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March 20, 2009 / Front Page

Simi's gone to the dogs

LOVE AT FIRST SNIFF?— Siberian huskies Tikaani, who came with Taryn and Denise Hearst of Moorpark, and Jackson, who came with Dot Mullen and Adam Crowell of Simi Valley, get acquainted at the opening of the Simi Dog Park on Saturday. More...

City hopes to turn foreclosed homes into affordable stock

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

With the national foreclosure rate continuing to rise, the federal government has allocated a total of $3.92 billion to states and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned properties. More...

Health & Wellness

Red Cross opens 'green' facility

A grand opening celebration took place recently at the new headquarters for the Ventura County chapter of the American Red Cross, the Betty R. Plotkin Center, 836 Calle Plano, Camarillo. More...

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Business

Nonprofit helps local businesses save and create county jobs

In 2008, when a record number of companies closed their doors or laid off employees, the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County helped save or create 140 jobs totaling $11.2 million through its Business Enhancement Program. More...

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Schools

Program brings DUI tragedy to life

SOMBER REMINDER— Sergio Cortez, above, a senior at Royal High School, portrays a drunken teen driver submitting to a field sobriety test during last week's annual "Every 15 Minutes" program held on Arcane Street behind the high school. More...

Solo exhibit on display at college

The Art Gallery at Moorpark College is presenting "Sightseeing the Ubiquitous," a solo exhibition featuring the drawings and ceramic works of Mary Jean Mallman. The exhibit runs through April 17. More...

High-flying hoops entertainment on tap at Simi Valley High School

Simi Valley High School will host The Harlem Wizards Trick Hoopz and Alley Oops Basketball Team for an exhibition game against the Slammin' Jammin' Pioneers at 7 p.m. Fri., April 3 in the Simi High gym, 5400 Cochran St. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

On March 11, a 31-year-old man was arrested in the 4400 block of Alamo Street and charged with possession of narcotics. More...

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Family

Diapers delivered on horseback

BRINGING GIFTS— Simi Valley residents Alanna Foster, left, her 1year-old baby Ansleigh, and Kristin Taylor visit the Tender Life Maternity Home in Ventura to deliver a load of diapers, diaper rash cream, bibs, books and baby clothes collected More...

T.O. event offers adoption info

With more than 9,000 foster children in California wanting an adoptive home, there is a great need for caring adults to provide a loving, nurturing home as adoptive parents. More...

New exhibit opens at the California Oil Museum

The Santa Paula Historical Society will present a new exhibit, "Born of Fire and Fury: A History of Santa Paula Fire Department," opening from 1 to 3 p.m. More...

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Letters

Replacing CNG buses a waste of stimulus money

Just one of the thousands of earmarks within the stimulus package from Washington is $1.7 million for the replacement of four fixed-route CNG buses for Simi Valley (see www.StimulusWatch.org). What a waste of taxpayers' money. More...

Parents should dig into their pockets to help schools

We could all sit here and gripe about who's to blame for the current budget shortfalls; however, that wouldn't do anything to change the fact that the Simi school district is now faced with some dire decisions. More...

It's education that really needs a bailout

On March 13, out of 1,000 school teachers in Simi Valley, 230 were given pink slips. I find a 23 percent reduction of teachers in Simi Valley absolutely appalling. Why not administrative layoffs or suspension of programs? More...

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Editorials

Sheriff's race could get interesting

Much has changed in Simi Valley since Frank Peterson was elected Ventura County's first sheriff in 1873. Peterson's main duties, according to the sheriff's department's history books, were to collect taxes and catch horse thieves. More...

Political Cartoon

Full Story

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Datebook

FRI., MAR. 20 34th Annual Medieval Market Seventh-grade social science teachers and students present Medieval Market 11 a.m. to noon, at north campus basketball courts, A.E. Wright Middle School, 4029 N. Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas. More...

