Ojai Valley News Blog

SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE
Officer preparing release: Sgt. Bill Schierman
Narrative: Ventura Avenue gang member Jimmy Villalpando was sentenced to eight years in state prison today for shooting a rival gang member in 2007.

On 2-23-2007, Ojai patrol deputies responded to a report of a gunshot victim in the 300 block of N. Drown Avenue, Ojai.  When they arrived, they found victim Hugo Guerra suffering from two gunshot wounds to the chest. Guerra told deputies that he was parking his car in front of his house when a car pulled up alongside him.  One of the occupants yelled out a gang slogan then shot him.  Guerra was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he eventually recovered from his wounds.

The suspect in the shooting was quickly identified as Jimmy Villalpando.  He was located several hours later in the area of Oak View and arrested.

On 2-27-2007, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed one count of shooting at an inhabited vehicle against Villalpando.  On 2-28-2007, Villalpando was released on 90,000 dollar bail.  On 3-1-2007, Villalpando failed to appear in court and a 250,000 dollar warrant was issued for his arrest.

Shortly after Villalpando failed to appear in court, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit attempted to locate him.  Gang investigators tracked him to an area near El Paso, Texas and developed information that he crossed the border into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.  Gang investigators believe he remained in Mexico until September of 2009.

On 9-23-2009, the Sheriff’s Department received a tip that Villalpando had returned from Mexico and was staying at his parent’s house in the 200 block of Burnham Rd., Oak View.  Sheriff’s gang investigators and Ojai patrol deputies went to the house and located Villalpando hiding in the attic.  He was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail.

On 12-22-2009, Villalpando pled guilty to one count of assault with a firearm.  On 2-4-2010, he was sentenced to 8 years in state prison.

Wilma Melville with former search dog, Jem, and one of her current BFFs, Newton, the dachshund, at play. Melville will have at least one dog in the lead convertible at this year’s Ojai Independence Day parade, scheduled for Saturday, July 3.

NDSDF founder selected to lead 2010 Independence Day parade

By Nancy Gross
The 10 members of the Independence Day Committee unanimously chose Wilma Melville, of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, to be this year’s grand marshal for Ojai’s Fourth of July parade. Melville and her organization are sources of hometown pride, and national and international heroism.

Committee member Nancy Hill said the parade has taken place since 1921, the year her uncle was the grand marshal, both in Ojai and Oak View. “This particular committee formed 45 years ago. We are the people who do the work and actually put on the parade,” Hill said.

“Last year we had our veterans come in,” Hill said, adding that the 40 veterans marked a proud, historic moment for the parade. The committee tried to find an act to follow that one. They came up with the idea of honoring Melville and the unusual heroes her foundation trains. “We’re hoping to get some of those dogs in the parade. Those dogs are so special,” Hill said.

Melville said, “It’s certainly an honor. No doubt about it. I’m pleased to carry out the tradition.”

Melville plans to have at least one dog with her. “I’m going to bring Abby, a dog that went on numerous deployments. The largest was the World Trade Center. She was also at the Glendale train wreck and the La Conchita mud slide. She’s the hero, not me.”

And yet Melville’s vision, along with the contributions of those who have partnered with her, have made it so that there are more than 100 advanced certified disaster search dog and handler teams in the United States, when in 1995 there were only 15.

“I just wanted to learn how to train a dog,” Melville said when asked about her early experiences with her black Labrador, Murphy. It was something that interested the retired physical education teacher, having a highly trained dog. She found Pluis Davern at Sundowners Training Kennel in Gilroy.

Davern taught Melville and Murphy the skills that make a fine canine search team. “Murphy and I attained advanced disaster search dog certification with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Murphy has written about what caused her to found NDSDF: “In April of 1995, Murphy and I were deployed to the terrorist bombed Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Murphy and the other search dogs covered large areas of rubble, barking loudly to indicate where victims were buried, thereby saving precious time for firefighters. This disaster made it clear that there were too few certified search dog-handler teams. Out of this heartbreaking experience came a determination to find a better way to create highly skilled canine search teams.

“My experience with trainer Pluis Davern taught me the three ingredients that are paramount: the right dog, matched with the right handler and professional training for both. This three-pronged combination not only addresses those pitfalls, but also accounts for our 85 percent success rate. The foundation chooses the dog, raises the funds to have the dog professionally trained, and then works with the handler and dog as a team until they reach certification and beyond. Another part of the success is that we use firefighters, who are first to a disaster, as the handlers.”

The dogs that are trained are rescued dogs, which make NDSDF a humane and humanitarian organization. They choose dogs with drive, focus and athleticism, and provide ongoing training for the dog’s 10-year working life, and lifetime care when the dog must be retired from their search team.

NDSDF reported at least eight rescues in Haiti, following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit on Jan. 12. Melville said, “I am glad the initial phase is over. It’s such a hard phase. Our handlers have learned a great deal. They will share that with us.”

Because the news from Haiti surprised many people with rescues occurring many days after the disaster struck, Melville added, “Earthquakes are like that. People can live through them. That’s why, in California, we prepare for them.

“We are heavily into planning a national training center. We’ll have props that simulate this disaster. That is how each disaster is. You have to learn from it.”

Visit searchdogfoundation.org.

Layoff notices due March 2

By Linda Harmon
In another long but productive meeting the Ojai Unified School District board heard the last of their school site reports for the year, positive results from a new math textbook trial, preliminary approval of proposed rules for the city’s new Skate Park, and received the newest estimates of the available funds for the 2010-2011 general fund budget.

“The board has received two iterations of the budget and everything that has happened over the last six weeks has been bad. Everything has been going in the wrong direction for us,” said superintendent Henry Bangser, introducing a presentation of the governor’s proposed state budget. “I’ve had several meetings with staff over the last few weeks for the purpose of getting ready for the dissemination of facts, answering questions, and looking at the basis of problem solving.”

Bangser then introduced assistant superintendent Dannielle Pusatere, who explained in detail staff’s two-page document with estimated figures for next year’s budget.

“These numbers are based on the governor’s January budget proposal,” said Pusatere. “They will change.”

Pusatere’s figures included $1.9 million in cuts with a 1 percent reserve, and include a total ongoing personnel reduction of 39.76 full-time positions for 2010-2011, even assuming the same cuts approved by the union last year.

“I’ll meet with anybody over the next month to make sure questions are answered. I realize there is a tremendous amount of anxiety, and rightfully so,” said Bangser of the outlook for job and program losses. “My plan is to have a clear, transparent and interactive process with staff and community.”

Bangser, who will be meeting with both Ojai Rotary clubs this week, acknowledged that the public has grown pessimistic about threats of layoffs and cuts due to increasing funding cuts.

“I’ve heard from numerous sources that over the last couple of years, right about this time, there were significant concerns raised about the ability to maintain the programs of that year the following year because of a financial challenge,” said Bangser. “I believe that. And I believe very intelligent minds came together. Dani worked her magic, Tim did his thing, the board did their thing, the union came together and, in some cases, gave up benefits and some cases, salaries. Whatever happened, the programs and the people were essentially retained in the following year.”

Bangser acknowledged that some things were cut, but in the grand scheme of things the public sees that many things were retained.

Not this year, as the 13 percent or $2,965,000 in reductions will be felt across the district.

“I absolutely assure you, next year’s staffing and programs will be markedly different than last year,” said Bangser. “It’s mathematics. A significant number of people that are here, will not be here next year. It breaks my heart that people who have been working here up to 10 years, may not be able to be retained.”

According to Bangser, he will have a list of names for pink slips by the end of this month for action on March 2, and a list of classified employees for next month. Bangser also said he will continue to work closely with staff and the union.

Union representative Martha Ditchfield said two-thirds of her union school site representatives may be getting pink slips but that she felt “good” about how Bangser was handling things on the whole.

At which point Board President Kathi Smith stated her understanding of budget figures saying, “but 85 percent of the district’s budget is people and 64 percent of that is teachers” — a fact Bangser acknowledged and to which Ditchfield added, “I just want to be sure that percentage stays the same. The concern of my budget committee is that we’ve already accepted cuts in benefits, increased workload, and a wage cut.”

Bangser said his main concern right now was “letting the public know” about the situation, even though no final figures are available.

“The budget will take effect mid- to late-August,” said Bangser, “You don’t start educating the public in late July or even on March 2.”

By Sondra Murphy
Last week’s presentation by a Golden State Water Company official to the Ojai City Council went over like a wet blanket. Ken Petersen, GSWC Coastal District regional manager, briefed the city on the 43 percent increase they are asking for from the California Public Utilities Commission. Petersen said a public meeting on the rate case was still under way at Nordhoff High School.

After a review of GSWC’s history, Petersen explained that the proposed increase, as reported in the OVN’s Jan. 22 issue, is to cover the cost of the deteriorating water system’s infrastructure and capital projects aimed at improving it. “We still have water mains that have been in the ground since 1929,” said Petersen, “and that, of course, affects water quality.”

If it sounds a bit like déjà vu to customers, it is because the same claims were cited by GSWC, an American States Water Company subsidiary, back in 2007. After going through an onerous CPUC hearing process, GSWC was allowed a 35 percent rate increase in 2008.

Petersen cited upgrades to aging pipes and supply wells, such as the San Antonio tank, as two of the reasons the increase is being sought. “Rates are established to allow recovery of operating costs and provide an opportunity to earn fair rate of return on investment,” Petersen said. “Since the last comprehensive general rate case in 2007, facility and operating costs have increased, resulting in the need to file the current proposal.”

Regarding increases in operating costs, Petersen specified water and electricity supply expenses, materials and supplies, group health insurance, property insurance, maintenance expenses, and postage. Petersen also said the company will be seeking a change from bi-monthly to monthly billing statements. “We have only five people working here in the coastal area and we would need an extra person reading that meter,” he said, if the rate case is approved.

“I’m sure we are all moved by your case for a rate increase, but what your customers are probably wondering is, ‘What are customers getting for these increases?,’” said Council-woman Sue Horgan. She added that it was her understanding that GSWC was directed at the last increase to submit reports to the city. “To my knowledge, we have received no such report.”

“The master plan that Mr. Petersen referenced is to be that report, but I have not yet seen it,” said city manager Jere Kersnar.

“I would suggest you start with those issues before giving us reasons for an increase,” Horgan advised Petersen.

“It sounds like you’re just assuring your rate of return to investors on the backs of the Ojai community,” said Councilwoman Betsy Clapp. “I’m fundamentally opposed to private water corporations owning public water. I think it’s pretty deplorable that, two years later, you’re asking for an increase of this amount.”

She then took it further. “I think it’s time for us to consider taking back the water,” said Clapp. “If we don’t, it’s just going to get worse and worse and worse and we’ll be hostage to a private company that has control over a public utility.” Clapp added that she would support looking into purchasing the city water supply through eminent domain and financing it through bonds.

GSWC has operated in Ojai under a long-standing, open-ended contract with the city and its service cannot be discontinued because it owns the pumps and water lines that serve the community, unless local water users buy the equipment.

Eminent domain is the inherent power of the government to seize private property, with due monetary compensation, but without the owner’s consent. The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to public or civic use or, in some cases, economic development.

“It seems that not too long ago we did a study on the cost of taking over the system,” said Mayor Steve Olsen.

Sally Field at Matilija Auditorium

By Nancy Gross
Saturday’s Ojai Playwrights Conference winter gala and benefit, “Hearts on Fire,” featured stars Sally Field, John Glover, Dana Delany, Sandra Oh, Steven Weber, Noah Wyle, Amanda McBroom and Jane Kaczmarek on the Matilija Auditorium stage, performing selections from a number of plays by Terrence McNally.

The winter gala is intended to raise funds for the summer workshop program. The OPC believes that the value of theater as it is developed is linked to the value of theater as it takes its final form, and engages audiences, challenges ideas and changes the world.

The visuals for the show, which came before the food and festivities at St. Thomas Aquinas Center, relied on pared-down, grown-up elegance. The stars wore mostly black (accents included a grey sweater on Glover, Weber’s subtle lavender shirt and Oh’s lavender stockings, Delany’s pink and Field’s red shoes). The rich, red light-reflective curtains were like an open candy box, delivering differently concocted valentines, inspired treats, though glimpses of the human experience can’t be compared to sugary confections. Even so, the presentations were satisfying vignettes, not pessimistic.

Artistic director and producer Robert Egan said that he prepared for the event by trying to read through all of the plays of honoree playwright McNally. “I was struck,” Egan said, “not only by this man’s incredible output, but by his form, which is a mixture of naturalism and realism, and by the size of this man’s heart.”

At a row of black music stands, actors brought the scenes to life, with no costumes and very minimal stage direction. Introductions to the individual plays were brief; with each scene the audience was without much context, right in the middle of things.

It was a testimony to the ability of the actors and the honesty of the writing that convincing relationships appeared, and interactions created small affecting climaxes.

McNally would not want to credit the written play above the actors’ gifts for creating lives from thin air. Later in the evening he said, “I learn from my actors, my director, what the play is about. Theater is the most collaborative art.”

It is February, the month of Valentine’s Day, and the gala allowed for many examples of what it means to be relational.

“Frankie and Johnny at the Clair de Lune,” is a well-known McNally play because it was turned into the film, “Frankie and Johnny” with Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino.

The story captures sorrow-infused hope, or hope-infused sorrow, a valentine to those who have known grown-up, high-cost heartbreak. Weber and Kaczmarek read the parts.

Frankie to Johnny: “Not everyone thinks life is a picnic. Some of us have problems, sorrows … You don’t just decide to fall in love with people out of the blue.”

Johnny to Frankie: “Why not? When it comes to love, life’s cheap and it’s short, so don’t f—— with it.”

McNally’s work does not focus only on romantically involved couples. “Lips Together Teeth Apart” displayed a relationship between a brother and sister with ties both simple and complex, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law sharing a confidence, and the tendency for couples to compare their relationships. There was even mention of the relationship with one’s unborn children.

In a brief conversation out of “Love! Valour! Compassion!” strangers with ties to a common love interest talked around their jealousy and wound up flirting.

Best friends traveling in India together were portrayed in a scene from “The Perfect Ganesh,” bickering, alternating between which one is the more prejudiced and small-minded, like kids going up and down on a seesaw.

Throughout the evening, words worked to create believable lines of affiliation, even with few actions to accompany them. The actors were chosen well: their voices, faces and minimal gestures offered the audience characters whose hearts became visible just beneath, and even in tandem with, the workings of the ego. Perhaps that is why McNally’s characters are so beautiful, they aren’t big dissimulators.

Highlights of the after-party were cranberry and pomegranate martinis, a glimpse of timelessly sweet and strong Field, Oh with her beautiful manner and voluptuous hair, the smile and wit of Delany and Weber, the hilarity of Glover and the brilliance of McBroom. The food was prepared by celebrity chef Michael Hollingsworth. A surprise: typically dense carrots can become a light and frothy mousse as a cinnamon-topped souffle.

The stars appeared to be having fun, genuine fun, well cared for by the OPC staff and volunteers. McNally said, “There is nothing more joyful than being in rehearsal with great actors. American stage needs the kind of development that places like Ojai provide.”

The OPC takes good care of Ojai also, reaching out to residents with new and affordable options in downtown last summer, including the inaugural Family Day. The 2010 season runs Aug. 10 through 15. Visit ojaiplays.org.

Ojai-Ventura Film Festival president claims OVN report innacurate

By Linda Harmon
In response to a report in the Jan. 27 edition of the Ojai Valley News, David Shor, former director and chairman of the Ojai Film Festival, addressed the apparent confusion created by an e-mail sent earlier this month announcing the formation of the new Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival.

Shor claims that the article, which stated he resigned in December leaving a large deficit and bad feelings behind, contains inaccuracies.

“I didn’t leave anything behind of the sort,” said Shor, in a phone conversation Jan. 27. “I’m a volunteer and I had nothing to do with the money.”

According to Steve Grumette, vice president and creative director of the Ojai Film Festival, at the end of 2007, Shor assumed the role of treasurer with an $80,000 debt. Monday, Shor countered that the debt was actually closer to $100,000 and he only temporarily held the position of treasurer for less than three months.

“I want to make it perfectly clear, he is not completely responsible for all of that, Grumette said Monday, adding the board opened a line of credit to cover deficits, backed by seven of the board’s members. Most of those members have resigned. Shor said he was not one of the board members backing that credit line.

On the Ojai Valley News web site blog, Shor added this comment: “In fact, a substantial (a)mount of money owed by Grumette’s Ojai Film Festival is owed to me for out of pocket costs I paid.” On Monday Shor estimated that the amount owed to him to be about $2,000.

Shor acknowledges sending out e-mails announcing his planned event, referred to as a Save the Dates notification.

“The article states I sent out a press release last week which, again, is an example of an inaccurate statement,” wrote Shor. “I issued no press releases.”

Several people, confused about whether the e-mail was coming from the Ojai Film Festival, contacted both Herb Hemming, the current president of the Ojai Film Festival, and Grumette.

“I think people are still confused,” Hemming said. “For nine years it was the Ojai Film Festival. For one year there were some people on the board who wanted to expand the festival into Ventura. So last year they named it The Ojai-Ventura Film Festival.”

Shor said he has registered the name Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival with the State of California.

“I own that name and I have every right to use that name anyway I want,” said Shor, “and I’ve chosen the way I want to do it.”

Grumette agrees.

“David, personally, did register the name Ojai-Ventura Film Festival for us to use,” said Grumette. “If he wants to use that name and put on events using it, we have no problem with that.

According to Hemming, the Ojai Film Festival’s board doesn’t want this to be a continuing fight and says they are working hard to put this behind them.

“When David resigned we lost several board members for various reasons,” said Hemming. “At the time Steve (Grumette), Vickie Baldwin and I made a commitment to keep the Ojai Film Festival going.”

The Ojai Film Festival Board now has eight members and two consultants focused on paying off the debt left after the 2009 Festival.

“Here’s the only info I know for sure. As of Dec. 11, 2009, the figures were: total assets: $7,628.33, total liabilities $59,523.91, Grumette reported. “I don’t know how those numbers fluctuated between the end of 2007, when we had a very large deficit, perhaps $80,000 – $90,000, and Dec. 11, 2009 when the figures were as shown above.”

Members include Hemming, Grumette, Baldwin, secretary-treasurer Stuart Crowner, Bob O’Connor, Ann Willard-Bevans, Sam Hamman, and Ruth Hemming are working on their 2010 Festival scheduled for Nov. 4 through 7.

“Basically there was a disagreement about the direction of the Film Festival,” said Hemming. “Some people had a much more grandiose vision of the Film Festival and some liked it as the Ojai Film Festival. That is in the past. We just want to move forward and put on a good festival for the people of Ojai.”

Photos and report by Scott Wintermute

A three-car traffic accident closed the southbound lane of Highway 33 just south of Woodland Avenue Friday afternoon around 2:45 p.m. resulting in two people being transported via ambulance to Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

According to authorities, Jerry Stratman was at the front of the chain reaction in his Dodge Neon and was taken to the hospital after a Lincoln Mark VIII occupied by mother and daughter, Beverly and Sue Hartmann, was struck by a Honda Passport driven by Cheryl Buclklin. Complaining of neck and back pain, Beverly Hartmann was also taken to CMH. Traffic was affected for about a half-hour.

Construction set to begin in June, but $600k still needed

By Sondra Murphy
The money is still being collected, but the Ojai City Council is working to follow the time line necessary for the rebuilding of Libbey Bowl. On Tuesday, council members approved two items associated with the project to renovate the deteriorating facility in the heart of the city.

The city manager was authorized to execute a service agreement be-tween the city and Jones and Jones for construction management services during the approximately $3 million project, scheduled to begin in June at the conclusion of the 2010 Ojai Music Festival. Kevin Jones of the company acted as the project’s cost estimator during the conceptual design phase by David Bury & Company Architects, Ltd., then the city contracted with Jones and Jones directly last June to perform continued cost estimation services to assist in keeping the project design within the budget goal.

Ojai Public Works director Mike Culver said that there is now a need to hire a construction manager to act on behalf of the city throughout the bidding and construction phases. In November, Jones and Jones submitted a proposal to Culver for a fixed fee of $168,500 for construction management services for the duration of the project. “The typical fees for these services range from 5 to 10 percent of the total project cost, depending on the size and complexity of the project,” Culver reported. “This proposal amounts to 5.6 percent of the $3 million project cost.”

Councilwoman Betsy Clapp asked for specifics on the construction management job. “They will shepherd the process through the design phase, make sure cost strategies stay in place, assist with construction docs and bid docs,” said Culver. “Then, once the project starts, they will be the on-site manager.”

“We don’t pick the contractor, it’s let out to bid and the lowest responsible bidder gets the job,” said city attorney Monte Widders regarding the need for a manager to oversee the project.

Reimbursable expenses are anticipated not to exceed $5,000, making the total contract amount approved by the council $173,500. The agreement will include the standard termination clause that allows the city to end the agreement for any reason. Culver’s report said if, for any reason, the project did not proceed, the city would be able to terminate the agreement and would be liable only for expenses incurred to date by Jones and Jones.

Councilwoman Sue Horgan motioned for approval with the addition of a payments disbursement schedule for certain milestones. “I would just hate to run out of money before construction begins,” she said.

“I’m very happy that we have a local company,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Carol Smith. “We’re very privileged to have such an ethical company to work with it.”

The council next approved the recommended public art for Libbey Bowl. “This project requires public art, as does every public project above $300,000,” said city manager Jere Kersnar. “It’s a $40,000 minimum piece of art … the artist agrees it can be done for the budget amount. The amount was announced to all the applicants; we would like to have more, but that depends on donations.”

Kersnar added that the agreement would also include a termination clause in case the project does not come to fruition.

From a pool of 31 art proposals, Trimpin’s sound arch was recommended for selection by the Ojai Arts Commission and seven-member public art jury, which included members from the Ojai art community, Planning Commission, Arts Commission and Ojai Music Festival. Inspired by the curved shape of Libbey Bowl, the 12-foot arch will consist of 24 reclaimed metal tubes of varying lengths with resonators and internal mallet mechanisms that will produce chiming sounds similar to a xylophone.

Positioned at the entrance of the new Libbey Bowl, the sound arch will be activated by a motion sensor to play electronically pre-composed sequences. “The guiding principles of the concept was contrasting both simple and complex elements as well as produce a harmonious sculpture to highlight the Libbey Bowl’s presence,” said Trimpin in his proposal.

The sound arch will begin construction later this year and is part of the city of Ojai’s ongoing Public Arts Program. The sculpture will be officially unveiled during opening day for Libbey Bowl at the Day of Music on June 5, 2011. The drawings and artistic statement will be available on the city of Ojai web site at ci.ojai.us.

The council next heard more on the project itself. “To date we have secured $2.4 million. It’s coming in — in all shapes, forms and sizes,” said Bill Burr Jr., vice president of the Ojai Valley Service Foundation. “We expect that we will be able to fulfill the obligation to get the money in the bank so the city can get this built when it needs to be built. It’s probably one of the most exciting things, not only for the arts, but what it means for the community itself.”

