The Luedtke Bridge Over Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks at Cal Lutheran University

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The only pedestrian bridge that crosses over a city street in the Conejo Valley is the Luedtke Bridge over Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks.

The bridge connects the main Cal Lutheran campus to the northern campus, which includes University Plaza, William Rolland Stadium and Gallery of Fine Art, the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, Lundring Events Center, Samuelson Aquatics Center (including the Community Pool, a partnership with Conejo Recreation and Park District), Hutton Field, George “Sparky” Anderson Baseball Field and Ullman Stadium and Poulson Tennis Courts.

Paid for by an anonymous donor, the bridge was renovated in 2006 and dedicated in honor of President Luther S. Luedtke and Carol Luedtke in recognition of their 14 years of dedicated service to the University. Luedtke served as the fifth president of Cal Lutheran University from 1992 to 2006.

www.callutheran.edu

Wildwood Tract Thousand Oaks Ad From 1969

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The year was 1969. Ten minutes ago, they got home from school, had a glass of milk and cookies...then went out to play. Wildwood in Thousand Oaks. Exciting new homes that have been designed to capture the natural beauty of their spectacular outdoors setting. "Begin an executive life as a 'country gentleman family.'" Starting from $31,950 for 3 to five bedrooms.

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers Recall Their Favorite Childhood Memories

Since July 22nd, we’ve been raising funds from Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page followers and using these funds to purchase gift cards at local Conejo Valley eateries. Each day since then, we’ve run a drawing to give away a gift card, Through November 6th, we’ve given away over $5,000 worth of gift cards at 111 local eateries!

One of these drawings asked folks to recall their favorite childhood memories. Let’s share some of them here.

  • Spending time with sisters

  • Summer trips to…Michigan

  • Summer campouts with the family

  • Going to….Disneyland

  • Skateboarding in the streets with friends

  • Beach house in…Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Catalina

  • Going to the drive-in theater in Newbury Park

  • Playing dress-up and pretending to play double dare at a slumber party

  • Visiting relatives in…San Francisco

  • When it snowed in Thousand Oaks

  • Grandparents surprising the kids at Christmas

  • Riding down a big hill on my bike

  • Dad taking me to see Led Zeppelin in 1977

  • Playing with the neighborhood kids

  • Dad winning a stuffed animal for me at the county fair

  • Conejo Valley Days parade down Thousand Oaks Boulevard

  • Cruise to the Mexican Riviera with family

  • Fishing with dad

  • Learning to ride a bike in Agoura

  • Beach days at Zuma

  • Special birthday dinners with family

  • Going on family road trips in the “big blue van”

  • Summer trips to Big Bear

  • Christmas morning brunch at my grandparents’ house

  • Tent camping with the family

  • Dodger baseball games

  • Playing tag outside with my sisters in the yard

  • Riding bikes all over the neighborhood for hours on end

  • Ice cream trucks

  • Drive-in movies with the family

  • Boating on the lake

  • Building treehouses

  • Making mud pies

  • Going to the Ventura County Fair

  • Raking leaves with grandpa

  • Staying up late on Christmas Eve on Santa lookout

  • Sunday mass, followed by family breakfast

  • Summer camp

  • Riding my Big Wheel down the sidewalk and spinning out into my driveway

  • Piling into the station wagon and driving to Ventura Beach

  • Yosemite, Sequoia

  • Barbecues in our backyard and roller skating down our driveway

  • Getting ice cream cones at the local Thrifty Drug Store

  • Going to Farrell’s with the family

  • Family ski trips

  • Swimming in the pool all summer long

  • Getting my first puppy at Christmas

  • Friday night dinners out with the family

  • Dairy Queen after church

  • Drive-in movies in the back of a truck with dad getting everyone KFC

  • Roller skating around the neighborhood

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.

Roller Dome Thousand Oaks Originally Opened in the Spring of 1995

Roller Dome, which was located at 950 Avenida de Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks, closed its doors in October 2010.

Roller Dome originally opened in May 1995. "Roller Dome, a new roller skating facility...might be the best new rink in the country." - Richard Graham, Inline Hockey News.

Ah yes, the good ole days, with the occasional kids' birthday parties at Roller Dome.

The 99 Cents Only Store has been thriving in this spot since 2013.

COMPILATION OF ROLLER SKATING, ROLLER BLADING, ICE SKATING AND SKATEBOARDING VENUES IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Encounter with Three Deer in Thousand Oaks in August

Had a brief, peaceful encounter recently with these three deer in the Rancho Sierra Vista open space in Newbury Park this morning. I would stand there and stare back for hours if I could, but I had to move along. Hoping for their continued survival as we forged our way through an extreme mid-August heatwave during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's the little things like this that help keep my spirits up through these challenging times.

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! hragamuffinroasters.co…

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…

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