by katie | Nov 25, 2020 | Newspaper
Both the City and County of Los Angeles have mandated that all restaurants eliminate outdoor dining for three weeks starting the day before Thanksgiving. They can offer delivery, take out and drive-thru pick up, but no in-person consumption of meals on site. This is... Read more 
by katie | Nov 20, 2020 | Newspaper
There is so much bad news in the world: COVID-19 numbers are up, big companies are laying off more people, there are runs again on supplies at the supermarkets. But there is also so much good news too. At least two companies are close to a vaccine, we are all still... Read more 
by katie | Nov 12, 2020 | Newspaper
This week Pfizer announced a vaccine candidate they found to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. Pfizer and Biontech studied 43,538 participants, all of diverse backgrounds, and found no serious safety concerns from adminstration of BNT162b2. They have... Read more 
by katie | Nov 5, 2020 | Newspaper
How do you track a disease when so many of its carriers can be asymptomatic? How do you find out when someone was infected? Where? And by whom? The COVID-19 pandemic created an immediate need for a large number of contract tracers – those who would start with a sick... Read more 
by katie | Oct 29, 2020 | Newspaper
The second annual “Halloween Houses on Display” contest is underway in West Hills, judged by impartial professionals to find the scariest and the most comical Halloween decor in West Hills. This annual event is the brainchild of the Special Events Committee of the... Read more 
by katie | Oct 23, 2020 | Newspaper
Just in time for the start of the holiday shopping season, Westfield Topanga & The Village are hosting a “Shop Your Heart Out” charitable shopping event to be held October 23 through November 1. Participants will have the chance to donate to their favorite... Read more 
by katie | Oct 15, 2020 | Newspaper
A visitor to the San Fernando Valley in the early 20th century would have been treated to the sight of more than a dozen ranches dotting the plain. But there were few herds of cattle throwing up clouds of dust across the Valley floor; not many chuckwagons emitting... Read more 
by katie | Oct 8, 2020 | Newspaper
Vote. It sounds so simple. But not this year. How and when you vote has never been so complicated. In person on November 3rd, in person early at a specified location, mail in ballot sent through the Post Office, or mail in ballot dropped in a ballot box? In... Read more 
by katie | Sep 25, 2020 | Newspaper
Councilman Bob Blumenfield has set the date of November 16 to remove all homeless encampments from the Winnetka and Corbin underpasses of the freeway. LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) has identified 33 people that live in these underpasses, and... Read more 
by katie | Sep 17, 2020 | Newspaper
Kim Kardashian brought in a private crew during the Woolsey Fire. Insurance companies pay for fire specialists for those homeowners on the Forbes 400 Rich List. The City of Hidden Hills has its own fire engine. But are private firefighters just for the rich? “Not at... Read more 
by katie | Sep 11, 2020 | Newspaper
The recent surge in fires this week has understandably made many residents nervous – and cautious. They also underscore the importance of having adequate insurance and documenting what you are insuring. If you live in a multi-unit building it serves as a... Read more 
by katie | Sep 10, 2020 | Newspaper
On September 8 the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued guidelines for Halloween. No trick or treating (since revised to a recommendation). No trunk or treating. No parties or festivals. No gathering other than immediate family. Basically, they... Read more 
by katie | Aug 28, 2020 | Newspaper
Here we are in a pandemic. We know what the state, county and city have planned for our schools. We know what the public and private schools have planned. But what about the teachers themselves? What do they think about distance teaching? Would they rather be back... Read more 
by katie | Aug 20, 2020 | Newspaper
With COVID-19, more and more people are working from home and not returning to the office environment. Buildings appear half-empty, and many companies have announced they are not bringing back their employees anytime soon. With small firms requiring employees to work... Read more 
by katie | Aug 20, 2020 | Newspaper
Carl Gambino knows luxury real estate. Having set the record for the highest sale in Encino history at $14 million, he further went on to shatter his own record by selling another Encino home at $20 million. While licensed in the hottest real estate markets in the... Read more 
by katie | Aug 6, 2020 | Newspaper
Spectrum Networks has partnered with Valley News Group in the launch of its Spectrum News App, introduced this week. The app combines reporting from existing newsrooms and weather teams, original content from dedicated digital journalists and curated content from... Read more 
by katie | Jul 30, 2020 | Newspaper
Heat. Winds. Dry hillsides. All of which make Southern California a hot spot for wildfires. The 2018 Woolsey Fire was a lesson to residents in brush clearance, evacuation and emergency preparedness. As of this week, there’s a new firefighting tool to combat the raging... Read more 
