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Newbury ParkCounty elections chief encourages early voting
Ventura County's top elections official has a simple message for Newbury Park voters: don't wait until Nov. 3. Clerk-Recorder Michelle Ascencion says we should treat Election Day as the deadline, not the day to cast a ballot — and honestly, that's solid advice for our corner of the 805. Between commutes on the 101, school pickups, and everything else filling our calendars, a last-minute trip to the polls is exactly the kind of thing that slips through the cracks. Voting early gives you room to sort out any surprises — a missing registration, an address mix-up, a question about your ballot — without the pressure of a ticking clock. The Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) flagged the reminder this week, and it's worth passing along to neighbors who might be new to the area or simply out of the habit. However you lean, the point is to make your voice count. So carve out twenty minutes this week, get it done, and then enjoy the rest of your fall without that nagging to-do hanging over you.
Newbury ParkRabies surge puts bats in spotlight
If you've noticed more bats flitting around your porch light lately, you're not imagining things — and there's a serious reason to keep your distance. Los Angeles and Ventura counties are reporting a surge in rabies cases among bats, with infected animals turning up in several nearby cities. Health officials are urging folks to never touch a bat, and to call it in if one is found indoors, flying around during daylight, or looking sick. The timing, right as spooky season kicks off, is a reminder that the real-life version of a Halloween staple deserves our respect, not our hands. This matters right here in Newbury Park, where our open space, oak woodlands, and warm evenings make perfect bat habitat. The Thousand Oaks Acorn reports the warning arrived around World Rabies Day on Sept. 28, and it's worth taking seriously — rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, but it's fully preventable if you avoid contact and get care quickly after any exposure. Keep pets vaccinated, teach kids that a bat on the ground is not a toy, and if you find one in your home, don't shoo it out yourself — call Ventura County Animal Services. Let's keep our neighborhood safe and let the bats do their mosquito-eating work from a distance.
Newbury ParkLawsuit over La Reina school closing can proceed
Neighbors, you may remember the shock when La Reina High School and Middle School shut its doors more than two years ago. Now comes word that a lawsuit challenging how that closure went down can finally move forward. A Ventura County Superior Court judge cleared a key legal hurdle, allowing former students, parents and donors to keep pursuing claims that the school and its parent organization, SND National Ministry Corporation, concealed plans. For so many families here in Newbury Park and across the Conejo Valley, La Reina wasn't just a school — it was a community, a tradition, a place where daughters grew up together. The closure left a real hole, and a lot of unanswered questions. This ruling doesn't decide the case, but it means those questions will get their day in court. The Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) first reported the development. We'll keep following it as the case proceeds, because for local families who gave years — and dollars — to La Reina, this one matters.
Newbury ParkCouncil signals strong support for regional homeless housing partnership
Neighbors, there's some encouraging news out of the Sept. 15 City Council meeting. Thousand Oaks leaders signaled strong support for joining Ventura County's regional effort to build supportive housing near Camarillo, with county reps asking our city to chip in $2 million toward construction. This matters here in Newbury Park, where homelessness isn't some abstract issue in another town — it's the person you see near the freeway onramp, the families quietly struggling just out of view. A regional approach means our community isn't shouldering this alone, and supportive housing with services on site tends to work better than piecemeal fixes. Nothing's final yet, and the price tag deserves real scrutiny. But as the Thousand Oaks Acorn reported, the direction is promising. Worth keeping an eye on — and worth showing up to the next meeting if this is something you care about.
Newbury ParkThousand Oaks council candidates face off in first election forum
If you live in Newbury Park, last week's City Council forum was worth your attention. The Greater Conejo Chamber of Commerce, Cal Lutheran and the Acorn Newspapers teamed up on Sept. 17 to put candidates on the record, and development and growth dominated the conversation — which makes sense, since the decisions coming out of Thousand Oaks City Hall shape everything from traffic on the 101 to what gets built near our neighborhoods. Our corner of the 805 often feels like its own world, but Thousand Oaks council races matter here too. Housing, zoning and growth ripple straight into Newbury Park's streets, schools and open space, and the candidates' answers now are a preview of the votes they'll take later. The Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) has the full rundown of the forum, and with the November election less than two months out, it's a good time to start paying attention. These are the folks who'll decide what our community looks like next.
Newbury ParkDetectives investigate Newbury Park deaths
Word came down this week that a Newbury Park couple was found dead at their Thousand Oaks home after a family member couldn't reach them and asked for a welfare check. Deputies got that call around 11:11 a.m. Monday, and now sheriff's detectives are investigating what happened. This is the kind of news that lands heavy in a place like ours, where neighborhoods still feel like neighborhoods and a quiet street can suddenly hold a lot of questions. We don't have answers yet, and it's worth remembering that behind every headline like this is a real family in grief. Our thanks to the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) for staying on it. If you or a neighbor ever goes quiet longer than usual, checking in is never a bad idea — that's just what we do around here.