Libbey Bowl amphitheater has been serving the community since it was built in the 1950s and is currently used by as many as 30 nonprofit groups for more than 50 events each year. It is estimated that 1,000 performances of plays, concerts and other civic events, such as OMF, have been staged at the bowl since 1957.

“Our plans are currently in the first round of plan check and we’re hoping to get them back next week,” said Culver. “Our expectation is we’ll come back to you March 23 to authorize bidding, so we’re full steam ahead.” Culver added that the base design cost estimate is $3,055,500, without the dressing room section Bury created, causing the features to become “add alternates” to include as bids dictate.

“We expect bids to come in very good and hope we can get all the add alternates,” Culver said. “We’re shooting for June 21 to start demolition and construction.”

“Save Libbey Bowl” is a communitywide project of the Ojai Valley Service Foundation, partnering with the city of Ojai, Civic Association, Ojai Music Festival, and other arts organizations to rebuild the outdoor amphitheater, the cultural hub of the Ojai Valley where more than a dozen performing arts events are held every year. To make a contribution to the Libbey Bowl reconstruction, call 646-3117 or visit LibbeyBowl.org.

Dolkar Tso, Norbu, Dorjee Tsewang, and Kangchen are shown in their back yard overlooking the Ojai Meadows Preserve.

By Nancy Gross
Immigrants from Tibet, Dorjee Tsewang and his wife, Dolkar Tso, said they wake up in their Taormina home every day happy to live in such a lovely place, with good friends close by, and a view of mountains and meadows from their back yard.

They miss Tibet, another place of great beauty, but their Tibetan Aid Foundation ties the two ends of their lives together like a strand of Tibetan prayer flags.

TAF, Inc. is nonprofit and non-political group, providing charitable and humanitarian aid. Having spent their young lives in Tibet, Tsewang and Tso know what kinds of projects can help with quality of life in a place dear to them.

They say it was in Ojai that the idea for the foundation came about, and began to grow quickly. “I feel that American people are very compassionate, very giving,” Tso said.

Tsewang said, “And our culture is based on compassion,” stating that giving back once they received assistance from others was what made sense.

“Our lives were enriched, and getting better in America. We had friends who wanted to help people in Tibet. We wanted to give out of our paychecks to pay back our sponsor, but he would not take the money and encouraged us to give to the people who need help, an extension of our happiness.”

They began TAF in 2004.

“We came to America with empty pockets,” Tsewang said.

“I had $50 in my pocket,” Tso said, laughing.

Their playfulness bears witness to the love they found in a refugee camp in India, prior to being sponsored and brought to the United States. They both agree, “America is a land of golden opportunity.”

Tsewang and Tso had never met in Tibet. He was from a small village, partially nomadic countryside and partially a plateau area with farming. She was from a much larger town about 150 miles away.

As young adults, having finished school, they both found themselves thinking about their future opportunities, and both decided to leave Tibet. Independent of one another, in 1995, they walked across the Himalayan Mountains into India, a journey of close to a month for each one. They met in Dharamsala, the current home of the Dalai Lama, and while they were falling in love with one another, they were also learning English. “The tourists teaching us got to know us. We bonded together,” Tsewang said. A Santa Barbara couple took a special interest in Tsewang and Tso.

Steve Harrison and Judy Flannery contributed funds for education and daily living, and brought Tsewang and Tso to America in 1997, at which time Tso attended an English language school in Pasadena, and Tsewang went to Ventura College. The two were married in 1998 and began living in Ojai.

Since coming to Ojai, Tsewang has worked at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, beginning as a pool boy, and becoming a manager of one of the inn’s restaurants. Tso cares for their two sons, ages 10 and 8.

In 2008, after 14 years away, they were able to take their boys and visit their homeland, reuniting with their parents. Sons Kangchen Tsering (who the family calls just Kangchen), and Kangchen Norbu (who they call Norbu) had another pretty landscape to play in. “They could go up on the mountain,” their mom said.

On Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. at the Ojai Theatre, Tsewang and Tso will present a documentary about the emotional reunions when they returned to Tibet. The film also follows the projects of TAF, while giving a glimpse of the land and Tibetan culture. The 17 hours of film shot by friend and Hollywood videographer David Luckenbach, were edited down to 25 minutes by Julia Green.

Luckenbach had insisted on accompanying Tsewang and Tso back to Tibet to capture the precious moments. Tso said, “Maybe it was his wife’s idea.” Luckenbach took his 12-year-old daughter to Tibet also.

Tsewang said, “The Tibetan Aid Foundation has become so many people’s lives. We have 300 donors since 2004.”  Projects concern education and health care.

“We sponsor seven kids to go to school. One has become a teacher, one a nurse. We have results.”

A hospital has been built in the Chazhu valley, and more than 3,000 people receive medical care. “We have two villages, 1,500 people receiving mountain spring water. Otherwise, every household has one family member dedicated to walking to get the water. At 14,000 feet above sea level, in the winter you have to break the ice to get the water.”

One family tells Tsewang that by bringing water into the community of people, “It frees up one daughter to go to school.”

Tsewang was one of nine children who grew up in a clay house. At times it would be 30 degrees below freezing both inside and outside of the house.

In early January, Tsewang and Tso both passed the tests to become American citizens. “We’re going to take our oath ceremony on Feb. 5 in L.A.,” Tsewang said.

“Sometimes we knock our own heads. We’re so blessed to be in this country.

“It is our American dream to give back. We’d like to have the whole valley be part of our lives.”

Ojai Theatre will present “Tsewang, Tso and Tibetan Aid Foundation” on Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. Visit tibetanaid.org.

Ojai businesswoman, activist selected as Adams’ replacement

By Sondra Murphy
The Ojai City Council appointed Kathleen Nolan to the Planning Commission on Tuesday less than a month after Tucker Adams retired from the position. After 10 years on the Ojai Planning Commission, Adams announced in December that she would be stepping down as of January.

Mayor Steve Olsen said that when he learned of Adams’ departure, he was anxious to get someone with similar skills in landscape design to help keep the commission well rounded. “Having worked with Kathleen Nolan on Libbey Bowl, I contacted her to see if she might be interested, and she responded,” said Olsen.

Councilwoman Sue Horgan also mentioned that she was impressed with Nolan while working with the Ojai Tree Committee.

Many locals are familiar with Nolan’s business, Studio Landscape, in Ojai. It is a landscape architecture design and consulting company. “I’ve had a couple of different business names and different partners,” said Nolan. “I was always attracted to nature and plants as a child and ended up studying horticulture and agriculture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and then landscape studies and architecture at UCLA.”

This interest has led to her involvement with the Tree Committee, as well as the Ojai Valley Green Coalition. “I do promote sustainability, so it will definitely figure into my thought process on the Planning Commission,” Nolan said. “I helped form the Ojai Tree Committee and am co-chair right now.”

Having lived in Santa Barbara, Nolan said she had visited Ojai before moving here 29 years ago. “We were buying property in Santa Barbara and the escrow fell through and we found out about a property here in Ojai,” said Nolan. “I just fell in love with it and have been here ever since.”

With her background, the appointment seems a perfect fit, for both Nolan and the commission. “Interestingly enough, at one point I looked at the planning graduate program at UCLA,” she said. “I love being involved in the community and one of my favorite things about design is the planning; looking at the long-term ramifications, the big picture, the future, past and present.”

Nolan, 56, has three adult children who all live in Ventura County. “One’s married and I have a little grandchild,” Nolan said. “They’re all local kids.”

The first item of business at Wednesday’s Ojai Planning Commission meeting is the oath of office for Nolan. That meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Ojai City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St.

Good Afternoon Watchers
In our last CityWatch Alert, I passed on how helpful it was for us to record at least the make, model and serial number of our expensive ranch equipment.  Let’s expand that thought to all property that a crook might want to take off your hands and add these two steps:

Operation I.D.
1.  Mark your valuables with your driver’s license number preceded by the letters “CA.” Burglars don’t want marked merchandise because it is difficult to fence and evidence of guilt if they are caught.
2.  Photograph those items, especially the items that cannot be engraved (jewelry, silverware, antiques….).

Take Care,
Randy

Trimpin’s proposed music machine awaits final city OK

By Sondra Murphy
With public art being a priority in Ojai and Libbey Bowl being a centerpiece of the city, the art chosen for the bowl’s make-over will be a crucial feature.

With public art being a priority in Ojai and Libbey Bowl being a centerpiece of the city, the art chosen for the bowl’s make-over will be a crucial feature.

The Ojai Planning Commission gave the go-ahead last week for the Art Commission’s recommendation for that art selection to progress to the Ojai City Council for final approval and it was an agenda item at last night’s meeting. The Planning Commission had previously approved the public art concept for the site, but was asked to verify that the piece selected was consistent with the design permit issued last year before being submitted to the council.

“I was the Planning Commission liaison to the selection committee,” said Commissioner John Mirk. “It was incredible. We had over 30 proposals, narrowed it down to three artists and that meeting went four hours because each of the proposals was great. What we chose with Trimpin’s work is just amazing. People will come from miles around just to see this.”

From three finalists, the selection jury unanimously picked the sound arch concept by Trimpin to serve as the art for the reconstructed Libbey Bowl, set for dismantling after the Ojai Music Festival ends this summer and expected to be finished before its next season in June 2011.

Trimpin is a Seattle-based kinetic sculptor and sound artist who has a history with Ojai. He was honored in May at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa along with Joan Kemper by the MacArthur Foundation Fellows program and was a featured performer at the 2009 and 2006 OMF. His proposed sculpture is a one-of-a-kind work to be created for the bowl.

“The plan is to move the sidewalk from behind the tennis court bleachers out to the center of the lawn,” said city manager Jere Kersnar. The approximately 10-feet-tall by 15-feet-wide arch is to be installed at the new entryway. “It’s two octaves on a musical scale, so you can have all kinds of things.”

The tubular archway is inspired by the shape of the bowl’s shell and can be programmed for recurring tunes or sounds or even set up with motion sensors to create different tones depending on activity around Libbey Park. “I could see sensors that are triggered when a kid goes down the slide, for example, or when someone walks in a certain area,” Kersnar said.

“If you haven’t sent in your personal donation, now is the time to do so,” said Councilwoman Carol Smith, who attended the meeting and called Libbey Bowl a “world-class venue.” The city of Ojai and the Ojai Music Festival have already pledged two-thirds of the $3.3 million needed to rebuild the decaying facility in downtown Ojai. “Remember, they want the last million to come from the public, whether you have $10 or $1,000 to give,” said Smith.

Libbey Bowl amphitheater has been serving the community since it was built in the 1950s and is currently used by as many as 30 nonprofit groups for more than 50 events each year. It is estimated that 1,000 performances of plays, concerts and other civic events, such as OMF, have been staged at the bowl since 1957.

Designed by Austen Pierpont and Roy Wilson, Ojai Festival Bowl, renamed Libbey Bowl in the 1970s, cost $12,000 to build the stage and shell section back in 1957. In recent years, spot repairs have been unable to keep up with the steady deterioration of the largely wooden structure. Termite damage, wood rot and other forms of decay have added safety issues to the list of concerns about the bowl’s endurance.

Last year, the city hired David Bury & Company Architects, Ltd. for the concept designs of the bowl, which received glowing reviews in January 2009 during a historic special joint meeting of all major Ojai commissions and councils.

Bury has designed a number of other Ojai projects, such as the pergola, that merge historical designs with modern considerations. New laws and structural requirements, such as building codes and handicap accessibility, have been incorporated into the bowl’s redesign. Sustainability being a city policy, Bury is aware of green materials and has used appropriate technology throughout the design as the budget allows.

Bury’s plans have moderately increased the shell height and depth of the bowl while lowering the stage floor a bit. Currently, the shell slopes low at the back of the stage, restricting its use. Ramps and doorways that accommodate a variety of set and human concerns have also been incorporated into the plans. Storage, cable conduit and equipment posts will be added to improve sound and lighting.

To learn about volunteering for or making contributions to the Libbey Bowl reconstruction, call 646-3117 or visit the web site at LibbeyBowl.org.

Former president forming Ojai Ventura International Festival

By Linda Harmon
The Ojai Film Festival is a local tradition and its organizers take issue with the actions taken by David Shor, actions they say are capitalizing on their name and hard-won reputation.

“We are going to have to get a lawyer,” said Steve Grumette, the Ojai Film Festival’s vice president, “because it appears that he has appropriated our property.”

Shor, last year’s president and chairman of the board, resigned last month leaving behind bad feelings and a $90,000 deficit that Grumette and remaining board members, President Herb Hemming and Secretary-Treasurer Vickie Baldwin, had to address.

Now Shor has caused new confusion around area film festivals. Historically there have been two, Ojai’s own Ojai Film Festival and the Ventura-based Ventura Film Festival. Last week Shor sent out a press release for a new Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival to take place only a week later than the Ventura Festival in 2011, with similar events and using a logo very similar to the one used by the Ojai Film Festival last year.

On first glance the release appears to be coming from the Ojai Film Festival, but on closer examination, at the bottom of the page in small type, it gives new contact information listing a Santa Barbara address and a web address of ojaiventurafilmfestival

.com.

“That web site was originally our web site,” said Grumette, referring to the one listed by Shor. “You could get to our web site from there by entering ojaifilmfestival.com, which was OK last year.”

It is not OK this year.

“He’s creating enormous confusion,” said Grumette. “People think he’s still associated with us. And he’s not.”

The Ventura Film Society is not happy with Shor either.

“He has no affiliation with us at all,” said Jordan Older of the Ventura Film Festival. “We have trademarked the name and have written him several letters to tell him to stop using it.”

According to Grumette, it was under Shor that the Ojai Film Festival used the name, Ojai-Ventura Film Festival, in addition to Ojai Film Festival. Shor also added the additional web address, ojaiventurafilmfestival.com, to drive users to the original site. Grumette said Shor has refused to give the board the passwords he set to maintain the second web site.

They ended up taking away his access to the original site, but, according to Grumette, Shor still has a copy of the original site.

“He had access to it” said Grumette, “and now he’s set up his own site, which we don’t have access to, through Ojai-VenturaFilmfestival.com. He is showing all kinds of information about Haskell Wexler and Peter Graves that he has no right to, that information belongs to the Ojai Film Festival.”

If you Google Shor’s web site given on the press release, ojai-venturafilmfestival.com, you indeed see the home page from the 2009 Ojai-Ventura Film Festival web site which then directs you to Shor’s new  web site.

Shor also uses the same logo on his festival’s Facebook page, displaying information from previous Ojai-Ventura Film Festival events and states, “Established in 1999 as the Ojai Film Festival, the Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival, LLC is dedicated to promoting and supporting the art of the motion picture through the presentation of an annual multi-day festival.”

Shor’s press release also advertised special screenings and events March 17 through 20, 2011, including “the third annual Malcolm McDowell Celebrity Golf Tournament,” at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

“We have not committed to host Shor’s event here,” said the Ojai Valley Inn’s representative Veronica Cole when contacted Monday.

Rich Fortenberry, the contact at Brooks Institute for festival events last year, was in Colorado at the Sundance Film Festival and remaining staff was not aware of any plans regarding the event.

Shor did not return e-mails and was unavailable for comment.

From the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department

Happy New Year Watchers!

Our local crime activity was relatively slow during the holiday season, which is always a good thing.  As we leave the holidays behind us, things are still slow.  However, a developing trend might put some Ojai Valley ranchers and rural property owners at risk for theft of their high $$$ equipment.

The cold wet weather we’ve been experiencing usually puts a damper on many police-related issues.  However, professional thieves steal for a living and never take a break.  These crooks often prefer to work in nasty weather.  Rain and wind help mask their activity making it difficult for anyone to catch them in the act.  We currently have some of these pros working down the Central Coast into our area stealing agricultural equipment under the cover of darkness and bad weather.

Detectives from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura County have been monitoring an organized theft ring that has targeted pumps, generators, welders, air compressors, and spray rigs on ranch properties.  However, anything of value is fair game.  They usually break into storage containers (connex boxes, shipping containers) defeating the lock with bolt cutters.

These thieves were last reported to be working the north part of Santa Barbara County and are probably moving south.  The Ojai Valley area ranches and rural properties, especially along S.R. 150, are prime targets for this group.

This type of equipment is expensive and often difficult to replace.  I would suggest locking all containers, sheds and barns with a lock that has a hardened shackle.  This makes it very difficult to defeat with bolt-cutters.  Some locks even have modifications that shroud the shackle.  These types of locks make it nearly impossible for bolt cutters to get a grip on the shackle.

Recovering stolen property and proving who actually owns it can be very difficult for law enforcement.  I would suggest you write down the brand, model and serial number of your equipment.  These identifiers are critical in the investigative process and the return of your property.

The information you provide could solve a crime spree that spans across at least three counties.  Let’s catch these crooks!

Be Safe,

Randy

**************
This is a follow-up to yesterday’s alert.  One of our Watchers is a retired deputy sheriff and had some previous experience with similar theft rings.  He recalled the thieves used pickup trucks towing trailers (i.e. landscape, tree services, etc..) If you see something like this driving around in the middle of the night just right down a license plate if possible, the vehicle description , and the name of any business displayed.  These types of work trucks are rarely out on the road late at night.  You can then email me the info and I’ll pass it along to our detectives.

Typical user facing 43 percent hike, or $26 over next two years

By Daryl Kelley
The monthly water bill of the typical Ojai residential customer would be hiked 43 percent during  2011 and 2012, on top of a 30 percent increase two years ago, if the Golden State Water Company has its way.

“The new rates would cover the increasing costs to operate and maintain the local water system,” the company says in a press release, “and fund more than $8 million in local capital investments that are critical to providing reliable, high quality water to the area.”

About half of the new revenue would be used to operate the aging water system — some of which is about 80 years old — and half to update it, officials said.

The new rate increases would be far from the last for about 2,900 customers in the Ojai area, according to Golden State officials.

Ken Peterson, district manager for the San Dimas-based company, said Ojai customers should expect rate increases to pay for system replacement  until 2030.

“How systems are replaced depends on the need at the time,” he said. Water systems across the state and nation are dealing with the same issues of decay, he said.

“This country is dealing with infrastructure replacement,” he said. “Now it’s catching up to us.”

Golden State’s new proposal includes a 39.2 percent increase for residential customers with a 5/8-inch water meter  in 2011, then a 3.8 percent increase for inflation in 2012.

That’s an increase of  $23.27 in 2011 and an additional $3.16 in 2012, if the customer uses 1,300 cubic feet of water.

This is on top of a nearly 30 percent increase to about $59 a month in 2008 for customers with the same size meter and usage.

So the total monthly bill would be nearly $86 a month by 2012, including a hike in the basic service fee the company charges regardless of usage, which would jump from $24.15 to $33.75 a month for a 5/8-inch meter. Customers with larger meters would pay more.

About 70 percent of all residential customers, which make up the bulk of those served by Golden State, have 5/8-inch meters.

City manager Jere Kersnar said he had not yet received a copy of Golden State’s rate request. Nor has the city received a report on water quality and system maintenance, as required in a 2008 PUC ruling, he said.

“They came by and alerted us that they were filing for this new rate increase, and they said they’d provide a report,” he said.

Kersnar said he reminded the company that the water quality and maintenance report was overdue.

“They said they were still working on the master plan,” the city manager said.

The city of Ojai has no control over water rates, but it filed a protest letter in 2007 during the review of Golden State’s previous request. And the PUC, as part of its ruling, directed Golden State to provide the city with a detailed analysis of its Ojai service.

In 2007, about 100 angry customers showed up at a public hearing in Ojai. A petition signed by more than 500 upset customers was presented.

But the water company prevailed.

Even before the increases of recent years, Golden State’s rates were much higher than other local water agencies.

With the 2008 hike alone, Golden State’s rate increases in Ojai over the last two decades totaled 107 percent.

Golden State, the subsidiary of a large corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange, has operated in Ojai under a long-standing, open-ended contract with the city. Its service cannot be discontinued since it owns the pumps and water lines that serve the community, unless local water users buy the waterworks.

And, according to Kersnar, the company has shown no interest in selling.

“That’s a huge issue,” he said. “They have resisted that to the utmost.”

Company officials have said Golden State’s rates are higher than those at nonprofit publicly run water companies because it has no taxpayer subsidies, has to pay taxes and must return a reasonable profit to investors.

The return on base water rates under the 2008 PUC ruling was 8.87 percent a year, lower than the 9.41 percent requested by Golden State but higher than the 8.80 percent requested by the PUC’s Ratepayer Advocates Office.

Under the ruling, the return on company equity was 10.2 percent, compared with a Golden State request for 11.25 percent and the ratepayer advocates’  recommendation of 10.09 percent.

U.S. Supreme Court rulings have upheld a private company’s right to a “reasonable” return on investment when operating a utility for the public, a PUC judge noted in the 2008 ruling.

At the hearings in 2007, Ojai residents and city officials asked the PUC to grant no rate increase until Golden State improved its service and water quality.

But the PUC found compelling Golden State’s argument that the steep increase was needed to upgrade the Ojai water delivery system and water quality.

Indeed, Golden State’s new request maintains that rate increases are needed to improve the quality of service, and to offset increasing costs.

“Costs have increased for items such as wholesale water, electricity, postage, liability insurance, depreciation, materials and supplies, cost of capital, general office support, labor and payroll taxes,” Golden State said in its recent press release.

In addition, costs must increase to pay for construction projects: The company said it spent $6.3 million on such capital improvements from 2000 through 2008.

The $8 million in proposed new projects include replacement of more than two miles of leaking, undersized and aging pipes, installation of a 500,000-gallon storage tank and drilling and equipping a new well, the company said.

Low-income customers may qualify for a 15 percent reduction in rates, the company said. A scale with income qualifications is available at the company’s local office at 1002-A E. Ojai Ave., across from Soule Park Golf Course. For example, households with one or two residents qualify if total income is $30,500 or less.

Matilija Dam, which has been scheduled for removal by the federal governement, overflowed Wednesday. The dam has received 20 inches of rain since Oct. 1. Photo by Scott Wintermute

By Daryl Kelley
For the latest storm totals, visit the OVN Weather Page

The strongest series of storms since 2005 rolled through the Ojai Valley this week, and as a final downpour hit Thursday evening, farmers and local officials said the results had been surprisingly benign — with little damage, flooding or mud slides.

The Ojai area did have six road closures by Thursday morning, but all were because of usual water flows during storms, said Gary Hart, battalion chief for the county Fire Department division that includes the Ojai Valley.

“We’re having the normal calls we have during storms,” Hart said. “Minor flooding because of water flows in roadways.”

Those temporary problems should be over by this afternoon as the fourth and final storm of the week passes, he said.

Temporary closures occurred on Highway 33 near Wheeler Gorge, on Camino Cielo, on McNell Road at Reeves Road, on Grand Avenue between McNell and McAndrew roads, on Matilija Canyon Road behind Matilija Dam and on Lockwood Valley Road at Chico Larsen.

