Preparations continue for GOP debate
      MUSICAL CHAIRS--Wren Powell, a Thousand Oaks resident and assistant to former First Lady Nancy Reagan, reviews a seating chart in preparation for the Republican Party presidential candidates debate. It will take place tonight in the Air Force One Pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. MSNBC-TV is scheduled to televise it at 5 p.m.
More ...

Disaster response team seeks new members
      The Thousand Oaks Disaster Assistance Response Team is offering free disaster preparedness classes to residents of the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas who are interested in joining the team. Classes start at 6:30 p.m. Mon., May 14 at the East Valley Sheriff's Station, 2101 E. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. Completion of CERT within the last two years is a prerequisite.
More ...

Sheriff's departments go after sex offenders
      The Ventura County Sheriff's Department, in conjunction with the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county sheriff's departments, has created a tricounty task force focusing on registered sex offenders.
More ...

For the record
      Send e-mails on why your mother is the greatest to tonewstip@theacorn.com. En tries are due by 11 a.m. Sat., May 5. The e-mail address printed last week was incorrect.
More ...

Fugitive pit bull Blue attacks second time in Thousand Oaks
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Blue- the pit bull taken into custody recently by Los Angeles County Animal Control for attacking a Thousand Oaks woman and her small dog- went on another bloody rampage last Friday. Exactly 10 days after Blue's attack on 60-year-old Cheri Lee and her Shih Tzu, Rosie, the dog was stolen from the Agoura Animal Shelter.
More ...

City names new public information officer
      Andrew Powers has been appointed public information officer for the city of Thousand Oaks. He will start work on Mon., May 7 and will be responsible for media communications, marketing, public information, emergency broad casting, website management and related duties.
More ...

Ventura County Fire Chief nears 10 years of service
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com
      The first time Bob Roper thought about joining the Ventura County Fire Department, his house was being saved by a team of firefighters. The engine crew from Fire Station 22 in Meiners Oaks wasn't battling a blaze, they were cleaning up after a broken water pipe.
More ...

New sprinkler law takes effect
      A new ordinance requiring fire sprinkler protection in new homes and businesses went into effect in Ventura County on May 1. The new Ordinance 25 does not require retrofitting for sprinklers in pre-existing buildings. However, if any renovations increase a home's floor space by more than 50 percent, sprinklers will need to be added.
More ...

Westlake Women's Club's annual fashion show, luncheon a success
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      More than 400 women filled the Hyatt Westlake Plaza lobby and grand ballroom last Friday to attend the Westlake Women's Club's 38th annual philanthropic luncheon and fashion show sponsored by The Oaks mall. The event raised between $30,000 and $35,000, which will go to help charities in the Conejo Valley, co-chair Doris Rufener said.
More ...

Nominations open for people who've made a positive impact on community
      Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation is accepting nominations for its seventh annual CLvFFie (pronounced cliffie ) Awards.
More ...

Residents Spice Up Their Lives at Conejo Valley Day
Photos by Jann Hendry
     GOOD EATS- Thousand Oaks resident Marcc Ellen enjoys his favorite chili, called "Big Wooden Spoon" at the annual Conejo Valley Days Chili Cook-off. The event took place Sunday at Conejo Creek Park South.
More ...

Learning to ride and care for horses
      LEARNING THE ROPES- Aspen Elementary School fourth-grader Miranda Berenstein, 9, rides Jitterbug through an obstacle course, led by volunteer Alice James, 13, a Sycamore School eighth-grader, and accompanied by Camarillo resident Debbe Christopher. Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship hosted an open house Saturday in Newbury Park.
More ...

A nose for news
      Recently, while walking through a meadow of tall rushes, I saw something fluffy and white moving close to the ground. Upon closer inspection I realized it was the tail of a striped skunk: Mephi tis mephitis . The animal was unaware of me. Being downwind of the skunk, I decided to see how close I could get without disturbing it.
More ...

Future conservation officers?
      NEW JUNIOR RANGERS- Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne swears in a new class of Junior Rangers at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area on Saturday. This class is the first to take the oath on the same day as other Junior Rangers across the country for national Junior Ranger Day during National Park Week.
More ...

Classical music may improve reasoning skills, mental agility
      Music can have a powerful emotional impact on the psyche, but music can also help a person think. According to experts, adults and teens alike can actually improve certain thinking skills by listening to classical music or learning to play an instrument.
More ...

      Rosalyn June (Haskins) Doughty died April 22, 2007. Our beloved mother was born on June 1, 1927 in Bainbridge Township, OH. At the age of 19, she moved to the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. She resided in the Valley and in Thousand Oaks for a total of 55 years. Her four children graduated from high schools in Thousand Oaks.
More ...

Fitness starts early
      HANGING AT THE 'Y'- Westlake Hills Elementary School first-grader Luke Brolin, 6, swings down from the YMCA rock climbing wall with help from volunteer Chris Catalano, a Thousand Oaks resident. The Conejo Valley YMCA hosted a recent membership open house.
More ...

American heroes honored at Holocaust ceremony
      In Jerusalem, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority has honored thousands of non-Jews as "Righteous Among the Nations" for their rescue work helping Jews and others escape Nazi persecution before and during World War II.
More ...

Singles meet, mingle every Thursday
      Singles can meet and share experiences every Thursday at 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westlake Village, 1049 Westlake Blvd. There is no charge to attend. The group is not church affiliated. For more information, call Jay at (805) 277-1431.
More ...

Hospice of Conejo to host golf tourney
      The 21st annual Hospice of The Conejo/Robert S. Haaland Golf Tournament is scheduled for Mon., May 21, at the Sunset Hills Country Club, 4155 Erbes Road North, Thousand Oaks. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. along with the putting contest and barbecue lunch, followed by the shotgun start at 1 p.m.
More ...

Ready for solar study
      SUN DIAL- Ventura County Astronomical Society member Rene Rupard, a Westlake Village resident, finetunes a Mead 10-inch telescope for a filtered view of the Sun during a recent Astronomy Day at The Lakes in Thousand Oaks.
More ...

Youth track meet at Acorn Acres
      The Conejo Recreation and Park District will hold a novice youth track meet for children ages 6 to 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. Sat., May 12 at Acorn Acres, Thousand Oaks Community Park, 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Participants should wear tennis shoes and bring sunscreen.
More ...

Elks honor youth at dinner
      The Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge No. 2477 will honor its youth with an Italian Nite Dinner at 6 p.m. Fri., May 11 at the lodge, 158 Conejo School Road. The awards presentation will start at 7:30 p.m. Awards, plaques and recognition will be given to the high school scholarship winners, Americanism essay winners, Eagle Boy Scouts and Silver and Gold Girl Scouts.
More ...

Tales told at Ojai festival this weekend
      Performances To Grow On, in conjunction with the eighth annual Village of Tales Storytelling Festival, invites the public to a free storytelling event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight, Thurs., May 3, in the Libbey Bowl in downtown Ojai. The event will feature all the featured tellers at this year's festival telling a short story.
More ...