TAKE YOUR ACORN TO THE EMMYS- Representatives of Teranex Video Computer display the Emmy plaque awarded them for outstanding achievement in engineering development. From left, Oak Park resident Kaycee Wong; Steve Wong, Teranex national sales manager; Jed Deame, Teranex founder; and Chi Deame. Teranex is based in Florida with offices in Oak Park. More...

MIND READER- Jenny Luetkemeyer, right, reads the computer screen to adjust the quantum biofeedback she is observing from the energy generated by a Thousand Oaks resident during the Family Wellbeing Expo at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza in Westlake Village on Saturday. More...

FRI., SEPT. 21 Evolving Planets Ventura County Astronomical Society meets 7:30 p.m., multipurpose room Mesa Union School, Somis. Speaker: Stan Metchev, postdoctoral fellow UCLA. Topic: "From stars to planets," on planetary evolution. Free, open to public. (805) 642-5166, vcas1@aol.com, www.vcas.org. More...

•The Calabasas Chamber of Commerce will host a Pumpkin Festival Kickoff Mixer today, Thurs., Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Acura 101 West, 24650 Calabasas Road. The event will include raising "Punky" to the dealership rooftop. More...

NEW WHEELS- Haewon Lee, 14, of Thousand Oaks and other Westlake High School band members perform in front of their new 50-foot, 18-wheeler trailer on display in the Ralphs parking lot in Westlake Village last Saturday. More...

CHAMPS- The So Cal Diamonds traveling fast-pitch team won a major tournament in Riverside earlier this month. This year is the team's second season and their first tourney in the 16-and-under division. They rebounded from an opening loss to win five consecutive games to take the crown. In the front row, from left: Leah Bleichner, Shannon Kaufman, Kylie McNutt, Allie Martin and Jenna Blumenfeld. Middle row: Shayley Combe, Jennifer Hobbs and Zoey Powers. Standing in the back row: Danielle Ayler, coach Steve Jensen, Taylor Cobleigh, Sami Stark, head coach Steve Polk, Marisa Swartz, Kelsey Jensen, Maija Ehlinger and coach Brian Combe. Hailey Moore isn't in the picture. The girls are from Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard and Bakersfield. More...

FRIENDLY GAL- Sheela, 3, a female Labrador retriever mix, needs a home. Sheela can be adopted from the Agoura Animal Shelter at 29525 Agoura Road. To take Sheela home, ask for ID No. A3708863. More...

Most people don't think about it. They go to the gas station and swipe their cards at the pump to fill up the tank- assuming that the charges will be justly deducted from their bank accounts. But the convenient transaction isn't always safe. More...

The 200 families who belong to the Gateway Church in Agoura Hills live by the simple tenet, "Real people doing life together." To this congregation, life together means a life centered on Christ, and Brian and Laurie Campbell, pastors of the church since 1995, help congregants to live their faith every day. More...

Does anyone know how to cure a thumb-sucker? My son is now 4 years old. Six months ago, the dentist told me that my boy needed to stop sucking his thumb by the age of 4 or he'd push his teeth out and would need braces. So my wife and I officially began "Mission: Abort Thumb Sucking," which seems a mission impossible. More...

In "Mr. Woodcock," Seann William Scott plays John Farley, a young self-help writer (think Tony Robbins 20 years ago) who's overcome his own tormented past to write a pop best seller, "Letting Go. More...

I read with great interest Doug Paterson's letter, "Garden runoff pollutes water supply," of Sept. 13. Paterson described how runoff from our lawns and gardens is entering the supply of reclaimed water from the Tapia plant. More...

We're all at fault when teens consume alcohol. There are many reasons why, and many ways to help prevent dangerous behavior. First, acknowledge that they're drinking. Chances are your own kids have tried alcohol. Second, don't think that parties today are like the ones you attended as a kid. These gatherings go way beyond "spin the bottle" or "Truth or Dare. More...