Positive and Uplifting Thoughts From Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers During the Pandemic

Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters just reached its 5th anniversary at 111 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park (Trader Joe's/CVS plaza). If you're looking for an independent, local family-owned coffee and bake shop, this is the place for you! ragamuffinroasters.com.

We’ve been hosting daily gift card drawings for local Conejo Valley eateries on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page since July 23rd. These drawings have been made possible thanks to donations from several hundred individuals and businesses at bit.ly/CVGFund (credit cards) and paypal.me/ConejoValleyGuide.

In a recent drawing, we asked folks to enter by adding a positive and/or uplifting comment to the post. Here’s a compilation of some of those comments.

• “Do small things with great love.” - Mother Theresa

• Choose to be kind over being right and you will be right all the time.

• After every storm a rainbow appears.

• Remember that time heals all, and if we all stick together we will be okay!

• A smile is a curve that can set things straight.

• No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.

• Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy.

• “You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

• Enjoy the time you have, with the people you have it with!! Family, whether blood or not, is everything!

• Find the good, and share it with others.

• Be so happy that, when other people look at you, they become happy too.

• All it can take is a smile to change someone’s whole day.

• Tough times don’t last but tough people do.

• Be kind. You don't know what people are going through. Wish them well

• When words are both true and kind, they can change the world!

• Find something positive in each and every day.

• Find time to do something nice for someone today.

• “I don’t think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains” - Anne Frank

• When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond,

• “If it was easy, then everyone would do it!”

• “Kindness costs nothing, yet it is the most precious gift.”

• Smile with your eyes. You can do it. You may not think people will notice, but they do.

• May you see sunshine where others see shadows, and opportunities where others see obstacles.

• To quote Dory, “Just keep swimming.”

• Stars shine brightest in the dark.

• Be positive and thankful for all that you have.

• May your WiFi be as strong as your coffee!

• Sprinkle kindness like it's confetti.

• Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits put together that will overwhelm the world.

• The sun will come out tomorrow.

• As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.—Albert Schweitzer

• Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

• Always believe something wonderful is about to happen.

Sweet Arleen's in the Westlake Plaza at 960 S. Westlake Blvd, Ste 4 is named after its original owner, Arleen Scavon, but is now owned by Chef Julia San Bartolome. They worked together to win the Food Network Cupcake Wars three times. Walk into this shop and you'll be mesmerized by the cupcakes on display. sweetarleens.com

The Hyatt Lodge in Thousand Oaks Then; Quality Inn & Suites Today

UPDATE: In August 2022, the City of Thousand Oaks and partners announced a state grant that would allow for the conversion of the Quality Inn & Suites into 77 units of supportive housing for the chronically homeless. READ MORE

The Hyatt Lodge at 12 Conejo Blvd in Thousand Oaks in the 1960s on this postcard.

Conejo Boulevard in Thousand Oaks is a short block that connects West Hillcrest Drive on the north with West Thousand Oaks Boulevard on the south.

Chuck E. Cheese's is located on Hillcrest at the southwest corner of Conejo Blvd and a Union Bank, Big 5 Sporting Goods and other businesses are located on Thousand Oaks Blvd at the northwest corner of Conejo Blvd. 

This leaves one single business with an address on Conejo Blvd - that would be the Quality Inn & Suites at 12 Conejo Blvd.

The pool area of the Quality Inn & Suites at 12 Conejo Blvd in 2017.

At the top of this article is a postcard displaying the pool area of the Hyatt Lodge, which occupied this space at 12 Conejo Blvd in the 1960s. Many of the shapes and sizes in the photo look the same today, though you can also see what has changed over the years.

The phone number to the Quality Inn & Suites is (805) 495-7011, which is the same number back in the 1960s. Many things have changed around town but this hotel has withstood the test of time.

State Route 23 Between the 101 and 118 is Dedicated to Japanese American World War II Soldiers

Moorpark Freeway section of SR 23 taken from Marview Trail in Thousand Oaks.

State Route 23 stretches from Malibu to Fillmore in three sections. The south section is the winding, hilly Decker Canyon Road that connects Pacific Coast Highway to Westlake Village and Hidden Valley. This section is approximately 10 miles from PCH to the Potrero Road intersection, but generally takes 20 to 25 minutes to drive.

