News from around the Ojai Valley
Flood of concern: Ventura water lawsuits spur Ojai Valley action
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:34
Photo by Greg A. Cooper
A standing-room-only crowd packs the Boyd Center Tuesday night for a town hall meeting on a water lawsuit.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
"Have you ever seen this many people pack a room in Ojai?" someone asked attorney Ryan Blatz on Tuesday night, moments before a town hall got underway on a contentious water lawsuit involving thousands of Ojai Valley property owners.
Rescued barn owl ready to fly home
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:27
Photo courtesy ORC
A barn owl hit by a car and saved by a CHP officer recovers last month at the Ojai Raptor Center.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
An owl that was hit by a car in Santa Barbara and brought to Ojai to heal was scheduled to be released back into the wild Thursday evening.
Ojai celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:18
Ojai Valley News photos by Perry Van Houten
The Ojai Valley Youth Foundation hosted the 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Jan. 20 at Libbey Park. The event featured speakers, musicians, poets, essay winners and choirs, including the Monica Ros Singers (pictured). Ojai Mayor Johnny Johnston presented a proclamation to 2020 MLK Day committee teens (from left) Ela Ruf, Karen Murillo and Samantha Williamson, expressing the city’s support for the recognition of MLK Day.
Connie Biggers brings Nebraska work ethic to help safeguard Ojai
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:15
Ojai Valley News photo Perry Van Houten
2019 Ojai Living Treasure Connie Biggers
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
"Boots on the ground" is one of Connie Biggers' favorite expressions, and it describes the way she likes to get a job done, whether it's helping homeless veterans or giving scholarships to local students.
"You get in and you do it, and you don't talk about it," she told the Ojai Valley News.
Nordhoff students learn life lessons in Greater Good Leadership Program
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:13
Photo courtesy Mike Donohue
The Greater Good Leadership Program class poses with Cameron Avery (center) of the band Tame Impala.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Greater Good Leadership Program at Nordhoff High School has entered its second semester of its pilot class, and is going strong.
Council tackles process for naming facilities and placing plaques on public property
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:06
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
On Jan. 14, the Ojai City Council made two separate motions regarding the Parks and Recreation Commission’s proposed policy for naming of city facilities, memorials, plaques and markers on public property.
The first motion unanimously approved a motion made for Mayor Johnny Johnston and Councilman Ryan Blatz to form a subcommittee to take another crack at writing a policy.
Peregrine falcons back from the brink
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:05
Photo by Jesse Grantham
The once “poster child” of endangered species in North America was the peregrine falcon. On the road to extinction in North America in the 1950s and 1960s, many feared the bird would be lost as one of the most charismatic of North American avifauna, according to ornithologist Jesse Grantham of Ojai.
CMWD Director Jim Word to retire after 23 years on board
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:03
Photo courtesy CMWD
Jim Word
After 23 years of service on the Casitas Municipal Water District Board of Directors, Division II Director Jim Word is stepping down.
On Jan. 8, Word announced his retirement, effective Feb. 1.
CMWD OKs two new bridges over Robles-Casitas Canal
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 10:01
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
A new steel pedestrian-equestrian bridge will span the Robles diversion canal at this spot. A contract for the new Rice bridge was awarded this week.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Construction contracts were awarded this week for the replacement of two bridges over the canal that diverts water from the Ventura River to Lake Casitas.
Students, artists, nurses and more share $110,000-plus from Ojai Women's Fund
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 09:57
Photo by Stephen Adams
Representatives from the organizations receiving grants gather for the award presentation Jan. 16. (First row, from left) Ally Gialketsis, Molly Livingston, Linnea Hall, Susan Kapadia. (Second row) Tiffany Morse, Beverly Critcher, David White, Patti Birmingham and Donna Granata.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
The Ojai Women’s Fund awarded more than $110,000 in grants last week to 10 nonprofit organizations in the Ojai Valley.
OWF presented the 2019 grant awards Jan. 16 at a standing room only event at the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club.
District Attorney's Office receives complaints about Ventura council's secret vote to sue
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- Published: Friday, 24 January 2020 09:33
Marianne Ratcliff, Ojai Valley News editor
When 10,500 certified letters containing summonses and legal notices were mailed to Ojai Valley and Ventura residents starting Jan. 8, people wanted to know who on the Ventura City Council made the decision to sue so many property owners, companies, organizations and public agencies.
Read more: District Attorney's Office receives complaints about Ventura council's secret vote to sue
Police blotter as of Jan. 22, 2020
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- Published: Thursday, 23 January 2020 11:39
Crimes
• Animal cruelty was reported in the 00 block of Mountain View Street Jan. 11.
