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News from around the Ojai Valley

'Clean Power Alliance' to power Ojai starting in February

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 December 2018 16:16

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

As part of the city of Ojai’s green initiatives, residents and local businesses will be joining the Clean Power Alliance, which will become the city’s new electrical provider beginning in February.

The Clean Power Alliance is a public agency composed of 31 local governments in Los Angeles and Ventura counties with the mission of providing clean, renewable power to these communities.

According to Michelle Ellison, alternate director for Ojai on the Clean Power Alliance board, the city of Ojai was the first of 10 members of the Clean Power Alliance that decided to set their default plans at the 100 percent Green Power plan.

Cannabis issue confounds council

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 December 2018 16:09

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

Frustrated by several City Council changes to a proposed cannabis-manufacturing ordinance, Shangri-La Care Cooperative cofounder Jeff Kroll asked at the Dec. 11 council meeting: “Do we stay in the Ojai Valley? Maybe we should go to another city such as Oxnard that is going to open up eight to 10 different dispensaries or microbusinesses. Ojai has always prevented businesses, such as AARP, various other businesses … and what happens is, when these businesses want to expand, they can’t do it here, and they leave.”

The city’s cannabis-manufacturing ordinance has been discussed and tinkered with by the council for more than four months. The latest development is the formation of a council subcommittee composed of Councilman Ryan Blatz, Mayor Pro Tem Suza Francina, City Attorney Matthew Summers and City Manager Steve McClary. This subcommittee was formed after the issues were deemed too many to be solved at one general council meeting.

One of these issues discussed at the meeting regarded the square footage of the Type 12 microbusinesses. These microbusinesses would be the three currently licensed cannabis dispensaries within city limits.

CMWD holds off on declaring Stage 4 drought

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 December 2018 15:53

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Casitas Municipal Water District board of directors is temporarily holding off until January on a possible Stage 4 drought declaration.

At a public hearing that packed the Casitas board room Dec. 12, CMWD interim general manager Michael Flood gave a presentation to explain what Stage 4 could mean and when it might be declared.

In making the decision to declare a stage, directors take into account the current water level in Lake Casitas, the community’s response to the call for conservation and any changes to water-resource conditions.

According to CMWD’s Water Efficiency and Allocation Plan, a Stage 4 can be declared when the lake level drops to 30 percent. It currently stands at 30.5 percent. As for conservation, many customers are already performing at Stage 5 levels, while the District is entering its lowest demand-time of the year, Flood said.

In second year after fire, 0.8" of rain an hour will trigger alert

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 December 2018 15:48

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

A debris flow last winter on Maricopa Highway, north of Ojai, is removed by a Caltrans crew.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The threat of debris flows — more commonly known as rock and mudslides — in the Thomas Fire burn area has lessened, but it’s far from gone.

According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, the area currently stands at second-year levels, due to assessments made earlier this year by the county and the four cities impacted by the fire — Ojai, Ventura, Santa Paula and Fillmore.

Ojai carves out voting districts

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 December 2018 15:40

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ojai City Council approved moving to district-based City Council election and chose a map delineating the new districts, at its Dec. 11 meeting.

Two draft maps were drawn to reflect where the current council members live and the 2010 U.S. Census data. The council then had a choice between the two.

The motion was made by Mayor Johnny Johnston, and approved 4-1. Councilman William Weirick was the lone dissenter, as he said he preferred the other district map presented to the council.

Fences, walls, hedges block out two hours on agenda

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 December 2018 15:24

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ojai Planning Commission discussed the issue of fences, walls and hedges for nearly two hours at its Dec. 5 meeting.

After much debate, there was some consensus, but more discussion required.

The biggest issues in regard to the fences, walls and hedges surrounded their safety.

Commission Chair Steve Quilici said: “We need to take care of the public-safety issues. This is corners and interior-lot visibility. It’s not the right-of-way, but it’s the visibility of other traffic, whether it’s cars or pedestrians or bicycles.”

