For the first time in years, Gallegly has a GOP challenger
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
     Michael Tenenbaum says most people he meets while campaigning in local communities don't know who their congressman is.
More ...

Newbury Park man named to board
     Newbury Park resident Michael Silacci, executive director of external affairs for AT&T in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, has been elected to the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) board of directors.
More ...

String quartet to debut
     The Left Coast String Quartet will perform its Conejo Valley debut concert at 3 p.m., Sun., May 21 at the United Methodist Church of Westlake Village, 1049 Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. The concert is sponsored by
More ...

Council meetings on website
     The city of Thousand Oaks' website (www.toaks.org) has been enhanced to include live and archived streaming video of city council, planning commission and other public meetings. Citizens are now able to observe these public meetings over the Internet, or view specific portions of meetings by
More ...

Strickland says experience matters
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com
     Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark) is seeking a second term because she believes her conservative views are shared by most of her constituents. Her 37th District includes Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Camarillo, Moorpark and Simi Valley.
More ...

Gem and mineral show to feature young jewelry maker
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com
     Twelve-year-old Newbury Park resident Chieko Hoki said she creates jewelry out of stones and minerals because she enjoys the process-from discovering a dusty scuffed rock on the side of a road to turning it into the centerpiece of one of her handcrafted pieces.
More ...

Picture perfect
     PATRICK SHELBY/Acorn Newspapers GOLDEN HOUR-Lisa Lane and Fred Secrease capture a magic moment during last Saturday's fourth annual Support for the Kids fundraising event at Ventura Farms in Hidden Valley. More than 300 guests attended the affair, which featured self-guided tours of the grounds, specialty foods, wine tasting, live and silent auctions, and music. Proceeds will benefit underprivileged and foster children. To learn more, please call (805) 373-6661 or see www.supportforthekids.org
More ...

Graduates look to the future
By Jannette Jauregui Special to the Thousand Oaks Acorn
     As the 527 California Lutheran University students receiving their baccalaureate degrees walked across the Mount Clef stadium stage to the rhythm of "Pomp and Circumstance" on Saturday, the cheers of their professors, peers and family members greeted them.
More ...

T.O. firm looks to expand
     A rapidly growing Thousand Oaks company hopes to nearly double its revenues and its staff over the next three years.
More ...

Couple knows wine, will help launch new stores
     WineStyles, a national franchise that "demystifies the wine shopping experience," has named Thousand Oaks residents Levett and Pia Washington as area developers for north Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
More ...

Clergy profile: Rabbi Bryski, Conejo Chabad
By Claire Vereczky Malis Special to the Thousand Oaks Acorn
     Rabbi Moshe Bryski, executive director of Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills, said he first entered the local scene as a bus driver transporting children to a Morrison Ranch summer youth camp, and was later "drafted for a temporary position" at Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills.
More ...

Women's Club to help two worthy causes
     The Thousand Oaks Women's Club raised $4,000 at its March 10 fashion show, a fundraiser in support of two Thousand Oaks organizations that provide health services to community residents in need.
More ...

     'HELLO, STATUE?'-St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, has a home in the Thousand Oaks yard of Mary Leon. His dish holds birdseed. According to Leon, the furry little guest is either paying his respects to St. Francis-or he's blatantly stealing birdseed, which is almost a sacrilege. As much as we like to think positively about squirrels, we're skeptical that the visitor in this case is up to anything good. Congratulations, Mary, for this tremendous Squirrel of the Month photo. Other readers, too, can get their picture in the paper (their picture of a SQUIRREL, by sending it to the address on page 4 or by e-mailing a digital image to steve@theacorn.com. You can be famous, like Mary.
More ...

Car show benefits charity
     Thousand Oaks High School Car Club in conjunction with the Thousand Oaks Police Department and Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge No. 2477, will host its second annual car show from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sun., May 21 at Thousand Oaks High School, in the south parking lot located along Avenida de L
More ...

Bureaucracy separates family
By Avi Rutschman avi@theacorn.com
     Kanwar Bagga, a 15-year resident of Thousand Oaks and owner of a Chevron station in Ventura, has a simple request for the United States government: allow his wife and daughter to return home.
More ...

Knights host golf tourney
     The Knights of Columbus, Newbury Park No. 8397, will host the sixth annual Charity Golf Classic on Mon., May 22 at Moorpark Country Club.
More ...

