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March 18th Bark in the Park - POSTPONED! New date is Sunday, April 23rd. Check the website for updates. Bark in the Park takes place at Conejo Creek North Park at 1379 E Janss Road. Dogs are invited and there will be vendor booths, dog exhibits, food trucks, adoption events, dog races, and so much more! Don't miss this fun event for man and his best friend! Again, this event is POSTPONED! But mark your calendars, because it sounds pawsome. Camarillo Beer March - 1 to 4 pm. Stroll the streets of Camarillo while enjoying live music, trying local eateries, and of course, drinking local craft brews. More information here. March 18 & 19th Point Mugu Naval Air Show - This is a FREE event, though you can pay for preferred seating. See the Blue Angels fly for the 77th year. Fun for the whole family! More details can be found here. March 25th 5th Annual Fountainwood Neighborhood Yard Sale- Come get your shop on! Over 30 homes have signed up to participate in this year's Yard Sale. From 8am to 12 pm. Use 6000 Calmfield Ave, Agoura Hills (Sumac Park) to enter the neighborhood. A map to all the homes will be handed out. Springtime at the Adobe - Leonis Adobe in Calabasas,1-4pm. $8 entry fee, Free for members and children 2 and under are free. Enjoy crafts, live music, and more. 23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas. Visit the Adobe's website here. March 26th Celebration of the Whales Festival at Channel Islands Harbor, 3350 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard. The 24th annual Celebration of the Whales Festival will run from 10 am to 2 pm and will feature a concert in the park, chalk art, vendors, children's fun zone, and a community mural project. For more details, visit their website. March 31st Flashlight Egg Hunt at Conejo Creek Park South in TO. 1300 E Janss Road. Starts at 7pm until 9, with multiple hunts running. $5 for the hunt hike, pay at the gate. Bounce houses, crafts, and activities. Fun for the whole family! Click here for more. Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt at the Agoura Teen Center. 6:30pm, for kids 5th through 7th grades. Cost is $5 and includes an egg hunt, music, splatter paint, popcorn bar, and more. Sign up here. April 1st The Great Race - If you haven't already signed up, do it! Not a runner? Volunteers are needed, and the runners could use your good vibes! Head to their website to learn more! Breakfast with the Bunny at Reyes Adobe, 31400 Rainbow Crest Dr, Agoura Hills. 9am to 12pm. A $2 donation is appreciated. Enjoy crafts, activities, and pictures with the Bunny. April 1st & 2nd 23rd Annual Chumash Day Powwow at Malibu Bluffs Park, 24250 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. From 10am to 6pm each day. Parking is off-site an the corner of Civiv Center and Webb Way with free shuttle service. Enjoy Native American food, craft vendors, tribal ceremonies, and dances. FREE admission! More information here. April 8th Egg Scramble Easter Egg Hunt at Mae Boyer Park, 130 Kanan Rd, Oak Park. Hunts are by age and start at 9:30am. City of Moorpark's Easter Egg Hunt at Arroyo Vista Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark. Starts at 10 am and goes until 1 pm. Hunts, photo opps, crafts, carnival games, bounce houses, petting zoo, and more! Visit here for more info. April 9th The Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge Community Easter Egg Hunt - From 12 to 2 pm at 158 N Conejo School Road. Hunt starts at 12:30pm Sharp! As always, these events and MANY, MANY MORE can be found by visiting The Conejo Valley Guide. Check their website frequently to know all the fun happenings in our area! Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com www.JessicaCarterHomes.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

It's that time of year again! Time for hundreds of sweaty runners (including myself, hi, Amanda here!) to pound our streets in hopes of glory and PRs. If you have lived here awhile you know the drill, but if you are new to the neighborhood, or just have a short memory, here is what you need to know about road closures and how you can be a part of it all come Race Day, April 1st! First of all, no elaborate joke here, it really is on April 1st. Though how epic of a prank would it be to have thousands of runners show up for a nonexistent race? So epic. Anyway, there are 4 total races in this Great Race series, 3 of which will temporarily impact the neighborhood. The Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K all start in Fountainwood at the top of Carell Ave and will run through a portion of our neighborhood. You can expect temporary road closures and runners in our surrounding area for the duration of the morning, and Kanan and TO Blvd will both experience heavy foot traffic and delays for drivers. Official Road Closures Thousand Oaks Blvd east of Kanan 5:15 to 11am. Carell Ave 5:30 until 11am Idle Dr 5:30 to 11am Kanan Rd northbound will be restricted to the west lane and the Sheriff's Department will be assisting drivers at each intersection. Because three of the races will be utilizing Kanan at some point along their course, you can expect to see a steady stream of