A few buildings did experience minor flooding, Hart said.

“It’s all normal and we responded with sandbags,” Hart said of a few homes and Vons grocery at the “Y” intersection.

For farmers, the steady rains were all good news.

“We’ve had about 5 inches so far, so we don’t have to irrigate for maybe a month, I guess,” said farmer Tony Thacher. “But you know farmers like to complain. Right now we can’t pick anything. We’re itching to get back out and pick some tangerines this weekend.”

Steve Wickstrum, general manager of the valley’s largest water agency, said the four storms that began Sunday night had resulted in runoff that had only begun to fill Lake Casitas, the area’s primary source of water.

“I’ve been watching the storms, and we haven’t been slammed like some of the other areas,” Wickstrum said Thursday morning. “We’ve had some nice rains.”

By midday Thursday, however, those rains had resulted in diversions to the lake of only a few thousand acre-feet of water, said Wickstrum, who runs the Casitas Municipal Water District.

The huge Lake Casitas reservoir, which holds a maximum of 254,000 acre-feet, had risen only from about 73 percent full to 74.6 percent by noon Thursday. That’s an increase of about 4,300 acre-feet. (An acre-foot supplies two families for a year.)

“We’re at 189,531 acre feet right now,” Wickstrum said. “And we expect another 1,500 acre-feet by Friday. So it’s not the lake filler we had in 2005, but it’s not the catastrophe we had in 2005 either.”

A month of storms in 2005 filled the lake, but those rains also did a lot of damage, Wickstrum said.

“These storms have been very nice to us,” he said.

Wickstrum said he’d been tracking storms on his computer all week, but the yellows and reds that show downpours had consistently steered north or south of the Ojai Valley.

“Right now there’s a large area of heavy rain north of Santa Barbara and a squall through Thousand Oaks,” he said, awaiting what had been forecast as an intense local storm for Thursday afternoon.

Even as things stood at midday Thursday, the valley had received significant rain.

For example, Matilija Canyon had received in excess of 10 inches, while Ojai itself got more than 6 inches. Nordhoff Peak had received more than 7 inches, while the Upper Ojai’s total was about 6 inches. Casitas Dam had also received about 6 inches.

During this rainfall season, which began Oct. 1, precipitation has been about twice as much as normal, officials said. The largest rainfall months of the year are usually January and February, followed by March and December.

Officials are still hoping that the mild El Niño forecast last spring arrives.

A precursor was a 5-inch storm in Ojai last fall, which provided the wettest October in the last half century.

The Ojai Valley has received several significant rains since, but until this week, none had produced more than 2 or 3 inches.

In the winter of 2004-2005, Casitas Dam and the city of Ojai received more than 50 inches of rain and Nordhoff Peak drenched in more than 80 inches.

During the last rain year, the Ojai Valley received about 60 percent of normal rainfall, lowering the Lake Casitas, dropping groundwater levels and forcing farmers to water crops even during the wettest months.

It was the fourth extremely dry year in the last decade.

For example, only 11.55 inches fell at the Oak View measuring station last season, just 54.8 percent of the normal of 21.07 inches.

Only 12.61 inches fell at Casitas Dam, just 56.4 percent of the historic average of 22.37 inches.

Only 12.68 inches fell in Ojai, just 62.4 percent of the average of 20.33.

And at the wetter Matilija Dam station, only 16.53 inches fell, 61.1 percent of the average of 27.06 inches.

Update of zoning laws top discussion

By Sondra Murphy
Troy Becker was elected by his peers to chair the Ojai Planning Commission at Wednesday’s meeting, with Steven Foster assuming vice chair duties. Former Chair Susan Weaver stepped down as she passed the gavel to Becker for the remainder of the meeting and the light agenda facilitated much discussion about internal business of the commission and how best to spend the next several months.

City planner Katrina Rice Schmidt brought a discussion item to the agenda regarding zoning ordinance revisions that have been identified for amendment. She asked for commission direction for prioritizing the issues.

Schmidt reported that the most recent comprehensive update of the city’s zoning ordinance was adopted in 2004, with few changes since. She cited notable changes, which include an amendment to the commercial and manufacturing district development standards in 2005, adding a section regarding formula business establishments in 2007, revisions to the sign ordinance in 2008 and changes to allow outdoor displays in certain zones in 2009.

Schmidt said much of the needed changes were to create local codes that match new state regulations and a general cleaning up of language, omissions or areas of the ordinance that overlapped or clashed due to recent adoptions.

“Other areas that are probably worthy of more Planning Commission discussion are development standards for special housing, the downtown commercial overlay, and we probably need to modify our land use tables,” said Schmidt.

Commissioners briefly touched on the differences between guest houses vs. second units, animal uses, renewable energy sources, fence heights and lighting ordinance as areas they would like to update in the ordinance.

“There’s a lot of material for us to go through here,” said Foster. “It’s going to be a time-consuming process.”

“We’ve compiled ordinances, but haven’t don’t the formal drafting of the words,” Schmidt said.

“Another aspect would be some public outreach,” said Commissioner Paul Crab-tree. “We might want to invite certain civic groups or organizations to address some of these.”

Weaver pointed out that many of the revisions needed were simply to bring the city in line with other laws and so little discussion would be needed. “Probably 80 percent is primarily cleanup,” Schmidt agreed. “Staff could draft ordinances and bring it to you and if you have different ideas, you could pull and discuss them.”

Crabtree had a number of recommendations on discussion items, including multiple family dwellings, zero lot lines and front setbacks in the business districts and the Maricopa Highway area near the “Y” intersection. “It’s got the imprint of Caltrans on it and looks like a truck corridor,” he said. Crabtree also mentioned new storm water regulations were soon expected that the city would need to incorporate into its ordinance.

“All the technical materials and manuals are still under development, but we need to be cognizant of that,” city manager Jere Kersnar said. “How about if we come back to you at your first February meeting with breaking it down into chunks of the apple just to identify areas and you can tell us what order you want to take them in?”

The commission agreed to the idea, with Weaver requesting other items not referenced in Schmidt’s report being included, such as parking.

“I was excited when we had the forest master plan come through with neighborhoods and I would like to see that in the zoning ordinance too,” said Commissioner John Mirk.

“We ought to consider where we’re going to plug in those neighborhoods for planning and really have a discussion on them,” said Becker.

“It seems to me neighborhood plans should come from the top, from the general plan,” Schmidt said. “If we had it in the general plan, basically anything we did would come from that.

The Planning Commis-sion generally meets two Wednesdays a month at 7:30 p.m. in Ojai City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St. As of press time, the next meeting had not yet been scheduled.

County adopts procedural change in block grant funding application process

By Sondra Murphy
Changes in Ventura County procedures for applying for new Community Development Block Grant funds prompted the Ojai City Council to vote last week to serve as an evaluation committee to make recommendations to the county pertaining to any applications for public service organizations from Ojai.Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides funding to local communities through the CDBG program for both public service and capital projects. “The process for evaluating CDBG grant process has changed since last year,” Ojai Public Works director Mike Culver told the council. He said that previously the county would hold a hearing and then submit appropriate requests directly to cities, which would hold their own public hearings before making recommendations to the county.

Under the new system, applications will be given directly to Ventura County, who will forward them to appropriate jurisdictions for review and recommendations. Local jurisdictions are no longer required to hold public hearings regarding the allocation of funds.

The county held its initial application hearing in December and requires jurisdictional recommendations by Jan. 29. A second public hearing is scheduled by the county on March 10 to formalize the final allocations of funding, which are to be submitted to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in May for final approval.

It is hoped the changes will streamline the process for all while continuing to allocate funding proportionally to each jurisdiction. Culver said smaller cities often have to roll over projects from year to year as funding is accumulated to initiate and complete them, such as the recent Boyd Center renovations at the Recreation Department.

“Rolling over presents a problem for the feds because they’re allocating money that’s not getting spent,” said city manager Jere Kersnar. “One of the criteria is for projects that they are ready to go.”

“The concept here is public service projects should receive the same fair share of funding that we were previously allocated within a 5 percent variance,” said Culver. He gave the council three options to adjust to the changes. The first option would involve the full council in review and recommendation of local grant requests. The second option would create an ad-hoc committee of two council members for grant prioritization. The third option was for no council involvement, allowing the county to administer without Ojai recommendation. The city recommended the second option in its report.

Help of Ojai executive director Terri Wolfe addressed the issue. “One of the key issues here is, in the past, the city of Ojai was pretty much guaranteed we would get public service money … Ojai projects were compared to Ojai projects. We are no longer in that position. Ojai projects must now compete with other projects in the county.”

Culver said the funds amounted to about $40,000 a year in the past and allocation is based on the income demographic of the community members.

Wolfe said applying projects will need to be very strong to compete for the funds. “I believe small cities and unincorporated are one group and large cities, like Ventura and Oxnard, are another, so we aren’t competing with them,” said Wolfe.

“I really think the full council should be involved in this because, although in the past the amounts of money have not been huge, they have been very important,” said Councilwoman Sue Horgan. She moved to adopt for full council involvement, which was unanimously supported, and asked that staff bring this year’s applicant list to the next meeting.

Trenches dug just in time to protect horses from flooded corral

By Nancy Gross
Friday was a pleasant day to be outdoors, and Navy volunteers from the Port Hueneme Naval Base visited Ojai to do a service project.

The Navy volunteers dug an extensive trench to get rid of standing water so that the health and comfort of rescued performance horses at The Equine Sanctuary would not be compromised during the rains.

The project was the next step after local builders installed shelters to keep the horses dry. Watkins Fence Co. made a sizeable contribution by doing the labor for free when providing roofs and fences, and Lee Rennacker donated the engineering for the drainage project.

“The fact that your guys are here doing all this digging saves us thousands and thousands of dollars,” said Equine Sanctuary founder and director Alexis Ells to one of the Navy officers. There were a few women among those working; the property, with pristine mountain views in either direction, was full of activity.

The volunteers helped with trench digging, or with clearing the horse corral of stones. “Rocks are a horse’s nemesis. They destroy their feet,” Ells said.

Mike Case from New York has been a Seabee for just over two years. Seabees are the Navy’s construction battalion; they build bases, roadways, and air strips, along with other military construction projects.

Case teased that he would like to go AWOL and “move up here. It gets us out of the classroom.”

Case was digging beside his buddy, Gerald Chandler, from San Diego, who said, “It’s good to be out here away from the base, to do some work.” He said that otherwise they would be having weapons training in class. “We’re going to Afghanistan. I’m not worried too much about it, though. We’re pretty safe over there.”

Xavier Spencer, from Panama City, Fla., said he’s been in the service for 11 months. “It’ll be a year in February. I’m going to Afghanistan in August. It’ll be fun. I’ve lived in Germany. My dad is military. He retired five months ago from the Air Force.

“It’s a nice place out here. I want to climb some of those mountains I’m seeing,” Spencer said.

Ells said the Navy has sent volunteers in the past to help TES, which has been in Ojai for 10 years. “But we are in constant need of volunteers,” Ells said.

“These famous horses, these athletes, when they’re injured, they’re not wanted by the industry anymore. This place is not just about the horses, it is also about the educational experience that teaches that life is not disposable.”

The rescued and rehabilitated horses have been racehorses, polo horses and other types of show event horses. If they can no longer perform and are seen as a burden and financial drain, they would typically be slaughtered, and their meat sold on the black market. “We have nine horses here now, and 22 up in Santa Ynez. They are our good will ambassadors for therapy, for foster kids, for developmentally disabled kids, for schools who visit.

“It’s just like with people. They have to be hand walked because of their injuries or their muscles will get stiff. They have to be fed and cared for in every way. This is a seven-day, 24-hour-a-day operation.”

Ells said most of their volunteers come from out of the area, and this leaves the sanctuary in a tight spot when weather makes it hard to drive. “It always surprises me that National Geogra-phic has featured us, but we need to have more needs met locally. I would like to see more volunteers from Ojai, people who love horses, people who want to make a difference.”

Of Rennacker she said, “He and his wife and daughters have been longtime volunteers. He took so much time to figure out the way the gutters would perform with different amounts of rainfall, and to design the grading, trenches and French drains. It was a major project.”

Some Navy helpers left partway through the day because not enough shovels had been supplied. Ells believes these were from among the Navy Fleet, and that the Seabees were the ones that stayed to the very end of the work.

“I was so grateful for all of them.” Ells said that several years ago she was contacted by the Navy Chaplain’s Office to see if sailors could come out to TES to do work as a part of helping them deal with deployment stress.

For more information, visit theequinesanctuary.org, call 453-4567 or e-mail theequinesanctuary@gmail

.com.

Preservation Commission grants status, owners may
get tax reduction to help with restoration, renovation

By Sondra Murphy

Ojai has a new historic landmark. Last week, the Ojai City Council unanimously approved the status for property owned by Robert and Tiese Quinn, located at the northwest corner or El Toro and Foothill roads. It is now Historic Landmark No. 16.

“Under the Mills Act Ordinance, owners of landmarks may enter into agreement to reduce taxes in order to put those funds into restoration, renovation and rehabilitation of the property,” city manager Jere Kersnar told the council. “The Historic Preservation Commission added not only maintenance of the exterior, but interior as well to maintain the historic condition of the property in general.”

Known as the George Washington Smith “Spec House A,” the owners applied for landmark designation status and a historic landmark property agreement with the city of Ojai, which was reviewed by the Ojai Historic Preservation Commission in December. Included with the application was a historic resources analysis report prepared by San Buenaventura Research Associates, which claimed the main residence and land of the subject property is significant because it meets several criteria of Section 4-8.07 of the Cultural and Historic Preservation Law, as follows.

• The property is significant for the role it played as one of the three speculation houses in the initial development of the Arbolada, which was part of Edward Drummond Libbey’s vision for the beautification of the residential development of the Ojai community.

• The property is significant for its identification with Libbey, who made important contributions to the economic and cultural development of Ojai and was one of the final projects that transformed the architectural image of Ojai to Mission and Spanish Revival theme.

• The main residence embodies the distinguishing characteristics of the rural Spanish architecture of the 1920s.

• The main residence is identified as the work of master architect George Washington Smith, whose work influenced the development of the community and creating an architectural theme that would harmonize with the natural beauty of the Ojai Valley.

• The main residence embodies elements of the medieval architecture of rural Spain as it was interpreted by Smith.

• The main residence has retained its integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship. Additions made to the residence were done using a compatible design, materials and workmanship.

Interior and exterior features were identified in the report. The OHPC toured the site last month and recommended to the city additional features that should be preserved and protected. Included on this list are tile floor, wall tiles, wrought iron stair railing, wood-beamed ceiling, wooden stairway grill and a built-in bookcase in the living room.

Exterior features recommended for preservation inclusion by the commission are Spanish clay tile roofs, tile vents, multi-paned wood casement windows, French doors, decorative grills, decorative Spanish tile and heavy-troweled stucco finish. Of landscape features, OHPC also recommended for preservation the tiled fountain and surrounding brick walkway and stone wall. Exteriors may use any of the three spec. house color palette combinations originally determined by Smith.

With landmark status, the property is subject to the Ojai Municipal Title 4, Chapter 8, Cultural and Historic Preservation law. Any proposed modification to the property will require review for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

The status allows for certain property tax reduction in exchange for the owner’s commitment toward restoration, preservation and maintenance.  The ordinance authorizes local governments to enter into contracts with owners of historic landmark properties.

With their application, the Quinns submitted a proposed preservation and rehabilitation time line plan for expected maintenance of the property and are required to maintain all significant historic interior and exterior features as identified in the conditions of agreement.

Kersnar reported that property tax for the property will be re-evaluated by the Ventura County Assessor’s Office on the income approach to value, rather than market approach to value typically used. Property taxes may be reduced by as much as 60 percent, saving the owners as much as $11,200. “The city’s share of the loss would be 12.79 percent, or $1,422 per year,” Kersnar said.

Rain moves annual event
from Libbey Park to Chaparral

By Sondra Murphy

Where can one find herself shaking hands with Julie Tumamait and Julie Christensen? At an Ojai event that celebrates cultural diversity in all its forms.

The dramatic weather did little to daunt the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In fact, moving the event into Chaparral Auditorium allowed keynote speaker Toni-Mokjaetji Humber to incorporate images via PowerPoint into her address.

Colorfully adorned with artwork from local students, the hall was rocking previous to Humber’s time from Gill Sotu’s music. Sotu is an Ojai MLK regular and uses powerful music with audience participation to connect with the diverse audiences who attend the event. Sotu’s verses of “We shall” and “Overcome” were echoed by the crowd, on its feet and clapping in time before guitarist D-Flox ended the set with some impressive footwork of his own. “We always look forward to coming here,” said D-Flox as he stepped down from the stage. “This is the whole essence of what Gill Sotu does: unity. The power of music to change things, we live it.”

Humber was introduced by Gus Hoffman, who contacted her to appear last year. But when Barack Obama won the presidency, Humber had to decline the invitation, but agreed to show this year when Hoffman again asked her to speak.

Before beginning her address, Humber convinced the crowd to join hands. “I always start my classes in a circle,” said the professor of ethnic and women’s studies at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. “It’s powerful for me … I started it after 9-11. It’s a check-in time and I find it is a connection between people.”

Humber spoke about King’s involvement in the civil rights movement by reviewing the climate he grew up in and events that led to his leadership role in the movement. “He brought a voice,” said Humber, “a strategy for protest.” She drew a connection between the civil rights movement and her own life, talking of her family. “My parents were products of the rural South,” said Humber. “They were what’s known as the ‘new negro’ moving to the urban areas.” She grew up in Watts then moved into the suburbs of Southern California, “… when I learned what the N-word means and how it pertains,” she said.

Reviewing indignities of the imagery of African Americans during King’s lifetime, Humber explained that the man “led a comfy life in a segregated world. He lived a

middle-class life, was a P.K. — a preacher’s kid. He did not have to get involved.”

Humber reviewed the events that became the catalyst for King to get drawn in to the civil rights movement, such as the famous Brown v. the Board of Education decision mandating integration in schools. Humber listed names of others who were working for equality. Charles Houston, who was the first African American editor of the Harvard Law Review and, as a lawyer, played a significant role in dismantling the laws allowing segregation; Linda Brown, the girl who sued the Board of Education in Kansas to attend a school in her own neighborhood; Rosa Parks whose arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat in 1955 Alabama prompted King’s involvement in the ensuing boycott; and Emmett Till, the 15-year-old who was brutally beaten to death over allegedly whistling at a white woman.

“This began indignation that got international attention,” said Humber. Quoting King’s “Letter for Birming-ham Jail,” Humber said King declared the world is “in dire need of creative extremists” akin to Jesus Christ, who he called “an extremist for love, truth and goodness.”

Humber also made mention of the many contributions Africans have made to humanity, recommending Imhotep, Ivan Van Serima, Gaspar Yanga, Vincente Guerrero, as well as Ruby Bridges and Harriet Tubman as people whose efforts and writings people should become familiar with in the quest for equality.

Before leaving, Humber presented Hoffman with a bracelet inscribed with, “Leaders inspire leaders.” Hoffman has been on the OVYF MLK Day Committee for six years and a co-chair with Mackenzie Russell for the past three years.

“It’s been good,” said Hoffman, a high school senior. “I might come help one more year.” He also said he wants to be involved in humanitarian efforts as he moves toward his college career.

The MLK Day Committee has met weekly for the past four months in preparation for the big day. Other student committee members this year were Emily Cohen, Andie Mendoza, Rocio Garcia, Noemi Hernandez, Zelda Grove and Matt Russell, plus the Oak View Teen Center volunteers. Adult committee members were Kate Hoffman, Lanny Kaufer, Rondia Kaufer and Kate Russell. OVYF staff Meg Wall and Laura Charles also participated in this year’s efforts.

The following is a press release from the
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department:

Nature of Incident: Stranded Hikers

Location: Potrero John Trail, Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County

Date & Time: 1-18-10 / 2:00 p.m.

Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Department / Aviation-SAR Unit

(V)ictim City of Residence Age

John Beckett, 60, Ojai

Dylan Beckett, 17, Ventura

Jonathan Fulthorpe, 17, Ventura

Narrative:

On 1-16-10, Jonathan Fulthorpe and Dylan Beckett went hiking and camping on the Potrero John Trail.  They had planned to camp until Tuesday, 1-19-10, at which time they would hike out and be picked up by Dylan’s grandfather, John Beckett.

Today, 1-18-10, John Beckett decided that the camping trip should be cut short due to the incoming weather conditions.  He drove to the trailhead and hiked up the trail to the camp.  Once there, he told Dylan and Jonathan that staying the extra day was a bad idea and they should pack up and leave right away.  Dylan and Jonathan agreed and broke down camp immediately.

On the hike out of the canyon, the trail crossed the river.  The river had risen, but the group decided to cross anyway.  All three of them were swept downstream in the river and separated.  Jonathan managed to get out of the river after several attempts, but could not locate John or Dylan.  He hiked out of the canyon and flagged down a passing Caltrans vehicle.  The Caltrans employee called the Sheriff’s Department and reported the incident.  The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department sent it’s rescue helicopter, Copter 6, and a patrol deputy to the location.

Meanwhile, after several attempts, John and Dylan managed to get out of the river too.  Shortly after getting out, a major mudslide roared through the canyon and wiped out the trail.  In addition, large amounts of debris clogged the canyon and blocked any attempt for them to hike out.  They decided to hike east and over a ridge to the next canyon in an attempt to get to Highway 33, which was still about one mile away.

Copter 6 arrived on scene and began a search of the canyon.  They located the campground and the freshly used fire pit.  Then, after a brief search, located a sleeping bag where the trail was washed away.  Copter 6 continued their search and located Dylan on a ridge. The helicopter was able to hover next to the ridge top and load Dylan on board.  Dylan then directed the helicopter to his grandfather, John, who was in the bottom of the canyon east of Potrero John.  Both Dylan and John were flown to a landing area near the trailhead where they were evaluated and released. The hikers were all tired and cold, but none of them were injured in the incident.

The Sheriff’s Department would like to remind everyone that participating in outdoor activities during times of severe weather is a bad idea.  Flash floods, mudslides and debris runoff from recent burn areas create huge dangers.  Please use caution and avoid these danger areas.

Officer Preparing Release: Sr. Dep. Shane Matthews

Building in Haiti where three girls were rescued by SDF Search Teams.

We received this update today from our Search Teams in Haiti via cell phone:

Sunday was a very successful search day for Los Angeles County Task Force (CA-TF2), with a total of five rescues.

On Sunday the BLUE TEAM (Bill Monahan & Hunter, Jasmine Segura & Cadillac and Jason Vasquez & Maverick) rescued a woman from the rubble of her hotel. The appreciation shown by locals for the Search Teams and their Task Force was overwhelming. As soon as the woman was pulled from the wreckage, Haitians gathered in the street and began chanting, “U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A….”

