December 4, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

Council enacts Simi’s first-ever green building ordinance

Simi has hopped on the environmentally conscious “going green” movement. The next time a building goes up in town, it’s going to be eco-friendly. The City Council on Nov. More...

Health & Wellness

Nearly $50 million awarded to UCLA for stem cell research

Three scientists with the Broad Stem Cell Research Center at UCLA were recently awarded grants totaling $49.2 million to use leading-edge stem cell science to develop new therapies for diseases such as sickle cell, HIV/ AIDS and bra More...

Classes aim to help smokers kick the habit

Ventura County Public Health will present a series of free stop-smoking classes Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. or 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Conejo Free Clinic, 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Ste. 101, Thousand Oaks. More...

Metrolink support group offers safe place to grieve

For loved ones of victims of last year’s Metrolink train collision, a weekly Saturday morning support group has become a second family. More...

Schools

Practice makes perfect pitches

WINDING UP—Simi Valley resident Makenzie Whiteley, 8, gets a head start on the competition with some early practice recently at Rancho Tapo Community Park. More...

Simi high schools present winter play and concert

Students look to share the fruits of their labor with the community

•Royal Players of Royal High School will present the comedy “The Curious Savage” at 7 p.m. Dec. 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 in the school’s multipurpose room, 1402 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. More...

Schoolyard bullying goes online

Internet technology has taken the age-old problem of bullying to a new and troubling level. More...

Police

Police Blotter

Nov. 27 In the 3200 block of Hereford Court, a 40-year-old man was arrested for being drunk in public. Nov. 28 More...

Family

Moorpark set to unveil new skate park

Venue sure to draw skaters from across area

The city of Moorpark will celebrate the grand opening of its public in-ground skate park at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Dec. 5 at Poindexter Park, 500 Poindexter Ave. More...

See Simi historian Saturdays at Strathearn

Pat Havens, Simi Valley’s city historian, will autograph her two books from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at Strathearn Historical Park and Museum’s visitor center, 137 Strathearn Place in Simi Valley. More...

Toy drive at Simi library

Redbird, a nonprofit organization, will host a blanket, toy and school supply drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 5 at the Simi Valley Library community room, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. More...

Dining & Entertainment

Audition for a role in ‘The Wedding Singer’

Play is based on ’98 film starring Adam Sandler

Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Simi will present “The Wedding Singer,” a musical based on the 1998 Adam Sandler film, Feb. 27 through April 4, 2010, at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. More...

The Movie Nut

And so the apocalypse continues. Hollywood wants to make sure we “get it”—even though times are tough, hey, it could be worse. More...

Ex-detective to sign book

Retired detective Frank Tomlison of the Los Angeles Police Department will host a signing party for his new book, “The First Crime Scene” from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. More...

Columns

Aesthetic, but worthless

As part of a homeowners association, I’ve come to expect home exterior upkeep in the area, corresponding colors throughout the neighborhood and a lack of rogue vehicles on the street, front lawns and porches for months at a time. More...

Don’t annoy the admissions officer

Students applying to college often worry about whether they have enough AP and honors courses, a sufficiently impressive grade point average and competitive test scores. More...

Neighbors

Quick-thinking couple stayed on drunk driver’s tail

Pair’s actions likely prevented another freeway tragedy

When Brian and Michele Wallin saw a potentially deadly situation on the road, the Moorpark couple decided to take action, and what they did, authorities are now saying, likely saved lives. More...

Serving in Uniform

Navy Reserve Lt. Heather M. Lane completed the Reserve Officer Strategy and Policy Course at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. The college is the oldest war college in the nation, founded in 1884. More...

Work underway on new Target store

Demolition and construction work has commenced on the new Target store going in at the former Kmart site, long considered a blighted corner on the western end of town. More...

Arrests keep coming in gang-related stabbing

12 Simi gang members connected to violent crime in Moorpark

Additional Simi Valley gang members have been arrested nearly seven months after the brutal stabbing of a rival gang member in Moorpark. More...

Missing girl returns home unharmed

After 15 days missing, a 14year-old Simi Valley girl has returned home. Ariel Beck, a ninth-grader at Grace Brethren High School, left her home voluntarily early on the morning of Nov. 18. More...

Community

Freeway project comes in $8 million under budget

Road work experiencing cost savings thanks to recession

The poor economy, a blessing in disguise for some public works projects, has recently shaved millions off the projected price tag of one big project right here in Simi Valley. More...

Water tank tumult

Pair says city has gone too far in its pursuit of their Knolls property

A father and son have accused the city of criminal extortion, saying that because they wouldn’t sell a piece of land to the city, they’ve been denied water service to all of their Santa Susana Knolls properties. More...

Study will look at impacts related to General Plan update

The city of Simi Valley will conduct an open meeting to determine the scope of the Environmental Impact Report for the city’s General Plan update from 4 to 6 p.m. Wed., Dec. 16 at the Simi Valley Senior Center, multipurpose room No. More...

Business

Chamber of Commerce honors Posada Royale, T-Top Plumbing as Simi’s best

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced its selection for the 2009 Business Person and Business of the Year. More...

Career center offers free classes

The East County Job and Career Center at 980 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley offers a variety of one-day daytime classes in computer basics, resume writing and interview skills. The programs are free for job seekers. More...

Sports

Amazing Grace

Lancers win another nail-biter to qualify for football semis

Grace Brethren High football head coach Terry Gourley was jacked up about tonight’s playoff game—and it had nothing to do with the Mountain Dew he was drinking. More...

Highlander boys place second at state cross country meet

On a cool, overcast day in Fresno, local runners brought their best against the best. Several locals had strong showings at the CIF State Cross Country Championships last Saturday at Woodward Park’s 5-kilometer course. More...

Pets

Pet of the Week

DANDY FELLOW—Dandy is a male cocker spaniel mix looking for a new home. He is very friendly and loves to play. If you would like to adopt Dandy, ask for animal ID No. More...

Faith

Retreat hosted at Brandeis-Bardin will highlight ‘Aboriginal Judaism’

The Walking Stick Foundation, a Jewish nonprofit organization, will conduct a retreat “From Torah to Tipi” Thursday through Monday, Dec. More...

B’Nai Emet Hanukkah events

•A family Shabbat service with a Hanukkah puppet show will be at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 4 at Congregation B’nai Emet, 9 W. Bonita Drive, Simi Valley. •The lighting of the menorah for the first night of Hanukkah will be at 8 p.m. More...

Advent vespers gets jazzy

Jazz vespers for Advent will be presented at 5 p.m. Sun., Dec. 6 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 280 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. The public is invited. Vespers is an evening service of prayer, scripture, meditation and music. More...

Letters

Freeway expansion has turned into an eyesore

One of the things I like best about living in Simi Valley is how well-maintained the majority of the city is. More...

Politicians share the blame for cleanup impasse

The Nov. 20 Simi Valley Acorn delivered two nice surprises. The first announced Boeing is going to court to fight the outlandish cleanup standards in SB 990. More...

Park District wrong to make homeless move from camp

The homeless people living in the Arroyo Simi own little or nothing. More...

Editorials

These numbers really add up

Since first published almost 35 years ago, The Acorn newspaper continues to focus on three very important questions: Is it local? Is it local? Is it local? More...

Cartoon

Full Story

For the Record

•In the Nov. 20 edition of the Acorn, the Police Blotter stated that a man had been arrested at the sports bar Season Ticket for possession of a controlled substance. More...