April 6, 2007 RSS feed / Front Page

001p1_xlg.jpg

Book-loving couple always promise a good read

DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS- Betty Lipman, above at left, chats with fellow volunteer Renee Romanowski at an open house held in honor of Betty and her husband, Bob (inset), on Saturday at the Ventura County Library in Simi Valley. More...

Field set for presidential debate

Nine Republican presidential candidates will participate in a debate Thursday, May 3 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. More...

Business

Job outlook bleak for L.A., better for Ventura County, report says

Los Angeles area employment outlook for the second quarter of 2007 is one of the weakest in the nation, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, while the Ventura and Santa Barbara areas showed a better projection. More...

Click here for all stories

Schools

Middle school program helps failing pupils get back on track

District wants to reduce number of students who are held back
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

A new program in Simi Valley Unified School District is trying to help students stay on track for graduation. More...

Pioneer forensics team sending five students- one frosh- to state

By Kevin Gate Special to the Acorn

Could there have been a homefield advantage at work during last month's speech and debate state qualifying event at Simi Valley High? More...

Do rankings really matter?

A recent report that the president of Arizona State University would get a bonus of up to $60,000 if he raises the school's ranking in U.S. News & World Report raised some eyebrows. More...

Click here for all stories

Pets

LITTLE MAN JAKE- Jake is an 8-year-old Chihuahua mix. He is good with other little dogs as well as cats, though he would love to be somebody's one and only and would surely blossom with undivided attention. More...

Click here for all stories

Police

A 26-year-old male was arrested on March 28 in the 1500 block of Fourth Street and charged with child molestation, sodomy and oral copulation. On March 29 a burglary was reported in the 2800 block of Fitzgerald Road. More...

Click here for all stories

Faith

Be transformed . . . every day

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12:2 I believe it is no mistake that the observance of Easter each year comes in union with the spring equinox and season of More...

Faith-based film festival back again

SONScreen begins next week

For the second-straight year, Adventist Media Center, a stateof-the-art production facility right here in Simi Valley, will host the SONScreen Film Festival, a weekend-long event for Christian young adults and industry professionals who use or More...

Ministry offers Easter weekend services

Hope Coming Ministries will host a Bad Friday memorial today at 7:30 p.m. at the Bible Church and Biblical Counseling Center, 2250 Union Place, Simi Valley. More...

Click here for all stories

Letters

Woman with firsthand knowledge calls Simi victim's advocate a 'true hero'

In your March 9 edition of the wonderful Acorn, there was an article about the only victim's advocate in Simi Valley, Renee Johnson. More...

Development's road-widening project threatens 'the heart' of the Knolls

As if the threat of overdevelopment on the site of the Knolls Horse Ranch weren't scary enough, developer Colton Lee is now proposing a devastating, illconceived road-widening project that would tear through the very heart of the very rural and w More...

Click here for all stories

Neighbors

Longtime police advocate crosses thin blue line in search of new challenges

'It was a natural step,' says former Chamber coordinator
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

Simi Valley native Jessica McCormick was first introduced to the police department through her family's business, looking on as her father, owner of Dave's Towing, often worked together with members of local law enforcement. More...

Tickets available early for annual Oxnard Strawberry Festival

Tickets are on sale now for the 24th annual California Strawberry Festival, which will be held May 19 and 20. Advance tickets are available at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center box office, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, (805) 486-2424, 10 a.m. More...

Quilt Guild to meet

The Simi Valley Quilt Guild meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Doors open at 7 p.m. More...

Click here for all stories

Funding stream for treatment plant might get plugged

FEMA may rescind $500,000 grant because of lack of progress
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

Simi Valley is in jeopardy of losing out on $500,000 in federal emergency grant money slated to help pay for the $4-million Tapo Canyon Water Treatment Plant- a project aimed at providing resi dents with a viable local source of potable water. More...

Parents gather to learn the latest on issues affecting the community's youth

By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley PTA/PTSA Council brought concerned parents and community members together last week at Santa Susana High School to discuss four hotbutton topics affecting adolescents everywhere: bullying, diabetes, MySpace and teen drivers. More...

Community

Still no plea entered in Torres murder case

Simi Valley murder suspect Daniel Ramirez, 22, appeared twice in a Ventura County courtroom this week for arraignment in the shooting death of Luis Torres, only to have the case continued to a later date on both occasions. More...

Williamson forming landfill watchdog committee

By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

In response to rumors that the Simi Valley Landfill & Recycling Center is planning an expansion in the near future, Councilmember Barbra Williamson said last week she is forming an ad hoc advisory committee to gather facts and listen to the conce More...

Who did your taxes this year and are they done yet?

OREN ROBLES, 36 Healthcare specialist "I do my own taxes. I actually haven't done mine yet. I'm just procrastinating, I guess." More...

Click here for all stories

Sports

Former Simi baseball star getting the job done at CLU

Roe more than willing to pitch inside
By Steve Ames Special to the Simi Valley Acorn

California Lutheran University junior right-handed pitcher Mike Roe, a 2004 Simi Valley High graduate, might not blow hitters away with his fastball, but he isn't making anyone comfortable in the batter's box, either. More...

Highlanders come up a little short vs. WHS

Boys' volleyball team loses a five-game thriller at home
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

For 14 straight years the boys' volleyball team at Royal High was the team to beat in the Marmonte League. The Highlanders won league titles from 1989 through 2002. More...

Local trio on the fast track to success

MOTOR SKILLS- Three local youngsters recently took part in the District 37 Big 6 Grand Prix Series in Twentynine Palms. The boys endured 91-degree weather and competed with 32 other boys and girls in the Kids 65-100cc Division. More...

Click here for all stories

On The Town

"The Last Mimzy"

I have just seen the future of children's science fiction- a future quite different from the CGI-laden visual extravagance and bonecrunching comic-book superheroes of late- and this future is intoxicatingly exciting. More...

Painter inspired by the sea hosting demo April 20

People who enjoy visual arts are invited to watch artist/teacher John Sidman create one of his fantasy paintings in acrylics when the Simi Valley Art Association meets from 7 to 9:30 p.m. More...

Good tunes at Town Center

Every Saturday night in April, a variety of bands will perform from 5 to 8 p.m. in the food court of Simi Valley Town Center. More...

Click here for all stories

Editorials

Spring, a time for baseball and optimism

Spring. What a wonderful time of year. It's a time for renewal. It's a time to turn over a new slate and a chance to enjoy the absolute wonders of Mother Nature as she sheds her winter coat and grows green again. More...

Political Cartoon

Full Story

Guest opinion

Mindfulness therapy can help bring lives into balance
By Sherry Gaba Special to The Acorn

A middleaged woman is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and hopeless- depleted of all of her energy. More...

Click here for all stories

Datebook

THURS., APRIL 5 Tool Time Conejo Valley Woodworkers Association meets 7 p.m., Redwood Middle School, 233 W. Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks. Program: educational programs on tuning, mortising, router use, saw blade selection. More...

Click here for all stories

Real Estate

Ruth Rose

Ruth Rose of White House Properties, West lake Village, has been congratulated by owner/ broker Marty Williams for her production for January. She has been named top producer with more than $17 million in listings and sales. More...

Shirley Richards

Broker associate Shirley Richards of Coldwell Banker Westlake Village Regional attended the annual seminar for Certified Residential Specialist designees. More...

Click here for all stories