News from around the Ojai Valley

Lynne Doherty brings the sound of music to Ojai Valley children

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 16:38

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

2018 Ojai Living Treasure Lynne Doherty.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Lynne Doherty helps bring the sound of music to school kids in the Ojai Valley every March.

A musician and music teacher by trade, she’s in charge of volunteers working the Music Van, part of the Ojai Music Festival’s BRAVO! music education program.

The van, a mobile classroom that brings dozens of musical instruments to local schools, gives third-graders the chance to blow, strum, shake or beat on a variety of brass, woodwind, string and percussion instruments.

Doherty’s efforts, begun in 1992, struck the right note with the community. In a ceremony April 24 at the Ojai Valley Museum, the Rotary Clubs of Ojai and Ojai West named her a 2018 Ojai Living Treasure.

City of Ojai loses its appeal of oil and gas permit renewal

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 16:35

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Rejecting an appeal by the city of Ojai, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 15 to let an oil and gas production facility near Persimmon Hill continue its operations.

On a vote of 3-2, supervisors decided to grant a modified conditional use permit for the next 20 years for the Bentley Oil and Gas Lease at 12540 Creek Road.

In July 2017, planning director Kim Prillhart granted a modified permit to the applicant, Bentley Family Limited Partnership. The city of Ojai appealed that decision to the Ventura County Planning Commission 10 days later.

The appeal was denied in October 2017 and the permit was granted on a 3-1 vote by county planners.

SOLE SURVIVOR: Scott Eckersley of Ojai recalls Sespe tragedy 50 years ago

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 15:46

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

Scott Eckersley and wife Jenny examine the cigarette carton with his account of the 1969 Sespe tragedy.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

“Light rain, like right now, is just perfect,” said Scott Eckersley, as he watched raindrops outside his Reeves Road home Jan. 15. “But when it does start to rain in really hard sheets, I start getting the shakes again, I get nervous … and I pace.”

Eckersley, now 78, was the lone survivor of a tragedy that began unfolding 50 years ago today — an ill-fated rescue attempt in the Sespe Wilderness that resulted in the deaths of 10 people.

The story has been well-chronicled over the years, most notably in an extensive 2008 article in Outside magazine titled “Hell in High Water.”

It all began on Saturday, Jan. 18, 1969. There was a 10 percent chance of rain that day, and Eckersley, on his first trip into the Sespe, planned to spend the weekend camping at Sespe Hot Springs.

But light rain soon turned heavier, so Eckersley turned his camper around and started back toward the old Lion Car Camp. His truck got stuck on the now-impassable road.

Storms bring evacuations, road closures

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 15:40

Submitted photo

Matiija Canyon resident Ryan Lang stands beside a neighbor's SUV that became trapped following heavy downpours Jan. 17. There were no injuries, but the vehicle was a total loss, according to reports.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The final storm in a week of wet weather brought watches, advisories and warnings and a slew of minor issues, but no major problems in the Ojai Valley.

It was the latest in a series of storms to move through the area since Jan. 14. The storm arrived Wednesday afternoon and tapped into an “atmospheric river,” intensifying overnight and prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for the Thomas Fire burn area.

“The storm picked up a lot of subtropical moisture and the nice, moist feed provided a good, steady rain,” said Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist with the NWS in Oxnard.

Rainfall amounts from the latest storm ranged from 1 to 3 inches in the valley and 2 to 5 inches in the mountains.

Ojai tribute to Dr. King highlights unity Jan. 21

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 15:31

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

Ojai will honor the life and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the holiday named after him on Jan. 21.

The headline event is the 19th annual MLK Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Libbey Park.

The theme this year is ‘The Amazing Power of Unity and Courage,’ which is derived from a Harriet Tubman quote saying, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer.”

Students from around the valley are invited to present a short poem or spoken word literary piece discussing the impact MLK had, after winning a spoken-word contest. Posters created by local students will be on display as well.

Invasive plant species set to retreat out of Ojai

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 15:29

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

As the clock struck 10:30 p.m. at the Jan. 8 Ojai City Council meeting, time ran out for Mexican fan palms along public right-of-ways on city property.

