A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

Urban Outfitters Coming To Westfield Topanga, As Well As Others

While I was at Westfield Topanga today to check out “The Vampire Diaries” cast appearance at Hot Topic, I had the good fortune of meeting the mall’s marketing director Alexandra DeCicco.  She answered a few questions I had about new stores coming into the mall, and gave me the 411 on some others that I didn’t know about.

Urban Outfitters will be replacing Pottery Barn, which closed in January.  It is due to open in May.  Alexandra says they are hiring, and interested parties should check out UrbanOutfitters.com for details.

I’ve noticed many people coming to site looking for information about when Anthropologie will be open.  Alexandra informed me they are scheduled to open in April.

Chico’s, a womenswear company, will be moving to a new location just across from it’s current location.  They will be closed Monday for the move and reopen on Wednesday (Feb 17) in the new location.

Teavana should be opening in the next couple of months, and Alexandra says the very popular surf & skatewear retailer Tilly’s is also coming to Westfield Topanga at a date TBD.

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Huge Turnout For The Vampire Diaries Meet-and-Greet At Westfield Topanga

If you had trouble finding your tweenage daughter this afternoon, I have a pretty good idea where she was.  The cast from The Vampire Diaries on the CW network was making an appearance at Hot Topic in the Westfield Topanga mall, and I’m pretty sure every girl in Woodland Hills from the ages of 11 to 17 was there waiting in line for autographs.  There was also a big stage set up for a performance from A Fine Frenzy.  I’d also like to note, for those that care about such things, that “Plaza” has been dropped from name of the mall, and it is now officially simply “Westfield Topanga.”

It looked to me like everyone was pretty excited, and the people coming out of Hot Topic with autographs and such seemed very pleased.  I didn’t get to see any of the cast members myself, which is a bummer because I had hoped to get my copy of the recently released The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season DVD autographed.  What a bummer.  (Correction: As pointed out by Vampire-Diaries.net, there is not yet a DVD for The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season.  It is, however, available on VOD at Amazon.com.  I could have instead had Ian Somerhalder, who plays Boone on Lost, sign my Lost: The Complete First Season Blu-ray disc.  Again, still a bummer.)

I didn’t stick around for A Fine Frenzy’s performance, but hopefully it went well.  Here’s a few pictures of the crowd, line, stage, etc.

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Honorary Woodland Hills Mayor Michael Miller Passes Away

I don’t believe I ever met Michael, but by all accounts he was a valuable member of our community and will surely be missed.

The San Fernando Valley Business Journal writes:

Insurance agent and honorary mayor of Woodland Hills Michael Miller died after suffering a heart attack. He was 62.Miller was a familiar face in the west San Fernando Valley from his involvement in not for profit and charitable groups.

Miller opened his State Farm insurance agency in 1981. He served as president of the Fernando Award Foundation, the vice president of the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council in addition to his seven terms as the honorary mayor of Woodland Hills.

Miller was named a “Small Businessperson of the Year” by the California Assembly in 2002 and honored by State Farm that same year with the “Circle of Excellence” Award. He was also one of State Farm’s Select Agents with the “Legion of Honor.”

Miller is survived by his wife Jennifer; daughter Montana; and son Chandler.

Services take place Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. at St. Bernardine’s Church, 24410 Calvert St. A reception follows at the Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills.

The Woodland Hills Tarzana Chamber of Commerce writes on their Facebook page:

Michael Miller’s Biography and Background

With over three decades of service in high-profile leadership roles in his community and his industry, Michael Miller is renowned for his strength of character, integrity and for his commanding presence. Standing tall in both stature and in the classic values of goodwill and service to others, Michael’s ceaseless energy and efforts to improve those organizations in which he serves continues to set new heights of achievement for what one can achieve with a positive attitude and lots of hard work.

As the Honorary Mayor of Woodland Hills and owner of a State Farm Insurance Agency, Michael has received numerous accolades from both his industry and the community. In 2002 he received the Joseph Staller Memorial Award for outstanding excellence in the community of Woodland Hills. Michael was also honored in 2002 with the “Small Business Person of the Year” award in the California State Assembly-sponsored event with the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley acknowledging the area’s top leadership. Professionally, State Farm Insurance Companies honored Michael for the “Circle of Excellence” Award in 2002 in addition to being one of State Farm’s Select Agents with the “Legion of Honor.”

Besides serving in his seventh term as Woodland Hills’s Honorary Mayor, Michael serves as president of the Fernando Award Foundation, as vice president of the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council, as a community advisory board member for the Encino-Tarzana Hospital, and mentors at Pacific Lodge Boys Home. His other credits include chairing the Woodland Hills Family Festival, acting as chairman of the 4th of July Celebration at Pierce College, and he is a past president of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce. After over 20 years of ongoing work to improve his community, this Vietnam War veteran has finally made his mark overcoming numerous challenges in life through his grace of character and perseverance to overcome obstacles.

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Michael served in the Vietnam War where he emerged with both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for acts of courage. Michael earned the Bronze Star when, after his weapon jammed, he engaged with the enemy in hand to hand combat, helping to save his company. Three months later while “walking point” ahead of his company, he was shot during a sudden ambush. Although his leg was shattered, he returned to the States making full recovery despite doctor’s predictions that he would never walk again. Through seven operations and a year spent in a V.A. Hospital, Michael learned how to face and overcome all odds through a positive “can do” attitude, an iron will to survive, and an unyielding gratitude for life.

Following his recovery, Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico, then an MBA in accounting from Arizona State University. In addition to completing the curriculum, Michael began his career in community service by getting involved with the Red Cross, the United Way, the Young Republicans Club, and Big Brothers of America who named him “Outstanding Big Brother of the Year.” A few years later, while serving as controller for State Farm Insurance’s Westlake Village office in California, Michael was again acknowledged when he was elected to the prestigious group, “Outstanding Young Men of America.”

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Sampling The $1 Oatmeal (Fresh Banana) Wednesday At Jamba Juice

As previously blogged, Jamba Juice is doing special promotional pricing of $1 on its oatmeal every Wednesday through the end of the month.  So, last Wednesday I got up much, much too early to grab some oatmeal at JJ’s 6441 Canoga Avenue location before work.  It was delicious!  I’ll be back!

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