Area nursery sprouts hope, optimism, jobs
By Alex Wilson
alex@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
When Jenn Rodriguez gazes across thousands of native succulents and oak seedlings at the plant nursery she manages, she doesn’t just see profits growing. She sees the transformation of lives....
Jazz club finally back in the swing of things after lockdown
By Michelle Willer-Allred
michele@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
The smooth sounds of live jazz wafted through the halls of the Simi Valley Town Center on a recent Sunday afternoon. The pleasing melodies emanating from inside 99.1 The Ranch...
Speech and writing contest
| January 20, 2022
The Thousand Oaks branch of AAUW will host the inaugural Speech Trek, a public speaking and writing contest open to any high school student living in the Conejo Valley Unified...
Activist led the charge to protect environment
By Scott Steepleton
scott@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
Sue Boecker, a noted environmentalist who formerly called Oak Park home, died Dec. 31, 2021 following a bout with breast cancer. She was 77. Boecker was a onetime member of...
Learn your local history
| January 20, 2022
The Stagecoach Inn Museum’s speaker series takes place on select Sunday afternoons at 51 S. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. Guests can hear authors, historians, archaeologists and entertainers share their...
Celebrating Halloween and harvest fests
The Acorn Staff | November 4, 2021
BOO-TIFUL BOUNTY—Area residents big and small celebrated in-person events presented last weekend at two area venues: the Fall Harvest Festival at Conejo Church in Thousand Oaks on Oct. 30 and a Halloween Carnival at the Oak Park Community Center and Garden on Oct. 31. Photos...
Ambulance service stretched thin
By Dawn Megli
dawn@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
With emergency response resources stretched to capacity, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has resorted to taking patients to the hospital in fire trucks and engines. Brian Dilley experienced the new policy firsthand last week when he called 911 to say his father-in-law, a cancer...
Red Cross seeks blood donors
| January 13, 2022
The Reagan Library and the Red Cross will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wed., Jan. 26 at the library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. “The Red Cross is experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade, with less than...
Toy gifts for kids’ good mental health
| January 13, 2022
GIVE UNTO OTHERS—At the Calabasas Senior Center’s fifth annual Holiday Toy Drive, volunteers collected 573 new toys to donate to the Volunteer League of the San Fernando Valley. From left are Carol Washburn, Rick Young, Dotty Corcoran, Laura Weisshar, Cindy Hurwitz and David Hurwitz.
Screenings, info, lunch at fest
| January 13, 2022
Conejo Senior Volunteer Program will host the 2022 Wellness Fest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wed., Jan. 19. The event has been moved outside to the front parking lot of the Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Area seniors can...
Birds tower over foes
By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
The Birds have dominated the Coastal Canyon League for so long it’s rare for opponents to whiff a vapor of celebratory nonalcoholic sparkling cider in...
In the City of Brotherly Love
—Eliav Appelbaum | January 20, 2022
Brothers Clark and Wes Slajchert, who played basketball together at Oak Park High, reunited on the court for their respective Ivy League men’s basketball teams...
Locals star in NFL playoffs
By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
The NFL playoffs have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. Requests for more Alex Singleton, unfortunately, have been denied. Singleton, a record-breaking...
Council approves Oaks’ recreation area
By Scott Steepleton
scott@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
Following through on a proposal first made three years ago to convert a classroom and office building into student housing, officials at Oaks Christian High...
Teen follows dad to Northridge
By Eliav Appelbaum
eliav@theacorn.com | December 23, 2021
Dylan Goosen planned to attend Thousand Oaks High. Those plans changed. Dylan, a 15-year-old Calabasas resident, has landed as a freshman point guard for the...
Reagan Foundation offers scholarships
| December 23, 2021
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute will award college scholarships to area high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, character, communication skills, academic...
Fire scare at Willow Elementary
By Scott Steepleton
scott@theacorn.com | December 16, 2021
Heavy rains following a long dry spell can trigger fire alarms, cause wires to spark and heaters that have been off to malfunction when they...
