News from around the Ojai Valley
VCFD finds Edison equipment caused other Thomas fire ignition point
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- Published: Wednesday, 20 March 2019 16:39
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
One week after the release of a report on the cause and origin of the Thomas Fire, officials have announced the cause of the fire’s second ignition on Koenigstein Road.
After a thorough investigation, officials determined that the Koenigstein Fire was caused when a single energized conductor separated near an insulator on a power pole, according to a report issued March 20 by the Ventura County Fire Department.
The conductor fell to the ground along with molten metal particles and started the brush on fire, VCFD determined.
Rain has Rose Valley Falls flowing
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- Published: Tuesday, 19 March 2019 16:21
Ojai Valley News video by Perry Van Houten
Water cascades down lower Rose Valley Falls, north of Ojai, March 16. The 300-foot, two-tiered waterfall is an easy half-mile hike from Rose Valley Campground. Park outside the camp gates or pay a $10 day use fee to park inside the campground. At present, some minor stream hopping is required. Do not climb on steep and extremely dangerous areas above the falls.
Rain to return
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- Published: Tuesday, 19 March 2019 08:50
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
After a weekend of clear skies and temperatures pushing 80 degrees, the weather in the Ojai Valley is about to do a sudden U-turn.
Forecasters say more rain is on the way this week, just in time for the first day of spring on March 20.
“We’re looking for showers to begin Tuesday night and continue through Wednesday evening, and there’s a slight chance of thunderstorms,” said Jayme Laber, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Most of the heaviest rain will occur March 20 over the mountains of northern Ventura County, Laber said.
Ojai woman arrested for elder and animal abuse
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- Published: Tuesday, 19 March 2019 08:48
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
Sheriff’s deputies arrested an Ojai woman last week on suspicion of elder and animal abuse, and yellow-tagged a home authorities described as not fit for human or animal living.
On March 13, deputies were called to the home at 1223 Gregory Street to check on the well being of Catherine Vandermaesen’s 74-year-old sister.
According to Ventura County Adult Protective Services, Vandermaesen, 65, was suspected of not properly caring for her sister.
Anthony Lingard bridges generations to share love
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- Published: Monday, 18 March 2019 03:36
Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts
Anthony Lingard, 25, of Oak View visits with Donnee Dyer on March 5 at Providence Ojai where he volunteers two days a week.
Marianne Ratcliff, Ojai Valley News editor
It may be providence that 25-year-old Anthony Lingard of Oak View volunteers each week at Providence Ojai, a skilled nursing facility on North Montgomery Street.
Along with calling bingo and assisting during lunch, Lingard lets residents know “they matter and they’re worthy,” he said. “A lot of them feel alone.”
Oak View woman helps authorities catch home burglar
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- Published: Friday, 15 March 2019 10:17
Photo courtesy Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
James Hanna
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
A 71-year-old Oak View woman who refused to stand by while her home was burglarized chased the suspect and gave deputies information that led to his arrest.
On March 6 at about 12:30 p.m., the woman got home and found that it had been ransacked, with the intruder still in her bedroom rummaging through her belongings, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
State, county fire investigation report says power lines sparked Thomas Fire
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- Published: Friday, 15 March 2019 08:50
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
Water-dropping helicopters attack flames on Ojai’s East End Dec. 9, 2017.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
The long-awaited report on the cause and origin of the Thomas Fire was released March 12.
According to the report from Cal Fire and the Ventura County Fire Department, the blaze was started by power lines coming into contact during high winds.
The report is based on statements from witnesses, equipment taken from the area of the fire’s origin and video footage.
OUSD initiates voting districts
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- Published: Friday, 15 March 2019 08:45
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Ojai Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to initiate the process of establishing voting districts and trustee district elections for the school district at its March 13 special meeting, the
The vote was 4-0, with Clerk Jane Weil absent.
This resolution is a response to many other school districts and local governments, such as the city of Ojai, facing litigation from voter groups for reducing minority voting representation through at-large elections.
Board recruits panel to help vet applicants to head OUSD
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- Published: Friday, 15 March 2019 08:44
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Unified School District Board held a public hearing March 13 on the community’s priorities for hiring the next superintendent since current Superintendent Andy Cantwell will be leaving for a new job in Texas in July.
