north ranch

L VING
an exclusive newsletter for the residents of north ranch . January 2011

2010 Year In Review

2 North Ranch Living January

Meadow Gardens
www.meadowgardensinc.com
818-879-9555
• Fountains
• Pottery
• Giſts
• Garden Accessories
• European Non Breakable
Dinnerware for
Outdoor Living
• Angel in our
Mist Statue Art
Summer Hours: Open Mon-Sat 10-5 • Sun 11-4 31149 Via Colinas Ste. 604 • Westlake Village
January North Ranch Living 3
4 North Ranch Living January

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

www.n2pub.com
™ © 2010 Neighborhood Networks Publishing, Inc.
Urgent:
911 Emergency
805-389-9710 Fire Department Non Emergency
805-494-8200 Police Department non emergency
805-373-1785 Westlake Urgent Care
AREA DIRECTOR Gayle Barnes
800-876-4766 Poison Control
805-497-4900 Westlake Village Animal Hospital 818-968-0313
818 991-0071 Animal Care and Control gayle.barnes@n2pub.com

Information: CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jodai Saremi DPM

805-413-1170 North Ranch Country Club Estates P.O.A.
805-373-3725 North Ranch P.O.A.
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Marvin Steindler
805-496-1995 North Ranch Country Club
805-373-3725 North Ranch Community Center
818-706-1613 Westlake Village City Hall RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHER Gary Coon
805-449-2100 Thousand Oaks City Hall
818-414-1980 24 hour Emergency Tree Service computer support Walter Tramontana

Utilities:
CREATIVE TEAM Christie Joyce Robb Hotchkiss
800-655-4555 Edison
800-427-2200 The Gas Company Erich Nickens Alex Chioini
800-837-4966 Verizon Cable Katie Sneed
888-892-2253 Time Warner Cable
805-449-2201 City of Thousand Oaks Waste Water
805-497-2757 California Water Service
805-522-9400 Waste Management
805-449-SAVE Environmental Hotline
800-611-1911 Street Light Repair
805-375-5473 Transit Services
805-658-4619 Triunfo Sanitation

805-497-6711 Schools:
805-495-7429 Westlake High School
805-497-9339 Colina Middle School
818-575-9250 Westlake Hills Elementary
805-497-9511 Oaks Christian School
Conejo Valley Unified School District

805-449-1309 Clubs and Activities:

818-707-9622 Boys and Girls Clubs at Colina
805-494-5156 Triunfo YMCA
805-381-2744 Teen Center
805-449-2787 Senior Adult Center
818 865-9230 Civic Theatre Box Office
805-449-2660 Westlake Village Library
805-370-0035 Thousand Oaks Library
805-379-5658 Westlake Thousand Oaks Chamber of Commerce
805-373-9332 Assistance League of Conejo Valley
westlakejuniors.org Westlake Women's Club
Westlake Village Juniors

DISCLAIMER: The paid advertisements contained within this magazine are not endorsed or recommended by N2 Publish-
ing. Therefore, this group may not be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies. Note: When
community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that may be used in this publication.
January North Ranch Living 5
6 North Ranch Living January

Personalized Investment Services For

Affluent Families And Foundations.

We make house calls

We understand your time is valuable,
so we would be pleased to meet with you
at your home or office.

Please Call Us To Schedule A Consultation

2801 Townsgate Road, Suite 112 Westlake Village
805-230-8282 • www.westoakcap.com
January North Ranch Living NeighborhoodNews 7

™ Publisher's Note
Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Happy New Year! My best to you and your families in the year get the great articles and information we get monthly from Tim
to come. It's always exciting at the beginning of the year with Ready, Marsha Webster, Mark Wendell, Scott Nelson, and Tim
all the possibilities ahead of us. However, it is also fun to look Freund. Thank you also to all of you who sent in photos, news,
back and we hope you enjoy this issue and take a trip down updates and information, we appreciate it!
memory lane as we review some highlights of the year 2010.
See you next month,
If you missed an opportunity to share something with us in Gayle Barnes
2010, think about participating in 2011. We love your photos,
stories and thoughts. Please remember to support the busi- N2 Publishing
nesses that support your publication throughout the year! gayle.barnes@n2pub.com

I also want to thank all the people who have made this year
a success such as photographer Marvin Steinder, writer Jodai
Saremi and resident Photographer Gary Coon. Also not to for- Photographed by
Marvin Steindler

Neighborhood News
Find North Ranch Living on facebook
Many of you have contacted us wanting additional copies of the publication or past
issues to show family, friends or colleagues etc. Now they can visit our North Ranch
Living page to view the past publications and albums. Please look us up North Ranch
Living and say you "Like" it and become part of the page.

