Olsen offramp to be restriped
      Caltrans will re-stripe the northbound offramp at Olsen Road to create a free right-turn lane off the 23 Freeway. The traffic signal's right arrow will stay green unless the pedestrian crossing has been activated. Striping work will also be done on eastbound Olsen Road.
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Funding committee needs applicants
      Thousand Oaks residents may apply to serve on the funding review committee. The application deadline is Mon., May 21. There are six vacancies to be filled- one unscheduled, which serves until June 2008, and five regular, which serve until June 2009.
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ArtWalk '07 just around the corner
      ArtWalk '07 will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun., June 2 and 3 on the grounds of the Countrywide Bank Building at Hillcrest Drive and Wilbur Road across from The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks. More than 170 artists, craftspeople and musicians will display and perform their work at the event, which has been hosted by the Conejo Valley Art Museum for the past 20 years.
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Office condo construction continues
      Construction is underway on the $17 million Vantage at Westlake office condominiums in Thousand Oaks, according to Westcord Commercial Real Estate Services. A development of TR Funding of Westlake Village, The Vantage at Westlake is being built on a two-acre site at 2629 Townsgate Road, one block west of Westlake Boulevard and just south of the 101 Freeway.
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Democrats to host fundraiser
      The Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley will host Wine for Winners, a kickoff fundraising party, from 8 to 10 p.m. Sat., May 19 at a private home in the Dos Vientos area of Newbury Park. Susan Cohen and her band will perform jazz while guests taste and purchase a variety of wines poured by Wine Styles.
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Representatives of Home Depot explain their plan to a very small audience
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Though publicized by posters and 5,500 mailers, Home Depot's community open house on Saturday attracted only about a dozen people. The company provided professionals to answer questions and get feedback about the proposed store on 325 Hampshire Road.
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Art store is drawing its final customers
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Imagine a store where the owners are actually on site, helping customers they know by name. For 26 years, Mittels Art and Framing Center in Thousand Oaks has been that kind of destination for artists seeking supplies.
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Meeting tonight seeks input on Lang Ranch park
      The Conejo Recreation and Park District staff will host a meeting to get public feedback on a draft environmental impact report for the Lang Ranch Community Park project. It will be held 7 to 9 p.m. tonight, Thurs., May 17, at the Conejo Recreation and Park District headquarters, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.
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It's never too early to start conserving water
      May is National Water Awareness Month, a good time to reduce water use. "Water is a precious, limited resource; considering the fact that we just had the fourth driest winter on record and the Sierra snow pack is 71 percent below normal, our customers' conservation efforts are more important than ever," said Don Jensen, district manager of local water provider,
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Bill would help Rocketdyne workers
      A bill was recently introduced in the House of Representatives that will ease payments to former Rocketdyne workers who became ill due to their work at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.
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What's up with that?
     BRIDGE WORK IN WESTLAKE- Painting the bridge at Lindero Canyon and Triunfo Canyon roads requires special care because the old paint contains lead. To proceed safely, the underside of the bridge has been isolated so that workers in environmental suits can sandblast it without debris polluting the stream below. The project should be completed next week, city of Westlake Village officials said. If you have a "Whats up with that?" inquiry, send it to tonewstip@theacorn.com.
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Ventura County quality of life to be discussed
      A panel of speakers will discuss quality of life issues in Ventura County at 7:30 a.m. Tues., May 22 in the Lundring Events Center at California Lutheran University. During the breakfast event, the 2007 edition of the Ventura County Civic Alliance's State of the Region Report will be unveiled and some of the information it contains will be presented.
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Drivers can get extensions to deal with tickets
      Extensions on minor criminal and traffic violations are now available on the Ventura Superior Court's website. At www.ventura.courts.ca.gov. citations may be extended for 28 days, and turn-in time for traffic school certificates may be extended for 14 days. Only one extension per citation or certificate is allowed.
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One T.O. family returns from Africa mission as one departs
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Spitting cobras that can shoot venom into the eyes of a victim 10 eet away are what frighten Krysta Christensen most as she prepares her family to move to Africa. The Thousand Oaks wife and mother is willing to sell her home and all her possessions to travel with her family across an ocean and help impoverished people and AIDS orphans in an African village.
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Reading to a dog helps children learn, have fun
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      Neka, a golden doodle (half golden retriever, half poodle) was destined to help people. The same could be said of Neka's owner Nikhil Crain, a 15year-old Westlake High School student who initially trained Neka as a guide dog for the blind.
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Lois Capps to speak
      The Democratic Club of Conejo Valley will present U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Port Hueneme) at 2 p.m. Sun., May 27 at the Conejo Recreation and Park District offices, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. The public is invited. Capps, a representative for the 23rd Congressional District, serves on the Energy & Commerce and Natural Resources committees.
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Botanic Gardens just got better
     ANOTHER EAGLE SCOUT HELPS HIS COMMUNITY- Jeff Murray stands next to one of twarbors that he constructed to beautify the Butterfly Entrance at T.O.'s Botanic Gardens. Jeff, senior at Thousand Oaks High School, was honored recently during a ceremony at the RockweScience Center. Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in Scouting. Jeff was sponsored by thmen's club of St. Paschal Baylon Church.