The other commissioners overall concurred that safety is of the foremost concern, but how to enforce these issues was another matter. It was not something that was discussed at much length, but a solution was touched on by Commissioner Katherine Nolan.

Police blotter as of Dec. 13, 2018

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 December 2018 09:56

Crimes

• Grand theft was reported in the 800 block of North Ventura Avenue Dec. 3.

• Vandalism and trespassing were reported in the 3300 block of Thacher Road Dec. 4.

• Burglary was reported in the 500 block of Donna Street Dec. 7.

• Annoying telephone calls were reported in the 1200 block of Ferrara Drive Dec. 10.

• Vehicle theft was reported in the 400 block of Bryant Street Dec. 10.

County cracks down on cockfighting

Details: Published on Wednesday, 12 December 2018 15:11

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

By unanimous vote, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance Dec. 12 aimed at curbing the raising of roosters for cockfighting.

The ordinance is modeled after an ordinance adopted by Solano County, and will apply in the unincorporated areas of the county. It’s directed at preventing nuisance issues such as noise, odor, disease and the crime of cockfighting, in which roosters attack each other until they die or are incapacitated.

The ordinance will help curtail the sport by reducing the supply of roosters, according to county officials.

Convict who murdered Ojai man in 1986 to have sentence commuted

Details: Published on Tuesday, 11 December 2018 13:33

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Despite formal opposition from Ventura County officials, Gov. Jerry Brown has decided to commute the sentence of a man convicted for the murder of an Ojai man more than 30 years ago.

In 1986, Todd Hess, now 53, of Carpinteria was arrested and charged with murder and armed robbery in the death of Scott James of Ojai, who was shot in the back of the head while working at a gas station in Camarillo.

James, a 30-year-old Navy veteran working a second job as a store clerk to earn money for college, was shot while he turned toward the cash register, presumably complying with Hess’s gunpoint demand for money.

Hess was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, but Governor Brown’s commutation means that he’ll be eligible for parole starting in 2019.

Casitas talks Stage 4

Details: Published on Monday, 10 December 2018 14:30

web pvh Lake Casitas Sign

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

File photo of Lake Casitas, taken from the dam Sept. 26.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Casitas Municipal Water District board of directors will be talking about the possibility of a Stage 4 drought declaration at its regular meeting Dec. 12.

The hearing at 6 p.m. in the Casitas board room will give the public the chance to learn what Stage 4 could mean and then voice their concerns.

Changes could include reducing customers' current water allocation by an additional 10 percent and increasing the over-allocation penalty, which is currently $5 per unit of water used over allocation.

Stage 4 could change the restriction on landscape irrigation from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It could also increase the water waste fine, which is currently $250.

In addition, the declaration could place a moratorium on the sale of new water allocations and the possible continuation of all Stage 1, 2 and 3 measures currently in place. The measures include the mandatory use of hose nozzles, a ban on hosing off sidewalks and driveways, and no landscape irrigation during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall.

According to CMWD officials, many of its customers are already operating at Stage 5 levels.

Directors can make the decision to declare Stage 4 when the lake level drops to 30 percent, according to CMWD's Water Efficiency and Allocation Plan. As of Dec. 7, the water level stood at 30.5 percent.

Following the Dec. 12 hearing, Casitas directors will meet again and could decide to declare Stage 4.

Wednesday's meeting was moved from its usual 3 p.m. time slot to accommodate an anticipated increase in public interest.

Thomas wake-up: What did we learn?

Details: Published on Thursday, 06 December 2018 15:45

web Stephen Adams Thomas Fire Remembrance Charles Law

Photo by Stephen Adams

Upper Ojai resident Charles Law performs at the Thomas Fire Remembrance concert Dec. 1 at Libbey Bowl. Law lives near where the Thomas Fire started and fought the fire to save his house with a 36-pack of 12-ounce water bottles as embers rained on him, his wife, Christine, and their horses, dogs and cats.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The one-year anniversary of the Thomas Fire was marked by remembrance events and discussions of what went right and what needs improvement in response and recovery efforts.

