The Thousand Oaks Experience

* As a proud resident of Thousand Oaks for 15 years, I found Brenda Loree’s column, “Missing Out on the Thousand Oaks Experience,” (Oct. 25) a little aggravating.

She said she did not see the appeal of Thousand Oaks and commented that it doesn’t even have a real downtown. Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, there are many things in Thousand Oaks that perhaps she has not experienced. Some of these are:

* Family appeal. Thousand Oaks has great schools and great programs for kids. Has she ever been to our library? How about those Saturday mornings at the soccer fields?

* Safety. This is a very important factor these days. Although all cities have crime, it’s nice to know our crime rate is one of the lowest in the United States.

* Beauty. I travel all over the country and Thousand Oaks is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve come across. The mountains that surround the city give you a nice rural feeling.

* Culture. Has Ms. Loree ever been to the Civic Arts Plaza? It is something Thousand Oaks residents are proud of and it’s great to have the arts and entertainment worlds right in our backyard.

About that survey in which Ladies Home Journal ranked Thousand Oaks as one of the best places in America for women, I couldn’t agree more. It even has the world’s greatest woman: my wife.

MARC SCHILLINGER

Thousand Oaks