March 6, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Simi teachers will join statewide rally for 'Pink Friday'

Union leaders asking voters to prevent further spending cuts
By Kyle Jorrey simi@theacorn.com
Dayle Gillick, president of the Simi Valley teachers union, knows firsthand the struggle of trying to instruct in a classroom with too many students. More...

Local sites being examined for rezoning

•Four properties in the Santa Susana Knolls area. The largest is 23.6 acres and could hold 471 units of housing. More...

Health & Wellness

For the Record

A story in last week's Acorn incorrectly stated that the Hearing Loss Association of Simi Valley would host its monthly meeting set for Mon., March 9 at the senior center. More...

County's first brain injury conference seeks to raise public awareness, involvement

By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Organizers want Ventura County's first brain injury conference in Oxnard this month to alert the public to the possibility and consequences of a brain injury and the need for more services. More...

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Business

New entrepeneur aims to offer girls less pricey options for prom

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Gloria Cortez couldn't afford to attend her high school prom. Now she wants to make sure other girls don't experience the heartache she did. The Simi Valley woman is preparing to open a new business in time for prom. More...

Tapo Canyon Business Park filling up

Nearly 40 percent of the third and final phase of Tapo Canyon Business Park has been leased just months after construction was completed, according to Randy Kobata, principal with Lee & AssociatesLA North/Ventura Inc., a fullservice brokerage More...

New salon to open in Sycamore Shopping Center

Shear Impressions Hair and Facial Studio will host a grand opening celebration and ribboncutting ceremony from noon until 7 p.m. Tues, March 10 at the spa inside the Sycamore Shopping Center, 3090-B Cochran St., Simi Valley. More...

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Sports

Royal softball team banking on 'small ball'

Highlanders promote six freshmen to varsity squad
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

When a softball team loses its best hitter from the previous season, a year in which the squad had trouble scoring runs anyway, sometimes there's only one thing to do: focus on something that never goes into slumps—speed. More...

Skaters compete in national event

A group of local skateboarders recently traveled to Minneapolis, Minn., to take part in the King of the Groms competition. The event, held at three separate venues throughout the U.S., featured skaters 12 years old and younger. More...

SAS Kickers claim league championship

GETTING THE JOB DONE— The SAS Kickers 'B' U-11 soccer team, coached by Frank Ozello and Gregory Wain, took first place in the Bronze Beta group with 47 goals for and only one goal against. More...

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Family

Now is a good time to check smoke alarms

Daylight-saving time begins on Sun., March 8 this year, and changing clocks is a good reminder to change the batteries in smoke alarms, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. More...

Plans for train crash memorial moving forward

City hosting third workshop

The city of Simi Valley will conduct its third public workshop for input on designing a memorial in recognition of the victims of the Sept. 12, 2008 Metrolink collision. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. More...

Job fair gives youth a chance to get a foot in the door

The 23rd annual Youth Employment Service Job and Career Expo will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., March 28 at the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley, 2850 Lemon Drive. More...

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On The Town

French eatery offering night of fine wine

Chef Sylvain Rivet of Amuse Bouche- Fine Dining will host a winemaker's dinner with Allan Green of Greenwood Ridge Vineyards on Sun., March 15 at Amuse Bouche, 5754 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. More...

New cinema offers moviegoers more

By Dave Workman TheMovieNut@theacorn.com

The Movie Nut has often dreamed of sipping a chilled Stolichnaya while watching "DrZhivago" on the silver screen, per haps a frothy piña colada in front of "Pirates of the Caribbean" or a '61 Chateau Margaux during "Night More...

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Editorials

Parents: Don't ruin sports for the kids

You'd be amazed at how much time volunteer coaches and instructors spend helping our children. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

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Datebook

Datebook

FRI., MAR. 6 Thousand Oaks-WLV Chamber Of Commerce Networking breakfast, 7 to 9 a.m. at Los Robles Greens Banquet Center, 299 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Registration 6:45 a.m. Early bird drawings 7 a.m. More...

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The boys of summer are back

SIGNS OF SUMMER— Above, D.J. Marston, 12, of the Division II Dodgers, stretches into the blue sky as he throws warmup Saturday during Opening Day for Grace Brethren Youth Baseball. More...