Look us up at: http://www.facebook.com/NorthRanchLiving

 8 NeighborhoodSponsors North Ranch Living January

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a
trusted neighborhood vendor to use. Take a minute to familiarize yourself
with the businesses sponsoring North Ranch Living.

These local businesses are proud to partner with your neighborhood and
make this newsletter possible. Please support these businesses and thank
them for supporting North Ranch!

AUTO BODY, PAINT & West Oak Capital FURNITURE HEALTH &
COLLISION (805) 230-8282 Agoura Antique Mart WELLNESS
Westlake Auto Collision WESTOAKCAP.COM (818) 706-8366 Aviante
(805) 300-3104 agouraantiquemart.com (818) 661-8732
westlakeautocollision.com FITNESS aviantehwc.com
Stevenson Fitness Asian Furnishings
CATERING AND (818) 707-0123 (818) 865-8257 HOME
TAKEOUT stevensonfitness.com myasianfurnishings.com IMPROVEMENT
Merlin's Kitchen Agoura Sash & Door
(818) 597-0016 Total Body Fitness Pacific Rim Home (805) 449-2840
merlins-kitchen.com (818) 991-5410 (818) 338-3386 agourasashanddoor.com
totalbodyfitnessgym.com pacificrimhome.com
ENTERTAINMENT HOME MOVIE
Cabrillo Music Theatre Yogaworks Vintage Villa TRANSFER & ARCHIVE
(805) 497-8613 (805) 371-3030 (818) 889-8647 Plessner Digital & Archive
cabrillomusictheatre.com yogaworks.com vintagevillahomecollection.com (818) 601-9974
plessnerdigital.com
Muvico Theatre FLORIST GARAGE DOORS
(805) 494-4702 Oaks Florist American Vision Garages HOME THEATER
www.muvico.com (818) 991-5444 (805) 915-1324 SYSTEMS
oaksflorist.net avgarages.com Wilshire Home Entertainment
FINANCIAL SERVICES (805) 497-7536
MD Wendell Wealth Partners FOUNTAINS GENERAL wilshirehe.com
(805) 230-1908 Meadow Gardens CONTRACTOR
mdwendell.com (818) 879-9555 Smith Bros., Inc INSURANCE SERVICES
meadowgardensinc.com (805) 449-2840 Farmers Insurance
New York Life SMITH-BROS.NET (805) 444-7119
(818) 294-4699 farmeragent.com/bkoors
bakraines@ft.newyorklife.com
January North Ranch Living NeighborhoodSponsors 9

Steve Smith Insurance PET CARE / GROOMING Bogart's Bar & Grill TUTORING
(805) 496-3340 Shaggy Chic (805) 494-4702 Knowledge Points
stevesmithinsurance.com (818) 879-9663 www.muvico.com (818) 292-8627
shaggy-chic.com knowledgepoints.com/oakpark
INTERIOR DESIGN & Rustico
CONSTRUCTION PET HOTEL & DAY (818) 889-0191 Mathnasium
Lifestyles Interior Design & SPA Tuscany-Restaurant.com (805) 777-8403
Construction The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa mathnasium.com/thousandoaks
(818) 706-8825 (818) 889-2275 Tuscany
lifestylesdesign.com thebarkleypethotel.com (805) 495-2768 VETERINARIAN
Tuscany-Restaurant.com Westlake Village Animal Hospital
JEWELRY PHOTOGRAPHER (805) 497-4900
McClave Jewelers Marvin Steindler Photography SALON/SPA westlakevet.com
(818) 370-6629 (805) 375-4653 The Canyon Salon
heartsonfire.com marvinsteindler.com (805) 777-1144 WINDOW
thecanyonsalon.com TREATMENTS
LANDSCAPING REAL ESTATE Billie's Window Fashions
Gold Coast Tree Service Inc. Dilbeck Estates SPA (818) 707-8500
(818) 597-0449 (805) 367-9189 Remedy Skin + Body www.billieswindowfashions.com
goldcoasttreeservice.com 1000OaksRealEstate.com (805) 244-0244
remedyskinandbody.com
MUSIC Integrity Realty
Fun-do-mental Music (805) 557-0706 STAINED GLASS
(805) 778-1000 integrityrealty.org OVERLAY
Fun-do-mentalMusic.com Billie's Window Fashions and Stained
RESTAURANT Glass Overlay
Bellini Osteria Restaurant & Lounge (818) 707-8500
(805) 497-8482 billies.sgodesignerglass.com
belliniosteria.com

