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May 14, 2009 / Front Page

Conejo Valley Days: Was it a last gasp or will it return next year?

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers NEW HEIGHTS—Guests at the Conejo Valley Days Carnival enjoy a brand-new attraction, a 115-foot "sky flyer" swing ride. Attendees also enjoyed the Ferris wheel, roller coasters and classic carnival games. More...

Night hikes in protected open space are now against the law

By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Hiking after dark on protected open space is now against the law. But within the law is the use of single rider electric motorized vehicles on open space by people with disabilities. More...

Nonprofit provides valuable experience for youth

By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

They may be young, but when the music students step onstage to join the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic in concert, they play their instruments like the professionals they are surrounded by. More...

Health & Wellness

Wellness volunteer promotes book sale

When Nancy Chavis first got involved with the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, she assumed she would be volunteering for an organization that makes life better for people with cancer and their families. More...

Women receive free health screening

The Conejo Free Clinic, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente of Thousand Oaks, recently hosted the seventh annual free women's health screening for 102 underinsured and uninsured women at Kaiser's facilities in Thousand Oaks. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

'Snow White' coming to T.O.

The Conejo Civic Ballet Company will present the fulllength "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" ballet at 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 23 and 2:30 p.m. Sat., May 24 in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum Theatre, 2100 E. More...

The Movie Nut

"Star Trek"

Directed by: J.J. Abrams Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Leonard Nimoy Rated: PG-13 (sci-fi violence, slight sexual innuendo) Running time: 127 minutes Best suited for: More...

Art Academy helps students package their work professionally

When Susie Jo Fox enrolled at Sheldon's Art Academy she hoped to pick up some new drawing techniques. More...

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Sports

OCHS golf team sets a record

'WE'RE NO. 1!'— The Oaks Christian High School golf team won the finals recently at Lake Segundo by finishing 11 strokes over Harvard Westlake, setting a high school course record with 184. More...

These guys were born to hit the ball

There are no easy outs at the top of Westlake's batting order

By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

Westlake High head baseball coach Zach Miller takes a common-sense approach to filling out his lineup card. More...

Big day for TOHS boys, Warrior girls at Marmonte swim finals

By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Almost every school had something to smile about at the Marmonte League Swimming Championships. Six of seven league teams enjoyed at least one firstplace finish during last Thursday's league finals at Rancho Simi Community Pool in Simi Valley. More...

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Police

Sheriffs' Blotter

Newbury Park A male, 19, was cited for alleged petty theft at East County Sheriff's Station on May 6. The crime occurred March 19 in the 500 block of S. Reino Road. More...

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Faith

Argue for your limitations and they are yours

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!" —Henry Ford

Few will disagree that we are being pummeled daily by the media with how bad things are today. If we are not mindful, it's easy to get seduced into agreement with that opinion because the evidence seems to be so overwhelming. More...

Pastors invited to seminar

Graham Baird, senior pastor at Highlands Church in Paso Robles, and Jim Birchfield, executive pastor at St. More...

Retreat to focus on self-awareness

Author, columnist, spiritual mentor and teacher Dennis Merritt Jones will present a fullday Mindfulness and Meditation Retreat from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., May 30 at the Tierra Rejada Ranch, 5191 Read Road, Moorpark. More...

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Letters

Blowing tax money is unforgivable in today's economy

My blood boiled when I read that our City Council voted to spend $96,500 of taxpayer dollars to hire a consulting firm to make "a successful shopping center more successful." Thousand Oaks is an almost a perfect place to live, but we're mi More...

The Lakes needs cheaper retailers

I hear the City Council voted to spend $96,500 for a consultant to tell them how to improve business at The Lakes. Mind boggling. I could have told them what the problem is for far less money. More...

The city of T.O. is squandering tax dollars on a mall

The lead article in the April 30 T.O. Acorn was about the city spending $96,500 for a consultant to help The Lakes. More...

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Editorials

T.O. Acorn honored by Conejo Council PTA, and we're committed to raising the bar

The Thousand Oaks Acorn would like to thank Terri Childs and the Conejo Council PTA for giving an award on Monday night to this publication for coverage of Conejo Valley Unified School District. See photo on page 3. More...

Political Cartoon

Full Story

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State voters will go to the polls next Tuesday

Fate of California budget in the balance

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

On May 19, California voters will go to the polls to decide on a series of budget initiatives that attempt to solve the state's financial crisis. Five of the measures involve some combination of raising taxes and reallocating existing funds. More...

If propositions fail, cuts to public education will be severe

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Dep. Superintendent Jeff Baarstad shared some troubling news with attendees of the Conejo Valley Unified School District board meeting last week, predicting more cuts and less stimulus monies to education. More...

Deadlines will be moved up because of Memorial Day

Memorial Day will be observed on Mon., May 25, and deadlines will be moved forward for the Thousand Oaks Acorn edition of May 28 because of the holiday. More...

Community

T.O. Acorn wins an award

AWARD FOR THE ACORN — Thousand Oaks Acorn editor Steve Holt accepts a Very Special Person award on behalf of the newspaper. More...

CVD plows forward despite 'cancellation'

By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

The Conejo Valley Days that almost wasn't just couldn't be stopped. More...

17 city employees to retire

They leave with 451 years experience

By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Seventeen city employees have opted to accept retirement incentives offered by the city. The employees, who must leave by Dec. 31, will be taking with them a total of 451 years of service to the city, averaging 26.5 years per person. More...

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Bulletin Board

Datebook

THURS., MAY 14 Excursion To Hollywood Museum Sponsored by Calabasas Historical Society. Meet for car pools 9 a.m. at McDonald's near Avenue San Luis and Mulholland Drive, Calabasas, or go to museum 10 a.m., 1660 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. More...

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Schools

'Alice' on stage

The students of Conejo Elementary School will perform "Alice in Wonderland Jr." at 7 p.m. Fri. and Sat., May 29 and 30 in the school auditorium, 280 N. Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks. More...

Westlake High School singers win at Heritage Music Festival

The Westlake High School choral music department, under the direction of Alan Rose, recently competed in the Heritage Music Festival in the San Francisco area. The musicians won seven gold and two silver medals. More...

High School Hi-Lights

Newbury Park Panthers Fri., May 15: Marine science field trip/UCSB/7:30 a.m. Spring Musical "Bye Bye Birdie"/PAC/7 p.m. Sat., May 16: Boys' basketball car wash/8 a.m. Honors placement/9 a.m. Sun. More...

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Business

Local lawyer attends conference

Westlake Village lawyer Frank Bellinghiere recently attended a conference, "Litigating the Traumatic Brain Injury," at Little America in Salt Lake City. The conference featured Erin D. More...

Chamber to host reception for grand opening

The Agoura/Oak Park/ Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a grand opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Wed., May 20 at MYLLC.COM, 5176 Corsa Ave., Westlake Village The event is free. 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 MOVE, INC. More...

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Pets

Clinic neuters, spays at low cost

Valley Veterinary Nonprofit is offering low-cost spay and neuter services for the pets of Ventura County residents who are in financial need. The newly opened facility is at 1659 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. More...

Pet of the Week

VALLEY GIRL— Lily, a 1-year-old female chocolate point Himalayan, can be adopted from the Agoura Animal Shelter at 29525 Agoura Road. She wants a new home no later than yesterday. To take Lily home, ask about identification No. 3965907. More...

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Family

Toys needed to help organization grant wishes

Nonprofit also requests donations of air miles

By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Like other charities hit by the recession, MakeAWish Foundation of the Tri-Counties needs more donations. While cash donations would be nice, the nonprofit would rather have items such as toys, iPods and electronic games. More...