July 1, 2011 RSS feed / Front Page

Don’t be tempted to light up Monday night

Bright colors will light up the night sky on July 4, but the fire department is reminding the community to keep their hands off the explosive devices that ignite the popular displays. More...

Health & Wellness

VCFD offers tips for fireworks safety

The Ventura County Fire Department reminds the public that the safe and legal way to enjoy fireworks this Fourth of July is at a professional public display. More...

A one-stop health shop

UNDER ONE ROOF—The Ventura County Health Care Agency unveiled its newest public health clinic on June 17 with the grand opening of its Simi Valley facility, located at 1133-B Los Angeles Ave., More...

Homes now required to have carbon monoxide detectors

Owners of leased, rental units have more time to comply

A new law goes into effect on July 1, requiring homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in all single-family California homes with an attached garage, fireplace or a fossil fuel-burning heater or appliance. More...

Sports

Marmonte football players steal spotlight at Conejo Classic

Several big-time performances at passing tournament

At last weekend’s Conejo Classic Passing Tournament, the general consensus among area high school football coaches was that pace and repetitions far outweighed points and results. More...

Lacrosse team gets the last laugh

COOL KIDS—The VC Elite Lacrosse team won its division at the Adrenaline Lacrosse Coronado Classic Championship in San Diego. More...

History-making referee learned her craft locally

Cat Conti has a dream. As far as dreams go, it may be more daunting than scaling Mount Everest, running with the bulls in Pamplona and moonwalking on the moon. More...

Pets

Pet of the Week

QUIET LADY—Gracie, a beautiful gray-and-white female Maine coon, needs a nice quiet home. She is a bit shy but melts into your lap at the first scratch. More...

Family

FAMILY MEN Don't Wear Name Brands

Infidelity

I’m not a cheater. But I’ve had second thoughts. I was born a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, wearing Dodger Blue not baby blue. My first baseball game was with my dad at Dodger Stadium. It was helmet night. I still have that helmet. More...

Kick off those shoes . . . and dance!

MOVING TO THE BEAT— Above, Simi Valley residents, from left, Astrid White, 7, Tyler Fink, 4 (back to camera), Joshua Fink, 4, and Maria White, 7, dance to the sounds of Lance Jones & the Co More...

Happy, confident teens play sports, survey says

Teen girls are embracing being active, and athletics is the leading activity they participate in at school. Today, 65 percent of high school girls participate in a school sport. More...

Motoring

Ask the DMV

Do you have questions about general driving-related requirements like registration and insurance? Are you unclear about laws and restrictions related to driving? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers. More...

Letters

Garage sale signs stay up too long

In addition to the sign blight caused by businesses that seem to have no regard for their presentation of signs, there is another area that needs to be addressed: leaving garage sale signs up long after the garage sale has been concluded. More...

Fans need to cheer home team

I watched the match between the U.S.A. soccer team and Mexico. I guess the Mexican fans don`t realize that they are supposed to be Americans now. More...

Editorials

13 facts for Independence Day

The Fourth of July is Monday. Millions of Americans will celebrate with barbecues, parades, picnics and fireworks shows. Simi Valley festivities begin at 2 p.m. at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park with music, games, food and craft vendors. More...

Political Cartoon

Full Story

For the record

The page 4 editorial in the June 24 edition of the Simi Valley Acorn misidentified the business relationship between Mayor Bob Huber and attorney Russell Takasugi. They were formerly business associates. More...

Neighbors

Scholarships are music to students’ ears

Santa Su grads earn arts awards

Two Santa Susana High School graduates have received the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Young Artists Scholarship. Trevor Mauk and Adrian Carcione each received a $2,500 Young Artists Scholarship last month. More...

CERT class accepting applications

The Simi Valley Office of Emergency Services is accepting applications for the next Community Emergency Response Training class. The curriculum teaches residents about disaster preparedness and hazards. More...