Why settle for

anything else?
• We specialize in, and teach only math
• Trained Instructors
• Comprehensive Assessment
• Customized Learning Plan
• ISEE, ACT, SAT preparation
• First Steps for pre-K, K and Grade 1
• High School Homework Help Hour
Try one
(805) 777-8403 week free!
1321 E Thousand Oaks Blvd (Behind Roxy’s Deli) (two sessions)
www.mathnasium.com/thousandoaks C05AT10I
Expires 1-31-11
10 NeighborhoodNews North Ranch Living January

Ann and Bryant Burns with their girls Dani, Nicole, Brianna, and Jenna Mark Wendell

Kathy and Art Jarvis The Webster Family (Thomas, Deja, Marsha, and Jada)

Looking Back at 2010...

North Ranch Families, Friends and Residents
We have had the opportunity to meet some great families, residents and friends this past year! Here are
some of them featured in 2010.
January North Ranch Living NeighborhoodNews 11

Luke and Dave Brolin Adam, Mark and Jacob Klein Mitch and Gayle Plessner

Back row: Leslie Biekkola, Gary and Devon Coon, Jim Biekkola, Jackie and Steve Back row: Bruce and Elyssa Parton, with Jim Kottra
Smith Front row: Karen Decsy and Linda Somdall Front row: Dar Miller, Gari Miller and Majorie White

David Goldberg, Eileen Gould, Carmen Ippolito, Pastry Chef David Laufer, Jeanne Karen and Brad Kraines, Kristin Feinfield, with Thomas and Marsha Webster
Reynolds, Jodai and Garo Saremi

Beverly Adkins Eugene and Joyce Jones with 16 family members continued...
12 NeighborhoodNews North Ranch Living January
...continued

Linda and Steve Arteaga, Tim and Sheri Ready, John and Luz O'Connor Sharon and Ronald Perry with their grandchildren

Mayor Dennis C. Gillette and his wife Terry at a Boys and Girls Club fundraiser Ken Koors and Michael Reider

Dana Kendrick and Regina Risolio David Goldberg and Carmen Ippolito The Feinfield boys

Fran Harrison, Judy Convery, Patty Hall and Melissa Silver Eileen and Russ John with Alicia and Bob Altemus
January North Ranch Living NeighborhoodNews 13

Joel Isaacson, Jodai Saremi, Terre Fox, Gigi Lyons-Sims, Randy and Gayle Barnes, Cynthia and Lyn Perry, Shirley Isaacson

Cal and Marjel Johnston

Megan Eichhorn

Tim Freund, Kathy and Art Jarvis, Ed Ellensohn (Back row) Kaye Ellensohn, Karen and Kelly Decsy (Front row)

Nela Malenkovic, Gigi Lyons-Sims, Dana Kendrick, Gayle Barnes, Talia and Ryan Beal

Scott Nelson Photographed by Marvin Steindler

14
Kids
CORNER
Getting back into the academic swing of things….
Discarded Christmas trees wait to be
picked up. Torn wrapping paper and now
empty gift boxes fill the trash cans. The
fall and winter holidays are over. We feel
it and so do our kids.
January represents the beginning of the
homestretch of the school year. Apart
from spring break, many students are fac-
ing six months of school before the next
significant holiday. Some children can be
a bit depressed by the prospect, making
them reluctant to get back into gear.
As parents, we want to help make the
transition back into school a smooth one.
Here are some commonly asked ques-
tions and how we, at KnowledgePoints,
have responded to them.
Q. What is the most effective way to get
back into the school routine?
A. Immediately reinstitute the sleep and
homework patterns you had established
before the holidays.
Q. How can we help reduce the stress of
homework?
A. Having a regular time set aside for
homework and breaking the work down
into ‘bite-sized’ pieces can lessen the feel-
ing of being overwhelmed.
Q. My child is very smart but gets poor
grades due to a lack of organization.
How can I help?
A. Effective organization systems and
homework handling oversight can reduce
the number of missing assignments.
However, there is no “one size fits all”
organization system. Students need to
create systems that address the issues
(“Where should I put this completed
assignment so I remember to hand it
in?”) and fit the student’s style of think-
ing. The best system in the world doesn’t
work if the student doesn’t use it.
North Ranch Living January
Q. What do I do about my son (or
daughter) who has pretty much ‘given
up’ on school?
A. A lack of motivation in school can
be a symptom of skill deficits in math
and reading. A child can feel ‘hopeless’ or
‘dumb’ when he or she suffers repeated
failures, especially after making a real
effort. We have frequently witnessed
increased motivation paralleling skills
improvements. As students experience
small successes with the latter, they feel
more positive and hopeful about the pos-
sibility of success in other areas too.
Q. How can I make learning more fun?
A. Learning need not be confined to
the four walls of a classroom. A trip to
the local Farmers’ Market (where they
can practice math or science skills), an
hour or two at the beach (lots of sci-
ence opportunities there) or a visit to a
children’s theatre (English and literature
galore) can all be meaningful and fun
learning experiences.
KnowledgePoints Learning Center identifies
the difficulty your child is having, whether
it is in basic skills, study skills, or homework,
and constructs an individualized program
specifically designed to address those dif-
ficulties. This diagnostic and prescriptive
approach, together with a motivational
system, has proven to be extremely successful
in helping students reach their full poten-
tial. KnowledgePoints of Oak Park can be
reached at 818-292-8627 or oakpark@
knowledgepoints.com. Visit www.knowl-
edgepoints.com/oakpark or search Facebook
for KnowledgePoints, Oak Park.
January North Ranch Living 15
16 North Ranch Living January
January North Ranch Living 17

