Ojai Valley News Blog

Former celebrity photographer, Michael Levin, poses in his home studio in Ojai with an old Rolleiflex camera that he used during his time as a pro.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Michael Levin flies by the seat of his pants. The local entrepreneur has developed and sold products, professionally photographed celebrities, and helped produce and create the “Laserium” laser show, popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Now, after more than 40 years, he’s considering showing some of his work publicly.

In 1959, on a whim, Levin decided to, as he says, “give a try to being a free-lance photographer in New York City.”

Taking a tour of his home studio in the hills of Ojai, it’s easy to see why Levin became so successful in a short period of time.

“Here’s one of the Everly Brothers,” he said pointing, walking past a row of prints hanging from the wall. “That one was for an album cover they did.”

Levin continued to show more of his work. “That’s Chubby Checker,” he said, pointing to his favorite shots. “There’s one I did of Clint Eastwood. That’s Ann Margaret over there. Here’s one of the photos I took of Dick Clark.”

Spending time with Clark and his family during many photo shoots, Levin got to know the famous celebrity. “He was such a gentleman,” said Levin about the late TV star’s demeanor. “He was always very polite when I worked with him. He asked me for one of the shots for his family Christmas card one year.”

Approaching a black-and-white print of superstar baseball legend, Jackie Robinson, who is pictured signing children’s autographs, Levin smiled and said, “I think this might be my favorite one of all.”

Levin’s career as a professional photographer to the stars ended after four years of intense work. “After that I was just ready to move on to something else,” he said. “I had done what I had set out to do, so I was ready to move on.”

Now, nearly a half century later, he may be ready to show his work publicly again.

“At some point,” he said, “it was suggested to me that I should talk with the Ojai Museum about doing a show. I definitely think the pictures are of historic interest.”

Ojai Valley Museum director Michele Pracy says that the museum has done a Hollywood-related show in the past, and museum officials have considered having another one in the future. “We’ve bantered about doing a celebrity show again,” she said. “We’re definitely open to it. It just has to be Ojai related. We can also help him find the right venue for his work if we need to. His show might be bigger than he thinks.”

Levin’s photos are currently available on the stock photo website, corbis.com.

By Hannah Day

Summertime in Ojai, for those who love to be outdoors, means more enjoyable activities like hiking and horseback riding on the Ojai land and trails. However, with more people out on the trails and preserves in the summer heat, safety issues are a major concern for those leading hikes and other outdoor activities. Some who work for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy understand these risks and have been trained to respond correctly to sudden illnesses and accidents.

In brief, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is responsible for preserving open land in the Ojai Valley. Darcy Gamble, OVLC development director, explained, “The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy protects the views, trails, water and wildlife of the Ojai Valley.” Some of the areas that the OVLC helps protect are: San Antonio, the Ventura River, agricultural lands and “signature landscapes” such as the Ojai Meadows Preserve near Nordhoff High School.

One of the nonprofit organization’s staff members, Rick Bisaccia, recently attained skills that benefit not only other OVLC staff members, but also other people out on the trails.

In late March, preserve manager Bisaccia (along with Concerned Resource and Environmental Workers. supervisor Camille Holly) became a certified Wilderness First Responder, which is a program designed to train outdoor professionals like Bisaccia and Holly in intense medical training. “It’s not a first-aid thing,” said Bisaccia. “It’s more advanced.” Specifically, the training is designed to help injured people two or more hours away from the hospital. To become certified, one must go through eight days of rigorous outdoor and first aid training. Learning how to handle spinal injuries, burns, and snake bites in the field are few of the many things those in the program must learn to pass the exams.

As summer approaches and more people go hiking in the sweltering heat, more people will be prone to heat-related illnesses and accidents. “Heat illness is common during the summer,” Bisaccia said, “as well as falls from horses, shock from bee stings, and dog bites.”

He’s only been certified for about two months, but Bisaccia has already used his training on the job. “A couple of weeks ago, during a hike, three women had heat illness. I found myself having to go through the heat illness process (to help them).”

The safety of other OVLC staff members is just as important. Although he hopes he does not have to treat more serious injuries, he does emphasize the importance of safety training, especially those who work with him on the preserves. With his new credentials, Bisaccia can train other staff members to prevent or treat heat illness, cuts and insect bites. More serious injuries may be treated by Bisaccia if speedy medical help is not available. While he does not expect to use his skills much during normal preserve work, Bisaccia admits that they will be useful during hikes and other outdoor events farther away from a hospital. For those who work deeper in the wilderness, such as Holly and others on the C.R.E.W., the medical training will be especially helpful.

According to Gamble, both the OVLC and C.R.E.W are happy to have staff with such outstanding credentials. Gamble says, “The community is lucky have such ambitious first aid-minded people.”

Check future issues of the OVN for an account of C.R.E.W. supervisor Holly’s experiences in the local wilderness areas.

By Lenny Roberts

The Ojai Valley News staff and online readers were shocked and concerned between Thursday and Saturday when logging on to the newspaper’s website.

Depending on their operating system, readers saw either a blank page or the warning of a possible Trojan horse virus, specifically, Scareware known as “Blacole Exploit Kit.”

Mitec Solutions spent much of the weekend analyzing each of the thousands of files required to publish the Ojai Valley News online edition. According to MITec webmaster Justin Torres, “The Trojan targets computers with outdated, unpatched versions of Java. Windows users, in particular, need to make sure they are always running their security updates. Adobe Flash, Adobe PDF Reader and Java, which are responsible for the majority of security exploits, should be updated on a regular basis.

Torres provided a link to a free program (patchmypc.net/download.html} that will go through most common pieces of software on Windows-based computers and ensure they are up to date.

According to Mitec, the attack occurred Thursday at approximately 4 p.m. when the server hosting the OVN’s files was displaying error messages that had foreign computer-code injected into the websites, which was written as sophisticated machine code. 

“It was apparent by Friday morning that a virus had infected the server. Mitec quickly began working on isolating the infected webpages, which numbered in the dozens, repaired the infected code, and put the server in ‘read only’ mode so the virus could no longer spread,” Torres said. “The website was patched Saturday morning after tirelessly working on it through the night and into Saturday morning.”

The OVN is hosted on a Linux server running RootKitHunter Security Software, but the security software did not detect a breach.

“Any computer that accessed the website and was using an outdated, unpatched version of Java was potentially at risk and should be patched immediately,” Torres warned. “This particular virus only targeted Windows computers. However, it is equally important for Apple users to ensure they are running the latest version of the above-mentioned software. Likewise if Apple users are running Mac OS 10.4.11 or earlier, they are also going to be susceptible to vulnerabilities in their older browser software.”

Torres said FOX News was infected with malware in 2009 that lasted for three days before it was fixed. And Google’s famous “Doodle” was infected with rogue anti-virus in 2009.

“Although we are still determining how the attack occurred, and from where, it likely targeted a weakness in an outdated content management system platform such as WordPress or Joomla. The attack was not aimed specifically at the Ojai Valley News, and appears to be a random act perpetrated by an automated ‘bot,’ which browses the Internet looking for vulnerabilities,” Torres said.

“The malware aims to trick people into thinking their hardware is failing with a series of fake alerts. The software encourages users to purchase software to fix the issue. However, it is a scam and the perpetrators are simply collecting credit card numbers from the vulnerable victims.”

Mitec’s Anthony Andre suggested that more than 90 percent of all hosts, particularly the larger corporations, will not assist their clients in resurrecting their websites after a virus spread through the hosting environment, even though the problem was on a server-level and not the hosting account.

“Because we value all of our clients, no matter how big or how small, we’re currently working with everyone who was affected by the Trojan to not only resolve the issue with the Trojan itself, but to also assist them with restoring their websites and put additional security measures in place to prevent future occurrences,” Andre said.


”Viruses, Trojans, malware and scareware are the ugly side of the Internet age. Run your updates religiously and make sure your antivirus software is always up to date.“

Anyone with questions may call Mitec Solutions at (805) 643-4375 for a free security assessment.

By Misty Volaski

The latest information from Sacramento indicates that California state revenues will fall at least $4 billion short of Gov. Jerry Brown’s projections.

That’s bad news for the budget overall; but, fortunately for California schools, it seems as though education will be excluded from the extra cuts that will need to be made, said Dannielle Pusatere, Ojai Unified School District assistant superintendent.

Based on comments Brown made in a recent web cast, she said, ÒIt didn’t appear to affect schools any more than it already has.” That means “our livelihoods depend on the November election,” she added, referring to a ballot measure that would increase sales tax a half-percent and add 3 percent to the income tax rates for California residents who make more than $300,000 per year.

If the measure doesn’t get on the ballot or doesn’t pass in November, Pusatere went on, the governor has said he will allow schools to cut the 2012-2013 school year short by three weeks Ñ which would be the only way to keep most California schools operating. If passed, Pusatere said, the measure would yield about $6.9 billion. “That would be huge, incredibly significant,” she said. “People have to remember, that half-percent sales tax, that’s what we used to have and it expired É The ramifications Ñ it’s schools and law enforcement that’s going to feel that hurt. That’s something to think about.”

The budgets are currently balanced for Ojai schools, Pusatere said. “We still have a few things like (changes to) medical premiums” that are unknown still. However, “I believe they will come in on target, at what we projected.”

At the May 8 OUSD board meeting, Pusatere brought forward one of the many ways that the district is keeping expenditures down: by not pre-funding employees’ post-employment benefits years in advance. OUSD retirees only get major medical benefits from the ages of 55 to 65, at which point “they move on to Medicare,” Pusatere said. “It’s not a lifetime benefit.” On May 8, the board agreed to “just fund those premiums for this year.” It’s a routine procedure, she added, because “we just can’t afford” the additional expense of pre-funding the benefits.

Also keeping cuts at bay is the continuation of the work furlough programs for certificated employees (teachers) and classified staff (secretaries, etc), and administrators. Teachers will take eight days, classified staff will take nine, and administrators will take 10. “A few minor cuts” will also be included, such as slight salary decreases.

OUSD board members also looked at the district’s reserve fund balance, which is essentially a “rainy day” fund, from the traditional 3 percent of the budget down to 1 percent. While not an ideal situation, it allowed administrators to move that money into other areas of the budget that desperately needed a boost. OUSD actually had good news in that department this year, allowing the district to go from 1 percent last year to 1.3 percent this year. OUSD superintendent Hank Bangser said, “We were about $55,000 short of meeting our goal of 1.5 percent in the reserve fund balance, which the board set as a goal for 2012-13.” But, “É we are narrowing things down, clarifying expenditures,” he added, in hopes of reaching that goal or getting a bit closer to it.

Referring to the budget overall, Bangser acknowledged, “I tell ya, it’s really tight. We’ve tried our best to keep as many people and services as possible, but we’re really just waiting with great anticipation to see what will happen in November.”

Bt Tiobe Barron

What do horses, kids, and fundraisers to benefit nonprofit organizations have in common? They are all things Sue Gruber, owner of Oso Ranch and the Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company, is passionate about. Gruber, who started her business as a single mother in 1987, created a nonprofit called “Horses, Heart and Soul,” which links troubled youth with neglected horses. The chance to bond with animals, to be outdoors, and to see another creature recuperate is a transformational experience for the kids.

“We find that the troubled kids are so different by the time they leave!” swears Linda Dezeeuw, who has worked with Gruber for two years, and with horses for nearly forty. According to Dezeeuw, the kids involved with the program usually have drug problems, suicidal tendencies, or are victims of rape. They begin as cynics, seemingly cold and unreachable, and leave so changed for the better that Horses, Heart and Soul routinely gets letters from parents and psychologists singing the programs praises.

“If you could see the change in the kids we help, and the reaction from the parents, it’s unbelievable,” says Dezeeuw. The ranch takes kids from Casa Pacifica, from United Parents, as well as children who would otherwise be unable to afford participating in the program. Oso Ranch is also host to summer camps and 4-H groups, who use the space to raise their hogs, and get to keep all their profits.

But why stop there?

On May 20, Gruber and her team are hosting a fund-raising benefit for St. Jude’s Hospital. Gruber was asked to participate last year, and despite the rain, had a turn out of about fifty people, and so much fun she decided to do it again this year, in warmer weather.

The event is open to everyone. There will be trail rides beginning at 9 a.m., and those who are not riding are encouraged to sponsor those who are, much like a traditional marathon. In addition, there will be face-painting, a petting zoo, and a pot luck, with lunch scheduled at 1 p.m. There will also be a raffle, with prizes donated by Kevin Jewelers, The Oaks, Lalos, The Wharf, Ricky Smith Horseshoeing, Debbie Luna, and more. All proceeds go to St. Jude’s Hospital for kids.

If none of that is enough of a draw for potential participants, the Ranch is also currently host to an orphaned 3-day-old baby horse named Jack, who requires feeding every two hours, and as much community love and tenderness as he can get. The atmosphere evokes the Wild West, marrying big heart and gumption with the outdoors.

For more information, or to get involved, call (805) 890-9340.

By Tiobe Barron

Ojai City Council voted Tuesday night to contract with Thomas E. Figg consulting services for up to $9,450. Figg’s services are being utilized to assist council with the 2006 to 2014 Housing Element update. Ojai has yet to certify a housing element for this time period, according to city staff, largely due to the requirement by the state that Ojai prove it can accommodate roughly 800 additional housing units.

“This process is forced upon us by the state. I do not like the thought of having to go through the process again,” said Councilwoman Sue Horgan. “But a lot of things have changed. I believe there are enough new things that it may be prudent for us to take another look.”

“It’s an impossible task, because the numbers are ridiculous,” said Mayor Betsy Clapp. She also expressed the concern that the housing element, as currently drafted, does not have adequate protection for the environment. City manager Rob Clark, city attorney Joseph Fletcher, and community development director Robert Mullane each advised council members that the wisest course of action was to at least go through the motions of creating a housing element that is in compliance with state requirements, in order to ward off potential litigation and land use issues.

“It’s an exercise in futility,” said Councilwoman Carol Smith. “And I can tell you where the angst comes from. Because these numbers are nonsensical.”

Mayor Clapp also took the opportunity at the Tuesday night meeting to inform all present about an impending Carpool Lane Improvement Project to U.S. Freeway 101 between Ventura and Santa Barbara. The project is a joint venture between Caltrans, the Ventura County Transportation Commission, and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. It will add one carpool lane to each direction along a six-mile stretch from Mobile Pier Road to Casitas Pass Road. The project will also add a southbound bicycle lane, a pedestrian crossing at La Conchita, and improvements to medians and drainage sites. The project costs $102 million, and is expected to be completed in late 2015. In the meantime, there are expected lane restrictions, bike lane restrictions, and intermittent beach access. More information about the project is available at us101-info.com.

Ojai City Council members will be discussing their own projects, in the form of the 2012-2013 city budget, at a special meeting scheduled for May 21 at 7 p.m. At that time, the city will decide how to integrate its five goals, as set out in the recent goal-setting meetings, with fiscal ability and specific task lists. The goals set out by Ojai City Council include operating the city efficiently and effectively; maintaining quality public infrastructure; improving and promoting tourism, the arts, culture and leisure; fostering environmental sustainability; and improving housing and transportation in Ojai. Mayor Pro Tem Paul Blatz and Horgan expressly thanked city finance director Susie Mears and city manager Clark for their hard work and for making the financial documents fathomable.

Between the jam-packed agenda for the next regular City Council meeting to be held May 22 Ñ and the presumably lengthy discussion that will take place at the special meeting on May 21 for the 2012-2013 budget Ñ the ever-electric issue of Smart Meters now gets its own time slot on May 29 at 7 p.m.

“I wanted to commend all of you for taking the initiative on Smart Meters. It’s a dramatic thing to be presented with to begin with,” said Ojai resident Sholom Joshua.

Ojai resident Kevin Schmidt also took the chance to thank council members. “If passed, it shows courage and leadership,” Schmidt said of the ordinance in the works, which seeks to limit Smart Meter installation to those properties with occupants who actively want the devices, rather than a blanket installation encompassing the whole area, including those who are uninformed or oppose the wireless devices altogether.

Ojai resident Dennis Leary then expressed concern that the efforts of Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water seem stymied. “We want our own water. It’s the No. 1 priority. Water is life,” said Leary. Councilwoman Carlon Strobel agreed that it does seem like the process involving having the California Public Utilities Commission review the complaints against Golden State Water Company seems slow. “Sadly, we don’t have much control,” said Strobel. “We’re working as hard as we can.”

All work and no play makes for a tough summer, though. Council members voted to cancel the regular council meetings scheduled for July 24 and Sept. 11, to allow council members, as well as the public, time for summer vacation.

Smith also reminded those gathered that the primary elections will take place June 5. City clerk Rhonda Basore confirmed that the last day to register for that election is May 21, that residents are able to register at City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St., and there will be a ballot box on the premises. For more information, or to view previous council meetings, visit the city’s website at ci.ojai.ca.us.

By Hanna Day

“Duty, Honor, Country” is this year’s slogan for the Oak View Civic Council’s annual Ojai Valley Memorial Day parade, honoring the veterans who have served the country. Floats, bagpipes, Aztec dancers and veterans will grace the streets on May 28, Memorial Day, starting at 10 a.m.; the parade begins on Old Ventura Avenue and ends at Park Avenue in Oak View. There will also be a Memorial Day celebration in the city of Ojai at Libbey Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Although there is still more planning to be done, the veterans will be in the parade, as they are every year, as well as the Grand Old Forces and the Living Treasures. As planning continues the Civic Council anticipates more floats and groups to make up this year’s participants, and hopes to include the Nordhoff High School drum line.

The Oak View Civic Council, headed by President John Herndon, is responsible for organizing and hosting the Oak View event. OVCC Secretary Lynn Smith and Second Vice President Elba Sanchez have been instrumental in the organization and advertising process.

Sanchez says she is excited about this year’s Memorial Day celebrations. “Last year it (the parade) was phenomenal, but this year it’ll be even better.” Sanchez, who is responsible for designing the fliers as well as helping to organize the floats, notes that though the celebrations will be fun for all, Memorial Day “is to remember the heroes who fought for our freedom.”

Aside from the parade there will be other events to participate in, such as an awards presentation. Food will be offered throughout the day in the form of pancake breakfasts and barbecues. From 7 to 11 a.m., the 60th annual pancake breakfast will be offered by the Oak View American Legion Post 686, 475 Old Ventura Ave. A memorial service and awards presentation to honor the veterans will begin once the parade settles down. Both of these events are sponsored by the Oak View Civic Council, as well as Rabobank. Afterwards, the New Hope Christian Center, 590 Old Ventura Ave., will sponsor a free barbecue with music.

Applications for Memorial Day parade participants are being accepted until May 15; call Sanchez at 290-3530 for further details. Free ice cream will be provided for all parade participants after the parade is over.

Living Treasure Laura Denne prompts students in her music class at Topa Topa Elementary School

Report and photo cy Logan Hall

Music soothes the soul of the savage beast —or so they say. Local music teacher Laura Denne believes that music can soothe the soul of anyone willing to embrace it. After dedicating more than 20 years of her life educating local youngsters in music, and other academic areas, Denne has been honored by the Rotary Clubs of Ojai as one of this year’s Living Treasures.

Denne is probably best known for her musical contributions to the valley. She taught children the art of making music, started the Ojai Valley Youth Band, and helped form the Ojai Band. She still plays bass clarinet with the community band Wednesday evenings during summer months.

Sharing her love of music with kids seems to be her passion.

“I’ve noticed over the years,” she said, “that learning music not only helps kids to fulfill their goals musically, but they get to be a part of a group. It really teaches them to work as a team. The whole idea of practicing and the sense of responsibility — they really get a lot of satisfaction out of that. It carries over into all aspects of their lives.”

She also says that her love for music was handed down from generations before her. “The fact that I’m musical is not by accident,” she said. “My whole family is musical. My mom was a professional opera singer. I was predestined to teach music.”

Her responsibilities in the classroom have gone much farther than music education. In 1995, she taught fifth and sixth grade at Summit Elementary School. It was during this time that Denne was approached by retired educator and former Ojai Mayor Joe DeVito, who had a proposition for her.

“Joe found that there were many families in the valley that home-schooled their children,” said Denne. “He wanted to bring them under the umbrella of the Ojai Unified School District and give them the same books, goals and curriculum of the OUSD. I took the entire OUSD curriculum and catered it to accommodate a home school program.”

With a lot of effort, Denne was able to put together an independent study program for the Ojai Valley that was geared around the OUSD curriculum.

“It was a lot of hard work,” she said, “but it was worth it. It’s really a great thing and now, it’s become a lot more common to see an alternative program like independent studies.”

Her hard work not only affected the lives of many children across the valley. It also gained her recognition, and in 1998, she was honored as the tri-counties’ independent studies Teacher of the Year.

Denne’s involvement in education goes beyond teaching though. In 2009, she earned her master’s degree in music education from the University of Hawaii online. Although getting her master’s as a UH Warrior, she had earned her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Southern California. For her, old allegiances die hard. “I’m still a Trojan all the way,” she said with a laugh.

It was her intense learning experience with UH, however, that led her into the ever-burgeoning world of technology.

“I love technology,” she said. “I’ve always got my iPhone, iPad, and iPod with me. I never would have used all this stuff if I hadn’t needed to use it so much while I was getting my master’s.”

Her career as a public educator is coming to a close however. This year in June, Denne is retiring from the OUSD, and plans on taking time to travel with her husband, Bob, who is a past Living Treasure himself.

“I’m going to take some time off at first,” she said. “We’re going on a cruise and then going back east to visit family. We’re really going to just take some time to travel around.”

Her induction into the Rotary Clubs Living Treasures program seems to be a fitting send-off after so many years of faithfully bringing her passion and expertise to so many young minds.

“I’m truly honored to be a Living Treasure,” she said, “although my living treasures are my family and students.”

This is the second report in a series of six, profiling the Ojai Valley citizens named as Living Treasures this year. Check upcoming issues of the Ojai Valley News for more Living Treasure profiles.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
Today is my 34th anniversary. Thirty-four years ago today, Ava and I said our vows before a modest group in an old Methodist church in the tiny town of Madison, W.V. Ava and I decided to have a small ceremony. This decision was made easy by the fact that we had no money. My mother offered to pay for a big wedding in my hometown in Alabama, but neither of us wanted a big affair. Plus, I had just gotten transferred to a new job, and didn’t have a lot of free time. Ava’s family lived far away in western Nebraska, and would not be able to attend. So we had a small ceremony with my mother, my sister, our landlord and his girlfriend, and about six co-workers in attendance. Weddings in the South can easily get out of hand. It is a similar situation to the old nuclear arms race between the United States and the Russians. Someone would test a new weapon, and mass produce them, and then the other side would test a new weapon, and mass produce even more. Someone has six bridesmaids, then someone else has to have eight, and pretty soon it spirals completely out of control. A few months ago, Ava helped work on the flowers for a wedding of 800 guests. That is insanity to me. You could make a hefty payment on a house for the newlyweds with the price of many weddings and receptions. Ava and I attended a wedding last weekend. It was a lovely ceremony, except for the priest. He tried to be cute and make his message contemporary, but it just came off as goofy to me. Fortunately, he did not talk long. As I sat there, my mind wandered back to my own wedding. I cannot remember one thing the minister said. I only remember standing there, sweating and nervous, just trying not to drop the ring. More importantly, I didn’t want to break the ring. The wedding bands we picked out only a few days earlier were being sized, and would not be ready for the wedding. So Ava and I went to K-Mart and picked out the gaudiest and tackiest rings we could find to use during the ceremony. I think we paid $10 for both of them. After the wedding, Ava and I and my mother and sister went back to the trailer where Ava and I lived, and had a “reception” of lasagna, French bread and salad that Ava had made earlier, accompanied by bottle of cheap sparkling wine that our landlord had provided as a wedding gift. The next morning, I got up at the crack of dawn and went to my new job. So, though we didn’t have a big wedding with 16 bridesmaids and more guests than the population of the town I grew up in, or a fantasy honeymoon on a sun-drenched island, we were married just the same. And the good thing about marriage is that it is not how you start out, but where you end up. Today I have been married to the woman I love for 34 years. That is something to celebrate.

By Misty Volaski

After working at Matilija Junior High School since 2008, Emily Mostovoy is leaving her position as principal to the Eagles. Effective July 1, she will take over for John Schallenberger as the Ojai Unified School District’s director of special education and student services.

The prospect of the new position brings mixed emotions, Mostovoy admitted. “To have the opportunity to work and lead in this capacity for all of our students and families district-wide was very exciting to me,” said Mostovoy in an e-mail. “I felt that my career and personal experiences truly led me to towards this path.”

But, she’ll miss the staff, students and parents of the Matilija family. “Thinking about this automatically brings tears to my eyes,” she said. “The last five years here have been the most inspirational years in my career É Every day, I walk on campus completely impressed and motivated by our youth and staff. They are exceptional individuals and make me smile, laugh and I am humbled by what they bring to school each day.”

As director of special education and student services, Mostovoy will be in charge of administering the education of about 400 special education students from ages 3 to 21 within the district. “It’s a very intense administrative position,” said OUSD superintendent Hank Bangser. “You must be comfortable with having a lot of bowls in the air at the same time. You have no idea what will be coming your way next É all sorts of issues that you never would’ve expected.” Along with administrative and communicative skills, “You have to be very, very comfortable with what I call ambiguity Ñ there’s so little black and white in special ed,” Bangser added.

When Mostovoy learned that the OUSD was looking for a replacement for Schallenberger Ñ who had decided to return to the private sector as a psychologist Ñ Mostovoy said, “I reflected on each of my roles that I have had in education É As­a teacher, counselor, principal and as a person with a learning disability, I have always been extremely passionate in making sure students with special needs receive the best services.” So it made sense to apply.

And Bangser and his six-member advisory committee determined that Mostovoy was the best candidate. The committee included staff members from the elementary, junior high and high school levels in addition to the district’s occupational therapist, mental health clinician and the parent of a special education student.

Two other applicants, said Bangser, had direct experience in the position of director of special services in other cities. However, “It’s a great testimony to Emily as a person and as a professional that she was able to surpass both of those candidates that had already done the job for a couple of years each,” Bangser said. “It speak volumes about the quality of Emily’s administrative performance.” The committee, he added was “exceptionally impressed” with the work she’s done in her time at the junior high. “She has abilities to cross all kinds of academic and student challenges É she got the highest marks from special education staff at Matilija and district staff who have worked with her.”

Although still young by many standards, Mostovoy has been an educator for several years. Before coming to Matilija, she was a school counselor for five years in Walnut Creek, Oxnard, and then Ojai; she was also a Montessori teacher for two years. She received her bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and completed two masterÕs degrees Ñ one in counseling from Chapman University and one in educational leadership from California State University-Channel Islands. And Mostovoy’s education will continue throughout the next year as she attends the Association for California School Administrators Special Education Academy.

“Presently,” Mostovoy said, “my goal is to learn about our studentsÕ needs by visiting each schoolÕs program(s), meet parents, staff and students, and attend as many Individualized education plan meetings between now and the end of the school year Ñ while spending as much time at Matilija and cherishing every moment! É I am a­true believer in collaboration and developing trusting relationships É We already have exceptional special education programs, however special education research is always expanding,­leading to new tools and instructional strategies for best practices within the classroom. We are committed to meeting our students’ unique needs.”

Bangser has created another committee to help him choose Mostovoy’s successor as Matilija principal. While some staff members suggested the assistant principal, Javier Ramirez, take over the position, Bangser said Ramirez has a young family, and he determined that that “took a higher priority,” Bangser said. He added that he hopes to make a decision in the next three weeks.

By Logan Hall

Ojai citizens are gearing up once again to take their battle stations in the fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society’s annual ‘Relay for Life’ is coming up at Nordhoff High School and those involved are campaigning to raise money for the cause.

The event gives people a chance to celebrate the lives of cancer survivors and remember those who lost their fight with the disease. Participants also raise money and awareness to help fight against cancer and the toll that it takes on so many.

In order to raise money, the teams of local residents who will be participating in the event’s 24-hour walk are coming up with ways to bring in the Benjamins, ranging from bake sales and collection boxes, to raffles and competitions. Some are fund raising for their team as individuals, while others are joining together.

Thinking outside the box, Bank of America’s Ojai Branch team has come up with a some ways to bring in money for their team and others. The bank’s Ojai site manager, Janet Mahon, says that her team is honoring their friend and former co-worker, Lupe Espinosa, who died several years ago after a battle with cancer. The team, called Laps for Lupe, hopes to take advantage of Ojai’s collective love of art to help boost their fund-raising efforts.

“We’re promoting an art raffle,” said Mahon. “Seven local artists have donated art. People can purchase tickets, and they get to choose which piece they would like to draw for. We’re selling raffle tickets to bring in donations for the team.”

Mahon says that local artists Janis Hansen, Tom Hardcastle, James Wilson, RenatŽ Collins, David Dobek, Sharon Butler and Leah Paquette all donated artwork to be raffled for the team’s efforts. “We have all of the art hanging here in the branch,” Mahon continued. “We encourage people to come by, take a look, and choose which one they want to draw for. All of the individual works are valued in the hundreds of dollars at least. We’re really excited about it.”

With the team’s members, including Espinosa’s children, all working together, Mahon hopes that Laps for Lupe will raise at least $3,000, but they will strive to raise much more. “It’s such an amazing event,” she said. “It’s very personal and we all have other friends and family members that we walk for too. We will all do our best to bring in as many donations as possible.”

Realizing that participants in the event are fundamentally all on the same team in the fight against cancer, Laps for Lupe’s members are also trying to help other teams raise funds as well. “We’re helping out four teams of high school students at Nordhoff,” said team captain Susan Malkin. “The kids each have to come up with $100 each for donation to their teams.”

Malkin says that after doing some research, she found a unique way to help the kids raise money.

“We found a company that pays 50 cents per pound for used shoes,” said Malkin. “Most shoes come darn close to a pound, so we should be able to generate some donations that way.”

Malkin and others supporting the high school teams were able to get a large dumpster, provided by E.J. Harrison, to leave at the school’s campus. Those students wanting to donate shoes can just toss them in. “We decorated the dumpster and put it in the quad, and it’s now collecting shoes,” Malkin said.

There are several other locations in town that will also have shoe drop boxes available according to Malkin. Drop-off points include Weil Tennis Academy, Curves, Carrows, The Gables of Ojai, Bank of America, Attitude Adjustment, Ojai Community Bank and Rabobank in Oak View. “These businesses are graciously putting boxes in their establishments for collecting shoes,” said Malkin. “It’s a win-win situation because it’s so easy. People don’t need to come up with any money. They just need to clear out their closet. Our goal is to fill up that dumpster with shoes.”

According to information gathered by the American Cancer Society, in California alone, last year’s ‘Relay for Life’ events raised more than $33.3 million for the cause.

This year’s event will be held on May 19 starting at 10 a.m. when the 24-hour walk will begin. Event planners say that participants can enjoy live music, food from local vendors like Jim and Rob’s Fresh Grill and Bad Wolf Barbecue, a silent auction, more than 30 booths with games, raffles and information and a kidsÕ camp for the youngsters. The event will also include the luminaria ceremony at 8 p.m. when hundreds of candles in paper bags will be lit around the Nordhoff track in honor of those who have lost their fight with cancer.

For more on the ‘Relay for Life,’ log on to relayforlife.org and search “Ojai” for local information. For information on Laps for Lupe’s art raffle, call Bank of America at 640-2944, and to find out about a pickup service for used shoes, call 231-8897.

By Misty Volaski

In the early morning hours of May 21, amateur astronomers will be gazing skyward for the first annular solar eclipse in 18 years.

The night before, from 5 to 8 p.m., Libbey Bowl will be filled with local jazz lovers grooving to the sounds of the Ventura Jazz Orchestra Sextet for the ‘Bowlful of SolÓ event.

Featuring vocalist Donna Greene, the sextet includes piano, bass, drums, trumpet, trombone and saxophone, said Ventura Jazz Orchestra director Dean Adams. They’ll perform Latin, jazz and swing from the great American songbook.

“They’re really good, and they have a great following,” said Cathryn Krause, an event committee member, adding that locals may remember the Ventura Jazz Orchestra at Libbey Bowl’s ‘Last GaspÓ party in June 2010. “I remember when the Ventura Jazz Orchestra performed at the ÔLast GaspÕ show at Libbey Bowl,” recalled Adams. “What a great time it was along with an honor to perform one last time in a facility I have been performing at since high school. We’re excited to perform in the new bowl, this will be a kick.”

‘ Bowlful of SolÓ organizers are encouraging attendees to dress in their “celestial best” — moons, stars, etc. “Lunar wear, as you might call it,” joked Libbey Bowl’s manager Beth Sutherland. Prizes will be given out to best dressed. Judges for the event will include Barbara Bowman, Hallie Katz, Khaled Al-Awar, Alan Rains and Katie Van Horne.

Food for the celebration will be provided by Rainbow Bridge, and drinks, including beer and wine, will be available from the Ojai Valley Lions Club.

The first 500 attendees will receive commemorative eclipse sunglasses.

Tickets are $15, with children under 12 admitted free. Proceeds will go to the Libbey Bowl Foundation, said Krause. “It needs money to keep the lights on,” she said. Recognizing this need, Esther Watchtell, Kate Barnhart, Mary Trudeau and Sutherland sat down for a brainstorming session several months ago to plan a fund-raising event. “Kate figured out that it’s (May 21) the first solar eclipse in this century,” Krause said. The group agreed that it would be a “perfect, so Ojai” way of raising funds and enjoying the 1-year-old Libbey Bowl.

“I just think the bowl is so important for Ojai,” said Krause. “This event lets people come down and see it is not just for the (Ojai) Music Festival, not just for big things — the bowl is for the whole town.”

For more information, visit libbeybowl.org; tickets are available at Rainbow Warehouse, 215 E. Matilija St.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
For years baby boomers were on the leading edge of cultural trends. This dubious honor now extends to divorce. Boomers are untying the marital knot at a rate never before seen in this country. While divorce rates for other groups have declined since reaching their peak in the 1980s, divorce rates for people over 50 have doubled in the last two decades. In 2009, more than 600,000 people older than 50 got divorced. That is more people than live in the state of Wyoming.

There are various theories for the accelerated rates. One researcher offered the theory that in the past, people did not live as long. “You can’t divorce if you are dead,” she proposed.

I don’t buy that. I believe there are a couple of reasons for higher divorce rates among my generation. Baby boomers are selfish. Everything has always been about us. We were told we were special and we bought into it with a vengeance. Previous generations had their character forged by the Great Depression and two world wars. We mostly grew up with peace and prosperity. We have had the easiest time of any previous generation, and we have come to expect life’s skids to be greased for us. As anyone who has said their vows can attest, that is not always the case with marriage. At times, marriage can be difficult, and requires more work than some are willing to put into it. The potential to run into problems is always looming when two selfish people from the same selfish generation get together.

Another major reason for higher divorce rates is the lack of cultural stigma now attached to it. When I was growing up in the rural South, divorce was a big deal. Not many couples split up, and a lot of people looked sideways at those who did. My family is a textbook case. I know of only two divorces on my mother’s side of the family in the last three generations. That is not to say there shouldn’t have been several more. My mother’s family was very religious, and divorce was strongly frowned upon. Some people in my family were horribly mismatched. But they stuck it out to avoid the Southern Baptist “stink eye” stigma that would have been on them like a bad haircut.

For instance, take the star-crossed union of my Uncle John and Aunt Bertha. Uncle John had a big heart and terrific sense of humor. And while Uncle John was a little eccentric, my aunt made characters from Tennessee Williams seem normal. Most of my aunts were loving and outgoing women. Aunt Bertha was reclusive and paranoid. It was like having Richard Nixon as your aunt.

Of course, even if there had been more divorces, I might not have been told about them. My family was very secretive about bad news and scandals within the family. My Uncle Wayne was killed in a bar when I was a young child. In the late 1950s, my daddy and four uncles left Alabama to look for jobs. They found construction work in North Carolina. Apparently Uncle Wayne found more than a job there. He was with a woman when her husband came into the bar and shot him dead. In the 1950s, North Carolina was not the best place to seek judicial sympathy if you were found with someone else’s wife. My uncle’s murderer was tried and acquitted. This is sometimes referred to as the “he needed killing” defense. This happened when I was 5 years old. I didn’t find out about any of it until I was grown.

Whatever the reasons, the boomers are once again leading the cultural charge, although in this case, not in a direction anyone would be proud of. In one week I will celebrate my 34th anniversary with Ava. Like Nehru jackets and disco, this is one of the baby boomer trends I am very glad to have missed.

Report and photo
by Logan Hall

Local personal trainer Jeff Hoefling is an athlete who takes physical fitness seriously. So it came as a shock to him when he was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in 2010.

With rising medical costs and a desire to provide for his children in the event of a worst-case scenario, Hoefling is getting a helping hand from his friends and co-workers. On Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., a benefit will be hosted by the Ojai Valley Athletic Club where he works as a trainer and fitness expert.

Hoefling’s medical troubles started several years ago when doctors found a lesion in the left side of his chest. “I race BMX bikes on a national level,” he said. “I had to race that weekend, but when I came back, I took care of that (lesion).”

The next year, Hoefling suffered injuries after being involved in a crash during a race. “I went back to work, but I wasn’t getting any relief from a pain in my elbow,” he said. “I could feel that my lymph nodes were getting bigger. They gave me antibiotics and said if it didn’t get better, they would do a biopsy.”

The problem didn’t get better.

“I remember the day they called about the biopsy results,” he said. “It was the day before I was supposed to leave for the national BMX tour.”

Hoefling’s doctor had called with a bombshell.

“They said that I had melanoma,” he recalled. “I couldn’t believe it. I mean, the day before I was supposed to head out on the tour Ñ- that was tough.”

Hoefling says he was able to get on board a clinical trial program that took care of his treatment and medication, but after little more than a year, doctors found a trouble spot in his left kidney. Earlier this year, he received more devastating news. “In January, I went to doctors in Los Angeles who did a biopsy on my kidney,” he said. “It came back positive for melanoma.”

On April 2, doctors successfully removed Hoefling’s left kidney, and although he says he is “now on the mend,” his medical bills are starting to catch up to him.

“I no longer qualify for the trial program,” he said. “I received four treatments in three weeks. Those four treatments cost $120,000.”

Hoefling says that he has insurance, but believes it will only cover a portion of the costs. “Now that I’m not in the trial study,” he said, “I’m not really sure what’s going to happen. I’m not sure how much of the bill I’m going to be responsible for, but I think it might be at least 30 percent.”

Rising medical costs aren’t the only thing on his mind though. He’s taking steps to help provide for his 5-year-old daughter and teenage son in the future. “My biggest concern that came up was a doomsday thing,” said Hoefling, who was divorced last year from the mother of his children. “I started thinking about what to do for my kids if something does happen and I’m not there anymore. We’ve set up a donation fund at Wells Fargo Bank for them.”

Hoefling’s son, Dylan, says that times have been hard, but he believes his dad’s positive attitude will help him triumph over adversity. “Two or three weeks ago he had major surgery,” said the 19-year-old college student. “That was pretty tough, but the last couple of weeks, he’s had a really positive attitude about everything. I couldn’t even imagine what he’s been going through. It’s really inspiring to me how he’s been dealing with it.”

Managers at the OVAC decided that the club would be a perfect venue for a benefit for Hoefling and his family, so they put together an event to help bring in funds for the family. Saturday’s benefit, called ÒHope for Hoefling,Ó boasts a wide array of entertainment for folks who want to help out with Hoefling’s cause, or those who just want to have a good time.

Club officials running the event say there will be plenty of good food provided by La Herradura Mexican Grill, live music, a car wash, silent auction and a kidsÕ zone provided by Holy Cross Preschool. The price of admission to the event will be $15 for adults and $7 for children younger than 12. The price of entry includes dinner and all proceeds will go toward Hoefling’s medical costs and the fund for his children.

“What I appreciate most about Jeff is his all-encompassing passion for his clients,” said Danielle Williams, OVAC fitness director. “He gets involved with their lives and finds ways to truly connect with them. Even with everything that he’s going through, he shows up smiling and happy. He’s always excited to find out what everyone has been up to. He really cares Ñ and that’s rare.”

The OVAC’s general manager, Nancy Prather, echoed WilliamsÕ sentiments in an e-mail to the OVN about Hoefling. “Jeff É continues to impact people’s lives in a positive manner,” read Prather’s e-mail. “Jeff is always generous with his time helping members with their fitness programs and nutritional needs.”

Hoefling knows he’s not out of the woods yet. He still has treatments to go through, and says that doctors don’t yet know what his prognosis is. He’s staying positive though, and tackling each challenge as it comes along.

“I still have dreams and desires for what I want to do in this world,” he said. “Next year, I think I have a good chance to be the No. 1 rider on the BMX tour. What has really inspired me lately is the love and the outpouring of support that people have shown. Mostly, I want to be there for my children. That’s a real motivator to get healthy.”

Anyone seeking more information about the benefit should contact the OVAC at 646-7213. For information on donating to the Hoefling ChildrenÕs Fund, call Wells Fargo Bank at 646-0147.

Taylor Bowen and her fellow Ranger dancers practice routines in anticipation of next weekend’s “For the Love of Dance” concert, which will feature works inspired by their trip to Pasadena. Photo by Logan Hall

By Misty Volaski

After almost a year of planning and the biggest production in the history of the department, the Nordhoff High School dance students reached their goal of attending the 2012 Pasadena Dance Festival.

Held April 21, the annual festival features dance classes and performers from all over the world. The Ranger dancers attended classes all day long and watched the Pasadena Dance Festival Concert later that night.­The classes included everything from ballet, tap, jazz, modern, musical theater, jazz, lyrical, Bollywood, hip-hop, African, yoga, Pilates, injury prevention, wellness for dancers and more.­Classes were taught by expert master teachers, many of whom danced in the festival concert that night.

Nordhoff student dancer Madi Miller was moved to tears by watching one particular dance. ÒPasadena Dance Festival is an opportunity that you donÕt get every day and definitely something you should take advantage of É I had an absolutely amazing time É I can honestly say that I have never felt so connected in (observing) a dance as I did when I watched Axis perform.­It was such an emotional and spectacular dance to watch, (to see) how much passion someone can put into a dance while being in a wheelchair.Ó

NHS freshman dancer Kelsey Thomas was equally moved. It was “an amazing experience where I was able to get a little taste of lots of different dance genres,” she said.

Thanks to the ÒDancing with the Ojai StarsÓ fund-raising event, 39 Ranger dancers were able to attend the festival. The March event helped defray the cost for each student and provided scholarships for those who would’ve otherwise been unable to attend. For $100 each, they got transportation to and from Pasadena, food and drinks, a hotel room and admission to the festival.

“They saw nine professional dance companies from all over the place,” said instructor Kim Hoj. Usually, “One ticket to get into one dance performance can be $40. But for $50, the kids were able to see nine (performances), and take classes all day long. That’s a lot of bang for your buck!”

For Hoj, the experience was “a worthy activity,” allowing aspiring dancers to be exposed to more than just TV dance shows. These days, she explained, students’ frame of reference is often limited to “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Dancing with the Stars,” and “America’s Best Dance Crew.”

Hoj said, “What stands out to me is that we have the opportunity to be exposed to dancers and choreographers and companies who we would never see in the Ojai Valley. And it promotes understanding of different cultures. The kids just got really fired up and inspired.”

Nordhoff’s dancers will be using their experiences Ñ including an Indian dance class routine Ñ for their upcoming spring concert, “For the Love of Dance,” running May 11, 12 and 13 at the Matilija Auditorium. Students will be showing off the skills they’ve learned all year, and will perform routines such as a Bob Fosse piece adapted by local guest artist Pamela Lappen, a hip-hop routine choreographed by Osea Kaukimoce of the Groovaloos (who perform an off-Broadway show), as well as routines put together by both Hoj and the students themselves. Also on the weekend lineup: performances by ÒDancing with the Ojai StarsÓ winners on Friday; Nordhoff dance workshop for students in kindergarten through eighth grade on Saturday; and Mira Monte Elementary School dancers on Sunday.

Tickets are available through NHSdance.com or by calling 640-4343, Ext. 1861, and are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $7 for students.

By Tiobe Barron

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Kristin Dame, but these days she is feeling pretty fortunate. Dame runs a unique business out of her home on Burnham Road: Dog Friendly, a dog day care and boarding facility that’s completely free of kennels. The property includes a half-acre on which canine family members are encouraged to run, play, dig, socialize and be precisely what they are.

“This time of year they’re really into gophers,” said Dame in a recent phone interview.

When it’s time to come indoors, the dogs stay in a cordoned-off portion of Dame’s living room designated exclusively for their use. Hers is the only facility in the area that offers this 24 hours per day, seven days a week attention through an on-site, resident care provider.

“My dog can’t wait to go!” says Victoria Adam, an Ojai resident, business owner, and patron of Dame’s business. “They let (my dog) be who she is. It feels very safe, and it’s fun to take her down there.”

Dog Friendly was created by Kay Maxe, a Swedish woman who won a lottery for an American Green Card and wound up establishing a niche for herself in this valley. Maxe had studied dog behaviorism in her native country, and translated the theories she learned into a kennel-free, home-away-from-home for our four-legged friends. Because Maxe also worked for the city of Ojai, she hired Dame, who was still in high school at the time, five years ago. When Maxe discovered she had ovarian cancer in 2009, Dame ran the business while her employer battled the disease. Dog Friendly had to close for a period of time in November of 2010 when it became clear Maxe was losing the fight, and needed to do so in quietude.

“She was very strict, she did not have good success at keeping employees, but I stuck around, held her hand as she was dying,” said Dame. “She kind of adopted me as her daughter. She didn’t have family here. She started off as my boss, and ended as my friend.”

It is an unpleasant reality that sometimes, when it rains, it pours. Maxe passed away in December of 2010, at the age of 54 years old. Maxe had purchased the property on Burnham Road when the market was high, and when she passed, was upside-down to the tune of approximately $650k, leaving the young Dame, who barely had a chance to build any credit at all, in a bit of a pickle.

“We basically just rode it out until it went to auction,” said Dame. “Unfortunately, the other (bidder) just went too high.” Dame approached the winning bidder about the possibility of continuing to run her business on the property. The unnamed man responded that Dame could buy him out, if she paid him in cash, a request Dame was unable to meet.

The bereaved Dame was now facing the prospect of losing her home, her business, and the furry friends she had come to consider partly her own. She sent out an e-mail to her patrons explaining the tragic likelihood that she would not be able to continue running Dog Friendly in the same location, nor did she have a replacement immediately in sight.

Enter local real estate agent Nora Davis, who came to the rescue.

Davis was able, in a period of 48 hours, to find buyers who appreciated the value of such a unique community business. These buyers offered Dame a three-year lease, staving off the probable demise of Dog Friendly.

“I couldn’t believe the way this town just opened up,” said Dame. “People in this town are just amazing!”

“She is just the neatest little gal,” said Dog Friendly client Adam. “She is really able to uphold Kay’s dream and vision.”

Now Dame is looking forward to the future.

“I thank my luck stars every day,” Dame said. “This is all I wanted. There isn’t really anywhere that does what we do. We really know our dogs, so it’s very personal. It was a very stressful couple of weeks É but we were watched out for. All we do now is make it even better.”

For more information, or to book your own dog’s getaway, visit dogfriendlyofojai.com.

Former Ojai Mayor and educator Joe DeVito.

Report and photo
by Logan Hall 

Many locals know the name Joe DeVito. Some know him as Ojai’s former mayor. Some know him as “Mr D.,” elementary school teacher and principal. However he may be known, DeVito has spent much of his life serving his fellow citizens through many different mediums. Recently, the Rotary Clubs of Ojai honored him as one of their 2012 Living Treasures.

When it comes to serving the community, DeVito — who is an Army veteran of the Korean War — has always been a leader. He spent 27 years working at the Ojai Unified School District. Twenty-four of those years were spent as principal of San Antonio Elementary School, where he also taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades.

“I started at San Antonio in ’68,” he said, reminiscing about his years at the school. “I still enjoy running into those students that I’ve had. Nowadays, I’m interacting with a lot of them on Facebook.”

The former educator says his time at San Antonio offered some of his most memorable moments. During his tenure as the school’s principal, San Antonio received an award from the state as being one of California’s Distinguished Schools. “One of the great experiences I had was being part of the top 250 schools in California,” he said. “I don’t take credit for that though. It was the parents, teachers and, of course, the students that earned the award. You just don’t ever forget those kinds of things.”

Along with running the elementary school, DeVito also had his hand in running the city of Ojai. He served on the Ojai City Council from 1989 to 2009 and was mayor of the city five separate times. “I really enjoyed my time on the council,” he said. “We had some great experiences.”

Education and city government aren’t the only ways that DeVito interacts with the community. “I’m still involved with the American Heart (Association) on the board of directors,” he said. “I’ve been doing that for about 20 years now.”

The former mayor was a board member of the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament for more than 40 years and said he handed out trophies to tournament winners as part of his duties. He was a board member with the Ojai Valley Museum and also served on the Gold Coast Transit board and the Ventura County Transportation Committee.

DeVito isn’t all business though.

In his spare time, he likes to travel with his wife of 60 years, Mary. He loves spending time with his children and grandchildren who he proudly showed photos of prior to being interviewed. He also enjoys bike riding, reading and, one of his favorite pastimes, skiing.

“I never miss an opportunity to go snow skiing,” he said. “I have a season pass to Mammoth Mountain. I try to get up there about 10 to 15 days out of the year.”

DeVito, although humble about his abilities, says he has been skiing long enough to tackle some of the tougher runs. “I’ll do most anything on the mountain,” he said. “When I’m working out in the gym, I think, ‘Why am I doing this?’ Then when I hit the slopes, I realize that’s the way to go.”

In the 1950s, DeVito participated in “something very few are aware of.” Being a member of a quartet of musicians, his voice could be heard over radio waves and on television in the Los Angeles area. “I sang in two different groups,” he said. “I did some recording with one group — the Revivalaires. We had a 30-minute radio program every Saturday night out of Los Angeles. Three or four times, we sang on the television station that was on Channel 5 at the time.”

DeVito says he’s honored to be named a Living Treasure and also says he will be available to speak about his extensive knowledge of education and city government and will continue to serve on organizations like the American Heart Association.

This is the first report in a series of six, profiling the Ojai Valley citizens named as Living Treasures this year. Check upcoming issues of the Ojai Valley News for more Living Treasure profiles.

Mark Burgess fixes a shifter on a bike during his time in Sacramento last year. Photo by Wes Peters

By Chris T. Wilson

Following a successful second season of providing bicycle tune-ups and repairs to homeless residents, a local enthusiast and cycle mechanic is taking his volunteer project to a new level and is seeking the support of the local community.

Until three years ago, Mark Burgess, 19, had ridden a bicycle a few times, but didn’t really have any special interest in bikes. But then his folks told him to get a job, and he landed one at a bike shop in Ventura. There, a whole new passion began. Since 2009 he’s worked at a few other shops, including Bicycles of Ojai. He now turns wrenches at the Mob Shop in Meiners Oaks (soon to open in a new location in downtown Ojai).

Burgess, along with his grandfather, Wes Peters, and Nordhoff High School student Travis Larson, have teamed up to develop an actual nonprofit organization, New Life Cycles, which would help even more homeless residents.

“Last year when I went and did bike repairs on behalf of the Mob Shop, it had a big impact on me, seeing the difference it made in helping people be more independent with a bicycle,” Burgess said. “This past November it popped back into my mind again. I wanted to get out there and really get this thing going.”

With an anonymous donation of $300 and the encouragement of his pastor and his grandparents, Burgess was able to purchase the tires and tubes he needed and run the volunteer program through March 2012, he said.

In the 2011-2012 homeless shelter season in the Ojai Valley and in Ventura, Burgess estimates that he and Peters and Larson completed tune-ups and repairs on nearly 100 bicycles.

“For the most part, it’s just simple stuff like fixing flat tires and adjusting derailleurs,” Burgess said. “But we also do more complex repairs like repairing whole drive trains and rebuilding hubs. Whatever it takes to get it going.”

In researching how to get the nonprofit organization up and running, Burgess discovered Cycles 4 Hope, a Sacramento-based organization that’s been providing bikes and repairs to the homeless population there since 2008. After getting in touch with the founder, Shawn Holiday, Burgess and crew drove up to Sacramento and volunteered for the better part of the day on the side of the road just outside of town, where a makeshift bike repair shop was set up. In an afternoon they fixed hundreds of bikes.

“It really gave me perspective on how neat and orderly our shelter system here in Ojai is,” Burgess said. “And I’m really grateful for Wes and Travis. I couldn’t do this without them.”

As the nonprofit application process continues, Burgess emphasized the importance of financial and bicycle donations. While donations aren’t yet tax-deductible, they will be retroactively once the nonprofit status is officially granted by the State of California.

“We are willing to take just about any kind of bike that people will donate, and we’ll pick it up,” Burgess said. “We’ll take old beach cruisers or mountain bikes, even kids’ bikes for homeless families. If it’s restorable it can make someone really happy.”

With goals of expanding the program from Santa Barbara through Los Angeles in the coming years, Burgess said that he sees fixing a bike as a way of providing a little bit of hope and a greater sense of independence.

“I believe it was some sort of plan how I fell into this job and how events in my life led me to where I am now,” he said.

To get involved by offering a bike or financial donation, contact Burgess through newlifecycles.org or leave a voice mail message at 500-6516.

Photo by Logan Hall

By Misty Volaski

Few people have had as much of an impact on the Ojai Valley as Alan Rains. The hanging lanterns in the Arcade, the Ojai Valley Community Stadium at Nordhoff High School, the new Libbey Bowl — Rains has been on committees and raised funds for them all.

Thanks to his involvement in all things Ojai, the longtime owner of Rains department store is being honored as this year’s grand marshal of the Ojai Independence Day parade.

“Since I was a little kid, I remember he was always on some committee, some board, trying to make a difference,” said Nancy Hill, chairwoman of the Ojai Independence Day Committee. “It was a unanimous vote (by the committee). Truthfully, he should have been chosen years ago!”

When Hill informed Rains of his new title, he said he was “shocked. Humbled and shocked. I didn’t know what to say!” As grand marshal, Rains will lead the parade down Ojai Avenue on July 4. The city will issue a proclamation and present him with a plaque, said Hill. “There’s a lot of people who are deserving, but he’s due,” she added.

Ojai’s latest grand marshal holds numerous titles – treasurer for the city of Ojai, president of the Ojai Valley Service Foundation, an active member (and past president) of the Ojai Valley Tennis Club, and a member of the Ojai Music Festival, and Ojai Valley Community Hospital and Help of Ojai boards. He’s a past president of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce (two years), a past president of the Ojai Panther Club (“like a junior Lions Club,” Rains said), member of the former Architectural Commission, a past president of the student body at Ventura College (1950), and was a judge for the first three Ojai Independence Day parades.

You might also recognize him from the sidelines of Nordhoff High School football games, where he was an assistant varsity football coach. And his voice may sound familiar from his days of play-by-play radio announcing on KOVA for the Ranger football games.

“I just have an appreciation for the opportunity to live here,” Rains said, explaining why he’s always been so active in the community. “I’m honored to live in this community, to contribute to things I think are important.”

A graduate of Nordhoff who married his college sweetheart in 1955, Rains said he felt it was important for the school to have a real football stadium; so he and the Ojai Valley Service Foundation members “sold non-interest-bearing bonds and held a big party at Carl Huntsinger’s house,” he recalled. He also helped get local contractors to donate supplies and materials to help make the project a reality. Later, he helped purchase the Ojai Valley Community Hospital and was instrumental in bringing the hospital under local ownership Ñ for a fraction of what it was really worth. As owner of Rains department store, he often found win-win situations when he scaled down his store’s stock by donating items to new businesses in town. “It helped them get started and helped us get out of (areas of business) we didn’t want to do anymore,” such as children’s clothing, hardware and sporting goods.

While he works on his parade wave, Rains gives a lot of credit to his wife, Jan. “Any credit I deserve she should get half of it. We were married in 1955, and we’re a team. We’ve always been a team.”

For more information on the Fourth of July parade Ñ to volunteer on the committee, request additional information, or to enter a float Ñ e-mail Pat Allen at patallen8@comcast.net.

The Rotary Clubs of Ojai 2012 Living Treasures: from left, Joe DeVito, Sharon Cline, Laura Denne and Betty Izant pose in the museum’s courtyard after the ceremony. Not pictured are Jane Weirick and Tom Jamison.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Service to the community is a big part of life for many locals. With hundreds of nonprofit organizations operating in Ojai, the work of individuals can often be overlooked.

The Rotary Club of Ojai and the Rotary Club of Ojai-West Living Treasures organization spotlights those individuals, showcasing the efforts they put into serving the valley they love so much.

Six Ojai Valley residents were chosen as Living Treasures this year and the recipients are as diverse as the town around them. Local citizens Betty Izant, Joe Devito, Laurel Denne, Tom Jamison, Jane Weirick and Sharon Cline were honored last week by the Rotary clubs during the Living Treasures ceremony at the Ojai Valley Museum. The ceremony included speeches by some of the past treasures who talked about their experience in the organization. Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett’s assistant, Cindy Cantle, was on hand to help Living Treasures Chairman Dr. Fred Fauvre hand out certificates to this year’s recipients.

Along with being recognized by their peers, the treasures are tasked with upholding their service to the community and to remain accessible to those who may need help in a treasure’s area of expertise. Although the organization says the treasure will be available to assist their fellow citizens for one year, most continue to do so indefinitely.

“When Living Treasure gets put after your name,” said past treasure recipient and local optometrist, Roger Phelps, “it means you are offering up your expertise in the future. After one year, we’re still available to help out.”

Phelps says that being named a Living Treasure is an honor, and that one can really feel good if selected.

“It’s going to really be a sense of accomplishment for them,” he said about the latest inductees into hall of treasures. “It tells them that somebody recognizes what they are doing out there. There’s enough bad stuff in the world. To get noticed for doing good things Ñ- you really feel a sense of satisfaction.”

Those named as treasures in the past embody a wide variety of people who have influenced the lives of their peers throughout the years. Among many others, past treasures include David Bury, designer of the new Libbey Bowl; Dr. Tim Williamson, pediatrician; Javier Ramirez, Matilija Junior High School assistant principal; Jim Bailey, Oak Grove School teacher; Leslie Clark, local artist; Jack Smith, former Nordhoff High School principal; Paul Blatz, lawyer and Ojai City Councilman; Steve Olsen, former Ojai mayor; and Roger Kellaway, renowned musician.

Over the course of the next several weeks, the Ojai Valley News will profile each of this year’s six Living Treasures in separate stories. Look for the individual reports in upcoming issues of the OVN.

Workers Mike Terrill, left, and Gary Griffith of C.D. Lyon Construction, help guide a new awning pole into position at Libbey Bowl. Photo by Logan Hall

By Misty Volaski

Last year’s reconstruction of Libbey Bowl required the removal of a few trees which had partially shaded the main seating area. So now, event organizers use a removable shade structure to keep the heat at bay.

But the poles for the awning were never meant to support such weight, said Ojai Public Works director Greg Grant. That makes for a potentially dangerous situation, should the wind kick up.

“The existing poles were only intended as light poles with arms for small speaker loads,” said Grant. “We needed structurally designed poles to support a very large shade structure to withstand 90 mph winds, a code requirement. It’s much like designing a very tall mast to support a spinnaker with 90 mph winds.”

That meant the city needed to replace the lightweight aluminum poles with “structural steel poles, provide guy wiring on each pole with cables from the poles to the bowl frame, and provide foundations for the guy wires and poles,” Grant explained.

One small problem: the city of Ojai could only come up with about $5,000 of the estimated $15,000 to $25,000 the project would require. “We were considering a sort of ‘cob job’ that would have worked,” said Grant, “but it wouldn’t have been pretty.”

Thankfully, when Grant called around to ask for quotes, local business people came to the rescue.

C.D. Lyon Construction Inc. owners, Chris and Debbie Lyon, “generously offered to not only fabricate the (three support) poles, but also to provide an industrial paint job and install the poles using one of their cranes,” said Grant. The donation, said C.D. Lyon weld shop foreman Joaquin Silva, has a value of about $8,000 to $9,000. His crew was out at Libbey Monday morning securing the three poles in place.

Wire rope assemblies to support the shade structure itself were donated from another Ojai resident, Michael Kasten, president of Coordinated Wire Rope of Ventura, Inc. The thick wire rope will keep the structure held in place even in 90 mph- winds. The value of that donation would run around $2,500 or more, Kasten estimated.

“Both donations were a dream come true. The city is planning a recognition,” said Grant. “These generous donations made the project possible.”

The Lyon family and Kasten said they were happy to offer assistance. “Our family wanted to help the community,” explained officer controller Kiki Lyon. Kasten had a similar response. “Greg (Grant) asked me if I could help out, and I said sure!”

A temporary fix Ñ getting the structural steel poles in place Ñ was completed Monday, with plenty of time before this week’s Storytelling Festival. The permanent fix will be installed before the 2012 Ojai Music Festival, set for June 7 to 10.

“I doubt the Ojai Music Festival will continue their concerts in 90 mph winds,” joked Grant, “but we can be sure the poles and cabling structure will be reliable for any events afterwards.”

SUNDOWNERS GOLF:
Birdies and eagles abound as players enjoy being back in the swing of competition 

 Report and photo by Logan Hall

The 2012 Sundowners golf league season started off with a bang as players took to the tee box, kicking off the first round of play.

Week 1 was packed with plenty of action at Soule Park Golf Course’s front nine. Most notably, Doug Ragan (Five Blind Mice) pulled out all the stops, bringing out his A-game when he sank his tee shot on the third hole, acing the 135-yard par three.

“We were just standing there on the tee waiting for the group in front of us, talking about this dude that aced the same hole at the City (Championship) last weekend,” said Ragan, recollecting his round on Tuesday. “When they cleared, I gave it a little punch with my 8-iron. We saw it bounce, and then it just disappeared.”

Ragan was skeptical as the other players in his group said that the ball probably went in the hole, but he soon realized that he’d drained his shot for a hole in one. “We walked up and there was only one ball on the green,” he said. “I went up to the hole and there it was.”

His ace on the third hole — said to be the second hole in one in league history — was just the beginning of a once-in-a-lifetime golf round for Ragan. With two par-5s and some tough finishing holes coming up, he needed to keep his cool and focus on his game.

“I just concentrated on my breathing heading to the next hole,” he said.

After leaving himself 220 yards to the green for his second shot on the 505-yard, par-5 fourth hole, Ragan made another good swing.

“I just nutted it,” he said on his solid second shot on the fifth hole. “It rolled onto the green about 25 feet from the hole. I made the putt for eagle, right after Chris (Harvey) knocked it in from 75 feet for eagle. As a foursome, my group played that hole 5 under.”

On the fifth hole, a 475-yard par 5, Ragan drained another 25- to 30-foot putt for an unprecedented third eagle in a row. “I hit that putt pretty hard,” he said. “I wasn’t gonna leave it short for my third eagle in a row. It hit the back of the cup and just dropped.”

Ragan would go on to shoot a 5-under 31 for his round, pulling in 26 points for his team.

“I’ve been playing for 25 years,” he said, “and that’s gotta be the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me in golf.”

Tyson York (Martin’s Leftovers), Soule Park golf professional, said he researched Ragan’s accomplishment, and couldn’t find a comparison. “Afterward,” said York, “we tried Googling the odds of making three eagles in a row. We couldn’t find it anywhere. It just doesn’t happen — ever. Making two eagles in a row is like 13 million to one. It’s just insane.”

Also on Tuesday, Jim Coultas, co-founder of the league, introduced a new competition for this year’s season. Called the Lenny Roberts Trophy, an award will be given at the end of the season for the most coveted of all titles — the player with the most accumulated points for the year. Named after Sundowner’s co-founder and Ojai Valley News senior editor Lenny Roberts, Coultas says it’s a fitting tribute to Roberts and the time he has dedicated to the Sundowners.

“This is to honor Lenny for his many years of service to the league,” said Coultas about his longtime friend. “It’s the most prestigious award that we have now.”

Look for Sundowners weekly results in upcoming issues of the Ojai Valley News.

By Tiobe Barron
Tuesday night found City Hall ringing with accolades, pleas and reprimands for Ojai City Council and its gathered constituents. Mayor Pro Tem Paul Blatz began the regular meeting by informing all present that Ojai City Council had been presented a 2012 Climate Change Action Award by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, primarily for the city of Ojai’s new ban on single-use plastic bags. Ojai City Council received a renewable-source bamboo plaque, which reads, “Think global, act local. 2012 Ventura County Board of Supervisors Climate Change Action Award Winner: City of Ojai.”

”While it was presented to the city of Ojai, believe me, it’s accepted on behalf of all our citizens. You’re the ones that make this place a very special place to be, and the ones that have really brought the attention for the environment,” said Blatz. Audra Lucas, a resident of Ventura, presented Ojai City Council members with their just desserts: an organic, non-GMO cake. The cake was gifted on behalf of Occupy Ventura and Occupy 805 for Ojai City Council’s resolution passed March 13, which calls for an Amendment to the United States Constitution abolishing corporate personhood. “I just wanted to come and say thank you for passing the resolution to end corporate personhood,” said Lucas. “There have been quite a few people in Ventura trying to get our city manager and our city mayor and the city council to bring it to their attention so they could do the same. You guys did it quite quickly … I think that you guys probably don’t get the recognition that you need.”

Blatz suggested the cake be divvied up for all after the meeting, but not everyone was appeased. “Please protect us,” implored Marleen Luckman, in regards to the installation of smart meters that has begun in the Ojai Valley. Luckman mentioned the April 23 joint meeting of the Ojai City Council and the Planning Commission, in which a nonprofit organization called Strong Towns gave a presentation on municipalities, infrastructure, and return on investments. “Obviously this is a huge mistake financially,” Luckman continued. “One thing that stuck out for me at the end of that meeting was Commissioner Merck said how grateful he was that in the 1970s, the City Council had the foresight not to allow a freeway to go through the middle of Ojai and ruin it. And I’m hoping that our City Council can have the foresight not to allow these smart meters.”

“I am a cancer survivor of 13 years, and I really would like to keep it that way,” declared Ojai resident Valerie Mince. “I have four meters on my patio wall. Two are analog meters still; they’re on delay. The other two meters belong to the neighbors, which I don’t have any control over, and they’re not on delay. They are 7 feet away from the chaise lounge I used to love to sit on … According to the FCC regulations, part 15, class 2, says that devices classified with the FCC as having antennas cannot be co-located, that is, that they cannot be clustered.”

“We need you to help us,” said Ojai resident Barbara Bowman. Bowman said she cannot even use a cell phone, and urged the council to make Ojai unique in more ways than “just a tourist destination.”

“I really love this place, I love this community so much,” said a tearful Patty Pagaling. “I appreciate the people here, and this is such an important issue. “Pagaling mentioned that the FCC standards for electro magnetic radiation are based on thermal effects only, and that the current head of the California Public Utilities Commission is a former head of Southern California Edison.

Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, a tribal chair of the local Chumash tribe and an Ojai resident, stated that she knew nothing about smart meters until very recently. Tumamait-Stenslie has a son with autism, and there is a smart meter installed right outside his bedroom window.

“You stand as a fire wall between we citizens and fascism,” said Ojai resident James Joseph. “All evidence points to the dangers of smart meters.”

Ojai resident Sue Williamson pointed out that the money to install smart meters came from California taxpayers, and Southern California Edison is also asking that people pay to opt out. Both Williamson and resident Rae Amey offered their consultation and education services to Ojai City Council, and suggested a volunteer citizens panel be formed to advise council members.

“When you folks say, ‘Why are they doing this?’ Are you naive?” queried Councilwoman Carol Smith. “We don’t need more health effect research, it’s already done. It’s easy to sit on Google at 10 o’clock at night. It’s harder to make a commitment to go out two hours a week and stand outside with a sign, protesting … Edison will listen to their customers. It affects their reputation … But don’t do any more p­ublic health research. How much more do you have to know?”

“I think the individual taking an action can have a tremendous impact, and I want you to do that, rather than expecting the city to do it for you,” said Councilwoman Carlon Strobel. She urged residents to contact the governor of California, among others, to voice their concerns.

Ojai resident and local business owner Vicki Cohen may not have contacted the governor, but when she was told her commercial property was deemed not eligible to be placed on Edison’s delay list, she wasted no time contacting Edison itself. Cohen wrote a letter titled, “Notice of No Consent to Trespass and Surveillance, Notice of Liability,” which states, in part, “I forbid, refuse, and deny consent of any installation and use of any monitoring, eavesdropping, and surveillance devices on my property, my place of residence, and my place of occupancy. That applies to and includes ‘Smart Meters’ and activity monitoring devices of any and all kinds. Any attempt to install any such devices directed at me, other occupants, my property or residence will constitute trespass, stalking, wiretapping and unlawful endangerment of health and safety, all prohibited and punishable by law through criminal and civil complaints.” Cohen mailed the letter to Edison April 6, and on April 9, she was notified by Edison representatives that her property was placed on the opt-out list. A copy of Cohen’s letter is available through the city clerk’s office.

Blatz directed city manager Rob Clark to draft an ordinance based upon that of the city of Fairfax, with the modification to the language reflecting a permanent ban, rather than a temporary one. Clark and his staff are to draft the ordinance and bring it forward for more discussion at the May 22 council meeting.

The next regular Ojai City Council meeting will be held May 8 at 7 p.m. at 401 S. Ventura St.

Helene Buchman, Gold Coast Transit marketing director, shows members of the public the new route for Gold Coast buses in the Ojai Valley.

Report and photo
by Logan Hall

Gold Coast Transit representatives met with Ojai city officials and members of the public on Wednesday, showing details on new bus routes for the Ojai Valley. The meeting was the first of three designed to inform locals of changes in their public transportation.

The new Gold Coast route — still designated Route 16 — has the bus entering Ojai city limits, with new stops along Ojai Avenue. As in years past, the route will once again end at the Ojai Park & Ride lot.

Although now servicing downtown Ojai, in a controversial decision, Gold Coast will be eliminating its route through Meiners Oaks. Company officials and city engineer Greg Grant assured the public that service would remain for those riders in Meiners Oaks and that the Ojai Trolley would pick up any slack left once the change goes into effect on Aug. 19. Officials acknowledged the concerns of regular riders of the bus, but said that due to a decrease in riders and funding, changes were necessary.

“We know there is a demand for service,” said Gold Coast marketing director Helene Buchman. “We just don’t have a choice. If we don’t get enough ridership for the route, we have to change the route. Over the last few years, we’ve had to make some tough decisions.”

Grant believes that the changes will bring a positive outcome for the people though. “We’re going to make sure people can make connections with the bus to get to Meiners Oaks,” he said. “The trolley will now run until after 9 p.m. for those making transfers.”

Oak View resident and regular bus rider Sandra Grotsky says the change will be good for her and other riders. “This is a good thing,” she said. “Right now, I don’t come into town as often as I’d like. This will change that.”

Commenting on worries about a negative impact that the change may have, Grant says the city will adjust the Ojai Trolley schedule to ensure that those who depend on public transportation will be affected as little as possible. “We are going to make sure that we’re still able to get people where they need to go,” he said.

Grant and Buchman also stated that a new stop at Loma Drive has been planned to help bridge the gap between Ojai and Mira Monte. Currently, the Gold Coast bus stops in front of the Rite Aide shopping center in Mira Monte, but the next stop is several miles away at the “Y” intersection in front of Vons.

“We really believe this will be a win-win for everyone,” said Buchman, to nods of agreement from members of the public present.

Officials have not confirmed a date for the next public meeting regarding Ojai Valley’s public transportation system, but say it is scheduled to be held at Nordhoff High School sometime in June.

By Tiobe Barron

Catherine Meek is a busy lady. The Ojai resident is the executive director of School on Wheels, an organization that provides free tutoring services for homeless children from Santa Barbara to Santa Ana. And not only is Meek the executive director of the organization, she also still volunteers, tutoring a student in the Ventura Library once a week. Because she has logged more than 500 hours of volunteer work for 2011, she will be receiving the gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

Meek recently discussed her organization and volunteer work with OVN reporter Tiobe Barron.

OVN: How did you first get involved with School on Wheels?

Catherine Meek: I started as a volunteer tutor in late 1999, early 2000. I had a business in downtown Los Angeles. I saw a public service announcement (for School on Wheels) on a local cable news channel, saying, “One hour per week is all we need.” And I thought, “I can do that.” I actually became the first tutor on schedule in Los Angeles. Over the years, I became more and more involved. The founder became ill, she actually took to the hospital, and she asked me to take over some responsibilities, which, of course, I did. I retired from my business in L.A., and began to live in Ojai full-time. When Agnes, the director, retired three years ago, I became the executive director.

OVN: Did you envision working with School on Wheels for 10 years when you first started out?

Meek: I definitely did not! I had no idea I’d be doing this, but it’s one of those serendipitous things, it becomes wonderful.

OVN: Which subjects do you tutor?

Meek: Well, I started by working with a little boy who was about 7 years old, basically tutoring him in everything. Which is kind of what we do. You tutor any subject the student needs help in. Most of our students are behind in school, our goal is to fill the gaps. This particular little boy couldn’t read, so we really focused on reading.

OVN: What is the average age of kids you help?

Meek: The average age is probably about 8 years old, and I’d say a 50-50 split between boys and girls. And the average age of the tutors is probably in the 25 to 35 range, but we have volunteers all over the place, thereÕs a chunk who are younger and a chunk who are older.