runners along it starting as early as 7:30am, and until the last few diehards trickle through around 10:30am. Many of our streets will be impacted during the race, but not fully closed. These roads will remain open, but runners will have right of way and police escorts that will stop traffic as necessary, so make sure you are alert and paying attention. If you are going somewhere leave early, this is not a good day to be running late. When Will Each Race Pass Through Fountainwood? Half Marathon Race starts at 7am and will head south on Carell Ave. Runners will exit Fountainwood by turning right onto Thousand Oaks Blvd. Runners will not have an impact on our neighborhood until they run past us going South on Kanan to finish the race. Full half marathon course map here. 10k Race starts at 7:28 am and will head north on Carell and come down Hollow Brook Ave, turn right onto Calmfield, then take a left at Eagleton before exiting the neighborhood and running South along Kanan. The latest I would expect to see any runners on our streets during the 10k is 7:45am, unless something crazy happens. Full 10K course map here. 5k Race starts at 9:05 am and will follow the same course as the 10k until reaching Eagleton. Instead of turning left and exiting the neighborhood, they will turn right and run up Eagleton until the intersection with Acadia. Runners will run the length of Acadia to Timberlane. From Timberlane they will turn onto Pinewood and effectively exit our neighborhood. I would expect the latest you will see runners in the neighborhood to be 9:30am. I think most will easily be out before then, but 5k's tend to have walkers and young families in the mix. Full 5k course map here. Party! All of the races end at Chumash Park. If you would like to enjoy the festivities with the runners I'd head over there around 8:30 and cheer on the runners as they cross the finish lines! Parking will be extremely limited, and difficult to get to with road closures, so walk or car pool over. Speaking as a runner, and as someone who will be participating in the 10k this year, please feel free to cheer on runners as they pass your houses! Cheers are always welcome and lift runners spirits, especially those of us who are wildly out of shape and will need all the encouragement they can get. It's me, I'm the one who needs the encouragement. Volunteer Let's be real, running isn't for everyone. Want to be a part of it, but without running a step? Volunteers are GREATLY needed, and races like this one could. not. happen. without the aid of wonderful volunteers. And it just so happens that The Great Race volunteer manager is our very own neighbor, Jodi over on Marlies! It takes a village of volunteers to execute a race, 300 of them, to be exact. Volunteer teams are made up of local businesses, schools, clubs, and even Pepperdine University is sending over a crew this year! However, even with all of this support Jodi is still in need of volunteers to work as course monitors (if you live along the racecourse all you would have to essentially do is stand in front of your home for a couple of hours!), and the post race party in Chumash Park is also in need of more help. Volunteers are needed March 30th, 31st, and on Race day. You will receive an exclusive race shirt as a thank you, and will create memories that will enrich your live. The minimum age requirement to volunteer without an adult is 14, and students can earn community service hours for their time. If you are interested or have any questions please visit the race website here, or send Jodi an email, she would love to hear from you! Her address is Jodi@GreatRaceofAgoura.com. Volunteering is easy, and fun! I myself have spent many hours volunteering at Spartan Races, and it is always such a rewarding experience. Being able to assist others while they are mentally and physically testing their limits is inspiring, 10/10 recommend it. Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com www.JessicaCarterHomes.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

Thank you to Rachael on Pisces for sending in this phenomenal Blueberry Muffin recipe! Made famous at the Tassajara Bread Bakery in San Francisco (which is now sadly closed), we can see why this recipe has become your go-to for muffins, and we are sure it will become yours as well! INGREDIENTS 1 cup whole wheat flour 2 cups white flour ⅓ cup white sugar ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ⅓ cup brown sugar peel of 1 lemon, grated 1 banana, mashed 3 eggs, beaten 1⅓ cup buttermilk ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ cup butter, melted 2 cups blueberries (fresh, frozen, or canned) 1 tablespoon each, cinnamon and sugar (for topping) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 Line the muffin tin with papers or butter liberally. Sift the two flours, white sugar, soda, powder, and salt into a bowl and then stir in the brown sugar and lemon peel. Mash the banana thoroughly and combine it with the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted butter. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir together with a few quick strokes (about 12-14). The batter will be lumpy and streaked with dry ingredients, but it is essential not to overblend or the muffins will be tough. Lightly fold in ¾ of the blueberries, again with just a few strokes (5-6)*. This will complete the mixing, although some unevenness will remain. If the batter is completely smooth, it's overmixed Fill the muffin cups ¾ full, put the remaining blueberries on top, and then sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar topping. Bake in the center of a preheated 400° oven for 25* minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes about 18 muffins The key to these muffins, and most baked goods, is to not over blend the flour. Once flour has been added, always mix until just blended and call it done. *My Notes* - It doesn't call for it, but I wish I had tossed the blueberries in flour before mixing them in. They sank like rocks. - I don't know what muffin tins they used for this recipe, but it made 26 muffins, and only needed about 10-12 minutes to fully bake. Recipe originally adapted from Edward Espe Brown's Tassajara Cookbook, but don't ask us how, that thing is confusing. Enjoy! Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com www.JessicaCarterHomes.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

Are you looking for a small senior dog with the heart of a pup? Well then, look no further, here he is! Carmichael might be 10 years old, but he is still vivacious for his age, and he is ready for you to take him home. Carmichael is a second chance pup from another shelter, and we can't understand how anyone can look at his sweet face and pass him over. He is believed to be a "ShiChi", or Chihuahua/Shih Tzu mix. Not one to let his age define him, Carmichael loves to play with his toys, long walks, and spending quality time with the other canine residents. He is independent, but friendly, and gets along well with strangers. Thanks to Healthcare for Homeless Animals, he was able to go through a throughout vet check, and while he has a grade 1 heart murmur (the lowest kind, no special treatment yet needed), he is in otherwise great health for a dog of his maturity. On March 20th he will receive a much needed teeth cleaning and get the big snip, after which he will be ready for his new home! As an owner and lover of my own senior "ChiWeenie" (Chihuahua/Dachshund), I can personally attest that seniors are the best, and it is an honor to be their companion as they enjoy their final days; how every many those might be. No appointments are required to visit Carmichael between 2-5 pm every day except on Wednesdays. Wednesday hours are 2-7 pm. Morning visiting hours are by appointment only. Visit the Agoura Care Center website to learn more about him! Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com www.JessicaCarterHomes.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

Part Deli, part Italian Market, Italia Deli & Bakery has been an Agoura Hills staple since it first opened its doors here in 1981. Originally hailing from Bari, Italy, Benito and Gina DeGiosa immigrated to California with a dream. Together with family members Philip and Maria Magnanimo, they opened the first Italia Deli in Granada Hills in 1971. But as the babies started coming, they decided Agoura Hills is where they wanted to raise their growing family. Not wanting a long commute, the only logical thing to do was to open a second storefront! Once again the two families combined their talents, until in '91 it was decided the Magnanimo's would take over the Granada location, the DeGiosa's the Agoura store, and the rest is history. More than 40 years later, Italia Deli and Bakery is still owned and operated by the DeGiosa family and they are still making some of the best Italian fare in the whole of Conejo Valley! Today, the elder DeGiosa's are enjoying their much deserved retirement from the shop, while the four DeGiosa children have taken over. Not a day goes by that Rosanna, Joe, Michael, or Marisa can't be found in the store, keeping their family legacy alive and thriving. Part deli, part shop, you will find a wide range of Italian kitchen essentials among these aisles. Boasting an impressive array of imported olives, pastas, wine, and so much more, Italia Deli should be the first stop for anyone preparing to cook an authentic Italian feast. They even sell pasta machines, pizzelle bakers, pizza stones, and other gadgets to aid you in your culinary endeavors! While the grocery offerings are impressive, what really makes Italia Deli and Bakery stand out is of course the Deli! Fresh made pasta noodles, pasta dishes, meatballs, breads, salads, sauces, sausages, and an array of sweet treats are made in house daily, and their famous hot or cold sandwiches are made to order right in front of you. Grab a sandwich for lunch, and pick up one of their take & bake pasta dishes and a salad for dinner while you are at it! In need of catering? They have you covered there too. Their extensive catering menu offers everything from salads, to party subs, to pasta trays, and anything else you could possibly need in between. The DeGiosa siblings are proud alums of Agoura High School, and they continue to support their fellow Chargers by being a part of AHS's Work Experience Program. Students are able to both work at the Deli and receive class credit through this amazing program. Marisa even teaches one of the Career Technical Education courses at the school! Italia Deli and Bakery is open daily, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. They are located at 5657 Kanan Rd. Agoura Hills (next to Vons). Follow them on Instagram here Buon Appetito! Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

