Student sexually battered at CLU
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      A female student in her 20s was sexually battered while walking from a classroom to her car at California Lutheran University, according to a police report. On Feb. 11 at 5:50 p.m., deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to a call from campus security that said a female student had been sexually attacked by a stranger.
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Presenters can explain 911 system to groups
      The dispatchers of the Ventura County Sheriff's Communications Center have developed presentations to share behind the scenes information about the 911 system with the public. The program will answer common questions and reduce the apprehension that some callers may have when dialing 911.
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For the record
      There were two typos in a Datebook item about last Saturday's breakfast at Westlake High School. The address was 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road, not 200, and the cost was $5.50, not $4.40. We apologize for the errors.
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Women will celebrate human rights
      The local unit of Church Women United will meet for a Human Rights Celebration with a focus on the rights of children on Fri., March 7 at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 1360 S. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park.The coffee/social time starts at 10 a.m. and the program begins at 10:30 a.m.
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T.O. man arrested in wake of knifing incident
      After a fight broke out at 7:05 p.m. Fri., Feb. 23 between two groups of patrons at a restaurant in Moorpark, a Thousand Oaks man allegedly stabbed another male with a small foldingtype knife, according to authorities.
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Pageant coming to Newbury Park
      Pageant orientation for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties' local preliminary for the California International Pageants will be at 9 a.m. Sat., March 1 at the Courtyard Marriott, 1710 Newbury Road, Newbury Park. The pageant system stresses community involvement and requires no swimsuit competition.
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Concrete slabs installed at park areas cost taxpayers $11,000
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Those passing by a slab that recently appeared off the sidewalk at Wildflower Playfield may wonder why anyone would feel a need to pour concrete there. It just sticks out of the sidewalk into what appears to have always been a grassy area.
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'Meet Me at the Fair' is this year's theme
      The board of directors of the Ventura County Fairgrounds announced recently that the theme of the 133rd Ventura County Fair will be "Meet Me at the Fair." The fair brings together friends and family who come to see the educational, the entertaining, the latest in technology, arts and agriculture.
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T.O. man is still homeless
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Even though Thousand Oaks Acorn readers have come to his aid, Larry Mack continues to face the real possibility of homelessness. But the 73-year-old veteran and former police officer is determined to hold on to his dignity.
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Scholarships are available from Reagan Presidential Library
      The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has announced its ninth year of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Scholars Program. The program rewards high school seniors in Ventura County who have demonstrated qualities of leadership and strong character throughout their four years of high school.
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Arrests made in Thousand Oaks following narcotics investigation
      Three suspects were arrested at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 20 after authorities completed a onemonth investigation into alleged drug sales at a home in the 1100 block of Calle Margarita in Thousand Oaks. Acting on a tip, investigators observed what they believed were sales of drugs at the home.
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Trucker teaches kids about capitals, potatoes, alligators, writing
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
      For years, Park Oaks teacher Joan Hartigan had her thirdgraders write letters to students at her childhood school in Chicago. But when Hartigan learned last year that her pen-pal teacher was retiring, she started searching for a new class for her students to correspond with.
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Generous CLU donor dies
      Robert Samuelson, one of the most generous donors in the history of California Lutheran University, died Sun., Feb. 17 of cancer. He was 81.
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Interface parenting classes to teach discipline and encouragement techniques
      Interface Children Family Services will host a parenting class from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thurs., March 6 in Thousand Oaks. The class will help parents learn effective ways to support, discipline, encourage and talk to their children.
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Library hosts variety of programs in March
      The Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library will host the following programs in March. The library is at 1401 E. Janss Road. For information on any event, call (805) 449-2660 or visit www.toaks.org./library. •Storyteller Rebecca Martin presents "The Green Hills," a St. Patrick's Day Celtic program about the brave and clever Finn MacCool of Fianna, on Sat.
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Mothers of Preschoolers meet
      EvFree Church of the Conejo Valley is hosting Mothers of Preschoolers on alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays through May. Meetings will have educational speakers, crafts and activities. Breakfast and child care will be provided.
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Girls to portray famous women
      The American Association of University Women will present a Women in History program at 6:30 p.m. Wed., March 19 at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Westlake Village. Fifth- and sixth-grade students from Conejo Elementary School will portray five historical women.
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Brigadier general will address Republican women
      The Westlake Village Republican Women Federated will host a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wed., March 12 at the Westlake Village Inn, 31943 Agoura Road in Westlake Village. The meeting's guest speaker will be retired Brig. Gen. Michael Teilmann.
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Toastmasters to compete on Monday
      The Conejo Valley Toastmasters will conduct the annual spring competition of the Tall Tales and International Speech contests from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mon., March 3 at the Baxter building auditorium, 1 Baxter Way in Thousand Oaks.
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Rock Store is motorcycle haven, movie set
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      The Rock Store has been known as a mo torcycle Mecca for decades, but the quaint mom-and-pop pit stop in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains is about to become an even bigger tourist attraction with the release of a new documentary film.
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Westlake Women's Club donated more than $75,000 in past year
      Westlake Women's Club has donated almost $75,000 during the past year to area charities and causes.
