DMV offices to close on Saturdays later this month
      The Department of Motor Vehicles will close all field offices regularly open for Saturday service on Sept. 20 due to the delayed state budget and staffing constraints. The closed offices include those in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Los Angeles and Van Nuys.
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Candidates to debate
      A Westlake Joint Board Candidates Night is set for 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 25 at North Ranch Center, 1400 N. Westlake Blvd. The forum will give candidates running for Thousand Oaks City Council a chance to speak and answer questions.
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It's Disaster Preparedness Month
      September is National Preparedness Month, and a number of agencies are inviting local families to take part in various activities.
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Nordstrom gala better than expected
Patrons paid $100 each, which will go to charities
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Nordstrom was hoping 1,500 customers would pay $100 each to attend its opening gala and be the first inside the newest store at The Oaks mall. Instead about 1,750 excited shoppers turned out. The opening also served as a fundraiser.
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T.O. man, 22, killed while on work release
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
      Funeral services for Christopher Williams, 22, will be Fri., Sept. 12 at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Griffin Memorial Park in Westlake Village. The Thousand Oaks resident was killed on Sept. 4 by a flatbed truck that drove onto the Highway 126 median where Williams was picking up litter.
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Mayor's priorities: Kids, public safety, environment
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      She's a mayor who was a member of the PTA, a sports mom and a former athlete. No, this profile isn't about Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, but Thousand Oaks Mayor Jacqui Irwin. Irwin was elected to the City Council in 2004 after being appointed to the planning commission in 2003.
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Bells ring to honor lives lost Sept. 11, 2001
      The Ventura County Fire Department will commemorate the events of Sept. 11, 2001, with a day of remembrance and preparedness. At 6:59 a.m. today, Thurs., Sept.
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School board challenger says district mishandled school closures
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
      Scott Lamp, a heart researcher at UCLA and father of three girls, said he's considered running for school board in the past. But it was the Conejo Valley Unified school board's recent decision to close two elementary schools that gave him the kick he needed.
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Local 12-year-old girl travels to Europe as ambassador
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
      A local 12yearold has returned from a European tour with a new sense of the world and how it works. Misty Dawn Pinnegar returned last month from her trip with People to People Student Ambassador Program, an organization dedicated to providing students the opportunity to learn from other cultures.
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Day of the Horse coming to Thousand Oaks
      ETI Corral 37 will have its fourth annual Day of the Horse at 10 a.m. Sat., Sept. 20 at the Conejo Creek Equestrian Park, 1300 E. Avenida de Las Flores. The event will include information booths, a barbecue, carriage rides, driving exhibitions, drill teams and demonstrations.
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Group plans luncheon to honor volunteers
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com
      Volunteers keep the county's nonprofits humming, and to show their appreciation the Ventura County Volunteer Coordinators Council will host a luncheon Tues., Sept. 16 at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo.
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Volunteers fulfill variety of duties
      What volunteers do: •At Camarillo Hospice about 85 people give time each week to help with office work and assist in patient care. Volunteers organize Hospice's weekly Farmers' Market in Old Town. Ten percent of vendor proceeds are donated to the nonprofit. Hospice hosts a volunteer recognition event each spring.
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Reminiscing as friends
     WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers REMEMBERING 'YESTERYEAR'- La Reina High School alumnae Leslie Sweet of Orange County, left, and Michelle Van Dyck of North Glendale look at yearbooks during the La Reina High School Alumnae Picnic. Graduates from the years 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003 had reunions last Saturday night and were invited to the picnic on Sunday.
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Senior Concerns earns record amount from fundraiser
      Senior Concerns' 23rd annual wine, dinner and auction event, "The Ultimate Dining Experience," earned a record $195,000 last month to help fund the nonprofit agency's social services that benefit frail elderly and special needs seniors and their caregiver families in Ventura and west Los Angeles counties.
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Many Mansions celebrates 30 years of providing low-cost housing
      Many Mansions kicked off its year of 30th anniversary celebrations on Aug. 24 with an event marking the completion of the $1.2-million rehabilitation of its largest complex, Shadow Hills in Thousand Oaks. More than 75 dignitaries and associates attended.
