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May 13, 2011 / Front Page

Trees of life

DIGGING IN—Above, family friends, from left, Cole Hennigan, 10, of Agoura, Ethan Rabin, 9, of Oak Park, and Kyle, 17, and Kalie Hennigan, 18, both of Agoura, help plant a tree in memory of Simi More...

101 project gets rolling

By Sylvie Belmond
belmond@theacorn.com

Although major improvements on the 101 Freeway have only just begun, the work is already testing the patience of some local drivers who are worried about how the repairs will affect their daily driving habits over the coming months. More...

Health & Wellness

Nurse’s healing touch knows no boundaries

CPR skills come in handy during San Francisco visit

By Carissa Marsh
cmarsh@theacorn.com

After months spent planning her New Year’s Eve wedding, Annemarie Mack was looking forward to a short getaway in January. More...

Learn CPR and first aid

Simi Valley Hospital is offering an infant and child CPR class on May 19 and July 14. The 1½-hour evening class costs $30 and is approved by the American Heart Association. The next general CPR class will be in September. More...

Sparkle Dot Trail Run coming to Hummingbird Trail

The second annual Sparkle Dot Trail Run will be on Sat., May 14 on Hummingbird Trail, off the 118 Freeway at Keuhner Drive North, Simi Valley. Registration opens at 7 a.m. A pre-race photo will be taken at 7:15. The race will start at 7:30 a.m. More...

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Schools

College Corner

A strong finish to the school year

With just a few weeks left in the school year, final exams are looming. This is an opportunity for students to make one last push to end the year with the best possible grades. More...

Former state superintendent to address CLU grads

California Lutheran University will honor 690 students receiving bachelor’s degrees at the undergraduate commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Sat., May 14 in Mount Clef Stadium at the Thousand Oaks campus. More...

Crestview gets groovin’

GROUP DANCE—Above, everyone moves to the beat while fifth-grade teacher Heidi Kneff, right, leads them in the electric slide at Crestview Elementary School's first Father-Daughter Dance on May More...

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Police

Police Blotter

May 2 Officers responded to a report of a disturbance in progress at the Jack in the Box in the 1500 block of E. Los Angeles Avenue and arrested a 46-year-old man for committing vandalism resulting in less than $400 in damage. More...

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Faith

Forum looks at the power of ordinary people

How a few folks became agents for change

“Ordinary People Do Extraordinary Things,” the story of how 30 individuals succeeded in forming a grassroots movement that got the first bill on global warming passed in the state of Washington, will be the topic of a community forum at 7 More...

Book examines living in mystery of life

Spiritual director Dennis Merritt Jones will release his new book, “The Art of Uncertainty: How to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It,” on June 9. The publisher is Tarcher/Penguin. More...

Center for Spiritual Living to screen ‘Dirt!’

The Center for Spiritual Living Westlake will present “Dirt! The Movie” at 7 p.m. Fri., May 20 at the center, 880 Hampshire Road, Suite W, Westlake Village. More...

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Letters

Memorial removal an embarrassment

As most of you know our close friends Thor and Keelie tragically lost their 19-year-old son, Tim Michaels, in a traffic accident on Alamo Street. More...

School board being sly on start date

The Simi Valley school board is still considering starting the school year on Aug. 8. It is apalling that they are actually still considering such a dramatic change to families and businesses all throughout Simi Valley. More...

Repeal of SB990 the right move

An open letter to Sen. Pavley and Assemblymember Brownley: More...

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Editorials

Landfill agreement a win-win

This space has been used plenty of times in the past few years to discuss everything that was being done wrong in regard to the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center expansion project. This week, it’s time to take the opposite view. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation

Full Story

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Neighbors

TOP 25 Local People of 2011

O ur communities make us proud. From Santa Susana Knolls to Wood Ranch and all points in between, we enjoy a beautiful environment, excellent schools and strong businesses. More...