Make small talk count
By Debra Fine
     Do you dread receptions, banquets, and other business-related social events? Does attending another open house make you want to run inside your own and lock the door? You're not alone. Many of us are apprehensive about these situations, because most of us either hate entering rooms where we don
More ...

Jumping for a cause
     BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers FUNDRAISING JUMPING-Jensen Koff, left, 5, of T.O. and Emilie Lesser, 5, of Agoura are part of a group of 125 kids participating in a Hop-a-Thon at Temple Adat Elohim to raise money for juvenile diabetes research. Jensen's sister, Brayden, suffers from the illness, which can be a lifelong condition. To make a donation, call Batsheva Spector at (805) 497-6920.
More ...

Did you know?
     Don't 'Top' Trees Do not "top" trees. Never cut main branches back to stubs. Many people mistakenly top trees because they grow into utility wires, interfere with views or sunlight, or simply grow so large that they worry the landowner.
More ...

Four lost hikers rescued by police
     Four men got lost on Thurs., May 12 and were rescued by the Ventura County Sheriff 's Department's East Valley Search and Rescue unit.
More ...

T.O. man arrested in sexual assault
     Following an investigation, a Thousand Oaks man, Juan Santos Barrera, 40, was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault around 1 p.m. May 8 near his home in the 400 block of Citation Way.
More ...

Heschel fundraising gala a big success
     More than 400 people gathered in the Air Force One Pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Sun., May 7 to celebrate and raise funds for Heschel West Day School of Agoura Hills.
More ...

Salon offers full service
     The Waxing Goddess Body Waxing salon is at the same location but has a new address for the site. The salon is in The Courtyard business center, 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.
More ...

Know your flag protoco
     May is National Military Appreciation Month, and United Spinal Association, a national veteran's service organization, reminds Americans that they can honor the members of our armed forces this month and every month by flying the American flag.
More ...

Making beautiful music
     IN STEP AND IN TUNE-Cissy Song, 12, and her family moved here from China two years ago. She's a flute player in the Redwood Middle School Marching Band, which will compete Saturday in a Fillmore parade. The band has been selected to march down Main Street USA at Disneyland on Memorial Day weekend. BILL SPARKES Acorn Newspapers
More ...

Conejo Valley Days honors volunteers
     Five service, volunteer and youth organizations were honored at the annual Conejo Valley Days Interservice Club Luncheon May 4 at the Los Robles Greens Golf Course, Thousand Oaks.
More ...

Pepperdine camp exercises minds and bodies
     Three years ago Kip Jerger, founder of Kanoa Aquatics, partnered with iD Tech Camps to reach more Generation Y kids that wouldn't typically choose to surf. The weeklong, day and overnight Surf & Tech summer program at Pepperdine University in Malibu allows Gen Y kids to do something fun
More ...

CLU honors three retiring professors
     California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks will mark the retirement of three longtime professors as the semester draws to a close. Michael Doyle of the criminal justice department; C. Douglas Saddler, PhD, of the psychology department, and Michael Wiley, PhD, of the chemistry department w
More ...

Movie night
     BIGGEST SMILE-Lena Meade, 5, Rachel Savini, 9, and Britney Barnsdale, 8, enjoy themselves while waiting for the movie to start. The three attended the recent family film night at Cypress Elementary School, where kids arrived in pajamas to watch a movie outdoors.
More ...

Don't miss Strawberry Festival
     The 23rd annual California Strawberry Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun., May 20 and 21 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.
More ...

A winning combination
     MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY-Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge No. 2477 donates a unit flag to Boy Scout Troop No. 3763. The already successful group of Scouts formed less than three years ago in Dos Vientos. The Scouts have reciprocated with the Elks, participating in flag retirement ceremonies, marching in parades and presenting colors at special functions. The adults, from left are Barry Sandefur, Bill Miller, Mark Resnick, Bill Sternberg, David Naccarato, Howard Seligman and Greg Metzgus. The boys, from left, are Ryan Sandefur, Tyler Resnick and Max Seligman.
More ...

Grads appointed to military academies
     Eighteen young men and women nominated by U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura and Santa Barbara counties) have been accepted to U.S. military academies. They have until this summer to accept their appointments. Gallegly's military academy nomination board selected the nominees.
More ...