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Real Estate

Thousand Oaks Home Appeals To Those Who Love Privacy And Nature

This house is in Thousand Oaks on Canyon Vista Drive at the end of a culdesac. This home backs to open space that will appeal to those who love privacy and nature. More...

Melissa Karp Horowitz

Back from living in Maryland with her family, Melissa Karp Horowitz has returned to resume her work/ career as a Realtor and part of the Sheri Karp group. More...

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Popular but controversial late-night venue plans to expand

Proposal, in its earliest stages, has already met with opposition

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Concerned by a proposal to expand the banquet facilities at Candlelight Kitchen & Bar, about 20 residents showed up at a neighborhood council meeting Tuesday to vent their ongoing frustrations with the popular nightclub. More...

EPA says federal money will continue to fund field lab public oversight group

Agency says 'responsible parties' won't pick up the tab

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Despite earlier signals to the contrary, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will continue to fund a community work group that for nearly 20 years has informed the public about activities at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. More...

Community

Former deputy sheriff says he'll run if Brooks doesn't

Union members prefer Dean over Carpenter

By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

Former chief deputy Geoff Dean has announced he will run for the post of Ventura County Sheriff—with one caveat. Dean, 52, said he may not run if current Sheriff Bob Brooks seeks a fourth term as the county's top cop in the 2010 election. More...

City preparing for Arbor Day celebration

The Simi Valley Tree Advisory Board will host its ninth annual Arbor Day program at 10 a.m. Sat., March 28 at Veterans Plaza in Rancho Tapo Community Park, 3700 Avenida Simi. More...

Active Adult Programs

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District presents the following programs for seniors. Unless otherwise noted, activities take place at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 2900 Avenida Simi. More...

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Sports

Marmonte League spring preview: Boys' tennis

Everyone's chasing T.O.

By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

There isn't much doubt that the Thousand Oaks High boys' tennis team is the favorite to win the Marmonte League title. How TOHS goes about accomplishing that feat, however, remains a bit of a mystery. More...

Simi's Lewis named county MVP

Simi Valley High senior guard Brad Lewis is the Ventura County Basketball Coaches Association's Player of the Year for boys' hoops. Lewis averaged 24.7 points per game for the Pioneers. More...

Marmonte League spring preview: Boys' volleyball

Netters know title chase is wide open

By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

Fans of boys' volleyball in the Marmonte League should take a magic marker, find a calendar and circle May 6. More...

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Faith

Church membership: Who's counting? And how?

How many church members are there in the world? No one knows, as your Sunday school teacher may already have told you. More...

Support groups offered at Thousand Oaks temples

The Jewish community of the Conejo Valley is offering two support groups for those in need. Professional facilitators will lead weekly meetings at local synagogues for support, guidance, compassion and community. More...

Called to the Torah

Brandon Westhoven was called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Feb. 28 at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks. Brandon is a seventh-grade student at Valley View Middle School and the son of Brenda Westhoven of Simi Valley. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

Play review

'Producers' goosesteps into Simi Valley

By Sally Carpenter sallyc@theacorn.com

Any discussion of the musical "The Producers," now playing at Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, will involve comparison with the 1968 movie written and directed by Mel Brooks. More...

Ojai Renaissance Faire and Pirate Festival set for first weekend in April

The 20th annual Ojai Renaissance Faire and Pirate Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat. and Sun., April 4 and 5 at Lake Casitas in Ojai. More...

Mall names featured artists for calendar

Simi Valley Town Center announces the featured artists selected for inclusion in the mall's monthly calendar More than 20,000 Simi Valley Town Center calendars are distributed to Simi Valley and Moorpark households. More...

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Neighbors

Where the dogs may roam

Acorn reporter and her canine companion experience the opening of the Simi Dog Park

Commentary By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Waiting outside the gates of the Simi Dog Park before last Saturday's dedication ceremony, Hazel (my 10-month-old Maltese Shih Tzu) and I weren't the only ones itching to get in. More...

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