Newbury ParkThousand Oaks group ends court fight over downtown project
So the courtroom showdown over Thousand Oaks' new downtown project won't happen after all. Citizens for Responsible Development in Thousand Oaks, the group that filed a writ of mandate petition back on Aug. 12, has decided to drop its legal challenge — news first reported by the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park). For those of us here in Newbury Park, this one still hits close to home. Many of us shop, dine, and spend weekends in Thousand Oaks' core, and the downtown plan will shape traffic, parking, and the whole feel of the area for years. Whether you were rooting for the project or against it, the legal fight ending means the city can move ahead without that cloud hanging over it. What's next is the real question. If you had concerns about density, congestion, or design, the public-comment road is still open — just not through the courts. Worth keeping an eye on the Acorn for the next chapter.
Newbury ParkChild dies after medical emergency at Westlake Elementary School
It's hard to find the right words when news like this reaches our corner of the 805. A young child died Tuesday afternoon after what officials describe as a cardiac arrest at Westlake Elementary on Potrero Road. The child was not a student at the school, according to authorities, but that detail doesn't soften the weight of it — a family is grieving, and a campus community is shaken. We're thinking of everyone touched by this: the child's loved ones, the Westlake Village families, the first responders who arrived around 3:40 p.m. and did everything they could. The Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) reported the story, and we're sharing it because these moments remind us how tightly woven our Conejo Valley neighborhoods really are. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out. Take a moment today to hold your people a little closer.
Newbury ParkThousand Oaks steps up e-bike enforcement amid safety concerns
If you've been out on the streets of Newbury Park lately, you've probably noticed more e-bikes buzzing around — and apparently, so has the Thousand Oaks Police Department. Since January, they've been running special enforcement operations, and on Aug. 21 they impounded five illegal e-bikes and e-motorcycles right here in our neighborhood. I get it — e-bikes are a blast and a practical way for kids to get around. But when they're modified to hit motorcycle speeds or ridden recklessly, things get dangerous fast, especially near our schools and parks. The Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) reported on this crackdown, and it's worth paying attention to. Bottom line: talk to your kids about the rules, check that their ride is actually street-legal, and let's keep our streets safe for everyone — riders, walkers, and drivers alike.
Newbury ParkDeath of cyclists renews calls for better safety on Ventura Country PCH
If you've ever driven PCH through Ventura on the way up to Santa Barbara, you know how beautiful — and how unforgiving — that stretch near Solimar Beach can be. The June deaths of two cyclists there, including Annie Adams, who was riding with friends when it happened, have a lot of folks around Newbury Park rethinking how safe our coastal roads really are. We're a cycling community out here — weekend riders head over the grade to the coast all the time, and many of us know someone who's logged miles on that shoulder. The Thousand Oaks Acorn reports this tragedy has renewed calls for real safety improvements, and honestly, it's hard to argue. Whether it's better signage, wider shoulders, or lower speed limits, the conversation is worth having before another family gets that terrible news. If you ride PCH, stay visible and stay aware — and let's keep pushing for changes that make the coast safer for everyone.
Newbury ParkWoman gets 15 to life in first county fentanyl murder case
This week, a courtroom decision sent ripples through Ventura County as Charity Faith Wiley, 40, of Reseda, was sentenced to 15 years to life for selling fentanyl-laced drugs that killed a local man. It’s being called the county’s first fentanyl murder conviction, and for those of us in Newbury Park, it’s a stark reminder of how this crisis touches home. The Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) reported the sentence on Sept. 1, and it’s hard not to think about the families in our own neighborhoods who have faced similar loss. What makes this case significant isn’t just the legal milestone—it’s the message that dealers who peddle deadly pills will face serious consequences. Wiley also pleaded guilty to five other felonies tied to a drug-trafficking ring, showing how widespread this issue is. For our community, this feels like a step toward accountability, even as we grieve for the victim and hope this verdict brings some closure. It’s a heavy story, but one worth knowing, because it’s about protecting our kids and neighbors from a threat that doesn’t discriminate.
Newbury ParkCity bets on drones for faster police response
Thousand Oaks is about to put eyes in the sky over Newbury Park. By November, a 911 call could bring a drone overhead before a deputy even arrives, giving law enforcement a real-time view of unfolding emergencies. The City Council's Aug. 25 vote to spend $700,000 on expanding the program is a big bet on technology—and it's already sparking conversations about privacy, response times, and what 'protection' really means in our community. For those of us who've watched deputies navigate winding streets like Lynn Road or the congested 101 exits, the appeal is obvious: faster, safer situational awareness. But as the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park) reported, this isn't just about gadgets—it's about how we balance innovation with civil liberties. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors' Sept. 2 follow-up shows this is a regional shift, not just a city experiment. Whether you see drones as a helpful tool or a watchful eye, this is one story that will shape how emergencies unfold in our neighborhoods.
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