Login
View our Green Edition
 |
Green Edition to view a current pdf of the print version (green edition) of the Ojai Valley News as well as two years of back issues. |
Subscription Plans
When you subscribe to our print version for $1 per week, you also receive the online version at no extra cost.
| Duration: | 1 year |
| Price: | $52 |
New subscribers — purchase the online version of the Ojai Valley News for only $25 per year.
| Duration: | 15 months |
| Price: | $25 |
News from around the Ojai Valley
Alternative energy supplier switch delayed for some local customers
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 22 May 2018 16:00
Andra Belknap, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai City Council and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted in late 2017 to join the Clean Power Alliance (CPA), known at the time as Los Angeles Community Choice Energy (LACCE).
CPA is a community-choice aggregation program that represents a collective of local governments across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. CPA provides clean, renewable energy that will be distributed by Southern California Edison (SCE).
Commercial energy users in the Ojai Valley were scheduled to receive CPA power by June but new regulations from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), delayed that. Now, neither residential nor commercial customers will have access to CPA power until early 2019, said Ted Bardacke, CPA's executive director.
See also: “Energy users now have a choice,” Ojai Valley News, Feb. 22, 2018
Gables artist holds garden-variety paint-out
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 22 May 2018 15:32
Ojai Valley News photo by PerryVan Houten
The Rembrandts, a painting class taught by The Gables resident Marta Nelson, held a “Pleine-Aire Paint-Out” at The Gables gardens May 19. The outdoor event attracted more than a dozen artists who worked to capture the garden's flowers, trees and buildings in watercolor. Nelson said she hopes to hold two or three more paint-outs, leading up to an exhibit and a contest offering prizes.
Tiny homes talk tabled: Officials want more information before deciding
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 17 May 2018 14:27
Andra Belknap, Ojai Valley News reporter
Ojai's Planning Commission spent more than three hours May 16 discussing a draft ordinance that would permit tiny homes as accessory dwelling units in the city.
Commission members voted 5 to 1 to table the issue for additional study. The matter is tentatively scheduled to come back to the Commission during its 6 p.m. regular meeting June 20.
The draft ordinance presents tiny homes as a potential affordable-housing option, though Community Development Director Luke Connolly clarified the homes are merely “affordable by design” due to their small size.
See also: “Ojai City Council sends tiny-home ordinance back for ‘refinement’" Ojai Valley News, March 28, 2018.
See also: “Council supports applying for tiny home village grant,” Ojai Valley News, March 1, 2018.
Read more: Tiny homes talk tabled: Officials want more information before deciding
Group to study drought’s economic impacts
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 17 May 2018 13:27
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
A study is in the works to show the economic impacts to the Ojai Valley that could result from a prolonged drought.
The Drought Economic Analysis is being spearheaded by directors of the Ventura River Water District (VRWD).
“It's looking more and more like, as the drought continues, we're all going to have to make some big financial decisions,” said VRWD general manager Bert Rapp.
The decisions include how much money should be invested to ensure enough water to sustain the Ojai Valley through the drought.
The VRWD Board of Directors began discussing an economic analysis in February.
Taking science for granted: Ojai Education Foundation gives annual funds
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 17 May 2018 13:24
Photo courtesy of Natalie Hay
Nordhoff High School Junior Abby Runyon (from left) looks through a Galileoscope as teachers Naiyma Houston and Natalie Hay supervise.
Andra Belknap, Ojai Valley News reporter
Abby Runyan, a Nordhoff High School (NHS) junior, will help freshmen science students build Galileoscopes during her senior year.
Runyan had the opportunity to use a Galileoscope, a specialty telescope, while attending a science-based summer program at U.C. Davis.
“I realized how fortunate I was to learn science in such a unique way, and that many of my fellow students back at (NHS) did not have this opportunity, since many of my friends do not have access to telescopes or the ability to go to a local observatory. So I thought I would ‘pay it forward’ by finding a way to have other students experience astrophysics by bringing Galileoscopes to (NHS),” Runyan said.
Runyan pitched her idea to NHS science teacher Natalie Hay.
