September 4, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Let the games begin

FRIENDLY COMPETITION—Above, Barbara Durham, chairperson of the Simi Council on Aging, yells with excitement as she brings in the torch during the opening ceremonies for the fourth annu More...

Police union considering PR firm

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley Acorn learned this week that the Simi Valley Police Officer’s Association is considering hiring a public relations firm, a sign that contract negotiations with the city might not be going well. More...

For the record

Last week’s front page story about the murder conviction of 24-year-old Daniel Ramirez stated that Ramirez’s first victim, Angel Luevano, was a rival gang member. He was not. More...

Health & Wellness

Wellness Expo coming to senior center

Annual event offers free screenings, health services

The Simi Valley Council on Aging will host its annual Wellness and Information Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wed., Sept. 9 at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. More...

Hospital to host free prostate cancer tests

Simi Valley Hospital will offer free prostate cancer screenings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sun., Sept. 13 at the hospital’s Aspen Surgery Center, 2750 N. Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley. More...

Attend lecture on osteoporosis

The Simi Valley Senior Center will host a presentation on Osteoporosis, Balance and Fall Prevention from 1 to 2 p.m. Wed., Sept. 16 at the center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Dr. Gregg P. More...

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Schools

Polls show lack of support for school district consolidation

Fifty-six percent of those polled don’t want to see Moorpark, Simi combined
By John Loesing newstip@theacorn.co

The majority of people who responded to a recent Acorn online poll disagreed with a Ventura County grand jury suggestion that some local school districts should merge in order to save taxpayer dollars. More...

State chief of schools gives tips for success

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell offers parents his Top 10 back-to-school tips to help ease students back into the love of learning following the long summer recess. More...

Eat out, help SVHS cross country

The Simi Valley High School cross country team will host a fundraising eat out from 4 to 9 p.m. Wed., Sept. 9 at Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, 2916-B Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. All proceeds will go to benefit the team. More...

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Pets

Pet of the Week

FLOWER POWER—Daisy is a 2-year-old female German shepherd mix. She is good with kids. If you would like to adopt Daisy, ask for animal ID No. More...

Donations sought for badly injured pup

Tiny Loving Canines Inc., a nonprofit animal rescue group, is seeking donations to assist with medical expenses for Cody, a young 20-pound mini Australian shepherd who was critically injured recently in a hit-and-run accident. More...

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Family

Church programs feed the hungry

By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

Bill Jones, who works in sales and is self-employed, could relate to those in his church struggling in this sluggish economy. So he decided to do something to help his fellow congregates and the community at large. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

The Movie Nut

Funny, sometimes, what we Americans deem to be our cultural touchstones. Forty years ago, a bunch of kids congregated in a muddy field in upstate New York to listen to music. It probably didn’t seem like much at the time. More...

Play reading at Moorpark arts center stars Patrick Warburton

Comedy pokes fun at Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’

Actor/director Patrick Warburton and Gary Saderup will present a stage reading of Paul Rudnick’s “I Hate Hamlet” at 8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 19 at the High Street Arts Center, 45 E. High St. Moorpark. More...

Women find beauty in friendship

Play Review
By Sally Carpenter sallyc@theacorn.com

“Steel Magnolias,” directed by Jeff Wallach and featuring an all-female cast, provides a heady dose of chick lit at the Camarillo Community Theatre. More...

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Editorials

Are the Simi Valley police negotiations turning into a war of words?

The fact that the Simi Valley Police Officers Association (POA) might be hiring a public relations firm in its battle with the city over a new union contract doesn’t bode well for either side in the dispute. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

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Enrollment drop worse than projected in SVUSD

Fewer students mean less money for already cash-strapped district
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

A week into the 2009-2010 school year, Simi Valley Unified District officials are reporting their enrollment is lower than expected, a discouraging realization when schools all over the state are clamoring for funds. More...

