July 3, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Gunman opens fire in Simi dental office

Man allegedly kills his wife, wounds three others, then hides in building before surrendering to police
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com
On Wednesday morning, a man wielding a high-powered military-style assault rifle opened fire in a dental office on the west end of Simi Valley, killing one woman and critically wounding three others, police said. More...

Arroyo Simi renovations still many years, dollars away from completion

Dream plan faces humbling reality
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

At a recent meeting of the Arroyo Simi Ad Hoc Committee, community leaders were presented with colorful renderings of their vision to beautify the Arroyo. More...

Health & Wellness

Older women with bone fractures worry about health, mobility, independence

Thinking about bone health may be more important than one realizes. More...

Is it safe to drink coffee during pregnancy?

Here's eye-opening news for many mothers-to-be: Experts at the American Dietetic Association address the question of whether pregnant women can safely drink coffee in a new book. More...

Have fun, but be safe, at playgrounds

By Jennifer Weiss, M.D. Special to the Acorn

As a mother, I love to take my daughter to our local park and play on the swings and slides and dig in the sand together. More...

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Sports

Releaguing dilemma an albatross for schools

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

The releaguing situation continues to linger over the local high school sports scene like coastal fog in the summertime. More...

So Manny reasons to cheer baseball's non-cheaters

Commentary
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

There are players who didn't cheat Major League Baseball during its lietoourfaces performance-enhancing drug era, and on this Fourth of July weekend we should take a minute to honor those brave ballplayers instead of hailing the return of a More...

Sweet! Soccer squad scores a trip to Sweden

BIG WINNERS—The Real SoCal girls' U-15 White soccer team was crowned U.S. finals champion at the Manchester United Premier Cup held at the Nike World Headquarters Campus at Beaverton, Ore. More...

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Pets

Pet of the Week

HAVING A BALL—Rollo, a 2-year-old male tabby cat, is curious and playful. If you would like to adopt Rollo, ask for animal ID No. A470803 at the Camarillo Animal Shelter, 600 Aviation Drive. More...

Foundation offering vouchers to pay for neutering

The Herman Bennett Foundation is offering vouchers to pet owners who need financial assistance in order to have their pets spayed or neutered. The foundation is a private nonprofit organization. More...

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Faith

The miracle of you

"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thru chinks of his cavern. More...

Chabad directors to lead kosher tour at local Albertsons

Rabbi Shimy and Devorah Heidingsfeld, directors of the Chabad Moorpark Jewish Center, will lead a kosher tour at 7 p.m. Tues., July 7 at the Moorpark Albertsons, 475 W. Los Angeles Ave. More...

Events for men at B'nai Emet

The Men's Club of Congregation B'nai Emet will host a kosher barbecue Shabbat dinner at 6:30 p.m. Fri., July 10 at the synagogue, 9 W. Bonita Drive, Simi Valley. Rabbi Michele Paskow will lead the service at 8 p.m. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

The Movie Nut

Predictable, predictable, predictable. Didn't care, didn't care, didn't care. Lightweight, nonsensical, exaggerated, formulaic, recycled and oh , so familiar. Check, got it, went with it, seen worse and what the heck. More...

'Shut up and Rock' at the Arena July 11

Concert will benefit Rotary Club

Simi Valleybased rock band Tuesday's Rain will present the inaugural Shut Up and Rock Suarez at 7 p.m. on Sat., July 11 at the Arena Sports Bar in the Grande Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley. More...

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Editorials

A time to celebrate American independence

The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate our American heritage. No matter who you are and regardless of your politics (or whether you couldn't care less about politics), if you're an American, Independence Day is a time to celebrate. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

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Datebook

Datebook

FRI., JULY 3 Third Of July Celebration In Moorpark At Arroyo Vista Community Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark. Gates open 3:45 p.m. Event starts 4 p.m. Fireworks show 9 p.m. Live music by The Daddy-Os, The Hodads. More...

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Grand jury report

Investigative body says employee entitlements could bleed county dry
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

If left unchecked, the exorbitant cost of its pension fund could threaten Ventura County's ability to pay for basic programs and services, a recent grand jury report said. More...

