2009-06-25

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

Grads go out with a bang



LVUSD may ‘hit the skids,’ board president says

District unable to maintain state-required 3 percent reserve

Las Virgenes Unified School District will once again file a “qualified” interim budget with state officials, explaining why the district will fail to meet its financial obligations for the next three years. The district will be unable to set aside at least 3 percent of its budget in its reserves, a requirement of Assembly Bill 1200 that passed in 1991 […]

Grading to begin on W.V. community park project



The Westlake Village City Council has hired Spirit Construction Inc. for the grading and drainage phase of its 50acre community park project. Clearing and grading will begin in early July on the site at the north side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Lindero Canyon Road and La Baya Drive. Nearly 1.75 million cubic yards of earth will be removed from […]

Oak tree falls, crushing 5 cars in Old Agoura



A large limb fell from an oak tree June 18, destroying five cars on Colodny Street in Old Agoura. The oak tree is on a private, vacant lot at 5323 Colodny St., owned by Gerard Marenghi of Los Angeles. Connie Cunningham said she parked her car in the vacant lot because parking spaces are difficult to find near the apartment […]

City Council puts plan for cellphone tower on hold



The Agoura Hills City Council has put OmniPoint Communications, the parent company of TMobile Wireless, on hold in its efforts to build an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility on the campus of Lindero Canyon Middle School. The planning commission had approved a conditional-use permit allowing the company to build three cell towers on the school campus. The City Council appealed that […]

Kids get to meet the mayor



Ramp metering comes to the 101



The California Department of Transportation has activated onramp meters on the southbound 101/Ventura Freeway between Rancho Road in Thousand Oaks and Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. The meters are active Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. All meters, except two, allow for one vehicle to move per green light. […]

Agoura balances $32-million budget



Despite the weak economy, the city of Agoura Hills adopted a balanced budget, saving all community services, retaining a multi-million-dollar reserve and continuing its community grant program. City officials presented details of the $32-million budget on June 10. Although revenue to the city has dropped to $11.8 million, the lowest level since the 2005-2006 fiscal year, and expenditures match revenue […]

Leaders hope to encourage volunteers



Derek Ross wants to encourage people to volunteer on local, county and state levels. Ross, an Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council member, has organized an event to inform residents about volunteer needs and how they can help. A free class, “Speak up: How to get involved in your local community,” will be from 7 to 8 p.m. on Fri., July […]

Floral show a blooming success