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December 11, 2009 / Front Page

Actors take center stage at senior center

ALL FOR LAUGHS—Pete Murnane, left, and Mary Ann Cralley play two children on Christmas Eve as Joe Segal, acting as their father, sings “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in “Chri More...

High fiving with a Duke of Hazzard

PUT ’ER THERE—Above, actor John Schneider, who played Bo Duke on the 1970s hit TV series “The Dukes of Hazzard“ celebrates with Rhonda Clure after she won a raffle Monday a More...

Health & Wellness

Council member to serve as hospital’s marketing director

Says it will not affect her decisions on the council

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Simi Valley Hospital has hired Councilmember Michelle Foster to serve as its new director of marketing and communication. Her first day of work will be Jan. 12. More...

Local healthcare providers growing

•Dr. Luis Martines has joined the practice at Simi Children’s Dental Group. He specializes in orthodontics. More...

H1N1 vaccine eligibity updated

In an updated listing, the Ventura County Public Health Department announced the following groups of people as eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine. •Children and young adults from ages 6 months to 24 years. More...

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Schools

Who says you can’t have a career in art?

COOL JOB—Chris Chapman, above, visits Sinaloa Middle School art classes to give a presentation on his career as a car designer for BMW. More...

Concert at Newbury Park High

The Newbury Park High School Choral Music Department will present its annual Winter Concert at 7 p.m. Thurs. and Fri., Dec. 17 and 18 p.m. in the school’s Performing Arts Center, 456 Reino Road, Newbury Park. More...

After-school site gets a fresh coat of paint

A LITTLE ELBOW GREASE—Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise member Joe Grinstead of Simi Valley paints window trim at the Katherine Elementary YMCA after-school building last Saturday. More...

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Pets

Pet of the Week

MELLOW GIRL—Zoe, a 5-year-old gray-and-white, mediumhair cat, is looking for a home for the holidays. More...

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Faith

Experience Bethlehem

Westminster Presbyterian Church will present the 14th annual Bethlehem Experience, a free drive-through pageant re-creating the firstcentury village of Bethlehem on the night of the first Christmas Eve, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Dec. More...

Church youths stage living nativity

Youths from Simi Valley United Methodist Church will stage the annual outdoor living nativity in front of the church, 2394 Erringer Road, Simi Valley. Hours are 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tues. and Wed., Dec. More...

The anatomy of joy

“I define joy as a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace—a connection to what mat ters.” — Oprah Winfrey More...

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Obituaries

Valerie Appell

Full Story

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Letters

Simi Valley citizens don’t want a bigger landfill

Regarding Scott Tignac’s letter on “setting the record straight on landfill expansion” (Simi Valley Acorn , Nov. More...

Neighbors need a lesson in curb appeal

With property values at an all-time low and the economy still reeling in doubt, I have found myself with a property value dilemma. More...

Possible solution to Simi’s homeless problem

A few weeks ago I read a letter in the Acorn that basically stated that as humanitarians we owed everyone a place to live and food to eat. More...

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation

HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY — Brian and Margie Ings and Tina and Brian White enjoy some good reading with a new friend on the beachfront in Maui. More...

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Neighbors

Simi middle schooler tackles rare disorder and beats the odds

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Ann Marie Cook said she knew her 12-year-old son was in serious pain when he went to tell his coach one night that he wouldn’t be practicing with his football team, the Simi Valley Vikings. More...

Simi Town Center celebrates holidays

Simi Valley Town Center has scheduled a variety of events for the holidays, including menorah lightings to celebrate Hanukkah. All events are free and will take place in the center court unless otherwise noted. Sat., Dec. More...

3 local bands to battle in final competition

A local band will be awarded $2,000 in prize money at the the Sycamore Battle of the Bands’ final show from 8 to 11 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 12, at the Sycamore Drive Community Center, 1692 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley. More...

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Ex-cop claims SVPD intelligence function is suffering

And he says Chief Lewis is largely to blame

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

A recently retired Simi Valley detective has made some strong claims against Chief of Police Mike Lewis, saying the department’s leader refused the requests of federal agencies for assistance on national security cases. More...

Council makes water rate hikes official

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Despite doing their best to conserve water this year, residents will soon be paying more for the precious commodity. More...

Package thefts spur police to issue warning

The Simi Valley Police Department recently received reports from people who have had their delivered packages stolen from in front of their homes. More...

Acorn coming out a day early for Christmas

Both Acorn offices in Agoura Hills and Camarillo will close at noon today, Dec. 11. Also, deadlines for the Acorn editions of Dec. 24 and 25 will advance 24 hours. More...

Community

City replacing 10 cop cars

The Simi Valley Police Department will soon retire 10 old-timers and replace them with newer models—cars, that is. The City Council approved Monday the purchase of 10 new black-and-white patrol cars for the station. More...

Trash pickup rates remain county’s lowest

Council asks waste hauler to be mindful of trash falling onto freeway

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

While water rates are going up, trash pickup fees are staying about the same, with Simi continuing to be charged the lowest residential rates in the county in 2010. More...

Fight inside home ends with errant gunshot

A fight at a home in Simi Valley on Sunday ended when a gun went off and the gunman fled the scene. Paul Braun, 53, of Simi Valley told police a man named Greg came to his home in the 4000 block of Angela Street shortly after 3 p.m. Dec. 6. More...

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Business

Chamber lunch to discuss Simi’s current retail climate

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly Business Development Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wed., Dec. 16 at Best Western Posada Royale Hotel and Suites, 1775 Madera Road, Simi Valley. More...

Video game store remodeled

The Game Exchange, which has been in Simi Valley since 1991, has been remodeled as a state-ofthe-art gamers’ facility while retaining its family atmosphere. More...

Public can fly in authentic war plane

The Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing has a special program to let the public experience flight in an authentic warbird. A qualified pilot will take residents on a 20-minute ride. More...

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Sports

Pioneers a blue-collar bunch

Boys’ hoops team working hard to reach the top

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

CJ Faulwell was the last player remaining in the Pioneers’ locker room. The Simi Valley High boys’ basketball team wrapped up a Wednesday afternoon practice, but Faulwell, a second-year team captain, was hanging around. More...

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Datebook

FRI., DEC. 11 Fundraiser More...

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