Shakey's Pizza Parlor on Thousand Oaks Boulevard in the 1960s

Shakey's Pizza Parlor in the background at the 1966 Conejo Valley Days Parade

Back in the day, there were only a few pizza places in Thousand Oaks, including this Shakey's Pizza Parlor on the north side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, located across the street from Jungleland (where the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza now resides). 

The exact address of Shakey's was 2361 Thousand Oaks Blvd., where Toyota of Thousand Oaks resides today.

Today we have more pizza choices than ever imagined in the Conejo Valley. Over the last several years, newcomers to the Conejo Valley pizza scene include:

• Pitfire Artisan Pizza in Westlake Village (now closed)

• Barone's in Westlake Village (now in Thousand Oaks)

• Urban Pizza in Westlake Village (now closed)

• Pieology in Westlake Village (now closed)

• MOD Pizza in Newbury Park (now closed)

• Pieology in Thousand Oaks (now closed…but coming back to the Janss Marketplace)

To name a few...not to mention Toppers Pizza, Winner’s Pizza, D’Amore’s Pizza, Butler's Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, Pizzeria La Piccola (now closed), Tony's Pizza, Greco's Pizzeria, Parma Pizza and many others.

Shakey's Pizza was founded in Sacramento on April 30, 1954, by Sherwood "Shakey" Johnson and Ed Plummer. Johnson's nickname resulted from nerve damage following a bout of malaria suffered during World War II.  In the 1970s, there were approximately 500 Shakey's locations in the U.S. Today there are 54, the majority of which are still here in Southern California. The closest Shakey's to Thousand Oaks is 30 miles away, in Northridge.

Another scene from the 1966 Conejo Valley Days Parade. Miss Shakey's is absent! But Miss Sizzler is present!

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers Come Up with One Hundred Ways to Spell Conejo

In a recent daily gift card drawing on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, we asked folks to enter the contest by coming up with an incorrect spelling of the namesake of the Conejo Valley but to keep it phonetically correct. We do have a clever fan base; in less than 12 hours, they came up with over 100 alternative spellings of Conejo. And here they are:

1. Cahnayho

2. Ca-nay-hoe

3. Caneho

4. Ca-neigh-ho

5. Co nay ho

6. Co nay hoe

7. Coe nay ho

8. Coh nay hoe

9. Coh ney ho

10. Cohn eyyy ho

11. Connayo

12. Conaho

13. Conaeho

14. Conaiho

15. Cone-a-ho

16. Cone Eh Hough

17. Cone a ho

18. Cone eh? Oh!

19. Ca-neigh-ho

20. Co-neigh-ho

21. Coneho

22. Coneighho

23. Coneayyyho

24. Coneheyyo

25. Coneighho

26. Co-neigh-hoe

27. Coneigho

28. Coneighoe

29. Cone-heigh, ho

30. Coneyehho

31. Cow-nay-hoe

32. Cuh-nay-hoe

33. Cuh-neigh-ho

34. Cunayhoe

35. Ka nay ho

36. ka nay o

37. Ka neigh hoe

38. Kahnayoh

39. Kah-neigh-oh

40. Kahnejho

41. Kanaeho

42. Kanaho

43. Kanayho

44. Kanayhoe

45. Ka-nay-oh

46. Kaneho

47. Kanehoe

48. Kanehyo

49. Kanyeho

50. Keneho

51. Khoneigho

52. Khonayhoeh

53. Khonehhoe

54. Khoneeighho

55. Khoneighhoe

56. Khoneighho

57. Kho-ney-hoe

58. Kneighoe

59. Ko Nay Ho

60. Ko Nay Hoe

61. Ko neigh ho

62. Ko neigh hoe

63. Ko ney oh

64. Koe nay hoe

65. Koenaho

66. Koenayho

67. Koenehhoe

68. Koh nay ho

69. Koh Nay Hoe

70. Koh nay yo

71. Koh ne ho

72. Kohnayeoh

73. Kohnayho

74. Kohnejo

75. Kohnehoe

76. Kohneighho

77. Kon a ho

78. Konaeo

79. Konaho

80. Ko-nai-ho

81. Konaihoe

82. Konayho

83. Konayhoe

84. Konayo

85. Kone-ho

86. Koneayo

87. Koneheyo

88. Koneho

89. Konehoe

90. Koneighho

91. Koneighhoe

92. Koneyho

93. Konheee-hoe

94. Kuhnaiho

95. Kuh-nai-hoh

96. Kuhnayho

97. Kuhneho

98. Kunaho

99. Kunayho

100. Kuneho

101. Kuneigho

Hike to the Danielson Monument in the Boney Mountain Wilderness

One of the more popular and challenging hikes in the local area takes you from the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Recreation Area in Newbury Park to the Danielson Monument in the Boney Mountain Wilderness (Point Mugu State Park). 