OVN: What are some of the challenges that face you as you tutor homeless kids?

Meek: Let’s start with the physical. Where do you tutor them? The goal is to bridge the gaps in their education, and you go to where the kids are, this is not a brick-and-mortar institution. So sometimes you go to homeless shelters, battered women shelters, the library, bookstores. Anywhere public the kids can meet. Sometimes when you go to the shelters, there’s a television blaring, kids screaming, and you can’t get the kid (you’re tutoring) to focus.

OVN: Are the parents usually supportive?

Meek: Absolutely! The parents are usually the most supportive. The second challenge is that because these kids are so transient, they’re moving all the time, research shows that on average these kids are always four to six months behind in school. I have nothing but respect for teachers, but when you have a class of 30 kids É (trails off). The third challenge is the human perspective. The economy is the largest reason for homelessness. So many of these families are newly homeless, and the kids are traumatized by the experience, they’ve never gone through it before. School becomes not the first thing on their minds. They’ve lost their first home, and often also their second, their school. It’s a very traumatic and challenging situation to be in.

OVN: What have been some of the best moments for you?

Meek: There have been so many! I’m not being clichŽd. I tutored a little girl at the Salvation Army in Ventura. She was totally scarred. She would be hiding under the table when I arrived to tutor her. So I’d get under the table with her. The first time she got out from under the table, I’d consider that a success. I also had a young lady I tutored go to UCLA. She was homeless for 18 months. I really think she’s going to be president one day. Nothing’s going to stop her! When she was at the shelter, she turned the broom closet into her study area. These kids are courageous, they’re resilient. And they’re also just kids.

OVN: What do you hope to see in the future for the organization?

Meek: We just finished developing our strategic funding for the next three years. Because these are challenging economic times, we’d like to double the number of kids we tutor over the next three years. Of course, that means we need to double the number of volunteers, too, and that can be very tricky.

OVN: How do you go about recruiting volunteers?

Meek: Most tutors come from online. We advertise with Volunteermatch, Craigslist, we post fliers everywhere it’s allowed, word of mouth, college fairs, sometimes we do presentations to companies. We’re always looking for volunteers! Our qualifications are a high school diploma, (the volunteer should be) 18 years old or older Ñ- although we do family packs sometimes, someone under 18 comes with a parent or guardian. We provide the training.

For more information, or to get involved, visit schoolonwheels.org.

By Chris T. Wilson

Lucy Bellwood is on a tear. If you’re reading this article on Friday when this paper hits the street, then she’s most likely just completed a 122-page thesis for her graduation project from Portland’s liberal arts Reed College.

“This is the longest thing I’ve ever written,” she says in a rapid-fire monologue that can only erupt at the intersection of inspired sleep deprivation, cross-hair focus and looming deadlines.

Her head seems to be on fire. Not just in reference to her shock of red hair, Bellwood’s brain is alight and teeming with ideas and analysis, references and all the stimulation that comes from being an active part of Portland’s burgeoning comics scene and being on the tail end of her soon-to-be-published, 36-page book, “True Believer,” an autobiographical story about having the courage to do what you love.

The 22-year-old Happy Valley School (now Besant Hill) graduate spent the better part of her childhood and youth growing up in Ojai. Here she discovered and developed her love of theater. She departed briefly to act the part of a privateer and sail tall ships. Perhaps she took her first few dance steps here. And falling asleep to the sound of her father, Peter Bellwood tip-tapping away at his typewriter keyboard, Lucy learned to love the power of words.

In Portland at Reed for the past four years, she’s pooled all her resources and parlayed them into a passion for writing and illustrating comics.

“I love Portland,” she gushes. “I think it’s probably got one of the best comic scenes in the country right now. It’s a very creative and supportive group of people.”

So when she decided to publish “True Believer” as her final project for graduation, she chose to enlist the financial support of her friends and community through an online Kickstarter.com fund-raising campaign.

Launched this past Monday and set at a modest $1,500 goal, which would provide enough to print 200 high-quality, large-format copies, as of this writing, 124 individuals have donated and the total sits near $5,000. And she’s still taking donations for two more weeks. All this means that she will likely increase her print run and work to increase distribution of the book Ñ including a few locations in Ojai.

“I didn’t think that no one would give me money,” she muses. “Lots of people support much bigger things. But itÕs impressive to receive $200 and realize I have friends who are software engineers who have the bank to throw down on something like this.”

She’s hoping for more support on this project from her Ojai friends and fans. Bellwood says she will likely make the books available for purchase alongside her “Baggy Wrinkles” comics at Coffee Connection in Meiners Oaks where her dad holds court most mornings during the week.

Not exactly certain when she’ll be back for a visit to her hometown of Ojai, Bellwood said she is getting “itchy to travel,” and perhaps write and illustrate the third comic in her ÒBaggy WrinklesÓ series.

With an enviable work ethic and stunning creativity, Bellwood says that the past six months of creating “True Believer” has taught her a lot about what it takes to get a large project done.

“Now I know what it takes to make myself work and get things finished,” she says. “Rather than looking at the whole project and thinking, ‘How am I going to get this done?’ I can say, ‘OK, today I have to draw page 6.’ And when that’s done I’m done for the day. And then itÕs like, ‘Hey where did this 36-page book come from?’”

To learn more about the artist and be part of her kickstarter campaign, visit lucybellwood.com.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
Who else but the federal government would spend twice what a penny is worth just to make it in the first place? If that doesn’t make sense, wait a minute, it gets worse. Part of that high cost is due to the fact that we import the metals used for making the penny. Rather than using good old steel, or some other abundant metal from this country, that might actually create a few extra jobs, we import much of the copper and zinc used to make the coins. “We could save taxpayers an estimated $433 million over 10 years in production if we moved to using steel instead of nickel and copper in nickels and pennies,” says U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, who has introduced a bill to switch to steel coins. “Plus, the U.S. could see a $4 billion profit from recovering the nickel, zinc and copper from old coins currently in circulation.” Why haven’t we done this? Or better yet, why don’t we follow Canada’s lead, and just eliminate the penny altogether? We manufacture 7.4 billion pennies a year. At 2.4 cents each, that is over $176 million dollars a year in savings. Why are we still making these things? Oh sure, someone’s ancient Aunt Tilly in Omaha is sure to get on the evening news and wax nostalgic with a sentimental story from her childhood about the noble penny. But let’s face it; we all hate those nasty pennies. What does a penny buy today? How many pennies do you lose or throw out each year? Who actually uses them? One study shows that the average American wastes 2.4 hours a year handling pennies, or waiting for people who handle them. That’s probably why many convenience stores have little trays where people can either pick up a penny or two so you can have exact change without fumbling through your purse or pockets. And I read somewhere that picking up a penny off of a sidewalk doesn’t even pay the finder minimum wage unless you can pick it up in less than five or six seconds. Who is keeping this metallic dinosaur alive? When Canada announced it was killing off its one-cent coin, The Americans for Common Cents (cute name) started sending out press releases claiming that Americans wanted to keep the penny by a two-thirds majority. The ACC claims it is a consortium of 50 groups who praise the penny. Who heads up the ACC? The zinc lobby. Yes, there actually is such an entity. Something tells me they may not be terribly objective in their pursuit of keeping the penny alive. CNN Money reported that the opinion polls quoted by ACC are 12 to 20 years old. It also stated that the company, Jarden Zinc, spent about $140,000 in 2011 for pro-penny lobbying services. As it turns out, Jarden was awarded $48 million in federal contracts. I’m sure that is a mere coincidence. Like so many other things, deep-pocket lobbyists control a disturbingly large segment of our government. The cost to taxpayers for unnecessary and over-subsidized products and services due to well-placed campaign contributions by special interest groups cannot be easily calculated. And if it were, it would probably scare the hell out of all of us. Anyway, that’s my two cents worth.

Along with being featured in several magazines — Including Sunset and the Ojai Valley Visitors Guide Ojai Pixie tangerine growers were awarded accolades from Japan last week.

Oisix, a major online food retailer in Japan with two retail stores in Tokyo, recently completed its annual online poll of customers’ favorite suppliers, and found Ojai Pixies were the favorite fruit in 2012. The Ojai Valley-grown tangerines have been sold in Japan for several years now.

“Because of the way the relationship developed over the past years, my face has literally been on the label of our Pixies in Japan,” said Jim Churchill of the Ojai Valley Pixie Growers Association. “This past week, a representative of Oisix came to California in large part to present me with an award, which is really an award for Ojai Pixies. I am now in possession of a medal, a proclamation, and 10,000 yen, which are honors for all of us.”

The proclamation is in Japanese; the accompanying translation reads,­”Producer of the Year, Fruits Division, Mr. Jim Churchill. Voices of much gratitude and positive feedback of our customers have earned you Producer of the Year 2012: Fruits Division. Adorable appearance and sweetness of your product got our customers, who usually do not eat fruits, addicted. So, in appreciation of your efforts and quality of goods, we hereby award you with ‘Producer of the Year.’ Kohey Takashima, President Oisix Inc.”

Churchill said in an e-mail, “To even have been nominated for Ojai Pixies, which is after all a tangerine, a fruit the Japanese have been growing for centuries, seems to me to be a big deal; to have won seems kind of extraordinary. In any case, that a representative of the company came to California to see Ojai Pixies and to present me with the award is significant.”

The 10,000 yen equals roughly $122, which Churchill said would be added to the Ojai Valley Pixie Growers Association bank account.

Rosie Weir gives a speech at Teen Challenge.

By Misty Volaski
Ojai’s Rosie Weir never went to a university; in her words, she was educated “in the school of hard knocks.” But it’s precisely that education that gives her the experience she needs to run Ventura County Teen Challenge, a nonprofit organization which houses 59 women for one year as they recover from drug and alcohol addictions.

“I grew up in the hippie days. I had issues in my youth,” Weir said. After recovering, a friend asked her to speak at a Teen Challenge event in 1986 to “talk about how I overcame these problems.” Finding she liked the Christian faith-based program, she volunteered there for a year before being asked to become a staff member. “I have compassion for them — I was very grateful to be delivered out of (addiction) at a young age. I’ve walked the Christian life since 1975, and I share my experiences with them. I had a broken heart from a divorce but I made it without going back to the ‘easy way’ with sedating myself.”

She counseled and advised women, who are ages 18 and older, at the Casitas Springs center, for seven years before retiring. “Well, I tried to retire,” she laughed. But Weir came back as a 14-year volunteer until 2008, when she was asked again to become a member of the staff as the director of Ventura Teen Challenge. The center keeps women on a specific schedule — something addicts usually lack, Weir said — and they have specific chores. They also volunteer their time at youth events, pancake breakfasts and the May 19 Ojai Valley Community Hospital spring fund-raising event.

Prior to becoming director, Weir helped out with the organization’s global team which went to many different countries to help establish Teen Challenge sites. Among the countries she’s been to are Serbia, Slovenia, India, Romania, and the Czech Republic. “Drug addiction is the same in those countries as they are here,” she said. But adding to the difficulty of helping addicted individuals recover were the Third World conditions in which they lived. “I was asked to go do a training session in Mumbai, India, at the Teen Challenge there,” said Weir. “Their mission is to rescue girls sold into brothels.” Girls, she added, are often kidnapped from their villages around the age of 10 or 12, and are then sold to brothels, where they commonly get pregnant, contract diseases like HIV, and fall into addictions. “In the red light district, we were able to rescue some of the prostitutes,” Weir said. “Once they get very sick, they kick the women out and they’re left to die.” Not only did they establish a Teen Challenge, they also organized a nearby orphanage for the prostitutes’ children so the women could see their kids as they recovered from their addictions.

Weir is also proud of her work in Romania, where children are dismissed from the orphanages homeless and penniless. They often end up living in the sewers, where they eat, have children, and sniff glue. “I crawled down to see what it was like,” she said. After seeing the living conditions there, she came back to the United States and raised funds to open a Teen Challenge in Bucharest.

Weir also spent time in Serbia, where soldiers got addicted to heroin after experiencing the horrors of war. Slovenia, Weir recalled, also had a big heroin problem; she was able to help a couple there raise funds to rent a building and begin a Teen Challenge branch of their own.

Back in Ventura, Weir pointed out, heroin is also a big problem. One woman who went through the program, Kelly, battled it for 30 years. She abandoned her husband and children and lived on the streets. After a stint in jail and time in the hospital — “I had so much poison in my body,” she recalled — she found Teen Challenge. “My life has been amazing since,” she said. She’s now a member of the staff in Ventura, and says that the structured program and its foundation in the Bible brings forgiveness and unconditional love that so many of the women desperately need. “You learn a better way of life, you finally get that peace to fill the void. These women, when they get here, they’re so wounded and broken. I know for myself, I started using drugs because I was looking for love. It’s kind of hard to find hope out there, but there’s hope in here.”

Despite the difficulties and highs and lows of emotions, Weir finds her job “a blessing.Ó It’s not easy she said, and often takes patience. It also takes a serious talent for raising funds to keep the program — which does not charge participants — operating. “Every month we get girls going out and new girls in. When I see the new girls march in, it keeps me fueled to continue to that next month. I see those girls desperate for encouragement and love. I am here to serve. I don’t do anything special, honestly, but it is amazing what love and kindness can do for a person, and that’s not hard to give. Now, I’m addicted to helping people.”

Weir is spearheading a May 5 Teen Challenge fund-raising event at the First Neighborhood Community Center in Westlake Village. For information, call 648-3295 or visit teenchallenge.org.

Two of college tennis’s powerhouse programs and intra-city rivals, USC and UCLA, will compete — and possibly meet for the third time this season —the 112th annual Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament this week. Today marks the beginning of the first Pac-12 Men’s Championships dual-match format event. In previous years, matches had been played in an individual format; but this year, the dual match format means Pac-12 teams are bringing out the entire teams in hopes of solidifying an NCAA championship berth.

UCLA snapped reigning NCAA champion USC’s 45-match winning streak last Friday in the Pac-12 regular-season finale with a 4-3 road victory at USC’s Marks Stadium. Previously, USC beat UCLA in Westwood on Feb. 29, 6-1. USC won the doubles point last Friday and got wins in singles from No. 1 Steve Johnson and No. 3 Daniel Nguyen. Johnson, from Orange, won the NCAA men’s singles title last year and has won 58 consecutive collegiate matches. He is currently ranked No. 368 in the ATP world rankings.

Johnson, who won the Pac-10 men’s singles title last year at ÒThe Ojai,Ó said, ÒWe’re just going to work that much harder and we’re not going to want to have this feeling again. I’m excited about the new team format, and I think everyone is. I guess it’s nice for me personally to be the last individual winner, so that’s kind of special for me. I think we will meet these guys (UCLA) in the finals (on) Saturday and hopefully the outcome will be different.Ó

As the top two seeded teams, UCLA and USC advance to the semifinals on Friday at noon and 3 p.m., respectively.

Today, No. 5 Washington plays No. 8 Arizona at 11 a.m., followed by No. 6 Oregon versus. No. 7 Utah at Libbey Park in downtown Ojai.

Tomorrow, No. 4-seeded California will play the Washington-Arizona winner at 11 a.m. and No. 3 Stanford will play the Oregon-Utah winner at 2 p.m. The first­Pac-12 Men’s­team­final­will be played Saturday at­4­p.m.­

The Pac-12 Women’s Championships begin Thursday and remain a 32-player singles and 16-team doubles individual event. Four of the national ITA-ranked Top 10 players will all compete, including­ Robin Anderson (UCLA), Nicole Gibbs (Stanford), Mallory Burdette (Stanford) and Jana Juricova (California).

Other than the Pac-12, “The Ojai” plays host to several other competitions: collegiate Division III West Regionals, community and independent colleges, junior and CIF events, and the open division. Visit Ojaitourney.org for details.

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced Friday that the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with a ceremony and march on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.  The program will begin at 11 :45 a.m. at the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura.

This year’s ceremony will include remarks by Ms. Gabriella Aguirre, daughter of slain Ventura County Sheriffs Deputy Peter Aguirre. Deputy Aguirre was murdered in the line of duty on July 16, 1996, while investigating a family disturbance in Meiners Oaks.

Additionally, the District Attorney will present the Crime Victims’ Rights award to Ventura County Sheriffs Deputies Ryan Clark and William Hollowell for their work in a Lockwood Valley case in which a 10-week-old baby was murdered.

Following the program, there will be a march around the Government Center. Lunch will be provided by Interface Children Family Services, the Coalition for Family Harmony, and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. This event is free and open to the public.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, first recognized in 1981, is April 22-28, 2012. This year’s theme, “Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past.” pays tribute to the millions of crime victims over the decades who have summoned the strength to rebuild their shattered lives, families and communities, one step at a time. Similarly, it honors the victim service community whose members have walked alongside these victims, responding to their courage with unwavering commitment and skillful guidance.

By Logan Hall

4/20/2012

A Ventura man was arrested last night for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol after crashing into a wooden fence in Upper Ojai at a high rate of speed, according to California Highway Patrol officials.

Hector Silva, 27 of Ventura, was driving Westbound on Highway 150 just East of Walnut Road when he reportedly lost control of his 2003 Toyota Camry as he entered a sweeping curve in the roadway, said authorities. CHP reports indicated that the Camry spun across the oncoming traffic lane, and crashed through a wooden fence, injuring Silva’s three passengers.

“When the Camry went through the fence,” read a CHP press release, “a wooden post came through the back window … and struck the head of Ms. Monica Meza, inflicting severe head trauma.”

Meza was rushed to Ventura County Medical Center and was place in the hospital’s intensive care unit, said officials. Authorities also reported that Silva’s other two passengers, Francis Chapman and Jessica Guzman, were taken to Ojai Valley Community Hospital where they were treated for their injuries and subsequently released. At the time of publication, no information was available on the residency of Silva’s passengers.

According to responding CHP officers, Silva was located at the scene of the crash and “was not cooperative with law enforcement or fire personnel.” The CHP press release stated that “Mr. Silva was … coming from Steckel Park where he and his passengers had been drinking vodka and beer.”

Silva was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on suspicion of DUI.

By Misty Volaski

Members of the Ojai Unified School District board heard a presentation on the possible lease or sale of its Chaparral High School property Tuesday night. OUSD real estate attorney Andreas Chialtas walked the board through the steps it would need to take to eventually sell or lease part or all of the property at 414 E. Ojai Ave., which contains five parcels of land.

OUSD superintendent Hank Bangser explained the board’s reasoning behind considering the lease and/or sale. “It is incumbent upon us, given the severe financial challenges (facing OUSD), to at least analyze any potential source of revenue other than what we receive from Sacramento, which is completely impossible to predict and has only decreased in recent years.”

“This is not a short process,” attorney Chialtas emphasized. The OUSD board has expressed no interest in moving quickly on the issue. “You do have all the time in the world,” Chialtas told board members. “There are a fair amount of things you need to do” to get to the point of sale or lease.

Bangser pointed out that the board is still “in the analytical stage. We’re not even at a point where we’re thinking what a plan would look like.”

Chialtas said that to move forward from that analytical stage, the board would have to do several things, the first of which would be to pass a resolution declaring the property “surplus.” But to determine this, the OUSD administration would need to first conduct a facilities master plan, which would detail where the OUSD would move Chaparral High School and the district offices, among other things. It would also need to get the property appraised.

“We have no idea what the value of the entire property is,” said Bangser, “and I would even go so far as to say (we need an) appraisal on each of the five parcels.”

Once those things are done and the property is declared surplus, the OUSD board would give its lawyers permission to put out notices to public agencies, which would be followed by a public bid hearing. They could choose to concurrently solicit for both lease and purchase offers, Chialtas said.

The process can be tailored to remain flexible. “There are plenty of options,” Chialtas said in a phone conversation on Thursday. But “all of this is many, many months down the road.”

Should the board decide to proceed with a lease or sale, the use of the proceeds could be limited to “capital improvements,” said Chialtas. But, legislation passed under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would allow some flexibility; funds could be used for a “one-time general fund expenditure É you would have to show that you don’t have any need for those funds for deferred maintenance.” Waivers to the state allocation board might allow OUSD more flexibility in spending those funds.

In short, it’s a long, complicated process. Said board member Thayne Whipple, “Obviously, there are a lot of variables.”

Some members of the public expressed their concerns with the potential lease or sale Tuesday night.

“This land really belongs to the public,” said Ojai resident Dwayne Bower. “This land is our history. When the property sells, the property is gone, then the money is gone, then (we’ll) move on to something else É we should really try to save it. This is something to really think about for the future.”

Board Member Kathi Smith said later in the discussion, “It strikes me that it is easy for the community to come and say, ‘That’s a community gem.’ But we’ve asked for a parcel tax (which failed to pass) É Just because it’s an asset to the community doesn’t mean we can afford to keep it.”

Whipple summed up the board’s sentiments, saying, “It would be irresponsible to take rash actions É but it would also be irresponsible not to look at all actions” the board might take. “We’re looking at the past and future every step of the way.”

Bangser said the board and OUSD administrative staff would continue to analyze the pros and cons of a potential lease and/or sale, and that he did not anticipate any formal action by the board in coming months.

The next OUSD board meeting is slated for May 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the OUSD board room, 414 E. Ojai Ave.

By Misty Volaski

The Ojai Education Foundation awarded 27 education grants totaling $18,656 to Ojai public school teachers at a reception at Ojai Community Bank on April 12.

Teachers, principals and OEF board members gathered to celebrate the good news at Ojai Community Bank, which contributed $1,000 to OEF for the grants. “We’ve got to invest in the kids if we’re going to change the world,” said Dave Brubaker, the bank’s president and CEO.

“The mission of OEF is to help schools,” OEF President Deborah Johnson told the assembled educators. This year, OEF increased the maximum grant for each teacher to $1,000, and was able to provide a record amount for the grant program’s 13th year, she said.

Funds for the grants (formerly called mini grants) went toward multimedia sound systems, interactive whiteboards, document cameras, books, iPads and music.

Nordhoff High School math teacher Chris Agh, a former engineer with a doctorate in mathematics, said the $375 multimedia sound system he applied for will allow all the students in his class to hear the math video clips he uses. Without one, he has to turn his computer volume on high, which is scarcely audible across the classroom. “This will round out the technology setup in the classroom,” he said.

Greg Bayless, another Ph.D. at Nordhoff, who replaces retiring principal Dan Musick in the fall, welcomes the $4,580 granted to 10 Nordhoff teachers for multimedia sound systems, video production equipment, an interactive whiteboard and music. “We are bringing the digital world into the classroom, instead of everyone going to the (computer) lab,” he said. “We are integrating digital learning, research and access into the classroom and weaving it into the daily classroom experience.” With more OEF grants to come to enhance technology at Nordhoff, Bayless said he is ecstatic about having wireless capabilities in the classrooms and putting tablet computers in students’ hands.

Chris Bohney, who teaches world geography and advanced placement government and politics, said that while he can’t take his students on field trips to Africa, OEF grants allow him to do such things as take students on virtual tours of the second-largest continent through the web in his classroom.

Isabelle Turpin, who teaches kindergarten and first grade at Summit Elementary School, said she is looking forward to using interactive games and activities that will be purchased to supplement the interactive whiteboards in the classrooms. “We’re very fortunate to be able to utilize the technology and take it to the next level,” she said.

“Teachers are thrilled” with the $1,000 grant for nonfiction books in the school library, said Dawn Damianos, Meiners Oaks Elementary School principal.

“We had some great technology grants,” said John LeSuer, principal at Topa Topa Elementary School. Seven Topa Topa School teachers received a total of $4,025 for such items as document cameras and interactive whiteboards.

Ojai Unified School District superintendent Hank Bangser, who also serves on the OEF board, welcomed the educators who crowded the bank during business hours. “I wish I could convey our sincerity and belief in what you all do,” he said. “Our only frustration is that we don’t have six or seven times more to give.” However, with OEF’s latest push to invest in more technology in Nordhoff classrooms, Bangser was happy to report: “There’s more to come.”

Ojai Education Foundation is a nonprofit, community-based organization that supports, enriches and supplements the instructional program in the Ojai Unified School District. It will have a booth at the Ojai Youthfest at Libbey Park on Sunday. Its next big fund-raising event, with the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation, is the 12th annual Ojai Golf Classic on June 4 at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. For more information about the golf classic, call 640-2040 or e-mail info@ojaigolfclassic.org. For more information about OEF, log on to www.ojaief.org.

Education Grant Awardees

Matilija Junior High School

Harriette Clise: $1,325 for interactive whiteboard.

Brenda Farrant: $529 for Promethean ActivSlate 60, a notebook-sized computer tablet that works the same as a Promethean interactive whiteboard, but can be used anywhere in the classroom; and replacement lamp for InFocus projector.

Carol Paquette: $1,000 for wireless access point, controller license and projector bulb.

Nancy Welter: $1,000 for two iPads.

Meiners Oaks Elementary School

Teresa Perry and Danon Plott: $1,000 for nonfiction library books.

Mira Monte Elementary School

Vicki Hughart: $539 for Promethean ActivBoard.

Sharon Michels and Chris Hess: $1,080 for Promethean ActivBoards.

June Sears: $700 for integrating play with science and mathematics.

San Antonio Elementary School

Sue Lovelady: $445 for NEC digital projector

Kathy McAlpine: $933 for class set of reading books.

Summit Elementary School

Heather Ramsey, Teresa Lessing and Isabelle Turpin: $1,500 for interactive games and activities to supplement interactive whiteboards.

Topa Topa Elementary School

Amy Bujold: $540 for document camera.

Karin Dingman: $225 for musical play license and portable CD/MP3 player.

Sarah Ferranti and Chris Ando : $1,500 for document cameras and interactive whiteboard.

Jennifer Hankins and Carolyn Burke: $720 for document camera and computer program.

Rosy Lotts: $500 for Read Naturally technology update.

Tracy Oakland: $540 for document camera.

Nordhoff High School

Bill Wagner: $250 for sheet music.

Chris Agh, Chris Bohney, Andrew Buck, Tony Henney, John Hoj, Rene Nakao-Mauch and Ann Inman: $375 apiece for multimedia sound systems.

Patricia Lind: $1,000 for a Promethean ActivBoard.

Tom Friedman: $705 for video production equipment.

Local resident Bob Roper sets up shop near the Farmers' Market in downtown Ojai earlier this year during his campaign for the Ventura County Board of Supervisors District 1 seat. Last month, Roper retired from his position as chief of the Ventura County Fire Department.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

4/19/2012
Ojai resident Bob Roper has been a busy man recently. After announcing last year that he would be running for Ventura County supervisor, Roper has been busy campaigning all over the county. He also holds a position on the Red Cross board of directors. On top of that, up until last month, he was busy running the Ventura County Fire Department as the county fire chief.

With so much going on in his life, Roper made the decision to retire from the VCFD. After more than 32 years of service with the department, and almost 25 years as fire chief, he handed over the reins to former Deputy Chief Mark Lorenzen. Now, focusing on his family and his campaign for the supervisor seat, Roper is still as busy as ever. “When I announced my candidacy for the board of supervisors last year,” said Roper, “I was going to stay at my position until the election, but the taxpayers who gave me the honor of being fire chief deserve 100 percent of my time. That’s why I made the decision to retire in March.”

Lorenzen is quick to point out that Roper left a solid operation for him to take over. “I don’t think Bob could have left us in better condition,” said Lorenzen, who officially stepped into Roper’s former position on March 30 at 5 p.m. “He’s left us in an incredibly stable financial situation.”

Lorenzen reiterated the legacy that Roper left behind. “The fire chief is responsible for the vision and direction of where the department is going,” said Lorenzen. “Bob put us in really great shape in more ways than one. It’s a testament to his leadership.”

Roper, a California native, knew he wanted to be a firefighter as a young man and in 1978, he became a volunteer with the VCFD at the Meiners Oaks Fire Station. Two years later, he graduated from the department’s academy and was assigned to Santa Paula. His time away from the Ojai Valley didn’t last long though.

“Six months after I got out of the academy,” he said, “I was transferred back to the Meiners Oaks station.”

Five years later, after being transferred to the Oak View Fire Station, he was involved with one of his most memorable experiences in the department, and a historic incident for the valley. In 1985, Roper was one of the first to respond to the Wheeler Fire that ravaged the hills of Ojai. “During the Wheeler Fire,” he recalled, “I remember watching the community’s reaction to the fire invading their neighborhood. There were people driving down the road with horses tied to their vehicles because they didn’t have time to get a trailer.”

The former fire chief was also involved in helping Los Angeles communities while the riots following the Rodney King trial in 1992 raged in the streets of the L.A. area. “I had to take a strike team of engines down to Compton during the riots,” said Roper, pausing between thoughts. “Seeing the civil unrest of our society — it sticks with you.”

The Wheeler Fire and the ’92 riots weren’t the only historically significant events in which Roper played a role. In January 2005, he was on scene in La Conchita after a large landslide buried multiple houses, killing 10 people and devastating the lives of many more. “I was at La Conchita supporting my crews and dealing with the media,” said Roper of the incident that captured the nation’s attention. “Watching the dismay on the faces of the public and the rescuers as they were trying to find survivors — those are the things that you never forget.”

Along with participating in many major incidents, Roper has worked most of the jobs available in the VCFD.

“He’s done just about everything there is to do here,” said Roper’s longtime friend, VCFD Battalion Chief Norm Plott. “We were volunteers together in ’78. Since then he’s been a part of every aspect of the department. He’s been a great asset in the department and he’s really served the county well through the years.”

Plott says that, of Roper’s many strengths, his ability to work closely with many different people really stood out. “He built really good relationships with everyone in the different communities in the county,” said Plott. “From the local Sheriff’s Department up to state and federal agencies, he really works well with everyone.”

Although now he has time to focus on his campaign and his two young grandchildren, Roper says that leaving the department was bittersweet. “I had a great career and worked with many great people,” he said. “Closing my office door for the last time and getting into my car and driving away for the last time was emotional. It was a tough day.”

Praising Lorenzen’s abilities, the former fire chief believes his successor is ready to lead the department into the coming decades. “Mark’s a great person,” said Roper. “He’ll be able to take the department to even better levels of service. The department is well-off and in good hands now.”

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

My birthday was last week. I was an income tax day baby, born on April 15, 1954. It is hard for me to believe I am almost 60 years old. Mentally, I think of myself as about 35. But all it takes is one look in the mirror, or seeing a recent photo to realize that 35 is so far back in my rearview mirror that it is little more than a flyspeck.

About 20 years ago, I was having lunch with a gentleman I used to work for when he suddenly announced, “I hate eating at this restaurant.” I asked if his food was bad. “No, I like the food, but I hate all the mirrors they have in this place.” When I asked him why, he replied, “Because I can’t stand to look in a mirror and see that old man looking back at me.” I laughed.

Twenty years later, it is not nearly as funny. Several years ago I shaved a mustache that I had worn for over 25 years. I’d had the mustache for so long that Ava had never seen me without it. I shaved it because it was getting too white. I didn’t mind my hair turning gray, but I thought my rapidly graying mustache made me look at least 10 years older. One day I looked in the bathroom mirror and saw Wilford Brimley staring back at me. Out came the razor, off went the mustache.

In some ways I feel I have aged a great deal; in others, not so much. I certainly don’t look the same as I did years ago. My hair has gone white, although most of it is still there. I have put on too much weight Ñ my butt is soon going to require its own ZIP code if I don’t reverse that trend.

Some people get more conservative as they get older. For me, that is a mixed bag. Politically, I am conservative on fiscal issues, liberal on social issues. I have become increasingly distrustful and disgusted at the massively wasteful spending of the federal government, becoming more and more conservative in that respect. While I have always been liberal regarding racial issues and the need to respect the religious beliefs of others, I have become considerably more liberal on gay rights in the last 20 years or so.

One stereotype is that old people are “cranky.” While my temper is still a source of embarrassment from time to time, I actually think it has become more manageable over the years. I still lose it more than I like, but I think I am mellowing with age. I have not kicked in any doors, nor put my fist through any walls in a long time. That is actually a pretty big step forward for me. I am also better about yelling and gesturing to people while driving. I am certainly more conscious of it while driving the OVN van. You are not exactly anonymous when your business name is plastered all over your vehicle. If everyone had to put a name and phone number on the outside of their vehicle, we would all be more courteous behind the wheel.

On the upside, the passing years have given me lifelong friendships and experiences I would not trade for anything. As for the most important relationship in my life, Ava and I will celebrate our 34th anniversary next month.

I try to remember that the blessings age can bestow will always trump the vanities of youth. And that makes looking in that mirror a little easier.

In celebration of sustainable living, global awareness, and the joy of nature Food for Thought, Oak Grove School, Ojai Valley Green Coalition, and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy are teaming up again to host this once-a-year community event, Earth Play 2012, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will include local school involvement, environmental exhibits, arts and outdoor activities for all ages, live entertainment, world foods, sustainable vehicle displays, and more. Everything takes place under the trees on Oak Grove School’s campus, 220 W. Lomita Ave., Ojai. Admission is free. Visitors will also have ample opportunities to find ways to live greener and appreciate the natural wonders we all share. More than 30 exhibitors will share their earth-friendly products and services, provide hands-on activities, and present informational and interactive displays.

According to Deborah Pendrey, executive director of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, “Earth Day gives us an international day of intention on community, sustainability, and regenerating our planet.” Lori Hamor, executive director of Food for Thought agrees, “This event represents the continued collaboration needed to plant the seeds of stewardship of our planet. We hope to educate our youth that we all have a role in taking care of our environment. Food for Thought is proud to be a partner.”

“Many Earth Day celebrations have turned into vendor fairs with little emphasis on our responsibility to take care of our Earth for future generations,” writes Marti Reid from the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy. “The dedication and hard work of the partner organizations has allowed Earth Play to remain a true community event focused on responsible stewardship of land, water, and other natural resources.”

Meredy Benson Rice, head of Oak Grove School, believes that emphasizing our relationship with nature is fundamental to understanding both the impact that we play in our environment and the imperative we must take to preserve it. “Since 1975, the school’s intention has included a love for nature and a mindful presence of our surroundings. Hosting this event gives Oak Grove a chance to help raise awareness of our Earth and also to give back to the dynamic Ojai community we are a part of.”

Trolley rides to Earth Play are free all day, courtesy of Ojai Trolley. Hybrid and electric cars will have priority parking on Oak Grove’s campus and, best of all, valets will be on hand ready to park and secure bicycles for those who travel by that most noble of means.

For the latest information visit www.ojaiearthday.org.

By Chris T Wilson

With the change of seasons and the longer sunny days of spring ushering in a world of new life in bloom, itÕs high time to get out on the trails around Ojai and have yourself a good walk in the woods.

Along the trails in and around the valley, a rich and diverse collection of wild herbs and plants offer a world of flavor, aroma and healing enjoyment patiently waiting to be discovered. With the proper guidance the mysteries of local plant life can be unfolded and more clearly understood.

Enter Lanny Kaufer, an educator who since 1976 has led his herb walks in and around Ojai. On most weekends throughout spring and summer, Kaufer and his wife, Rondia, set out on nearby local trails and share the wonders of the local flora and fauna with people wanting to learn more intimate details about the power of nature.

From single guided individual tours to large group walks, the purpose behind KauferÕs offering is to expand peopleÕs awareness of nature and deepen their familiarity with the world of plants. ItÕs an experience that has multiple benefits, Kaufer says.

ÒTaking a walk in nature and breathing fresh air has excellent benefits,Ó Kaufer says. ÒOn the trail youÕre having a multi-sensory experience taking in the colors and textures of plants and wildlife. YouÕre getting natural aromatherapy by inhaling the aromatic oils like sage and bay and yerba santa. With a guide on a walk youÕre learning to ID the plants around you and it begins to enrich the whole hiking experience.Ó

A lifelong educator and a serious student of regional ethnobotany, Kaufer took an interest in herbs and the healing properties of plants in the mid-1960s when he was traveling through the Southwest.

ÒI picked up a Pueblo Indian man who was hitchhiking and drove him all the way home out to his pueblo in the mountains,Ó Kaufer recalls. ÒHe was so grateful that he asked us to stay with his family. So we stayed there for a week.Ó

During that week, Kaufer got a cold and the Indian manÕs uncle brought Lanny some herbal tea and told him it would help him to heal. Kaufer did feel a lot better from the tea and the experience captured his imagination. He bought the Òherbal bibleÓ at the time, ÒBack to EdenÓ by Jethro Kloss, and set out to learn as much as he could. He spent several years studying with some of the areaÕs greatest herbalists.

ÒThe idea that you could gather simple plants and make medicinal remedies fascinated me,Ó Kaufer says. ÒI was fortunate then to have a succession of teachers who turned out to be some of the most important herbalists in the field.Ó

Back at home in Santa Barbara after his journeys through the Southwest, he learned that one of his neighbors was an herbalist. William LeSassier was leading herb walks that Kaufer joined.

ÒLeSassier went on to found a school of natural healing, then moved back east where he became medical herbalist and developed a system of herbal extraction,Ó he says.­ÒWhen he moved east by way of Taos I felt like I knew enough about plants to begin leading my own herb walks.Ó

In recent weeks, Kaufer has been in the process of expanding the reach and scope of his herb walks. The U.S. Forest Service has just approved a special use permit that allows Kaufer to lead educational herb walks on national forest land. While the herb walks in and around Ojai last from two to three hours, Kaufer plans to take this opportunity to offer longer full-day trips on trails in the backcountry.

Forest Service land specialist Veronica Garza said the work Kaufer is doing provides an important educational component for the public on how to properly use and enjoy the forest.

ÒThe purpose of providing permits for outfitting and guiding is to educate the public and provide a way for people to spend time in the forest who otherwise might never go there,Ó Garza said.

Diane Cross, a USFS recreation officer, also worked with Kaufer during the permitting process. She said that the impact of any proposed use of the forest must be studied closely and mitigated accordingly. KauferÕs temporary permit to lead walks on forest trails posed very little impact overall, Cross said. The permitting process also seeks to ensure that guides provide adequate care and safety to their clientele. Kaufer carries liability insurance and is trained in CPR. His wife, Rondia, is a registered nurse who joins in on the herb walks and brings up the rear on the trail to make sure everyone has as pleasant an experience as possible.

KauferÕs website herbwalks.com offers a collection of photographs, links, articles and a calendar of upcoming walks. The cost to participate in one of KauferÕs herb walks starts at $25 per person.

Kaufer will also be presenting a lecture and slide show on April 25 at 7 p.m. as part of the World University of Ojai Arts and Lectures Series. Titled ÒMeet Your Local Plant Community,Ó the talk is free, but donations are welcome. Visit worldu.edu/events/ to learn more.

Ojai City public works supervisor, Ruben Martinez, signs for a porta-potty from Mar-Borg Industries at the Ojai Skate Park earlier today.

Photo and report by Logan Hall
4/17/2012 

Skaters and other members of the public are getting a breath of fresh air as the city begins a project to re-do the bathroom at the Ojai Skate Park.

Previously considered by locals as a glorified Porta-Potty, the bathroom is being overhauled to accommodate running water and flushing toilets. The project calls for the demolition and removal of the old pit used for collecting waste. Replacing the pit, plumbing will connect new fixtures to the existing sewer line on the Ojai Unified School District property where the park is located.

The city contracted Frank’s Rooter and Plumbing Service to handle construction of the project. Originally budgeted at about $50,000, the city has cut a large portion of the cost by eliciting help from other agencies.

The city hired Frank’s Rooter and Plumbing Service — which was the low bidding company at $17,600 — to handle construction, but according to city officials, the big savings came with help from the Ojai Valley Sanitary District and the OUSD. The two agencies approved a request by the city to run plumbing of the bathroom to the existing sewer line on OUSD property. The alternative for the city would have meant placing new piping under the property’s parking lot, and out across Ojai Avenue to the main sewer line — a process that would have been much more costly and time-consuming.

“The Sanitary District gave us a variance that allowed us to connect to the exiting sewer,” said city engineer Greg Grant. “That’s key. It probably saved us 30 to 40 grand. Going across the parking lot would have been a major headache.”

The money saved on the project has been allocated for various needs throughout the city. According to Grant, $3,500 will go to storage software so the city can keep massive amounts of files organized and protected; $4,500 will provide the city with a new Geographic Information System that Grant says will help the city’s Complete Streets Program make the roads more pedestrian- and bike-friendly. The remaining funds, about $15,000, will go toward improving the city’s deteriorating roadways. “The roads need a lot more than that,” said Grant, “but every little bit helps.”

The city has included several amenities in the new design including a new, stainless steel toilet and sink, and a waterless urinal. “We had a major discussion about using porcelain or steel for the fixtures,” said Grant. “We liked the look of porcelain, but ultimately we thought they would get smashed up. The stainless looks a little more institutional, but it’s tough stuff.”

Grant says that vandalism was definitely on everyone’s mind during the design phase of the project after the drinking fountain at the park was vandalized shortly after the park’s opening in 2010. “We were going to install a baby-changing station,” he said, “but we’re leaning away from that. We don’t want to install things that are easily smashed up.”

Those who use the Skate Park regularly, welcome the project with open arms.

“I think it’s great,” said local skater and MTV stuntman Dave England. “It should have happened a long time ago, but I don’t want to complain about the past. Let’s just say that it’s a long time coming. It’s really a good thing for the whole city.”

Skate Ojai President Chet Hilgers agrees that the new bathroom will be a benefit to more than just skaters. “It will really serve the whole community,” he said, “especially for those that use the school on the weekends like the Peddlers’ Fair. It’s a great deal for everyone. We really want to thank the Sanitary District and the school board for helping.”

The project is scheduled for completion by May 18 and officials say the park should remain open during the process. A Porta-Potty has been placed near the bathroom for use while the bathroom is closed for construction.

Senior Deputy Edward Beauvais
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
Ojai Valley Station
402 S. Ventura St.
Ojai, Ca 93023
Work:   805.646.1414
Fax:     805.640.1803

Ojaivalley.citywatch@ventura.org

Senior Deputy Ed Beauvais is a 16-year member of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.  He has worked a variety of assignments, from gangs in El Rio and Saticoy, to Elementary and Middle School Resource Officer in the city of Camarillo.  He is now assigned as the Beat Coordinator for the city of Ojai.  He can be reached at edward.beauvais@ventura.org. 

Rainbow Bridge employee Sue Luther loads groceries into plastic bags for local shoppers Richard Fowles and his daughter Tiana. The Ojai City Council voted earlier this week to ban plastic bags from grocery stores within city limits. Photo by Logan Hall

By Tiobe Barron

Finally, and with comparatively little fanfare, the Ojai City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday night banning the distribution of single-use plastic bags within city limits. The ban will go into effect on July 1, to give retailers time to run through their current, already-purchased stock of plastic bags. The ordinance also requires grocery stores to charge 10 cents for recyclable paper bags distributed to customers, to dissuade consumers over time from using single-use bags altogether. Restaurants, however, are exempt from the ban; their single-use bags of either paper or plastic are still permitted for the transportation of food.

“Well, everyone wants to clean up the planet,” said Ernest Niglio, co-owner and manager of Rainbow Bridge Natural Food Store. “I’m a little worried about how we’re actually going to do this. We have to wait to see how many paper bags are needed when our customers are checking out, they might have to wait a little longer. But it’s just logistics. I think a lot of customers will be glad. I think it’s a good thing, overall.”

The purpose of the ban, as stated in the text of the ordinance itself, is to minimize litter, conserve resources, and to protect Ojai’s environment. The ordinance was passed without comment from council members, nor from the numerous members of the public present at the meeting.

Everyone had considerably more to say about Smart Meter installation, however. For a few moments, Mayor Betsy Clapp fought to wrest control over council chambers from an audience that was visibly and audibly angry over a perceived lack of action on the part of City Council.

Ojai resident Kevin Schmidt presented council members with a letter from the American Academy of Environmental Medicine to the California Public Utilities Commission stating, in part, that the Federal Communications Commission guidelines for electromagnetic emissions are inadequate for use. Schmidt argued that Smart Meters present a clear and immediate threat to the health and safety of Ojai residents, and urged City Council to pass an emergency moratorium on the installation of the devices.

“Will you please pass a resolution tonight?” asked Schmidt. When he received no response from council, he persisted, “Can you please answer that for me?” Which initiated a tense, silent stand-off, until city clerk Rhonda Basore answered that as the item was not on the agenda, no action could be taken. Outbursts from the crowd ensued.

“I understand this is a volatile issue, but there are a lot of legal things involved, questions that need to be answered,” said Clapp as she pleaded with audience members to maintain order and council procedures.

“I think if your lawyer is telling you, ‘Gee, no, we can’t do anything,’ you need to get a new lawyer,” suggested Ojai resident Susan Williamson. Local business owner and resident Meg Goodwin noted it was ironic that Ojai will soon play host to an ecotourism forum, when Southern California Edison has already begun installing their devices in the Ojai Valley.

“We need to stand up for this. I don’t feel the electric company is qualified to tell us what is safe,” said Goodwin. “How much longer are we going to let these corporations run our lives?”

“The onus is on Edison to prove (Smart Meters) are safe, not on us to prove they are dangerous,” contributed Ojai resident L.S. Lieterman. Lieterman also noted that calling the utility company to be put on a delay list is no guarantee the company won’t eventually install the devices anyway; he cited the spraying of pesticides by companies that obtained a court order to do so, against property owners’ wishes. Ojai residents Elizabeth Maderas, Carol Adams and Sholom Joshua also spoke out against the Smart Meters, urging council to pass a moratorium on the devices, citing the council’s duty to protect the welfare of its citizenry.

“One of our most important responsibilities is to protect the health and safety of our citizens,” agreed Mayor Pro Tem Paul Blatz. “But if we enact an ordinance that happens to be illegal, we have no ability to enforce it. And if we do, litigation could ensue.” Blatz questioned city attorney Joseph Fletcher on the definition of an “emergency” item, which would be allowed on the agenda the same night.

Fletcher answered that while an emergency item is one which poses a threat to the health and safety of the citizens, he still did not believe council had legitimate cause to take immediate action, and that the CPUC has jurisdiction over the matter, not Ojai City Council.

“Our next step should be to direct staff to gather data, information, analysis that would bolster our case,” said Fletcher. “My job is to give you the best legal advice that I can. This would be a huge dedication of resources.”

“This reminds me of the protest against the (Vietnam) war,” said Councilwoman Carol Smith. “What I want to see is civil protest, with as much publicity as we can get. A private, for-profit company is doing something that the people obviously do not want … But the fact that you think an ordinance is going to control (Edison) is just naive!”

Another topic of contention at Tuesday night’s meeting was the recent shooting of a resident’s dog by a local police officer. “I’m very alarmed at what happened,” said Ojai resident Suza Francina. “We don’t want spin. We take this very seriously, and we want to know exactly what happened.”

Said Ojai resident Matthew Read, “Most dogs, not just guard dogs, either trained or by instinct, are going to alert when strangers appear. When somebody walks into a dog’s back yard, when he comes around the corner, barks at them, and their response to it is to shoot it three times, I personally can have very little confidence in any officer who truly believes their life is being threatened by an alerting dog. I would like to know the whole truth of what happened, and how this can be uncovered and put into the public view. Very, very many people in this community are deeply distressed by this.”

Council members also discussed a possible ordinance banning oversized vehicles from parking on city streets, though no action was taken. The next regular City Council meeting will be held at 401 S. Ventura St. on April 24 at 7 p.m.

By Logan Hall

Local shuttle operator Adrianus “Dutch” Vanhemert has been granted a 40-day reprieve from beginning his jail sentence by the Ventura County Superior Court, according to his attorney. Vanhemert was convicted earlier this month of evading Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputies after a traffic stop, and sentenced to 180 days in county jail and three years probation.

According to court records, the shuttle operator was mandated by the court to report to the Ventura County Main Jail on April 16 to begin his sentence. Vanhemert, however, recently hired local attorney Paul Blatz to help him apply for the county’s work furlough program. After appearing in court This morning, Vanhemert was granted time to present his case to the county probation office, which runs the work furlough program. His sentence is now scheduled to begin on May 21.

“He’s going to apply to serve his time through work furlough,” said Blatz shortly after appearing in court with his client This morning. “You have to be screened for it though. He’ll have to fill out some paperwork and go through an interview process.”

Blatz says that the furlough screening wasn’t part of his client’s previous probation sentence. “When he (Vanhemert) came to us,” said Blatz, “we immediately went to the judge to ask for the work furlough screening. We’re going to talk to the supervisors of the program. We’re assuring that we make every effort to see if we can get that approved.”

The work furlough program allows certain qualifying inmates to spend up to 12 hours away from the furlough detention facility — located in Camarillo — working their jobs. Vanhemert seems to be cautiously optimistic about his chances at serving his jail sentence through the furlough program. “I don’t know if that system is designed for what I do,” he said. “I’m like a frickin’ butterfly out there. I’m all over the place. I don’t know if they’ll be cool with that. But, hey, at least for now it’s keeping me going for another 40 days.”

The probation office looks over each work furlough application individually and approves or denies a potential inmate’s eligibility based on different criteria, including the inmate’s offense or offenses, job description, job hours, etc. “Until we go down there and explain how he works and what he does,” said Blatz, “we have no assurance of whether or not it will go through.”

Although his client might be skeptical about the process, Blatz believes Vanhemert has a good chance at being eligible for the program. “We’re optimistic that we’re going to be able to work something out for work furlough,” said Blatz.

In the meantime, Vanhemert says that, as long as he is able to, he will remain open for business, including the continuation of his gratuity-based downtown shuttle service. “I’m still around and still going,” he said. “I haven’t stopped. Even after the trial I have not stopped. Every Friday and Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. I’m out there giving people rides.”

Stella Kent, left, Tyler Mikkelson, Brett Baxter and Graham Lasser perform "A Rose." Photo by Nathan Hansen

By Tiobe Barron

The Besant Hill School theater department is doing revolutionary things with the Bard this spring. The school’s latest play, “A Rose,” is the performing arts department’s self-professed “most ambitious theatrical extravaganza to date.” It is an adaptation of an adaptation of a long-lost play by William Shakespeare —- or a play, within a play, within a play, if you will.

It all began with the Cardenio Project. Playwright Charles Mee and Harvard professor Steven Greenblatt collaborated on a play based on one of Shakespeare’s lost works. Mee and Greenblatt then made the resulting play available for adaptation worldwide, with one caveat: If you want to perform the play, you must adapt it to your own region, your own culture, your society’s mores.

Enter Scott Campbell, chair of performing arts at Besant Hill School. Campbell and 11th grade student Noah Lashly rewrote the play and made it “Ojai,” referencing businesses, phrases and community history with which locals will readily identify. This will be the first adaptation to premiere on the West Coast.

“We’re creating a modern parable from old classics,” said Campbell in a recent press release. “It’s filled with nostalgic Ojai moments and local haunts like Azu, Boccali’s, The Hub, and Osteria Monte Grappa.”

Even the set features environmental aspects, paying homage to the nature of Ojai. Students are involved in all aspects of the production, from the set, to lights, to costumes. They have help with sets from Matt Jacobs, who has worked on “Heroes,” “Lost” and “Army Wives.” Aiding the students with materializing the attire to do the play justice is Mandy Jackson-Beverly, a teacher with Ojai Valley School’s upper campus.

“It’s fascinating working with a different group of students,” said Jackson-Beverly in the press release. “The valley is such a small place with an abundance of fabulous schools. We’re very lucky to have so many creative opportunities here.”

When asked about the process of taking a play from conception to production, Campbell quipped, “It ain’t easy!” Campbell imposes few constraints on his students. Music is usually incorporated into the production, though that doesn’t translate always into creating a “musical.” Students’ varied talents and passions, like carpentry and aerial dancing, are tied in, if possible, to allow the kids to shine.

“The kids I get to work with this year are extraordinary,” said Campbell in a phone interview. “The process itself is pretty informative for students. There is no stage crew. They really get a sense of what modern theater is like. Some theater productions can be stuffy, overly formal. This is much more vital, vibrant. It often involves multi-media. There are no rules.”

Besant Hill School premieres its production of “A Rose” on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Zalk Theater, 8585 Santa Paula Road. There is a suggested donation of $10. For more information, call 646-4343.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
Fittingly, Las Vegas has just opened a mob museum. Few places are as closely associated with the mob as Las Vegas, which was a sleepy desert hamlet before Bugsy Siegel built the Flamingo Hotel and Casino and money started pouring into the city, which became a gambling mecca. Officially known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, it boasts 17,000 square feet of exhibit space. About half of the archives are devoted to mobsters like Bugsy Siegel, Al Capone, and John “The Teflon Don” Gotti. The other half features the lawmen who fought them, like Eliot Ness and J. Edgar Hoover. We all have guilty pleasures, and one of mine is the mob —- books, movies, I can’t get enough. I first read “The Godfather” in high school, and vividly remember driving 50 miles to stand in a line around the block to see the movie with my girlfriend when I was a senior in high school. The sequel, with Robert De Niro as the young godfather, was certainly as good as the original. Many would argue that it was better. This is the 40th anniversary of the original movie (ouch, that makes me feel old) and it has been on television recently. Whenever “The Godfather” is on, I still get engrossed, drop what I am doing, and spend hours watching — even though I can just about quote both scripts verbatim. I don’t include the third “Godfather” movie in this discussion. “Godfather III” was one of the great disappointments in movie history for me. It had little in common with the first two movies. It was like it was made on a different planet. “The Sopranos” is still one of my all-time favorite TV shows. I was devastated when the series finally ended. There was nothing like hunkering down in front of the tube with a glass of red wine on Sunday nights and enjoying a new episode. Tony and Carmela became like family — pun intended. Wonderful writing, terrific acting, and fascinating story lines made it a classic. I felt the series lost its way a bit in the final two years. But even on its worst day, it was better than the reality-laced pabulum that is now offered up by network television. A little side note: I was in Las Vegas a few years ago for a meeting. I was sitting at the Bellagio playing blackjack, and a guy sat down at the table beside me. To my surprise, it was an actor who had a minor, but recurring, role on the show. We played a few hands, and I looked over at him and said, “The last time I saw you, you were being shot down in the street.” He grinned and said, “Yeah, I guess I should have been nicer to Tony.” My fascination with the mob and the good guys was developed early. I remember watching “The Untouchables” with my daddy as a young boy. Each week, Eliot Ness, played by Robert Stack, battled and triumphed over the bad guys. My mother was mortified by the violence on the show, which was “deemed excessive and senseless” by critics at the time. Boy, how standards have changed: “Jerry Springer” episodes are more violent than the old “Untouchables.” At any rate, I loved every minute of it. Hollywood has done an incredible job of glamorizing mobsters and making the glorified mob life interesting. In reality, mobsters are obnoxious goons and thugs, and hold little allure for me. My only real brush with the mob in real life was when a friend of ours confided to Ava and me that her uncle was one of the first guys called in for questioning when Jimmy Hoffa disappeared. Ava, ever curious, said had the courage to ask her if he had actually killed Hoffa. Our friend simply replied, “Well, all I can say is that is one body that will never be found.” That was over 30 years ago, and her answer sends a shiver up my spine to this day. I like my mobsters on television or in the movies — not in real life. An invitation to the mob museum is an offer I can easily refuse.

By Tiobe Barron
4/10/2012 

The Ojai City Council and Ojai Planning Commission met to discuss the building code update, where city manager Rob Clark opened the meeting by explaining the document the Planning Commission has been working on, and their ultimate advice to the council in terms of how to address the building code update.

The main points of consensus that commission members wanted to convey to council members included: due process, education of the public on their rights, the appeals process, not creating any new fees to increase the cost to applicants, and a policy of not recording notices of non-compliance. The Planning Commission re-iterated that the current policy does not require existing non-conforming structures to come into compliance when a homeowner needs to remodel or do a home repair, except in cases of immediate health and safety hazards.

“It was a big point of concern in the various public outreach and public input meetings,” said Clark last Tuesday night. He went on to say most of what is being suggested by the Planning Commission is about making the policy and application process accessible. He stressed that the process is not complete, and that the commission is still reviewing comments made by the public. Additionally, the zoning code has “a number of ambiguities and areas that need change,” Clark continued. “Taking on a zoning code update is a major project … We don’t really have the capacity to do this right now. We’re going to be focusing on the housing element. After that is done, we can decide what the next big project priorities are.”

Mayor Betsy Clapp asked whether the reason for not recording reports of non-compliance is that it would encumber the property, forcing the seller to come into compliance before the property could be sold. Clark clarified that while that was not necessarily the case, the owner would have to disclose to potential buyers that a problem exists with the property that needs to be addressed, which has the potential of discouraging buyers.

Councilwoman Carol Smith worried that the tax liability inherent in not reporting additional square footage of those properties not in compliance for additions made the city of Ojai complicit in “tax evasion, a felony.” Councilman Paul Blatz, who has experience as a lawyer, assured Smith that the city is not liable, not responsible for tax collection, and is not guilty of a felony.

Other points of concern raised at the meeting included the appointment of an appeals board, whether the board would have the final say in the appeals process, or whether there should be an additional step.

Councilwoman Carlon Strobel wanted to know if the council does a zoning code update, could it be done entirely in-house, to which Clark responded that it would depend entirely, taking a “let’s cross that bridge when we come to it” approach.

Ojai resident Craig Beam urged council members to have an over-rule process for any appeal board, to consider the gravity of the codes, and the context of Ojai.

“This code will last a long time, it will outlive probably everyone here tonight,” said Beam. “There are a number of flaws in the proposals here. I think you should adopt the mandatory state codes, period … I don’t know of any city that requires inspection as a part of getting a building license. We have enough vacant properties as it is.”

Ojai resident Bob Daddi echoed these opinions, stating, “Fifty-five percent of our homes are from 1965 and older. We need to rehabilitate what we can. Please make it to where people want to come in, want the help, not want to hide and go underground.”

Commissioner Troy Becker agreed that there are a few controversial issues with the code, and stressed that the commission went through the entire document line by line. Mayor Clapp praised the group’s efforts, saying, “You have been vigilant and fair, and overall I’m pretty impressed. But it’s true: We do have aging housing stock, and you don’t want people to be afraid. We do need to make it easy … If we save these homes, we keep this town’s character.”

The next Planning Commission meeting will be held April 18 at 6:30 p.m.

By Misty Volaski
4/10/2012

The golf course at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful in the world. With breathtaking views in every direction, the award-winning course is the ideal setting for a benefit golf tournament.

On June 4, two of Ojai’s nonprofit organizations — Ojai Education Foundation and the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation — will join forces for the 12th annual Ojai Golf Classic. As in years past, the two groups will share the organizational duties, as well as proceeds, of the tournament.

“The first few years, the Golf Classic was all OEF,” said Olga Singer, board member for the Youth Foundation. “Then we joined forces to do it together. It helps us and the OEF — it’s a huge undertaking.”

“It really requires a village,” agreed Joanna Iwata of the OEF.

The groups are hoping to field 144 golfers in order to fund several existing youth-oriented programs and bring back OVYF programs which have gone under as a result of the economic downturn. For $275, tournament entrants get what Iwata called “the VIP treatment — golf, a golf cart, and lunch and dinner.” A discount is being offered for golfers who sign up before April 16. Awards will be given out to the tournament winners, and the dinner will include a raffle and auction. Those who do not golf can attend the dinner after the tournament for $95 per person. The tournament and dinner are both tax-deductible.

“It’s a really nice dinner, a really fun environment,” said Singer. “Plus you’ll get to hear what both organizations are doing.”

With the funds raised, the OEF has its eyes on improving technology at Nordhoff High School‚ as well as bolstering its Educational Grants fund. Already, the OEF has purchased tens of thousands of dollars worth of technology for Ojai Unified School District elementary classrooms. The interactive, kid-friendly enVision Math program OEF purchased is already a favorite of elementary teachers and students districtwide. Seeing the need for more technology at the high school level, the OEF has helped fund the placement of document cameras and digital projectors, and will be working closely with NHS administrators and teachers on what steps they’d like to take next to help students learn — by moving seamlessly in and out of the digital world.

This year, thanks in part to the 2011 Ojai Golf Classic proceeds, the OEF was able to award $14,000 in educational grants, more than they’ve ever given away before. These grants are awarded to individual teachers for everything from class sets of books to student response systems, which allow students to answer teachers’ questions digitally. “We expect to be able to make a sizable grant to Nordhoff,” said Phil Carruthers of the OEF.

The OVYF, meanwhile, has a few specific goals it hopes to reach with the Ojai Golf Classic funds. “We’ll funnel the funds into programming, to keep current programs” and restart defunct programs, said Singer. “The leadership program — that’s junior high kids partnering with high school kids and adults — has been dormant for the last year and a half due to lack of funding. We’re hoping to reinstate it in the fall.”

Singer said OVYF hopes to continue to provide the papular Building Lives Incorporated program, which connects youths with adult mentors to hear them speak “about what’s out there in the big bad world,” said Singer, “to demystify the myths. What’s it really like to be a doctor or chiropractor or cop or someone in food service.” OVYF program director Meg Wall brings in kids from many backgrounds to listen to different speakers for the two-hour program which runs every Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. The first hour, students play ice-breaking games and “talk about personal stuff going on in their lives,” Singer said. The second hour, students get to listen to and talk frankly with guest speakers. In the interest of gaining student trust and encouraging them to speak openly, there are no adults allowed except program administrators and speakers. “They really break down stereotypes,” said Singer. “With Latinos and white kids, they realize, ‘Wow, you’re not that different from me.’”

OVYF funds will also be poured into the successful Girls’ Empowerment program.

Spots are still available for both the Golf Classic tournament and the dinner only, and several levels of sponsorship are still being offered. Call 640-2040 or e-mail info@ojaigolfclassic.org to register or request additional information.

Local musician Randy Purdue picks his guitar while trying out his temporary prosthetic leg. Photo by Smitty West

By Logan Hall
4/10/2012 

After a sudden illness in November of last year, local musician Randy Purdue lost his left leg below the knee, and nearly lost his life. Although rocked by rising medical costs and a time of hardship and uncertainty, he and his wife, Barbara, are getting help from the community.

This Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m. at Help of Ojai’s Little House, Purdue’s friends and fellow musicians are scheduled to hold a benefit concert to help raise money for the struggling couple. Among others, big names like Alan Thornhill and Martin Young, Smitty West and Julija Zonic, Patricia and Don Cardinali, and the Lynn Mullins Pickup Band will all perform to help the Purdues through a difficult time.

The trouble began for the family the day after Thanksgiving last year, when Purdue was taken to the hospital for what they thought, at first, was a severe case of the flu.

“He’d been sick all weekend,” said his wife. “Then, he said that his heel hurt and there was a small bruise on his foot. That bruise quickly grew until it covered his whole foot.”

Purdue was rushed to the emergency room at the Ojai Valley Community Hospital. After being treated for his immediate symptoms, he and his wife received staggering news.

Purdue had contracted a rare, flesh-eating bacteria, known as clostridium septicum.

“They took him to surgery right away to drain his foot,” said his wife. “Dr. Menninger saved his life.”

Doctors were forced to amputate Purdue’s leg just below the knee to prevent the aggressive bacteria from spreading further. After five separate surgeries, including the amputation, he was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve.

“My family and I were there at Randy’s home when he got out of the hospital,” said Purdue’s friend and benefit organizer, Jim Landsman. “We had decorated his house so he could come home and celebrate Christmas.”

Landsman says he immediately understood the family’s need for assistance with their situation. “He and his wife definitely needed some help,” he said. “As soon as he was out of the hospital, we came up with the idea to do a benefit because we knew he would have huge medical costs.”

The cost for Purdue’s treatments have been mounting steadily as he takes on the challenge of physical therapy, and he recently got fitted for a temporary prosthetic leg that is also a very expensive process. His wife says that her husband had signed up for Medicare last year after turning 65, but hasn’t yet received the full coverage that would substantially decrease the out-of-pocket expense for medical costs.

That’s where his supporters come into the picture.

The Ojai Mardi Gras Wake-Up Krewe, spearheaded by Scott “Smitty West” Smith, helped with the cost of the prosthesis, but Smith admits that there is still a long way to go in helping the family. “The Wake-Up Krewe donated $1,300 to kick off the fund-raising efforts,” said Smith, who will be performing with several different musicians on Saturday. “That was the lead gift for his prosthetic leg which was very expensive. I know they just have a ton of medical costs.”

The benefit concert showcases many of the valley’s most talented and well-known musicians, but Landsman says there are several ways they plan on raising funds.

“We’ve got a great silent auction planned,” he said. “We were able to get a guitar to Kenny Loggins to sign that we’ll raffle off. We’ve also got some great gift certificates, and a custom surfboard that were all donated for the auction.”

Renowned guitarist and entertainer Thornhill says that this kind of benefit is nothing new for the valley. “Musicians have traditionally been known to do this kind of thing for one another,” he said, “but I really think that it’s just the community we live in. We all really stand by each other in times like this.”

Generosity seems to have cycled back around for Purdue and his wife. His friends and fellow musicians say he has often put others in the community before himself, and, in the past, has contributed to benefits much like this one.

“Randy is a very giving person,” said Landsman. “He’s helped out a lot of people in the valley, and he’s done repairs on guitars and amplifiers for kids and some of his friends.”

Purdue was recently hospitalized again after suffering from stomach pain, but information on the cause of the latest illness, or whether it was related to his bout with clostridium septicum, was unavailable at the time of publication. He remains under the care of doctors in Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

The family, however, is keeping their spirits up, even in the face of adversity.

Purdue’s wife says that, although life has been tough in recent months, there are many things for the family to be thankful for. “His friends have been phenomenally wonderful,” she said, emotion saturating her voice. “They’ve really outdone themselves with helping us. It’s really amazing what they’ve all put together for us. We are so blessed and grateful.”

According to event organizers, a donation of $10 for adults will be suggested at the door and kids will be able to enjoy the show free of charge. Donations can also be sent to: Kenneth “Randy” Purdue, P.O. Box 403, Ojai, CA 93024. For more information, call 646-3424 or 646-6397.

Adamson’s tow truck driver Christian Barnes winches a Toyota 4Runner up a steep embankment on the side of Santa Ana Road this morning.

An unidentified man was hospitalized this morning after losing control of his vehicle and flipping over the side of Santa Ana Road. According to officials on scene, the victim was driving a blue Toyota 4Runner southbound on Santa Ana Road.

For unknown reasons, he reportedly lost control, drove over the oncoming traffic lane and off of the road, subsequently coming to rest upside down about 15 feet down the steep embankment.

The man was unconscious when emergency crews arrived, but woke up as firefighters were extricating him from the Toyota, said responding California Highway Patrol officers. Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Steve Swindle said the victim suffered unknown injuries and was taken by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment.

According to CHP reports, the crash was reported by a passing cyclist who called 911. “We don’t know how long he was there before someone found him,” said CHP officer Tim Putzel at the scene of the incident. No other injuries were reported and no other vehicles were involved, said Putzel.

The accident remains under investigation.

By Misty Volaski

Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials have now released the name of the deputy who fatally shot a boxer last week at the dog’s Orchard Drive home. According to sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Don Aguilar, the officer is Jonathon Witkoski, who has been with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department for six years. Aguilar said he had no knowledge of Witkoski ever having had complaints lodged against him, or ever having been involved in any other shooting incident. He did not know how long Witkoski had been with the Ojai Substation.

As previously reported, Witkoski and two other law enforcement officials with VCSD were responding to a call of vehicle tampering when the incident occurred. Witkoski allegedly feared for his safety when the dog ran toward him barking, so he opted to discharge his firearm three times, killing the dog. The dog’s owners claim that the animal, an 8-year-old male, has never bitten anyone and was carrying out his usual routine of running out his dog door and barking at visitors.

Aguilar said police have guidelines in place for when it is appropriate to use different levels of force to be able to control a particular incident. “Field supervisors will look at it (the incident), and if it warrants more investigation, he reports it to his (superior). That’s not the case here … it was an officer safety issue … Yes, there were other options to consider, but when the officer was asked to make a split-second decision, he felt at that time that option” to use force was necessary.

At this point, Aguilar clarified, “There is no violation or deviation from any policy. There is no ongoing investigation … The officer is still on duty. It’s business as usual.”

Aguilar said he did not think the dog’s owners had filed a formal complaint against Witkoski, although earlier this week the family had expressed their intentions to do so. There is an option for the family to file a claim with the VCSD Bureau of Risk Management, Aguilar went on, because the dog is considered property which was damaged by VCSD officers. Although he did not know how much the family might receive as compensation, he emphasized, “They can apply for a claim and they’ve been informed of that.”

By Perry Van Houten

Parents of kids who travel to Topa Topa Elementary School on foot, bike or scooter can breathe easier when Kris Ambarian is on duty. Dressed in signature uniform of shorts, orange vest, baseball cap, boots and sunglasses, her job is to keep children safe as they use the school’s main crosswalk. Ambarian is Topa Topa’s official crossing guard, and when the gatekeeper is at her post, you play by the gatekeeper’s rules.

A resident of Oak View, Ambarian grew up in Fillmore and has two children —- a first- and a fourth-grader — who attend Topa Topa. She got the gig two years ago when the school put out the call for a new crossing guard. “They needed someone who’s not shy, and I was perfect for the job because I have a big mouth,” she says.

The need for school crossing guards is very real indeed, judging by a national study that revealed about two-thirds of drivers broke posted speed limits within 30 minutes of school hours, and many disobeyed stop signs in school zones.

Ambarian has had a few run-ins with motorists. Once, she was struck by a careless driver whose side view mirror whacked her as the car passed by. Another time, a confrontation turned physical with the driver of a truck who, she says, “nearly ran over a kid in the crosswalk.” After contacting the Sheriff’s Department, Ambarian was able to arrange some extra patrols before and after school, which resulted in citations for a few unsafe drivers.

Traffic danger is one of the factors leading to a decline in the number of children walking to school, according to a study. In the ’70s, 90 percent of kids living within a mile of school either walked, biked or found another mode of self-transportation to and from school. Nowadays, that figure is more like 60 percent.

Ambarian says that traffic rules apply to the children, too. They must wait for her commands —- and bikes, skateboards and scooters must be walked across Mountain View Avenue, a residential street that gets incredibly busy for about 15 to 20 minutes every school day around 8:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

There was no formal crossing guard training, although Ambarian says she picked up considerable background in traffic law from her husband, who served as a motorcycle cop in Thousand Oaks.

Her only on-the-job equipment is a neon yellow, self-standing sign that warns, “Slow — Student Crossing,” and a hand-held stop sign. “When I’m holding up the stop sign, drivers need to obey it like the flashing red lights on a school bus,” says Ambarian. “I don’t care if motorists get impatient. The kids are my main priority.”

By Logan Hall

A Ventura County Superior Court Judge ruled on Monday that the court would hold a competency trial for 17-year-old accused killer, Alex Medina. The teenager was charged with the murder of 16-year-old Ojai resident Seth Scarminach in 2009.

Records show that early on in the case, Medina’s defense attorneys, Scott Wippert and Robyn Bramson, declared doubt in their client’s competency to stand trial. Both the defense and prosecution were scheduled to meet with Judge James Cloninger Friday morning for a status conference and competency trial setting.

“This is a very complicated case,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Bill Haney, who is currently prosecuting the case. “At the present time, the determination of when the competency trial will proceed is largely dependent on several expert witnesses. It depends on the readiness of experts on both sides.”

Bramson agrees that the case is complicated. “We’re going to have to figure all of that out tomorrow (Friday),” she said. “After that, it will be up to a jury to find out whether or not Alex is competent to stand trial.”

Court records show that Medina’s defense filed a motion with the court to dismiss the case, and in a separate motion, to recuse the Ventura County district attorney’s office from prosecuting the case. The reason for the motions, the defense claims, is that the prosecution withheld evidence that would be in favor of Medina. According to officials, the motion called for U.S. Attorney General Richard Moskowitz, who was present during court proceedings on Monday, to take over prosecution.

“Both motions are based on the same facts,” said Bramson. “The DA’s office withheld evidence that is favorable to Alex in what we call exculpatory evidence. The evidence came in to the prosecutor and was suppressed by them. It wasn’t disclosed until almost two years later after we filed a motion for recusal.”

Bramson declined to go into detail on the alleged withheld evidence, but court records indicate that the defense claims prosecutors suppressed evidence that pointed to a third party involved with the killing.

Haney says both he and Moskowitz oppose the defense’s assertion. “Both the DA’s office and the attorney general were prepared to vigorously defend our position that their motion is frivolous.”

Cloninger ruled that the recusal and dismissal motions be tabled until the completion of Medina’s competency trial. “When exactly that might happen,” commented Bramson, “I have no idea.”

