Scene now in Thousand Oaks at corner of Westlake/TOBlvd. Large crowd, mostly young people taking part in civil demonstration against police brutality in wake of killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week.
#BREAKING
: Ventura County has suffered its first death attributed to COVID-19. The person who died was in their 70s with underlying health conditions, the county said. No other details on the victim are available now.
UPDATE: Thomas Fire extremely visible from all across TO right now but NO fires currently burning in Thousand Oaks/Moorpark/Newbury Park etc (as of 830pm)
An arrest has been made from Sunday’s pepper spray incident that occurred at the demonstration (Lynn Rd. Hillcrest Dr.). A media release with more information will be out tomorrow.
Today marks two years since the community lost 12 innocent souls in a shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the survivors and anyone impacted by this tragedy. It is something none of us will ever forget.
#Borderline12
#TOstrong
A Thousand Oaks icon has died. Brett Taylor--a TO native who for years has volunteered with the fire dept., sheriff's office, the schools and pretty much anywhere else he could be helpful--was pronounced dead this morning. Cause of death has not yet been released.
A 46-year-old Thousand Oaks resident was arrested yesterday on suspicion of unlawful use of tear gas after she was caught Sunday on cellphone camera pepper-spraying a group of Black Lives Matter demonstrators.
STORY:
ANNOUNCEMENT: “As publishers of the Acorn Newspapers, we realize how much our readers need to keep informed during the COVID crisis. So we have lifted the paywall for all 5 sites during this time, allowing free access to all who register w/ email. You may still subscribe. 1/3
BREAKING:
Court grants temporary restraining order against Godspeak church in Newbury Park banning them from holding large worship services indoors. The order is in place until Aug. 31 when another hearing can be held.
Twelve months. Twelve lives. It’s been one year since the shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill claimed the lives of a dozen innocent victims. Last week, families of those lost met at Conejo Creek Park North to set in stone the memories of their loved ones.
A one-of-kind writer and reporter who poured her heart into every assignment. She might not be here on staff much longer but her published stories will live on forever. Thank you for helping tell Thousand Oaks story and for being part of the Acorn family, Reporter Dawn ❤️❤️
Bittersweet announcement: This next week will be my last week at
@TOAcornNews
. I’ll announce my new job in the weeks to come but for now I’d just like to reflect on the impact working here has had on me for the past five and a half years. In short, it’s changed my life.
"It’s really closed.”
The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause the unthinkable. Las Vegas closed its casinos. Malibu closed its beaches. Now Thousand Oaks is closing its open space.
Beginning at 8pm 200+ firefighters will be arriving at our
@ThousandOaksHS
gym to get some much needed rest. They are in need of water, snacks & Gatorade. Please drop by the gym if you would like to donate supplies. Thank you.
#TheConejoWay
#SupportFirstResponders
A 100-year-old Thousand Oaks resident spent WWII working as a “code girl,” one of about 10,000 young women secretly recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy during World War II to decode and translate messages sent from enemy lines.
"Everybody deserves dignity." When a school administrator learned that some students were missing Zoom classes because of what the computer cameras revealed of their home environments, she launched an effort to provide students with privacy screens.
Conejo Valley Fireside BBQ & Appliances on T.O. Boulevard is raffling off a BBQ Backyard Makeover complete with a $3,000 DCS barbecue grill with ALL funds raised going to the family of Sgt. Ron Helus. Buy a $50 raffle ticket at
JUST IN:
@VintageGrocers
has announced it is offering free Thanksgiving turkeys to first responders. To order your fully-cooked turkey (or raw natural turkey), first responders should stop by their Westlake store, or email thanksgiving
@vintagegrocers
.com
#WoolseyFire
A Newbury Park High School science teacher helped create the Amgen Biotech Experience. Today, the program that started inside an NPHS classroom is available in over 10 countries and in four continents.
JUST IN: Sycamore Canyon School in Newbury Park has been named a 2018 California Distinguished School, 1 of only 3 Ventura County elementaries to earn the honor this year. Congrats!
All 15 students in the Thousand Oaks High School course passed the AP test in Spanish language this year, with most earning a 5—the highest score possible.
Congrats to our staff, who've been named finalists in 11 categories in the 2018 California Journalism Awards sponsored by
@CNPAservices
, our best showing ever. Top prizes will be awarded May 4 in Long Beach.
.
@ConejoValleyUSD
will continue to provide lunch while classes are out. District will be offering sack lunches out of clearly marked CVUSD vans at the below 8 sites from March 16 to 20:
PHOTOS: Santa Monica-based street artist Ruben Rojas came to Thousand Oaks on Sunday to paint 12 hearts on the side of a T.O. Boulevard restaurant in honor of the 12 lives lost in the Borderline Bar and Grill mass shooting.
Congratulations to our very own
@ReporterDawn
for being one of only 12 newspaper journalists statewide to receive a John Swett Award from
@WeAreCTA
honoring excellence in education coverage. Dawn will be receiving her award tomorrow at a ceremony in L.A.
“Country girl from Tecumseh did pretty good." Kelly White, who was recently promoted to assistant fire chief, has become the highest-ranking woman in the Ventura County Fire Department’s 91-year history.
A fifth consecutive day of protests is planned today in Thousand Oaks, with local Black Lives Matter demonstrators pledging to march from Westlake Boulevard to T.O. City Hall starting at 3 p.m.
SHOW OF SOLIDARITY: In response to Saturday's massacre in Pittsburgh, Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will host a community gathering and special service "In Solidarity with Tree of Life Synagogue” tomorrow night at 7 inside its sanctuary, 1080 E. Janss Road. All are welcome.