by katie | Jul 24, 2020 | Newspaper
Pandemic, protests, murder hornets. 2020 has hardly been tame. And now snake season has started with the hot weather, and “Rattlesnake Wrangler” Bo Slyapich is warning west valley residents he’s seeing a lot of rattlers already. “We’ve got more people home so there... Read more 
by katie | Jul 16, 2020 | Newspaper
They’re rolling out smart in Woodland Hills! The new Amazon grocery store will introduce their new “Dash Cart” technology when the store opens at 6245 Topanga Canyon Blvd., on the site of the old Toys R Us. Dash Carts use computer vision and sensors to add up a... Read more 
by katie | Jul 10, 2020 | Newspaper
Congratulations, you received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan! If you are like most businesses, you applied for the loan because it can be forgivable. But approval and funding are only half the story, until you apply for loan forgiveness, you owe this money... Read more 
by katie | Jul 2, 2020 | Newspaper
With fireworks shows in the valley canceled this fourth, the planes of the Condor Air Squadron will bring a patriotic flyover to Encino Saturday night. According to Chris Rushing, squadron president, four vintage WWII aircraft will fly over the west valley at... Read more 
by katie | Jun 26, 2020 | Newspaper
Valley Cultural Foundation has found a way, even during a pandemic, to make it “a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” VCF, the leading art organization in the San Fernando Valley, has found a way to save a little bit of summer with “Drive-Up Movies” beginning... Read more 
by katie | Jun 4, 2020 | Newspaper
In the midst of fighting a pandemic, the valley – and the nation as a whole – quickly found itself inundated with the aftermath of the senseless death of George Flloyd. “Black Lives Matter” protests in the west valley were held in various locations, and contrary... Read more 
by katie | Jun 4, 2020 | Newspaper
It’s kitten season and mountain lions are no exception! P-54, who lives in the Santa Monica Mountains, just gave birth to a litter of three kittens. While adorable, biologists are thrilled that this litter may be bringing much needed genetic diversity thanks to the... Read more 
by katie | May 29, 2020 | Newspaper
UPDATE: While initially scheduled to reopen on June 3, Westfield Fashion Square and Westfield Topanga & The Village have suspended opening their doors in an abundance of caution given the recent looting taking place in the San Fernando Valley. While no new date... Read more 
by katie | May 19, 2020 | Newspaper
On Monday, May 18, 2020, Dr. Lysik tendered his resignation as Calabasas’ City Manager to the Council effective May 17, 2020 for personal reasons. Lysik expressed his appreciation for the support of the community, staff, and various City Councilmembers he’s worked... Read more 
by katie | May 14, 2020 | Newspaper
California Governor Gavin Newsom led off his daily briefing Wednesday by saying, “We have to walk and chew gum at the same time.” Obviously the current focus is on fighting COVID-19 but now also on mitigating and fighting fires as we move into wildfire season. ... Read more 
by katie | May 7, 2020 | Newspaper
They’re nostalgic, they’re fun, and these days, they’re the way we’re going to watch movies on a big screen. Drive-in movies are making a comeback all over the nation, and we can look forward to seeing them soon in the West Valley. Valley Cultural Foundation will be... Read more by katie | Apr 30, 2020 | Newspaper
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday that any L.A. County resident can get tested for COVID-19, whether or not they have symptoms of the disease. Garcetti said the city has the testing capacity for anyone who wants one – a key to lifting... Read more 
by katie | Apr 30, 2020 | Newspaper
The hearing on Westfield Promenade, originally scheduled for March 25, was cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis. Westfield has been working with the City of Los Angeles Planning Department on a new date, and May 28 is the targeted date for a hearing, which will... Read more 
by katie | Apr 23, 2020 | Newspaper
We are wearing masks. Practicing self-quarantine. Isolating at home. But what if you don’t have a home? The issue of the homeless during a pandemic has only intensified concerns about the transient population of the west valley in general. Drive under many freeway... Read more 
by katie | Apr 16, 2020 | Newspaper
As of April 7, anyone in Los Angeles can now be tested for COVID 19. Prior to that date you had to be deemed “vulnerable,” which was 65 and older or having a compromised immune system. Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced that any resident who has symptoms and wants to... Read more 
by katie | Apr 7, 2020 | Media
The highlight of April is the opportunity to see the super bright planet Venus in the beautiful star cluster, the “Pleiades.” Look west after 8:30 pm. This event can be seen with the naked eye, however binoculars will reveal more details. The star cluster is also... Read more 
by katie | Apr 3, 2020 | Media
