Author: Mika Inouye

  • Rebecca Grossman’s conviction upheld after appeal

    Rebecca Grossman’s conviction upheld after appeal

    On Tuesday, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld the Feb. 23, 2024 conviction of Rebecca Grossman, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, for the second-degree murder of 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his 8-year-old brother Jacob Iskander. Grossman was involved in a hit-and-run at a crosswalk in Westlake Village on Sept. 29, 2020,…

  • The community of Conejo Valley supports one another through times of crisis

    The community of Conejo Valley supports one another through times of crisis

    Introduction: The strength of a community is best revealed when faced with times of crisis, whether that be natural disasters, economic hardship or political uncertainty. In the past 10 years, the community of Ventura County has seen one another through the good and bad, through destruction and rebirth. In the midst of a time…

  • Growing up means rediscovering who I am

    Growing up means rediscovering who I am

    Growing up, I was a really good kid. Not just in the listening to my parents or getting good grades kind of way, but in the sense that I was good at being a kid. The spirit and magic of childhood were at the core of my identity, and I leaned into it completely,…

  • Examining the child influencer culture

    Examining the child influencer culture

    The security and financial regulations for children in the media have been a heavily debated and controversial topic. As social media is a new reality for the future of entertainment, the position minors have in the industry is growing rapidly with the newfound platforms. The safeguarding put into place for minor content has raised…

  • “People We Meet on Vacation” found a home in my heart

    Queuing up “People We Meet on Vacation,” my expectations were low and my patience for another un-needed book to movie adaptation even lower. When the credits started to roll, I was stunned with love and admiration for the dying art of rom-com movies, and filled with motivation to live my own life like it…

  • Student nutrition gains the wings to grow in CVUSD

    Student nutrition gains the wings to grow in CVUSD

    Food is essential for fueling students’ bodies and brains, and the Conejo Valley Unified School District’s [CVUSD] nutritional staff is dedicated to delivering healthy and diverse meals for all students on campus, free of cost. From planning the menu to seeing the food appear in each school’s kitchen, Sarah Phillips has taken the reins…

  • Episodes of overstimulation flood kids media

    Episodes of overstimulation flood kids media

    Next to candy or dessert, TV was always a special treat for me as a child, and I found myself glued to the screen whenever I had the rare opportunity to watch a show or movie. Today, it shocks me when kids can barely sit through a 20 minute episode of “Cocomelon”– although I…

  • “Seize the day” with these movies made for fall…

    A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: If you are looking for an escape from the holiday chaos and wish to slip into a world of soft jazz and nostalgia, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is the perfect fall movie staple. The slow action and satisfying sounds create the perfect ambiance for a quiet night in, and the…

  • Gymnasts stick the landing on and off the mat

    Gymnasts stick the landing on and off the mat

    With deep breaths in and out and arms outstretched, a gymnast must maintain strong focus to perfect their smooth and often dangerous routine. As mental strength is the key to executing a good routine, a gymnast must maintain perfect balance both on the beam and in life.  As a gymnast at Victory Gymnastics Academy…

  • OCS expands to become a TK-12 school

    OCS expands to become a TK-12 school

    Oaks Christian School [OCS] is scheduled to open a transitional kindergarten [TK]-third grade campus at 975 Evenstar Avenue in Westlake Village in August 2026, expanding the institution to encompass grades TK-12. Rob Black, Head Of School, announced the news on March 26 at OC’s annual gala event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  The…