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Newbury Park observes Ramadan during challenging times
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From the evening of Feb. 17 to March 19, Muslims around the world observed Ramadan. Widely regarded as the holiest month in Islam, Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. In this month of religious dedication, many Muslims fast from food and drink during sunlit hours and participate…
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Thousand Oaks prays, plays and parades for Purim
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As the sun shone bright between tall oak trees lining Hillcrest Drive, the Purim Carnival hosted by Temple Adat Elohim on March 1 was a warm, whimsical celebration of community and perseverance. Children played in bouncy houses, a petting zoo, and a variety of game setups, wearing costumes ranging from classic biblical figures to…
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The life of a Buddhist warrior monk calls me
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I am not what I do. I am not the articles I write, the assignments I turn in, the sports that I play or the parties I attend. And yet, all of those things are, and I am. Since reading a variety of books on Buddhist lifestyles, most notably “Saltwater Buddha” by Jaimal Yogis…
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Ventura Community celebrates Chinese New Year
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As an orange gets tossed back and forth between the Chinese lion dancers, high-energy music fuels the performers, eventually leading them off the stage and into the audience. Weaving through rows of families, high school volunteers and other performers in the cultural showcase, the lion dance set the joyful tone for the rest of…
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ICE actions reflect a change in intentions
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ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] was designed to keep America safe, but today, it works nearly unregulated, endangering American citizens and non-citizens alike. Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet and U.S. citizen, was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 7 while leaving a protest. On Jan. 24, ICE agents shot and killed…
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Thou shall debate about Shakespeare
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Bruno Shapiro: Reading Shakespeare’s works is, as he described life in “King John,” “as tedious as a twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man,” or, plainly, repetitive and boring. The California Department of Education requires that public high school students learn to study and analyze a variety of Shakespeare’s works as…
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NPHS adapts new teaching strategies in the IB Middle Years Programme
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Newbury Park High School [NPHS] is taking the initiative to transition to the International Baccalaureate [IB] Middle Years Programme [MYP]. The IB MYP is designed to teach students aged 11-16, middle schoolers and lower-classmen in high school the fundamental learning skills needed in IB classes. Currently, IB classes are available to juniors and seniors…
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“Heated Rivalry” gives queer athletes a voice
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“Heated Rivalry,” a series about two young hockey rivals who fall in love, has skated to popularity and won the hearts of all kinds of fans. As a bisexual man who is a boxer and a mixed martial artist, a participant in a sport famously lacking and unaccepting of queer members, I have known…
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Local escape rooms create a magical world of wonder
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The Oaks Mall is home to a little-known joy of Thousand Oaks, a place of wonder, imagination and an activity to foster childlike whimsy. 101 Escape Rooms at the Oaks, founded in October of 2022, is home to five escape rooms: “Popstar Revenge,” “Purgatory,” “Wrecked,” a seasonal Christmas room: “Rudolph’s Winter Adventure” and most…
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Local community discusses eating disorders and body image
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Introduction Eating disorders are classified as serious and sometimes fatal illnesses that can cause significant ailments to one’s overall mental and physical health. Local Ventura County healthcare professionals, experts, students and community members have shared their insights and experiences with eating disorders and the impact of social media on self-perception. Information Disordered eating includes…