January 29, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Who needs toys when you've got falling leaves

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers 'WE'LL FIND OUR OWN FUN'- Maddie Cupples, 5, in the front, has a backup "leaf player" in Juliet Marcroft, 6. The girls decided to chase leaves with a friend last Saturday at Thousand Oaks Community Park. More...

Fort Wildwood is being torn down

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers WALLS ARE COMING DOWN—Conejo Recreation and Park District equipment supervisor Robert Nunes, left, and Marc Gann, right, remove a piece of the Fort Wildwood wall in Wildwood Neighborhood Park. More...

Store here would be the most expensive nationwide, Costco says

By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Costco Wholesale withdrew its application to build a store in Newbury Park near the 101 Freeway and Wendy Drive after determining the cost would be too great. It would be the most expensive store the company has ever built, according to Costco. More...

Average home price continues to drop, but dollar volume is up

December sales of Conejo Valley singlefamily homes totaled 95. This compares to 86 sold in November and 60 a year ago, according to Connie Reed, president of the Conejo Valley Association of Realtors. More...

Health & Wellness

Guest speaker's topic: Influenza

The Discovery Center for Science and Technology will host "Science Everyone Can Understand" in its Science Speaker Series from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 12 at Baxter biosciences, One Baxter Way, Westlake Village. More...

Gluten-free grocery store opens Saturday

Simply Gluten Free, a onestop shopping glutenfree company, will launch the grand opening of its first grocery-style store at 10 a.m. Sat., Jan. 31 at 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. More...

Dentist uses laser device to treat gum disease

Dr. Donald Roth of Thousand Oaks now offers the LANAP procedure using the PerioLase dental laser to treat gum disease. More than 60 percent of the adult population suffers from some form of gum disease. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

UCLA offers extension courses

UCLA Extension will present the following one-day seminars and on-site study tours. More...

Classic film series comes to Thousand Oaks Library

The Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library will host a series of all-time great films at 7 p.m. Thursdays beginning tonight, Jan. 29 through Feb. 19 in the library community room, 1401 E. Janss Road. All programs are free. More...

"Frost/Nixon"

Directed by: Ron Howard Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell Rated: R (for adult language) Running time: 122 minutes Best suited for: politicohistory film buffs, More...

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Sports

Herrera is one of a kind

Thousand Oaks' gap-toothed 'Bear' loves wrestling, cars
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

Like a classic car, John Herrera continues to get better with age. By the time Herrera was in the seventh grade, he'd become bored with playing football, so he decided to give up the gridiron sport and try wrestling. More...

Oaks Christian's Jones, Marsh named top football players

Oaks Christian junior running back Malcolm Jones is the Offensive Player of the Year in the CIF-Southern Section Northwest Division for football. Cassius Marsh, another Lion junior, was named coDefensive Player of the Year. More...

SoCal baseball rankings favor Simi

Simi Valley High was ranked second in the Southern California preseason high school baseball poll released by the website www.BaseballResource.com. The Pioneers are the defend ing CIFSouthern Section Division I champions. More...

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Business

Annual economic forecast scheduled

The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks and the Thousand OaksWestlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce will present their annual economic forecast breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Fri., Feb. More...

EYE ON LOCAL AREA STOCKS

Company Name AMGEN BAXTER BEVERLY HILLS BANCORP CAMINOSOFT CORP. CHEESECAKE FACTORY DIODES, INC DTS, INC. ELECTRONIC SENSOR TECHNOLOGY TECH INC. ESNR HOMESTORE. More...

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Faith

Nashville songwriter to perform in T.O.

Award-winning songwriter James Nihan will present songs of spirit in an intimate concert at 7 p.m. Fri., Jan. 30 at Unity of the Oaks, 1414 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. 113, Thousand Oaks. More...

Church to host women's conference

Newbury Park First Christian Church will present its 2009 women's conference, "Heart of a Champion," this weekend at the church, 801 Knollwood Drive, Newbury Park. Registration begins at 6 p.m. Fri., Jan. 30. More...

Chasidic lifestyle explored tonight

The Thousand Oaks Jewish Center will host a lecture titled "Truth or Myth: Ten Secrets of the Chasidic Lifestyle, Uncovered" at 6 p.m. today, Jan. 29, at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. More...

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Family

The man who repaired Bear

My wife changed our plans, canceling my casual get-together with some friends and setting a more important get-together of her own. I was available to watch our 5-year-old son that Saturday evening after all. More...

'Miss Suzie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell'

A TIME TO PLAY- Juliet Marcroft, 6, left, Maddie Cupples, 5, and Emily Spaeth, 6, of Thousand Oaks hang out at Thousand Oaks Community Park. More...