After this the teams helped dig out three more women from under three stories of another collapsed building. Two of the women, 19 and 20-year old sisters, were located when they called out to rescuers, but the third woman, a 31-year old, was deeper in the rubble. With the electronic listening devices signaling that there may be someone below, Search Dogs Cadillac, Maverick and Hunter were sent in and all showed interest in the same area, confirming the findings of the listening devices.

During the rescue, Task Force members crawled into tight spaces to reach the area where the Search Dogs had shown interest and found the third woman still lying in bed. She was pinned to her mattress by the ceiling of her bedroom, just inches from crushing her. When handler Jasmine Segura was able to get close enough, she could see the woman waving to her and heard her say, “Thank you,” in English. Rescuers cut out the mattress that the woman was lying on and were able to safely slide her out.

During Sunday’s shift, L.A. County RED TEAM (Ron Horetski & Pearl, Ron Weckbacher & Dawson and Gary Durian & Baxter) assisted the Task Force rescue squad in extricating a 50-year old woman from a collapsed building. She was successfully brought to safety, dehydrated, but with only slight injuries.

The Blue Team arrived back at the Base of Operations at 9:30 a.m. just as the Red Team got back to work. The teams have not been told when they will sent home, and are prepared to stay in Haiti as long as it takes.

SDF Executive Director Debra Tosch comments: “The rescues in Haiti underscore the critical importance of Canine Search Teams in finding survivors in the aftermath of major disasters. This is our mission, and we’re honored to be part of the Haiti rescue effort in conjunction with the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the L.A. Country Task Force.”

All of SDF’s Search have been standing by, ready to deploy to Haiti when called upon by their Task Force. Our Orange County and Sacramento teams were activated for deployment shortly after the earthquake struck, and were at March and Travis Air Force Bases since then waiting to depart. As of Monday morning, they were de-mobilizing and will be going home today.

Please share this with friends and family who may want to follow the Search Teams on facebook or twitter:

For the newest video footage of SDF’s Search Teams, please visit our website atwww.searchdogfoundation.org.

A series of significant big-time winter storms could leave as much as 8 inches of rain on the valley’s floor, and up to 20 inches of rain in some local mountain areas between tonight at Friday, according to a National Weather Service forecast issued Sunday morning.

CLICK for the latest weather information.

NWS STATEMENT:

SEVERAL STORMS WILL AFFECT THE REGION THIS WEEK...BRINGING HEAVY
TO EXCESSIVE RAINS AND MOUNTAIN SNOWS AND A POTENTIAL FOR FLASH
FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOW.

PERIODS OF GUSTY WINDS AND LARGE SURF WILL ALSO CAUSE PROBLEMS
ACROSS THE SOUTHLAND THIS WEEK.

A VERY POWERFUL WEST TO EAST JET STREAM SAGGING SOUTHWARD THROUGH
THE PACIFIC WILL ALLOW A SERIES OF STRONG STORM SYSTEMS TO TRACK
INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHILE MAINTAINING A RICH SOURCE OF
SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE.

SIGNIFICANT AND POSSIBLY EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL OCCUR OVER
SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA DURING THE UPCOMING WEEK. LIGHT RAIN
WILL LIKELY DEVELOP NORTH OF POINT CONCEPTION TODAY...THEN RAIN WILL
SPREAD SOUTHWARD INTO VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES TONIGHT.
RAIN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACROSS THE
REGION MONDAY...WITH RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO
MONDAY NIGHT. THERE WILL ALSO BE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RAIN WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF BY LATE MONDAY
NIGHT OR EARLY TUESDAY. THIS FIRST STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING
1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN TO MOST COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS FROM TONIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...WITH 3 TO 5 INCHES ACROSS FOOTHILL AND
MOUNTAIN AREAS. LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS
FAVORED SOUTH FACING SLOPES. THE STATION BURN AREA IS EXPECTED TO
RECEIVE 3 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN WITH THIS FIRST STORM SYSTEM...WITH
THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL EXPECTED MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. PEAK
RAINFALL RATES BETWEEN 0.75 INCHES AND 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE
MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY EVENING...WITH LOCAL RATES UP TO 1.25
INCHES PER HOUR ACROSS FAVORED SOUTH FACING SLOPES...INCLUDING THE
STATION AND MORRIS BURN AREAS...AND NEAR THUNDERSTORMS.

VERY STRONG TO DAMAGING SOUTH WINDS WILL LIKELY AFFECT SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTY...MUCH OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AND THE ANTELOPE VALLEY
MONDAY INTO MONDAY EVENING...AND HIGH WIND WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FOR
THOSE AREAS. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
MOUNTAINS. WIDESPREAD WIND ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED IN
MANY LOWER ELEVATION LOCATIONS OF VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES
AS WINDS COULD GUSTS BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MPH. PLEASE REFER TO
(LAXNPWLOX) FOR ADDITIONAL WIND INFORMATION.

IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES...THE POTENTIAL
FOR HEAVY SNOW AND DAMAGING WINDS HAS PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF A
WINTER STORM WATCH FOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. SNOW LEVELS
WILL START OUT AROUND 7000 FEET TONIGHT AND MONDAY...THEN LOWER TO
BETWEEN 5000 AND 5500 FEET MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE POTENTIAL
EXISTS FOR 1 TO 3 FEET OF SNOW ABOVE 7000 FEET...AND 8 TO 12 INCHES
OF SNOW ABOVE 6000 FEET. PLEASE REFER TO (LAXWSWLOX) FOR DETAILED
INFORMATION ON THE POTENTIALLY SEVERE WINTER WEATHER.

ANOTHER BUT WEAKER STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE REGION ON
TUESDAY. THE THIRD AND MOST LIKELY STRONGEST STORM SYSTEM IS
EXPECTED WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. A COLD AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL
CONTINUE TO KEEP A THREAT OF SHOWERS INTO AT LEAST FRIDAY. SNOW
LEVELS WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM 4000 TO 5000 FEET WEDNESDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY. FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR RAINFALL
TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES IN COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS...AND 8 TO 16
INCHES IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS. LOCAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OVER
20 INCHES ARE QUITE POSSIBLE ACROSS FAVORED SOUTH FACING COASTAL
SLOPES. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE WETTEST WEEK SINCE EARLY 2005.
ADDITIONAL HEAVY SNOW TOTALS ARE EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS WEDNESDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE LARGE AMOUNT OF EXPECTED PRECIPITATION...AS WELL AS THE
POTENTIAL FOR HIGH INTENSITY RAINFALL...WILL BRING A SIGNIFICANT
THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS...ESPECIALLY TO THE RECENT
BURN AREAS. SINCE THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH INTENSITY
RAINFALL...THERE WILL ALSO BE A THREAT OF URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOODING AND NUMEROUS ROCKSLIDES...ESPECIALLY LATER IN THE WEEK AS
SOILS BECOME MORE SATURATED. IF THE STRONG STORM MATERIALIZES FOR
THE WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY TIME FRAME...THERE COULD ALSO BE SOME MAIN
STEM RIVER FLOODING CONCERNS.

DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS OUR COASTAL WATERS
THIS WEEK. PERIODS OF GALE FORCE WINDS...HIGH SURF
CONDITIONS...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS...COASTAL FLOODING...AND EVEN
WATERSPOUTS WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE. FOR FURTHER MARINE
INFORMATION...PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT
AND COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT.

RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED FOR THE
LATEST INFORMATION ON THESE POTENTIALLY STRONG STORM SYSTEMS. LISTEN
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA SOURCE...OR VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES FOR THE LATEST UPDATES OF
FORECASTS AND WARNINGS.

Ojai-based National Disaster Search Dog Foundation rescue teams are on scene in earthquake-ravaged Haiti

MONDAY UPDATE: Search Team Makes More Rescues

At 1:15pm local time, an SDF Search Team in Port-au-Prince located three girls, trapped alive since Tuesday in the rubble of Haiti’s devastating earthquake.

Bill Monahan and his Border Collie, Hunter, were searching a neighborhood near the Presidential Palace, concentrating on a large bowl-shaped area of rubble which was all that remained of a 4-story building.

After criss-crossing the area, Hunter pin-pointed the survivors’ scent under 4 feet of broken concrete and did his “bark alert” to let Bill know where the victims were. Bill spoke with the survivors, then passed them bottles of water tied to the end of a stick. As they reached for the water one of the girls said, “Thank you.” Highly trained rescue crews from California Task Force 2 are now working to extricate the girls from the wreckage and provide first aid.

Bill and Hunter continue to search, as do the 6 other SDF teams on the ground in Haiti:

California Task Force 2 – Los Angeles County

. Gary Durian & Baxter – L.A. County Fire

. Ron Horetski & Pearl – L.A. County Fire

. Bill Monahan & Hunter – L.A. County Fire

. Jasmine Segura & Cadillac – L.A. County Fire

. Jason Vasquez & Maverick – L.A. County Fire

. Ron Weckbacher & Dawson – Civilian

Florida Task Force 1

. Julie Padelford-Jansen and Dakota

At Search Dog Foundation headquarters in Ojai, CA, SDF Founder Wilma Melville received the news with silent gratitude. “This moment is what SDF Search Teams train for—week in and week out—throughout their careers together. When one SDF team succeeds, ALL of our teams succeed. Our thoughts are with our teams in Haiti, who continue to comb the rubble into the night. Their perseverance, skill, and strength in the face of extreme challenges make us all proud, and give us hope.”

Captain Jayd Swendseid of CA-TF2 confirmed earlier today that the 72-member team Task Force with 70,000 lbs of rescue equipment is actively looking for victims around-the-clock. “The teams are working in 12-hour shifts so they have time to rest and recuperate. Yesterday the team put in a long and exhausting day. Roads are closed and there is a lot of debris that is making transportation difficult, but the team is managing to get to buildings and make rescues. Morale is good and supplies are sufficient so far.”

The teams of CA-TF 2 are now assigned to one of two squads to enable round the clock searching. The Red Squad (Dawson, Pearl, and Maverick) is in rotation with the Blue squad (Hunter, Baxter and Cadillac). The squads connected briefly with SDF Team Julie Padelford-Jansen and Dakota—deployed as part of Florida Task Force 2—before Julie and Dakota were assigned to search a different neighborhood.

SDF Executive Director Debra Tosch: “All SDF handlers are experts in reading their canines, pacing them throughout their shift to ensure the dogs are kept safe, healthy, happy and motivated. The canines are literally the Task Force’s most precious tool in the hunt for survivors: their well-being is mission-critical.”

SDF is grateful to all of our supporters around the country who are truly PART OF THE SEARCH, having made this rescue possible.

For up to the minute updates on SDF’s Search Teams in Haiti and at home, join our Facebook fan page and follow us on Twitter:

The Ojai Valley News welcomes your thoughts on news and feature stories. Please use these links to access current and archived articles and comments.

Governing body forced to close infant center

By Linda Harmon
Cuts to education were again the elephant in the room at Tuesday night’s Ojai Unified School District’s board meeting. Even though the budget was barely discussed its effect was felt as the board voted to close the district-run A Place to Grow Infant Center, effective June 30.

Cuts to education were again the elephant in the room at Tuesday night’s Ojai Unified School District’s board meeting. Even though the budget was barely discussed its effect was felt as the board voted to close the district-run A Place to Grow Infant Center, effective June 30.

“At the December meet-ing I articulated the issues that brought us here,” said superintendent Henry Bangser. “It is one of the hardest things to do as an administrator, to close an effective program … The reason is our declining resource base and our need to do anything we can do to stretch our resources. Closing the center allows us to focus on our preschool expansion.”

According to Bangser, “in an optimal world,” he would keep the center open and have early childhood education available to everyone as an entrance to kindergarten.

Supporters of the center hit the same note, but asked that the center be given a chance to become self-supporting.

“I believe a cost-effective program is possible,” said Jean Smith, an educator with a background in early childhood development and a parent of former students. “Whatever you vote, I hope you learn from the experience of having an early childhood program.”

Mary Mashburn, an Infant Center parent, also asked that the center be spared and, if not, that special arrangements be made so that students now in the program and younger than 3 next fall, can be accepted into the expanded preschool program.

“Let these children who have already made friends and are secure with the staff be integrated into the program,” said Mashburn, whose 1.5-year-old son is in the center two days a week. “Where else am I going to put him? … This is a great preschool.”

Director of the Infant Center, Bonnie Patton, closed out the public comment.

“It’s been a long time, four and a half years now. I want to thank you for your patience and support,” said Patton. “I have children in my program from out of the district, we bring children into the school district … We don’t have to stay in this building. If you do close us, we’d like to see our 2-year-olds accepted into the new program.”

While Pauline Mercado, board member, noted she considered the center part of the district’s “vision,” the majority of the board expressed regret but spoke in support of closure.

“I have been continually moved by the discussion both inside the meetings and outside of them,” said Board Member Rikki Horne, recommending closure. “I remember a year ago talking about this and discussions of it becoming independent of the district. I still encourage it be pursued outside of the district.”

“I have been very supportive of the Infant Center all along the way … The issue I see as the problem is budget cuts,” said Board Member Linda Taylor. “I don’t think we can continue with all our staffing cuts. We can’t even have summer school for our kids who are struggling. If making it revenue neutral were possible, I think it would have already happened.”

“Although inspired by Pauline’s comments I don’t think we have the where-with-all to support the program,” said Board President Kathy Smith. “I don’t think the issue of the 2-year-olds is a board decision. I think the administration has the flexibility to make a decision about letting the 2-year-olds into the program along the way … We all appreciate Bonnie and the contributions she has made to the valley. It is a gem and I think it should be allowed to continue somewhere, somehow, maybe in a church.”

The board voted 4 to 1 for closure, with Mercado voting no.

With the votes concluded, the board received “the best possible report” on the annual districtwide audit from Kevin Brejnak of Nigro, Nigro, and White Certified Public Accountants. Brejnak’s company gave an unqualified report on the 2008-2009 school year for Ojai Unified and the Valley Oak Charter.

In the superintendent’s report, Bangser laid out plans for the upcoming district teacher in-service later this month, focusing on communication and correlation of math programs in grades kindergarten through 12 that will allow teachers to “learn from each other.” The day will be spent with grades divided into four subgroups, with a math expert at each level, going from an elementary level to high school level classrooms, to learn respective teaching methods and content.

“At the end of the day they will get back together to discuss what they’ve learned from each other,” said Bangser, who added Ojai’s relatively smaller size made that possible. “That’s a great advantage we have over Ventura Unified.”

By Lenny Roberts
yes its our dad! he apparently found a beautiful tree and sat under it and passed away….. thank you to all our friends and family for love and concerns and support!!!!!! love jenny

In a short posting on the original news report, Jenny Newell, daughter of Walt and Bonnie Lu Dohrn, confirmed the skeletal remains found near Cherry Valley over the weekend are those of her father, who disappeared July 5, 2009 after visiting friends in the desert community.

The remains, discovered by a group of boys riding off-road motorcycles Sunday afternoon, were identified Tuesday by dental records following an autopsy by the Riverside County Medical Examiner’s office.

Riverside Sheriff’s Investigator Robert Pierson said there was no evidence of foul play, adding there was no estimate of  when or how Dohrn died.

Since July, Niles Dohrn has made several trip to the area in search of his father. He said Thursday the discovery was made about a mile-and-a-half from where the his father was last seen. “We were so close,” Dohrn said.

Dohrn described his father as his very best friend.

“He will be missed like crazy. Everyone loved him. I appreciate all the help and support from the people of Ojai and to the detectives in Cherry Valley. The people who live there are super sweet. They were just great. And special thanks to the search party who came from Ojai.”

So many applicants, so little time

By Sondra Murphy

Tuesday’s meeting of the Ojai City Council was a bit anti-climactic. After voting 3-2 last month to appoint a replacement for the exiting Joe DeVito, the council reversed its decision Tuesday night and voted 3-1 in favor of holding a special election.

Finding a council member replacement has been a focus of the city since DeVito’s October announcement of his resignation effective Dec. 31. DeVito’s term would have naturally expired in 2010. His successor will therefore only fill the position through the next general election and so will need to run as a candidate on the November ballot to have a chance of continuing on the council.

Councilwomen Carol Smith and Betsy Clapp voted in the minority back in December, both supporting an election to fill the position. DeVito and Council Members Sue Horgan and Steve Olsen voted in favor of appointment, citing the time line and important issues needing the council’s immediate attention, such as fiscal concerns, Skate Park construction and Libbey Bowl renovation.

The council members acknowledged that the approximate cost of including a special election on the June primary ballot, estimated at $6,000, was not a lot compared with an individual special election, which would likely be between $30,000 and $36,000.

A June election means that a new council member would not be sworn in until July or August for a seat that will expire within a few months.

Since the decision for appointment, six city residents have applied. Ojai Unified School District board member Pauline Mercado submitted her application late Tuesday afternoon, joining Paul Blatz, Demitri Corbin, Mike Lenehan, Leonard Klaif and John Mirk. Blatz and Klaif are both attorneys active in the local community, while Corbin, Lenehan and Mirk serve on other city commissions.

Smith, who had voted for election, believed that the council should go through with the appointment process out of respect for the applicants. Mayor Olsen had spent time and energy developing the process to be used but was willing to discuss a change in how the position should be filled.

But it was Horgan who moved to reconsider. “We now have six very well-qualified people,” she said. “I want to discuss with my colleagues whether the city has been served well and if the applicants have been served fairly. Unfortunately because we didn’t put a time line on when the applications were due, not every applicant has had a chance to talk to us.”

“I don’t see how we can back pedal at this point,” Smith said. “I feel we really have no choice but to go through with it.”

Olsen said that he has had many discussions with constituents since the appointment decision and felt swayed by their arguments in favor of election.

The council listened to public comment. Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council Member Jerry Kaplan spoke in favor of appointment. “I come before you as one who believes in the election process,” he said. “We’re dealing with the ideal vs. the practical. This council has many important issues to deal with now, not six months from now, not nine months from now … By not appointing somebody now you are losing 20 percent of the mental input plus the expertise, plus the potential of having a split vote.”

Like most of the speakers, Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Eicher said the members continued to support letting the voters decide DeVito’s replacement. “The chamber urges you to proceed with a special election,” he said.

“But what about the people who showed up to speak,” asked Smith. “It’s like you show up and have the rug pulled out from under you. I’d like to hear from the applicants.”

“I disagree,” said Olsen. “I think this decision from the very beginning has been the council’s decision.” He said he would allow the applicants to speak following a decision about reconsidering, which was then unanimously supported by the council.

Among the applicants, only Corbin chose to speak, stating that he applied in order to have some cohesion in the months leading up to the November election. “I jumped into this fray because I knew that there were important issues and to finish what has been started from someone who knew the history,” he said. “To go through an election process will take me away from other work that I am doing for the city.”

Following public comments and council discussion, the members voted in favor of putting the item on a ballot. Smith cast the dissenting vote.

Horgan then moved for staff to come back to the Jan. 26 meeting with the necessary resolutions.

City attorney Monte Widders offered legal opinion about several technical questions, including split votes and quorum count. “If you deadlock, then no action is taken,” he said and added that even on a four-member council, three is considered a quorum for discussing business items. He also said the time line has been met for inclusion on the June ballot, but time was of the essence.

City Clerk Carlon Strobel said documents would need to be submitted to the county by Feb. 1 and the nomination period for June primary election inclusion would be Feb. 13 through March 12. She will return to the next meeting with more information about the time line and ballot process. That meeting is scheduled for Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Ojai City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St.

By Scott Wintermute
At around 12:30 Friday afternoon a late model Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was destroyed in a dramatic crash and ensuing fire near Mile Marker 30 on Maricopa Highway. Despite the presence of a rescue helicopter the driver of the $70,000 sports car was transported by ambulance to Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura as a precautionary measure. He apparently avoided major injuries, and was responsive and answering questions when CHP officers arrived.

Authorities became concerned when the man indicated that there was a gun in the car, kept in a lockbox in the trunk.

All indications are that the accident happened at a very high rate of speed as the car became airborne and rolled several times before coming to a rest and burning to a pile of scrap that could hardly be identified as a car.

The Corvette Z06 is an lighter, tighter and faster version of the famed muscle car, capable of reaching speeds just under 200 miles per hour. It appears that the driver was unable to keep the 505 horsepower vehicle on the ground. He lost control heading northbound after coming out of a sweeping turn and wrecked on the eastern side of the road.

Defense attorneys want second opinion

By Daryl Kelley
A psychologist has found a 15-year-old murder suspect from Mira Monte competent to stand trial, but defense attorneys are now seeking a trial to determine if Alex Medina is mentally capable of assisting in his own defense.

Medina has pleaded  not guilty to charges of  killing 16-year-old Seth Scarminach, a Chaparral High School student, at a teen party in Meiners Oaks last April.

A Superior Court judge on Friday continued Medina’s competency hearing for a week after defense lawyer Robyn Bramson requested a full competency trial March 5.

Prosecutor Bill Haney countered with a request that the judge simply continue the hearing until next Friday so attorneys for both sides could study the issues. Judge Edward Brodie granted that request.

“I’m not entirely sure what her issues are,” said Haney in an interview.

But previously, Bramson had asked that Brodie appoint two psychologists to examine Medina. The judge ruled last month that the defense was entitled to just one evaluation.

But after Santa Barbara psychologist John Lewis concluded in a six-page report that Medina was competent to stand trial, Bramson requested a full trial on the issue.

Haney said she is legally entitled to such a hearing if she persists in her motion after arguments on Friday.

Bramson could not be reached for comment after the hearing.

But previously, Scott Wippert, co-counsel for the defense, said his legal team had requested evaluation of  Medina’s competency because there is a question about whether the youthful defendant is capable of assisting in his own defense.

“If an attorney has a doubt of a client’s competency to stand trial, he has to bring it to the attention of the court,” Wippert said.

Wippert would not discuss what led him and his colleague, Bramson, to petition the court for an evaluation. But he said there are unusual factors when a 14-year-old is charged as an adult and tried in adult court, as is the case with Medina.

“In the case of a 14-year-old, there could be many different issues,” Wippert said. “It could range from a developmental disorder to mental issues. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to get into any details. But there are some differences when it’s a juvenile charged in adult court. That’s why we asked the judge to appoint experts.”

The Medina case is the second in the last year in which the same Studio City defense team has declared a doubt about the competency of a young defendant charged with murder as an adult. A judge declared Brandon McInerney, an Oxnard junior high school student accused of killing a gay classmate, competent to stand trial after an evaluation requested by Wippert’s law firm.

Two doctors evaluated McInerny, but Brodie ordered Medina evaluated by just one, as the judge said is required by law.

Prosecutors allege that Medina, who investigators say was an associate of an Ojai street gang, commit- ted a gang-related offense. He faces a charge of homicide with the use of a knife, and committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
That gang-related charge makes the potential penalties more severe. The maximum sentence that could be sought is 25 years to life in prison. Medina  is not eligible for the more-severe sentence of life without the possibility of parole because of his age, prosecutors have said.

