IN LINE—Left, Boy Scout Troop 752 leads the city parade at Lakeview Canyon Road on July 4, Westlake Village's 40th annual Independence Day parade. Right, the holiday festivities continue with Foxfield Riding School equestriennes Hannah Goodman, 15; Claire Follmer, 11; and Caitlin Hart, 13, performing a routine at Berniece Bennett Park. The day began with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Westlake Village Rotary Club. JANNHENDRY/Acorn Newspapers More...

Jeremy White will never go to a Dodger game. He will not trade sandwiches or other lunch items with friends at school, and he rarely goes to Disneyland. Jeremy, a first-grade student at Bay Laurel Elementary School in Calabasas, is among a rising number of children diagnosed as "highly allergic. More...

3000 Mulholland Hwy., Agoura Hills. Art exhibit 1:30 to 6 p.m. Display, sale of plein-air paintings by Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore. Folk concert 3 to 5 p.m. Time: 1:30 p.m. More...

Troop Real Estate Thousand Oaks office is relocating to 137 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. near Moorpark Road and the 101 Freeway, Kathy Courter, manager of Troop's Thousand Oaks officeannounced. The new office occupies 6,100 square feet directly above the Outback restaurant. More...

With the state budget crisis having a major impact on the University of California and California State University, more families are considering out-of-state schools. But public institutions in many states are under financial pressure as budgets are cut at the same time that more in-state students are applying to relatively low-priced public colleges. More...

SUPERSTARS ON THE DIAMOND—The Agoura Titans Baseball Club won the U-7 division at the El Rio Youth Baseball Rawlings Gold Glove Memorial Day Tournament. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Jeremy Mettel, Owen Larson, Hammy Finefrock, Tyler Bradbury and Trent Turquand. Middle row: Carter Graham, Chris Aldrich, Nick Carney, Matt Cahalan, Niki Matheisen and Josh Carlin. Back row: Coaches Mark Matheisen, Clay Aldrich and Tyler Turquand. More...

The Herman Bennett Foundation, a private nonprofit organization, is offering vouchers to pet owners who need financial assistance in order to have their pets spayed or neutered. For more information, call (805) 648-1044 or visit www .HermanBennettFoundation.org. More...

Agoura Hills A person reported elder abuse was occurring on Laura La Plante Road. The victim is now in protective services. Vandals caused $850 in damages to a car parked in the 5000 block of Chesebro Road June 9. More...

Make a commitment to follow the path of no resistance. This is the path through which nature's intelligence unfolds spontane ously, without friction or effort. More...

SHINE ON—The WAGS 10U Silver Girls Softball Team celebrates a first-place win at the Simi Valley Tournament the weekend of June 19. Front row, from left: Amanda Weiss, Sophie Lantz, Tatum Jacobs, Hannah Bartolomea, Charlotte McBride. Middle row: Stephanie Malouf, Gabi Medvene-Cirigliano, Caitlyn Colquhoun, Morgan Melito, Emily Cangelosi, Sam Drucker. Back row: Coaches Steve Malouf, Gary Weiss, Carol Drucker, Keith Jacobs and Dave Melito. Lauren Duerfeldt is not pictured. More...

Tickets are on sale for Comedy in the Conejo III, coming Sun., Aug. 9 to The Canyon, 28921 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. The show is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with an optional dinner, social and silent auction at 6 p.m. More...

I love a success story. While it may be early to say that the proposed cell tower at Lindero Canyon Middle School are no longer going to be erected, I am encouraged by the Las Virgenes Unified School District school board's decision to look into the health and safety issues of radio frequency emissions, particularly where children are affected. More...

Walking toward the estuary from Malibu Pier, I was surprised to see the beach so transformed. Rather than the usual meandering stream that gives passage into and out of the lagoon, there was a coursing river surging around two large peninsulas of sand. More...

When it comes to California's four indistinct seasons, a majority of residents might cite summer as their favorite time of year. But to others, summer isn't such a hot time. If you have children, July and August can be a 60-day challenge—and a budget buster. Summer camps aren't free, and if kids aren't in camps, they're probably underfoot. More...