It is about 5.5 miles round trip and has a net elevation gain of about 600 feet. The Monument is close to 1,500 feet in elevation This is a fairly challenging trail as roughly two thirds of the hike you are going up and down fairly substantial hills. That said, I've seen hundreds of folks on these trails of all fitness levels and ages doing it at their own pace.

Entrance into Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa at Lynn Road and Via Goleta in Newbury Park

Starting at the Satwiwa Native American Culture Center, make your way to the Danielson Road trail by either taking the Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road (paved) south for roughly .3 mile and then a left on Danielson Road (trail) or take the Satwiwa Loop Trail that runs diagonally southeast until you reach a fork on the trail.

(Note: You can also park at the trailhead at Wendy and Potrero Roads and add another few miles to your trek.)

Sycamore Canyon Road southbound towards Point Mugu State Park from Satwiwa Center

Veer right (south) at the juncture of the Danielson Road and Satwiwa Loop trails towards a bench that overlooks Sycamore Canyon. This is called the Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook.

The bench at the Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook in Rancho Sierra Vista

The short, rocky trail eastbound from there (behind the bench) takes you to another fork, where you can either veer left to the Hidden Valley Overlook trail (part of Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa) or right into the Boney Mountain Wilderness. (Note that dogs and bikes are not allowed in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.)

Entering the Boney Mountain Wilderness

After a steady descent of about another .4 mile, you'll see another sign. Continue towards the left. On the right is the Upper Sycamore Canyon Trail, kind of a fun, winding trail at the bottom of the canyon. Save that for another day.

In non-drought years, there is often a creek you may need to walk through as you continue on Danielson Road. It has been years since the stream was of any significance but it was back in February 2017 after recent rainstorms. But it is generally easy to get across.

After navigating the narrowest portion of trail, you will see a juncture. The unmarked "Waterfall Trail" is straight ahead (only about 120 steps to the "Waterfall" when there's not a severe drought). You can check it out as it is such a short distance. But to get to the Monument, veer sharply right, continuing up Danielson Road.

Juncture of Waterfall (straight ahead) and Danielson Road (to the right)

This is a long, grinding, uphill trail of about a mile until you get to a juncture where you can make a right-hand turn to the Old Boney Trail. As you make your way up, you'll be treated to great views from Sycamore Canyon to Newbury Park and beyond.

This is a bit of a dried out view from Upper Danielson Road looking down from where we came from in 2015.

You're almost there once you see this Old Boney trail sign - just .3 mile to go

Continue straight on Danielson Road. There are some areas coming up that periodically get overgrown. Watch out for poison oak particularly in these areas, continuing on to the Monument. In .3 mile, you're reached your destination.

The Danielson Monument is a tribute to Richard Ely Danielson, Junior who lived on the 7,800 acre Rancho Sierra Vista after purchasing the land from the estate of Carl H. Beal in 1947 for roughly $500,000. Danielson lived on the ranch for over three decades with his family. He donated 5,585 acres of the ranch to the State of California, which became part of Point Mugu State Park, and sold 850 acres, including the horse ranch, to the National Park Service in 1980.  He passed away on December 27, 1988. 

Ranching in the area dates back to the early 1800s, when Spanish soldiers were granted 48,672 acres of land, "Rancho El Conejo," which through the years was subdivided and sold to other landowners. One of these ranchers was Carl Beal, who in 1937 named the area Rancho Sierra Vista "Mountain View Ranch." 

The Monument is in a peaceful setting, surrounded by trees. And it stays fairly green up here. A good place to eat lunch or sit and relax. Adjacent to the Monument is a remnant of Danielson's cabin - the chimney. If you continue up this path to the right, you can get to the top of Boney Mountain.