This is because the Ojai City Council passed a motion implementing a city Invasive Species Tree Policy. The motion passed 4-1, with Councilwoman Suza Francina the lone dissenter.

Under the policy, Ojai Public Works Director Greg Grant is granted the authority to cost share the removal of the Mexican fan palms on property adjacent to city property on the public right-of-way. The goal is to reduce the number of seeds that spread onto city property, and will be done as budget allows.

The policy also authorized Grant to cost share for tree pruning and remove more minor invasive tree sprouts as required, eradicating these trees from spreading their seeds onto city property as well.

Council shakes up building codes

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 15:28

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

During its Jan. 8 meeting, the Ojai City Council directed staff to return to council with an introduction of an ordinance adopting the 2016 California Building Code, with revisions recommended by the Building Appeals Board and council.

The changes made by the Building Appeals Board included requiring residents to install plug-in heat sensors, require a complete re-roof with Class A fire-retardant materials when more than 10 percent of the existing roof is repaired and requiring new construction to use a minimum Class A fire-retardant roofing material.

The council changes included requiring 27-inch footings for the foundation with an opt-out option to use 12-inch footings instead, and directing staff to write a separate ordinance with a five-year countdown to eliminate all shake roofs in city limits.

Shake roofs are a type of roof that do not have a high resistance to fire.

Clean Power Alliance Q&A: Questions to ask as Ojai switches power provider

Details: Published: Thursday, 17 January 2019 15:27

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

Starting in February for residential customers and May for commercial customers, the Clean Power Alliance will be the default energy supplier for the Ojai Valley.

Here are some of the most-asked questions by residents, as Ojai and the surrounding unincorporated areas transition to power from the Clean Power Alliance:

1. Who is on the board of directors?

The board of directors includes an elected official from each member city and county. This includes a representative from Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as one from each member city within the two counties. Ojai’s representative is Mayor Johnny Johnston.

Citizens speak out in response to Matilija texts, swastika photo

Details: Published: Wednesday, 16 January 2019 11:05

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

Ojai community members packed Matilija Junior High Auditorium Jan. 14 for a community forum about the 28 students exchanging racially charged and sexist texts and nine students (some but not all of those who participated in the texts) forming a swastika with their bodies on the school field during a lunch break before winter break.

The forum opened with presentations from members of the school and district administration and then a short speech by Cyndi Silverman, regional director of the Santa Barbara and Tri-Counties Anti-Defamation League.

Matilija Principal Javier Ramirez reviewed the investigation that took place Dec. 12 to 14. “We … took this opportunity to speak to our students, and about being responsible citizens,” Ramirez said. “We discussed with the students the power that bystanders have in helping us build a culture and community that we desire here in Ojai, and at the school, too.”

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department was a part of the investigation that took place. Det. Joseph Preciado of the Ojai police station emphasized that there was no crime. He said the department handled the incident seriously and thoroughly.

Final rainy system of the week storming into the Ojai Valley

Details: Published: Wednesday, 16 January 2019 09:43

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The last of several storms to move through Southern California arrives today and is expected to bring plenty of rain, starting this afternoon or evening and lasting into Thursday.

Tuesday’s storm didn’t quite pack the punch expected, although it did provide a good soaking. Areas of western Ventura County, including the Ojai Valley, received between 1 and 3 inches.

Peak rainfall rates were below what forecasters had expected.

No major problems were reported.

The final storm could be stronger and wetter, according to the National Weather Service.

Sups deny city of Ojai's Bentley appeal

Details: Published: Tuesday, 15 January 2019 16:44

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 15 to let an oil and gas production facility near Persimmon Hill modify its operations.

In doing so, the Board denied an appeal by the city of Ojai filed in 2017.

On a vote of 3-2, supervisors decided to grant a modified conditional use permit for the next 20 years for the Bentley Oil and Gas Lease at 12540 Creek Road.

The facility includes nine existing oil and gas wells — three of which are currently active — and associated equipment.

As part of the permit, the applicant will be allowed to operate a full-time flare to burn off gas.

