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July 27, 2007 / Front Page

Popular director handing over reins to the Samaritan Center

By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

Monday was Betty Eskey's first day on the job as executive director of the Simi Valley Samaritan Center. More...

Plans for Simi's first dog park approved at Big Sky

Site overlooks softball fields

By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

Plans for Simi Valley's first dog park were set in motion recently when the concept and initial layout for the facility were approved by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. More...

Health & Wellness

Weave veggies into snacks, meals

Helping a child develop an appetite for vegetables is not the easiest of tasks. In fact, 69 percent of mothers believe their children are eating too few vegetables. More...

Multifocal lenses can improve vision for baby boomers

As the baby boomer generation grows older, many are starting to experience weakening vision. But a fairly new lens paired with an established procedure is helping to restore clear vision. Dr. More...

A successful family vacation offers activities for everyone. When traveling with children who have asthma, however, visiting new places brings changes in climate and exposure to triggers that may increase the risk of asthma attacks. More...

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Sports

Arms race

Marmonte League quarterbacks muscling for starting roles

By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

With the professional sports world embroiled in off-field drama, let's turn our attention to the local high school football scene, where quarterback battles are heating up from Calabasas to Simi Valley. More...

Simi Youth Softball teams prepping for national championship tournaments

By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

This week two Simi Youth Softball teams will start their summer vacations. A week ago the Simi U-12 Gold team finished second in the state championships, while the Simi U14 Gold finished third. More...

PONY squad begins World Series tonight

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE- The 13A All-Star team from Simi Youth Baseball has advanced to the PONY World Series at Chino Hills Community Park. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

Three 20-year-old males were arrested in the 3000 block of Avenida Simi on July 18 and charged with vehicle theft. More...

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Family

Outdoor film viewings offered throughout summer

•"Charlotte's Web" will be shown as the free "dive in" movie from 6 to 10 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, July 28, at Rancho Simi Community Park Pool, 1765 Royal Ave. More...

Wet and wild weekend

COOL TARGET- Left, Jacob Gibson, 7, and Shaun Richard of Simi Valley try to soak their friend Colin Trainor, 5, at Rancho Tapo Community Park last Sunday. More...

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On The Town

True love wins out with help from 'Scapino!'

Play review

By Sally Carpenter sallyc@theacorn.com

Bored with TV reruns? Moorpark College offers the perfect cure for the summertime blues with a zany comedy, "Scapino!" You'll need a scorecard to keep track of the many characters and their relationships. More...

Vino Jazz Festival announces lineup

The fifth annual Simi Valley Vino Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 15 will include R&B and gospel singer Howard Hewitt, jazz artist Nancy Wilson and violinist Karen Briggs. More...

The Movie Nut

"I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" Directed by: Dennis Dugan Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel MPAA r ating: PG-13 (for crude language, sexual innuendo, nu dity and drug references) Running time: More...

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation

Here's How: 1. Send a color print depicting scenery, people and the front page of any edition of the Simi Valley Acorn . 2. More...

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Neighbors

Generations of students counted on Simi's first resource officer

He wrote his own ticket for the job he's leaving

By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

It was the middle of the night when Simi Valley Police Officer John St. Laurent got a call on his cellphone. The young woman on the other end sounded frightened; she told him she was alone in her car and being followed. The fact that St. More...

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Real Estate

7 Painting Tips for Quick and Easy Home Updates

If the look and feel of your home's décor is starting to feel drab, perhaps it is time to freshen it up. Boring-wall syndrome plagues houses with vast expanses of plain, white walls with no color or textural interest. More...

Joe and Tim Joyce

Joe and Tim Joyce of Coldwell Banker Westlake Village were congratulated by manager Frances Lewis for their achievement of Coldwell Bankers' Previews designation and a recent production period of 9 million. More...

This Single-Story Home Has Been Remodeled And Upgraded

This singlestory 3bedroom, 2-bathroom home with nearly 1,600 square feet has been remodeled and upgraded throughout. More...

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Landfill agreement called into question

Task force wants to know why city struck deal with waste hauler

By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

An agreement originally made in 1999 between the city of Simi Valley and Waste Management resurfaced Wednesday night at the second meeting of the independent Simi Valley Landfill Expansion Task Force. More...

Assembly members deliver 'State of the State' over lunch

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Two local Assembly members gave their take on state issues at Wednesday's State of the State 2007 luncheon, discussing everything from the problems with universal healthcare to the size of their offices in Sacramento. More...

Community

Rare visit from Polish president draws far-off visitors to Simi

European leader honors Reagan's efforts to fight onslaught of Communism

By Robin Nasby Special to the Acorn

Lech Kaczynski, president of Poland, visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library last week to induct the Cold War president into his nation's Order of the White Eagle. More...

Residents now required to report stolen firearms

Those who don't could be charged with a misdemeanor

By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

The City Council adopted an ordinance Monday night requiring citizens to report cases of lost or stolen firearms. The intent is to assist law enforcement in keeping track of weapons that could potentially be used in crimes. More...

Is your family ready for the next wildfire?

The Ventura County Fire Department will conduct a community meeting to discuss the Ventura County Wildfire Action Plan at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 at the Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. More...

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Schools

County school board spends $288,000 on lobbyists

By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

The Ventura County Board of Education is spending $288,000 to retain the services of lobbying firms in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. More...

Summer camps in Simi and Oak Park

Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District is offering four summer day camps this year: Crosstown Kids Camp and Rancho Day Camp in Simi Valley and Fun Oaks Summer Day Camp and Fun Oaks Mini Camp in Oak Park. More...

College Corner

Common applications We're just a few weeks into summer, but many high school seniors are already working on college applications. More...

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Pets

Rescued squirrel turns household pet

Teen shrugs off comments that she's a little nutty

By Robin Nasby Special to the Acorn

Last July Breanna Stikkelman's father rescued a squirrel from a construction site where he worked and brought it home for his daughter to nurse back to health. More...

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Faith

An ancient tradition

PURIFY- Mike Willis, a Newbury Park resident and member of the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations "smudges" Elliot Persico, 14, of Simi during a Moonlight Meditation and Drumming Ceremony hosted by the One Spirit Center for Conscious Living at Tierra Re More...

Places of faith

St. Francis reaches out

By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church 280 Royal Ave. Simi Valley (805) 526-5141 Rev. Steven Dean Founded: 1978 Size of congregation: 300 Denomination: Episcopalian Services: Sunday, 8 and 10:15 a.m. More...

Wednesday worship will include Holy Communion

The Rev. Lynn Enloe will preach on "Knock, and the door will be opened for you" from Luke 11:9 at the 10:15 a.m. ser vice with Holy Communion, Sunday, July 29 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 9 W. Bonita Drive, Simi Valley. More...

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Letters

County bending over backward for Colton-Lee Knolls development

I am outraged with the way the proposed Colton-Lee Development on the site of the former Knolls Horse Ranch (the current proposal is for a 100-unit manufactured home "park") is being handled. More...

Immigrants who do it the right way are welcome

In your article about the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley taking a stand against immigrants' families being pulled apart, the pastor, Rev. June Goudey, said their "sanctuary church" will not consider any criminals. More...

UCC is rewarding the wrongdoer

The United Church of Christ has taken a stand which, when boiled down to its essence, says nothing more than "reward the wrongdoer." UCC's announced intention to harbor illegal aliens on its property is not only contrary to federal law but also to More...

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