November 24, 2011 RSS feed / Front Page

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Painting a path to heroin

A look at how prescription pill abuse is fueling the comeback of a deadly drug
By Kyle Jorrey
tonewstip@theacorn.com
Part one of a three-part series
It took David Johnston 30 minutes to destroy the future he’d been working toward for 18 years. Strung out on cocaine, heroin and an assortment of other drugs, David and a fellow user hatched a plan to rob the home of an acquaintance. More...

Council limits future health benefits

By Kyle Jorrey
tonewstip@theacorn.com

The next generation of Thousand Oaks City Council members will receive no more than $180 a month for health insurance. More...

Health & Wellness

DEA hosts Rx drug forum at Reagan Library

The U.S. More...

Gift wrappers contribute to cancer group

UCAAN ( United Cancer Advocacy Action Network) will host its third annual Gift Wrap for a Cause Fundraiser from Fri., Nov. 25 through Sat., Dec. 24 at a storefront in the Janss Marketplace, Space 173-D between Radio Shack and Karma Indian Cuisine. More...

Stay healthful, relieve holiday stress

Tips include simply washing hands often

The holiday season can be the most wonderful time of the year or an exhausting blur of stressful activities, overspending and sniffles. Hectic schedules and immune systems on overdrive can leave people susceptible to seasonal sicknesses. More...

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Schools

Breaking the PTA mold

CVUSD sees rise in number of men volunteering to help the schools
By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

They might turn heads at Parent- Teacher Association meetings for taking on a role typically filled by moms, yet their passion and tireless commitment to kids is what really sets them apart. More...

T.O. woman receives service award from Pepperdine

Green is a lab manager at the university

Daphne Green, laboratory manager for Pepperdine University’s Natural Science Division, was awarded the inaugural Faculty/Staff Waves of Service Award at the annual Pepperdine Honors event in October in Mullin Town Square on the Malibu campus. More...

Building bridges across cultures

EDUCATION—Clockwise from left, Bridges Charter School first-grader Zoe Brown, 6, learns an Indian dance Nov. 18 at the school’s second annual Harvest Festival. More...

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Business

Bank of America to lay off 140 employees in Thousand Oaks

By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Bank of America announced it will begin laying off 140 employees at its Thousand Oaks lending office next month. The nation’s second largest bank began handing out 60-day layoff notices to employees in its correspondence lending unit at 225 W. More...

Local Business Briefs

Credit union has new branch office More...

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Police

Sheriff's Blotter

Newbury Park A vandal spray-painted graffiti, causing $ 200 in damage, to property in the 1600 block of Calle Turquesa between Nov. 11 and 14. More...

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Family

A pile of fun!

FALL IN CALIFORNIA—One-year-old Cary Geida of Santa Monica plays in a pile of freshly raked leaves at Paramount Ranch in Agoura last Saturday while visiting his grandmother, Heather Meriwether, More...

Just say thanks

Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks. So when my wife’s aunt and uncle invited us to their home for Thanksgiving a second year in a row, we should’ve said thanks but no thanks. Instead, my wife agreed to go. Then I felt guilty. More...

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Letters

Upset over handling of NPHS football

In regard to the Oct. 27 Game of the Week article by Eliav Applebaum and interview with the Newbury Park varsity football coach: Where were the follow-up questions? You are a newspaper reporter, not a court reporter. More...

‘Appalled’ by letter attacking school

I’m a student and graduating senior of Conejo Valley High School. I’m writing this letter in response to Ms. Cathy Carlson’s previous letter giving reasons as to why the students of CVHS do not deserve a new school (Acorn, Nov. More...

‘Don’t mess with my kids’ at CVHS

I haven’t written a response to Cathy Carlson’s many letters to the editor in the Acorn until her most recent letter became personal. You want to mess with me, Ms. Carlson, fine. Don’t mess with my kids. More...

