Happy Birthday, Jessica

By: Michele Hren

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Not knowing what to get my daughter Jessica for her 20th birthday, I thought a one month unlimited pass to the downstairs workout room and upstairs classes at M6 fitness in Thousand Oaks would be a nice and practical gift. To my surprise and delight, Michelle Vrakelos, the owner of M6, was a favorite choreographer of Jessica’s while on the Thousand Oaks Dance Team. My gift idea was a hit and Jessica looks forward to Michelle’s “insane” workouts again and trying every class there is.

When visiting M6 Fitness for the 1st time I was not disappointed. The cycling room was amazing and the classes were packed with smiles, determination and sweat. There was a buzz of good energy at every turn and it was addicting.
A native of Thousand Oaks, Michelle Vrakelos has known and worked with most of her clients for years and has far exceeded their fitness goals and expectations. For years she has created lasting relationships with her clients and students. The fitness techniques and concepts created by her and her team of trainers and instructors have been coveted by celebrities and fitness devotees alike.

Her clientele includes well-known athletes, such as professional volleyball player and model Gabrielle Reece, former NFL player Chris Hayes, and former NBA player Gary Grant.

Chris Hayes, former eight-year veteran of the NFL and Super Bowl champion of the Green Bay Packers, credits M6 Fitness for staying fit after retiring from the NFL and said, “M6 Fitness, with its unique styles of workouts and high-powered energy, reminds me of how I trained as a player in the NFL.”

M6 Fitness’ line-up of instructors includes football coaches, former professional football players and boxers, NBA and NFL trainers, as well as trainers for celebrities, like 50 Cent.

With the opening of its new location, M6 Fitness has introduced the M6 Revolution, a state-of-the-art cycling studio that is the only one of its kind in Ventura County, equipped with RealRyder bikes that take indoor cycling to a new level. As featured on major networks and publications, the buzz around the RealRyder has attracted a strong following throughout 22 countries, from beginners to competitive athletes to cyclists and celebrities, like Rihanna and Tobey Maguire.

Lacey Philbrick, once 40 pounds overweight says, “Before I started my journey with M6 Fitness, I had been searching for that one place that had motivating instructors as well as diverse members with the same fitness and lifestyle goals as mine. M6 is that place. And although my primary inspiration to join M6 was to lead a healthier lifestyle, I have lost 50 pounds since joining. M6 did what other gyms in this area couldn’t do. It kept me wanting more. Every workout is a new challenge, every class is invigorating, every instructor is invested, and every member is inspiring.”

M6 Fitness is designed for the busy mom, fitness enthusiast, athlete, and novice of any shape and size – anyone and everyone who craves a fresh new outlook on their fitness regimen and a step-up from their current level of fitness.

Gary Grant, long-time M6 Fitness member and former L.A Clippers and New York Knicks basketball player, trained at M6 during his time as a guard and continues to go to M6 Fitness for his daily workouts. “If you want to get in shape or stay in shape, M6 Fitness is your place,” says Grant.

Katie Porush, a Westlake High School student says, “M6 has helped me develop a passion for fitness. The classes, instructors, family environment, and energy all come together to create the perfect way to end my day.”
You must visit www.m6fitness.com for all of the classes and their descriptions. For more information call 805-449-1501.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

The unique Premiere M6 Fitness Studio Expands to Thousand Oaks

By: Michele Hren

Finally someone has created a fitness studio with the “IT” factor.

“M6 Fitness” founder and owner, Michelle Vrakelos, a professional dancer and well-known Ventura County instructor and trainer, knew what she wanted before opening her 1^st M6 fitness studio in 2008.  She created a studio with style, innovation, a group environment where everyone encourages one another to do their best, expert trainers and instructors, a variety of specialized classes, and extensive equipment.  With her high-energy, dedication, powerful trainers and impressive background she created a buzz and it continues to attract a large following of people from Ojai to L.A.

Imagine doing something fun with the whole family?

“M6 Fitness: is designed for the busy mom, fitness enthusiast, athlete, and novice – anyone and everyone who craves a fresh new outlook on their fitness regimen and a step-up from their current level of fitness. Come see people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and strengths getting fit while having fun, and learning how to put your mind over matter. You will see husbands and wives in Party Box, fathers and daughters in Knock Out, sisters in Barre Control.  Michelle’s trademark class, Barre Control, which combines sculpting exercises with basic ballet techniques and movements, is a club favorite. Known for its signature high-energy classes and club atmosphere, M6 Fitness blends cutting-edge fitness with urban dance movements.   There’s no other studio around that offers the newest, freshest, and most revolutionary styles of fitness at its affordable rates.