The Fountainwood Forum is officially 1 years old! We hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. We love that it has given us the opportunity to better know our neighbors and our beautiful community. But, we realize that unless you have visited our "About Us" page were on the website, you probably don't know much about us. So read on, and get to know us real well, real quick! Meet Amanda Hey, this is Amanda! I have lived in Fountainwood for nearly 3 years now. For those doing the math, that is correct, I moved in during Covid. I was happily working in events tourism, but as you can imagine, 2020 was a rough year for that profession. When my big sister Jessica called to tell me her assistant quit and she needed help, I jumped at the opportunity for employment! I got my realtors license and have been working on her team specializing in marketing, ever since. Before moving to California I was an avid outdoorsmen and shared my adventures on Instagram. While I am not currently maintaining that account or my website, I do hope to return to it one day soon- and they do still contain a lot of great info, so if you are planning a trip to Utah or Havasupai you should check them out and then call me, because I love telling people what they should do with their vacations, ha! I feel strongly that connection to the great outdoors is something we all need more of in our lives, and that the answers to all of our biggest problems can be found out on a trail. I also enjoy playing soccer whenever I get the chance, and horseback riding. One of my biggest passions in life has always been writing. I have been a bookworm from a very young age, and I have vivid memories of me attempting to write short stories or creating summaries and outlines for books I wanted to write, usually very directly based on whatever I was reading at the time. While I have yet to put pen to paper to write a novel that will change the world (it's still forming in my head, it'll get out of there one of these days) I have loved the creative outlet writing this newsletter each month provides. And best of all, it has given me the opportunity to get to know so many of you! Also, this isn't important, but I just need it to be known that yesterday our mom said I was her favorite. Technically she said I am "her favorite Amanda", but I think we both know that means I'm her favorite child. Don't tell Jessica. Meet Jessica Jessica here. Six years ago my husband Jim and I decided we wanted to raise our family in Agoura Hills. We were living in The Valley and fell in love with Agoura's family focused community, it's closeness to nature, and it's beauty. We were so thrilled to find our home here in Fountainwood and I can't imagine a better place to raise our girls. Everything we need is right here. I love that our grocery store, drug store, veterinarian, restaurants, and more are literally just across the street, and that we can walk to the park. While I am cherishing every moment of their youth, I look forward to the day my girls are just a bit older and can run wild, within reason, with their neighborhood friends through our streets. Be it riding their bikes, roller skating the loop at Sumac Park, or playing night games with their friends, this is the future I can envision for my girls here. We just feel so fortunate to be here and call each of you neighbor, and to call Fountainwood our home. Real Estate has always been in my blood. Our father was a real estate investor, and my first job was answering the phone for him. He would take us to "walk the land", and we would tag along while surveys and such were being done, and he would task us kids with naming his new developments. I was in love with it from the get go. While other kids in my class dreamed of becoming actors or doctors, I dreamed of growing up to be a real estate agent and 18 years ago I achieved that dream! I feel so fortunate to have a career that I love and look forward to doing every day. It truly is one of my greatest passions in life, after my family, of course! I am a firm believer in the saying "You must create the community you wish to be a part of" and The Fountainwood Forum was born in that spirit. Whether it is putting out a basket of lemons in your yard (which we need to do, our tree is busting!), throwing a block party, or loaning a neighbor a cup of sugar, I value connectivity within my community and I strive to be the type of neighbor you can come to when you have a need. It is my sincere hope that this newsletter will inspire us all to better know one another and feel that neighborly connection. Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