Roughly nine people were in attendance, including teachers and parents. Four spoke during the public hearing.
Roy Rodriguez, a member of a coalition of area residents called Ojai Alliance for Education Equity, spoke about his hopes for a new school district leader: “I think the new superintendent should be a person who possesses a collaborative style of leadership. Two, a person who has been in the classroom. That’s really critical. Can deal with diversity and cares deeply about the complete eduction of each individual student. Three, a person who will commit to more than three years, so that board policies, community policies, the wishes of the teachers can be implemented.”
Dog Food Bank branches out to feed more pets
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- Published: Friday, 15 March 2019 08:43
Photo courtesy Humane Society of Ventura County
Humane Society of Ventura County Kennel Manager Angela Hanline (right) scoops out dry dog food for Jon Christopher on March 12.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
Jon Christopher, 70, has been living on the road with his two boxers, Misty and Bay, for the past four years.
Living in his van, on a fixed income, buying food for the pair of large dogs has been a problem, so Christopher has relied on the Humane Society of Ventura County.
For years, HSVC has operated the Pet Food Bank, which offers free dry dog and cat food donated by the public.
"I can go there and get everything I need to make sure my pets have nutritious food to eat," Christopher told the Ojai Valley News. The food is dispensed from large metal trash cans.
Ojai Valley cold snap breaks records
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- Published: Friday, 15 March 2019 08:39
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
The mercury hit 70 degrees in Ojai on March 12, ending the area’s record-setting cold streak at 40 straight days below 70.
Though not a record, it was the fifth-longest string of days below 70 since record taking began in 1906. The record was set in 1949 with 61 straight days below 70. That streak ran from Dec. 10, 1948, to Feb. 9, 1949.
Last month did set a record, however, for the lowest daily high temperature in February ever recorded, only 67 degrees. The next lowest maximum was 70 degrees, in February 1969.
Committee to review Summit School future holds first meeting
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- Published: Friday, 15 March 2019 08:31
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Unified School District 7-11 Committee regarding the future of Summit Elementary School, which has been temporarily shuttered for the 2018-20 school years, met for its first meeting March 14.
The committee is made up of 11 people. They are San Antonio sixth-grade teacher Kate Spiva; Upper Ojai resident and OUSD parent Trevor Quirk; Upper Ojai resident and former Summit grandparent Louise Oseguera; former OUSD student Christina Mercer McGinley; OUSD Assistant Superintendent and parent Sherrill Knox; former OUSD student Jeanette Espinoza; Measure J Committee member Bob Daddi; Summit School alumna Jessica Colborn, former Summit parent Lauren Coyne; and Upper Ojai resident and OUSD parent James Beaty.
Thacher trustee Douglas Hodge arrested in college admissions fraud
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- Published: Thursday, 14 March 2019 18:57
A Thacher School board member since 2011, Douglas Hodge of Laguna Beach has been charged in the college admissions fraud case, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues, that swept up numerous wealthy individuals and at least two actresses on March 12.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice website, Justice.gov, Hodge has been “charged by complaint” with “conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.”
According to DOJ records, Hodge is suspected of paying $500,000 to have two of his children accepted to the University of Southern California and one to Georgetown University.
Hodge appeared in federal court in Boston on March 13 and was released on $500,000 secured bond.
Supervisors approve wildlife corridors
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- Published: Thursday, 14 March 2019 16:56
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter
On a narrow vote, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved a new habitat connectivity and wildlife corridor ordinance for county unincorporated areas March 12.
Tuesday’s public hearing on the proposed ordinance drew more than 300 people and lasted nearly eight hours.
The new zoning is aimed at keeping open-space corridors traversable by wildlife. It would establish a buffer zone between development and surface water features such as creeks, regulate outdoor lighting found to be harmful to nocturnal animals, and restrict new fencing.
Golden poppies grace Ojai’s Gridley Trail
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- Published: Thursday, 14 March 2019 16:53
Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten
California poppies in bloom March 8 on the Gridley Trail in Ojai. The official state flower, golden poppies bloom from spring to early summer and are typically much more abundant after a wildfire, according to botanists.