Medina is accused of stabbing Scarminach to death at around 2 a.m. near the in the 2400 block of  Maricopa Highway in Meiners Oaks on April 26, 2009 during a party.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

You know, you would think that as much practice with killing as we have had in this country, we would be able to get it right. I am speaking of the Trayvon Martin fiasco that has dominated the news lately. There is so much incompetence, hyperbole and deception in this case, it is hard to know where to begin. Let’s start with the police. Florida, like many other states has a “stand your ground” law, which allows a person to use deadly force when faced with the threat of serious injury or death from another person or persons. That sounds reasonable. If someone attacked me or a loved one, I would be justified in using whatever force necessary to repel the attack. While I don’t mean to convict George Zimmerman, as so many have already done, the early reports do not seem to indicate that Zimmerman was directly threatened by Trayvon Martin. Rather, 911 tape transcripts indicate that Zimmerman followed Martin, even after he was instructed not to do so by the 911 operator. If this is accurate, Zimmerman was not exactly “standing his ground.” It sounds as if he was stalking and perhaps confronting Martin rather than the other way around. If so, how could the police possibly justify not placing Zimmerman under arrest? Years before, Zimmerman was charged with “resisting an officer with violence” and “battery of a law enforcement officer.” Zimmerman’s ex-fiancée also filed a restraining order against him, alleging domestic violence. This does not convict him, but he doesn’t appear to be Gandhi either. Given his record, how could the police simply allow him to go free? Then, adding fuel to the fire, factor in Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Spike Lee. These men, and others like them, have called for protests, rallies and demonstrations. Spike Lee gave out Zimmerman’s address so he could be hounded by the public. Unfortunately, he gave out the wrong address. Consequently, an innocent elderly couple was continually berated and threatened. I hope they have a good attorney. As for Al and Jesse, the main goal here is not to address injustice or racial bias. The main concern seems to be “exactly how much publicity can we get out of this?” I would feel much safer coming between a suicide bomber and his target than coming between Jesse or Al and a TV camera. At least with the bomber, you have a chance. These are the same guys who have been virtually silent about young black men being murdered by other young black men, a problem of epidemic proportions in our country. Where is their outrage and anger on that issue? Why are they not holding rallies to try to stem that violence? Additionally, let’s not forget our old pal, the national media. Just when you think the national media has slashed its standards as much as it can, it digs the hole a little deeper. First, there were the comments by that editorial embarrassment, Geraldo Rivera. Rivera claimed that the “hoodie” worn by Martin was as responsible for his death as the shooter himself. He later issued a weak apology for his inane remarks. Finally, there are the photos. The national media has almost unlimited resources. But rather than obtain current photos of the two men involved, both photos which were initially released of both men were several years old. In Trayvon Martin’s case, it makes him appear much younger, and more vulnerable. In George Zimmerman’s case, he is shown in an old 2005 booking photo. He is overweight, unshaven, and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit. They might as well put a big “I am guilty” label across it. The photo is in stark contrast to more recent photos that have surfaced. It is an intentionally manipulative attempt by the media to sway public opinion and try the case before it gets into the court system. It is pitiful and insulting to the American public. There are many issues in this case that deserve serious consideration and discussion. But instead of using this tragic event to have constructive discourse about legal, racial and criminal issues that confront our country, it has disintegrated into a media circus. That is sad. You would think that with as many senseless killings as we have in this country, we would know what to do. Unfortunately, we can be assured of getting a lot more practice.

By Tiobe Barron
4/3/2012

Chris Coudert can’t get enough of helping kids. A retired teacher and baseball coach, Coudert now directs the Boys and Girls Club of Oak View. The club serves approximately 70 kids from Sunset Elementary School on a daily basis with after-school programs. The Boys and Girls Club of Oak View got its start in 2007, when Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett reached out to the national Boys and Girls Club organization to fill the deficit of amenities for schoolchildren in the area.

The Oak View branch is based out of a former elementary school, a site it shares with the Oak View Library, which is handy as many of the kids desperately need help with reading. The property affords the kids room to play, as well as to grow their own organic garden.

“It’s really the ideal place for it, because of the proximity to the library, the kitchen on site, the room for the kids to play,” says Nancy Gregg-Keller, the director of development and marketing for the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura. Kids who participate in the program in Oak View are able to grow their own food in the onsite garden, the result of a community collaboration.

The club in Oak View also offers a broad array of activities for kids to partake in. There is an art club, offering both basic painting and more in-depth fine arts projects; a computer club, where kids can learn to make their own websites and even use software to develop their own computer games; and fitness programs, ranging from the standard basketball to heptathlons, in which kids compete in seven different track and field-style games. The group even had their first poetry slam last month.

Rabobank has teamed up with the group, donating documents and time to teach kids about balancing checkbooks, investing, and planning for long-term goals. The bank has created the Star Program, which rewards kids for good behavior and academic achievement with pizza parties and personal “accounts” the kids can use to spend their earned funds in an in-house club store (which offers goodies donated or purchased from local thrift stores). Kids can also choose to continue to save and expand their funds, or re-invest in “stocks” with the Boys and Girls Club. Gregg-Keller proudly points out that one club member has already earned $440 in investment returns. This teaches the kids penmanship, fiscal responsibility, math skills, and teamwork. All this, is in addition to the state-required tutoring, homework time, and games built specifically to supplement the current curriculum being taught at Sunset Elementary.

And that’s just what’s offered regularly during the school year.

During the summer, there are surf clubs, weekly field trips to places such as the Santa Barbara Zoo and various museums. Kids love the weekly bike rides — which often ending in trips to the local ice cream parlor — yoga classes, a brand-new theater improv group, a language club offering lessons in German and Spanish, as well as multi-cultural cuisine. There’s even a group called the Torch Club that has raised money for cancer research and beach cleanups.

“This is what we want: continual fun, and continual learning,” says Coudert. He and his team of five — Noel Magana, Diana Lopez, Aaron Walker, Courtney McGrath, and intern Cassi Taylor —- keep kids off the streets, healthfully active, and academically prepared. Gregg-Keller proudly points out that the kids from Boys and Girls Club have a 97 percent graduation rate. She praises Coudert’s efforts with the community’s kids, saying, “He’s really done amazing things.”

Both Coudert and Gregg-Keller emphasize that the program would not exist or flourish without extensive community support. The Oak View Boys and Girls Club will be hosting a Taco Tuesday on April 17 at 7 p.m., with food donated by El Charro Restaurant; $5 buys you a plate of two tacos of your choice, rice and beans, and supports the haven for local children.

Gregg-Keller adds that the group is always looking for volunteers with skills, from reading, writing and arithmetic, to gardening and sports.

“We really need as much community involvement as possible,” says Gregg-Keller.

Summer Camp for the group begins June 18, with enrollment beginning next week. It costs $50 per week, with daily lunch and two snacks provided. While the after-school program is limited to Sunset Elementary kids, the Summer Camp is open to kids ages 6 to 14 in the Ojai Valley.

“It’s a great program, I wish we could extend it to even more!” says Coudert.

For more information, to get involved, or to enroll in the Summer camp, call Coudert at 649-9000.

By Misty Volaski
4/3/2012

Investigations are still ongoing surrounding the fatal shooting of a dog by a Ventura County Sheriff’s deputy last Thursday.

According to police, a call came in just before 4 p.m. Thursday that someone “was seen removing license plates from a vehicle and putting them on another vehicle” at a home on Orchard Drive in Mira Monte, said Patrol Supervisor Sgt. Frank Underlin on Tuesday. Two deputies, he added, walked in the front gate of the residence, one heading up a flight of stairs to the front door. The dog, a boxer, allegedly came running around the house toward the other deputy, who had remained just inside the gate on the property. According to Underlin, the deputy, whose name is not yet being released by police, “feared” he would be bitten, so he pulled his gun and fired three times, killing the animal.

“It’s a tragic thing, we hate to do it, but at that point we don’t have any other options,” Underlin said Thursday.

A woman who claims to have witnessed the entire incident from her porch two houses down said, “I saw him raise his gun and shoot three times … I have the highest respect for police, but I think the officer was rather young and overreacted.”

The family said they are devastated and shocked that this could happen. “Ask anyone, (our dog) was the sweetest dog ever, he’s never ever attacked anyone or bit anyone,” said the female owner, who asked not to be identified. “He was great with children, total family dog.”

She added, “This is a horrible situation. I don’t wish anything bad on the officer but this is just really extreme. I mean, this is a neighborhood with children … I thought they (police) were trained to assess for safety. This is not a drug house. We have a little welcome sign out front.”

On Friday, the family said they “went to the station … and the commanding chief was unavailable to speak with (us) so I was given a form to fill out and return to the Government Center.” The female owner added Tuesday afternoon that they will definitely be filing the complaint.

The Thursday call to officers did not come from the dog owners’ residence, Underlin explained, and the owners were not involved in the alleged vehicle tampering — although deputies allegedly did not know this when they responded to the call. Deputies have the name of a person of interest in the vehicle tampering case, Underlin added, but as of press time Tuesday had not arrested anyone.

When asked why the deputy did not pull out his taser instead of his gun as the dog approached, Underlin replied, “If we have time, we would go to a taser or OC (pepper spray) or a baton. But this happened so quickly, (the deputy) didn’t really have time — the dog was coming quickly.”

Anytime an officer uses force, “it is reviewed by the Sheriff’s Department,” Underlin explained. When asked what repercussions the officer may face, he said that if the officer is found to have employed excessive force, “he could receive some sort of discipline.”

He added that deputies do not take drawing their weapons lightly. “For us to draw and exhibit weapon generates reports that we have to write, and no officer wants to be writing extra paperwork for no reason.”

Sadly, this is not the first animal that has been shot by deputies responding to a call, Underlin said. “We go to hundreds, if not thousands, of residences every year. We do on occasion shoot dogs —- it’s rare to have to shoot dogs, but yes we do.” He added that another dog was almost “dispatched earlier in the week, a huge rottweiler.” Guns were drawn but as the dog didn’t advance, deputies were able to back out of the yard, Underlin said.

Although the owners of the Orchard Drive dog were unaware that the police were coming to their residence, Underlin said that any time residents do know, they should secure their pets. “Always secure (your) dog, tell the officer what you’re doing, and the officer will give them the opportunity to put it in another room.” Another option he said, would be to purchase a “Beware of Dog” sign.

“It’s just one of those unfortunate circumstances,” Underlin said. “We’re saddened still that we had to dispatch the dog. But in retrospect very little could’ve (been) changed … It’s an ugly situation that took place … and for the officers’ well-being we can’t expect them to be bitten. (That) potentially could be a very serious problem. The dog came very, very close.”

A firefighter walks through a haze of smoke after knocking down a structure fire near Burnham Road in Oak View earlier today.

Report and photo by Logan Hall
4/3/2012

A firefighter and a civilian sustained minor injuries on Tuesday when a fire broke out in a shed on Riverside Road near Burnham Road in Oak View, according to officials. Ventura County Fire Department crews were dispatched to the scene and quelled the blaze after it burned the shed and nearby outbuildings, but before flames could spread to nearby homes and vegetation, said VCFD officials on scene. Fire Department spokesman Steve Swindle says that a firefighter from Oak View Station 23 suffered burns on his finger and was taken to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the property owner, an unidentified male, also sustained severe burns. Swindle stated that a civilian did suffer first-degree burns, but was unable to comment on whether the victim was the property’s owner. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, according to Swindle.

Capt. Dave Kenney, Ojai's new chief of police, poses next to the Ojai Police Station sign in his first week at his new post.

Kenney transferred from Sheriff’s Department Air Unit to Ojai in normal rotation

Report and photo by Logan Hall
4/3/2012 

There’s a new face in charge of the ranks of law enforcement in the Ojai Valley. On Monday, Capt. Dave Kenney transferred to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Ojai Substation, taking the place of former Ojai Police Chief Capt. Chris Dunn. The transfer is part of a normal personnel rotation within the department.

Kenney, whose father spent 34 years working in law enforcement, was aviation manager of the VCSD’s Air Unit at the Camarillo Airport before taking his post as Ojai’s chief of police. For the last three years, Kenney was responsible for overseeing aviation and search and rescue missions for the Air Unit.

He’s no stranger to the Ojai Valley, though.

“I started out on patrol in Ojai right after graduating the academy in 1990,” said Kenney, who lives in Thousand Oaks. “It’s definitely not my first time here.”

Since his graduation from the academy, Kenney has taken on many duties within the Sheriff’s Department. Aside from his days in Ojai as a patrol deputy, he’s worked as gang officer, classification unit supervisor at Ventura County’s Todd Road Jail, field training officer, patrol field supervisor, and patrol watch commander, among other things. In 2008, he was assigned to the department’s Detention Services division, where he administered the division’s $120,000 budget.

He’s also worked as the resident deputy in Lockwood Valley in the most northern part of the county, where he says he encountered some issues similar to some of those facing Ojai. “There are a lot of people hiking and camping up there,” he said. “People, especially day hikers, will leave valuables in their car and some will take advantage of that.”

Like in Ojai, Lockwood Valley had problems with thefts from vehicles — often those parked at trailheads. Kenney is following Dunn’s lead in approaching the problem and says that community outreach and education are important. Aside from working with the community, Kenney also believes that it’s vital to keep an eye on those who have been convicted of crimes in the past, and who are currently on probation or parole.

“I think we can prevent crime with diligent parole and probation searches,” he said. “We really need to aggressively go after those offenders.”

During his time running the Air Unit, Kenney worked alongside many different agencies in the state and county. He says that cooperation is a must in law enforcement and those experiences will carry over into his new duty. “The Air Unit is a whole different world,” he said, “but we were always working with all of the other agencies. Being a police chief is all about working with different officials and agencies.”

When it comes to settling into the position of running Ojai’s law enforcement operations, Kenney says he is taking a proactive approach to observing the community and finding out what makes the valley tick. “I went out on foot patrol through the Arcade for about an hour and a half on Monday,” he said. “Right now I’m just trying to determine what the needs of the community are. I’m just going to be meeting folks and seeing what the community needs.”

With the VCSD making several headlines in Ojai in recent months, Kenney seems to have his plate full, but says that, in his business, there is always something that demands attention. “You have to be ready for anything when you take on a new position like this,” he said. “You really have to be willing to tackle any challenge that comes along. There are always going to be issues that make people upset. I think the previous captain did a great job though, so that makes my job easier.”

Dunn is confident in handing over the reins to Kenney and says he will do the valley justice in his new position. “Capt. Kenney is a very experienced law enforcement officer with a great deal of leadership and management experience,” said Dunn. “He is a very outgoing person and very easy to talk to. Dave takes his responsibilities very seriously and takes pride in his work. I believe he will be an excellent fit for the city of Ojai and the greater Ojai Valley.”

Dog Shot During Alleged Church Break-in
By Lenny Roberts
From the OVN Archives 10/18/1993

A startled sheriff’s deputy shot one of two charging dogs early Sunday morning after the owner allegedly illegally entered an abandoned Meiners Oaks church.

Following his arrival shortly after the 7:45 a.m. call of a break-in at the Church of Christ at 619 W. El Roblar, Deputy John Fox, with gun drawn, approached the side of the vacant church where he was said to have been confronted by two dogs which appeared from behind the corner of the building.

Three other city and county units responded to the scene and arrived almost simultaneously. Senior Deputy Rick Barrios reportedly witnessed the shooting. Fox fired once, hitting the dog on top of the nose before the injured animal crawled to a block wall near the partially opened door. The dog’s owner, 20-year-old Indi Phillips, a known unemployed local man, was found hiding inside the church where he said he was “looking for a place to keep warm,” according to Deputy Ray Bornand. Phillips was taken to the Ojai Substation Jail where he was arrested on a charge of illegal entry before being transported to the Ventura County Main Jail.

The dog, described as part pitbull by Animal Regulations Officer Richard Lambert, was taken to the shelter in Camarillo for medical attention. Lambert estimated the stocky black dog to be about 18 months to 2 years old with a weight of around 50 pounds.

Sgt. Don Cunningham said anytime a police officer discharges a firearm, an investigation follows. “Generally, in the situation that Fox found himself in, all he needs to do is document it in a supplemental report that he writes to the crime report that was taken. Copies of that are then distributed throughout the Department,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham added that a shooting of this nature is not an uncommon situation anymore, saying, “It does happen.”

The initial call to the police was made by neighbors who heard noises coming from the church. The side door to the church appeared to have been forced open. The dog, whose injury did not appear to be life-threatening even after being shot a close range, cowered into a corner of the church yard before being taken for medical treatment.

Director Kathy Jenks of the Animal Regulation Department said in a Monday telephone interview with the OVN that the female dog, officially described as a “10-month to 1-year-old lab mix,” suffered a broken nose, and was scheduled to have surgery to remove the lodged bullet later in the day by Dr. Craig Koerner. “The dog is in good shape other than that,” said Jenks.

Photo by Logan Hall

Editor’s Note: Last week local resident Colin Jones joined more than 3,900 others in taking an oath to become an American citizen. The oath was administered by a district court judge at the Los Angeles Civic Center, Thursday, March 22. The Ojai Valley News asked Jones to write a story about his experience of coming to this country, and later becoming a naturalized citizen. What follows is his account of his quest for citizenship, which he calls “Colin Jones, A Citizen.”

Last Thursday, March 22, I, along with 3,958 others, took the “Oath of Allegiance” and became a citizen of this great country. It was a moving ceremony, but I was most touched by seeing the absolute joy on the faces of so many people — people so ready, so happy to become American citizens.

In this time of recession, a rising national debt, a divisive primary and what we all know will be a bitter presidential race, it was particularly heartening to see people who have a choice, choose regardless of the problems faced by America, to embrace and be embraced by this great nation.

I am blessed to live in a town like Ojai which embodies the best of the American spirit in that both are so accepting of new citizens from wherever they hail. Arriving in the U. S. in the mid-’70s from the depressed one-time coal mining and steel making valleys of Wales, I had worked in a steel mill for 10 years and grown up on stories of World War II and the GIs, who to many in wartime Britain, seemed larger than life. With a TV diet of “Wagon Train,” “Rawhide,” and Hollywood’s version of America in movies, I was hooked. Now it was 1974 and I had come to see it for myself!

Flying into New York and taking a Greyhound bus to Chicago, where I answered an ad to deliver a car to Alhambra, Calif., and driving from one side of the country to the other was an adventure, but that’s another story. On reaching Southern California I was immediately taken by the weather, the people, the laid-back feel, yet at the same time things seemed to move faster, things got done in a hurry. I felt freer than I had ever been. Growing up in post-World War II Britain, the class system, though dying, still held sway over the working man, leaving them feeling disempowered, unable to achieve in a system rigged against them and feeling resentful of the people who had status by birthright only. An example would be if you saw someone driving a particularly nice car, the reaction in Britain would be, “Why should he have that car and how do we rid him of it?” Whereas in America, people would be more likely to say, “That’s a nice car — how can I get one?”

When 1982 rolled around I had been married for four years, had a 2-year-old daughter, Lauren, was a green card holder and was starting my own business. In the 30 years since, I have experienced little negativity from employees, customers or competitors regarding my coming from another country. It seems that to accept people is second nature here.

My marriage did not last, but my business did. In 1989 I married my wife, Cindy. Our son, Connor, was born in 1991 and we made the move Ojai in 1999.  I am very proud of my Welsh heritage and did not apply for citizenship until after my father passed away a couple of years ago because I felt that I would disappoint him if I changed my citizenship from that of my birth. I am close to my remaining family and the distance has not weakened our bond. My mother is 88 and still lives in Wales.

In all the time I have spent here, no one born in America has asked why I have not become a citizen earlier, but so many in the last few days have welcomed me and congratulated me on becoming a citizen — typical of the independent spirit embodied still in this country which allows people to achieve their personal ambition without interference. Interestingly, the only people who have asked me why I waited so long are other naturalized citizens. I have been asked several times if I feel different now; yes I do, and it like this: some of us from my generation made statements like, “Marriage is just a piece of paper, it makes no difference.” Well, most of us who woke up the day after our wedding know it does make a difference; it represents a personal commitment that you will be there through good times and bad times — that you have someone you can count on and who can count on you.

As I heard on “Saturday Night Live” in the ‘70s, “America has been very, very good to me.” She has, and I intend to do my best to be very, very good to her.

By Tiobe Barron

During time allotted for public comments at Tuesday night’s Ojai City Council meeting, resident Valerie Bullock threatened legal action against the council, claiming her household had “been abused” by city officials, as she compared Ojai’s city government to that of the city of Bell.

“Either you made a complaint against us, or you didn’t,” said Bullock as she claimed the city is in violation of the public records act. Bullock’s frustration stems from a supposedly unsuccessful attempt to receive confirmation from city officials that her property in now in compliance with city codes, as well as a copy of the original citation for being not in compliance. Bullock said she had initially contacted the city manager’s office for these documents on Feb. 2. Mayor Betsy Clapp countered that these were serious accusations to make of Ojai’s city government.

Ojai resident and business owner Vicki Cohen then took the podium Tuesday night to express concern for the effects of the ongoing installation of Southern California Edison’s Smart Meters.

“I have a commercial account and I’m not exempt from the Smart Meters, I can’t get on a delay list,” said Cohen. “I feel kind of trapped. If I don’t want to eat food that has been sprayed with pesticides, I can shop at the health food store. Which I do. I try to do everything I can to remain a healthy individual. But I feel like I have no options here, no choice here. Are we doing anything as a city? Have we gotten on the list of communities that want to ban the Smart Meters?”

Ojai resident Kevin Schmidt also voiced his concerns, urging council to pass an emergency moratorium on Smart Meters, saying, “Stop erring on the side of caution to benefit the CPUC.”

City manager Rob Clark responded that the city is “pre-empted from any action on Smart Meters,” and reiterated that Ojai City Council has written letters to the California Public Utilities Commission, as well as to Edison, requesting an option for the entire community of Ojai to be able to opt-out of Smart Meter installation.

Later in the meeting, council members approved an ordinance which lowers the number of features a business needs to have in order to be considered a “formula business,” from three to two. This change occurs after an outpouring of community dissent when a local franchise was claiming to not meet the criteria of a formula business according to the original municipal code.

Council also expressed support for SB 1364, a bill that aims to alter the way water utility companies seek water rater increases from the CPUC. Council supports the bill in how it pertains to the ongoing issues with Golden State Water Company. Councilwoman Carol Smith encouraged the public to also voice their support of the bill.

Council members then passed an agreement for Ventura County to perform police oversight services and functions for the city of Ojai for Police Department volunteers. According to the text of the agreement, Ojai is the only city that contracts with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department which does not already have said agreement. In part, it waives liability of the city of Ojai for the “negligent or wrongful acts or omissions of volunteers engaged in the performance of volunteer services for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.” To that end, Ojai resident Lucas Thayer spoke out and requested Ojai pass a resolution demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch member from Sanford, Fla., who allegedly shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The meeting Tuesday night marked the end of service for Capt. Chris Dunn as Ojai’s chief of police. He will be replaced by Dave Kenney. “He’s been accessible and fair,” said Scott Eicher of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We wish him happy trails!”

Councilwoman Sue Horgan also sang Dunn’s praises, saying to Dunn Tuesday night, “We’ve been in great hands with you.”

The meeting also included a re-introduction of the ordinance banning the distribution of single-use plastic bags by Ojai retailers. The modified ordinance was passed on to a second reading, to be held April 10.

Ojai City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St. Previous Ojai City Council meetings may be viewed online through a link on the OVN homepage.

By Logan Hall

The city of Ojai Public Works Department is hoping to increase safety in the city’s mid-block crosswalks while trying to keep costs down. The city has applied for an encroachment permit from Caltrans that would allow yellow safety signs to be placed in crosswalks along Ojai Avenue that are not regulated by stoplights.

“Mid-block pedestrian crossings are always dangerous,” said city engineer Greg Grant. “They just seem to blend in with everything. This is a way to highlight those crossings.”

Grant, along with Public Works supervisor Ruben Martinez, placed the signs in mock setups on Ojai Avenue on the crosswalk in front of the Arcade, and the two crossings on either side of Montgomery Street. Grant took photos that he said would help Caltrans make a decision on whether or not to give permits for the project. He indicated that the Ventura County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department were both on board with the idea, but asked that the signs be placed in a manner that would allow the passage of emergency vehicles down the center median of the road.

The city has already placed a sign at the crosswalk on Matilija Street behind the Arcade, and is hoping to add several more to crossings in town. Grant said that each sign costs about $160 —- a substantial amount less than the cost of the electronic crossings in front of Nordhoff High School and the intersection of Ojai Avenue and Ventura Street in front of the Ojai Library. “It cost us about $5,000 to fix the one in front of the library,” said Grant. “Those are very expensive to maintain.”

The neon yellow signs, which read, “State Law, Yield to (Pedestrians) within Crosswalk,” would be bolted into the ground, but would remain flexible. The flexibility allows them to be hit by vehicles without falling over or sustaining serious damage.

Grant says the city is planning on placing the signs at several midblock crossings once given the green light by Caltrans.

By Tiobe Barron

Robert Mullane, AICP, was hired by the city of Ojai as the new community development director. Mullane replaced interim community development director Ann McLaughlin on March 12. It is the first time in nearly two years that Ojai has a full-time director of the community development department.

OVN: What does the role of the community development director entail?

Robert Mullane: The community development director is responsible for the whole community development department, the planning division, building and safety, and code enforcement tasks.

OVN: It seems like code enforcement is a pressing issue right now.

Mullane: I think that’s the case in any community. In part because when the economy gets tough, there’s more potential for people to take shortcuts, and it gets expensive to fix those. When times are good, it’s easier for average homeowner to comply … It’s inherently controversial, especially in this economic climate.

OVN: What challenges face you as community development director?

Mullane: The first challenge is getting intimately familiar with Ojai’s zoning code, the policies and practices that the city of Ojai uses. As the director of the department, I need to know that code inside and out. I want to make sure I have very firm grasp on all the particulars. And to continue to stay in good communication with Ojai City Council, the Planning Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission, to make sure their priorities are being met.

Another is that we have a pretty small staff in our department, and yet we have quite a lot of responsibilities. We are managing a large workload with reduced staff, but I’m very happy that the city has decided to put a (community development) director permanently in place because I really think the work we do is important.

OVN: Are there any specific goals you’d like to achieve in your capacity as director? For example, dealing with the implications of the newly completed Historic Resource Survey?

Mullane: Yeah, there are a few things I’d like to identify as priorities for our department, and that’s definitely one of them. How do we structure our legislation (to) protect historic properties, but still be fair to homeowners?

There’s also code enforcement, which is outgrowth of the building code update. I think myself as well as other staff would like to see that come to closure, to see the city’s code update reflect state update.

And another is to draft a new housing element. The housing element hasn’t been approved, and the state requires housing and community development … The idea is that you (as a town) demonstrate that you can accommodate the housing (required by the state). An effort that began in 2008 or 2009 hasn’t been completed yet, and it’s a long-range plan. It’s the 2006 to 2014 cycle and that’s not been certified yet. There are ramifications to that, and that potentially includes as drastic measures as the state taking over certain aspects of housing (in Ojai). The challenge is that the state wants you to demonstrate that you can accommodate the housing, but in Ojai, there is limited land available for development, so the only way to show we’re capable of that is to go with vertical housing development, which has its own drawbacks … We have to satisfy the state’s requirements, while staying true to Ojai’s values.

I also would like to ensure we’re doing everything we can to consistently help with our applicants, while ideally minimizing time and expense. And I think the department is doing that already, I just want to make sure we keep doing the best job we can.

OVN: What does AICP stand for in your title?

Mullane: It’s a planning certification through the American Planning Association. It stands for American Institute of Certified Planners. There are requirements in terms of years of service, areas of service, and a fairly rigorous exam that you take.

OVN: How did you get started in municipal work?

Mullane: I got my master’s degree from the University of Hawaii working on coastal management issues, shoreline development and erosion issues. Upon completing my master’s program, it became clear changes were needed to the way the four counties — there are four counties in that part of Hawaii, and each have own rules for shoreline development — handled their shoreline development. As a result of the work I had done on my master’s thesis — in geology, by the way, but with emphasis on development —- I was fortunate to land a job with the extension organization, University Hawaii Sea Grant. They serve as bridge between the university research and the people who need to know, for example, elected or appointed officials, or the residents of the area. We put together a position that essentially involved advising these counties. Four years later, I moved to California, took a position at the County of Santa Barbara, in the Energy Division, involving on-shore dealings with offshore drilling. Which was very interesting, and controversial. And that was my first exposure to development in California.

Since then I’ve worked with the city of Goleta, and I’ve spent four and a half years with Rincon Consultants, in a variety of development issues. They are a private firm that works closely with public organizations for environmental and planning needs.

OVN: What are your proudest achievements in municipal work so far?

Mullane: I think in my capacity at Rincon Consultants, I provided staffing of their planning department, and carried forth both important projects, and important changes to their planning code. One of those was setting the building code for city of Guadalupe, which previously had a lot of flaws. That was a good experience.

Another would be a large coastal land swap for the city of Goleta when they hired me. It was a pretty complex land swap, basically it involved selling a portion of a coastal park to a developer, moving (the development) away from a very environmentally sensitive area. Development of that piece of property had been tied up in litigation for years and years. Once the city brought forth the idea of a land swap and gave the developer the opportunity to develop on part of the park, it allowed movement forward of the Ellwood Mesa land swap. And I was involved in the review of that development, some of the arrangement for the land swap. There was $21 million in fund raising (because the size of the new property was substantially smaller than what the developer was giving up). Ultimately, that project went on to win American Planning Association recognition at state level, as well as the Helen Putnam Award. It was a prestigious accomplishment. And it involved a low-scale development of a parking lot, the city of Goleta, the city of Santa Barbara, and UCSB. It’s gratifying to see the parking lot (in the finished development), and also the butterflies in wintertime, raptors, all kinds of hawks. It’s very satisfying. It’s a really beautiful spot.

OVN: So is it fair to say your role is comparable to a mediator or a problem-solver?

Mullane: Well I wouldn’t go that far. I was primarily involved just in the planning. But a lot of work went into that project, and lots of us were involved. Mediation and funding were put into play before I came on board. But we got letters of support from elected officials. The most challenging thing was that the grants we needed come with deadlines, and we needed to actually allow the land swap to occur while still meeting these deadlines.

OVN: You’re based out of Santa Ynez, right? What made you want to work for Ojai, as opposed to other communities?

Mullane: Actually I just recently moved to Carpinteria, but had lived in Santa Ynez for 10 years prior to taking this job.

The opportunity came open here. I had been to Ojai on numerous other occasions. Rincon’s holiday parties actually are held at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, but even before that, I would take day trips and vacations to Ojai. So I’m pretty familiar with it. It’s actually similar to Santa Ynez in a lot of ways. I like the size of Ojai, that it’s part of a larger community. It has unincorporated areas that interface with Ojai, and that contributes to the entire community.

Editor’s note: In 1993, a sheriff’s deputy shot and wounded a dog in a similar event. Click HERE to see that report.

By Misty Volaski
updated 3/31/2012 at 12:05 p.m.

A dog was shot and killed by a Ventura County Sheriff’s deputy Thursday afternoon, while on a call investigating suspicious activity. According to patrol supervisor Sgt. Frank Underlin, officers received a call just before 4 p.m. that someone may have been tampering with vehicles on Orchard Drive in Mira Monte.

Officers went to contact the residents of the house, Underlin said. “They had to step through a side gate to do that. The dog came running around (the side of the house).” Officers, he went on, “feared they were going to be bitten, and had to dispatch the poor animal. It’s a tragic thing, we hate to do it, but at that point we don’t have any other options. (Deputies) didn’t know the dog was there.”

The dog’s owners, who asked not to be identified, said they were both at home when the incident occured. The female owner said when the dog ran outside and started barking, her husband got up to see who had arrived at the house. “Before he got to the door, we heard three shots. (He) opened the door and said, ‘You shot my dog?’”

The call to officers did not come from the dog owners’ residence, Underlin said, adding that he thought the house was split into two residences. Further, “It doesn’t appear that the owners of the dog were related to the vehicle (tampering),” but officers allegedly did not know this at the time of the shooting.

The dog, a boxer, was shot when it came “running around the side of the house,” said Underlin.

The dog’s female owner said the deputy apologized several times and told her he wasn’t able to get his taser out fast enough so he had to use his gun. “Apparently a gun is easier to get,” she said.

The family said they are devastated and shocked that this kind of thing could happen. “Ask anyone, (our dog) was the sweetest dog ever, he’s never ever attacked anyone or bit anyone,” said the woman. “He was great with children, total family dog.”

She added, “This is a horrible situation. I don’t wish anything bad on the officer but this is just really extreme. I mean, this is a neighborhood with children … I thought they (police) were trained to assess for safety. This is not a drug house. We have a little welcome sign out front.”

On Friday, the family “went to the station … and the commanding chief was unavailable to speak with (us) so I was given a form to fill out and return to the government center.”

No additional information was available from police as of Saturday.

By Logan Hall

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department presented its 2011 City of Ojai crime report at the City Council meeting Tuesday night. The report outlined crime and arrest statistics in the city, which currently has a population of about 8,000. The report also made comparisons to the city and unincorporated areas of the valley.

The department’s report, presented to the council by Ojai Chief of Police Capt. Chris Dunn, says that, while certain crimes have increased slightly, “serious crimes such as homicide, rape and robbery remain at very low levels.”

In the most significant increase, robberies, rose from one in 2010 to six in 2011. Dunn’s report explained the increase, saying the numbers can be misleading if taken out of context. “Of the six reported robberies, two involved suspects taking marijuana from the victims by force and two involved known suspects taking under $20 from the victims,” read the report. “There was one significant robbery involving known suspects taking the victim’s wallet and money at gunpoint while giving the victim a ride in their car. Both of the suspects in this case were quickly identified and arrested.”

Two rapes were reported in 2011, while zero were reported in 2010. “Both of the rapes reported in 2011 involved adult victims making allegations against suspects they had romantic relationships with,” read the VCSD report. “In one case, the district attorney’s office declined to file charges. In the second case, the victim was uncooperative and refused prosecution.”

Sheriff’s documents show that aggravated assaults decreased from 18 in 2010 to 17 in 2011. Of the 17 assaults, six involved firearms, five involved hands, fists or feet, one involved a knife, and five of the assaults were categorized as “other.”

The vast majority of crimes reported last year — about 70 percent — were related to thefts of varying nature, according to VCSD documents. Those included 15 residential burglaries, three auto thefts, 34 categorized as “grand theft,” and 102 petty thefts.

Theft from vehicles made up a large percentage of thefts in Ojai, according to officials. Dunn’s report states that 51 were reported in 2011, up from 41 in 2010. The number of thefts from vehicles has varied widely through the last five years. In 2007, 84 were reported, while in 2008 there were only 27.

Dunn says that thefts from vehicles remain a problem for Ojai, and much of that problem can be mitigated with the help of the community. “We’re struggling to get people to realize that it’s unsafe to leave belongings in vehicles,” he said, “especially when the vehicle is unlocked.”

The public needs to help be “the eyes and ears” of the department, Dunn said. “We can’t be everywhere at once,” he added. “People need to call us when they see someone suspicious in their neighborhood. It could turn out to be nothing, but it could be something big.”

According to department documents, in 2011, the VCSD received 3,058 calls for service. Of the most significant of those calls, 187 were violent in nature, 406 involved suspicious subjects or vehicles, 89 were for domestic disturbance and 56 were for narcotics. Topping off the list of calls, 693 were categorized as “disturbances,” which include those relating to loud music, parties, loud equipment, etc.

Dunn made several comparisons to the city and unincorporated areas of the valley. One statistic showed that 427 arrests were made in Ojai while there were 768 arrests in the rest of the valley. Of the arrests made in the city, 94 were for felony offenses while 324 were misdemeanors. Arrests made in unincorporated areas included 228 felonies and 525 misdemeanors. Other arrests in both jurisdictions were for infractions. The VCSD report said, “Most arrests in the Ojai Valley are for relatively minor violations, such as warrants, alcohol violations, etc. A majority of those arrested were released on citations to appear in court (and) were not taken to jail.”

Department records show a substantial decrease in serious crimes reported in the last 20 years. Dunn indicated that in 1992, 316 serious or “Part One” crimes were reported in the city. Over the last two decades, that number has dropped significantly. In 2011, only 196 Part One crimes were reported, despite an increase in Ojai’s population.

“We’re looking pretty good,” he said. “When you look at the statistics over the last 20 years, we’re still below the mean.”

Ojai city manager Rob Clark echoed Dunn’s positive outlook at the city’s crime statistics. “If you really look at the long run,” Clark said, “I think everything is moving in the right direction. The reality is that things are going really well.”

The VCSD is contracted by the city of Ojai, which pays the county for coverage from the department. According to city records, the budget for the VCSD contract is $2.6 million a year. Clark says it is money well spent. “We get very good police coverage for the price we pay to the county,” he said. “In a small town like Ojai, I think it would cost about twice as much to have our own department.”

Dunn’s report to the city also included traffic collision statistics. Records show that crashes in the city have decreased substantially since 2005, which saw 155 collisions. In 2011, 90 traffic collisions were reported. Of those, 21 involved injury to at least one person involved. One crash resulted in the deaths of Wayne Ortman and Sonia Miller, when their motorcycle collided with oncoming traffic on West Ojai Avenue.

This week is Dunn’s last with the Ojai Police Department. In a normal rotation within the VCSD, Dunn is being transferred to the department’s Major Crimes Unit. Capt. Dave Kenney, who previously ran the VCSD Air Unit, will fill Dunn’s position as Ojai’s Chief of Police.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

I am by nature a cynic. I do not consider myself a pessimist. In fact, I think I am pretty upbeat and optimistic most of the time. But I look at most things with a skeptical eye. But even I could not be cynical about the scene at The Village Jester on March 22 as Colin Jones celebrated a happy event with some friends. Earlier in the evening, Colin had gone to the Los Angeles Civic Center to take the oath with almost 4,000 others that allowed them all to become American citizens. Drinks were bought, toasts were made, hands were shaken, and hugs exchanged. It was a touching sight. These days, the news is full of political posturing, pompous speeches, and polarizing comments. In this, an election year, the rhetoric is especially venomous. Add to that a terrible economy that seems endlessly mired, and then throw in a dash of daily news about another nut-case country acquiring nuclear capabilities, and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to get down on our country and its political leaders. But then, you witness the unadulterated joy of someone who makes a special effort just to be an American citizen, and it stops you dead in your tracks. It makes you ashamed and proud at the same time. You are ashamed that you take what you have and where you live for granted, and proud that you live in such a remarkable country, a country that thousands of immigrants aspire to call home. There is a memorable scene in the very watchable HBO movie “Game Change” about the 2008 presidential race. The scene centers on Sen. John McCain as he plans his concession speech to Barack Obama, who has just won the presidential election. McCain’s campaign manager talks about the concession speech as a sacred ritual that serves to reunite the nation, and has been a part of the American political landscape since the days of Washington and Jefferson. The transfer of power in this country is a thing of beauty. There is no military coup. There is no bloodbath and rioting in the streets. Regardless of how vitriolic the campaign has been, when the votes are counted and the winner declared, the loser makes a simple, eloquent speech congratulating his opponent, then calls upon all Americans to come together and support the new president —- because no matter what our views, we are all Americans. It is the height of civility. That is just one of the wonderful things about our country that reaches out to people like Colin Jones and his 3,900 “friends” and makes them want to become an American. I guess we all need a reminder now and then of how fortunate we are in America, even in hard times. I got mine that Thursday night as we welcomed home a new American.

Students in Sean Johnson's Algebra class watch their teacher work out math problems up close, thanks to the full-color digital projector.

New technology provides new ways for teachers to connect with students

Report and photo by Misty Volaski

Teachers are in constant search for what Nordhoff High School assistant principal Greg Bayless calls “the sweet spot.” That’s when, “Kids are laughing, actively engaging and on task.”

Increasingly, hitting that sweet spot involves technology that allows teachers and students to participate in lessons in the same way they do outside of class Ñ through quick access to multimedia.

According to Bayless, about 90 percent of NHS classrooms now feature the one-two punch of a digital projector and document camera. Combined with access to YouTube and a handful of other sites, the technology opens up a whole new world of educational possibilities. YouTube “alone dramatically improves teachersÕ ability to connect with students,” Bayless said. “ItÕs absolutely thrilling for me as an administrator and teacher at heart to see teaching and learning move forward in this way.”

The projectors and cameras were provided by Ojai Education Foundation grants almost exclusively, and teachers raved about them during a recent OEF donor tour through the school. Teachers can project what’s on their computer screens and also show whatever they place under the camera in full color Ñ such as last night’s homework or a specific function on a graphing calculator. Math teachers like Chris Agh and Sean Johnson use theirs to go over math problems up close, step by step. Students can see their teacher’s hand working through equations on the same work sheet students have sitting right in front of them. Teachers can even take photos of what they have on the screen and store them for future use. The cameras also provide the added bonus of saving precious time in the classroom.

The digital projectors “are flexible and versatile,” said Bayless. “They create flow. The writing is clear É you can zoom É it’s changed the way (we) teach.”

Spanish teacher Cintsy Simon used her digital projector last week to flip through photos of celebrities. Students giggled at each other’s comparisons in Spanish on “Jersey Shore” star Snooki and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

“That was golden,” Simon told OEF donors later. “The kids were laughing, focused, dying to participate.”

There’s the sweet spot.

Donors also got the chance to visit social studies teacher Chris Bohney as he went over preservation efforts in the Amazon. He first used the projector to display prompts on writing a proper thesis, then moved on to show a clip from a documentary on YouTube. The video Ñ which featured conservationists’ efforts to document the locations of uncontacted tribes Ñ got students’ attention. Hands shot up in the air. “Do they know we’re here?” asked one student. “What language do they speak?” asked another.

There’s that sweet spot again.

Bohney told donors, “I used to spend hundreds of dollars at Salzer’s every year on videos. Now I can stream everything online.”

After the class tour, Bayless and several other administrators, teachers and OEF board members simulated where they think classroom technology could be heading. Bayless asked his “class” to pull out their tablet computers and look up DaVinci sketches depicting three principles of flight. He explained that teachers would be able to not only restrict the websites students visit, but could also see on their computer screen what each student was doing on his or her tablet computer. “That’s huge,” he said. Once students found a sketch, Bayless described how he could pull that image up on the digital projector and discuss it with the class.

“You see how substantive and engaging it is?” he said. “In real life, we move in and out of the digital world seamlessly.”

“Kids want to explore Ñ ‘Well, what if É’” said math teacher Agh. “And you can only explore so much (by) hand. Kids want to go off on their own” and come up with answers on their own.

Simon said the new digital projectors and document cameras are “right there, instantaneous, right on the money.”

“ItÕs extremely satisfying for me to see É that the instruction they are offering is much more visible and accessible to students,” Bayless said. A recent survey of the students, he added, showed that two-thirds of the students felt “the document cameras and the digital projectors have improved their engagement with lessons.”

However, the document cameras and digital projectors are a small step in a long list of updates needed at Nordhoff. “We still need some new or updated computers for teachers Ñ many are still operating near or over a decade-old computers that canÕt handle the peripheral technology that we are adding very well,” said Bayless. Also on the list: classroom speaker systems, printers, maintenance, better projector screens, formalized tech training for teachers, computer servers, interactive white boards, video cameras and, hopefully, classroom sets of tablet computers.

And the OEF stands at the ready to help. “We’re concentrating on Nordhoff technology in the coming year,” said OEFÕs Carol Holly. “What those teachers were doing in class last week was using the technology any business person would use when they go to a presentation. This is really the first time that we’ve have that kind of opportunity to get that out there for the teachers and in the classroom.”

In the coming months, NHS teachers and administrators will solidify their wish lists, which the OEF hopes to fulfill through location donations and various fund-raising events Ñ because state education funding is expected to continue to shrink.

The OEF is teaming up with the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation for the Ojai Golf Classic June 4 at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. All proceeds from that tournament will go to the two youth-oriented organizations. Visit Ojaigolfclassic.com or Ojaief.org for more information.

By Logan Hall

An Ojai resident was hospitalized and arrested for allegedly driving under the influence early Monday morning after colliding with a tree on Villanova Road, 20 minutes after turning 21 years old, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Alexa Bowen was driving east on Villanova Road at 12:20 a.m. with her passenger, 21-year-old Wesley McAnally from Vista, when she reportedly lost control of her 2001 Honda Passport, and crashed into a tree, said officials.

“Ms. Bowen was driving on a wet roadway while under the influence of alcohol,” said CHP spokesman Steve Reid. “Both she and McAnally were severely injured.”

According to Ventura County Fire Department officials, Bowen was unconscious and trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by firefighters using the Jaws of Life. “They got them out pretty quickly,” said VCFD spokesman Steve Swindle. “The victim was out within 15 minutes.”

CHP reports said that Bowen suffered a fractured bone in her face while McAnally received a broken ankle and lacerations. Both Bowen and McAnally were taken by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center, said Reid. No other vehicles were involved in the crash according to officials.

Local resident Cody Silvestri and his 4-year-old daughter Amy hook up to her first fish.

Photo and report by Logan Hall
See more Kid’s Fishing Day photos here

Hundreds of kids and their families flocked to Lake Casitas Saturday for the lake’s annual Kid’s Fishing Day. Lake officials cordoned off an area of water on the docks in the marina, where 2,000 Nebraska Tailwalker trout were planted. Kids of all ages had the opportunity to catch a fish — often for the first time. Some of the young anglers recoiled with uncertainty as their fish was pulled out of the water by volunteers wielding nets. The majority however, lit up with excitement as fish leapt out of the water, tugging on lines and bending poles.

Fishing wasn’t the only attraction for those who attended though. Crews from the Ventura County Fire Department, as well as law enforcement personnel, set up displays in the marina parking lot, giving the public a chance to see some of the equipment used in emergency situations.

The West Coast Christian Anglers were also on hand to help ensure that no kids went home hungry after catching their fish. According to event planners, hundreds of hotdogs were provided by the WCCA, to feed the hungry youngsters.

By Logan Hall

Scott Doornbos, alleged attacker of local veterinarian Steve Sallen, pleaded not guilty to three felony charges during his arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court Friday morning, according to court records. The three charges, battery with serious bodily injury, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, and making terrorist threats, were issued after Doornbos allegedly attacked Sallen shortly after learning that his dog had died while under the vet’s care.

If convicted, Doornbos could face several years in prison. In the next phase of court proceedings, called the early disposition conference, the judge, prosecutor and Doornbos’ attorney, Ron Bamieh, will meet to discuss the case. The early disposition is scheduled to take place on May 8 at the county courthouse.

By Tiobe Barron

Whether they adamantly oppose them, don’t know much about them, or think they are the wave of the future, Ojai residents are buzzing about Smart Meters. Southern California Edison began to replace the analog meters used to measure a household’s electricity consumption with new, wireless meters nearly four years ago, and the transition has now made its way to Ojai.

David Song, spokesman with Southern California Edison, says this has been a long time coming; the meters are only new to Ventura County.

“There are many benefits to Smart Meters: added reliability, remote activation, conservation,” said Song. “We have in California a decoupling of price rates from consumption rates (of electricity). We need to encourage customers to use less.” Song added that in 2007 the California Public Utilities Commission met with Southern California Edison and PG&E to come up with ways to control demand of electricity, and the wireless meters were the cheapest option.

Opponents of the meters are vocal about the drawbacks of the new technology, citing possible privacy infringement (because the meters monitor electricity usage in each room, for each appliance, then send that information wirelessly), a range of adverse health effects from the microwave exposure, higher occurrences of house fires from Smart Meter and old wiring combinations, and the fact that utility companies will charge consumers to “opt-out” and keep the same analog meter they have been using for years. There have been lawsuits in Bakersfield and San Diego for Smart Meters over-billing consumers, and for a lack of an official opt-out program in place for customers.

A seemingly damning report from the city of Santa Cruz states, in part, “FCC safety standards do not exist for chronic long-term exposure to EMF or from multiple sources, and reported adverse health effects from electromagnetic pollution include sleep disorders, irritability, short-term memory loss, headaches, anxiety, nausea, DNA breaks, abnormal cell growth, cancer, premature aging, etc.” The study, released in January, goes on to state that while the California Council on Science and Technology report on Smart Meters found that the meters would not exceed the average public limit of exposure within distance of 3 to 10 feet, “CCST did not account for the frequency of transmissions, reflection factors, banks of Smart Meters firing simultaneously, and distances closer than 3 feet … It has been aptly demonstrated by computer modeling and real measurement of existing meters that Smart Meters emit frequencies almost continuously, day and night, seven days a week.”

“We’re so worried about the radiation from Fukushima while we’re talking on our smart phones in front of our WiFi computers with Smart Meters on our houses,” says Ojai resident Christine Golden. “Most people I know are putting delay tags on their meters, because there clearly is not enough data proving the safety (of the meters).” In addition to speaking at City Council meetings and writing a letter to the editor, Golden sent out an e-mail to over 200 people in the valley, urging people to call Edison to be put on their delay list rather than have the Smart Meters installed right away. One of the points the e-mail makes is, “The data collected from the Smart Meter installed on your home gives a picture of your personal habits including when you wake up, what appliances you own and even whether or not you’re likely to be home.”

Former CIA director James Woolsey has said in a recent interview with Energynow.com the “smart grid is … really, really stupid.”

But not everyone feels that way.

“The argument that (the utility companies) are spying on us is paranoid and bizarre,” says Ojai resident Al Stroberg. “They already know how much electricity we’re using. It’s a specious argument. And the argument that somehow the meters are going to harm us is an inappropriate, hysterical response to misinformation.” Stroberg cited the outpouring of community concern when the radio tower was installed near Ojai about 10 years ago, and “nothing happened.” Stroberg sees the concern primarily as anxiety of the unknown, and would rather people focus on definable, verifiable issues, such as the emissions from cars known to cause asthma in children, or the use of fossil fuels that is unsustainable.

Meanwhile, Sholom Joshua, another Ojai resident, expressed in a recent letter to the editor the belief that Smart Meters do pose a definable, verifiable threat to public interest. In his letter, Joshua points out that, “You won’t see Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) certification on the meters because there isn’t any.” He queries whether those with solar electrical equipment will still be able to sell excess electricity back to Edison when the Smart Meters replace the analog meters. Jodi Brandt, owner of Curly Willow, tried to call Edison to have her business put on a delay list, and was told that there is no delay list for commercial properties.”

Edison spokesman Song verified that, “The delay list and any opt-out program currently under consideration is only for residential customers who are on their own rate schedule.” In terms of the charges associated with keeping one’s old analog meter, Song said, “This is our new standard system. To go outside of that costs money, to maintain two separate systems costs money. There aren’t many manufacturers of analog meters anymore, we had to build in that cost somehow. It wasn’t meant to be punitive. We’re all about customer choice.” Song assures Edison customers with solar equipment they should still be able to sell back excess power with the Smart Meters. Regarding the health concerns and lack of UL certification, Song maintains that the EMF emitted is in keeping with FCC exposure limits, and the Smart Meters meet the ANSI C12.10 standard, the comparable standard to UL for electric meters.

“We don’t have a lot of people voicing opposition in our service territory,” said Song. “We’re pretty much at the home stretch in the installation process, and it hasn’t been as contentious as people suppose it to be. Sometimes with new technology there is fear or anxiety, and that’s understandable. But we haven’t had too many concerns.”

Ojai City Council has written letters to the CPUC and to Southern California Edison requesting the installation process be delayed for the city of Ojai until the CPUC rules on a final opt-out program.

To be put on the delay list for your home, call (800) 810-2369.

California Highway Patrol officers investigate the stretch of road where a semitruck went over the side of Dennison Grade this morning. No one was injured in the crash.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Truck driver Gary Raymundo narrowly escaped injury after his semitruck went over the side of Dennison Grade on Highway 150 this morning.

Raymundo said he was driving up the grade when he swerved to avoid a deer that was crossing the road. The truck driver lost control of the semi and went over the side of the road, hanging sideways over the steep hillside below.

“The deer just jumped out from nowhere so I just swerved,” said a visibly shaken Raymundo, pointing at his truck perched on the edge of the drop. “It was just instinct, I guess. When I hit the edge, I thought I was going to go down the mountain, so I jumped out as fast as I could.”

Raymundo admits that he was very lucky that he was able to walk away from the crash adding that his trailer was empty at the time of the crash.

“If the truck had been loaded,” he said pausing briefly, shaking his head, “I would have rolled all the way down there. The firefighter told me that I had an angel riding with me.”

Raymundo says he was on his way to meet a contractor near The Summit Restaurant in Upper Ojai.

No one was injured and no other vehicles were involved in the crash. As of publication time, the semi was still on the side of the road as heavy tow vehicles were called to assist. California Highway Patrol officers are currently investigating the incident.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
I thoroughly enjoyed last Friday’s Rotary program, featuring John McKay Jr., son of legendary USC football coach, John McKay. He has a lot of his father’s wit, and I loved the stories he told about playing football for his dad, both in college and in the NFL. I have always been a big football fan, and when I was growing up, USC was one of my favorite teams. I loved watching all the great USC tailbacks play. I was also influenced by the fact that Alabama’s coach, “Bear” Bryant, was good friends with John McKay. McKay is remembered for many things. He was a terrific coach, winning four national championships in college before taking the reins of the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he suffered 26 straight defeats before finally getting a victory. He was also known as a great wit, even in defeat. After one particularly humiliating loss, McKay told his players, “The bus leaves in an hour — anyone who needs a shower, take one.” Another time a reporter asked McKay about his team’s execution. McKay replied, “I’m all in favor of it.” But many may not know the role he played in integration in the South and, in particular, with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Shamefully, the Alabama football team was still not racially integrated as late as 1970, due in large part to four-time Alabama Gov. George Wallace. Wallace was a strong segregationist, and his infamous 1963 “stand in the schoolhouse door,” when he attempted to bar African Americans Vivian Malone and James Hood from registering for classes at the university held Alabama behind, even as other schools were progressing. After tremendous success in the early and mid-1960s, Alabama’s football team was in decline. Bryant wanted to recruit black players, whom he knew he needed, but was hesitant to do so. Wallace was a powerful governor. Bryant did not fear the man himself, but he knew the governor and the state legislature held the purse strings to funding that the university depended upon. So he proceeded cautiously. Bryant had a stroke of genius. He scheduled a game with his old friend, John McKay, and his powerful USC Trojans for the fall of 1970. USC had a number of very talented African American players. Bryant had already recruited one or two black athletes, but none were on the team yet. So, it was an all-white team playing for Alabama when they took the field on that fateful night in Birmingham. One of the top black players for USC was a running back named Sam “The Bam” Cunningham. At 6 feet 3 inches and 225 pounds, he was huge for running backs of that day. Cunningham was known for his punishing running style and majestic goal line touchdown leaps. He was a man against boys on the field that night. Cunningham ran through Alabama like Sherman through Atlanta, dismantling their defense almost single-handedly. That night all six USC touchdowns were scored by African American players. With a final score of USC 42, Alabama 21, the Crimson Tide faithful were shocked and dismayed. Bryant had convincingly demonstrated that if Alabama was to compete in the future, it needed to recruit talented black players. It was hard to argue with 42-21. After that, more and more African American players were recruited at Alabama, as well as at other previously segregated universities, and athletics played an important part in racial integration. After the USC game, Alabama assistant football coach Jerry Claiborne quipped, “Sam Cunningham did more to integrate Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King did in 20 years.”

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Heads turned and eyes gazed upward as the Ojai Valley Museum’s condor sculpture soared into its new position in front of the museum on Wednesday.

The 5,000-pound sculpture, donated to the museum in 1997 and titled “Soaring in Stone,” was previously located in the courtyard behind the building. Over the course of two days, with the help of two cranes and a crew of volunteers, the statue was moved to a prominent location in the garden in front of the museum, in full view of those traveling on Ojai Avenue.

According to museum officials, after vandals severely damaged the sculpture last year, the museum’s fine arts insurance plan covered the restoration, and plans were quickly set in motion to have the condor moved to the front of the property. Those involved hope that moving the statue to a substantially more visible location will accomplish two goals: it will allow law enforcement to see the sculpture on a more continuous basis, thereby reducing the likelihood of vandalism and, perhaps more importantly, will give the public a better opportunity to view the work of art.

“This thing needs to be seen,” said JoAnne Duby, who was part of the original team that finished the sculpture. “When we first walked around the property 17 years ago, we wanted to put it up front. It’s so amazing watching it happen now.”

Designed by renowned local artist Carlyle Montgomery, the condor has a wingspan of 10 feet and is made from Belgian fossilized limestone. Montgomery died after a battle with cancer before seeing his work completed, but artists like Duby finished the piece, helping Montgomery’s design come to fruition.

Montgomery’s nephew, Aaron Ogden, lived in Meiners Oaks next to the property where the artist had worked on the sculpture. Ogden, who was on hand to watch his uncle’s work be placed on its new spot, said he was glad that he was able to be part of Montgomery’s vision. “I got to watch him create so many amazing things,” said Ogden. “It’s so beautiful for this to happen. I saw the sculpture after it was vandalized. It looks amazing now.”

Montgomery’s brother, Oak View resident Duane Montgomery, was also glad to see his brother’s work placed where many more people can see it. “Now it can really be appreciated by everyone,” he said about the sculpture. “It will be appreciated the way he wanted it to be.”

On Monday morning, a crew from TNT Crane moved the concrete base of the sculpture. On Wednesday, after volunteers prepared the base, the condor was moved by Waycasy Crane Service, and placed on its base at the front of the museum. Volunteers from Art City and other members of the community helped crane operators, ensuring that the sculpture didn’t sustain damage during the move. According to museum director Michele Pracy, the move cost about $18,000, which was raised by the museum through donations from the community.

Pracy, like the others who attended, watched as the sculpture “took flight” from its previous location, landing at its new home. “This is such a great thing for this community,” she said. “A lot of people worked very hard to make this happen. It looks so incredible there. We’re very excited about it.”

Michelle Gevin is placed in handcuffs by a Ventura Police Department detective on Burnham Road as Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies assist in the case.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Ventura Police Department detectives arrested three Ventura Residents in Oak View earlier today after following a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Ventura last week.

Although initial reports indicated that the car had been located in Oak View, according to a VPD press release, the department’s Street Crimes Unit located the stolen car ‑‑ a white, 2005 BMW — on Frazier Lane in Ventura at 12:30 p.m. Detectives followed the vehicle, reportedly driven by Joseph Grazzaffi, 33, into Oak View where Grazzaffi and his two passengers allegedly “broke into several mailboxes and stole mail from residents,” according to the report.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputies came to assist the VPD as detectives continued to follow Grazzaffi, said authorities. As Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene in patrol cars and a search and rescue helicopter, Grazzaffi allegedly fled in the vehicle and evaded law enforcement for several minutes until the car was located unoccupied in the 100 block of Rockaway Road, officials said.

” … officers began to search the surrounding residential properties.  Grazzaffi was located first, hiding in a residence in the 400 block of Riverside Drive … At the conclusion of the investigation, Grazzaffi was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, resisting arrestt, and a parole violation,” read the press release.

A short time after Grazzaffi was apprehended, Sheriff’s deputies located the two women that had reportedly been in the car with Grazzaffi. Natalie Torres, 31, and Michelle Geving, 45, were found by deputies walking north on Burnham Road, according to authorities. Deputies detained Torres and Geving until VPD detectives arrived to make the arrest.

Geving was booked for possession of a controlled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting arrest, while Torres was booked for an outstanding felony warrant.

VPD officials stated that all stolen property recovered during the investigation was returned to the rightful owners.

By Misty Volaski

Since he began teaching at Nordhoff High School in the late ’90s, Greg Bayless, Ph.D., has been among the students’ most beloved teachers. A solid sense of humor and passion for teaching made his lessons accessible and memorable, remembers former student Meghan Clark. “I was fortunate to have Mr. Bayless for both psychology and history, but it was his teachings on life and being a good person that I remember most,” she said. “He will always be one of my favorite teachers.”

Three years ago, Bayless left the classroom to take over as assistant principal.

And on Tuesday morning, it was announced that he would succeed Dan Musick as principal at Ojai’s public high school, starting in July.

“Nordhoff is very lucky to have a person like Greg Bayless taking this leadership position,” said Musick. “He is bright, energetic, and innovative. I especially admire how engaging he is with everyone, students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community. He honors the traditions of the school, and he has excellent ideas to move us forward. I feel very good about the future of the school, and I know he’s going to be an outstanding principal.”

When Musick decided to retire at the end of the 2011-2012 school year, Ojai Unified School District superintendent Hank Bangser began the search for a suitable replacement. Principal Musick, he said, “established an exemplary bar for what it means to be ‘Mr. Ranger.’ He was the consummate professional supporter and cheerleader for students and staff.”

Bayless said he’s learned a lot from Musick over the years. “Working with Dan has been one of the highlights of my career. He’s one of the most dedicated teachers and mentors of kids that I have ever met.”

Retired administrator Susana Arce agreed. “Dan has been such a wonderful principal,” said Arce of Musick, who has led the school for the past 11 years. “He brought such energy and enthusiasm to the job. And Greg is the same way. He gets things done. He has a way of tackling things and seeing them through … He is also a lot of fun to work with.” She added that because Bayless has a doctorate, “his curricular knowledge is excellent.”

Fellow teacher Chris Bohney sang Bayless’ praises, saying Bayless will be “super involved with the community and kids. He’s always been involved in rallies and was MC for a number of years for the homecoming halftime show. He will bring a great new energy to the position, and I think he’ll bring a really good focus on good teaching and getting the best out of the staff.”

Although it was ultimately up to Bangser to decide on who would succeed Musick, he formed a committee to give him input and help him in his decision. “Greg did receive strong support from the committee,” Bangser said.

OUSD board members, including Kathi Smith, supported Bangser’s decision. “Dr. Bayless’s brand of educational leadership is going to make the school’s reputation in the Ojai Valley in this next era. I’m confident about the future self of NHS in Dr. Bayless’ hands.”

Board member and parent of OUSD students, Thayne Whipple, concurred. “As new technologies continue to shape our future, I feel confident that his skills and attitude will serve our students well in facing and embracing opportunities.” Another board member and parent, Rikki Horne, echoed Whipple’s sentiments. Bayless, she said, “brings great intellect, passion and integrity. His sense of humor will be helpful in relating to students, colleagues and community … I look forward to seeing his vision enacted in the next years. Clearly public education is hurting financially and it will take an energetic leader to shepherd Nordhoff through the challenges. Greg is that leader and we are fortunate to have him.”

Bayless said he was “thrilled” when Bangser called him Monday evening to say Bayless had been chosen to lead the Ranger crew. “I love working here and I’m excited to serve Nordhoff in this new capacity,” he said. He acknowledged that when he began teaching history and social science at Nordhoff in 1996, he wasn’t very interested in moving into administration. “I won’t lie — if you had said 10 years ago that I’d be doing this, I’d have thought you were crazy! … I didn’t have the desire to be a principal. I had the desire to be principal here at Nordhoff.” He gave credit to his colleagues, who he said are “an absolute pleasure to work with. It’s cliche but it’s a joy to work with people who are good at what they do and take the job seriously.”

Despite budget shortfalls, Bayless remains optimistic that students and staff can work with what they have and come up with creative ways to improve. “I’d love to see more interdisciplinary work,” he said. “Better, richer, more in-depth work … Right now I look out my window and see a video production class filming other students. They’re solving problems right now —- lighting, sound, interacting with each other. I love seeing them solving real problems, not just trying to memorize facts — things that maybe don’t show up in test scores but have a lasting impact on education.”

He’s already done some of that with the school’s new independent study program. Digital Nordhoff High School, “is directly attributable to Greg’s creativity,” said Bangser. Bayless has also been instrumental in the formation of the hands-on Science Ingenuity class, as well as the new Associate Teacher Program, a beefed-up peer tutoring program which the kids have embraced.

“Greg Bayless has excelled in every role he has undertaken at Nordhoff in the past 16 years,” said Bangser. “Greg (has) brought a host of initiatives forward to improve educational choices for our students and present research-based options to our faculty.”

While Bayless said he’ll get “some summer” free time with his wife and three young sons, he said he’s already busy preparing for the fall. “My job is to preserve as many of the gains we’ve made as we can,” said Bayless. “There’s still a lot of upsides and potential. The school has a good community of dedicated teachers and it’s always going to be a great place to be.”

Report and photo by Logan Hall

A traffic collision between a bicyclist and a Chrysler Pacifica on North Ventura Street sent one man to the hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Reports indicate that at around 2 p.m., local resident Sierra Chavez was driving north on Ventura Street when a man on a bicycle, traveling east on Oak Street, allegedly ignored stop signs and collided with Chavez’s vehicle. The unidentified man, who Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputies said was in his 60s and from Ventura, was taken by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center after complaining of a pain in his ribs said authorities on scene.

Chavez was uninjured in the crash, but says that she was startled by the lone cyclist. “I was just driving, going about 20,” she said. “All of a sudden he came flying out at me. He just blew through that stop sign. I jumped right out … and called 911.”

A woman who claimed to be a friend of the cyclist arrived on scene shortly after the crash to help comfort the man and load his bike into her car. “He was heading up here to go for a bike ride with me,” said the woman, who quickly left the scene to head to the hospital.

Dutch Vanhemert poses at his East End home in front of his 24-foot converted school bus that he uses for his free downtown shuttle service. He was recently convicted of evading police after a traffic stop, and was sentenced to 180 days in Ventura County Jail.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Partiers who rely on Adrianus “Dutch” Vanhemert’s free downtown shuttle service may have to find another way home from the bars this summer. On Friday in Superior Court, Vanhemert was sentenced to 180 days in Ventura County Jail and given three years of formal probation for evading Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Michael Harris in April 2010. According to court records, Vanhemert also has to pay a formal probation fee of $134 a month along with other costs including a probation investigation fee of $1,664. He has filed for an appeal, but says he is still required to show up at county jail on April 16 at 7 p.m. to begin his sentence.

Last month, Vanhemert was convicted by a jury of evading Harris after the deputy had pulled him over. Harris claimed that he was on a traffic stop, when Vanhemert drove past and honked his horn.

The shuttle driver, who allegedly has a history of run-ins with Harris, says that he feared for his safety, and drove to the Ojai Police Station to seek help. He was subsequently tazed by Deputy Jacob Valenzuela as he approached the front door of the station after failing to comply with orders from deputies. “I wasn’t evading anyone,” said Vanhemert, who also owns Dutch’s Detailing. “I drove to the Police Station. Why would I go there if I was trying to evade the cops? I just wanted help. Now I’m going to jail for it.”

Ojai’s Chief of Police Capt. Chris Dunn says that the reason for Vanhemert’s arrest is simple. “Mr. Vanhemert drove off after the deputy stopped him for a legitimate traffic violation,” said Dunn. “He violated a traffic law, then he violated the law again by evading deputies. The jury obviously agreed.”

Dunn declined further comment on the case saying that a complaint filed against him by Vanhemert was still pending.

News of Vanhemert’s conviction and jail sentence sparked outrage among those who support his service. “Dutch is a tremendously valuable resource for this community,” said Nigel Chisholm, owner of The Village Jester, a popular bar in downtown Ojai. “He does what he does to keep drunks off the road. What he does for this community is beyond reproach. He should be honored by the city and the Police Department.”

Vanhemert says that he will try to hire an appeals attorney to help him with his case. He says that the right lawyer could possibly help keep him out of jail during the appeal process, but doing so would be expensive. “I filed for an appeal five minutes after they sentenced me,” he said. “This is all costing a fortune though. I’m already out about $20,000 and it will cost another $20,000 to do the appeal.”

The shuttle driver says he has opened an account at Rabobank on Maricopa Highway where people can donate to his cause. Rabobank officials declined to go on record but did confirm that Vanhemert has an account set up for donations, also adding that the bank held no official position on his case and was simply facilitating an account for a customer. “If someone wants to help out with my legal fees,” he said, “they can tell Rabobank they want to donate money to the free downtown shuttle.”

Vanhemert says he is just trying to help the community, and says the Sheriff’s Department is harassing him unjustly. “They’re like a business,” he said. “They see that I’m cutting into their DUIs and taking revenue away from them. They’re just trying to harass me every chance they get.”

Dunn denies that the department is harassing Vanhemert. “That’s absolutely untrue,” said Dunn. “He broke the law and a jury of his peers decided as much.”

By Bill Buchanan

John McKay Jr. combined humor with enthusiasm as he entertained a packed house of the Rotary Club of Ojai at the Ojai Valley Inn on Friday. McKay addressed the club about the status of University of Southern California athletics. McKay became senior associate director of athletics at USC in July of 2010 when he was offered the position by high school and college teammate Pat Haden, who serves as athletic director. “My wife and I were on vacation at the rim of the Grand Canyon when my phone went off,” said McKay. “My wife looked at me and said, ‘Really’?” He said he had to take the call, that it was Haden. The call was to offer him the job as associate director. McKay said he accepted on the spot, and immediately quit his job as a real estate attorney. When his wife asked what he was going to be paid in his new job, he said, “I don’t know.”

Haden and McKay, the quarterback-receiver tandem that was so successful in the early ‘70s at USC have hooked up again to reinvigorate the school’s athletic program, particularly the football team, which received stiff penalties from the NCAA, limiting scholarships and banning bowl appearances. McKay and Haden have proven to be up to the task. Last year’s team lost only two games, and is expected to begin this year as preseason No. 1.

“I’m proud of where we are. We have a great future. And I cherish our history,” said McKay. He added that USC has put a big emphasis on upgrading facilities. He said he hopes USC can take over management of the Los Angeles Coliseum from the city and county governments and raise private money to make needed repairs to a “great old building.” After traveling all over the country to get a look at the athletic facilities at other top programs, McKay stated, “I am amazed at what we have accomplished with where we are (facility-wise).” He added he is excited about the new 110,000-square-foot athletic complex. “My dad would be so proud that this was named after me,” he joked, as the building will actually bear the name of his dad, legendary USC coach, John McKay.

McKay regaled the crowd with stories about his time playing for his dad. He recounted his days in high school as he and Haden were recruited by a number of colleges. He said they wanted to continue as teammates, and finally narrowed their choices down to a few schools. McKay said they were seriously considering going to Notre Dame, one of USC’s chief rivals. He said his dad told him, “Son, I don’t care where you go to school, but I need a quarterback (Haden).” The pair chose USC where they established a remarkable record, winning two national championships and losing just three games in three years.

One of the games they almost lost was against rival Notre Dame. USC was behind at halftime, trailing 24-7. McKay was asked what his father told the team at halftime in the locker room. “Dad said, ‘You cannot make a great comeback unless you get way behind.’” The team responded by staging one of the great comebacks in college football history, scoring 48 points in the second half, and winning, 55-24.

McKay said that while he was proud of USC athletic successes, that he felt a big part of his job was to “help kids graduate.” He quoted the statistics that each year 1.2 million kids play high school football, but out of that number, only 12 will play to age 30 in the NFL. He said the need for the players to get an education is obvious, and he is proud of the 84 percent graduation rate USC athletes have achieved.

At the end of the program, the Rotary Club announced that it will make a $2,000 donation in McKay’s name to the USC Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund “Swim with Mike.”

The following is the Ventura County Superior Court transcription of the sentencing of Adrianus “Dutch” Vanhemert Friday, March 16, 2012:

The Imposition of Sentence is suspended.

03/16/2012 The Court has released you on formal probation for 36 months. You are subject to and must obey each of the following conditions. If you fail to do so, the Court may impose any sentence previously suspended. If you fulfill all of the conditions you may then apply for a dismissal of the charges.

03/16/2012 You must report to the Probation Agency, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, California, Criminal Justice Center (Sheriff’s Building) Room A, Second Floor. Report immediately after leaving court or upon release from custody. Bring this form with you. You must comply with the following terms and conditions: 1. Be under the supervision of a probation officer and report as directed. 2. Maintain regular employment as approved by the probation officer. 3. Not leave your county of residence for more than 72 hours or change your residence without prior approval by your probation officer. You shall not leave the State of California without prior permission of your probation officer. If you are on Felony Formal Probation then the following applies: “The defendant waives extradition to the State of California from any jurisdiction in or outside the United States where the defendant may be found. The defendant further agrees that he/she will not contest any effort by any jurisdiction to return himself/herself to the State of California”. 4. Participate as directed in any treatment program designated by the probation officer and authorize release of information between your probation officer and any treatment program.
03/16/2012 You are to obey all laws, city, county, state and federal.

03/16/2012 You are ordered to serve 180 Day(s) with credit for 0 Day(s) actual time served in the Ventura County Jail.

03/16/2012 Defendant is entitled to credit for time served of – 5 days actual time and 4 days of 4019(b)(1) and (c)(1) time, for a total credit of 9 days, (calculated at the rate of 2 days 4019 for every 4 days sentenced).
03/16/2012 Report to the Sheriff to begin your jail sentence on 04/16/12 at 07:00 PM . Please be advised that the personal property you may bring is limited to the following: 1) Valid driver’s license or identification card 2) Court papers 3) Car keys 4) Cash (no personal checks-money will be put into trust account for commissary use).

03/16/2012 You shall pay a fine of $240.00 to the State Restitution Fund.

03/16/2012 You are directed to pay a monthly formal probation fee of $134.00 .

03/16/2012 You are to pay Prob. Investigation fee of $1,664.00 .

03/16/2012 The defendant hereby consents to a search of person, vehicle, residence, business, or any other personal or real property under the defendant’s control at any time by any law enforcement officer or probation officer, with or without a search warrant, warrant of arrest, or reasonable cause, to determine the presence of any of the items prohibited under these terms, or evidence of any of the behaviors prohibited under these terms.

03/16/2012 You shall provide buccal swab samples, right thumb print, and palm prints pursuant to Section 296(a)(1) of the Penal Code.

03/16/2012 You shall not own, possess, have under custody or control or immediate access to any firearm, ammunition, oleocapsicum pepper spray, or tear gas pursuant to Section 12403.7(a)(1) of the Penal Code.

03/16/2012 Not drive unless properly licensed and insured.

03/16/2012 Show proof to your probation officer that you are properly licensed and insured.

03/16/2012 The court finds that you have the ability to pay and orders you to pay all costs, fines, fees and restitution.

03/16/2012 You are to pay Crim Justice Admin fee of $356.34 .