A Thomas Fire remembrance event Dec. 1 drew several hundred people to Libbey Park and featured a concert headlined by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, along with approximately 70 food, art and information booths. Proceeds went to Help of Ojai’s fire relief fund and the Local Love Project’s fire relief fund.

A vigil on the steps of Ventura City Hall the evening of Dec. 3 was attended by hundreds and included a moment of silence and the playing of “Amazing Grace.”

An event hosted by the Upper Ojai Neighborhood Council Dec. 4 at Summit School featured live music and food.

Town talk Dec. 9 all about fire

Details: Published on Thursday, 06 December 2018 15:42

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Fire-preparedness strategies for individuals and the community will be the focus of the next Town Talk at the Ojai Valley Museum on Dec. 9 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Elizabeth Rose, co-author of the new book, "From The Fire: Ojai Reflects on the Thomas Fire," will moderate a discussion by experts from a number of different fields.

Panelists will include Ojai Fire Chief John McNeil, Ojai Police Chief James Fryhoff, The Thacher School’s Ed Bennett, retired Cal Fire firefighter Charlie Whitman, Will Castagna from the Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council, Ojai Planning Commissioner Ray Powers and Connor Jones, East End Eden, Ojai Permaculture.

From simple tips to what the community can do to help lessen the effects of climate change and the resulting wildfires, the wide-ranging discussion will also include questions from the audience.

The Town Talk is in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition, “Trial by Fire: Ojai Ablaze 1917-2017.”

Admission to the Town Talk is $5; free for museum members.

The Ojai Valley Museum is at 130 W. Ojai Ave.

For more information, visit www.ojaivalleymuseum.org or call 805-640-1390.

Museum tells Ojai's fire stories through history

Details: Published on Thursday, 06 December 2018 15:40

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

A tricycle, pulled from the ashes of the Thomas Fire, on display at the Ojai Valley Museum’s new exhibit, “Trial by Fire.”

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

One year after the Thomas Fire, the new exhibit at the Ojai Valley Museum takes a look back at Ojai's most recent blaze and several others over the past century.

“Trial by Fire: Ojai Ablaze 1917-2017,” is getting a good response from both locals and visitors, according to Wendy Barker, OVM executive director.

The exhibit includes maps that show six previous fires, including the 1917 blaze that destroyed the original St. Thomas Aquinas Church, which once stood where the museum does today, and newspaper clippings about the fires. “We wanted to give the Thomas Fire some historical context,” Barker said.

Steady soaking welcomed

Details: Published on Thursday, 06 December 2018 15:37

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

A slow-moving storm brought 1 to 2 inches of rain to the Ojai Valley Dec. 5 and Dec. 6, prompting flooding and winter weather advisories, but causing only minor issues.

The second day of the storm delivered a steady soaking, following light showers the day before. “We expected the storm to become a little more active,” said Keily Delerme, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Much of the rain fell over the ocean the first day, due to offshore winds. “On Day One, we had some east winds drying the lower levels, but on Thursday that was not the case, as we had the low pressure slowly moving across the area. That’s why it was a little more intense,” Delerme said.

While the Ojai Valley received approximately 1 inch of rainfall, the foothills and mountains recorded 1.5 to 2 inches, with higher elevations receiving upwards of 3 inches.

Upper Ojai: Catching dreams, blessings in the ashes

Details: Published on Thursday, 06 December 2018 15:35

Photo by Marianne Ratcliff

Lola Hill, 10, of Ojai, Lilly Hancock, 10, of Ojai, and Sofia Berberea, 10, of Thousand Oaks, dance to the music of Brother Earl and the Cousins at an Upper Ojai gathering Tuesday.