According to autopsy results, Scarminach died of multiple stab wounds shortly before 2 a.m. on April 26 during an unsupervised party at a house in Meiners Oaks.

The alleged gang involvement, along with the heinous nature of the crime and the young age of the victim and alleged perpetrator, prompted a community outcry, culminating in a town hall meeting in June attended by about 350 people.

Hearings geared toward an early disposition of the case have led nowhere.

Fullenwider sentenced for DUI, child endangerment

By Daryl Kelley

An Ojai woman pleaded guilty Friday to driving a school bus filled with students while intoxicated, and was sentenced to a month in jail and four years of probation.

Kim Fullenwider, 53, was also ordered to pay $3,326 in fines and restitution after admitting that she endangered 21 children on her Ojai Unified School District bus by driving with a blood-alcohol level in excess of .04 percent. That is the legal limit for an operator of a commercial vehicle in California.

Fullenwider’s actual blood-alcohol level was between .07 and .08, according to a breath test conducted by the CHP after her school bus and another vehicle collided at about 7:15 a.m. Sept. 30, 2009.

The rear of the bus was struck at a slow speed as Fullenwider made a U-turn at Baldwin and Los Encinos roads. Officers decided the accident was her fault and that she had been drinking. No one was injured.

A bus driver for the Ojai district for 16 years, Fullenwider resigned her position two days after the Sept. 30 accident. Her driving record was unblemished previously, district officials said.

“She’s extraordinarily unlikely to get another job driving any type of passenger vehicle, nor does she intend to seek one,” said her attorney, Jay Leiderman

“She feels absolutely awful,” Leiderman said. “But her plea and her almost immediate surrender of her job is, we’re hopeful, a reasonable way to accept responsibility for this.”

Before the accident, Fullenwider had driven buses for 36 years and had never had even a traffic ticket, her attorney said.

But she does not dispute that she was intoxicated when she took the wheel to take kids to school that early Wednesday morning last year, he said.

She’d drunk an uncertain amount of beer the night before, he said. “It was enough to have her in excess of .04 in the morning.”

Fullenwider’s sentence was the result of a plea agreement under which she pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors – driving a commercial vehicle while intoxicated and endangering the health of a child – while a third misdemeanor was dropped.

Fullenwider was directed to begin serving her sentence Feb. 5.

By Sondra Murphy

On Tuesday, Ojai City Council members will be deliberating on applicants for the vacancy created by the resignation of Joe DeVito last month.

As of press time, five men had applied for the position, four of whom have previously been featured individually in the OVN: Paul Blatz, Demitri Corbin, Leonard Klaif and Mike Lenehan. Ojai Planning Commissioner John Mirk submitted his application Wednesday evening, and so is featured in today’s issue.

On Dec. 8, the Ojai City Council voted 3-2 in favor of appointing a replacement for the position vacated by Joe DeVito, whose term would have naturally expired in November of this year. At that time, it was the council’s hope that they would have enough qualified applicants from which to appoint the replacement on Jan. 12, but they would also be within the appointment time line if a choice was made at the Jan. 26 council meeting.

With DeVito gone, who voted with the majority for appointment, there is a possibility that the seat will go to special election. The council has not yet established dates for such an election. If embedded in the June primary ballot, the city has estimated the cost to be about $6,000. As an independent ballot, the cost to the city could be as high as $36,000.

“The choices are there, it’s now up to the council to decide what to do,” said city manager Jere Kersnar on Wednesday. The council meeting will be held at Ojai City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St., Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Following are the applicants, listed alphabetically.

Paul Blatz, age 58

Occupation: attorney

Education: George Washington University, B.S.; Ventura College of Law, J.D.

26-year Ojai resident

Affiliations: Rotary Club of Ojai-West; Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce; Ojai Valley Living Treasures board; Ojai Performing Arts Theater Foundation; Ojai Pergola Committee; California and Ventura County bar associations; and Ventura County Superior Court Judge Pro-Tem

Concerns: Assuring fiscal responsibility while protecting the character of Ojai through preservation of open spaces, addressing traffic impacts and supporting youth programs.

“I felt the council, in terms of who they appoint, should have as many applicants as possible. And I truly believe that my presence on the council would help assure the sustainability of the community.”

•••

Demitri Corbin, age 48

Occupation: Professional actor

Education: Illinois State University, B.S. in theater; Chautauqua Professional Actor’s Studio

Eight-year Ojai resident

Affiliations: Ojai Arts Commission; Virginia Avenue Project; Peachtree Theater Company; Cardboard Fairytale Theater; Ojai Playwrights Conference; Ojai-Ventura Film Festival; Theater 150; Ojai Shakespeare Festival; Ojai Performing Arts Theater Foundation; Ojai Valley Youth Foundation; and Ojai Library After School Homework Lab

Concerns: Better utilization of the city’s nonprofit status in applying for public and private funding for artistic and educational projects to help promote tourism to Ojai.

“I want to be on City Council because I think I would bring insight into the arts community when decisions are made. All of these things lend to the profile that Ojai has as an artists community.”

•••

Leonard Klaif, age 61

Occupation: criminal attorney

Education: University of Iowa College of Law, J.D; State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A. in economics; Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing, massage technician certificate

17-year Ojai resident

Affiliations: Ojai Art Center; Theater 150; Ojai Film Society; California Appellate Project; California State Bar; California Appellate Defense Council, South Bay and Ventura chapters; and Los Angeles County Juvenile Bar Association

Concerns: Fostering the arts, supporting local businesses and protecting the valley’s beauty and open spaces.

“I believe that I can make a valuable contribution as a member of the City Council. I am familiar with the issues as I regularly attend council meetings … We have incredibly interesting, smart, caring people in our valley and the city needs to better harness this most valuable resource.”

•••

Mike Lenehan, age 49

Occupation: federal investigator

Education: University of California at Santa Barbara, B.A. in law and society; Santa Barbara City College, A.A. in law and society; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College graduate

Nine-year Ojai resident

Affiliations: Ojai Parks & Recreation Commission; U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, retired; Ojai American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ojai; Knights of Columbus, Ventura; Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; Emerald Society of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies; Santa Barbara Irish Festival; and Nordhoff High and Villanova Preparatory schools, coach

Concerns: Promoting youth recreation programs while offering a conservative perspective to the collective decisions made by the city.

“I have a common person perspective that I think appeals to people who are in a like situation.”

•••

John Mirk, age 58

Occupation: IT support technician

Education: William Marsh Rice University, B.A. in architecture

16-year Ojai resident

Affiliations: Ojai Planning Commission; Housing Element Task Force; Ojai Public Art Review Committee; Libbey Park Public Art Selection Committee; Ojai Raptor Center; Theater 150; Patagonia Environmental Grants Committee; Nordhoff High School music department; Volunteers in Service to America; and Channel Islands Bike Club

Concerns: Affordable housing and developing standards and programs to enhance the city’s future while maintaining Ojai’s special character.

“I’ve enjoyed my service on the Planning Commission and am ready for new challenges. I consider service on the City Council to be one of the most demanding duties in our town, and see the chance to be directly responsible for the well-being of Ojai as one of the most rewarding opportunities in public service.”

Longtime Ojai Studio Artists member known as experimental expressionist

By Nancy Gross
Abstract expressionist Alberta Fins did not want services held for her after she passed away from stomach cancer on Dec. 17. But friends and admirers cannot stifle the desire to honor her for her work and her wonderful personality.

“She was such a natural artist. It came from her response to the world around her,” said friend and fellow Ojai Studio Artist, Karen Lewis, who paints landscapes and portraits somewhere between dreamy realism and hyperrealism.

Lewis added, “She was a longtime member of OSA and she was a good friend. She really had a unique art capacity. Her contributions to art are much more experimental, expressing herself with spontaneity, really trying to be ahead of the curve. She was not a figurative artist. She painted from emotions.”

Fins said of her own work that it was rarely sold in Ojai, but rather it would go straight from her studio into museum collections.

Donna Granata, of the Focus on the Masters program said, “I’ve always loved her work, which is so challenging for people to deal with because it is so dark. But it has a very sophisticated flavor. The most seasoned art lover would appreciate the work that went into it.”

Focus on the Masters is a nonprofit project that archives information about extraordinary local artists. Interviews, biographies and museum quality photographs of the artists and their work are collected and stored to support the artist and the art community. Additionally, the resources may be used for lectures and other kinds of educational outreach. A committee of leading art professionals including curators, gallery owners and participating artists, chooses artists for inclusion in FOTM.

Granata continued to describe Fins’ output, saying, “She could get pent-up emotions out by the physicality of making the work.” Fins is remembered for her superb sense of humor, but private challenges like the loss of her husband, and her own illness, were translated into her projects, which incorporated fabrics, cellophanes and canvases, where Fins would sometimes pour active chemicals, causing the images to deteriorate.

Fins tended not to speak about the sorrowful parts of her life, but she could not escape the difficulties. Granata photographed Fins peering out of a curtain while in a gallery containing her canvases, because this seemed the perfect metaphorical shot.

“She literally spilt herself into these canvases, which was very public,” but yet they offer a window into “what was private, behind the scenes,” Granata said. “I knew her very well, I had a tremendous affection for her.

“One of the big goals that we have at Focus on the Masters is to help people understand more challenging work and different subject matter,” Granata asserted.

Some of Fins’ works are referred to as assemblages; they use painting only as a starting point, and they extend beyond two dimensions. Granata believes Fins’ technique evolved when she was experimenting with ways to transfer images onto silks. As chemical reactions caused things to start rippling and bubbling, she found satisfaction and catharsis in what resulted.

Some of her training is grounded in the methods of print making, and Fins was a member of the Los Angeles Printmaking Society. She shared her love of printmaking with mixed media virtuoso, Linda Taylor, who said “I adored her. She just worked away — she had her own unique individual vision she was true to. She was in our Studio Artists from the very beginning. She was very dedicated to art.”

Taylor also said that while Fins was exhibited in many places, she did not brag, and “she supported her less well-off artist friends by purchasing their work.”

Fins was born in 1931, and a with move from New Jersey to California she began her formal study of art at Pasadena City College, Valley College and the University of California at Los Angeles.

Lewis also remarked that Fins was sensitive and troubled by political realities. “She was almost a news junkie. She had to watch the news and she’d lament and comment on the world situation in her art.”

In a 1991 Los Angeles Times article by Josef Woodard, Fins said, “I think art is what keeps me normal. I really have a sense of humor. I’m an up person and I do a lot of laughing. I think I have that side of me because I’m able to express the other side in the studio.”

Gayel Childress, another fellow OSA member, responded about Fins’ passing by saying, “What a loss, what a hole for our art community. She was an artists’ artist and I just loved her spirit. She twinkled inside.

“She had such serious art, when I met her I expected a very serious person, but she was so much fun. As a beginning artist, new to the art world, I visited her house, which was like a museum.

“Yet, she cherished a small whimsical piece, and seeing that in Alberta let me know my whimsy was OK. She kind of validated my quirkiness without her knowing she did. You never know when you are going to touch someone.”

John Mirk

Planner joins four others seeking city appointment

By Sondra Murphy

The city of Ojai has received a fifth application for the open council seat. Ojai Planning Commissioner John Mirk submitted his application Wednesday. His name joins those of Paul Blatz, Demitri Corbin, Leonard Klaif and Mike Lenehan.

Mirk is an IT support technician at Patagonia and has lived in Ojai for 16 years. He is married to book editor Marquita Flemming and they have two children, Dan and Sarah, now grown. Mirk is also a registered architect in California, having a bachelor’s in architecture from William Marsh Rice University.

“I’ve enjoyed my service on the Planning Commission and am ready for new challenges,” said Mirk. “I consider service on the City Council to be one of the most demanding duties in our town and see the chance to be directly responsible for the well-being of Ojai as one of the most rewarding opportunities in public service.”

In addition to serving on the Planning Commission for 12 years, Mirk is on the board of directors of the Ojai Raptor Center and was treasurer at Theater 150 in 2003 and 2004. Theater is one of his hobbies. “For the past 10 years, I have been the technical director for the Nordhoff music department spring musicals,” Mirk said. “Working with Dr. Marty Babayco, I designed the sets for everything from ‘42nd Street’ to ‘The Pirates of Penzance,’ then helped the students and parents build the sets.”

Mirk also is the Planning Commission’s representative to the Housing Element Task Force, and is a member of the Public Art Review Committee and the Libbey Bowl Public Art selection committee. He is also one of seven representatives to the Environmental Grants Committee that allocates a portion of Patagonia’s “1-percent for the Planet” funds to nonprofit environmental groups and is on Patagonia’s Environmental Internship Committee that provides up to one month’s paid leave for employees to work with nonprofit groups.

He is frequently seen cruising the valley on his bicycle. “I am an avid bike rider,” said Mirk. “I am a member of the Channel Islands Bike Club and edit the club newsletter. I commute to Patagonia twice a week by bike and, on the weekends, I can often be found riding up the Dennison Grade or over Casitas Pass.”

He credits his two “notorious” 15-year-old Siberian huskies, Milo and Tasha, with facilitating the meeting of many Ojai residents. “In their youth, they were wont to escape our fenced-in back yard and wander the streets of Ojai,” Mirk said. “One of our early introductions to our Ojai neighbors — the lady at the Christian Science Reading Room, and avocado farmer up on Gridley Road, and our own Ojai Valley News carrier — came when people called or stopped by to apprise us of the whereabouts of our dogs at one time or another.”

Mirk sees housing as an important issue to Ojai.

“Having spent the past year as the Planning Commission’s representative to the Housing Element Task Force I am acutely aware of the increasing demand for affordable housing in Ojai and the need to maintain viable jobs within the city,” he said.

He has other ideas for improving Ojai, as well. “I believe that as a city we need to set standards and develop programs which will enhance our future while maintaining the essential qualities that make Ojai a unique and special community,” said Mirk. “The year ahead will present many challenges. Our citizens comprise a tremendously talented community, with a fierce dedication to preserving the essence of Ojai. It is incumbent upon the council to work together so we can effectively focus on addressing the needs of our city.”

For more information about the City Council appointment and information on all five candidates, see related story.

Kersnar hopes to protect $3M in surplus cash

By Daryl Kelley
For Ojai, the new year is sure to herald an era of strict limits on municipal government, as revenues continue to fall and city services are likely to be cut.

A sharp decline in hotel and sales taxes has eliminated a once-robust budget surplus and the city is likely to dip into reserves before the end of this fiscal year on June 30, city manager Jere Kersnar said this week in a stark analysis of Ojai’s financial health.

“How to balance our budget will be the overwhelming issue in the coming year,” Kersnar said in an interview.

“We’re just starting to get the numbers, and they’re not good,” he said. “There’s a significant drop in revenue, so we’re going to have to look at cuts. And no one knows how long this is going to last.”

During the next few months, the City Council will face tough decisions about whether to use the city’s emergency fund to maintain services at current levels, or to balance its budget through cuts, Kersnar said.

“We have just over $3 million (in reserve), so we’re OK,” he said, “but good fiscal management says you shouldn’t go into your next year depending on your savings to balance your budget.”

As city analysts prepare a budget update this month, Kersnar said it should become clear how much the faltering economy has curtailed city revenue. But he said preliminary figures for the six months ending Dec. 31 already show a sharp decline.

“It is a significant drop,” he said. “It’s a lot in percentage terms.”

The council has already cut back spending by about $400,000, from a projected $8.4 million, for the 2009-2010 budget cycle, Kersnar said. But more cuts are needed to balance the city ledger next year, he said.

Since nearly one-third of the city’s general fund budget goes to police services, Ojai’s contract with the Sheriff’s Department will be analyzed, Kersnar said. “But they tell us we’re pretty much at the low end of the service level as it is right now,” he said. The city’s $75,000 contribution to place a deputy at Nordhoff High School might also be in question for the next school year, he said.

City staffing, 25 full-time employees, will also be eyed for reduction, he said. But the staff is already lean. One area in which a reduction might occur is elimination of the position of redevelopment manager, because the agency’s director, Kathleen McCann, retired last week.

In recent years, Ojai had been in a relatively good financial position because hotel bed taxes make up an unusually large portion of the city budget, about one-third. And local hotels, primarily the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, have done relatively well until the last year, he said. Now, bed taxes are down sharply.

Many large businesses, stung by criticism of excess spending on conferences in these tough economic times, don’t want to risk the public relations damage a stay at a five-star resort could cause, Kersnar said.

“The biggest dip — in hotel tax  — seems to be a decline in business traffic,” he said. “Groups are not coming to the Ojai Valley Inn. Lots of businesses, even though they could afford it, have cut back.”

Sales taxes from local shops have also dropped, he said, but Ojai has been hurt less than many other cities, because it has no huge major retailers. Only about 15 percent of Ojai’s revenue comes from sales.

Not only have hotel and sales taxes plummeted, but housing prices have also reached levels not seen for nearly a decade. But the hit in property taxes has been modest, Kersnar said.

That’s because even with lower prices and widespread lower appraisals by the county assessor’s office, the turnover of houses tends to increase the tax base, since it brings dwellings that were taxed low under Proposition 13 up to current value.

Another big issue facing the city is change on the City Council itself. Three of its five seats are on the ballot in November, and the council will decide next Tuesday whether to appoint a replacement for Joe DeVito, who retired with a year left in his term last week.

If the remaining four members cannot decide on a replacement, the DeVito seat would be filled in an election — either the June statewide primary or the November general election.

“My sense is that it will end up in an election,” Kersnar said.

Indeed, the council split 3-to-2 in deciding last month to replace DeVito by appointment. And now there are only four votes left on the council. “I don’t sense there is a majority for appointment,” Kersnar said.

In December, Sue Horgan and Steve Olsen voted for appointment, while Betsy Clapp and Carol Smith favored filling the seat by election.

Regardless of its composition, the council will be faced with major issues in 2010.

First, it is set to conclude its lengthy ruminations about a new $350,000 skateboard park by awarding a construction contract at its Jan. 26 meeting. Four builders have been pre-qualified to do the job and have submitted bids, Kersnar said. The city has donated $100,000 to the project with the bulk raised through community donations.

The council will also monitor progress toward the $3.5 million reconstruction of Libbey Bowl, to which the city has contributed $750,000 and about $150,000 in services, the city manager said.

“These projects are there and they will proceed,” Kersnar said, although backers have yet to raise the final $1.5 million needed for the bowl rehabilitation.

Other construction projects are also expected to move forward in the coming year.

In March, the city plans to spend $350,000 to $400,000 in federal stimulus money on street resurfacing. Another pot of stimulus money could also yield a similar amount for street repair, Kersnar said.

In addition, the city has received word that it will get $900,000 in stimulus money to replace its two aging trolleys.

“It’s just a matter of getting all the state approvals,” Kersnar said. “People talk about federal delay, but the major problem is getting the money approved by the state.”

Still, some long-planned projects won’t happen this year. For example, the extension of Fulton Street to Bryant Street to reduce congestion out of the city’s industrial park is on a back burner. This 10-year effort has finally met environmental requirements and the city now owns the land, but there is no construction money, Kersnar said.

Another variable is how the state’s yawning $20-billion budget deficit over the next 18 months is going to affect Ojai, Kersnar said.

Although this city depends less on state funds than most, it could still be hit with cuts, he said.

Historically, in tough economic times, the state has balanced its budget by withdrawing tax money from local governments that it has pledged to pass through. These so-called SB 90 dollars are supposed to pay for programs the state has required local governments to provide without reliable funding.

Ojai could lose about $50,000 this way, Kersnar said.

Another $100,000 in state law enforcement grants could also go away, he said.

But the largest potential hit is in state attempts to capture redevelopment money from local governments. If the state is not blocked in court, Ojai would have to write a check for $592,000 to Sacramento in May, which is more than half of the $1 million the city receives in redevelopment property tax each year.

Courts struck down the state’s attempt to take local redevelopment money last year, but state officials have tried to change law to patch legal loopholes, Kersnar said.

“But our experts say what they’re doing is still unconstitutional,” he said.

Also near the top of the council agenda is the question of how it should meet state mandates to provide more affordable housing. One possible answer is to grant amnesty to those who have allowed illegal dwellings on their property if they will bring those substandard dwellings up to city code.

A city report determined that there are more than 300 illegal dwellings in the city. But the city has suspended discussions on that issue until after an environmental report on the city’s overall housing plan is complete in the next few months.

“We haven’t figured out how to do the (amnesty) plan,” Kersnar said.

At issue overall is how the city can address a state quota that requires it to provide 465 new affordable dwellings, despite a shortage of bare land and the traffic and smog problems that growth would bring to this narrow valley served by two-lane highways.

The council must also deal with a second bench mark plan within the first few months of 2010 — how to extend the life of its Redevelopment Agency.

The council, acting as the city’s Redevelopment Agency board, must focus on how it can continue to refurbish the city’s core as the agency approaches a cap on how much it can collect in property taxes.

Since its founding in 1972, the Redevelopment Agency has captured about $20 million in property tax that would otherwise have gone to other government entities. But, with soaring property values during the last decade, the agency is now approaching a $23.2-million cap on how much it can collect.

That means that by 2012, the agency could be effectively out of the redevelopment business, and the city would be hard-pressed to find another source for the $1 million a year the agency collects.

A top redevelopment lawyer has said the city may extend Redevelopment Agency collections, however. That’s because Ojai’s collections cap may apply only to its original redevelopment zone, its aging core, and not to two newer, smaller redevelopment zones for east and west Ojai Avenue and Bryant Street, the lawyer said.

The County of Ventura has challenged this move, and negotiations are under way to try reach a compromise that would allow Ojai to amend its plan and still collect millions more dollars during the next 30 years, while passing some along to the county.

Kersnar said he thinks a compromise could be reached by spring.

Even as the city and the county squabble over who would get extra taxes from new development, Kersnar said that for the first time in years there are no pending new home construction projects before the city, other than a long-standing plan to replace several cottages on Mallory Way with new condos.

Several small projects approved over the years still have not been built, but there’s nothing new on the horizon, he said.

“One thing that’s truly fascinating,” he said, “is that we have nothing residential in the pipeline.”

City, school board to resume talks for Channel 10 control

By Sondra Murphy

Last season’s mystery of Channel 10 ended with a cliffhanger and local cable television subscribers have yet to learn the outcome.

Time Warner Cable customers are still waiting for the public access station to air more comprehensive content about the Ojai Valley. Despite station management and funding logistics being a topic of much debate and effort last year by the Ojai City Council and staff, sparse offerings continue to be aired, consisting primarily of City Council and Planning Commission meetings with occasional calendar items.

Ojai Unified School District was meeting last spring with the city to hammer out a memo of understanding enabling its Nordhoff High School Media Arts Academy to manage Channel 10 when OUSD superintendent Tim Baird tendered his resignation. Baird’s departure and the search for and selection of current superintendent Henry Bangser, coupled with focus on Skate Park negotiations between the city and School District, sidelined further progress.

