April 7, 2011 RSS feed / Front Page

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Forum hits on the horrors of abuse

By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com
Denial about the damage prescription drugs can cause and the escalation from such drugs into heroin use are the biggest barriers to fighting the problem, said Ventura County Assistant Sheriff Gary Pentis at a community forum last week. More...

Rodent racers

OFF AND ROLLING—Eleven-year-old Cailey Remington of Westlake Village and her hamster Goldie Locks won first place in the Hamster Ball Derby at Petco in Westlake Village on Saturday. More...

Dining & Entertainment

The Movie Nut

“Win Win” Rated: R Acorn Rating Guide: More...

The Acorn Epicurean

Ric’s Restaurant After enjoying lunch at Ric’s Restaurant and Sports Lounge in Camarillo, I asked co-owner Ric Belvedere if preparing and serving good food was in his DNA. He laughed and said, “To say the least.” More...

Arts council hosts new exhibit

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley will host a new exhibit, “ The Voice of the Arts Presents,” from April 7 through June 28 at The Galleria at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. More...

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Sports

James David Street Classic returns in May

The Conejo Valley Rattlers, a team in Conejo Valley Little League, will host the second annual James David Street Classic during Memorial Day weekend, May 27 to 29. More...

Oaks Christian firing on all cylinders

Pitching, defense and timely hitting have baseball team thinking big
By Stephen Dorman
sdorman@theacorn.com

The throw had to be perfect to nail the Nordhoff High baserunner rumbling toward home plate. More...

Tri-Valley League honors outstanding winter performers

The Tri-Valley League announced its all-league selections for winter season high school sports. The following student-athletes and coaches from Oak Park, La Reina and Oaks Christian received recognition: Boys’ basketball More...

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Business

Deadline to file income tax return this year is April 18

The filing deadline for 2010 tax returns is April 18, not April 15. Emancipation Day will be observed on April 15 in Washington, D.C. By law, the tax filing deadline for the nation is moved to the next business day, Mon., April 18. More...

Bakery wins Phenomenal award

Thousand Oak’s Great Harvest Bread Company at 2092-H Newbury Road, Newbury Park received the Phenomenal Bread Award during the company’s recent annual convention in Marco Island, Fla. More...

Classic Travel celebrates 25 years

Classic Travel in Westlake Village, a privately owned Virtuoso Agency, is celebrating its 25th year in business in the Conejo Valley. More...

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Police

Names of officers involved in shooting released

By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

Two local officers who shot at a vehicle accelerating toward them last Sunday, injuring the passenger, have been identified, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. The shooting happened March 27 about 3:45 a.m. on E. More...

Fight leads to felony arrest

After a verbal argument became physical last month a Thousand Oaks resident was arrested on charges of battery and criminal threats. Police say that at about 5 p.m. More...

Police break up illegal taxi service

A Thousand Oaks man has been arrested on suspicion of operating an illegal taxicab operation. More...

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Obituaries

John Herbert McIlmoil

January 4, 1922 - March 25, 2011

John Herbert McIlmoil, 89, of Brownsville, passed away Friday. He was born in Santa Ana, California to John Noel and Louise (Robertson) McIlmoil. More...

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Family

FAMILY MEN Don't Wear Name Brands

The earth shakes, the seas rise

My 7-year-old son has been in lots of trouble lately. Discipline doesn’t help. I dropped a 30-pound box of garage junk from a high shelf into my eyeball. There’s a big red blotch on my eye that feels like a splinter. More...

Eagle Scout earns his wings

HARD WORK REWARDED—Aaron Morefield receives his Eagle Scout Award from Emalyn Lovitt, Boy Scout Troop 753 committee chair. The ceremony was held March 26. More...

Westlake Women's Club Fashions on Parade

A celebration of women of all generations
Photography by Wendy Pierro

Models walk the runway wearing spring and summer outfits from shops at The Oaks, including White House Black Market, Levi, Coldwater Creek, Anthropologie, JCPenny and Nordstrom. More...

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Editorials

Take it slow in school zones

A 7-year-old student from a Camarillo elementary school collided with a car while running across a busy street after school March 28. Although his foot was run over, the child wasn’t seriously injured. More...

Political Cartoon

Full Story

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Thousand Oaks Acorn on Vacation

How to submit: E-mail your vacation photo as a .jpg attachment only to vacation@theacorn.com. Include name, address, phone number and a brief description of the scene. More...

Cal Lutheran lovebirds to tie the knot

ENGAGED—Samantha Jayne Barnes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm P. Barnes of Sunderland, England, is engaged to Cole Benjamin Olmon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Olmon of Thousand Oaks. More...

Hunt for eggs at harbor

Cottontail Day will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., April 16 on the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn at the Ventura Harbor on Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. The Cottontail Bunny will be available for photos with children. More...

