December 24, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

001p1.jpg

Santa never knows the reaction he’ll get

SEEING ALL THE KIDS– Logan Peacock, 4, above, gets his picture taken with Santa at Janss Marketplace. He’s obviously happy. More...

Phelps is new board president

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

The Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education has named its new president: Pat Phelps. Phelps has served as president twice before since being elected to the board in 1998. Tim Stephens held the position for the past year. More...

Health & Wellness

Keep home fireplaces safe for all

In the winter, a fire in the fireplace is a cozy reason to stay inside and get comfy, but those fires can also pose safety risks, reduce lung function, aggravate heart and lung diseases and trigger asthma. More...

Click here for all stories

Dining & Entertainment

Celebrate at Fiamme

Fiamme Restaurant and Bar will host a New Year’s Eve dinner starting at 5 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 31. The evening will feature dinner, live dance music and a midnight champagne toast. More...

Circus coming to Civic Arts Plaza in T.O.

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Foundation will present the New Shanghai Circus at 8 p.m. Fri., Jan. 8 at the Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. More...

“Avatar”

I have seen the future of cinema, and it is “Avatar.” Brace yourself, people, The Movie Nut is about to gush. More...

Click here for all stories

Sports

Marmonte honors fall’s finest athletes

The Marmonte League announced its All-League selections for 2009 fall sports season. First- and second-team athletes are listed below. Football The awards continue to stack up for Nick Isham and the Warriors. More...

Kids from Colina score a soccer trifecta

SHOWING SCHOOL SPIRIT— For the third year in a row, Colina Middle School captured a championship at the Alex Fiore Teen Center Friendly Soccer Tournament. Sequoia, Redwood and Los Cerritos middle schools also participated in the tournament. More...

SoCal Diamonds shine at Norwalk tourney

BACK IN BLACK— The SoCal Diamonds U-12 Black softball squad won the Norwalk Toys for Tots Tournament. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Carly Gaskill, Alexa Feliciano, Taylor Spence, Rebecca Kubena and Jess Vollmer. More...

Click here for all stories

Police

Sheriff's Blotter

Newbury Park The following subjects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the times, dates and places indicated: a male, 53, at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Kimber Drive and Reino Road; a male, 28, at 4:02 a.m. More...

Click here for all stories

Family

A 6-year-old’s plans for Christmas

Last Friday, my family sat at the dinner table—quiet. Maybe we were tired from a long, busy week. Then the 6-year-old boy cleared his throat to speak. More...

Remembering veterans

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS– Sycamore Canyon School student Kennedy Copeland, 10, helps pack a box that will be sent to Marine Corps servicemen and women stationed in Afghanistan. More...

Red Cross offers 12 days of safety tips

The American Red Cross of Ventura County has 12 days of health and safety tips for a safe holiday season. •Prepare the vehicle for travel. More...

Click here for all stories

City will consider angled parking on T.O. Boulevard

By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

The city is considering having angled parking installed in front of The Lakes shopping center and the Civic Arts Plaza. On Dec. 15, with Claudia Bill-de la Peña dissenting, the council voted 4-1 to review angled parking on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. More...

Park Oaks school closure is taken off the table in CVUSD

By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

An overflow crowd of Park Oaks parents, staff and students got the news they were hoping for when the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education decided not to consider closing their school. More...

Supervisors establish new requirements for county treasurer

Ruling prevents Audra Strickland from seeking the seat, an act she calls ‘arrogant’ and a ‘flagrant abuse of power’
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to impose new requirements for candidates seeking the treasurer-tax collector’s job, a move that will end Assemblymember Audra Strickland’s bid for the post due to her lack of training in More...

Community

Acorn publisher receives Penland Award

Acorn publisher Jim Rule was named winner of the 2009 Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce Penland Award, an annual honor given to local residents for their service to the community. More...

Soldier wishes his family a Merry Christmas

Sgt. 1st Class Mike Hampton of Newbury Park sent the T.O. Acorn an e-mail. He mentioned that he’s serving the army in Iraq, and, after leaving there in March, he’ll be transferred to Afghanistan. More...

Westlake woman sentenced

Daphne Ann Brenon, 53, of Westlake Village was sentenced to jail Dec. 15 to serve time for grand theft. Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Young sentenced Brenon to four years and eight months in prison and fined her $915,000. More...

Click here for all stories

Bulletin Board

Datebook

THURS., DEC. 24 Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration More...

Click here for all stories

Schools

Keep young minds busy over holidays

While children enjoy their school break and time off from classes, parents should put together a winter break plan to keep kids mentally engaged while out of the classroom, said Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Lear More...

La Reina will offer entrance placement test

La Reina High School will conduct an entrance placement test from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 30 at the school, 106 W. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Applicants should arrive by 7:45 a.m.  Applications are due by Jan. More...

Click here for all stories

Business

Camp helps children learn math, build robots

Robotics & Things of Simi Valley has scheduled a special holiday break Robotics Camp/ Workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon. to Wed., Dec. 28 to 30 at Heschel School West, 27400 Canwood St., Agoura Hills. More...

EYE ON LOCAL AREA STOCKS

Company Name Symbol Dec. 22 Dec. 16 Dec. 9 Dec. More...

Click here for all stories

Pets

Pet of the Week

SEEKING A NEW HOME– Chloe is a 4-year-old border collie whose family had to give her up due to foreclosure and financial troubles. Chloe is extremely mellow and will do anything to please a good owner. More...

Click here for all stories

Faith

Lutherans share Christmas message

Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America presented this Christmas message: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us” (Titus 3:4-5a). More...

Epiphany church offers musical Christmas Eve service to public

Eucharist in sanctuary performed with soloists, traditional carols, strings

The Church of the Epiphany (Episcopal) will offer three Christmas Eve services tonight, Dec. 24, in the church sanctuary at 5450 Churchwood Drive, Oak Park. The public is welcome. More...

Click here for all stories

Letters

Libraries should stay open during winter break

Bah, humbug to the city of Thousand Oaks––closing our libraries at a time when they’re needed the most! The Thousand Oaks Library is closing at 1 p.m. on Dec. 24 and reopening on Dec. 28 with limited hours. More...

County jobs need to include required qualifications

Ventura County Supervisors have a fiduciary responsibility to the county residents to attract and hire the most qualified candidates in county management. More...

‘Commit the crime, do the time’ is a good system

In response to “Longer prison sentences are counterproductive” by Kirkland Gable in last week’s edition, well, yes, Mr. More...

Click here for all stories

Vacation Photos

Take Your Thousand Oaks Acorn on Vacation

LOVE BIRDS—Bob and Louise Meisterling of Thousand Oaks celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. Congratulations! More...

Click here for all stories