2014-01-16
$12.7-million water tank gets final OK
But it will cost more than expectedFollowing four hours of acrimonious debate on Tuesday evening, the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District board of directors voted 3-2 to begin construction of a new 5-million gallon water tank in the Three Springs Neighborhood of Westlake Village. The expected cost for the tank when proposed in 2009 was $6.6 million. It will cost almost twice as much. The tank […]
Notorious Calabasas resident finds trouble again
A $20,000 egg fight?The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the show-of-force to crackdown on alleged egg-thrower Justin Bieber was warranted. The incident Tuesday caused a national paparazzi frenzy. At about 8 a.m. Tues., Jan 14, a dozen detectives from the Lost Hills station conducted a felony search warrant on Bieber’s mansion in The Oaks of Calabasas. Authorities were looking for evidence relating […]
Good work if you can get it
Benefits are key in local city payAlthough budgets are healthier now, local city governments are still keeping a close eye on how much their employees earn in salaries and benefits. Taxpayers remain curious, too. Government compensation, especially its defined pension component, came under heavy scrutiny during the recession of 2008-2012. Private sector employees haven’t forgotten that while their workrelated benefits dwindled during the economic downturn, the […]
Fight lingers over homes
The 13-year debate over the development of the Heschel School property—the 71 acres just east of Old Agoura that is now being called Chesebro Meadow—seemed like it was over. Last July, the City of Agoura Hills sold the land in unincorporated Los Angeles County to a Southern California developer for $900,000. Twenty acres will be developed into 15 custom equestrian […]
On freeways, no pain no gain
It’s going to take a lot more than one interchange expansion to fix this area’s congested freeways. Still, yesterday’s groundbreaking for new improvements to the 101 and 23 junction was a major breakthrough for local drivers fed up with the gridlock. Ever since portions of the 23 and 118 freeways were expanded in the late 2000s, the heavily traveled interchange—which […]
Frisbee playing in the park turns into dog fight
I got a big smile on my face seeing the Jan. 2 Acorn cover photo of a young man playing Frisbee with his dog at the park. Great photo. Positive photo. Then I had a thought: I wondered what holier-than-thou, rulebook slapping person is going to kick up a fuss about that photo? Then I wondered: If they did, will […]
So long, Westlake
With the beginning of 2014 we say goodbye to what we have affectionately known as our small paradise in the country, the City of Westlake Village. Well-connected business people have dangled dollar signs and made all types of promises to the hardworking members of our City Council, convincing them to make life-altering changes. The flood gates have been opened to […]
City erred in sale of Chesebro land
The development of the Chesebro Meadow would be a tragedy. Residents of Old Agoura have fought so long and hard to protect this gem of open space which is so special to our way of life, as well as being of great importance for all the wildlife which migrate across and reside in the meadow. Our battle should be one […]