Adopted at 11th hour, budget is grim for schools

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley Unified School District school board adopted what district staff is calling a "placeholder budget" at its meeting Tuesday evening. More...

Community

Alzheimer's Association relocating

On July 1, the office of the Alzheimer's Association in Camarillo moved to a new location. The new home for the California Central Coast Chapter's Ventura County office is at 80 Wood Road, Ste. 302, in Camarillo. More...

Former Secretary of State Rice will lecture at Reagan Library

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation will host former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at 6 p.m. Tues., July 14 at the Reagan Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. More...

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Business

Chamber lunch to discuss resources for small business

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce monthly Business Development Luncheon will address small business development at 11:30 a.m. Wed., July 15 at Lost Canyons Golf Club, 3301 Lost Canyons Drive, Simi Valley. More...

Free classes for job seekers at local career center

The East County Job & Career Center at 980 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley, offers the following career shops in July. Classes are free for job seekers but prior registration is required by calling (805) 955-2282. More...

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Schools

SVUSD says fond farewell to more than 70 employees

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

More than 70 employees celebrated their retirement from Simi Valley Unified School District last month at a tea in their honor. More...

School Briefs

imi High grad eatured at echnology festiva Melissa Burton, a psychology and information technology student at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, was featured as an exhibitor at the Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity More...

Singalong in the park sponsored by First 5

FOR THE KIDS—Charlotte Diamond performs a Family Concert in the Park for a large crowd June 26 at Arroyo Vista Park in Moorpark. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

At Presidential Drive and Madera Road, a 24-year-old woman was arrested June 24 on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing an accident. At the Wal-Mart in the 200 block of E. More...

Arrests made in two separate burglary cases

•Three Simi Valley residents have been arrested in connection with a series of recent vehicle burglaries in the city. Benjamin Villasenor, 21, of Simi Valley was arrested in May. More...

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Family

Game face says 'game on'

DETERMINED—Meghan Taylor of Simi Valley Girls Softball's 8-and-under Gold All-Stars unloads during the sixth annual Amanda McPherson All-Star Tournament, played at four Simi Valley sports complexes June 19-21. More...

Local chess club 'rooking' for new players

A chess club meets from 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays at the Simi Valley YMCA, 3200 Cochran St. Fifty new players are needed. Men, women and children are welcome. Players are encouraged to bring a chess board or chess clock. More...

Event at Janss Marketplace will accompany T.O. fireworks

The annual July 4 Janss Marketplace Fireworks Spectacular will be from 4 to 10 p.m. this Saturday at the shopping center, off the 101 Freeway at Moorpark Road and Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. Admission is free. More...

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Letters

Council should appeal decision on Candlelight

As someone involved as a citizen since early March on the Candlelight restaurant/bar, I was surprised at the Planning Commission's latest action. More...

People shouldn't be forced to wear their seat belts

Federal ClickIt or Ticket enforcement is just another sneaky way to pick the pocket of the average working guy in order for local law enforcement to get their fair share of the federal pie. More...

Seat belt sting not a good use of officers' time

Simi Valley is cracking down on seat belt compliance. Research from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) shows 95.7 percent of California drivers use seat belts. Seat belts are a lifesaving device. I use mine all the time. More...

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Neighbors

Woman's passion for USC has spanned 8 decades

103-year-old brings new meaning to the word 'fan'
By Ashley CordeSpecial to the Acorn

One of University of Southern California's biggest football fans, 103yearold Elberta Barber of Simi Valley, may also be its oldest. More...

St. Rose's 60th annual Family Carnival coming up

St Rose of Lima Catholic Church will present the 60th annual Family Carnival July 10 to 12 on the school grounds at 1305 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. Overflow parking is available at Royal High School across the street. More...

Camping knives of many size

READY FOR ADVENTURE—Venture Crew 9642 members show off their camping knives, an essential piece of equipment, to guests at a backpacking seminar for youths ages 14 to 20 at the Simi Valley Elks Lodge on Sunday afternoon. More...

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