News
Camp Ramah expanding to over 400 acres, renewing permit for 20 years - May 16
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- Published: Monday, 16 May 2022 14:39
The Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Committe (OVMAC) will be reviewing the application of Camp Ramah for a major modification and renewal of its Conditional Use Permit that would expand the area of operations from 83.45 acres to 431.45 acres for the camp’s commercial outdoor year round youth camp operations and would renew the permit for 20 years.
The OVMAC meeting is at 7 p.m., Monday, May 16 at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View.
Teen seriously hurt in ATV crash
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- Published: Monday, 16 May 2022 13:12

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
A 16-year-old boy suffered serious injuries in an ATV crash May 15 in Ojai’s East End, authorities said.
Mixed-use zoning and Environmental Justice on Planning Commission agenda - May 17
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- Published: Monday, 16 May 2022 13:08
The Ojai Planning Commission will be reviewing the re-classification of Village mixed-use standards and regulations in the Commercial zone area and the Environmental Justice element of the city’s General Plan.
The meeting will take place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, in person and virtually.
Both sides of Measures A and B presented at RECORDED Ag Policy Advisory Committee meeting May 11
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- Published: Monday, 16 May 2022 12:11
The pro and con sides of Measures A and B were presented at the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee, which met on Wednesday, May 11.
The meeting was recorded on Zoom and can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/3LjSJWk
Click on the second arrow with a line in front of it to get to the APAC meeting recording.
Public asked to weigh in on Rose Valley project
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- Published: Monday, 16 May 2022 12:01
Los Padres National Forest officials are seeking public comments on a proposal to remove three artificial lakes as part of a restoration project in the Rose Valley Creek watershed.
Community meeting on “The Future of Chaparral” - May 17
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- Published: Monday, 16 May 2022 09:31
A community meeting is scheduled to continue exploring the conceptual proposal presented earlier this year by local architect Marc Whitman for the future of the downtown Chaparral property currently owned by the Ojai Unified School District.
The meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., at the Ojai Retreat, 160 Besant Road.
Candidates for Ventura County Clerk-Recorder - June Primary Election
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 13:00
Photos submitted.
Michelle Ascencion, Bruce Boyer, Jeff Hargleroad
The three candidates for Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters responded to questions from the Ojai Valley News.
Candidates for Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector - June Primary Election
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 12:31
Photos submitted
From left: Sue Horgan, Ron Speakman.
The two candidates for Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector respond to questions from the Ojai Valley News.
Candidates for Ventura County Sheriff - June Primary Election
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 12:21
Photos submitted.
From left: Bill Ayub, James Fryhoff.
The two candidates for Ventura County Sheriff respond to questions from the Ojai Valley News.
Candidates for Ventura County District Attorney - June Primary Election
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 12:08
Photos submitted.
From left: John Barrick, Erik Nasarenko
There are two candidates for Ventura County District Attorney, and they both responded to a series of questions from the Ojai Valley News.
Candidates 38th Assembly District - June Primary Election
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 11:57
Photos submitted.
From left: Steve Bennett, Cole Brocato, Daniel Wilson.
There are three candidates for California Assembly District 38. Each candidate responded to the same questions from the Ojai Valley News.
Baba’s Tree regenerates
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 11:30
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
Sam Ervin, president of Meher Mount, and his wife, communications director Margaret Magnus, inspect new growth that sprouted from the burned limbs of Baba’s Tree.
By Perry Van Houten Ojai Valley News senior reporter
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Four-and-a-half years after it burned and partially collapsed in the Thomas Fire, a tree considered by many to be sacred continues to grow and regenerate.
City Council rejects appeal to delay Hotel El Roblar work
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 11:23
Screen capture of livestream.
Tom Francis, speaking on behalf of appellant, Simply Ojai, at the May 10 Ojai City Council meeting.
By Kimberly Rivers Ojai Valley News reporter
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Council chambers at Ojai City Hall held a standing-room-only crowd May 10 when Ojai City Council voted 4-1 to approve the Hotel El Roblar project for the remodeling and reopening of the property at 122 E. Ojai Avenue, formerly known as The Oaks.
The $300 Circus
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 11:00
By Laura Rearwin Ward, Ojai Valley News Publisher
Apparently, for $300, you can buy your own circus at Ojai City Council. If you missed the show May 10, I highly recommend you take the time to watch the city’s YouTube channel to see what happens when more than 40 of Ojai’s most engaged citizens push themselves away from their dinner tables to defend beleaguered Hotel El Roblar project applicants caught in the drama of a political stunt in the center ring: https://bit.ly/3yyya5T
Kingsnake has ‘rattlesnack’
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- Published: Friday, 13 May 2022 09:46
Photo by Erin Miller
Kingsnakes are strong constrictors capable of consuming venomous rattlesnakes, as witnessed by a Meiners Oaks woman last week.
By Perry Van Houten Ojai Valley News senior reporter
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Meiners Oaks resident Erin Miller had just stopped at her mailbox the afternoon of May 4 when she saw it.
“I saw a weird clump of something in the driveway, moving,” she said.