In school garden, you can surf without the turf
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 17 May 2018 13:21
Ojai Valley News photo by Andra Belknap
Brooke Grigsby (left), a Mira Monte sixth grader, leads a tour through the school’s new “garden of knowledge.”
Andra Belknap, Ojai Valley News reporter
Mira Monte Elementary School students, parents and community members celebrated the school’s recently installed “garden of knowledge” with an after-school sparkling-cider toast May 15.
Mira Monte Principal Katherine White saluted “all we can accomplish when we work together,” while a colleague translated her remarks into Spanish.
The new drought-tolerant garden was made possible with the help of a $6,400 turf-removal grant from the Casitas Municipal Water District (CMWD).
Ojai Valley News photo by Andra Belknap
Maddison Duenas (right) shares the story of Mira Monte’s recently installed drought tolerant landscape May 15.
Police blotter as of May 17, 2018
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 17 May 2018 13:15
Crimes
• Assault with a deadly weapon was reported at Lake Casitas May 7.
• Criminal threats were reported in the 700 block of Drown Avenue May 12.
• Petty theft was reported in the 800 block of Daly Road May 12.
• Petty theft was reported in the 1100 block of Maricopa Highway May 13.
Arrests
• A 38-year-old man was arrested in the 200 block of Monte Via May 5 for battery. Bail was set at $2,500.
• A 25-year-old man was arrested at Lake Casitas May 6 for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $5,000.
• A 23-year-old man was arrested in the 1100 block of Mariano Drive May 6 for battery on a peace officer, for resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer or EMT, and for providing false identification. Bail was set at $27,500.
Supervisors nix housing project on Petrochem site
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 17 May 2018 08:40
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has put the brakes on a plan to build nearly 700 multi-family housing units on the former Petrochem site south of Casitas Springs.
During a two-hour public hearing May 15, the Board screened a General Plan amendment to change the land-use designation from industrial to residential and open space.
The hearing was intended to determine whether the applicant, developer Vince Daly of Westlake Village, should move ahead with investing time and money into a development proposal.
Daly said the 4-1 vote has left the project dead in its tracks.
Under Daly's proposal, 694 housing units would have been built on approximately 40 acres, with the remaining 19 acres devoted to open space.
Chautauqua group plans to tackle more local issues
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2018 15:56
Photo by Simone Noble
Community leaders discuss the issue of water in the Ojai Valley during the Ojai Chautauqua's “Water — Part II” panel April 15.
Andra Belknap, Ojai Valley News reporter
After four years of hosting community discussions on national issues ranging from fracking to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Ojai Chautauqua's organizers have decided to shift their discussion toward issues that more directly impact the local community.
The group's April discussion on the Ojai Valley's water supply and the November 2017 panel on local tourism were the most well-attended events in the organization's history, said Ojai Chautauqua Executive Director Andy Gilman.
And more panels on local topics are in the works, he said.
Gilman and his Chautauqua colleagues aim to host eight discussions on local issues over the next 12 months. Topics will include local housing availability, the valley's changing demographics, local drug use, Ojai's public schools, air quality, short-term rentals and continued discussions of tourism and water.
Council debates whether stormwater capture funds are money down the drain
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2018 12:32
Ojai Valley News archive photo by Tim Dewar
The Ojai City Council voted to allocate funds to look at ways to better capture stormwater.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
The city of Ojai will spend $15,000 in seed money for the first of a three-phase, stormwater-capture-and-recharge study.
At its May 8 meeting, the Ojai City Council voted 3-2 to move forward on the request by Councilmen William Weirick and Randy Haney to fund the first phase of the study.
The Comparative Water Demand & Recharge Analysis would be conducted by Sierra Watershed Progressive (SWP), a Northern California consulting group.
After studying the proposal and preparing a report for the Council, Ojai City Manager Steve McClary said the request for seed money is rather low risk and also rather low reward.
“Because obviously if you don't go forward with the next phases you have information — and potentially some very good information — but obviously that's not going to put any water back into the ground or do things to improve our overall water strategy,” McClary said.
Debate set as follow up to recent water talk
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2018 12:19
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Valley Democratic Club will host a debate on water at its next meeting May 21.
