THOUSAND OAKS : Graduating Seniors Offered Safe Fun

Spurred by the concerns of parents, Thousand Oaks city, school and parks officials have collaborated with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to offer graduation night activities for seniors looking for safe fun tonight.

The fun will run through the night for seniors with student identification and their guests. The Goebel Adult Center will feature music, professional comedy and dancing with free drinks and pizza from 10 p.m. to sunrise, and a breakfast at 5 a.m.

The Conejo Village Bowl is offering free bowling from midnight to sunrise, officials said. Free pizza will be offered, and drinks will be sold in the coffee shop, General Manager Reed Freeman said.

A $10 admission charge covers both sites, and a bus will shuttle participants between them, officials said. Only students who get their admission tickets stamped each hour will be eligible for a $1,000 cash prize.

As many as 1,500 students are expected to participate today in commencement ceremonies at four high schools in the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

Unlike past years, graduation fell too late for Thousand Oaks students to go to Disneyland after the ceremony. A few weeks ago, concerned parents approached city and school officials asking for activities to keep teen-agers from driving around in search of parties tonight.

Sheriff’s deputies will be stationed at both sites, along with Conejo Recreation and Park District staff members and volunteers, officials said.