We love supporting local businesses! And our dear Fountainwood is full of talented people running successful businesses and side projects. Listed below are a few of these individuals. We hope that if you are ever in need of any of the following services you might consider them! High Vibes Intentional Jewelry Lynn specializes in custom sizing and creating bracelets with intention that are as unique and stylish as they are beautiful. Wear her pieces as a daily reminder of the power that resides within you. Visit High Vibe's website here, or check them out on Instagram @highvibes_jewelry. Hairstylist Erika Gold Hello! I wanted to introduce myself- my name is Erika Gold and I'm a hairstylist located at 674 Lindero Canyon Blvd in Oak Park. I have been doing hair for over 30 years and I have a passion for color, highlights, haircuts, and razor cutting. You can contact me at @beyondstylehair on Instagram. Let's make your hair dreams come true! Ear Piercing With Joanne If someone is going to puncture a hole in your body, you want them to know what they are doing. Joanne is a certified nurse who has worked 10+ years in the field and now offers medical procedure grade ear piercings done right in the comfort of your own home. Find out more on Joanne's website, or email her at jxsand8@gmail.com. Yoga in Sumac Park Chandra is the ultimate yogi, dutifully teaching even after breaking a kneecap! Yoga in the Park happens every Saturday from 10-11am in Sumac Park. These are winter hours and will change once temperatures rise. Contact Chandra at chandragero@gmail.com if you have any questions. There is a suggested donation of $15 per class. True Simplicity Acne & Skin Care Struggling with your skin? For over 10 years licensed esthetician Karen has helped residents of Agoura achieve their skincare goals. From acne to aging, Karen takes an all encompassing approach to each individual case, working with you to hone in on what it is your skin needs. Visit the website to learn more or visit the studio at 29020 Agoura Rd. Unit A6. Do you have a business, side hustle, or service you would like advertised in The Fountainwood Forum? It's free! Email us at TheFountainwoodForum@gmail.com Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

Our Neighborhood has seen a busy end of 2022, and beginning of 2023! For those of you who are in the process of selling, you will be missed. To the new owners, welcome to the neighborhood! We are so happy to have you! Here are the latest home sales here in Fountainwood since December, 2022: JUST SOLD Address Bed/Bth Sq/ft Price Close 5913 Carell Ave.* 5+3 2,347sq/ft $1,275,000 12/23/22 28920 Canmore St. 4+2 1,924sq/ft $1,200,000 12/28/22 28190 Marlies St. 4+2 1,924sq/ft $1,195,000 1/9/23 28935 Eagleton St. 4+2 1,924sq/ft $1,025,000 1/30/23 *Seller was represented by Jessica Carter IN ESCROW Address Bed/Bth Sq/ft Asking Price Eagleton St. 4+3 2,347sq/ft $1,000,000 Feral Ave. 4+3 2,347sq/ft $1,099,900 Please note, the sales information above is for informational purposes only and reflects the activity of all Realtors® and are not the listings and sales of Jessica Carter and Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. alone. Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

There is no resisting this sweet face! Kaitness is a second-chance pup that came to the Agoura Care Center from an overcrowded shelter where she was its longest resident. She arrived in the shelter system with a leg injury that resulted in her left hind leg being amputated. Despite everything, she is still a playful 6-year-old Shepherd and is just full of joy and energy! She loves to play with toys and enjoys being groomed and walked. The care center believes she would do best as an only pet, or in a home with a large calm dog companion. No appointments are required to visit Kaitness between 2-5 pm every day except on Wednesdays. Wednesday hours are 2-7 pm. Morning visiting hours are by appointment only. Visit the Agoura Care Center website to learn more about her! Brought to you by: Jessica Carter l DRE #01490419 l 818.590.4246 l JessicaCarterHomes@gmail.com "Your Fountainwood neighbor and local area specialist"

Plata is not offering a special Valentine's menu, but is still an delicious choice Love is in the air, everywhere I look around...it's that time of year folks, time to profess your love for your partner to the high heavens, to shout it from the roof tops, to post about it on your Instagram feeds! That's right, it's February already (how?) and love is all around! For many of us, a romantic dinner is a quintessential part of the holiday. We're lucky to live in an area where we have an abundance of restaurant options, however, some establishments take this holiday a little more seriously than others. I'm not saying the following restaurants will be the only ones going out of their way to make the day extra special, but they are the only ones who started promoting their Valentine Day menus in mid January when I started writing this article, so they are clearly ready to celebrate your love. BASTA No need to wait until the 14th to celebrate your love, Basta is setting the mood early on Monday, February 7th at 6 pm. Get in touch with your inner (and nicer) Gordon Ramsey and participate in their Valentine themed cooking class. You and your partner will prepare a romantic four course meal and pick up some new skills along the way. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today. Like, right now! $120 per person. Everyone knows the night of February 14th is the big dance, and Basta will be showing up in a designer original. They will be serving a special four course menu all night and the romance factor is sure to be turned to full volume. Check out the full menu below. Reservations are not required, but strongly recommended. $85 per person. From the Basta website THE GALLERY RESTAURANT The Gallery Restaurant in Westlake Village has posted QUITE the impressive Valentine's Day menu. They are offering four courses with several options for each course plus champagne. I don't honestly know what some of the words mean, but I do know I want to eat absolutely everything they have listed. The first course will have you deciding between a variety of starters such as, but not limited to, a half dozen oysters, Dungeness lump crab cake, and wasabi steak tartare. Fancy. The second course has a few options, but clearly the Burrata Caprese salad will be the winner here. You can't go wrong with a good Caprese salad. The third course is where the magic happens, and good luck picking a meal! I would like the Cacio e Pepe Risotto, the seared scallops, and the bacon wrapped filet mignon, please. And that's only three of the options. Close out the night with either chocolate covered strawberries with coconut pie, or a chocolate espresso martini and you will of had yourself an indulgent Valentine's that is one to remember! Visit their full Valentine's Day menu here. The Gallery Restaurant is located at 30768 Russell Ranch Rd. unit C in Westlake Village. Dinner is $110 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required. COIN & CANDOR Coin & Candor will be offering up a delectable menu that will surely leave you feeling love drunk. For you appetizer, choose between an endive salad or scallop crudo. We can all agree the scallops are the way to go here, right? Always go for the scallops. For the main course, decide between the lobster tail, strip loin, or fettuccini with black truffle. All sound equally delish, you really can't go wrong. Make the meal complete with either the chocolate mousse or raspberry Bavarian heart. Can't choose? Get one of each and share! It's Valentine's Day, everyone's a winner. Click here to view the full menu. Coin & Candor is located in the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. 2 Dole Dr., Westlake Village. CAFE BIZOU While normally closed on Monday's, Cafe Bizou is not one to miss out of this most romantic of holidays. And if you are going to be open on a day you are usually closed, you might as well go big, right? Yeah, they are going BIG. They are offering a menu full of specials, in addition to a three course meal that will run you $42 per person. There is far too much food to list it all, so I'll just share this menu from their website: Reservations are encouraged and can be made right on their website. Café Bizou is located at 30315 Canwood St. in Agoura HIlls. GO THE EXTRA MILE Why settle for a generic box of chocolates from the store when you can hand select decadent morsels for your sweetie? Here's where to go if you want to kick your chocolate game up a few notches this year. TIFA More than just gelato (though that's not a bad Valentine treat itself...), Tifa also features yummy little chocolaty nuggets that come in a variety of flavors. Stick to the familiar with Peanut Butter Cup, Caramel, Espresso, or dare to try something new like Bleu Cheese & Honey, Pomegranate Rosemary, or Mexican Hot Chocolate. I'm personally dying to try the Bleu Cheese and Honey. They have a flavor for every taste, and even have vegan options. Tifa has nearby locations in Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, and more. The Agoura Hill store can be found at 28888 Roadside Dr. in the Whizin Market Square. CHOCOLATINE FRENCH CAFE If you've not stepped foot in this delightful café on Thousand Oaks Blvd than you have been missing out. It is as authentically French as you can find, and the owners pride themselves on using nothing but the best products, and this extends to their collection of chocolates. They have your standard Truffle, and Espresso flavored treats, but then they also feature more unique flavors like Tangerine, Blood Orange, and my personal favorite, Balsamic Caramel. Oh my goodness, the Balsamic Caramel. Don't try it unless you are prepared to become addicted. So good! Your love not into chocolate? They also offer amazing macarons that are made daily in house. I certainly would never turn down a box full of macarons. If you plan on purchasing chocolates here plan ahead, Chocolatine is NOT open on Monday's and this Valentine's Day will be no exception. The owners are very excited to be able to celebrate the holiday for themselves and you will not find them anywhere near the shop this 14th. I hope they enjoy their holiday and treat themselves to some of their delicious chocolates, they deserve it! Chocolatine French Café is located at 2955 E Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks. However you choose to celebrate this Valentine's Day, we hope it is a wonderful one, full of love and time spent with those who matter most in your life!

