December 26, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

A smile for all seasons

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS—Young resident Isaac Barukh, 6, is dressed and ready as he waits for the menorah to be lit last Sun., Dec. 20 on the first night of Hanukkah. More...

Health & Wellness

Red Cross of Ventura County wins award

The Best Supporting Volunteer Program award was given recently to the American Red Cross of Ventura County for its commitment to preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters. More...

Residents remember together

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers STILL THINKING OF YOU—Ron Hyrchuk, Simi Valley Hospital's director of spiritual care services, leads the annual candlelight service of remembrance on Thurs., Dec. 18 outside the hospital. More...

Cancer society seeking vehicular donations

The American Cancer Society's Cars for a Cure program is accepting donations of most running and non-running vehicles, including cars, trucks, vans, motor homes, boats, jet skis, motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles. More...

Sports

On the rebound

Struggling girls' programs such as Agoura and Calabasas are now contenders in Marmonte League

Girls' basketball action this season in the Marmonte League is a lot like the famous Bob Dylan song—"The Times They Are AChangin'. More...

Singh's steady play enough for one-stroke win at Sherwood

Longtime PGA Tour star Vijay Singh knows all the tricks of the trade, which is why on Christmas morning, you can bet he was out knocking it around somewhere on the links. "It's the best time to hit balls," the 45-year-old said. More...

Tennis team excels at Indian Wells

ACES—The Simi Valley Controllers won the 14-and-under USTA Southern California Sectional Team Tennis Tournament. The event was held at Indian Wells Tennis Garden at Palm Desert. More...

Family

He's making his list ...

AND CHECKING IT TWICE—Five-year-old Beckham Nora hopes he didn't land on Santa's naughty list as he sits on St. Nick's lap earlier this month during the Young Chefs Academy's Breakfast with Santa event. More...

Christmas tree pickup offered through Jan. 9

Waste hauler will recycle trees for no cost

Waste Management of Ventura County will collect and recycle Christmas trees from Waste Management residential service customers during a twoweek period, Dec. 26 to Jan. 9. More...

Letters

School board members have short memories

What goes around comes around. So Janice DiFatta and Debbie Sandland are shocked that Debbie was passed over for board president. More...

Write us!

Share your thoughts on topics affecting your community with thousands of Simi Valley Acorn readers by e-mailing a Letter to the Editor to simi@theacorn.com or by mailing it to the address on this page. Limit to 400 words, please. More...

Vacation Photos

Vacation Photos

THE GANG'S ALL HERE—Mark and Corky Ohmie, Mike and Tammi Ohmie, Brice and Pam Blackwell, Greg and Monique Ohmie, Jim and Cindy Ward, Mark and Cathy Miller, Dan DiRubio, Theresa Moore, Peter Degos and their families gather for their 42n More...

Neighbors

Korean immigrant finds American dream alive and well

Yong Shin, a ninth-degree black belt, went from living on the streets to being a successful entrepreneur

It was nearly 30 years ago when Yong Shin left family and friends behind in his native Korea in search of a new life in America. More...

Helping the help

City makes changes to assistance programs

The city of Simi Valley is making changes to its home rehabilitation, eviction prevention and security deposit assistance programs—changes that will help residents keep a roof over their heads as they grapple with tight budgets. More...

Gang members get life sentences

2006 torture case reaches its conclusion

Two Simi Valley gang members were sentenced to multiple life sentences earlier this month for the assault and torture of two men in 2006. On Dec. More...

Four DUI arrests made during weekend enforcement

Fourteen officers from the Simi Valley Police Department conducted a DUI saturation patrol in the city from 7 p.m. Fri., Dec. 19 through 2:30 a.m. Saturday. More...

Community

Conservation group may purchase North Park land

Once slated for 1,680 homes, property may now become public

If all goes according to plan, a 3,544-acre property outside of Moorpark once slated for homes could end up in the hands of a nonprofit land trust group that wants to preserve open spaces for wildlife. More...

City throws financial lifeline to home inspection program

While most of the city's recent $3million budget adjustment involved cuts, it also called for more money to be spent on a home inspection program that has been fighting for survival since earlier this year. More...

Task force wants member from homeless population

Simi Valley's Task Force on Homelessness will soon be adding five new members, and they'd like one of them to have experienced homelessness in Simi Valley. The City Council approved the expansion of the task force at its Dec. More...

Schools

Students embrace the spirit of giving in unique ways

Local high schools in Simi Valley have gotten into the holiday spirit of giving, rather than just receiving. More...

Virtual business class wins honorable mention

The Santa Susana High School Virtual Enterprise class won its first awards in the class' four-year history this month. The class created a new company, Travel Express, and students attended a trade fair in Bakersfield on Dec. 4 and 5. More...

Student musicians will compete

As part of its ongoing student outreach mission, the Ventura Music Festival will host the second annual Student Music Competition. More...

Police

Police Blotter

On Dec. 17, an 18-year-old woman was arrested on a charge of shoplifting in the 200 block of E. Cochran Street. In the 2900 block of E. Cochran Street, an 18-year-old woman was arrested Dec. More...

Man, 45, arrested for indecent exposure

A Lancaster man was arrested last Thursday after he allegedly committed a lewd act and exposed himself to multiple minors from the seat of his car. More...

Faith

Art of Being: Here's to a happy 'new you'

"Life is a blackboard upon which we consciously or uncon sciously write those messages which govern us. We hold the chalk and the eraser in our hand but are ignorant of this fact. More...

On The Town

The Movie Nut

Most film critics have lists. The films we love and the films we don't. To those of us weaned on science fiction, our lists are sacrosanct. More...

See the floats after the Rose Parade

Post Parade is a half-mile square park where the Rose Parade floats are exhibited for visitors to view up-close after the parade at Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards in Pasadena. More...

Musical looks at life of country western legend

Actors' Repertory Theatre of Simi will present the musical "Hank Williams-The Lost Highway" from Jan. 2 to Feb. 8 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. More...

Editorials

A holiday tale

As banks and investors around the world continue to declare billions of dollars in losses in an alleged fraud perpetrated by Bernard Madoff, here's an historical note about the method that the 70-year-old Wall Street shyster allege 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...

Datebook

Datebook

SAT., DEC. 27 Conejo Valley Archers Shoot 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tapo Canyon Park, 4651 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. Rain or shine. All equipment, instructors provided. All ages. $3 for four hours shooting. Phone: 805.530. More...