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News from around the Ojai Valley

Candidate’s withdrawal changes nature of Council race

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:22

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ojai City Council election is unofficially no longer a race, after Denise Steurer-Thornhill announced her resignation from the candidacy in the Sept. 14 edition of the Ojai Valley News.

Newcomer Ryan Blatz, along with incumbents Randy Haney and William “Bill” Weirick, will fill the three available Council seats. However, Steurer’s name will still be on the ballot, since the deadline for official withdrawal with the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder’s office has passed. This means that people can still technically vote for her and the position will still be on the ballot, though she has taken her name out of the race.

Newspaper changing publishers

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:20

092018 pvh tim during thomas fire 12 06 17

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

Publisher Tim Dewar photographs fire crews Dec. 6 during the Thomas Fire.

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

Ojai Valley News Publisher Tim Dewar is stepping down from his position effective Sept. 21 and will take on a new role with the company. Dewar has been the publisher of the Ojai Valley News and the Ojai Valley Visitors Guide since 2012. He started at the newspaper as a reporter in 1992, was promoted to editor and served in that position until 1997. He returned to the company as publisher in 2012.

Dewar said his most memorable moment as publisher was, “When the paper was in danger of closing (in 2015), and Bob (Daddi) ended up buying it instead, and saving it for the community.”

Matilija Dam not a viable source of additional water for the Ojai Basin

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:17

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

With the deepening drought in the Ojai Valley, members of the community are hoping government and water agencies can find alternative sources of water.

One of the ideas that's been discussed is the potential to restore the groundwater-recharge capability of Matilija Dam, if even temporarily.

But is the idea — to move dam water to the East End of Ojai using an existing pipeline, the Matilija conduit — even possible?

Premature acorn drop is the result of stress

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:15

Ojai Valley News photo by Tim Dewar

Green acorns are dropping from area oak trees because of stress.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Just about everywhere you go in the Ojai Valley these days you see a bumper crop of fallen acorns, including young, green nuts with their cupules (little caps) still attached.

It's all very normal and nothing to worry about, according to Ojai-based arborist Christina Dee Hardin, who said the trees are simply stressed by heat and the drought.

Chamber remaking itself to be more responsive to business owners’ needs

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:10

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce is under new leadership and wants to get back to business. Recently hired Chamber CEO Jamie Fleming says he wants to help rejuvenate local commerce.

Fleming comes from a background in the entertainment industry, having worked in a variety of positions in the studio areas of both Disney and Universal. Upon moving to Ojai 14 years ago, he became involved with local festivals and served as director of the Ojai Film Festival for four years. “I found myself almost an ambassador because you want people to come to Ojai for the festivals, so you’re constantly talking about why this is such a special place,” he said.

County could flip the switch on dark-sky ordinance

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:02

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Sept. 25 on a dark-sky ordinance for the unincorporated areas of the Ojai Valley.

If adopted, the ordinance will establish a dark-sky overlay zone in the valley’s rural communities and would go into effect Oct. 25.

The ordinance, aimed primarily at existing outdoor lighting or lighting that’s being replaced, will require that illumination be less intense, fully shielded and directed downward, and not spill over property lines.

Ojai woman’s brother honored for war service 76 years after his death

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:00

Photo courtesy of Dai Leon

Dai Leon displays military decorations awarded posthumously to her brother, Boris Leon, at a memorial ceremony Sept. 15.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Dai Leon never knew her World War II war-hero brother, Boris.

She was only three days old when Boris was shipped overseas to serve with the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines, just weeks after Dec. 7, 1941 when hostilities broke out with Japan.

AARP founder feted in Walker book

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 15:28

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

Author Craig Walker (left) and Dorothea Phelan, portraying the subject of Walker’s new book, take part in a book signing Sept. 17 at The Gables of Ojai. “Ethel Percy Andrus: One Woman Who Changed America” covers the life of the retired high school principal who founded AARP in Ojai in 1958. The organization grew out of her work with the National Retired Teachers Association and Grey Gables, a pioneering Ojai retirement community. The book was published by AARP in celebration of its 60th anniversary.

County starting to enforce Oak View parking ban

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 14:53

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

Signs warning of a ban on parking oversized vehicles in Oak View were installed last week. This one, at North Ventura Avenue and Santa Ana Boulevard, is one of 17 announcing the new ordinance, which was adopted by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors June 19. The ban makes it illegal to park a vehicle either wider than 7 feet, longer than 25 feet or taller than 8 feet. Violators will be fined $30 for each day the oversized vehicle is illegally parked. The CHP is expected to begin enforcing the new ordinance in late October, according to a spokesman with Supervisor Steve Bennett’s office.

Fire Department uses water park for training

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 14:50

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) firefighter-paramedic Dan Calderon (left) and firefighter Myles Schuler take part in a hose pumping drill Sept. 19 at the Casitas Water Adventure. The two Ojai firefighters were joined by dozens of others from throughout western Ventura County in the training exercise, in which water from the park was used to supply fire hoses. The water was returned to the park, which closed for the season this week, and was then returned to Lake Casitas. “We’re always looking for ways to practice our skills and conserve water,” said VCFD Battalion Chief Todd Leake. This was the first year of the agreement between VCFD and Casitas Municipal Water District to use the water park for training, Leake added.

