Reach out to Oak Park
      The Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Oak Park High School presentation room (G-9) at 899 Kanan Road. MAC minutes and agendas can be found at the website www.countyofventura.org/bos/dist2.asp. You can also e-mail Linda.Parks@ventura.org with questions about Oak Park governance.
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Oak Park supplied with emergency cache
Trailer near Station 36
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
      To help Oak Park be better prepared in the event of a disaster, a trailerful of emergency supplies has been delivered to the community's fire station on Deerhill Road. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the 12by6foot trailer took place April 28 at Fire Station 36.
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A Sunday drive for books
     JOE BINOYA/Acorn Newspapers READ ON- Medea Creek Middle School volunteers, from left, Allison Dods, 13; Alexa Yarnell, 13; Gillian Brown, 12, and Rebecca Kubena, 12, share some laughs as they carry books to sort out at the Big Sunday Community Book Drive last weekend at Oak Park High School. The more than 3,000 books donated by members of the community will be delivered to needy schools in Oxnard.
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Calabasas 747 area code takes off
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
      Due to a shortage of 818 area code telephone numbers, the California Public Utilities Commission has voted to create an overlay map for Calabasas and surrounding areas that now use the 818 area code.
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Firefighters invited to the adobe
     BE OUR GUEST- Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters from Station 125 in Calabasas receive a free membership to the Leonis Adobe Museum. Pictured, from left, are Steven Messick, Capt. Mark Nare, Adobe executive director Susan Eastman, Patrick Wilson and Allan Smith.
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Intolerance is not the way, students taught
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
      A former neo-Nazi skinhead leader and a gay man discussed their unlikely friendship during a student assembly at Oak Park High School last Wednesday. The men spoke about hate, healing, forgive ness and hope. Tim Zaal, a former white supremacist from the San Gabriel Valley, served time in jail after assaulting an Iranian couple he thought were Jewish.
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Building safety stressed this week
      The International Code Council has nationally recognized May 5 through 12 as "Building Safety Week." The city of Agoura Hills presented a proclamation for Building Safety Week at its April 23 City Council meeting. The building and safety staff of Agoura Hills will host an outreach program once a month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Happy Mother's Day 2008
Mother's Day is May 11 and Acorn readers offer these best wishes to the greatest moms in the world
      My mother-in-law is brilliant, courageous and witty. Mrs. Judith Kertzner of Long Island, N.Y., brightens our world with her warmth and intellect. As a reading instructor, she imparted a love of reading and learning to her three grandsons: Alex, Michael and Peter. She helped the children write their first "books" and acted in their movie productions with Grandpa Len.
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Spend mom's special day outdoors
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
      On Mother's Day what better way to celebrate than by enjoying the ultimate mother figure, Mother Nature? Go beyond the traditional brunch and first enjoy family time in the scenic outdoors, honoring mom at the same time.
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Notes from the fifth-graders at Bay Laurel Elementary School, Calabasas:
Happy Mother's Day 2008
      Jubilant Opposite of dull and boring Definitely the best mom ever Youthful good looks Happy to do anything Extraordinary Peppy People person Super Mom! I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day! Ali H., 11 Dear Mom, I love you so much. You are as sweet as a cupcake. You are nice.
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For Mommy
      My 4-year-old son wanted to write a special message to his mommy for Mother's Day, so he dictated his thoughts to me and I wrote them down as follows: Mommy, I love you very much for Mother's Day. I love you every day because I always want to be happy, and you always make me happy.
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Cart gets golfer back on the green
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
      Sam Geta was no longer a youngster when he fell in love with golf. The Westlake Village resident started playing in his mid-30s, and got "really good, really fast," he said. He even started thinking about entering the seniors tournament down the road when he turned 50.
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School names Volunteers of the Year
     GIVING BACK- From left, Renee Lannutti of Calabasas, Brian Merrick and Lynette Fortis are this year's winners of the Marge Merrick Memorial Award, presented to volunteers at Our Lady of Malibu School. The winners accepted their awards at the school's 13th annual Volunteer of the Year luncheon at Guido's Restaurant last month.
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New Wells Fargo branch opens with community fundraiser
Grand opening celebration is Saturday
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
      Celebrating its grand opening, the Oak Park branch of Wells Fargo is throwing a party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and inviting the community to join in and support not only the bank, but a fundraiser as well. Entertainment will be provided by the L.A.
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Harris named federation's Citizen of the Year
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      Steve Harris, founding member and former executive director of the Mountains Restoration Trust, was named the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation Citizen of the Year at the group's annual installation dinner April 18. The nonprofit land trust addresses environmental issues and stewardship of the wilderness as it increasingly is encroached upon by urban areas.
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Stretching it out
     GETTING READY- Students warm up together before the annual jog-athon at Red Oak Elementary School in Oak Park. The event promotes health and fitness at the school.
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'Small but mighty' club looking to beef up membership
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
      The Agoura Valley Woman's Club has earned a reputation as "small but mighty." Now the group of volunteers wants to increase its numbers so it can tackle more charitable challenges and service projects in the Conejo Valley.
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Sharing dresses with teens in need
     IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers GIRL STUFF- Tiana Dafesh, 17, left, and Nikki Mercado, 16, both from Oak Park, stand with the dozens of prom dresses and shoes they collected to donate to the teenage girls living at Casa Pacifica in Camarillo. Casa Pacifica is a crisis care and residential treatment facility for abused and neglected youths. To organize their efforts and meet their goals, Tiana and Nikki have started an Oak Park High service club called Hope and Help for Children.
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Symphony looks to raise $600,000
      The New West Symphony recently announced a $300,000 challenge gift. The challenge is being made by three long-time supporters of the symphony: a leadership gift of $150,000 from Ventura residents and philanthropists Sandra and Jordan Laby, $100,000 from an anonymous donor, and $50,000 from New West Symphony President Len Linton and wife Judy of Thousand Oaks.
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Leonis Adobe Association elects new board president
      The Leonis Adobe Association announced at a recent board meeting that Michael Silberman has been elected board president. Silberman has served as board vice president and is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Quepasa Corporation, one of the world's largest bicultural and bilingual Latino online social networks.
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Silverado kicks off program that unites elders, children
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
      Organizers at Calabasas' Silverado Senior Living have taken steps to ensure that its elderly residents receive outside stimulation, whether it be from pet therapy, family visits or a new intergenerational program in which young children make regular visits to the facility.
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