03/16/2012 Your fine/fee(s) is/are payable at $100.00 per month beginning 07/15/12 and on the 15 day of each month. You are directed to pay an administrative fee (ARF) of $35.00 . Pay your fine and/or fee(s) to the Superior Court Collections Unit, at one of the following locations: *Appear at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Room 205, Ventura or mail to P.O. Box 6489, Ventura, California 93006-6489; phone (805) 639-5010. *Appear at or mail to 3855-F Alamo Street, Window 5 or 6, Simi Valley, California 93065. *Appear at the Juvenile Courthouse, Room 122, 4353 Vineyard, Oxnard If you are in custody you must report to the Superior Court Collection Unit within 5 days from the date of your release.

03/16/2012 The fee ordered is a civil judgment and can be enforced by execution of wages and property. Notify this office immediately if there is any problem with payments. You may petition the court at any time to modify or vacate this judgment if there is a change of circumstances in your ability to pay.

03/16/2012 The defendant has been advised of his/her right to appeal.

03/16/2012 Defendant accepts probation as stated by court.

03/16/2012 The court orders the defendant released on probation.

03/16/2012 Signature Required

03/16/2012 Court orders bail bond exonerated.

03/16/2012 File located to Ventura Records.

03/16/2012 Notice of Appeal filed by defendant pro per,

03/16/2012  Request for appointment of counsel on appeal by defendant.

Corporate personhood condemned at Tuesday meeting

By Tiobe Barron

The Ojai City Council joined a growing number of locals in voicing its opposition to corporate personhood at its regular Tuesday night meeting. In addition to asking that the government abolish the Supreme Court ruling, the resolution tasks Ojai City Council with calling upon other communities to pass similar resolutions, and to educate the public about the threat corporate personhood poses to American democracy. The resolution was prepared by city clerk Rhonda Basore and states, in part, that it asks “our elected federal representatives to join the tens of thousands of citizens, grassroots organizations and local governments across the country in the move to call for an Amendment to the Constitution to abolish Corporate Personhood and return our democracy, our elections, our communities back to America’s human persons and to thus reclaim our sovereign right to self-governance.”

Norm Garber, a former English professor, urged the council to pass the resolution, pointing out that while the resolution itself might not have a direct effect on federal legislation, the action contributes to groundswell, which does catch national attention if grown large enough.

Bill Haff, an Ojai resident with the Abolish Corporate Personhood organization, said this grassroots group has been petitioning, mostly at the Ojai Farmers’ Market, and has more than 750 signatures of support thus far. Ojai resident Lucas Thayer complimented Basore on the “beautiful text” of the resolution.

“I will not be able to support this,” said Councilwoman Sue Horgan. “I don’t believe this is an issue that should be before the City Council. I think it’s a political issue that belongs at a different level.” The remaining members of council voted in favor of the resolution.

The council tabled another controversial agenda item, the proposed plastic bag ban.

“I think this is an example of terrible governance,” said Horgan regarding the handling of the proposed ordinance. The decision on the ban was postponed for two weeks, when nearly two hours of debate made it clear the council still had unresolved issues with the ordinance as it stood. The remaining problems with the ordinance included: the specification of the exact percentage recycled material in the paper bags merchants would still be allowed to dole out to consumers, for a 10-cent charge; the record-keeping associated with retailers’ use of said paper bags; and whether the 10-cent charge should be required across the board, or merely of larger retail stores.

“I don’t want to bury it in committee,” said Mayor Betsy Clapp in response to Horgan’s suggestion they table the ordinance rather than deal with the wording of it immediately. “Let’s get it over with.” Council members continued to hammer out specifics, and the modified ordinance will be up for another reading at the next regular council meeting on March 27.

Council members did agree to co-sponsor a Bike to School Week event proposed by Kelly Pasco with the MOB Shop. The involvement will cost the city approximately $1,300, but is in keeping with the city’s Complete Streets Program.

“Well, this is financially painful, but I’m going to make a motion that we support (this),” said Councilwoman Carlon Strobel.

Council also deliberated on whether or not membership of the various advisory commissions should be restricted to city residents only. Horgan queried if there was some specific incident that caused the issue to be brought up at the meeting. Basore clarified that it was simply a matter of setting standards.

“Can somebody from Oak View really have an appreciation for the issues of Ojai?” wondered Clapp.

“Well, they think they do,” Horgan responded. But, she added, “I think this is a solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist.”

Council took no action on the matter, save to adopt the proposed city of Ojai Board and Commission Handbook.

Council also adopted the ordinance changing the regular City Council meeting times from 7:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The first meeting to take place beginning at the new time will be held April 24. Ojai City Council meets regularly every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 401 S. Ventura St.

By Logan Hall

Ojai Valley Trail users won’t have to worry about rising creek waters during storm season stopping them in their tracks. The County of Ventura completed construction on a new, 480-foot bridge that spans San Antonio Creek at its convergence with the Ventura River near Casitas Springs. The new design is an upgrade from the trail’s previous concrete crossing.

The county utilized steel in the construction of the $1.8-million bridge, and officials state the new span will withstand a 100-year flood. It will also allow passage of the steelhead trout, an endangered species.

The county celebrated the bridge’s opening by holding a ribbon cutting on Tuesday. Those in attendance, among many others, included Supervisor Steve Bennett, members of the public, and the Channel Islands Bicycle Club — which, according to county reports, donated $20,000 for the project.

“We had a huge turnout,” said Bennett. “There had to be about a hundred people there. About 75 were on bicycles.”

Bennett says that the new crossing will be beneficial to the community, and will solve some issues that have plagued that section of the trail for years. “The bridge will be safer and more usable for everyone,” he said. “Now, when it rains, the trail won’t be closed down. It’s a great investment for the community.”

In a press release from the county, officials noted that the bridge “was completed nearly one month ahead of schedule, and within budget.” The structure itself — prefabricated by Excel Bridge Co. — consists of eight 60-foot-high segments and features arching steel beams. Many who have seen it compliment designers on the aesthetic qualities of the new crossing. “It really is a beautiful piece of public works construction,” said Steve Offerman, Bennett’s assistant.

In order to fund the project, the county received grants from various government agencies. A county fact sheet handed out at the opening ceremony read that the California Fish and Game, through their fisheries restoration grant program, allotted $502,000 to the span’s construction. The county paid $497,000, California Coastal Conservancy gave $405,000, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted $210,000 and the Ventura County Transportation Commission gave $190,000 to the project, plus the $20,000 from the Bicycle Club mentioned above.

Photo courtesy Friend's Ranches

By Misty Volaski

Last April, a homesick friend posted a photo on Facebook, which she’d snapped at a grocery store near her new house in Grand Rapids, Mich.

It was a display of Ojai Pixie tangerines.

“No freaking way!” read her caption. “I about screamed!”

Over the last several years, Ojai’s juicy little citrus fruit has spread throughout the United States and as far away as Japan. They have gained attention in news outlets like Slow Food USA, NBC News, PBS, Los Angeles Times, and Sunset magazine, and others.

This year’s crop, estimates grower Emily Ayala, should come in at around 2.5 million pounds — a little less than last year but still a good haul. And all of it comes from 42 local families, who grow on a total of about 250 acres on several ranches in the Ojai Valley. “Loved by local growers in Ojai, CA,” reads the label on the packaging.

The Ojai Pixie Growers Association keeps their operations relatively small. They hire about 24 pickers and a forklift driver from Magaña Labor Service each season to pick the entire crop. They lease packing space from a Sunkist warehouse in Fillmore, and from there, the fruit is distributed to stores and wholesalers nationwide. The Pixies that don’t quite meet the size standards set by the Food and Drug Administration — but that are still perfectly good — are sold at-cost to various school districts, or are donated to Food Share.

Picking season runs from early March through the end of May, and local businesses are capitalizing on the simple goodness of the home-grown treat. Agave Maria’s Restaurant and Cantina uses them in their popular Pixie-rita Margarita. They’re also a staple in the springtime at The Oaks at Ojai, where, “We use a ton of them in the kitchen,” says president-CEO Cathy Cluff. “We keep a basket (of them) available for guests, and they’re so sweet the guests just gobble them up!” The folks at Suzanne’s Cuisine are big fans as well. The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa celebrates them each spring with a special Pixie Package, which includes a crate of Pixies as a welcome amenity, a breakfast of waffles with Pixie topping, Pixie Twist cocktails and a Pixie body polish treatment at Spa Ojai. “We also keep a display in the front lobby,” says the inn’s public relations manager, Veronica Cole, “along with a poster that tells how Pixies are indigenous to Ojai, and how generations have grown them at Friend’s Ranch. It’s really a celebratory time here.”

Tony Thacher of Friend’s Ranches looks forward each spring to his wife’s Pixie creme bruleé and cookies. His daughter, Ayala, loves eating the Pixies fresh off the tree. “Pick and peel,” she says. “Our kids love them!” The fruit can be found at the local independent grocery stores in Ojai, as well as at the Ojai Certified Farmers’ Market every Sunday.

Although Pixies are grown in other areas, the Ojai Pixie Growers Association asserts that the Ojai Valley produces the best fruits. “Like certain types of wine (varietals), Pixies are micro-climate specific,” explains Thacher. He talks about a farmers’ conference he attended last weekend, when a Pixie grower from Bakersfield admitted, “Yours just taste better and are better looking!” The Ojai Pixie Growers Association is sending Thacher’s son, George, to a convention in Iowa to spread the word about Pixies to grocery store representatives. “He’s our Pixie ambassador,” laughs Tony.

The Ojai growers are quick to explain the difference between other tangerine varieties like Clementines and Cuties. “Pixies are naturally seedless,” says grower Carly Ford, “and sweeter!” She tells the story of her father, who at the age of 80 “… saw what they were doing with Pixies and went crazy. He planted tons of trees.” Now, Pixies are in her blood.

Ojai growers like Ford worry about rain, water rates, and the citrus psyllid, a nasty bug that feeds on citrus trees’ leaves and can wipe out entire crops. But luckily, said grower Bill Palladini, of Bella Colina Ranch, “The closest they’ve been found is Santa Paula.” He added that local growers are extremely careful about keeping the pest out of Ojai. They used to keep some leaves on the fruit for aesthetic value, but have stopped to prevent the possible spread of the psyllid.

At Thursday morning’s OPGA meeting, held at Ojai Café Emporium, the camaraderie of the group is clear. “This table is a diverse cross-section of landowners,” says Thacher. “We’re all just growers, no presidents or officers, no bylaws. It’s pretty casual.”

Those interested in learning more about Pixies and many other varieties of citrus can take a tour at Friend’s Ranches on Saturdays (visit friendsranches.com for a schedule), which includes a history of the fruit and the ranch, as well as an opportunity to pick your own fruit.

Want to grow your own Pixies? “Most good nurseries can order you Pixie trees,” said Thacher. “Now through May is a good time to order them.”

By Logan Hall

A new project to upgrade Libbey Park should shed some light on night usage at the park’s tennis courts. The Ojai Tennis Club raised funds to replace and upgrade the existing lighting on both the upper and lower courts. The project calls for 64 new light fixtures, 24 single extended arms and four new double extended arms on all eight courts. According to the club, the lighting is valued at $42,254.

In an effort to expand the court’s playability during the annual Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament — a world-renowned amateur event that decides the Pac-12 Conference tennis champions — the Tennis Club has donated the lights and related funds to the city. The Ojai City Council voted on Tuesday to accept the donation and move forward on the project.

In past tournaments, players vied for individual titles. This year, tournament officials have changed the event to a team format, which could see matches played throughout the day and into the night.

“The bracket and start times for matches are such that we could possibly see some lengthy matches,” said Erik Price, assistant commissioner of the Pac-12 conference. “If a match goes four or five hours, let’s say, it could go beyond 8 o’clock.”

Price said that the Pac-12 Steering Committee had toured the facility, and had made note that the current lighting on Libbey’s eight courts wasn’t sufficient. “What they found,” he said, “was that the most important issue was having enough light and visibility. When you have almost guaranteed night play, you need that lighting. If we do need it, we need it to be adequate. The coaches felt that the lights weren’t quite enough.”

Ojai Tennis Club’s Sam Eaton says the project will be a benefit to everyone involved — including the city. According to Eaton, after a low bidding contractor dropped out of the project, the city stepped in and claimed the Public Works department could do the job for half of the $16,000 estimated by the previous low bidder. The club will give the city $8,000 — which Public Works officials say includes the cost of installation and a scissor lift to aid in installation and maintenance of the lights.

“Basically, everyone comes up,” said Eaton. “The Pac-12 coaches will be happy. The city will get $55,000 in lighting (and labor costs), and this will help encourage physical fitness with the youth of the valley.”

Greg Grant, Ojai’s Public Works director, agrees that the deal is a good thing for Ojai. “Usually when the lights go out,” he said, “they’re really tough to replace. We have to have a two-man crew set up scaffolding. That scissor lift is going to be really handy for that, and other stuff too.”

Eaton said that funding for the project came as donations from several different sources.

“We got about $18,000 from the Ojai Civic Association,” he said. “One of our local supporters, Michael Taggart, donated $10,000. Pac-12 gave us $6,000. Visionaire Lighting gave $2,000, and NJP Sports wrote a check for $1,000.”

The rest of the funding — $20,000 — was donated by the Ojai Valley Tennis Club, Eaton said.

According to Grant, the light fixtures and scissor lift should arrive at the beginning of April, and construction is scheduled to start soon after. “We should get started on this in the first week of April,” he said. “The project should take about two weeks to complete.”

Grant said that they needed to finish everything before the Pac-12 competition, which starts April 24. He also stated that Libbey’s tennis courts would remain open during construction.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

Like most people, I had pooh-poohed the prediction that the world is going to end on Dec. 12, 2012 — that is, until I heard the Rev. Pat Robertson say he is in favor of legalizing pot. If the famous TV evangelist, known for his extreme right-wing opinions, is suddenly advocating that pot be regulated and treated like alcohol, perhaps I need to rethink all this end of the world business. Maybe it’s a lot closer than I thought.

Uncharacteristically, Robertson’s opinion was based not on religious views, but rather upon practical considerations. The minister made national headlines when he stated that the government’s war on drugs is a multi-billion dollar failure. He added that the cost to the country was more than just taxpayer dollars, that the nation’s incarceration rate was taking a toll on society at large.

I absolutely believe marijuana should be available by prescription for medical purposes. But I remain on the fence when it comes to legalizing any drugs for recreational use, even pot. Pot is probably no more dangerous than alcohol, but it is far from harmless. Outside of its medicinal value, there is little to recommend it. But it should be decriminalized. It is not like we have a shortage of people already in prison. When your incarceration rates are higher than those of Russia, you can’t really say, “Well you know, I just don’t think we are putting enough people in jail.” Prison should be for those who pose a significant danger to society — those who steal, maim and kill. I don’t lock my door at night for fear of some stoner stumbling into my house in search of a giant-size bag of Doritos to satisfy his munchies.

On the economic side, legalized and regulated marijuana would be a huge windfall tax-wise to cash-strapped states and the federal government. Some of the dollars that now disappear into the underground economy would at least come back to governments in the form of tax dollars that could be used for schools, infrastructure repairs and other worthy projects. To those who would object on the basis of moral grounds, we do not turn down tax dollars generated through the sale of alcohol and cigarettes, each of which kills many more people annually than pot. As distasteful as it might be to have our state governments partially funded by pot taxes, much of those revenues now go to finance criminal activities of gangs and the mafia. While I know these criminals won’t just disappear if we legalize pot, I would rather see a new school built with that money than see it go into the pocket of a mobster.

I wish I had the answer. This is a complicated problem, with strong arguments on both sides. However, I think most people would agree that the current policy is not working.

I do not know if Pat Robertson is right or not. But maybe one good thing to come out of all this would be a national debate on the issue that will take us in a positive direction.

By Logan Hall

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the safety of Tico Road after citizens in the area voiced concern following a fatal crash last week at the intersection of Tico Road and Pala Drive. On Friday at about 10 a.m., CHP officers responded to a head-on traffic collision between a Honda scooter and a Toyota Tundra pickup truck on Tico near Lomita Avenue.

CHP Sgt. Robert Granieri, who responded to the crash, said that 59-year-old Vicky Solomon, from Decatur, Texas, was on the second scooter in a line of four that were heading northbound on Tico Road. According to Granieri, when the four scooters approached the intersection at Pala Drive, Solomon, for unknown reasons, veered left, crossing the double yellow line into oncoming traffic, crashing into the Toyota driven by Ojai resident Angel Gonzalez. Granieri said that Solomon was traveling at about 25 mph, while Gonzalez was driving about 30 mph as the two came toward a gradual curve in the road. Solomon was taken by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center where she died, suffering from blunt force trauma injuries sustained in the crash Granieri said. He added that Solomon was wearing a helmet.

According to friends of Solomon, the Texas resident was riding with her two sisters at the time of the crash. “She was here vacationing with her sisters, Paulette and Jana,” said Rae Hanstad, who attended Solomon’s retirement party in Texas last year. “(Riding scooters) was one of the activities that they had planned together.”

According to CHP spokesman Officer Steve Reid, there have been 24 collisions on Tico Road since 2005 — including Friday’s incident. CHP records indicate that of those, 17 involved at least one injury.

“Tico Road is a thoroughfare,” he said. “When you have a road like that, where people use it as a shortcut from one area to another, they tend to go a little faster.”

Reid says that safety and awareness are key, and need to be priorities for drivers.

“Whether riding a motorcycle or driving a car,” he said, “you have to be careful, and make sure you’re paying attention. We really need to remind folks that they need to slow down.”

When trying to mitigate potentially deadly traffic collisions, Reid says a joint effort of law enforcement, community and other local agencies is critical. “The bottom line is that it has to be a community effort,” he continued. “It all starts with getting information out there. A collaboration between the community, CHP and local newspapers can really get the word out effectively.”

Reid stated that fatal or injury crashes can often be avoided if people adhere to posted speed limits, obey traffic laws, and increase their general sense of awareness. The heart-rending effects of a traffic collision are all too real for Gonzalez, Hanstad and Solomon’s family.

“She always truly made everyone around her smile and laugh,” said Hanstad. “She had that Texas-style sense of humor. This was really a very tragic accident and it’s a terrible loss for her family and friends.”

By Misty Volaski

Attention spans aren’t what they used to be. Combine that with bigger class sizes and teachers stretched thinner than they have been in decades, and the reality is that more students may end up falling behind.

Predictably then, faculty members have been searching for better ways to reach the students. That’s where the Ojai Education Foundation aims to help, providing exciting, interactive technology and activities to keep kids engaged in the learning process. Since 2006, the OEF has awarded teachers tens of thousands of dollars in “mini-grants” for everything from fun new reading books to “smart” white boards. Teachers need only fill out a grant request form, said OEF’s Carol Holly, explaining what they’re asking for, its cost, and how it will “enrich the educational experience for students.” This year, the grants have been renamed from mini-grants to educational grants, because, Holly says, “We’ve had a big change in the single applicant limit, from $750 to $1,000. That’s the reason we changed the name, because there’s really nothing mini about that!”

A big year of fund raising — “Despite this recession economy, we’ve raised more than ever before,” points out a proud Holly — has been the main reason why the OEF board or directors were able to increase the grant limit. They now have a total of $13,000 to award, although the board may choose to increase that amount should the need present itself.

“In this day and age, that teachers can look around and think, ‘Wow, what would I do in my classroom if I had $1,000?’ That’s really exciting,” Holly enthused.

The grant application form has also been simplified and is now just one page. The goal is to streamline the process, making it as easy as possible for busy teachers to get what their students need. Teachers can find the application online at ojaief.org and are encouraged to apply; the deadline is March 30. The OEF will notify teachers of their grants by April 10, so, Holly said, “They can place their orders before the end of the year, and have the summer to play around with them and fine-tune it so they’re ready when school starts in the fall. These are tools teachers need to have in order to meet the needs of kids who can really learn and become proficient if they have the right tools in front of them.”

What the OEF has already been able to provide in classrooms so far through the grant process is significant. Teachers in more and more classrooms are requesting and being granted student response systems, essentially “buzzers” for each student to individually answer questions posed by the teacher. Said Topa Topa Elementary School principal John LeSuer, “Teachers are going to know right away who gets the concept and who doesn’t. One of our teachers said it really makes the kids want to be more involved, and she loves how she can tell which kids are and aren’t paying attention. It makes it so they kind of have to pay attention.”

“It works so much better than the ‘thumbs-up if you understand’ method,” said Holly.

“With the response system, teachers can tell who’s really getting it and who isn’t, and whether it’s worth the time to review certain things as a whole class, or if it’s just a few kids who she can review with later.”

LeSuer agreed. “It really helps a lot.” Other grantees have requested grants for comparatively low-tech projects, such as Topa Topa’s Barbara Brown.  “She takes her kids to the meadow every year to do science experiments,” said LeSuer. “The kids love it and it’s not a lot of money.” Others simply need class sets of novels, something that is getting more and more difficult to fund as budgets get tighter.

Nordhoff dance teacher Kim Hoj, meanwhile, also touts the indispensability of the OEF, noting that it was a $500 OEF grant (which was then matched by the Nordhoff Parent Association and the School District) which helped her get the training she needed to take the school’s popular dance program to the next level back in 2006. “A grant from OEF in 2005 funded my participation in a six-day intensive teacher training which focused on all the major areas of instruction within our dance program, allowing me to reconnect with my dance skills and develop content appropriate for classroom instruction,” Hoj said. “OEF is still here supporting us by funding a portion of a brand-new computer … to make it possible for us document student dance works and our existing dance repertory. I am greatly appreciative and confident that OEF will be there at that time to continue to support creating a powerful dance education program at Nordhoff for students.”

By Holly Roberts 

Krista Kim, co-artistic director at Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio and mom of three elementary-age children in Ojai, has discovered that good things happen when you ask the universe.

Kim grew up in Yorktown, Va., and earned a degree in music education from James Madison University. There, she participated in “Show” choir, similar to “Glee,” performing across the eastern seaboard on school breaks. Kim soon realized that she also enjoyed creating the choreography, choosing the music and directing.

Moving to California in 1994, Kim taught general music and chorus in Beverly Hills and worked in musical theater with Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a hiatus as a stay-at-home mom, she ached to put her talent, skills and passion to work again, so Kim started a musical theater group in her daughter’s school. She immediately appreciated the freedom of coordinating the productions.

When Kim’s husband, a motion film graphic designer, began free-lancing in 2009, the family moved to Ojai. Three months later, Kim jumped headlong into directing several casts of “High School Musical” with Topa Topa Elementary School students at Theater 150. By fall 2011, Kim opened the classes to the entire community and soon had three casts for her “Aladdin” production, completing the 2011 season.

Anne Gard, whose 9-year-old, Kaden, participated in Kim’s first “Aladdin” production, said that the experience brought him out of his shell. “I’m so grateful for Krista. She’s created this great experience for my quiet kid, especially as a boy who was new to theater and gave him skills for speaking in public and how to present himself,” said Gard. “The kids were allowed to be silly and have fun and work on skills at the same time.”

Kim never seemed to have enough time in the theater. She knew she needed a space of her own. “I literally had this ‘ah-ha’ moment. I didn’t know how I was going to do it but I just knew that somehow I was going to open my own theater,” Kim said.

Four days later, the universe provided the catalyst. Chris Notolli, former artistic director at Theater 150, asked Kim if she wanted to take over the non-profit organization on Jan. 1 this year. Hence, Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio was born. “I love what I do. I love doing musical theater. Every day, I wake up and I’m asking for the right people to come through these doors and see the vision,” Kim said.

Kim asserts that no one just becomes a theater or music lover, actor, writer or director without being inspired by it. The OYES mission is: “To challenge, inspire, educate and entertain children and families in the Ojai Valley through the experience of quality theater, dance and music.” Of course, to provide high-quality programs and bring in professional actors and singers as mentors, the tuition for working families must be offset with donations and grants. Even with the landlord’s break in rent, the cost for operating the non-profit venue is high. Kim and co-artistic director, Rick Kuhlman, currently forgo any salary. Together with Frank Eller, OYES office manager, who runs the studio and books the evening events, Kim also helps to sell tickets, raises funds, finds teachers, books classes, teaches classes and even cleans the theater.

OYES currently will offer a tiny tot and three children’s productions of “Beauty and the Beast,” with performances in May. In addition, there are “Mommy and Me” classes, acting and improv classes for all ages, and evening events. On tap for OYES this summer are two-week camps in opera, disc jockeying, rock band, musical theater, mask making with storytelling, and drumming.

“I hope that people in the community will support her. I would highly recommend that they get their kids involved,” said Doug Irwin, whose 11-year-old niece, Abigail Bassart, will perform as Belle in one of the “Beauty and the Beast” productions.

For more information about OYES, visit ojaiyes.org.

A witness of a traffic collision between a pickup truck and a motorcycle on Tico Road, speaks with a tow truck driver at the scene of the crash as CHP officers and fire department personnel investigate.

Report and photo
by Logan Hall
Tragedy struck Friday morning when a woman was killed after her Honda scooter collided head-on with a Toyota Tundra pickup truck on Tico Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP Sgt. Robert Granieri said that 59-year-old Vicky Solomon, from Decatur, Texas, was the second scooter in a line of four that were heading northbounnd on Tico Road near Lomita Avenue at about 10 a.m. According to Granieri, when the four scooters approached the intersection at Pala Drive, Solomon, for unknown reasons, veered left, crossing the double yellow line into oncoming traffic, crashing into the Toyota driven by Ojai resident Angel Gonzalez. Granieri said that Solomon was traveling at about 25 mph, while Gonzalez was driving about 30 mph as the two came toward a gradual curve in the road. Solomon was taken by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center where she died, suffering from blunt force trauma injuries sustained in the crash Granieri said.

Several Ventura County Fire Department units and three CHP patrol cars responded to the collission. Tico Road between Pala and Lomita was closed while emergency crews cleared the roadway.

No other injuries were reported in the incident.

The Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards gala late last month at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Said chamber CEO Scott Eicher, “Our 2012 awards gala was our most successful to date with a turnout of 140 people.”

Eight awards were given out; nominees were voted upon by the public through the Ojai Valley Chamber or Commerce’s website.

Winners were: Small Business of the Year, El Paca Pastures; Retail Customer Satisfaction Leader of the Year, Wachters Hay & Grain; Service Customer Satisfaction Leader of the Year, Olga Jones, Ameriprise Financial; Best New Chamber Member, La Fonte; Spirit of the Ojai Valley, Ojai Community Bank; Cornerstone Award, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa; Spirit of the Arts Award, Gayel Childress; and President’s Award, Bob Kemper.

This year’s gala, again hosted by master of ceremonies Peter Bellwood, added the dimension of artwork from locals. “We invited 30 local artists to show three pieces of their work in a gallery setting during the cocktail hour preceding dinner,” said Eicher. “It was an excellent opportunity for artists to network with the business community. We want to express our appreciation to the many local artists who put in a lot of work for a one-hour show, and to those artists who lent their sculptures for table centerpieces.”

Ojai’s Jeff Foster and Ellen Johnson of Sound Visions Media produced a video about art in the Ojai Valley, which can be found on YouTube as well as at Ojaichamber.org.

Eicher thanked the chamber’s 20 sponsors, including premier sponsors Heritage Financial, Ojai Community Bank, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, Bob Kemper-Troop Real Estate, Ojai Valley Directory and the Ojai Valley Community Hospital. “Of course,” Eicher said, “there would not have been a gala had it not been for the dedication of our volunteer gala committee: Veronica Cole, Emily Sandefur, Olga Singer, Gloria Jones, Debbie Godfrey, Tennay Fortier, Yvonne Puth and Laura Salinas.”

The next Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce event is set for March 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Libbey Bowl Foundation,  110 S. Ventura St.

By Logan Hall

Nordhoff High School graduate John Defterios had big dreams when he was a kid. Listening to his heroes broadcasting sports and news to millions of listeners over the radio, he imagined himself one day being the voice that reached the masses.

Now, hosting two CNN International television shows, “Global Exchange” and “Marketplace Middle East,” Defterios’ dreams have truly become a reality. The Ojai Valley News had a chance to catch up with the award-winning TV anchor to talk about Ojai, family, the Middle East, and his new show.

OVN: So you grew up in Ventura County and graduated from Nordhoff High School after your family moved to Ojai. What memories of the area stand out to you the most?

Defterios: Ojai is etched in my mind. In fact, I have two photos in my office in Abu Dhabi —- one of the “Pink Moment” and the other of the East End. We live in the Arabian Gulf, which is a vast desert landscape, so Ojai is indeed Shangri-La. It remains a terrific place to be from and has preserved its uniqueness, which is a struggle since most main streets in the U.S. have a tendency to look the same. That is not the case in Ojai, which always feels like a welcoming nest when we come home.

OVN: Do you get to visit the valley often?

Defterios: We don’t visit often enough, but we make it a point to come once a year to visit family. My mother, Leonora, has lived in Ojai since 1977 and my sister, Paula, lives in Ojai with her husband, Brian, and my four nephews; so there is a strong bond. I would like to visit more often, but it’s challenging with a 16-hour travel time.

OVN: What’s your favorite way to spend your time when you come back home?

Defterios: I am a Californian —- which means I try to soak up the natural beauty in the East End, sit and have a coffee in town and say hello to people I don’t see often enough, play a round of golf with those I did in high school, or wander around in Upper Ojai near Aquinas College. On my last visit I explored the grounds and library at the Krotona Institute. If time permits — not easy with two younger children —- I find it is a treat to wander up Highway 33 to the very end, which is like exploring a different world in a day.

OVN: How did you discover that TV news reporting was your calling?

Defterios: I am one of those rare souls who knew what I wanted to do when I was 7 years old. I listened to Vin Scully on the radio with his play-by-play commentary of the Dodgers. My original goal was to be a sports broadcaster and Nordhoff had an excellent media production class in my time. Believe it or not, we did four camera production shoots of the Rangers’ basketball games and I was the play-by-play announcer in 1977-79. The games would be broadcast the next night on Channel 8. That was my humble but incredibly useful start. I studied journalism and political economics at USC (following my mother’s initial plan before she reared our family) and interned at CNN during its first two years on the air and ABC News in Los Angeles. Both of those internships and the people I worked with shaped my career.

OVN: What brought you to CNN?

Defterios: Having been at CNN during its infancy we were given a great deal of responsibility as interns and also as free-lance producers when I was at university. I was taken by the entrepreneurial spirit of its founder Ted Turner — whose poster I had on my wall at USC, which said, “I was in cable before cable was cool.” That spirit lives within the organization today. So after eight years working as a producer, then reporter for PBS’s “Nightly Business Report” and then Reuters Television in London, I joined CNN in 1992. One of the people I had the chance to learn from as an intern at CNN is now the CEO of the network.

OVN: So what’s your new show all about?

Defterios: It is called the “Global Exchange,” which by design, it is an exchange of investment, business, trade, ideas and culture. The daily one-hour program is all about growth in the fast-growing emerging markets of the world from the Middle East to China, into Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are at the crossroads of east and west in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), which means as a journalist you can see the world in a very different way from here. The economies I cover are growing from 5 to 10 percent a year, very different than the outlook in the U.S. or Europe right now. We are only 200 miles away from Iran across the fabled Strait of Hormuz, so there is always a great deal happening around a region that sits on two-thirds of the global energy reserves.

OVN: You said that you now live in the Arabian Gulf with your family. Was it difficult to adapt to your new surroundings?

Defterios: I first came to the region when I covered the first Gulf War in 1990-91, so I have been visiting here for the better part of 20 years. More frequently in the past five years, since I also host a weekly CNN program called “Marketplace Middle East.” I am fascinated by the region, have traveled the 17 countries of the Middle East and North Africa and never stop learning. It is a whole new experience to be here with my Italian wife, Manuela, and our two girls, Lara and Alexandra, who are 9 and 6. They are studying Arabic in the British school and we together are exploring the region and hopefully providing them something that will enrich their lives forever.

The UAE is described as the Switzerland of the Middle East. This is a young country, just celebrating its 40th anniversary last year, and its development has been extraordinary considering four decades ago they were traveling via camel caravans with no roads or infrastructure. It is a highly modernized society, sitting on 8 percent of the global oil reserves and using that blessing to diversify its economy. I think most would be very surprised by what they would find here. I have lived and worked in Washington, New York, London, Los Angeles and Rome, so this is a whole different experience from the West.

OVN: I’m sure you’ve come across some heavy hitters out there in your extensive travels. Are there any in particular that you have worked with who stand out to you?

Defterios: Having done this for 20-plus years, I have come across many people at the top of their game as a correspondent, producer and now anchor-editor. Most notables have to be, President Ronald Reagan and the interview we did at the Oval Office, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the fabled CEO of Fiat, Gianni Agnelli upon his retirement, at least 25 presidents and prime ministers and, most recently, exclusive interviews with the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Ali Al Naimi, the veteran oil minister of Saudi Arabia.

OVN: Anything interesting happening right now?

Defterios: Due to the role at CNN, we are constantly pursuing newsmakers and providing live coverage of our remit, so I recently provided live coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (where I am a media leader) and plan to be at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum in Russia in June as examples of the work that remains both fascinating and challenging.

By Misty Volaski

The Ojai Unified School District is moving forward in its process of examining the feasibility of leasing or selling part or all of its property located at 414 E. Ojai Ave. The property is made up of five parcels and houses both the district offices and Chaparral High School.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the OUSD board members accepted a report from the 7-11 Committee, which has met several times since its formation in May 2011, to look into all aspects of the potential sale and/or lease. According to a report available at the meeting, “The general purpose of such a committee is to advise a board on the use or disposition of school buildings or space in school buildings which is not needed for school purposes.”

The 7-11 Committee report indicated: “The strong majority” — that is, nine of the 10 members — “favored offering the potential buyer or lessee the flexibility to use all or part(s) of the property.” However, it acknowledged that a facilities master plan would need to be completed to determine things like where Chaparral and the district offices could be moved to, and the costs associated with such a move. OUSD superintendent Hank Bangser said Thursday: “The board would never move ahead to sell or lease the property, even if they knew exactly what revenue would be coming, unless they knew what the cost (to move) would be.”

The committee also said in its report: “There is a clear recognition that significant interaction with the citizens of Ojai and with the city of Ojai’s planning processes will be required if the board of education decides to authorize the sale or lease of the district office and Chaparral property.”

Among dissenters in the community is Chuck Crawford, an OUSD maintenance employee, who spoke Tuesday night. “The significance of the money is kind of missing the point,” he said. “I’ve seen this happen before (in other communities). This decision will totally change the city.”

Responding to Crawford’s and other citizens’ concerns that a part of Ojai history would be lost if the district ultimately decided to sell the property, Bangser noted Thursday that the board’s acceptance of the 7-11 Committee’s report, “Doesn’t mean that everything’s going to be torn down. That’s not what this is. One of the things we could be looking at is having the Ojai Avenue frontage area remain the same but maybe have the back corner up on Matilija and Montgomery be developed.”

He added that, “We may never do anything. All this (report) allowed us to do was move ahead and do more analysis.”

Three of the four present board members agreed to accept the 7-11 Committee’s report, with Board President Pauline Mercado dissenting.

Board member Rikki Horne said, “I want to say we explored everything.”

Mercado noted, “We can still say it was considered, the report considered the pros and cons. Say we got $10 million, which is ludicrous, it’s not worth it for the lifestyle of Ojai … Engaging further in this process beyond what we have done, I can’t see it will be any more fruitful than it is now.”

The discussion will continue at the next OUSD board meeting April 17, when the district’s real estate attorney will be present to answer questions and clarify the board’s options.

Also discussed Tuesday night was the projected budget for next year. Assistant superintendent Danni Pusatere announced that instead of the $1.2 million in cuts that had been announced for the 2012-2013 school year, that number has dropped to $640,844. This was due to several factors, including: receipt of more state funds than expected for transportation; mid-year budget cuts which were less than anticipated; an insurance rebate of $53,000; additional lottery monies of $20,000; increased revenues ($23,000) in the preschool program; and “non-personnel budget reductions” for the current year in the amount of $300,000. According to the 2011-2012 Second Interim Report and State Budget Update, OUSD director of fiscal services Laurel Meisch “feels highly confident that the budgets can be reduced by $300,000.” Those reductions “came from maintenance, school sites, merit commission and utilities.”

All of this assumes two things: that the teachers’ and classified unions would agree to again take the same furlough days they did this year, and that Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiatives get on the ballot and pass in November. Should the initiative — a half-percent sales tax increase and 2 percent income tax increase on those making $250,000 or more per year — fail to pass, the OUSD estimates it would be forced to cut an additional $1,007,510. According to the report, “The governor has stated that this … is equivalent to more than 15 days of school, on top of the five instructional say that have already been reduced.” As more developments from Sacramento come in, Meisch and Pusatere will provide updates.

The next OUSD board meeting is slated for April 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the district offices. Find more information and an agenda at ojai.k12.ca.us.

Chris T. Wilson

When Roberta Raye moved to Ojai in the summer of 2007, she did it, in part, to finish her novel.

“I wanted a place to get out of the city and live the quiet life,” Raye said.

And within a few months of arriving in the Ojai Valley the book was basically finished, she said. But then it sat in manuscript form for nearly four years while she launched the Made in Ojai store for local artisans and co-founded the Ojai WordFest event for writers.

That was until about one year ago.

“It was after WordFest this past year that I really started up again,” she said. And by October 2011 she finished the final edits and her own complete out-loud read-through of every word in the book.

On Monday at 7 p.m. the Ojai Art Center Literary Branch will host Raye’s first discussion and reading of “Open with Love,” which is currently selling at Made in Ojai and on amazon.com.

Raye said while the book is inspired by her own process of self-discovery following a divorce 10 years ago, it truly is a novel, with only a few characters and events lifted from actual events.

­“This is something I want to talk about at the Art Center,” Raye said. “How do you take your life and allow it to inform what you’re writing about without it being your actual life.”

“Open with Love,” follows an unhappy woman searching for inner peace who looks to her inner goddess for answers to the problems that plague her.

“I had done a lot of self-discovery work and I wanted to share some of the amazing things I had learned,” Raye said, “but I didn’t want to become a psychologist.”

Drawing on her acting background, she looked inside for a character who could tell this story.

“And that’s how the older woman’s voice appeared,” she said. “It was almost like channeling. So I started writing even though I didn’t really know where it was coming from. I had no idea if it was valid or not, and that’s where the other characters appeared. I set out to write a self-help book and it became a novel.”

Since the book is full of writing prompts and other tools for self-learning, Raye said she plans to write a sort of workbook that readers can use to “tease out” some of the techniques the main character goes through in the book.

To learn more about Raye and the book, visit her website, openwithlove.com.

A $5 donation is suggested for the Monday evening event. The Ojai Art Center is located at 113 S. Montgomery St. The Literary Branch hosts an event on the second Monday of every month.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

On his radio show that reaches millions of listeners, Rush Limbaugh recently called Sandra Fluke a slut and a prostitute. Fluke is the Georgetown law student who testified before House Democrats advocating health insurance coverage for birth control. In addition to calling Fluke a slut, Limbaugh made fun of her sex life, and suggested that she repay taxpayers by posting sex videos on the internet.

Limbaugh gets paid a reported $56 million a year for being outrageous, and often coming across as a flawless moron (a term borrowed from the late author, Robert B. Parker, a favorite read of mine). What a sweet gig. When I was a child, my parents used to whip my behind for saying things that are much less offensive than what he gets paid millions to spew on a regular basis.

I defend Rush Limbaugh’s right to utter whatever inane utterances he wishes to, well, inanely utter. I am a capitalist, as well as a defender of free speech and the First Amendment. As the famous quote says, “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

My problem with Limbaugh is that he waited to apologize until his sponsors started sprinting away from his show. As more sponsors dropped, he apologized again. He did not issue a sincere, “I am deeply sorry for my stupid comments” kind of apology, but more the non-apology kind of apology that has come into vogue among certain celebrities and politicians. Limbaugh said he chose the wrong language, not that he was truly sorry for the grief and embarrassment he caused.

I am kind of amazed that we are having this retroactive national birth control debate in the first place. Didn’t we settle this about 40 or 50 years ago? Do people really not want women to have access to affordable birth control? If so, are those same people prepared to raise or subsidize the cost for raising all the unwanted babies that would be the result?

Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has made contraception a high-profile issue in his campaign, forcing other Republican primary candidates to debate the issue as well. Lately, Santorum seems more interested in limiting contraception than in dealing with the economy and other major problems facing the country.

Those politicians who jump on this bandwagon are headed for a steep cliff. The Republicans are alienating a large group of voters with their throwback comments of “slut” and “just put an aspirin between your knees, gals.” President Obama and the Democrats must be jumping up and down for joy.

Beating up on women for trying to control their own bodies will prove to be costly. It has cost Rush Limbaugh several advertisers and radio stations, and it will likely cost the Republicans the election in the fall.

Limbaugh was typically bold and brash when he made his comments about Ms. Fluke. But once the money starting leaving, he quickly recanted. Who looks like the prostitute now, Rush?

By Logan Hall

Ojai residents and law enforcement officials are scratching their heads once again after an unexplained “boom” rocked the valley over the weekend.

Speculation is abundant as citizens try to come up with answers that would explain a loud “explosion” that was reported at about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to calls regarding the incident, but authorities were unable to locate the source of the noise. “We got a lot of calls about that,” said Tina Cook, office manager at the Ojai Police Station. “Deputies responded, but they didn’t find anything.”

The incident bears a striking resemblance to an occurrence in 2011 where locals reported similar noises during early morning hours.

In September, the VCSD and the Ojai Valley News received many calls questioning a loud “boom” that could be heard from locations across the valley. Sunday’s incident seems to echo those of previous years.

“There was one huge boom,” said Sara Schraeder, who lives behind Soule County Park on Boardman Road. “It wasn’t a crash. It was definitely a boom. It was loud enough to make me sit up in bed and go downstairs. I couldn’t figure out what it was though.”

Guesses as to the cause of the noise were in no short supply on the OVN blog. “It sounded just like dynamite,” read one blog post. Another stated that the sound originated “from a buildup of sewage gasses under the streets.”

VCSD Sgt. Steve Arthur commented by saying that the department had “no idea” what caused the unidentified noise.

By Logan Hall

The Ventura County District Attorney’s office has upped the charges against

Scott Doornbos, alleged attacker of Ojai veterinarian Steve Sallen.

Doornbos was originally charged with one count of felony battery with serious bodily injury after allegedly assaulting Sallen in the Ojai Village Veterinary Hospital last month. Doornbos faces felony counts of making terrorist threats, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and the original charge of battery. The district attorney also added sentencing enhancements to the charges that would authorize a judge to impose harsher penalties for Doornbos if he is convicted. If Doornbos is found guilty, he could do hard time.

“Because a serious felony is alleged,” said Kim Gibbons, senior deputy district attorney, “the defendant can possibly receive a state prison sentence.”

According to police reports, Doornbos attacked Sallen after learning that his 5-year-old dog died while in the vet’s care. Witnesses had stated that the dog was “very sick” when brought to Sallen on the morning of the alleged assault. A Ventura County Sheriff’s Department press release stated that Doornbos came to the animal hospital where he “… battered the veterinarian causing significant bodily injury.”

Sallen, who was initially hospitalized after the incident, says he is recovering, and that for him and his practice, it’s back to business as usual.

“I’m mending just fine,” Sallen said in a phone interview yesterday. “We’re open and seeing patients. We’re back in full operation.”

Both Sallen and his wife say that the community has rallied behind them, showing support both for the family, and Sallen’s business. “I’m just amazed at all of the community support I’ve gotten,” he said. “I’m so grateful for the letters and calls.”

Sallen’s wife Donna reiterated the vet’s sentiments toward the community. “The people need to know how really, truly thankful we are at the continued support of the entire Ojai Valley through this rough time,” she said. “That has really helped him to heal and continue doing what he loves doing — helping animals. That is truly what he lives for.”

Doornbos is scheduled to be arraigned in the Ventura County Superior Court on March 23 where, sources say, he will most likely plead “not guilty.” Ron Bamieh, Doornbos’ attorney, says he is waiting to see all of the evidence, known as the discovery, before he can move forward with the case. “Once I get all of the discovery, I’ll review that and have a discussion with the DA,” said Bamieh, who also represents the Ventura County Star.

Bamieh says he’s seen “evidence that’s a contradiction to some facts seen in the paper,” but he “can’t get into specifics at this point.”

Bamieh claims that Sallen was the aggressor and that someone other than Doornbos caused the vet’s injuries. A line in an article in the Star on the incident read: “… He (Bamieh) said Doornbos was assaulted and that Sallen’s injuries were caused by someone else …”

When asked to clarify the Star’s reporting, Bamieh told the Ojai Valley News that “there’s evidence to corroborate that.”

Doornbos, however, seemed to contradict Bamieh’s statement in an interview with ABC Eye Witness News reporter Robert Holguin. The ABC report, which aired on Channel 7 the day after the incident, said, “Doornbos says most of the physical contact between him and the veterinarian was accidental. ‘I just kind of did a little defensive move to stop him, and I put my hand up, swung my hand up like that, come in contact with his nose, or face, and then he laid back down, and screaming and yelling at me,’ said Doornbos.”

When asked about his client’s statements, Bamieh responded by saying he hadn’t seen the ABC News report. “I haven’t been able to find that interview so I don’t know what was said,” he stated.

Repeated calls to contact Doornbos were not returned.

Soul Centered will be hosting a concert and silent auction to benefit the new Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center Saturday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. SPARC is a no-kill animal shelter opening this spring. The program director of the shelter is Ojai’s own Karen Klingberg and the executive director is Holly Graczyk.

The benefit concert will feature the talents of Bob Ryman, a master of the violin well-versed in Celtic, classical, and country tunes. There will also be a silent auction, and a drawing for a cornucopia of items including Disneyland “Park Hopper” passes, yoga books, jewelry, gym memberships, spa passes, and gift baskets. Donors include The Oaks at Ojai, Vicki’s Pink Thrift, Walt Disney Studios, The Farmer and The Cook, Fox’s Fine Jewelry, and Trader Joe’s, among others. Soul Centered owner Diane Silvester also just announced one more addition to the silent auction lineup: a lithograph signed by comic book legend, Stan Lee.

While the concert is free, donations of towels, blankets, other pet accoutrements, or contributions of $10, will be gratefully accepted.

Soul Centered also held a fund-raising event for Ojai’s Humane Society of Ventura County on Feb. 18, dubbed “Howl at the Moon.” The Ojai Songwriters Anonymous group performed songs honoring animals, with a songwriting competition and a silent auction that raised­ $620 for the Humane Society. Prior to that, Soul Centered also had a psychic faire that raised $500 for victims of Hurricane Katrina, as well as more funds, washing machines and 50 bags of clothes for those affected by the Joplin tornado in 2011.

Soul Centered is located at 311 N. Montgomery St. For more information on the fund-raising event for the Santa Paula shelter, call 640-8222 or go to soulcentered.com.

Photo by Logan Hall

Brows knitted, hands clammy, cheeks flushed, mind racing: there’s nothing like the feeling you get in the moments before you go on stage.

With almost 700 friends, family and community members looking on, 24 dancing pairs took the stage one by one in Nordhoff High School’s first “Dancing with the Ojai Stars” fund-raising event. The money raised will go toward sending the NHS dance students to the prestigious Pasadena Dance Festival, where they’ll be immersed in performances and classes in all forms of dance.

For the guys and gals who competed last Saturday, the nerves came from more than just being onstage. It was about the culmination of a month’s worth of rehearsals, countless hours of volunteer work, bragging rights, and proving that, despite hard financial times, Nordhoff is producing heaps of talented dancers and choreographers.

“I am so proud of all of my students,” said NHS dancer instructor Kim Hoj. “Their professionalism and responsibility demonstrated both on and off the stage speaks volumes about the value of providing an arts-based experience for all students.”

Hoj called the event, which was held in a packed NHS gymnasium, one of “the highlights of my 19-year career.” She estimated: “We will have well over $5,000 raised … I am so honored that the Ojai community came to support Nordhoff students and to share in the magic and joy of dance.”

That joy of dance — swing, hip-hop, jazz, country, modern, and more — was plain to attendees, as performers displayed their dancing skills to a packed house. Twelve NHS dancer students were paired with a fellow student in the student-student division, and 12 were paired with local “stars” (including this humble reporter) in the student-adult division. Out of those 24 teams, the five-judge panel chose four finalists in each division to compete in a “Dance Off.”

Voting then got turned over to the audience, who voted by text message and paper ballot for their favorite teams.

After several minutes of nervousness backstage, contestants filed back onstage and master of ceremonies Dave Cohen announced the winners.

In the student-adult division, first place went to Ojai star Sophocles Cotsis (of the Ojai Recreation Department) and his daughter, Georgia, with their rendition of “Soul Man.” Second place went to Ojai star Jackie Van Etten, a 2007 Nordhoff dance alumni, and her partner, Megan McFarland, with a performance of “Beautiful.” Third place went to Ojai star Chris Agh, a Nordhoff math teacher, along with partner, Megan Rose, with a performance of “Outta Your Mind.” Fourth place went to Ojai star Julia Pfeifer, a local artist, and her partner, Ava Radding, with “Come As You Are.”

In the student-student division, first place went to Rosemary Helvey-Byers and Jake Kunde (choreographed by dance student Madi Miller). Second place went to Courtney Dickerson and Sophia Botti. Third place went to Kaylee O’Malley and Nicolette Doolittle. Fourth place went to Promise Wall and Brianna Wadsworth.

First-place winners received a spa day courtesy The Oaks at Ojai, as well as a three-month membership to Bryant Street Health & Fitness.

The buzz throughout rehearsals and the performance itself was overwhelmingly positive — everyone was having a great time.

Tressa Kahler, owner of Bryant Street Health & Fitness and partner of student Katie Raymond, said, “It was so fun to be a part of it … I felt like Kirstie Alley on ‘Dancing with the Stars!’”

Teacher Bronwen Cull-Michels, who danced with student Lauren Radding, agreed. “It was such a positive experience for me!­I learned so much from my partner …­It was amazing to watch all of the students, teachers, parents and community members make such a huge commitment to the event, and then see all that hard work pay off.­Just another reason to be proud to be a Nordhoff Ranger!”

Junior dancer Cotsis said, “I really enjoyed seeing how all of the dance students choreographed their individual pieces. It showed how much creativity everyone has learned.” She added that she loved competing with her dad. “Teaching him was fun (most of the time) and a great learning experience. I’m glad that our performance was so successful considering he has no dance background!”

Her dad was modest, giving the credit to his daughter and the event organizers. “It’s a huge understatement to say that­I’m incredibly proud of my daughter, Georgia, but I was also­pleasantly surprised by­the camaraderie and good vibes­that all the participants shared. I have a renewed faith in our up-and-coming generation.­We have an incredible dance program­and an amazingly dedicated dance teacher in Ms. Hoj. The outpouring of support for the event­is what makes our town so great.”

Dance instructor Hoj deflected the praise, saying the event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of several locals. “I am extremely grateful to our Steering Committee, without whom this event would never have taken place.­Jody James, Nicole Botti, Lesa Caputo, Carla Cotsis, Mary Ellen Broeffle, and Becky Grant were instrumental in making the magic happen for our students.” She also thanked the Rotary Club of Ojai and the Rotary Club of Ojai-West, and the Ojai Valley Lions Club. James of the Steering Committee said, “I would love to highlight the participation by the Lions Club. They always step up to the plate in supporting local groups. They not only gave the department a large donation, but they also showed up to do all the food concessions for us.” Hoj also sent a special thanks to the judges.

Nancy Radding of The Oaks at Ojai danced with Kennia Gallindo and noted that, “The Steering Committee was so energetic and kind to accommodate everyone’s lives, I think they deserve the trophy!”

Botti of the steering committee said, “I am still in shock at how successful this event turned out to be! It all started out with two moms talking at a football game, then talking to some more moms and before you knew it, we had an event on our hands! It takes a village.”

A video of the event from Nordhoff’s Video Productions class will soon be available. For more information or to obtain a copy, e-mail ojaidancingstars@gmail.com.

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UPDATED REPORT

By Lenny Roberts

An Ojai woman familiar with incarceration will be spending her 32nd birthday locked up on suspicion of having committed multiple burglaries, the most recent of which may have been Saturday in the 1400 block of Foothill Road according to Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Ojai substation.

Ventura County Court records indicate Andrea Barrack has numerous arrests and convictions ranging from traffic violations to burglary, possession of stolen property, petty thefts and possession and being under the influence of controlled substances.

According to authorities, during the months of February and March several residential burglaries were reported to local police. In most of the cases, the suspect(s) removed jewelry and other valuables, sometimes after casing the area and posing as a door-to-door sales person. On Saturday a suspect entered a residence in the 1400 block of Foothill Road and removed jewelry and an electronic music player. The suspect left behind shoeprints and fingerprints. The items were recovered as evidence during the processing of the crime scene.

On Monday, deputies assigned to the Ojai Valley Station, assisted by detectives, conducted a probation search of Barrack, after developing her as a person of interest in the case. During the search, deputies located hundreds of items of jewelry that appeared to be related to the ongoing burglary crime spree. Items related to the Foothill burglary victim were located among the property, and evidence located at the suspect residence were matched to evidence located at the burglary crime scene. Barrack was arrested first-degree residential burglary, receiving stolen property, and possession of a device used to smoke illicit drugs. She was booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for these charges. This investigation is ongoing.

Deputies warned homeowners to lock all doors and windows when leaving home, and to be on the lookout for strangers canvassing residential areas. Any suspicious activity should be reported immediately. Call 646-1414 or 911 in an emergency situation. Police say jewelry, particularly gold, which can sell for about $1,800 an ounce, is in obvious high demand.

An unidentified woman points to a spider web crack in her jeep’s windshield while paramedics tend to her injuries after a three-car-collision on Ojai Avenue Thursday afternoon.

Report and photo
by Logan Hall

A woman was taken by ambulance to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital today after receiving minor injuries in a traffic collision on Ojai Avenue, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputies on scene.

At least three vehicles were involved in the crash but VCSD Deputy Matt Ogonowski stated that there were reports of a fourth vehicle involved that fled the scene before law enforcement personnel arrived. The three vehicles, a white Toyota pickup truck, a silver Jeep Rubicon and a white Ford utility truck were reportedly heading east when the collision occurred. The vehicles came to rest bumper to bumper in the eastbound lane of Ojai Avenue between the “Y” intersection and Country Club Drive near Matilija Junior High School’s sports field. The Jeep’s front end had wedged under the bed of the Toyota, lifting the rear of the pickup. The Jeep appeared to have sustained significant damage. The utility truck appeared to receive minor damage.

Deputies confirmed that there were injuries in the collision, but were investigating the crash and could not comment further. Brent Baker, who was driving the Toyota, said that the woman received a head injury in the crash. A circular crack was visible in the Jeep’s windshield in front of the driver’s seat. “She totally plowed her head into the windshield,” said Baker, who claimed to be uninjured at the time.

John Powers was riding shotgun with Baker when the collision occurred and says they were rear-ended while waiting on cars ahead to move forward. “It was a pretty good jolt,” said Powers, saying they were on their way to the auto parts store before the crash. “We bumped into an SUV in front of us but they took off … I hope I can move my neck when I wake up tomorrow.”

According to VCSD records, emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at 2:37 p.m. arrived on scene at 2:38 p.m. and had cleared the roadway by 3:16 p.m.

Local citizen and Golden State Water Company customer Vicky Clarke shows a pitcher of Golden State supplied water to Richard Smith, the California Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judge during a public hearing last night. Clarke elicited laughs and cheers from the crowd after bringing the pitcher up to Smith to sample.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Ojai’s citizens made no secret of their feelings toward Golden State Water Company yesterday during two public water rate hearings. The public participation hearings, held at 2 and 6 p.m. in Chaparral Auditorium, regarded GSWC’s latest rate case. The company is requesting a 25 percent increase in water rates by 2015.

The California Public Utilities Commission, which oversees privately owned utilities like Golden State, gave the floor to locals, letting them vent their growing frustration toward rising water rates in Ojai. The CPUC’s Administrative Law Judge Richard Smith, who will ultimately make the decision regarding GSWC’s rate case, listened to the complaints of dozens of citizens through the course of the two hearings.

One local GSWC customer, Vicky Clarke, elicited whoops, hollers, laughter, and ultimately wild applause after offering Smith a pitcher of water claimed to be from her home tap. Although refraining from sampling the pitcher’s contents, the judge smiled, motioning for Clarke to bring the pitcher to his table on the auditorium stage. “I’ll take a look at it,” he said.

Clarke also held up a plastic dish drainer mat that she said regularly comes into contact with Golden State-provided water as she lets her dishes dry. She proceeded to show a white buildup of material that she told Smith was a direct result of poor quality water. “I wiped one side with ArmorAll and left the other side with all the gunk on it,” she said after the hearing. “See how bad it is?”

Clarke was far from being the only one in attendance who had something to say about Golden State. CPUC officials on site counted 297 people attending the two hearings, and reported that 57 of those stood up to speak, addressing Smith with concerns on their rising water bills.

“We all live here,” said GSWC customer Karen Dingman during the CPUC’s 6 p.m. hearing, as she swept her hand over the gathered masses. “We are not going to take it any more.”

Many others echoed the complaints of Dingman and Clarke throughout the evening.

“Real estate in Ojai has been really hurt by the water rates,” said local Realtor Dale Hanson. “People can’t afford to water their lawns.”

Commenting on Golden State’s request to charge Ojai customers more for their water, local flower shop owner Jodi Brandt painted a grave picture. “This almost put my business under,” she told Smith. “That’s my livelihood.”

When the judge asked if there were any public officials present that would like to speak, Ojai Mayor Betsy Clapp stood up and headed for the microphone. “I don’t have anything prepared because I’m speechless,” said Clapp. The mayor cited grievances with Golden State, including “unnecessarily high rate increases” and “unfair billing practices,” as well as the company’s controversial meter charge. “I beg you to not give Golden State a single-percent increase, and if at all possible, a reduction,” she concluded, getting cheers from the audience.

Cindy Cantle, who represented Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, read a statement from Bennett on the matter that said, in part: “I object to the subject rate increase request … Far greater and more regular oversight must be exercised by the CPUC to assure that customers are protected from overcharges and unnecessary or inflated capital expenditures.”

Earlier in the day, Ojai city manager Rob Clark and Ojai City Councilman Paul Blatz also spoke on the citizens’ behalf. Other speakers included Friends of Locally Owned Water representatives Bob Daddi, Lou Torres, Ryan Blatz and Pat McPherson.

Before speaking out against GSWC, the citizens who had packed into the auditorium listened quietly as Golden State regulatory affairs manager John Garon outlined the company’s business practices in Ojai.

“Golden State’s rates reflect the cost to provide service and maintain the infrastructure,” said Garon, reading from a prepared statement as many of the evening’s public speakers did. “We only recover our operating expenses on a dollar-for-dollar basis and earn a ‘rate of return’ on capital investments that helps pay financing costs. The California Public Utilities Commission must approve these rates, and this Public Participation Hearing is an important part of this process. Local input is important and gives every Golden State Water Company customer a voice and influence in the outcome.”

Representatives from the Division of Ratepayer Advocates, an independent arm of the CPUC, recommended that the commission grant a much smaller increase than that requested by Golden State. A report given to Smith by DRA program and project supervisor Lisa Bilir outlined the DRA’s stance. “GSWC proposes a revenue increase of $788,920 or 14.7 percent for 2013. DRA’s report recommends a smaller revenue increase of $255,300 or 4.7 percent,” read the report.

Judge Smith told the audience that he appreciated their comments and thanked them for participating, but that he could not consider the day’s statements to be evidence.

“I’m very sympathetic to what I’m hearing,” Smith said in an interview after the hearing. “I can’t base my decision off of these comments though. The people who commented today were not sworn in, but I got good information from them though.”

Smith said that evidence would be considered during the CPUC’s evidentiary hearings that are scheduled to take place in April. “Ultimately, I have to rely on the oral and written testimony from the (evidentiary hearing),” he continued. “There will be a time when I have to grind through it all. Hopefully it will all be ready by October.”

A decision on the rate case, Smith explained, has to be made by the end of the year or temporary rates will have to be used. GSWC’s current rate case includes requests for increases starting next year. “The earliest time that a decision would be made would be in November,” he added.

By Tiobe Barron

On Tuesday night, Ojai City Council approved a second reading of the proposed ordinance that would ban retailers within city limits from providing single-use plastic bags. If passed, the ordinance would prohibit the distribution of the bags as of July 1, with the end goal of reducing the valley’s contribution of plastic trash, not only to landfills and litter, but also via the Ventura River,to the ocean. Not all plastic bags would be banned, merely the so-called “T-shirt” bags; thicker plastic bags with printed logos, as well as produce bags would be exempt from the ban. If the ordinance is approved on March 13, Ojai would be one of more than 40 cities in California to pass legislation restricting the bags. It would be the first in Ventura County to do so.

A large portion of the nearly four-hour meeting was spent debating the finer points of the ordinance: Whether or not restaurants should be exempt from the ban, whether the 10-cent charge for paper bags (required by the ordinance to both cover retailer’s costs and to dissuade consumers from using disposable bags altogether) should be applied universally or only to larger businesses, and whether the record-keeping forms for the 10-cent charge required by the ordinance were too cumbersome for business owners. Council members parroted the comments posted to the Ojai Valley News blog; some posited that the ban goes too far in infringing on personal rights, while others wondered if the ordinance did not go far enough in taking steps to protect the environment.

A tearful Deborah Pendry, the executive director of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, pleaded with the council and the large crowd gathered. “It’s time again for government to step in and say, ‘We, the people, care,’ even when individuals say, ‘I don’t care if this non-essential item uses up finite resources, clogs waterways, contributes to litter, pollutes oceans, kills and injures marine life. I want the convenience for my purchases and I want the convenience for my trash cans and dog poop.” Pendry relayed the story of one David Todd, who observed as the stomach contents of a starved gray whale found dead near Seattle were examined. The contents included rope, a golf ball, a towel, and several plastic bags.

“In our small, land-locked valley, we cannot disconnect ourselves from a whale hundreds of miles up the coast starved to death by plastic bags and other trash,” Pendry insisted.

Morris Wells, a Ventura resident who donned 500 plastic bags and called himself the “Bag Monster” to demonstrate what one year’s worth of the bags for the average shopper looked like, disagreed with Pendry on the matter of Ojai being land-locked.

“I live on the Avenue, West Ventura, and I am exactly 15 miles downstream, and Ojai is not landlocked,” said Wills. “Ventura River drains this area, and it’s about a quarter mile from my front door. Anything that gets in the waterways, as other people have much more eloquently explained, gets in the water, it does make it to the ocean.”

Bob Davidson, a Ventura County resident of 37 years, pointed out that these “urban tumbleweeds” do find their way into our waterways. About 150 billion single-use plastic bags were produced in 2010, he continued, and because they do not biodegrade, he sees that as problematic. Davidson added, “We didn’t have them until 1977, and we seemed to get by.”

Ojai resident and small business owner Meg Goodwin told the sizable audience that it takes 20 million barrels of oil to produce the plastic bags used by Americans in a single year, and an estimated 300,00 tons of plastic bags wind up in landfills.

“If not now, when? We have to start somewhere,” said Goodwin of the proposed ordinance.

Attitude Adjustment owner Les Gardner pointed out that in nearly 30 years of doing business, his store has never used plastic bags.

“I’d like a little applause,” said Gardner jokingly, to which the crowd readily obliged. Steve Sprinkel, co-owner of The Farmer and The Cook, said he “never even contemplated using these kinds of materials,” as he urged council members to widen the ban to include bags doled out by restaurants as well as Styrofoam packaging. Hildegard Tallent, owner of Kava Gifts, concurred. “I care about the environment so much, I don’t even put my name on my bags,” she said. “Why soil the bed you lie in?” Ojai resident Marleen Luckman stated that the single-use bags in question are not even comfortable to carry, and they break often.

Not everyone is in support of the ordinance, however. Local grocery store owner Terry Starr, of Starr Market, submitted a letter to council urging members to reconsider, due to the concern that the ordinance would cause customers more time in line and undue aggravation. The California Grocers Association also submitted a letter to the council, stating that while it does not oppose the ban outright, it urged all restrictions and charges to be applied universally to all retailers, regardless of type or size.

While some have wondered if the ban would negatively effect tourism, Andy Shrader, a Los Angeles resident who frequently visits Ojai, said in yet another letter submitted to council that upon his last visit here, he was “dismayed to find stores still offering us plastic bags. I guess we expected Ojai to be leading the charge on environmental protection and beautification, as that is your reputation and, well, aura.”

Ojai resident Suza Francina summed up, “There’s a part of me that’s incredulous that this is even necessary … If we can’t do something this simple, there’s no hope.”

The City Council will make its final decision at the March 13 council meeting. View the agenda and additional city documents at ci.ojai.ca.us.

By Tiobe Barron

The proposed ordinance banning plastic bags in the city of Ojai wasn’t the only emotionally charged issue on the table at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.  (See separate report). Access to health insurance also got blood boiling.

Councilwoman Carol Smith and Mayor Pro Tem Paul Blatz simultaneously vied for an opportunity to offer their two cents.

“I don’t have a problem with the health care benefits stopping when someone’s not on the council as long as they’re still able to obtain the benefit,” said Blatz.

“They can obtain health insurance,” argued Smith.

“Well, that’s not true, Carol, because the motion you made last time did not include that, it prohibited it,” countered Blatz.

“I’m just saying they can always obtain it privately,” maintained Smith.

“No, they can’t always,” said Blatz. “We’re not all as lucky as you, Carol.”

“Oh, come on, Paul!” interjected Smith. “I noticed you have a Corvette the other day. I noticed you own Rolex watches. What do you mean, you can’t get insurance?”

Ojai resident Leonard Klaif, a former council candidate, urged council to rethink the scaling back of health insurance benefits they are considering for future council members when they are no longer active.

“I ask you to vote no on this,” said Klaif. “I could not afford to be a member of the council … It would cost me money to be on the council. And the only way that would be fiscally possible would be if the health insurance costs of my family were covered … I just don’t get the need to cut back this benefit. How much money are you going to be saving for the city as opposed to how many people who would otherwise consider running but won’t (because of this)? Do you really think that even with the benefits for family that you all are overpaid for the amount of hours that you put in?”

The matter of cutting back city official’s health insurance benefits was brought to light last November, when Dick Thompson, of the Ventura Taxpayer’s Association, attended a regular Ojai City Council meeting and urged council to give up lifetime benefits at the taxpayers’ expense. In response, council drafted a resolution proposing to change the policy for those elected after Nov. 1, 2012. Benefits would be limited to active members only, with the option of paying out of pocket for any dependents.

“Nobody’s suggesting that you add benefits, just that you not cut them back,” concluded Klaif. “The cost savings to the city is miniscule … It’s penny-wise, and pound-foolish.”

“I feel that health care is a human right,” contributed Ojai resident Lucas Thayer. “I feel that if Ojai taxpayers are going to pay for anyone’s health insurance in the city of Ojai, then Ojai’s taxpayers should pay for everyone’s health insurance in the city of Ojai.” Thayer also urged council members to pass a resolution banning hydraulic fracturing, practiced by Halliburton in nearby Oxnard. In addition, he suggested council endorse a “global general strike” to be held May 1, and that Ojai take steps to specifically label any and all genetically modified food. Ojai resident and business owner Meg Goodwin agreed that the labeling is something the council should at least look at.

Tuesday’s meeting was also the last for Ann McLaughlin serving as interim community development director. City manager Rob Clark commended her on doing a year’s worth of work in a six-month time frame. She will be succeeded by Rob Melane, who has worked for San Luis Obispo and Goleta.

The next regular Ojai City Council meeting is scheduled to take place March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at 401 S. Ventura St.

Ojai will also celebrate Arbor Day on March 5 from 10 a.m. until noon, with four trees planted for the occasion, at least one of which will be dedicated to the memory of the late Gary Horgan.

Commentary by Biull Buchanan

The headline of the Associated Press article read, “Child support change could leave 275,000 men destitute.” In another newspaper, the same story’s headline shouted, “Rule change could leave 275,000 men penniless.” The accompanying article explained that beginning next year, the Treasury Department will pay and deposit all government benefits via electronic transfer instead of checks, a move that will save an estimated $1 billion. This new system would make it easier for state governments to freeze and seize 100 percent of that income for men who are past due on their child support payments. The story quotes an attorney named Johnson Tyler, who represents some of those who would be affected as saying, “It’s kind of Orwellian, what’s being set up here for a segment of the population. It’s going to be a nightmare in about a year unless something changes.” The article offers the touching example of a man whose bank account had been frozen repeatedly in the last few years because he had injured his back and had fallen behind on child care payments. The man even had his son come and speak to the court on his behalf. It painted a very sad picture of a poor man pitted against the big, bad government. The article made me a little sick. It was unnervingly sympathetic to the plight of the men, who are, in reality, dead-beat dads. If seizing assets of dead-beat dads is Orwellian, failure to seize them often leaves children in circumstances that are Dickensian. It is hard to get too worked up over the plight of men who have financially deserted their children. The failure of so many men to step up and care for the children they father is a major problem in this country. Not surprisingly, single income households are many times more likely to end up in poverty. The children in such households are much more likely to drop out of school, which, in turn, makes it likely that they, too, will live in poverty. When they grow up, the cycle often starts again. I agree that seizing all income is draconian. But people who do not support their children need extreme incentives to either pay up, or not father the children in the first place. Of course, if you look hard enough, you can find and trot out before the TV cameras some desperate guy who is now disabled or otherwise incapacitated who has fallen behind in paying for the child he spawned. Politicians on both sides of the aisle do it all the time. They elicit our sympathy to enlist support for their policies. But actions have consequences, and bad actions have bad consequences. We should not let our sympathy for isolated cases seduce us into making bad policies for the many. In the last few years, states have become increasingly aggressive in collecting past due welfare benefits. Much of that zeal has probably been born out of the necessity to balance the state budget rather than a benevolent desire to help the children affected. Whatever the reason, it is a good thing, and it needs to continue. If the consequence of not paying child support is going to be dire, let those who caused the problem pay the price, not those who are the helpless victims of it.

By Tiobe Barron

The Ojai Library is in dire need of a few good books. “Living books,” that is —- volunteers with unique careers, backgrounds, lifestyles, or stories who make themselves available to be “checked out” through the Human Library Project. In order for the program to be successful in Ojai, the library needs between eight to 10 people who are available to attend an orientation and can spend 30-minute increments (or more) at the library with a “borrower.”

The Human Library Project was created in 2000 by a Danish youth organization, called Stop the Violence, as a means to alleviate prejudices and create dialogue. The premise of the project is to provide free information and insight into a perspective that one is curious or unknowledgeable about, to break stereotypes, to grow diversity and respect and, of course, for fun — the sheer joy of sharing and learning something new.

According to its website, the Human Library Project “enables groups to break stereotypes by challenging the most common prejudices in a positive and humorous manner. It is a concrete, easily transferable and affordable way of promoting tolerance and understanding.”

Ojai city librarian Mary Lynch was directed to the program by a patron of the library, and she thought it sounded like something people in Ojai would be interested in.

“I think it’s always a good idea to walk a mile in someone else’s moccasins, and for people to discuss what someone’s life is like,” said Lynch. In addition to diversity, she sees the project as a great way for youth to have access to knowledge about jobs.

“I would love if students could talk to someone about careers,” Lynch continued. “An awful lot go to school with an idea of what a career is like, but they don’t really have any idea; so many times you don’t know until you actually get into it.” Another possibility of the program that intrigues her is the books as a sort of living history.

“You’ve got someone from Brooklyn, a baker’s daughter, who lived on the East Coast in the ’20s and ’30s — that’s very different from now! What’s that really like?” wonders Lynch.

So far the library only has three human “books.” Volunteers should be open and honest, and, according to Lynch, “a person who has chosen to be a public representative of a certain group.” Examples of other living books from the Human Library include “The Vegan,” “The Funeral Director,” “The Trans-gender Post Operation,” and “The Police Officer.”

In addition to the “borrowers” learning from the “books,” the “books” also report being challenged on their own prejudices, even just in the question they expected to be asked.

Lynch is hoping to get the program up and running in the Ojai Library sometime this spring. To get involved or for more information, e-mail mary.lynch@ventura.org or call the Ojai Library at 646-1639.

An exciting array of dance styles will be featured at “Dancing with the Ojai Stars” on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Nordhoff High School gym in a fund-raising event for the NHS dance department. Dance Technique students have each choreographed a one and a half minute dance to teach to their “star” partner, drawn from Nordhoff students and faculty and adults in the community.

Finalists in the “Dancing with the Ojai Stars” competition will be selected by a judging panel of dance professionals including Jeff Wallach, Susan Bronstein and UCSB dance major Tenaya Cowsill,­along with KTLA weatherman Mark Kriski and Greg Bayless, assistant principal at Nordhoff.­Following an intermission, the finalists will again perform for 15 seconds each to the song, “The Time” by Black Eyed Peas, with the audience voting for their favorite team via live texting.

Student choreographers and their “star” partners will be Beth Angelini doing a country line dance with John Hoj; Sophia Botti with Courtney Dickerson, jive dance; Taylor Bowen with Amanda Swezey performing lyrical hip-hop; Georgia Cotsis with Sophocles Cotsis, jazz swing; Kayley Cox and Paige Small doing JC jazz; Samantha Dominguez and Alexis Flores in a salsa number; Nicolette Doolittle with Kaylee O’Malley, jazz lyrical; Makayla Farmer and Avery Paradise performing modern jazz; Jessica Fenley and Jimmy Ojeda moving to Latin jazz; and Kennia Galindo with Nancy Radding in an old school number.