the
Wine Bar By Tim Ready

2010 wine suggestions ranging from

$8.99 to $64.99
Always know that I have
personally tasted these
wines and I make sure my
local wine supplier has
them in stock. Email me
at tsready@yahoo.com if
you need help finding it.

Orin Swift "Abstract"

Red California 2009,
$24.99

Montebuena Rioja 2009,

Spain, $8.99
Orrin Swift, The Prisoner,
Napa Valley 2008, $ 34.99

Tablas Creek, Esprit de

Beaucastel Blanc, Paso
Robles 2008, $36.99

Anderson's Conn Val-

ley, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Estate Reserve 2007,
$64.99

Cote De Rhone,
Aphillanthes (Boulle)
Château du Rouët Cuvée Côtes-du-Rhone 2007,
Reservée Rosé Tradition $12.99
Côtes de Provence 2009, Robert Craig, Cabernet
$13.99 Sauvignon, Napa Valley,
Affinity 2007, $44.99
18 NeighborhoodNews North Ranch Living January

A North Ranch Living Party

Eileen Gould and Sharon Perry

Larry Greene, Mitch Plessner and Marvin Steindler Bryant & Ann Burns with Gayle & Randy Barnes

Linda Somdall with Gary & Devon Coon Tim Ready with Sharon & Ronald Perry

Devon & Gary Coon, Mark Wendell, with Beverly and Harold Adkins
January North Ranch Living
Gayle Barnes with Tim Ready Ann & Scott Nelson with Kathy Jarvis
Gary & Devon Coon with Gigi Lyons-Sims and a friend
neighborhood
Referral
Seasons is located at 620 Lindero Canyon, Oak Park
818-879-1190.
I know that you’re always looking for local businesses to feature
in NRL, and my favorite “new” shop is Seasons (formerly The
French Marketplace). They just moved across the street, to 620
Lindero Canyon Road in Oak Park (a few doors down from
Fresh and Easy), and it’s better than ever!
NeighborhoodNews 19
Gigi-Lyons Sims, Gayle Barnes and Eileen Gould
Jodai Saremi, Bruant & Ann Burns with Marissa Hoff
Photographed by Marvin Steindler
Linda, the owner, has exquisite taste and she sells a variety of
high-quality items like scrumptious confections, entertainment,
home decor items and antique furniture (wait until you see the
gorgeous antique French etched glass doors!).
When you walk into the “candy shop” room in the rear of the
store, it just makes you happy to see all the beautiful things for
sale. We're so lucky to have such a lovely shop in our own back
yard! I hope you share my enthusiasm.
Bev Adkins
20 NeighborhoodNews North Ranch Living January

Recipes
Gari, Dar and Paige Miller Gari, Dar and Paige Miller

North Ranch From the kitchen of Dar Miller

Nanimo Bars (3 layers)

Layer 1: Layer 2: Let cool in freezer while preparing the

1/2 cup melted butter 1/4 cup butter next layer. Keep in the refrigerator and
1/4 cup sugar 3 TBSP milk cut into small squares.
5 TBSP coco 1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp vanilla 1 box powdered sugar (9x13 pan)
Let cool-then add:
1 egg Layer 3:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs 8 TBSP butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans 5 TBSP coco
1 cup coconut
January North Ranch Living 21
22 NeighborhoodNews North Ranch Living January

Volunteer Spotlight
Westlake Village Junior Women’s Club’s 29th Annual Gingerbread Boutique

The non-profit Club supports many charities in the Conejo Valley, such as The Wellness Community, Many Mansions and Senior
Concerns. For further information, visit www.westlakejuniors.org.

