December 12, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

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Charge against gun-toting dad now manslaughter

Scribner pleads not guilty to reduced charge
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
A Simi Valley man accused of killing his daughter's boyfriend had his charge reduced from murder to voluntary manslaughter this week after the prosecution said there was evidence that the man believed his daughter was being beaten and he More...

Water board orders Boeing to remove contaminated soil

Rain can take toxics off site
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

In an effort to reduce the pollution of stormwater runoff from the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board issued an order to Boeing last week requiring the company to remove contaminated soil from More...

In a Nutshell

Article 15 of the city of Simi Valley Code of Ethics and Conduct states, in part: "Because of the value of the independent advice of boards, commissions, and committees to the public decision-making process, members of the Council More...

Health & Wellness

Get flu shots early to protect the public

Getting a vaccination early in the flu season can help protect family and community against the potentially dangerous effects of the flu. Roughly 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. More...

A few bedtime tips for sleeping well

Separate sleep facts from fiction to get more Z's

For those who are not getting enough sleep, they have lots of company. More...

Mind your skin when you hit the slopes

Outdoor activities like skiing and snowboarding are fun, but while cold weather may be good for the ski trail, it's not always kind to skin. More...

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Schools

McCain campaign staff member recalls election with AP government class

By Patrick Stevenson Special to the Acorn

Royal High School graduate Owen Paun spent more than a year as a campaign staff member for presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona). More...

How climate change affects the Arctic

America's Teaching Zoo is hosting the inaugural Arctic Lights event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Dec. 20 and 21 at the zoo at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road. More...

County community foundation will provide $1 million in scholarships

The Ventura County Community Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships to be awarded to Ventura County students in 2009. The deadline to submit applications 5 p.m. Fri., Jan. 16. More...

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Sports

Boys' soccer squads losing top talent to club teams

But there's still enough firepower on the pitch to make title chase competitive
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

The race for a boys' soccer title in the Marmonte League should be thrilling, but the feeling among coaches is that the league is missing something. More...

Girls searching for respect in Division I

Marmonte soccer squads take a step up in class
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

The Marmonte League gets no respect—at least when it comes to girls' soccer. More...

Wrestlers get down to business at tourney

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TOSSED ASIDE—Royal High grappler Christian Quinonez, left, and Alex Ayala of Buena pull in opposite directions while competing in last Saturday's 27th annual Newbury Park High Wrestling Invitational. More...

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Family

Brushing up on his holiday spirit

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers WINDOW ART—Mike Carmody of ProLine Designs adds some seasonal cheer with a holiday window painting at Pro Golf Discount in Simi Valley on Wednesday. More...

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Letters

Supervisor clarifies his position on property rights

On Nov. 14, Santa Susana Knolls resident Gary Selvaggio wrote to the Simi Valley Acorn asking me to clarify my support regarding neighborhood integrity. More...

Cleanup at field lab deserves more coverage

I'm concerned about the lack of public awareness regarding our local nuclear and rocket engine testing facility, Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), currently the subject of controversy worthy of public involvement. More...

Battle for samesex marriage is worth fighting

I would like to respond to Steve Jones' letter published last week which derided those who would wish to battle the injustice contained in the recently passed Proposition 8. More...

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation

FEATHER IN HER CAP—Simi Valley resident Gloria Troy catches up on hometown news at the Navy Pier on the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Ill. She was there attending a Red Hat Society Convention. More...

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Neighbors

Even in times of war, Simi's young still willing to serve

Four local boys graduate boot camp on the same day
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Four Simi Valley boys—each unaware of the others' actions— entered boot camp in the United States Marine Corps on Sept. 2. On Nov. 26, they left the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego together as men. More...

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Datebook

Datebook

FRI., DEC. 12 Village Voices Chorale Presents "That Holiday Feeling" concert at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Scherr Forum Theatre today and 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Traditional, contemporary holiday favorites. Gloria Hilliard, director. More...

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City working to solve Knolls water shortage

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

With frightening clarity, November's destructive Southern California wildfires demonstrated the need for cities and counties to maintain adequate water storage in their communities, particularly in residential areas close to brush-c More...

One proud papa

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers THRILL OF VICTORY—Simi Valley Vikings coach Richard Rogero carries his son Robert, 7, off the field after their 8andunder team won the Mighty Mites Gold Coast Youth Football League Super Bowl on Saturday agai More...

Should council members have a say?

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

At the City Council meeting Nov. More...

Community

Resident arrested and charged with passing bad checks in Simi

Donald Plehn, 25, of Simi Valley was arrested Dec. 1 and charged with passing fraudulent checks to businesses throughout Simi Valley. He was arrested after police set up a property purchase sting. More...

City attorney says he's looking into Williamson's campaign contributions

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley city attorney's office is looking into claims that Councilmember Barbra Williamson may have violated campaign finance rules during the 2008 election season, city officials said last week. More...

Meeting to address public transit

The Ventura County Transportation Commission will host a public hearing in Moorpark on Jan. 7 to get local input concerning transportation and to identify transit service needs for residents throughout Ventura County. More...

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Business

Barton's Steak & Seafood

Barton's Steak & Seafood in Simi Valley offers a wide selection of steaks, seafood entrees and pastas, all at reasonable prices. The current special is prime rib dinner for two for $36. More...

Too Posh Spa, Salon & Supply

Too Posh Spa, Salon & Supply had its official grand opening Sat., Dec. 6 at 2944-E Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. Too Posh is in the El Paseo Shopping Center in the same location as the former Satori salon, near Borders and Kohl's. More...

Academy for Salon Professionals

The Academy for Salon Professionals opening in Canoga Park is the first cosmetology school in California that is affiliated with Redken. Redken is a division of L'Oreal, the largest cosmetics company in the world. More...

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Pets

Pet of the Week

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SPECIAL FIND—Whereisshe is a 1-year-old male Chinchilla. She is soft, cute and friendly. Chinchillas need a large cage and plenty of exercise. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

On Dec. 4, a 35-year-old man was arrested in the 1500 block of Patricia Avenue and charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance. At Sycamore Drive and Racine Street, a 25-year-old man was arrested Dec. More...

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Faith

Bringing Christmas to life

By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

Two 9-year-olds dashed from table to table playing a game of seek and find. The girls were looking for a baby Jesus in a boat, a figure with the babe's finger in his mother's mouth and a sheep with a funny eye. More...

The Art of Being

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. More...

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On The Town

Ballet students present 'The Nutcracker' at Ventura High

All American Ballet will present a new production of "The Nutcracker" ballet at 5:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Sun., Dec. 21 at Ventura High School Auditorium, 2 N. Catalina St., Ventura. More...

Bluegrass concert this Sunday

The Pickin' in the Valley bluegrass concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 14 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. More...

Simi Valley Jazz Club to meet this Sunday

The Simi Valley Jazz Club will meet from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 14 at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley. Participants may dance and listen to the music of the '30s to '60s. Qualified jammers are welcome. More...

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Editorials

Keep safe in Santa season

Just two weeks ago, the National Bureau of Economic Research announced the U.S. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

For the record

The language used in a Dec. 5 front page story in the Simi Valley Acorn ("Schools to cut 16 jobs") was incorrect. The Simi Valley Unified School District eliminated 16 positions due to budget constraints. More...

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