Remnant of Danielson's cabin adjacent to the monument - a chimney.

One thing I've never seen in my decades on this particular trail are strollers. I think strollers would be a bit of a challenge for many due to rocky and narrow sections, periodic overgrowth and poison oak on the sides of a small portion of the trail and, when we're not in a drought, a stream crossing. 

COMPILATION OF TRAILS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

All About the Advance Child Tax Credits That Commenced Today, July 15, 2021

Today, the IRS started sending out “Advance Child Tax Credits” to eligible taxpayers for 2021 that were voted into law as part of the American Rescue Plan Act in March.

The law did a number of things for the 2021 tax year only:

• It increased the amount of the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 for dependents under age 17 to $3,600 for ages 5 and under and $3,000 for ages 17 and under.

  • Dependents age 18 and up continue to generate a $500 tax credit, with no advance credit.

  • Note that in prior years, the credit dropped from $2,000 to $500 at age 17, not age 18. So effectively the Child Tax Credit for dependents age 17 increased from $500 to $3,000 for year 2021, which is quite substantial.

  • The ages are determined as of 12/31/21.

• The law allows for Advance Child Tax Credit payments to taxpayers over a 6 month period beginning July 15 through December 15, 2021. The advance payments are as follows:

  • Up to $1,800 of the $3,600 tax credit for ages 5 and under at a rate of $300 per month, beginning July 15th.

  • Up to $1,500 of the $3,000 tax credit for ages 6 to 17 at a rate of $250 per month, beginning July 15th.

  • The remaining 50% of the tax credit will be applied as usual when you file your 2021 tax return in 2022.

• However, there is a “first phaseout” of the increased Child Tax Credit in 2021 once your 2021 modified Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) reaches $150,000 for married filing joint, $112,500 for head of household and $75,000 for single filers.

  • This first phaseout begins to reduce the Child Tax Credit from $3,000 or $3,600 down to $2,000.

  • The reduction is $50 of tax credit for each $1,000 in AGI in excess of the limits shown above. That means the Child Tax Credit drops to $2,000 if your income is $30,000 (ages 6 to 17) or $36,000 (ages 5 and under) greater than the limits.

• There’s also a “second phaseout” if your income reaches $400,000 married filing joint or $200,000 for other filing statuses as there has been in prior years.

Isn’t this great how uncomplicated the rules are? <sarcasm>

How do they determine if you will be receiving the Advance Child Tax Credit? Based on your 2020, or if not filed yet, your 2019 tax return.

The IRS will be sending out “Letter 6419” next January to show the total amount of Advance Child Tax Credits paid. They will need to be included in your 2021 tax returns to derive any remaining Child Tax Credit.

The Advance Child Tax Credits are not taxable income. HOWEVER, if your tax situation changes significantly in 2021 and as a result you are not eligible for the full Child Tax Credit, but you receive the Advance Child Tax Credits, you may have to pay back some of the money when you file the return. For example:

• Your income increased in 2021 and you are no longer eligible for the increased tax credit.

• You no longer claim the dependent for whatever reason.

If you think you are in this situation, you can OPT OUT of receiving the Advance Child Tax Credits at https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021.

• You cannot opt out of payments already received, but you can opt out of future payments.

Inversely, your tax situation may have changed in 2021 that would allow you to receive more Advance Child Tax Credits:

• You had a baby in 2021 or otherwise have additional dependents under age 18.

• Your AGI dropped in 2021 and as a result you are now eligible for Child Tax Credits based on your reduced income.

• Your tax filing status changed in 2021 (single to married, or vice versa) and that changes your eligibility for Child Tax Credits.

Goldstein Weiss, CPAs www.goldsteinweiss.com 818-876-8380

Go to the link above to update your information with the IRS to start receiving Advance Child Tax Credits.

Neptune's Net and County Line Beach in Malibu are Local-Area "Must Do's"

Neptune's Net is a Malibu icon, located across from County Line Beach in Malibu at 42505 Pacific Coast Highway. Everyone who lives in the local area just has to experience this favorite eatery overlooking the Pacific. 

