Boy Scouts of America to Rebrand as Scouting America

/

The Boy Scouts of America today announced that it will rebrand to Scouting America, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. The change will go into effect on February 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th anniversary.

This announcement also comes as the organization celebrates the fifth anniversary of welcoming girls into Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA programs. Scouting America currently serves more than 176,000 girls and young women across all programs, including over 6,000 who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Scouting America’s ongoing goal is to provide young people with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills and have fun, educational experiences, fostering their growth and future outcomes as leaders, and be prepared for life. At the same time, values instilled by the Scout Oath and Law help prepare young people for lives of purpose and impact.

More than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting programs since its founding in 1910, and currently, more than 1 million youth, including both men and women, are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To date, more than 2.75 million youth have earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

To learn more about Scouting America’s mission, visit Scouting.org. 

Hal Watkins Scout Center and Scout Store at the C. J. Daily Ranch in Camarillo

/
Boy Scouts Daily Ranch lr.jpg

NOTE: On May 7, 2024, the Boy Scouts of America announced it will be rebranding as Scouting America on February 8, 2025.

The Hal Watkins Scout Center is located at the C. J. Daily Ranch, 509 East Daily Drive, Camarillo. The center is home to the Boy Scouts of America' Ventura County Council office. It also has a great Scout Store that stocks Scouting supplies and camping gear.

As of May 2023, the store is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting 6/3/2023) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting 6/3/2023). Visit www.vccbsa.org/Scoutstore or call 805-482-8938 for more information.

The Ventura County Council serves more than 4,500 youth throughout the county and contributes thousands of service hours annually in community service through the annual Scouting For Food drive, Eagle Service Projects, and other unit, District, Council, and Order of the Arrow service projects.

Who is Hal Watkins? According to this L.A. Times article, Watkins was a longtime Ventura County resident and owner of several local car dealerships. He donated a 1906 house (see it HERE) to the Boy Scouts in 1973. He passed away in 1991 at age 66.

Scout Store is located in this building.

Scout Store is located in this building.

Free Concerts and Live Music All Summer Long Around Ventura County

/
singingbunny.jpg

Summer 2024 will be here soon and we’ll have another outstanding summer of free live music throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas! Rock, jazz, pops, R&B, reggae, classical, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Classic Rock, Latin, tribute bands, etc. The compilation below has links to more detailed information.

Concerts subject to change. List will be updated regularly as new events are added.

Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Newbury Park

Agoura/Oak Park/Calabasas/Woodland Hills

  • City of Agoura Hills Free Summer Concert in the Park at Chumash Park (except 7/21 concert at the Agoura Hills High PAEC. Concerts start at 6pm.

    • Sun, June 16: Foo Fighters Tribute

    • Sun, July 7: Neil Diamond Tribute

    • Sun, July 21: Conejo Valley Community Concert and Jazz Bands (at AHS PAEC)

    • Sun, Aug 4: Taylor Swift Tribute

    • Sun, Aug 18: The Yacht Groove

  • Valley Cultural Foundation’s Free Concerts at Warner Park in Woodland Hills on Sunday nights from June 16 to August 25 at 5:30PM (emerging artist) followed by headline acts.

    • June 16: Linda Ronstadt Tribute

    • June 23: The Soul Juice Band

    • June 30: The Doors Tribute

    • Thursday, July 4: 4th of July Event with Angela O’Neill and Outrageous8

    • July 14: Foreigner Tribute

    • July 21: Fleetwood Mac Tribute

    • July 28: Prince Tribute

    • Aug 4: Bon Jovi Tribute

    • Aug 11: ABBA Tribute

    • Aug 18: Taylor Swift Tribute

    • Aug 25: Aerosmith Tribute

  • Sun Sets Summer Concert Series at Calabasas Lake on Sunday nights at 6pm.

    • June 2: Tribute to Grease

    • July 21: On Tap Band (80s/90s)

    • Aug 11: U2 Tribute

    • Aug 25: R&B/Motown

  • Music in the Park at Oak Canyon Community Park in Oak Park on Saturday, July 13th (DSB - Journey Tribute)

Moorpark/Simi Valley

  • Summer Music in the Park Free Concerts at Rancho Simi Community Park on Saturday nights at 6:30pm.