If you do volunteer work or are involved with a charity please let us know at gayle.barnes@n2pub.com.

Photographed by Marvin Steindler

January North Ranch Living
Edible Landscaping:
How to Grow Greens Indoors
It may be a dark and chilly in winter
in most parts of the country, but a true
gardener will always find a way to keep
growing plants, even under adverse con-
ditions. Gardeners in warm climates are
enjoying the fall planting and harvest
season, while gardeners in cold climates
still continue to harvest winter hardy
vegetables such as kale, carrots, leeks and
Brussels sprouts. These will survive tem-
peratures in the 20 degree F range with
some winter protection.
But if you crave delicate salad greens and
don't live where you can grow them out-
doors in winter, or you live in an apart-
ment with little room to garden outdoors,
there's another option. All it takes is a
little preparation to grow your own salad
garden this winter. Here's how:
1. Purchase a lighting system for growing
greens indoors. It's best to have a 2 or 4
fluorescent bulb fixture with a mix of
cool white and warm white bulbs.
2. Choose greens that are adapted to
indoor growing. Loose leaf lettuce variet-
ies, such as 'Black Seeded Simpson' and
'Tom Thumb,' baby spinach varieties,
such as 'Catalina,' arugula and mesclun
mix are some good choices. You can even
experiment with growing radishes, Asian
greens and broccoli as micro-greens, or
grow herbs indoors.
3. For containers, use plastic pots, seed
trays or even the clear plastic containers
in which lettuce is sold at grocery stores.
4. Add moistened soilless potting soil or
seed starting mix to the pots and trays so
it's about 3 to 4-inches deep.
5. Sow seeds 1/2 to 1inch apart in rows
in the trays, or sow a few seeds per small
pot. Some lettuce varieties need light to
germinate, so barely cover the seeds with
potting soil and mist with water.
6. Cover the trays and pots with a black
plastic bag and place them in a warm
(70F) spot. Often the top of the refriger-
ator is a good place to hasten germination
since it stays consistently warm.
7. Check the pots and trays daily. Once
the seeds begin to germinate, remove the
plastic bag and place the seedlings under
lights.
Lawn&Garden 23
8. Position the lights just above the grow-
ing seedlings. Using a timer, keep the
lights on during the day for 14 hours/day.
9. Move the lights up as the seedlings
grow, keeping them about 6-inches from
the top of the plants. If you place your
hand on top of the greens and it's warm,
then the bulb is too close and may burn
the tender foliage.
10. If you're growing lettuce, spinach
and mesclun mix for baby greens, begin
to harvest when they are 4-inches tall
(20-30 days after seeding), cutting them
with scissors one inch above the soil.
Allow the greens to grow back again for a
second and even third harvest.
11. If you're growing lettuce and spinach
into larger heads, transplant individual
seedlings into 4 to 6-inch diameter pots.
Let them grow to full size (45-60 days),
then remove the entire plant when har-
vesting.
12. Keep the pots watered and fertilize
weekly with a dilute organic fertilizer.
While fish emulsion is a great organic
fertilizer for greens, be aware if you use
fish emulsion indoors, the smell will per-
meate the house. Consider other organic
fertilizer options if that's a concern.
13. Once you harvest the large heads of
lettuce and spinach, or the baby greens
begin to get tough and woody, compost
the plants and potting soil and start over
again. You can repeat sowing a greens
garden 2 to 3 times in winter to have a
continual salad crop. You can even time
your greens garden to be in full harvest
for the holidays or a special birthday.
Imagine a celebration featuring greens
grown indoors in your house.
Article provided by National Gardening Association
24 Resident BusinessGuide North Ranch Living January

Attention Residents of North Ranch Are you a Business Owner?

To find out how to list your business for free, email Gayle at gayle.barnes@n2pub.com

AUTO BODY COLLISION AND INSURANCE MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING WEALTH MANAGEMENT

PAINT Farmers Insurance Afras Industries, Inc. MD Wendell Wealth Partners
North Ranch Bodycraft Birte & Ken Koors Maryam Rassouli Mark Wendell
Alex Sarac (805) 494-4174 (805) 230-0011 (805) 402-8642
(805) 379-3411
State Farm Insurance REAL ESTATE
FASHION Steve Smith Keller Williams Realty
Bring It Up, Inc (805) 496-3340 Carmen Ippolito
Andrea Niemiec Perrigo (805) 231-9947
(800) 670-6201 INTERIOR DESIGN AND
CONSULTATION Re/Max Estates
The WORTH collection Kathy Love Jarvis Interior Tim Ready
Dana Kendrick Design (818) 613-0770
(818) 929-6455 Kathy Love Jarvis, CID
(805) 405-6360 SECURITY
HOME MOVIE TRANSFER & Security & Risk Management
ARCHIVE LICENSED ENGINEER Group
Plessner Digital & Archive Wood Framing Design Scott Nelson
Mitch Plessner Eric Chou, PE (818) 482-0540
(818) 601-9974 (805) 813-0350
January North Ranch Living 25