County forced to consider increasing density in rural areas

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has directed planning staff to evaluate 14 properties in the unincorporated areas of the county for possible higher-density rezoning, including seven lots near Simi Valley. More...

Concern lingers over level of cleanup at field lab

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Although state law requires the strictest standards for the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, environmental advocates are concerned that the bill they fought for will not be upheld. More...

Community

Assistance requested from new head of U.S. EPA

Last month, Linda Adams, secretary of the state's Environmental Protection Agency, met with the new U.S. More...

Edison power line project will require EIR

State utilities commission says it will study potential impacts of substation
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Southern California Edison's proposed substation project outside the western edge of the city must undergo a full environmental review, the California Public Utilities Commission decided last week. More...

Strickland chosen as assistant Senate Republican leader

State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) has been selected as assistant Senate Republican leader. He will serve the Senate Republican Caucus under newly elected Republican leader Dennis Hollingsworth (RMurrieta). More...

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Schools

Round table discussion

IMPROVING SIMI— City Councilmember Glen Becerra, right, talks with 2009 Simi Valley Youth Summit attendees over lunch on Thursday about ways to improve the city. More...

Apollo added to list of state's best continuation schools

Students, faculty thrilled after being honored
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Simi Valley's Apollo High School was named one of 14 model continuation high schools by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell last Wednesday. More...

Student on dean's list at BU

Katelyn Zulauf of Simi Valley was named to the dean's list at Boston University for the fall semester. More...

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Pets

Dog park opens March 14

The Simi Dog Park grand opening will be 10 a.m. Sat., March 14 at 2151 Lost Canyons Drive, Simi Valley. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held and the park opened for dogs and their owners. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

In the 1100 block of Royal Avenue, a 19-year-old man and a 24-year-old man were arrested Feb. 25 on a burglary charge. An 18-year-old man was arrested Feb. More...

Police nab car thief outside Denny's

A phone call overheard in a restaurant led police officers to arrest a suspect for auto theft. More...

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Faith

Collegians give back instead of kicking back during spring break

About 400 college and university students, student leaders and campus pastors are planning a special alternative spring break called "What a Relief!" The program, which begins in March, is sponsored by Lutheran Disaster Response and the L More...

Recent poll finds most teens think lying, cheating can be ethical

A new survey finds that 80 percent of American teenagers believe they are "ethically prepared" for life in the real world but 40 percent believe they have to "break the rules" to succeed. More...

Simi church to discuss creation and evolution

Russ Miller will discuss the facts and fiction of today's creation versus evolution debate at 6 p.m. Sun., March 8 at Lighthouse Bible Church, 4910 Cochran St., Simi Valley. Weekly worship services are at 10:15 a.m. More...

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Obituaries

Obituary

Jerry Burke of Simi Valley, CA passed away 2-24-2009 at Simi Valley Hospital. Jerry was born in Brawley, Calif. in 1942 to parents Mr. & Mrs. D. G. Burke. More...

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Letters

Applauds council for handling of Bridle Path issue

I want to praise Mayor Paul Miller, Mayor Pro Tem Barbra Williamson and council members Michelle Foster, Glen Becerra and Steve Sojka for their professionalism, courtesy and patience at the City Council meeting on Feb. 23. More...

Blames Republicans for state budget crisis

I am completely angry at Republican state legislators for their manufactured budget crisis. It is doubtful I could ever vote for a single Republican candidate again in my lifetime, and this includes our local "nonpartisan" races. More...

California needs home care providers

The nation's unemployment rate hit 7.6 percent in January. With each passing day more layoffs are announced, resulting in more Americans looking for work in a time when many companies are not adding to their workforces. More...

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Neighbors

Purveyor serves up shaved ice, warm heart

'He's a pretty spectacular human being. He's constantly volunteering for something and basically giving away his ice cream.' —Donna Baxter, Simi resident, on Scott Miller
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Simi Valley residents can get a taste of the Aloha spirit at TuTu's Hawaiian Ice Cream Shack. More...

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