December 5, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

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Serving with a smile

TOP IT OFF— Alix Chavez, 10, adds whipped cream to some tasty pumpkin pie at the senior center's 18th annual free Thanksgiving dinner held Nov. 26. More...

It's official: Tony Strickland takes seat

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Nearly a month after the general election, Republican Tony Strickland has officially been named the winner of the 19th District state Senate seat. More...

Health & Wellness

Archers take aim at Tapo Canyon Park

Photos by IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers More...

New children's therapy site

Children's Therapy Network Inc. has launched a new website, www.childrenstherapynetwork .net. The site offers information that includes a calendar of classes, testimonials from parents, services and contracts. More...

Six tips for giving and getting kid-safe toys

By Dr. Alan Nager Special to the Acorn

It's that time of year when kids start making their holiday wish lists, which of course include toys and games. More...

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Schools

Moorpark College student newspaper honored at conference

Student Voice wins General Excellence award
By Brennan Whitmore Special to the Acorn

Staff members of the Ventura County Community College District student newspaper—The Student Voice—enjoyed a rewarding visit to the Southern California Journalism Association of Community Colleges Conference, held Nov. More...

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Sports

Highlanders more than happy to silence doubters

Expectations not as high for Royal girls' basketball team as in years past
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

The girls' basketball squad at Royal High has a new look this season, but the team still has the same goal as in years past—a Marmonte League championship. Two seasons ago, RHS shared a league title with Newbury Park and Moorpark. More...

Chivas USA holding tryouts in Simi next week

Chivas USA of Major League Soccer will conduct a pair of tryout sessions Fri., Dec. 12 at Rancho Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley. More...

Ventura County Fusion seeks soccer standouts

Ventura County Fusion's Premier Development League men's team is seeking soccer players from the Ventura County area who believe they are good enough to play professionally. More...

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Family

Scout helps creates mural for Vista Fundamental School

ALL AMERICAN—Sam Morrissette, 14, and Vista Fundamental School principal Denise Ferguson stand in front of a mural on the school's campus. More...

Informational Meeting

An informational meeting for those interested in foster parenting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wed., Dec. 17 at 4601 Telephone Road, Ste. 112, Ventura. More...

Furry, friendly paper boy

EATING UP THE NEWS—The Taylor family dog, Eli, a 2-year-old Portuguese Water Dog, fetches the Simi Valley Acorn for mom and dad Joyce and Tracy and daughter Teresa on a recent Friday morning. More...

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Letters

Prop 8 battle could cost state millions in lawsuits

The people of California had already decided eight years ago, with the passage of Proposition 22, that marriage in our state will be defined as between "one man and one woman." Then four of the state's seven Supreme Court justices, Ronald Ge More...

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Columns

Ask The DMV

Do you have questions about general drivingrelated require ments such as registration or insurance? Are you unclear about the laws and restrictions related to driving? More...

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Editorials

Are the boys in blue putting Simi Valley in the red?

In the midst of one of the toughest budget years in its 39-year history, the city of Simi Valley is giving 115 police officers a 7 percent raise in salary and benefits. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

Contact your area representatives

City Council *All council members can be contacted through the city manager's office: (805) 583 6701. Mayor Paul Miller E-mail: pmiller@simivalley.org Councilmember Steve Sojka E-mail: ssojka@simivalley. More...

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Datebook

Datebook

FRI., DEC. 5 Moorpark Melodrama "The Plight Before Christmas" opens 8 p.m. at High Street Arts Center, 45 E. High St., Moorpark. through Dec. 21. 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. For all ages. More...

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Simi Valley cops get 7 percent pay hike

Raise to cost city extra $1.35 million
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Simi Valley police officers will see a 7.05 percent raise in total pay in their December paychecks as part of a contract negotiated four years ago, the city announced last week. More...

Schools to cut 16 jobs

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Simi Valley Unified School District, which has already shed $187,577 from this year's budget, notified 16 classified employees this week they will be fired. More...

Family of shooting victim speaks out

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

The last time Loni Wall saw her son was a month before his death. She was talking with 31yearold Bryan on the phone for about 45 minutes when she heard her husband come home from work. More...