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Overdose blamed for Kramer death

Three teens stand accused of involuntary manslaughter
By Kyle Jorrey
tonewstip@theacorn.com

Three local teens are accused of involuntary manslaughter for their alleged actions on the night Griffen Kramer died. More...

She’s got the spirit

YOUNG VOICES—Heili Petrisca, 7, a student at Open Classroom Leadership Magnet School in Thousand Oaks, sings along with classmates Nov. More...

Community

Not a bad time for bidding

Several school, city construction projects are set
By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Construction bids to expand the Municipal Service Center on Rancho Conejo Boulevard recently came in higher than anticipated, forcing the city to reject the bids and redesign the project. More...

A future place to play

BIRTH OF A NEW PARK—A plethora of residents and park district officials gather last Wednesday in Newbury Park for the ground breaking ceremony for the future Dos Vientos Playfields. More...

Jury finds WLV resident guilty of voluntary manslaughter in 2010 shooting

Victim was attending Persian New Year party with his family

A Van Nuys jury last week convicted Steven Honma, 54, of voluntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Norman Schureman at a March 2010 party in Westlake Village. Honma, killed Schureman, 50, of Altadena during a Persian New Year celebration. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

OCLM’s fall festival has musical twist

GET DOWN—Students from Open Classroom Leadership Magnet School perform a dance to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” last Friday at the school’s annual fall festival. More...

It’s tamale time in Oxnard

The fourth annual Oxnard Tamale Festival will run from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 3 at Oxnard’s historic Plaza Park, 500 South “C” St. More...

Spend early Christmas with ‘Elvis’

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Foundation presents “Blue Suede Christmas” at 8 p.m. Fri., Dec. 9 in the Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. More...

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Sports

Student swimmer excels

USA Swimming recently recognized its members who excel in both the classroom and the pool. This year, 1,759 swimmers made the Scholastic All-American Team, including Julia Farfan, a Westlake High School 11th-grader who lives in Agoura Hills. More...

Days of thunder

Westlake senior has a knack for NASCAR
By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com

Tony Stewart is still probably dizzy in a tizzy from winning NASCAR’s Sprint Cup championship last weekend. More...

College commits keep coming

Another collection of the Conejo Valley’s top student-athletes have decided where to spend their college years. La Reina High seniors Christine Costello and Katherine Workman signed national letters of intent last week. More...

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Pets

Pet of the Week

‘SAY WHAT?’—Jeremiah is a 2-year-old male terrier mix. He is friendly, energetic and loves to play. More...

Donated pet food will go to Simi Valley rescue

Courtney’s Cuddles Petsitting will host a Hungry Bowl Pet Food Drive from Dec. 1 through 12. More...

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Faith

Football team and Troop pitch in to help Catholic Charities feed hungry families

PLENTIFUL BOUNTY— Moorpark High School sophmore and junior varsity football player David Romero, above, stocks the shelves for families to pick up Thanksgiving dinner groceries last Monday at C More...

Church presents living nativity

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will present an outdoor living nativity on the lawn of the church building at 7 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Dec. 2 and 3 at the corner of Wendy and Kimber Drive in Newbury Park. More...

Creches, music share the meaning of Christmas

Four nights of free performances

The sixth annual Simi Community Christmas featuring the international creche exhibit and music performances will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Wed. through Sat., Nov. 30 to Dec. More...

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Columns

Thankful for lots of things

Children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities rode horses and enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs last Saturday at Paramount Ranch in rural Agoura. More...

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Editorials

Looking for answers in response to tragedy

For many, tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day will be a less than happy holiday. More...

Cartoon

Full Story

Pictured painted of CVHS was patently false

Guest opinion
By Martin Manzer
Special to the Acorn

As the principal of Conejo Valley High School, I feel compelled to stand up for my students and our school. On Nov. 17 a letter to the editor was printed in the Acorn that our students, parents and staff took as a direct insult. More...

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