When President Biden delivers the State of the Union address tonight, one of Ventura County's own will there. Congressmember Julia Brownley has chosen Cara DelVecchio, lead clinician for Planned Parenthood California Central Coast’s health center in Thousand Oaks, to join her.
The Rams will be providing thousands of complimentary tickets to Monday night's game - now at the Coliseum - to first responders and those affected by the communities recent tragedies.
BREAKING: Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Westlake Boulevard and Via Merida and Lakeview Canyon Road in the area of Thousand Oaks Blvd. are closed to traffic due to a vehicle collision involving four to six young people, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said.
JUST IN: With an additional 803 ballots counted and all precincts reporting,
@gill4cvusd
maintains an 891-vote lead over incumbent
@SandeeCVUSD
for CVUSD Area 5 (Newbury Park). Everett narrowed lead by 181 votes, but doesn't look like she'll catch up.
A local legend is now a national rock star. Tara Davis, an Agoura High graduate, shattered an NCAA record held by Jackie Joyner-Kersee, one of the world’s great athletes.
BREAKING: Several Thousand Oaks neighborhoods have had their electricity shut off by
@SCE
as part of the PSPS program. Hundreds of homes are now without power on the eve of Thanksgiving.
BREAKING: Three Thousand Oaks residents have been cited on suspicion of vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner on private property. Two work for the County of Ventura criminal justice system.
The Conejo Valley community is in disbelief after two young brothers were killed Tuesday evening in Westlake Village trying to cross the street with their family in a crosswalk near their home.
Thousand Oaks Girl Scout Troops 63042 and 63041 are selling "Stronger T.O.gether" patches for $5 to benefit
#Borderline
victims' families and those who lost their homes in the Woolsey, Hill and Camp fires. 100% raised goes to victims. Go here to order
RARE SIGHT: A young bear was spotted roaming the streets of Newbury Park early Friday morning. Police followed it for 45 minutes until it headed off into open space.
Join us in remembering the 12 that were taken from our community 11/7/18:
Sean Adler
Cody Coffman
Blake Dingman
Jacob Dunham
Ron Helus
Alaina Housley
Dan Manrique
Justin Meek
Mark Meza Jr.
Kristina Morisette
Telemachus Orfanos
Noel Sparks
"When you think of our 12 loves...honor them by spreading the things that they were made of: courage, selflessness, humor, true friendship, forgiveness, bravery, loyalty, patience and most of all, kindness." Read a Borderline mom's powerful message:
SAGE Publishing in Newbury Park was supposed to have its holiday party tomorrow at Hummingbird Ranch. Instead they’ve postponed it and are donating all the food to local fire departments. A letter from the CEO:
A performance never before seen at the prep level!
@NPHSXC
dominates to break the scoring and team-time records in the greatest collective performance ever!
#CIFStateD1Champs
"I hope that my small act of kindness put a smile on someone’s face." During graduation season, a Thousand Oaks resident spent her afternoons driving around town and dropping off anonymous gifts at homes with “Class of 2020” signs.
“The world lost two very bright souls today.”
The Acorn has learned the identity of the victims of this morning’s fiery crash on Westlake Boulevard. They were just 18 and 20.
Photo by
@Safety4Citizens
THANKSGIVING EDITORIAL: “Although it comes shrouded with heavy heart, we know the past can also be a reminder that every new day is a gift —a gift that enables us to make this world a better place in which to live.
Yes, let us give thanks for that.”
JUST IN: Ventura County judge finds Pastor Rob McCoy and Godspeak in contempt of court for violating temporary restraining order and holding indoor worship services.
When the Woolsey fire forced thousands of residents to flee their homes in late 2018, it left an indelible mark on the community, especially kids. Now a group of students at Oak Park High School have started a Wildfire Prevention Club.
The widow of Borderline hero Sgt. Ron Helus said knowing that young people survived because of her husband helps her cope with losing the love of her life. “‘Those kids haven’t lived their lives yet. They deserve that.’ I can hear him saying that."
“This was not about defining a community by its suffering and tragedy but by its ability to come together, to help each other rise up and continue, and to come out on the other side stronger, better and more compassionate." Cops help their hometown heal.
"It means more than you guys really know." A Newbury Park artist has crafted pencil portraits of the 12 Borderline victims and distributed them to the victims’ families.
JUST IN:
@CalLutheran
says recent CLU graduate Justin Meek, 23, is one of the lives lost in last night's shooting.
"Meek heroically saved lives in the incident," the university said.
#Borderline
When
@VCFD
firefighters from Station 35 in Newbury Park stopped by Walnut Elementary today to do a demonstration with kindergartners, they were surprised by the entire school in the MPR with a big thank-you from teachers and students.
#TOStrong
“I have the means to help people. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” Kevin Mardirossian, 20, spent his spring break 3D printing dozens of frames for face shields to address the critical shortage of personal protective equipment for medical personnel.
Remembering Marine LCpl Anthony C. Melia, 20, of Thousand Oaks, California; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines; KIA on this day in 2007, Iraq. You are Not Forgotten Brother.
Update:
@CountyVentura
taking legal action against Newbury Park church that has been holding indoor worship services for weeks in defiance of county/state health orders related to coronavirus.
BREAKING: Ventura County today filed a legal complaint against Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park. The county is seeking an injunction, or temporary restraining order, to force the church to stop meeting in violation of the county and state’s COVID orders. 1/
Mike Dagan—a coach, father, son and beloved figure in the greater Conejo Valley sports community—died of complications from COVID-19 on Aug. 27.
“He was loved by many people,” said nephew Trent Dagan, a 2021 Newbury Park grad.
BREAKING: Carmen Ramirez, chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, was killed Friday night when she was hit by a truck while walking through an intersection in downtown Oxnard.