    • Sat, June 15: Garth Brooks Tribute

    • Sat, July 20: Foo Fighters Tribute

    • Sat, August 17: Queen Nation (Queen Tribute)

  • Simi Civic Center Plaza Concerts in the Courtyard on six designated Sat nights from 6-9pm.

    • Saturday, June 29: 805 Social Club (Dance/Pop)

    • Saturday, July 13: Sidetracs (Top 40, R&B, Latin)

    • Saturday, July 27: Little Alice (Top 40)

    • Saturday, August 10: Beatles Tribute

    • Saturday, August 24: Pat Benatar Tribute

    • Saturday, September 7: The Dirty Lowdown (Yacht Rock/80s)

  • City of Moorpark Concerts in the Park at Arroyo Vista Park at 6pm

    • June 22: Rockin’ Oldies

    • July 27: Country/Pop/Rock

    • Aug 24: Classic Piano Rock

    • Sept 28: Moorpark Symphony Orchestra

  • Free Summer Concert Series at the Simi Valley Town Center features a variety of bands, including a number of tribute bands at 7pm. TBA

Camarillo/Oxnard/Port Hueneme/Ventura

Santa Barbara

Free Thursday Night Concerts at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara on Thursday nights, June 27 and July 11, 18, 25 from 6-7:30pm.

Have something to add to this list? CONTACT US!!

Check the Events Calendar for things going on around town as well as the Local Events and Community Messages sections of Conejo Valley Guide.

Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream, Gelato and Other Frozen Treats Around Ventura County

/
FroYoPic.jpg

Here's a handy list of frozen yogurt, ice cream and gelato places in and around Ventura County for your dining pleasure. There are over 80 such establishments in Ventura County and surrounding areas.

(Current as of 5/5/24. Things change...call to confirm....let us know of any changes.)

Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Oak Park

Ventura/Ojai/Santa Paula

Thrifty Ice Cream, a brand that brings me visions of childhood joy, is still around at Rite Aid stores throughout Ventura County.

FROZEN YOGURT AND ICE CREAM PLACES THAT HAVE CLOSED SINCE 2009

Coffee Shops in the Conejo Valley

/

Photo credit: Michaela (via Pexels)

According to the National Coffee Association in its Spring 2024 National Coffee Data Trends report, 67% of Americans have had coffee in the past day, compared to 49% in 2004. The greatest increase is among consumers 60+, whose past day consumption increased by 9%. Consumers in the 25 to 59 age groups also saw increases in consumption. 57% of American adults had a specialty coffee in the past week, up 7.5% one year prior.

On that caffeinated note, let’s take a look at what coffee shops we have here in the Conejo Valley, covering Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park and parts of Calabasas.

Note that this list can change at any time. We’ve listed store hours but those can also change, so check directly with the store first to confirm. (Contact us for updates, additions and edits.)

Independent Coffee Shops

Longevity Coffee is located in the Skyline Center at 2849 Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks. Longevity offers low acid, freshly roasted, certified organic coffee and shakes, smoothies, Longevity Sodas and ore. Food items offered include toasts, acai bowls, oatmeal, baked goods and more. Open daily from 7:30am to 4:30pm. www.longevitycoffee.com (805) 836-2849

Five07 Coffee Bar and Eatery is located near Vons in the Oakbrook Plaza at 2036 E Avenida de los Árboles, Thousand Oaks. Five07 offers a wide array of drinks and food items, such as crepes, toasts, baked goods and more.. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. Live music too. Open 7:30am - 5pm daily. www.thefive07.com

Five07 opened a 2nd location at 2955 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks (between Bad Ass Street Tacos and Oak and Iron), on Friday, December 29, 2023. Hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sundays. This location is geared towards takeout, with limited seating and a standing bar. www.thefive07.com

Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters is located in the CVS/Trader Joe’s strip mall at 111 N. Reino Road (at Borchard) in Newbury Park. Ragamuffin offers espresso/coffee drinks, tea/non-coffee drinks and a selection of food items such as avocado toast, frittatas and baked goods (including gluten-free options). Opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. Sunday. ragamuffinroasters.com (805) 375-9000

Honeycup Coffeehouse & Creamery is located at 360 Via Las Brisas in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park. Honey Cup serves coffee, tea, and smoothies. Pastries, sandwiches and handmade ice cream are also on the menu. Open daily 7am to 3pm. www.honeycupcoffeehouse.com (805) 716-3156.

