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October 22, 2010 / Front Page

FunFun Family

DAD’S NEW RIDE—Mike Giboney pedals like crazy on his daughter’s tiny pink bicycle as Grace, 5, chases after him in fits of laughter at Rancho Simi Community Park on Sat., Oct. More...

3 vying for 2 seats on park district board

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

A challenger will join two incumbents in the race to earn a seat on the local park board Nov. 2. Formed in 1961, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District is a special district, separate from the city. More...

Health & Wellness

Early intervention aids children with autism

Research shows treatment in the form of early intervention services, such as therapy to help a child with autism communicate, learn and interact with others, can greatly improve the child’s development. More...

Walking for a cure

The inaugural Great Strides Simi Valley 5K Walk-athon will start at 9 a.m. Sun., Oct. 24 at the Simi Valley Civic Center, 2751 Tapo Canyon Road. The event is a fundraiser for the CF (Cystic Fibrosis) Foundation. More...

Simi doctor expanding family practice

Dr. Shayla Kasel of Wood Ranch Medical is expanding her office in Simi Valley. As part of the expansion, Dr. Ellie Rogers, a primary care physician, has been selected to join the office. More...

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Schools

Public works majors can get college funds

Applications are online

The Ventura County Chapter of the American Public Works Association is offering scholarships for high school students entering college or university in an engineering/public works-related major from any high school within the chapter’s members More...

Girls’ prep school taking applications

The La Reina High School admissions office is taking applications for the 2011-12 school year. A variety of informational events are planned. Eighth-grade girls can attend “Step-Up Day” from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thurs., Nov. More...

Student-designed LEGO robots will battle at Cal Lutheran University

California Lutheran University will host its inaugural FIRST LEGO League Robotics Tournament for fourth- through eighth-graders from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun., Oct. More...

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Police

Police Blotter

Oct. 11 At Tapo Street and the 118 Freeway, a 39-year-old man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A 55-year-old man was arrested for driving on a suspended license at E. Los Angeles Avenue and Tapo Street. More...

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Faith

Can you imagine?

“You may say that I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one” — John Lennon More...

Mormons host free emergency expo

Event will include workshops, kids’ activities

A Community Emergency Preparedness Expo will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., Oct. 23 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 35 S. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park. The expo is free and without cost or obligation. More...

‘Love Story’ shines light on Jews in baseball

Screening takes place at theater in Westlake

The Conejo Jewish Academy will host a pre-World Series screening of the newly released film “Jews and Baseball—An American Love Story” at 7:30 p.m. Mon., Oct 25 at the Westlake Village Cinema, 4711 Lakeview Canyon Road. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

Story of red-headed orphan hits Simi stage

The family musical “Annie” will open at 8 p.m. Sat., Oct. 30 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. The show will run through Dec. 5. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. More...

‘Rent’ portrays good friends in hard times

By Sally Carpenter sallyc@theacorn.com

Play review The free-wheeling hippie youth culture of the ’60s begat “Hair” and the angst-ridden MTV generation, suffering the consequences of unbridled free love, created “Rent,” the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning More...

Art show to benefit Simi graduates

The Simi Valley Art Association will host its open juried art show and sale Oct. 24 through Nov. 13 during regular hours at the Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. The judge will be watercolorist Mel Wolf. More...

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Columns

The many dimensions of loss and grief

In this season’s first episode of TV’s “Dancing With the Stars,” actress Jennifer Grey surprised herself when she broke into tears upon hearing the song she and her partner would be dancing to. More...

Ask the Arborist

Q: The city of Thousand Oaks won’t let me trim my oak tree. It seems oaks are treated like they are sacred. Now I hear that sycamore trees are protected, too. More...

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Neighbors

Santa Susana yearbook at top of its class

By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

For the third year in a row, the Santa Susana High School yearbook has taken the top prize at the California State Fair in Sacramento. The 2009-10 “Illusions” yearbook won first place in the June competition. More...

City kicks off military banners program

The Simi Valley City Council announces the official start of the city’s new Armed Forces Banner Program. A brief ceremony to kick off the program will take place at 4 p.m. Mon., Oct. 25 in the City Hall courtyard, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road. More...

For The Troops reaches another milestone

For The Troops will ship its 25,000th care package to American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on Wed., Oct. 27 at 2872 Cochran St., Simi Valley, in the Sycamore Village Shopping Center. Volunteers and the public are invited to attend. More...

