November 7, 2019 THOUSAND OAKS Triple duty Firefighters from Station 30 in T.O. were first to arrive Your Community Partner Since 1998 at Borderline Acorn — Page 15 Circulation 39,305 | www.theacornonline.com | Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, North Ranch and Westlake BORDERLINE ONE YEAR LATER BORDERLINE ONE YEAR LATER MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers FOR A FRIEND—Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Don Aguilar kisses a paver brick he placed in memory of Sgt. Ron Helus on Nov. 1 at the memorial healing garden at Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks. Families and friends of the 12 people killed at Borderline Bar and Grill on Nov. 7, 2018, were invited to lay stones with messages inscribed on them. HEALING GARDEN Putting the pieces back together DEDICATION By Dawn Megli him that he was her hero and that WHERE [email protected] she and the couple’s son, Jordan, Conejo Creek Park North Remember the 12 miss him every day. 1379 E. Janss Road Twelve months. Twelve lives. See pages 12-13 as we remember Ron Helus, Cody Coffman, “Love you forever,” it read. Thousand Oaks It’s been one year since the Justin Meek, Alaina Housley, Noel Sparks, Blake Dingman, Jake Helus told the Acorn she wants shooting at Borderline Bar and Dunham, Kristina Morisette, Telemachus Orfanos, Sean Adler, her husband of 29 years “to be re- WHEN Grill claimed the lives of a dozen Dan Manrique and Mark Meza Jr. membered for the hero that he was Today, 3:15 p.m. innocent victims. Last Friday and that night, how selfless and brave Gates open 2:30 p.m. Saturday, families of those lost will be dedicated today—the one- On the back of her paver that he was to go in and save so many in the massacre met at Conejo year anniversary of the shooting. she positioned near the pond in people.” She said that in the wake PARKING Creek Park North to set in stone Before they placed the symbolic a pavilion bordered by Mexican of the tragedy she has seen more Once spots at the park are Untitled-2the memories 1 of their loved ones. pieces of stone in the ground, they sage, agave and oak trees, Karen love, compassion and kindness full, drivers will be directed11/1/2019 4:25:53to PM The families of the victims had wrote messages on the bottom to Helus, the widow of Borderline coming from the community than Conejo Creek South, where the opportunity to lay down pavers the sons, daughters, fathers and hero Sgt. Ron Helus, wrote a words can describe. they can catch a shuttle. at the memorial healing garden that husbands they lost last November. message to her husband telling — Please See Page 10 Hearts heal, bonds deepen LEANING ON EACH OTHER— for resilient Borderline crew The staff of By Dawn Megli [email protected] Borderline Bar and Grill meet up Oct. 27 at When Brian Hynes put his house up as collateral to get a loan to pur- Conejo Creek chase the Borderline Bar and Grill at the age of 27, his stepmother created Park North. Last a painting of the building at 99 Rolling Oaks Drive and gave it to him as year’s shooting a gesture of goodwill for his new endeavor. took five of their That painting hung on the wall in his office at Borderline for over a coworkers. The decade. When law enforcement allowed him back into the building for bar’s owners say the first time following their investigation into the Nov. 7 shooting that they intend to claimed 12 lives—five of whom were his employees—the first thing the reopen. 39-year-old did was find that painting and hang it back up on the wall. Twelve months after the shooting, the painting is now mounted behind Hynes’ desk at his new office in Westlake Village. The building on Rolling JOSEPH A. GARCIA — Please See Page 22 Acorn Newspapers Pet Emergencies Happen! 45AT26I We’re here for you 24/7 Backed by a team of Board Certified Specialists 805.492.2436 • vsecto.com 2967 N. Moorpark Road • Thousand Oaks 001_TOAcornIssue45.indd 1 11/6/2019 4:27:57 PM Thousand Oaks Acorn November 7, 2019 Page 3 BORDERLINE ONE YEAR LATER Survivors press pastBORDERLINE ONE YEAR LATER last November Shooting changed their lives, leading them to find their purpose By Dawn Megli [email protected] the Scherr Forum. When Tait speaks on Friday, After Alexis Tait survived the she will be wearing an angel shooting at the Borderline Bar wing necklace and Grill that killed 12 people, in honor of Mo- including one of her best friends, risette. Tait has Kristina Morisette, her mom gave spent the past her some words of advice: “You year making sure have a purpose in life. Go live that her friend your purpose.” isn’t forgotten. So the 24-year-old quit her job She celebrat- as a