Go to the next level with M6 Revolution

M6 Fitness is introducing the M6 Revolution, a state-of-the-art cycling studio that is the only one of its kind in Ventura County equipped with RealRyder bikes that take indoor cycling to a new level.  Imagine riding along the California Coast or through Wine Country vineyards without having to step foot outside.  With a 10 foot movie screen and RealRyder bikes that turn, tilt, and lean to simulate an outdoor bike ride, you get a full-body workout while strengthening core muscles and burning 20% more calories per minute than the traditional indoor cycling workout.   As featured on major networks and publications, the buzz around the RealRyder has attracted a strong following throughout 22 countries, from beginners to competitive athletes to cyclists and celebrities. “M6 Fitness” continues to far exceed fitness goals and expectations. The fitness techniques and concepts created by Michelle and her team of trainers and instructors have been coveted by celebrities and fitness devotees alike.

BE BOLD and see for yourself

The new 5,500 square foot location at 258 Lombard St. east of Moorpark Rd and south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard definitely deserves a look and see. Be bold! Daily classes include Barre Control, Virtual Training (indoor cycling), Party Box (cardio kickboxing), Knock Out (boxing), X Camp (boot camp), FIT (small group training), Power 45 (TRX), and Zumba.

Special rates with unlimited class packages as well as single classes are available.  For more information, please call 805.449.1505 or visit www.m6fitness.com.  You can also find M6 Fitness on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/M6-FITNESS/116398751741821.

For all press inquiries, please contact Katherine Chang at 818.434.6822.

Keep your eye out for more news and motivating testimonials on “M6 Fitness.”

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

It Only Takes One

By: Michele Hren

Newbury Park church hosts bone marrow drive.

Stop, someone needs your help. Mia Stoutenborough, a local teen was diagnosed in 2009 with a severe aplastic anemia, a rare type of bone marrow failure. Her body is not producing enough platelets and red and white blood cells.

Mia completed her second round of immune-suppressive therapy with a partial response. A bone marrow transplant is the best care.

I wish I can do it myself, but I can’t. Due to a pre-existing health issue I don’t qualify. I need someone to go in my place. I know in real estate it only takes one buyer to close a deal. But for Mia and her family it only takes one match to save her life or possibly someone else in need.

Donors need to be 18-60, willing to donate to any patient in need and able to meet the health guidelines. At the drive, cells from inside the donor’s mouth will be collected with a swab. The process takes less than 10 minutes. No marrow will be collected at this time.

TIME & PLACE: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at the Bridge Evangelical Free Church, 999 Rancho Conejo Rd. Newbury Park.

For more information, call Rachel at (626) 251-6258 or (800)MARROW-2 (627-7692). Website www.Marrow.org and use the promo code Match4Mia.

Thanks to our local residents and the bone marrow registry.

God Bless

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

Thousand Oaks auto mall sign

By: Michele Hren

com·pro·mise/ˈkämprəˌmīz/

Noun: An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.

Verb: Settle a dispute by mutual concession.

What happened to last week’s excitement over the promise of compromise being met? This Auto Mall sign discussion is starting to bother me. It has been going on for over 8 months and it’s down to a standstill on an LED reader board so dealers can not only put their company name on the LED board but their brand names and the websites. The dealer’s message was clear: NO LED or NO GO.
Hold it right there. I have a question where the answer could be the solution. Who will be driving 65-75 miles per hour past the Auto Mall sign jotting down a car dealership website address? For this type of information hasn’t everyone heard of Google, Bing and other search engines that are easily found in a safer environment at home or the office rather than a freeway, for heaven sakes? I agree, the dealerships are important to our economy, but egos mixed in with stubbornness seem to be getting in the way of logical solutions for the public to find their next vehicle.

The final vote is April 26 and I hope the dealers and residents can truly compromise.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

Which one do you like?

By: Michele Hren

Congratulations to the passionate residents of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, North Ranch and Westlake for making your voices heard, loud and clear, in the controversy over the many Monster Auto Mall Signs that had been proposed to replace the existing sign. With your emails, calls, blogs, letters to the Acorn and stating your opinions at council meetings, whether they were for or against the new sign proposals, are making it happen with civil conversation and compromise.

