T.O. family tree sprouts a new branch

LOVE T.O.- - Congratulations to Candis Hong, finance director for the city of Thousand Oaks, on the birth of her first grandchild, Mark Jonas Hodges, Fri., June 8. With this birth, five generations of Candis' family now reside in Thousand Oaks. Shown here, from left, are Candis' grandmother, Louise Nekuda; her daughter, KariAnn Hodges holding baby Mark; proud grandma, Candis Hong; and Candis' mother, Mildred Carnot. Thirty years ago Candis Hong moved to Thousand Oaks and fell in love with the city. That romance has bloomed into a Thousand Oaks family tree.

She and her husband, Jerry Hong, a local dentist, moved here when he started his practice. Children followed, and they became involved in library programs and Conejo Recreation and Park activities as they grew up and attended schools in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. Along the way, Candis Hong became the city's finance director.

In 1979 her grandmother Louise Nekuda came to Thousand Oaks. In 1992 her mother, Mildred Carnot, joined them.

Candis Hong's daughter KariAnn graduated from Westlake High School.

"She got an excellent education from Westlake High School and went on to UCLA," her mother said.

KariAnn got her bachelor's degree at UCLA and stayed there until she also became a dentist. Then she moved back home to Thousand Oaks to join her father's practice. She married Jonas Hodges, an attorney who works in Pasadena.

Now, making it five generations of Thousand Oaks residents, comes baby Mark Jonas Hodges, born Fri., June 8 at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center. His greatgreatgrandmother, greatgrandmother, grandmother and mother were all the firstborn of their families. But Mark is different: He's the first firstborn in the family who is a boy.

On her way to the hospital KariAnn called her longtime high school friend Natalie Swarts, who was also pregnant, and told her she was in labor and on her way to deliver, Candis Hong said.

After she'd had her baby, KariAnn learned that Natalie had also gone to Los Robles after they'd talked, and she'd delivered a baby girl, Elise, even before baby Mark was born, Hong said.

The two friends were able to share time in the hospital together, making Thousand Oaks feel very much like a small town where best girlfriends can have babies together on the same day.

Now they are looking forward to their children growing up together.

"We love Thousand Oaks. We moved here and stayed because we love it," Candis Hong said.

She said she is looking forward sand Oaks Library and the parks. She's glad he gets to go through CVUSD like her children did.

"I'm glad he gets to grow up in a safe, beautiful community,"