Laughter: A family's best medicine
By Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones
      "Laughter is the sun that drives the winter from the human face" -Victor Hugo There was once a group of friars who were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked buying flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair, so he asked them to close down. They refused to.
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Festival helps abused kids
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      A child is abused every 10 seconds in the United States. Four children die every day from abuse. The true number, according to experts, may be three times as high since many incidents of child abuse are simply not reported and the death of a child is sometimes attributed to accidental causes.
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YMCA to watch youth so parents can shop, relax
      The Triunfo YMCA, serving Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Oak Park, is giving parents the opportunity to do their holiday shopping without their children on Fri., Dec. 8 and Fri., Dec. 15. The Y will provide childcare on both days from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
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