Special guest offers his help
     GIFTED MUSICIAN FROM NORTH POLE- Special guest Santa Claus joins in with music director and conductor Bill Benson of the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra at The Oaks mall. The 100-piece symphony orchestra made up of young local musicians performed free seasonal music. There is only one more weekend to shop before Christmas, which is one week from today.
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Adoption orientation coming to T.O. Library
Set for Dec. 23
      An orientation for prospective adoptive parents sponsored by the Children's Bureau will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Tues., Dec. 23 at the Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. All interested adults, single or married, English and bilingual Spanish speaking, are welcome.
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A house that fits the neighborhood
     JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers COUNTRY CLUB FANTASY—Emily Dermand, 9, a Cypress Elementary School fourth-grader, ooks recently at a gingerbread house at Lake Sherwood Country Club.
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Apply for artist grants
Info meeting set for Saturday
      The ArtsLIVE in Ventura County initiative will offer individual artist grants next year in all arts disciplines. Those interested in applying for a grant must attend a required meeting from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sat., Dec. 20 at the California Lutheran University Oxnard Campus, The Palms shopping center, 2201 Outlet Center Drive, Ste. 600, Oxnard.
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Brain-Builders is coming to Westlake Village
      BrainBuilders, a leading ecommerce retailer of educational toys, games and puzzles, recently opened its first retail store in Westlake Village. Unlike a typical big box toy store, this is a boutique store which provides a good selection of handpicked and awardwinning products.
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Full of energy on tree-buying night
     IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers FIR HUNT- Hannah Gross, 7, zooms around the Newbury Park High School Boys' Baseball Christmas Tree Lot. It's in the Newbury Park Branch Library parking lot at Michael Drive and Borchard Road. Christmas is a week from today.
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Middle school choir to perform at The Oaks
      The awardwinning 120member Los Cerritos choir will perform at 7 p.m. Fri., Dec. 19 in the new outdoor area at The Oaks mall, Thousand Oaks.
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Christmas lights, music synchronized
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Candy canes march, Christmas trees dance and a giant wreath appears to be magical at Brian Fuchs' home in the Dos Vientos area of Newbury Park. Oh, and a fountain, stairs, rooftop, trees and large, decorated packages also have parts in his spectacular home Christmas display that lights up in perfect synchronization with music.
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Local youngsters called to the Torah
      •Simone Moscovitch was called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Nov. 8 at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks. She is a seventh-grade ASB leader at Colina Middle School and the daughter of Esti and Alon Moscovitch of Westlake Village.
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