Conejo Coffee at 2860 Camino Dos Rios in Newbury Park (across the street from Home Depot and Target) offers coffee drinks, pastries, smoothies, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and more. Open 5:30am to 2pm Monday through Friday and 7am to 2pm Saturday. Closed Sunday. www.instagram.com/conejocoffee (805) 498-7420.

Cafe Sapientia is located at 706 Lindero Canyon Road in Oak Park, serving specialty coffee and tea drinks, as well as their delectable pastries and Korean shaved ice. Open daily (except closed on Tuesdays) from 9am to 5pm. www.cafesapientia.com (818) 532-7112

Caffe Aroma is located in the Smart & Final Extra/CVS plaza at 2130 Newbury Road in Newbury Park, offering coffee, tea and other drinks as well as food items. Open 8am to 4pm Wednesday through Monday. (805) 375-7150

Bonibi Coffee is located in The Landing in Westlake Village at 32123 Lindero Canyon Road. They offer Stumptown specialty coffee, multiple origin coffee blend with signature notes of citrus and dark chocolate. Bonibi offers hot drinks, iced drinks, pastries and food items. Open 8am to 4pm daily. www.bonibicoffee.com (747) 283-5982

Hibye Coffee is coming soon to The Shoppes at Westlake Village at 30770 Russell Ranch Road, Suite D, near Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. More details TBA.

La La Land Kind Cafe is coming soon to The Promenade at Westlake in Thousand Oaks, offering signature lattes, coffee drinks, toasts and more. Stay tuned. www.lalalandkindcafe.com

CHECK OUT OUR COMPILATION OF CONEJO VALLEY BAKERIES, MOST OF WHICH ALSO SERVE COFFEE, AT THIS LINK.

Chain Coffee Shops

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is located in the Oakbrook Plaza at 1772 E Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks. offering coffees, teas and more. Open weekdays 5:30am to 7pm and weekends 6am-7pm. www.coffeebean.com (805) 241-2499

The other Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf location is in the Westlake Plaza, 968 S. Westlake Blvd., #6, Westlake Village. Open 5:30am to 7:30pm weekdays, 6am to 8pm Saturday and 6am to 7pm Sunday. (805) 497-1256

Nordstrom Ebar is located outside of Nordstrom on the first floor of The Oaks mall, offering expresso drinks, coffee, smoothies, pastries and healthy snacks. Open 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 7pm Sunday. (805) 418-4015 www.nordstrom.com/store-details/united-states/ca/thousand-oaks/nordstrom-thousand-oaks

Peet’s Coffee is at 595 Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks near Janss Marketplace. Peet’s is a California-based coffee chain founded in 1966, offering tea, blended drinks, pastries, sandwiches and their signature coffee. Open daily 5:30am to 6pm. www.peets.com (805) 497-8366.

Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) bills itself as “the world’s leading baked goods and coffee chain” and thus their location at 30895 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. #101, Westlake Village (cross street Lindero) is included on this list. Their menu includes espresso, coffee, teas, frozen drinks and more, along with their signature donuts, sandwiches and other menu items. Open 5am to 8pm daily. locations.dunkindonuts.com/en/ca/westlake-village/30895-e-thousand-oaks-blvd/355298 (818) 991-5555

Another Dunkin’ is coming to the Conejo Gateway plaza in Newbury Park, near the corner of Wendy Drive and Old Conejo Road. This 1,800 sq ft location will be a drive-thru, with outdoor seating areas. Timing TBA.

Philz Coffee opened November 10, 2022 at 33 N. Moorpark Road, in the Village at Moorpark in Thousand Oaks, in the former Starbucks between Men’s Warehouse and Jamba Juice. Philz brews an assortment of dark, medium, and light blends of coffees, along with their featured tea and coffee creations, such as their Iced Mint Mojito. www.philzcoffee.com

Philz Coffee opened another location at The Summit at Calabasas, at the corner of Lost Hills Road and Agoura Road. www.philzcoffee.com

And how could we not forget Starbucks, with nearly 34,000 stores in 80 countries. Starbucks currently has 22 locations in the Conejo Valley, including numerous locations inside supermarkets literally across the parking lot from stand-alone locations.

