2004-05-27

Read the Latest Acorn!

Click below to read the latest edition of The Acorn!

Enjoy the new online reading experience!

Subscribe to The Acorn

Acorn online content now offered free

'Paywall' removed

The new millennium has been a transformative time for newspaper publishing.

Changing reader habits and the advent of new technology have placed big demands on companies in the print news business.

The Acorn and its parent company, Times Media Group, understand that their biggest responsibility is not only the delivery of credible, relevant information in a timely fashion, but making sure residents have easy access to the publication when stories become available.

That’s why we’re super excited about the news being shared today.

Following a five-year stretch in which Acorn readers were given the option of purchasing online subscriptions to the paper, that so-called “paywall” is coming down.

“Mr. Publisher, tear down this wall,” the late President Ronald Reagan might have once said.

And so we did.

Starting immediately, all online content from our five Acorn publications will be available at no charge to the reader, meaning a paid subscription is no longer required to click and read articles. The weekly Acorn has always been delivered to your driveway at no cost—that more than 40-year tradition will continue—and from now on The Acorn on the internet will be free as well.

Why the change?

The Acorn is your community newspaper, and we want to make sure it stays that way. We believe it’s important that residents feel a connection to the stories we write and also learn about the businesses that advertise in their community. The absence of a paywall is the best way to ensure this free-flow of information remains.

We also invite readers to sign up for the new, easy-to-read Acorn newspaper e-edition delivered weekly to your e-mail. Viewed on mobile, desktop or laptop, the pages are super easy to navigate and, free, just like the print paper.

Local journalism is first gear in the engine that drives America’s free press, and a free press it shall be.

Archives

Yaroslavsky wants Soka preserved as open space



By Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky recently sent a letter to Soka University of America in Calabasas and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, suggesting that the Soka property be sold to the Conservancy. The 600-acre campus is at the corner of Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes Road. Wendy Harder, a spokeswoman for Soka, said school officials […]

Having fun before the holiday weekend



New principal named for Oak Hills



By Lori Porter porter@theacorn.com Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Gary Richards announced last week that Leslie Heilbron will be the new principal at Oak Hills Elementary school in Oak Park. Heilbron will replace Darlene Hale, who took the principal position at Wildwood Elementary School in Thousand Oaks. As a faculty member in Las Virgenes Unified School District for the […]

Holiday forces early deadlines



The Acorn Newspapers of June 3 and 4 will have early deadlines because of Memorial Day on Mon., May 31. Real estate advertising for the June 3 and 4 editions must be reserved and all editorial items, including letters to the editor, must be received by noon today, May 27. Display advertising must be reserved by noon Fri., May 28 […]

Police, CHP brace for holiday traffic



By Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com Law enforcement agencies are preparing for holiday traffic and bad drivers this Memorial Day weekend. Beginning Friday afternoon until Monday night, the California Highway Patrol will have additional patrols on freeways, highways and streets, according to Officer Ray Abramian of the West Valley CHP. "Having a lot more eyes out there to just watch and make […]

Memorial Day motorists to pay more



Calabasas High School students learn dangers of drunk driving



By Lori Porter porter@theacorn.com A nationwide program, Every 15 Minutes, is an award-winning, two-day effort that’s designed to discourage young people from drinking and driving. It was presented recently at Calabasas High School, just two days before the senior prom. In April 1996, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department launched the program. It got its name because every 15 minutes in […]

CHS, OPUSD School Board drive home their respective points about sober, safe driving



CHS, OPUSD School Board drive home their respective points about sober, safe driving CHS, OPUSD School Board drive home their respective points about sober, safe driving Just in time for the holiday weekend, The Acorn has two stories regarding safe driving. On page 2, readers can learn about Every 15 Minutes, a program that takes the gloves off about drunk […]

Citizens Construction Oversight Committee to monitor projects in Las Virgenes school district



To keep costs in check and to ensure accountability, Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) recently announced creation of a School Construction Oversight Committee. The first project for the citizens group will be to oversee construction of the new Yerba Buena Elementary School in Agoura Hills. The school district is implementing the plan to capitalize on the expertise of local […]

Water district opposes new Calabasas housing plan



By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) officials are voicing opposition to Standard Pacific Corporation’s bid to the Calabasas Planning Commission requesting a general amendment and zone change to construct 40 homes at 4240 Las Virgenes Road next to LVMWD facilities. Standard Pacific is asking for a zone change from a commercially designated property to be used […]