VINTAGE VILLA 818-889-8647

OAKS FLORIST 818-991-5444
26 North Ranch Living January
January North Ranch Living RealEstateResource 27

Featured properties may not be listed by the office/agent presenting this brochure.
Source Multiple Listing Service. All information herein has not been verified and is not guaranteed.

Supplied by Tim Freund *REO **Short Sale

Address Neighborhood List Price Sale Price Sold Date DOM Beds Baths Sqaure Feet
4575 Club View Dr. Clubview $699,000 $655,000 07/08/10 77 3 3 1942
1798 Blue Hill Ct. Master Series $699,900 $675,000 10/06/10 214 3 3 2,117
1791 Shawness Ct. Master Series $899,000 $845,000 09/22/10 196 4 3 3,346
4493 Rayburn St. Fair Oaks $969,000 $915,000 05/18/10 56 3 2.5 2,577
4203 Valley Spring Dr. Custom $999,000 $987,000 06/10/10 17 4 3 2,730
4067 Skelton Canyon** Custom $1,099,000 $1,000,000 05/27/10 3 4 3 2,542
5555 Grey Feather Ct.** Crescent Oaks $1,025,000 $1,025,000 08/30/10 175 4 3 2,700
1630 Windy Mountain Ave. Custom $1,050,000 $1,050,000 09/28/10 1 5 6 4,405
707 Cedar Point Pl. Braemar $1,149,000 $1,070,000 09/01/10 50 5 4 3,317
4525 Rayburn Custom $1,150,000 $1,090,000 10/05/10 205 4 4 4,458
1630 Windy Mountain Ave.** Custom $1,200,000 $1,200,000 11/22/10 49 5 6 4,405
1225 Canyon Rim Cir Custom $1,339,900 $1,300,000 11/19/10 126 4 5 4,078
3917 Cresthaven Dr.** Custom $1,480,000 $1,350,000 10/13/10 157 5 5 4,868
5374 Lakeview Cyn. Rd.* Custom $1,490,000 $1,460,000 07/23/10 78 6 6 5,037
4199 Arrowhead Cir. Custom $1,594,000 $1,470,000 11/05/10 78 4 5 4,000
5566 Little Fawn Ct. Custom $1,599,000 $1,475,000 10/25/10 455 5 5 4,898
1736 Upper Ranch Rd. Custom $1,495,000 $1,495,000 08/25/10 58 4 5 3,871
5184 Oxley Pl. Custom $2,300,000 $1,860,000 10/14/10 106 6 8 8,000
4915 Summit View Dr. Country Club Estates $3,500,000 $2,900,000 07/02/10 658 5 6 6,137
28 FinancialFitness
The Art of Behavioral Finance
It is said that the X factor in economics is human behavior. The
field of study devoted specifically to investor behavior, referred
to as Behavioral Finance, proposes psychology-based theories to
explain stock market anomalies.
The securities market is full of complexities and is exceedingly
difficult to predict. According to Mr. Philip Tetlock, a psycholo-
gist at UC Berkeley, “the vast majority of predicting experts
performed worse than random chance, that fancy degrees were
mostly useless when it came to forecasting.” The main rea-
son is overconfidence, relating to the state of denial in being
wrong, especially with well-known experts. He refers to this as
"confirmation bias", and leads people to hold many erroneous
opinions. Famous experts were "dispassionately analyzing the
evidence when they were really indulging in selective ignorance
as they explained away dissonant facts and contradictory data,
and therefore, became prisoners of their preconceptions." But
alas, the mirror on the wall says we are bigger, better, faster and
smarter than the reality.
Most people tend to be overconfident in the accuracy and scope
of their own knowledge and ability to perceive the best possible
North Ranch Living January
By Mark Wendell
action, to achieve the best possible outcome. Also, people have
an over-inflated pride of ownership, with a heightened sense of
self value, placing a substantially higher value on investments
owned, usually from an over-inflated sense of knowledge, to
discern reality.
Behavioral finance researchers have concluded that most people
tend to be instinctively risk averse. An example is in their desire
to diversify their portfolios vs. possibly obtaining a much higher
return on a narrow investment. The reason is that most people
weigh the prospect of losing more than they weigh the prospect
of gaining, because people feel the intensity of the pain of loss,
such as remorse, more than they do the intensity of the exhilara-
tion of pleasure, such as pride, of an equivalent gain. Also, peo-
ple tend to overweight low probabilities that offer high returns,
such as lottery tickets and penny stocks.
People have a strong aversion to regret, and they regret action
more than inaction; i.e., the preference of investors to hold their
losing investments, on the hope of a turnaround, when an action
would often be in their best interest. An example is the regret
for taking the corrective positive action of selling a losing posi-
tion or reallocating a portfolio. Whereas allowing a status quo
to continue provides soothing "paper losses", and is equivalent
to ignoring the reality and avoiding the facts, which is inaction,
which has nothing to regret.
Investors want to make the right decisions regarding their
investments. Yet research shows that people act out behav-
iors which may be contrary to their best interests. Adopting
a professionally designed, disciplined, and honest long-term
investment game plan is the best defense against self defeating
behaviors. Not only should it contain goal driven, diversifi-
