As a community newspaper, we have a serious mission. It’s our responsibility to cover the local news, sports, special people and events of the Simi Valley area. We want to achieve a healthy level of coverage while maintaining a balanced, unbiased point of view.

Experience tells us community journalism is what readers care about most; it is why we like to think of the Simi Valley Acorn as your neighborhood newspaper. As such, we invite you to express your opinion regularly in our Letters to the Editor section. And if you have an idea you think will make an interesting story, by all means submit it.

Let us carry your letters of thanks to the people and groups who may have helped you or your organization during the school year, or at other times. Let us act as a conduit through which your thoughts, praise, condemnation, suggestions and humor can run freely.

Your voice, like your vote, needs to be heard. After all, that is what the First Amendment is all about. Similar to the muscles in your body, if you don’t exercise your freedom of speech it can atrophy.

Feel free to call us at (805) 529-8711, or send your letters to the Simi Valley Acorn, 30423 Canwood Street, Suite 108, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. If you’d like to notice a community event, feel free to do that as well.

In short, we’re ready for whatever you’d like to send our way. Keep it local, keep it real, but above all, be strong and be opinionated. It’s what freedom of speech is all about.