News from around the Ojai Valley
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 looks 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.
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.
Upper Ojai firefighters to get new digs
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- Published: Thursday, 16 January 2020 21:44
Ojai Valley News photos by Perry Van Houten
Breaking ground and celebrating the start of construction on the new Fire Station 20 in Upper Ojai on Thursday are, from left, VCFD Division Chief Gary Monday, Assistant Fire Chief John McNeil, Deputy Fire Chief Dustin Gardner, 1st District Supervisor Steve Bennett, Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen and County Executive Officer Mike Powers.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
"This has been a long time coming,” said Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen, as he addressed dozens of dignitaries, firefighters, media and other attendees at Thursday morning’s groundbreaking event for the new Fire Station 20 in Upper Ojai.
County supervisors back plan to improve 6-mile stretch of Hwy. 33 between Casitas Springs and Mira Monte
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- Published: Thursday, 16 January 2020 21:34
Image providedHighway 33 through Oak View could look like this, with three traffic lanes instead of five, bike lanes and on-street parking, under recommendations backed Tuesday by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
County supervisors are supporting the recommendations of a study aimed at improving a 6-mile stretch of Highway 33 between Casitas Springs and Mira Monte.
Ojai City Council bans most combustion-engine tools in city limits
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- Published: Thursday, 16 January 2020 21:24
Ojai Valley News photo by Austin WidgerOjai Mayor Johnny Johnston uses a sledgehammer to smash one of the city's old gas-powered leaf blower backpacks at City Hall on Dec. 12. Last year, the city of Ojai decommissioned its gas-powered landscape maintenance equipment and switched over to clean-energy battery-electric equipment. On Jan. 14, the City Council voted for an ordinance to require all Ojai residents to stop using most of their combustion-engine tools.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Ojai City Council unanimously approved a motion banning all leaf blowers, non-riding lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, pull hedge trimmers, pull saws and lawn edgers with combustion engines in the city limits, at its Jan. 15 meeting.
This means that all of this gardening equipment must now be electric for residential and commercial users alike.
Police blotter as of Jan. 15, 2019
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- Published: Thursday, 16 January 2020 14:40
Crimes
• Prowling was reported in the 100 block of Apricot Street Jan. 8.
• Burglary was reported in the 500 block of Gorham Road Jan. 10.
• Brandishing and vandalism were reported in the 00 block of Mountain View Street Jan. 11.
Ojai residents respond to adjudication lawsuit at Ventura City Council meeting Jan. 13
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- Published: Tuesday, 14 January 2020 08:52
Video courtesy Ventura City Council
Ojai residents and Ojai City Councilmen Randy Haney and Bill Weirick, as well as Ojai Valley News publisher Laura Rearwin Ward, address the Ventura City Council Jan. 13 in regard to the city of Ventura's water adjudication cross-complaint against numerous Ojai Valley property owners. Ventura's cross-complaint is a response to litigation brought by the nonprofit Santa Barbara Channelkeeper against Ventura and the California State Water Resources Control Board.
First significant rainfall of 2020 expected this week
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- Published: Monday, 13 January 2020 13:51
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
Rose Valley saw a rainbow, but very little rain, from a weather system that moved through last Thursday. A cold front will bring greater amounts of rainfall to the area this week, according to forecasters.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Southern California is on track this week to receive the first significant rainfall of the new year.
“We have this little storm moving down from just south of Alaska, and it’s going to bring us a fairly strong cold front and precipitation for our area,” said Lisa Phillips, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
City council to discuss combustion engine ban, ADUs and more Tuesday
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- Published: Monday, 13 January 2020 11:47
The Ojai City Council will be holding its first regular meeting of 2020 Tuesday Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at Ojai City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St.
Read more: City council to discuss combustion engine ban, ADUs and more Tuesday
Supervisor candidate LaVere said he would ‘jump’ at chance to end lawsuit against thousands of Ojai Valley residents
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- Published: Monday, 13 January 2020 01:40
Video of meeting by Laura Rearwin Ward
Ojai Councilman William Weirick, right, asks Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere about why the city of Ventura is suing thousands of Ojai Valley residents over water use. The Democratic Club held the meeting Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Bell Arts Factory in Ventura.
By Marianne Ratcliff, Ojai Valley News editor
Matt LaVere is mayor of the city of Ventura, which is suing thousands of Ojai Valley residents over water use. So, on Jan. 12, when the business attorney spoke to Ventura Democratic Club members about running for 1st District county supervisor, he was asked to explain how he expects people he supports suing to vote for him.
“Thousands of people in the Ojai Valley just got served, and are having to pay hundreds of dollars each, plus hire an attorney to deal with this situation that Matt was part of in terms of voting with the Ventura City Council to file this action,” said Ojai Councilman William Weirick during the question-and-answer portion of the meeting at the Bell Arts Factory.
Future freshmen and new Nordhoff High students welcome to orientation Thursday, Jan. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Nordhoff High
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- Published: Sunday, 12 January 2020 09:55
An orientation for future Nordhoff freshmen and new students will be held on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Nordhoff cafetorium, 1401 Maricopa Highway.
"Potential students and their families will learn about our breadth and depth of academic, athletic and artistic programs and whether Nordhoff is the right campus for their high school experience," stated Principal Dave Monson in an email to the Nordhoff High School community. "If you know of families who are undecided or looking for a change, please share this with them."
For more information, call the high school at 805-640-4343. The Nordhoff High School link on the Ojai Unified School District website is: https://www.ojaiusd.org/o/nhs
45-day prohibition on outdoor growing of hemp taken up by Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 3:30 p.m.
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- Published: Saturday, 11 January 2020 15:08
Stock photo of hemp
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors will consider a temporary prohibition on the outdoor planting of industrial hemp within certain parts of the unincorporated area of Ventura County.
To read the proposed temporary prohibition, visit:
Ojai Valley Highway 33 study goes before Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m.
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- Published: Saturday, 11 January 2020 14:32
Cover of Ojai Valley Highway 33 study. To read it, visit: http://bosagenda.countyofventura.org/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=106109
The Ojai Valley Highway 33 Multimodal and Community Enhancement Study final draft is scheduled to be heard at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m.
The Board of Supervisors meets in the board room in the county Government Center, Administration Building, 800 S. Victoria Ave. , Ventura.
Ventura vs. Ojai water escalates: Ojai Valley flooded with summonses and legal notices in thousands of certified letters
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- Published: Saturday, 11 January 2020 12:55
Map providedArea groundwater basins map included with others in certified letters that are going out to Ojai Valley residents this week.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Thousands of property owners throughout the Ojai Valley are being sent notices or served summonses this week, regarding the city of Ventura’s cross-complaint to litigation brought by nonprofit Santa Barbara Channelkeeper against Ventura and California State Water Resources Control Board.
County plans that govern residents' lives for next 20 years ready for public comment through Feb. 27
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- Published: Saturday, 11 January 2020 00:36
The draft Environmental Impact Report for the county of Ventura 2040 General Plan Update is available for public review and comment beginning Monday, Jan. 13, and ending at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27.
The draft EIR, as well as the Public Review Draft 2040 General Plan and Public Review Draft 2040 General Plan Background Report, are available on the project website at https://vc2040.org/ .