The headline-grabbing criminal case against a top aide to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has a potentially problematic connection to the ongoing Rebecca Grossman saga: the two high-profile defendants are using the same lawyer. According to the deputy district attorneys who successfully prosecuted Grossman for second-degree murder in February, a conflict of interest could arise since Assistant DA Diana Teran was above them in the prosecutor’s office chain of command when she was hit with a charge of illegally using police data on April 24.  In a motion filed the follow ..read more

FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT—Anahid Hajeian, at left, was 71 years old when she wrote an account of her horrifying experiences as an 8-year-old. April is Armenian-American Heritage and History Month, and this week the worldwide diaspora observed the most tragic chapter in its people’s history: April 24 was Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, marking 109 years since the start of a campaign of mass killing by the Young Turk government of the Ottomon Empire against its Armenian minority. On the occasion of the anniversary, Calabasas resident Margaret Kamashian shared with The Acorn a letter written in 198 ..read more

IN RECOVERY PROGRAM— The western snowy plover is a threatened small shorebird, about the size of a sparrow. The species has seen a large decrease in numbers in recent decades Courtesy photo Cal State Channel Islands could have some new critters making a home on campus. Plans are underway to have a conservation center based at the college in partnership with the Santa Barbara Zoo. This would be the first zoo-accredited facility at a public American university, according to Jennifer Perry, executive director of regional education partnerships. The zoo is looking to expand a few of its recover ..read more

STOMPING GROUND—An aerial view shows some of the girders on the southbound 101 already in place. Beams on the northbound lane will be placed in a few weeks. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers For the first time, drivers on the 101 Freeway are passing under parts of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills— structural elements that will support the turf-covered bridge itself where mountain lions, bobcats and other species are expected to tread over 10 lanes of Los Angeles County traffic. It’s a milestone in the construction of the $92-million bridge, which is inte ..read more

LIVING SPACE—Though recently cleared for an area cleanup, tents are sprouting back up at the city’s largest homeless encampment located along a walkway between Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Hillcrest Drive near Moorpark Road. Acorn file photo The Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance released its homeless count data for 2024, showing a slight decline this year. The homeless count has been done every year since 2007, except in 2008, and again in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ventura County’s homeless count number was at its lowest in 2017, at 1,152. It was at its highest in 2023 w ..read more

MORE SPACE—California Highway Patrol shares space in the 610 Spring Road facility. Acorn file photo The Moorpark City Council on April 17 unanimously greenlighted an investment of about $423,000 toward enhancements for the California Highway Patrol office at the Moorpark Police Services Center. Established in 2005, the center at 610 Spring Road stands out as one of the few facilities where CHP shares space with another law enforcement entity, the Moorpark Police Department, a division of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. In June 2005, the city entered into a lease with the State of Calif ..read more

WITH HONORS—Mark Westerline, left, receives a certificate of recognition from Mayor Chris Enegren during Moorpark City Council’s April 17 meeting. Courtesy photo Mark Westerline, a familiar face in Moorpark’s public service sector for more than three decades, is bidding farewell to a storied career as he steps into retirement. Throughout his 36-year tenure, Westerline, the city’s vector/animal control specialist, has encountered a menagerie of challenges, from buzzing mosquitoes, bats and flies, to a proliferation of bunnies and majestic mountain lions roaming the city. Reflecting on his ca ..read more

DOWNTOWN DIGS—The High Street Depot residential-commercial development means more sales and property taxes for Moorpark. SCOTT STEEPLETON/Acorn Newspapers Following Moorpark’s 40th year of incorporation, multiple long-term planning efforts have been completed or are underway to shape the city’s future. Notably, the Moorpark City Council received the presentation of the city’s long-term financial plan on April 3. The plan, which forecasts and assesses the consequences of present and future financial decisions, indicates a projected structural deficit, which is the difference between what gov ..read more

Work trucks and vehicles locked and unlocked are getting a lot of attention in Moorpark. Unfortunately, it’s from thieves. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office reports a recent spike in thefts from these vehicles—and authorities urge residents who want to protect their valuables in any type of vehicle to “Lock It, Hide It, Keep It,” said Senior Deputy Rebecca Purnell. No matter how long you plan to be away from a vehicle, authorities say, double check to make sure the door is locked. Parking in a well lit area also helps. Valuable items should never be left inside the vehicle. If that’s not po ..read more

SEDER DELICACY—Often made from apples, nuts and wine, charoset resembles the mortar and brick made by the Jews when they toiled for Pharaoh. Courtesy of Chabad.org/food In the lead up to seder night, it’s time to start thinking about the seder plate foods, including how to make charoset (also called haroset)—a mixture of apples, nuts and wine which resembles the mortar and brick made by the Jews when they toiled for Pharaoh. This is used as a type of relish into which the maror (bitter herb) is dipped (and then shaken off) before eating. The base of any charoset is sweet apple and/or pear ..read more