I just took this New Year’s Eve shot of the old Courtesy Chevrolet Showroom on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Driving by it earlier this week in the evening, I had thought how beautiful the small tree looked in the middle of the empty showroom floor. I know that it looks more compelling in person, but I [...]
Entries from December 31st, 2009
New Building in Thousand Oaks Dominates Surroundings
December 31st, 2009 · No Comments · Development, Thousand Oaks
The storage facility being built on Skyline Drive, just north of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, seems really out of scale for for the buildings around it. This photo was taken from the Lassen’s Center parking lot, and the new structure seems to loom over the center. My question is, why? Why was a building of this size [...]
Tags: Development·Thousand Oaks
A New Decoration for Gelson’s Roofline
December 31st, 2009 · No Comments · Meditations, Westlake Village
At dusk yesterday, my granddaughter and I stopped by Gelson’s in Westlake Village for some groceries. It was still sprinkling and misting with puddles for splashing in the parking lot. Approaching the store, the roof looked different from usual, and I snapped this photo. See the seagulls all lined up in a row, and pretty [...]
Skipping Bill-de la Pena for T.O. Mayor Position, Sends Message
December 30th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Elections, Thousand Oaks
Shari Czerwinski sent the following in as a comment, but I am choosing to publish it as a post. To quote Shari: “The City Council member position is an honorable, tireless, elected dedication to our democratic porcess. By skipping someone so highly respected as Claudia Bill-de la Pena, who has different but fully supported and represented [...]
The Ah-haaa as I Pass Calabasas Parkway on the 101
December 30th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Conejo Valley, Las Virgenes, Meditations
There is a definite spot on the 101 Freeway going west or north (however you call it) that let’s me know I am approaching the Conejo Valley.  That spot is the offramp at Calabasas Parkway. After I pass the exit, I feel lighter and more relaxed, leaving the density of the San Fernando Valley. It is definitely an Ah-haa moment. [...]
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Tireless Activists, Feuer, Wiesbrock, and Boecker Gave Us Our Parkland
December 28th, 2009 · 4 Comments · Agoura Hills, Conejo Valley, Las Virgenes, Malibu, Oak Park, Outdoors
How many places could you live, where you could actually meet the people responsible for the creation of a local national park or state park? I don’t think there are many, but the Conejo Valley is definitely one of them! Margot Feuer and Mary Wiesbrock are in the photo at the left, taken at Ahmanson Ranch this [...]
Tags: Ahmanson Ranch·King Gillette Ranch·Save Open Space·SMMNRA
Happy that Ahmanson Ranch Is State Parkland
December 28th, 2009 · No Comments · Conejo Valley, Outdoors
Continuing with this week’s theme of what I like (or don’t) about living in the Conejo Valley, I am happy that Ahmanson Ranch is now parkland for us all to enjoy. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy bought the land from Washington Mutual in the fall of 2003 and gave it a new name. It is [...]
Three Great Movies
December 27th, 2009 · No Comments · Meditations
I have seen more movies in the past few weeks, than I have during the whole rest of the year, and they were all outstanding. While comments on movies are usually not a part of the Conejo Post, I just want to say a ”thumbs up” to Blind Side, The Young Victoria, and Invictus. They were all [...]
Tags: Movies
I Put What, Where My Lawn Used To Be?
December 27th, 2009 · 1 Comment · California, Green, Water Issues
I have been thinking of taking out some of my lawn because of high water bills caused by the California drought and by reduced water allocations from the Sacramento Delta for SoCal. I have been mulling ideas over, like a drought-tolerant ground cover, or stamped, decomposed granite, with islands of plants, which would be on a [...]
Tags: Garden Mosaics
Conejo Valley Small Enough, Big Enough, and Adjacent
December 26th, 2009 · No Comments · Conejo Valley, Green, Malibu, Oak Park, Outdoors, Ventura County
That about sums it up! The Conejo Valley is small enough so that you can get around and make friends throughout the valley, and big enough so that there are all sorts of choices and variety. And, we are adjacent to the big city… Los Angeles, and also adjacent to a fun place…Malibu, and close [...]
Tags: Ahmanson Ranch·Rally for the Ranch·Save Open Space/Santa Monica Mountains·SMMNRA