Community

Simi Dog Park beginning to take shape

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

With construction well underway on Simi Valley's first dog park, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District officials are anticipating a March 2009 opening of the longawaited offleash dog park. More...

City Council to have final say on Bridal Path family's cows

Mayor questions planning board decision
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Last Wednesday, two members of the Simi Valley City Council appealed a decision by the planning commission that allowed a Simi couple to keep eight cows, two pigs and 12 hens at their Bridle Path home. More...

Grant aimed at helping victims of domestic violence

Interface Children Family Services has been awarded funding to continue providing crisis response for victims of domestic violence. More...

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Business

Toy store FAO Schwarz and six more shops open at Simi Mall

Town Center has a variety of new offerings

Simi Valley Town Center recently announced the addition of toy retailer FAO Schwarz to its Macy's department store, the only FAO Schwarz department between Ventura and Northridge. More...

Free five-day job fair coming to career center

OPEN (Outstanding Professional Employment Network), a chapter of Experience Unlimited, will offer a free five-day job search workshop for unemployed professionals from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mon. to Fri., Dec. More...

Brian Troop named Realtor of the Year

The Simi Valley Moorpark Association of Realtors celebrated its 44th annual installation of newly-appointed board of directors for 2009. Affiliates, guests and 150 Realtors attended the luncheon at the Wood Ranch Country Club on Nov. More...

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Pets

Pet of the Week

FURBALL—Patches is an 8-year-old male Turkish Van. He is sweet and agreeable with other cats. He is housebroken and declawed, so he needs to be an inside cat. Patches can be adopted from the Camarillo Animal Shelter. Ask for ID # A456359. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

On Nov. 26, a 40-year-old woman was arrested and charged with domestic infliction of corporal injury in the 2500 block of Erringer Road. More...

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Faith

Grammy-winning priest to lead Sunday service at St. Francis

Event raising money for church expansion

The Rev. Norm Freeman, Episcopal priest and Grammy award-winning jazz-fusionist, will conduct a Jazz Vespers service from 5 to 6 p.m. Sun., Dec. 7 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 280 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. More...

Chabad collects canned goods to celebrate Hanukkah

Chabad of Simi Valley, in partnership with Chabad of Moorpark, will host the "Lights for Life" project to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. A "can-orah" will be constructed from cans of donated food and then lit at 4:30 p.m. More...

Simi Prez hosts community Christmas shop tomorrow

ACTION Foundation will sponsor its fifth annual Community Christmas Shoppe benefiting Ventura County families. The shop will be at Simi Presbyterian, 4832 Cochran St., on Sat., Dec. More...

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On The Town

'Wonderful Life' falls flat musically

Play Review
By Cary Ginell Soundthink@aol.com

Theater critic Alexander Woollcott once wrote in a review of a Sigmund Romberg score, "Brother Romberg has written his usual thunderous choruses which you enjoy while they are being roared at you and forget by the time you reach the lobb More...

'Alice' coming to Iceoplex

TriCounty Youth Productions presents its seventh annual holiday ice skating show, "Alice in Wonderland on Ice" at the Iceoplex, 131 W. Easy St., Simi Valley. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fri., Dec. 12, and noon and 4:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 13. More...

Christmas love triangle hits High St.

The High Street Arts Center presents the return of the Moorpark Melodrama with "The Plight Before Christmas" by Fred J. Cusick and Diane Moore with additional material by Will Shupe. The show runs Dec. More...

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation

WORLD'S HIGHEST ACORN—Randy and Nicki Bauer of Box Canyon rest at 14,034 feet atop Redcloud Peak in the San Juan Range of southwestern Colorado in July. More...

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Neighbors

Simi family right at home on dirt

Group turns its passion for BMX into a profession
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

When David Seino was 6 his parents took him out to their local BMX track in Simi Valley. "We thought we'd just go out there for fun and let him ride for a little bit," Lisa Seino said. "Oh, no. More...

BMX race, open to the public, will benefit ALS research

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Lindsay Seino's senior project came naturally. The Santa Susana High School senior incorporated her family's passion for BMX racing with helping find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease. More...

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