Mothers march in quest for healthy babies

Simi Valley trio thankful for role March of Dimes played in their lives

By Carissa Marsh
cmarsh@theacorn.com

On a spring day in May 2004, Simi Valley native Kristina Akridge woke up with the sun and tied on her running shoes. She’d only given birth to her first child, Cassidy, two months before. More...

Twirlers win state title

The Rancho Simi Twirlers dance twirl team Believe won the 2011 Preteen Beginner Dance Twirl State Championship last weekend in Corona, Calif. The team instructor is Judy Salvatore. More...

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Council votes 3-2 to support landfill expansion

City should net more than $90 million with deal

By Carissa Marsh
cmarsh@theacorn.com

After years of discussion and months of negotiations with Waste Management, the City Council finally took a stand on the expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill: The city will support the proposal when it goes before the Ventura County Board of Supervi More...

Redevelopment back in Simi’s cross hairs

Park district looking for piece of the action

By Carissa Marsh
cmarsh@theacorn.com

Despite the governor’s proposal to ax redevelopment agencies, the city took another step forward Monday in its effort to expand the community’s redevelopment zone. More...

Community

SVUSD takes stance on landfill

Superintendent asked to write letter expressing district’s concerns

By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley Unified School District board continues to be concerned about the health dangers posed to students by the planned expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. More...

Landfill offering free cleanup day

Simi Valley residents can drop off their extra trash and bulky items at no charge and donate gently used items from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun., May 15 at the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center, 2801 Madera Road. More...

Knights seek chili cooks

The Knights of Columbus Simi Valley Council No. 5803 will present the 24th annual Chili Cook-off and Car Show at 10 a.m. Sun., June 12 on the school grounds of St. Rose of Lima, 1305 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. More...

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Business

Used cars deserve love, too

Simi Valley businessman debuts city’s first independent lot

Carissa Marsh
By cmarsh@theacorn.com

As the son of a used-car salesman, Kelly Kolarek practically grew up on the dealership lot. His father is Steve Brandt, the owner of Car Corner Inc., an independent used-car dealership serving the San Fernando Valley since 1982. More...

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Sports

Westlake dominates Marmonte swim finals

Royal’s Moore sets school record in boys’ 100 free

By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com

Todd Irmas will savor this victory. Westlake High’s swim coach received a memorable goingaway gift. More...

Holden leads Royal golfers at team event

By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com

Brandon Kelley felt deflated. The Westlake High sophomore golfer didn’t sugarcoat his performance during the CIF-Southern Section Northern Team Divisional at Ojai’s Soule Park Golf Course on Monday. More...

Aurand steps down as Simi boys’ hoops coach

By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com

An era has ended for Simi Valley High boys’ basketball. Christian Aurand, the winningest coach in the Pioneers’ storied history, has resigned as head coach of the boys’ basketball team. More...

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Pets

Quacking up

MOMMY AND ME—A brood of baby ducks stays close to their mother near the pond at Lemon Park on May 9. More...

Pet of the Week

GREAT CUDDLER—Victory is a fluffy brown-and-black domestic rabbit who came in as a stray from Oxnard. He is 1 year old.If you would like to adopt Victory, ask for Animal ID No. More...

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Family

Isabella, Jacob top baby names list

Isabella and Jacob again reign supreme on Social Security’s most popular baby names list, while Elvis has left the building. This is the 12th year in a row on our list for Jacob and the second for Isabella, although 2010 has a new No. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

The MOVIE Nut

“Thor” Rated: PG-13 More...

New West closes season with ‘Carmina Burana’

The final concert of the New West Symphony’s 2010-11 Masterpiece Series season will feature Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” at 8 p.m. Fri., May 13 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, and repeated at 8 p.m. More...

Saved: ‘Superstar’ team turns show around

Blaring trumpets can’t keep this rock opera down

By Cary Ginell
originjazz@aol.com

Although Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, what I saw at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center that evening was a resurrection. More...

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Columns

Ask the Arborist

Sycamore disease

Q: We have 12 large California sycamore trees on our property. Several, particularly those in the vicinity of our house, appear to be diseased. The leaves came out normally, as they usually do in the spring, but within days most of them fell off. More...