T.O. Acorn is celebrating its 10th anniversary
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

In 1998 the first Harry Potter book was released, the International Space Station was launched and the Thousand Oaks Acorn made its debut.

All were major undertakings, made after much preparation.

Creating a community newspaper for Thousand Oaks was a natural progression for Acorn owners Lisa and Jim Rule because they live in Thousand Oaks. Their family owned, communityfocused Agoura Hills-based newspaper, The Acorn, was well known throughout the region, and people in Thousand Oaks started inquiring about another paper for their city.

"Our neighbors and friends kept asking us, 'Why don't you bring the Acorn out here?'" said Jim Rule.

So in May 1998 they did.

Steve Holt became editor. He knows the community because he also lives in Thousand Oaks. He knows the people of T.O., Newbury Park and Westlake Village want to know what's going on with their city government, public schools, parks and police.

"When something is decided in city hall or in the school board, it directly affects the quality of life for local residents," Holt said.

He also understands the importance of Conejo Valley Days, children's sports and other areas of interest to local residents. People in Thousand Oaks began taking their newspaper on vacation. They looked foward to finding a copy of the T.O. Acorn on their driveways every Thursday.

"Some people think the only important things happen in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, but we know better," Holt said.

The Thousand Oaks Acorn covers Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks and the T.O. portion of Westlake Village. The city of Westlake Village in L.A. County is covered by its sister publication, The Acorn. The T.O. paper's circulation has reached 40,466.

"We started the Thousand Oaks Acorn because people said they needed it. It helps to tighten up the feeling of community to have a local paper," Jim Rule said.

The Rules love living here because they enjoy the small-town feeling, he said. The Thousand Oaks Acorn contributes to that.

Each week readers look over the front page, then turn to the Sheriff's Blotter to find out what's going wrong in one of the safest cities in America. They can also work a crossword, look at the Pet of the Week and kick back with local sports. Interspersed with all the stories and award-winning photos are local advertisements.

"The paper is prospering. People seem to love it. Adding the Thousand Oaks Acorn was absolutely the right move," Rule said.

The original Acorn has served Agoura Hills, Oak Park and adjacent areas for 34 years. The paper began in 1974 as the Agoura Shopper News at the Get-Lucky Shop at Whizin's Market. Agoura Valley Chamber of Commerce President Vance Moran typed up a newsletter to promote his store.

Two years later his friend Bill Poremba took it over and turned it into a weekly newspaper.

In 1989, the paper was purchased by Baker Communications, which brought in a publisher by the name of Jim Rule.

In 1996, he and Lisa purchased The Acorn as soon as it became available.

They remember the actual day, April 3, because it's also their wedding anniversary.

Now, The Acorn and the Thousand Oaks Acorn have three sisters that Lisa Rule calls "the girls"- the Moorpark Acorn, the Simi Valley Acorn and the Camarillo Acorn.

Each publication has reporters who focus on local news and who must pay extra attention to accuracy. Because it's local, everyone knows if they get people's names spelled correctly.

"I live in Thousand Oaks," Holt said, "and so do Jim and Lisa Rule. And you live in Thousand Oaks, too, Nancy.

"Since we live in the city we cover, we not only answer to our readers, we answer to our neighbors."