Poppy power! Never has the state flower looked as good as it does in this front yard over on Barragan! Many years ago, Phyllis and Richard were two homeowners just trying to make their front yard look nice. At first they tried maintaining a classic front lawn, but soon grew tired of the constant watering and upkeep. The grass just didn't want to grow and they were sick of fighting the up hill battle against the desert. So they did what many of us do and sought a more low maintenance, drought tolerant option. Always a good look, they planted some succulents and admired their beautiful new lawn. Unfortunately... the succulents didn't make it. Yeah, they died. It happens. Discouraged, they figured their yard was doomed and kind of gave up on it. Then one day fate stepped in. While attending an Arbor day celebration at either the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden or Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, they can't remember which, they were given a free packet of poppy seeds. When they arrived home, Richard ripped open the pack and flung the seeds across the destitute lawn. Why not? They had nothing to lose, right? If they grew, they would have a beautiful yard. If they died, well, the seeds would be just another casualty of the lawn. Phyllis and Richard had low expectations for these seeds, so you can just imagine their surprise when some of the seeds took root and started to grow. It was an Arbor day miracle! The first year they enjoyed a small smattering of the brilliant orange buds, and over time that small patch has grown and grown into the all encompassing bouquet it now is. And wouldn't you know, Arbor Day happens to be this month! What a coincidence! I did not realize that until I started to write this article. I think fate is trying to step in again. Arbor Day varies state to state (weird, but okay), in California it always falls on the last Friday of April, making it on the 29th this year. It's a little early, but the city of Thousand Oaks will be Celebrating both Arbor and Earth day on April 9th from 9 am to 1 pm at the grand return of their annual event. You can get more information for it here. Maybe you'll go home with a lucky packet of seeds as well! Wild and Wonderful Big thank you again to Phyllis and Richard, thank you for sharing your lawn with us. I can't wait to see how many flowers will "pop up" next year! Had to take advantage and have a little fun. No poppies were hurt in the making of this photo.

This Saturday (yes, tomorrow, I like to really push my deadline), April 2nd the 37th annual Dole Great Race will once again pound our streets! Literally. Our streets. The 10k and 5k courses both go through Fountainwood. This means you can expect road closures and lots of runners. Here is what you need to know: What Time Will The Roads Be Closed? It depends on the road, but plan on 5:15 am until 11 am. Closed Roads (that directly affect Fountainwood) Thousand Oaks Blvd east of Kanan 5:15-11am. Carell Ave 5:30 am until 11 am Idle Dr 5:30 to 11 am Kanan Rd northbound will be restricted to the west lane and the Sheriff's Department will be assisting drivers at each intersection. Of course if you have lived in the neighborhood for awhile you know that more of our roads are involved in the race then those mentioned. These roads will remain open but runners will have police escorts that will stop traffic as necessary, so make sure you are alert and paying attention. Roads Also Affected 10k IMPACT Race starts at 7:28 am and will head north on Carell and come down Hollow Brook Ave, turn right onto Calmfield, then take a left at Eagleton before exiting the neighborhood. The latest I would expect to see any runners on these streets during the 10k is 7:45 am, unless something crazy happens. 5k IMPACT Race starts at 9:05 am and will follow the same course as the 10k until reaching Eagleton. Instead of turning left and exiting the neighborhood, they will turn right and run up Eagleton until the intersection with Acadia. Runners will run the length of Acadia to Timberlane. From Timberlane they will turn onto Pinewood and effectively exit our neighborhood. I would expect the latest you will see runners in the neighborhood to be 9:30. I think most will easily be out before then, but 5k's tend to have a few walkers in the mix. Party! All of the races end at Chumash Park. If you would like to enjoy the festivities with the runners I'd head over there around 8:30 and cheer on the runners as they cross the finish lines! Parking will be extremely limited, so walk or car pool over. Speaking as a runner, and as someone who will be participating in the 5k this year, please feel free to cheer on runners as they past your houses! Cheers are always welcome and lift runners spirits. Especially those of us who are wildly out of shape and will need all the encouragement they can get to get through this race. I say this for a friend. The Great Race has been running in Agoura Hills for 37 years and is a major donor to local schools and charities. It has won numerous awards and is even voted the #1 Running event in Lost Angeles and the 10k is ranked in the top 10 in the US by Runner's World. We hope you will go out and support the racers and consider running or volunteering next year. It is such an incredible opportunity to have such a distinguished race literally in our backyard! Really old photo of me just before the finish of the St. George Marathon. The article looked weird without a photo, so this is what you get. I was cool once.