Performing Broadway dances will be Harmony Hartley with ­“star” Jim Halverson.­In the novelty category will be student choreographers Phoebe Huffman with “star” Emily Mostovoy; Hannah Keller with “star” Misty Volaski; Lauren Radding with “star” Bronwen Cull; and Tawny Watson with “star” Deputy Sara Valenzuela.

Contemporary dance will be interpreted by student choreographers Delaney Loes with “star” Joey Chilcutt. Performing hip-hop dances will be student choreographers Reiana Onglengco with “star” T.J. Morrison; Megan Rose and “star” Chris Agh in a hip-hop and novelty number; and Brianna Wadsworth with “star” Promise Wall doing hip-hop jazz.

Salsa dance teams include student choreographers Diana Ortega with “star” Jennifer Cornejo; and Edgar Ramos with “star” Raquel Razo. Rounding out the dance teams will be student choreographers Ava Radding with “star” Julia Pfeiffer, modern dance; and Katie Raymond and “star” Tressa Kahler performing a country line dance.

Tickets for “Dancing with the Ojai Stars” are $5­for K through 12 students and­children, $10 for seniors age 60-plus, $15 general adult admission and $25 for VIP seating. Before the dance competition, at 4:30 p.m., the Lions Club will offer a barbecue dinner in front of the Nordhoff gym for $12 presale, $14 at the door. Tickets for both the dance competition and the dinner are available at dancingwiththeojaistars.com.­Seating is limited so purchase your tickets now. Doors to the gym open at 5:30 p.m. Call 640-4343, Ext. 1861, for more information.

Commentary by Hank Bangser

Online editor’s note: Due to an importing conflict, the copy originally posted in this space had run-on sentences that appeared to be misspelled words. This has been corrected. We apologize for the error.

Ojai Valley News editor Misty Volaski and I met recently to discuss the critical financial issues facing the Ojai Unified School District. In that discussion, I stressed that the 2012-2013 school year will represent the fourth consecutive year in which the board of education will be forced to reduce our district staff, increase class sizes, and continue to provide lower compensation for our staff members than in the 2008-2009 school year. Of course, this condition is directly related to the radical decrease in the state’s funding of public schools.

Since the 2009-2010 school year, our students have experienced an annual five-day decrease in their school year — from 180 to 175 days, with the potential in the 2012-2013 school yearof an unconscionable 160-day school year if the state’s voters do not support the governor’s November tax ballot initiative. Since the 2009-2010 school year, class sizes have increased each year because, while the district has experienced a 7 percent decline in student enrollment, our revenue decrease has mandated a 20 percent reduction in the number of teachers and other employees.

Given these realities, the board members and I are committed to moderating the amount of next year’s staff reductions in two ways. First, we will continue to implement as many non-personnel savings as possible. To this end, at the March 6 board of education meeting, our finance administrator and I will present $300,000 in budget reductions resulting primarily from freezing line item balances in this year’s budget. Second, the board of education will continue a policy, first implemented in the 2010-2011 school year, to maintain the lowest fund reserve permitted by the state, a razor-thin 1 to 2 percent of our budget. Let me clarify this figure through a comparison with a family’s annual earnings and savings account. For each $25,000 family members earn in a year, only $250 to $500 would be retained in their bank account in that year to address any unexpected expenditures. That is the financial managementchallenge with which we have been living in the district for the past three years — and will live with for at least the next three years.

In closing, I wish I could appropriately portray the breadth and depth of the professionalism of our district staff. Two examples, among many other potential candidates, are revealing. First, during these years of increased class sizes, our students’ performance on state tests has actually improved somewhat. However, a slight decline was revealed in the spring 2011 data. We will monitor closely the spring 2012 results to determine if a trend can be linked to the higher class sizes. Second, over 95 percent of the staff members voting each year since the 2009-2010 school year have authorized the board of education to reduce their salaries, thus supporting our students by preserving some staff positions and related services. As a result, in the past three years the salaries of our teachers and support staff have declined by a total of 11.5 percent and our administrators by 12 percent. These impacts are projected to increase next school year by at least another 4.4 percent.

In the midst of the pervasive public sector resource decline in our state and district, we are completely committed to the district’s children. That is our promise to the Ojai Valley community.

Hank Bangser is the superintendent of schools of the Ojai Unified School District.

By Logan Hall

Tragedy struck Thursday afternoon when a solo motorcyclist was killed on Maricopa Highway about five miles north of Wheeler Gorge after crashing into a gully. According to a CHP report, Ventura resident Edward Craig Layfield, 52, was traveling south down the highway on a 2002 Yamaha RX6 with two other motorcyclists when he tried to pass one of the other riders. The report indicates that as he attempted to pass the other motorcycle, his front tire came off of the ground. After the tire came back down on the road, he lost control as his bike “began to wobble severely,” the report read. CHP records show that Layfield “hit his brakes but his speed was too great and he could not regain control of his motorcycle as he neared a curve in the roadway … his motorcycle became airborne and traveled through the air and struck the other side of the gully, where he received fatal injuries.”

The report stated that Layfield and his motorcycle came to rest 30 feet from the road.

Multiple emergency units were called to the scene, including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue helicopter. According to VCFD spokesman Bill Nash, the helicopter was called off after the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

By Logan Hall

Oak View resident Scott Doornbos was released last week after being arrested Thursday for allegedly assaulting Dr. Steve Sallen, owner of the Ojai Valley Village Pet Hospital on West Ojai Avenue.

On Thursday afternoon, Doornbos, 55, turned himself in at the Ojai Police Station and was booked at Ventura County’s Pre-trial Detention Facility for felony battery with serious bodily injury. A press release issued by the VCSD said, “Mr. Doornbos battered the veterinarian causing significant injury.”

Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials confirm that Doornbos was released on Friday morning after posting $20,000 bail.

Sallen’s wife, Donna, who witnessed the alleged assault, was unable to comment on Doornbos’ release. “I was not aware of that,” she said. After a brief pause, she politely said, “I have to hang up now and make a call.”

She did say that her husband was “doing OK” and is “very strong,” but that he was going to go through CAT scans at the hospital last week.

According to VCSD reports, the trouble began Thursday when Doornbos’ 5-year-old dog died during treatment at Sallen’s hospital. “After being notified of the dog’s death, Mr. Doornbos went to the animal hospital and confronted the veterinarian who treated the dog …”  according to the press release.

Soon after Doornbos arrived at the hospital, Sallen was brutally beaten according to VCSD and eyewitness reports.

Doornbos could not be reached for comment, but in an interview with ABC “Eyewitness News” reporter Robert Holguin on Friday, Doornbos said he was sorry for what happened, but that he was defending himself from Sallen. “I’m sure I was wrong for going and being upset,” Doornbos told Holguin, “and I think that he was wrong too in the way that he handled this. I just kind of did a little defensive move to stop him, and I put my hand up, swung my hand up like that, came in contact with his nose, or face, and then he laid back down, and screaming and yelling at me.”

The incident sparked uproar on the Ojai Valley news blog. As of press time on Tuesday night, the online OVN report had 89 comments, most in staunch opposition of Doornbos’ alleged actions. “No one should ever be assaulted with deadly force like that for any reason except for self-defense or if defending a loved one from imminent danger …” read one comment.

Another simply said, “Dear Dr Sallen, I was shocked in disbelief when I learned of this horrific, violent act that you endured. My prayers are with you and your family, (from) Jack’s Mom.”

Supporters of Sallen and his business say that the vet was heartbroken that he couldn’t save Doornbos’ dog and tried his best to help the sick animal. “He was very distraught over the loss of the dog,” said Sallen’s wife.

By Misty Volaski

Ojai mother Cally Houck and rental car safety advocates took a big step this week toward what they hope will lead to federal legislation of the rental car industry’s safety recall policies.

Hertz, the No. 2 car rental company in America, has signed an agreement with the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, supporting the proposed legislation and agreeing to give authority over their recall-related practices to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Hertz wants to do the right thing,” said Houck. “We’re very, very happy they made this very courageous decision. They stepped away from the industry to do the right thing. They were the first to do it.” She hopes others, namely Avis Budget Group, Inc., will follow. The timing of Hertz’s decision is fortunate for Houck’s cause, with the Senate set to vote on the NHTSA highway bill next week.

As it stands now, manufacturers and automotive dealerships are forbidden by law to sell any vehicles currently under a safety recall until the issue has been repaired. However, the rental car industry — the nation’s “largest purchaser of new cars,” Houck says — doesn’t have to operate under these laws. They may sell or rent their vehicles regardless of whether the car has a cosmetic recall, such as chipping paint on a bumper, or a major safety recall, like faulty brakes or seat belts.

Houck has good reason to continue her relentless push for reform. It was an unrepaired safety recall that took the lives of her daughters, Raechel and Jacqueline, Nordhoff High School graduates, in 2004. The girls rented a PT Cruiser from Enterprise Rent-A-Car in October of that year which was under a safety recall for a power steering fluid problem. The car leaked the fluid, causing an under-hood fire which resulted in the loss of steering control — and the girls’ deaths in a fiery head-on collision with a semi-truck. Despite a five-year legal battle which resulted in Enterprise admitting liability and $15 million in damages being awarded to the family, Houck says that still wasn’t enough to prompt Enterprise to change its safety recall policies.

“They have billions and billions of dollars,” she said. “It’s not too much to ask” to ensure the safety of the consumer. Houck added, “I’m still a raging lioness. That mother part of me doesn’t care what they do. They won’t be able to fix it for us. But at least they can fix it for other families. We’re certainly not going to back down.”

To that end, Houck and her son, Greg, have teamed with C.A.R.S., Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), among other lobbyists and consumer safety groups, to get the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act attached to the NHTSA reauthorization bill. This would give NHTSA authority over the industry’s recall-related practices and force them to adhere to the same rules as the manufacturers and dealerships on the issue.

“Boxer and Schumer are real champions of this cause,” Houck said. “They’ve become real powerful advocates” for the legislation.

Rosemary Shahan, president of C.A.R.S., echoed Houck’s enthusiasm for the senators’ efforts, and also applauded Hertz’s bold move. The agreement with Hertz is made up of three parts, she said. They’ve agreed to be “on the same footing as the dealerships” regarding safety recall practices, Shahan said. Hertz also agreed that if they get a safety recall notice for a vehicle that’s currently in the hands of a consumer, they will, “Notify them as soon as practicable,” Shahan said. The third part of the agreement states that NHTSA will have jurisdiction over their recall practices.

“This is an indication that they’re confident that their practices are (solid), and that they’re comfortable being under government regulation and oversight,” Shahan said.

Avis, meanwhile, “has expressed interest,” she added, in discussing an agreement for their company. Avis’ vice president of communications, John R. Barrows, was non-committal when asked whether the company will ultimately join Hertz in its agreement with C.A.R.S. “With respect to legislation,” Barrows said in a Thursday e-mail, “it has always been Avis Budget Group’s view that recall issues should be resolved on a federal level … While the Hertz proposal has certain coverage and logistical problems, we welcome an opportunity to discuss these challenges with input from consumers, manufacturers, and fleet owners and operators.­To that end, we are currently reviewing and discussing the Hertz proposal and other ideas with Hertz among other parties.”

Still, Houck and Shahan feel optimistic. “That Avis is still talking means that they haven’t written it off yet,” Houck said. “We are crossing our fingers that Avis will come on board.”

Next week, when Congress reconvenes, the Senate will vote on the NHTSA bill. “We’re working day and night with a great coalition of proponents,” said Houck. Until then, Boxer, Schumer, Shahan and the consumer groups, as well as several power players in the Washington, D.C., area, will continue to keep the dialogue open with the rental car industry. Houck also started a Change.org petition Tuesday morning, called “Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Stop opposing a law prohibiting companies from renting out recalled cars.” It has gathered 132,000 signatures as of press time.

One signer, Michael Travere, commented, “I am no longer a happy Enterprise customer wondering how many times did they let me rent a unsafe car. Fix the problem because from here on out I am a Hertz customer. Because they place my safety first. So long, Enterprise no one in my family drives your cars until proven otherwise.”

To sign the petition, go to change.org and search Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

UPDATE Friday, 2/24/2012 5:32 p.m.

According to published reports, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has indicated it may be reconsidering its staunch opposition to federal oversight of the rental car industry.

In a statement issued Thursday, Enterprise said of the proposed legislation, “In the past, we believed this step was unnecessary, but a growing number of people, including our customers and business partners, clearly want more assurance on this critical issue. We hear them and what we’ve heard has caused us to rethink our stance.” It also said the company is “profoundly sorry” for “the tragedy of the Houck sisters’ deaths.”

The proposed legislation would give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration authority to govern the practices of rental car companies regarding vehicles under a safety recall; they would be required to ground and repair vehicles under recall prior to renting or selling them to consumers.

When asked to clarify the company’s position, Enterprise spokeswoman Laura T. Bryant said in an e-mail to the OVN Friday afternoon, “We have not endorsed any specific legislation or amendment to date, but — as previously stated — we pledge to work collaboratively with those individuals and organizations who today are committed to legislative oversight of the recall process.” She did not address a question posed to her, regarding whether or not Enterprise would join Hertz in its agreement with the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety in support of the proposed legislation. She also did not address the question of whether the company would consider making its own agreement with the consumer advocacy group.

Ojai mom Cally Houck isn’t buying into the excitement some expressed when Enterprise issued its statement. Houck, whose two daughters Raechel and Jacqueline died in a car accident caused by safety recalls what weren’t repaired by Enterprise, said, “This is all spin to try to make Enterprise look good. Until they come out and say, ‘We’re supporting the (Raechel and Jacqueline) Safe Rental Car Act,’ until they ground all recalled cars and fix them and don’t rent or sell them until they’ve fixed them, then we have nothing more to talk about. And we’ll just continue this campaign. Right is might. We’re going to continue to put pressure on Enterprise. We want their full unconditional support of the legislation. We want them to stop renting recalled cars unconditionally. We want them to join Hertz.”

By Logan Hall

The Ventura County Planning Division has given the OK to Ojai Rock Quarry owner Larry Mosler to continue operating his business.

In a public hearing on Dec. 15, the County Planning Commission decided to give Mosler a chance to work with county staff to abate violations, and post an adequate amount of money — called the Financial Assurance Cost Estimate — to back up an approved reclamation plan. A reclamation plan details how a mine will be restored to safe and environmentally friendly conditions if the mine shuts down. The hearing had been continued to this morning to give the two parties time to hash out the details.

Since then, Mosler and county officials worked to bring the quarry up to speed with county and state requirements. In this morning’s continuation of the hearing, Ebony McGee, the county’s State Mining and Reclamation Act coordinator, listed the grievances that the county had with Mosler’s quarry, and how he subsequently corrected each issue.

In December, the commission had required Mosler to post $25,000 by Dec. 24, post an additional $25,000 within 30 days, pay $59,875 for permit processing fees, post a temporary financial assurance of $70,600 and to work with staff to finalize a F.A.C.E. and reclamation plan amendment. During the deliberations, McGee showed how Mosler had complied with each of the county’s directives.

Outlining how the county has now accepted a $244,000 financial assurance estimate for the quarry, McGee also showed that Mosler had posted the entire amount. She also said that the state Office of Mine Reclamation would review the F.A.C.E. within 45 days.

McGee stated that the county and Mosler have entered into a new compliance agreement. She explained to the commission that Mosler’s 14 previous violations had been abated and he had included payment for outstanding fees. At one point, the county told Mosler he owed more than $85,000 in fees and penalties regarding the violations. The violations were for using non-permitted machinery, violating operating hour restrictions, mining outside of the required boundaries of operation, truck trips exceeding the 20-per-day limit and trucks driving past Nordhoff High School during non-permitted hours.

Newly appointed Planning Commission Chairman Stephen Onstot inquired about the state OMR AB 3098 list that allowed mine owners to sell their product to government agencies for public projects. The state had taken Mosler off the list due to his lack of compliance with the county at the time. In January, Mosler told the OVN that being taken off of the list would effectively put him out of business.

“It’s a matter of waiting for the OMR to do this,” Mosler told the commission this morning regarding the list. “I still can’t sell to public agencies.”

McGee assured Onstot that the county had sent a letter to the state that outlined Mosler’s current compliance with the county’s regulations.

“We sent the letter to OMR … he should be eligible now,” said McGee.

Mosler believes that the worst is behind him, and expects everything to run smoothly now. “There is no issue any more,” he said after this morning’s hearing. “Everything is resolved.”

Not everyone is happy with the county’s decision though. One item being discussed by Mosler and the county is an allowance for the mine owner to use his rock crusher, which had not previously been permitted by the county. A woman who identified herself as Pat Baggerly with the Ventura County Environmental Coalition told commissioners that she believed that more thought should be put into the quarry’s — specifically, the rock crusher’s — impact on the environment.

“Many environmental issues relating to the quarry have not been resolved,” said Baggerly. “The previous Environmental Impact Review predated a time when steelhead entered the river. The addition of allowing a rock crusher … could have a significant adverse biological impact to the stream. Before Ventura County Planning approves a new plan, a new Environmental Impact Review should take place.”

Ojai Stop the Trucks! Coalition representatives also disagree with the county’s decision. “I think the (county) planning director has far exceeded her authority in this case,” said coalition representative Michael Shapiro. “He (Mosler) was given two years to comply. If someone violates something, they should be shut down. Mosler has been litigious, hostile and arrogant and he’s been rewarded for it.”

Mosler acknowledged that organizations like Stop the Trucks! and the V.C. Environmental Coalition were large contributors to the county’s issues with the quarry, but says the county’s decision speaks for itself. “Shapiro is going to be upset,” he said. “He thought that he had won. It’s been a brutal fight, but the county said that we have everything resolved.”

The Planning Commission continued the meeting again to May 24, which should give the state time to review the submitted material.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

Last week, Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order to fly U.S. and New Jersey flags at half-staff in honor of New Jersey native Whitney Houston. What has he been smoking? Christie received a lot of criticism for the action, much of it centering on the fact that the singer would be honored in the same way as distinguished government officials and armed services members who gave their life for their country. The only combat the late Ms. Houston ever saw was during her tumultuous marriage to her equally troubled husband, Bobby Brown. Christie tried to deflect some of the criticism by pointing out that he had issued similar orders to honor all New Jersey soldiers and police officers who had died during his tenure. The governor’s order calls Houston “a gifted singer, remarkable performer, and iconic figure who left an indelible mark upon the popular music landscape in the State of New Jersey and across our nation” and that she “left a legacy in this state that will be cherished for many years.” Despite that, the criticism is justified. Houston was an extremely talented entertainer. While I was not a fan, I readily acknowledge her amazing voice. Unfortunately she lost her voice, her talent, her reputation, much of her fortune, and possibly her very life due to a celebrated drug and alcohol habit. Flying the flag at half-staff is a somber memorial recognizing and honoring a brave soldier or a police officer who gives his or her life in the line of duty. It is flown to honor the passing of a public official who has distinguished themselves in service to their country. It is done as a way to recognize heroism, bravery and patriotism. To honor someone simply because they are a famous celebrity makes a mockery of the honor. It cheapens the gesture for those who deserve it most. Our culture is celebrity-obsessed enough without adding additional recognition — especially recognition that has been traditionally reserved for special service. Last weekend, Houston was honored at a memorial service at the New Hope Baptist Church in a four-hour long “private” funeral extravaganza attended by over 1,000 people and it was covered on cable television. That was appropriate; it was the way her friends and family chose to remember her. Flying both the state flag and the American flag at half-staff is not. It trivializes the memorial. If you really want to honor the life of Whitney Houston, request that her record company (Sony) donate a portion of the tremendous windfall profits they are raking in from her posthumous record sales (the prices of which they jacked up about 60 percent immediately after her death) and fund a documentary about how a beautiful, talented entertainer lost everything because of alcohol and drug abuse. Make it available for viewing by school kids across the nation to serve as a cautionary tale. That would not only be a fitting tribute, it might actually help someone.

By Logan Hall

UPDATED: Vanhemert gets 180 days in jail, three-year probation

The sight of shuttle operator Dutch Vanhemert’s big white bus might soon be a thing of the past in the Ojai Valley.

Last month, Vanhemert was convicted by a jury of evading an officer with willful disregard, and could face up to three years in prison and fines up to $10,000 after his sentencing.

Driving a white Chevy Suburban, a minivan, or his 24-foot converted school bus, Vanhemert is best known around town for providing free rides to those who are under the influence of alcohol and need a way to get home. While accepting gratuities, he does not charge riders a formal fee.

Although he has had run-ins with the law in the past regarding traffic citations, the real trouble began in April 2010 when Vanhemert was stopped in downtown Ojai by Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Michael Harris for allegedly honking his horn while driving by the officer.

During a brief confrontation, Vanhemert says he told Harris that he had left his driver’s license at home and that Harris threatened to take him to jail for failing to produce the license. Harris had also cited the shuttle driver on previous occasions for unrelated traffic offenses.

Vanhemert says he feared for his safety and drove away from the scene, after which he headed to the Ojai Police Department with Harris giving chase in his patrol car, lights flashing and siren wailing. According to reports, after arriving at the station, Vanhemert approached the front door of the building and was subsequently tazed by sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Valenzuela; he was then arrested for evading Harris.

“I went to the Police Station because I didn’t feel comfortable with what was going on,” said Vanhemert. “The jury decided that I went from point A to point B without stopping for the cop, though. That’s all they’re looking at.”

The jury’s guilty verdict came as a surprise to both Vanhemert and his attorney, Cathy Elliott Jones. “There were some anomalies in the trial,” said Jones. “One of the jurors said he was going into it with an assumption of guilt. He basically said he didn’t believe in The Constitution. There should have been an automatic dismissal of that juror.”

There is still an option for Vanhemert to appeal the court’s decision, but Jones said her client has not made a decision on filing for an appeal yet. “That will be up to Dutch to decide whether we appeal,” she said.

Leroy Wu, the Ventura County District Attorney’s prosecutor handling the case, could not be reached for comment. Due to legal constraints, Sheriff’s Department officials involved in the case were also unable to comment. Vanhemert is scheduled to appear in court on March 16 for the sentencing phase of the case.

By Tiobe Barron

Last week’s regularly scheduled Ojai City Council meeting was preceded by a special meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission to discuss the completed “windshield” survey of historic properties in Ojai.

Mitch Stone, with San Buenaventura Research, the consultant the city used to complete the survey, addressed the crowd, saying, “Study was done over an extensive period of time to streamline the historic resource review process, which resulted in a survey that the council was asked to adopt, which raised some public outcry.” Stone maintained that the council was trying to address these concerns through Planning Commission meetings. “The question is how to move forward on the goals of the survey, but address the concerns of the public,” said Stone.

“One of my concerns when I go through this survey is the lack of standards to apply to the rest of the properties (those not clearly historical landmarks),” said Mayor Pro Tem Paul Blatz. “Even the consultant is indicating that the city has put the cart before the horse by doing the survey without establishing specific standards.” Blatz voiced the concern that if the council adopted the survey as is, they could potentially be putting themselves in a compromising position.

Craig Beam, an Ojai resident and environmental lawyer, agreed with the sentiment that council has put the cart before the horse. “There are no real standards as to why a particular property is listed as a historic resource,” said Beam. “You can’t declare a home a historic resource because you think it’s charming the way it is.” Beam was also concerned the designation of such a broad range of homes as historic resources would put undue hardship on homeowners, many of whom are already struggling in today’s recession.

“The context we’re in now also needs to be considered,” said Beam. “This policy could stifle maintaining Ojai as we’d like to see it. We don’t want to see stagnation, and regulatory hurdles (such as those incurred after adopting a historical survey) can result in exactly that.”

There was some debate on how many properties fell into the Category 3 group — those which, according to the survey, could not easily be examined from the street at the time the data was collected. Documents in the survey seemed to indicate as many as 362 properties, but Stone maintained it was 161 homes on the list. Category 1 homes were defined as those with serious historic resource potential, and Category 2 properties were those with little to no historic value according to the consultant firm.

Barbara Snyder, an Ojai resident, owns one of the homes designated Category 1 by the survey.

“Please know, I know this company, and they do wonderful work. I’m not bashing them at all,” said Snyder, “but our house isn’t historic. It’s cute, but it’s not a Category 1 home.”

Resident Leanna McNeilly echoed Snyder’s comments, adding that the thought of having to endure more expense and bureaucracy when doing repairs or modifications on her home, simply because of when it was built, seemed ludicrous to her. Bradley Smith, another Ojai resident, queried what the cost to the homeowner would be to do a study if their property is one of those designated Category 3 but the homeowner wanted to be removed from the list or excused from review. Ojai resident Stan Greene agreed. “The idea of someone giving you a category and you having to opt out is a burden, and I don’t think that’s right.”

Mayor Betsy Clapp said, “I don’t think we know what we’re trying to achieve. I don’t think anyone’s intention has been to make it difficult for people to take care of their homes. I would like us to define what it is we’re trying to achieve.”

Council members took no action regarding the survey at the meeting that night.

By Tiobe Barron

Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, a Democrat who represents Ojai and other communities in the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, announced on Feb. 13 that he would no longer be running for Congress. When Rep. Elton Gallegly retires at the end of his term, there will be a vacancy for the representative of the new California District 26, an area which includes Ojai and Ventura. Supervisor Bennett was considered by most to be the most viable Democratic candidate running for the position, opposite Republican candidate Tony Strickland.

Supervisor Bennett stated in a recent phone interview that his primary reason for dropping out of the race was an overwhelming concern that his vacated seat in the Board of Supervisors would create a major paradigm shift.

“I thought I could be more effective continuing to serve on the Board of Supervisors,” said Bennett. “I think that with the candidates running, there was the potential for a major philosophical shift on the Board of Supervisors, different policies than the ones I’ve supported.”

Among those policies he has supported and is most proud of are the county’s strong fiscal standing and a record of strong environmental policies. Bennett cites his support of the S.O.A.R. Initiative, leading the charge to stop big housing developments in the area’s remaining wilderness, his desire to preserve the Ojai Valley, and the fact that 10 percent of the county’s budget is in reserves (compared to zero when he took office 10 years ago) as evidence of the work he wants to protect.

Bennett said he felt confident that Assemblywoman Julia Brownley would step forward as an alternate Democratic candidate for representative of District 26. Brownley announced Monday that she would indeed be running in Bennett’s stead. According to her website, Brownley has represented Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Oak Park and Westlake Village as a state assembly member for the last six years. A graduate of George Washington University, her top priorities include protecting Medicare and the environment, as well as creating jobs.

“She is a proven fund raiser,” said Bennett. “I am confident she can beat Strickland, and I am strongly supporting her.” Bennett added that she also has strong organizational support behind her.

Ojai Valley resident Bob Roper, who is running for Bennett’s seat, acknowledged the importance of campaign finance, and the inherent edge that an incumbent candidate such as Supervisor Bennett has in an election. Now that Bennett is no longer vacating his seat on the Board of Supervisors, Roper has perhaps a bit more than expected to contend with in the upcoming election.

“The value of an open race is that there is more of a level playing field,” said Roper. “The incumbent has a treasury; everyone else has to raise money from scratch.” Despite the disadvantage, he maintained that he is a good choice for voters because he grew up in this district, has always resided here, has worked in county government his whole career (including a number of years as chief of the Ventura County Fire Department), and is “Someone people can trust,” he said. “People have the opportunity to choose someone who is very solid in their decisions.” His self-proclaimed top priority is the economy.

“We have to make sure we have a good quality of life,” Roper said. “It’s a balance of jobs, regulations, a healthy environment. We have to protect what we hold dear.”

Voters will have a chance to decide for themselves who best represents them for the Ventura County Board of Supervisors this June.

By Tiobe Barron

Ojai resident Lucas Thayer brought levity and information to the regular Ojai City Council meeting when he sang “Heads, shoulders, knees and toes” to a packed crowd last Tues., Feb. 14. Thayer was playfully underscoring the distinctions between people versus corporations as he urged council to draft and approve an amendment to abolish corporate personhood.

“I’d very much like to discuss an amendment to reject corporate personhood,” said council member Carol Smith in response to Thayer’s presentation. Thayer also urged the city to remove any funds held in accounts with any major banks and transfer the money instead to an account with a small, local credit union. Mayor Betsy Clapp was responsive to the idea, inquiring as to which bank the city uses, and if they are able to move their funds to Ojai Community Bank, prompting cheers from those in attendance. City manager Robert Clark responded that Ojai City Council primarily banks with Rabobank, because it was the most responsive company when the city was looking for a line of credit for Libbey Bowl renovations. While council could indeed open a new account with a smaller local entity, they are obligated to maintain at least some funds in the existing account with Rabobank.

In another hot topic Tuesday night, the discussion of the “smart meters” Southern California Edison plans to begin installing in Ojai sometime this spring was electric. Though council members expressed a desire to place a moratorium on the devices in Ojai, former city attorney Monte Widders advised council that because the California Public Utilities Commission had already granted Edison and PG&E permission to install them, it would not be possible for council to adopt a moratorium. New Ojai city attorney Joseph Fletcher agreed with this opinion, recommending instead that council send a letter to the CPUC petitioning for an opt-out mechanism for entire cities or communities, and to Edison requesting a delay for SmartMeter installation in Ojai. Edison does have an opt-out program in place for individuals should they elect to keep their analog meters, though the resident would then incur a monthly meter-reading fee for the service they are currently receiving.

Marleen Luckman, an Ojai resident, pointed out that in the case of PG&E in Northern California, residents have been charged a $75 initial fee to opt out, and then $10 every month.

“This is another situation where corporations are auctioning off our airwaves, with serious health effects,” said Luckman. “I think people need to understand all the implications of these (devices).” She submitted to the council a study undertaken by the county of Santa Cruz on the levels of radio frequencies emitted by SmartMeters, and the possible health effects thereof. A document cited within the report by Santa Cruz shows the amount of frequencies emitted by SmartMeters at a distance of three feet and left on continuously can be nearly 40 times that of the average cell phone. The Santa Cruz report also states, “Energy usage data, measured moment by moment, allows the reconstruction of a household’s activites: When they wake up, when they come home, when they go on vacation, even when they take a hot bath. SmartMeters represent a new form of technology that relays detailed hitherto confidential information reflecting the times and amounts of the use of electrical power without adequately protecting that data…”

Ojai resident Shalom Joshua argued that the lack of intelligible information being presented to customers from the beginning of this issue in and of itself is objectionable. Though many studies have been done on electromagnetic frequency radiation (EMF), very little data has been gathered on the SmartMeters specifically. Ojai resident Rae Amey also submitted documents to the council, citing in part research done by McGill University at the behest of a Canadian electric company called Hydro-Quebec in order to ascertain the health effects of EMF from power lines on the company’s employees. The study allowed that the human body relies on electrical signals to communicate everything from insulin levels to the release of white blood cells to a specific region of the body, and there is a possibility that EMF could interfere with these processes.

Robin Bernhoft, an Ojai doctor and member of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, submitted to council a letter his group sent to the CPUC opposing the installation of SmartMeters. The letter stated, in part, “The current medical literature raises credible questions about genetic and cellular effects, hormonal effects, male fertility, blood/brain barrier effects, and potential increased risk of certain types of cancers from the level of RF and ELF emitted from smart meters. Children are placed at particular risk for altered brain development, and impaired learning and behavior.”

Ojai resident Leonard Klaiff noted that, “It’s interesting, the inter-connection between these topics. If corporations have control over our water, food, and our politics- Duh! We ain’t got a whole lot left if they have that.”

Also at the Tues. night meeting, council moved and approved a motion to change the regular meeting times from 7:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a deadline of 10:30 for agenda discussion items instead of the current 11 p.m. cut-off. Council members also changed the language of the protocol regarding absences and leave of absences. With input from city manager Clark and city attorney Fletcher, council moved to create a line item in the agenda for absences, giving the council more flexibility in addressing recent issues with a government code that automatically creates a vacancy after missing all regular council meetings within a 60-day time frame. Rhonda Basore, city clerk, said the first meeting to start at 7 p.m. will probably not be until April.

By Logan Hall

As identity theft and burglaries are on the rise in neighboring communities, Ojai’s law enforcement officers are urging citizens to report suspicious activity to authorities. The Ojai Valley News received several emails from concerned citizens reporting solicitors and suspicious activity in the area of Foothill Road in including a burglary on one home. Police reports indicate that nothing was taken from the home in question.

Although the burglary was reported to authorities, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department has not received any official reports from citizens on soliciting.

“These are two different events that are not related,” said Sheriff’s Detective Mark Burgess. “I don’t believe that they (solicitors) are part of any burglary ring.”

Authorities, however, confirm that soliciting has been related to burglaries in the past, and is a problem in other communities.

“If someone suspicious knocks on your door, don’t just open it,” said Capt. Chris Dunn, Ojai’s chief of police. “Let them know you’re home by saying you’re not interested without opening the door, then call us right away.”

Dunn explained that sometimes, burglars will knock on the door of a residence to see if the home is occupied. If it is perceived that the home is unattended, they may try to burglarize the property.

“Our guys are aware of this,” said Sheriff’s Detective Mark Burgess. “We are citing solicitors that don’t have a permit when we come across them.”

Call the Ojai Police Department at 646-1414 to report suspicious behavior or dial 911 for emergencies.

Report and photo by Holly Roberts

Kathleen Schafer has always believed in the power of community. “The community has something to offer everyone and — our communities are stronger when people are giving what they can,” said the Ojai resident. “Ojai is full of artists, scientists and photographers, and why not bring them into the schools and let the kids experience their passion?”

Schafer put that attitude into action recently, when she volunteered to develop the After-school Enrichment Program for Topa Topa Elementary School last fall. She launched it just seven weeks after the district announced that instruction hours would be reduced every Wednesday.

The Topa Topa after-school program is revenue-neutral and currently offers 75 students from kindergarten through sixth grade a chance to enroll in academic and physical enrichment classes such as art, computers, dance, Spanish, yoga, playground sports and basketball for two hours every Wednesday afternoon. The cost per student is $10. The program, which has two supervisors and is supported by the Topa Parent-Teacher Association, also offers scholarships based on the free and reduced lunch program. Kids even get a snack. Schafer’s youngest son, Jake, attends Topa Topa and also participates in the after-school enrichment classes.

With a 20-year career as a leadership coach, teacher and author of the newly released book, “Living the Leadership Choice: A Guide to Changing Your Life and the World,” Schafer walks the talk. Her background is in practical applied politics and policy — essentially, how to create change in the world. She’s all about actually getting things done.

Schafer’s first question to her clients and to herself is, “Are you actually doing what you want in the world and having a positive impact?” The Topa program is the perfect example, she said. “There was a need. There was a lot of potential with people in the community who could help and there were these kids who wanted to learn more. I did something about it.”

Schafer worked with Topa Topa principal John LeSuer and Sophocles Cotsis of the Ojai Recreation Department to develop and staff the program with passionate teachers from the community based on models of programs she was familiar with on the East Coast.

“Kathleen is a parent at our school and has done a fabulous job organizing people to teach our classes and supervising the program,” LeSuer said. “When the opportunity presented itself, Kathleen just took it and ran with it. The kids are really benefiting from the wonderful programs.”

Small-town Ojai attracts some interesting urban-savvy residents. Schafer spent the majority of her career in Washington, D.C., discovering Ojai through her oldest son, Nick, and his participation with the Weil Tennis Academy. Schafer’s career includes founding her own company, Leadership Connection, developing the original political leadership curriculum and teaching courses at The George Washington University for 16 years, chairing the Maryland Women’s Commission, and coaching, teaching and speaking to thousands of people worldwide to encourage leadership skills.

Schafer’s book, “Living the Leadership Choice” is a 28-day self-guided course to identify one’s greatest assets, potential and purpose. “What is it that you want to do in your everyday life? How do you take your passion and that desire to change the world and put it all together into a career or an opportunity that you can really do?” These are a few of the questions Schafer asks her clients, whether politicians, CEOs, college-bound students or folks in mid-career crisis.

“I believe that everybody has something important to offer that is needed by the community, and that the community is going to be better when you offer it. That community could be your family, a religious affiliation, your neighborhood or it could be the state of California. It’s different for everyone. It’s really up to you to decide.” Schafer said.

For more information, visit www.leadershipconnection.net.

By Logan Hall

Do you know what to do in the aftermath of a major natural disaster or an emergency situation? What would happen to your neighborhood if emergency personnel couldn’t help right away?

The valley’s high school population will get a chance to participate in a free Community Emergency Response Team course that is geared toward teaching citizens what to do in the event of a disaster or other major emergency. The free course, which begins Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Arc Enrichment Center, will teach kids how to respond in a major disaster in the event that emergency crews aren’t available right away.

Although CERT has mostly consisted of adult graduates, recently, supporters of the course have started getting the youth of the county involved in the program. After a CERT course was successfully completed by Oak Park High School students, word began spreading about the importance of youth participation in the program.

Wanting to take a step forward in expanding the valley’s emergency readiness, Rotary Club of Ojai-West Disaster Preparedness Committee members contacted Supervisor Steve Bennett’s office to request a similar program for Ojai’s youngsters.

“When the valleywide discussions took place in 2008, disaster preparedness was a big issue,” said Stephanie Midgett, chair of Rotary West’s Disaster Preparedness Committee. “We approached Bennett’s office to see if we could get funding for the classes.”

The CERT course, which costs the county about $7,000 to hold, is taught by members of the Fire Department and consists of general emergency and medical training. Those who graduate learn how to extinguish small fires, assess priorities in injuries in the field through a process called triage, and are taught search and rescue techniques, among many other skills.

“CERT classes provide all of the background and training you need in a situation no matter where you are,” said Brian Brennan, executive aide to Bennett and a trained CERT member.

According to county officials, since 2008, around 500 people in the Ojai Valley have passed a CERT course and are now ready to help their fellow citizens through tough situations if the need arises. Now the youngsters of the valley have the same opportunity. “This is the first time we’ve really targeted the youth,” said Brennan. “We really hope they’ll see this as a priority.”

Rotary Club members and county officials aren’t the only ones pushing the program in the valley. Becky Beckett, Health Science Academy director at Nordhoff High School, is helping spearhead the effort to get kids involved and stresses the importance of the issue. “We live in a valley where there are only three ways out,” said Beckett, who is also CERT certified. “If there was a major disaster, it is possible that we might not have a way out. Some people would have to be on their own for a while. The more that are trained, the better off we all are.”

According to teachers at Oak Park, which was the first school in the county to hold a CERT course for students, the 25 kids who graduated from CERT training last year are already benefiting from the lessons learned.

“I had a student that had graduated last year’s class that was home cooking with his mom,” said Brenda Pasqua, Oak Park sports medicine teacher and CERT-trained citizen. “Something in the oven caught fire and he was able to put it out right away. He told me he was so proud that he knew how to maintain calm and stay confident to handle the situation. These kids can take these skills anywhere in life.”

Although mainly centered on major natural disaster readiness, CERT also emphasizes other areas of life that are important for kids to learn. “The whole program is all about teamwork,” added Pasqua. “It’s a great experience and the kids love it. I would love to see it in every single school.”

The course designed for the valley’s high school population will be held three consecutive Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting on Feb. 25. Space is limited and those involved are urging anyone interested to sign up before the class fills. Call Supervisor Bennett’s office at 654-2703 for information on signing up.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

I was truly sickened by the halftime show during the Super Bowl. Not because of Madonna’s halftime show itself, which seemed over-produced and generally, pretty lame. And not because of the obscene gesture made by the singer known as M.I.A.

No, I was upset because the entire episode smacked of premeditated manipulation. This is a blatant example of the publicity tactic gaining popularity among celebrities, and celebrity “wannabes.” First you do something “outrageous,” then someone claims how “outraged” they are by your words or actions, then someone “sincerely” apologizes for the original action and everyone is happy — not due to any heartfelt apologies, but because everyone involved receives tons and tons of free publicity.

It is really ingenious, and it seems to be very effective. It is also highly irritating.

M.I.A, a Sri Lankan-born singer who now makes her home in London, was, as far as I know, not a household name here in the states. She made an obscene gesture during Madonna’s halftime show at the Super Bowl, a game that was later reported to be the most-watched program ever. Madonna was said to have been “very upset.” She later phoned a morning radio show and upbraided M.I.A for the gesture, saying, “I was really surprised. I didn’t know anything about it. I wasn’t happy about it.”

Right. She was about as surprised as Capt. Renault was about gambling in Casablanca. First of all, who had ever heard of M.I.A before this little stunt? Anyone? I know I am not exactly on the cutting edge of pop music trends, but I have not talked to anyone of any age who knew anything about her before the show, but everyone certainly knew who she was afterward. Do you suppose that exposure helped her career any? Do you think anyone went online to read about her? Do you think she sold any CDs or music downloads from people who were curious?

Then, Madonna expresses her indignation over the episode. Isn’t this the same person who has made a wildly successful career out of wearing provocative outfits and producing soft-core porn music videos while occasionally singing? Isn’t this the same woman who shed her clothes in movies and produced a book of blatantly sexual images titled “Sex?” Do we really and truly think she was shocked?

Only a cynic would think that this whole thing was staged to give notoriety to the unknown M.I.A, and also serve to boost ticket sales for Madonna’s upcoming world tour, where a floor seat will run you more than $350 per ticket. OK, then I’m a cynic.

I am from a generation of music stars who certainly pulled stunts that were brainless and obscene. Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested in Miami in 1969 and charged with indecent exposure while onstage. His allegedly lewd act was attributed to prodigious amounts of alcohol.

Morrison’s alcohol-fueled stunt was selfish and stupid. But it still somehow seems a lot more honest to me than a series of coldly calculated publicity stunts. If I am wrong here, I will apologize to any offended parties. Who knows, maybe I’ll get some free publicity out of it.

By Tiobe Barron

At Feb. 8′s regular board meeting of Ventura River County Water District, board members discussed a water main break which occurred at 2:30 a.m. the same day on Saddle Mountain, at the corner of Feliz and Encino drives. A 3-foot-long, 4-inch-wide gash in the asbestos-cement pipe resulted in a loss of 667,992 gallons of water. While there was no property damage, the break lasted two hours and 35 minutes, spewing out over 4,000 gallons per minute, and resulted in a loss of $1,330.63 to the water utility company.

Bert Rapp, general manager for VRCWD, said there was no visible corrosion or wear to the asbestos-cement pipe in question. He also made it clear the type of pipe, popular in the 1940s and ‘Õ50s, is only dangerous if it is cut with a saw and particulates are inhaled; otherwise, he said, the asbestos remains bound in the cement, posing no harm.

VRCWD has attracted the attention of local customers recently when a 12 percent increase in water rates last month occurred nearly simultaneously with the retirement of previous general manager, Matt Bryant, last December. Bryant had received a raise in salary in July of 2010, after an independent consultant, Andy Belknap, ascertained Bryant had been underpaid by between $9,000 to $41,000 per year, compared to the salaries paid to equivalent general managers. The study cost the VRCWD $6,700 and resulted in Bryant receiving a $14,000-per-year raise, applied retroactively for three and a half months. The raise also resulted in a bigger pension for Bryant when he retired, causing some to question if the district was guilty of pension-spiking.

“The board acknowledged that it should have done this a few years ago. They didn’t even think about the retirement pension at the time, they just wanted to make sure they were paying the correct salary (for the general manager), bring it up to the market rate,” said Rapp, Bryant’s successor. “Matt was an outstanding general manager. He did a lot for our district. He developed our standard operating procedures, put it all in writing; he defined the proper procedures for working with our electrical systems; he made the district more cost-effective and efficient.”

Rapp conceded that 1 percent of the 12 percent rate increase is going to cover the expense of Bryant’s salary and pension raise. However, Rapp said the primary purpose of the rate increase, the other 11 percent, is to begin raising funds for necessary maintenance and repairs that are estimated to cost an additional $4.5 million over the next 10 years. Even after the rate increase, a comparison of median usage-based monthly rates places VRCWD at the third lowest rate in Ventura County, and Golden State Water Company as the highest.

Also at the meeting, the VRCWD board approved a letter of support for Mosler Quarry, discussed the direction to take in seeking local groundwater assistance grants in preparation for the impact of California’s upcoming total maximum daily load report for Ventura River, and expressed extreme concern for the lack of rainfall this year.

“You can see that if it continues this way, we’re going to be out of water,” said VRCWD President Ed Lee, as the group examined graphs showing annual inches of rainfall and monthly water levels in the company’s wells. According to the graphs, so far for 2011-2012, the Ojai Valley has received a little over 5 inches, compared to the 30-year average of 24.25 inches.

VRCWD will be capturing rainwater from the front of its building, thanks to the efforts of Andrew Rapp, general manager Rapp’s son, a Boy Scout with the valley’s Troop 503. Renee Roth, of the Ventura County Surfrider Foundation, presented the group with an award for their new ocean-friendly garden. The younger Rapp and his troop spent 466 hours and over $800, which they raised themselves to transform the swath of yard in front of the VRCWD’s building into an ocean-friendly garden. Where a flat expanse of rock bordered by oleander bushes once stood, the volunteers reshaped the ground to catch rainfall from the roof of the building and off the street and walkways, and planted a variety of native and drought-resistant plants, creating a garden that has been certified as both ocean- and wildlife-friendly.

“This is wonderful for Andrew, and for the community,” said Roth. “It’s really putting Ojai on the map for ocean-friendly guidelines. A lot of work was done in a really short amount of time.” A handout Andrew Rapp passed out at the meeting made it clear the project was done at no cost to the district, and involved none of the district paid staff.

The VRCWD board meets the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at 409 Old Baldwin Road. Their meetings are open to the public.

By Amber Lennon

After a presentation of the documentary, “Queen of the Sun,” at the Ojai Playhouse in July, a growing awareness of the dwindling bee population has emerged in Ojai. Bee lover Glenn Perry responded by launching the Ojai Bee Club for all bee-interested folks to ask questions and learn the basics of apiary start-up.

The club, which meets on the second Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Farmer and The Cook, invites speakers who offer their expertise on everything from constructing beehives to marketing the sweet “liquid gold,” which can be a lucrative business. But most people at last Thursday’s bee meeting appeared to be gathered more for the love of bees than making a buck. A short round of introductions revealed that aspiring beekeepers are a diverse bunch, including a retired Oak Grove teacher, a young CSA farmer from Upper Ojai and the owners of Ema’s Herbs, to name a few.

While the sound of those little honey-makers sends most people into a panic, these folks are ready to invite them to live on their property. Last Thursday’s meeting began with a sampling of two imported Italian honeys followed by a presentation by guest speaker, Casey Abbott, who explained how to go about attracting or capturing bees. Abbott became interested in beekeeping when knee injuries forced him to retire from his lifelong career as an arborist. Now he hopes to grow his apiary into a commercial enterprise to capitalize on California’s almond crop, which yields more almonds than anywhere in the world and provides the most income for large-scale beekeepers. When the almond blossoms emerge in February, commercial apiaries ship their bees from all over the country to California’s Central Valley for pollination.

Abbott gave a thorough and enthusiastic breakdown for backyard beekeepers on the methods for populating new hives, including swarm captures and purchasing bees, among others. After a short question-and-answer session, the crowd mingled and their passion for bees swarmed in conversations about the bees’ dynamic social structures, their loyalty to the queen, and the medicinal and nutritional value of honey. But more than these practical benefits of beekeeping, many noted a deep sense of connection to the bees, and some described beekeeping as “life-changing.”

The Ojai Valley’s diverse habitat and Mediterranean climate provide ideal conditions for maintaining apiaries. Said Perry, “In California, you have all of these different bloom times and re-bloom times because of the variety of agriculture and the temperate climate.” Abbot mentioned the various sage species, orange blossoms and even poison oak as bee favorites for pollen collection, and the relatively short, mild winters allow colonies to survive year-round.

“Queen of the Sun” has inspired many to start apiaries simply to bring balance to the ecosystem of bees, without which the entire food chain faces total collapse. “I believe this is the spirit that interested Ojai in having a bee club,” said Perry. “There’s something about Ojai that fosters this type of vitality.”

Visit the Ojai Bee Club’s Facebook page to find out more about beekeeping and the next bee meeting.

By Logan Hall

The sight of steel grates, orange cones and buckling asphalt has been a regular one for those commuting down Ojai Avenue past Cluff Vista Park. A Golden State Water Company construction project scheduled to repair a section of Ojai’s main thoroughfare was delayed last week due to inclement weather according to GSWC representatives. The repair project is now set to begin today.

Construction, which was slated to start last Thursday, is intended to fill several “voids” under the road’s surface that cause a sagging effect in the pavement. Although Golden State claims the cause of the voids is unknown, company officials admitted that a leaking water main might have been the cause. “It’s possible that it was the result of the water leak,” said GSWC district manager Ken Petersen, addressing the voids.

The sagging pavement was noticed after Golden State subcontractor, SH Construction, replaced a leaking water main with a section of new 8-inch pipe under Cañada Street next to Ojai Avenue.

Petersen says construction to repair the road should be completed by Friday. No road closures are expected but lanes will be narrowed to allow the passage of east and westbound traffic.

Golden State announced yesterday that the company would be undertaking another water main repair project on Feb. 27 that will replace about 800 feet of a 73-year-old 6-inch-diameter pipe with a new 8-inch pipe under Ojai Avenue between Country Club Drive and Bristol Road. “This will provide further fire protection and better quality water to the Ojai Valley Inn,” said Petersen.

A Golden State press release indicated that the work could take up to 45 days to complete and that normal service to customers in the area would be uninterrupted except for “a few hours near the project’s conclusion when customers on West Ojai Avenue are switched over to the new water main.”

The same press release also indicated that, although construction would close the westbound lane of the highway, there would be no road closures on Ojai Avenue during the project. “Westbound traffic will be diverted to the median,” read the release. According to Golden State, the project will cost the company $320,000.

By Linda Harmon

On Jan. 22, a Ventura County Environmental Health inspection shut down a 12-year-old vendor, Ideal Seafood, at Ojai’s Certified Farmers’ Market and also threatened to close the market itself.

Regulars at the Ojai Farmers’ Market may have missed Alicia Tharp with her ready smile and coolers filled with fresh off-the-boat seafood during the past few weeks. What they may not have been aware of is the drama over the market itself.

At January’s inspection Cynthia Korman, who manages the market she established in 1991, was told by Environmental Health inspector Graciela Garcia that the market’s certification was in danger for repeated violations.

According to Environmental Health representatives, state health regulations require rest rooms within 200 feet of regulated farmersÕ markets so that food workers have access to hot water and soap, preventing illness and protecting the public welfare.

According to Korman, the market had access to rest rooms, but they were 220 feet away. These city-provided public rest rooms are across the street, behind the Arcade.

Environmental Health’s position is that the market has been in repeated violation regarding rest room access for its workers and the department had allowed leniency in the past.

According to Korman, the endangered market was “ahead of the curve” in the popularity of farmers’ markets for a while, but has now grown to include more than 60 vendors and people have come to depend on it as a food source.

“We have the highest percentage of organic farms at our market in the whole county and some of the best farmers,” said Korman at Sunday’s market. “We’re not doing too badly for a small town. The market has been a real draw and we’ll even be mentioned in the upcoming March issue of Sunset magazine.”

According to Korman, the market is no longer in danger because a local businessman “came to the rescue.” Chiropractor Russell Kun offered Korman use of the rest rooms of his new business, located at 214 E. Matilija St.

Korman said she hopes the threat is over as the rest rooms should meet the requirements of the Health Department.

“These markets should be supported,” said Kun, who is new to town and happy he can help solve the problem. “I’m committed to my clients’ health and to access to a great Farmers’ Market.”

As for the Tharp’s reopening at the FarmersÕ Market, that is a complicated issue but may be resolved as well. Tharp was told by Environmental Health representatives that the health codes allow Ideal Seafood to sell only whole fish, which was confirmed by Environmental Health.

“This issue came up in the past,” said Tharp, speaking from her 11512 N. Ventura Ave. location, “but they told us because we had a place to process and a permit from Fish and Game we were OK, but not this year.” Tharp got that January order to stop selling and an additional violation for selling from ice chests. Environmental Health representatives told Tharp she needed to sell from a refrigerated vehicle. This was also confirmed by Environmental Health.

“At the market, ranchers are selling packaged beef, pork and chicken from ice chests,” said Tharp, “but they were telling us something different.”

According to Tharp, when she asked why selling meat is different from selling fish, she was told the rancher raises the animals.

“The ranchers are regulated by the Agriculture Department so the regulations are different,” said a frustrated Tharp. “What are we supposed to do, farm the fish?”

After a month-long saga, Tharp now has hope that her issues are resolved.

“The Health Department told us we can get re-permitted to sell as we were,” said Tharp by e-mail Saturday. “As long as Cynthia gets permission to use a rest room within 200 feet it looks like we should be back at the market next week Ñ Bless the chiropractor’s office.”

Cuts of $1.2 million ‘best case scenario”

By Misty Volaski

Should Governor Jerry Brown’s tax ballot initiative fail to pass this November, things could go from dismal to desolate in the California education system. For Ojai Unified School District, the failure of the initiative — which calls for a half-cent sales tax increase and a two percent income tax increase on those making $250,000 or more a year — would mean the reduction of almost $3 million from the 2012-13 budget.

That is on top of $5 million in cuts administrators have already been forced to make since the 2007-08 school year.

The impact that would have on Ojai would be immense. It would mean more pink slips for teachers and classified staff, and significantly decreased pay for those still on the payroll. It would almost certainly mean a further reduction in the number of days in the school year from 175 down to 160. It would mean even bigger class sizes, fewer electives, the possible sale or lease of OUSD property, among other things.

Bill Wagner, head of the NHS music department, could’ve been speaking for the entire district when he said in an e-mail that “The teachers and administration at Nordhoff have worked so hard to keep the previous years of cuts away from our classrooms, but I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to hide this next round of cuts from anyone.”

“These are very unfair conditions. I’m angry about it — for the students, the parents, the staff. I’m angry,” said OUSD superintendent Hank Bangser at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.”I hope people understand that the November ballot is not a salvation. It creates not one additional dollar for us. It keeps us where we are this year … but, that’s so much better than the alternative (of a failed vote).”

Class sizes have already increased significantly in the last few years. For ninth grade, the average class size has gone up from 20 in 2007 to 32 this year; for kindergarten through third grade, it’s gone up from 20 to 30 in the same time period. We’re also spending $1,017 less to educate each student annually (from 2007 to 2012).

Since 2008, the OUSD has had to lay off the equivalent of 61.4 full-time staff members (the true number of employees laid off is actually much higher, as several who were laid off were part-time employees). According to a handout from Tuesday’s meeting, that “represents a 20 percent decrease in staff positions in a period when enrollment dropped by 7.1 percent.” Bangser pointed out Tuesday that that means we’ve lost three times as many staff members as students.

In the event that the ballot fails to pass — and the schools were forced to cut the school year an extra 15 days — teachers would be forced to take an additional 8.8 percent pay decrease for the 2012-13 school year. That’s on top of the cuts that have already been made from their salaries and through furlough days. But, assistant superintendent Dannielle Pusatere explained, because the ballot results won’t come in till after the 2012 school year has started, she wouldn’t be able to implement that pay decrease until around January. “It’s an 8.8 percent drop for the year,” she explained Tuesday. “Normally I’d spread that out over a year of pay. But because I’d only have half the year to implement it, (teachers would see) a 18 percent cut on their checks from January to June.”

If the ballot passes, the picture is slightly better. But not much. The OUSD will have $1.2 million less to spend in 2012-13 than they did this year — and that assumes the Ojai teacher and classified staff unions will agree to take eight furlough days yet again. In years past, the OUSD has been able to staunch the funding hemorrhage with one-time funds, like insurance rebates, federal dollars from the jobs bill, etc. But this year, says assistant superintendent Pusatere, those don’t exist. “Every year was unique in terms of cuts,” she explained Tuesday. “Budgets based on one-time dollars … it’s not illegal (but) ‘best practices’ say we shouldn’t do it. But we did it to save jobs.” Ojai has now reached the point that “That money’s not there anymore. We can’t find it anymore.”

Board member Kathi Smith said Tuesday, “I keep hoping some unthought-of solution is going to occur (to the administration) … but there’s none. I thought this year would be the worst.”

Because 86 percent of the district’s budget lies in staffing costs, the simple fact is that that’s where large portion of the OUSD cuts will have to come from — whether it’s the best-case $1.2 million or the $2.9 million should the tax ballot initiative fail to pass.

Smith went on to talk about the “societal cost — that’s decreased buying power for the whole community … (The state is) squandering human capital.” Board member Linda Taylor, a former art teacher at Nordhoff, agreed, saying that she could relate to the situation teachers currently face. “Where is the rage?” she asked Tuesday, referring to the lack of reaction from the general public. “Where are the people marching in the streets?”

Nordhoff’s head of fine arts, ceramics teacher Gray Duncan, also issued an e-mail statement along with studio arts teacher Kate Thomas. “With these cuts the class sizes have increased,” they said. “And as teachers we felt stretched thin, which is a common consensus amongst faculty. More cuts will be creating even harder times and more stress for all … All of these cuts are hurting our students most of all, it is selling them short by diminishing the value of their education.”

Winter in California is not only a great time to enjoy the beach and do a little surfing.  It’s also a good time to plant native and other climate-adapted plants. Boy Scout Troop 503 in Oak View took that advice seriously this past month. The final phase of construction for their demonstration Ocean Friendly Garden at the Ventura River County Water District, 409 Old Baldwin Road, was to install the plants.  Following Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden principles of CPR – Conservation, Permeability and Retention, the scouts have been constructing a garden that is “looks great, uses rainwater to irrigate the plants and prevents runoff,” says Andrew Rapp, the Boy Scout leading the project.   The purpose of the Ocean Friendly Garden program is to “provide a framework for people interested in conserving our natural resources in their own yards,” explains Renee Roth, a volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation’s Ventura Chapter and a Ventura County Regional Coordinator with G3/The Green Gardens Group.  Roth is one of two advisors on the project and is currently heading a Schoolyard Habitat project at Matilija Junior High School in Ojai.  “Our goal is to focus people on what they can do to help revive the health of our watersheds and oceans.”

Cinnamon McIntosh, Water Conservation Specialist for Casitas Municipal Water District, the second advisor on the project, emphasizes that, “With the average home spending more than 50% of their total water use on landscaping, providing an example of ways to conserve water while enjoying an attractive landscape serves the public and helps us all to protect one of our most precious natural resources – water.”  McIntosh notes that, “We all have a responsibility to be good stewards of our world.” Noting that there are several free water-conservation programs available, McIntosh encourages residents to contact her at the Casitas Municipal Water District office for additional information.

The scouts had already incorporated two of the three principles of Ocean Friendly Gardens – Permeability and Retention – in the demonstration garden. They prepared the soil and used permeable pavers to allow water to soak in. In addition, they created contours and basins to retain rainwater. Plants will be able to tap into that water during the dry months. The garden also captures the ‘first-flush’ or the first – and dirtiest – part of a rain storm, keeping it from running to the ocean.

The other principle – Conservation – was applied with the planting of the landscape.  The plants included in the demonstration garden were selected based upon their climate-appropriateness and attractiveness.  One of the goals of the scouts was to develop a garden that was both attractive and water-conserving.  The plants selected are either California natives or are from areas with similar, Mediterranean climates.  All the plants were provided by Nopalito Native Plant Nursery in Ventura and Flora Gardens Nursery in Ojai.  The plants and planting locations were soaked with water prior to planting.  They were placed in wire baskets which protect the roots from voracious gophers and firmly packed in with soil and deeply watered.   The plants were spaced to allow for growth without requiring regular pruning, thus providing a relatively maintenance free garden.  The garden is watered using a subsurface drip irrigation system controlled with a simple hose timer.  The drip system and timer were provided by AquaFlo Supply in Ojai.

After the landscape was planted, the scouts spread wood chip mulch donated by Ojai Valley Organics and Crane Tree Service over all the surfaces of the garden.  The mulch was watered down to knit it together and to provide a moisture barrier for the soil.

As an added bonus the scouts were able to incorporate a natural birdbath in the garden.  The birdbath was carved out of a large rock in the garden area.  Water was brought to it from the drip irrigation system so the birdbath will be automatically refilled whenever the system runs.  5 minutes after the birdbath had been carved out of the rock and filled with water a black phoebe came to test it.  Apparently it passed with flying colors.

“Taking a simple rock garden and turning it into a colorful, Ocean Friendly Garden which will beautify the District office and show how you can conserve water and still have an attractive garden has been a challenge.  But I’m really glad we took on the project, we’ve learned a lot from doing all this research and work.” Andrew Rapp, Boy Scout Project Leader.  “It looks amazing.”

Ventura County Sheriff’s Department volunteers Gary Higgins, left, and Fred Oliver stand next to their volunteer patrol car. Department volunteers help watch the city’s streets and report to officers when they witness criminal activity.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department has released statistics regarding part one crime in Ojai. Information from the VCSD shows that, while reported part one crime in Ventura County has gone down by 11 percent, the same statistic has risen by 7 percent in the city of Ojai. Part one crimes include burglary, theft and arson as well as violent crimes like homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

The percentages may have gone up, but department officials say that crime statistics for the city can be misleading if taken out of context. “Ojai has about 8,000 residents that are surrounded by unincorporated areas of about 25,000,” said Ojai’s Chief of Police Chris Dunn. “The unincorporated area is almost three times the population of the city, and yet the city is still the hub of activity for the valley. Our raw (crime) numbers are much lower. We have an extremely low part one crime rate in Ojai.”

As in 2010, no homicides were reported in Ojai in 2011. Numbers of some violent crimes, however, have risen over the last year. Sheriff’s statistics show that two rapes were reported in 2011 — up from zero in the previous year, while 17 aggravated assaults were reported in 2011 — down from 18 in 2010. Of the assaults reported last year, firearms were used in six — up from one in 2010, knives were used in one — down from four in 2010, and hands, fists and or feet were used in five of the assaults —- down from seven in 2010. Assaults categorized as “other” accounted for five of those reported, which was down from six in 2010. One robbery was reported in 2010, while six were reported in 2011.

Petty theft accounted for 52 percent of all part one crime reported in 2011. In total, 102 petty thefts were reported in 2011 — up from 95 in the previous year. Residential burglaries were up slightly with 15 reported last year while there were 14 in 2010. Grand theft also rose slightly as 34 were reported in 2011 —- up from 33 in 2010. Reported auto thefts declined from four in 2010 to three in 2011.

“If you look at the raw numbers,” said Dunn. “Ojai is very low in reported crime. It’s a very safe place to live.”

Sheriff’s officers say that while they do their best to keep criminals off the streets of Ojai, the public needs to do its part to ensure the valley remains a safe place. “Part of our overall crime prevention is to make sure the community is involved,” said the Ojai Police Department’s Sgt. Randy Watkins. “We get feedback from the Community Watch program and if we put out basic information about what we’re looking for, we can have a lot more eyes on the ground. We get some great leads from the public and solve a lot of cases in the valley with the community’s help.”

Dunn echoed Watkins’ emphasis on community involvement with law enforcement. “We can’t be everywhere at the same time,” said Dunn. “We need the public to keep calling us about suspicious subjects so we can keep coming out when we’re needed. We’re a 24/7 business. You can always call us.”

The department also reaches out to the public through programs like its upcoming Citizen Academy. The academy consists of 10 sessions that can give the public a chance to take an in-depth view into the department. Those who participate receive tours of some of the department’s facilities, including the aviation unit at the Camarillo Airport and the county’s main jail complex. Various speakers from the department’s units including the narcotics division, bomb squad and S.W.A.T. team provide information and demonstrations on law enforcement methods and equipment.

“The Citizen Academy gives people from the community a chance to be involved in the department,” said Watkins. “They can then be more educated about it when they talk to their friends or family about it.”

Watkins explained that some participants go further than the academy. “Some of them have a passion for it and they usually become volunteers,” he said. “They help the police with another set of eyes and ears. That frees up our officers to conduct investigations.”

The Sheriff’s Department Citizen Academy begins next week. Sessions will be held Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Department officials involved with the program said that there are still openings for those wanting to participate, and there is no charge. Contact the Ojai Police Department at 646-1414 for more information.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

People in Ojai are not shy about sharing their opinions. As a newspaper publisher, this is a dream come true. It makes for lively debate on the editorial pages as well as our online blog. Along that line, few issues have generated as much reader response as the proposed ban on plastic bags now under consideration by the City Council.

Earlier this week, I printed out 12 pages of blog comments devoted to the proposed ban. Those on both sides are passionate. Some voiced environmental concerns about the bags. Others resented being told what to do, and threatened to take their grocery business to stores outside of Ojai.

There are relevant points on both sides. Plastic bags are handy for lining my trash can and taking to the farmers’ markets, but they are also a giant pain. Like coat hangers, they seem to multiply on their own. One day you have three bags, a week later you have 57, and suddenly they are taking over your pantry.

Plastic bags are not good for the environment. But as several people pointed out, they are probably not as bad as the heavier grade plastic bag many of us would use in their place to line our trash cans. Another consideration is that Ojai is a tourist destination. Since most people do not carry their reusable canvas bags with them on vacation, what are they going to put their groceries in when they come in for supplies? Do we really want our local stores to charge folks 10 cents a bag for paper bags? Is that the message we want to send to our visitors?

There is also an enforcement issue with the ban. For instance, are we going to have plastic bag police scouring stores to catch offenders? Are we going to station undercover cops at the Farmers’ Market to “rough and cuff” those scofflaws who dare to put their blueberries in a plastic bag?

As with many environmental issues there seems to be no easy answer, no magic bullet that solves all our problems. I prefer the canvas bags for shopping. They are heavier, and hold more items. I would much rather carry three or four heavier bags than have to deal with 10 flimsy plastic ones. There is nothing to throw away, and they are useful for carrying things other than groceries — like when I take 10 or 12 novels back down to Bart’s Books to exchange for new ones. One problem I have is remembering to carry them with me to the store. I probably have 10 reusable bags, but they seem to herd themselves into the pantry, not into the van where I really need them.

As evidenced on the blog, people don’t like the word “ban,” and many have a negative reaction to it. We already have a myriad of rules and regulations governing our actions. People simply resent being told what to do and what not to do. I contacted a very environmentally conscious friend who was a source for this column. I asked him about the ban. He felt it was a little extreme. I thought he put it beautifully when he said, “This angers people for marginal (environmental) gains.”

So here is a thought — how about instead of a ban, we simply encourage the use of reusable bags? The city could issue a statement, stating that they support their use, and local stores could post signs encouraging shoppers to do the same. It might make a nice project for one of the art classes to have kids design clever and colorful signs to post inside and outside local stores advocating the bags, and reminding people to use them. A lot of this is habit. If you get into the habit of putting the bags back in your car after you empty them, then they are always accessible the next time you make a trip to the store.

Ojai is the most environmentally aware place in which I have ever lived. I really believe people would make the effort to shop with reusable bags if encouraged, rather than brow-beaten, to do so. Why not try it?

If it doesn’t work, the council can always vote to ban the bags later on.

By Chris T. Wilson

He struggled in grade school, cheated and fudged his way through high school, but attention deficit disorder and dyslexia didn’t stop Ojai’s Larry Chambers from conquering a mountain of goals and heroic achievements.

But while the high school English teacher —- who nearly flunked him out of school — found brief infamy for writing one of the worst novels ever, Chambers has hunt-and-peck typed more than 50 published books and hundreds of magazine articles.

And now more recently, burnt out on the advice articles and how-to books that he’s been churning out for the financial services industry, Chambers has picked up his secret childhood love of art again and begun to paint.

“I painted as a kid, but I hid it,” Chambers said. “Boys weren’t supposed to paint, they were supposed to play football.”

He did play football and basketball, and he boxed, but then after graduating from high school in the mid-1960s, he volunteered for the draft and shipped off to South Vietnam.

Enlisted for six years, he completed two tours in Vietnam in the F-58th Infantry LRP and the originating L Co. 75th Rangers 101st Airborne (“Merrill’s Marauders”) company organized as the parent unit for the separate long-range reconnaissance patrol companies 1968 and ’69.

While in Vietnam, jumping from helicopters and sneaking behind enemy lines and back again, he snapped pictures of his buddies, the helicopters and the dense jungle scenery.

Also in Vietnam, Chambers found that the “problems” that held him back in school gave him an uncanny edge as a soldier.

“Distractibility, risk taking and impulsiveness were liabilities in school, (but) became survival traits in combat,” he noted. “I would notice things others overlooked, a blade of grass bent in the wrong direction or VC snot dripping from a tree leaf. Without being able to explain why, I’d know when things were about to happen.”

From the black-and-white photos Chambers took, he has spent the past five years creating a series of paintings that he calls Nam-Art. The paintings are his way of offering a soldier’s perspective that honors Vietnam veterans and their families.

“I thought it would be fun to paint one photo of my Rangers team,” Chambers said. “Once I got started then I got obsessed and started painting more and more of my old photos. They felt so completely different than most of the news photos that were published during the war. I thought, ‘Here’s a story that hasn’t been told.’”

In late 2011, Chambers was awarded a first-place prize for his art by the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. His paintings have been picked up by military museums and printed on the cover of American Legion Auxiliary Magazine. And many of the works he’s had reproduced into limited edition prints for purchase at www.nam-art.com.

Interestingly, much of Chambers’ creativity and the most interesting stories he tells come from shame. And by examining the concept of shame and how it plays a counterproductive role in most cases in peoples’ lives, Chambers has developed a theory and concept that transforms shame into success.

“When I stand up and speak, I’m exposing all the shame from all these years,” he said. “It’s all that self-judging, lack of self-worth and being a phony. Shining a light on it is where all these great stories come from.”

This is the subject of his forthcoming book, “Sixth Sensers and the Guardians of Meaning.” Chambers will be discussing this topic on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the World University of Ojai, as part of the Monday Night Arts and Lecture Series. His lecture is called “Shame: The One Thing Everyone Has in Common.”

Skateboarding legend and local resident Rodney Mullen poses with his board at his home in the hills of Ojai.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

If you know anything about the world of skateboarding, you’ve probably heard the name Rodney Mullen. The professional skater has been continuously reinventing the sport since the 1980s. He was barely a teenager when he exploded into the world of skating. He’s starred in countless skate videos and games, like the successful Tony Hawk series of video games that has sold millions of copies worldwide. Now living in Ojai with his wife Traci, the legendary skater is celebrating the success of a new film that documents the beginning of the modern era of skating.

The film, called “Bones Brigade: An Autobiography,” features Mullen and five other legends of skateboarding as, at a young age, they embarked on a journey into professional skating. Big names like Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain and Tony Hawk join Mullen in telling the story of how they have lived their lives doing what they love most.

“This is the story of us getting together,” said Mullen as he stood in his backyard overlooking the Ojai Valley. “That’s when skateboarding was much more of a blank canvas. None of the stuff we do now had been invented yet. We helped lay a lot of ground for street skating today.”

After being accepted into the Sundance Film Festival and receiving rave reviews, the documentary premiered in Santa Barbara last week where Mullen and most of the cast met with fans and answered questions after the showing. “We all had such a great time doing this,” he said. “People are really into it.”

Reviews following the debut at Sundance seemed to confirm that the people are embracing the film. “Deep, rich and resonant, Bones Brigade will provide fans with an enticing portal to revisit skateboarding’s glory days and introduce the era to a whole new generation of enthusiasts,” read one review from The Hollywood Reporter.

The film tells the story of the six original members of the “Bones Brigade,” and how they helped redefine the sport in the ’80s. The documentary was put together by Stacy Peralta, who wrote the blockbuster movie, “The Lords Of Dogtown,” and “Riding Giants” Peralta was also responsible for bringing the young, unknown skaters together to form the original Bones Brigade team, which is what the new documentary is all about.

“It’s a coming of age film,” said Peralta in a phone interview. “It’s the life story of six skateboarders that were determined to find their voice at a young age.”

Peralta says that Mullen, along with playing a major role in the film, has also been instrumental in shaping modern skateboarding. “Rodney basically invented modern street style skating singlehandedly,” he said. “The tricks he invented in 80′s would then go on to be the starting vocabulary for modern skateboarding.”

Peralta further describes Mullen’s style. “When you see the film,” he continued, “you’ll discover that he’s not only the most articulate skateboarder, he’s also one of the most articulate athletes. He expresses himself so beautifully and perfectly. He really just takes people apart when they watch the film.”

Bones Brigade tells Rodney’s story and gives people a glimpse into the lives of some of the world’s best athletes as they went from young, unknown kids to superstars. Now, after almost 30 years, the team is still influencing the sport.

“Stacy had a certain resolve to make something that lasted,” said Mullen on Peralta’s formation of the Bones Brigade. “I was 13 or 14 when he found us and Tony was the same age. We were completely unknown. In the end, 30 years later, most of us are heavily involved in skating on some big level. That’s powerful.”

Mullen, while enjoying the success of the new film, is intensely focused on his passion. At night he heads out to Los Angeles to work on skating in the empty streets of the city. “I skate every single night until the sun comes up,” he said. As he put it in one interview, “It’s like a big playground out there.”

Although a pioneer of many of the popular modern skateboarding tricks, Mullen is constantly trying to evolve and reach for the next level, which is why he dedicates so much time to the sport. “If you do something enough,” he said, “your body adapts to it … The board really becomes an extension of the body.”

Mullen’s film has yet to be released to the public, but those looking for updates can log on to skateone.com. “We are considering offers on distribution of the film,” said Michael Furukawa, promotions director with Skate One. “We have no date for its release at this time.”

For Mullen, the love of skating and the crew that he grew up with come before any glitz and glamour that usually follow the success of professionals operating on his level.

“We lived skating,” said Mullen. “Some guys used to call us Boy Scouts ’cause we weren’t into partying. We got our high from skating. We didn’t need anything else.”

