2020-11-27
The magic of Christmas reinvented
SANTA’S NEW WORKSHOP—With COVID cases surging, Santa Claus is finding ways to stay socially distanced. At the Simi Valley Town Center, he wears a mask and sits behind a desk. Above, the Bailey family of Simi Valley—dad Chris, mom Kristian and kids Reagan, 3 months, and Sloane, 4—visit with Ol’ Saint Nick on Nov. 24. At left, Moorpark residents Aria […]
$1,700 for a sushi roll? Simi man can’t resist
At an age when most kids are munching on fish sticks, Michael Takla began developing an adventurous appetite for sushi. The Simi Valley resident was just 7 years old when he took his first bite of a California roll. It was unlike anything he’d ever eaten: crab, cucumber and avocado all rolled up in seaweed and rice. The intriguing blend […]
Longtime DA retiring from county post
Will lead prosecutor-advocacy group in SacramentoOn Aug. 21, Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten’s career came full circle. Totten, who’s spent his entire professional career with the county, began working in the D.A.’s office in 1981 as a clerk while earning his law degree from Pepperdine Law School. Among the cases he helped with while clerking were the unsolved 1980 murders of Charlene and Lyman […]
Ever-changing COVID rules frustrate parents, educators
Just as some elementary school students were returning to class for in-person instruction and administrators were preparing to reopen campuses in January for middle and high schoolers, COVID once again changed the game plan. On Nov. 17, Ventura County slid down to the purple tier of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s blueprint for reopening, meaning that more restrictive social distancing and health […]
Report has insights on local housing needs
City officials are looking for community input on a report outlining the city’s objectives for affordable housing. The draft 2019-20 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) looks at how the city is meeting its goals in providing affordable housing at low- and moderate-income levels, city officials said. It also identifies related expenditures. This report must be presented to and […]
Drive-thru food drive will help seniors
Simi Sunset Rotary will collect goods on Dec. 12The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset will host a food drive to help local seniors through this challenging holiday season during the COVID crisis. Organizers will be collecting non-perishable foods from 9 a.m. to noon Sat., Dec. 12, at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Community members can drop off their donations at the Senior Center’s safe drive-thru […]
Park, school districts partner to offer more playfield space
The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District and the Simi Valley Unified School District are partnering to offer athletic and recreational field space to residents. The roughly 4-acre Adult Education Apollo Field site, located at 1880 Blackstock Ave., was recently renovated and is now open for use by the public, local sports leagues and teams, park district officials said in […]
Grant funds available for projects
The City of Simi Valley is requesting project submissions for the Community Development Block Grant program. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes funds available each year for the city’s grants program. The city solicits projects and activities from nonprofit and local government organizations that provide a direct benefit to primarily low- and moderate-income residents of Simi Valley. […]
Celebrating Christ’s birth worldwide
Organizers of the Simi Valley Community Christmas, hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had hoped to celebrate 15 years of Nativity displays and local musical talent. However, due to COVID restrictions, they are promoting a Worldwide Virtual Nativity presentation, beginning on Fri., Nov. 27 and running through Dec. 31. Hundreds of Nativity displays, along with music […]