El Tecolote Cafe in Camarillo Captured by Local Artist in Oil Painting

/
El Tecolote by Linda Dark of Camarillo.

El Tecolote by Linda Dark of Camarillo.

Linda Dark has lived in Camarillo since 1978. For the last 12 years she has captured local scenes in oil paint. Here is her rendition of the historic El Tecolote, located at 333 N. Lewis Road, in the image above. El Tecolote serves up delicious, authentic Mexican food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

According to the El Tecolote website, World War II veteran Mike Loza opened his restaurant in Moorpark in 1946. The owls occupying the trees surrounding the restaurant were the inspiration for the name El Tecolote (The Owl).

The cafe was moved to a small house in Camarillo in 1948. It was so small that a frustrated customer helped finance a move to its current location in 1952. The restaurant is now owned and managed by the Guardado family. Visit www.facebook.com/eltecoloterestaurant or call 805.482.4318 for more information. 

El Tecolate the night of Monday, September 8, 2014.

El Tecolate the night of Monday, September 8, 2014.

Emergency Response Systems in Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

/
VC_Alert.jpg

VC Alert is a free service provided by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services and participating cities. It launched in January 2012.

All 10 cities in Ventura County utilize the VC Alert system - Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Simi Valley as well as unincorporated areas of Ventura County.

The VC Alert database includes all listed and unlisted landline telephone numbers serviced by AT&T and Verizon.  If you would like to ensure that you will be contacted on your home phone, cellular phone, work phone, TTY device, email, fax or text messaging, you must register that information using the opt in VC Alert portal. All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential.

VC Alert alerts residents about emergencies and other important community news.  The system enables officials to provide essential information quickly when there is a threat to the health or safety of Ventura County residents. To learn more and to register online, visit www.vcalert.org or call 805.648.9283.

The official Ventura County incident information site is vcemergency.com, which posts up-to-date incident information, public safety power shutoffs, current evacuations, emergency shelters and road closures.

The City of Westlake Village uses Blackboard Connect for telephone emergency response recordings for hazards, warnings, evacuations, updates, etc. Land lines are already in the database but you may register additional lines. westlakevillage.bbcportal.com. More info at www.wlv.org/191/Emergency-Notifications.

The City of Agoura Hills also uses Blackboard Connect for emergency response services at cityofagourahills.bbcportal.com/Entry. More info at www.agourahillscity.org/i-want-to/sign-up/connect-cty. There’s also a call-in emergency information line available at 818.597.7301.

City of Calabasas residents are also encouraged to sign up for emergency updates through its Blackboard Connect system at calabasase911.bbcportal.com/Entry. There’s also a call-in emergency info line available at 818.224.1600.

The City of Malibu’s call-in emergency hotline is 310.456.9982. The city's radio station is WPTD AM 1620. The City of Malibu has its own emergency alerts system at member.everbridge.net/index/453003085613099

Los Angeles County residents in Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, etc. can sign up for Alert LA County. a free mass notification system for Los Angeles County residents at www.lacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la.

Ready Ventura County is a local emergency response planning and information reporting site that is used extensively during local emergencies. www.readyventuracounty.org

Ventura County emergency alert radio stations: KVTA 1590 AM, KHAY 100.7 FM, KMLA 103.7 FM (SPANISH)

FEMA Ready.gov Website Provides Emergency Preparedness Tips

/
Ready.gov.png

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched Ready.gov to educate and prepare Americans for emergencies, both natural and man-made.  Three key sections of the site are maintaining an emergency supply kit, making a plan and being informed.

Here are FEMA's recommendations for a kit of food, water and supplies to last at least 3 days per person should rescue workers not be able to get to you right away after a disaster/emergency.

  • At least 3 days of water per person, consisting of at least one gallon of water per person, per day.

  • At least 3 days of non-perishable food per person. Things like ready-to-eat canned items, protein or fruit bars, cereal or granola, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, canned juices, high energy foods, food for infants, etc.

  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries

  • Flashlights and extra batteries

  • First aid kit with 2 pairs of gloves, sterile dressings, cleansing agent/soap/towelettes, antibiotic and burn ointments, bandages, eye wash solution, thermometer, prescription items (other items to consider...scissors, tweezers, petroleum jelly, aspirin, anti-diarrheal, antacid, laxative)

  • Whistle to signal for help

  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air; plastic sheeting and duct tape for shelter

  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

  • Manual can opener if you have canned food

  • Local maps

  • Cell phone with chargers and backup battery.