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A magic moment for mother and son
     IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers A PROUD MOM- Newbury Park resident Liseth Portillo embraces her son, Jean, 13, after he won a Youth of the Year award. The Boys & Girls Club of Conejo/Las Virgenes hosted an awards ceremony Friday evening at the Renaissance Hotel in Agoura Hills.
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Scandinavian Fest returning to CLU
      The Scandinavian Festival will return to the California Lutheran University campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 and 20 with an expanded area for crafts, games and other family activities.
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Preschool will host a family night
      The Conejo Neighborhood for Learning Preschool will host a Family Fun Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Wed., March 12 at 280 N. Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks. The evening will include activities that will help children up to age 5 explore math concepts. Families are invited.
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Technology helps patients be monitored at home
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com
      Linda Steinman felt short of breath one day last December. Within minutes of calling in sick to work, the mother of three asked her teenage son to call an ambulance. In the hospital, the 54-year-old was shocked to learn she had congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema and diabetes.
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Celebrating patriotism and education
     HARVEY BRANMAN/Special to the Acorn NETWORKING AT A GALA- David Klein, left, and radio personality Larry Elder share pleasantries at the American Educational League's recent event at the Warner Center in Woodland Hills. The topic was "America's Freedom and Those Who Make it Possible." Klein is a member of the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis Club. He is helping with the Conejo Valley Days Parade and Community Conscience, among other activities.
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Smoking scenes in movies have a downside
      Concerned parents and public health leaders are looking to stub out images of smoking in film- at least in movies aimed at a youthful audience. That's because multiple studies show that tobacco images in media, especially in movies, can influence young people's decision to start smoking.
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Reaches the top in Scouting
     HARD WORKER- Wesley Young of Newbury Park is an Eagle Scout. He, with the help of friends and adults of Troop No. 787, planned and built a kiosk near San Andres Circle in a residential entrance to Wildwood Park. Above is another kiosk at Greenmeadow Drive and Moorpark Road near the Los Robles trail. Wesley's projects took nine months to plan and build. He's an eighth-grader at Redwood Middle School and would like to pursue a career in law enforcement. Troop No. 787 is sponsored by Bethany Baptist Church in T.O.
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Society to discuss mission to asteroid belt
      The Ventura County Astronomical Society will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Fri., March 21 in the multipurpose room at Mesa Union School, 3901 Mesa School Road in Somis. The speaker will be Dr. Marc Rayman, who's been with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1986.
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Angels celebrate at ball
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com
      Shortly after Grace Stott was born, her mother walked out on the infant and her five siblings. Stott was put into foster care, where she spent most of the next 17 years in a cycle of drug abuse and running away from one group or foster home after another.
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Another Eagle soars
     AN ACHIEVER- Ryan Leong of Boy Scout Troop No. 754 is the 44th member to be honored with the highest distinction in Scouting, the rank of Eagle Scout. Ryan played basketball and ran on the cross country team at Newbury Park High School. He plans to pursue a career in business. For his Eagle Scout project, he rebuilt six stations and planted vegetation at six sites along the trail for Ride-On Therapeutic Horsemanship. The T.O. Elks Lodge sponsorsTroop. No. 754.
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YMCA needs casino gamers
      The Triunfo YMCA will host a casino night dinner at 6:30 p.m. Sat., March 15 at the Los Robles Banquet Center, 299 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. The night will include live music and a silent auction. Proceeds from the dinner will go toward the Triunfo YMCA Strong Kids fundraising campaign.
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Parents of Murdered Children makes outreach prevention awareness video
      The Ventura County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children Inc. is producing a community outreach prevention and awareness video with local production company 4eventsphoto. The video will provide youths, adults and professionals in the community with the ability to comprehend what murder causes to families and friends of victims.
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Already showing leadership
     IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers YOUTH OF THE YEAR- Newbury Park resident Aubrey Sutherland, 13, accepts a certificate from Thousand Oaks Councilmember Tom Glancy, congratulating her on behalf of Thousand Oaks Mayor Jacqui Irwin for winning a Youth of the Year award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes. The recognition occurred at an awards ceremony last Friday night in Agoura Hills at the Renaissance Hotel.
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Adult Ed goes on Getty trip
      Conejo Valley Adult Education will host a day trip to the Getty Villa in Malibu from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., March 15. The Villa serves as an education center dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria.
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Hemingway to speak to group
      Ladies Who Launch, a national organization that supports women entrepreneurs, will host guest speaker Mariel Hemingway at their meeting 7 p.m. Mon., March 3 at the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, 2 Dole Drive in Westlake Village.
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Holocaust will be discussed
      The Conejo Recreation and Park District will hold a presentation about the Holocaust at 7 p.m. Thurs., March 13 at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks.
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Another Mardi Gras Ball celebrated in Thousand Oaks
Photos by Iris Smoot Acorn Newspapers
     MARDI GRAS ROYALTY- Mardi Gras Queen Jean Duffy Mathews and King Mike Mathews enjoy the 16th annual Community Conscience Mardi Gras Ball at Hyatt Westlake Plaza. They became royalty by winning this year's Community Conscience Award for outstanding and dedicated community service. Proceeds from Saturday night's gala will benefit Under One Roof, a building that houses various worthy causes rent free at 80 E. Hillcrest Drive.
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