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CRPD rakes in program awards
      On May 6, Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) received three awards at the annual Conference of the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
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Audubon Society offers birding trips
      The Conejo Valley Audubon Society will present birding field trips in May. The group's website is www.ConejoValleyAudubon.org. Malibu Creek State Park, Sun., May 20: Sightings should include orioles, woodpeckers and many riparian birds. Trip leader is Kevin Pickard, (805) 492-6962. Meet at Rancho Park-and-Ride at 8 a.m. to car pool.
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Museum looks better, thanks to an Eagle
     DOING HIS PART FOR SCOUTING- Landon David Wurst, left, of Newbury Park shows some old-fashioned patriotism while Bill Miller, Scouting committee chairman of the Elks Lodge in Thousand Oaks, prepares to hand an Eagle Scout certificate to Landon. For his Eagle Scout project, Landon led a group in making improvements of park benches at Stagecoach Inn Museum. Landon attends Newbury Park High School, and he wants to pursue a career in filmmaking.
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Grants given for county healthcare
      The Livingston Memorial Foundation of Westlake Village has presented grants totaling more than $396,000 to 32 Ventura County nonprofit organizations for medical and healthrelated issues during its 2006-07 grant year, which ended April 30.
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Taking a gander around the lake
     'WHICH WAY SHOULD WE GO'- This family of geese seems to be debating which direction to swim as they enjoy a comfortable afternoon on the placid waters of Lake Sherwood.
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Circus Vargas coming to Simi, Ventura
      Circus Vargas will perform through Mon., May 21 at the lot at Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road in Simi Valley. Later, the circus will present shows from Wed. through Sat., May 23 to 26, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in the city of Ventura.
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The sweetest Mother's Day gift
     HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY- Shelly Smith of Newbury Park gets a kiss from her daughter, Sterling, 2, during the Mother's Day story hour last Saturday at the Newbury Park Library.
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Better late than never, a mother's love is forever
      Thank you for taking care of me while I was sick. I appreciate this a lot. I would never take a different mom. Your level is so high that there is no level above you. Even though I missed a lot of fun stuff at school, I still had fun with you. Thank you so much for making my problems yours. You do a bunch of nice stuff for me, and some day I would like to do something nice for you too.
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Gem and mineral club hosts annual show
      The Conejo Gem and Mineral Club will host its 33rd annual show, "Pageant of a Thousand Gems," from 9 a.m. to 5 p.mSat., May 19 and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sun., May 20 at the Borchard Park Community Center, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park.
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Too early for Halloween
     GHOSTLY EFFECT- A fountain in the G.H. and Diane Jones Reflecting Pool at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza takes on the appearance of a silvery spook in the late evening light.
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Straight Up documentary focuses on underage drinking
      Straight Up Ventura County, a nonprofit organization focused on community change and reducing underage and binge drinking, has released a documentary, "Access and Excess," a 17-minute DVD that looks at underage and binge drinking in Ventura County.
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Elks honored
      The Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge No. 2477 placed third overall at the California-Hawaii West Central Coast district ritual contest May 5 at the Oxnard Elks Lodge. Exalted Ruler Catherine Koeriz and Robert Jones, chaplain, placed first; and George Meehan, leading knight, and Liz Bell, inner guard, placed third.
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City honors volunteers
     EFFORTS APPRECIATED- The city of Thousand Oaks honored its volunteers last Thursday at the Fred Kavli Theatre. Last year, about 1,100 volunteers contributed 92,000 hours and saved the city more than $2 million. Above, two of the volunteers, Bob Pomeroy, 87, left, and Jerry Dunklin, 81, both of Thousand Oaks enjoy the appetizers.
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Love Run will benefit Meals on Wheels
      Senior Concerns will present the 14th annual Love Run on Sun., June 3 at the parking lot of Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 2801 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village. Registration begins at 7 a.m. The race follows a route around the lake and consists of timed 5K and 10K runs, beginning at 8 and 8:50 a.m. respectively, and a one-mile run/walk beginning at 9 a.m.
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Women's club starts a new year
     LADIES- Theresa Miller, left, named last year's Junior of the Year by the Westlake Village Junior Women's Club, shares smiles with Catharine Chambers and Shawn Klein, this year's recipients, at the club's recent installation dinner.
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New Westlake Village law group forms
      Steve Greenwood and Terri Hilliard announced the formation of a new Westlake Village law partnership, Greenwood Hilliard LLP.The team will emphasize estate planning and asset protection. Hilliard also heads up Hilliard Mediation Services and is a specialist in dispute resolution in all areas, including trustee/beneficiary conflict issues.
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Meeting gives adoption info
      Children's Bureau will offer an information meeting for adoptive parents from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tues., May 29 at the Grant Brimhall/ Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Prospective caregivers are encouraged to attend. The bureau provides training, services, support groups and resources to adoptive parents.
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Chamber hosts scholarship reception
      The Agoura/Oak Park/ Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the inaugural Patricia Soteras Scholarship fund reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Tues., June 5 at the Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas. L.A. City Councilmember Dennis Zine will be the master of ceremonies.
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