Other items to consider:

  • Prescription medications and glasses

  • Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medications, antacids or laxatives.

  • Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream

  • Pet food and extra water for your pet

  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

  • Cash and change

  • Emergency reference materials, first aid manual, etc.

  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.

  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes.

  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

  • Fire extinguisher

  • Matches in a waterproof container

  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels

  • Paper and pencil

  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

  • Since Spring 2020: masks, soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes

But don't stop with this list! Visit Ready.gov to learn more about emergency preparedness!

Visit www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/ready_checklist.pdf for an amergency supply list.

Purple Heart Trail Signs on U.S. Highway 101 in Ventura County Commemorate Veterans

/
Purple Heart Trail.JPG

In November 2014, Caltrans District 7 installed two signs designating a segment of U.S. Highway 101 as part of the National Purple Heart Trail — a system of signed highways, bridges and other monuments that honor soldiers who have received the Purple Heart medal.

One of these signs can be seen on the northbound 101 in Thousand Oaks, right before the Westlake Boulevard offramp. The other sign is near the Bates Road offramp of the southbound 101.

These two signs complete 240 continuous miles of Purple Heart trail in California, from Ventura County to Monterey.

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 27 established specified portions of US Highway 101 in the counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura for inclusion in the National Purple Heart Trail.

The U.S. 101 in Ventura County is also dedicated to the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division as commemorated by "The Screaming Eagles Hwy - 101st Airborne Division" placed nearby.

Where Were You on 9/11? I Certainly Remember.

/

Ten years ago we were horrified by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We watched the scenes over and over.  It was surreal. We were scared and concerned but felt helpless as we could do nothing about it from our TV screens. Most of us will never forget where we were and what we were doing that day. I’ll centainly never forget.

Of all places, I happened to be in Paris on an overseas MBA project with a classmate. We were in a taxi driving from our hotel to Orly Airport, where we were to fly to Nice. The attacks had already occurred yet Josh* and I had no idea, nor could we have ever imagined the extent of what had taken place.

* I just spoke with Josh today and coincidentally he wrote about our experience at www.unboxedthoughts.com/2011/09/09/ten-years-later/ (My account here was originally written 4 years ago but I've updated it for the 10th Anniversary remembrance of the attacks.)

Our taxi driver was Chinese and of course spoke French, but not English. The extent of our combined French vocabulary was oui, merci, bonjour and Hors D'oeuvres.

Halfway into the ride the driver turned up the radio volume very loud. Our first clue that something was wrong was repeatedly hearing the word “American” on the news. Our driver tried to communicate what he was hearing and our interpretation of his animated hand motions was that an airplane had crashed. We had absolutely no idea what really had just taken place in New York.

At Orly Airport, things went as planned. We checked in and were on the flight to Nice. The only thing we found slightly disturbing was the police patrolling the airport with large, machine gun like weapons. But we didn’t think too much of it at the time as we were both looking forward to visiting the South of France for the first time.  The flight moved forward without a hitch.

We landed in Nice and at the baggage claim area our names we

Read More

Two Ventura County Cities Were Born on September 29, 1964!

/

You wouldn't immediately know it looking at the headline of this September 30, 1964 issue of The Daily News, but the day before, residents in BOTH Camarillo and Thousand Oaks voted to incorporate their respective cities.

The article indicates that voters in Camarillo voted in favor of incorporation by a 5 to 1 margin, with 64% of the 3,745 registered voters turning in ballots. In the far right column, you'll see that with 10 of 18 precincts counted, 61% of 2,428 votes cast in Thousand Oaks were for incorporation. In Thousand Oaks they also voted on the name of the city...over 87% of votes cast said "yes" to the name Thousand Oaks.

Thanks to the Pleasant Valley Historical Society Museum in Camarillo for maintaining this and other local Ventura County history!

CamarilloTOaksIncorp2.jpg

Counting Crows in the Conejo Valley and Nearby Communities

/

Counting crows. Maybe not literally, but figuratively, in the skies of the Conejo Valley, Simi Valley and beyond. We see the crows in the hundreds flying west in the morning and east in the evening ever so frequently here. These fellows were seen from the Conejo Valley Plaza, Moorpark and Janss Roads, the night of August 9, 2018.

Speaking of birds, the Conejo Valley Audubon Society hosts birding activities year-round.