Many thanks to our council members, too, for acknowledging the public outcry against the proposed signs, withdrawing what was on the table and taking a closer look at what the residents were saying. We know you had pressure from both sides of the discussions but you seem to have found a common ground. That’s not always easy to do.

The proposed sign, and I hope the final rendering of a new sign, is “smaller in size at 18.5 feet tall,” said association president Susan Murata, “with a water feature and an electronic component just large enough to display dealer’s names, logos, websites, the time and temperature. The electronic display will not feature advertising.” Council member Gillette said, “I hope the sign the council ultimately approves is artistically unique and of high quality and, to the extent possible, meets the desires of the dealers and the expectations of residents.”

The best contracts are those where parties can come to a compromise where everyone is happy with the outcome. That’s what the local residents and the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall Association will have accomplished, very soon. I think their close. Now it’s just a little more civil discussion.

The next council meeting is at 6p.m. Tuesday 4/12.

To vote on the sign  go to the link to vote for your favorite proposed sign: http://www.theacornonline.com/topstory-automallproposal.html

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

18 Billion in Cuts

By: Michele Hren

Based on the sentiments expressed in the March 10th Acorn, the public is fine with $18 billion in cuts being made to our schools. That’s $18,000,000,000.00.

I admire the letter from Tina, in the 3/24/11 Acorn, a mother with 3 children who has the opportunity to see more than we can imagine. Her kids are getting and education in the CVUSD where PTA’s see the necessity to help supply amenities and programs to their students while Tina teaches in a less fortunate school in Oxnard that has no extra funding for the students, and unfortunately, but not surprisingly has a lower graduation rate than in Thousand Oaks.
My kids are in college but I still hope to be paying taxes to schools when the present babies and kindergarteners start running the world. However, it’ll be a travesty if fewer and fewer kids graduate or don’t experience what is their right to get an education because of a poorly run government that made selfish cuts to eliminate such things as new books, enough teachers to successfully teach students or after school programs that unite and excite. We don’t want students to lose interest in their dreams and resort to just hanging out in the streets. Let’s not crush their dreams and potential to someone who can make a positive impact in their family, community or worldwide.

When it comes to the future, let’s do for children as if they were our own. Taxes to help schools thrive should be like feeding our kids. It’s a top priority. They are the generations that will make the decisions when we’re retired or in poor health. We want them educated and thankful to the generations that came before them.

Here’s a little advice from my experience in this recession: If you don’t think you can afford funding schools look at what you have in your cart the next time you go shopping at the grocery store of the mall. If you’re honest with yourself I bet you will find more than a few items you can live without. See the big picture.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

One man’s opinion vs. a little logic

By: Michele Hren

My dad told me at a very early age that there should be a school for logic. Later, I recognized that we can’t make someone logical any more than we can make someone motivated. You are or you’re not. The logic, I feel I inherited from my Dad, is what motivated me to write this blog. At the end, send your comments and opinions, if anything motivates you to.

A Newbury Park man, I’ll refer to as “Mr. Ed,” supports the proposed Lynn Road bike lane project. However, at the community input meeting last month, he was dismayed by the vocal opposition, so he decided to write a letter to the Acorn editor. I feel his opinions were illogical and unsubstantiated. I became skeptical to where he came up with these opinions and decided to voice my own opinions.

For example:

Mr. Ed says, “Adding bike lanes to Lynn Road…. will add quality of life to Thousand Oaks and will not be a safety hazard.” My response: Will he bet on that? How is a bike lane NOT a safety hazard where a high traffic of High School and College students drive?

Mr. Ed says, “Unless I’m mistaken, (Back it up, Mr. Ed?) this has not caused a safety hazard for cyclists or vehicles. If anything, it has enhanced the safety of both. My Response: You’ve just read the quote that inspired me to write this blog. With a little bit of logic, I say a safety hazard can exist before a child is hurt or killed. Without logic, is Mr. Ed saying it has enhanced the safety of the riders? Prove it.

Mr. Ed says, “The concern voiced about the high number of vehicles leaving the road and crashing into the wall between Manzanas and Hillcrest, posing a serious safety threat, is unfounded.  My response:  Just because a school student walking to or from school or a cyclist was not, at that given moment, between the wall and the hood of a car or truck when plowing, or as Mr. Ed states, crashing into a wall, does not warrant anyone, in my opinion, to say a serious threat is unfounded.