Marianne Ratcliff, Ojai Valley News editor

Daniel Vazquez leaned against a post listening to the band at Summit School in Upper Ojai one year after the Thomas Fire destroyed everything he owned.

He now lives on a nearby property, not sure of what the future holds, except for one thing: “I expect something good to happen to me all my life,” he said. “I just feel like I have been very lucky.”

Lucky to be alive, for one, after he drove his truck from Tree Ranch Road down the Dennison Grade to Ojai at 10:10 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2017. “I could see fire everywhere around,” he recalled. He spent nights in his truck parked in Ojai before learning four days later that his home had “melted.”

Latest sports

Area teams take part in Nordhoff tourney

Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts

Mackenzie Hicks shoots a free throw in a recent non-league game. Hicks recorded 24 rebounds against Louisville in the 42nd Annual Nordhoff Tournament.

Nordhoff High School hosted its 42nd annual varsity girls' basketball tournament last week.

Before having to cancel the tournament due to the Thomas Fire a year ago, this was the longest continuously running varsity girls' tournament in Ventura County.

St. Bonaventure High School captured the title, going undefeated for the week, upending Thacher, Rio Mesa, Royal and Channel Islands.

Grace Brethren, Royal and Moorpark each won three games during the week.

Nordhoff basketball hosts golf fundraiser

The 22nd annual Nordhoff High School Two-Man Scramble golf tournament returns to Soule Park Golf Course Sunday, January 27. This is a fundraiser for the high school's boys' and girls' basketball teams. The tournament features "real golf:" no mulligans, strings, etc. The top three teams win prizes, as do winners of longest drive, fewest putts and closest to the pin contests. Prizes include rounds of golf lessons, merchandise, gift certificates to local restaurants and a chance to win a new car from Bob Smith Toyota for the first hole-in-one.

The tournament utilizes a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start and costs $150 per player. Payment is due the day of the event. To reserve a spot for your team, contact head coach and tournament director Ted Cotti at 798-2008 or 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..

Stringer strikes gold

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Photo submitted

Nordhoff junior Nick Stringer shows off his hardware after winning the Irvine Invitational wrestling tournament.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

The Nordhoff High School wrestling team recently took part in the Irvine Invitational and despite only taking nine wrestlers, the Rangers placed 8th out of 30 teams. According to head coach Paul Clementi, Nordhoff’s top performer was junior Nick Stringer, who earned tournament MVP honors for the lower weight divisions. Stringer ended up winning the tournament in the 106-pound division.

In other action, senior Nick Cansler took second place at 132 pounds. In the finals, Cansler took his opponent into overtime but narrowly lost 5-3. At 195 pounds, junior Michael Trejo took fourth after facing the tournament’s top seeded wrestler in the semifinals.

Lady Rangers to collect food Dec. 15

Photo submitted

The Nordhoff High School softball team will be out collecting food for needy families in the Ojai Valley community. The Lady Rangers will team up with Help of Ojai to collect donations at Vons and Westridge Market Midtown from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to head coach Don Rodarte, the team has a goal of collecting two tons of food on the day. For more information or to coordinate donations, contact Rodarte at 805-797-2147.

Montag foursome spans four generations

Photo submitted

Long time Ojai resident, Chuck Montag, 88, recently teamed up with his son Ray, 59, a 1977 Nordhoff High School graduate; grandson Dan, 33; and great-grandson Mason, 10, to make up a four generation foursome at Soule Park golf course. Chuck is a retired Los Angeles City firefighter, Ray is a retired Fresno City firefighter and Dan is a current Fresno City firefighter to make three generations of firefighters. The foursome enjoyed their round on Ojai’s beautiful public course and created family memories that will never be forgotten.

