February 2, 2012 RSS feed / Front Page

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The big reveal

LASTING COMMITMENT—Mark Elswick, above, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes, throws up his arms as the names are unveiled during a celebration for the naming of the Mario More...

T.O. crime rate toppled 12 percent in 2011

Crime rate was second lowest in city’s history
By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

The crime rate in Thousand Oaks fell by 12 percent in 2011, according to figures released last week. The 15.18 crimes for every 1,000 of the city’s 127,000 residents represented the second-lowest rate in the city’s 48-year history. More...

Health & Wellness

The cost of autism

Special report Part two of a three-part series
By Darleen Principe
darleen@theacorn.com

In the wake of a growing autism epidemic across the United States, experts and advocates are reaching out to local families to give them hope for the future of their children. More...

Dodgeball tourney packs a punch

MODERN-DAY GLADIATORS?—Diego Medina, above right, fires a shot at the opposition while Super Phun Thymez teammate Colin Chan looks on during a dodgeball tournament at the Thousand Oaks Teen Cen More...

Learn about heart health from experts

Cardiologists from Los Robles Hospital to speak

In recognition of Heart Month, Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center will present a free seminar, “Heart Disease: Prevention, Treatments and Management,” from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., Feb. More...

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Bulletin Board

Calendar

THURS., FEB. 2 Democratic Club Of California 6:15 p.m. at Orchid Building, 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Camarillo. David Maron, professional campaign manager, speaks on California’s new open primary paradigm. Free. Phone: 805.484.6601. More...

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Schools

It’s boot camp for beat makers

Drummers from across globe descend on WLV to receive lessons from Thomas Lang
By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

As a roomful of wide-eyed musicians looks on, Thomas Lang demonstrates the signature techniques that have made him one of the most highly regarded drummers in the world. More...

High School HI*LIGHTS

Newbury Park Panthers Fri., Feb. 3: Career speaker day/ college and career center/7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. More...

Tuff Cat time is here

Run benefits NPHS track program

Newbury Park High School will host a Tuff Cat Run fundraiser on Sat., Feb. 11 at the school. Runners can take part in a 10K run starting at 8 a.m., 5K mud run at 9:30 a.m. and family fun run at 10:30 a.m. More...

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Business

Chamber honors community all-stars

THEIR BIG NIGHT—Matt Lallo, retired owner of the Tune Up Factory, and Rosemary Licata, president of the Thousand Oaks Republican Women Federated, were honored as Man and Woman of the Year at th More...

Super Bowl provides super boost to local economies

By Stephanie Sumell
Special to the Acorn

For Gemma Farah, the Super Bowl is not just a televised sporting event, it’s a full-blown party. Each year, about 70 to 80 friends and family members from all over the country gather at Farah’s Westlake Village home to watch the big game. More...

Grocer commits to Dos Vientos center

Dos Vientos residents could be shopping at a local grocery store by spring. Village Trader, which offers groceries, meat, produce, wine and beer, has signed a long-term lease with The Village at Dos Vientos. More...

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Police

Sheriff's Blotter

Newbury Park A vandal damaged property at Pepper Tree Park on Old Conejo Road between Jan. 13 and 14. A residence in the 1900 block of Rivendell Circle was burglarized between Jan. 17 and 21. More...

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Faith

Singing the praises of peacemakers

KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE—Members of the California Lutheran University Gospel Choir perform during a special chapel service on Jan. 25 to honor Martin Luther King Jr. More...

Jewish leader who served community for 30 years to be honored by New Shul

Weissman was rabbi at Beth Haverim

Rabbi Gershon Weissman will be honored by the congregation of The New Shul of the Conejo at a champagne brunch at 10:30 a.m. Sun., Feb. 12 at the Westlake Village Inn, 31943 Agoura Road. More...

Faith Briefs

Lecture looks at emotional pain More...

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Letters

Water rate hikes are a sham

Let me ask the citizens of Thousand Oaks and surrounding areas served by City of Thousand Oaks Water whether or not you would spend 44 cents and two minutes of your time to save yourself $1,440 over 10 years? Here is your opportunity. More...

Give CRPD feedback on Lang Ranch park

What a shame. More...

Conejo should get priorities straight

Kudos to the Acorn for having the courage to print the series of articles on heroin abuse in the Conejo Valley. My life has been personally affected by this epidemic; we just buried another close friend last week from the Conejo Valley. More...

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Editorials

Plan B for Lang Ranch Park

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of people who are concerned about preserving Thousand Oaks’ natural beauty: those who constantly weigh the balance of economic and social gain against a respect for the environment, and those who are conc More...

Cartoon

Full Story

FOR THE RECORD

• The word “ murder” was used erroneously in last week’s front page story about the two Agoura Hills men facing charges in connection with the death of Griffen Kramer. Kramer died of a heroin overdose. More...

