Call Center Company in Thousand Oaks, CA

If you have yet to experience some of the amazing waterfalls in Southern California, you may not even realize how many we have and how accessible some of them actually are. From challenging treks to short and easy trails, this part of the state has something for everyone. I love nature and the idea of hiking, but am far from a serious hiker, which makes the easy Mesa Trail to one of the best waterfalls in Thousand Oaks, CA, so appealing. Check it out:

Paradise Falls is a stunning feature within Ventura County’s Wildwood Canyon Regional Park. This suburban park at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains feels like a grand wilderness right in the middle of town, making it an easy day trip destination.

Exploring the park, you will find beautiful live oaks, pretty grasslands, rugged mountains, wildflowers, scenic valleys, and plenty of vista points to take it all in… and of course, a lovely waterfall.

This is a popular hiking area, especially on weekends, but is less busy on weekdays. With other hikers and bikers usually on the trails, solo adventurers tend to feel the same and comfortable hitting the trail on their own.

There are several trails that branch off through the park, including one that leads to a cool little cave, and there is more than one way to reach the falls. The family-friendly Mesa Trail leads first to a large wooden teepee at about the halfway point, then it’s less than half a mile to reach the waterfall.

There are some concrete benches under the teepee, which makes it a great spot to take a little break (especially if you are hiking with little ones), eat a snack, and just enjoy the scenery.

The trail is clearly marked and well-maintained. Aside from the stairs that lead down to the base of the falls, it is mostly level with just a few little hills. Pets are welcome to join you on the hike, but keep them on a leash and be sure to pick up after them.

This particular trail is just about two miles out and back and can be easily completed in an hour or two, depending on whether you take time to sit and enjoy the waterfall, or explore the area around it.

The beautiful waterfall is especially full after recent rain but is lovely year-round. The large rocks and shady areas surrounding the falls are perfect for sitting and cooling off on a warm day.

Note that swimming is not allowed (or safe) due to submerged objects and a lot of the water being from urban runoff.

There are picnic areas scattered throughout the park, so many families pack a lunch and spend the day exploring the park and one of the best waterfalls in Thousand Oaks, CA. Have you ever visited Paradise Falls? If not, make sure to put this Southern California waterfall on your to-do list ASAP!

You can find more photos, trail conditions, alerts, and more by visiting the Wildwood Regional Park Facebook page. Are you an avid adventurer? Make sure you check out some of our favorite must-have hiking accessories!

Ventura County Star

(This story has been updated to correct the speaker of a quote.)

Customers of Ikea hoping to purchase furniture but wanting to avoid the commute to Burbank will now be able to swap the meatballs and larger store for the convenience of a Thousand Oaks location.

The Swedish furniture retailer held the grand opening April 16 of its smaller Ikea showroom at 60 N. Moorpark Road. A large inflatable version of the store's reusable tote bag sat on the corner of the shopping center greeting customers, city officials and Ikea employees clad in yellow and blue there for the occasion.

"People love Ikea for our great designs, convenience and great prices," said Gustavo Tinajero, Ikea area manager for Los Angeles.

He touted the new Thousand Oaks location as a way for customers who love the company's products to access a more convenient service. Ikea gave out prizes like gift cards at the event.

Richard Schroeder, president and CEO of nonprofit Many Mansions, spoke at the event where he announced Ikea's donation of furniture to the organization's Thrive Grove Navigation Center. The newly built modular units are used as emergency homeless shelters.

"They are helping to furnish the modular units," Schroeder said. Thousand Oaks-based Many Mansions helps provide affordable housing to homeless and low-income families.

Thousand Oaks Mayor David Newman also spoke of Ikea's substantial furniture donation to the navigation center.

"They didn't just donate a bookcase here and a sofa there," he said.

Newman joined store manager Cristian Ortiz at the end of the ceremony to cut the ceremonial log in lieu of a ribbon. Sawing a log is a Swedish tradition used to christen new homes, said Robert Morgan, a spokesperson for the company.

Ikea announced in a July that the Thousand Oaks Plan & Order Point with Pick-up store was taking over the 2,500-square-foot space on the corner of Moorpark Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard. It had its soft opening on April 2.

A similar store opened in Ontario Feb. 28. The company plans to open the smaller pre-order and pick-up stores without the massive showrooms in Santa Monica and Laguna Hills.

The smaller stores will not offer the experience or amenities the Burbank location is known for, but customers will be able to speak to store staff to order furniture to pick-up in store or deliver to their home. Staff will also provide in-store assistance with design and planning for more complicated projects, Tinajero said.

The new location will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Ikea will also offer free next-day delivery for most orders shipped to the store, Ikea officials said.

Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com.

BUSINESS

Ventura County Star

Customers of Lassens Natural Foods & Vitamins in Thousand Oaks will have until the end of the month to get their organic fruits and specialty supplements.

The Ventura-based organic grocery chain posted signs announcing the store's last day as April 30. Raymond Martherus, regional marketing director for Lassens, said by email Monday the company is closing the store at 2150 Thousand Oaks Blvd. because its lease was not extended.

"It’s not the outcome we had hoped for, but we’re grateful for the time we’ve spent in the community and excited for what’s ahead," he said.

Martherus said workers who wished to stay on with Lassens have been offered new roles in the company. Lassens opened its first Thousand Oaks location in 1985 and has spent seven years at its current spot, he said.

"This particular closure was completely unforeseen," he said in the email. "As we’ve shared, it was unintentional, unplanned, and certainly not something we wanted."

Two messages left with the management offices at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks' offices were not returned.

Thousand Oaks resident Lauri Kamiel said she was so devastated to learn of Lassens' closure, she started a Facebook group. She goes to the market at least once a week for groceries, supplements and prepared foods from the hot bar.

"It's just a friendly environment," Kamiel said. "It's a community."

Kamiel, who has dietary restrictions, said Lassens' supplies of specialty items simplifies her shopping.

"It provides in one place everything I need," she said.

She heard that another market chain is planning to open in Lassens' place and emailed their customer service department, which sent a response indicating it was opening at The Lakes. The Star contacted the company by email, which was not returned.

Lassens has 10 other stores under the name, including the three remaining in Ventura County in Oxnard, Simi Valley and Ventura. Other locations dot the region between San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield and Los Angeles. The company's website says the first store was opened in 1971 by matriarch Oda Lassen as Lassen’s Health Food Store, initially out of a leased shop in Camarillo.

Martherus said the store's closure is not part of any downsizing. Instead, the company is growing. He did not say where.

But a story in The News Tribune in Tacoma, Washington, in November reported that Lassens acquired a two-store chain called Marlene's Market & Deli, which has stores in Tacoma and Federal Way. The stores are not listed on Lassens' site but representatives of Marlene's have Lassens emails.

Martherus noted Lassens' loss can be customers' gain because the store is offering deals while supplies last. Lassens is offering 20% markdowns of nearly all items except produce and deli, according to store signs.

Lassens is the second grocery store closure Thousand Oaks in recent weeks. The Amazon Fresh at 140 Promenade Way is slated to close April 27 after two years in the spot. An Amazon spokesman said certain locations work better than others.

Stacie N. Galang is news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at stacie.galang@vcstar.com and 805-437-0222.