waitress to enroll in college to ed Morisette’s study to become a developmental 21st birthday pediatrician specializing in chil- at her friend’s dren with special needs. She said graveside. She the shooting made her and other brought a wrist- survivors stronger. band that said Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers “It gave us a backbone. Noth- “Verified 21,” a DIFFERENT WAYS TO COPE—Borderline shooting survivors Fernan Diamse, above, and ing’s getting in my way now,” she shot glass and a Tori Hiott, left. Diamse, 36, visits the healing garden on Friday. Hiott, 23, wears silicone said. “I’m meant to help others.” bottle of liquor Untitled-2 1 bands in memory of the Borderline shooting while enjoying11/1/2019 4:25:53 PMtime with friends. Tait has helped others by cre- so they could cel- ating a private Facebook page for ebrate her birth- shooting, but the 248 survivors of the shooting day with tequila shots, just like he lost two close friends—Dan No Delay in Trash & Recycling or Green Waste so they can stay connected and they had always planned. Manrique and Justin Meek—in Pick Up Due to the Veterans Day Holiday share updates, like when survi- Tait said she still feels her the massacre. Months after the The Veterans Day holiday falls on Monday, November 11. The vors had the opportunity to lay friend’s presence. As the commu- tragedy, Diamse was on the Cal collection of trash and recyclables or green waste will not be affected down a paver stone in the healing nity commemorates the one-year Lutheran University campus in the cities of Thousand Oaks & Newbury Park during the week of garden at Conejo Creek North anniversary of the shooting, she with Meek’s mother, Laura Lynn, Veterans Day, Nov. 10-16. Park that was built as a memorial wants to make sure that those who when he heard someone call out to the tragedy. were killed are never forgotten. “Fern,” which was Meek’s nick- Thank you and Happy Holiday The Simi Valley resident will “Forgetting means gone, name for Diamse. Newbury Disposal also share her story onstage Nov. 8 and they’re not gone,” she said. Diamse looked around, but at the Thousand Oaks Remembers “They’re still with us.” there was no one there. 1-800-41-TRASH To order services & to pay bills online go to www.ejharrison.com 45T17I community storytelling event at Fernan Diamse survived the — Please See Page 18 ONE AMGEN CENTER DRIVE THOUSAND OAKS, CA • WWW.AMGEN.COM 45AT62T 003_TOAcornIssue45.indd 1 11/6/2019 11:02:27 AM Thousand Oaks Acorn November 7, 2019 Page 5 BORDERLINE ONE YEAR LATER InvestigationBORDERLINE ONE incomplete YEAR LATER By Becca Whitnall [email protected] A year after the deadly shoot- ing at Borderline Bar and Grill, the 45TC314S Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has yet to finalize its investigation into the massacre. Officials say they expect to have a resolution soon. BIO-IDENTICAL “We are in the final stages,” sheriff’s department spokesper- HORMONE THERAPY son Sgt. Marta Bugarin said. “The one thing the sheriff doesn’t For all your wellness needs: want to do is put information out Functional Medicine, IV prematurely.” Vitamin Therapy, and Weight Loss 23ATMSC44K Sheriff Bill Ayub, who took Increase Your Energy, Your Libido and office just two days after the Nov. Your Overall Sense of Well-Being! 7 shooting that left 12 innocent RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers people dead, hasn’t released any WHAT’S NEXT?—The entrance to Borderline Bar and Grill on Rolling Lose up to 30 lbs in 30 days with the new details about the incident Oaks Drive remains boarded up. Most expect the building to be HCG diet – call today!! since holding a pair of joint press demolished at some point, but there’s been no official word. Saving marriages (and sanity) for 17 years. conferences with other investiga- tive agencies late last year. sis unit is examining Long as part learn, the more we can prevent Christine Farrell, MSN, FNPC Jane Hammond, PA-C Ayub said his department of an ongoing study into mass future shootings,” Bugarin said. Associate Clinical Professor, UCLA would not release its findings to shooters. The FBI declined to discuss its 343 S. Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 | (818) 865-8500 the public until the Ventura County “It’s basically an info-gath- investigation with the Acorn. Untitled-2district 1 attorney’s office had com- ering mission on each of these Details that have been provided 11/1/2019THOUSAND 4:25:53 PMOAKS pleted its own review, which won’t incidents, and the more we can — Please See Page 16 Acorn To Advertise Call (805) 367-8232 begin until the sheriff’s department finishes its own.