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December 15, 2011 / Front Page

Spreading holiday cheer

SENIOR SONGBIRDS— Francesca Puccio of T. More...

Woman, 83, killed in driveway accident

Man was backing truck out and didn’t see her

By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

An 83-year-old woman was killed at her Thousand Oaks home last week when her partner accidentally ran her over with his truck, police said. At about 2 p.m. Wed., Dec. More...

Health & Wellness

Ski trip a welcome respite for N.P. family dealing with cancer

By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

After nine months of intensive chemotherapy and despite a prosthesis in his left leg, 15-year-old Andreas Knickman says he’s ready to hit the slopes. More...

Sunrise to celebrate 30 years in Westlake

Assisted living facility opened in 1981

Sunrise Senior Living of Westlake Village will host an evening of celebration to honor the company’s 30th anniversary, at 4:30 p.m. today, Thurs., Dec. 15. More...

Stem cells rebuild heart of custom home builder

By Stephanie Bertholdo
bertholdo@theacorn.com

At the age of 48, Charles “Chuck” Melber of Agoura Hills had run out of hope. His medical nightmare started in 2000 when he had his first heart attack at the age of 44. More...

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THURS., DEC. 15 Assemblymember Jeff Gorell Open House 4 to 6 p.m. at Gorell’s district office, 2659 Townsgate Road, Ste. 236, Westlake Village. Tour office, speak to staff. Bring can of food for FOOD Share. Contact: Adam Haverstock. More...

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Schools

Community college chancellor leaving early

Plummeting budget may have hastened Meznek’s retirement, board chair says

By Darleen Principe
darleen@theacorn.com

Ventura County’s community colleges will have to replace their district chancellor this summer, a year earlier than James Meznek’s contract was set to expire. More...

Middle schools show off their spirit

CROWD PLEASERS—A group of Conejo Valley middle school mascots lead a rowdy crowd at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center’s Spirit Night on Dec. 8. More...

TOHS seeks head coaches

Thousand Oaks High School is looking to hire a head coach for its boys’ water polo team and a coach for its girls’ lacrosse team. The positions are available starting in January. More...

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Business

Acorn office closing early

The Acorn Newspaper office will close at noon on Fri., Dec. 16 for a holiday party. The office at 30423 Canwood St., Ste. 108, in Agoura Hills will reopen at 9 a.m., Mon., Dec. 19. More...

Santa’s presence brings local shops more shoppers

By Roxanne Estrada
roxanne@theacorn.com

Santa’s rosy red cheeks and jolly laugh are helping cash registers ring in the season for shops at Las Posas Plaza in Camarillo. Connie Halpern, owner of Mrs. More...

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Police

Sheriff's Blotter

Newbury Park A thief stole more than $950 in property from a business in the 700 block of N. Wendy Drive between Nov. 13 and 30. A man, 21, was arrested for battering his girlfriend in the 600 block of Avenida del Platino Nov. 21. More...

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Faith

Chabad hosts Hanukkah parties

The Sunshine Club, sponsored by Chabad of the Conejo, will offer Hanukkah parties for all senior citizens throughout the Conejo Valley. More...

Putting passion for Christmas on display

Church members hammer home meaning of holiday

By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

Is there a war on Christmas? The question came up last year in a heated debate among members of the women’s Bible study group at the United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks. More...

Faith Briefs

Make plans for New Year’s Eve More...

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Letters

Letter didn’t deserve front page

I was very troubled by the Acorn’s Dec. 1 coverage of the letter Claudia Bill-de la Peña wrote to NewMark Merrill Companies. Let me first say I like Bill-de la Peña and the role she plays on the current City Council. I even voted for her. More...

Drugs are a problem in Conejo

I am 22-year-old female raised in the Agoura Hills-Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village area. I am so touched by your series about prescription drug and heroin abuse. More...

Nar-Anon, Narconon There’s a difference

In her letter to the editor in the Dec. 1 Acorn, Cassandra Auerbach enthusiastically suggested Narconon as a therapeutic organization for the treatment of drug abuse. More...

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Vacation Photos

Take Your Thousand Oaks Acorn on Vacation

Full Story

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Work in Old Town may begin this spring

Plan is to improve sidewalks and gutters in one of city’s oldest neighborhoods

By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Construction on a long-awaited plan to build gutters and sidewalks and erect street lighting in one of Thousand Oaks’ original neighborhoods could begin this spring. More...

Irwin is city’s next mayor; Bill-de la Peña is pro tem

By Kyle Jorrey
tonewstip@theacorn.com

Two-term Councilmember Jacqui Irwin is Thousand Oaks’ next mayor. More...

Community

News anchor promotes book filled with advice she’s received from ‘interesting people’

By Carissa Marsh
cmarsh@theacorn.com

Katie Couric visited the Reagan Library last week to dish on her evolving career as a TV news journalist, her work as a cancer advocate and her book that came out earlier this year. More...

A window into Conejo Valley days gone by

By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Today’s bustling Thousand Oaks is a far cry from its pastoral setting just a few decades ago. More...

Crash on Old Conejo Road results in death of local man

A Newbury Park man died Friday after a traffic accident on Old Conejo Road. According to a police report, Lonnie Doshier, 68, was driving near Reino and Old Conejo roads in Newbury Park at around 7:30 a.m. Dec. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

Chari-'Tea'

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Filmmaker doesn’t go far for inspiration

TOHS grad has directed several short films shot in the area

By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

Filmmaker Samuel Jonathan Ashe II has many stories to tell, and he’s using his hometown as the backdrop. More...

Heavy metal

NICE PITCH—The tuba takes center stage as Robby Stearns, above, plays a solo during a holiday brass concert with the Conejo Valley Brass Quintet at Hillcrest Center for the Arts on Sunday. More...

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Sports

Fleet of foot

ON THE RUN—Logan Betata, an eighth-grader at Sequoia Middle School, and Nicole Burch, a seventh-grader at the school, won their divisions in the 29th annual Sequoia Middle School 5K on Nov. More...

Local teams finding a rhythm

By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com

Tri-Valley League soccer is tougher than ever. High school teams from Oaks Christian and La Reina are busy carving paths to the top of the TVL standings. More...

Earning hoops hardware won’t be easy

Tri-Valley League basketball report

By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com

There’s no need to sugarcoat things—the varsity basketball teams at Oaks Christian and Oak Park high schools are good. More...

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