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Mayoral battle heats up

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

On Nov. 2, Simi Valley voters will choose who will fill the seat Mayor Paul Miller is vacating. In one corner is Steve Sojka, who’s lived in Simi since 1970 and has served on the City Council for 12 years, since his appointment in 1998. More...

Task force asks court to halt Simi landfill application

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

A group opposed to the expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center asked a county court last week for an injunction to stop the project from moving forward until its legality can be determined. More...

Candidates battle for the Nov. 2 vote

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Despite rain and thunderstorms, about 275 people filled the multipurpose room of Simi Valley High School Tuesday night to hear from the candidates running for local office. More...

Community

Simi Valley mom says she’ll bring financial sense to school board

By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Josie Hirsch knows money. Growing up with a mom who was a corporate controller, Hirsch has been doing accounting since she was 10 years old. More...

Postcards now only mail allowed in jails

Contraband is being sneaked in

Effective this month, postcards will be the only form of acceptable incoming and outgoing mail for inmates in custody at any Ventura County Sheriff’s Department jail facility. More...

Assembly candidate wants to see major policy changes

By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

Jeff Gorell may stop short of supporting a constitutional convention to fix California’s ailing Legislature, but the Republican candidate running for the Assembly’s 37th District proposes some major policy changes he’d like to see More...

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Business

Earth Talk: Can tire industry go green?

Dear EarthTalk: What would it take to produce “green” tires? The tire industry is huge and I understand that tires contain a large amount of petroleum products. Is there an alternative? More...

Garlic Jim’s Pizza to reopen soon

Arete Investment Team will acquire the franchise rights and equipment for Garlic Jim’s Pizza in Simi Valley. The restaurant at 131 Cochran St., Ste. D is expected to reopen in late October. More...

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Sports

Bikers beware: This little girl will leave you in the dust

Simi Valley 7-year-old is a BMX champion

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Katie Cook was sick of riding her bike with training wheels. Training wheels? Seriously? Ugh. She had a need for speed. So she decided to do something about it. Her dad, Brad, was washing the car in the driveway. More...

Fans choose RHS grad Magill as top minor league pitcher

Matt Magill, a 2008 graduate of Royal High and rising star in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization, has been voted this season’s Best Starting Pitcher for Class-A Full Season in an online poll on MiLB.com. More...

Royal sends Pioneers packing

GALLOPING GHOST—With tight end Mason Huether, center, leading the way, Royal High tailback Kyle Gauthier has room to run during the Highlanders’ 27-18 victory at Simi Valley last weekend. More...

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Family

L.A. drivers drive me crazy

People in Southern California can’t drive. Except for me. “That’s so arrogant,” my wife said when I told her that during a recent outing in the car. More...

Look ma, no hands!

YUMMY PUMPKINS— Simi Valley residents Jessica Brandina, 10, and Genevieve Akouri, 10, check on each other’s progress during the pumpkin pie-eating contest at the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival More...

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Letters

Benefits continue to be questioned

In a previous letter to the editor, I pointed out the excessive benefits that our council persons have provided themselves without our knowledge or vote. More...

Distorting the facts won’t be tolerated

One of the things I’ve come to dislike in my very short political career is how verifiable publicly known facts can be easily distorted. Perhaps it’s a memory thing. Perhaps it’s intentional. More...

Mayoral race comments

Over the last several weeks, I have read letters and editorials about the elections, in particular issues involving the posting of campaign signs on commercial properties without permission. More...

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Editorials

Stay safe on Halloween

More than twice as many children are killed while walking on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to the Safe Kids organization. The Ventura County Fire Department warns parents that extra care is needed this Halloween. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

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Community Notes

Simi Elks ready to tee up

The Simi Valley Elks will host the second annual Charity Golf Scramble on Mon., Oct. 25 at the Sunset Hills Country Club, 4155 Erbes Road, Thousand Oaks. Check-in is 7:30 a.m. with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. More...

Pack putting on boys-only carnival

Cub Scout Pack 3633 will host a Halloween Carnival with games and prizes for all new potential Scouts at 7 p.m. Tues., Oct. 26 at Parkview Elementary School, 1500 Alexander St., Simi Valley. The event is for boys in first through fourth grades. More...