“Water in the Ojai Valley” is a follow-up to the Ojai Chautauqua Panel of April 15 and will include panelists Russ Baggerly from Casitas Municipal Water District, Richard Hajas of the Ojai Valley Water Advisory Group, Bert Rapp from the Ventura River Water District and Dennis Rice of the Ojai Valley Defense Fund.
Suzanne Harvey of the Ojai Valley Democratic Club will serve as moderator.
An audience question-and-answer session will follow the debate.
The free event begins at 7 p.m. at Help of Ojai's Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana St., next to Ojai City Hall.
Space may be limited, so RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Labor shortage could cause Twice Sold to fold
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2018 12:08
Ojai Valley News photo by Andra Belknap
Shirlene Folk supervises Twice-Sold Tales May 14.
Andra Belknap, Ojai Valley News reporter
Twice-Sold Tales, the downtown Ojai used bookstore that supports the valley's three public libraries, is facing a crisis.
After more than 20 years as an Ojai fixture, the all-volunteer bookstore may have to close its doors, said Ojai Valley Library Friends and Foundation (OVLFF) President Jon Lambert.
OVLFF has searched for someone to serve as a volunteer bookstore manager or volunteer coordinator for the past two months to no avail, he said.
“If we cannot find someone to step up, we may have to close the bookstore,” Lambert said.
The bookstore currently has one manager, Susan Bee, but it requires two managers to function, he said.
The ideal candidate would be able to work at Twice-Sold Tales six to 10 hours each week, Bee said.
Area callers will be hit with triple-digit inflation June 2
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2018 11:10
Ojai Valley News photo by Tim Dewar
A new area-code overlay will change how local calls are dialed beginning June 2.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
Starting June 2, Ventura County will no longer be only the “805.”
According to the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a new area code is being added because available telephone prefixes in the 805 area code are just about exhausted.
The overlay of a new 820 area code will change the way local calls are made.
Although the existing area code will remain and current phone numbers will not be changed, callers will have to press “1” plus the three-digit area code for all local calls from landline telephone numbers within the 805 and 820 area codes before entering the seven-digit telephone number.
For cell phone calls, the area code needs to be used for local calls, but pressing “1” is not necessary.
Caltrans puts on a slide show
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 15 May 2018 15:14
Photos by Bob Kilpatrick
California Department of Transportation workers use a helicopter (above photo) May 15 on Highway 33 to lift sheets of metal netting. Workers prepare to affix the netting (below photo) as the helicopter lowers it. The sheets are being put in place to help stabilize the slopes and control rock slides six miles north of Ojai.
Local agencies coming together to talk water
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 15 May 2018 11:16
Ojai Valley News photo by Tim Dewar
Water agencies have begun informal meetings to plan for what could happen if Lake Casitas dries up.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
What can be done to prevent Lake Casitas from drying up and what's the plan if it does?
Those are the fundamental questions a group of representatives from water agencies and local governments in the Ojai Valley will try to answer.
At the invitation of Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett and California Assemblywoman Monique Limón, the group started meeting in Bennett's office in November.
Bennett said the group wants to bring unity and clarity to water planning for the Ojai Valley.
Latest sports
Ojai athletes head to CIF-SS track and field finals
Photo by Carl Huffman
Thacher junior Caroline Delvecchio (right) flies over a hurdle in a recent race at Carpinteria High School.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Thacher School track and field team will send three athletes to the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) championship meet May 19 and May 20 at El Camino College.
To advance to the section finals, athletes needed to place in the top nine at the CIF-SS preliminaries held May 12 at Carpinteria High School.
Junior hurdler Caroline Delvecchio had a great day in the prelims after placing second in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15:08 seconds. Delvecchio then came back and placed fifth in the 300-meter hurdles, finishing in 47.47 seconds.
Register to Read More
Playoff run plays out: Nordhoff tennis team makes its mark in May
Photo submitted
The Nordhoff boys’ tennis team celebrates after its first-round playoff victory over Eleanor Roosevelt High School.
The Nordhoff High School (NHS) boys’ tennis team had an eventful month in May during which it won a Tri-Valley League title and made it to the second round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
In the Tri-Valley League (TVL) Tournament, the doubles team of Victor Becker, and Dakota Martin won the TVL doubles championship, defeating Connor Callahan and Max Golbert from The Thacher School, 6-3, 6-4.