cation-risk-reducing strategies, but it should be constructed
to minimize emotional behavioral influences to avoid serious
financial mistakes.
MD Wendell Wealth Partners, Mark Wendell, Principal, pro-
vides services in a family office personal wealth boutique for
select clients.mark@mdwendell.com to access a long version of
this article: www.mdwendell.com 805-230-1908
It is suggested that you consult with your tax, legal and/or financial services professional
regarding your individual situation. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources.
Representative is registered with and offers only securities and advisory services through
PlanMember Securities Corporation, (PSEC), a registered broker/dealer, investment advisor
and member FINRA/SIPC (800)874-6910. MD Wendell Wealth Partners and PSEC are
independently owned and operated. PSEC is not responsible or liable for ancillary products or
services offered by MD Wendell Wealth Partners.
January North Ranch Living 29
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January
LOCAL EVENTS
Tuesday, Jan. 11
Westlake Women's Club's Business Meet-
ing and Luncheon
Where: WestlakeVillage Inn, 31943 Agoura
Road, Westlake Village
Featured Speaker: Carol Freeman, Presi-
dent, Conejo Valley Senior Concerns. The
Westlake Women’s Club is a philanthropic,
volunteer organization and a member of
the California and General Federation of
Women’s Clubs, one of the oldest and larg-
est volunteer organizations in the world.
Ticket cost for the luncheon and meeting is
$28.00. Contact Ann Miller, 818-991-2663
or Beverly Van Nest, 805-241-3640 for res-
ervations.
Thursday, Jan. 13
Oaks Christian School Admissions Infor-
mation Night
Where: Oaks Christian School, 31749 La
Tienda Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91362
When: 7pm – 9pm
The whole family is invited to join us for an
evening of refreshment and information.
Admission Information Nights are a great
way to become familiar with Oaks Christian
School in a short amount of time. Hear pre-
sentations from our students, headmaster,
principals, and director of admissions. At
the conclusion of the evening, take a cam-
pus tour conducted by our parents and stu-
dents. R.S.V.P. preferred but not required.
For more information: www.oakschristian.
org
Tuesday, Jan. 18-23
A Chorus Line
Where: Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks,
CA
When: 8pm
A Chorus Line is a musical about Broadway
dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus
line. With nineteen main characters, it is set
on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre
during an audition for a musical. The show
provides a glimpse into the personalities of
the performers and the choreographer as
they describe the events that have shaped
their lives and their decisions to become
dancers.
For more information: www.zvents.com
Thursday, Jan. 20
Chad and Jeremy
Where: The Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside
Dr., Agoura Hills, CA 91301
When: 8pm
English folk rock duo Chad & Jeremy are
celebrating 50 years of performing togeth-
er. Hits include "A Summer Song," "Willow
Weep for Me," "The Truth Often Hurts The
Heart," "Yesterday's Gone," and more.
For more information: (818) 879 - 5016
Saturday, Jan. 22
Madame Butterfly
Where: Armstrong Theatre, Torrance, CA
When: 2pm
One of the most beloved and dramatic
operas, this is a classic tale of colliding
hearts and cultures set in 19th Century
Japan. Internationally acclaimed soprano
Patricia Racette is a geisha tragically torn
between two worlds and forced to make
the ultimate sacrifice. Company Music
Director Donald Runnicles conducts the
S.F. Opera Orchestra and Chorus in this stir-
ring production featuring some of Puccini's
most popular music.
For more information: http://sfopera.com
North Ranch Living January
Thursday, Jan. 27
Weekly Farmer’s Market
Where: The Oaks, CA 101 Freeway & Lynn
Rd
When: 1:30-6:30pm
The Thousand Oaks Farmers’ Market has
been in existence since 1991 and functions
as a not-for-profit farmers’ cooperative
with over 60 farming families participating
throughout the year. The Farmers’ Market
offers an array of freshly grown produce
including an ample supply of organic vari-
eties, fresh cut flowers, bedding plants and
more.
For more information: www.vccfarmers-
markets.com
Saturday, Jan. 29
It’s Love, Actually
Where: Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza,
2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
When: 8pm
Come enjoy a night of romance with Shi-
Yeon Sung, conducting
Wagner, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Bernstein,
Prelude and "Liebestod" from
Tristan und Isolde; suite from Romeo and
Juliet; Romeo and Juliet - overture fantasy
and symphonic dances from West Side
Story!
For more information: www.zvents.com
Send any calendar submissions 2 months in advance to
gayle.barnes@n2pub.com
HomeMatters
January North Ranch Living 33