I finally lost my patience with Mr. Ed when he opposed the Thousand Oaks resident’s proposal for the city to add a bike lane to the existing sidewalks, by saying, studies and experience have shown the safety record of this option is bad and compared our Lynn Road with the city of Ventura, where in the 80’s and 90’s they used sidewalks for bikes and pedestrians and they have all since been removed. Unless it was a type-o, there was only one record for 2 decades these shared sidewalks were in existence? Hmm.

Mr. Ed’s statements reminded me of the young attorney who was representing the man I had to take to small claims court this past month. He was drawing at straws and pulling the most random things out of his hat and other areas of his anatomy.

I don’t know Mr. Ed. He may well be a fine husband, father or favorite granddad, loved by family and friends. I hope so. But,  I needed him to substantiate his findings in his letter for me to take him seriously.

Other opinions I do take seriously are Mr. Hsu agreeing with Ms. Armstrong that, “Lynn Road is not wide enough to be safe for riders and in favor of the sidewalks being for bikes along with the seldom foot traffic it gets.”  As for Mr. Baum, a cyclist and a driver, and sometimes a walker, I applaud him for being so careful and I can only wish more people could be so wise.  And lastly, Mr. Derk, I feel your pain. Yes, IF drivers would obey the speed limit, and IF drivers would get off their hand held cell phones and IF only all drivers were responsible, Lynn Road would definitely be far safer for all. However, in this case, IF and IF only are incredibly big IF’s.

We can only hope that our guardian angels will keep us all safe.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

Part III

By: Michele Hren

Do the auto dealers feel their BIG SIGN is something the council is beholding to them for the dealer’s past contributions to 4 of the 5 council members’ reelection campaigns? Caroyn Guillot, from Thousand Oaks wrote, “Mayor Fox…… went from acknowledging that he’s heard the residence loud and clear to bending over backwards for the auto mall.” Irwin and Glancy appear to agree with the public, however, Irwin says she doesn’t mind a large sign equivalent to the Civic Arts Center but she’s against general advertising. As of the last meeting dealers were still proposing a larger sign that contains an electronic advertising board. They are definitely ignoring the public’s disapproval and let’s not forget the city code and General Plan, too. Are the dealers trying to wear us residents down? WHAT’S THAT SMELL?

Are council member’s afraid of losing their seats if they don’t appease the auto dealers?

If I were on the council, I’d be afraid I’d lose my seat if I DIDN’T go with the wishes of the people.

But here’s the kicker. Added to the stink of political tactics and influence lives an elderly lady who apparently owns the land upon which the new sign would be built. The city and the auto mall still haven’t received her permission and are now working behind the scenes to obtain her property.

I hope she’s a tough cookie who doesn’t need the money and will not break with the pressure that will surely be put on her by the buyers.  If so, she will be the people’s hero.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren

And the proposals continue

By: Michele Hren

This is just a start…

We’ve probably all seen the enormous auto mall signs in Oxnard and Ventura. The Thousand Oaks Auto association recently proposed erecting a 35 foot-tall monument sign with a 12 foot by 21  foot LED screen. To be honest, it doesn’t feel right to me. The 1st thing I think about is TO becoming Pottersville, one sign at a time. Luckily, as I continued to read the article in the Acorn, the public is vigorously sending letters to the council opposing this idea.

Mayor Pro Tem Jacqui Irwin definitely sounded like she was siding with the “No” votes. I doubt if the 1st proposed monster of all monster signs will come up again, but why are they asking for more proposals for something smaller [than 35 feet]. What’s wrong with the one that’s already there?

Here’s what’s on my mind. When I pass the auto mall, it’s pretty apparent what it is and I’m not going to decide on my next car from a few seconds of my eyes off the road. I think about all of the people who will take their eyes off the road to read an LED advertisement flashing colorful photos of cars all the time while my kids are beginning to break from the start of the Moorpark Rd/ 23 freeway slug that happens at the Auto mall during rush hour.

Ok, I’m a mom and that’s what I thought of 1st. But, bottom line, regardless of who’s for or against any type of new sign that wont be as good as really shopping for a car or seeing it over and over on TV, isn’t there anything else the city can spend our money on that is more beneficial for those really in need of our help?

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michele Hren