Free fishing days aren’t fin-ished

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 14:43

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Early spring could see the first free kids’ fishing day at Lake Casitas in seven years.

At its Sept. 12 meeting, the Casitas Municipal Water District (CMWD) Board of Directors approved a request for $10,128 to purchase trout to stock the lake.

Lake Casitas has not held a kids’ fishing day since 2012.

Police blotter as of Sept. 20, 2018

Details: Published on Thursday, 20 September 2018 13:48

Crimes

• Criminal threats and dissuading a witness were reported in the 400 block of South Ventura Street Aug. 27.

• Petty theft was reported in the 300 block of Mahoney Avenue Sept. 6.

Cannabis coup: City will consider allowing product manufacturing

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 September 2018 16:48

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

Ojai may soon be relaxing further its once-high restrictions regarding cannabis. The Ojai City Council, during its Sept. 11 meeting, requested staff prepare a draft ordinance modifying the city's cannabis ordinance to allow for cannabis manufacturing.

The motion passed 3-2, with Mayor Johnny Johnston and Councilman Randy Haney dissenting.

Ojai would become the second city in Ventura County, joining Port Hueneme, to allow cannabis manufacturing. Port Hueneme is also the only other city in the county that allows adult-use cannabis sales.

Casitas looking at brackish option

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 September 2018 16:46

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Officials with Casitas Municipal Water District (CMWD) are exploring a project that could turn unusable, brackish water into water fit for drinking.

The Ojai Desalter Project (ODP) is in the pre-planning phase, according to Michael Flood, CMWD interim general manager, with possible completion set for 2023.

Conceptually, the project would target high-chloride water from aquifers in the Ojai groundwater basin below 500 feet, supplied by wells, existing or new.

Villanova, Nordhoff host 9/11 events

Details: Published on Thursday, 13 September 2018 16:43

Photo by Holly Roberts

Villanova Preparatory School freshman Emily Brock stands in the field of flags after helping install them Sept. 10.

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

Though the tragic attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, happened before most of the students were born, Nordhoff High School and Villanova Preparatory School students placed thousands of flags at their respective campuses in remembrance of the victims on the 17th anniversary of the catastrophe.

Ojai Valley News photo by Austin Widger

Nordhoff students Tyler Oswald (left) and Erik Quevedo (right) help Matthew Rosen set up some of the 3,000 flags in a dirt patch near the school's softball field Sept. 10.

Garage sale ContentMap

Ojai Valley garage Sales

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Latest sports

Santa Paula upsets Nordhoff in first new league game

Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown

Korey Stevens lays out of a ball Superman-style against the Santa Paula Cardinals.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

The Nordhoff High School (NHS) football team hosted the Santa Paula Cardinals in its first-ever Citrus Coast League game Sept. 14 and the newly formed league provided plenty of action right out of the gate.

After a back-and-forth thriller, the Cardinals skipped town with a narrow 35-28 victory to continue to 5-0 on the season while Nordhoff dropped to 3-2 and 0-1 in league.

The game got off to a slow start as neither team managed to put any points on the board in the first quarter, but it wasn’t for a lack of opportunities, especially for the Rangers. Nordhoff’s defense did a nice job slowing the Santa Paula offense in the first quarter and managed to give their offense great starting field position. In its first three drives of the game, NHS took possession of the football on Santa Paula’s side of the field, but still could not manage to score any points, which would prove to be costly at the end of the night.

Rangers ready for must-win game

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

Nordhoff High School (NHS) head football coach Lance Wiggins is calling his team’s Sept. 21 road game against the Fillmore Flashes a must-win game. After falling last week to Santa Paula, the Rangers may need to win out if they hope to qualify for the postseason.

“This will be a good matchup for us,” Wiggins said. “Fillmore is much better than they have been in recent years and they are talented.”

Both teams will enter this week’s game 3-2 overall and 0-1 in Citrus Coast League play. This season, Fillmore has defeated Viewpoint (49-22), Trinity Academy (29-20) and La Cañada (32-0). Their losses have come against Brentwood (34-7) and Carpinteria (27-14).

NHS volleyball on winning streak

092018 kb nhs santa paula vb 9 18 2018 14

Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown

Nordhoff High School sophomore Sasha Frazier (No. 24) blasts a shot past the Santa Paula Cardinals in a Sept. 18 match.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

The Nordhoff High School (NHS) girls’ volleyball team is riding a five-match winning streak and the Lady Rangers are the seventh-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 polls.

Nordhoff’s record is 6-2 on the season. The team is perfect in Citrus Coast League play this fall. In its last five matches, Nordhoff has defeated Pacifica, Fillmore, Carpinteria, Malibu and Santa Paula. As if the winning streak weren't impressive enough, the Lady Rangers have not surrendered a set in those five wins.

