‘Big Nate’ comes to town
—Acorn staff report | May 19, 2022
The cast of the Paramount Plus animated series “Big Nate” brought delight to the students of Oak Hills Elementary School when it visited the campus April 21 and engaged in...
Rancho Simi to revise drone ordinance
By Michele Willer-Allred
michele@theacorn.com | May 19, 2022
The issue of drones reached new heights as park officials look to ground all drone use in park district open spaces until it can be determined where it is safe...
Labrador brightens inmates’ lives at jail
— Michele Willer-Allred | May 19, 2022
One very good boy with a penchant for playing is now making a big difference at the Ventura County Jail. Rocky, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, was trained as a patrol...
Country music to fill the air for Memorial Day
| May 19, 2022
The inaugural Gold Coast Country Music Festival will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Memorial Day, Mon., May 30, at the Commemorative Air Force SoCal Wing air museum...
Social club is 60 years old
| May 19, 2022
In 2021, the Newcomers-Encore Club of the Conejo Valley celebrated its 60th anniversary. This year on Wed., June 15, the club’s annual installation will take place at Wood Ranch Golf...
All aboard yacht club’s new ride
| May 19, 2022
LAKESIDE CELEBRATION—Top, it’s christening day at Westlake Yacht Club for the club’s new boat, FriendShip, May 14 in Westlake. The event for the 16-foot ElectraCraft party boat included the breaking of a bottle, speakers, and a champagne toast. Bottom left, Margie Hausman, left, Elke Hauer,...
Reagan Library honors Memorial Day with music, guest speakers
| May 19, 2022
The Reagan Library will commemorate Memorial Day with an event to coincide with its new Secrets of WWII exhibition Mon., May 30 at 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. A live musical performance by veteran Tom Baker will begin at 9 a.m. The L.A. County Sheriff’s...
Playdate offers mental health resources
| May 19, 2022
A Mental Health Awareness Community Playdate will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., May 28 at the Conejo Creek North Park (Lakeside Pavilion) in Thousand Oaks. At the free event, hands-on children’s activities will be offered while families can connect with representatives...
Don’t be in the dark during awareness month
| May 19, 2022
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. More than half of all Americans will experience a mental illness or disorder in their lifetime and all will experience times when they feel stressed out, anxious or down. Year-round, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department offers a...
New robotics can detect lung cancer early
The Acorn Staff | May 13, 2022
More than 90% of people diagnosed with lung cancer do not survive, in part because the disease is often detected at an advanced stage. With early diagnosis, however, the average five-year survival rate is 92%. Los Robles Health System announced it has obtained new robotic...
Nonprofit puts families first
| May 13, 2022
The BumbleBee Foundation will present its second annual golf tournament at 8:30 a.m. Mon., June 20 at Sunset Hills Country Club, 4155 Erbes Road, Thousand Oaks. The pediatric cancer organization was co-founded in Southern California 11 years ago by Heather Donatini, who lost her 4-year-old...
Cancer Hope Walk returns
| May 6, 2022
Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara will host its fourth annual Hope Walk from 8 a.m. to noon Sun., June 5 at the William Rolland Stadium at Cal Lutheran University, 60 W Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. This is the organization’s first in-person Hope Walk since the...
Speed City
Eliav Appelbaum
Email: eliav@theacorn.com | May 19, 2022
Championships are not simply about talent. It also takes luck, chemistry, depth, timing and the occasional hidden gem. Calabasas High’s girls’ track and field team—plucky...
Record-breaking distance star sets sights on next year
| May 19, 2022
Sofia Francini’s season is over. There’s no distance coach on the Calabasas High track and field staff. The school has not named a new cross...
Locals bound for Masters
—Eliav Appelbaum | May 19, 2022
Lauren Thai enjoyed a career day at the CIF Track and Field Championships last week. The Thousand Oaks High senior took first place in both...
Cal Lutheran graduate proves ‘anything is possible’
By Makena Huey
makena@theacorn.com | May 19, 2022
When Tony Ayala stood at the podium and delivered the commencement speech for Cal Lutheran University’s Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program, he overcame years of...
Student artists recognized
| May 19, 2022
The Arts Council of Conejo Valley honored the eight student winners of the fifth annual Richard and Elaine Williams Legacy Scholarship program on May 14...
Arts Fest makes return to Calabasas Viewpoint School
The Acorn Staff | May 13, 2022
Viewpoint School welcomed the community on April 30 for a return of Arts Fest, the annual celebration of middle- and upper school arts at the...
Students write well in Spanish essay contest
| May 6, 2022
Three students from Las Virgenes Unified School District were awarded first place in an annual statewide Spanish writing contest sponsored by the California Department of...