Rotary Club shifts meetings to morning

The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset, a dinner club, will change its meetings to become a breakfast club beginning on Wed., July 6. The new name of the club will be the Simi Sunset Rotary Club Morning Edition. The meeting time will be from 7 to 8 a.m. More...

Simi attorney arrested on embezzlement charges

Ventura County D.A. files 34-count indictment against mayor’s former law associate

After a more than six-month-long investigation, the Simi Valley Police Department arrested attorney Russell Takasugi, the former law associate of Mayor Bob Huber, on Wednesday. More...

Redistricting maps trouble city leaders

Simi Valley city officials are not pleased with draft congressional redistricting maps that would separate a sliver of the community— namely, 2,000 residents in Wood Ranch—from the rest of it. More...

Balanced budget brimming with good news

Despite an ailing economy that has yet to pull out of its slump, Simi Valley city leaders were able to adopt a balanced budget Monday without cutting programs or laying off employees. More...

Community

Landfill expansion decision pushed back until July 19

A decision on the proposed expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill was delayed this week for the fourth time. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to hear the issue Tuesday but postponed it until 1:30 p.m. July 19. More...

Celebrating Independence Day the eco-friendly way

Waste Management offers tips for the holidays

In observance of the Fourth of July holiday, trash and recycling services for Waste Management customers in Ventura County will be delayed one day during the week of July 4. Regular schedule services will resume the following week. More...

Business

Marie Callender’s shutters Simi pie shop

Marie Callender’s, famous for nearly 50 years of serving up slices of fresh-baked pie, has filed for bankruptcy and closed 31 locations nationwide—including the one in Simi Valley. More...

Schools

Cord of Honor

ROP students get the credit they deserve

At high school campuses all over Ventura County this month, hundreds of graduates wore a bronze, gold and silver cord around their neck to represent a hard- earned achievement. More...

Standout COLLEGE Students

•Jackson E. Miller, a resident of Simi Valley, was named to the dean’s list at Boston University for the spring semester. More...

Realtors reward Simi scholars

COLLEGE- BOUND— Dilbeck Realtor Aleksandra Hunt, above left, and Conejo Simi Moorpark Association of Realtors president Linda Mills congratulate Grace Brethren High School graduate Brianne Schw More...

Police

Police Blotter

June 19 A 19- year- old woman was arrested for theft after shoplifting in the 1400 and 1500 blocks of Simi Town Center Way. More...

Faith

The Art of Being

Who is sailing your ship?

“Never had I understood that I command, with absolute authority, the ship of my life! I decide its mission and rules and discipline, at my word waits every tool and sail, every cannon, the strength of every soul on board. More...

Ministry cares for pets of hospice patients

Cassidy, a small, three-legged dog, belonged to a caring, elderly man. But when the man became terminally ill and entered hospice, Cassidy’s fate was in jeopardy. This uncertainty weighed heavily on the owner. More...

Temple hosts patio potluck, meet and greet

• Congregation B’nai Emet will host its July 22nd Sabbath service on the synagogue’s patio, which overlooks the valley, at 9 W. Bonita Drive, Simi Valley. A potluck meatless dinner will be served at 7 p.m. More...

Dining & Entertainment

Writers club accepting short story contest entries

The Ventura County Writers Club will accept entries for its 12th annual Short Story Contest from July 15 through Sept. 30. The contest draws entries from around the country and internationally. More...

Park Service announces July events

The National Park Service will present these outdoor activities in July in the Santa Monica Mountains. All events are suitable for families. Parking and admission is free for all events except where noted. More...

‘Rocky Horror’ is astounding

Musical playing through July 23

Great Scott! More...

Columns

Eye on the Conejo

The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Sunrise gave me an opportunity to speak recently. More...

THE OTHER Side of 50

Senior moving simplified

Adele’s vision loss from glaucoma was forcing her, at age 78, to leave her home in Maine. She planned to move to Simi, into a retirement community close to her son Bill. More...

Datebook

Calendar

FRI., JULY 1 ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ More...

4th of July Celebrations

YMCA 5K Run/Walk More...