2015-01-09

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Acorn online content now offered free

'Paywall' removed

The new millennium has been a transformative time for newspaper publishing.

Changing reader habits and the advent of new technology have placed big demands on companies in the print news business.

The Acorn and its parent company, Times Media Group, understand that their biggest responsibility is not only the delivery of credible, relevant information in a timely fashion, but making sure residents have easy access to the publication when stories become available.

That’s why we’re super excited about the news being shared today.

Following a five-year stretch in which Acorn readers were given the option of purchasing online subscriptions to the paper, that so-called “paywall” is coming down.

“Mr. Publisher, tear down this wall,” the late President Ronald Reagan might have once said.

And so we did.

Starting immediately, all online content from our five Acorn publications will be available at no charge to the reader, meaning a paid subscription is no longer required to click and read articles. The weekly Acorn has always been delivered to your driveway at no cost—that more than 40-year tradition will continue—and from now on The Acorn on the internet will be free as well.

Why the change?

The Acorn is your community newspaper, and we want to make sure it stays that way. We believe it’s important that residents feel a connection to the stories we write and also learn about the businesses that advertise in their community. The absence of a paywall is the best way to ensure this free-flow of information remains.

We also invite readers to sign up for the new, easy-to-read Acorn newspaper e-edition delivered weekly to your e-mail. Viewed on mobile, desktop or laptop, the pages are super easy to navigate and, free, just like the print paper.

Local journalism is first gear in the engine that drives America’s free press, and a free press it shall be.

Archives

Animal Services seeking volunteers

First orientation of 2015 tomorrow

Ventura County Animal Services is hoping that animal lovers will make a New Year’s resolution to help care for the homeless animal population by becoming VCAS volunteers. VCAS’ first volunteer orientation of 2015 will be at 10 a.m. Sat., Jan. 10 at the Camarillo Animal Adoption Center, 600 Aviation Drive. VCAS offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to the public, […]

Briefs



Amani Children’s Choir visits Simi The Amani Children’s Choir will perform at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 10 at 118 West Studios, 2251-B Ward Ave., Simi Valley. The children’s choir, with 20 kids ages 8 to 19, shares the joy of Uganda through song, dance and testimony. Amani is the Swahili word for peace. This year, the children come […]

The Art of Being



“The road to success leads through the valley of humility, and the path is up the ladder of patience and across the wide barren plains of perseverance. As yet, no shortcut has been discovered.” — Joseph. J. Lamb 2015: Explore the no-resolution solution Can you feel the energy of the new year calling you to prepare for the launch into […]

Simi’s theater season opens with Broadway hit ‘Hairspray’



The hit Broadway musical “Hairspray” returns to the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center from Jan. 16 through Feb. 15 at 3050 Los Angeles Ave. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays with two Thursday performances at 8 p.m. Feb. 5 and 12. It’s 1962, and plump Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire—to […]

The Movie Nut



Months before this film came to theaters, the tagline on the first teaser poster accurately and succinctly summarized its plot: “The true enigma was the man who cracked the code.” His name was Alan Turing (Cumberbatch). And from the beginning, he was “different.” In a British school system that stressed the “classics,” he preferred the sciences; in a society that […]

Audubon Society hosting field trips this month



The Ventura Audubon Society will offer the following field trips in January. For more information, contact the listed leader. Sat., Jan. 10, 8:30 a.m. Soule Park. Leader: Allen Bertke, (805) 640-9037. Easy, flat walk. Sat., Jan. 17, 8:30 a.m. Camino Real Park. Leader: Kay Regester, (805) 652-1073. Sat., Jan. 24, 8:30 a.m. Beginner’s Bird Walk at Emma Wood State Beach. […]

Take Your Simi Valley Acorn on Vacation



Briefs



Fundraiser benefits horse project Simi Valley residents Debbie McNelly and Tracy Thomas have arranged a multifamily garage sale to support the 4-H Santa Rosa Valley Horse Project. The garage sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 10, in the Bridle Path neighborhood off First Street and Carefree Drive. There are 13 girls, ages 9 to 17, […]

Kids, parents skate into the new year




Families facing tough times celebrated New Year’s Eve at the Iceoplex skating rink in Simi Valley, where they received free skating time, dinner and bags of clothing, toys, food and other donations from businesses and the community. “These are people who are financially hurting—not necessarily homeless people,” said Scott Slinger of Somis, owner of the Iceoplex. “They’re people that just […]

Program helps smokers ‘call it quits’

Classes begin Jan. 20 in Simi


Residents who want to stop smoking can participate in Call it Quits, a free tobacco education and prevention program, from Jan. 20 through March 3 at Lakeside Community Healthcare in Simi Valley. The classes, which take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, are offered through Ventura County Public Health and jointly funded by the Ventura County Tobacco Settlement Program […]