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County and America’s Job Center of Oxnard. The library is also working with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging to loan computers to seniors across the county to address social isolation and access to health information. And, in summer 2021 the Avenue Library will host the Lunch at the Library program to meet the nutritional needs of children who are out of school for the summer, along with the annual Summer Reading program to address literacy.

To find out more about the Ventura County Library, please visit us online at www.vencolibrary.org.

Le Pain Quotidien at The Commons at Calabasas Has Closed Its Doors

Le Pain Quotidien at The Commons at Calabasas recently closed its doors. That leaves the Westlake Village location at 2728 Townsgate Road the sold remaining Le Pain west of Woodland Hills.

Reagan Museum to Re-Open to the Public After 14 Month Closure on May 26, 2021

RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

SET TO RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

LIBRARY TO RE-OPEN ON MAY 26, 2021

AFTER 14 MONTHS OF CLOSURE

MEMBER DAY AND 1ST RESPONDERS’ DAY ALSO ANNOUNCED

Today, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute announced that after being closed for 14 months due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Reagan Museum will finally reopen its doors to the public on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

When the Reagan Museum reopens on May 26, it will begin by operating Wednesday through Sunday each week (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). The Museum WILL BE OPEN ON MONDAY, MAY 31 FOR MEMORIAL DAY.

To help ensure social distancing guidelines, it is recommended that guests pre-purchase their tickets in advance at www.ReaganLibrary.com/Tickets. No additional service fees will be added.

Due to the new CDC guidelines issued May 14, 2021, guests that are fully vaccinated do NOT need to wear masks (according to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second shot in a 2-dose series, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine).

New at the Reagan Library since it was last open:

The Reagan Library’s indoor restaurant has been completely remodeled and expanded, making it more spacious inside with more options on how and where to order.

The Reagan Library’s outdoor terrace, adjacent to the café and Museum Store has been completely remodeled to create an all-outdoor seating experience, complete with chairs, couches, tables and umbrellas.

A new Abrams M1 Main Battle Tank has been added to the Museum’s outdoor Peace Through Strength Pavilion.

The Museum store has been redesigned to allow for more social distancing.

The frequency of air filter replacement and HVAC system cleaning has been increased and fresh air exchange is now maximized across the campus. The Reagan Museum is by far the largest museum in the Presidential Library System providing ample room for safe distances between visitors. The Reagan Library also has some of the highest air movement and filtration available. According to researchers at the Berlin Institute of Technology, the risk of COVID19 transmission is far lower in museums than any other indoor activity.

In-person events sponsored by the Reagan Foundation & Institute and facility rental events have resumed, including events for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and July 4th, as well as speaker events including events former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on May 27, 2021, former Vice President Mike Pence on June 24, 2021, and former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on July 26, 2021. More information on these events and more can be found at www.ReaganFoundation.org/Events.

MEMBER DAY:

On May 22, 2021, four days before the Museum reopens to the public, all Reagan Library members are welcome to visit the Reagan Library and tour the galleries. Lapsed members are also welcome to come to the Library, re-enroll, and then spend the day in the galleries.

Given the enthusiasm of the general public who have contacted the Reagan Library inquiring about its re-opening date, members are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance at https://reagan.systemtickets.org/members-only-2021

1ST RESPONDERS’ DAY:

To thank all the 1st Responders and Health Care Workers who have worked tirelessly over the past 14 months keeping our communities safe and healthy, the Reagan Library will host a “1st Responder’s Day” on Sunday, May 23, 2021. Each person may bring up to three guests for a free visit to the Reagan Library on this day.

1st Responders are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance at https://reagan.systemtickets.org/first-responder-2021/. Upon arrival at the Reagan Library, proof of employment will be required.

THE REAGAN FOUNDATION AND LIBRARY:

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is the nonprofit organization created by President Reagan himself and specifically charged by him with continuing his legacy and sharing his principles - individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy and national pride. The Foundation is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion and the award-winning Discovery Center, as well as the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation’s work in Washington, D.C.

The Reagan Library houses over 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and his First Lady.

www.reaganfoundation.org

Cork Dork Wine Bar to Open in Westlake Village on Thursday, May 20th

Cork Dork Wine Bar is opening its doors in Westlake Village in the North Ranch Pavilions plaza (next to Rustico at 1125 Lindero Canyon Road) this Thursday, May 20th.

"Cork Dork is a boutique wine bar offering enchanting local beers, over 40 different wines by the glass, including unique ounce by ounce selections. Additionally, Cork Dork sources local sustainable meats, dairy and produce as the building blocks of our mouthwatering modern California cuisine"

Learn more and reserve a table at www.corkdorkwinebar.com