• False impersonation on an internet website was reported in the 100 block of North Padre Juan Avenue Jan. 12.
• Assault with a deadly weapon was reported in the 300 block of Prospect Street Jan. 13.
"Your Water Your Voice" town hall meeting to be livestreamed Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m.
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- Published: Monday, 20 January 2020 03:23
The city of Ventura is spending millions of dollars to gain control of Ojai Valley water rights, seeking “a preliminary and permanent injunction reducing [Ojai’s] uses of surface water and groundwater affecting the surface and/or subsurface flow of the Ventura River.”
To help inform the public on the water lawsuit, the Ojai Valley News will host a town hall meeting Jan. 21 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Boyd Center, 510 Park Road, Ojai.
The OVN is hosting this event with an expert panel including: Ryan Blatz Esq.-Ojai FLOW, Dr. Jeff Loebl Esq., Richard Hajas-Chairman OBGMA and Ojai FLOW, Andrea Neal, Ph.D.-Chair Scientific Officer Primary Water Resources, Vickie Peters-Environmental Planning and Environmentalist, and Jeff Palmer-Ojai Valley Sanitary District general manager.
The panelists will help explain the situation, offer advice and answer questions.
Also in attendance will be Michelle Sevilla on behalf of California State Assemblymember Monique Limón.
The event will be livestreamed (see below), and shown on public access Channel 10.
Water will not be provided (get used to it).
California attacking fracking
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 12:14
Screen shot from California Department of Justice press conference
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announces federal lawsuit to block fracking plan.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
California is suing the Trump administration over plans to open more than 1 million acres of federal lands to oil drilling and fracking.
Ventura-Ojai water war heats up: Residents look for answers at upcoming meetings
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 09:21
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Local water experts and elected officials say legal action by the Ventura City Council against thousands of water users in the Ojai Valley is an unneccessary and costly step toward a sustainable watershed.
King tribute Monday
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 09:13
Ojai will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 20, at Libbey Park.
The 20th annual event is free and starts at 10 a.m. The theme of this year’s event is “Pay Attention: Inspiring Change Together.”
Measure C wording set for ballot
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 09:12
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The lone city of Ojai measure on the March 3 primary ballot is Measure C, a proposed change to the hotel tax, or transient occupancy tax.
Rose Valley reins in rainbow
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 09:10
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
Rose Valley, in the mountains above Ojai, saw a rainbow, but very little rain, from a weather system that moved into the area the morning of Jan. 9.
Supervisors OK 45-day moratorium on hemp cultivation in certain areas
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 09:08
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Hemp growers will be prohibited from planting their crops near schools and residential areas in Ventura County, under a temporary ban passed this week by county supervisors.
On Tuesday, the board passed a 45-day urgency ordinance that goes into effect immediately.
Chief Fryhoff leaves parting gift of mural and butterflies
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 09:05
Photo courtesy VSCO
The new “Pink Moment Beauty” mural painted in the Ojai Police Station was requested by former Chief Fryhoff and painted by 12-year-old Aubrey Larson.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Former Ojai Police Chief James Fryhoff has officially began his tenure as chief in Thousand Oaks, but, with help from a young community member, he left behind one final gift for the Ojai Police Station.
Council makes building second dwelling units easier
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 08:58
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
To comply with new state laws regarding accessory dwelling units, the Ojai City Council unanimously approved a motion to amend its current ordinance pertaining to ADUs Jan. 14.
OUSD OKs plan to livestream school board meetings
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 08:56
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Ojai Unified School District approved technology upgrades to allow live-streaming capabilities and amplification upgrades in its boardroom.
OUSD Board reviews proposals on increasing campus security
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 08:55
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Unified School District has completed a districtwide audit on campus safety with help from Doug Haines, CEO of Haines Security Solutions.
OUSD creates new Ojai Independent School, contracts with private vendor
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 08:37
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Ojai Unified School District Board received an update on its newest school – Ojai Independent School – from Superintendent Tiffany Morse.
At its Aug. 14 meeting, the OUSD Board unanimously approved two online learning programs: Edgenuity and Levered. Edgenuity was approved in part to be used for the independent education program that was also approved at that meeting to be implemented during the current school year.
Read more: OUSD creates new Ojai Independent School, contracts with private vendor
2 OUSD schools move out of red on state education 'Dashboard'
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- Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 08:35
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
At its Dec. 13 meeting, the Ojai Unified School District received a presentation from assistant superintendent Sherrill Knox, Ph.D., on students’ performance on state tests (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) and the state Department of Education Dashboard school scores.