“I received a request from the School District to sit back down at the table with them,” said city Public Works director Mike Culver. “It kind of got put on hold with the new superintendent coming in, but now they’re ready to talk about it.” Culver expected he and city manager Jere Kersnar would meet with OUSD this month.

“Mike and Jere and I and a couple of leaders from the district, particularly Dan Musick and Greg Bayless from the high school, are going to be getting together in the next week or two to talk about some options for moving the issue forward,” said Bangser. “I have a few ideas and thoughts from people in the district and I want to see if they mesh with what the people over in the city want to help us accomplish.”

Bangser cited the Skate Park negotiations, infant center closure and educational issues for part of the break in talks, as well as time needed for him to learn the history of local public access efforts. “We haven’t dropped it. We’re getting up to it now in early 2010.”

Assembly Bill 2987, the 2006 Digital Infrastructure and Competition Act, proposed to equalize competition among cable providers by allowing them all to franchise with the state. Intending to open up access to various media providers by altering franchise regulations, cable providers such as Time Warner, which provides cable to Ojai, were able to reduce the number of local cable stations they facilitated.

AB 2987 also opened up the prospect for the city to assume management of Channel 10 and receive additional funds for the effort.

The City Council voted in 2008 to take on management of Channel 10 and its equipment, which would otherwise have gone dark Jan. 1, 2009.

After slow progress and hesitancy over assuming broadcast duties and responsibilities, a second reading of an ordinance adding a new chapter to the Ojai Municipal Code received unanimous support by the Ojai City Council in February 2009. The ordinance addresses state video franchises pursuant to Assembly Bill 2987, the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 as it relates to Channel 10.

The city has long gotten 5 percent of Time Warner’s revenues from customers in the city limits, which Culver estimated to be $88,000 annually that goes into the general fund. The council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance in February and, while supportive of taking over Channel 10, they still wanted assurances of the risks associated with any agreement between the city and OUSD.

Since March, the city has been collecting the extra amount from a percentage of Time Warner’s Ojai franchise profits into a special fund. “What we’ve gotten so far is $14,579,” said Kersnar. “It varies. We get paid quarterly, so it looks like we’re getting about $5,000 per quarter.” The amount is approximately 1 percent more than the city previously received and is figured by calculating the number of Time Warner Cable subscribers in the city of Ojai.

In November 2008, Culver formed a community task team of interested parties to work on a plan. That team consists of representatives from the City Council, city staff, the School District, Ministerial Association, and Ojai Valley News, as well as individuals experienced in emergency preparedness, technology and public access TV production. Once the station is capable of airing more comprehensive programming, the committee hopes to explore methods of collecting revenues for the unincorporated areas of the Ojai Valley, since these customers also have access to Channel 10.

Culver also convinced Time Warner to turn over to the city equipment to run the station, which is now housed at Public Works. The problem is there is no staff to accept and air content from the community at large, a crucial element in the concept of public access television.

Public access television must focus on three areas: public information, education and government (P.E.G.). With the city covering the government portion, the task team considered the other two components to Channel 10’s broadcasts of enabling community members to create and submit content.

In November 2008, Ojai Unified School District offered to run the station through its Media Arts Academy in exchange for the then-estimated $17,600 to begin the effort and had hoped to begin in January 2009.

That offer was supported by task team members, but negotiations between the city and OUSD stalled over operational logistics, as well as plans that were not detailed enough to satisfy the City Council.

Council members favorably viewed the later proposal submitted by Baird in February. In the proposal, Baird outlined a curriculum design for station management to be incorporated into the Media Arts Academy in order to provide eight hours of daily programming and allow for community involvement in several areas. Besides an advisory board of local media specialists, OUSD’s proposal encourages community submissions.

Again the community awaits an agreement between the two public organizations governed by procedural law and advised by often-conflicting legal representation. And so, like any engrossing mystery, the case of Channel 10 is to be continued.

Friends unite to stop home foreclosure

By Nancy Gross
On Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., the parking lot of the New Wine Fellowship on Church Road will again be sudsy with love and service. A fund-raising car wash, like the one held last spring for the grieving Scarminach family, is being staged to help Frances Fraser hang onto her house. Fraser has been a gracious presence in Oak View and Ojai for many decades.

“She helps with everything. She’s losing her house to foreclosure,” said Sharyn Mathews, who is one of the organizers of the event. Mathews was also instrumental in making last year’s car wash benefit for the Scarminach family so successful, with thousands of dollars contributed by valley residents and businesses.

“It’s just a heart kind of thing. I remember when I went to Ventura High School and she was one of the security officers there, like a lunch cop. And she’s always been at H & R Block when I do my taxes,” Mathews said.

Another helper at last spring’s car wash, Claudia Decker, is assisting again. She said that Fraser “goes up and down the street and helps all the neighbors. She just had an operation, and she’s still helping others.”

And sure enough, when Fraser’s warm voice returns a phone call she missed, she says, “I have a friend who’s in a wheelchair and I was sort of watching her out in the yard while her husband did yard work.”

Fraser has lived in her house at 104 Grapevine for 50 years. “My son was just a baby when we moved here. I grew up on Burnham Road, on another part of the same property. I’ve always lived here since.

“I’m on Social Security. I do work at H & R Block during tax season,” Fraser said.

Danny Miller, pastor at New Wine Fellowship, said, “Her monthly mortgage is not terribly high. But she has been behind several of her mortgage payments.” He said there was some fraud to her bank account that brought about her current crisis.

“I just heard that the bank is holding off (on the foreclosure) until March. We’re trying to raise as much as we can to be a blessing to her,” Miller said. “She’s been part of the church for a couple of years, and she’s been active in the community.” Fraser has helped with food distribution at the First Baptist Church, and many people knew her as the scorekeeper for softball in the valley.

The Fraser family has long been integrated into the community, both giving and receiving. Daniel Fraser, one of Fraser’s sons and a well-loved softball player and manager, died in a car accident in 2002. “When my son died the Rec. Department and men’s softball put on a big tournament at Sarzotti Park.”

Fraser is waiting for more information from her bank, but hopes that several thousand dollars would allow her to get out of foreclosure. She could then return to making her monthly payments in the peace of the home she’s lived in for so long.

The event will commence Saturday at 8 a.m. at New Wine Fellowship, 441 Church Road, rain or shine. If you want to donate but cannot attend, call Mathews at 223-4314, or contact the church.

Sally Field joins Ojai’s Ted Danson and
Mary Steenburgen for this year’s event

By Sondra Murphy

Continuing a tradition of star-studded performances, the 13th annual Ojai Playwrights Conference winter benefit is set for this month at Matilija Auditor-ium.

The original evening of theater will be created and directed by Michael Morris and OPC artistic director and producer Robert Egan.

Demonstrating the clout the conference has cultivated over the years, prestigious actors will again participate in the “Hearts on Fire” winter benefit that will honor four-time Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally with the 2010 OPC Award.

Born in 1939, McNally produced his first play in 1964 at the age of 25. Although several early comedies such as “Next” (1969) and “The Ritz” (1975) won McNally significant praise, it was not until later in his career that he would become internationally renowned with works such as “Frankie and Johnny at the Claire de Lune” (1987) for which he wrote the screen adaptation which starred Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.

McNally has won four Tony awards and been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for “A Perfect Ganesh.” Besides “Frankie and Johnny,” he is known for writing “Love! Valour! Compassion!,” television scripts and the book for the musicals, “The Full Monty,” “Ragtime” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

“Terrence is one of America’s greatest living playwrights. So many awards, so much output, and so many extraordinary characters brought to life in his poignant plays,” said Egan. “McNally participated in the Ojai Playwrights Conference several years ago, and developed one of his plays here,” he added. “He said it was one of the best developmental experiences of his life.”

Featured actors this year are two-time Oscar and three-time Emmy winner Sally Field (“Places in the Heart,” “Norma Rae,” “Brothers & Sisters”); Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Sideways”); Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ted Danson (“Cheers,” “Becker”); and Oscar and Golden Globe winner Mary Steenburgen (“Melvin and Howard,” “Parenthood”). They will be in the cast for a one-night-only performance titled “Hearts on Fire.”

Also performing at the benefit are Emmy-winning actress Dana Delany (“China Beach,” “Desperate Housewives”); Emmy nominated and Tony winner John Glover (“Smallville,” “Love! Valour! Compassion!”); Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm in the Middle,” “Raising the Bar”); Golden Globe winning songwriter Amanda McBroom (“The Rose”); Zachary Quinto (“Heroes,” “Star Trek 2009”); Steven Weber (“Brothers & Sisters,” “Dracula: Dead and Loving It”) and Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Noah Wyle (“E.R.,” “The Librarian” series), and other talent still to be announced.

Egan promises an evening of heart-breaking, heart-lifting and heart-throbbing performances of an eclectic mix of works by some of America’s greatest playwrights, including McNally.

Egan has a history of bringing together major talent in Ojai for once-in-a-lifetime performances. “The OPC has become one of the most acclaimed new play and development programs in the country and these stars want to support our efforts,” said Egan. “We are the only one whose primary mission is to develop plays and writers whose focus is on the major social, political and ethical issues of our day.”

“Hearts on Fire” is set for Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. The actors rehearse the morning before the benefit readings and infuse adult humor into the performance, garnering a self-imposed PG rating in past years.

Ticket options are $85 for “Hearts on Fire” only, or $225 for the reading, plus the post-show dinner and live auction at St. Thomas Aquinas Hall. The auction will feature trips abroad, a set visit to “Desperate Housewives” courtesy of Delany, theater packages, and romantic getaways for Valentine’s Day. Many of this year’s performers will serve as auctioneers.

Award-winning chef Michael Hollingsworth, a favorite among political and artistic celebrities, is organizing the dinner.

VIP packages for eight cost $2,000 for preferred seating, dinner and a group photo with the cast. A limited number of back row tickets will be available for $70. Tickets may be purchased at ojaiplays.org or by calling 640-0400.

Proceeds benefit the Ojai Playwrights Conference, which takes place each summer as a means to foster creative technique in established and emerging playwrights, as well as develop and advance unproduced plays. More than 500 submissions were received this year and selections will be announced in spring.

The 13th annual OPC New Works Festival, scheduled for Aug. 10 through 15, is a two-week, intensive, in-residence workshop which culminates in special events and performances open to the public.

We take a quick look back at the stories that
made news during the last half of 2009

July
• K’Lynn Jackson, 17, an Ojai native, just won the title of Miss California High School Rodeo Queen 2009-2010.

• A design permit review for an interior remodel of Vons, exterior upgrade of the entire center and parking lot improvements was denied by the Ojai Planning Commission.

• The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will charge Alex Medina, the 14-year-old suspect in the April 26 murder of Seth Scarminach as an adult. If convicted, the Mira Monte teen could face life in prison.

• According to authorities, longtime Ojai resident Walter Henry Dohrn Jr., 70, disappeared from a friend’s residence in Cherry Valley Sunday, about 150 miles east of Ojai in Riverside County.

• Sergio Aragones, who brings smiles to millions, will have his first solo exhibit at the Ojai Valley Museum.

• According to OUSD Board President Linda Taylor, the board has selected Dr. Henry Stephen Bangser as its new superintendent.

• Between May 1 and June 30, unknown suspect(s) placed “skimmers” on credit card readers on the gas pumps at Valero Gas stations in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

• Otto Heino, the soft-spoken potter who was one of Ojai’s and the world’s most revered artists, died after a short illness. He was 94 and still actively working.

• The federal government failed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on an appellate court decision which found that the government seized Casitas Municipal Water District property by forcing it to provide water for endangered steelhead trout.

• Ojai has earned a shot at becoming America’s “Best Tennis Town.”

• A 14-year-old Mira Monte resident, Alex Medina, pleaded not guilty to murdering a 16-year-old Chaparral High School student at an unsupervised teen party in April. Medina faces a charge of homicide with the use of a knife, and committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

August
• The city expects to receive at least $850,000 in federal stimulus money for road paving and two new trolleys in the next few months, and may pick up $110,000 a year for three years from Washington for a school resource officer at Nordhoff High School.

• Ojai Valley Youth Foundation’s executive director Joanna Iwata was presented with an Inspiration Award from the National Teen Leadership Program on Aug. 2.

• Evan Graham, who lives in Ojai and will be a junior at Ojai Valley School in the fall, turned 16, accomplished his first five solo flights and set a world record.

• The Ojai City Council denied this week an appeal by the Ojai Unified School District that sought to delay approval of the design of a new, permanent skate park until district concerns had been addressed.

• After a federal agency failed to launch a rescue effort last month, at least 54 juvenile steelhead trout died in dry pools in the upper Ventura River near the $9-million Robles fish ladder, built to save endangered fish from extinction.

• The parking lot and the room were packed for the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting. The recurring questions of the evening were “Where are the people who initiated this review and these changes to the Scenic Resources Protection Overlay Zone, and isn’t enough bureaucratic intervention enough?” as far as architects, builders, graders and agriculture in the valley having to comply with already very strict codes and standards?

• Members of the Ojai Valley community who came together for the final Heal the Community meeting, or town hall on gang violence, were treated to a positive and constructive evening. “There was a lot of emotion at the last meeting,” said Police Chief Dunn. “People yelling out from the audience about ‘running them out of town,’ saying, ‘Why can’t you do more?’ ‘They’re illegals’ — I’d like to remind people that we have to operate within the guidelines set forth in the U.S. and California constitutions. We cannot operate like the Gestapo and run people out of town, nor would we.”

• After quizzing operators of Sea Fresh Seafood extensively, Ojai city planners moved toward approval of an expansion.

• The effects of the state’s budget crisis keep washing over California communities, prompting the OUSD to chop five days off the coming school year, reduce teacher salaries and begin to plan a cut in bus transportation.

• Ojai resident and Oscar-winning screenwriter Roger Avary, who earlier pleaded not guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, resulting in a late-night car crash in Ojai on January 12, 2008, entered guilty pleas this week in Ventura County Superior Court.

• The Ojai Valley News won first place, third place and honorable mention awards from the National Newspaper Association.

• St. Joseph’s Health and Retirement Center and the Ojai community lost one of its treasures Thursday morning when cancer took the life of Brother Hugo Stippler, age 86.

September
• Ojai Valley citrus farmers, threatened by the discovery of a potentially disastrous infestation of a plant-eating, tree-jumping lice in Southern California, are asking local residents to not bring any fruit or trees purchased elsewhere into the valley.

• Ventura County fire crews worked to contain a brushfire that broke out near Lake Casitas, when a motorcycle crashed into the hillside.

• The U.S. Tennis Association’s Best Tennis Town contest yielded a second-place award for Ojai, a $50,000 prize, during the U.S. Open.

• Members of the local peace group, Living Peace in Ojai, plan on combining a celebration of International Peace Day with events that focus on “diversity, conflict and community.”

• “Micah’s March” was held for 14-month-old Micah Marshall, who has spinal muscular atrophy.

• Jenny Newell, Niles Dohrn and wife Tara, Jennel Dohrn and Walt Dohrn Jr. hope that a fund-raising event held at the restaurant named in honor of their mother, Bonnie Dohrn, can help them continue efforts to find their father, Walter Dohrn, who has been missing since July 5.

• A Pennsylvania-based private school operator, Nobel Learning Communities Inc. of West Chester, Pa., announced the purchase of Laurel Springs School for $12 million.

• Approximately 200 people attended Monday’s Municipal Advisory Council meeting and the MAC arrived at a unanimous decision against expanding the Ojai Valley Scenic Resource Protection Overlay Zone.

• Ventura County Environmental Health Division received confirmation from the State Department of Public Health that one wild bird collected by EHD vector control technicians the third week of September 2009 tested positive for the West Nile virus.

• Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of an early-morning fire that destroyed a home at 411 Grand Ave. and caused extensive damage to the attic of a neighboring residence.

• Oscar-winning screenwriter and Ojai Valley resident Roger Avary was sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

• A traffic collision occurred involving a pickup truck and an Ojai Unified School District bus on Baldwin Road at Los Encinos Road. Kim Fullenwider, age 53 of Ojai, was driving the bus.

October
• The Erickson-Brosius family is still sorting out their lives after a quick-moving fire engulfed and destroyed their Grand Avenue residence.

•  Ojai Valley Community Hospital unveiled its new Emergency Room during a ribbon-cutting ceremony before about 200 supporters.

• Former tennis great Jack Kramer honored Ojai with a $25,000 posthumous donation to the Tennis Club.

• The American Red Cross of Ventura County recognizes Kathy Hartley’s gracious outreach and public concern, naming her Philanthropist of the Year.

• A large black bear made its way into town, climbing a tree near the corner of Signal and Aliso streets. After spending 20 hours up the pine tree it was a hard, final fall for the bear, when DFG wardens tranquilized and then euthanized it, to the dismay and outrage of many Ojai residents.

• Longtime Ojai City Council member and current Mayor Joe DeVito submitted his resignation.

• Just beginning a new rainfall year, the Ojai Valley experienced its second wettest October in the last half century, relieving farmers of irrigation costs.

• A 49-year-old Oak View woman, Laura Hanson, was killed in a single-vehicle crash off Highway 33 near Casitas Springs.

• Peter Graves, the silver-haired 6-foot-2 pilot from the classic comedy, “Airplane,” will be among the luminaries the Ojai-Ventura Film Festival will bring to town the first week of November.

• A dramatic fire broke out Monday afternoon at one of Ojai’s historic landmarks, the Theodore Woolsey House on East Ojai Avenue, injuring one Ventura County firefighter.

• Oscar-winning screenwriter and Ojai Valley resident Roger Avary was booked into Ventura County Jail on Monday to begin serving a one-year sentence for felony manslaughter, and was immediately placed in a work-furlough program.

• According to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital, visits by swine flu patients to the Emergency Room are steadily increasing.

November
• Hundreds of Ojai teenagers volunteered their innermost thoughts and a talented troupe of students and the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation brought those feelings to the stage in “Teens Talk … Will You Listen?” at Matilija High School Auditorium

• The next chapter in the Ojai Skate Park chronicles is complete. On Tuesday, the Ojai Unified School District board approved the city’s plans for downtown skate park construction, but not without some adjustments.

• At the Ojai Ventura Film Festival, the Best Documentary Short honored Ojai and Rich Reid for the film “Watershed Revolution.”

• Help of Ojai’s 2009 annual meeting combined efficiency with a warm sense of community, and under Terri Wolfe’s leadership, Help is in the black. County Supervisor Steve Bennett attended and spoke about Ojai’s high unemployment rate, and growing need for services.

• Organizers of last weekend’s Mentor Madness Poker Run and Car and Motorcycle Show are happy that the event was a success. “Approximately $7,000 was raised and there were a little over 100 poker run participants,” said Heal the Community co-founder Dusty Fernandez.

• In the ongoing efforts to raise $3 million for the Libbey Bowl restoration project, a new idea has emerged. The Ojai City Council staff brought a request to consider renaming the bowl in exchange for a $1 million donation.

• The Sheriff’s Gang Unit arrested Rutilio Huerta for the gang-related attempted murder of Joshua Powers that occurred in the city of Ojai on New Year’s Eve.

• The Ojai Film Society honored its 2009 Steenburgen Film Studies Scholarship winner on Sunday, and honoree and Brooks Institute student Sean Broadbent’s short film “Une Vie Merveilleuse” was screened.

• The Ojai Valley Youth Foundation has restructured, eliminating three positions, including that of executive director Joanna Iwata, and bringing in board member Dan Burrell to oversee operations.

• The Casitas Municipal Water District has requested that a federal agency seeking to restore endangered southern steelhead trout in the Ventura River to sustainable levels provide more solid information and be more precise and realistic in its goals.

• Peter Strauss recently made a decision not to run for Congress representing our 24th District. He was approached in June and met in Washington with Democratic Party officials and White House political directors.

• Darlene Mansfield, whose husband was “the whistling telephone man in this valley” put out a reprint of the 1954 Ojai Valley Directory.

• Almost 11 months after a near-fatal stabbing incident on Waite Street, 19-year-old Fidel Duran has pleaded guilty to multiple felonies.

• Ojai Police detectives warn Ojai Valley residents of an increase in reported vehicle burglaries and thefts from vehicles.

• Following a summer in which at least 54 steelhead trout died in dry pools in the upper Ventura River, federal officials who failed to launch a rescue effort are now devising a strategy that could save the endangered fish when they face death.

December
• A Superior Court judge this week ordered the mental evaluation of Alex Medina after defense lawyers said they had doubts about the youth’s ability to assist in his own defense. A competency hearing to discuss the evaluation was set for Jan. 8.

• Effective Dec. 1, Walter A. Einhart Jr. has been named editor and publisher of the Ojai Valley News.

• Sergio Ramos was sentenced this morning to 27 years in state prison for a shooting he committed in Oak View in 2008. Ramos, an Ojai gang member, has been in custody since his arrest in June of 2008.

• Two men died when their single-engine Piper Tomahawk crashed at 24 Krotona Road.

• Chairman and President David Shor announced his departure from the Ojai-Ventura Film Festival, and that of six other board members.

• Ojai City Councilwoman and former Mayor Sue Horgan announced Tuesday that she has entered the race for Ventura County Treasurer and Tax Collector.

• Lanie Springer, longtime champion of philanthropy and community service, died of pancreatic cancer.

• Actor and Ojai Arts Commissioner Demitri Corbin has thrown his hat into the ring for a City Council opening.

• Detectives from the Ojai sub-station and the Sheriff’s Gang Unit concluded a two-month investigation into a vehicle burglary ring with the arrest of five suspects.

• Parks & Recreation Commissioner Mike Lenehan submitted his application for a City Council seat.

We take a quick look back at the stories that
made news during the first six months of 2009

January
• The rumors are true: as of yesterday, texting while driving will be an illegal infraction in the state of California. The state Legislature and Gov. Schwar-zenegger signed the no-texting ban into law for the new year.

• Fresno resident Jerry Powers said his 27-year-old son, Oak View resident Joshua Ray Powers, was left for dead in the 200 block of Waite Street at 1:30 a.m. News Year’s Day after being stabbed 17 times.

• With a Meiners Oaks church refusing to lease Ventura river-bottom land, government agencies have been forced to back away from their top choice for disposal of a 20-foot-high mound of silt as part of the Matilija Dam removal project. Members of the Church of the Living Christ rejected a lease with Ventura County and the U.S. government that would have allowed 2.1 million cubic yards of slurried silt to be piped from behind the aging dam to a 74-acre site at the base of a bluff next to Rice Road.

• Ojai Planning Commission approved proposed general standards for outdoor merchandise displays drawn up by a committee of merchants and city representatives. Such displays have historically been prohibited in the city.

• After an extensive two-month search, Dave Neville, Help’s board chairperson, and director Kelly Randall, head of the executive director search committee, announced the hiring of Terri Wolfe as Help’s new executive director.