AHS dance team back on stage
| May 6, 2022
After a two-year hiatus, the Agoura High School Dance Team returns to the stage to present the Spring Showcase, “Silhouette: Every Moment Matters” at 7...
Art exhibition celebrates face time
By Dawn Megli
dawn@theacorn.com | May 19, 2022
At Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo, some paintings show 500 faces. Others show one. Some just show an eye. But each work is an invitation for viewers to contemplate their place in the world. During opening night for “E Pluribus Unum: Out of Many, One,”...
What’s going to pop up at free outdoor shows
| May 19, 2022
The City of Thousand Oaks will bring the annual Pop-Up Arts and Music Festival to T.O. every Friday and Saturday in June. The festival offers eight varied arts and entertainment events over four weekends around different areas of T.O., all for free. Events are outdoors....
Ventura County Fair returns to seaside with exhibits, livestock
| May 19, 2022
VC Fair Rides Again! is the tagline for the 2022 Ventura County Fair, scheduled for Aug. 3 through 14 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura. The fair offers exhibitors the chance to show off their creativity in a variety of competitive displays. Exhibitors can win...
New concert fest to put on a happy face
| May 19, 2022
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, founder of the Cajun and Blues Music Festival, will debut a new music event, the Happy Face Music Festival, from 1 to 7 p.m. Sat., May 28 at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi...
Westlake temple to give Jewish perspective on abortion issue
| May 19, 2022
Temple Ner Simcha will present a class on “Abortion: The Traditional Jewish Understanding, Argument and Response”at 10 a.m. Sun., May 22 in the Ner Simcha sanctuary, 910 Hampshire Road, Suite...
Forum on local refugee resettlement
| May 19, 2022
The Simi Valley Interfaith Council and the Conejo Interfaith Refugee Team will host a free informational forum open to the public titled “Draw the Circle Wide: Understanding Is the first...
Alpha course to answer faith questions for seekers, skeptics
—Acorn staff report | April 29, 2022
Anthem Church in Thousand Oaks has launched its dinner-and-group-conversation Alpha series. The series continues Thursdays through June 30. Alpha is intended to bring people together over food and drink to...
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
| May 19, 2022
When Spencer Hogland started his auction house business in 2010, little did he know that...
Duo’s 30-year recipe for success
By Zia Zografos
zia@theacorn.com | May 19, 2022
“Make it work.” That was the motto Eric Anders and Ofer Shemtov shared when they...
Despite economy, Rancho Conejo office space sells for over $69 million
By Kyle Jorrey
tonewstip@theacorn.com | May 13, 2022
The hottest pieces of real estate in the Conejo Valley these days aren’t in exclusive...
Transfigured Jesus reveals his glory to his disciples and us
Sally Carpenter | May 19, 2022
One of the most marvelous— yet overlooked—events in the life of Jesus Christ is the transfiguration in which Jesus revealed his glory to his three closest friends. Gospel writers Matthew (17:1-8), Mark (9:2-8) and Luke (9:28-36) all record the event. John omits it because Jesus...
Help the child take risks
Bonnie Vandenberg | May 19, 2022
Question: My young daughter recently hurt herself in a fall, and now she seems much less confident when attempting to climb, swing and run. I’ve always wanted to nurture courage and brave behavior in my daughter, but now I’m having a hard time not feeling...
Older adults voice their feelings and concerns about aging
Andrea Gallagher | April 22, 2022
One of my favorite parts of my job is public speaking. I know that stirs up anxiety and fear in some people, but for me it’s invigorating. Groups are beginning to meet in person again, and I’m enjoying making the rounds to the Senior Summit;...
More low-income seniors facing higher rents, evictions
Andrea Gallagher | April 8, 2022
Marta (not her real name) called Senior Concerns as a last resort. The mobile home she and her husband had been renting for the past 30 years was being sold. The owner had died, and the owner’s adult children wanted to sell it. Marta and...
Make sure end-of-life wishes are well understood and followed
Andrea Gallagher | April 1, 2022
If we lived and died in a perfect world, all our end-of-life wishes would be followed. If we wanted extraordinary measures, where our doctors do everything possible to prevent our death, that would be done. If we wanted to simply remain as comfortable as possible...
SHERIFF’S BLOTTER
| May 19, 2022
Agoura Hills A break-in was reported around 1:35 a.m. May 5 at the Latigo Kid restaurant, 5617 Kanan Road. Someone...
SHERIFF’S BLOTTER
The Acorn Staff | May 13, 2022
Agoura Hills A gold-and-diamond ring valued at $31,000 was reported stolen from a home on Foothill Drive on April 22. The...
