2007-10-18

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

Condition of Oak Park utilities a cause for worry

Area has 'worst equipment,' according to one official

The delivery of electricity and water to the community of Oak Park is of concern to some public officials who say facilities are unreliable, insufficient and aging. Representatives from Southern California Edison Co. and Calleguas Municipal Water District discussed the issue at a recent meeting of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council. Electrical outages Numerous electrical outages over the past […]

Reyes Adobe Days: Ears to you



BAT DOG- Rooster the Chihuahua, all dressed up for last weekend’s Reyes Adobe Days, enjoys the festivities in the arms of Monica Varah of Agoura Hills. Rooster, who was rescued from the Agoura Animal Shelter, joined Varah in the annual Reyes Adobe days parade down Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For complete story and more photos, see page 32A.

Cafeteria food tastes great, less filling, experts say

School menu gets a makeover

Oak Park students are eating healthier at school but they might not realize what’s changed in their cafeteria menu. According to school officials, the food is nearly completely free of nitrates, additives, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavoring. Organic, natural, whole selections and more locally produced items are being offered instead. Kids are eating turkey wraps and […]

High school homecomings bring out the school spirit



Mark Blum, man who repaired and donated bicycles, dies at 54

Called a 'caring, loving man'

Agoura Hills resident Mark Blum, the founder of Mission with Bikes and a longtime friend of the local community, died last week after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. He was 54. A memorial service is scheduled at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village at 10 a.m. Fri., Oct. 19. A reception will follow the service. Karen Blum, his ex-wife, […]

Changes likely for Calabasas area code



Possible changes in the area code for Calabasas and surrounding communities will be discussed at a public hearing on Tues., Oct. 23. The California Public Utilities Commission recently announced that there’s a shortage of 818 phone numbers. Two possible courses of action will be explored at the hearing. The first would split customers with 818 numbers into two groups. One […]

FOR THE RECORD



•In the play review of “Once On This Island, Jr.,” Hannah Davey played the role of Asaka, not Sarah Daley. •Agoura High School’s API score in 2006 was 830, not 813, and in 2007, the school’s overall score was raised to 833.

Calabasas digs the idea of an historical preservation ordinance



Despite some concerns, the Calabasas City Council was mostly supportive in its discussion of developing an ordinance that will assist with the designation of historic sites in the city. Experts say that although there may not be as many structures that fall into the historic landmark category as in larger cities, archeologists are bound to be interested in the local […]

Acorn Bits

Society news

The Calabasas Historical Society invites the public to attend a special discussion with the city of Calabasas on the Historical Preservation Ordinance at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Nov. 15 at the Calabasas Library on Park Sorrento. The ordinance would provide guidelines for identifying and designating historical districts and sites within the city of Calabasas. The basic objectives of the ordinance […]

Cable company pays for service interruption

'Frustrating' encounter brings $1 compensation

A local cable distributor is paying Calabasas residents to make up for a service interruption a year ago. The City Council accepted a settlement that included a $1 rebate to all Charter Communications customers and a $1,000 check to the city for expenses over the last year. In October 2006, Charter Communications performed planned maintenance on its cable system, announcing […]