I’d like to congratulate the Thousand Oaks Acorn for the recent results in the citywide poll. I’m not surprised at all by the findings, but it’s always nice to actually see some accurate numbers to substantiate what I’ve known for some time now.

The T.O. Acorn isn’t just a free paper that’s tossed on everyone’s driveway each week. People pick this paper up and really read it.

With the many articles I’ve been involved with over the years, I’ve noticed that residents start to respond almost as fast as the paper hits their driveways.

When I have an article in the Star , I get dozens of responses usually, but when the article is in the Acorn , literally hundreds of people respond.

You could make the argument that the Acorn is the best local paper because it’s the only true one left, but I believe that the Acorn is the only true local paper left because it was the best local paper from the day it started.

I have a history with the Star , so this switch in my loyalty certainly had to be earned. I was one of the first eight honor carriers for the News Chronicle ––the original name before Scripps Howard bought it––back in the ’70s and first appeared on the cover when I was 5 years old.

I was the News Chronicle paper boy for the Lynn Ranch area (and I also delivered the old Her ald Examiner as well) from 1971 to 1978. I have noticed the trend of moving more and more coverage to the West County since the takeover and especially since the new administration took over.

When the Acorn first appeared, the genuine concern of the daily happenings in this community showed immediately, and over 10 years later that hasn’t changed.

Thank you, Acorn staff, for caring about our community and being the place where any of us who care about Conejo Valley turn first to keep us informed.

I hope you know how much you’re appreciated and needed in this wonderful city we all call home. John Gorham Thousand Oaks