Team Ojai finishes fall tennis season on a strong note

Team Ojai split a double-header Dec. 9, first losing to Hightower Tennis Academy of LA 31-39, but then they rallied in the second match to beat Northridge Tennis Academy 38-28. With a total of 69 games won over the two matches; the 18 and under boys’ team secured a spot in sectionals competition in January, which will feature teams from all over Southern California. Against some tough competition from the Hightower squad, Team Ojai’s Shawn Rothermel and Zach Anderson both won some hard-fought singles matches.

Rothermel defeated Aiden Fedoroff, formerly of Ojai, in a tense tiebreaker. Anderson beat his opponent 8-4 after being down 1-4 earlier in the set. Rothermel and Anderson then teamed up to win their doubles 8-4. In the second match Anderson defeated Northridge’s number 1 player 8-6, while Rothermel teamed up with Chris Boydston in doubles action to defeat Northridge 8-6. Ojai’s Tony Syverson, Arthur Becker and Zack Howe also contributed games to the total wins needed to advance to Sectionals. Team Ojai’s season-ending record stands at 5-2. “The team played very well today,” said head coach Dan Martin. “They stayed focused against a couple of strong teams and it paid off.” Team Ojai is part of the United States Tennis Association’s Junior Team Tennis League.

Villanova Prep basketball balling early on in 2018-19 season

Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts

Villanova Prep senior Madison Fabbian (left) goes up for a lay-in against Channel Islands in the opening round of the Nordhoff High School Tournament.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

The Villanova Preparatory School girls’ basketball team is off to a 4-1 start and head coach Dan Mercer likes what he sees from his squad. “We set up our schedule with the hope of getting some early victories and confidence and it has worked. The girls are playing well and gelling as a team,” he said.

VPS opened its season with blowout wins over Dunn (55-16), Carpinteria (63-21) and de Toledo (71-20). They then defeated Santa Clarita Christian, 54-40. In the first round of the Nordhoff High School Tournament, VPS faced Channel Islands and suffered its first loss of the season, 55-32.

“As I expected, we’re being led by our senior co-captains Madison Fabbian and Sunny Zhou. Early in the season our strength offensively seems to be our balance, something that resulted when we saw a box-in-one defense employed by Santa Clarita Christian,” said Mercer.

Buena victorious at Nordhoff Tournament

Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts

Nordhoff junior Korey Stevens drives the lane against Sanger High School in the 76th Annual Nordhoff Varsity Tournament.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

The Buena Bulldogs powered past a tough field at the 76th Annual Nordhoff Varsity Basketball Tournament to win the coveted title. Buena had to defeat Sanger High School in the finals to claim first place.

The host Rangers had a rough time against some much bigger schools, but head coach Scott Hannah and crew knew the tournament would be a growth opportunity going in. Nordhoff opened the tournament against Pacifica and lost a heartbreaker in overtime 73-66. NHS took a 6 point lead into the half but then Pacfica fought their way back and pulled away late in the overtime for the victory.

In game two, NHS lost to a talented Sanger team 79-49 and then followed that with a 72-52 loss to the Santa Clara Saints. So far this season, the Rangers are 0-6 and will be looking for their first win of the season when they take part in the Thacher Tournament.

VPS athletes earn postseason honors

Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts

Kyla Lenehan (No. 44), shown here in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, was recently named to the All-Frontier League first team.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

This fall the Villanova Preparatory School had a number of student-athletes earn post season honors for their stellar performances. In girls’ volleyball, senior Kyla Lenehan and sophomore Grace Wells both earned All-Frontier League first team honors. Teammates Eliana Denham and Elsa Tam both made the second team.

The VPS squad finished its season 14-7 overall, and made it to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 8 tournament. From there, the Lady Wildcats were invited to take part in the CIF State Volleyball Championship Tournament.

In boys’ water polo action, senior Bryant Hawks was named to the Frontier League’s first team list and senior Baylor Stotko earned a spot on the All-Frontier League second team.

