Residents clash with city over 'village'
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
     Opponents are stepping up their fight against the Agoura Village Specific Plan, a long-range document that sets the stage for the development of an eclectic, mixeduse town center south of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills.
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Orkney upsets Callero in Triunfo race
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
     After serving two decades on the Triunfo Sanitation District board, Thousand Oaks resident Norma Callero was narrowly defeated in Tuesday's election by newcomer Janna Orkney of Oak Park.
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Renger edges Altmann for water board
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
     The tight race between Lee Renger and Mary Altmann for a director's seat on the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District ended with Renger defeating his opponent by just 78 votes.
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Mayor to give State of City talk
     Westlake Village Mayor Susan McSweeney will give the State of the City address at a luncheon on Mon., Dec. 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 2 Dole Drive, Westlake Village. The event will be hosted by the Thousand OaksWestlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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Incumbents remain on park board
By Avi Rutschman Avi@theacorn.com
     Gene "Hoss" Hostetler and James "Jim" Meredith will retain their seats on the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District board following Tuesday's election.
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Little competion for Oak Park MAC
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
     No election was necessary to fill three openings on the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council. Only three residents had expressed interest.
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Vandalized trees on the mend
Planting restores lost beauty
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
     Deerhill Park in Oak Park is whole again. Fourteen new trees have been planted to replace those destroyed during the past year by vandals. In addition, 19 stolen sprinkler heads and wrecked irrigation equipment in the park have been repaired.
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Driver Avenue closure delayed again
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
     The Calabasas City Council has approved a resolution that further delays the longawaited closure of a portion of Driver Avenue. Members of the council also expressed concern that the county wasn't doing enough to facilitate the work.
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For the record
      An incorrect recipient was named in the Oct. 26 Acorn article about the the Edward L. Masry Integrity in Community Service awards. The correct recipient is, at far right, Dana Greenspan, the 2006 Las Virgenes School District Classified Employee of the Year. Dr. Abbe Irshay, principa
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Woman finds reward in picking up after others
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
     When Jeri Edwards goes for a walk or a bike ride in Oak Park she always takes along a garbage bag or two. Without fail, the North Ranch resident fills the bags with trash during her workout.
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Cookbook has star power
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
     When Dolly Calderon Wiseman was 10 years old, her mother took a dozen of her homemade flour tortillas to work and traded them for a Norwegian friend's homemade
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Agoura studio to stage art show
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
     Art is Our Passion Studios will stage a community event Saturday showcasing paintings, sculptures and photography by artists from the Conejo Valley, Camarillo and Los Angeles.
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Students clean up for a cause
Bottles, cans and glass bound for recycling find new value
     Students from Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills turned trash into treasure this weekend when they brought their recyclables to the school campus for a fundraiser to support children with cancer and their families.
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Conejo Creek Park to honor Veterans Day
     There will be a Veterans Day ceremony from 10 to 11 a.m. Sat., Nov. 11 at Conejo Creek Park North, behind the Senior Center on Janss Road. The event is free and open to the public.
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Prepare your house for winter
     According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating accounts for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill, making it by far the largest energy expense for most homes. The following are a few tips to assist in combating the cost of heating your home:
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Finalists announced for Fernando award
     The annual Fernando Award Dinner, scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 10, will honor the five 2006 finalists for the Fernando Award, the highest award for volunteerism in the San Fernando Valley.
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Civic Arts Plaza displays Klever art
     BACK IN THE USSR- Calabasas resident Dianne Gubin studies a painting by Russian artist Klever, now a Thousand Oaks resident, during opening night of Klever's art exhibit at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on Sunday. Klever's work, which represents his "non-conformist" artistic visio
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Support group to meet
     A support group for people with Lou Gehrig's disease, their families and friends will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sat., Nov. 18 at the city of Westlake Village Community Room, 31200 Oak Crest Dr., Westlake Village. There is no charge.For information, call Anna Jackson at (818) 865-8067, e
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Christmas season begins
     IT'S THAT TIME ALREADY-Christmas time comes early in Westlake Village with the arrival of The Promenade's 63-foot Mt. Shasta white fir tree on Monday. The Promenade's 11th annual holiday celebration at 7 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 17 will include the lighting of the tree, musical performances, the arrival of Santa Claus and a fireworks display.
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Steer clear of odometer fraud
     A few simple pre-purchase steps can put the brakes on a crime that costs used-car buyers about $1 billion each year: odometer fraud.
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Make a 'date' with The Acorn
     The Acorn invites community members to submit brief blurbs for free inclusion in our weekly Datebook calendar.
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Helping the environment at home
by Daniel Freedman Special to The Acorn
     Interaction with the environment is not a one-way street. There is no question that the way we build and design our homes has a direct impact on our environment for better or worse. There are many simple and inexpensive opportunities for homeowners to expand on this connection rig
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Credit card shopping can lead to higher costs
     The Friday after Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday shopping season. Store promotions and sales lure millions nationwide, but are you really saving by shopping sales?
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     +The Agoura Hills Community Concert Band will perform at 5 p.m. Sun., Nov. 19 at Willow Elementary School, 29026 Laro Drive, Agoura Hills. The theme of the free concert is "Mozart and Friends." The concert is sponsored by the city of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services, the Las Virgenes Unified School District and the city of Westlake Village. +A "Mature Drivers Training" class will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tues., Nov. 21 at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center. The class is $12 for Senior Center registrants, or $14 for non-registrants. The program is a defensive driving course for seniors 55 and over, and can help seniors qualify for reduced auto insurance rates. +An excursion to Plaza Girabaldi for music, dance and Mexican cooking is planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun., Nov. 12. The trip is for adults 50 and older; the fee for the show and meal is $43. Participants will meet at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center. +Marie Callender's will cater a Thanksgiving dinner at the Agoura Hills Senior Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tues., Nov. 14. Jacqi Bowe will perform. There will be raffle and door prizes. The cost is $14. The Agoura Hills Recreation Center is at 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills. For information on these or other programs, call (818) 597-7361.
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