SR 23 continues as Westlake Boulevard to the Ventura Freeway (U.S. Route 101), where it runs concurrent with the 101 north a couple miles until you reach the Moorpark Freeway overpass. This is another 4 to 4 1/2 miles.

The most visible section of SR 23 in Thousand Oaks is the Moorpark Freeway, which stretches from the 101 to the Los Angeles Avenue exit in Moorpark; about 8 miles. This middle section of the 23 was named the Military Intelligence Service Memorial Highway in 1994 by the California State Assembly. The renaming was made in honor of Nisei, or Japanese American, Soldiers of World War II who served in units of the U.S. Armed Forces comprising the 100/442/MIS triad (Military Intelligence Service, 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team). **

Military Intelligence Service Memorial Highway sign

The northern section of SR 23 begins at Los Angeles Avenue (SR 118) in Moorpark and goes north as Grimes Canyon Road, ending at SR 126 in Fillmore. This is about a 12 mile stretch includes some eye opening, hilly twists and turns in the Grimes Canyon Road area.

The total length of SR 23 is about 32 miles.

** Some additional clarification from the 1994 legislation: Segments of State Highway Routes 23 and 99 are officially designated as follows: (a) State Highway Route 23, from Highway 101 to Highway 118, as the Military Intelligence Service Memorial Highway. (b) State Highway Route 99, between the Cities of Fresno and Madera, as the 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Highway. (c) State Highway Route 99, between the Cities of Salida and Manteca, as the 442nd Regimental Combat Team Memorial Highway. Each of the signs to also include "A unit of the 100/422/MIS triad.

Sculpture in Honor of Beloved Thousand Oaks Veterinarian at Civic Arts Plaza

Many of you may have seen the large bronze sculpture adjacent to the parking lot at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza featuring a man, a boy and a dog.

The man is Dr. Robert E. Kind and the sculpture is a memorial to the doctor, who passed away in 1998 after practicing veterinary medicine in Thousand Oaks for over 40 years. 

"A Kind Touch" is the name of the sculpture. Dr. Kind, a native of Herington, Kansas, dedicated his life to the care and love of his patients. These patients included the zoo animals at Jungleland, which resided at the land now occupied by the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, until it closed in October 1969.

The sculpture, the work of artist David L. Spellerberg, was presented by colleagues, family and friends of Dr. Kind to the City of Thousand Oaks in his memory on May 21, 2000. Inscribed on a plaque accompanying the sculpture is "His manner was modest, His touch was gentle, And his laugh was legendary."

Dr. Kind's son, Dr. Steven Kind, MD, is a practicing gastroenterologist in Thousand Oaks. 

Natural Gas Flame North of La Conchita in Ventura County

Here are some views of the flame burning just north of the 101 near La Conchita. Taken from La Conchita Beach. You can often see the flame while approaching La Conchita from the southbound 101. The flame is derived from natural gas waste matter from oil drilling in the area. La Conchita Beach can be accessed via an undercrossing under the 101 from La Conchita or from Mussel Shoals on the rough or Rincon Point (via the La Conchita Bike Path).

Local area beaches in Ventura to Carpinteria

("Eternal Flame" cover by Eraina Joy.)

Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in Thousand Oaks and Ventura for Local Bird Fans

Wild Birds Unlimited Thousand Oaks is located in the Whole Foods Market plaza at Moorpark and Wilbur Roads. The store offers bird foods of all types, bird feeders and an assortment of other items for backyard bird fans. Owners Richard and Catherine are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Open 7 days a week. Consider stopping by this fun little store. There's also a location in Ventura at 4020 E. Main Street near Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Thousand Oaks location thousandoaks.wbu.com. (805) 379-3901

Ventura location ventura.wbu.com (805) 765-4594

A Look Back at The Rock House in Thousand Oaks

Here's a photo of an entry in the 1966 Conejo Valley Days parade featuring The Rock House

The Rock House was located at 983 Thousand Oaks Blvd., which today is the overpass where State Route 23 transitions to the 101 north.

"Drink Fire Water and Eat Fine Food at the Rock House."

This second photo of The Rock House in 1961 is from the Thousand Oaks Library Conejo Through the Lens collection. How cool it would have been to keep this very unique place standing through all these years.