City Council agrees to amend barking law

Public outcry causes officials to take action
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.co

Simi residents Fran and Paul Stevenson live on a corner surrounded by homes with dogs. More...

Four-hour checkpoint nets 1 DUI

A sobriety/license checkpoint conducted by the Simi Valley Police Department on Fri., Aug. 28 in the 1700 block of Los Angeles Avenue resulted in the arrest of one individual for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. More...

Community

Simi Valley Days start Wednesday

Family-friendly carnival will open for 25th consecutive year
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

The annual Simi Valley Days festival kicks off Wednesday, and this year event organizers are putting a tropical twist on the city’s old-fashioned western fair. More...

Wallet thief targeting elderly women inside grocery stores

Pickpocket eyes unattended carts
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Placing a purse in the child seat of a shopping cart could mean saying good-bye to the wallet inside. More...

Man sentenced for evading police, then falsely reporting his car stolen

A Simi Valley man was sentenced last month to jail time after previously pleading guilty to felony auto insurance fraud and evading an officer. More...

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Business

Yankee Doodles’ wish granted: Sports bar to stay open until 2 a.m.

Good behavior causes city to lift two-year curfew

The city this week lifted the curfew it imposed on Yankee Doodles two years ago, allowing the Tapo Street sports bar to stay open until 2 a.m. each night. More...

Insurance broker wins award

Blue Shield of California authorized broker Michael Mccaffrey has been selected for the 2009 Best of Simi Valley Award in the Health Plans category by the U.S. Commerce Association. More...

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Sports

Work to do

Both featuring new head coachesthe Royal and Simi Valley varsity football teams must play above expectations to reach the upper echelon of the ultracompetitive Marmonte League. On the following pages, we assess all eight Marmonte teams’ chances

Predicted order of finish 1) Moorpark Musketeers 2) Newbury Park Panthers 3) Westlake Warriors 4) Thousand Oaks Lancers 5) Agoura Chargers 6) Royal Highlanders 7) Calabasas Coyotes 8) Simi Valley Pioneers More...

The Acorn’s 2009 Marmonte League Preview

Agoura Chargers Last season’s results: (5th in Marmonte, 5-5 overall) A midseason three-game road trip crushed Agoura’s postseason aspirations, but the Chargers salvaged a .500 campaign by winning their final two games. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

Aug. 24 Officers responded to a theft in progress at the Home Depot in the 500 block of E. Cochran Street and arrested a 49-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, both from Los Angeles, for grand theft. More...

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Faith

Catholic gift, book store has new home at T.O. mall

GodSpace Catholic Books, Gifts and Music has moved to a new location at the Janss Marketplace, Hillcrest Drive and Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. More...

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Obituaries

Harriette A. Walsh

Harriette A Walsh 1926 -2009 Simi Valley, CA died Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at Simi Valley Care Center. Born in Monroe, LA, May 25, 1926, daughter to Nathan P & Hazel Dotson White. More...

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Letters

An idea to help fund Metrolink Memorial

I’m a resident of Catalina Island, but have many relatives and friends in Simi, so my wife and I are here often. I read the Simi Valley Acorn article regarding the Metrolink Memorial in your Aug. More...

Healthcare reform that doesn’t involve the feds

The vast majority of Americans agree that we need some kind of health insurance reform. With premiums and deductibles skyrocketing, at the current rate private health insurance will be out of reach to all but the wealthy. More...

Labeling people only makes divide grow larger

I was compelled to write to the Acorn after reading an article in the paper dated Aug. 28. More...

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Columns

Ask The DMV

Do you have questions about general drivingrelated requirements like registration and insurance? Are you unclear about laws and restrictions related to driving? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers. More...

The Art of Being

“Everyone has talent. More...

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Neighbors

History’s treasures are in its little-known details, storyteller demonstrates

Ventura man tells America’s tales at the Ronald Reagan Library
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

It was Jan. 1, 1863, and despite an ongoing Civil War, a large crowd gathered outside the White House to celebrate the New Year. More...

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