Grandson Darrell Waycasy, Jeri Hooten, Jerry Barut, (granddaughter) Crystal Clark, great-gradddaughter Brittney Vasquez, holding great-great-graddaghter Kylee Vasquez.

By Misty Volaski

The Ojai Valley has its fare share of centenarians. The newest one to join the club is longtime valley resident Jerry Barut, who turned 100 on New Year’s Day. He celebrated the milestone at the Oak View Community Center, surrounded by dozens of friends and five generations of family.

Not only does Barut still live by himself, he does it with a style all his own. He loves to cook, especially traditional Philippine dishes like curried chicken and adobo, which he made for his birthday guests. His daughter Jeri Hooten says he’s cooked the family’s Thanksgiving turkey for decades. Barut is also partial to Starbucks coffee, Ojai Pizza, gardening and raising roosters, Hooten added. And now that he has a TV — something he resisted for decades, but only consented to get after his family bought him one last month — he’s found a new love in “American Idol.”

In response to the “What’s your secret?” question often posed to those of advanced age, “He always says, ‘You got to keep doing something!’” said his daughter, mimicking his slight accent. She also credits his long life to his strict exercise regimen and a strong memory, which he keeps active by reading the newspaper, “From front to back every single day,” and chatting with family and the Starbucks staff. Her dad also likes to joke that being a bachelor keeps him spry. “He’ll say, ‘I don’t want nobody to tell me what to do!’” Hooten laughed.

When Barut, a World War II veteran and chef, bought his house in Oak View in 1956, there were only eight homes in his neighborhood. Everyone in town knew him by his burgundy 1960 Corvette, in which he transported fish to his old Santa Barbara restaurant, House of Fish and Chips, Hooten remembers. He was also chef at Blair’s, Taylor’s, Mira Mar, and John’s at the Beach, among other places.

Of his birthday celebration, Barut told everyone, “This is the happiest day of my life!” Along with the TV his family purchased for him, he also received a letter from the president and the American flag which was flown at the White House on his birthday.

By Tiobe Barron
The Ojai City Council will confer with Ojai’s Historic Preservation Commission in a special meeting Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. to provide the opportunity for the public, the council and the commission to discuss the Historic Resources Survey, completed for the city of Ojai by the San Buenaventura Research Association.

“There recently was a survey done of the historic buildings and homes in the city of Ojai,” said Mayor Betsy Clapp in a recent phone interview, “This is a chance for the commission and council to come together, to see how these surveys were used in other cities, to discuss the whole process.”

Ann McLaughlin, the interim community development director, said that no action will be taken at the meeting; it is merely a workshop to discuss the survey, examine the background information, look at what the next steps might be, and give the public the chance to speak on the matter. McLaughlin said other cities have used these types of surveys for planning, as a reference tool, but can also choose to adopt them as-is.

The survey in question is what is typically referred to as a “windshield survey.” According to the text of the survey itself, a windshield survey is when “Large areas of a community are investigated at a low level of detail in order to locate historic buildings and their distribution, architectural styles, and period of construction.” It is the first part of a three-step plan of completing a comprehensive inventory of historic resources within the city, the next being the completed Historic Context Statement, and lastly a future intensive-level survey of historic properties in Ojai. The data for the completed survey was gathered between March 2008 and January 2009, and the criteria included visual quality, integrity, and date of construction. To be considered a historic property by the survey, a building must be 45 years old or older. Depending on how stringent the city wants to be with criteria, the data collected varies wildly on how many properties would potentially be affected. There is a range in the data sets of how much a building has been altered, which time periods are to be included or most valued, how much a building is visually significant, etc.

It is the recommendation of the consulting firm, via the survey, that the city conduct an intensive-level survey “completed in phases as funding permits.” In the proposed first year first phase, around 100 properties would be examined, selected as those properties from this completed windshield survey that fall into the 1872 to 1897 as well as those with the highest levels of visual significance and integrity. Or, using the geographic data from the completed survey, the next, more intensive survey could be based on the area with the highest concentration of potential historic properties. The next survey could also be theme-based, highlighting a particular architect, for example, based on the findings of the Historical Context Statement.

Ojai resident Craig Beam, an environmental lawyer and former city attorney, has reservations concerning the survey.

“There are serious unanswered questions about it,” said Beam. If the council decided to adopt the recommendations of the consultant, that may change the building code, what time an environmental review would require, and may create the presumption that historic properties have resource value. The particular attributes a property should have as defined by law in order to be considered “historic” are not delineated; rather, they are broad-based criteria as set out by a private firm.

“There are an awful lot of aspects that are never mentioned or discussed,” Beam continued. “We don’t know how long the (intensive-level) survey will take, who is going to pay for it, what the cost to the applicants will be, or how many properties will be affected. There are policy issues as to where this affects property value, and that’s a real problem as it has the potential to price younger families out of the market, which creates an aging demographic. It creates uncertainty, because no one can tell what the requirements may be at this point.”

The completed survey and historic statement are posted on the city’s website, .ci.ojai.ca.us.

By Logan Hall

Locals strolling through the park behind Libbey Bowl might have noticed a change in the area’s scenery. In an effort to restore Libbey’s native ecosystem, Concerned Resources and Environmental Workers is trying to rid areas in Libbey Park of invasive species of plants as they undertake the Libbey Park West Barranca Restoration Project.

According to C.R.E.W. officials, non-native plants — most notably the Himalayan Blackberry — have been slowly choking native species in the area behind the bowl near the old Ojai Jail. The dark green blackberry bush has blanketed the area in question for decades.

“The primary reason why Himalayan Blackberry is a problem is that it’s in an area where it has no competing plants,” said Brian Holly, the project’s ecologist. “It’s also very aggressive. It takes over the entire area.”

Holly explained that when an invasive plant takes over an area like Libbey’s barranca, the effects on the local ecosystem can be devastating. “When u have a lack of diversity in plant life, you have a lack of habitat,” continued Holly. “That lack of habitat takes away from a multitude of species that would be in the area.”

After clearing a large portion of blackberry from the barranca the last two Saturdays, Holly and the C.R.E.W. began finding that the area near the old jail is part of the local watershed, and that most of the water had been sucked up by the invading blackberry. “We actually found a creek under all that stuff,” said Wally McCall, the C.R.E.W.’s CEO.

When cleared out, Holly believes the area could be a breeding ground for species like the endangered red-legged tree frog. “There are pools of water under that blackberry that have been under shrubs for last 20 years,” he said. “By opening up that pooled area, the red legged frog can use the pools as a breeding area.”

Once the blackberry is cleared, one of the negative impacts of the bush, in the form of dead or dying oak trees, becomes much more visible. “We found two dead oaks that had fallen and were buried by the blackberry,” said McCall while pointing to a large log in the middle of the clearing. “There are two more that are dying that are still standing. All of them have been choked out by the blackberry.”

Although the area may be unsightly during the early stages of the project, both the City of Ojai and the C.R.E.W. assure that the plan address the aesthetic quality of the area as well. Plans include the planting of various native species including, willow, oak and sycamore trees, as well as plants like deer grass and mugwort.

“The clearing is just the first phase,” said Ojai city manager Rob Clark. “In the spring they’ll plant native plants down there. What people are seeing right now is a project that is only half finished.”

McCall stated that the project would hopefully be completed by springtime next year, but that efforts to replant certain areas will begin much sooner. “It’s an enormous job,” he said, “but we’re going to start planting one section as soon as possible. We should have something in there by the time all of the festivals come to the park.”

Funding for the project was provided by government agencies and local organizations as well as the C.R.E.W. According to McCall, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provided a $40,000 grant, $3,500 came from Patagonia and Bank of America donated $1,000. McCall says the Ojai V alley Green Coalition will donate 160 hours of volunteer labor for the project in coming months.

While the funding is taken care of by various organizations, C.R.E.W. workers are doing most of the hard labor. Saturday morning’s effort had 16 workers of varying backgrounds and ages cutting and hauling several tons of blackberry from the barranca. Eight students from Nordhoff, and Beasant Hill High Schools were among those swinging sharp-edged metal, McLeod Fire Tools and wielding chainsaws as they cleared the invasive bush. McCall says that wages for the laborers range between $9 and $17 with the more experienced workers earning the higher pay.

“I love working here,” said Beasant Hill sophomore Gavin Ames between swings of his fire tool. “It’s good money, but once you start working, you kinda forget about the money. It’s just great to be out here.”

The next step for Ames and his fellow workers will be to deal with the extensive root system that the blackberry’s left behind. McCall says that removing the roots will take a considerable amount of effort. “The root system is unbelievable,” he said. “They’re everywhere. We’ll have to dig ‘em out or lay down sheet mulching to cover them. Either way, that has to be done before we can begin replanting.”

By Tiobe Barron

Ojai resident Akiva Werbalowsky has placed himself in the running as a candidate for the U.S. Representative for the new 26^th California district, formerly the 24^th district, an area based in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and represented for 25 years by Elton Gallegly, who will be retiring when his current term ends. Werbalowsky is choosing to run as a Republican candidate, opposite the party-endorsed Tony Strickland, of Moorpark, and Linda Parks, of Thousand Oaks.

Werbalowsky said in a recent interview that he attended the Obama inauguration, and returned “So inspired, I’m running as the most conservative Republican in the race”

Werbalowsky originally hails from upstate New York, near the Hudson River Valley. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, he followed his brothers to Los Angeles. “I couldn’t handle L.A..,” he said. He relocated to Santa Barbara, and when clients such as The Thacher School and a compost company called Harmonious Technologies brought him to Ojai, he stayed.

“There is an absolute quality of life and community awareness,” said Werbalowsky of Ojai, “It’s a blend that suits me well.”

Werbalowsky said he has worked as a director at Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello and as the regional director for three counties with Princeton Review. He went to grad school at the University of California Santa Barbara, helped create and manage ecological agriculture programs at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, taught permaculture for three years in Israel, taught for Apple, and is currently writing and using his revenue from Apple to develop programs in bioregional food security.

“Anything to do with a more nuanced relationship with the natural world has appeal to me,” said Werbalowsky. “I like to feel the dew on my feet when I’m out in the morning with my headlamp, looking at my plants … I believe the appreciation I have for the place I live is best embodied by public service … Since I don’t see the leadership I want to see, I’m called to be that leadership.”

He describes himself as an “Earth-conservative Jeffersonian Republican,” acknowledging that Alexander Hamilton advocated some necessary concepts, but preferring Jefferson’s simultaneous focus on liberty and tribute to ideas such as the commons, as well as Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy.

“I don’t believe we’re fully appreciative of what the Constitution is as a resource,” Werbalowsky said, “Even though I recognize the benefits of things like central banks and global relation advocated by Hamilton, Jefferson presented the more enduring model of democracy. The U.S. government is about protecting liberty, not giving charity, though it should enable the heart-full abundance of private citizens to be charitable … When red tape gets in the way of good will, adjustment needs to be made.”

Central to Werbalowsky’s platform is a focus on protecting local resources, and using that focus to create jobs, which creates a positive feedback system. He points out that one cannot easily put a price tag on the commons, those areas and resources utilized by everyone in a community. He cites the recent efforts to restore Surfers’ Point in Ventura: Even though the project is occurring in the middle of a recession, it creates healthier waterways in the area, which should improve fishing, tourism, and real estate.

“Ecological health is my core issue, because it’s a reliable indicator of our shared endeavors and of the quality of our livelihood as a community,” said Werbalowsky. “Any jobs that are degrading our environment, I don’t see the upside, other than short-term profit. This is my home ecosystem. Any policy that will result in the degradation of water quality, air quality, etc., I’m not ready to support. I’m not amenable to accept that.”

Part and parcel with this, Werbalowsky believes, is the traditional Republican concept of scaling down government. He suggests that the sheer volume of legislation and government programs have become unwieldy, and a better option might be to focus on those programs and actions that show success, while eliminating those that do not, for the sake of efficiency and voter trust.

“We need to identify those things that are done best, build on that, and minimize any stories of obscene waste. How can government of any kind inspire confidence when billions of dollars are unaccounted for? The scale is more than we can effectively manage, it’s just pragmatic,” Werbalowsky summarized. “I’m getting the impression that people are getting uninspired and backing off from being involved. I don’t like unlimited, untracked corporate bailouts. Somebody’s got to say, ‘We can do better than this. We’re America.’” He added that the government shouldn’t mandate social values, other than what is clearly delineated in the Constitution and its amendments, and voiced his distaste for Citizens United, calling it a “shammed gaming of the system.” He bristled at being dubbed a supporter of Ron Paul for president, clarifying that he simply noticed Paul publicly referencing the Constitution the most out of the presidential candidates, and it is that aspect which he admired.

The bottom line for Werbalowsky? “I just want to be part of a story where good representation is happening,” he said. “I want to be a living voice for our bioregion. If (Supervisor Steve) Bennett or Strickland can do that better than me, I’ll support them … I’m changing the language of the debate. What I’m participating in is an exposition of merit, and I thank the other candidates for bettering it in their own ways … I wouldn’t be replacing Gallegly. He’s retiring. I’m coming in to this with a fresh, new perspective of someone who is not already beholden. I will speak the truth of one registered voter, attracting the support of other registered voters. Other politicians are focusing on dollars, not what those dollars represent, and we’re going to debate on that. It comes down to policy preferences, and what I’m promising is to show up and be real.”

He encourages everyone to register to vote, and educate themselves on their district, especially since California changed the official districts last November.

“People need to be aware, or they could be disenfranchised,” he concluded.

By Chris T. Wilson

The vast majority of the Matilija Dam still stands, shouldering its payload of water and silt. But a recent gathering of officials, concerned with the prospect of tearing down the defunct structure, are shedding new light on what is to be the next best step.

The team of officials — dubbed the Technical Advisory Committee — met Jan. 12 and 13 and included officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Fisheries, Department of Fish and Game, Army Corps of Engineers, National Fish and Wildlife Service, University of California at Santa Barbara, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Stoeker Ecological, Matilija Coalition and Casitas Municipal Water District.

CMWD general manager Steve Wickstrum said he thinks bringing in a few fresh faces to look at the issue will be beneficial in determining the best way to deal with the dam removal process. Wickstrum emphasized that maintaining water quality and supply in Lake Casitas is the most important concern for the Water District.

“We have to look at the material as it moves downstream and we’re concerned with water supply,” Wickstrum said. “If the nutrient loads and dissolved oxygen result in an algae bloom it could result in very expensive treatment, so we need to avoid those scenarios.”

The question of where to put the roughly 2 million cubic yards of fine sediment trapped behind the dam continues to be the concern at issue for the agencies involved in studying the removal process.

The goal of this most recent meeting was to look at the specific recommendations and major gaps in data from the Fine Sediments Study Group’s Final Report, which was issued in August 2011. From that the group could make recommendations for additions. Further, the group was asked to identify and prioritize future studies that address these recommendations and find a cost-effective scope of work and a budget for each study.

Both Wickstrum and Matilija Coalition’s Paul Jenkin say no hard dates are set for future meetings, but they anticipate that within the next few months a scope of work will be determined and a call for bids will go out to bring in a consultant group to determine the best process for silt removal and tearing down the defunct dam.

Jenkin maintains that periodic notching of the dam may be the best way of bringing the dam down. He said in 1965 the dam was notched 35 feet, which brought the original 200-foot dam down to 165 feet. With incremental notching, he stipulates, Mother Nature can possibly deal with the silt problem, thus removing the need for expensive slurrying or dredging procedures.

“We’re looking at ways to reduce costs and make this thing feasible from a cost perspective,” Jenkin said.

Recent dam removals in the perpetually rainy Pacific Northwest offered perspective and room for more debate about the best ways to deal with silt. Jenkin thinks notching the dam once per year down to the silt line could be a good way to move forward.

“All of the dams removed in the northwest have used natural transport to move sediment out,” Jenkin said. “But obviously it rains all the time in the northwest and here we sit around and wait for the rain. So that makes things very different.”

Since the mid-January meeting, the members of the TAC have continued to communicate. Jenkin and Wickstrum both said they anticipate that a consultant will be brought in within the next few months. That consultant will be funded by the California Coastal Conservancy, and should result in a final recommendation of the next steps in the dam removal process.

For more information on the Matilija Dam removal process, visit www.venturariver.org.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
I read the other day that you officially become an old fogey when you turn 50. I can attest to the fact that I have indeed achieved fogeyness. While I have sensed this for some time, it was made painfully evident to me as I watched the Screen Actors Guild Awards. I didn’t recognize a lot of the people who were nominated and won; and many of the actors I did know seemed to have aged so much that I almost didn’t recognize them. The notable exceptions to this were an ageless Dick Van Dyke and Linda Gray, who looked fabulous — like she just stepped off the set of “Dallas.”

When you are younger, you are a lot more involved in pop culture. For one thing, it is aimed at your demographic. I doubt there are many network producers involved in intense planning meetings about upcoming shows who are screaming, “Hey, what we really need is a show tailored to all the 57-year-old guys out there!”

Like most of my fellow baby boomers, we are spoiled. For years and years we owned pop culture —- or at least we thought we did. Television shows, movies and music revolved around us and our tastes. Other generations’ tastes didn’t seem to even exist, much less matter. And while some of us may be caught in a time warp, here is a sobering fact —- the 50th anniversary of Woodstock is just seven short years away. I think it’s safe to say, when it comes to popular culture, our time has come and gone.

For those who may be unsure whether or not they are a cultural old fogey, I have devised a short test below:

1. Sports —- which answer would best describe your feelings about the NBA:

a. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson couldn’t carry Kobe Bryant’s jock.

b. LeBron James will bring the championship to Miami this year.

c. I haven’t watched an NBA game since Michael Jordan retired.

2. Television — how would you describe the show “Two and a Half Men”:

a. It is a ground-breaking comedy, and the best show on TV.

b. I liked it better with Charlie Sheen.

c. Charlie Sheen? Isn’t that the guy who made a brief career out of lunatic rants on the “Today Show” and the internet? Was he on a TV show?

3. Movie Stars — what would you say about the work of Minka Kelly, Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba:

a. Jessica Biel is my favorite. In addition to acting, she is also a writer and producer, and seems to be the one to watch for the future.

b. I think Minka Kelly has a real future starring in romantic comedies.

c. I can’t tell them apart.

4. Music — how do you feel about rap music:

a. I enjoy rap, have a section of my iPod devoted to it.

b. While I am not a huge fan, I appreciate the music’s passion and underlying themes.

c. Rap music is nothing but noise, and the only thing I can tell you about it is what I read in police reports.

If you answered “C” to any of the questions above, I’m afraid that you, too, have achieved fogeydom. You have earned it, so just enjoy it.

By Misty Volaski

Next Tuesday, the Ojai Unified School District board members will consider the possible lease and/or sale of its property located at 414 E. Ojai Ave., the current site of Chaparral High School, the school district offices, and the OUSD preschool.

The OUSD has lost over $5 million in state and federal funding over the last four years, and faces between $1.2 and $2.9 million more in cuts for the 2012-13 school year.

An informational hearing and opportunity for public comment regarding the possible sale or lease will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday; the regularly-scheduled board meeting will follow.

A group of community members, parents and OUSD administrators and faculty — dubbed the Surplus Property Advisory Committee — will present almost nine months’ worth of research, said OUSD superintendent Hank Bangser. The purpose of this committee was to identify OUSD properties that “Might be enticing for a developer to purchase (or lease),” said Bangser, who chaired the committee. The Ojai Ave. property was identified as “A possible revenue source for the district which we desperately need,” he added.

After its research and meetings with city officials, the committee decided, “Almost unanimously — one felt otherwise — that it was to the benefit of the school district and citizens to at least tentatively recommend that the OUSD board approve going ahead with the potential sale or lease of the property,” said Bangser. He added that, should the board decide to move forward with the committee’s recommendation, they will probably opt to lease and/or sell the property in parcels, rather than in one 8.5-acre lump. “The economy being what it is, a developer might not be so interested in ‘all or nothing,’” Bangser said. “We wanted to make this as flexible as possible for anybody who might be interested in developing on that land.”

Bangser pointed out that, “This is not a simple operation.” For instance, alternative locations for Chaparral, the district offices and the preschool might have to be found, and city codes and ordinances would need to be adhered to. However, he said, “At this point, the most important thing to note is that — speaking for myself — in these economic conditions, it is absolutely imperative that we look at every conceivable revenue source to (maintain) as much programming for our students as we can and also minimize the impact on the taxpayers.”

The committee and board members urge locals to attend the Feb. 7 meeting, which will be held in the OUSD boardroom at 414 E. Ojai Ave. For more information, contact Amy Faunt, executive assistant to the superintendent, at 640-4300, Ext. 1011.

Annual walk/run raises funds for American Heart Association

By Tiobe Barron

This year the Ojai Valley will pay tribute to local Doralee Bailey at the 2012 Ojai Classic Heart & Sole Walk/Run, Ojai’s annual benefit for the American Heart Association

“I feel very honored!” said Bailey, whose husband, the late Dr. Harold Bailey, helped organize the annual event with Dr. Fred Fauvre, a local cardiologist. In addition to her husband’s years of service to the event, Bailey herself made a financial contribution to the American Heart Association in memory of her husband. “I feel this is a very worthwhile activity, and I hope it continues through the years. It keeps the American Heart Association before the public, and we have to take care of our hearts.”

Cindy Noboa, of the American Heart Association, agreed heartily. “It’s a great, fun-filled day for family and friends for a worthy cause,” said Noboa. “All money raised from the event goes toward the American Heart Association. It’s important because heart disease is the No. 1 killer (in the United States), and stroke is the No. 4 killer. We (the AHA) go back into the community to educate about heart disease and stroke.”

According to Noboa, usually 200 to 300 people turn out to the Ojai event. Last year the combined efforts of Ojai and Ventura succeeded in raising the local goal of $20,000 for Ventura County.

The Ojai Classic Heart & Sole Walk/Run became an annual event 22 years ago, when Fauvre reached out to the AHA.

“This is done to help American Heart Association promote good health in preventing cardiovascular disease, which is the most common cause of death,” said Fauvre in a recent press release. “Also, Dr. Skankey and I, and the local committee want to promote fitness and a good, healthy lifestyle in the valley.” Fauvre added that he himself does spinning to get his aerobic workout, and he will participate in the 10K run this year.

The Ojai Classic Heart & Sole Walk/Run will take place Feb. 11. The route begins at the First Baptist Church, located at 930 Grand Ave. The 10k run begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 5k run/walk at 9 a.m. There will be a $200 prize for both the top male and top female runners of the 10K. The cost to register for the event is $30 for those 18 years and older who pre-register; add $5 for day-of registration. Youths 17 and younger can pre-register for $10 (price increases to $15 for day-of registration). There will also be a free kids’ 1K run, which will start at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday.

For more information and to pre-register, visit www.ojaiheartandsole.org, or call Cindy Noboa at (213) 291-7050.

By Logan Hall

The Ojai Rock Quarry may be going out of business. After construction company Cushman Contracting Corporation recently canceled a purchase order of materials from the quarry, the mine is losing $390,000 in sales to Cushman, according to the quarry’s owner, Larry Mosler. The deal had Cushman buying 10,000 tons of a construction material known as rip-rap from the quarry, to be used in the Ventura Port Revetment Repairs project.

“I have no work now,” said Mosler earlier Monday. “This means they’ve won. It means I’m out of business.”

A letter from Cushman sent to Mosler indicated that due to Mosler’s issues with the government, the company would have to cancel the order with the quarry. ” … the Ventura Port District is unsure that it can procure, and pay for, material from the Mosler Rock Products Ojai rock quarry as there have been certain governmental restrictions imposed on Mosler which prohibit public and local agencies to utilize rock from its quarry,” read the letter.

Earlier this month, Mosler’s operation was taken off of a state list that identifies mining companies that fit state requirements. Companies on the California Office of Mine Reclamation AB 3098 list are given the OK by the state to sell their product for government projects. State OMR officials claimed that the quarry was taken off of the list due to Mosler’s ongoing issues with the county.

Mosler is scheduled to have a hearing conducted by the Ventura County Planning Commission on Feb 23 that will decide whether or not the mine owner is in compliance with state and county guidelines and could vote to shut down the quarry’s operation.

Mosler and the county have been battling over the reclamation plan for the quarry and the money that Mosler needs to post in order to cover the cost of a reclamation of his mine. The county says Mosler has not yet filed an approved plan or the money, called the financial assurance, that would go with it.

Mosler claims that the county has continually made it difficult to comply and has forced him to take his fight to the next level.

“We’re going to the federal court because my civil rights are being stomped on,” said Mosler. “I’m going to have to start selling equipment to have my civil rights attorney fight this.”

Mosler claims that the county — which was tasked by its planning commission to work with the mine owner to resolve the issue — has told him that he needs an unreasonable amount of material to be accounted for in his reclamation plan. The required material in turn needs to be covered financially. He states that other mines in Ventura County have had to account for much less money for the procurement of the same materials.

County officials responded by saying that the costs associated with Mosler’s operation are based on calculations of all the activities that would be involved in providing the required material, should the mining area need to be reclaimed.

“Every operation is different,” said Ebony McGee, the county’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act project coordinator. “The state says there needs to be a cost estimate of all the activities involved in providing the necessary material.”

McGee further explained the process, saying there are many factors to look at when coming up with the estimate. “Mr Mosler has a hard rock quarry,” she continued. “He doesn’t have any of the materials stockpiled. Those things can really change the cost estimate.”

The county planning commission will conduct a public hearing on Feb. 23 when commissioners will decide whether or not to revoke Mosler’s mining permit.

By Logan Hall

After Ojai’s request for a hearing with California Public Utilities Commission was rejected last year, the city has been given notice that a public participation hearing will be held in Ojai regarding Golden State Water Company’s proposal to raise its water rates.

Steve McClary, assistant to city manager Rob Clark, confirmed that the CPUC — which regulates utilities like Golden State — contacted the city this week, setting a date and time for the hearing. McClary said that the hearing will take place on Feb. 27 at two separate times — 2 and 6 p.m. — but that the location hasn’t been decided yet.

Although he said that he hasn’t seen anything in writing, McClary did receive confirmation from the office of the commission’s Administrative Law Judge via phone that a hearing will take place in Ojai. “I consider that sufficiently official,” he said on Thursday.

For Ojai residents paying Golden State for water, the decision by the CPUC offers a chance for citizens to voice their opposition to GSWC’s rate increase request. If the water purveyor gets what it is asking for, Ojai’s water rates will increase 25 percent by 2015. During the upcoming hearing, locals will get the chance to speak directly to representatives of the CPUC to state their reasons for opposing the potential rate increase.

“We’re extremely excited that the CPUC decided to hold a hearing in Ojai,” said Ryan Blatz, representative for the non-profit organization Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water. “This just shows you what everybody can achieve if they work together. It’s really amazing seeing that the people of Ojai are making a difference.”

McClary stated that the city, with recommendations from F.L.O.W., suggested that the hearing be held in Chaparral Auditorium, but the decision would rest with the commission, which will foot the bill.

Both F.L.O.W. supporters and city representatives urge the public to attend the hearing. “Now we’ve got to get everyone to show up and have good questions ready for the commission,” said Blatz.

Echoing Blatz’s comment, McClary said, “We really encourage everyone in the community to come to the public participation hearing so they can be heard. It’s really important that the commissioners and the judge hear directly from the people.”

Getting a CPUC hearing in Ojai is a step in the right direction for those concerned about steadily increasing water rates in the city. Blatz and McClary both point out that there is still a long way to go for the citizens in their fight against Golden State, a for-profit corporation. Blatz said that F.L.O.W. is continuing to increase its momentum and will be working more closely with the city in the next month. “We’re putting together some things that will further formalize the city’s support of F.L.O.W.,” said Blatz.

The city is expanding its involvement by finding out what other cities in California are doing to fight Golden State’s latest rate case. McClary said he attended a meeting in Claremont that outlined a plan for five cities to “pool their resources” together. He stated that aside from Claremont, the cities of Barstow, Cypress, Placentia and Stanton have pledged $5,000 each to support the cause. He also said that Claremont is going a step further by pledging funds to begin the process of acquiring the water company and having the city of Claremont take over. The process would be similar to F.L.O.W.’s proposal to have Casitas Municipal Water District acquire Golden State’s Ojai system through eminent domain.

Although in Ojai’s fight, the city would not be the agency taking over Golden State, McClary did say the Ojai City Council will be given the information obtained in Claremont and that the city would “Explore every possible avenue out there.” The city will also be meeting in closed session with attorney Jeffery Oderman, who won the case for the city of Felton in a takeover of their water system from California-American Water, a subsidiary of the German corporation RWE. The meeting between the city and Oderman will take place in two weeks according to McClary.

The Ojai Valley News will publish the time and location of the CPUC’s public participation hearing in future issues. Numerous attempts to get responses from the CPUC have been unsuccessful.

Citizens living in the Casitas Municipal Water District boundaries voted on Nov. 8, 1960 to approve a payment of $31.4 million to be paid over 50 years to the United State Bureau of Reclamation. The funds were allocated for building the Ventura River Project that included the Casitas Dam, Robles Canal, Robles Diversion Facility, and pipeline system. During the January 25, 2012 regular meeting of the Casitas Board of Directors, the Board signed the last payment of $943,645.96 for delivery to the Bureau.

The repayment dollars have been collected from property owners within the district boundaries as a specific tax for Casitas. Property owners will now see a decrease in the tax collected for the Casitas Municipal Water District. The remaining amount left on the property tax line item will be for the annual debt incurred for State Water, which fluctuates from year to year. In the 2010-11 fiscal year, a homeowner with a $300,000 home would have paid $56.13 on their property taxes toward Casitas’ debt. Approximately $28 of the property tax bill, in this example, has been for the Ventura River Project repayment.

“The completion of the repayment portion of the contract does not mean that the District now holds the “pink slip” to the Ventura River Project,” said Steve Wickstrum, General Manager for Casitas.

The title for the project will remain with the United States unless otherwise provided by Congress. Casitas will continue with its contractually assigned responsibilities to operate and maintain the project. Casitas and the Bureau will continue to coordinate and cooperate under the provisions of the contract.

By Tiobe Barron

The tone of Tuesday night’s Ojai City Council meeting seemed to be that of farewells. Mayor Betsy Clapp adjourned the meeting in honor of Gary Horgan, Councilmember Sue Horgan’s husband, who died Jan. 20.

“Our thoughts are with Sue and her family,” said Mayor Clapp.

The meeting also marked the end of Steve Lee’s service to the council as interim city attorney. City manager Rob Clark brought the matter to the attention of the council, saying Lee “Has been an incredible help to me.”

“I am privileged, thankful, and proud to have served you,” said Lee of his time as city attorney.

The meeting also was the last for the Redevelopment Agency, which will be effectively dissolved by California law as of Feb. 1. Susie Mears, finance director, presented a modified Initial Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule, valid through June rather than through December per the prior draft.

“We took a very conservative approach, including all obligations, understanding that it will be challenged by the county and state,” said Mears.

“We’re trying as best we can to protect every asset we have; there are going to be challenges,” said city manager Clark.

Councilmember Carlon Strobel questioned whether the city was assured of being named the successor agency to the Redevelopment Agency once dissolved. Clark reassured her that in all likelihood that was the case. Mayor Clapp voiced concern over the property assets of the agency and what would become of them once the agency is dissolved.

“All assets in the housing fund will be turned into the new fund,” replied Mears.

“Before everyone panics, there are several kinds of assets,” clarified Clark. “There’s a lot that’s not settled yet; we have to see how it plays out.”

Mayor Clapp inquired as to who was on the oversight board for the process, and Clark answered that there are seven members, and it is heavily biased toward the agencies that would receive the liquidated assets if the city, as the successor agency, is not awarded them.

“It’s a real crime what’s happened with the state and the redevelopment agencies,” proclaimed Clark, “The state government has been really short-sighted.”

Mayor Clapp agreed. “It is. … We had the opportunity to put in senior housing units, and now we can’t,” she said before slamming the gavel down in apparent frustration, concluding the final meeting of Ojai’s Redevelopment Agency.

On a brighter note, Steve Offerman, assistant to County Supervisor Steve Bennett, made an announcement that “I come bearing good news from the County Government Center!” In an effort to improve local transit, rather than curtail it, he said, on Jan. 24 the Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 0 to approve Supervisor Bennett’s proposal the county use its surplus in transit funds to cover the shortfall in Ojai’s transit funds.

“Serving transit-dependent persons and helping get people out of their cars has long been a high priority for me and for the residents of the Ojai Valley,” said Supervisor Bennett in a recent press release. “Fortunately, the county has enough state transportation money available to bridge this funding gap, and to improve regional transit by restoring bus service to downtown Ojai. What was getting lost in all this was the riders, and we need to put them on the bus first.”

Offerman pointed out that prior to the recent cuts to Gold Coast Transit bus service to Ojai, the Ojai route was the second most heavily used route in Ventura County, with about 320,000 riders last year, and the former stop at Ojai Park and Ride was the second most heavily used stop in the county. He proposed returning Gold Coast’s route to the Park and Ride once more, and extending the hours for both the Ojai Trolley and Gold Coast Transit.

“This just shows you how great it is when we work together to get stuff done,” commented Mayor Clapp, as everyone present applauded Offerman’s presentation.

Ojai City Council members also approved a Vacant Property Incentive Program on a one-year trial basis. The program aims to provide an incentive for owners of long-vacant commercial buildings and properties to revamp them as a productive, occupied local business place. The incentive would be funded by future tax flow of up to $10,000 as decided on a case-by-case basis by city manager Clark.

“It’s kind of a carrot and stick. We have both,” said Clark. Ojai resident Bryan Crawford voiced the concern that most new businesses do not make it past the two-year mark, and if that is the case, the city would not recoup the invested money through sales tax as hoped. Clark agreed that there is a shared risk, but maintained that it is “not much.” Mayor Clapp and Councilmember Strobel both voiced opinions that the collective gain to the community from having the blighted buildings fixed up and occupied, encouraging more business in the area, outweighs the risk of the business itself failing.

Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the city’s director of recreation, Dale Sumersille, proposed an Exchange of Services Policy, which would waive the rental fee for non-profit leagues using the fields at Sarzotti Park in exchange for services provided by members of the non-profit leagues.

Multiple non-profit organizations, including Ojai Valley Girls’ Softball Association, Ojai P.O.N.Y. Baseball and AYSO, submitted letters in support of the policy.

“I think the intangibles are priceless,” said Sumersille.

Robert Roddick, president of Ojai P.O.N.Y. Baseball, said, “I think it’s going to be a fantastic fit for our organization. I see it as a benefit … in the long run it’s going to save you (the city) money. Many projects have been identified. We have people certified and more than willing to give time. Our goal is to not leave one kid behind that fence.”

Though the city stands to lose $9,500 per year in revenue from the lost rental money, most were in agreement that the services offered in exchange potentially exceeded that amount. It was proposed the city draft a wish list of projects for the non-profits to work off of. The council approved the plan unanimously.
“This is a community of incredible people with incredible skills, and it’s just going to make the community better and better,” commented Mayor Clapp. “The skate park is a perfect example. To me, it’s just a win-win situation.”

The next regular Ojai City Council meeting will take place 7:30 p.m., Feb. 7, at 401 S. Ventura St.

George “Machine Gun” Kelly’s chrome shotgun — left behind at Ora Shannon’s Wise County, Texas ranch (where Kelly held millionaire Charles Urschel) — is now up for auction.

California Auctioneers will sell the 1930s gangster relic on Sunday online and live on premises in Casitas Springs to the highest bidder. The auction begins at 10 a.m.

“It’s a great opportunity to own a piece of American history,” said auctioneer Jewels Eubanks. The shotgun is currently owned by 2008 World Poker Tournament ladies’ champion Nancy Todd, also known as the Queen of Diamonds. Proceeds from the sale of the shotgun will be donated to the Hayden Scholarship Foundation.

California Auctioneers has documented the chain of custody, and procured a  letter of authenticity from witness and Las Vegas legend Tex Whitson. ”We were going to sell the shotgun previously, but waited to document the provenance,” said Shannon, who was Kelly’s mother-in-law and owner of the famous Wise County ranch house where Boss Shannon (her husband) and Machine Gun Kelly kept Charles Urschel when they kidnapped him.

Shannon gave the shotgun to casino owner and Texas gambling legend Benny Binion. Binion was known for bringing Texas hospitality to Las Vegas at his casino, Binion’s Horseshoe. The shotgun was kept in the vault at the Horseshoe, and shown to friends and patrons (including Mr. Whitson),  until Binion gave the shotgun to Billy Bob Burnett, of Billy Bob’s Texas, the biggest Honky Tonk in Texas,  in 1985. Later the shotgun was passed to Todd.

In the documentary included with the shotgun, Whitson recalls a trip with Binion to Texas where he drove down “many a dirt road” and found the Shannon ‘s farmhouse.

Also included in the auction is the Benny Binion collection of  gamblers guns, from the vault at the Horseshoe, confiscated from unruly gangsters, gamblers and patrons. When asked how Binion knew Machine Gun Kelly and the Shannons, Whitson replied, “Anyone who gambled or drank in that part of Texas (Dallas) knew Benny Binion, and probably owed him money.”

Additional auction highlights include estate items from the ninth governor of Louisiana, Andre Bienvenue Roman, in office from 1831 to 1835. The items include portraits by Jacques Guillaume Lucien Amans (1801 to 1888). Also being offered is an important personal collection of pistols from pin-stripe legend Von Dutch, well-known for being the “King of Custom Culture.” He was also a gunsmith. Each has a custom Von Dutch handwritten tag.

For more details, visit californiauctioneers.com, or call 649-2686.

The winning entree as prepared and photographed by Ranch House Chef Stuart Farnham: Diver scallops grilled and served on lightly curried corn sauce with dry vermouth, grilled whole kernel corn and shredded bok choy.

By Lisa Snider

When Ranch House owner David Skaggs agreed to participate in the inaugural Ventura County Wine Trail Local Food and Wine Challenge last Friday night, he said that would do so on one condition: “That we be paired with Ojai Vineyard.”

His decision turned out to be a good one; the two took top honors in the competition, which pitted 11 other area restaurant and winery teams against each other in an Iron Chef-inspired showdown.

Skaggs has long featured the local winery on his award-winning menu. “We’ve had good success with their wines and they work well with the food we have,” said Skaggs.

Before a sold-out crowd of 400 hungry ticket-holders and a panel of judges at Ventura’s Crown Plaza Hotel, teams from all around the county set about to create their best dishes. Skaggs said his choice for the winning entrée was easy.

“Our diver scallops were featured on the Food Network with Iron Chef Cat Cora on ‘Best Thing I Ever Ate,’ so we decided to go with those.”

After tasting the dish against different wines from Ojai Vineyard, the team ultimately decided to present the scallops for judging with their 2008 Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. Ojai Vineyard’s assistant winemaker Fabien Castel described the wine as, “Racy, sleek and delicate,” adding that, “we wanted to show that subtlety works well in wine pairing and that white wine and fresh seafood is one of the great subtle and simple combinations available.”

Ranch House chef Stuart Farnham grilled the diver scallops until they got nice sear marks and served them on a lightly curried corn sauce with dry vermouth, grilled whole kernel corn and shredded bok choy. The dish is a popular one and is served nightly on the restaurant’s regular menu.

Lauren Belshe, representative for the Ventura County Wine Trail, said that her organization decided to host the event to reveal the best of what Ventura County has in their own backyard. “We have 22 wineries to offer and many amazing restaurants in this area,” said Belshe. “We wanted to bring together the wineries and the restaurants and have each of them showcase their very best.”

Among the 11 other teams from Ventura, Camarillo, Oxnard and Malibu were Ojai’s own Vino V and Old Creek Ranch Winery, who joined with Ventura’s Jolly Oyster. The Ranch House and Ojai Vineyard were declared winners and each received a wine decanter with the event and their name etched on the decanter.

“Honestly, everyone was a winner there,” said Skaggs.

Castel added, “We are also glad for all the other participants and the incredible display of creativity and energy to make this event successful. We hope this event will continue and will become a tradition to further explore the variations around food and wine.”

A portion of the evening’s proceeds went to the Ventura County FOOD SHARE, a food bank that houses and distributes millions of pounds of food each year to the hungry of Ventura County.

For more information about the Ventura County Wine Trail, visit VenturaCountyWineTrail.com.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
 As expected, President Obama’s State of the Union speech contained more platitudes than concrete proposals. But that is typical of such speeches, so it came as no surprise.

There is certainly no danger of me ever holding elected office, much less the presidency, but I have composed an imaginary State of the Union speech of my own, in order to offer a few alternative suggestions. Here is how my speech might have gone:

“My fellow Americans, we face a difficult time in our country. The economy is terrible, social security and other programs are at risk financially, we have no energy policy, and we face threats from our enemies. I offer the following plans to confront these problems:

I have made a deal with Mitt Romney to drop out of the presidential race and  take a job with the government as its Investment Czar. Whether Mr. Romney would make a good president if elected is debatable. In fact, due to the reluctance of evangelical Christians to bring themselves to vote for someone of the Mormon faith, he is having trouble just capturing the Republican nomination. So, I intend to appoint him to do something he is clearly good at – investing money. He will handle all government money coming from payroll taxes for social security, and invest it. If he does half as good for us as he is doing for himself, we could pay off a significant amount of debt, and social security would be solvent. The only stipulation is that we keep the money here in America as opposed to somewhere offshore.

I have decided to kill the Keystone pipeline project. As many of you know, this proposed project would construct a 1,700-mile long pipeline which would transport crude oil from the oil sands region in the Alberta region of Canada to refineries in the Gulf Coast. Sure, the project might create jobs and lessen our dependence on oil from much less stable sources than Canada. And yes, we would be giving money to an ally rather than to those who would use that money to fight against us. But these positive factors are far outweighed by the potential downside of having former Vice President Al Gore re-emerge to fight the project. You remember Mr. Gore. He is the one that flew gas-guzzling private jets all over the country in order to tell us how concerned he is about the environment. Yes, the same Al Gore who did little or nothing about environmental issues when he was vice president, but emerged to make movies, give speeches and write books about climate change when he got paid to do so. And while he achieved much notoriety and wealth in these pursuits, he apparently lost all “global warming” for his wife of 40 years, Tipper. As president, I refuse to simply stand by and watch as the American people are subjected to another movie as boring as “An Inconvenient Truth.”

There are many nations who pose a threat to the United States by harboring and training terrorists. As the recent coup in Libya showed us, removing those in power in such countries is dangerous and messy. I have appointed Newt Gingrich to serve as a paid “historian” to countries where regime changes are needed. As you may remember, Mr.Gingrich was paid $1.6 million to serve as “ historical consultant” for Freddie Mac. He did such a good job that the government eventually spent over $100 billion to bail out this agency. If Mr. Gingrich can be just as effective globally, countries such as Iran, Syria, and Venezuela will pose no security threat to the United States.

Thank you, and good night.”

By Tiobe Barron

Watch video responses on OVN’s “Sidewalk Talk”

Ojai, like cities across the nation, may soon become a plastic bag-free zone. The city is proposing a ban on what they call “single-use carry out plastic bags.” If passed, the ban would apply to all merchants, restaurants, grocery stores, and retail shops within Ojai city limits, except in cases where it would create undue hardship, or in which the health and safety of the public might be affected. Instead of plastic bags, retailers would be required to use recycled paper bags, with no less than 40 percent recycled content, and 100 percent recyclable material. Customers would be charged a minimum of 10 cents per paper bag, though they could opt to use their own reusable bag.

The ban would not be enforceable throughout the entire valley, however, as the areas outside city limits, such as Mira Monte and Meiners Oaks, fall under Ventura County’s jurisdiction.

According to city manager Rob Clark, the proposed ordinance predates his term, and when it was originally discussed, state law stipulated that if a city wanted to ban these bags, they must first conduct a full Environmental Impact Report, which he says is very expensive. Thanks to the city of Manhattan Beach, which challenged the legislation and won, smaller towns are able to forgo the costly study, and Ojai no longer had to table the issue.

“This is a state-wide issue,” said Clark in a phone interview. “We were hoping that the state would adopt a ban. Instead we have to do this city by city. Plastic bags create an ongoing hazard; they are a source of litter that does not break down easily.”

The executive director of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, Deborah Pendrey, claims that the impetus for the ban stems from that organization’s efforts back in the summer of 2011. She cites a heavy toll on marine life created by the use of plastic bags, and the fact that businesses have the potential of saving money otherwise spent on these bags. She says the Albertsons located in Carpinteria voluntarily stopped using plastic bags, and now the city of Carpinteria is trying to ban both paper and plastic single-use bags.

“The costs far outweigh the convenience,” said Pendrey. “We just have to get used to a new way of doing things that doesn’t harm the environment.” She also said less than five percent of plastic bags are actually recycled, and much of that is not processed in domestic facilities, but actually shipped to China.

The language of Ojai’s proposed ordinance was largely lifted from that of the ordinance passed in the city of Santa Monica. Part of the text itself states, “Plastic debris is a significant pollutant of coastal waters. Some studies show that plastic photodegrades, breaking into smaller pieces and making its way into the food chain. Reducing the use of single-use carry out bags in Ojai will likely have a modest positive impact on improving water quality by preventing the migration of plastic refuse into the storm drains and traveling to the local creeks and out to the Pacific Ocean.” The proposal also cites examples of cities that have already passed various bans on single-use carry out bags, including San Francisco, Marin, Pasadena, Los Angeles, Calabasas, Long Beach, and others.

Dean Kubani, manager of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability & Envrionment, said his city’s ban — which took effect Sept. 1 — is going well. “We’ve had 24 complaint calls, out of about 1,000 effected retailers … I don’t think there’s any reason this can’t be successful everywhere. It’s simply a matter of changing customer behavior, getting people to bring their own bags. It takes work initially, to get people to change, but I think soon probably this will be more the norm than the exception.”

“If this goes through, I’d be happy,” said Ernest Niglio, owner and general manager of Rainbow Bridge. “I’ve been doing this a long, long time. I tried selling reusable bags back in New York, long before it was fashionable. It’s been a long battle, and we have a big, big problem with the ocean (due to plastic bags). We keep them here because the customers harass us if we don’t. But if they decide to ban them, that would be fine with me. I just don’t want to upset anybody.”

Terry Starr, of Starr Market, said, “My main concern is how this is going to slow down the (checkout) line. It takes more time.” He also pointed out that the reusable canvas bags customers could opt to use must be washed, otherwise bacteria could become a problem.

The Ojai City Council has announced the “public review period” of the proposed ban will take place until Feb. 21, with voting on the ban slated for March 13. The document is available to the public at the Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave., and at Ojai City Hall, at 401 S. Ventura St.

By Logan Hall

Ojai Valley residents got a chance to don rain gear over the weekend for the first time this year. Small storms dumped their payloads on the valley on Saturday and Monday, and puddles began to form on street corners and gutter. As those puddles dry up however, Ojai still faces drought conditions.

National Weather Service experts from the Ventura County station say the valley has seen less than 50 percent of its average rainfall since July.

“We have La Niña conditions which usually leads to drier weather,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell. “Right now we’re running at about half of what we would normally see.”

Although a rainy weekend might be an inconvenience to some locals, seasonal rains are vital to the valley and its residents. The lack of substantial precipitation can make life much more difficult for those in the agriculture business, and can even have grave effects on the valley’s water supply in general.

“I don’t like irrigating in the middle of January,” said citrus ranch owner Jim Coultas, who has a well on his property tapping into the local aquifer. “We’re not supposed to have to do that.”

Coultas says that when the valley sees multiple dry years in a row, residents and business owners that use wells have to start buying water from local purveyors like Casitas Municipal Water District or Golden State Water Company. “The big concern,” he said, “is if the aquifer gets depleted and my well dries out, then I gotta go back on Casitas again.”

Supplementing well water with water from companies like Golden State and Casitas can get expensive for those like Coultas, whose ranch encompasses 135 acres, 60 of which are used for agriculture.

“Two or three years ago we had a real dry winter,” said Coultas who has spent his whole life working his ranch. “I had to irrigate in October and September that year. My water bill was like five-grand a month.”

The benefit of Mother Nature’s watering can goes beyond potential financial impacts.

“When you irrigate for long periods,” continued Coultas, “there will be a build-up of salts in the water — things like magnesium, calcium and so forth. When we get a lot of rain, it flushes all that out. It’s really good for the soil. Rain is the best irrigation we’ve got.”

As more and more people depend on Ojai’s groundwater, the supply will continue to be depleted faster and faster during dry years. As Coultas puts it, “The more straws that are in the drink, the more quickly it goes down.”

The NWS reports that Ojai has received 1.3 inches of rain so far in January, while statistics show that the 30-year rain average in Ojai for the month of January is 5.2 inches. The same report shows that Ojai has seen 4.9 inches of rainfall since July, while the 30-year average shows the valley should have gotten 9.5 inches in the same period. Weather experts add that there’s no rain in the immediate forecast. “I don’t see any rain in the next seven to 10 days,” said Kittell. “It’s looking like this is it for January.”

Kittell did state that February is historically the wettest month for Ojai, according to NWS stats. “There’s still hope that we’ll get significant rain in February, but we still have a lot of ground to catch up,” he said.

While ranchers and residents work behind the scenes to mitigate the effects of dry weather, the impact of drought might be more visible in an area like Lake Casitas, which according, to lake statistics, is at 81.4 percent of capacity. The lake depends on water diverted from the Ventura River to refill what Casitas water customers use. A mandate from the federal government stipulates that there must be enough water in the river to allow Steelhead Trout to swim upstream before any can be used to fill the lake.

“We usually need about six inches of rain to start diverting (water into the lake),” said Casitas spokesman Ron Merckling. “We might not have any diversions this year if the weather stays as dry as it has been.”

Those that drive Casitas Pass Road will notice a large ring around the lake showing just how far down the water level is. Although Casitas was designed to continue to supply water even during drought years, the lack of rain can take its toll.

“If we have multiple dry years, we can run into trouble,” said Casitas spokesman Ron Merckling. “That’s why we are encouraging conservation.”

Casitas officials are urging people to attend a free “gray water workshop” this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, which will help inform the public on how to utilize used water after doing laundry. Merckling says the workshop will focus on ways to recycle water from washing machines, which, if done properly, can help individuals and families cut back on water usage. Call 649-2251, Ext. 118, or e-mail rmerckling@casitaswater.com for more information on Casitas’ water conservation plans or to sign up for the workshop.

Bicycle shop will soon occupy the old Roland’s Exxon site

Chris T. Wilson
As local bicycle shop owners wait for construction permits at their new downtown location, an important environmental milestone has been crossed and a new business stimulus program is getting a boost from Ojai city officials.
For more than 16 years, the former fueling station at 110 W. Ojai Ave., sandwiched between the Ojai Valley Museum and the Oaks at Ojai Spa, has been shuttered and vacant due to a leaky underground fuel tank.
In the last week, four of the seven contamination test wells located on and near the property were capped after test results concluded that ground water was no longer in danger of being contaminated in the area.
The test well capping means the MOB Shop, currently located in Meiners Oaks, is one step closer to turning the blighted building into a viable downtown Ojai business, said John Lamar, a consultant and landscape architect who is helping the bike shop obtain permits and beautify the property.
“This is an important step for us, since for the past nine months we’ve been dealing with the (Ventura) County Environmental Health Division to get to the point where they have contractors come and complete this work,” Lamar said.
Mob Shop founder Kelly Pasco said the drill rigs and earth moving equipment has generated a lot of interest.
“I can’t go anywhere without people asking me what’s going on,” Pasco said. “I went into a restaurant last week and people were talking about it and then they started asking me about it.”
Pasco said that once the city delivers permits and construction work begins, the property will transform pretty quickly.
“We’re setting an aggressive goal for ourselves to be open by April 1,” Pasco said.
But permit fees, planning costs and inspections can run into the thousands of dollars. So Lamar has been pushing city officials to offset some of the fees based on projected sales tax revenue that the new business will generate for the city.
Ojai city manager Rob Clark said on Tuesday that he anticipated a positive response from the Ojai City Council at last night’s meeting, for a one-year trial program, which would be aimed at stimulating business growth in vacant downtown buildings. Lamar has been working closely with Mayor Betsy Clapp and city manager Clark to establish the first blighted building support program.
Clark said the council is very interested in having a program like this to get vacant properties reoccupied and back in use as businesses.
“If they don’t go back in use, then we can’t collect sales tax,” Clark said. “So we consider that found money if we can get them in use.”
Clark said he is recommending a one-year trial program that could cut initial permit and site improvement fees by as much as 50 percent. He also said that the motivated actions of the MOB Shop owners helped to spur the city forward into considering this program.
“I think it’s a great way to activate downtown and make things more interesting,” Clark said.

Thinking ‘way outside the box’ now the norm

By Misty Volaski
Nordhoff High School’s assistant principal, Greg Bayless, summed up what’s going on in Ojai schools in four words: “Sometimes, poverty spawns creativity.”

With the Ojai Unified School District losing more than $5 million from its budget over the last few years — and the possibility of losing $2 million more should various state measures fail — teachers and administrators are “thinking way outside of the box,” said Topa Topa Elementary principal John LeSuer.

Nordhoff, Topa Topa and Matilija Junior High presented their Single Plans for Student Achievement at Tuesday night’s OUSD board meeting, showcasing their school’s strategies for raising students’ academic performance.

“Anybody who has heard any one of these presentations would walk away feeling a true sense of optimism from the principals and staff and parents, in the face of several years of deep expenditure reductions,” said OUSD superintendent Hank Bangser Wednesday. “To me it’s just remarkable … After so many years of a combination of declining enrollment and marginal — at best — funding from the state, the reports this year about what’s being done at the schools academically and in so many other ways (offer) absolute evidence of the commitment to our children. We should be thrilled that we have the kind of people in our schools that can do as much as they do with so little.”

Nordhoff

The OUSD’s only high school is taking a page out of college books with the addition of “associate teachers,” high-achieving students who reteach key concepts to their peers each week. Bayless opted to “totally overhaul” the school’s existing peer tutoring program.

“They’re not just there for students to ask questions anymore, they’re actually up there teaching, calling on students, having them work out problems on the whiteboard. They’re like real TAs (teaching assistants),” Bayless said. Associate teachers make contact weekly with their “master” teachers to find out the key concepts for the week, then create lessons to help their peers understand and keep up.

Bayless said that the process of choosing associate teachers was intense. “It was a competitive process — they had tryouts where we pulled a topic out of a hat and they had 30 seconds to teach it,” he said. “We chose the best 15. These are top-achieving seniors, really smart kids — Nick Perkins is going to Stanford, another is going to M.I.T or Princeton. And they’ve really stepped up. It’s incredible. It’s been a home run. And there’s not many of those to be had these days.”

Also in Nordhoff’s SPSA was the reintroduction of The Ranger newspaper, incorporating more reading into all subject areas (even physical education), student-led writing labs, and the continuation of the Better Science Guest Lecture Series. The lecture series is a once-a-month discussion with a local scientist who helps bring the real world into students’ science studies. “The series helps make school more engaging and relevant,” Bayless said, adding that the optional series is popular with the students.

The Ranger students will also work with kids from The Thacher School to develop capstone projects. These are similar to senior projects the students already do, but instead of being for just one subject, students must come up with an in-depth project that touches on several subjects. “These really require the students to do more creative thinking and investigating … It’ll improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” Bayless explained.

Matilija

MJHS principal Emily Mostovoy and her staff are big on ensuring that their Eagles “feel connected to the school and responsible for their success,” she said Wednesday. That means addressing the kids’ academic health as well as their social, emotional and behavioral health. To that end, they have created the Matilija P.R.I.D.E. guidelines for success: “Positive Attitude, Respect, personal Responsibility, Developing Goals, and Enthusiasm.” This will launch next month and “sets the standard for what we as students and staff believe we are,” she said.

In addition, staff are offering interventions in English, math, science, social studies, elective and physical education. There are extra reading classes (which, while not required, are “recommended,” and take the place of a students’ elective class), and several after-school programs, such as Homework Club, Reading Plus, Math Help, and even Saturday “Got Math” programs — all of which are well attended.

Students also take part in tutorial enrichment programs once a month, which gives students the opportunity to relearn concepts within classrooms based on “certain needs,” said Mostovoy. “They’ll relearn a topic, or retake a test — even learn to organize their backpack.” For kids who don’t need the extra tutorial time, other activities are offered, such as science labs with Nordhoff’s health Sciences Academy students.

Although declining budgets mean less money from OUSD, parents and members of the community are stepping up to volunteer their time and skills. One parent, Mostovoy said, is looking into a grant that could win them class sets of Kindle e-readers. “Due to the budget, in the English department it’s been close to 10 years that they haven’t gotten new textbooks,” Mostovoy pointed out.

Another parent has already scored Matilija an $8,000 grant which is being used for the Schoolyard Habitat, where students work with members of the community to create a sustainable garden.

Mostovoy added that it’s the teachers’ commitment that keeps things running in these challenging times. “I can’t thank the teachers enough — I’m continually amazed every day with what they bring to the classroom and their commitment. The only question is, ‘What’s right for the kids?’ It’s at the forefront of every decision they make.”

Topa Topa

The OUSD’s largest elementary, like Matilija, enjoys lots of volunteer participation — as well as a strong Parent-Teacher Association and some creative scheduling — to help fill in the gaps left by budget cuts.

“We have an enrichment programs after school,” Topa Topa principal LeSuer said Wednesday. These programs are low in cost to students — only about $10 (with scholarships available to those in need) — and offer both fun and educational activities for kids.

“Science, art, computers, Spanish classes, outdoors games, yoga, drama, basketball — it’s a wholes series of classes,” LeSuer said., adding that about 75 students currently participate. “The kids really enjoy it.” Some of the teachers are members of the community, and others come from the Ojai Recreation Department, with which Topa and its PTA are partnering. “Our PTA is really wonderful,” LeSuer said.

Katie Haydon of Ignite! Learning Creative Learning is offering staff development for teachers, the Ojai Lions Club is donating funds, and the Rotary Club of Ojai is bringing in volunteers to help students with reading skills. “That’s a great program,” enthused LeSuer. There’s also the Art Trek art program, the BRAVO! music van, Ojai Quickstart Tennis, and more. Rotary is also sponsoring an after-school nutrition and cooking class to teach kids about good foods.

In the classroom, LeSuer was able to utilize some funding to bring in credentialed teachers, “So students get a lot of extra help,” LeSuer said. “It’s made a huge impact.” Further, it divides up classes, allowing the students more individualized instruction — something sorely needed with today’s large class sizes.

In the kindergarten classrooms, where class sizes are at about 30 students, half the class arrives an hour early, and the other half stays an hour later. While students end up with the same amount of time in the classroom, this system allows for more individualized attention — vital at this period in their development, said LeSuer.

“We don’t have nearly the money we used to have,” he said. “Things are definitely tough. But we’re looking at a lot of things to make this work.”

To volunteer at Nordhoff, Topa Topa, Matilija or any of the OUSD schools, call the OUSD office at 640-4300, or visit www.ojai.k12.ca.us.

By Logan Hall

Federal agents arrested local property owner John Appel last week on charges of illegally dumping debris on his 30-acre property near the Arnaz Grade.

Agents from the Environmental Protection Agency took Appel into custody on Thursday, after which he was arraigned in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and released after posting a $15,000 bond, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the court, in an E-mail. Appel pleaded not guilty to four counts of “knowingly discharging dredged and fill material into the Ventura River,” according to the indictment by the court. Mrozek said the case will go to trial on Feb. 21.

This marks Appel’s second arrest for similar charges since 1995, when he was convicted of dumping debris into the river over a four-year period.

Appel says he spent a large sum of money fighting the previous case and ended up spending time in the Ventura County work furlough program after his conviction. He claims that the government is unjustly targeting him now. During an interview at his property, Appel was asked if he had discharged debris into the river. “Heavens no,” he said while pointing at the area of the river in question. “I spent $300,000 of my own money fighting this before. Why would I just go and do it again? I can’t figure out why, but someone really wants this property bad.”

According to the U.S. court, if convicted of the charges in the latest indictment, Appel could be facing hard time. “If convicted of all charges in the indictment, the statutory maximum sentence is eight years in federal prison,” said Mrozek.

Appel says he has been relentlessly harassed by the government and by members of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy. “The guy from the Land Conservancy followed me around every day for six months,” said Appel.

“The guy” Appel referred to was Rick Bisaccia, preservation manager for the conservancy. Bisaccia, who claims he is a witness in the case against Appel, was reluctant to discuss his role in monitoring Appel’s property, but did confirm that he watched the property owner’s activities on more than one occasion. “I was monitoring some of his activities that I could see,” said Bisaccia.

The conservancy owns land on three sides of Appel’s property, according to Bisaccia, and Appel claims that the conservancy wants to acquire his land for its own purpose. “They really want to get their hands on this land,” said Appel. “They even admitted that they’re trying to own all of the land in the river bottom. I don’t know what it’s all about, but I’ll bet it has to do with the steelhead (trout). Steelhead is just another word for money.”

Bisaccia confirms that steelhead trout are definitely a major concern of the conservancy, but says that Appel’s claims of property takeover are unfounded.

“I guess he could make that conclusion, ‘cause he’s in the river,” said Bisaccia, “but that isn’t what this is about. Quite a bit of it does have to do with the steelhead.”

Repeated calls to Nadine Hettling, Appel’s court-appointed federal attorney, went unanswered. Attempts to obtain comment from the EPA were also unsuccessful. “We are unable to comment on ongoing investigations such as these,” said Nahal Mogharabi, spokesperson for the EPA.

Look for upcoming issues of the OVN for a full report on Appel’s case with the federal government.

By Chris T. Wilson

A local “Move to Amend” group will join forces in Libbey Park tomorrow afternoon as part of a national campaign to override the 2010 Supreme Court decision that established corporations as people and money as speech.

The public is invited to attend, learn more and participate.

According to current estimates from Ojai-based event organizers, more than 300 cities nationwide are hosting protests tomorrow to gather signatures and support for adding a Constitutional amendment that would end corporate personhood and “reclaim democracy.”

The national campaign is largely organized by the groups Public Citizen (citizen.org), Move to Amend (movetoamend.org) and Common Cause (commoncause.org) and many other smaller groups, organizer and local activist Bill Haff said.

Haff, a freelance graphic designer who has lived in the Ojai Valley since 2009, is one of the main local organizers. He said that over the next several months the group hopes to gather a few thousand signatures to get support from the Ojai City Council and as part of the larger national campaign for a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“We’re hoping the Ojai City Council will approve a resolution supporting the idea of a constitutional amendment that the word ‘persons’ is defined as human beings only, and not legal entities such as corporations,” Haff said. “We will also be sending the signatures we gather to the group working on the national movement.”

According to the Public Citizen organization’s website, democracyisforpeople.org, in 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a case called Citizens United v. FEC that corporations have a “right” to spend unlimited money influencing elections.

“I’ve been interested in this issue for over 10 years,” Haff said. “I became involved with groups in my home state of Massachusetts who were working on it and I became more interested in it as it became more prevalent because of the Supreme Court’s decision.”

Following speeches and signature gathering by local activists in Libbey Park, the event will then move to The Village Jester, 139 East Ojai Ave., for continued live music and more signature gathering until 7 p.m. Slated to perform at the event are local musicians Patricia Cardinali, Julie Christensen and Jonathan McCuen. Los Angeles-based rock band Rooftop Revolutionaries, fronted by power vocalist Eleanor Goldstein, will also perform.

This is the only event representing the national movement in Ventura County, Haff said.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting people from all around the Ojai Valley and around the Ventura County and Santa Barbara area,” Haff said.

Write an E-mail to abolishamendment@hotmail.com to learn more. A Facebook page has also been established: facebook.com/groups/CorporatePersonhoodOjai/ or search “Abolish Corporate Personhood Ojai Valley” on Facebook or Google to find the page.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the incessant demands of cell phones, internet messages and the myriad other demands of the modern world that max out our stress levels.

Well, I found the cure. Ava and I recently spent a long weekend in the “Cowboy Cabin” at Bodee’s Rancho Grande in the beautiful Rose Valley. It was just what the doctor ordered. I don’t know if Bodee’s owner Michele Cromer-Bentivilio instructed the ranch’s caretakers, Ken and Ruby Mellinger and their daughter, Hannah, to pamper us, but they sure did.

There is no cell phone service at the cabin, so there were no annoying tri-tone signals demanding attention. The cabin does have internet service, but I pretended there wasn’t – at least most of the time. I checked my e-mail only twice that weekend, which may be a personal record for me.

Instead of being glued to the computer or television, we found other pursuits. We read a lot. We took the short walk to Lake Michael, (named for Michele’s son), past Matty’s Creek (named after her other son, Matthew). Ava cooked in our cozy kitchen, and we dined by candlelight at our own private table for two.

On Saturday, we boarded the hay wagon and went out among the ranch’s docile herd. As Ken forked hay to the cattle, we sipped wine and shelled peanuts as a beautiful, nearly full moon rose over the valley. It put me in mind of feeding the cattle with my Daddy on our small farm in Alabama when I was a little boy. When I was a kid, I used to love to go out and walk the fields with Daddy while he fed the cattle. He would call them and talk to them, and he would sometimes lift me up on the back of one of those gentle giants for a short ride, all the while holding on tight to me.

In the truck bed, ahead of the hay wagon, were the Mellinger’s two dogs; a beautiful golden retriever named Nicky, and Bandit, their intrepid Queensland heeler. When the truck stopped for Ken to distribute the hay, they were immediately on the job. Bandit diligently surveying the herd; and Nicky acting more like a headwaiter – weaving among the cattle to make sure that each was enjoying the feast. I have never considered myself much of a farm boy, but I can’t remember a nicer evening in a very long time.

On the next evening, we enjoyed a glass of wine as we watched the full moon rising over the mountains surrounding the beautiful Rose Valley. We looked up at the stars and the vapor trails of jets far above and far away, while enjoying the beautiful quiet, interrupted only by the occasional barking dog, or the clucking of a chicken, settling down to roost for the night.

In fact, the only time the quiet was really disturbed was Saturday afternoon, when I came down the mountain to make a run to the grocery store. I encountered four Ferraris tearing down the road behind me. I pulled over to let three of them pass, one guy tooting his horn in appreciation. But there was one idiot who blew around me on a blind curve, endangering both of us, not to mention anyone who could have been coming the other way. I thought about asking Michael Shapiro to consider renaming his coalition “Ojai Stop the Trucks and Ferraris!,” but that does not exactly roll right off the tongue.

I want to thank Michele, Ken, Ruby, and Hanna for the wonderful weekend. I can’t wait to  go back.

On Monday, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., a celebration was held at Libbey Park with singing, music, art, and poetry. At left, singers from the Ojai Community Gospel Choir perform songs on stage. Photo by Isaac Hsieh

By George Levin

Local teens put on an event honoring a civil rights hero this week, while other residents around the community gave up part of their valuable vacations in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

About 250 people paid tribute to King at the Libbey Park fountain Monday, according to organizers Zelda Grove, the executive chair of the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation’s MLK Day committee, and Gus Hoffman, a 2010 Nordhoff High School graduate who helps put on the event. The celebration in the park has been organized by the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation for seven or eight years, says Hoffman. The high school students put it together, and grammar school classes across the valley made posters which were hung in the park, visible from Ojai Avenue. The event included face painting, speeches, food, kindergarten choirs, and folksy resistance songs of the 1960s.

Local resident Kate Russell expressed her admiration for the students who had taken it upon themselves to commemorate the hero of their parents’ generation. She explains that the student volunteers have a saying for the day: “‘It’s a day on, not a day off,’ is what they tell each other,” she says with a laugh. She adds, “The official slogan this year is ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.’”

While many residents attended the celebration in Libbey Park, others volunteered their time at the Ojai-based Humane Society of Ventura County, the Ojai Valley Community Hospital or other locations around the valley. Their efforts are part of the nation-wide Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service initiative, an 18-year-old program designed to encourage Americans of all ages and backgrounds to use King’s legacy as an inspiration to make their communities better by working to make a difference in any way they are able. Humane Society volunteer coordinator Kate Nelson said, “There are people who come in every day of the week, though I don’t mind anything that motivates people to come out!”

By Linda Harmon

Thanks to area environmental councils and a grant from the Federal Department of Energy, Ojai residents and visitors can get their electric vehicles charged for free at either of two charging stations while visiting the downtown area.

“The upgraded charging locations are not new,” says Kent Bullard, board director with the Sustainability Council of Ventura County and an EV owner himself. ”Ojai’s existing EVS (electric vehicle service) stations were installed about ten years ago, but have just been upgraded to a meet a new industry standard.”

EVS charging equipment is located at the Ojai Park & Ride, 450 E. Ojai Ave; City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St.; and at Lake Casitas.

According to Bullard, before this standardization there were three different models of chargers out there. He feels the newly arrived chargers will eliminate one of the biggest stumbling blocks faced by EV owners — having the correct hook-up to charge their vehicle.

The new equipment has all been upgraded to the new standard, level 2 J1772 connection, by EVS company Clipper Creek. Electric Vehicle manufacturers have agreed to install compatible equipment on all future models, including Toyota, Nissan and Ford.

According to Bullard, another bit of good news is the development of high-speed chargers that work off a higher wattage system, which are currently being strategically placed in each county throughout the state.

Bullard says that these new efforts, paid for by federal and state grants, have been augmented by for-profit companies jumping into providing EVS services. Companies in the private sector are now working on plans to install “pay as you go” chargers, using either a charge-for-fee basis or club-based access, making electric vehicles more feasible for long distance commuting.

Bullard and his wife have an electric vehicle, and his wife uses it to commute to work in Thousand Oaks. They charge it at home with an “over-sized” solar system that they had installed for just that purpose.

“On average at 110 watts, an hour of charging equals four n nmjn n miles of range,” said Bullard, “So if she plugs in when she gets to work, the car is recharged by the time she leaves. The chargers at City Hall use a 220 current that gives you 10 miles of range for every hour of charging. The new high-speed fast chargers work even quicker on a higher current, 440 volt. They are looking at putting in a fast charge station at either Ventura or Santa Barbara to extend the travel range up the coast.”

For a list of regional EVS locations, go to ojaivalleygreencoalition.com/GoldCoastEVChargingLocations-11-30-11.pdf.

For information on an EVS workshop set for Jan. 29 in Camarillo, visit energycenter.org/cvrp-events.

Photos and report by Logan Hall

An elderly woman driving a white Toyota Camry crashed through the window of a business next to Nordhoff High School earlier today. The incident happened just feet away from the front door of insurance agent Bob Daddi’s State Farm office on Vallerio Avenue. Although the woman was reportedly uninjured, the crash damaged a large glass window, and a wall inside the building. “I was in the back and heard the crash,” said Daddi. “I thought it was an earthquake. The car hit the wall and shook the building.” The building’s owner, Dean Vadnais, said that the tenants of the damaged unit — formerly the Pregnancy Clinic of the Ojai Valley — were in the process of moving to a different location and no one was in the building at the time. “It’s not that bad,” said Vadnais after surveying the shattered glass and broken frame of the floor to ceiling window. “No one was hurt thankfully.” This incident isn’t the first time the insurance office has had to deal with cars crashing through walls. In 2006, another white sedan plowed through the wall of Daddi’s office, sending one of his employees to the hospital with minor injuries. Reasons for the crash are unknown at this time.

By Tiobe Barron

Ojai City Council voted Tuesday night to approve a multitude of permits which allow the Weil Tennis Academy to expand its existing facilities. The project plans include a lot expansion, the creation of four new tennis courts, and a complete revamping of the dormitories.

“I have a great staff,” said Weil Academy owner and Ojai resident Mark Weil, “but the dormitories have always been, ‘Bring the parents in with blindfolds!’ I want to make it inviting and attractive.”

Abe Leider, the contract planner, gave a presentation to the council on the project plans. Among the provisions detailed were tree permits — to remove old and diseased trees, as well as to plant new ones — the inclusion of public art in the new facilities, and allowances for parking, among many others. There was laughter from the public and council members alike as Councilwoman Carol Smith read off the extensive list of permits, amendments, and certificates to be approved.

“I want to thank you all for hearing us tonight,” said Weil, “It’s taken us 17 years to get here!”

Greg Grant, Ojai’s public works director, was quick to point out that while 17 years is indeed a long time, the Fulton Street extension has been in the making for 25 years.

“The funding is completely secured now; we’re ready to start the construction,” Grant said. Caltrans will be funding the actual road construction, and has been working with the Complete Streets Subcommittee, hammering out details to make the project safe, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing. Council members approved the resulting suggestions to the extension project, which include landscape strips to provide a buffer area between pedestrians and vehicles, narrowing the planned traffic lanes from 12 to 10.5 feet to slow traffic speed, and creating curb extensions and bicycle path crossings to increase visibility and reduce cyclist/pedestrian crossing time.

Scott Eicher, CEO of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, proposed taking even more precautions for cyclists and pedestrians along the Fulton extension.

“Why not put a stop sign at both places?” he asked regarding a four-way stop for vehicles and bicycles at bike path crossings.

“That way no one is running through feeling like God is on their side,” Councilwoman Carlon Strobel proposed the suggestion to Grant, who agreed the idea could be considered.

Council members also closely looked at their health benefits. At council’s request, finance director Susie Mears researched other city councils; health benefits throughout Ventura County, and presented her findings. According to her research, active and retired city council members in Ventura and Filmore receive no health benefits. The city of Thousand Oaks just decreased the amount covered by their health benefits policy for active and retired council members from a maximum of $2,357 to $112 per month. The matter was brought to the attention of Ojai City Council on Nov. 8  when Dick Thompson of the Ventura Taxpayer’s Association urged council members to reconsider the use of taxpayer dollars toward this end. The issue sparked controversy, as council members sparred over who should receive coverage, and for how long.

