In my continuing job of keeping track of fruit that is ripening on various routes of my morning walks, I spied these tiny pears on a tree branch, hanging over the sidewalk.
They are about 1-1/2 inches long, and have a way to go before they are ripe. As have written before, I don’t pick fruit off neighbors’ trees, but it surely is going to be tempting!
Post and photo by Janna Orkney
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A new sign may be coming to the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall if the City Council approves the concept, according to an article in the 7-22 Thousand Oaks Acorn. The sign would be next to the 101 Freeway, 35 feet high and 37 feet wide, with a 12 foot by 25 foot screen of light-emitting diodes. The article says the proposed new sign would be part of $8.5 million of improvements recommended by a committee that included Auto Mall Association members, homeowners association reps, and others. The proposal also includes adding 364 parking places to the mall.
Post by Janna Orkney
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The firefighters at this Los Angeles County Fire station demonstrate their commitment to conserving water with the artificial turf instead of grass, in front of the firehouse. It is on Canwood in Agoura Hills. Way to go! Photo by Janna Orkney
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I went to Macy’s a few days ago, parking on the ground floor of the parking structure. As I approached the crosswalk leading to the south entrance of the store, pictured in the photo, it occurred to me how little visibility I had of approaching cars, especially from the left. I stopped walking, once I got to the street, to peer around the column. It is a good thing I did! A car came speeding through the crosswalk!
Is this crosswalk safe? Does it need some notice to drivers that it is a pedestrian crossing, and a notice to walkers to use caution in crossing? How about a flashing yellow light above the walkway? Or, best of all, how about modifying the columns in some way, to give more visibility?
My concern is not so much for adults, but for children, who might dash out into the crosswalk without looking.
Post and photo by Janna Orkney
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Ben’s photograph is of Arroyo Conejo, a year-round stream, near an equestrian trail close to the western boundary of Thousand Oaks. He took the photo in January, 2007.
Ben Pankratz and his wife Lorraine have lived in Thousand Oaks since 1964. In 1990, Ben followed up a 34-year engineering career by founding and operating The Frame Gallery, which is an art gallery and picture framing business. The gallery staff included Ben, Lorraine and daughter Alisa. Alisa took over ownership of the business in 1998, but you can still say, “Hi,” to Ben and Lorraine there, as they continue to work part time. More of Ben’s photos can also be seen at The Frame Gallery which is in the Agoura Hills City Mall, on Kanan Road.
At the Conejo Post, we look forward to sharing more of Ben Pankratz’s photos with you.
Photo: Copyright, Ben Pankratz, 2007
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Al Adam, Thousand Oaks Planning Commissioner, was submitting an initiative on Monday, 7-26, to the City of Thousand Oaks calling for term limits for City Council Members. This is according to a press release received by the Conejo Post, this morning, Tuesday, 7-27. The initiative would call for a limit of serving on the T.O. City Council to three consecutive four-year terms, with a candidate able to run again, after an interval of not serving for a full four-year term.
The press release says that after review by the City Attorney, a petition will be written up, calling for a vote on term limits during the next scheduled election. Then, signature gathering will start, aiming at collecting signatures from ten pecent of the registered voters in T.O.
Al Adam, who ran for T.O. City Council in 2008, says, “Special interests give incumbents the advantage in fundraising, which discourages qualified challengers from running.” The press release also says that the cost of running for a seat on the T.O. City Council is now about $150,000, compared to “a few thousand dollars twenty years ago.” For more info, contact Al at Al.Adam@totermlimits.com.
Posted by Janna Orkney
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The water park at Oak Canyon Park in Oak Park was busy last Saturday, 7-24. Little kids and big kids were doing what they do best…playing and having a great time in the water. And, I think there were more than a few of us adults watching, who thought it would be great to join in!
What is not shown is the buckets feature on top of the tall pole at the right of the photo. About four buckets fill up with water at different times, and then dump it, often on kids waiting in anticipation below. Happy summer, everybody!
Post and photo by Janna Orkney
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Here is a gateway to Thousand Oaks,
With a sign and falling water.
It is on a major thoroughfare,
Can you say where?
Photo by Janna Orkney
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As the sign says above the entrance of the new Trader Joe’s in Agoura Hills says, “Coming Soon.” (Photo taken today, 7-26.)
The new store is on Canwood Street, east of Kanan Road. The new Habit, for delicious hamburgers and onion rings, is close by, and it is still in the coming-soon mode as well.
It will be great having both of them in east Conejo Valley!
Post and photo by Janna Orkney
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The Ventura County Board of Supervisors at their meeting Tuesday, 7-27, will consider whether or not to better protect the county’s biological resources. The Supes will look at a staff recommendation that developers must consider “missing linkages” to wildlife corridors.
In the Conejo Valley, we are so blessed to have the abundance of natural space, including the National Recreation Area, which is a National Park by another name. To keep the wildlife healthy, there needs to be genetic diversity, and this takes a large area, especially with far-hunting animals like mountain lions. (Please see post on three mountain lion cubs, born this spring, the happy result of a male mountain lion from north of the 101 Freeway, crossing the 101 around Liberty Canyon, and then mating with a female mountain lion. Here is the link: http://www.conejopost.com/?s=mountain+lion)
To support protection for “missing linkages” to wildlife corridors, you can attend the Supervisors’ meeting tomorrow when they consider this as a “Time Certain” item at 1:30 PM. Or, you can write a comment to the Clerk of the Board, Roberta.Rodgriguez@ventura.org, before Tuesday.
For the BOS agenda Tuesday, go to: http://gsa-docushare.countyofventura.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-21167
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