IRS Advises Taxpayers to Keep Economic Impact Payment Notice with Other Tax Recrods

The IRS advises that people who receive an Economic Impact Payment in 2020 should keep Notice 1444, Your Economic Impact Payment, with their tax records. This notice provides information about the amount of their payment, how the payment was made and how to report any payment that wasn’t received.

For security reasons, the IRS mails this notice to each recipient’s last known address within 15 days after the payment goes out. It’s especially important for people to keep this notice if they think their payment amount is wrong. When they file their 2020 tax return, they can refer to Notice 1444 and claim additional credits, if they are eligible for them.

Taxpayers should keep this notice filed with all their other important tax records. These include, W-2s from employers,1099s from banks and other payers, other income documents and virtual currency transaction records.

Learn more about the Economic Impact Payments at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments.

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

Father Junipero Serra Statue in Downtown Ventura

NOTE: On June 18, 2020, the City of Ventura issued a press release stating that it plans to work with members of the community in moving the statue of Father Junipero Serra to a new, non-public location.

Father Junipero Serra (1713-1784) was a Roman Catholic Spanish Franciscan friar who founded nine Spanish Missions in California stretching from San Diego to Carmel. 

The last of these nine missions, founded on March 31, 1782, was Mission San Buenaventura, which today is an active parish of 3,000 members located at 211 East Main Street in Ventura.

Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988, and canonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. - the first canonization ceremony to be held in the country.

Located on a pedestrian island in front of Ventura City Hall at the intersection of N. California Street and Poli Street is a bronze statue of Father Junipero Serra.

In 1936, the Federal Art Project (part of the New Deal) funded this heroic sculpture. Finnish sculptor John Palo-Kangas originally cast it in cement, which decayed over the years.

The present statue, an exact replica of the original statue, was cast in bronze and dedicated on October 20, 1989. A wooden duplicate used in the making of the bronze statue can be seen in the City Hall Atrium.

According to the Mission San Buenaventura website, Serra stood just 5 feet, 2 inches in height. This statue is over 9 feet tall. Go check it out!

Volunteer Opportunities in Ventura County During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Here is a compilation of local Ventura County area volunteer opportunities of particular need during the COVID-19 emergency Stay Well at Home Order. The list was compiled courtesy of the City of Thousand Oaks Public Works Department.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES - FROM HOME

Harbor House www.harborhouseto.org - Sign up to make bag lunches for those in need.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES - DONATIONS NEEDED

Homeless Support - Kindness/Care Kits www.roonga.com/uwvchomelesscarekits - Support homeless services by purchasing kits for those experiencing homeless through June 1st.

Senior Concerns www.seniorconcerns.org - Pantry items and toiletries needed for senior delivery kits at 401 Hodencamp Road, Thousand Oaks. 805-497-0189 info@seniorconcerns.org

Manna Conejo www.mannaconejo.org - Pantry items needed for local food pantry at 3020 Crescent Way, Thousand Oaks. 805-497-4959 info@mannaconejo.org

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES - ON LOCATION

Food Share of Ventura County foodshare.com/volunteer - Numerous volunteer opportunities available - senior kit distribution, pop-up food pantries, throughout Ventura County

Volunteer Ventura County www.volunteerventuracounty.org has numerous meal delivery and other opportunities listed at www.volunteerventuracounty.org/need/?s=1&need_init_id=3061.

Senior Kit Distribution:

• Grace Bible Church in Oxnard LINK

• Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard LINK

• Camino Del Sol Apartments in Oxnard LINK

• Santa Paula Apts LINK

• Evangelistic Baptist Church LINK

• Fillmore Active Adult Center LINK

• Heritage Apartments in Oxnard LINK

• New Life Community Church in Oxnard LINK

• Pleasant Valley Senior Center in Camarillo LINK

• Salvation Army in Oxnard LINK

• Senior Kit Packer Mondays LINK

• Senior Kit Packer Wednesdays LINK

• Senior Kit Packer Thursdays LINK

Produce

• Senior Nutrition Garden for Individuals LINK

• Produce Outreach in Santa Paula LINK

Seven Fun Activities With the Kids in Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

There are thousands of things to do in and around Ventura County with or without the kids. Here are some of my family's favorites. For more options, visit the Kid Fun and Do Something sections of CVG!

