2021-04-15

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Enjoy the new online reading experience!

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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

Reeds and trees are both harmed

Trees are not the only victims. I read The Acorn articles about the excessive tree trimming in Medea Creek. A few months ago the creek, especially next to the Conifer Street bridge, was full of beautiful reeds. The reeds gave the creek a wonderful natural look. A few days later I walked by, and they were completely gone. Whoever is […]

Why Village was earlier denied

The Resolution of Denial (ROD) that resulted from the planning commission decision to deny approval for the West Village at Calabasas has just been made public. For over a year, multiple inquiries asking staff about the status of the ROD were not answered in a straight-forward manner. Then, in October 2020 it was disclosed that the ROD had not been […]

Stakeholder concern is ‘real’

I attended several Calabasas public hearings on the property at 4790 Las Virgenes Road, known currently as West Village at Calabasas. I was present when the planning commission denied their proposal in 2019, and I voted against the project known as Canyon Oaks in the Measure F ballot initiative in 2016. One would think the developer would understand that what […]

Decries biased litigation article

While reporting on the settlement of litigation against the City of Calabasas may be newsworthy, the tone and slant of the article was unfair and biased. The article was more like a continuation of the plaintiff’s allegations and animus against the City of Calabasas, which specifically targets our long serving and dedicated council member and past mayor, David Shapiro. The […]

Correct blame on Wuhan, China

In Keith Cornell’s letter to the editor, “Not Chinese, but Americans” (April 8), he writes, “In February, Trump announced the threat of an epidemic, a hoax.” Mr. Cornell is spreading disinformation. Let the record be known that on Jan. 31, President Trump declared the Wuhan virus a health emergency and banned all travel from China. In response, Biden called President […]

Put loud leaf blowers on mute

A week ago, my friend mentioned that gas-powered leaf blowers are not only annoying, but dangerous to health. I spent some time on the internet researching it. What I learned was disturbing. In addition to the smoke from burned fuel, emissions include a considerable amount of unburned toxic material; up to 1/3 of the weight of the fuel comes back […]

Books are bound for Africa

When things are easily accessible, it’s easy to take them for granted. Take electricity and clean water, for example. Most of us never stop to question how these crucial services are made available to us. But there they are. Books are items many of us take for granted and cast aside as our connection to the internet intensifies. In places […]

Westlake resident heads food drive

HUNGRY TO SUCCEED— Christy Bassiri, center, of Westlake Village, receives a bag of groceries from a volunteer during a food drive April 10 at Berniece Bennet Park in Westlake Village. Bassiri organized the event on behalf of the Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank of Thousand Oaks. More than 100 grocery bags full of canned and dry foods were collected by […]

Free fire-wise lecture series

The Ventura County Resource Conservation District is offering a free outdoor wildfire prevention virtual speaker series. The next talk will be “Understanding Wildfire and History in Ventura County” from 6 to 7 p.m. Tues., May 4 with Matthew Shapero, UC Cooperative Extension. The events will feature wildfire experts with presentations on wildfire prevention and recovery efforts, recovery funding opportunities and […]

KATHLEEN D. HINES

Born 2/1/1942 Minneapolis, MN — Died 4/1/2021 Oak Park, CA

Married over 59 years (1961) Survived by husband Robert, daughters Laura and Kimberly, granddaughters Dominique, Ashley and Amanda, grandson Michael, great granddaughter Kennedy, sons-in-law Ron, David and Chris. Kathy moved to Hidden Hills where she and Bob established their Arabian horse ranch in 1972. Later they donated a horse to the Agoura Animal Shelter and the proceeds were used to […]