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Auto mall to reveal latest sign design

Proposal has another date with City Council
By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Both critics and supporters of a new sign for the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall may get what they want. More...

T.O., Camarillo may join forces to build desalter

Plant would provide source of water
By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Without imported water, there wouldn’t be a Thousand Oaks. “If it wasn’t for state water, Thousand Oaks wouldn’t have incorporated,” said Mark Watkins, the city’s director of public works. More...

Study examines proposal to make major changes to T.O. Boulevard

Environmental impact report expected to be released soon
By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

A plan to change the look of the western half of Thousand Oaks Boulevard is expected to be rereleased to the public this month following a yearlong environmental review. More...

Man robbed in front of T.O. home

Police are seeking the public’s help in the investigation of an armed robbery that took place in the 5000 block of Read Road in Thousand Oaks last week. At about 1 p.m. More...

Community

Pastor’s passion for the ’pipes makes him a regular at special functions

Leader of WLV church doubles as musician, funnyman
By Steve Holt
stevencholt@gmail.com

The Rev. Gary Dickey of the United Methodist Church of Westlake Village is a funny guy. More...

A snow day like no other

Thousand Oaks couple helps grant sick girl’s wish
By Sylvie Belmond
belmond@theacorn.com

A 4-year-old girl who’s had to undergo painful leukemia treatments her entire life had a chance to enjoy a weekend in the snow last month when her wish was granted by a local nonprofit. More...

Horse riders will highlight C.V. Days

Corral 37 of the Conejo Valley Chapter of Equestrian Trails Inc. will present a number of competitive events at the 55th annual Conejo Valley Days May 4 through 8 at Conejo Creek Park South in Thousand Oaks. More...

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Bulletin Board

Datebook

THURS., APRIL 7 Camarillo Democratic Club Meets in Orchid Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo. Socializing 6:15 p.m. Program 7 p.m. Sheriff Geoff Dean guest speaker. Question- and- answer time. Free, open to public. More...

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Schools

New approach to teaching aims to foster good students, citizens

Life lessons are program’s focus
By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

Students at Conejo Elementary and the Open Classroom Leadership Magnet are learning to think win-win. More...

Redwood teaches compassion for disabled

By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

Playing basketball in a wheelchair isn’t easy. Every year for the past 10 years, during Abilities Awareness Week at Redwood Middle School, students get an inkling of what it’s like to live with a disability. More...

Standout COLLEGE Students

Two local students received Schubert Honors Scholarships and Founders Scholarships following a recent academic scholarship competition at Ohio Wesleyan University. More...

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Pets

Squirrel of the Month

MUST LOVE SQUIRRELS—This month we’re have a two-for-one squirrel special! More...

Ventura County shelter needs online votes to win $100,000

By Darleen Principe
darleen@theacorn.com

Officials from Ventura County Animal Services are asking the community to vote for them in the qualifying round of a grant competition put on by the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. More...

Pet of the Week

GOOD BUDDY—Bandit is a 3-year-old shepherd mix. He is playful, affectionate and knows some commands but would like a home where he is the only dog in the house. More...

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Faith

Art of Being

“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live in somebody else’s skin. More...

‘Green Scene’ at UMC WLV

In celebration of Earth Day, the United Methodist Church of Westlake Village will host a Green Scene Faire from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sun., April 10 on the church patio and parking lot, 1049 S. Westlake Blvd. More...

Catholic church presents musical program

St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church will present, as part of the University Series, “The Song We Chose to Sing” from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Thurs., April 7 in the church’s O’Reilly Hall, 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village. More...

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Letters

Adam offers up his own sign proposal

The debate over freeway signage is nothing new. The decade of the ’60s saw so much sign proliferation that the 101 corridor was known as “billboard alley.” These poorly designed signs led to the 1974 Scenic Highway Element. More...

Doesn’t want to see Hooters in T.O.

We are extremely disappointed that the Janss mall would consider putting a restaurant such as Hooters in our community. Thousand Oaks has been a wholesome environment where our children grew up to be good, moral citizens. More...

Restaurant being unfairly judged

After reading the article, “T.O.: the next home of Hooters?” I found myself wondering just how many of the people e-mailing or the 50 people that called into the city manager’s office actually go out and dine in Thousand Oaks, wheth More...

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Columns

At The Library

The Thousand Oaks Library system will celebrate National Library Week April 10 through 16 with many special activities for patrons. All events are free and open to the public. The Grant Brimhall Library is at 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. More...

Ask the Arborist

Roots on oaks and pines

Q: After reading my column in the Acorn last month, Dave of Thousand Oaks contacted me with a question. More...

THE OTHER Side of 50

Boomers: home remodels for our future

A new home design center recently opened in The Oaks mall. Last week I toured the center looking at a majestic Jacuzzi tub, lovely bathroom fixtures, highend appliances and solid wood kitchen cabinets. More...

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