August 13, 2010 RSS feed / Front Page

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Agassi holds court in Simi Valley

PLAYING WITH A PRO—U.S. tennis legend Andre Agassi, below, returns a shot from Simi Valley resident Tim Raasch, left, during a practice session at 24 Hour Fitness on Madera Road last Thursday. More...

Fewer pumps mean less water for So Cal

State has implemented a ‘regulatory drought’
By Scott Tittrington scott@theacorn.com

Water concerns are nothing new for Southern California residents. But the reason behind the decline in the amount of water available to Ventura County users for the next 12 months is new. More...

Health & Wellness

Tyke conquers two wheels

SHE DID IT!—Sporting BMX racing leathers, gloves and helmet to match her bike, Julia Cook, 5, of Simi Valley rides without training wheels for the first time at an open hockey field at Freedom P More...

Agency serving elderly celebrates 30 years

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging has just celebrated its 30th year as an agency in Ventura County. The agency has seen growth in the county since its inception on July 1, 1980. In 1980, Ventura County was home to more than 59,655 seniors. More...

Senior center to host health expo

The Simi Valley Council on Aging will host the annual Wellness and Information Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wed., Sept. 8 at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. More...

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Sports

Ground and pound

Gridiron impact report: Simi Valley Pioneers
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley High football team is taking small, sure steps. Rome wasn’t build in a day and, truth be told, the Pioneers are unlikely to be crowned Marmonte League champions this season. More...

Simi skateboarder sets Guinness World Record

Gage Boyle, a 12-year-old skateboarder from Simi Valley, established a Guinness World Record during X Games 16 in Los Angeles. More...

The West was won in Walnut

BOYS OF SUMMER—The Simi Youth Baseball U-9 ballclub captured the PONY Mustang Division championship in Walnut, Calif. The team finished its season with a 26-1 overall record. More...

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Faith

Play a few holes and help build a home

The Faith and Service Coalition will have its annual Golf Tournament and Dinner to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County on Sat., Sept. 4. The golf tournament will be at Camarillo Springs Golf Course at 7 a.m. More...

Blessing of the Bikers will be Saturday

Live Ride Christian Church will host the ninth annual Blessing of the Bikers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., Aug. 14 at 6245 Sylvan St., Simi Valley. All motorcycles and bikers are welcome—come as you are. More...

Christian AA group to meet

CRP (Christians Practicing Recovery) for Al-Anon and AAtype groups meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday in room F26, Newbury Park First Christian Church, 801 Knollwood Drive, Newbury Park. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

Simi Days go a go-go

‘FAR OUT, MAN!’—Below, Lynn Lopez, left, takes a picture of friends Scott Tignac, Simi Valley Landfill general manager, and Agnacio Lopez, president of the Simi Valley Kiwanis Online More...

Master Chorale auditioning singers for 50th season

The Master Chorale of Ventura County announces open auditions for singers of all ages and voice types for its 50th anniversary year by appointment only on Sat., Aug. 14 and Tues., Aug. More...

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Editorials

Cartoon

Full Story

Let's make Farmers sorry they left

It’s been some time since the economy was the main topic of a Simi Valley election. More...

For the Record

In last week’s story about Quartermania night at Harley’s Simi Bowl, a person was misidentified in a photo caption. The young woman seen laughing in the photo was actually Moorpark resident Cheyenne Sandoval, not Amanda Donovan. More...

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Farmers moving 1,200 employees out of Simi

By Carissa Marsh and Kyle Jorrey cmarsh@theacorn.com, simi@theacorn.com

With sales tax numbers continuing to lag and residential and commercial development at a near standstill, the Simi Valley economy is about to take another hit. Farmers Insurance, the city’s second largest private employer, is leaving town. More...

Look who’s running for office

A rundown of the local races
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

With the close of the nomination filing period, residents now know whose names they’ll see on the ballot in the general municipal election Nov. 2. As expected, Steve Sojka and Bob Huber will vie to be the 11th mayor of Simi Valley. More...

New soil tests coming for Runkle Canyon

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

After being shelved for more than a year, the Runkle Canyon response plan is finally moving forward. If all goes well, the city could have a final answer from the state on the safety of the site by the end of September. More...

Community

Fiction contest deadline is Aug. 27

The Simi Valley Acorn’s “Fiction in a Nutshell” contest is underway. Here’s how the popular annual competition works: In 100 words or less, write a fiction story and e-mail it to simi@theacorn.com. More...

Police planning DUI checkpoint

The Simi Valley Police Department will conduct a driver’s license and sobriety checkpoint in the city sometime in the next two weeks. More...

Local man charged with arson, murder

Simi resident accused of killing former boss

A Simi Valley man was arrested and charged recently with murdering his former boss and setting ablaze the business from which he’d been fired a week earlier. More...

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Business

Loan program to benefit small business

Officials hope it will generate more jobs, sales tax
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

City leaders recently created a temporary loan program to help local small businesses get the capital they need to grow. On Aug. More...

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Schools

Attendance in Simi classrooms dropped slightly last year, district hopes for better

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

With the start of a new school year just around the corner, Simi Valley Unified School District officials are checking their numbers and crossing their fingers that students fill their seats when the first bell rings. More...

Sponsors needed to ‘Tee Up’ for local schools

The Simi Valley Education Foundation’s Tee Up For Kidz annual charity golf event will be Fri., Sept. 24 at the Lost Canyons Golf Course, Simi Valley. Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $150 to $5,000. More...

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Pets

Pet of the Week

READY TO ROMP—Zoey is a 7-month-old German shepherd mix. Zoey is friendly, energetic and loves to play. Because she is still a puppy, Zoey will probably need some training. More...

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Police

POLICE BLOTTER

Aug. 2 In the 2800 block of Fairbanks Avenue, a 19-year-old man was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. More...

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Family

Pilots to soar over Camarillo

Narrated flying exhibit in its 30th year

The 2010 Wings over Camarillo Airshow, open to all aviation enthusiasts and their families, will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Aug, 21 and 22 at the Camarillo Airport, Las Posas and Pleasant Valley roads. More...

After-school club offering discount on van service

The Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley will provide a $10 discount on its van transportation program for parents who register by Wed., Aug. 18. More...

CHP hosts child seat checkup

The California Highway Patrol will offer free child passenger safety seat checkups from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., Aug. 14 at Leap and Bound Academy, 5165 Cochran St., Simi Valley. More...

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Letters

Why the 180 on E-Verify?

Let me get this straight. More...

City’s done more right than wrong

I see an interesting letter from a disgruntled worker that has been working for the city for over 10 years. Unhappy? Why not quit? This city has a lower turnover rate than most cities in the area. Maybe people like working here? More...

Fired up about handprint cover-up

I just read the story about the handprints being painted over at Knolls Elementary, and I’m flabbergasted and furious, and I don’t even have a child at the school. More...

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Neighbors

Local historian leading effort to establish city’s first historic district

Homes on School Street were built in ’48
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

On a sunny morning this past Tuesday, Pat Havens walked along School Street, admiring a row of homes that date back to before Simi Valley was a city. Havens has lived in Simi since 1943 and has served as the city’s historian since 1981. More...

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