How to resolve AdBlock issue? News from around the Ojai Valley
Sunday, Feb. 16, 3-5 p.m.: Ojai Chautauqua panel takes on declining public school enrollment in the Ojai Valley
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- Published: Saturday, 15 February 2020 17:25
By Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Chautauqua will continue its series on education Feb. 16, with a panel addressing declining public school enrollment in the Ojai Valley.
The event is from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Agora Foundation Office, 417 Bryant Circle, Ojai. Tickets are $10 and can be ordered online at https://ojaicivildiscourse.org/about/.
Find out how to join a writers’ group at workshop Saturday, Feb. 22, 7 to 9 p.m. at Ojai Art Center
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 17:02
Photo submitted
Ojai Scribes are, front rown, from left, Patricia Hartmann, Ann L. Boydston and Patric Peake. Top row, from left, Dena Horton and LaNette Donoghue.
A special writers’ workshop will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center where longtime members of the writers’ group, Ojai Scribes, will share what they have learned about writing groups.
“We want to create an opportunity for authors of all genres to connect and sign up to form new writers’ groups,” said organizer Pat Hartmann.
Ventura city officials to ask court on Feb. 27 for 6-month extension for residents to respond to water lawsuit
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 14:16
Photo by Greg A. Cooper
From left, property owners Thomas Carver, Jacqueline Francis and Steve Johnson question Miles Hogan at a city of Ventura community meeting, Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Oak View Community Center, Oak View. Hogan is assistant city attorney for Ventura and was on the panel answering questions from members of the audience who showed up to learn about the adjudication involving the Ventura River Watershed suit.
By Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
City of Ventura officials are anticipating a reprieve for thousands of Ojai Valley property owners drawn into a contentious water lawsuit.
On Feb. 27, the city will request a six-month extension from the court to give people more time to decide if they want to participate in the legal action over use of the Ventura River watershed.
Residents packed the Oak View Community Center’s Kunkle Room on Feb. 13 for the last of three public meetings hosted by the city of Ventura so far to explain the litigation and answer questions.
Treat yourself to a Shirley Valentine's Day
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 10:55
Photo submittedThis is the last weekend to catch Anna Kotula in "Shirley Valentine," which will be performed Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m., at the Ojai Art Center, 113. S. Montgomery St., Ojai.
By Lisa Angle, Special to the Ojai Valley News
Looking for the best way to celebrate Valentine's Day? Head over to the Ojai Art Center Theater Friday, Feb. 14, to fall in love with Shirley Valentine’s journey of self-discovery. Shannon Penrith hosts a special Valentine’s reception during intermission and after the show, complete with Valentine confections, champagne and roses.
Don’t miss your last three opportunities to meet “Shirley Valentine” this weekend. This witty play, written by the brilliantly funny Willy Russell, runs Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.
Love springs eternal
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 10:29
Longtime Ojai resident and columnist Mel Bloom passed away on Dec. 20 at his Ojai home at age 92. His beloved wife, Andrea, passed away in 2015. In the Ojai Valley News article about Mel by Andra Belknap, she quoted Mel and Andrea’s daughter, Marsha “Tink” Anderson: “As he was passing away, he was seeing things and hearing things that we didn’t experience,” Tink said. “He said: ‘Andi’s here. Oh, she’s beautiful.’”
On Valentine’s Day, we share a love poem Mel Bloom wrote to his wife, Andrea:
All those words that blossom in my heart
I’ll fling to you. Arms full of loose bloom, love.
I love beyond breadth, beyond reason,
beyond love’s own power of loving.
And your name is like a golden bell hung
in my heart. And when I think of you, I tremble;
and the bell swings and rings
Andrea! Andrea! Andrea!
MRB
Protecting Ojai from fire part of Measure C backers' goals
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:44
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Valley has long been working toward wildfire mitigation, as fires are an ever-present danger in the Ojai Valley.
One local organization, the Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council, has joined with the city of Ojai to address the issue of increased risk of fire from climate change with the Wildfire Mitigation Strategy, Fire Safe Council Executive Director Chris Danch told the Ojai Valley News.
Water lawsuit advice: Get meter
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:43
Photo by Greg A. Cooper
Trevor Quirk of Upper Ojai, candidate for Ventura County supervisor, District 1, speaks at a water litigation meeting he organized on Feb. 11 at the Oak View Community Center.
Marianne Ratcliff, Ojai Valley News editor
A meeting for community members to learn more about Ventura's water lawsuit against thousands of water users in the Ojai Valley and Ventura was held Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Oak View Community Center.
Ojai business owners bid adieu
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:36
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
Gem Quest Jewelers, one of four stores in the Arcade closing or changing owners.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
With one store in downtown Ojai's Arcade already shuttered in 2020, three more are set either to close or change hands soon.
Council urges putting brakes on suit
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:34
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Ojai Mayor Johnny Johnston, Councilman William Weirick and Ojai city attorney Matthew Summer updated the public on the Ventura River Watershed adjudication lawsuit for the second time at the Feb. 11 Ojai City Council meeting.