Westlake resident and CSUCI prof named Educator of the Year
—Acorn staff report | November 18, 2021
Westlake Village resident Maria Ballesteros-Sola, assistant professor of management at Cal State Channel Islands, earned Educator of the Year honors from the Western Ventura County...
Five guys, five mics, that’s it
The Acorn Staff | January 20, 2022
A cappella vocal group Rockapella will come to the Scherr Forum at 7:30 p.m. Fri., Feb. 11 at 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Although recent interest in a cappella dates to the success of the television hit “Glee,” Rockapella’s vocals have been drawing...
Save a date with ‘Harvey’ the rabbit
| January 20, 2022
Conejo Players Theatre presents the comedy “Harvey” by Mark Chase from Jan. 21 through Feb. 12 at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 27 and 2 p.m. Sat., Feb. 5 and...
Audition notice for Conejo Players’‘Birdie’
| January 20, 2022
Conejo Players Theatre will hold auditions for “Bye Bye Birdie—Young Performers edition,” at 5 p.m. Sun. through Tues., Jan. 23 to 25, at the theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Most rehearsals will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Performance dates...
Chorale open to new singers
| January 20, 2022
The Village Voices Chorale is holding open auditions for two June concerts. Auditions will begin Sun., Jan. 30. The group is open to men and women singers from throughout Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Choral singing experience and good sight-reading skills are a plus. The...
New church practices old-time religion
By Dawn Megli
dawn@theacorn.com | January 6, 2022
The Rev. Caleb Smith grew up in a charismatic Word of Faith church that taught faith could literally heal a believer. So when Smith was in high school and his...
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
| January 6, 2022
Mesivta of Greater Los Angeles admits qualified men of the Jewish faith of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, to all of the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally...
Bible study on Mary
| January 6, 2022
A multi-parish Scripture study will be held in person from 10 a.m. to noon Mon., Jan. 24 in room 2 of the parish center, St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, 155...
Developer wants 5-story hotel at Janss mall
By Kyle Jorrey
tonewstip@theacorn.com | January 20, 2022
Efforts to revitalize Janss Marketplace are headed in a new direction. Plans recently revealed call...
New Audi dealership moves into high gear
By Scott Steepleton
scott@theacorn.com | January 13, 2022
A fixture along the 101 Freeway since the late 1990s, the Audi dealership on Calabasas...
Christmas trees are big business, now it’s time to get rid of them
By David Goldstein
Special to The Acorn | January 6, 2022
“Twas the week after Christmas and all through the county, treecycling was popular; some got...
Homemade meal refreshes body, spirit
Andrea Gallagher | January 20, 2022
Over the last few weeks, my husband and I ventured out to see some friends we had not seen in a long time. It reminded me of one of the things I missed most during the pandemic—sharing a homemade meal with good friends. I forgot...
Helping youngsters adapt to travel
Bonnie Vandenberg | January 20, 2022
Question: In the past two years, we haven’t had a lot of chances to travel, and I notice that when we do, my children don’t travel well. They act out, complain and are ungrateful. On a recent flight home, my friend witnessed people bribing their...
A trip to the ER brings new insights
Andrea Gallagher | January 6, 2022
A few weeks ago, I had a two-day stay in the hospital. I’m OK, but my eyes were opened by the changes I saw since my last visit to the emergency room three years ago. I want to share what I experienced on the chance...
Beating the blues through connection
Andrea Gallagher | December 30, 2021
Recently I met a lovely 75-year-old gentleman who retired several years ago. I will call him Tim. As Tim and I talked about his life, I came to understand he had a very small social network. Tim’s day consisted of a lot of television watching...
Teaching patience to antsy kids
Bonnie Vandenberg | December 23, 2021
Question: I’ve heard that “patience is a virtue” but when I look at my young child, I don’t know how I can instill that virtue in him. It seems he can’t wait for anything. How can I teach my child to be patient? Teaching patience...
SHERIFF’S BLOTTER
| January 20, 2022
Agoura Hills A restroom wall and the mirror in the women’s restroom at Old Agoura Park on Chesebro Road was...