In singles play, sophomores Elias Simon and Shawn Rothermel finished in third and fourth place, respectively. The league doubles title means that NHS boys’ tennis players have won three individual league championships in the last four years; Mikel Elizalde and Thomas Jeffares won the Frontier League doubles title in 2015, and Max Prestwich won the Frontier League singles title in 2016.
Register to Read More
Errors do in Lady Rangers
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff freshman Marley Loza stretches to make a catch against the Lancaster Eagles.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Nordhoff High School (NHS) softball team lost its first-round playoff game to the Lancaster Eagles, 3-0,after committing five errors and stranding runners on base. “It’s not how you win games, especially in the playoffs,” said head coach Don Rodarte.
The Lady Rangers managed to get runners on first and third in the bottom half of the first inning, but could not come up with a clutch hit to bring their runners home. The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when the Eagles were able to push two runners across home plate. They never looked back from there.
“We threatened early and then got some runners in scoring position again late in the game, but it just wasn’t our day. We weren’t sharp or focused like we needed to be,” added Rodarte.
Register to Read More
Sundowners hit quarter mark
The Sundowner golf league finished the first quarter of its season May 15 at Soule Park Golf Course and basically all of the teams are still in the running for the 2018 Callender Cup.
Millie's Duffers were able to hang on to the top spot despite scoring a pedestrian total 55 points.
They were led by the play of Robin Williams,who owns the lowest handicap of all players in the league with only 0.75 strokes per nine holes. He shot an even-par round of 36 for 19 points. Williams' round tied with Ken Wiksell, of Chiefs IE, for lowest-gross total by any player on the day.
Williams was supported by Brad Weidlich, who remains on fire as part of his breakout season. He shot a gross-41 for 19 points and has the most points scored this season by any player in the league. Weidlich, a teacher at Ojai Valley School, is regularly posting stellar rounds.
Register to Read More
Casitas rowers hope to pull in national title
Photo by Wendy Gillett
Casitas Rowing attended the U.S. Rowing Southwest Junior Regional Championships in Sacramento May 4 through May 6 and medaled in three big events, securing an invite to the national championships for the men’s lightweight double. In the freshmen women’s and men’s boats, the Casitas rowers earned silver medals and the men’s varsity boat got bronze medals that brought them one step closer to a national title. Joe Wells (from left), Alex Legaspi and head coach Eric Gillett have been training all year with one goal in mind and their placement at the regional event earned them an invitation to Lake Natoma June 8 through June 10.
Golf event for Mele family set for June
Photo submitted
The Ojai Valley community is being encouraged to grab their golf clubs and take part in a June 2 fundraiser for the family of Anthony Mele who was fatally stabbed April 19 in Ventura. The proceeds from the tournament will go to support Mele’s 5-year-old daughter, Willow. The event will be held at the Soule Park Golf Course and will tee off at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $150 per golfer and several sponsorship options are available for individuals or businesses interested in doing more. For more information, contact Steven Garibay at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A GoFundMe account has also been set up for Willow and can be found at www.gofundme.com/anthony-mele.
Ojai youth compete in QuickStart event
Photo by Paul Del Signore
Logan Kirchner (left) and Degan Morris participate in the QuickStart Tennis Challenge.
The 11th annual QuickStart Tennis Challenge brought 45 students from Topa Topa Elementary School, Sunset School, Oak Grove School, Ojai Valley School, Mira Monte Elementary School and Montessori School of Ojai together to participate in competitive play on the courts of the Ojai Valley Athletic Club during the 118th Ojai Tennis Tournament. All participating students played at least two matches on the smaller-sized courts using low-density balls and student-sized rackets. The final match consisted of two teams from Ojai Valley School; after a long battle, Andrew Little and Jeremy Danino triumphed over Jack Pointner and Austin Haase. After the award ceremony, the students were treated to a free barbecue provided by Ojai Rotary Club at Libbey Park to catch some of the Pac-12 tennis action.
Rangers suffer hard loss in softball season finale
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Sidney Wimpee, a Nordhoff High School junior, hurls a ball to the plate in a game earlier this season.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Nordhoff High School (NHS) softball team faced Grace Brethren in a huge game May 8. With a win, the Lady Rangers would have claimed a share of the Frontier League title along with Grace Brethren, but a loss would cement a spot in second place heading into the playoffs.