Councilwoman Strobel said, “My position is that this applies only to incoming council members, not sitting or retired.” Mayor pro tem Paul Blatz suggested perhaps the benefits could be offered until a sitting or retired council member becomes eligible for Medicare, at which point they could elect to continue the coverage offered at their own expense, or rely on Medicare alone. He agreed with Strobel that any changes should apply only to members elected after November of 2012.

“Why is it taxpayers should pay healthcare benefits to someone who is very part-time?” asked Councilwoman Smith. “Ventura is paying nothing! How is it a little city like Ojai is paying this much? Done!”

Mayor Betsy Clapp responded, “Clearly there’s a huge problem with healthcare in this country, and everyone deserves healthcare. It’s easy to say we work ‘part-time.’ I work 30 hours a week, depending. I don’t like the work we do to be diminished. This thing we’ve stepped into deserves compensation. It’s a difficult thing to do.”

All council members, except Councilman Blatz and Mayor Clapp, moved to direct the city manager to create a resolution to change City Council health benefits.

Also on the council’s plate Tuesday night was the issue of the State of California effectively dissolving redevelopment agencies across the state. The council voted to have the City of Ojai designated as the successor agency to the Redevelopment Agency, and also to support SB 659, a bill petitioning Governor Jerry Brown to temporarily postpone the Feb. 1 dissolution of redevelopment agencies. The council also voted to approve the contract naming Joseph Fletcher the new city attorney as of Feb. 1, and to continue the current arrangement with the Ojai Valley Visitors Bureau through the end of June of this year, and provide funding to the tune of $109,000.

The next regular Ojai City Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall.

Haven Whipple

By Chris T Wilson

A 2009 Nordhoff High School graduate, now attending a liberal arts college on the East Coast, is about to embark on a 250-mile sea kayaking adventure. And she’s enlisting the community for support.

At 19, Haven Whipple now a junior, will the youngest among a group of six Gettysburg College students to spend six weeks on the Baltic Sea kayaking from Helsinki, Finland, to Stockholm, Sweden, as part of an experiential education program at the college. Over the next few months Whipple will continue working as a waitress near campus to raise the $7,000 she needs to fund the trip, and she’ll be seeking sponsorships from Ojai area individuals and businesses as well.

Whipple joined the Gettysburg Recreation and Adventure Board college fellowship this past semester to participate more in outdoor sport opportunities. An active backpacker, water sports enthusiast and world traveler, the G.R.A.B. fellowship also allows her to receive a small stipend to take freshman on hiking and kayaking excursions.

In addition to kayaking and mountain climbing day trips near campus, the fellowship also engages in longer adventures, spending up to two weeks climbing in Arizona, camping off the coast of Georgia, and spending the whole summer trekking through Ireland, she said. About 30 students are involved in G.R.A.B.

“I’ll be flying back to school on Saturday, and then Monday, I’m going backpacking for a week in the Appalachians,” Whipple said.

To train for the Baltic Sea Kayak trip, Whipple and her five fellow students who will be on the trip will work on endurance training, which means a lot of long distance running — and, of course kayaking.

She got her initial taste of kayaking working at the Lake Casitas Marina Café.

“I would take out kayaks almost every day last summer,” she said. “That was my first long stretch in an ocean kayak.”

During the coming trip on the Baltic, the longest stretch they will paddle in a single day is 25 miles. As an educational component of the trip, the students will study marine life and its relationship to climate change and report on that, Whipple said.

No stranger to adventure, Whipple said she has traveled to 16 or 17 countries. Last spring, she spent five months in Kenya as part of an economic development program through her college. There, she had to contend with large, intimidating gorillas and menacing monkeys and live next to one of the largest slums in the world, she said.

“I was doing a project studying the degradation of the coast in southern Kenya,” she said. In part, her task was to study the local culture there and help to create systems that could help improve environmental conditions there. As a child, she lived with her family in Bangladesh for one year. She was in first grade when she moved to Ojai with her family. Her dad, Thayne Whipple, is a past president of the Ojai Education Foundation and the newest board member of Ojai Unified School District.

Whipple said knew she wanted to attend college on the East Coast and was inspired to apply to Gettysburg by NHS history teacher Andrew Buck, an alum of the small liberal arts college.

Now involved in the G.R.A.B. program and closing in on her last year of college, she settled on globalization studies as a major and business as a minor.

“I changed my major about six times,” she laughed. “I don’t think my advisors were too happy about that.”

But she’s been inspired by her G.R.A.B. colleagues and the experiential education staff to pursue a career that involves outdoor adventure of some kind.

To learn more about this program, visit www.gettysburg.edu and search for G.R.A.B. Individuals or businesses interested in a sponsoring Whipple can E-mail her at whipha01@gettysburg.edu.

Report and photo by Logan Hall

Ojai citizens fed up with rising water rates might get a chance to have their voices heard by the government.

The California Public Utilities Commission — which regulates utilities like local water purveyor Golden State Water Company — had previously rejected the City of Ojai’s formal request for a CPUC public participation hearing regarding GSWC’s most recent rate case, in which they requested an increase of 25 percent to their rates for customers by 2015. Ojai’s rejection caused an uproar amongst Golden State’s opposition in the valley, prompting Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water representatives to say the CPUC was the real problem in Ojai’s fight for affordable water.

Help for F.L.O.W. came in the form of the Division of Ratepayer Advocates, an organization that helps keep the regulators regulated. DRA officials had written to CPUC Administrative Law Judge Richard Smith requesting that the commission hold four additional hearings in Bell Gardens, Calipatria, Placentia and Ojai.

The letter to Smith stated that DRA representatives had visited the town of Ojai, and had seen evidence that enough people were protesting Golden State to warrant a hearing in the city. The DRA had also cited that articles in the Ojai Valley News had gained their attention.

“ … DRA conducted a site visit to Ojai on October 5, 2011 and observed signs on many customers’ front lawns stating their unhappiness with Golden State’s rates.  Also, while in Ojai, DRA noticed two articles in the local newspaper and magazines regarding Golden State Water Company’s proposed rate increases,” read the email sent to smith by Selina Shek, the DRA’s co-counsel.

Smith responded by stating in a report that, “Given the widespread interest in and substantial attendance at the PPH’s (hearings) in this proceeding, the commission will consider holding additional PPH’s.”

In addition to the DRA’s support for Ojai, letters were sent to the CPUC from former mayor Carol Smith and Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett. “ … A hearing in the Ojai area is needed to properly afford local citizens the ability to participate in the CPUC process,” read the letter from Bennett.

Attempts to gain comment from CPUC spokesman Christopher Chow were met by an E-mail response giving a web link to Smith’s report. On more than one occasion, CPUC representatives — who are responsible for looking out for the public’s best interests — have refused to answer direct questions about Golden State’s current rate case.

Although the CPUC appears to be brushing the concerns of Ojai’s citizens aside, F.L.O.W. supporters believe that Ojai’s collective voice will be heard.

“Ojai F.L.O.W. is confident that a public participation hearing will be held in Ojai by April,” said F.L.O.W. representative Bob Daddi.

Golden State released a statement supporting additional public hearings. “We’re very supportive of a proposal for additional public participation hearings in Ojai as well as other communities,” said GSWC spokesman John Dewey. “These hearings are another example of accountability that is built into the process. It’s important for customers to have a voice and input into this.”

Trouble for Golden State has been mounting as two big settlements regarding violations within the company have surfaced recently. Last year, Golden State agreed to pay more than $12 million to their customers in several areas, including Ojai. The company had grossly overpaid a construction firm for projects — some of which were never even started — more than 10 years ago that sparked an investigation into the company, when it was found that company executives had deliberately withheld the information from the government. Ojai customers stand to receive $1 million in compensation from GSWC in the form of credits in coming years.

In 2010, another major blow to the company came when the California Regional Water Quality Control Board slapped them with $15,000 in violations regarding the San Antonio pump station on Grand Avenue in Ojai’s East End.

The violations were directly related to excessive amounts of chemicals and other anomalies in the water supply. The violations for the pump station were for excessive chloride, total residual chlorine and biological oxygen demand — which refers to the amount of oxygen that is consumed by bacteria in the water supply. GSWC had not properly filed with the control board regarding the violations, resulting in fines to the company of $105,000.

That fine could have been substantially more, however.

The board cited that Golden State was 1,054 days late in properly dealing with violations. GSWC could potentially have been fined $3,000 a month until the company took care of the problem, which would have added up to $216,000. If referred to the attorney general for prosecution, the superior court could have imposed a fine of $25,000 per violation for the five violations read the report. Golden State settled out of court, paying a total of $120,000 including the cost of the individual violations.

GSWC representatives claim that the company hadn’t sent the required reports properly, and therefore couldn’t prove that they had responded to the violations in a timely manner. “While we have every reason to believe the report was submitted timely,” said GSWC district manager Ken Petersen, “the Company did not send the report via certified mail and thus has no way to prove the report was received by the Regional Board.”

Petersen stated that, despite fines imposed, the company had corrected the problem. “The violations were corrected upon installation of new filter media at one of its plant sites,” he said.

The San Antonio pump station borders San Antonio Creek and is undergoing renovations that Golden State officials say will help provide a better quality of water and service for their customers. Welders from Paso Robles Tank are currently working to install a new 500,000-gallon water storage tank to replace the facility’s aging 50,000-gallon forebay tank.

“If some of our wells go down or there is a natural disaster that knocks part of our system out,” said GSWC’s Ojai area manager Del Webb, “we’ll have 500,000 gallons of stored water that we can use immediately.”

Other plans for the pump station include another well that would be drilled on the other side of the creek from the new tank.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

If the rest of the New Year goes as well for me as Monday night did, it’s going to be a banner year. That is because my Crimson Tide soundly defeated LSU and won the national championship in college football. So at least three people in Ojai were happy, me and my friends Carl Greenfield and Mark Burgess, who are also big Alabama football fans.

I know that a lot of people do not share my enthusiasm for football, especially college football. While I have met some USC and UCLA fans, they do not seem as rabid as the fans in the South. That certainly is not a knock on them. In fact, football in the South, and Alabama in particular, is crazy. People behave irrationally, and do some bizarre things.

People gawk at me in amazement when I talk about how crazy Alabama football fans are. Alabama’s legendary coach, Bear Bryant, wore a signature hound’s-tooth hat when he coached. The hound’s-tooth design has been trademarked and licensed by the University of Alabama. Replicas of the hat are worn by hundreds of coeds at games. The design now appears on everything from cup holders to dog collars – and Bryant has been dead for almost 30 years. One Tuscaloosa couple I know illustrates the passion with which football is approached; while he is rabid Alabama fan; she pulls for Auburn. In Alabama, this is what is known as a “mixed” marriage. The rivalry is so fierce between Auburn and Alabama that this couple takes separate cars when that game is played in Auburn so the “loser” of the game will not have to make the 160-mile, two-and-a-half hour trip back home listening to the other one celebrating their team’s win.

Football is fun, and people enjoy it. It is also an economic engine in many college towns. In Tuscaloosa, the chamber of commerce estimates that each home football game generates $6-8 million in revenue for the town. Multiply that times six or seven home games, and you’re talking about major money.

But it’s even more than that.

In the early sixties, Alabama was ground zero of the civil rights movement. Terrible acts were committed by both the Ku Klux Klan, and also by those in positions of authority. Horrific images of Selma, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery were captured on film and tape, and were seen on television and in newspapers around the country and the world. Alabama became the poster child of racial prejudice and discrimination. The state was disgraced, and rightly so.

During this time, Paul “Bear” Bryant, through his successful football program, gave the state some positive press and a source of pride when those things were in very short supply. And it gave those in the state who were horrified by the racist acts that were committed, and who were embarrassed and ashamed of the state’s terrible image, a chance to restore a little bit of their self-respect, even if it was only through football. It became something positive to rally around.

So if you see me or Carl or Mark running and jumping around and acting a little crazy, it is just a little football insanity. It isn’t permanent.

But it will pick right back up again next fall.

UPDATE: Sources confirmed Sue Horgan’s husband, Gary, died this morning. Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, (date corrected) at their Ojai home.

By Tiobe Barron

At a special Ojai City Council meeting Tuesday night, Councilwoman Carlon Strobel questioned the recent absences of Councilwoman Sue Horgan, and if those absences should affect Horgan’s future on the Council.

“There was a question about vacancies on the City Council,” said interim City Attorney Steve Lee after Mayor Betsy Clapp began the regular meeting by requesting that he brief the public audience on the discussion that took place earlier. “My opinion stated was that because the Nov. 22 and Dec. 27 regular council meetings were officially canceled, the absences of all City  council members were deemed excused, and therefore there are no vacancies on the City Council created by absences at this time.”

Horgan’s absences were questioned because California Government Code Section 36513 stipulates, “If a city council member is absent without permission from all regular city council meetings for 60 days consecutively from the last regular meeting he or she attended, his or her office becomes vacant and shall be filled as any other vacancy.” According to Steve McClary, assistant to the city manager, the vacancy would occur automatically. However, because two of the regular meetings were canceled, the clock was reset, so to speak.

Ojai resident Leonard Klaif questioned Lee’s advice regarding the possibility of a vacancy. “What I’m gonna say next involves the vacancy or non-vacancy. It is not an attack on Ms. Horgan. It is an attempt to make sure the city is protected,” Klaif said. “The opinion offered strikes me as being nonsensical. It (the statute) doesn’t talk about number of meetings, it talks about number of days. End of discussion.”

Klaif further suggested a need for more transparency — more information given to the public by City Council. “There’s nothing posted anywhere that this was going to be discussed in private this evening. The agenda says ‘possible litigation.’ I didn’t think it involved this.” Mayor Clapp was quick to clarify that the matter was addressed at the beginning of the special meeting, during the public portion, and that the closed session was strictly directed toward Redevelopment Agency issues. Councilwoman Strobel added, “It was open and public. There was nothing discussed in closed session.” Klaif interjected that he did not want to argue with Strobel, but “I don’t think that resolves the situation. The public, all along, has been in the dark. And you are our representative. While you do have a private life, you are still our representative. The only thing the public knew was that when roll call was called, there was a silence when Councilwoman Horgan’s name was mentioned … Then before the regularly scheduled meeting, when people would normally show up, you discuss it and come up with this totally absurd legal opinion.”

Ojai resident and former two-term  council member Rae Hanstad offered a different perspective. “I’m, I guess, satisfied that you’ve solved the technical issues on your announcement regarding the vacancy, but I wanted to share another side of it. Which was, in my last term, I had an illness and family emergency that lasted over a month. I took a leave of absence. The city manager helped me rearrange my schedule. One  council member cooked for me. Another  council member drove my kids to school.  council members volunteered to take over some of my assignments at the planning commission liaison level, or other regional assignments. I had an FPPC tardiness and fine, and the city clerk helped me straighten that out. Everything was done by my colleagues to help me through a difficult time so that I could be of service to my constituents and still take care of family matters. What I see here and what I hear makes me wonder: If you cannot, as a body, be of service to each other, and be compassionate at a time like this, then I’m not sure how you can serve the public.”

Mayor Clapp urged the public speakers to understand the issue was not a lack of sympathy, but a need to clarify things from a legal standpoint. “We welcome Councilwoman Horgan back, and believe me, we are all wishing her well, and her family well. There was never any intention to imply otherwise.”

Reached Thursday afternoon via telephone, Strobel said, “For me, it’s about the office, not the person. If we had a vacancy, it calls into question the validity of the agenda, and might compromise the integrity of City Council … it could have an impact on all agendized items. We were never given the opportunity to support a request for leave of absence. It should have been placed on the agenda, but it was never placed. The easy thing to do would be to ignore the matter, but that’s not my way. But the city attorney’s advice is that there is no vacancy. He’s the attorney, I’m not. It was just my concern that any action we took on any issue would be illegitimate. I have a great deal of respect for Sue Horgan, I know exactly how much she’s given to this city.”

Horgan could not be reached for comment at time of publication.

By Logan Hall

The California State Assembly Transportation Committee rejected a bill that proposed a restriction on the length of trucks on Maricopa Highway on Monday.

The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Das Williams in February 2011 and backed by Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett and Ojai Stop the Trucks! Coalition members, was rejected after the committee voted 4-7 to deny the proposal during their hearing, according to Williams’ communications coordinator James Joyce.

Joyce says that problems arose when it was discovered that there were “gaps” in the law regarding state highways. “Caltrans does not have the authority to restrict trucks that are between 30 and 38 feet,” said Joyce. “They can regulate trucks that are more than 38 feet, but there is a gap in their authority.”

The rejected bill presented a restriction on trucks in excess of 30 feet, which left the gap in the proposal. Joyce said he didn’t know the reason behind the gap, and said that the transportation committee would need to look into it more.

Although the bill is dead, Williams’ cause might still be moving forward. Joyce claims that Williams and the transportation committee are working on a solution to a problem that isn’t limited to just Highway 33. “They really wanted to find a solution that is more systemic rather than looking at one road in particular. (Williams) had good conversations with the chair of the transportation committee and Caltrans and things are moving forward.”

Although a 1989 study by Caltrans claims the highway may be unsafe for large trucks, not everyone wants to see truck restrictions on Maricopa.

“All of the major industries and contractors lobbied to the state to kill this bill because it was so bad,” said mine owner Larry Mosler, whose quarry lies within the bill’s proposed boundaries. The bill would have covered Highway 33 from Camino Cielo Road (just south of the Ojai Quarry) through to the Santa Barbara County line.

Bennett was unavailable to comment Tuesday, but repeated attempts to contact his office were met with a press release, which neither confirmed nor denied the bill’s rejection.

“Following testimony yesterday from Supervisor Steve Bennett and Assembly Member Das Williams, the Assembly Transportation Committee Chair invited the introduction of a new bill to address truck size on the mountainous portions of Highway 33,” read part of the press release sent by Bennett’s assistant Steve Offerman on Tuesday.

No indication was made as to how the “new bill” would differ from the one rejected by the committee on Monday.

Although Mosler and his quarry may have dodged a bullet, the committee denied the bill less than a week after the Ojai Quarry was pulled from the state’s AB 3098 list that allows miners to accept local government contracts. The State Office of Mine Reclamation took Mosler off of the list due to a lack of an approved reclamation plan for the mine and the financial assurance to cover the plan. While off the list, Mosler will not be permitted to sell his product for government projects, a sizeable portion of business for many mines and quarries.

Ventura County officials have been working with Mosler to come to an agreement on a plan and the corresponding financial assurance after the county planning commission voted unanimously to allow Mosler to continue to operate while in negotiations with the county.

“My reclamation plan hasn’t been approved yet,” Mosler said on Tuesday. “The state had to take me off the list temporarily. As soon as we get everything worked out I’ll be back on the list.”

Mosler says he will post an additional $25,000 that he hopes will bring the financial assurance up to an acceptable level for the county. “We’re real close to working something out with the county,” he continued. “We’re making real progress.”

State officials confirm that the mine owner will be put back on the list as soon as his issues are resolved with the county. “Once he’s back in good standing with the county and they have an approved reclamation plan,” said Don Drysdale, spokesman for the state OMR, “he should be back in good standing with state. He can get back on the list but it will take some effort on his part.”

The county planning commission will conduct a hearing on Feb. 23 when commissioners will decide whether or not to revoke Mosler’s mining permit.

By Logan Hall

Warm weather is a staple in Southern California. When the East Coast is slammed by blizzards and ice storms, folks in the Ojai Valley are getting out their hiking shoes and bike helmets. Hearing a phrase like, “another summer day in January,” is not uncommon.

Warm days aren’t the only things getting people outdoors though. The valley is below its 30-year average as far as rainfall is concerned. According to the National Weather Service in Oxnard, the Ojai Valley received .28 inches of rain in December, which is about 10 percent of normal. The 30-year average for December is 2.94 inches. NWS stats also show that from July 1, the valley has seen 3.22 inches of rain, while the 30-year average is 5.9 inches in the same period of time.

Although the warmth and lack of rain may seem unseasonable, weather experts say it’s all part of the normal cycle. “Everything varies,” said Bonnie Bartling, NWS weather specialist. “It all depends on the weather patterns. A lot of low-pressure systems have stayed up north. In Southern California, it depends on whether those storm systems get all the way down here. It all averages out, though.”

Bartling says that daytime temperatures will cool throughout the week but should warm up again by the weekend. “There is a low pressure system that’s sitting off the coast in the Pacific,” she said. “The high for Ojai should get back down to 67 degrees. We have influence from a ridge over the great basin, so Thursday and Friday will be warmer again.”

Though Ojai has seen warmth during daylight hours recently, temperatures tend to cool down rapidly after the sun sets. “Ojai hasn’t had a lot of wind, so it’s been chilly at night,” added Bartling. “Also, it is winter time, and you don’t get as much warming from sun. You notice that in the afternoon the air starts chilling down because the angle of sun is going down. There aren’t as long daytime heating hours.”

A forecast of “partly cloudy” might help keep the nights from getting into freezing temperatures this week. “Over the next week the lows shouldn’t be as cold because there will be some cloud cover,” said Bartling.

Many are getting out and enjoying the warmth while it lasts. Marlene Higgins and her husband, Dave, say they are grateful they live in Southern California, soaking up the rays. “How lucky are we that we are able to do this in January?” she asked as her husband launched their boat at Lake Casitas on Tuesday morning. “I’m here to bird watch while he fishes. We’re gonna need lots of sun tan lotion for a gorgeous winter day.”

By Chris T Wilson

For anyone who believes that a good education requires a fresh, healthy and informed diet, there’s a local non-profit group for you.

Since 2002 Food For Thought Ojai has upheld the vision “to reconnect families to the earth through food, education and community.”

On Jan. 28, Food for Thought will host “Dinner & A Movie,” a fund-raising event in Ojai with a showing of the film, “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” A question-and-answer session with director Bill Paxton and actor James Paxton will follow the film. And a live auction and dinner featuring locally grown produce prepared by local chef Jeri Oshima will take place at the Ojai Woman’s Club afterward. Two items of particular interest at the auction will be a 1966 Trini Lopez Gibson Guitar and a weekend golf package at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

At the head of the diverse group of Ojai community members involved with this effort is FFTO co-founder Jim Churchill, known for his tangerine farming expertise. Churchill said the event is set to raise awareness and money to pay for the fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as the program’s two staff members and the bussing and fuel costs associated with the field trip.

Churchill said the FFTO works with the Ojai Unified School District to educate students about food and the meals they eat.

“We do school gardens with a garden-based curriculum that allows students to get their hands in the dirt and see how their food grows,” Churchill said. “We take the fourth graders on a farm tour so they can see what their food is, and what it takes to raise it. They get to participate in the harvest and then work on a nutrition education curriculum in the classroom.”

Another aspect of the FFTO curriculum is a full school recycling awareness program where students gather all the school’s waste stream to see how it is a part of the food cycle. Students separate and weigh all the waste, and learn about where everything goes and how it all fits together as a system.

The group’s two staff members are executive director Lori Hamor and garden coordinator David White.

“He’s just a great teacher and a gardner,” Churchill said of White. “One thing we’ve learned from this program is that if there is no gardener there’s no garden. Most garden programs try to rely on volunteers and it just doesn’t work as well.”

The FFTO program has served hundreds of children over the past decade and has had support from both local donors and grant funding. Food for Thought Ojai operates on about $100,000 annual budget, Churchill said.

Ticket sales for the event began last Sunday at the Ojai Farmer’s Market. The group’s first “Dinner & A Movie” event in 2004 — with Tony Shalhoub — sold out.

The Jan. 28 event starts at 4 p.m. at the Ojai Playhouse. It will also include Claud Mann, star of TBS’ “Dinner & A Movie,” who will moderate the question-and-answer session with Paxton.

For more information about the event visit www.foodforthoughtojai.org.

By Michelaina Johnson

Meadows Montessori, a recently opened bilingual preschool, teaches students based on the Montessori teaching philosophy in both Spanish and English in order to meet the growing need for more bilingual citizens. Teaching focuses on interactivity and hands-on experiences, rather than the usual classroom method.

“Our goal is to provide a safe, loving environment for the children to grow and learn, but the core of it is to provide a place for them to become who they are destined to be,” said Jennifer Wing, teacher at the preschool.

The preschool’s faculty consists of administrator Clare Ochoa, Spanish-speaking teacher Marta Esquer, and Wing, the English-speaking teacher. Esquer and Wing both have complete ATI (Association Montessori International) training and more than 15 years of teaching experience. Wing also earned her bachelor in English at UC Santa Barbara.

The preschool teaches children ages two-and-a-half to six math, geography, natural science, music exploration and practical life skills. The staff also plans to grow a kid‘s vegetable garden. “It is all hands-on. The child gets to do the lesson right after the (demonstration). Everything is concrete; they can touch it, feel it, hear it and manipulate it,” said Wing.

Wing teaches the lessons in English, while Esquer repeats the lesson in Spanish. “Research shows that the time to learn a new language is when you are young. Before the age of 12 is the best time,” said Wing. The students learn the alphabet, counting, songs and stories in both languages. “The kids just absorb it naturally,” said Ochoa.

Bilingualism enriches a child’s mental development, teaches about another culture and broadens the possibilities for the future, added the teachers.

One native English-speaking student, age two-and-a-half, “Repeats everything that Marta says in Spanish. It is incredible,” said Wing. She added that within the preschool, “We are giving to the children the ‘keys to the world,’ as Maria Montessori said.”

For more information, visit www.ojaimeadowsmontessori.com.

Plaza Pantry owner Beryl Tognazzini first came to Ojai in 1958 to visit relatives. And though she has traveled extensively throughout the years, Tognazzini’s shop, which specializes in English goods, has remained firmly planted in Ojai. Plaza Pantry celebrates 30 years in business on Jan. 21, a milestone the shop will commemorate with an open house — complete with drinks and snacks — from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Originally a schoolteacher, Tognazzini eventually moved on to catering. Decades ago, as the expansion of businesses around the arcade and the construction of new buildings created a demand for a lunch spot for locals, Tognazzini’s friends suggested she fill this opening. And, about a year after her shop opened, a similar shop in Ventura that specialized in English goods closed down, creating further opportunity.

Today, the Pantry offers an array of English grocery goods — a broad selection of teas, English biscuits (quite different, Tognazinni points out, from American biscuits), Marmite, Birds custard powder, HP sauce, candies or “sweets” from Roundtree, among many others. The shop also has two menus, one English and one American. Specialties include scones made in-house, Cornish pasties, shepherd’s pie, and sausage rolls. The proprietress recommends newcomers try the “banger butties,” a conversation-starter hailing from North England, where “banger” means sausage, and “butties” is slang for bread and butter. In the afternoon, tarts, pieces of fruitcake, and other sweets are available to try individually for $1 a piece, and if the customer enjoys the desert, they are able to purchase a whole package from the grocery side. In addition, the first Wednesday of each month, the Pantry holds English high tea, available by reservation. Tognazinni claims hers is the only “proper” tea place this side of Calabasas.

However, it’s more than what’s on the menu that makes the Plaza Pantry unique. Tognazinni maintains she has kept her prices low for the sake of accessibility. “I want people to get out and enjoy themselves,” she says. She has deliberately created an atmosphere that is homey and casual, that friends and regulars refer to as “Mother’s kitchen.” Tognazinni says it is not uncommon for a regular to help themselves to a drink from the refrigerator, and leave the money for said beverage on the counter, an act that sometimes leaves new customers aghast. Tognazinni’s background as a school teacher translates to a love for “youngsters,” who have been allowed on occasion to come behind the counter to help with the register, offering a learning opportunity and special experience for a kid.

When asked what she hopes the coming years will bring, Tognazinni replied, “That I can continue as I’m doing, that the business will hold its own. I’m not out to be a millionaire. I just want people to enjoy and keep coming. People are very at home in my shop, its friendly, relaxed. We don’t put on airs and fancies, people can help themselves. I’m very thankful for all the good support from everyone, I’m very fortunate. I never thought we’d make it 30 years!”

Plaza Pantry is located at 221 E. Matilija Street, Suite G. For information, call 646-6325.

By Misty Volaski
Chances are good that if you grew up in Ojai or have ever been in the emergency room of the Ojai Valley Community Hospital, you’ve been treated by Dr. Tim Williamson. The Ojai pediatrician’s 33 years of dedication to children has earned him the title of finalist in Parenting Magazine’s “Peds” Doing Good Deeds Contest.

Along with 11 other doctors from around the country, Williamson has the chance to win $5,000 for the charity of his choosing should he garner the most votes.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to say which (charity) I’ll choose, but it would definitely go to a very worthy organization that supports the activities of children and infants,” he said.

Good luck determining which charity he’s referring to; the doc has worked with several in the area over the years, including the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation, the Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center, the Ojai Education Foundation, and the Boswell Clinic in Ventura, among others. He’s also volunteered with the American Heart Association and was instrumental in the installation of the OVCH’s neonatal unit (which was cut seven years ago due to budget restrictions). He said the unit was one of his proudest accomplishments. “I’m certainly not the only one who developed it, but it’s one of the things I’m most pleased with. it was one of the better delivery systems in the county, capable of taking care of and stabilizing infants. To me it was a real service to the community.”

Williamson has also underwritten the rent for the OVYF for a number of years, helped develop and promote programs at the NTNC, and works with developmentally disabled children at Boswell. “Children that come to Boswell have fairly severe developmental handicaps,” he explained, “like cerebral palsy and genetic diseases. I provide pediatric consultation for directing their treatment and medical intervention.”

But Williamson added that the work he does at Boswell is very much a team effort, crediting the whole office, including Ojai’s Dr. Al Stroberg, for making it “one of the better systems in the United States.”

His work there helped inspire a recent trip to Roatan, Honduras, where he worked in a “makeshift clinic, especially when it came to pediatrics.” What began as a hypertension and diabetes clinic for adults has expanded over the years to include pediatric services due to overwhelming need and lack of funding for such services from the Honduran government.

The work was as inspiring as it was heartbreaking. “Medically, these are very very underserved people,” he said. “With developmental disabilities and genetic syndromes, in order to maximize their ability to function, they need special diagnostic tests, special medications or treatments. Most of them need physical and occupational therapy.” He told of the 9-year-old polio sufferer who was severely muscularly disabled from the disease. “He could barely walk. He was extremely off-balance,” Williamson said. “This is a child that, if he were in California, child services would’ve been able to pull him into Boswell and he would’ve received occupational therapy and physical therapy on a regular basis, and orthotic braces.”

He said he’ll keep the child’s name with him for his next trip, which he hopes will happen soon. “That’s the difficulty with international work — identifying the need is only part of the story. Then you have to be able to have someone or an organization that can provide (ongoing) services that these children need,” Williamson said, noting that he would be searching for groups in 2012 that could help fund such a venture. “This will be an ongoing process.”

His volunteer work and 24/7 dedication to the children of Ojai — a call at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning is practically routine by this time — make it easy for his colleagues to praise him. Said Haady Lashkari, CAO of the Ojai Valley Community Hospital, “In the short time I’ve gotten to know him, he’s been very supportive of the hospital and the community. We’re proud he is practicing in the Ojai Valley.”

Fellow doctor Betsy Patterson, said, “I have worked with Dr. Williamson for 20 years in the emergency department, and he has been a dedicated physician, not only for his patients but for all the children in the Ojai Valley that come to the emergency department, with life- or limb-threatening problems. He responds to the call for help whenever needed in caring for critically ill children and is always (literally) available for advice and guidance in treatment of sick children. He has watched our two sons grow from toddlers to young men and has been a thoughtful caring physician for them.”

But Williamson brushes off the praise, saying he is simply happy to “have a real connection to the community and especially the youth of the community. It’s very rewarding watching everybody grow up.”

Vote for Williamson — and help a youth organization in the Ojai Valley earn a $5,000 donation — at parenting.com/pedsdoinggooddeeds. More than one vote may be logged per person, and repeat votes are encouraged. Voting closes Jan. 31.

By Tiobe Barron

During the time allotted for public communications at Wednesday night’s Ojai Planning Commission meeting, Ojai resident Bob Daddi urged commissioners to get a move on in reviewing the “antique and out-of-date” building codes. “It’s like mildew in the shower; it keeps coming back,” said Daddi. “We have other things we need to work on.”

After Kathy Nolan replaced Steven Foster as chair, and Marleen Luckman was elected vice chair of the commission, much if the meeting was spent reviewing the Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation’s plans for the proposed community meeting room. The plans, designed by architect Jon Dieges, were originally brought before the Commission at the Dec. 7 meeting, then reviewed by the Historic Preservation subcommittee. The main concerns discussed included the shape of the proposed windows, the accuracy of the interior columns, and the layout of the modified parking lot.

John Lambert, with the Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation, gave a Powerpoint presentation showing specifically where the trash enclosure would be moved to, what the front double doors would look like, and photos of other proposed details, such as vents and railings that will be included in the community meeting room. Vice chair Luckman and commissioner Foster had considerable reservations about approving the proposal as it stood, because of potential problems with the modified parking lot. While the law only requires one parking space be designated and designed for ADA compliance, the proposal included three. There were concerns about the logistics of one such parking space, and ramp leading into the meeting room. Lambert urged the Commission to approve the plan regardless, saying “We’d be happy to submit that in a separate time frame; we still have to go to county (for approval).”

Commission chair Nolan asked Lambert, “Do you have an estimated time for starting the project?” Lambert replied, “Ideally when the rains stop, sometime this year.”

Commissioner Foster moved to adopt the plan, with the condition that the applicant (OVLFF) submit a revised plaza proposal in May, for the parking issues left unaddressed for the time being. The motion passed with a majority vote.

Also brought before the commission by city manager Rob Clark were the City Council’s ideas to modify the current process by which a business in the community is defined as a “formula business;” in layman’s terms, a chain store. Currently a business must meet three of six criteria in order to be labeled as such. Due to public outcry over a business that had previously not met the criteria by the council’s standards — but was largely deemed by the public to be a chain nonetheless — the council is considering lowering the number of criteria to be met from three to two, or in instances of two criteria being met, having the specific case be referred to the Planning Commission for review and public input.

Said commissioner Troy Becker, “There wasn’t really a mechanism of getting here (before), I think that’s where the controversy occurred.”

Scott Eicher, CEO of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, pointed out, “Part of the problem that came about was the applicant answers ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to six criteria, with no method to verify. That specific form, to a lot of people’s minds, was not filled out correctly, honestly.” The commission moved to continue the issue to the Feb. 1 meeting, pending more information from City Council.

In discussing the proposed Fulton Street Extension, commission chair Nolan had two items that she wants added: stops signs on Fulton for vehicles — but thru-way for bicycles — and a limit on the commercial trucks down Fulton. Public works director Greg Grant responded, “That’s certainly something we can look into.”

Commissioner Becker was concerned that while the original plan was approved in 2008, the modified plan had not been reviewed by the Planning Commission. “We need to be really careful of subcommittees and side-stepping approval. Subcommittees should not act as a de facto Planning Commission. There’s a public issue there, too. It needs to come back to us for approval. The procedure is what I’m concerned about.”

Commissioner Foster clarified that the issue was brought to the table at this meeting as a courtesy before the matter comes before City Council, at the Jan. 10 meeting, at which point there will be opportunity for public input. That meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night at City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St.

Next week, the State Assembly Transportation Committee will vote on a bill that would restrict large trucks on Highway 33.

In 2011, Assemblymember Das Williams introduced a Ventura County-sponsored bill to address truck safety on the mountainous portions of Highway 33, also known as Maricopa Highway. This state legislation, AB-538, would limit single-trailer trucks to a 30-foot trailer length from Camino Cielo Road — about four miles up Maricopa from its intersection with Highway 150 — to the Santa Barbara County line. The bill will be heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee on Monday.

This bill would implement the recommendations of a 1989 Caltrans study of highway safety as related to truck length. This Caltrans truck safety study of various California highways compared the turn radii of the highways with the turning radii of trucks. For the mountainous portions of Highway 33 in Ventura County, this study concluded that trucks with trailers over 30 feet in length may not be able to stay within their lane. This study also recommended that state legislation be adopted to enable Caltrans to make appropriate restrictions of truck size. That legislation was not adopted, and the 30-foot truck length was posted as an advisory only. AB-538 would make the Caltrans advisory a mandatory regulation.

The Williams bill grew out of discussions between Assemblymember Williams and Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, in response to citizen concern regarding truck safety, particularly following the fatal runaway truck crash on Highway 154 in Santa Barbara in March 2011.

Supervisor Bennett said, “I am very grateful to Assemblymember Williams for carrying this bill to protect the safety of Highway 33 users. I have received many complaints from highway users who have witnessed trucks driving out of their lane, reports of bicyclists run off the road by trucks, and reports of trucks in the center of the narrow tunnels. I am traveling to Sacramento to testify in support of this important piece of legislation.”

In order to proceed to a vote of the full Assembly, the bill must first be approved by the Transportation Committee, which is scheduled to vote on the bill on the afternoon of Jan. 9. If approved by the full Assembly, the bill will then move to the State Senate.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
Findings in a recent study by the Transportation Department show drivers are distracted.  “What’s clear from all of the information we have is that driver distraction continues to be a major problem,” said David Strickland, the top U.S. auto safety regulator and head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Thanks, Dave.

How much are we paying you for these astute observations?  It is certainly is reassuring to know that my tax dollars are being spent on vital research — research which provides information that everyone who has driven a vehicle in the last 20 years already knows. Yes, we are distracted. We are in constant communication with each other through e-mail, phone calls and texting. A hundred years ago, people in rural areas went weeks — even months with little or no outside contact. Today, if you don’t return a phone call or text within about 10 minutes, people start contacting local funeral homes, assuming you are dead. They send urgent follow-up “did you get this” messages, so that even more time is needed to sort and answer communications. We spend great chunks our lives sending and returning messages.

And while some messages are important, a great many are just ridiculous. For instance, I have two old fraternity brothers who forward every e-mail they receive. I get about five or six e-mails per day from each of them. These generally fall into four categories. First, there are the political ones. Since both are very conservative, these e-mails beat up on the president and all other Democrats. Then, there are the patriotic ones about supporting the troops. The next group consists of religious e-mails, also known as the “If you really love Jesus you will forward this immediately to 12,000 people.” Ironically, these are the same guys who also send dirty jokes and risqué photos. I don’t have the heart to tell them, but I just delete whatever they send before I even read them.

I have another friend who sends the same e-mails and YouTube videos you get from others, but Susan’s arrive about six months later. It is as if her computer is trapped in some type of time warp. When she was working full-time she sent these out in groups of four or five at a time. Now that she has retired, I look for that number to double.

As I enter 2012, perhaps I should consider taking a page from the playbook of an old friend I replaced as publisher in south Louisiana years ago. LaJeune, named after the Marine Corp training base, Camp LeJeune (someone in the family was not a great speller), was the definition of old school. LaJeune considered the electric typewriter hi-tech. Years ago, when the Internet was fairly new, the newspaper company I worked for held a seminar on the Internet and e-mail. I asked Tay Smith, one of the younger publishers, how the seminar went. “Pretty well,” he replied. “Some of us have been using the Internet and e-mail for some time, and so we were already familiar with it.”

I said, “What about LaJeune? How did he do?” Tay replied, “He looked like a hog staring at a watch.”

He may not have been in touch with the latest fads and gadgets, but every day, as I go through the mountain of e-mails and texts on my computer and phone, I think LaJeune may have had the right idea after all.

July

• The County of Ventura and Rasmussen Construction opened the new Old Creek Road Bridge to traffic. The entire project cost $3.4 million.

• After months of discussing the management of Libbey Bowl without taking action, the city of Ojai finally made a decision. Entering into a temporary, one-year agreement with the Ojai Valley Service Foundation, the City Council voted to sign a contract that will give the foundation control over all aspects of Libbey Bowl events.

• A feud between neighbors in the valley was finally resolved as county officials work with T.V. and movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer to settle with neighbors over a dispute about a large shrub wall that Bruckheimer installed on his Ojai property.

• A local woman was charged with elder abuse and credit card fraud. Rosalba Hernandez, 24, of Oak View, was arrested on June 29 for allegedly stealing from the 82-year-old woman for whom she was hired to provide care.

• Joel Wolfgang narrowly averted tragedy after his car flew off Dennison Grade Monday afternoon. Wolfgang was uninjured after going over the side of the road and plummeting more than 50 feet down the steep embankment and drove his battered, but otherwise intact BMW away from the scene after it was retrieved by tow truck crews.

• Golden State Water Company came under fire this month as the California Public Utilities Commission went public with information about a $12 million settlement regarding Golden State contracts that included the Ojai area. Ojai customers stand to be repaid $1.2 million by GSWC.

• A fire that started in an unattached garage severely damaged a house on the 600 block of Fairview Road late Sunday morning.

• A major showing of the public forced the Casitas Municipal Water District board of directors to postpone a scheduled presentation by Golden State Water Company at 3 p.m. on Wednesday that was set to address a proposal by Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water to oust GSWC from Ojai.

August

• More than 2,500 Ojai Southern California Edison customers north of Country Club Drive and west of Gridley Road had their power interrupted due to a “failed underground component.”

• Citizens gathered along Highway 33 and watched as dozens of firefighters and emergency personnel, including the Sheriff’s Department helicopter, responded to a grass fire near the Krotona Institute just before noon Friday. The blaze was quelled before nearby homes were damaged.

• Ojai Native Jessie Wiseman starred in the independent film “Bellflower” garnering her acclaim at dozens of film festivals including the well know Sundance Film Festival.

• A neighborhood on the East End of Ojai is reeling after a bear was allegedly shot by an area resident according to some locals and the California Department of Fish and Game.

• Lake Casitas officials are scrambling to protect one of the valley’s water sources after a recreational boat sank in 80 feet of water at an unknown location in the lake. According to Casitas representitives, a boat sank sometime on Sunday evening, and the owner, Lukas Branaham, left the scene without notifying Casitas personnel. Branaham later cooperated with Casitas officials but the boat was never found.

September

• Spraying of herbicides by Ventura County workers along California Highway 33 in Mira Monte raised concerns from local residents and activists.

• Two Ojai Valley youths avoided becoming a tragic statistic on Friday after a traffic collision sent one of the teens to the hospital with serious injuries, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

• A half-acre fire that started near Rincon Mountain on Highway 150 west of Lake Casitas was started by an unknown arsonist, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

• Locals recently noticed a giant dotted line and scissors spray painted on the wall of the Matilija Dam just off Maricopa Highway. Sgt. Pat Ruby said Ojai Police were not notified about the graffiti, and have no additional information. Some people have speculated it could be the work of environmental activists seeking the removal of the dam..

• If you haven’t heard the phrase, “Nope, Chuck Testa,” by now then you’re probably not spending enough time on the internet. In the past week, the soft-spoken Meiners Oaks taxidermist who’s had more than 4 million hits on his video on youtube.

• Southern California Edison customers, including many in the Ojai Valley, were in the dark as a major power outage left 168,000 ratepayers without electricity according to SCE reports.

• Ojai citizens were left disappointed after Golden State Water Company held a public meeting Tuesday evening. In a poorly planned effort, GSWC attempted to reach out and address the public on the company’s water management plan.

October

• Local Cameron Carlson and his Chain Link Lizard Car were featured on National Geographic Channel’s hit show, “Mad Scientists.”

• The city of Ojai, Ojai Unified School District and the Ojai Valley Sanitary District came to an agreement that will provide sinks and flushing toilets in the Ojai Skate Park Bathroom.

• On Oct. 1, the Lake Casitas began permitting bowfishing strictly for carp — a species of fish that, according to a press release from Casitas, “can have a devastating effect on the spawning sites of other fish.”

• A fire in Casitas Springs on Friday afternoon claimed the life of a 70-year-old local man in the Casitas Mobile Home Park on Nye Road. Although speculation from neighbors as to the fire’s cause was abundant, officials said there was no criminal activity involved.

• The Ojai Music Festival announced it has received a $325,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation to “advance financial sustainability within a challenging economic environment.”

•  Ojai F.L.O.W. representatives were baffled by the Ojai City Council’s discussion of Golden State Water Company. The council discussed the potential loss of more than $40,000 a year in franchise fees from GSWC if the company is taken over by Casitas through eminent domain.

• A growing effort by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to shut down the gardens has culminated in the eradication of more than 153,000 pot plants this year,

• Emotions ran high and tempers flared as Ojai citizens made no secret of their feelings toward Golden State Water Company at GSWC’s public meeting Monday night. More than 200 people, ranging from citizens to city officials, attended the meeting held at Matilija Auditorium.

• Illegal residential rentals in Ojai came under fire Tuesday, as City Council members discussed their stance on what they call “vacation rentals.”

City officials say they have found numerous ads online for properties that are within city limits and in violation of the city’s policy on the “bed tax,” and estimate a loss of $30,000 to $60,000 per year through the illegal rentals.

• The quiet of a peaceful Monday night in downtown Ojai was shattered by the sound of gunfire as a routine traffic stop by Ventura County Sheriff’s Department deputies quickly became anything but routine. Officials say that a man, whose name has not been released but reportedly identified as Oxnard resident Augustine Medina, began shooting at deputies after they stopped his vehicle near Cluff Vista Park on Ojai Avenue around 9 p.m.

November

• Ojai Fire Station 21 is setting an example for the community. The Ventura County Fire Department crew at 21 has steadily been transforming the station into a “green” facility by installing specialized equipment, like solar panels, new energy-efficient lighting and, most recently, by revamping the station’s landscaping that now includes plants which need little or no watering.

• On Oct. 29, 80 volunteers removed over 2.5 tons of trash from the Cherry Creek shooting area up Maricopa highway North of Ojai.

• The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is a new nonprofit partner of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of more than 1,380 member companies in 43 countries that give 1 percent of revenues to environmental causes.

• Ojai citizens are fed up with the California Public Utilities Commission. At their water meeting Wednesday night, Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water, a nonprofit organization comprised of Ojai citizens, was clear in its message to the public agency that approves utility company rate increases.

• Ventura County District 1 Supervisor Steve Bennett announced his plan to run for the 26th Congressional District seat in 2012. After serving the county for more than 10 years as supervisor, Bennett has set his sights on Congress.

• Ventura County Fire Department Fire Chief Bob Roper, an Ojai resident, announced his bid for county District 1 supervisor at a press conference on Monday. Roper made his announcement just days after current Supervisor Steve Bennett announced his campaign for the 26th seat in the U.S. Congress.

• A major eyesore and safety hazard was removed from the side of Highway 33 Monday after a crew from Greg Rents in Oak View decided to step up and take care of business. Greg  Webster, the company’s owner, removed a small recreational vehicle shell that had been dumped on the side of the highway near Nye Road in Casitas Springs.

• Plans are approved and under way to transform the shuttered and abandoned Ojai Texaco gas station into a hub of cycling and green community transportation. The MOB Shop, a bicycle sales and repair shop in Meiners Oaks, will relocate to the presently fenced property at the corner of West Ojai Avenue and North Ventura Street.

• Senior volunteers across the valley got a letter from Help of Ojai dated Nov. 15, announcing the end of the long-running Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) as of Dec. 31.

December

• Ventura County residents in unincorporated areas are receiving a break on flood insurance.

After county officials enacted a federal program that rewards a community’s flood preparedness level, property owners in places like Ojai’s East End along San Antonio and Thacher creeks will receive a 20 percent discount on flood insurance.

• The County of Ventura is stepping up its disaster preparedness in the Ojai Valley by stationing a second cache of emergency supplies, called a Mass Casualty Trailer, in Oak View.

• County officials are preparing to hear Ojai Rock Quarry owner Larry Mosler’s case during a public hearing scheduled for Thursday morning. Among other issues, Mosler is refusing to submit financial assurance for a reclamation plan that he says will cost him almost $3 million.

• The battle for rental car safety legislation on Capitol Hill is heating up, but Ojai’s Houck family is “not going to be deterred,” said matriarch Cally.

• Ojai Rock Quarry supporters butted heads with Ventura County staff and Stop the Trucks! Coalition supporters in a seven-hour-long hearing that ended with county planning commissioners continuing the meeting to Feb. 23, to give the two sides time to work out an agreement.

• After two public meetings and much discussion, the Ojai City Council voted to increase the Ojai Trolley fare at Tuesday night’s meeting. The new rates will be $1 for general fare, 50 cents for senior citizens and children ages 2 to 5, and 25 cents for those with disabilities and children under the age of 2. The new fares will be implemented in February 2012.

• Local artist Leslie Clark and a group of Ojai residents have returned from a mission trip to Niger, where they taught natives how to fabricate solar panels to pump clean water, and taught women how to help each other in childbirth.

• Locals scrambled to rent one last movie as Blockbuster prepares to close its doors after more than a dozen years of business in Mira Monte.

• The Ojai Valley Defense Fund and the Surfrider Foundation announced that they support Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water in its bid to remove Golden State Water Company from Ojai through eminent domain.

• The Ojai City Council has selected Joseph Fletcher of Tustin to serve as city attorney after a six-month search to replace Monte Widders, who retired in May after nearly 30 years at his post.

• Local golf pro Tyson York and Soule Park Golf Course are hoping to get community support that will help York and the golf course provide free clinics and camps to junior golfers year ‘round.

By virtue of the rotation policy, Ojai City Councilwoman Betsy Clapp became mayor  on Dec. 13, 2011, succeeding Carol Smith. Ojai’s mayor pro tem is now Councilman Paul Blatz, who should become mayor in December. The following responses to questions asked by OVN reported Tiobe Barron were submitted by Mayor Clapp.

OVN: How long have you been in Ojai?

Clapp: I’ve lived in Ojai since my daughter was 13, she was born in 1977, so 21 years in Ojai, and 30 years in Ventura County.

OVN: What drew you here?

Clapp: We lived on a sailboat up north. We wanted a warmer climate, a smaller community, a smaller harbor. And that drew us to Ventura Harbor.

OVN: Where did you go to school? Which career did you dream of getting into?

Clapp: I was born in Pomona and raised in Upland. What did I want to be? Oh, a gazillion things! All kinds, from working on an airline to being a P.I. to a pastry chef, you name it! I even wanted to own a ranch. I had a very eclectic range, I was never career-oriented, more life-oriented.

OVN: How did you get into municipal work?

Clapp: I have always been very politically-minded, very aware of the importance of local politics. I moved to Ojai partly because this is an area that’s more like where I grew up. Ojai reminded me of Pomona as a little girl. And if you care about your community, you don’t just complain and not do something. So I couldn’t complain and not step forward. This is a community that deserves protection; that’s why I got involved.

OVN:How does your role as Mayor differ from Mayor pro tem, or the rest of the council?

Clapp: You don’t have any more power is Mayor. You do work with the City Manager on the agenda. We run meetings, represent the community as necessary. We’re supposed to be a figurehead or representative for the community, but there is no more power.

OVN: What, for you, is the best part of serving on council?

Clapp: The best thing is engaging with the community, and working with my constituents, to help represent them, and hopefully move forward on the things that are important to them. One of the most satisfying things is being responsive to citizens, and listening to them.

OVN: What is the best part of being a part of our community in Ojai specifically? What makes Ojai so special?

Clapp: That is one of the hardest things to articulate, because it is different things to different people. To me, it embodies the quintessential Southern California town: It is small and intimate; it has natural beauty. To me it’s really important to protect those things, and it’s challenging too, because different people have different ideas of “protecting.” To me, it’s keeping that sense of small town. And it’s a tall order.

OVN: What are some of Ojai’s biggest challenges currently? And are there any issues you’d like to see City Council address in the coming year?

Clapp:: Well, one of the biggest challenges is having the financial resources to provide citizens with services, that would be, for example, maintaining roads, the recreation department (and) parks. How can we accommodate these things on a limited budget? There are a lot of things we’d like to do, but we’re restricted by money. And there’s the question of how do you keep business healthy, support business and tourism, keep the economy vibrant; what role does government have in that?

But the No. 1 concern right now is water rates. It’s the hugest problem we’re facing. Water is becoming unaffordable. It puts businesses at risk, when your water bill is really high, sometimes higher than rent or mortgage. It really puts the pressure on them (businesses). And there are people on limited incomes — they can’t grow their own gardens. It’s an important right to grow your own food. It’s part of this community.

Then there’s also planning the building code update, which is one of those things with a lot of confusion about it. A building code comes down from Sacramento, we can adopt it or add on to it; what are we going to add? There’s the circulation element, which is huge too. It’s about how to get to school safely, get around town comfortably as a pedestrian, or for those in wheelchairs. How do we make to community more accessible to all?

So there’s a lot going on! Right now we’re establishing goals as Council — where we want to go. And then we have a clear direction to take as council. My main goal would be to get that done, so we can get those things done. Instead of sitting around chatting about it, we can implement them as a group. I’d rather work together — you can accomplish more if you’re already in agreement — so these goal-setting meetings help establish what we want. And they’ve been helpful because the Brown Act restricts us in our ability to communicate (in council meetings). It’s hard sometimes, restricts what we can say. The goal-setting meetings are more an open forum, and that’s been extremely helpful.

OVN: What are your proudest achievements as a council member so far?

Clapp: I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. It was reaching consensus on the new Libbey Bowl. It was an important community asset that will now be enjoyed for generations.

April

• Artist Trimpin designed and built the Libbey Bowl Sound Arch which greets park goers as they enter the bowl’s lawn area. The arch infused state of the art electronics with music to create a work of art that is a fitting entrance to the new bowl.

• The County of Ventura posted notices stating its intent to vacate Shelf Road. The bright yellow notice, which confused and alarmed many hikers frequenting the popular trail, was a notice that the county’s transportation department was vacating the road. The county reassured Ojai’s citizens that the trail would remain open to the public.

• A report by Chris Dunn, Ojai’s chief of police, indicated that the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department’s efforts seemed to pay off as statistics show a low crime rate in the Ojai Valley, particularly within the city limits. Although violent crimes rose slightly, thefts in the valley decreased substantially.

• Advocates of a pesticide free Ojai worked with city officials to use alternate methods to herbicides for weed control. Volunteers worked to pull weeds by hand from areas around Libbey Park.

• Ojai Quarry owner Larry Mosler dropped his appeal of 14 violations issued by the County of Ventura. County officials stated that Mosler entered into an agreement with county planners to abate the outstanding violations.

• A group of concerned citizens claimed that a takeover of Golden State Water Company by Casitas Municipal Water District could save local consumers $1 million in the first year alone.

Due to the continuous increase in Golden State’s water rates in recent years, the group, known as Friends of Locally Owned Water (F.L.O.W.), focused on convincing Casitas’ board of directors to hold an election among registered voters of the affected area to issue a bond not exceeding $33 million that would buy out GSWC through eminent domain.

• Valley citizens were dealt a blow when two Ojai residents were tragically killed in a traffic collision on West Ojai Avenue north of Villanova Road. Thirty-eight-year-old Sonia Miller and 54-year-old Wayne Ortman lost their lives when their Harley Davidson motorcycle collided with oncoming traffic, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and Medical Examiner’s office.

• Ventura County law enforcement officers took Ojai resident Jonathan Mosqueda into custody on Friday — twice.

After being arrested by Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies on a disturbance call in the 200 block of Summer Street, Mosqueda was being transported to the county’s Main Jail when he escaped from the patrol car according to Capt. Mike Aranda, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman. He was arrested in a neighborhood near the main jail soon after.

• The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department honored eight deputies with medals of valor of which six had worked at the Ojai Sheriff’s substation.

The 38th annual event, held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, honored Ojai-based Deputies Traci Salmon, Gunnar Dike, Rolland Ogawa and Chris Loes, Senior Deputy Mark Burgess and Sgt. Luis Alvarez, specifically for their actions following the Dec. 2 officer-involved shooting that nearly cost Salmon her life.

• A proposed wedding and event center on a private olive ranch on Carne Road in Ojai’s East End caused a stir among valley residents and business owners. The owners requested a permit allowing up to 40 events to be held a year on the property. Many neighboring residence adamantly opposed the request.

• The Ojai City Council took an official stance in support of the efforts of Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water Tuesday night.

May

• More than 100 special education students from around the county competed for the gold in track and field events during the Special Olympics Ojai School Games.

• After more than an hour of deliberation Tuesday night, board members of the Ojai Unified School District made a decision on their process for replacing outgoing member Steve Fields, who is moving out of state.

The board opted not to hold an election, which would have been costly, but rather to make a provisional appointment by soliciting applications from locals residing within the school district boundaries.

• Forty percent of the 41.7 miles of road maintained by the city of Ojai are in poor or failing condition according to a report by interim Public Works manager Ron Calkins.

•  Their efforts of Help of Ojai and the U.S. Postal Service food drive helped feed an estimated 1,200 local people in need over the course of six months according to Help’s director Terri Wolfe.

• The Houck rental car bill passed the state assembly after Ojai Mom Cally Houck has relentlessly pushed for the bill since the tragic death of her two daughters when their Enterprise rental car experienced a mechanical failure resulting in a freeway crash.

• The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department arrested seven people on the 300 block of Cruzero Street on vehicle theft, stolen property and drug use charges.

• Ojai F.L.O.W. supporters handed over a stack of petitions to Casitas Municipal Water District on Monday with 1,900 signatures of concerned voters in Golden State’s Ojai district calling for the takeover of Golden State by  Casitas.

• Two teams from the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, founded in Ojai, were sent to Joplin MO to help in the search for survivors after deadly tornadoes ravaged the area.

• Longtime Ojai city attorney Monte Widders retired after 30 years with the city. Widders cited medical problems as his reason for retiring.

• Despite weather delays, Ojai’s interim Public Works manager Ron Calkins told the Ojai City Council that the new Libbey Bowl would be completed in time for the Ojai Music Festival.

June

• A DUI checkpoint held by local law enforcement agencies in Oak View resulted in one arrest out of 1,018 cars screened according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials.

• Even rain and chilly temperatures couldn’t keep the community from celebrating the completion of the Libbey Bowl renovation project and all of the hard work and effort by everyone.

Donning ponchos and umbrellas, people flocked to Libbey Park on Sunday to hear dozens of local musicians take the new bowl for a test drive. Ojai Valley legends like Alan Thornhill, Roger Kellaway, Jonathan McEuen and Rain Perry took to the stage throughout the day to entertain the gathered masses.

• The Ojai Valley lost an icon. Local architect David Bury, 59, died on the opening morning of the 65th annual Ojai Music Festival, hanging in there just long enough to see his final project, Ojai’s new Libbey Bowl, through to completion. A moment of silence was held in Bury’s honor before the first acts took the stage for the festival.

• After hours of deliberation Tuesday night in the Chaparral Auditorium in front of dozens of community members, board members of the Ojai Unified School District selected Thayne Whipple to replace former board member Steve Fields.

• Thousands of visitors and locals alike converged on Libbey Bowl to take in the sights and sounds of the 65th annual Ojai Music Festival; 7,100 tickets were sold for concerts from Thursday through Sunday and most of the shows sold out well in advance.

• The Ojai City Council is faced with the task of trying to reduce Ojai’s transit budget by $100,000 a year to curtail the need for using the city’s dwindling general fund for transit projects. According to city documents, $144,000 of the general fund is expected to be used for transit this year.

• The Ojai Valley Sanitary District’s board of directors has passed a new ordinance to penalize those who illegally connect to OVSD’s sewer lines.

• On May 22, 2010, 15-year-old Patrick James O’Brien was found dead of an overdose of heroin in the family home. A four-month investigation by narcotics officers and detectives from the Ojai Sheriff’s substation led to the arrest of 22-year-old Craig Steven Anderson following numerous witnesses, interviews and extensive surveillance conducted in the Ojai Valley and the city of Ventura.

• Starting July 1, the city had staff available from every department five days a week, getting rid of the four-day workweek that the City Council instituted in 1993.

• Meiners Oaks held its second annual Solstice Festival, which featured live music on two stages, fresh foods, local arts and crafts, and more than 30 vendors.

Photo by Logan Hall

JANUARY

• A large oak tree fell on the 100 block of South Lomita Avenue on Sunday night, completely crushing one car and severely damaging another, and blocking the road for more than three hours.

• A 48-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson on New Year’s Eve 2010 after a structure fire in the 1300 block of Orange Road was reported  by a California Highway Patrol officer.

The CHP officer had reportedly smelled gasoline on the suspect who was identified as Valerie Spencer Huntsinger, and saw that her hair was singed. Huntsinger stated that a fire she had lit in the barbecue to keep warm had gotten out of hand.

• The citrus industry in Ventura County was dealt a major blow as the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s recommendation was approved to put a countywide quarantine on growers for a small insect called the Asian citrus psyllid. The pest is known to be a carrier of the huanglongbing (HLB) disease, which kills citrus trees and has wreaked havoc on farms in southern Florida.

• John Steven Atkinson, arrested in December for the assault on Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Traci Salmon, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder last week at his arraignment.

Ventura Superior Court records show that, along with the attempted murder charge, Atkinson also pleaded not guilty to second-degree robbery, and two counts of false imprisonment of an elder or dependent adult.

• The new Libbey Bowl has taken shape after construction crews finished building the trademark shell that covers the stage. The shell consists of wood beams held up by steel supports and has a similar curved shape to the original bowl shell.

• A new project proposed by the city of Ventura to annex areas around Ventura Avenue from the county to the city, raised alarm with the Ojai City Council at its meeting on Tuesday.

• Nordhoff High School graduate Dominique Pearl David surprised her family when she came home to Ojai from New York City to watch the finale of her TV show, “The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection.”

• The arrest of a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of indecent exposure and sexual battery sparked controversy over whether the Ojai Valley Trail is as safe as it used to be.

• Ojai native Briana Faulstich is going to attempt to join the elite group of climbers who have reached the top of Everest. At 17 years old, if she succeeds, she will become the youngest American female to make the summit of the highest peak in the world.

• Help of Ojai’s Community Assistance Program has begun a renovation to their facility that will help serve the homeless and low-income, at-risk populations of the Ojai Valley. Funding comes from a $75,000 Community Development Block Grant.

• The Ojai City Council announced the hiring of a new city manager Jan. 25, as Mayor Carol Smith declared the unanimous approval of Robert Clark.

FEBRUARY

• A traffic accident on Highway 33 north of Shell Road which caused major injuries to the sole occupant of a southbound-traveling vehicle, hit close to home for the Ojai Valley News. The driver, Evelyn Cervantes, OVN intern and Brooks Institute of Photography student, was rescued by oil workers after about 10 hours.

• The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department arrested two men and two juveniles who were allegedly involved in recent Oak View burglaries. The suspects were booked for burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

• The Ojai City Council has voted unanimously to pay $159,000 to fund the Ojai Visitors Bureau for another year.

• Interim city manager John Baker gave the Ojai City Council his mid year report on the 2010-2011 fiscal year for the city; he indicated that the city is facing a $200,000 deficit in its general fund.

• Ventura Sheriff’s Department narcotics detectives served a search warrant on a home in the 300 block of Cruzero Avenue in Mira Monte and  found two ounces of methamphetamine, a variety of prescription medications, dozens of syringes, and items that were later determined to be stolen.

• The Heart and Sole 5k and 10k in Ojai raised more than $20,000, which is a record for this benefit event.

• Ojai Unified School District administrators announced that, at best, Ojai schools will have to cut $196,339 from the 2011-2012 budget; at worst, well over a million, at $1,117,699.

• Plans to replace a bicycle and pedestrian bridge on the Ojai Valley Trail at San Antonio Creek received a green light from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

• Kevin White, teacher at San Antonio Elementary School, rowed from Anacapa Island to the Channel Islands Harbor in “Matilija,” a dory he built. White’s trip contributed $2,500 toward Food for Thought organization.

• Although the city of Ventura has slowed the process of annexing areas of North Ventura Avenue from the county, the Ojai City Council voted 4-1  to send a letter to Ventura stating the council’s opposition to any annexation of the areas in question.

MARCH

• In early March, the Ojai Valley floor experienced its first “snow” in more than 60 years. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Oxnard office, the valley was hit with ice pellets — also known as graupel — that had accumulated due to cold temperatures.

• In a true act of brotherly love, Beth Allen successfully donated a kidney to her 38-year-old brother, Danny, in early March at Scripps Green Hospital in San Diego. The operation went well, according to their mother, Carolyn, who said she remains “very cautious and optimistic” for a full recovery for both of her children.

• Quarry owner Larry Mosler is appealing 14 violations brought on his mining operation by the County of Ventura. Mosler will plead his case to the county Board of Supervisors in a hearing set for April 12. He had lost his previous appeal to the county Planning Commission last year.

• The Ojai City Council made a move to protect the city from taking on the burden of a $5.2 million loan to the city’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA).

On March 3, the California State Legislature Budget Conference Committee voted to move Gov. Jerry Brown’s bill to eliminate RDAs to the next step.

• Several members of the community shared their thoughts and concerns regarding a proposed ordinance before the Ojai City Council that, if passed, would change building codes for the city.  Many of the changes to the code center on new requirements for construction, inspection and permits.

•  On March 11, Humane Society Ojai shelter director Jolene Hoffman was forced to make the heart-breaking decision to put down the Ojai shelter’s cat population, in an effort to end their suffering and avoid spreading their highly contagious and debilitating respiratory virus to other cats in the community.

• The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) teams located and rescued more than 30 people from areas in Los Padres National Forest in the mountains above Ojai on Sunday and Monday. Members from the Los Padres Sierra Club as well as two other unrelated hiking groups were lifted to safety by sheriff’s helicopters after being stranded due to rising levels at water crossings. Four Sierra Club hikers also reached safety thanks to SAR ground crews.

• Ojai mom Cally Houck, California Assemblyman William Monning and several consumer advocates teamed up in Sacramento to present AB-753, a new bill which would prohibit rental car companies from “renting out vehicles that are subject to a federal safety recall, once they have received notice from the manufacturer that the vehicle is being recalled, until the vehicle is fixed.”

• The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) — more specifically in the Ojai Valley — lost an estimated 250 years of experience as some of its top personnel retired this year. Six firefighters from different departments in the valley are moving into the relative calm and quiet of civilian life: Dale Cundiff, former captain of Station 21 in Ojai; Glenn Renner, who retired from his duties at Station 20 in Upper Ojai; Mike Middough and Rick Lajoie of Ojai Station 21; Wayne Maynard of Oak View Station 23; and Kerry Ellison of Meiners Oaks Station 22.

By Myrna Cambianica

On Dec. 13, the Ojai City Council, upon the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission, gave its first award for “Lifetime Achievement for Historic Preservation” to David Mason, and the “2011 Historic Preservation Award” to Judy Mercer — both volunteers at the Ojai Valley Museum. Each received a plaque to commemorate the awards and short biographies were read into the record at the council meeting.

Mercer, formerly of Claremont, where she was a docent and collections worker at the Alf Museum at The Webb Schools, began volunteering at the Ojai Valley Museum when she and her husband, Ed, moved to Ojai about 17 years ago to help with the family’s orange groves. She has volunteered in the OVM permanent collections room since then, cataloging and processing artifacts and archival material donated to the museum.  When the Museum installed a new moveable shelving system, made possible by the Ojai Civic Association, Judy worked full-time leading the team that cleaned up the collections room; she then re-boxed and re-organized the collection, handling problems with the expertise that makes her an invaluable volunteer. Mercer has recently stepped into the role of lead collections volunteer, training and supervising new volunteers and student interns in the computer input, cataloging, and storage processes. She was selected as the Museum Volunteer of the Year in 2005.

Mason, an Ojai native and occasional Ojai Valley News columnist, has contributed much in the way of historical awareness during his lifetime, writing many articles for publication and giving numerous talks about historical figures and events. His grasp of local history and his retention of current events and the folks who shape them are legendary. The declaration presented to Mason at the council meeting noted that writers and researchers often seek out his assistance in their studies of the history of the valley. Other comments from the meeting included the following: “Mason has … made outstanding long-term contributions toward furthering the protection of the cultural history of the Ojai Valley.”

Museum director, Michele E. Pracy, says she is delighted to have Mason as a volunteer on the staff, as he does four types of jobs at the museum seven days a week. Since his retirement as owner of The Village Florist, he works as a docent, sells in the museum store, does research for exhibits, and mans the Visitor Information office on weekends.  He has served on the museum’s board of trustees for 33 years, and is the board’s liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission.  In 1985, Mason was the original chairman of the Historical Preservation Commission, then known as the Ojai Cultural Heritage Board.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan

The following are wishes and/or resolutions I would love to see fulfilled in the coming year, but I have little hope of seeing them come to fruition, because they make too much sense to ever be passed by Congress:

• Place term limits on Congress. The President cannot serve longer than ten years. Why should Congress be any different? I would set all terms at six years for both representatives and senators. You would then be allowed to serve two consecutive six-year terms. After that, you sit out for six years before you are allowed to run again. Are we really better off with a ruling class of lifetime politicians whose constant squabbling would embarrass most two-year olds?
• Means test social programs and investigate fraud. Social programs are extremely valuable, but extremely expensive. Billions of dollars are lost through those receiving benefits that are either not needed or obtained fraudulently. Why not eliminate such benefits for people who make a lot of money? For instance, Warren Buffet will probably be okay without social security. Hire investigators to ferret out fraud and waste. Give those who are ripping off the system through criminal fraud large fines and stiff jail sentences. They are stealing from those who actually deserve and need assistance.
• Ban anyone named Kardashian from all media for one year. We could all use a rest.
• Develop a comprehensive national energy policy that actually decreases dependence upon foreign oil. We are fighting wars, losing American lives, and spending ourselves into oblivion because no one has had the common sense to establish a national energy policy. Jimmy Carter started the Department of Energy in the late 1970s. It now spends almost $30 billion a year, and we are more dependent upon foreign oil than ever. Take half of the peace dividend we should get by no longer fighting the stupid war in Iraq, and pour that money into renewable and/or plentiful energy sources. Subsidize every viable renewable or plentiful source of energy such as wind, solar, and natural gas. That would create jobs, which we desperately need, and would lessen our dependence on foreign oil – which we also desperately need.
• Fix stuff and create jobs. Take the other half of the peace dividend and repair some of the roads that make you feel like you are on a ride at Disneyworld. Fix bridges before they fall down and the cars tumble into the river. Repairing the infrastructure would benefit the country and put people to work.
• Outlaw Michael Jordan sneakers so that people don’t kill each other trying to buy them. I am not so worried about the sheep that line up hours and hours in advance to pay $180 for a pair of tennis shoes; shoes that someone paid small children in some third-world county about $6.50 a pair to make. If they only injured each other, it would just be thinning out the herd. I am worried about innocent store clerks and passers-by being wounded or trampled.
• Cut off foreign aid to Pakistan. The United States currently gives between $2 billion and $3 billion in military and economic aid annually to Pakistan. I have heard the argument that cutting funds would only worsen the relationship between the two countries. How, exactly? These are the people that allowed Osama bin Laden, America’s biggest enemy since Adolph Hitler and Emperor Hirohito, to live unmolested for years right under their government’s nose. Then they announced they would shoot down anything that entered Pakistani airspace, including American-made drone aircraft. Giving money to this country makes about as much sense as paying another guy to cheat with your wife.
• Bar Donald Trump from running for elective office in this country under any party. Instead, perhaps we could export him to other countries which have recently lost leaders who were egomaniacal jerks such as Egypt, North Korea, or Libya. He could easily fill that void.

Happy New Year.

-30-

By Logan Hall

Tyson York knows Soule Park Golf Course.

After more than a decade of professional teaching at Soule, and many more years playing at the facility as an amateur, he could probably tell you how many blades of grass are on the 18th green.

He also knows the community of people that frequent the facility. In particular, he emphasizes the importance getting the youth of the valley involved in activities like golf. York is currently running Soule’s annual free golf camp for kids. His long-term goal is to provide all of Soule’s junior programs to kids for free.

“Times are hard for people right now,” said York, after giving high-fives to the kids on their lunch break during the camp on Tuesday. “This really opens up the opportunity for kids to get involved in something that can be an expensive sport.”

The free camp that York created three years ago is held once a year for now. The other junior camps Soule Park hosts throughout the year, mostly held in the summer, cost participants $190. He hopes that he will soon be able to offer all of the camps free of charge.

“When people don’t have the time or the money to get their kids out here,” said York, “we give them the opportunity.”

York has many of the resources set in place that are necessary to see his dream come to fruition. The tough part, as is the case with many individuals and organizations that provide free services to the community, comes when trying to find funding for the program. “The big thing is that we need one or two major investors,” he said. “Money is what we really need to get this thing moving forward.”

Running a successful free camp requires many things — most of which cost money — on a regular basis. “I donate all of my time,” said York who also indicated that he has to spend money out of his own pocket to fund the current camp. “But we need to cover the food, equipment, other instructors or helpers, prizes and all of the other camp stuff that makes it all possible. We’re really looking for two or three major donors that can give a thousand to two thousand dollars or more.”

Local golfer Rick Brooks’ 12-year-old son Jessie has been participating in York’s classes, free or otherwise, for the last seven years. Brooks says he has donated to York’s cause and believes that the program is beneficial in many ways.

“It’s great to have something that’s free for the kids to do,” said Brooks after dropping off his son at the course. “It’s always tough getting the money for this kind of thing, though.”

York says that help can come in many forms, and that many who frequent Soule are interested in his junior program. “Our (Soule Park) Men’s Club donated $750,” said York, who grew up in the valley playing golf at Soule with many of the course’s regulars. He added that some of his former students, who now attend Nordhoff High School, are also helping the kids during the camps.