Originally built in 1956, the location of the fryer and grill have not changed. However, it was originally a gas station, real estate office and restaurant called "Panorama Pacific at Solimar" but locals called it Jake's Diner (after Eastman "Jake" Jacobs, its owner). In 1974 it was sold and the new owners renamed it Neptune's Net. The current owners purchased it in 1991.

Some of our favorites at Neptune's Net are everything fried (fish & chips, shrimp, scallops, clam strips and calamari), fresh seafood (lobster, crab, shrimp and oysters), burgers and more. Quite a popular biker hangout but at the same time, family friendly.

If you're newbie, check out the menu and then find the back of the ordering line, which often stretches back to the refrigerated drinks area. Grab your drink first as you wait in line. Order. Grab a seat, either in the front patio overlooking PCH, the side patio adjacent to the parking lot or the indoor seating area. Learn more at neptunesnet.com.

After (or before) you've dined, park or re-park (it's nice to clear your spot at Neptune's Net for other folks) your car across the street at County Line Beach, a casual, perhaps 1/3 mile stretch of beach surrounded by residences on each side.

There are no facilities at this beach other than three porta-johns in the parking area. No parking fees. 

County Line Beach is popular with surfers and folks generally hanging out and jumping into the water. There are some rocks to explore on the west side of the beach too. And well-behaved dogs can often be seen at this beach.

Rocks about on the west side of the beach, which stretches around to residences.

MORE LOCAL AREA BEACHES AT THIS LINK

Leaf Blower Guidelines in the City of Westlake Village

Yes, the City of Westlake Village has "recommended guidelines" for the operation of leaf blowers that was approved by the Westlake Village City Council on June 27, 2012.

The detailed Guidelines are available on the City's website at www.wlv.org but here are the highlights:

1. Leaf blowers are only to be used between 7am and 4pm on weekdays and 8am to 4pm on Saturdays. Sundays and legal holidays are banned from use of gas powered leaf blowers.

2. One must use leaf blowers at the lowest speed possible...if a higher speed is ABSOLUTELY needed, one must do so for no longer than two minutes.

3. Mufflers and air filters must be used and serviced/cleaned periodically.

4. One must observe wind direction when operating the blower...and must blow in the same direction of the wind (except of course if the wind is blowing into your neighbor's property, city streets/gutters or the lake, in which case you might want to stop blowing).

5. Actually, one must NOT use leaf blowers when there are excessive winds or when any doors or windows are open.

Bottom line: When the area to be cleaned is small, grab a broom or rake and have at it. The guidelines state that failure to abide by the guidelines "could result in legal prohibitions against the use of leaf blowers."

The neighboring City of Thousand Oaks has no such guideline. The general Noise Ordinance in Chapter Five of the City's Municipal Code indicates that no powered equipment such as "backpack blower" (not to mention lawn mowers, edgers, etc.) shall be used between 9pm and 7am. That should explain why you never hear your neighbor mowing their lawn at midnight.

www.wlv.org/DocumentCenter/View/207/Leaf-Blower-Guidelines---2012-revised?bidId=

Hillside Letters "SP" on South Mountain in Santa Paula

When driving southbound in Santa Paula, look up towards the mountain south of the city (aptly named South Mountain) and you’ll see the letters SP boldly emblazoned high up on the hill that overlooks the Santa Paula Airport.

According to the Santa Paula Times, the letters are 125 feet long and 25 feet wide and originated in the 1922 time frame when a group of high schoolers made the trek up the mountain to carve the letters.

The brush was cleared annually over the years until the 1970s; for decades thereafter, the brush overgrew the letters and made them difficult to see.

Then, as part of the city’s centennial celebration in 2002, the Times noted that Limoneira Co. and other volunteers and donors worked to clean up the letters for all to see.

Santa Paula is not alone in its mountain monogram. Other local area cities with monograms include Agoura Hills (there’s a letter A in the hill north of Agoura High School), the letters CLU emblazoned on the hill overlooking Cal Lutheran University, the letter F in the hills east of Fillmore, the letter V in the hills above Ventura High School and the letters VC in the hills above Ventura College.

Of course, the most prominent icon landscaped into a hill in Ventura County is Happy Face Hill seen by westbound drivers on the 118 near Kuehner Drive.

Happy Face Hill in Simi Valley - sure to bring a smile to your face.