September 26, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

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Preschoolers discover an age-old tradition

SPECIAL OCCASION— Rabbi Michele Paskow blows the shofar, an instrument traditionally made from a ram's horn, for the students of B'Nai Emet Congregation preschool on Monday in honor of the Jewish New Year, which begins at sundown, Mon., Sept. More...

Report details how city is putting government grants to work

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Simi Valley is well on the way to meeting the goals of its fiveyear plan to increase affordable housing and support services for the city's seniors, homeless and low to moderateincome families, according to an annual report drafted by th More...

Health & Wellness

Seniors find assistance at health fair

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION— Above, Dorothy Manfretti of Simi Valley gets a bone density checkup with X-ray technician Dan Griffiths of Mobile Marketing for Community Medical Group. More...

Sharps need proper disposal

Homegenerated hypodermic needles, or sharps, are forbidden in waste containers beginning Sept. 1, when a new law takes effect. More...

Conejo hospice to host Vegas-style fundraiser

A "Las Vegas Cool" fundraiser to benefit Hospice of the Conejo will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sun., Oct. 5 at Moorpark Country Club, 11800 Championship Drive. More...

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Schools

Superintendents discuss changing education landscape

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Local superintendents gathered to examine "The Changing Face of Education" during a forum at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks on Mon., Sept. 22. More...

Staying active earns Apollo $100,000

High school wins statewide student fitness contest
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

On his third day as Apollo High School's principal Dean May got to shake hands with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Talk about getting a running start to a new job. More...

Two of CLU's Presidential scholars hail from Simi

Michelle Kane and Katherine Stevenson, both of Simi Valley, were selected among the 19 Presidential Scholars of California Lutheran University at the start of the 2008-2009 year. More...

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Pets

Wag 'N' Walk turns 21 ... in dog years

Fundraiser for rescue pet adoption agency is tomorrow

Simi Valley Animal Rescue Volunteers hosts the third annual Wag 'N' Walk from 8 to 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, Sat., Sept. 27 at Rancho Simi Community Park, 1765 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. More...

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Police

Child serial killer may have buried body near 23 Freeway

By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Authorities will be digging for clues near Moorpark next month to find out if remains discovered by cadaver dogs and groundpenetrating radar belong to a teenage boy who went missing in December 1968. More...

Joint police effort leads to drug bust

Two men allegedly sold heroin to customers in Simi and T.O.
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Two alleged heroin drug dealers have pleaded not guilty after arrests following a threemonth investigation by the East Ventura County Narcotics Street Team and the Simi Valley Police Department's Narcotic Unit. More...

Police Blotter

On Sept. 18, the following were arrested for possession of a controlled substance: a 49-year-old woman on the corner of E. Los Angeles and Christine avenues and a 43-year-old woman on the corner of N. Church and School streets. More...

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Family

Get involved helping Simi's teens find work

Applications are being accepted for positions on the Youth Employment Service Advisory Board, which promotes the hiring of local youth, assists youths in understanding employer expectations, and acts as an advisory body to the Cit More...

New blog dedicated to issue of underage drinking

Straight Up Ventura County has debuted a new blog that features writing by and for youths and parents on the subject of underage and binge drinking and impaired driving. More...

Weekend at Underwood Farms dedicated to the Old West

Underwood Family Farms presents the fifth annual Wild West Weekend on Sat. and Sun., Oct. 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark. More...

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Letters

No less than two engineers should be on every train

It seems that when it comes to the Metrolink train crash, more are to blame here than the engineer. Management wants to save a few bucks. More...

Miller always keeps what's best for Simi in mind

I pledge my vote and my support for Paul Miller for reelection as mayor of Simi Valley, the city he helped make one of the safest cities in the country. More...

It's time for a change at the top

Every election season in Simi Valley, we vote the status quo. More...

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Acorn on Vacation Photo Contest

BLENDING IN WITH THE CROWD—James, Ellen and Rick Litiatco read the paper with members of the cultural show at the Tam-awan Village in the Northern Cordillera Mountains in the Philippines in December. More...

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Datebook

Datebook

FRI., SEPT. 26 Writers And Books Tenth Annual Santa Barbara Book and Author Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, Santa Barbara Public Library Main Branch, 40 E. Anapamu St. Meet authors and their books. Free admission. More...