Keeping his resources in the valley is a goal of York who says he has leaned away from trying to land large corporate sponsors. “I’ve only approached local places so far,” he said, declining to name names at this point. “They want to see that the programs are creating something really good for the community. I think a lot of the local businesses are interested in that kind of thing. All it has to do is hit close to home for someone that is looking to make a difference in a kid’s life.”

Matt Murphy, also a teaching pro at Soule, is working as York’s assistant instructor during the current camp. He also believes the camp is a positive force in the community. “This is a good opportunity to get the kids into golf at an early age,” he said. “Then they can decide for themselves if they like it. We give them the tools to help make that decision.”

It seems that everyone involved in the program wants to see it succeed.

“My daughter loves the individual aspect of golf, but it’s great that it’s still a group environment,” said Hayley Slobodzian whose 6-year-old daughter Kaiya is in her fourth round of camps with York. “Having it for free is just such a huge benefit. I really hope that it continues.”

Chris Harvey, head professional at Soule, says there are other benefits that will help ensure that the game, and the course itself, are around for generations to come. “We’re losing golfers,” he said. “It’s important that guys like Tyson and Matt are showing how Soule Park has open arms to the kids of the valley. There has always been a consistency of locals coming out here. We need to keep that going.”

York has lived in the valley for 30 years and began playing golf at Soule Park when he was 8 years old. Since graduating high school, he says he has been at the course “all day, every day,” and says it was always his dream to be a professional at Soule. Relating to the younger generation of golfers, York sums up his thoughts on aspiring young linksman in the valley. “It’s all about the kids and the future of the game,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to give back to them both.”

For more information on Soule Park’s junior programs or donations, call the course golf shop at 646-5633.

The Ojai City Council has selected Joseph Fletcher of Tustin to serve as city attorney after a six‐month search to replace Monte Widders, who retired in May after nearly 30 years in the post.

The decision is pending final approval by the Ojai City Council on January 10, when it will consider to approve a contract with Fletcher serving as city attorney and Scott Howard as assistant city attorney.

Both men bring a long list of varied legal experience to the table. Fletcher, a lifelong city attorney, has been practicing law for more than 30 years. He served for 14 years as city attorney for Santa Ana before his retirement in 2010. A southern California native, Fletcher grew up in the Pasadena area. He received his law degree from Pacific/McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Fletcher began his career in Modesto in 1983 as a deputy city attorney, and followed it with stints in Anaheim and Burbank. Now in private practice, Fletcher currently serves as the interim city attorney for Menifee in Riverside County.

Howard, a resident of Ventura, spent more than 34 years with the Glendale City Attorney’s office, acting as Glendale’s city attorney for 21 of those years. He retired in 2011 and is now in private practice.

Howard grew up in Culver City and earned his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law. Howard and Fletcher have a long history of working together.

Fletcher was selected after the Ojai City Council received 14 proposals and interviewed a half‐dozen firms and individuals for the position during two public meetings held this fall. The Council allowed residents to directly submit questions to be asked of the finalists. City officials said they were pleased with the high number of quality responses received during the search.

Mayor Betsy Clapp stated, “Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Howard both have a broad base of experience in municipal law and a feel for the type of issues facing our community. Thi,s along with genuine enthusiasm, and a desire to do what is best for Ojai, led us to our decision to ask Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Howard to join our team at City Hall.”

If appointed by the Council, Fletcher will begin his duties February 1. “I am honored for the opportunity to become part of the City organization and look forward to serving the Ojai community,” said Fletcher.

On May 24, the City Council announced that it had appointed Steven Lee, another member of the Widders’ firm, to serve as acting city attorney after Widders cited medical reasons for his retirement from the position. Widders had served the City since February, 1981.

Widders’ firm will continue providing services to the City through Feb. 1 in order to provide for a smooth transition from one city attorney to the next.

By Logan Hall
Locals are scrambling to rent one last movie as Blockbuster prepares to close its doors after more than a dozen years of business in Mira Monte.

Ojai Valley store manager Lupe Ruvulcava said he couldn’t comment on the situation, but did confirm that the store is closing. Representatives from Dish Network, Blockbuster’s parent company, refused to comment, and instead sent a generic email that briefly explains why any given Blockbuster store might be closing. “ … Stores can close for a number of reasons, such as the store reaching the end of its lease, a store may be too large in size, or property owners may be unwilling to reach a reasonable lease renewal,” read the email from Danielle Johnson, spokeswoman for Dish Network. “ … We remain committed to maintaining only those stores that we believe we will be able to operate profitably.”

The fate of the store’s employees remains uncertain.

In an attempt to reassure those that may be affected, the response from Johnson indicated that there might be hope for the company’s current local workers. “We intend to relocate as many employees as possible to other stores.”

Employees answering the Mira Monte store phone indicated that the valley Blockbuster will stop renting to customers on Dec. 26 and will close its doors to the public in January after selling its inventory.

Repeated inquiries for more information went unanswered, and Johnson refused to confirm or deny when the store is officially closing.

By Logan Hall
Ojai citizens pushing for an end to privately owned water are steadily gaining momentum as more local organizations are getting on board the effort.

Most recently, the Ojai Valley Defense Fund and the Surfrider Foundation announced that they support Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water in its bid to remove Golden State Water Company from Ojai through eminent domain. The Defense Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was launched by locals who understand the need for a fund set aside for legally defending the valley should an environmental threat arise and a legal battle ensue.

F.L.O.W., Defense Fund and Surfrider representatives agree that privately owned water companies can harm the local ecosystem. The three groups claim that private companies like Golden State care more about profits for shareholders than about preserving the area’s vital resources.

“Many people don’t realize that this region is not tied to the state water system and is totally dependent on what falls from the sky,” said Defense Fund president John Broesamle. “By removing Golden State Water Company and replacing it with a public entity, we can have local control and management of our watershed, and in that way we will assure that these vital water resources will be managed for the benefit of the valley’s citizens.”

Broesamle stated that he couldn’t comment on whether or not the Defense Fund will be backing F.L.O.W. financially. “This is the phase of the process that we can announce so far.”

In an email to F.L.O.W. from Paul Jenkins, environmental director of the Surfrider Foundation Ventura County Chapter, the foundation echoes the Defense Fund’s stance. “Your (F.L.O.W.) efforts to bring the community together demonstrate that the Ojai Valley is aware of the threat to our ecosystem when outside corporate interests control a water supply,” read the letter. “There are many examples from around the world and in the United States in which corporations have drastically impacted local communities through profit-motivated actions that overdraft local water supplies … With ever increasing pressure on this limited supply, it is crucial that the community is able to work together in a cooperative manner to ensure future sustainability … Recent actions by Golden State and the PUC demonstrate that they do not answer to the community.”

Golden State representatives, however, disagree.

“We’re managing the groundwater basin in the Ojai area,” said GSWC district manager Ken Petersen. “We’re studying it to make sure we use it beneficially so we don’t get overdrafts.”

Petersen added that Golden State helped form the Ojai Basin Groundwater Agency. “We’re an active participant and member of the agency,” he said.

F.L.O.W. supporters believe that the backing of organizations like the Defense Fund is a major step in the right direction for Ojai’s citizens. “Having the Surfrider Foundation and the Ojai Valley Defense Fund backing us is a big deal,” said F.L.O.W. representative Pat McPherson. “So far, along with the Surfrider Foundation and Defense Fund, we are supported by the City of Ojai, the Ojai Unified School District and the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors. This is an opportunity to control our watershed. Managing our water so we still have it later is a smart thing to do.”

McPherson also pointed out that they would like to see action taken by the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber is really the only one not endorsing us,” he said. “That’s important for us.”

Scott Eicher, the chamber’s CEO, responded with an email statement saying that the chamber has to follow proper procedures when taking an official stance on positions like F.L.O.W.’s. “Ojai F.L.O.W. is aware of our policy,” Eicher stated, “and knows we will hear their presentation and one from the Ojai Valley Groundwater Basin in January. After reviewing this information, the board of directors will confer and then issue a statement or position.”

The Ojai Valley News will continue to report on Ojai’s water supply in upcoming issues.

Chris T. Wilson

With the holidays here and a new year just a few days away, one of Ojai’s teaching artists continues to surround herself with creativity while reflecting on what she’s grateful for and looking forward to the opportunities to come.

In March 2012, Janis’ Art Workshop and Garden Gallery will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. In this past decade, Janis Hansen has been providing a studio space where artists of all ages and abilities can come and try their hands at a number of artistic modalities.

Located at 410 W. Ojai Ave., between Suzanne’s Cuisine and Chantico Inn, the inviting gallery is alive with activity. About 50 local artists sell their work through the gallery, so paintings, sculptures and rich colorful mosaics of all shapes and sizes share space from floor to ceiling. Inside the entrance the air is perfumed by a gardenia candle, and a burst of sunlight beckons students to pass through the front gallery and into the rear courtyard. There a garden area is lined with flagstone pathways and mosaic-encrusted sculptures are punctuated by grinning Buddha statues and trickling fountains.

The workshop and gallery specializes in glass painting, stained glass and mosaic tile work, Hansen said, but offers classes in many other forms of expression. Hundreds of students have learned here over the years. They come from the local community and from surrounding areas. Many are tourists dropping in for a few hours and others come in groups from nearby retreats and hotels. The colorful location has been used for special group events, weddings, and art birthday parties.

And when Hansen, a mother of three daughters and grandmother of one baby boy isn’t busy teaching classes or offering her services as a garden and landscape designer and consultant, she takes the time to volunteer and provide a cost-free learning place for a handful of developmentally disabled individuals from the ARC Ojai Enrichment Center, who come to the workshop to make art projects every week.

“I find a deep sense of personal well-being and joy when working with these special unique individuals who remind me of my many blessings,” Hansen said. “Their smiles of accomplishment and self-satisfaction after completing a creative project keep me inspired to continue my work with them.”

Hansen began the volunteer project not long after learning that the youngest of her daughters was diagnosed with autism. That was 10 years ago and Hansen has been donating facilities and art supplies for the weekly classes ever since.

“I wanted to create a space in our Ojai artist community where locals and visitors could experience a few hours of unleashing their own creativity in a safe and inspiring environment,” she said.

Classes happen spontaneously at times, Hansen said. Often tourists will wander in from the street and then find themselves spending a few hours working on a glass painting or stained glass project.

“Everybody who comes to Ojai wants to be an artist,” Hansen said.

Just such an occurrence recently led to the chance for the workshop and gallery to be involved with Inclusion Studios, Joey Travolta’s Film School for adults with special needs. Hansen is in the process of developing a project with the Burbank-based film school that will take place in the coming year.

Hansen said that among her goals in 2012, she will seek more balance in her life and spend more time with family members.  She is gratefully indebted to local supporters and helpers Ed and Michelle Buckman, Sheila Cluff, Janet Mahon, Debbie O’Brien and many others.

And after more than two decades as a valley resident, Hansen is still full of entrepreneurial spirit. At age 21 she started a pastry baking company in Santa Barbara called A Piece of Cake that made artistic cakes and desserts for celebrities including Michael Douglas, Heather Locklear and many more.

Called a “must stop in Ojai” by Los Angeles Times and featured in the pages of Westways Magazine and other regional publications, the workshop is open seven days a week. Visit ojaiartworkshop.com for more information about this local community resource.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
There is no other time of the year that is as special as Christmas. And it seems that there are some people that embody everything that Christmas is supposed to be about – joy, laughter, excitement, unselfishness and goodwill. Over the years I have known several such people, but the one who will always stand out in my mind when it comes to Christmas is my Uncle John. In fact, it is impossible for me to think about Christmas without thinking about him.

Part of the reason for this is that my uncle always played Santa Claus. And I have never seen anyone more perfect for the part. He was a large man with rosy cheeks, a hearty laugh, and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. But there was much more than just his physical appearance that made him personify Christmas. It was what was inside the man, not what was inside the suit.

Uncle John never had children of his own, so all children came to be his. I can remember him sitting patiently for hours at a time without t pay in a hot suit and beard (that he had paid for himself) while child after child would laugh, giggle and share with him what they wanted Santa to bring them for Christmas. No matter how long it took, no matter how many kids there were to see, he was always animated and jolly, as if doing this for the first time.

Wherever we went in our small town, we always saw the same Santa. Uncle John was Santa at local stores, he was Santa at our church, and he was Santa at the town’s annual Christmas parade.  Uncle John also had a great trick for those kids who were on the verge of outgrowing their belief in Santa. Before putting the child in his lap, he would conspire with the parents to find out what the kid wanted for Christmas. When the skeptical child would challenge whether he was the real Santa Claus, my uncle would say, “Well if I am not Santa, then how do I know you want a Daisy BB gun for Christmas?” The look on the stunned child’s face was probably my uncle’s favorite Christmas present.

When my sister and I were very young, my uncle started a wonderful Christmas tradition – the “Magic Tree”. About two weeks before Christmas, my uncle came to our house to have coffee with my parents. He casually mentioned that he thought one of the trees in our front yard had magical powers. When we questioned him, he said that he thought he had noticed something wedged in one of the branches of the tree, and that maybe we ought to go out and see what it was.

My sister and I raced out of the house to find some small toys – one for a girl and one for a boy. We were thrilled beyond words and raced back into the house to show our treasures. Each morning for the next two weeks or so, there was a gift in the Magic Tree. The gifts were small and inexpensive. Sometimes it was just a couple of pieces of fruit. But we thought it was wonderful, and no orange ever tasted as sweet as one that had come from the Magic Tree.

It soon became hard to sleep at night wondering what treasure would be in the tree the next morning. And each day when my mother woke us, my sister and I would race outside barefooted and in our pajamas (with my mother right behind us scolding us to put on our shoes) to see what the tree held for us.

I would not hazard a guess as to how many families my uncle brought joy to down through the many years before his death. But in a time when it is easy to become cynical about everything, including Christmas, it is a pleasure to recall the wonderful memories that we all have about this blessed season and what it means to us and our families.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus – and his spirit lives in the hearts of people like Uncle John. I wish Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy holidays to you all.

Solar panels made by the students, pictured with the Nomad Foundation's Leslie Clark, were essential parts of the midwives equipment to charge their cell phones in their remote encampments. Photo submitted

By Chris T. Wilson

A small group of Ojai residents have returned from a mission trip to Niger, where they taught natives how to fabricate solar panels to pump clean water, and taught women how to help each other in childbirth.

Leslie Clark of Nomad Gallery in Ojai has been traveling to Niger since the mid 1990s. At first she went there in search of beautiful scenery to inform her artistic expression. But the positive impact she saw from a gift she gave years ago led her to expand her vision and found the Nomad Foundation.

Since 1996 the Nomad Foundation, with grants from Rotary clubs of Ojai and Westlake Village, as well as private donors, has set out to bring flood and famine relief, farming and technical education, medical care and instruction to one of the world’s poorest regions.

From Sept. 29 until Nov. 22, Clark, accompanied by retired Ojai obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Robert Skankey and local volunteer Sol de la Torre Bueno, traveled to a remote northern region of Niger to accomplish the solar and midwife training mission.

Skankey, who created the mid-wife training program, worked closely with five women from five different communities. He taught them hygiene and how to administer basic medications to avoid infection. Following the five-day course, each new mid-wife successfully demonstrated what they had learned and each was given a cell phone and solar charging unit so they can contact the medical clinic in Tamesna, Niger, for further guidance if needed.

Despite the language barrier and the lack of literacy among the trainees, Skankey said he was amazed and pleased at how well the women learned and were able to demonstrate their newly gained knowledge.

“I’m thrilled with how well the program went,” Skankey said. “I had to research the best approach to teaching the women how to take care of other pregnant ladies, and we got a lot of good feedback on it.”

Since this mission has been postponed twice due to security concerns, Skankey has had two full years to develop the program, which Clark said made the entire effort to go smoothly. While in Niger, Nomad Foundation volunteers are accompanied by armed security guards to thwart would-be bandits and kidnappers.

In addition to the mid-wife training, the other intent of this trip was to provide locals with the materials and skills they need to fabricate their own solar panels. Working with solar expert Richard Komp of Skyheat, Nomad Foundation volunteers and natives were able to fabricate 24 solar panels that can be used to power the Nomad’s mobile villages. They also built solar ovens they will be able to use for baking and other food preperation.

Clark said the goal of training the Nomads to use solar is so they can charge cell phones and pump clean well water. Getting uncontaminated water is one of the biggest challenges they face, she said.

“Our next big project will be well drilling,” said Clark. “The only way to get clean water is to have a sealed well. For that, you need electricity. That is really the whole reason for the solar program.”

Clark and Skankey are planning a return to Niger in February 2012. During the three-week trip, they will conduct further trainings and follow up on the work they conducted in the fall of 2011.

In the meantime, Clark is seeking financial support from the community through direct donations and the sale of goods at the Nomad Gallery. One item in particular is a solar powered goose-neck lamp from Unite To Light of Santa Barbara. For each $25 lamp purchased, one is donated to a Nomad.

For more information about the Nomad Foundation, visit the Nomad Gallery at 307 East Ojai Ave, call 646-1706, or visit nomadfoundation.org.

By Logan Hall
Ventura County officials are working with Ojai Quarry owner Larry Mosler to settle a dispute that started back in 2008. During a seven-hour public hearing by the county’s planning commission last week, Mosler and county planners agreed to work together. The commission voted unanimously to allow the mine owner to continue operating while fixing issues raised by the county, and paying the county fees and fines that have accrued — some of which Mosler had refused to pay previously.

The trouble began in 2008, three years after Mosler purchased the quarry, when the county planning division cited Mosler for violating his conditional use permit requirements by mining outside of the area permitted by the county. Although Mosler owns 90 acres of mostly uninhabited land around the quarry, which is about four miles north of Ojai up Maricopa Highway, he is only allowed to mine nine acres. If he plans on mining outside the permitted boundaries, he is required to apply for a temporary permit that must be approved by the county.

Mosler says that he was following a requirement handed down by the federal government’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. County records confirm that MSHA had ordered Mosler to remove hazardous perched boulders which were outside of his mining boundaries. County officials, however, say that Mosler never got a temporary permit from the county to remove the boulders.

“I’ve got the county telling me to do one thing,” said Mosler, “and MSHA telling me to do another.”

Other violations from the county against the mine included exceeding the maximum allowable daily truck trips, which is currently capped at 20, running non-permitted equipment — specifically, a large rock crusher — and for operating without an approved reclamation plan or adequate financial assurance that reclamation of the mining site could be paid for. Since 2008, Mosler has been issued 14 violations by the county.

Although the commission’s hearing was centered around Mosler’s lack of an approved plan and financial assurance, the mine’s other violations were brought up by Ojai Stop the Trucks! Coalition representatives during the proceedings. Coalition representative Michael Shapiro says the coalition is not happy with the county’s decision to work with Mosler.

“We’re very disappointed,” said Shapiro. “We think it was a complete whitewash. We were just shocked at the commission’s decision.”

While Mosler and the county agreed to work together to mitigate the quarry’s issues, Shapiro says the fight isn’t over for the coalition. “We’re going to move forward,” he said. “We’re going to have to continue to monitor them (quarry) ourselves.”

Shapiro claims that coalition supporters have counted trucks leaving the quarry and have found Mosler to be exceeding his maximum allowable daily truck trips on a regular basis. When asked for documentation or some kind of record keeping of the coalition’s findings, Shapiro said, “We don’t write that down.”

Shapiro claims that the efforts of the coalition are geared toward preserving Ojai’s small town feel and pushing to keep industry from the valley. “We really got moving when we were fighting the mines that were farther up the highway,” he said. “If all the mines got what they wanted, there would have been 600 trucks a day going down (Highway) 33.”

Shapiro also said that the coalition has sent many official complaints to the county by way of the coalition’s attorney. The coalition receives funding from the city of Ojai for legal fees, which, according to city records, has amounted to more than $25,000 since July 2009. “They do the work and send the attorney’s bill to us,” said Steve McClary, assistant to the city manager. “We review it and pay it.”

Mosler has until Feb. 23 to adhere to the planning commissions guidelines in working with county planners. Aside from gaining approval for the mine’s latest proposed reclamation plan and financial assurance, the county is also requiring Mosler to resume payments on $98,000 that he owes the county in fees and fines.

By Logan Hall
Ojai Rock Quarry supporters butted heads with Ventura County staff and Stop the Trucks! Coalition supporters in a seven-hour-long hearing that ended with county planning commissioners continuing the meeting to Feb. 23, to give the two sides time to work out an agreement.

Dozens of citizens and officials, including the quarry’s owners Larry Mosler and his wife Grace, were present during the planning commission hearing that entertained testimony and opinions from both sides of the issue. County planning division staff had recommended that the commission revoke Mosler’s mining permit, which would require him to cease all mining operations. After county staff issued statements saying that Mosler was operating illegally, experts opposing the county’s assessment shared their insights before members of the public and delivered their thoughts to the commission.

Mosler had been cited by the county for 14 violations of his Conditional Use Permit starting in 2008, including operating outside the mine’s permitted boundaries and operating outside of permitted hours. Thursday’s deliberations by the commission were centered on the county’s accusation that Mosler was operating without an approved reclamation plan — the plan that would be used for restoring the site should mining operations cease. County officials were also concerned that the miner was operating without financial assurance that the reclamation could be paid for.

County staff said that Mosler’s current approved plan showed the need for 285,000 cubic yards of fill material, and that he had not posted adequate financial assurance that would cover the cost of the material. County staff also stated that Mosler’s current posted financial assurance of $22,000 was insufficient, and therefore an approved plan with an adequate amount of financial assurance was needed, as required by the State Mining and Geology Board through the State Mining and Reclamation Act. The county’s argument was that state law requires the plan, along with the assurance, be current and approved by the county.

Mosler’s attorney Derek Cole and geologist Dr. Sandy Figuers outlined reasons why the county’s interpretation of the reclamation plan was flawed and said that there was no need for 285,000 tons of fill material that Mosler and Cole claim would cost $3 million to be trucked in. Although planning commissioners questioned Mosler’s numbers, they did agree the cost would be high, and expressed concern about the substantial increase from the current $22,000 posted. Mosler argued that the county has refused to look over his new plan, which he says would require the posting of a $70,000 financial assurance.

Supporters of both Mosler and the county voiced their opinions to the commission. Local construction companies, and other business owners, spoke on Mosler’s behalf and urged commissioners to consider the big picture.

“Times are tough,” said local contractor Chris Hilgers as he stood at the lectern. “I think you have some obligation to work with Mr. Mosler. There is an obligation to find an answer to preserve jobs and keep this asset.”

Long-time valley resident Ernie Ford says he lives just down from the quarry and supports the mine and its owner. “The quarry is run efficiently,” said Ford. “We can see the quarry from our bathroom window. We have seen no evidence of traffic violations or truck overloading. I hope that the county will work with the Moslers and keep the quarry open.”

Representatives from the Stop the Trucks! Coalition had less than positive things to say about the operation and its owners.

One statement given by coalition representatives told of physical abuse by the Moslers during a break in the hearing. “These people are trying to intimidate us,” said coalition chairman Michael Shapiro, who told commissioners of an encounter with Mosler’s wife outside of the hearing room. “She grabbed my hand … Mrs. Mosler almost pulled me to the ground. That was a threat and I don’t take it lightly. I would like some security when we leave.”

When asked about the incident after the hearing, Mosler laughed and said, “My wife is 68-years-old, 5-foot-3 and about 110 pounds.”

County staff supporters did make some points about the issue that gained the commission’s attention, however. “We had no problem with the quarry, provided they stay within their limits,” said coalition supporter Howard Smith. “But we began to realize there were numerous violations. If you don’t follow the rules, you don’t deserve a permit to stay in business.”

Ojai city manager Rob Clark spoke on the Ojai City Council’s behalf, stating that the council unanimously supported county staff’s recommendations to revoke Mosler’s permit. Because Maricopa Highway runs through Ojai city limits and is a trucking route for the quarry, the city took an official stance in support of the county. The city also funds the Stop the Trucks! Coalition’s legal costs through payments that Shapiro claims equal up to around $18,000 annually. City officials could not be reached before print time Thursday to confirm payment amounts to the coalition.

Planning commissioners heard both sides of the story and came to the conclusion that more time was needed for all involved to come to a conclusion. After discussing possible options with Mosler and county staff, the commission unanimously settled on a continuation of the hearing to Feb. 23, providing that Mosler update his financial assurance to cover the $70,000 specified by the new reclamation plan. Mosler is required to pay $25,000 on or before Dec. 24, with the remaining $23,000 to be paid within 30 days after that. Commissioners also required that Mosler continue to make payments on the almost $100,000 in fines and back fees owed to the county.

“I think the commission bent over backwards to get a solution to the problem,” Mosler said after the hearing. “I didn’t win what I wanted, but I didn’t lose either. The commission understands the catch-22 situation that I’ve been involved in and wants to bring that to an end. They want to resolve this.”

The final installment of this four-part series will appear next week in the Ojai Valley News. The conclusion of the series will deal with additional issues raised by Ojai Stop the Trucks! in opposing the quarry, alleged violations brought against Mosler by the County and the mine owner’s response.

By Chris T. Wilson
When local graphic artist and marketing guru Dustin Byerley won the contract to help Sony launch a new handheld video game, he turned to his local Ojai friends and fellow artisans to put the project together.

Hired by former Ojai resident Andrew Culp, the creative director at ADD Marketing + Advertising of Los Angeles, Byerley’s task was to pitch, design and fabricate several PlayStation PSVita pop-up stores set to launch in select cities nationwide. The pop-up stores are temporary stores built to allow the video gaming public a sneak hands-on peak at the new system.

The project was two-fold. The PSVita Mall Tour launched in late November and will run until the end of December at shopping malls in Santa Monica, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia and Texas.  The Mall Tour locations are set up like over-sized kiosks. The second part of the project was the Vita Hill Social Club, which is a hip indoor environment where video gamers can sit and relax and get into the gaming experience. Sony plans to duplicate the social club experience at several locations across the nation in the coming year.

“The pitch I wrote won over six other ad agencies,” Byerley said. And subsequently, he and a handful of other local talents have conceived, designed and built most of the multi-sensory experience here in the Ojai Valley.

Once Byerley learned he had been awarded the contract, he turned to local digital and fine artist Rick Monzon of monzonfineart.blogspot.com to sketch mock-ups of both the Mall Tour and Social Club.

For the Mall Tour, the majority of the fabrication was produced by an outside vendor; but, there were a few local people involved, Byerley noted. David Lenwell of the local sustainable hosting company Hostojai.com produced the data collection and pre-order interfaces for all five cities.

In need of some cut vinyl signs, Byerely chose Richard Clark of Richard’s Sign Service in Meiners Oaks, and all printing for the Mall Tour was produced by Ojai Printing with the help of Ben Skirvin.

For the Vita Hill Social Club, the majority of the art and fabrication took place in Ojai.

“The Vita Hill Social Club was designed to be a 50-50 blend of an old world social club meets the eclectic aesthetic of a DIY hipster,” Byerley said. “We wanted to create a space that we would enjoy spending time in. (The) design that called for large, opulent hotel desks, bars, literature racks, custom tables, stages and more. The first person I thought of was scenic artist Pablo Grande-Weiss because of his extensive background in theater production and work with local Emmy award winning director Jamie Caliri.”

Grande-Weiss assembled a team of eight local scenic artists to take on the job and have since produced over 100 custom-fabricated items, which are being shipped to eight Social Clubs nationally.

“The sheer volume of these large items is visually arresting, but the coolest thing of all is to see people doing what they love while stimulating the local economy,” Byerley said.

To bring the hipster factor to the space Byerley brought in artists Kesina McEuen and Clinton Burger. Kesina has fabricated a number of one-off, artsy elements for the Social Club such as custom vinyl pillows, wallpaper, a chic hand-stitched cloud mobile and a quirky tree topper satellite dish.

Artist Burger’s gentle, handmade style caught Byerley’s eye. Burger produced two original art pieces for the space, which, Byerely said, “Just blew my mind. He’s a natural talent with a unique, heart-felt perspective.”

He also worked with a number of local vendors to produce the rest of the elements. Eric Nicholson at Primarily Wood provided custom framing for a number of art pieces, which Ojai local Julie Purkerson of EXHIBIT printed.

“All in all it was a big risk, but Ojai delivered,” Byerely noted, beaming at a line of people that wound around the block at the Dec. 1 opening of the Vita Hill Social Club. “The overwhelming success of the opening night in San Francisco is a testament to the raw talent and hard work of this town.”

To learn more, visit us.playstation.com and click on the PSVita link.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
Last weekend, a woman who works at my newspaper in Tennessee lost her mother. Christy’s mother had been ill for some time, and her condition had recently worsened.  My heart goes out to her. She is a valued employee and was a dedicated and loving daughter. I know her mother’s death will be especially tough on Christy, facing the first holiday season without her mom around.

I lost both of my parents many years ago. My daddy suffered an extended illness; we watched a once vibrant man waste away to nothing as cancer wracked his body. Twenty-five years later, my mother died of heart failure. She battled cancer valiantly, but repeated chemotherapy treatments bled the strength from her heart, and she died holding my hand.

There is no easy way to lose someone you love. And though time, good memories, and the family who are still with you ease the pain, there are still moments I feel the emptiness in my life without the loved ones I have lost.

It is easy to get caught up in the rush of the holiday season. There are parties to attend, shopping to finish, gifts to wrap, plans to make and trips to take. Each year Christmas seems to come earlier, and with it, more expectations. We are stressed and harried and sometimes ready for the whole thing to just be over.

But then, something brings you back to reality and reminds you of what is truly important. For me, that came in the form of a message my sister sent last week. The message said, “Jack (her husband) told me about Ava’s idea for the adults not to exchange gifts, and I think that’s fine. I have one request from you for Christmas…come to Elba! With our aging and scattering children, it may be rare when we can all be together. It would be really special if you could also be here.”

So, Ava and I will spend Christmas Day with her brothers. Ava will fix a big meal, and we will spend the day as we have for the past three years. The next day we will travel to see my sister. And we will enjoy more good food, and I will kid my nieces and nephews and say silly things that will make my college-age niece, Meredith, giggle like a little girl. My sister will probably tell the story about how when we were kids, I took the head off her favorite doll and put a bumble-bee inside, and how she ran screaming to our mother to tell on me. We will talk about those we loved who are now gone, but remain with us in spirit.

What better gift can you receive at Christmas than being with those you love? If you ever doubt that, just ask someone who can’t.

May you have what you treasure, but more importantly, treasure what you have.

City also supports library expansion, appoints new mayor

 By Tiobe Barron
After two public meetings and much discussion, the Ojai City Council voted to increase the Ojai Trolley fare at Tuesday night’s meeting. The rate increase was deemed necessary because the Ojai Trolley is required to maintain a 10 percent operating expense-to-fare intake in order to continue receiving state funding to cover its operating costs. The new rates will be $1 for general fare, 50 cents for senior citizens and children ages 2 to 5, and 25 cents for those with disabilities and children under the age of 2. The new fares will be implemented in February 2012.

Ojai resident Kyleen Sagowski said cannot drive due to an eye impairment; yet, as she works in both Ojai and Ventura, she said “the trolley and Gold Coast are my lifeline.” She urged  City Council members to remember riders like her, who are completely dependent upon public transportation.

Jay Simons, a trolley driver for three years and a longtime Ojai resident, said, “It’s important to build on this momentum,” speaking about the Ad Hoc Transit Committee’s work. He proposed the Council make the committee ongoing, and perhaps consider modifications to the trolley route seasonally — for example, a summertime route that would carry riders to Lake Casitas. He believes there are many more issues that were tabled by the committee that still need addressing. Steve Brown, of the Gold Coast Transit Committee, said Tuesday that they are working currently with the Ventura County Transportation Department. He said that in an ideal world, the end result would be a transit district in western Ventura County, for which the funding would be pooled, would provide the coverage that’s most needed, and would give the area transportation more permanence.

Councilman Paul Blatz explained, “The city is on the lower end of the totem pole, so when it comes to funding (from the state), when they say they’re going to take it, they just take it. We share (Ojai residents’) frustration.”

Also at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the Council “re-organized,” as the one-year term allotments dictate, and Mayor Carol Smith was replaced by incoming Mayor Betsy Clapp. Blatz replaced Clapp as mayor pro tem.

In keeping with the re-organizing theme, Cynthia Burrell submitted her resignation as City Clerk, and suggested her Deputy City Clerk, Rhonda Basore, as her replacement.

Councilwoman Carlon Strobel said, “I want to thank Cynthia for her 20-plus years of service, for all she taught me, for her compassion and dedication to the job.”

Blatz reminded those in attendance that, “The City Clerk is here to represent the people, and make sure the government does what the government is supposed to do. As a public records custodian, it is important that person be impartial, not just a member of staff.”

Ojai resident Pat McPherson offered that he has worked directly with Basore, and said, “She is an excellent choice for city clerk, unbiased, totally for getting the truth.”

Basore accepted the nomination to the position, and thanked Council members for their support and confidence.

When it came to supporting the Ojai Friends of the Library’s request that City Council use some of the library funds to help in the future with the maintenance of the proposed meeting room, Councilwoman Strobel still had many questions. “Is the project approved by the county? If so, is it the county’s position that they would pay for the annex building, but not the electricity, etc.? Does it require more staff? How will that be paid for? These things have a tendency to snowball, and I want to make sure we go into this with our eyes wide open.”

Councilwoman Smith indicated that the revised plan of support, which would limit the city’s yearly and total financial contributions, was “A good deal, and these things always have unintended consequences.” The motion to support the project passed.

Jenny Newman of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board also spoke at the meeting, in regards to a legally required assessment of the Ventura River watershed total maximum daily load. The assessment needs to be completed by March 2012. So far, it has been found that the Ventura River area has increased nutrient loading — meaning nitrogen and phosphorous, primarily from agricultural runoff and animal waste, which has led to excessive algae. Excessive algae in the watershed can create myriad problems, including killing off local fish populations and harboring bacteria harmful to humans, such as E. Coli. Newman emphasized that the study is not self-implementing, and that provisions will have to be made in future to lower the nutrient content. The TMDL report will be released for public review and comment in May 2012.

By Joanna M. Iwata
Generous donations to the Ojai Education Foundation have allowed the nonprofit organization to present a check for $45,000 to the Ojai Unified School District, which will be used to pay for new laptops, projectors, speakers and interactive whiteboards in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.

Last year, the OEF gave $37,500 to the school district to pay for new classroom technology in fourth through eighth grades that helps promote the visual learning and interactivity stressed in the enVisionMATH California curriculum recently adopted by the OUSD school board.

“The $45,000 grant to OUSD for enVisionMATH technology in grades K to 3 in 2011 is the largest grant by OEF to date, and follows our grant of $37,500 for grades 4 to 8 in 2010,” said Phil Caruthers, OEF treasurer. “We are very proud of this accomplishment and very grateful for the generous contributions of more than 200 donors and many of our community businesses and sponsors for making what we do possible. Among them, Vintage Productions California LLC has been instrumental in bringing such important resources to the school district by providing matching grants of $10,000 for the past two years.”

Hank Bangser, OUSD superintendent, noted the importance of both OEF grants. “The decision of the Ojai Education Foundation board to fund the entire K through 8 mathematics technology initiative in two years, rather than the originally planned three years, was a tremendous morale and educational boost for our faculty,” he said. “I wish every OEF donor and parent could be with me when I see how much our teachers and students are the beneficiaries of the new creative software and technology available to them now, directly attributable to the $82,500 in OEF grants for the program.”

All the OUSD school principals agree the new technology has exceeded their expectations. “Because of the generosity of the Ojai Education Foundation, our classrooms have come alive with technology,” said Dawn Damianos, Meiners Oaks Elementary School principal. “Students are engaged in the lessons and teachers are able to ‘read’ students’ faces (as they are looking up to the screen in the front of the room) and see whether or not they are understanding the lesson.”  Teachers use their new teaching tools not only for math, but for science, social studies, language arts and current events as well, Damianos added.

Parents Katie Metzger and Sandy Ulrich have seen the positive impact of the new technology in their children’s classrooms. “I am fortunate that I get to see firsthand how my kids and the rest of the children in the class become so excited and engaged in what they are learning,” said Metzger, who volunteers twice a week in her son’s first-grade class and her daughter’s fourth-grade class at Meiners Oaks Elementary School.

“I have noticed that both the kids and teachers love this new technology, especially the whiteboards,” said Ulrich, who has a kindergartener at San Antonio Elementary School and a middle-school student at Matilija Junior High School. “Since it is an electronically driven and interactive system, it instantly engages the students,” she said. Ulrich also said her daughter raves about the new handheld device that looks like a cell phone, which she uses in her life science and social studies classes. “Students can type answers right away so that the teacher and everyone can see them,” she said.

As Kathy White, Mira Monte Elementary School principal, said, “Technology as a tool for delivery instruction has become so important to the majority of our teachers that some have commented they feel like they are in the dark ages without it.”

John LeSuer, Topa Topa Elementary School principal, agreed. “Our teachers are feeling more comfortable with the technology,” he said.  “It is making such a positive difference in our schools.  Students often express that it makes learning fun and easier to follow. Teaching is also more interesting and motivating to the students of all grades and it holds their attention.”

Teacher Chris Ando at Topa Topa also concurs. “My teaching is better because I can show the students concepts and they can watch as they are presented.  I didn’t know all the benefits until I started using it and I now use their technology for all subjects, not just math.”

Special-education teachers Laura Van Auker at Meiners Oaks, and Harriet Clise at Matilija, value using the new technology to make the math curriculum accessible to students with disabilities in ways that keep them active, engaged and learning in an inclusive way with other students.

Debbie Johnson, president of the OEF, is gratified by the ongoing support of OEF donors and business sponsors. “I am proud to be part of such a hard-working, all-volunteer organization,” she said.  “I look forward to the future as we continue to work with OUSD to determine where our fundraising efforts will be put to the best use.”

“We are seeing what exciting things can happen for our young people, their teachers and our school system when we fund special initiatives that can transform how teachers teach and students learn,” said Marianne Ratcliff, OEF board member and parent of two children at Summit Elementary School in Upper Ojai. “The Ojai Education Foundation is committed to investing in our youths’ future through its annual educational grants and larger multiyear projects.”

OEF is a community-based, nonprofit organization that promotes excellence in public education by building community support and providing resources to our schools. For more information, log on to www.ojaief.org. Donations can be mailed to OEF, P.O. Box 1769, Ojai, Calif. 93024.

By Logan Hall
Part 2 in a multipart series

County officials are preparing to hear Ojai Rock Quarry owner Larry Mosler’s case during a public hearing scheduled for Thursday morning. Among other issues, Mosler is refusing to submit financial assurance for a reclamation plan that he says will cost him almost $3 million.

Staff from the county’s Planning Department say they have given Mosler many chances to comply with their need for a Financial Assurance Cost Estimate — the amount of money it should take to properly reclaim the mine if it were ever abandoned. Mosler says the county is asking for an unprecedented amount of fill material to be accounted for that would fill in mined areas of the quarry if the need arose for reclamation.

Brian Baca, the county Planning Department’s commercial and industrial permit manager, says both the county and the State Mining and Geology Board’s Office of Mining Reclamation have reviewed Mosler’s approved reclamation plan, which has been in place since 1995, and have reported that a new plan addressing the need for 285,000 cubic yards of fill material be factored into his plan. Along with the amended plan, Mosler is required by county and state law to submit his F.A.C.E. and a means of facilitating that assurance through a cash deposit, bond or other approved means.

County officials say that Mosler’s claim that the fill material could cost close to $3 million are not associated with county or state reviews, and that the mine owner is responsible for providing a professional cost estimate for the plan which, in Mosler’s case, now includes 285,000 cubic yards of material. “The county has never asked for a specific dollar amount for his plan,” said Baca. “We made our own preliminary estimate which was just over 300,000 cubic yards. The state made a review and said 285,000 cubic yards of material was necessary for the plan, so we went with the state’s estimate. As far as the cost, they (Mosler) have not given an engineer’s estimate. He (Mosler) has not submitted anything to us for review.”

Dr. Sandy Figuers, a geologist with Norfleet Consulting, was hired by Mosler to prepare reports for the county on the stability of the mine. Figuers, who holds his doctorate in geology and is a registered civil engineer, disagrees with the county’s assessment that the mine needs large amounts of fill material for reclamation. “What the county is asking for is called a global buttress fill,” said Figuers who says he has 30 years experience in the field. “The state of knowledge of how to analyze a slope is much better than it was 20 years ago. Since that time advances have greatly increased. The assumption that the slope is unstable is no longer valid.”

Figuers points out a slope cut by Cal Trans to construct Maricopa Highway. “Just look at the other side of the highway where Caltrans cut almost vertical rock slopes that are 200 feet high,” he said. “Those slopes are way more vertical than anything on Larry’s mine. All you will see there are small rock falls.”

Explaining the reclamation process, Figuers commented that reclamation plans are designed to deal with large-scale failures. “In reclamation,” he continued, “we’re looking at large failures of slopes that address major safety concerns.”

Figuers says that the bottom line is that the slope is much more stable than county officials claim. “In my professional opinion,” he concluded, “a global buttress fill is not necessary.”

Mosler gave documents to the Ojai Valley News showing statements that his previous financial assurance hasn’t been more than $48,000, and county records show his previous submitted F.A.C.E. was $22,322. Mosler questions the decision to require the large quantity of material in the reclamation plan and says his attempts to provide an updated F.A.C.E. have been ignored by county staff.

“No one has ever brought up this dirt issue in the last 16 years,” said Mosler. “I’ve been submitting new F.A.C.E. plans but the county won’t accept or reject them. Rick Goacher with RGP Planning and Development Services prepared a new F.A.C.E. In it I raised the financial assurance to $48,000. That’s when Baca came up with the plan that will cost me $3 million to import dirt.”

Cost estimates for the type of fill material required by the county for Mosler’s reclamation plan are not easy to come by. Most require an analysis of distance from the source of the material to the recipient and also depends on the specific material required. Attempts by the OVN to obtain a cost for hauling 285,000 cubic yards of fill material showed that prices could range from $3 to $15 per cubic yard depending on distance and type of material used.

State Mining and Geology Board documents regarding previous reclamation plans from Mosler have addressed many issues with Mosler’s plan, including the removal of perched boulders and hydroseeding to stabilize hillsides. None of the previous documents refer to the need for fill material in the amount specified by the county and the SMGB in the latest requirement for Mosler’s reclamation plan. Baca says that prior to his involvement with the Ojai quarry, county staff mishandled Mosler’s case and that the SMGB was not aware of the area that needed fill material. “This all came from the past year’s inspection,” said Baca. “His original plan (in 1995) shows a large fill area and he has mined extensively beyond that since then. It’s quite simple really. This is what is specifically required for his facility.”

Mosler is quick to point out that his mine is small, and out of 12 mines in Ventura County, his financial assurance is second only to one of the county’s largest mines, P.W. Gillibrand Topa Canyon mine in Simi Valley. According to county documents presented by Mosler, Gillibrand’s current F.A.C.E. is $3.1 million. “I have the smallest mine in the county,” said Mosler. “What they want me to do means I have to come up with $3 million. I can’t pay that. Who has that kind of money just lying around?”

Ojai Stop the Trucks! Coalition representatives suggest that Mosler has corporate backing and could easily afford the costs. “Mosler and his people are liars,” said coalition representative Michael Shapiro, who says that Mosler’s operation is backed by a major corporation, Tri County Trucking, and that money is readily available. “They aren’t the mom and pop store they claim to be.”

Mosler, however, says he has nothing to hide and, when asked, promptly produced the deed to the mine, which was sold to him in 2005 by Schmidt Construction for $1,003,643. Mosler pointed out that he did receive financial backing from the Marietta family, who owns Tri County Trucking, but that he doesn’t have access to funds from the company. “I used to work with the Mariettas when I had my portable rock crushing business,” said Mosler. “Schmidt wanted a million. I had $400,000. The Marietta family trust loaned me $600,000, which we have paid down to about $70,000. They played bank.”

Mosler says the Mariettas wouldn’t give him the money for a F.A.C.E., and says the mine isn’t worth enough to warrant a loan for the reclamation plan. “It’s questionable if the mine is even worth that kind of money,” continued Mosler. “No one would front $3 million for a reclamation plan. The Marietta family doesn’t have $3 million to loan me.”

If the County Board of Supervisors upholds county staff’s recommendations, Mosler would need to cease all operations of the mine within the time specified by the board. Mosler’s attorney Derek Cole has filed an appeal with the SMGB on their decision.

The board is scheduled to conduct a public hearing Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Ventura County Government Center supervisors hearing room. Citizens concerned with the matter are urged to attend the hearing.

By Chris Wilson
After 15 years of intimately produced live performances in Ojai, the curtain of a local theater company is about to fall for the final time.

The Theater 150 board of trustees has announced that it will cease professional theater operations on Dec. 23 following the final performance of the current production of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

In January, the theater will reopen as a non-equity company that specializes in productions and classes for children and youth. Operating under the name Ojai Yes Entertainment Studio, it will continue the T-150 tradition of classes for adults, and offer a range of music, comedy and other special performances from local groups and artists.

The OYES will be co-artistic directed by Krista Kim and Rick Kuhlman, both of whom have presented at Theater 150 and have years of experience in youth musical and dramatic productions, and classes.

Kim and Kuhlman have both said they are thrilled about the new direction the theater is taking and are hoping the community will feel the same. But Kim also says she has mixed feelings.

“I’ve been at Theater 150 for two years and I love everything about what they do and what they are working on,” Kim said. “I hate to see parts of that go away and I hope we can continue some of the great traditions that we’ve established.”

In addition to wanting to see the adult writing classes and independent projects continue, Kim said her goal is to see all age groups from the community involved in productions and classes.

The changes are blamed in part on a sluggish economy. Theater 150 board of trustees chairman Tom Krause issued a statement explaining the decision to end theater productions, which was run as a letter to the editor Dec. 7.

“A handful of dedicated donors have carried the weight of expenses, doing so with the belief that successful productions would stimulate sufficient support,” Krause stated. “This has not happened, and recent fundraising made clear that the money needed to launch a new season simply was not there.”

Outgoing producing director Chris Nottoli, who held the position of co-artistic director with wife Deb Norton from 2005 to 2010, agreed that the decision made sense.

“When it became apparent that the current model was no longer tenable we had to make some tough decisions,” Nottoli said. “The new model is a very good outcome, frankly, for the theater. Rather than closing down, selling off the furniture and abandoning the building, what’s happening is actually pretty cool.”

In spite of the face-forward fund-raising efforts Nottoli and Norton put forth, which included their wedding musical “Deb and Chris Get Married,” held in Libbey Bowl in May 2010 and other campaigns, the costs of running a small equity theater in Ojai was not sufficient to stay open, Nottoli said.

And while he plans to still be actively involved with Theater 150, he will also be independently pursuing writing and producing opportunities. “Now it’s going to be much more accessible to the community and I think you’ll see an explosion of theater in Ojai,” Nottoli said. He said he plans to bring some improv-style sketch and stand-up comedy nights to the stage of theater.

“Right now it’s wide open,” he said. “This was the right thing to do. Some of the donors might be upset by the decision, but it’s a victim of the economy like so many things are.”

The small theater was started by actors Kim Maxwell and Dwyer Brown in an abandoned pool hall on E. Ojai Avenue in 1996, and then moved to a former funeral home downtown in 2008.

The news hit donors last week, and reactions were mixed. “As a former student of Theater 150 and as someone who has believed in their cause and donated a few dollars to that cause over the years, it’s a huge blow,” said local writer Lisa Snider.“It’s a complete 180 and kind of disappointing. Where are we going to get that kind of experience again in Ojai? What they’re doing sounds great and I really hope they succeed, but it’s not what I donated to.”

For the time being, tickets are available for Theater 150′s swan song performance of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” directed by Richard Kuhlman. It runs through Dec. 23. Tickets are available at theater150.org or at the box office. To learn more about the Ojai Youth Entertainment Studio visit oyes.org

SB-1445 seeking bipartisan support

By Misty Volaski
The battle for rental car safety legislation on Capitol Hill is heating up, but Ojai’s Houck family is “not going to be deterred,” said matriarch Cally. “We’ve got a very committed coalition and the support of some top lawmakers — (Barbara) Boxer, (Charles) Schumer, (Dianne) Feinstein, (Richard) Blumenthal, (Kirsten) Gillibrand. This is my top priority. There is nothing more honorable than to continue to participate” in getting Senate Bill 1445 passed. “It’s not a matter of ‘if,’ it’s ‘when.”

Houck has good reason to be so passionate about getting recalled — but unfixed — rental cars off the road. Her two daughters, former Nordhoff High School students Jackie and Raechel, were killed in 2004 in a firey car accident when they lost control of their rented PT Cruiser. The vehicle had a safety recall, but no repairs had been made; an under-hood fire caused Raechel to lose control, and the girls were killed when they slammed head-on into a semi truck. After five years of litigation against Enterprise Rent-A-Car, a jury found in favor of the Houcks, awarding them $15 million.

But for Cally, that was not justice for her girls; the only thing that can bring justice, she says, is to get legislation enacted which would force rental car companies to abide by the same recall laws that manufacturers must follow.

A California bill has already been introduced, and currently, New York Senator Schumer and others are working at the federal level to get SB-1445 attached to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s reauthorization bill.

After Thanksgiving, for the first time, Cally brought along Raechel and Jackie’s younger brother, Greg, with her to Washington D.C. to help promote the bill and gain bipartisan support. Thanks to advocate Pamela Gilbert, a well-respected lawyer and former board member at the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety group, the Houcks got access to the staffers of some key legislators. “It’s very difficult to get in to see even a low staffer,” said Houck. “Pamela opened doors for us.” Greg and Cally spoke with staffers in the offices of Arizona Sen. John McCain, Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, as well as Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, among others. Kerry’s staffer, Houck said, indicated that “He was going to take this directly to John Kerry. We felt we were very well received” by all the staffers they met,” she added.

Currently, the bill is in a committee, but the Houcks hope a vote will come soon to move it one step closer to law. “It’s much easier to get it attached to a bill that has bipartisan support (like the reauthorization bill),” said Houck, “but we’re willing to do whatever it takes.”

Rosemary Shahan, president of C.A.R.S. and a staunch advocate of the Houcks’ crusade, said, “Cally (met) with staff on both sides of the aisle, and she debunked a lot of misinformation. We’re rebutting what the industry is putting out. It’s really absurd stuff, pretty outrageous.”

Needless to say, the rental car companies are putting up a fight against industry regulation. Huge sums of money are at stake. “We knew they would (fight hard), going in,” said Houck. Still, she remains confident that the bill will eventually pass. After all, as several consumer safety activists have pointed out to Houck, “It took 10 years to get the airbag law passed.”

While the industry claims that pulling all vehicles with safety recalls from their fleet would be a financial burden, Houck points out that profits run into the billions of dollars for the privately-held Enterprise corporation alone. It’s not about getting back at them, she said, it’s about keeping the consumer safe. Houck explained, “Companies that put dangerous products into hands of consumers — bad food, cribs that are dangerous for infants — those companies have to take the products out of the hands of consumers. So, why are the rental car companies exempt from that? Why are they exempt from consumer protection laws?”

Shahan pointed out that she’s seen lots of contradictions from the rental car industry in D.C. “They contradict themselves all the time,” she said. “On one hand, they say they don’t need regulation because they’re already taking care of the problem. But 10 to 20 percent (of the safety recalled vehicles) even after 60 days still haven’t been fixed by their own admission. Then on the other hand, they’re saying they don’t want to ground these cars right away, that they want to have a committee to decide whether it’s unsafe enough to justify grounding them. But this is a simple idea — whenever a dealer has to ground a car because it’s so unsafe that they can’t sell it, then a rental car company shouldn’t be able to rent or sell it either.”

“It’s common sense,” Houck said. “The reaction from both sides of the aisle has been that this makes complete sense. But they said that just because it makes sense doesn’t mean it’s do-able; there’s another factor called politics. But we’re just going to move forward.”

Her son Greg, a budding songwriter, was inspired after his D.C. trip to write a song about his experiences in D.C. An excerpt follows:

“Let me tell you about rental car safety protocols

It’s a fact that there’s no protocol at all

I’m on Capitol Hill, trying to work on a bill

But the rental car companies are fighting us still …

Recalled cars rented out to us

Without us knowing, stopping it is a must

Houck Senate Bill 1445 or bust!

So then once again we can gain the trust.

Some corporations corrupt the world

A recalled car rented out is how I lost my girls.

There is no law, to stop it at all

So I’m on Capitol Hill, fighting for the cause.”

OJAI POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELEASE

Ventura County firefighters from Ojai Fire Station 21 and Oak View Station 23 work to put out a few remaining hotspots as embers rain from the ceiling at a house fire in downtown Ojai on Thursday evening.

Report and photo by Logan Hall
An Ojai family escaped tragedy earlier today after Ventura County Fire Department firefighters knocked down a garage fire that threatened the family’s home on the 100 block of West Aliso Street. Fire crews were quickly able to douse the flames, however, and although the garage appeared to be extensively damaged, the main house remained unscathed.

According to officials, a fire engine from Ojai Fire Station 21 was passing by shortly after the blaze started. After seeing thick, black smoke coming from a residential area, firefighters from 21 managed to get to the fire just minutes after it began.

“We got the call at 5:21 p.m.,” said VCFD spokesman Capt. Bill Nash. “The fire was knocked down very quickly by about 5:27 p.m.”

No injuries were reported but some of the family’s belongings, including important business documents, may have been lost. “We have everything on our computer,” said Tammy Bernardi. “We’ll be fine.”

Quarry owner Larry Mosler heads to the top of his mine up Maricopa Highway on Wednesday. Ventura County officials are scheduled to make a decision next week that could shut down the mine owner's business.

Part 1 of a multi-
part series

Report and photo
by Logan Hall

The County of Ventura is on the verge of making a decision that could shut down a local business.

The Ojai Rock Quarry has been under fire as numerous violations have been filed by the county against Larry Mosler, the mine’s owner. Mosler and his supporters claim that the County – in particular district one supervisor Steve Bennett – is unjustly targeting his business due to unrelenting pressure from the local activist organization, Stop the Trucks! Coalition. Officials in both the county’s planning division and supervisor’s office say Mosler continues to fail to comply with required government guidelines for his mine and operating procedures, and that the County will be deciding on whether or not to uphold a revocation of his mining permit.

While Mosler points the finger at the county supervisor’s office, Bennett says that he can’t, and hasn’t acted on the issue until it goes before the board of supervisors. “There’s a clear line here,” said Bennett. “I cannot sit at the hearing of the Mosler revocation permit and represent the citizens if I have instructed the planning department what to do.”

Bennett did say that county staff has “tried to work with Mosler on this and feel they have taken the right steps.”

What, at face value, could seem like a proverbial “he said she said” argument goes much deeper.

Coalition advocates say that increasing truck trips from mines like Mosler’s are detrimental to the quality of life in the Ojai Valley and cause safety concerns to those frequenting Maricopa Highway. Mosler, however, claims to have greatly improved the mining operation since he purchased the quarry in 2005 and says he has done everything he can to comply with the County. He also has five employees that live in the Valley that depend on the mine to support themselves and for some, support their families.

Daryl Williamson has lived in the Valley his entire life and has worked for Mosler for almost 16 years cutting stone and operating a variety of heavy equipment. He relies on his salary from Mosler to take care of his family. He says that he’s just an average American that loves the town he grew up in, and is thankful to be able to raise his family here. “I have three kids and two of them live with me full time,” said Williamson, a single father and Nordhoff High School Graduate. “My family has been in the Ojai Valley since 1926. My kids go to Nordhoff. I’m just trying to get by.”

Williamson says that times are tough for him like so many other blue collar Americans in the nation’s workforce. In the harsh economic world today, he says he is grateful to have employment. “There aint no jobs out there right now,” he said. “If the county shuts us down, I guess Obama can pay for me.”

Oak View resident Jerry Jones has also lived in the valley his entire life. He’s worked for Mosler as the mine’s truck scale operator for three years and also relies on his income from his work at the quarry. “I have to pay rent like everyone else,” said Jones in between weighing trucks exiting the property to ensure they fall in line with government standards. “If this all goes down, I’ll have to start job hunting. It’s pretty slow everywhere though. There’s not much out there.”

Mosler’s employees aren’t the only locals that could be affected if the mine shuts down.

Some business owners and members of the community also believe that Mosler has been treated unjustly by the County. Long time valley resident and Ojai Rotary West member Les Gardener says Mosler is an honest businessman that has given back extensively to the community. “When we built Rotary Club Park next to the ‘Y’ intersection,” said Gardner who owns the Attitude Adjustment Shop in the “Y” shopping center, “we needed stone for the park’s wall. The planning commission said there wasn’t any money to fund the park, so we went to Mosler to see if he could give us a discount.”

Gardner says that Mosler was more than willing to help. “He donated all of the stone to the club,” he said. “It wasn’t just a little either. It was about $70,000 worth of stone and he allowed members to come up and pick it from his quarry. He’s a hard working guy trying to run his business.”

Others seem to echo Gardner’s thoughts. Cody Evans, an Ojai native who owns and operates Evans Excavating, which provides grating and underground utility service, says he also belives the county is unjustly going after Mosler. “I’m dumbfounded by how much pressure that poor man is given.” said Evans. “He’s just trying to run a business here.”

Evans also states that his own business and subsequently he and his wife and eight-year-old son, depend on the material that Mosler provides. “I buy a lot of material out of there,” he said. “It’s good quality stuff and I use it for everything like French drains, landscaping and roads. That gravel is a huge asset for the valley. The beauty is that it’s right here in town. If they shut down the quarry, it would stop my business.”

Evans says that the problem lies in the availability of the material that is vital for his operation. “Because his mine is closer,” he continued, “his stuff is more affordable for the people. If he shuts down, we’ll have to go somewhere else. The nearest rock quarry is Grimes Canyon near Fillmore. That means our trucks have to travel much farther to get the necessary material. That would effect everyone big time.”

Ojai native Blake Nielsen who owns and operates Nielsen Sand and Gravel based in Ojai, says he and his customers also rely on Mosler’s operation. “We get a lot of dirt and sand out there and it all goes to Ojai,” said Nielsen who has lived in Ojai his whole life. “If they shut him down, we’ll have to go much farther away. Everything will get more expensive and it will create more pollution.”

Greg Webster former honorary mayor of Oak View and owner of Greg Rents agrees that Mosler’s operation is a valuable asset to the community and, like Gardener, says that Mosler has given back to the Valley. “His gravel is the best,” said Webster. “All of my customers love the stuff. We need Larry’s business in the Valley. He donated the ‘Welcome To Ojai’ rock at the ‘Y.’ I don’t usually get involved in politics, but this is different.”

County officials admit that the closing of the mine could have potential negative impacts on the Valley. “There’s no doubt that there will be negative impacts on the local economy,” said Bennett’s assistant Steve Offerman. “It’s unfortunate that Mosler couldn’t meet the requirements to continue operating.”

Kim Prillhart, the county’s planning director also says that there could be serious negative impacts to the community if the mine is closed, but reiterates Offerman’s assessment that Mosler is to blame. “Mr. Mosler has a responsibility to follow the laws,” said Prillhart. “He understood that this was the way the mine needed to be operated. An employer needs to do the right thing by his employees. Mister Mosler needed to take appropriate action to protect the jobs of his people. This is not a one-sided story. The County is not trying to shut a local business down.”

David Pressey, who has lived in Ojai for 56 years and is a Korean War veteran, says he doesn’t own a business and doesn’t know Mosler, but believes the issue of the rock quarry impacts everyone. “People that do honest work keep finding that the rules are getting tighter and tighter,” said Pressey. “When I see an industry shut down and that five local families will be out of work, I need to speak up. When we fought wars, we were fighting for people like them. There’s so much hypocrisy in all of this. This goes way beyond just Ojai.”

The decision on the fate of Mosler’s operation is scheduled to be made in a public hearing On Dec. 15 at 8:30 a.m. at the County Government Center, Board of Supervisors hearing room in Ventura. Mosler supporters and county officials urge citizens to attend the hearing.

By Misty Volaski
It’s no secret by now that the state of California is having an increasingly difficult time funding education. School districts — including Ojai Unified —  have not only had to cut back services dramatically, they’ve even had to borrow to cover funds what the state already owes them (although the state legislature promises those funds will be coming next June).

At Tuesday night’s Ojai Unified School District board meeting, that lack of resources was at the top of the list of reasons why keeping scores high on standardized tests is becoming more and more difficult.

Mira Monte Elementary School principal Kathy White explained it best in her school’s Single Plan for Student Achievement presentation.

“Imagine if a significant percentage of the doctors in the valley suddenly didn’t exist, and each doctor took 50 percent more patients during the same number of hours,” White said. “Patients would have to wait for a long time to get an appointment. When the doctor examined the patient, they would be rushed because their waiting room would be full of patients becoming restless; services supporting the patients would also become overwhelmed. Wellness-type visits to the doctor would be few and far between. Some ill patients wouldn’t see the doctor soon enough, and would become so ill that they’d need hospitalization. This would be intolerable. This is what is happening with primary education.”

Despite the dismal metaphor, White said Mira Monte is dedicated to finding those at-risk students and providing intervention programs. “Many of our goals are targeted (at) the Hispanic/Latino population with a focus on those students still classified as English language learners,” she said. Like several other schools — including Summit and San Antonio, which also presented their SPSA’s Tuesday night — Mira Monte has a homework help club after school. White said her school has both paid employees and volunteers from Nordhoff’s FLAMA club assisting students in smaller groups, which will help to offset larger class sizes. Online programs like Reading-Plus, which can be accessed both at school and at home, are helping with English language arts and mathematics.

Theresa Dutter, principal of San Antonio and Summit Elementary schools, said her schools are taking similar actions. At San Antonio, second-grade students are being pulled out of class and into the computer lab for in-depth math learning with teacher Tiffany Bauer. This, Dutter said, allows teachers of the combination classes to focus on teaching just one grade level — and allows for more more individualized instruction. “It’s not optimal, but it’s working!” she said. “We’re able to deliver better math instruction through this type of creative programming.”

At Summit, the Parent-Teacher Organization is helping to fund extra hours for a teacher’s assistant that the district used to be able to pay for in better financial times.

On top of all the teachers’ and administrators’ wish lists? “I wish we could reduce the number of students in each class,” lamented Dutter. “That solves a lot of issues that come up with budget cuts — they become non-issues.”

The next meeting of the OUSD board is set for Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Topa Topa Elementary, Matilija Junior High, and Nordhoff High Schools will present their SPSAs at that time.

Commentary by Bill Buchanan
Syracuse men’s basketball head coach, Jim Boeheim, has come under a great deal of fire recently for defending charges of sexual abuse against his longtime assistant coach, Bernie Fine. Boeheim disparaged Fine’s accusers, claiming they were lying to extort money. Defending his actions, Boeheim asserted, “What I said last week was out of loyalty. I acted without thinking. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”

Well, believe it, Jim. Unfortunately, sexual predators are all around us. Several high profile sexual abuse cases have surfaced recently. These come on the heels of the Catholic priest abuse scandal a few years ago. If it sounds like we are surrounded by cases of predators abusing children, it is because we are. They are real and they are more plentiful than many of us realize. Even when abusers are discovered and convicted, their prison sentences are often ridiculously brief.

I was visiting with friends recently, when the topic of abuse came up. Three of the women present said they had been victims of abuse. In each case, it was by someone they knew. These were not the acts of random strangers – the ones we were warned about as children. These heinous acts were perpetrated by people they knew and trusted. In two cases, adults suspected, or were told of the abuse, but failed to act. Like those in some of the high profile abuse cases, they either could not believe it or they did not want to accept it. And so the abuse continued.

I was very lucky in this instance. No one ever touched me inappropriately, much less abused me. But many, many others have not been so lucky. They have had something stolen from them that they can never replace. Their innocence has vanished like smoke up a chimney.

Sexual predators are real. They walk among us, ready to prey on those who cannot protect themselves. We must warn and educate our children, and we must be vigilant for strange and unseemly behavior. I know it is hard to accept that a trusted friend or family member might commit such an act, but sexual predators do not have “I am an abuser” tattooed on their forehead. If we are alerted to such behavior, we must see that it is investigated thoroughly, not dismiss it out of hand. Sticking our heads in the sand will do nothing but allow predators to go unchecked.

If we want to protect the innocent, the time for shocked denial is over.

By Misty Volaski
The Oaks at Ojai has gone through many renovations since it was commissioned by Edward Drummond Libbey in 1918. The latest, a restoration of the lobby, follows the mission-revival style of the building’s exterior, both of which were designed by the late Ojai architect David Bury. It began on Sept. 6 and was completed Dec. 2 — just one day behind schedule.

President and CEO of The Oaks, Cathy Cluff, said they couldn’t be happier. “It’s gone so smoothly, smoother than we could’ve predicted. It came out really well,” she said. “The staff is happy to have such a great new workspace, and it definitely has the look and feel we were trying to capture. You never know exactly until the actual materials are in place, but it’s just beautiful!”

Making the space even more special is the fact that it was designed by Bury. Cathy and her mother, Oaks founder Sheila Cluff, decided several years ago that they wanted to have Bury design plans for several renovations which would take place in coming years. “We wanted to have a series of renovation goals for the coming years,” Cathy said. “For about the last five years, we’ve been able to do one renovation project per year. We are so, so fortunate to have David’s plans for this and future renovations.”

The downtown hotel started life with Spanish-influenced architecture, but over the years that theme strayed as new additions were built. When Sheila Cluff took over the property in 1977 and transformed it into a destination fitness spa, renovations — or, more appropriately, restorations — were always on her mind.

What excites the Cluffs is that this restoration hearkens back to the building’s original style. The original stonework of the fireplace was uncovered and restored, custom-designed carpet was installed and Spanish-style arches and wrought iron fixtures were added. Cathy Cluff is particularly proud of the fact that this renovation, like the others they’ve done recently, utilized local companies.

Ojai’s Jon Hartmann installed the electricity, Alco took care of the plumbing, and the lumber came from Ojai Lumber. Wes Theis did all the custom-carpentry work. RTK Tile laid the fireplace tile, and fireplace work was done by Allen Shook. Scott Loomis Construction did the framing, Ventura’s Mark Albright did the painting, while cabinets came from Camarillo’s California Designers Choice Custom Cabinetry. The hand-loomed, super soft carpet came from Don Gil of Ventura. Local contractor Tim Droney and his wife, interior designer Maraya, also lent their services.

Many of them have worked with The Oaks in past years, as well. “We absolutely love working with local companies,” said Cluff, “primarily because they take so much pride in their work. Being that we’re right here in center of town, we’ve heard from many of the guys that it’s a showpiece for their work as much as it is for us.”

During the project, The Oaks offered all of its usual services, but due to the inconvenience of the temporary lobby and construction, the Cluffs came up with the “hard hat special,” a 25 percent discount off usual room rates. Happily, Cathy said, “we actually increased occupancy for November over this time last year.”

Cluff describes the new lobby as “understated elegance, really fitting of the mission revival style. We’re getting great feedback from guests. They said we should do yoga on the carpet!”

The Cluffs invite the public to come view their new lobby any day of the week. They will have an unofficial unveiling of the space Jan. 26, when The Oaks will host the January Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce mixer.

Report and photo
by Logan Hall
Ojai Trolley and Gold Coast Transit riders are paying close attention as the city of Ojai is trying to cut its public transportation budget by $150,000. The city needs to drastically reduce spending on public transportation in order to stop drawing money for transit purposes from its dwindling general fund.

City staff and a special transit committee are recommending to the City Council that the city no longer pay to have a GCT route that includes bus stops within city limits on Maricopa Highway. Other changes include the raising of trolley fares from $.50 to $1 for the general fare, and from $.25 to $.50 for seniors and children ages 2 to 5. Also, instead of being free, the fare for children under 2 will be $.25. City officials are also considering increasing the headway at trolley stops from 30 minutes to one hour on weekends, but since statistics indicate that the trolley is used much less frequently on Saturdays and Sundays, the impact on the community should be minimal. If adopted by the council, the changes would take effect July 1, 2012.

According to city records, the trolley’s operating cost was $822,482 for the city’s fiscal year from 2010-2011, and the transit fund is projected to have a deficit of $160,871 at the end of the current fiscal year in June 2012. “There was a substantial decrease in federal funding this year,” Greg Grant, Ojai’s city engineer was quick to point out. “That really contributed to this deficit.”

Ojai city manager Rob Clark also weighed in on the importance of eliminating the transit deficit. “The general fund is very limited,” he said. “We’re not doing things we should be doing, like paving the roads. Our roads and our recreation facilities are very neglected. It’s a matter of setting priorities. The goal is to keep the transit fund in the black and still provide good service to the community.”

City records show that for 2010 to 2011, the trolley saw 117,616 riders. Many of those riders pay a reduced fare or no fare at all. While seniors and children pay half of the general fare, infants and those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act aren’t required to pay to ride. The trolley also accepts transfer tickets from Gold Coast riders, which take the place of the rider’s fare. About 70,000 riders paid the full, general fare, while around 12,000 paid reduced rates and about 29,000 weren’t required to pay a fare according to the city’s statistics. These factors have steadily put strain on the city’s transit budget.

The potential increase in fares could force riders to find other means of transportation, but Grant says it will help the city take a big step toward eliminating the transit deficit. City figures show that fare increases would account for an additional $43,000.

The largest contributing factor to the city’s goal of a deficit-free transportation system would be the savings if the Gold Coast route were cut from the budget. Currently, the city is paying $100,000 a year for a small portion of GCT bus route 16 from Ventura to Ojai. “Our real cost-saving measures are cutting Gold Coast,” said Grant.

The Gold Coast bus route through Ojai constitutes a small percentage of the company’s business. According to GCT documents, Ojai’s route contributes 1.3 percent to Gold Coast’s overall business, with the company’s largest area of service being Oxnard. Helene Buchman, Gold Coast’s director of planning and marketing, says that GCT relies heavily on the revenue from local governments like the City of Ojai. GCT records confirm that by showing that from 2010 to 2011, revenue per passenger was $.77, while the cost of operation per passenger was $3.92.

Although Buchman assured that, if the council votes to cut the route, Gold Coast would work hard to continue the same level of service to the area, there are still many unknowns. “Anything is possible,” she said. “Because of the unique way we’re funded, a lot will depend on the city’s decision.”

Budget cuts would inevitably affect locals in the valley, but both the city and Gold Coast representatives seem to want the best for the riders, even if the future is uncertain. Gold Coast officials assure that busses, often called “the blue bus” or “the 16” by its riders, traveling route 16 should continue to haul passengers up the route despite local economic issues. “We don’t intend to strand people,” said Buchman. “As of now, we do not know what will occur. However, will work very closely with city of Ojai and the county to continue to provide the best service possible.”

Because route 16 services Mira Monte, Oak View and Meiners Oaks, the county of Ventura has also been involved in the process.

Ventura County senior transportation analyst Kathy Connell says the county is on the same page with concern for the riders. “If they (Ojai City Council) make the decision to cut Gold Coast out of the city,” she said, “something would need to be done. We don’t want to see a loss of service.”

Although Ojai’s public transportation system might be in crisis mode, city officials believe they have a solution that could end up benefiting the people. Grant says that one of the proposed changes could increase trolley operating hours, filling in the void for transferring bus riders that are left stranded and forced to walk before or after current hours of operation. “This change will actually end up increasing our level of service,” said Grant.

Riders like Meiners Oaks resident Ernest Cook hope they will still be able to rely on their public transportation system. “I use the trolley often,” said Cook, who depends on the service to get around the valley. “I’ve been riding it almost everyday for about 15 years. It always gets me where I’m going.”

Ojai’s transit committee was comprised of officials and citizens that have met once a month since July to try to figure out the city’s transit issues. The committee included a cross-section of community members, from a trolley rider and driver to Help of Ojai executive director Terri Wolfe and Ojai Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Eicher.

City officials urge the public to attend the Ojai City Council meeting on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Ojai City Hall, when the council is set to decide on the city staff recommendations on the transit system.

By Logan Hall
The County of Ventura is stepping up its disaster preparedness in the Ojai Valley. By stationing a second cache of emergency supplies, called a Mass Casualty Trailer, in Oak View – the other trailer is currently at Ventura County Fire Station 22 in Meiners Oaks – emergency crews will have access to crucial supplies in the event of an accident or disaster where many people need medical attention.

According to county officials, the MCT will be stocked with supplies that would not be available on an ambulance in mass quantities. Items like stretchers, bandages, medical tape and other general first aide supplies are stocked in the trailers and kept at secure locations and are ready to be deployed if needed. No drugs or needles are stocked in MCTs.

“We’ll now have a trailer on the east and west end of the valley,” said county supervisor administrative assistant Cindy Cantle. “If there’s a disaster, we’ll have the same capabilities on both ends of the valley. We’ll have those supplies right there in Ojai.”

The tandem-axle, Journey-model trailer, made by Pace American, will be under the control of the local Community Emergency Response Team, and will help with supply needs during anything ranging from a natural disaster to an accident involving multiple victims like a bus crash. Ojai resident Norm Plott, who is the Ventura County Fire Department Emergency Medical System battalion chief, says the trailers could help substantially in a major incident. “In event of an earthquake or other significant incident,” said Plott, “those trailers are designed to treat a lot of people.”

Plott also says that in the event that Ojai became isolated from outside communities, emergency supplies would already be in the area in the form of the two MCTs. “Back in the floods in the early 2000s,” he said, “the (Highway) 150 was closed and other areas near Creek Road washed out. Those trailers can help treat a lot of people.”

The County will deliver the trailer to the Oak View Park and Resource Center on Thursday.