News from around the Ojai Valley
Supervisors deny three appeals for winery
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:38
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
A winery near Casitas Springs has lost the latest round in its battle with the county of Ventura.
In what 1st District Supervisor Steve Bennett called “an open-and-shut case,” the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to deny three separate appeals by the owners of the Old Creek Ranch Winery.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Erickson remembered for service, friendship
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:36
Photo courtesy of Lauren Andrews
Adam Erickson, 29, a Nordhoff High School graduate, lost his life during a military training parachuting operation Sept. 10 in Perris.
Andra Belknap, Ojai Valley News contributor
Twenty-nine-year-old Ojai native Staff Sgt. Adam K. Erickson lost his life during a military training parachuting operation Sept. 10 in Perris, Calif. Erickson, a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) specialist, was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base.
Artist Marta Nelson honored on Peace Day
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:30
Photo by Deborah Lyon
Marta Nelson
In 2004, in preparation for the annual Ojai Studio Artists tour, Marta Nelson completed a painting and intuitively included a dove. The date was Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace. She continued to add a dove to all her work since that date, later adding the acronym AFP (Artist for Peace).
Ojai to celebrate peace at community festival Sept. 22
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:26
Photo by Lucy Dickinson
Brian Berman, Lisa Berman and Ray Powers are on the City of Peace team.
Letitia Grimes, Special to the Ojai Valley News
The Ojai International City of Peace team, Brian Berman, Lisa Berman and Ray Powers, will present the fifth annual United Nations International Day of Peace Festival in Libbey Park on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event will be an educational, entertaining and inclusive celebration for all ages.
Celebrity Diane Ladd lends star power to boost regenerative farming
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:22
Diane Ladd
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Actress and health activist Diane Ladd of Ojai is taking a stand against pesticide spraying in the Ojai Valley.
She is helping organize a town hall meeting about the dangers of chemical pesticide spraying in the Ojai Valley on Sept. 28 at Matilija Auditorium from 3 to 6 p.m.
OUSD 2020 bond measure survey coming in October
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:20
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
The Ojai Unified School District, with the help of financial consultant Isom Advisors, is preparing to conduct a survey of the community next month to gauge interest in another bond measure.
Ojai 'Peacebuilder' Leslie Clark nominated for United Nations Association Peace Prize
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:19
Submitted photo
Leslie Clark of Ojai in the Sahara Desert.
For her work supporting nomadic tribes in Niger, Leslie Clark of Ojai has been nominated for the United Nations Association of Santa Barbara and Tri-Counties’ 2019 Peace Prize.
Hundreds dance and enjoy Ojai Valley Mexican Fiesta
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:16
Submitted photo
Vanessa Garcia is crowned Ojai Valley Mexican Fiesta Queen on Sunday.
The 52nd Ojai Valley Mexican Fiesta rocked Libbey Bowl on Sunday as more than 500 people danced, ate delicious Mexican food and enjoyed the singers and traditional Mexican folkloric dancers.
LWV to register Ojai voters on Voter Registration Day
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 09:10
Tuesday, Sept. 24, is National Voter Registration Day. Across the nation, organizations such as the League of Women Voters and other others hold voter registration events where citizens can register or re-register to vote.
Tristen and Gator rally Rangers
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- Published: Friday, 20 September 2019 02:43
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff student Tristen Lemp and her horse, Gator, lead the Nordhoff Rangers varsity football team onto the field before the team’s game against San Marcos High School on Sept. 13.
Austin Widger, Ojai Valley News reporter
Tristen Lemp continues the Nordhoff High School horse and rider tradition started in 2008, when Montana Titus began riding her horse per the request of former Rangers head coach Tony Henney. Titus was the daughter of Henney’s assistant coach Scott Titus.
Police blotter as of Sept. 18, 2019
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- Published: Thursday, 19 September 2019 10:53
Crimes
• Burglary and graffiti vandalism were reported in the 900 block of West Ojai Avenue Sept. 12.
• Annoying telephone calls were reported in the 1500 block of Gridley Road Sept. 12.
• Burglary was reported in the 300 block of East Ojai Avenue Sept. 12.
• Arson was reported in the 11200 block of Creek Road Sept. 16.
Ojai volunteers invited to clean local waterways Saturday for annual Coastal Cleanup Day
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- Published: Wednesday, 18 September 2019 16:29
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
The world's largest beach cleanup event returns this Saturday, and local volunteers will again arm themselves with bags and buckets to pick up trash.
Ojai will join 25 other inland and coastal sites across Ventura County for California's 35th annual Coastal Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon.
County supervisors OK bid for new Upper Ojai fire station
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- Published: Wednesday, 18 September 2019 15:56
County of Ventura
Artist rendering of the new Ventura County Fire Station 20 in Upper Ojai.
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
A new fire station in Upper Ojai came closer to reality this week, as the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved plans and specs for the station and awarded a nearly $7.4 million construction contract.
Suspect in murder of mother and daughter pleads not guilty
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- Published: Wednesday, 18 September 2019 15:27
Photo courtesy VCSO
Shawn Shirck
Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News senior reporter
An Oak View man charged with the murders of a mother and daughter in an Ojai home last month appeared in court Wednesday and entered not guilty pleas.
Principal Dave Monson: Emergency Procedures at Nordhoff High School
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- Published: Tuesday, 17 September 2019 22:09
Nordhoff High School Principal Dave Monson
An unsubstantiated online threat made toward Nordhoff High School for Monday, Sept. 16, prompted the Ojai Unified School District administration, in consultation with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, to alert Nordhoff High School staff and families on Sunday, Sept. 15, and to give students permission to miss school that day if they chose. A large number of students did stay home Monday, according to students who attended.
On Monday evening, Sept. 16, Ojai Police Chief James Fryhoff and OUSD Superintendent Tiffany Morse wrote separate letters on school district emails and community Facebook posts about the school district and law enforcement response to the threat. Those letters are included on the Ojai Valley News website, www.ojaivalleynews.com, and Facebook page.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Nordhoff High School Principal Dave Monson wrote this email to Nordhoff High School students, staff and families at 6:03 p.m.
“Ranger students, staff and families,
Today, we had a false alarm triggered by construction dust in one of our bathrooms. Despite some of the conversations going around, the fire alarm was not pulled; it was set off by our automatic sensors. We made the decision to stop the construction to prevent another false alarm.
In light of our recent threat and today’s unexpected alarm, we wanted to inform everyone that district and Nordhoff administration had met two weeks ago with law enforcement to review our procedures. We will conduct the first of our annual emergency drills in the coming weeks, but we will be sure to provide advance warning.
Understandably, many students, staff members, and families are nervous and scared from this recent threat. We hope this information and our procedural drills will provide some peace of mind that we are prepared for emergencies and have plans and procedures in place to address these specific events.
Sincerely,
Principal Dave Monson”