  • Thousand Oaks: 2072 E. Avenida De Los Arboles (at Erbes) (Oakbrook Plaza) Open 4:30am to 7pm weekdays and 5:30am to 7:30pm weekends. (805) 241-8026

  • Thousand Oaks: 2048 E. Avenida De Los Arboles (at Erbes) inside Vons. Open 6am to 8pm daily. (805) 492-2497

  • Thousand Oaks: 3366 Thousand Oaks Blvd (at Auto Mall Drive). Drive-thru location. Open 5am to 10pm weekdays and 5:30am to 9:30pm on weekends. (805) 230-9267

  • Thousand Oaks: 1195 East Thousand Oaks Blvd (at Rancho). Drive-thru location. Open 4:30am to 8:30pm weekdays and 5am to 9pm weekends. (805) 379-1750

  • Thousand Oaks: 605 E. Janss Road (at Moorpark Road). Open 6am to 7pm daily. (805) 497-3499

  • Thousand Oaks: 401 Moorpark Road (at Brazil) at Janss Marketplace. Drive-thru location. Open 4:30am to 10pm weekdays and 5:30am to 10pm weekends. (805) 666-3158

  • Thousand Oaks: 1790 N. Moorpark Road inside Vons in the Park Oaks Shopping Center. Open 6am to 8pm daily. (805) 497-8652

  • Thousand Oaks: 350 West Hillcrest Drive (kiosk inside The Oaks Mall). Open 10am to 8pm Monday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm Sunday. (805) 371-4399

  • Thousand Oaks: 1500 Moorpark Road inside Ralph’s at the Conejo Valley Plaza. Open 5am to 9pm daily. (805) 379-3100

  • Thousand Oaks: 101 Memorial Parkway (at Cal Lutheran Univ, Ullman Commons). Open 8am to 5pm weekdays and 8am to 11am weekends. (805) 493-3669

  • Thousand Oaks: Southeast corner of Moorpark Road and Avenida De Las Flores, across the street from Thousand Oaks High School. Drive-thru location.

  • Newbury Park: 975 Broadbeck Drive (The Village at Newbury Park - near Islands). Drive-thru location. Open 4:30am to 8:30pm weekdays and 5:30am to 8:30pm weekends. (805) 375-6163.

  • Newbury Park; 2705 Teller Road (inside Target). Open 8am to 8pm daily. (805) 480-9114

  • Newbury Park: 421 S. Reino Road (at Kimber Drive) (Albertson’s/CVS plaza). Open 4:30am to 7pm weekdays and 4:30am to 6:30pm weekends. (805) 498-8287

  • Newbury Park: 540 North Ventu Park Road (Walmart/Walgreens center). Drive-thru location. Open 4:30am to 9:30pm weekdays and 5am to 9:30pm weekends. (805) 499-2581

  • Westlake Village: 925 South Westlake Blvd. Drive-thru location. Open 5am to 8:30pm weekdays and 5:30am to 8pm weekends. (805) 777-1196

  • Westlake Village: 2755 Agoura Road (at the Westlake Plaza). Open 4:30am to 7:30pm weekdays and 5:30am to 7:30pm weekends. (805) 379-2499

  • Westlake Village: 30740 Russell Ranch Road (inside the Target at The Shoppes at Westlake Village) Open 8am to 8pm daily. (818) 661-2361

  • Agoura Hills: 5827 Kanan Road (at Thousand Oaks Blvd.). Open 4:30am to 7:30pm weekdays and 5am to 8pm weekends. (818) 735-0268

  • Oak Park: 688 Lindero Canyon (at Kanan). Drive-thru location. Open 5am to 8pm weekdays and 5:3am to 8:30pm weekends. (818) 865-2184

  • Calabasas: 26531 Agoura Road (at Las Virgenes in the Albertson’s Plaza). Open 4:30am to 9pm daily. (818) 878-0503

  • Calabasas: 26521 Agoura Road (inside Albertson’s). Open 6am to pm daily. (818) 880-9080

The History of Lake Sherwood

/
Lake Sherwood as seen from the Sandstone Peak trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Lake Sherwood as seen from the Sandstone Peak trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Lake Sherwood is an unincorporated community of about 1,500 residents in Ventura County overlooking the Lake Sherwood reservoir. It is south of Thousand Oaks and west of Westlake Village, off of Potrero Road,  accessible via Westlake Boulevard on the east and Wendy Drive and Reino Road in Newbury Park on the west.