It will also be allowed to use a proposed tanker truck route using Creek Road.

The city argued that more analysis of the health and safety impacts of the flare needs to be done before the project should move forward.

Supervisors Steve Bennett and Linda Parks cast the “no” votes.

Ojai Unified School District updated storm notice

Details: Published: Tuesday, 15 January 2019 14:08

Ojai Unified School District is canceling all after-school activities for Tuesday, Jan. 15, and Wednesday, Jan. 16, according to Superintendent Andy Cantwell. He said a determination of whether Ojai public schools are open Wednesday, Jan. 16, will be made tonight, between 8 and 9 p.m., or Wednesday morning by 6 a.m.
He said OUSD administrators are working closely with the Office of Emergency Services to make the determination on whether to have classes on Wednesday.
If school is canceled for Wednesday, Cantwell said the school board meeting scheduled that evening at 5:30 p.m. will be postponed to a future date.
The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at Nordhoff High School that can operate if school is in session or not, he said.

VCSO issues mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders throughout Ojai Valley

Details: Published: Tuesday, 15 January 2019 11:44

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has issued mandatory evacuation orders for areas north of the Ojai Valley and a portion of Casitas Springs.

The Matilija Canyon, Wheeler Springs and North Fork areas were placed under mandatory evacuation orders at around 11 a.m. The order extends along Oso Road in the Meiners Oaks area.

In addition, residences east of Highway 33 in Casitas Springs, near the Vista Fire burn area, were advised to evacuate.

A portion of east Ojai, from Gridley Road to Reeves Road, was placed under voluntary evacuation orders.

Nye Road and areas west of Highway 33 in Casitas Springs have been listed as areas in which residents should be aware of changing conditions and take action should evacuation become necessary.

Evacuation centers have been set up at Ventura College and Nordhoff High School.

Forecasters say the second in a series of storms is on track to bring periods of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch until 9 p.m.

The storm could bring between 2 and 4 inches of rain, with peak rainfall intensities in excess of debris flow thresholds.

For the latest information visit www.vcemergency.com.

For additional weather information, visit www.weather.gov/lox.

Wet and wetter still

Details: Published: Monday, 14 January 2019 13:39

Ojai Valley News photo by Perry Van Houten

A red-shouldered hawk perches on a wire above Grand Avenue in Ojai Jan. 13, with a snow-dusted Nordhoff Ridge in the background.

Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

A series of storms lashing Southern California this week could bring several inches of rain to the Ojai Valley, prompting flooding concerns for area streams and creeks.

The first system, which arrived Jan. 14, brought light to moderate showers and gusty winds. Rainfall amounts were expected to range between 0.5 and 1.5 inches, with 2.5 inches possible along south-facing slopes.

Rainfall rates were expected to peak at 0.5 inches per hour, with the potential for locally higher rates up to 1 inch per hour.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning, a flood advisory and a wind advisory, due to very gusty east to southeast winds.

Forecasters expected the snow level to lower to around 4,000 feet Jan. 14, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches above the 5,000-foot level.

Matilija Junior High to hold community forum tonight at 6 p.m. at Matilija Auditorium

Details: Published: Monday, 14 January 2019 09:01

Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter

The Ojai Unified School District will hold a community forum tonight, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Road, in response to nine Matilija Junior High School students forming the shape of a swastika with their bodies on the school field and a group of 28 seventh-grade students who participated in inappropriate text messages before winter break. The community is invited to attend.

The meeting will be moderated by Cyndi Silverman, regional director of the Santa Barbara Tri-Counties Anti-Defamation League, and Brianna Moffitt, director of education and community outreach for the ADL, in conjunction with OUSD Superintendent Andy Cantwell and administrators, Cantwell said.

The forum is not scheduled as an official school board meeting and the OUSD school board members will be in attendance in the audience, Cantwell said.

The forum will be an opportunity to discuss the topic from a school district perspective, Cantwell said. “We will give additional information the public may not have read in the media,” Cantwell said. “We will focus on community and student engagement and the community moving forward in the most meaningful way to address this topic.”