Time to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day in Ojai
By Lanny Kaufer
I commend the city of Ojai for taking seriously the “think globally, act locally” creed by enacting several resolutions regarding worldwide or national issues, resolutions that may not appear at first glance to be directly related to Ojai and its citizens.
Support key to ‘invigorating relaxation’
By Mike Donohue
Well, we already know Ojai is an amazing peaceful place and a great town to kick up your heels. But if you look hard (not that hard) you can find all sorts of fun activity around town these days — even a bit of action.
Hemp cultivation a way for ag to survive in Ojai Valley
By SIMONE AND JACK PATTERSON
On 8/27 the Ojai City Council considered issues around hemp cultivation. We were proud of our council members and were particularly pleased with the comments made by Councilman Ryan Blatz and Councilwoman Suza Francina. Hemp is a new crop to our community and the council endorsed support for the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner, Ed Williams, and his working group to develop sensible regulation regarding its cultivation in Ventura County. We hope any regulations will not be overly restrictive and that the issues not be excessively politicized.
Let's do right by hemp, which can help heal the planet
By Suza Francina
One of the most interesting moments during the Aug. 27 City Council meeting was the public testimony on regulating industrial hemp growing. One speaker mentioned the use of hemp to clean the soil after the Chernobyl disaster, considered the worst nuclear disaster in history.
Crashes on Creek Road are expensive; fixes aren't: Let traffic consultants gather their own data
By Teena Broumand
I am sorry to share with you yet more accidents on Creek Road on Aug. 22 and Aug. 9. In the Aug. 9 crash, the driver did not make the sharp curve headed toward Ojai. Injuries seem to have occurred and her car is most certainly totaled.
Great teaching integrates learning outside the box
CHARLINE NORTON, Ojai
There is nothing more disappointing to a teacher, school, or district than facing the realization that state test scores fall below expectations.
What can you imagine for Ojai's public schools?
What can you imagine for Ojai’s public schools?
Our community is beginning an exciting conversation about the potential of Summit Charter School opening in Upper Ojai in Fall 2020. We are the newly formed all-volunteer, nonprofit board of Summit Charter School and we feel it is important for the community to start this conversation with a common understanding of some key facts about charter schools.
Paleochannel mapping in Ojai Valley is worth the investment
By Michelaina Johnson
Did you know that relict river channels buried below the Ojai Valley still carry water to the Pacific Ocean?
Those ancestral waterways — called paleochannels — may house a significant proportion of groundwater; however, they are at present missing from our groundwater equations.
Hemp: The Trojan horse that will destroy our valley from within
By Patricia Hartmann
Hemp is likely to be the Trojan horse that will destroy our valley from within. In April, the growing of industrial hemp was legalized in California. Ventura County is issuing industrial hemp growing permits with no restrictions as to grows next to schools, parks or residential neighborhoods.
Ojai joins other cities in declaring a climate emergency
Suza Francina, Ojai mayor pro tem
On Monday, July 22, at a special City Council meeting, Ojai joined more than 850 other jurisdictions worldwide that have declared a climate emergency.
I would like to thank the residents who came before the City Council and encouraged us to declare a climate emergency.
Ojai-Ventura Water Agency Partnership working to increase water supply
By Assemblymember Monique Limón and Supervisor Steve Bennett
Nearly two years ago, the two of us, along with a group of local water agency and other government leaders, began meeting to facilitate a collaborative approach to addressing the seven-year drought. The group name is the Ojai-Ventura Water Agency Partnership. Our group’s goal is to improve the sustainability of the regional water supply in the Ventura River watershed that encompasses the Ojai Valley and the western half of the city of Ventura.