For centuries, the Conejo Valley was inhabited by the Chumash. The Spanish came into the picture in the late 18th century and, when passing through what is now Hidden Valley, named the area the Potrero Valley.

The Potrero Valley was part of the original 48,761 acres constituting Rancho El Conejo. After California became the 31st state in 1850, a land commission was appointed to determine who owned land grants in the area.

Rancho El Conejo was sold in 1872 to John Edwards and Howard Mills. Mills received 22,240 acres that included the Potrero Valley in 1874. Mills sold the southeastern 8,476 acres to Joseph and Isabell McLaren Howard in 1875.

Photo of the Howard Ranch in the 1880s. The Howard residence was near where Triunfo Park is today in Westlake Village. (Courtesy of Conejo Through the Lens Collection; Thousand Oaks Library Special Collections.)

Photo of the Howard Ranch in the 1880s. The Howard residence was near where Triunfo Park is today in Westlake Village. (Courtesy of Conejo Through the Lens Collection; Thousand Oaks Library Special Collections.)

In 1888, the Howards sold the land to the Banning Company of Long Beach. In 1896, W. H. Matthiessen bought the Potrero Ranch from Banning. Then in 1904, Matthiessen built a 45 foot dam (originally called Alturas Dam) that created Potrero Lake (also referred to as Lake Matthiessen). Total capacity of the 156 acre lake, which today is called Lake Sherwood, is 877 million gallons of water.

In the early 1920s, the area around the lake was transformed into Sherwood Forest for the filming of Robin Hood, featuring Douglas Fairbanks. And of course that's where the name Lake Sherwood originated.

Meanwhile, W. H.'s son F. W. "Christy" Matthiessen married Elsie Mack in 1917. The couple made plans to develop the surrounding area as the Las Turas Lake Club in the 1920s. Except...they divorced in 1925, with Elsie receiving the portion of the ranch with the lake.

Elsie remarried. Her new husband's name was James Canterbury and briefly the lake became Lake Canterbury. After the stock market crash of 1929, the Canterburys sold the property to William Randolph Hearst. Hearst allowed the property to be used for filming of many films, including the 1938 The Adventures of Robin Hood.

In 1963, Dayton Realty purchased the lake and surrounding property. Dayton wanted to rezone the land to develop nearly 1,400 homes and commercial properties. This plan was fought off by local residents and rejected by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

From late 1983 to summer 1984, Dayton drained the lake, indicating that it needed to test the dam...which never happened...then never refilled the lake, leaving thousands of fish stranded and left to die in the mud. (Photo of draining of lake in January 1984)

Lake Sherwood was made available to the public after the depression of the 1930s until the lake was emptied in 1984.

A view of Lake Sherwood from the north off of Lake Sherwood Drive.

A view of Lake Sherwood from the north off of Lake Sherwood Drive.

In 1985, billionaire businessman David Murdock bought the dry Lake Sherwood lake bed and surrounding property.  His Ventura Farms and Lake Sherwood Ranch are on the old F. W. Matthiessen property in Hidden Valley.

In 1986, heavy rains filled Lake Sherwood back up, though it would take many years for the lake to regain the wildlife it lost after it was emptied.

Murdock developed the community with over 650 homes in three gated neighborhoods along with the Sherwood Country Club and Sherwood Lake Club. The lake is now privately owned and is not open to the general public. 

Bank of America "Museums on Us" Program Offers Free Admission to Over 225 Museums Nationwide

/
MuseumsOnUs.jpg

If you are a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch customer, your bank credit or debit card and photo ID will gain you one free admission to over 225 cultural institutions across the country on the first full weekend of each month. Visit the "Museums on Us" program website at museums.bankofamerica.com for details.

And while there are no Ventura County museums on the list, there are a number of other choices within driving range:

  • Autry National Center of the American West

  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art

  • Skirball Cultural Center

  • Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach (Saturdays only)

  • Discovery Science Center, DiscoveryCube Orange County (Sundays only)

  • Santa Barbara Museum of Art

  • MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation in Santa Barbara

Free admission is limited to individual cardholder at participating institutions.