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Project Playhouse coming to The Lakes
      Project Playhouse, a fundraiser for HomeAid Los Angeles/Ventura, will be on display from Sat., Sept. 13 to Sun., Oct. 19 at The Lakes. Three playhouses and one dog house will be open for tours. The houses will be auctioned, and the "Opportunity" playhouse will be raffled off. Tours will be available on weekends from noon to 6 p.m.
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Topanga Canyon Docents need volunteer help
      Topanga Canyon Docents are seeking volunteers interested in learning about the natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains and leading midweek interpretive walks for school children and weekend family walks within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation areas.
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Forever Free exhibit at Reagan Presidential Library to feature original Emancipation Proclamation
      The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley, will display the original Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln as part of the Forever Free exhibit from Fri., Sept. 19 to Tues., Sept. 23.
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Cops to host an open house
      The L.A. County Sheriff's Department's Lost Hills Station will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., Sept. 20 at the station, 27050 Agoura Road.
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Two men join Boys & Girls Club board of directors
      C. Marsh Bull and James C. Post have joined the board at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes. Bull has worked for Fortune 500 companies such as American Express, Honeywell and IBM.
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Entertainers needed for Holiday Homes Tour
      The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura is seeking musicians and vocalists to perform in homes and boutique areas during the 17th annual Holiday Homes Tour on Dec. 6 and 7.
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Coming soon to Thousand Oaks
     A SHOW FOR PRESCHOOLERS- "Playhouse Disney Live," a touring stage production, will bring favorite Disney characters to the Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, for two performances at 3 and 6 p.m. Fri. Sept. 19. It's an interactive show for all ages. Tickets from $65 to $20 can be ordered by calling (213) 480-3232 or visiting www.playhousedisneylive.com.
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DAR celebrates Constitution Week
      The Conejo Valley Chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution accepted a proclamation commemorating Constitution Week by the city of Westlake Village on Sept. 10 at Westlake Village City Hall City Council Chamber. Chapter Regent Barbara Spiegel accepted the document on behalf of the chapter.
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Project TRIUMPH will meet at Senior Center
      Project TRIUMPH (Today's Revolution Is Understanding: Make Peace Happen) will conduct its first planning meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Wed., Sept. 24 in the Wild Lilac Room at the Goebel Senior Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.
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Root beer floats on tap at meeting of Encore Club
      The Westlake Encore Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Fri., Sept. 12 at the Westlake Yacht Club, 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. The meeting will include refreshments, discussion of activi ties for the year, root beer floats and a ride on the lake.
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Apply now for music awards
      Applications are being accepted for the second annual MAVRIC (Music Awards for Ventura Roots and Independent Creations) Independent Music Awards. The application deadline is Nov. 1. In December, the award nominees will have the opportunity to perform throughout Ventura County at locations in Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Oxnard and Simi Valley.
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Veterinarian part of a diverse practice
     CAN HELP ALL TYPES OF PETS- Daniel Slaton, DVM, has joined veterinarian Tiffany Margolin as a full-time associate and owner of Westlake Village Animal Hospital, the Animal and Bird Wellness Center. The office at 2806 Townsgate Road, Ste. C, in Westlake Village treats nearly all species of small animals, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rabbits and pocket pets. Slaton, a T.O. resident, also specializes in orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery. For more information, call (805) 497-4900.
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Semifinalist for national science honor
     ALREADY SHOWING SKILL- Samantha Guhan, a freshman at Newbury Park High School, is the only student from Conejo Valley who placed first in last spring's California State Science Fair. She's one of 300 students nationwide who are semifinalists and will advance to a national competition. Samantha won when she was an eighth-grader at Sycamore Canyon School. Her science fair project deals with fermentation.
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At the Library
      The Westlake Village Library has announced its upcoming events. Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the library, 31220 E. Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. For more information, call (818) 865-9230. •Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to read aloud to a Paws 4 Healing therapy dog at 2 p.m. Sat., Sept. 13. Sign-up is required.
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Book store hosts book signing
      Mark Lichterman of Westlake Village will host a discussion and book reading of his new novel, "Becoming," at 7 p.m. Mon., Sept. 15 at Barnes & Noble, Westlake Promenade, 140 Promenade Way, Westlake Village.
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City libraries plan 'One City One Book' program
      The Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library has announced upcoming events for the second annual One City One Book program. This year's book is "What is the What" by Dave Eggers, a novel based on the real-life story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the lost boys of Sudan who were forced to flee their East African villages during that country's civil war.
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