Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Post other items directly to the Community Announcements section of the site.
Go Fish Sushi announced today that it will be opening its new Thousand Oaks location at 299 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard (part of the Santal Thousand Oaks apartment development, and across the street from Tarantula Hill Brewery) tomorrow, Friday, November 15th, at 11 a.m. Go Fish's original location continues to operate at the Simi Valley Town Center. Learn more at www.gofishsushibar.com.
Smoke from the Mountain Fire seen from Rancho Potrero Open Space in Newbury Park
The Mountain Fire was first reported at just before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6th, near Somis, in the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road. Due to the extremely high Santa Ana winds, it quickly jumped across Highway 118 towards Camarillo and as of Thursday night grew to 20,484 acres burned at 5% containment. The fire has destroyed at least 132 structures and damaged another 88 structures as of Thursday evening. Visit vcemergency.com for details regarding evacuation orders, emergency shelters, road closures, and more. Information hotline is 805-465-6650. Or call 2-1-1 for assistance.
Fire Updates
As of 8:50 a.m. Saturday, November 9th, the fire is at 20,630 acres with 17% containment.
As the night of Monday, November 11th, fire at 42% contained. Out of 894 inspections to date, 82 structures damaged and 192 destroyed.
As of 5:22 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, fire is 54% contained at 20,630 acres. 90 structures damaged, 207 destroyed.
As of the morning of Thursday, November 14, acreage unchanged, 82% contained, 25 structures damaged, 240 structures destroyed.
Recovery Efforts
The County of Ventura, in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation, has established an emergency fund accepting donations to support community members and local nonprofit organizations most affected by the Mountain Fire. The Ventura County Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund is open for giving at vccf.org/donate, and is dedicated to supporting individuals and nonprofit organizations that provide essential aid to those most affected in times of crisis. One hundred percent of contributions go directly toward relief efforts, focusing resources on those who need it most.
If you were impacted by the fire, the Ventura County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VC VOAD) asks that you complete a needs assessment at https://icfs.communityos.org/gethelpventuracounty to get help.
Ventura County Recovers website covers recovery information at www.venturacountyrecovers.org
Fox Fine Jewelry is offering a free diamond necklace to anyone whose home was damaged or destroyed by the Mountain Fire. Necklaces also available for sale, with 50% of proceeds donated to the VC Community Foundation. www.foxfinejewelry.com/pages/mountain-fire-free-necklace
Individual GoFundMe Pages
If you are seeking to donate directly to individuals impacted by the Mountain Fire, there are over 50 GoFundMe fundraisers established over the last 7 days (as of November 9th) at https://www.gofundme.com/s?q=%22mountain+fire%22&time-period=7 (NOTE THAT WE HAVE NOT VETTED EACH FUNDRAISER. USE YOUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE.)
The County of Ventura, in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation, has established an emergency fund accepting donations to support community members and local nonprofit organizations most affected by the Mountain Fire. The Ventura County Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund is open for giving at vccf.org/donate, and is dedicated to supporting individuals and nonprofit organizations that provide essential aid to those most affected in times of crisis. One hundred percent of contributions go directly toward relief efforts, focusing resources on those who need it most.
On Nov. 6, a wildfire broke outside of Moorpark following Santa Ana winds reaching 40 to 80 miles per hour. The fire has grown to 20,596 acres as of Nov. 8 according to VC Emergency, with 7% containment. VCCF has previously stewarded millions of dollars in donations for the Thomas, Hill, and Woolsey Fires, ensuring the funds had the most impact and supported those most affected. VCCF continues to monitor the status of the Mountain Fire, working with its nonprofit and government partners to best respond to the county’s needs.
"Through the Ventura County Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund, our community has a vital lifeline for those impacted by the wildfire,” said Dr. Sevet Johnson, CEO of Ventura County. “This fund stands as a testament to our county's unwavering commitment to provide swift and direct support to individuals and nonprofit organizations on the front lines of relief efforts. Ventura County is both compassionate and resilient, always ready to stand together and support one another in times of need.”
VCCF encourages all community members to stay informed and make safe decisions in the face of this emergency. Information on evacuation zones and shelters can be accessed at vcemergency.com or by calling (805) 465-6650.
“Ventura County has faced devastating wildfires over the years, but the resilience and generosity of our community is stronger,” said VCCF Board Member Leah Lacayo. “We are so grateful to the County of Ventura and our first responders for their heroic efforts to keep our community safe. Your community foundation is here to help, especially during times of disaster, and has set up this fund to support relief and recovery efforts.”
About VCCF
Established in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation has focused on building philanthropy in our region by stewarding legacies through careful management of the charitable capital entrusted to us. We are committed to a long-term perspective for Ventura County. We honor donor intent by protecting endowments forever and we specialize in connecting philanthropic resources with community needs for the benefit of all. We invest in the future through scholarships, grant making and collaborative partnerships. vccf.org
The Simi Valley TGI Fridays closed its doors on Thursday, October 24th, which means there are no remaining TGI Fridays in Ventura County. The closest TGI Fridays is now in Northridge. On a historical note, the Thousand Oaks TGI Fridays that was located at Janss Marketplace closed in 2012. tgifridays.com
Hummus Lali, which opened in February 2022 at The Shoppes at Westlake Village in the spot previously occupied by Urban Vejjie and Greens Up, recently closed its doors.
Sad to report that Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express in the Whole Foods Plaza in Thousand Oaks has closed its doors. It originally opened in June 2018. Fatburger at the Camarillo Premium Outlets also recently closed its doors, which means there are currently no Fatburgers in Ventura County. www.fatburger.com
Purrrlandia Cat Lounge and Cafe is coming soon to the Whole Foods Plaza at 728 North Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. At Purrrlandia, you will be able to enjoy the company of rescue cats while enjoying coffee, tea, specialty beverages, and light snacks.
There will be separate cafe and lounge spaces with viewing windows and multiple HVAC systems to ensure comfort for all guests, especially those with allergies. On-site adoptions will be available, making it easy to bring home your new furry family member
There will be an admission fee that will help pay for the care of the cats. This will not be a place where you can bring your own cats. Learn more at www.purrrwww.purrrlandia.com.andia.com.
MBK Rental Living acquired the 7.1 acre site at 1872 Newbury Road (at NE Kelley Road), Thousand Oaks in 2023 and is developing it into a 218-unit luxury apartment community. The project will offer both market rate and affordable residences across multiple two and three story buildings and will offer studio, one bedroom and two bedroom floor plans. Twelve percent of the residences will be designated as affordable housing.
Located on the site is the historic Timber School House and auditorium. Established in 1888, the Timber School District was formed by early ranchers in the Conejo Valley. The original Timber School was a one room schoolhouse that was demolished to make way for the new Timber School House that was built in 1924. The auditorium was built in 1948. These buildings were designated as historic landmarks in 2004 by the City of Thousand Oaks and Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board. Most recently, Conejo Valley High School occupied the buildings until 2015. These buildings will be preserved, rehabilitated and repurposed as the community’s leasing office, co-working space, clubhouse, and children’s lounge.
Grading of the site is currently taking place as of October 2024 and the grand opening is slated for early 2026. Pre-leasing will begin in late 2025. Learn more at www.thesanctuarythousandoaks.com.
Site grading on october 11, 2024
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