Pederson Ranch House and Water Tower at Cal Lutheran is a Ventura County Historical Landmark

Pederson Ranch House and Water Tower on CLU campus. (Photo courtesy CLU)

Pederson Ranch House and Water Tower on CLU campus. (Photo courtesy CLU)

The Pederson Ranch house, built in 1913, is a Ventura County and Thousand Oaks Historical Landmark. This house originally was built for the Lars and Karn Pederson family, Norwegian immigrants who were part of a group in 1890 that settled in the Conejo Valley.

The nearby water tower, built at the same time, provided plumbing for the residence.

It was donated to CLU in 1967 and has been moved several times. It is now located at the corner of Regent Ave and Faculty Street in Thousand Oaks and is used by the school's music department.

California Minimum Wages Increased Today, January 1, 2021 by $1 Per Hour

If you are a minimum wage earner in California, today you received a pay increase of 8.3% (from $12 to $13 per hour) if you work at an employer with under 26 employees or 7.7% ($13 to $14 per hour) if your employer has 26 or more employees.

Current law calls for one additional increase for larger companies on January 1, 2022 and two additional increases for smaller companies on January 1, 2022 and 2023 to get to $15. See chart below.

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The federal minimum wage for 2021 is $7.25, a rate that has stood frozen in time since it became effective on July 24, 2009.

California minimum wage rates apply to Ventura County residents.

City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles minimum wage rates are currently higher than Ventura County/California wage rates. They are:

  • $14.25 for employers with 25 or less employees until 7/1/21, when the rate increases to $15 per hour.

  • $15 for employers with 26 or more employees.

Looking for a higher minimum wage? Move to San Francisco, where the rate is currently a nice, even $16.07 per hour. The rate is adjusted for inflation on July 1st of each year. If you’re going to have a minimum wage rate in the first place, this actually sounds like a reasonable way to administer it.

Send an Email Into the Future with FutureMe.org

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A year ago I tried this, completely forgot about it, out of the blue, received an email yesterday morning. At first I thought the email from FutureMe.org was spam, but the title I created exactly one year ago, "Writing to My Future Self," enticed me to open it.  Kind of neat surprise! I didn't write much but I was happy to receive the email.

FutureMe.org is really simple. Type an email to yourself and schedule it to be sent anytime up to 50 years into the future. Or create an account and send others an email in the future. There is no charge, though donations are accepted.

It's so simple that you don't have to read any instructions. I love that! A form is displayed prominently on the FutureMe.org home page with the caption "Your future letter." Within minutes or seconds you'll be done.

What a great way of reminding yourself of something in the future. Or how about emailing an anniversary or birthday wish to someone years into the future. Or use it like a journal. You can also add a picture to the email.

One thing to consider if you're sending something to yourself say 20 years from now is...use an email address you anticipate you’ll still be using in 20 years.

Another time I wrote a letter to my son, to be delivered exactly one year into the future. Among other things, I predicted what his accomplishments would be during the coming year. It was interesting to be be reminded of those predictions when I received a copy of the email the subsequent year.

Looking For a Local Ventura County Social or Hobby Club?

You've come to the right place!  There are around 100 local Ventura County clubs and groups listed here on Conejo Valley Guide!  CLICK HERE to see them along with links to their websites!  There are also dozens of sports and fitness clubs and leagues here on Conejo Valley Guide (CLICK HERE). 

Now let's just take a look at the clubs that start with letter C:

  • California Dressage Society - Ventura County
  • California Kayak Friends Club
  • Camarillo Quilters Association
  • Channel Islands 4WD Group
  • Channel Islands PC Users Group
  • Conejo Chinese Cultural Association
  • Conejo Classic Cinema
  • Conejo Gem and Mineral Club
Read More

Twenty Years of the Same Expression in an Eight MInute Video - Noah Kalina

Noah Kalina has taken a selfie of himself every day for the last 20 years, or 7,263 days, beginning January 11, 2000 to January 11, 2020 (and it is a work in process). Takes a lot of persistence to do something like this!

Noah was 19 years old when he started this endeavor. And he hasn't stopped! The project is called “Everyday.” Check out more of his work at noahkalina.com.

Buy Gift Cards at Costco and Save a Lot of Money Elsewhere

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If you're not already a Costco member and have no intention of becoming one, gift cards are a reason to consider a Costco membership. Costco offers an assortment of gift cards for sale at bargain prices; typically 20% off.  A $55 annual Costco membership fee can quickly be recovered if you use these cards. Here's a summary of what several (Oxnard, Westlake Village and Simi Valley) local Costco stores either currently have on hand or have carried in the past.

  • Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: $100 in gift cards for $79.99 (also available online)

  • Buca di Beppo $100 in gift cards for $69.99 (in store)

  • CPK $100 in gift cards for $79.99

  • P.F. Chang's $100 in gift cards for $79.99 (online and in store)

  • Roy’s $100 in gift cards for $79.99 in store

  • Marmalade Cafe $100 in gift cards for $79.99 in store

  • Build-a-Bear Workshop $100 Gift E-Cards for $79.99 (available online)

  • 24 Hour Fitness discounted 2 year memberships

  • Cold Stone Creamery $100 in gift cards for $69.99

  • Yogurtland four $25 gift cards for $79.99

  • Krispy Kreme 4 $15 gift cards for $44.99 (online)

All of this of course is subject to change and availability.

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The Historic Elizabeth Bard Memorial Building in Downtown Ventura

Elizabeth Bard Memorial Building in Downtown Ventura is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Elizabeth Bard Memorial Building in Downtown Ventura is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Elizabeth Bard Memorial Building is located at Fir and Poli Streets in Ventura. Built in 1901, it operated as the Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital for 30 years. This building, listed as a Ventura Historic Landmark and added to the coveted National Register of Historic Places in 1977, is a Mission Revival structure featuring covered terraces and a covered porch with a three-story bell tower at the southeast corner.

In 1932 the building was sold to the County of Ventura and was used as county offices and as a detention facility. Eventually it fell into disrepair and was sold to private investors in 1982, after which it was extensively renovated...but the external facades were preserved.

Now it is home to a variety of businesses. Yours truly worked in this building for about a year many years ago. Great location! Close to the Ventura Botantical Gardens Trail, which is making a comeback from the Thomas Fire of 2017.

While the building is not open to the general public (unless you are visiting one of the businesses located in it), it is worth admiring this beautiful and historic part of Ventura County.

Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital in 1910.

Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital in 1910.