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Lawmakers act quickly to improve rail safety

Cellphone use banned, other measures considered
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

In the two weeks since the Metrolink crash that killed 25—the majority of whom were Simi Valley and Moorpark residents—local and state politicians have taken action to make train travel safer. More...

City weighing 'one-of-a-kind' program for the homeless

Officials want to open a pathway to pay parking tickets
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley Task Force on Homelessness gave support to the development of a pilot program last week that would allow the city's homeless to work off parking citations through community service. More...

The Acorn's presidential pick

TOP CHOICE— Winners of this year's Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation contest and a $100 prize, Tristen and Cheyenne Gomez, ages 7 and 10, show off their Acorn at the base of Mount Rushmore during a trip to South Dakota and Wyomi More...

Community

Residents rally together in response to tragedy

SOMBER MOMENT— Above, members of the Ventura County Fire Department who were the first to respond to the tragic Metrolink accident two weeks ago stand at attention as a passenger train whirs by last Friday during a community observance at the More...

Provide input for Simi's Bicycle Master Plan

In 2002, under the direction of the City Council, the city created and adopted a Bicycle Master Plan to encourage the development of an integrated bicycle system throughout Simi Valley with connections to other regional bike systems. More...

Landscaping the city's gateways

Simi looks to enhance areas around freeway on-ramps
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

The city is planning to give a $1.1-million facelift to the First Street interchange in the form of landscape improvements, and Simi's other gateways will receive similar beautification treatment later on. At its Aug. More...

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Business

Start your engines: MB2 brings go-karts to T.O.

MB2 Raceway has opened a new consumer racing complex at 1475 Lawrence Drive, Thousand Oaks. More...

Community managers recognized

The California Association of Community Managers recently announced that three managers from Ventura County have earned the Certified Community Association Manager designation. The managers are Brooke A. More...

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Sports

Four for the Month

The calendar will soon read October, one of the best months to be a sports fan, if not the best. Baseball playoffs, college and professional football, the start of the NBA and NHL seasons—it's all on the docket. More...

Same name, similar game

Wilson sisters ready to lead Simi Valley tennis team to glory
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

At first glance, Tianna and Linsey Wilson of Simi Valley High look very much alike. Just don't tell them that. More...

Giving up goals not in Eclipse's plan

PERFECTION ON THE PITCH— The Simi Valley Eclipse U-13 girls' soccer team won the Simi Valley Labor Day Tournament without allowing a goal in any game. More...

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Faith

Huckabee visits T.O. church to preach in support of traditional marriage

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks not only hosted an important guest speaker at last Sunday's service, but added another musician to its band. Arkansas Gov. More...

Houses of Worship

Blessed Hope Chapel, Rev. Joe Schimmel, 23 W. Easy St., No. 204, (805) 520-5882 Bridge Community Church, Rev. David Wilkinson, 1925 Royal Ave., (805) 526-2964 Calvary Baptist Church of Simi Valley, Pastor Dennis Chapman, 3050 Kadota St. More...

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On The Town

What's new in October on DVD

Film and television author Randy Williams reviews the lat est movies, television shows, documentaries and music pro grams now available for pur chase online and at retail stores. More...

The Movie Nut

"Ghost Town" Rated: PG-13 I'll admit to a few uncertain moments at the beginning of "Ghost Town." I suspected a cheap knockoff of "Ghost"—the 1990 classic that, for me, defined a new, intelligent (after the goofiness of "Ghostb More...

Ventura County Fairgrounds to host Harvest Festival

Seaside event will benefit Ventura County Humane Society

The Ventura Harvest Festival is scheduled for Fri. to Sun., Oct. 3 through 5 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. The event will benefit the Ventura County Humane Society. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More...

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Editorials

Acorn on Vacation contest ends in a photo finish

Our annual Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation contest was a resounding success again this year as the paper received a record number of entries from Simi families travelling to locations across the state, country and globe. More...

Political Cartoon

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Neighbors

Exhibit depicts history of the Simi Valley Police

Tours available by appointment
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Like the city itself, the Simi Valley Police Department—established June 30, 1971—has come a long way since its days as the Community Safety Agency, when unarmed officers patrolled town in green blazers. More...

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