A community forum addressing California's education crisis will convene at 4:30 p.m. Wed., April 2 at the Thousand Oaks High School Performing Arts Center, 2323 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. More...

Photos by WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers HEALTH ON DISPLAY- Lars Puckler, above, of Extreme Bootcamp, helps student Josh Tignac, 13, analyze his body fat during the Sinaloa Middle School Health Fair last Thursday. Ashley Scott, left, of PUMA Karate, and his son, Justin, 14 (in back), demonstrate jujitsu and pressure point defense to Samantha Canale, 13. Students attended the fair during their P.E. periods and were able to interact with 20 presenters. More...

The music industry just isn't what it used to be. With the enormous growth of Internet file sharing, digital downloading and online marketing, the former bigwigs of major record labels are being forced to overcome new hurdles each day in order to keep their businesses profitable. More...

Photos by WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers TRAGEDY BROUGHT TO LIFE- Simi Valley High School students, above, dressed up as the living dead to represent lives that are lost to drunk-driving as part of the "Every 15 Minutes" program on Tuesday. Below, Ventura County firefighters respond to a mock accident on Stow Street. The two-day presentation is founded on the idea that someone dies every 15 minutes from an alcohol-related collision. More...

As a freshman center fielder for the Oaks Christian varsity baseball team in the spring of 2006, Brent Keys terrorized TriValley League pitching with a .450 batting average, four home runs, 28 RBI, six triples and 26 stolen bases. More...

FLUFFY LOVE- Smoky is a sweet, friendly black Pomeranian ball of fluff. He is so playful and lovable you'd never know he is 10 years old. He is already housebroken and good with other small dogs and older children. Smoky can be adopted from the Camarillo Animal Shelter at 600 Aviation Drive. Ask for ID No. A200674. Occasionally pets have already been adopted, so visit www.vcar.us or call (805) 388-4341 before visiting. IRIS SMOOT Acorn Newspapers More...

A 22-year-old woman was arrested March 15 on the 1800 block of E. Cochran Street and charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a restricted weapon. A 23-year-old man was also arrested and charged with carrying a loaded firearm and possession of drugs without a prescription. More...

Award winning political cartoonist Steve Greenberg will be the guest speaker at Congregation B'nai Emet's Shabbat service at 8 p.m. Friday, March 28 at the synagogue at 4645 Industrial St., No. 2C, Simi Valley. More...

Assisteens, an auxiliary of the Assistance League of the Conejo Valley, is ready to expand its reach and services to the community through a membership drive. The teen group currently has 26 members from Oak Park, Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Westlake, La Reina and Oaks Christian high schools. More...

When Sylvain Rivet talks about his culinary creations, he compares himself to a serious painter. "Cooking is an art," said Rivet, the chef and owner of Amuse Bouche restaurant in Simi Valley, explaining how the various flavors in his dishes are like the layers of a painting. More...

Ahh . . . the open space of Ventura County. Breeze aromatic with sage, murmurs of valley quail in the chaparral, and ground below the feet of the observant hiker, who would have perhaps reveled in the excitement of distinguishing a coyote track from its domestic counterpart- had the earth not been entombed by greasy asphalt for a 2,512-space parking lot. More...

It's been said that the three functions of our state are to educate, medicate and incarcerate. To be sure, California's spending on schools, healthcare/social services and judicial system is the largest in the country. As Sacramento prepares to make across-the-board cuts in the upcoming budget, the loudest protest can be heard coming from the education sector. More...

With money donations down and the number of seniors in need on the rise, FOOD Share is taking a more assertive approach to collecting canned goods. The county's regional food bank needs more nonperishable food items for its Brown Bag Program, which feeds nearly 1,700 low-income seniors each week throughout Ventura County. More...

Calabasas SAT., MARCH 22: The Leonis Adobe Museum's Springtime at the Adobe, including easter egg hunt, Ewith Easter Bunny, centerlive music by Karen Tobin, "crowing" contest, old fashioned games, crafts and baby animal zoo. More...

This remodeled home features a freeform rock/grey bottom pool, waterfall spa, fire pit and built-in barbecue. The expanded interior includes a breakfast room, office and laundry room. The master bedroom features an upgraded bath with block glass/seamless glass tiled shower. More...