Just click on your city and see how many cases of coronavirus have been confirmed.As of April 1, Woodland Hills has 25.The new interactive maps from CSUN professors Steven Graves and Danielle Bram track the virus’ progress county by county and neighborhood by... Read more 
by katie | Mar 27, 2020 | Media
West Hills Hospital has reached out to the community during this time of uneasiness and continual change. COVID has had significant effects on the healthcare industry as whole and the hospital is working off of limited supplies. Their statement issued Monday said, “Be... Read more 
by katie | Mar 27, 2020 | Media
Dignity Health today announced the launch of a free virtual urgent care service, Virtual Care Anywhere, for anyone in our community experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of the new coronavirus. Virtual urgent care visits are being encouraged as an initial care option... Read more by katie | Mar 18, 2020 | Media
March 23, 2020 -Mayor Garcetti is expanding the moratorium on evictions to include the Ellis Act and tenants will have 6 months to pay it back-the federal government will push back the approaching deadline for REAL ID compliance, no new deadline has been announced... Read more 
by katie | Mar 12, 2020 | Newspaper
Former City Councilman Mitch Englander was arrested this week in an FBI investigation. He is accused of lying to Feds about alleged cash payments from a developer during trips to Vegas and Palm Springs. He is accused of accepting $10,000 in cash, services from a... Read more 
by katie | Mar 12, 2020 | Media
Gary M. Thomas, one of the San Fernando Valley’s most active and admired community leaders, died last Friday, March 6, at the UCLA Medical Center of various respiratory ailments. Thomas was 61 and had been hospitalized for nearly five weeks prior to his death.Gary and... Read more 
by katie | Mar 5, 2020 | Media
The L.A. Department of Health today announced four new cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in LA County. The total number of cases now total 11. LA County Dept. of Public Health said in a press release “All of these additional positive cases are part of a... Read more by katie | Mar 5, 2020 | Media
News about the new coronavirus and its global spread is coming at all of us hard and fast. Whether you like to get your news from social media, CNN, Fox News, newspapers or the town gossip, the truth is that it can be hard to truly know facts from fiction.All of us... Read more 
by katie | Feb 24, 2020 | Newspaper
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) announced Friday that it has submitted amended plans to the City of Los Angeles for the Promenade 2035 project, which proposes to create a new 34-acre mixed-use center with public plazas and walkable streets along with new housing,... Read more 
by katie | Feb 20, 2020 | Newspaper
Amazon will open one of the “4-Star” stores at Westfield Topanga next week. The store will feature products from the most popular categories on Amazon.com, including devices, consumer electronics, kitchen, home, toys, books, games and more. Everything in the store is... Read more 
by katie | Feb 12, 2020 | Newspaper
Westfield has announced they will open a state-of-the-art AMC luxury theatre with 12 screens that will be approximately 55,000 square feet as a part of the new dining and entertainment district at Westfield Topanga. Larry Green, Senior Vice President US Development... Read more 
by katie | Feb 6, 2020 | Newspaper
In honor of the January 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others, the City of Calabasas has planted nine roses in De Anza Park. The park became an informal memorial in the days following the crash, and the cards, memorial... Read more 
by katie | Jan 31, 2020 | Newspaper
The helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight others reverberated throughout the country and around the world – but happened right here in Calabasas. Investigators are still determining the cause of the crash at this time; poor... Read more 
by katie | Jan 17, 2020 | Newspaper
United Technologies Corp., the owners of the Rocketdyne property in Warner Center, have asked the state to change the cleanup requirements of the property from residential to commercial standards. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, which is in... Read more 
by katie | Jan 16, 2020 | Media
Encino residents were seemingly blindsided to hear that Ralph’s at Hayvenhurst and Ventura will soon be shutting its doors. During the first week of January, employees were told just days before customers that the Encino Ralph’s location is officially closing on... Read more 
by katie | Jan 7, 2020 | Newspaper
Westfield Topanga & The Village announced today that it will begin work this month on the transformation of a long-vacated 160,000-square-foot former Sears department store into a new dining and entertainment district.Slated to be unveiled in late 2021, the... Read more 
by katie | Jan 2, 2020 | Media
LAPD’s hazmat team was called to the Extended Stay hotel on Ventura Boulevard near Winnetka on Tuesday after four guests used drugs laced with fentanyl. Paramedics responded at 6:45 am to the hotel and found three people alert and responsive and one in critical... Read more 