2006-09-14

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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

Westlake Village celebrates 25th Anniversary



PARTY TIME-Above, Westlake Village residents, from left, Aryana Shandel, Jenna Haffavnier, Sabrina Isay and Brooke Jones celebrate Westlake Village’s 25th anniversary Sunday. Right, Mike Guzzardo feels patriotic. Westlake Village, once home to Chumash Indians, became part of two sprawling Mexican land grants: Rancho El Conejo and Rancho Las Virgenes. In the 1880s, the Russell family purchased much of the land […]

Classrooms play the numbers game



There are many new faces in the school hallways of Oak Park. Among them is Jessie Scharfman, a freshman at Oak Park High who lives in West Hills, but could have attended El Camino Real High School near her home. “(El Camino) is such a huge school. I don’t feel she can get a quality education there,”said Lisa Scharfman, Jessie’s […]

Medical marijuana distributor under scrutiny

Agoura Hills wants facility closed

The city of Agoura Hills said it is investigating the Conejo Wellness Center, a medical marijuana cooperative on Agoura Road, with the intent of shutting the facility down. In Agoura Hills, the center is not a “permitted use,” said City Manager Greg Ramirez. Dispensing medical marijuana in California, however, is a permitted use, and has been for more than a […]

They’re off and running



FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL-The AYSO soccer season is officially underway and the teams are battling it out on fields throughout the community. Here, the Killer Whales (blue) play the Stingrays (green), a pair of teams in the 8-and-under category. The game was at Westlake Elementary School. The American Youth Soccer Organization was founded in Los Angeles in the 1960s and […]

Restaurant rises out of the ashes



Construction is about to begin at the Westlake Village site of the former Cisco’s Mexican restaurant, which burned down more than 18 months ago. But it won’t be another Cisco’s as owner Bob Wilson had hoped. Instead, Wilson has subleased the property at 925 S. Westlake Blvd. to a company called 2k5 Nightlife, which owns P6 restaurant in Westlake Village […]

Speakers at women’s council



Assemblywoman Audra Strickland and Simi Valley Councilmember Glen Becerra will be the guest speakers at the annual fall luncheon of the Women’s Council of the Building Industry Association of Southern California from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wed., Sept. 27 at the Westlake Village Inn. The speakers will discuss local community issues such as education and housing and their impact […]

Citizen lawsuit filed against Agoura Village



Environmental concerns, safety issues and the development of open space without a vote by citizens are just some of the reasons why Malibou Lake resident Mary Altmann wants the Agoura Village plan stopped, or at least reconsidered. Altmann filed a lawsuit against the city of Agoura Hills challenging the city’s certification of the project’s environmental impact report, amendments to the […]

Equestrians hitch a ride at Conejo event



QUICK, TURN LEFT-Monte Nido resident Stephanie Abronson, left, and Simi Valley resident Lilly Tirelli, 16, navigate Welsh Cob pony Jaycobs Princess Polina through the course during Day of the Horse at Conejo Creek Equestrian Park last Saturday. Polina may look like a horse, but her measured height of 14.2 hands, or 58 inches, puts her in the pony category.

Gallegly challenger trades pulpit for soapbox



Presbyterian pastor Jill Martinez is confident she’ll have the support of local voters in her attempt to unseat U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Thousand Oaks), who’s represented the 24th Congressional District in Washington since 1986. The district encompasses most of Ventura County, including Oak Park and North Ranch, and has about 660,000 residents. The Rev. Martinez, 56, was ordained in 1984 […]

Local residents hope bill floats into law



CAMPAIGN TRAIL-A boat owned and piloted by Westlake Lake resident Roberta Leavitt tours the ake on behalf of “One Care Now,” a campaign supporting the universal health care bill that recently passed in Sacramento. The Health Insurance Reliability Act, authored by Sen. Sheila Kuehl of the ocal 23rd District, creates a universal health insurance system for all Californians. Gov. Arnold […]