Consumers must read sale signs carefully before they claim deception
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Everyone knows the excitement of seeing a banner sign with a good price over a desired item, as well as the disappointment when a higher price rings up at the cash register. Observant consumers might point out, "Hey, that's not the price it said on the big sign above it." What follows could be a good or bad experience, depending on the store.
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Registration begins for adult softball league
      The Conejo Recreation and Park District is accepting registration for the 2008 Adult Spring/Summer Softball League. Games are played Sunday through Friday evenings from March 2 to July. The league is open to ages 16 and up. Divisions are coed, men's, men's masters, men's and women's church, and women's open.
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Brott conducts in Italy
      Boris Brott, music director of the New West Symphony, recently conducted the world-famous Arena di Verona orchestra and choir in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, "Choral" in D minor, opus 125, at an Italian concert hall. Brott's performances took place on Dec.
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State senator no longer has a home in Thousand Oaks
      Although state Sen. Tom McClintock's 19th District covers Santa Barbara County, most of Ventura County and a portion of Los Angeles County, he chooses to have his office in Thousand Oaks. He was born July 10, 1956 in White Plains, N.Y., and moved to Thousand Oaks in 1965 with his parents, Tom and Chris, and his younger sister, Virginia.
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Malibu wants to prohibit overnight camping
      The Malibu City Council has voted to ask the California Coastal Commission to certify a land use amendment that would prohibit all overnight camping in Malibu parks and would require the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to purchase more than $7million property in order to build an alternative access road into Ramirez Canyon Park.
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Strickland honored by private firm
      Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (RWestlake Village) was recently honored with the CrisCom Co.'s "Leader For America" award that recognizes "those extraordinary leaders who have made a tremendous impact on our nation in a positive way.
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Teachers can learn about autism in course offered by Easter Seals
      Easter Seals Tri-Counties will host Autism Spectrum Disorder training for six weeks beginning Wed., Jan. 23. The first four classes will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at Easter Seals offices on 10730 Henderson Road in Ventura.
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Outstanding teen helps at-risk children succeed in life
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Beauty queens are often known for having a desire "to bring peace to the whole world," since their answers to pageant questions often include those words. In Thousand Oaks, a young woman and pageant winner not only has the desire, she turns it into action to improve life for atrisk children.
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Teens to go snowboarding
      The Thousand Oaks Teen Center will host snowboarding on Mountain High on Mon., Jan. 28 and Fri., Feb. 15. Each trip requires a $5 registration fee, and $55 cash is due the day of the trip. Trips are for teens in seventh through 12th grade. Participants should bring money for food and drink.
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Water rate hike to get public hearing next Tuesday
      An unexpected 5 percent increase from the city's water supplier Calleguas Municipal Water District is forcing the city to ask for two more rate increases this year. Those rate increases are scheduled to be discussed during a public hearing next Tues., Jan. 8, during the City Council meeting. The council meets at 6 p.m.
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Democratic Club to host luncheon
      The Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley will host a Martin Luther King Jr. Day luncheon at noon on Mon., Jan. 21 at Marie Callender's Restaurant and Bakery, 3635 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village. Guest speakers Elda and Ron Soderquist will discuss "Carrying coffins to the Capitol steps in Montgomery, Ala., 1965.
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Rehearsals begin for 'Cinderella'
      The Southern California Children's Theatre invites adults and children ages 5 and up to its workshop program/production of "Cinderella." Registration and the first rehearsal will begin at 2 p.m. Sun., Jan. 6 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.
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Celebrating New Year's
      DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY- Selma and Leon Paikin of Newbury Park groove on the dance floor at the Moorpark Active Adult Center's annual New Year's Party last Saturday night. Parties were also busy, no doubt, on Monday night, when the new year began at the stroke of midnight.
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Singles make new friends
      Singles are invited to make new friends and share experiences at the meeting of Conejo Singles every Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. Meetings take place at the United Methodist Church of Westlake Village at 1049 Westlake Blvd.
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Tips on refinancing from ARM to fixed rate
'There are many factors to consider when refinancing your mortgage depending on your particular situation.' - Jim Ferriter
      If you are among the millions of homeowners with an adjustablerate mortgage, you may be facing increasing interest rates as the loan adjusts. Refinancing might be the solution to the problem.
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Over the Hill Gang meets
      The Ventura County Over the Hill Gang will host a get acquainted meeting at 8 p.m. Sat., Jan. 5 at a member's home in Thousand Oaks. Guests are welcome and may attend for free. The club is for physically active people age 50 and up. Regular activities include skiing, hiking, biking, dinners and cultural events.
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Colina's hard drive for computers pays off
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
      When the students of a local middle school return to class after winter break they may be surprised to see many of their slow, outdated computers replaced by state-of-the-art Dell machines. The Colina Middle School PTSA has spent a year and a half fundraising in an effort to update the three computer labs, and this month marks a major step.
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Recycled green waste available in T.O.
      Materials collected each week from the green waste bins of Thousand Oaks residents are turned into soil products and mulches that are now available at two Thousand Oaks outlets.
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Rose clubs present pruning demonstration
      The Ventura County Rose Society and the Gold Coast Heritage Rose Group will co sponsor the seventh annual "Pruning Old Garden Roses Demonstration" at 8:30 a.m. Sat., Jan. 12 at the Stagecoach Inn Museum Rose Garden, 51 S. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park.
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Elks to host annual appreciation night
      The Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge No. 2477 will host its 31st annual Law Enforcement and Firefighter Appreciation program on Wed., Jan. 23 at the lodge, 158 Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks. A social time will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the lounge area, followed by a barbecue dinner at 7 p.m. Awards will be presented in the meeting room at about 8 p.m.
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