Valentine's Day a day to celebrate Ojai lovers
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:34
Photo provided
John and Kathy Broesamle on a backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park in June 2019. In the distance are Liberty Cap and Nevada Falls.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
It's Valentine's Day, so the Ojai Valley News asked a few of Ojai's most enduring couples about their love stories and what keeps them together.
Marion and Betty Earnest are today celebrating 64 years as a couple. They were married on Valentine's Day in 1956.
Matilija principal to head Topa Topa
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:32
Changes abound at Ojai Unified School District following its Feb. 12 board meeting.
Matilija Middle School Principal Javier Ramirez will become principal at Topa Topa Elementary. He will lead the development of a Spanish-language acquisition pilot program during the 2020-2021 school year.
Ventura man pleads guilty to 2016 attempted murder
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:31
Photo courtesy VCSO
Colin Meyer
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
A Ventura man charged with the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend during a 2016 attack in Oak View pleaded guilty on Wednesday.
One shotgun, four revolvers stolen in Ojai store heist
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 09:09
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Ojai Police are investigating a break-in at a hardware store in Ojai last weekend in which several firearms were taken.
Sneak peek at $17 million Continuing Care Center
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:55
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
Haady Lashkari, chief administrative officer for Ojai Valley Community Hospital, provides a sneak peak Feb. 10 to members of the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation Guild, at the hospital’s new Continuing Care Center.
Old power poles taken out of Oak View
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:53
Photo by Ron Hank Raschke
Southern California Edison used a helicopter Feb. 7 to replace five old power poles in the Oak View area. Crews landed the helicopter in a field belonging to Bobby Yanez, at 10139 Creek Road, approximately halfway between Encino Drive and Highway 33.
OUSD explores powering schools with solar energy
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:51
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Unified school board voted unanimously Feb. 12 to explore options for its schools going solar.
CMWD to hold election to replace director Word
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:49
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
Casitas Municipal Water District will fill an empty seat on its Board of Directors by election rather than appointment.
On Wednesday, CMWD directors voted to wait until the November 2020 General Election to fill the seat left vacant by outgoing Division II Director Jim Word.
City Council, OUSD to review Maricopa Highway design plans
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:48
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
An intended brief update on plans for stretches of Maricopa Highway and Ojai Avenue — called the Active Transportation Program Project — turned into a nearly two-hour discussion at the Feb. 11 Ojai City Council meeting.
Ultimately, Councilwoman Suza Francina made two unanimously approved motions to receive the staff report reviewing the initial 35 percent of the design, and direct staff to return with the 60 percent design and cost estimate.
Summit School to be reconfigured to serve homeschooled students
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:45
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Ojai Unified School District Board voted unanimously to reconfigure Summit School in Upper Ojai to serve home-schooled students.
The school district voted to temporarily close the 107-year-old school in June 2018 and voted to surplus the property last year.
Ojai council hopes Measure C will bolster city's reserve funds
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:42
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
At its Feb. 11 meeting, the Ojai City Council received an optimistic midyear budget update from Ojai City Manager James Vega.
Vega said some vacancies and contract savings, along with revenues exceeding budgeted amounts, are working in the city’s favor.
Ventura discusses water lawsuit with residents
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- Published: Friday, 14 February 2020 08:38
Photo by Greg A. Cooper
The city of Ventura held its second public meeting Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Bell Arts Factory Community Room, 432 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura, to discuss the Ventura River watershed litigation. The city of Ventura’s attorneys and city staff were on hand to explain the reasons behind the legal action and answer questions.
UPDATE Thursday, Feb. 13: Area patient A-OK: CDC confirms that second Ventura County resident tested for coronavirus does not have the virus
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- Published: Thursday, 13 February 2020 19:45
Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County Public Health directorThe Ventura County Public Health Department issued an update on the novel coronavirus Thursday, Feb. 13, reporting that results from the Centers for Disease Control show that a second Ventura County resident tested for the virus does not have it.
That patient had been in isolation at home, according to county Public Health Director Dr. Robert Levin. “The person was discharged (from a hospital) about a week ago and was doing well,” Levin said earlier this week.
He said that at least three people in Ventura County have been quarantined in their own homes as a precaution.
Police blotter as of Feb. 12, 2020
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- Published: Thursday, 13 February 2020 14:36
Crimes
• Burglary was reported in the 500 block of East Aliso Street Jan. 31.
• Petty theft was reported in the 300 block of Monte Via Feb. 6.
• Battery was reported in the 100 block of St. Thomas Drive Feb. 6.
UPDATE Thursday, Feb. 13: CDC confirms that second Ventura County resident tested for coronavirus does not have the virus
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- Published: Monday, 10 February 2020 22:36
Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County Public Health directorThe Ventura County Public Health Department issued an update on the novel coronavirus Thursday, Feb. 13, reporting that results from the Centers for Disease Control show that a second Ventura County resident tested for the virus does not have it.
Coronavirus update from Ventura County Public Health
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- Published: Monday, 10 February 2020 13:54
The Ventura County Public Health Department continues to take steps to prevent the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus.
The health and wellbeing of the community remains Public Health’s top priority. In Ventura County, as in counties across the U.S., the threat to the general public for contracting the coronavirus remains low.
Read more: Coronavirus update from Ventura County Public Health