“I plan to provide ongoing and consistent leadership for the staff and volunteers so they can focus on the things they’re really good at,” said Wolfe. “After working with other not-for-profits around the country, I wanted to come back and do it in this community.”

• Seven drums, each carrying 300 to 400 gallons of diesel fuel, spilled from a large truck on Highway 33 at mile marker 40.84 before dawn after the truck ran off the highway. According to reports, 1,000 gallons spilled into Adobe Creek and 700 gallons spilled into the soil near the creek.

February
• Local cable TV subscribers may have noticed the programming on Channel 10 has dwindled to city meetings and a sparse bulletin. Starting in January, the city of Ojai took over the running of public access television.

• Gus Hoffman, a 17-year-old Nordhoff High School junior, has done something most students and many actors can only dream of, he’s co-starred in an original movie that will be broadcast into hundreds of thousands of living rooms across the nation on TNT.

• Once again a litany of economic woes topped the Ojai Unified School Board meeting. Superintendent Tim Baird outlined the grim economic picture he was given over three days of statewide meetings.

• Help of Ojai received an early Valentine’s Day gift from a former volunteer who remembered the organization in her will.

June Greiving left a bequest of $125,000 to Help.

March
• City Council members are bracing themselves for an emotion-fueled evening. At issue is the long-standing debate over the city’s enforcement — or lack thereof — of the merchandise display laws that have been on the books for years.

The topic, which has been on the City Council’s agenda for the past several sessions, threatens to turn into a bit of a brouhaha at Tuesday’s gathering as a result of the sudden issuing of several unexpected official “notices of violation” to local retailers last week, mainly along the Arcade, for such infractions as having a sign outside a shop or a small table or rack of goods on display.

• The Ojai Unified School District board voted to notify 74 teachers of impending layoffs, the teachers’ dreaded “pink slips.”

Positions scheduled to be noticed for layoffs include 32 elementary teachers, 31 secondary teachers, and 13 district positions such as English language support, elementary music and physical education.

• After several months spent examining neighborhood safety concerns at El Roblar Drive and Poli Avenue, the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council decided against recommending stop signs or no parking zones along the little business district.

• Food For Thought, which last year received a grant for a pilot project called Up and Down the Waste Stream, has received a two-year $80,000 anonymous grant to continue greening our schools with its Green and Healthy Schools Program.

• A Mira Monte woman who refused to allow gypsy moth spraying on her property has complained to authorities about what she considers “strong-arm tactics” by a Ventura County biologist who urged her to reconsider that decision.

• The Ventura County Sheriff Gang Unit, assisted by several local and federal agencies, served 12 search warrants in two counties, as part of an ongoing investigation into a criminal street gang. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of nine handguns, methamphetamine, stolen motorcycles, prescription pills, and dangerous weapons.

• Appraising Libbey Bowl as a significant treasure to the community, the Ojai City Council voted unanimously to commit $500,000 in development funds to the next phase in its reconstruction.

• Serving court warrants, police-escorted state crews entered 27 Ojai area properties without permission to spray trees and shrubs with an organic pesticide to halt the spread of a tree-killing moth, a move some homeowners declared an outrage.

Officials said they’ve now treated all 577 properties within a designated spray zone in Mira Monte and Meiners Oaks just as caterpillars have hatched from larvae on their way to becoming gypsy moths.

• Landscaper Scot Olson was working in a yard in the 800 Block of Thomas Street in Oak View where he looked over at the pool and saw a toddler floating on the surface. He then pulled the floating child from the pool and began rescue breathing. A woman came running to the pool and dove in to retrieve another child from the bottom. Both girls had regained consciousness prior to the arrival of emergency medical services.  The children were transported to local area hospitals where they were treated and later released to their parents.

April
• The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy has completed its four-month search for a new executive director by signing a contract with Greg Gamble.

Gamble said he is excited about his new job and about becoming integrated with the Ojai community.

• A long-anticipated meeting between residents of the Ojai Valley and the Federal Emergency Management Agency took place at Matilija Auditorium, drawing about 200 people out in the rain to hear the latest developments on floodplain remapping efforts and levee certification processes.

• A long-anticipated meeting between residents of the Ojai Valley and the Federal Emergency Management Agency took place at Matilija Auditorium, drawing about 200 people out in the rain to hear the latest developments on floodplain remapping efforts and levee certification processes.

Ventura County 1st District Supervisor Steve Bennett served as moderator of the meeting in reviewing FEMA’s methods and answering questions from the community. Bennett said that FEMA has been working for the past 18 months on remapping the floodplains of this county, prompted by a 2005 federal mandate, and has just begun efforts in the Ojai Valley.

In addition, a recent letter was circulated by the county Board of Supervisors to those living near the Live Oak Acres Levee stating it would not meet new FEMA standards being enforced. The change is expected to rezone the neighborhoods into a floodplain, increasing meeting attendance from those in that neighborhood. Residents from other floodplain designations, such as those in Casitas Springs and the East End, were also present.

• A polite yet unhappy crowd faced the budget-weary OUSD board during the three-and-a-half hour public portion of the board meeting. The evening covered more budget cuts and city plans for the proposed skate park renovation.

• The Ojai City Council was faced with a debate as it considered a request from the Ojai Unified School District to help pay the cost for the school resource officer at Nordhoff High School.

Due to state-level cutbacks, funding for the police position will be short about $31,000 for the remainder of the school year. City staff recommended that the city cover the remainder of the officer’s salary for this year, as well as authorize application for a federal grant to cover the expense for three more years.

• Not all Ojai Valley banks are lining up for their share of nearly $1 billion in total national Troubled Asset Relief Program, or T.A.R.P. money.

“We haven’t taken any bailout money,” said Martha Dowden of Los Padres Bank, “at least not any I know about.”

“Too many strings when you take that money,” joined in Dowden’s colleague, Tom Farmer. “You take that money and when you have your stockholders meeting you’ve got someone from the government there.”

• As the rainfall season winds down, authorities report that the Ojai Valley has experienced another year of sub-par precipitation, lowering the Lake Casitas reservoir, dropping groundwater levels and forcing farmers to water crops even during the wettest months.

The county Watershed Protection District reported local rainfall totals since Oct. 1 at between 54 percent and 62 percent of normal as the Ojai Valley had its fourth extremely dry year in the last decade.

• A 16-year-old Chaparral High School student was stabbed to death at an unsupervised teen party early Sunday, and a 14-year-old Mira Monte resident was arrested that evening on suspicion of murder in what authorities described as a gang-related homicide.

In the Ojai Valley’s first slaying in 11 years, Seth Scarminach died in the driveway of a Meiners Oaks home from stab wounds to his neck and chest shortly before 2 a.m., authorities said.

Scarminach, a Meiners Oaks resident, had also been the victim of an armed robbery in Oak View earlier this year, police confirmed.

Sheriff’s investigators would not elaborate on why they described the killing as gang related except to say that the suspect was an associate of an Ojai-based Latino gang.

• Dan Salas of Ventura County Fire Department station 20 in Upper Ojai helped fight a structure fire on the corner of El Roblar and Encinal in Meiners Oaks around 10:30 a.m. Thursday. County firefighting crews from Ventura County, Ventura City, Fillmore and Santa Paula responded to the blaze and helped to knock down the flames. There were no injuries and while a neighboring house sustained only smoke damage and a few broken windows, the building appeared to be a total loss and multiple vehicles on the property were damaged by smoke and fire.

• The next round of battles against increased diesel truck traffic through Ojai is coming.

If approved, Ozena Valley Ranch Mine could bring 200 gravel trucks a day through the Ojai Valley on Highway 33, doubling their current allowance.

The Ventura County Planning Division has scheduled an environmental impact report-scoping meeting for May 6 at 6 p.m. in Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Ave.

• As the rainfall season winds down, authorities report that the Ojai Valley has experienced another year of sub-par precipitation, lowering the Lake Casitas reservoir, dropping groundwater levels and forcing farmers to water crops even during the wettest months.

Three businesses drop affiliations with national chains

By Nancy Gross

As many in Ojai try to promote shopping local, three businesses have made it easier to keep the cash flowing in town, rather than through corporate pockets. Without any coercion Radio Shack has become Ojai Electronics and Hobby, Union 76 has become Ojai Gas, and Best Western Casa Ojai is now simply, Casa Ojai.

In fairness to Dottie Berry of Ojai Electronics and Hobby, her independently owned Radio Shack franchise was always called Ojai Electronics, for 23 years, though it had a Radio Shack sign, and it was listed in the Ojai Valley Directory’s yellow pages as Radio Shack-Ojai Elec-tronics.

“Radio Shack wants to make all the little independents run like a corporate Radio Shack store, and the fixtures they want in the store are expensive. They don’t want to pay for them. The profit margin was not there to continue to operate,” Berry said.

She added that Radio Shack wants the small franchises to follow certain protocol with customers as part of using their name and carrying their products. She said, “They want you to ask for every customer’s name and address, even if it’s offensive. They want you to keep certain checklists. I guess sometimes these franchises get too demanding about the numbers, the corporate image.”

She thinks Radio Shack may be phasing out small franchises but said, “You can’t put a corporate store in a small community. There’s not enough volume.”

Berry had the opportunity in September to move down one store in the building she was in; she dropped the franchise at the same time. The new store is a little smaller, “but we have better visibility. There is more signage on the way. I’m going into carrying some hobby items.” She moved to the location vacated by The Trunk, and now has one window facing onto Matilija Street.

Berry said clients have reacted positively to the change. “People let me know what they want. We do a lot of special orders for people. If we can get it, we will, and they appreciate that.” On a day-to-day basis, the hot sellers at the store are accessories like headphones and phone chargers.

One shopper this week at Ojai Electronics and Hobby was Dr. Dee Weisman’s husband, George — who asked good humouredly to be identified that way. He is visiting town, and had found the old Radio Shack store vacated, but noticed the sign for the new shop. “I didn’t know it was the same people, but I certainly didn’t want to run all the way to Ventura to get a universal remote.”

He offered Berry good wishes, and said he thought she had made a good decision. “I think it allows her to diversify, so that she’s able to shop and get better deals. She can get different items for her customers, and is not limited to the merchandise of the franchise.” He took interest in one of the hobby items she has on display; a remote operated helicopter.

“I think this is the best thing I ever did for the Ojai Valley people. I talked to a lot of people, people were waiting for me to do this,” said Neil Abasi, owner of Ojai Gas at the “Y” intersection, The station appears to be a busier place these days.

“I’m branded. We have the lowest price in town, lower than Shell in Oak View. We’re cheaper than Circle K, Valero, Chevron. I try to keep it that way. The more volume the store gets, the better the price we can offer.

“76 was squeezing me out,” Abasi said. He said he offers the same Conoco Phillips gasoline, “the same gas, the same invoice. If I had stayed with 76 I would have lost everything.”

Ojai Gas has a new mechanic, Jim Murphy, who specializes in engine repair, engine performance, electrical, brakes and smog. “I was 20 years with McConca Motors, which was bought out by Pontiac, Buick, GMC. Let us try to beat other prices. We will work with you.”

“The more people come, it’ll be cheaper. We work on volume,” Abasi said. “We’re more than happy to help people who are out of jobs. We’ll do our best.”

Abasi has a colleague who runs a Union 76 in San Luis Obispo who did not want his name mentioned, but who said he might do the same thing. He said, regarding Abasi, “He did the right thing. We’re making no money. The oil companies make all the money. They squeeze our margin to the limit. We can’t operate our businesses. We can’t even pay our bills.”

Geoff Wells of Casa Ojai said it was not bottom line finances that led to the decision to leave Best Western. “I don’t think financially there is going to be a positive for us as an ownership, it’s more or less that we might be a little bit negatively impacted because die hard Best Westerners will want to get their points and will stay in Ventura,” said Wells.

“However, as a counter for that we are offering rewards incentives to Best Western cardholders and to all other kinds of rewards cards holders. We were trying to fit into the small town, rather than make a buck,” Wells said.

“Best Western is the largest hotel franchise in the world. That mixed with Ojai, especially in today’s climate, doesn’t make sense. We’re building on our small town charm. We really didn’t have to do this.

“Casa Ojai was built by my father-in-law, Ben Larner, in the 80s, and it is still held in a family partnership. We plan to only improve upon it, as well as our other hotel, Su Nido.

“It’s truly a family business rather than an investment. We have no plans to sell it. This encourages us to continue to offer the best room for the best price that we can. We’re revamping our own brand, making our own brand.”

Casa Ojai is AAA three-diamond certified, as well as green certified by three different agencies, Green Leaf, Green Suites and California Green Lodging. The rating accounts for detergents used and energy savings. “We are trying to go paperless for office conservation. Best Western didn’t have a green program. We fought them on this. They are dragging their feet on certain things.”

Wells also said, “With the renovations going on next door, hopefully the East End will shape up as not just a place to sleep and leave. People have noticed our new wall and new sign out front and said, ‘Good for you, good luck.’ Hopefully they’ll see more and better changes to come.”

Former candidate joins Klaif, Blatz
and Corbin for appointment consideration

By Sondra Murphy

The City of Ojai has received another application for the open council seat. Parks & Recreation Commissioner Mike Lenehan submitted his application last week, the fourth application submitted to the city. Paul Blatz, Demitri Corbin and Leonard Klaif have also applied since Dec. 8, when the Ojai City Council voted 3-2 in favor of appointing a replacement for the position vacated by Joe DeVito, whose term would have naturally expired in 2010.

Lenehan has lived in Ojai since 2001 and many people know him as a coach for both Villanova Preparatory and Nordhoff High schools’ football programs. He is married to Marilyn and has five children. They are Tara, 21, Cian, 19, Rory, 17, Ciara, 10 and Kyla, 8.

“I am pretty pleased with the city council,” said Lenehan. “They all know me though the parks commission or from running for city council.”

Lenehan ran for council in 2008. “I came in a very strong fifth,” he laughed. But he also is proud that most of his votes came from word of mouth. “I spent $162 dollars on the campaign for 50 stickers and 15 signs,” he said.

Lenehan grew up in the Carpinteria and Summerland areas and volunteered in youth athletics relocating to Ojai, was a founding member of the Santa Barbara Irish Festival committee and worked with the parks and recreation commission there, as well. “I was amazed at what Ojai did in terms of recreation with such a small community, small staff and small budget,” Lenehan said. “You get so much more bang for your buck in Ojai.” His appreciation for the recreation offerings led to his interest in serving on Ojai’s Parks & Recreation Commission.

He has been involved with the skate park committee and is the PRC representative for the Libbey Bowl reconstruction committee. He also is a member of or is affiliated with the Ojai American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ojai, Knights of Columbus, Ventura, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and is a founding member of the Emerald Society of Federal law Enforcement Agencies.

A 27-year veteran with the Army, Lenehan is retiring this month as a lieutenant colonel. His military service has encompassed both active and reserve status and has taken him many places, including Korea, Indonesia, Australia and Iraq. He was a primary plans officer in Iraq, assessing the impact of kinetic and non-kinetic operations. “I would get the ‘ground truth’ information on how each operation was going to affect the civilian population on the ground,” he explained. “I would deal with all the guys I knew who held the real estate around the area: the ground truth.”

He was last in Iraq in September of 2006. “After 27 years, I have nothing left to prove and I wanted to be here for my son’s senior year,” he said of his retirement. “My family made a lot of sacrifices and bore the brunt of my career.”

Lenehan is a federal investigator and has worked for three different agencies in that capacity. He estimates that he volunteers about 30 hours a week coaching football each season. Not surprisingly, all his children are athletes and have been outstanding contributors on teams from basketball, volleyball, football, track and hockey to softball.

“I can provide the working class perspective of a community-minded person who takes his kids to school, works 40 hours a week, volunteers, then brings that ground truth to the job,” he said. “I live in a 900-square-foot home with one bathroom and raised five kids in it. I have a common person perspective that I think appeals to people who are in a like situation.”

Besides his occupational and life experiences, Lenehan has degrees from Santa Barbara City College and University of California Santa Barbara, with an AA and BA in Law and Society. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Finding a councilmember replacement has been a focus of the city since longtime council member DeVito’s October announcement of his resignation effective Dec. 31. His successor will therefore only fill the position until next December, so will need to run as a candidate on the November ballot to have a chance of continuing on the council.

If appointed, Lenehan said he is unlikely to run again in November. “I don’t think it would be fair to run in 2010, but I might run in 2012,” he said. “I am more conservative, but at the same time, I’ll volunteer to go pick up your kid and teach him something.”

The Ojai City Council hopes to appoint DeVito’s successor at the Jan. 12 meeting. The OVN will report any subsequent applicants for the council seat as they apply.

Press release from Sgt. Bill Schierman
VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

Narrative: Detectives from the Ojai sub-station and the Sheriff’s Gang Unit concluded a two-month investigation into a vehicle burglary ring with the arrest of five suspects.  Investigators believe the group is responsible for at least 30 vehicle burglaries stretching from West Ventura to the City of Ojai.

In October and November, the City of Ojai began experiencing a rash of vehicle burglaries within the city limits.  Detectives found that a credit card taken in one of the burglaries was used at an ATM in West Ventura.  Detectives obtained a photograph of the individual who used the stolen credit card and on November 30^th they identified him as Lee Peyton.  Peyton was currently on parole for robbery.

Gang investigators set up a surveillance of Peyton and were able to identify several residences and individuals that he associated with.  Investigators also developed other leads that identified Ricardo Gutierrez, Kristen Baker, and Reyes Estrada as being involved in the burglaries.

In December, investigators set up a surveillance of Reyes Estrada and Kristen Baker.  On 12-12-2009, investigators watched Estrada and Baker purchase gasoline at a station in Ventura.  Investigators later obtained records of that transaction and found they used a stolen credit card from an unreported vehicle burglary in the City of Ventura.  Investigators were able to contact the victim in that case who told investigators her purse was stolen from a friend’s car in a downtown Ventura parking lot.

On 12-15-2009, investigators served search warrants at five locations in the Ojai Valley and the City of Oxnard. During a search of Benjamin Kennedy’s residence located in the 400 block of El Roblar, investigators recovered 4 purses that were later identified as being stolen from vehicle burglaries. Investigators also arrested Lee Peyton for violating his parole terms.

On 12-23-2009, investigators arrested Benjamin Kennedy for possession of stolen property.  Later that night, investigators located Kristen Baker and Reyes Estrada in a home in the 200 block of West Flint, Ventura.  During a subsequent search, investigators recovered stolen credit cards and a driver’s license that were taken from a burglary that occurred in Ventura. Both Estrada and Baker were arrested for burglary and booked into the Ventura County Jail.

On 12-24-2009, investigators had obtained enough evidence to arrest Ricardo Gutierrez for his participation in the burglaries.

Although investigators were only able to recover a small amount of the property taken in the various burglaries, they did collect enough evidence to link the suspects to at least 30 vehicle burglaries.  Investigators believe that a majority of the stolen property was sold to various individuals.  Investigators are continuing their effort to recover more stolen property.

Investigators are planning to arrest Peyton for numerous counts of vehicle burglary as soon as he is finished serving his time in state prison for violation of his parole terms.

Most of the reported vehicle burglaries involve purses or other valuables that were left in plain sight.  Investigators believe that the suspects targeted areas that had a high likelihood of purses being left in cars.  These included popular hiking spots, parking areas around nightclubs, and other areas where women were likely to leave purses in a car.

Demitri Corbin

Arts commissioner latest to apply for vacated position

By Sondra Murphy

Actor and Ojai Arts Commissioner Demitri Corbin has thrown his hat into the ring for a City Council opening. Corbin joins attorneys Paul Blatz and Leonard Klaif on the list of official applicants.

Finding a council member replacement has been a focus of the city since Joe DeVito announced his retirement in October. On Dec. 8, the Ojai City Council voted 3-2 in favor of appointing a replacement for the position vacated by DeVito, who submitted his resignation effective Dec. 31. DeVito’s term would have naturally expired in 2010. His successor will therefore only fill the position until next December, and so will need to run as a candidate on the November ballot to have a chance of continuing on the council.

Corbin is an eight-year resident of Ojai and a professional actor. His work teaching theater brought him to the city, but its rich artistic community compelled him to move here. “I was volunteering with a youth theater program,” said Corbin. “The Virginia Avenue Project comes up here every year, so I came here with that and then decided to stay.”

A Chicago native, Corbin founded Peachtree Theater Company, a nonprofit organization that brings theater education to schools throughout Ventura County, which led to the creation of Cardboard Fairytale Theater workshops for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students. Before moving to Ventura County, Corbin volunteered to work with at-risk youth in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

As a resident, he continued teaching performing arts and estimates he has taught about 6,000 youngsters since at many schools and organizations in the Ojai Valley, including Oak Grove, Montessori, San Antonio Elementary, Summit Elementary and Valley Oaks Charter schools. “In the two years since the arts grant program has been re-instated, 100 percent of the applications have been for educational outreach programs,” said Corbin. “As an arts educator I am aware of the vital role the education sector plays in the local economy and how Ojai’s innovative arts programs impact education throughout the county. As council member I will bring insight to the education sector and how the city can be of better service.”

Corbin has also served as a volunteer, board member, instructor and advisor to the Ojai Playwrights Conference, Ojai Film Festival, Theater 150, Ojai Shakespeare Festival and Ojai Performing Arts Theater Foundation. “Their representation is crucial to any plans to build tourism,” he said. “Serving as a council member I will lobby to increase the Arts Commission’s capacity to apply for public and private funding by utilizing the city’s nonprofit status.”

He said his decision to apply for the council seat followed careful consideration after the city’s agreeing to help promote tourism to Ojai. “I want to be on City Council because I think I would bring insight into the arts community when decisions are made,” Corbin said. “All of these things lend to the profile that Ojai has as an artists’ community.”

He addressed the subject further in his letter. “Along with my fellow commissioners I have successfully lobbied to reinstate the city’s arts grant funding and improved the city’s relationship with the performing arts community with a monthly meeting program. I feel strongly that as the chamber of commerce works to build tourism that Ojai’s vibrant arts community is essential to plans for branding Ojai as a tourist destination.”

Corbin believes filling the position from within will most benefit the city, especially because of ongoing projects like the Ojai Skate Park and Libbey Bowl reconstruction efforts. “I feel that appointing someone within the city government will give continuity to immediate agenda items and make way for a smooth transition to a newly elected official.”

He brings other ideas, as well. “My Arts Commission appointment came about because of my publication of the ‘2007 Men of Ojai Calendar.’ The ‘2010 Men of Ojai Calendar’ is the most complete arts event calendar with the dates of every important Ojai arts event available at the time of publication,” said Corbin. “Along with my fellow commissioners, I have been working to get an events calendar on the city web site for the past year. An events calendar on the city web site is a must for boosting tourism.”

The OVN will report on any additional applicants for the council seat as they submit papers to the city.