Nordhoff, Thacher cross-country teams facing many new challenges

Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent

The Lake Casitas recreation area welcomed 33 high school boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams — including runners from Nordhoff and Thacher — back to its famed Bill Wadlington memorial 3-mile course for the annual Ojai-Inside Track Cross Country Invitational Sept. 15.

Thacher’s girls placed seventh and Nordhoff’s girls’ took 18th, while Nordhoff’s boys finished 12th in the team standings. Thacher did not field a scoring team in the boys’ varsity event.

San Luis Obispo High School captured the girls’ team title, while Canyon had the top boys’ team, led by race winner Ethan Danforth’s 15-minute, 54-second performance.

Nordhoff mourns the loss of principal, coach Jack Smith

Ojai Valley News file photo

Jack Smith in his office at Nordhoff High School in 1989.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

During his time at Nordhoff High School (NHS), Jack Smith touched many lives and left a legacy that may never be matched at the school. Smith recently passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer, but the NHS legend will long be remembered for the impact he had on those around him.

Rangers outlast San Marcos

Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown

Nordhoff junior Korey Stevens snags an interception between two San Marcos Royals.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

The Nordhoff High School (NHS) football program continued its resurrection with a huge 41-20 road victory over the San Marcos Royals. With the win, the Rangers improve to 3-1 on the season as they head into league play Sept. 14 against Santa Paula.

As expected, the Royals proved to be a tough test for NHS. Despite being winless on the season, San Marcos is much improved over its previous season and has playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Nordhoff to host Santa Paula Cardinals

The Nordhoff Rangers and Santa Paula Cardinals will face off in their inaugural Citrus Coast League games Sept. 14 at the Ojai Valley Community Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Cardinals come into the game undefeated (4-0) and they are the No. 8-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Division 11 polls.

Williams repeats as men’s champ

Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent

Robin Williams posted a two-day, 36-hole total of 143 (1-under par) and claimed his seventh Soule Park Men’s Club championship at Soule Park Golf Course last weekend.

“I’ve been fighting a bad back, so I sort of had to baby it around this weekend,” Williams said. “I think it helped that I’ve been playing more competitive stuff this year, and that prepared me because the course was definitely more demanding this year.”

Rangers take a big step forward with win over Oak Park

Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown

Nordhoff High School’s Brayden Rogers (No. 33) puts his head down and bulls his way through the Oak Park defense Aug. 31.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

After taking over the Nordhoff High School (NHS) football program in 2016, head coach Lance Wiggins has been searching for his program’s first signature win.

The Rangers finally got that win Aug. 31 against the Oak Park Eagles.

The Rangers had not beaten Oak Park since 2014, but this year NHS turned in its best performance in recent years.

“This was our biggest win since I took over as head coach, by far. Tonight felt like a playoff game, we had a great crowd and our kids played with passion,” said Wiggins.

Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown

Eduardo Perez (left) intercepts his second pass of the game for the Rangers Aug. 31.

Rangers look to spoil homecoming

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor

In Week 4 action, the Nordhoff High School (NHS) football program will make the trip to Santa Barbara to face familiar foe San Marcos.

The game will be the Royals’ homecoming celebration so they will be motivated to send NHS home with a loss.

Nordhoff will enter the Sept. 7 matchup 2-1 while San Marcos is 0-3, however, they have narrowly lost all three games, so the Rangers could be in for a tough contest.

Nordhoff, Villanova water polo teams both looking to make waves this year

Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent

In recent years, the boys’ varsity water polo contests between in Nordhoff High School and Villanova Preparatory School have provided Ojai with some of the most entertaining, evenly matched and hotly contested dramas of any local sports rivalry. And yet, unless they cross paths in the playoffs, the two teams will not meet this year.

That’s because the new Citrus Coast League alignment has them in opposite divisions: Villanova with Malibu, Cate and Foothill; Nordhoff with Hueneme, Carpinteria, Santa Paula and Fillmore.

Ojai Valley teams taking their share of top-10 rankings

A number of Ojai Valley teams are ranked in the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) polls this fall. After defeating the Oak Park Eagles Aug. 31, the Nordhoff High School (NHS) football program climbed up the polls to the No. 5 spot in the CIF Southern Section Division 10 standings. Nordhoff sits behind Shadow Hills, Bonita, Highland and Knight.

Other Citrus Coast League teams in the poll include Santa Paula (ninth in Division 11) and Carpinteria (third in Division 12).

Nordhoff Rangers roll over Eastside High, 42-6

Ojai Valley News photo by Tim Dewar

Nordhoff’s Colby Stevens tries to gather in a pass against the West Ranch defense in Week 1 action.

Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News reporter

After dropping its season opener to West Ranch High School, the Nordhoff High School (NHS) football team made the long trip to Lancaster to face Eastside High School Aug. 24 in a nonleague contest.

The Rangers took advantage of their power running game and a big second half to roll to a 42-6 victory to even their record at 1-1 on the season.

NHS got out to an early 6-0 lead when junior Korey Stevens took the opening kickoff 78 yards for a score. The Lions evened the score at 6-6 by the end of the first quarter.