Low-cost auto insurance available locally
      Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has announced that the California LowCost Automobile Insurance Program is available in Ventura County, among other regions in the state. The program offers lowincome good drivers the opportunity to purchase auto insurance for less than $400 a year.
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Local schools rank in top 10 percen
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      Las Virgenes schools exceeded state benchmarks in the 2006 Academic Performance Index (API) scores, according to the latest report released by the California Department of Education.
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Oak Hills ranks high in API
      Oak Hills Elementary School led Oak Park Unified School District in the recent Academic Performance Index, a statewide ranking based on test scores taken last year. Oak Hills scored 933 out of a possible 1,000. Both Oak Hills and Brookside elementary schools exceeded the 900 mark. Red Oak Elementary was at 897, Medea Creek Middle School at 889 and Oak Park High School at 867.
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Edison offers discount plan
      Southern California Edison is encouraging customers to enroll in its Summer Discount Plan now so that they can be eligible for bill credits during the summer months, June through September, in return for allowing SCE to interrupt their air conditioner during power-supply emergencies.
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Historical statue comes with house
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      Home buyers and history and mystery buffs have the chance to own a bit of Agoura Hills' lore if they buy a house high in the hills above Agoura Road. The four-bedroom, three-bath home sitting atop a 1.
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Wildlife Center to hold open house
      The California Wildlife Center, a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Los Angeles County, will host its biannual open house from noon to 4 p.m. Sun., April 29 at 26026 Piuma Road, Malibu. The event is free and open to the public. Guests will take tours of the facilities and view educational displays. There will also be refreshments and activities for children.
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Junior club donates to Make-a-Wish group
      The Westlake Village Junior Women's Club members presented a check for $7,000 to John MacFadyen, a MakeAWish Foundation board member and wish granter, on March 27 during a meeting. MacFadyen presented a brief history of MakeAWish Foundation and described the types of wishes that the foundation grants.
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Music for Heart aimed at saving lives
Bid on dinner with Mick Fleetwood
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      Delaney Small might have died during her first week of life had it not been for a doctor's speedy diagnosis of a congenital heart disorder and cuttingedge medical technology that allowed a surgeon to repair her ailing, tiny heart. Brenda and Craig Small of Agoura Hills have counted their blessings every day since their daughter's life was saved.
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Festival promotes art of filmmaking
     JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers ACTOR'S DREAM- Above, actor and festival programmer Ron Gilbert shows Tavia Dautartas a Stanislavsky warm-up technique during a Method Fest workshop at Viewpoint. The ninth annual film festival, which showcased 28 feature length films and 45 shorts this year, wraps up today. Left, Candace Infuso, a 17year-old filmmaker from Agoura Hills, was given a Method Fest entry for her movie, "My Fathers Tears," which recounts a woman's childhood struggles to deal with her father's mental illness.
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Method Fest film focuses on alternative education
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      "Schooled," an 83-minute film screened during this week's Method Fest film festival in Calabasas, trumpets the benefits of alternative education, which is currently a hot topic in the Las Virgenes Unified School District and throughout California.
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Mansion tour on tap for historical society
Greystone a Beverly Hills icon
      The Calabasas Historical Society will take a tour of Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills Thurs., April 19. Members will meet at 8:45 a.m. behind the McDonald's at 4785 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, to car pool. There is limited parking on the Greystone grounds.
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Read to a dog at Calabasas Library
      Parents are invited to bring kindergarten through third grade children to share in a unique reading program at the Calabasas Library on Sat., April 7 from noon to 2 p.m. Therapy dogs trained through Paws 4 Healing will relax and listen while the children read aloud. Signups start at 11:30 a.m. Each child will have 15 minutes to read to a dog.
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Library to screen animé film
      The Calabasas Library will present an animé movie at 2 p.m. Sat., April 14 at 23975 Park Sorrento St. A newly released anime movie will be shown. The movie is not rated, but is appropriate for ages 13 and up. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. No one under the age of 13 will be admitted without an adult.
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Stream to Sea day brings family fun to Calabasas
Water-themed activities, music planned
      In conjunction with Earth Day, Mountains Restoration Trust, the cities of Calabasas and Malibu, and Las Virgenes Municipal Water District will sponsor Stream to Sea, a family fun day from noon to 4 p.m. Sat., April 28 at Headwaters Corner Interpretive Center, 23075 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, in the Santa Monica Mountains.