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is a nice getaway up north because in addition to the permanent exhibits, there's usually a great temporary exhibit that is educational and fun. My kids love the outdoor "backyard" area of the museum, with its trails, rocks, stream, tadpoles and more.

Backyard of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum

Malibu beach areas along PCH, including Leo Carrillo and Malibu Lagoon State Beach are great places to explore tidepools and play around. The Malibu Lagoon area is also close to the Malibu Pier, Malibu Country Mart and Legacy Park, providing a variety of things to do in close proximity to one another.

As a reward for good behavior we frequent local frozen treateries (Is that a word?). There are over 90 places focused on selling ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato and other frozen treats around Ventura County. One of my kids is a big Baskin Robbins fan, another is a Tutti Frutti connoisseur. Leone’s Italian Ices are fantastic. Coaches Ice Cream in Newbury Park is a fun, family place.

Golf N' Stuff, unmistakably adjacent to the 101 freeway off Victoria in Ventura, has a diverse assortment of fun activities and is open literally 365 days a year. After playing one of the two 18-hole, well maintained courses, we blow off steam in the large arcade, knock into each other in the bumper boats and bumper cars and partake in other fun. And even in the heat of the summer, it stays cool here!

It's always fun to see a movie at a local movie theater with the kids, and here's a list of over 150 movie screens in 17 theaters around Ventura County. Not only is it a great way to beat the heat, but it's great for temporarily getting them to stop beating on each other! And you can't beat the experience of seeing a movie on the large screen.

You can't go wrong with Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks for many reasons...it is quite large and flat, great for riding bikes and scooters and playing on the grass, it has several play areas geared towards younger/older kids, the ponds and creek that run through the park are awesome and the ducks are quite entertaining. And the park is adjacent to the Thousand Oaks Library, Teen Center and Senior Center, linking it with so many other activities and things to do.

I am not ashamed to admit that I'm OK with going to Chuck E. Cheese's in Thousand Oaks and Ventura. The kids love CEC for the obvious...games...win tickets and cash them in for junk they'll never use. I get that. It's fun, loud and exciting in there. I don't mind so much because a) I can order a beer and a chicken sandwich and I'm pretty content, b) some of the games...skeeball, basketball, football toss...I myself enjoy playing and c) if I want to read the paper or mess around on my iPad, I can do so and not worry too much about the kids.

Of course, across the street is Dave and Buster’s, which your kids will gravitate when they are in their teens.

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.

Rattlesnake Do's and Don'ts in the Trails of the Conejo Valley and Neighboring Areas

I've seen more snakes in the trails of the Conejo Valley in recent years than I can ever recall, some, but not all of which are rattlesnakes.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive but can strike when they feel threatened or provoked. If you come across one on the trail, just back off and give them room to retreat. They don't want to mess with you!

Rattler crossing the Rosewood Trail on a sunset hike.

It is rare that rattlesnakes cause serious injury to humans. According to the California Poison Control Center, rattlesnakes account for 800 bites each year, with only one or two deaths. Most bites occur during the months of April through October, when both humans and snakes are active outdoors. About 25% of bites are dry (i.e. no venom), but still require medical treatment.

Do's and Don'ts

• Wear shoes when out hiking in the trails.

• Stay ON the trails...don't venture out into the underbrush, where snakes may be hiding.

• Watch what you touch with your hands too...especially if it's dark and hard to see.

• Leave them alone. They are fun to watch, but do so from a distance. Don't try to pick them up.

Is it a Rattler or a Gopher Snake?

On the trails of the Conejo Valley I've come across rattlesnakes, gopher snakes, king snakes, garter snakes and perhaps a few others I wasn't able to identify. The rattlesnakes are the ones to be particularly wary of because of their venom, so be aware of the following distinctions:

Rattlesnakes are wider/heavier than most of the other local snakes and have a triangular-shaped head, broader at the back than at the front, with a distinct "neck." They have openings between the nostrils and the eyes. There are a series of dark and light bands near the tail which look different from the markings on the rest of the body.  DO NOTE that rattles may not always be present as they may have fallen off are are not always developed on a young rattler.

For some great information on identifying California snakes, visit www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/common.html.

Notice the stocky size of this rattlesnake, the clear rattle, and the different series of dark and lights bands leading down towards the rattle.

Beautiful King Snake (known for lunching on rattlesnakes).

Gopher snake crossing the trail in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa.

Gopher snake on the Vista Del Mar Trail in Newbury Park.