NATURE'S FRIENDS- Mollie Hogan of the Nature of Wildworks animal rescue displays Tara, a red-tailed hawk, at the April 28 Stream to Sea conservation event in Calabasas. Right, a cross between an African serval and a domestic cat that was likely abandoned by its owner. More...

Music can have a powerful emotional impact on the psyche, but music can also help a person think. According to experts, adults and teens alike can actually improve certain thinking skills by listening to classical music or learning to play an instrument. More...

THURS., MAY 3 CVD Carnival Rides, entertainment, food and more at Conejo Valley Days. Event continues through Sun., May 6 at Conejo Creek Park South, east on Janss Road at 23 Freeway. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. today; 5 to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Wristband wearers get unlimited rides ($25 weekdays, $35 on Saturday and $30 on Sunday. More...

Construction is underway on the $17-million The ondominiums in Thousand Oaks, according to Westcord Commercial Real Estate Services. A development of TR Funding of Westlake Village, The Vantage at Westlake is being built on a twoacre site at 2629 Townsgate Road one block west of Westlake Boulevard and just south of the 101 Freeway. More...

Seniors in high school still plan and enthusiastically honor the tradition of prom with handsome couple pictures and specially designed boutonnieres. But while today's fast-lane generation rents Hummer limos and drive their own vehicles on this special night, students need to still celebrate "a night to remember" and not turn it into "a night you can't remember. More...

Stars shined and records were shattered during last week's Ventura County Track and Field Championships at Moorpark High. Oak Park High got the action started on the track with a victory in the girls' 4x800 relay. Eagle runners Sarah Kiner, Julie Kopstein, Aimee Sands and Kari Miller posted a time of 10:02.55, helping OPHS finish ahead of Moorpark, Royal and Thousand Oaks. More...

Three cats were lost during a vehicle accident on the 101 Freeway near Thousand Oaks about 10 p.m., Sat., April 28. A family was riding in a motor home with their dog and four cats southbound on the 101 toward Los Angeles when they had an accident near the Westlake Boulevard exit off the 101. More...

Agoura Someone stole a tire and metal lug nuts worth approximately $150 from a vehicle parked by a restaurant on Agoura Road April 13. Thieves stole a $150 wallet containing $120 in cash from a shopper at the Vons supermarket on Kanan Road April 9. More...

In Jerusalem, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority has honored thousands of non-Jews as "Righteous Among the Nations" for their rescue work helping Jews and others escape Nazi persecution before and during WWII. Three are Americans. The names of two, the Rev. More...

GARDEN BEAUTIES- Above, Roseanne Parino, an Agoura Hills resident, leads a tour of the Oak Park Community Garden with Brookside Elementary School first-grade students from left, Jason Convey, 7; Aadarsh Jha, 6; and Jake Iazzetta, 7, on Friday. Left, the artichokes are nearly ready for harvest. For more information about the community garden, visit www.oakparkgardens.org. More...

Lynn Jossel , age 81, passed away Friday, April 20, 2007, at her home in Westlake Village. There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial gathering at the Westlake Hyatt Hotel in the Mediterranean Room at 11:00 on Sunday, May 6. More...

The Agoura Hills Library invites teens to join the library's teen advisory group. An informative meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Sat., May 5 at the library, 29901 Ladyface Court. Cinco de Mayo refreshments will be served. Teens may earn community service hours for participation in the advisory group. For reservations, call (818) 889-2278. More...

Whenever I read a letter like the one submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Lebowitz I can't help but think they're in some way connected to the developer. Why would anyone that lives in Agoura of the Conejo Valley support further development? The Agoura Village Plan is a disaster; so is the recently approved Triangle Ranch project. More...

A nose for news Recently, while walking through a meadow of tall rushes, I saw something fluffy and white moving close to the ground. Upon closer inspection I realized it was the tail of a striped skunk: Mephitis mephitis . The animal was unaware of me. Being downwind of the skunk, I decided to see how close I could get without disturbing it. More...

If you were out and about in Agoura Hills last weekend you probably saw the excitement at Willow Elementary School on Kanan Road, where the American Cancer Society Relay For Life campout drew large crowds and round-the-clock excitement. More...