Honoring outstanding individuals, groups or causes is something the Thousand Oaks City Council often does prior to conducting business during council meetings.

Recognition at last week's meeting was paid to local efforts to fight Lou Gehrig's disease and to a young Belfast, Ireland water polo team visiting Thousand Oaks.

Strike Out ALS

The city proclaimed July 16 to 22 Strike Out Lou Gehrig's Disease Week, recognizing those fighting the disease, including the Conejo Valley Little League. The disease is also known as ALS, which stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

This week more than 300 children, their families and ALS advocates are participating in a baseball tournament to help raise awareness of the fatal disease and money for fighting it. Players in Ventura, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties are taking part in the tournament, which includes free clinics led by former major league players.

"Working together we can fight this killer," said Fred Fisher, executive director of the ALS Association's Greater L.A. chapter.

Denise Glass of Thousand Oaks told of her personal fight against the disease.

Struggling with emotion and with the ability to speak, Glass told of being diagnosed with the disease five years ago. She celebrated her 49th birthday earlier this month.

"I'm one of the lucky ones with ALS that has lived longer than the two to five years expected when given this diagnosis," Glass said. "Five years ago I never thought I'd live to have that (birthday) celebration."

During the past five years Glass has traveled and spoken to

schools, government leaders, seminars and conferences about what it's like living with ALS. She had hoped to fulfill her dream of visiting Antarctica this summer but had to cancel the trip after the disease progressed.

"That is what ALS does to you," Glass said.

ALS is a progressive neuromuscular disease that weakens and destroys components of the nervous system including the ability to walk, talk and breathe. Victims eventually become paralyzed, and loss of respiratory function is the ultimate cause of death. Glass says she is more afraid of losing her independence than of dying.

"Many Thousand Oaks residents have ALS, have lost someone to it or have a loved one with it," Gillette said. "I urge residents to support the tournament and the families affected by ALS."

Welcoming the Irish Seventeen members of the championship Clonard water polo team have been visiting the city, staying with host families in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park.

"The welcome we've received has been beyond our expectations," said Kevin Armstrong, one of the coaches. "We're all very glad to be here in this beautiful city."

Founded in the 1920s, the team has won 29 championships, winning the junior cup more times than any other water polo club in Ireland. While in Ventura County, the team has been playing games with area water polo groups. Last year the Ventura Coast

team visited Belfast, spurring the visit here by the Irish team. Armstrong said he hoped local teams would visit Ireland again.

Two of the Irish athletes performed a jig on tinwhistles. Dressed in green and white jerseys, the team accepted commendations from Mayor Dennis Gillette.

"The team has come to America to promote goodwill and establish relationships with the water polo teams of Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park high schools to build bridges of friendship between the youth of our countries," Gillette said.