Pet of the Week

HUGGABLE— Mindy, a 12-year-old female brown and black tabby cat, can be adopted from the Agoura Animal Shelter at 29525 Agoura Road. The shelter is just west of Kanan Road, south of the 101 Freeway. More...

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Editorials

Not giving up on Costco

It's Costco's decision, of course, if the big discount store doesn't choose to open in Thousand Oaks. In private enterprise, companies must be cautious about expansion, especially now, when the economy is dragging. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

For the record

Mike Di Fatta wrote a response on Jan. 15 ("The government is the problem, not the solution") regarding a Jan. 8 letter from Tina Aschenbrenner ("Looks forward to change in America"). Di Fatta writes, "I did misinterpret Ms. More...

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Planning commission okays Home Depot despite protests

By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

A new Home Depot on Hampshire Road would bring increased noise, traffic and light pollution to nearby homes, a day care center and a senior living facility, More...

Trustee and Conejo teachers union are again at odds

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

The Conejo teachers union and a local school board member are at odds again after disparaging comments were made about a school in Conejo Valley Unified School District. More...

Fate of Meadows Elementary may be decided in a courtroom

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Conejo Valley Unified School District is facing a potential lawsuit after voting to place Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School (MATES), a charter school that formed after Meadows was chosen for closure in the fall, at Glenwood Ele More...

Tell us how you met your mate and fell deeply in love

Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to win your heart. Do you recall when your spouse or loved one walked into your life? Was it love at first sight? Did fireworks go off and Cupid's arrow find its mark? More...

Community

Firefighter injured as another home goes up in flames

A firefighter was injured while battling a blaze at a Thousand Oaks home last week. At about 4:50 a.m. Wed., Jan. 21, a call came in to the Ventura County Fire Department reporting a house on fire in the 2200 block of Indian Sky Lane. More...

Man suspected of using skimmer devices at ATMs in Newbury Park is arrested

Private citizen noticed something was wrong
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Deputies arrested a Los Angeles man on suspicion of ATM skimming after a T.O. resident noticed something wasn't right when he used an automatic teller machine in Newbury Park. At 8 p.m. on Jan. More...

Doing a wheelie, motorcyclist is seriously injured

A teenager doing a wheelie on a sports motorcycle was seriously injured when he crashed into a motor home parked on the side of the road, according to traffic Sgt. Jim Kenny. The victim wasn't wearing a helmet. More...

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Bulletin Board

Datebook

SAT., JAN. 31 Annual Rummage Sale Hosted by Thousand Oaks High School Baseball Boosters, 7 a.m. to noon, in front of the TOHS Performing Arts Building, 2323 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Clothing, furniture, household items. More...

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Schools

High School Highlights

All events (subject to change) are listed by name, location and time if provided. If calendars are modified, school sources are asked to contact us with updated information at this e-mail address: steve@theacorn.com. More...

NPHS baseball team to host golf tournament

The Newbury Park High School baseball program will host the third annual golf tournament fundraiser on Sun., Feb. 8 at Moorpark Country Club, 11800 Championship Drive, Moorpark. Registration begins at 10 a.m. More...

Conejo Schools Foundation gets Internet safety grant

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

The Conejo Schools Foundation has received a $25,000 grant from Verizon to further technology education in the school district. More...

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Police

Newbury Park

A male, 22, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol at 6:15 a.m. Jan. 17 at Lynn Road and Lotus Avenue. More...

Thousand Oaks

The following subjects were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the times, dates and places indicated: A male, 23, at 10 a.m. Jan. More...

T.O./Westlake

An assailant battered someone and stole property using force between 3 and 3:10 p.m. Jan. 14 in the 1000 block of S. Westlake Boulevard. More...

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Letters

Use local talent for branding our city

I was amazed to read about the $89,000 branding fiasco. Thanks to those who want to keep work here locally. We have major talent here. I don't think the city has done its due diligence to find it. More...

Frustrated that Costco pulled out, can the city help?

After just reading the Jan. 22 article titled "Costco hits a snag with landowner," I'm frustrated that once again Newbury Park might get left in the dust. More...

School closure mess continues to frustrate everyone

I read the article "District looks at options for school sites that will close next fall" in the Jan. 22 Acorn . I was struck by two observations. First, all ideas for the sites involve opening of private schools. More...

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Real Estate

A Fabulous Thousand Oaks Home With A Light And Open Floorplan

This home has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. More...

Zane Widdes

Zane Widdes and team have been congratulated by Rodeo Realty owner Sid Leibovitch and Westlake Village office manager Lu Duffy for record sales. Widdes has more than 18 years of experience as a top producing real estate professional. More...

This Home Has It All

This remodel has it all- 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, an entertainer's yard with fenced pool, spa and huge grassy area for recreation. The 2story entry and curving staircase ushers in to this residence with its open, flowing floorplan. More...

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