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Council will vote Tuesday on latest water rate change

A public hearing on a proposed water rate change for 16,000 City of Thousand Oaks customers is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall. More...

Schools faced with more budget uncertainty

By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

The possibility of larger class sizes, teacher layoffs and furlough days are again threatening Conejo Valley Unified School District. CVUSD Superintendent Jeff Baarstad said the changes for the 2012-13 school year hinge on Gov. More...

Air gun arena proposed

By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Local entrepreneurs Anthony and Jennifer Weak hope their proposal to operate Ventura County’s only indoor air gun arena finds its target. More...

Community

More restaurants on tap at The Lakes

Council approves amendment to lease agreement
By Michelle Knight
knight@theacorn.com

Food lovers will soon see more eateries spring up at The Lakes. More...

Police investigating cause of fatal crash

90-year-old victim was a good driver, family says
By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

Police still aren’t saying what caused a January car accident that killed a 90-year-old Newbury Park resident. More...

Selling the high seas

Local Navy recruiter earns award, praise
By Anna Bitong
annab@theacorn.com

Since joining the U.S. Navy seven years ago, Petty Officer Dalton Kotz has served his country all over the world, from the tropical islands of the Philippines to the deserts of Afghanistan. More...

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Dining & Entertainment

Colbie comes home

Platinum-selling artist prepping forfirst T.O. show
By Carissa Marsh
cmarsh@theacorn.com

Laid back. Down to earth. Genuine. These words come to mind when describing singersongwriter Colbie Caillat. More...

Museum hosts Docent Day

A volunteer/docent orientation day for those interested in serving at the Stagecoach Inn Museum will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sat., Feb. 4 at the museum, 51 S. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. The program is free and includes lunch. More...

Air Force band touching down at T.O.’s Gardens of the World

The Hogan Family Foundation’s Gardens of the World will host a free concert by the United States Air Force’s Band of the Golden West at 2 p.m. Sat., Feb. 18 at 2001 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. More...

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Sports

Big Wednesday for high school football recruits

DECISION DAY—The area’s top high school football recruits gathered at Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park on Wednesday for National Signing Day. More...

Singleton is singled out

Alex Singleton, a 2011 graduate of Thousand Oaks High, has been named to the Big Sky Conference’s All-Academic team for fall. Singleton is a freshman linebacker for the Montana State football squad. More...

Lancers and their coach both looking good

Thousand Oaks girls shooting for first league title since 1998
By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com

For the Lancers, it’s all about defense. More...

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Pets

Squirrel of the Month

WHO NEEDS A GROUNDHOG?—Juli Scrivano of Agoura Hills grabbed this candid shot of her furry little friend while offering a treat. More...

Pet advocates fight to make VC animal shelter a ‘no-kill’ facility

By Carissa Marsh
cmarsh@theacorn.com

More than 100 pet rescue advocates rallied at the Camarillo Animal Shelter last week, calling for the county shelter to embrace the “no-kill” philosophy and stop using euthanasia as a means for population control. More...

Pet of the Week

FRIENDLY LADY—Heidi is 10-year-old Rottweiler mix. Heidi loves people and other male dogs, is gentle, happy and sweet. Heidi would like to be in a home with older children. More...

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Obituaries

In Loving Memory of Floriene “Fee” Hamel

March 6, 1921- January 16, 2012

The essence of your life breathes in all of those who love you. Shermma and John Heidi and Eric Chloe and Garrett In lieu offlowers donations can be made to National Charity League/Memorial fund~ Fee Hamel ~ P.O. Box 4528 Thousand Oaks, Ca 91359 More...

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Family

Youth Orchestras’ performance moves audience, literally

Concert review
By Cary Ginell
originjazz@aol.com

In what could be the first and possibly last use of pyrotechnics on the stage of the Fred Kavli Theatre, the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras moved some members of the audience out of their seats during Manuel de Falla’s “Ritual Fire Dance. More...

Cancer walk held in honor of recent victim

Feb. 11 fundraiser at WLV city hall

A group of Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park women who have been hiking and camping together for more than 20 years, the Mountain Mamas, have shared adventures and raised their children together from nursery sc More...

Seminar to focus on aging issues

Free event on Sat.

Monte Vista Presbyterian Church will host a seminar titled “Aging in America” at 9 a.m. Sat., Feb. 4 at the church, 3797 W. Lynn Road, Newbury Park. Doors will open and refreshments will be served at 8:30 a.m. More...

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Columns

The third place

Research shows that health clubs, coffee shops, restaurants and senior centers may offer the same restorative effects as natural surroundings

I have a neighbor who heads to the beach when life becomes too stressful. More...

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