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Be true to your school
     JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers STUDENTS GET MOVING- Kids all over the Conejo run to raise money for their respective schools' parent faculty clubs in campus jog-a-thons. Above, Brookside Elementary School students, from left, Amanda Mertzel, Cristian Chicas, Juliet Tolentino, and Jacob Lampine, participate in the school's jog-a-thon to raise funds to supplement music and PE programs and for playground equipment.
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Chargers take title again
     IRAZMI PEREZ/Special to The Acorn SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT- The Agoura High School Sprit Team celebrates after winning a national title for the seventh time in the team's history. Under Coach Eileen McGrew, the Charger girls brought home first place in the crowdleading category. Clinics for the 2007-08 team begin April 20. For information, contact Vicki Koch at (818) 889-1262, ext. 321.
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My Stuff Bags receives sizable donation
      My Stuff Bags Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides duffel bags filled with new belongings to abused, neglected and abandoned children, has received a $19,860 grant from the Sketch Foundation for its "My Stuff Bags for LoAngeles Children Project.
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      The city of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services offers the following programs. For more information, call the Agoura Hills Recreation Center at (818) 5977361 or visit the center at 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills. +Packets are available for the Summer 2007 Adult Coed Softball and Men's Softball Leagues.
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Cumming, Beckley plan winter wedding
      A my Weston-Wells of Calabasas and Bryan Cumming of Nashville, Tennessee, Announce the engagement of their daughter, Anna Cumming, to Gary Beckley, son of Gary and Marlene Beckley of Hudson, Ohio.
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Calabasas to host eggstravaganza
      The city of Calabasas will hold an Eggstravaganza egg hunt from 10 a.m. to noon Sat., April 7 at Grape Arbor Park at the corner of Canwood Street and Parkville Road. More than 2,500 eggs will be hidden in the fields of the park. Other activities include pictures with the Easter Bunny, crafts, free petting zoo and games.
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Painting paradise
     HARPER SMITH/Acorn Newspapers PLEIN AIR- J. Alfonso Colocho, an artist from San Salvador, El Salvador, works on a landscape oil painting while displaying his artwork at the Wild Walnut Park Art Festival in Calabasas on Saturday. Colocho, best known for his commercial handpainted walls, recently held a solo exhibition sponsored by the First American Bank featuring paintings depicting life in San Salvador.
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Strawberry Festival tickets available early
      Tickets are on sale now for the 24th annual California Strawberry Festival, which will be held Sat. and Sun., May 19 and 20. Advance tickets are available at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center box office, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, (805) 486-2424, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Sat.; and at the guest services kiosk at Pacific View Mall, 3301-1 E. Main St.
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Scandinavian Festival returns to Cal Lutheran
      A two-day Scandinavian Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., April 21 and Sun., April 22 on the campus of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.
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Checklist for April gardening
      April signals warmer air and soil temperatures- ideal conditions for planting summer vegetables and flowers, according to experts at Agromin, a Camarillobased manufacturer of premium soil products.
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Great day for a Great Race
     FLYING- Two runners sprint for the finish line in the 10K in the Dole Great Race of Agoura last Saturday. Right, Brian Autenrieth of Agoura just beats Allen Brown of Pasadena at the Chumash Park finish. This year's race winners are: Andrew Thompson of Thousand Oaks (Chesebro 1/2 marathon); Brian Livingston of Los Angeles (Deena Kastor 5K); Josh Spiker of Ventura (Old Agoura 10K); and Matt Iazzetta of Oak Park (Kids one-mile). Results at greatraceofagoura.com.
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Astronomy club looks skyward
      The Ventura County Astronomical Society will celebrate National Astronomy Day with a daylight activity from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., April 21 at The Lakes, 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. At 8 p.m.
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Lakes Kids Club on Wednesdays
      The Lakes Kids Club is offered every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon at The Lakes community stage, 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.
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Photographer to describe life through the lens
      Photographer Larry Janss will present "Eye of the Camera" during the Westlake Women's Club general meeting at 10 a.m. Tues., April 10 at the Westlake Village Inn, 31943 Agoura Road, Westlake Village.
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