New Year Organizing Your Closets

New YOU!
Make a point to change out hangers in your closet at least every
3 years. Wooden hangers get splinters and plastic hangers get
bent. Also, plastic hangers have wear and tear just like tires. I
promise you will look at your closet in a different way, and you
Get Organized Once and For All won’t spend a dime on any new clothes. You will find things you
didn’t know you had.

Organizing Your Home Office
Minimize visual clutter on your desk; reducing the knick knacks
will help you focus and therefore be more productive, saving
time.
Spend a half an hour each day sorting and throwing out papers
in your “to do” box. It saves you from becoming overwhelmed
by having so much “stuff ” to do. You will save yourself a lot of
stress and also be able to delegate things you didn’t even know
you had to do.
Save time getting ready in the morning by organizing your out-
fits the night before. It also reduces the stress of deciding what
to wear when you're on a deadline to get out the door.
Put a shopping bag in your closet for items you don’t like any-
more, can't wear anymore because of size changes, or items you
just want to purge. It’s also a good way to train others you share
your closet with to purge their items as well. At the end of every
month take the clothing and other items you purged to your
local church, Goodwill or Salvation Army and get a receipt for a
tax deduction.

Set guidelines for the paperwork you keep in your filing system.
For example, how long do you really need to keep your utility
bills? Six months is a good rule of thumb.
Creating a Home Communications/Command Center
If your family’s life is chaotic due to everyone having a different
schedule, set up a communications center in the most com-
monly used area of your home, usually in the kitchen, which is
the heart of the home. But not on the outside of your fridge,
because there’s really not enough space there for a family cal-
endar, mail bin, and bulletin board… not to mention it looks
cluttered. A separate communications center in your kitchen
will help keep clutter from building up. It will also cut down on
being late or forgetting important events.

Let your children take ownership of the fun activities they enjoy
and let them help you put those on the calendar. This will help
teach them organization and hold them accountable for their
INC. schedules too!

Post the meal planning guide to your communication center

ALL PHASES OF TREE WORK so everyone knows what to expect for dinner. This will alleviate
PRUNING • TOPPING • SHAPING • STUMP REMOVAL • ROOT REMOVAL • REMOVAL uncertainly, minimize complaints and help with time manage-
ment in regard to preparation.

- FREE ESTIMATES - Tonia Tomlin is the Founder and President of Sorted

FULLY INSURED/BONDED
(818) 597-0449
www.goldcoasttreeservice.com
Out™ and Sorted Out Publishing. Tonia is an author,
ST. LIC. #721441 publisher, speaker and mother of twin girls. She has
(805) 578-6500 been featured on HGTV’s, Mission: Organization, and
is the author of the book Chaos 2 Calm: The Moms-
of-Multiples’ Guide to an Organized Family. Tonia@
SortedOut.biz. www.SortedOut.biz
34 North Ranch Living January

CREATING SPACES OF DISTINCTION...

Lifestyles Interior Design and Construction has been making great living spaces happen for over 22 years. Our ingenuity and project management skills have enabled us
to achieve client goals with continued consistency. Although our goal is always to create environments that are positive and uplifting, we have always put a heavy
emphasis on delivering projects on-time and on-budget.

31275 La Baya Drive, Suite B • Westlake Village • 818-706-8825 • www.lifestylesdesign.com • Residential • Commercial
Certified Interior Design #0154 • General contractor #730324
January North Ranch Living 35
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