Despite playing and practicing well leading up to the game, NHS came out flat and the Lancers rolled to a 10-0 win.
“We just didn’t execute and we suffered from a lack of effort overall,” said head coach Don Rodarte. “We didn't make adjustments and they got us. It’s as simple as that.”
Register to Read More
Nordhoff volleyball recognized for classroom performance
Photo submitted
Nordhoff High School volleyball team members pose with their CIF academic banner. The team includes (back row from left) coach Rene Mauch, Devin Clawson, Julian Hankins, Leslie Perez, Salma Hernandez, Lauren Raymond, Grace Bergmann, Roni Kern, Stella Moore, Ava Drury, Sasha Frazier, Lauren Dingman, Cher Glass, (front row from left) Kolbe Fink and Sadee Broida. Not pictured is Abigail Bossart.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Nordhoff High School (NHS) girls’ volleyball team wasn’t just hitting volleyballs this season, they were also hitting the books. Team members posted a 3.91 grade point average (GPA) during the first semester of the academic year.
Nordhoff’s 3.91 team GPA was good enough to earn the CIF Southern Section’s Team Academic Champion award and the team was honored at an Anaheim Angels game.
Back in 1989-1990 the NHS girls’ track team won the same honor with a 3.54 GPA. “Ken Reeves had some really big rosters back then, so that was a significant accomplishment as well,” said head volleyball coach and athletic director Rene Nakao-Mauch.
Register to Read More
Two local students tee it up at CIF-SS Northern regionals
Ojai Valley News photo by Ted Cotti
Villanova’s Sixten Sahle hammers a drive at the CIF Southern Section Northern Regional Tournament.
Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent
A pair of seniors from local high schools teed it up at Soule Park May 7 in the CIF-Southern Section Individual Golf Northern Regional Championships.
Jesse Brooks, from Nordhoff High School, fired a career-best 79 while Sixten Sahle, from Villanova Preparatory School, posted an 82.
Each qualified as the top individual players from their team during Tri-Valley League play.
Monday’s competition — which featured 92 elite players from 14 schools — was won by San Luis Obispo’s Casey Leebrick, who fired a five-under 67.
Austin Liu, of Oak Park, and Owen Avrit, of Arroyo Grande, tied for second with 68s.
Neither Brooks nor Sahle made the cut.
Register to Read More
Deason has a huge week
Former Nordhoff High School baseball star Cody Deason — current University of Arizona ace — earned national attention recently. Deason faced the No. 9-ranked UCLA Bruins and pitched a complete game while only giving up five hits. He also struck out a career-high 11 batters in the game.
For his efforts, Deason was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week and the College Baseball National Player of the Week.
Deason is 5-4 on the season and has an impressive 2.36 ERA, which is among the national leaders for starting pitchers.
Nordhoff teams shine at league championships
Photo by Carl Huffman
Thanks to efforts by student-athletes including Emerson McNeil (above) the Nordhoff High School girls’ track and field team narrowly won the Frontier League championship this year. NHS defeated the Fillmore Flashes, 132-131, to claim first-place honors. On the boys’ side, Fillmore managed to out-point the Rangers, winning, 132-110. The Thacher School and Villanova Preparatory School also competed in the league finals.
Buck’s big day: Massive round helps move Scramblers up the board
James Casey, Ojai Valley News contributor
Millie's Duffers made a big jump in the standings to take over the lead after three weeks of play in the Sundowner Golf League.
Millie's was formed by team captain Adrian Frape two seasons ago, and it appears this may be the year that they make a run at the Callender Cup.
Millie's was led May 8 by Mike Montano, who fired a gross-41 for 21 points to lead his team.
He was supported by Frape, who had three birdies in a row and finished with a gross-38 for 20 points.
Brad Weidlich also continued his good play with 20 points to lead the team to a 61-point total and help them take the early season lead.
Register to Read MoreOjai Valley Real Estate Guide
Special publications
OVN promotional video
Enjoy our Ojai Valley News promotional video featuring Max the Wonderdog.