On the tennis courts, the doubles team of senior Grace Moses and Alzen Dekakibo claimed the Frontier League’s top prize for doubles as they were named the league’s Most Valuable Players. Villanova’s other top doubles team of Analiese Terrazas and Susy Munoz earned first team all-league honors.

Ninth annual Holiday Tennis Challenge on tap

Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts

The 2017 Holiday Tennis Challenge winners show off their hardware. From left to right are: Craig Fugle, Dave Jones, Jakob Vos, Mikel Elizalde, Fabio Lauretta and Jeff Jenkins.

The 9th annual Ojai Holiday Adult/Child Tennis Tournament fundraiser will take place at the Libbey Park tennis courts on Dec. 29-30.

Tournament Co-Directors, Craig Fugle and Jakob Vos, along with Ojai Recreation Department Tennis Professional Scott Burton, will pair adult and junior players to compete in eight-game No-Add pro sets of doubles to raise funds for the Ojai Valley Tennis Club Youth Tennis Programs. Players register in either the "In to Win" division for more competitive tennis or the "In for Fun" division for recreational play.

Toppers Pizza will once again donate a delicious pizza and salad lunch, while the OVTC offers prizes such as t-shirts and tennis gear to participants Everyone enjoys an exciting weekend of good family fun.

All proceeds directly benefit the Ojai Valley Junior Tennis programs.

To register, please contact the Youth Tennis Hotline 805-646-0052 or email Craig Fugle 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..

Nordhoff girls' basketball team starts 2018-19 season 1-3

Nordhoff High School's girls' varsity basketball team earned its first victory of the young season Dec. 1 at the Bird Cage Classic Tournament at Bishop Diego in Santa Barbara, defeating Coastal Christian 58-32.

After dropping its first three games in the tournament, head coach Ted Cotti's squad turned up its defensive pressure to get into the win column.

The Rangers jumped out to an 18-4 first quarter lead behind early steals on the press. They led 29-12 at half, but Coastal cut that to 10 early in the fourth quarter before NHS regrouped to pull away.

Sophomore Cameron Jones led all scorers in the win with 14 points. Haleigh Loomis had a career high 11. Stella Moore had 5 to go with her 5 assists and 5 steals.

Senior co-captain Courtney Abraham was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 6.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game for the weekend.

Nordhoff is hosting the 42nd annual varsity tournament this weekend with 12 teams coming to the Ojai Valley to compete in the event.

The Lady Rangers played Dec. 6 against Dos Pueblos and will take on Thacher at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. On Dec. 8 they will host Villanova Preparatory School at 10 a.m.

Nordhoff High boys' hoopers drop home opener to Channel Islands

Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown

Nordhoff’s Kaden Gard works his way down the court despite pressure from Channel Islands defender Malik Patton. Gard scored a team-high 22 points in the game.

Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent

Nordhoff High School’s boys’ basketball team played its first home game of the 2018-19 season Nov. 20, falling 69-54 to Channel Islands.

New head coach Scott Hannah’s Rangers jumped out to a 12-5 first quarter lead but struggled through the next period as the Raiders ramped up the pressure using a 2-2-1 full-court press, forcing a dozen turnovers during a 33-11 run.

Kaiser performs well at NAIA Nationals

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Ojai Valley native Andy Kaiser enjoyed a successful fall, along with the Benedictine College cross-country team. Kaiser and his teammates won the Heart of America Athletic Conference title in Atchison, Kansas, which earned the team a berth to the NAIA National Championships that were held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Nov. 16.

According to Benedictine College head coach Henry Brun, every runner on the team turned in a lifetime best in what was their biggest meet of the season. Kaiser covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:45, averaging 5:18 per mile along the way.

Kaiser’s best work has been done in the classroom at Benedictine. Prior to the National Championships, he was named to the 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athlete team. In order to earn that honor, student athletes must hold a minimum grade point average of 3.5. Kaiser is a senior and is majoring in marketing and international business.