Project funded by $30K grant

By Linda Harmon

Starting in January non-native trees that have invaded the Libbey Park creek ecosystem and riparian corridor will be removed and replaced with clusters of new native trees. The tree plans are part of a Community Wetland Restoration Project funded by a $30,000 grant written by local biologist Brian Holly. Holly, who works for Ojai’s environmental consulting firm Bio Research Consultants, is a chair of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition Watershed Committee. He is in charge of the watershed project restoring 1.4 acres, at an estimated cost of $50,500.

“I’m ordering plants now,” said Holly, who has already worked with area volunteers and members of C.R.E.W. to clear the area of non-native underbrush since acquiring the grant in June. “Tom Bostrom is writing a tree protection plan that will lay out the protective measures for native trees and will identify the trees that need to be removed because they are invasive and spreading seeds downstream.”

Although the tree protection and removal plan is not finished, Holly wanted to get the word out that he expects it to include the removal of Canary Island date palms, Mexican fan palms, and a few ash trees. Holly also wants the public to know that there are plans for the larger non-natives that can be boxed for transplanting.

“They can be used in other areas,” said Holly, “whether at someone’s house or at another area offsite, that won’t affect the watershed. And we will be able to pay for a lot of the removal expense because some can be sold. It’s a win-win because we are not destroying trees that may be seen as favorable to someone else but are still protecting the watershed.”

Holly has already received permission from nearby landowners for access to the site. Holly needed it to bring in heavy equipment to box the larger trees for removal.

“Also, I hope people will be happy to hear that any other trees that need to be removed or trimmed,” said Holly, “will have their wood recycled and used for building materials or utilized for bio-mulch.”

According to Holly, the project will have a biologist on site at all times during the removal process. The Ventura County Watershed Protection District and the Department of Fish and Game have already given their approval, and Holly is in ongoing meetings with city representatives as the plan and the project proceeds.

“We want to protect the overall tree canopy,” said Holly. “For every non-native tree we remove, we plan on replanting two or three native trees clustered around where the non-native was removed. We will plant sycamores, black walnuts, and oak trees and if we can get a hold of them, some big leaf maples.”

Besides replanting trees in the area the project also includes propagating willows and planting them on the creek banks to protect the area from future erosion.

Holly plans on going ahead with planting weekends planned for mid-January. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Holly at Brian@biorc

.com or call the OVGC at 653-8445. If you’d like to donate a tree contact Bostrom at ojaitrees.com. The Wetland Restoration Project is explained in greater depth on the OVGC web site, OVGC.org and is featured at the Ojai Valley Museum exhibit “Go Green, Ojai!” That exhibit will continue until Feb. 17 and is open Thursday and Friday, 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Ave.

Husband Jackie with Lanie Jo Springer as she is honored for her years of service to the Ojai Valley by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in October, 2008. Photo by David LaBelle

Lanie Jo Springer succumbs to cancer

By Sondra Murphy
If there is a name that exemplifies the spirit of the Ojai Valley, it is Lanie Springer. A longtime champion of philanthropy and community service, Springer died on Saturday of pancreatic cancer.

She was a proactive member of the community with a welcoming smile and seemed tireless in her efforts. “Lanie was a one-of-a-kind person whose no-nonsense approach to any problem was refreshing,” said Al Buczkowski, Oak View Civic Council member and former Oak View honorary mayor. “She will be missed.”

In October of 2008, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors presented a resolution to Springer honoring her five decades of service to the community of Oak View and the Ojai Valley. Springer’s husband, Jackie, and many friends from the area were there in celebration of her achievement. “Few others can match Lanie’s extraordinary career of service to her community and her sterling example of dedicated citizenship,” the resolution read.

“This is very overwhelming,” Springer said before the event. “You don’t do this because you want to be rewarded. Community service means a lot to me.”

Springer served for many years as chair of the Highway 33 Improvement Committee, chair of the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council, and was named Oak View honorary mayor, Citizen of the Year and to the Oak View Hall of Fame. Her impact on the valley was far-reaching.

Besides OVCC, Highway 33 Committee and OVMAC, during which she contributed to the Ojai Valley Area Plan, Springer also served on the Oak View American Legion Auxiliary, the Eight and Forty American Legion Society, as grand marshal of the 2007 Oak View Memorial Day parade and was on the board of Oak View Women’s Club for more than 40 years.

Springer served as president of the OVWC in 1969 and 1970, sold raffle tickets at conventions and was the president’s aide of the Tierra Adorada District, the region under which the club functioned. “She was just a very valiant lady,” said Barbara Smith, OVWC member and past president. “She was in on the ground floor of getting the first stop light in Oak View at the post office. We did an old-fashioned sit-in and blocked traffic in the ‘70s.” Springer was later on the Casitas Springs Bypass Committee.

The number of groups Springer contributed to is staggering. She served as extraordinary minister of the Old Mission, executive secretary for Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Fraternal Society, secretary of the Cal-Nevada-Hawaii Jurisdictional Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society, on St. Thomas School PTA and Boy Scouts of America Troop 2503 Mothers Association. For 32 years, Springer worked for Ventura Unified School District.

“It was always an honor to work with Lanie on the MAC and Highway 33 Committee,” said Steve Offerman, who is executive director for a number of county committees that regularly meet in Oak View through his association with Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett’s office. “She was dedicated, hardworking, represented her community very well and had a traditional sense of kindness and dignity that will be missed.”

Springer was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1934. Married for 55 years, she and her husband moved to Oak View in 1956, where they raised three sons, Jim, John and Joe. There are now five Springer grandchildren, and a hint of the next generation to come.

Springer established a family in the society she served, as well. “The words I most want to say are difficult to find. Their journey begins far, far away in the heart,” said OVCC’s Lynn Smith. “My relationship with Lanie began while we served together on the OVCC board in the 1980s and ‘90s. Lanie embodies the best in all of us: intelligence, beauty, vivaciousness, vision, selfless service, strength in beliefs with courage to express an opinion, thoughtfully compassionate, grounded, earthy, capable and solidly committed to ensuring that Oak View is a safe, secure and wonderful town to live in. Her example has and will continue to inspire me.”

OVWC member Connie Biggers perfectly summed up Springer’s impact on her world. “She is a valley legend.”

Council eyes $43K for energy-saving projects

By Sondra Murphy
Taking advantage of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the Ojai City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the County of Ventura to submit a joint application that includes Ojai for an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

The city’s Public Works director, Mike Culver, presented the report to the council and said the ARRA includes $3.2 billion allocated nationwide for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program, of which California’s portion is $351.5 million. EECBG funds may be used for development of local energy plans, energy assessments, programs and other activities that result in long-term energy savings, transform markets or provide jobs.

According to the allocation formula, the city of Ojai is eligible to apply for $42,929 under the program, which is figured per capita. Culver said the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance believes that a collaborative application from combined county jurisdictions would result in a higher probability of a successful grant application. The alliance also views collaboration as a way to provide optimal cost efficiency for any projects under the program.

VCREA will coordinate the proposed application representing the cities of Ojai, Fillmore, Port Hueneme and Santa Paula, with the county acting as the lead agency in preparing and filing the application.

Culver said VCREA met with each agency and established a list of potential projects for each which meet the requirements of the EECBG program. The selected projects for Ojai are retrofits and replacement upgrades in existing buildings that are critical to the safety and security of the city to assist in bringing old facilities up to new codes and standards.

“Why does it have to be all retrofits,” Council-woman Carol Smith asked during the meeting.

“That was based on guidelines put out by the Energy Commission,” said Culver. “These were the projects that met those guidelines put down by the feds.

Identified projects include City Hall, the Boyd Center at the Recreation Department, Libbey Park and the city’s maintenance shop. Culver estimated the combined cost of the proposed projects is $54,472, while the expected energy savings would be 66,499 kilowatt hours per year.

Needed are interior and exterior lighting systems, lighting controls and heating and air conditioning units. Culver said City Hall is in need of the air upgrades, and the other facilities require lighting retrofits.

“This particular grant is just for public facility needs,” Culver said. “It benefits us in the long run, because it’s better energy efficiency, so will lower our energy bills, as well. You want to demonstrate that you’ll have long-term energy savings as a result.”

VCREA is developing tests for project costs and energy savings calculations as part of its feasibility study, to be finalized upon receipt of grant fund approval.

Window breakage at East Ojai Avenue store leads to theft

By Linda Harmon
The Grinch was busy at Ojai Creates on East Ojai Avenue before Iris Williams and Kirk Lowry were awakened by a call from Senior Deputy Jim Popp shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday.

“They broke the glass in the front door,” said Williams, co-owner of the art store her husband Lowry. “The only thing they took was spray paint.”

According to Popp and Williams, 12 cans of art quality Montana spray paint valued at approximately $100 were taken, and damage to the store was confined to broken glass in the front door.

“I was going by on my morning walk and the door was wide open so I called the police,” said Pam Phillips, who saw no one and added she had to dial information to get the phone number. “You’d think I would remember after living here my whole life.”

“There must have been people that walked by and saw the door open,” said Lowry. “There are all kinds of people around in the morning that could have walked in and taken something. No one did and that’s the good part of Ojai.”

Williams and Lowry still hadn’t decided about whether they would replace the paints.

“I am just thinking the thing all over,” said Williams, whose first reaction was to take all the spray paints out of the store and off the shelves in their new Ventura store. “The whole reason we stocked them to begin with was we recognize that graffiti is an art. It’s different than just these kids tagging and peeing on your walls. The part that really gets me is the people that did this don’t know anything about graffiti.”

“They left the airbrushes,” added Lowry, “and many other expensive items were left untouched.”

“It’s a delicate issue, some consider it vandalism,” said Williams of stocking graffiti art supplies. “Our whole push was to show there was another level to it. We were just talking last night about staging a ‘graffiti paint-off.’ We’d provide the canvases and a place to paint and the artists would get a chance to display their work. To me that’s the next level.”

Instead, in the morning light Williams said, “My first reaction is no more of it in the store and to take down my graffiti window out front that says ‘imagine.’  But that’s reacting to what one person did, and to punish the rest of the people that are serious artists isn’t right. It takes a lot of talent to do what they do. To get a line that’s crisp and clean and combine all the design elements that go into it. It’s more about writing words on walls. It is real creative expression.”

“No,” concluded Williams, who considers graffiti some the new wave of original art. “We won’t punish everybody else.”

If you have any knowledge concerning the break-in please call the Ojai Police Department at 646-1414.

Paul Blatz

Twenty-six-year resident wants City Council job

By Sondra Murphy

On Tuesday afternoon, Paul Blatz submitted his application for consideration for the open council seat. He joins Leonard Klaif, who was covered in Wednesday’s OVN.

“The reason I decided I would like to put my name in is because I have a great deal of respect for all the remaining members on the council,” said Blatz, a 26-year resident of Ojai. “I felt the council, in terms of who they appoint, should have as many applicants as possible. And I truly believe that my presence on the council would help assure the sustainability of the community.”

In his application submitted to the city, Blatz lists his participation in civic and professional groups in addition to his legal experience. Included are his memberships with Rotary Club of Ojai-West, Ojai Pergola Committee, Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, Ojai Valley Living Treasures board, and he is the Ojai Performing Arts Theater Foundation board counsel. He is also a member of the California and Ventura County bar associations, other county legal groups and has been a Ventura County Superior Court judge pro-tem since 2002.

Blatz has operated his law office in Ojai for more than 17 years, is a past Redevelopment commissioner and served on the Ojai Planning Commission for nine years. He also ran for City Council in 1996 and 2002.

“I am acutely aware that what we cherish most about living in our beautiful valley could be easily lost if we are not careful,” he said in his statement. “In order to protect our village character and quality of life, it is essential we maintain the proper balance between our environmental and economic interests and appreciate and preserve our history in order to safeguard our future and achieve sustainability.”

He also would like to see a plan that addresses traffic impacts on the valley streets and air quality and lists affordable housing and youth programs as priorities for the city.

“Growth within Ojai must be controlled, well planned and concentrated within our city core to minimize impact on residential neighborhoods and our open space,” said Blatz.

“I have a sincere dedication to protect what makes Ojai special — its small-town character — while also assuring a fiscal responsibility to its citizens.”

Finding a council member replacement has been a focus of the city since Joe DeVito announced his retirement in October. On Dec. 8, the Ojai City Council voted 3-2 in favor of appointing a replacement for the position vacated by DeVito, who submitted his resignation effective Dec. 31. DeVito’s term would have naturally expired in 2010. His successor will therefore only fill the position until next December, and so will need to run as a candidate on the November ballot to have a chance of continuing on the council.

The OVN will report on any additional applicants for the council seat as soon as they submit papers to the city.

Councilwoman Sue Horgan presents a proclamation to retiring Mayor Joe DeVito at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

By Sondra Murphy

The spirit of good will and hope for the future was overflowing in the City Council chambers this week as Councilman Steve Olsen replaced the retiring Joe DeVito as mayor. In addition to expressions of gratitude abounding for Mayor Joe DeVito’s retirement from politics on Tuesday, the Ojai City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement between the city and Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce with the aim of marketing Ojai as a tourist destination.

The agreement is that the city will provide $160,000 to the chamber for that purpose.

Staff and council liaisons had been meeting with the business community for more than a year to discuss options related to marketing Ojai as a tourist destination. Meetings included hoteliers, retailers, commercial property owners and the Chamber of Commerce and this group eventually came to be known as the Ojai Village Association.

Several of the association members, as well as Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Eicher addressed the council in November to request that the city take a more proactive role in bringing tourists to Ojai. The council agreed to hold a special meeting Dec. 1, where an organized proposal was submitted and informal discussions occurred.

City staff and OVA met again to refine the proposal, which was brought to a special joint meeting of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency, the council’s alter ego, this week. City manager Jere Kersnar submitted a recommendation to approve a marketing element, including funding for half the fiscal year for a total of $87,500. Kersnar asked for direction on whether the funds were to come from city or Redevelopment Agency funds, if approved.

“If you were to provide for it annually, it would be $160,000,” said Kersnar. “The other question is, where’s the money come from? And that is why this is a joint City Council and Redevelopment Agency meeting, so you have the options. We do have RDA money this fiscal year, but beyond that, it’s problematic. I don’t think RDA is sustainable at this point.”

Technicalities, such as contracting with the chamber, instead of the unofficial entity OVA, were worked out in the new proposal. Tentatively titled the Ojai Visitor’s Bureau, funds would be under the control of that subcommittee, according to Kersnar. Reports will be submitted twice a year to the council account for activities, accomplishments and finances.

Requested funds are to establish administrative staff, miscellaneous marketing, other start-up expenses, such as contact numbers, and a public relations firm contract. All such expenses would be included in reports.

Leonard Klaif submits the necessary paperwork to Ojai City Clerk Carlon Strobel Tuesday, making official his candidacy for Ojai City Council.

Members hoping to appoint replacement by Jan. 12

By Sondra Murphy
It’s hard to know which occupational skills could best serve a government agency: those of a massage therapist-criminal defense attorney, or one who is simply a full-time lawyer.

Yesterday, Ojai resident  Paul Blatz and previous City Council candidate Leonard Klaif submitted applicationz to the city, just one week after the council voted to appoint someone to fill a council vacancy instead of waiting until June to hold a special election. Blatz was in court Tuesday afternoon and unavailable for comment.

In a cover letter submitted with his application, Klaif wrote, “It will come as no surprise that I submit my name for consideration for appointment to fill Joe DeVito’s term on the Ojai City Council.  “I have attached my résumé to my application but believe that this letter outlining my more pertinent experience is appropriate.”

While Klaif’s résumé includes his educational background and history as an attorney since 1973, his letter refers to local community involvement since moving to Ojai 17 years ago. It also lists a very Ojai kind of excursion: the six-year sabbatical he took from 1981 to 1987 to work at a bookstore while attending massage school and serving as a teaching assistant at a Santa Monica massage institute before returning to the practice of law.

Instructor, student killed on impact in Piper Tomahawk

By Nancy Gross
The victims of the plane crash Thursday afternoon outside 24 Krotona Road have been identified as student pilot Amit Ahire, 19, and flight instructor Richard Anthony Prado, 51.

James Popp, a senior deputy with the Ventura County Sherrif’s Department, said that both were pronounced dead at the scene. They seemingly lost control of the aircraft and descended onto the pavement cockpit first.

The pair had left Camarillo Airport at about 1:30 p.m.; the flight was Ahire’s fifth flight with Aviation Pacific Flight School. Andy Bortolon, owner of Aviation Pacific, said that the day’s lesson was practicing emergency maneuvers.

“We are all recovering from a big shock,” said Bortolon, “I lost a friend. We lost two people that we knew. We closed for three days, but today (Monday) we open up. We’re still really sad. We had to think about the other students. Tomorrow we have the exams. We will do a memorial for them.”

Bortolon, who spends his time between Italy and Camarillo, offers lessons to many people from abroad, particularly from Europe, India and the Middle East. He spoke about the lesson Ahire was receiving at the time of the incident. “That is the type of training you do before you can solo.”

Ahire was from India, where Aviation Pacific plans to open another school. Both Prado and Ahire were new to Oxnard, Prado having relocated from San Antonio, Texas to teach flying, and Ahire was visiting from a small Indian village to learn to fly.

Martin Calderon, and his brother, Francisco Calderon, were two eyewitnesses to the crash. Francisco Calderon saw it only partially, from a little ways away. Martin Calderon viewed the entire thing close up.

Martin Calderon left the scene after others arrived. “I was there. I was in a little truck and I heard this noise and it just came down right in front of me,” Martin Calderon said.

“It was very low, so close to the ground. I called 911. It happened so fast and I was so close. The last three days I’ve been waking up, dreaming about it. It was a very unfortunate accident.”

Martin Calderon said that after the plane crashed, the entire location was very silent. But the explosive sound some people heard as the plane fell was because, prior to crashing, “The engine was very loud. There was a lot of fuel. It hit the asphalt. You can see the little hole in the asphalt.

“I called 911 right away, at 2:28. It was really something. I think they died right away. They were just leaning on the windshield.” Martin Calderon also called the person in charge of some of the Krotona grounds. This man, his supervisor, prefers not to be named, but was one of the people who answered questions after authorities arrived.

In short, Martin Calderon was driving up the one-way road, and the sound of the low plane faltering made him stop his truck, get out and look up. Then the plane crashed a very short distance in front of where he had parked, perhaps only 30 or 40 feet. Had he not stopped to look out, he might have been hit.

Board closes day-care center

By Linda Harmon
It may be time to deck the halls but the Ojai Unified School District’s board meeting last week was about clearing the decks and balancing the books. The four-hour meeting saw the election of board officers and set the course for two major decisions. The most far-reaching decision was the adoption of the district’s First Interim Report for the 2009-2010 school year, anticipating draconian budget cuts if help doesn’t arrive quickly from the state or federal government. The second decision, of more limited scope, was the recommendation by superintendent Henry Bangser for a June 30 closing of the infant center portion of OUSD’s A Place To Grow day-care center.

During budget discussions three alternatives were set forth by Bangser and staff, including two using part of the state-mandated 3 percent reserves. In a normal economy reserves are left untouched. However, this is not a normal economy and declining enrollment over the last 10 years has added to budget headaches.

According to assistant superintendent Danielle Pusatere, the budget has previously been balanced largely through the use of one-time funds, including grants and funds from President Obama’s stimulus package. Those one-time funds are no longer available and put pressure for future cuts to come from staffing cuts. According to Pusatere, the district’s approximately $25 million budget contains $21 million in “people expenditures,” funds needed for staff salaries and benefits.

By Lenny Roberts
Ojai City Councilwoman and former mayor Sue Horgan announced Tuesday that she has entered the race for Ventura County Treasurer and Tax Collector. The position, currently held by Lawrence L. Matheney, will become available in November 2010.

“My real love is finance, Horgan said Tuesday.” This job is a perfect blend between my private and business experience, and I think it’s the perfect job for me.”

Applicants may begin  filing for the position in February, and the primary election will be held in June. If a candidate does not get the majority of votes in the primary, a run-off will be held in the November general election.

Audra Strickland, California State Assemblywoman from the 37th District, has also indicated her intent to run for the tax collector-treasurer position.

Ojai Valley Service Foundation reverses fund-raising lure

By Sondra Murphy

Many in the community are breathing easier this week, and not just because of the rains. Ojai Valley Service Foundation announced to the Ojai City Council on Tuesday that they were no longer entertaining the notion of renaming Libbey Bowl to boost efforts to raise funds for its make-over.

“We understand the importance of maintaining Ojai’s history and legacy,” said Bill Burr Jr., Ojai Valley Service Foundation vice president. “After much thought, we have decided to take the opportunity to rename the bowl with a $1 million gift off the table out of respect to the community.”

The concept was raised last month when staff brought a request to the council to consider renaming the bowl in exchange for a $1 million donation toward the bowl’s reconstruction slated to begin this summer after the Ojai Music Festival wraps its season. No obligation would have been generated by the acceptance of such an amount, with the council retaining all rights to approval, but the idea created a flurry of debate throughout the community.

“Raising $1 million is a daunting task and we have been working hard to reach that goal,” said Burr. “We are seeking the council’s full support as we engage the entire community in creatively and completely funding the rebuilding of one of Ojai’s beloved iconic historical landmarks.”

Repairs have proved inadequate against the steady deterioration of the structure, built in 1957, and it was determined  last year a complete rebuilding was needed.

Councilwoman Sue Horgan reminded all that the project is on a tight time line. “If community members want to support this effort, now is the time,” she said.

Councilwoman Carol Smith asked about the foundation’s tax status. “It’s a 501(c)(4),” Burr said.

“So if people give a donation by the end of the year, they may write it off on their taxes?” Burr responded in the affirmative.

The city of Ojai and the Ojai Music Festival have already pledged two-thirds of the $3.3 million project. The campaign to raise the remaining $1 million, dubbed “Save Libbey Bowl,” kicked off in October.

For more information or to donate to the project, go to libbeybowl.org or call OVSF at 646-3117.

Citing ‘different agendas,’ president  says expansion’s a must for survival

By Nancy Gross
If the Ojai Film Festival were a house, there would be concern that the roof might fall now that several of the pillars have left the building.

Chairman and President David Shor announced his departure, and that of six other board members on Monday. Bill Monot, vice president of development, James Holland, VP of special projects and Lori Wyatt, VP of finance and treasurer, have resigned, ostensibly for the same reasons as Shor. Directors Sheila Cluff, John Bennett Perry and Rinaldo Brutoco have pulled out of the festival for other individual reasons, according to statements made by several people involved.

“I wanted to take the high road on this. As you can imagine, there are significant issues,” Shor said. “I’m very disappointed that what happened happened. I spent an enormous amount of my time taking a festival that was near dead and bringing it to the level and acclaim in the film world that it achieved this year. There are different agendas. Some people would like to run it out of the back room of the Art Center. In my view, for it to survive, it has to expand.

“There’s a fight for films. You have to go out and work hard to solicit films in order to compete. Otherwise you are just getting film festival circuit films. You have to attract the names, the sex appeal, the sizzle, the things that sustain a film festival. Financially it is a flop.”

Shor mentioned more than once the tremendous year-round output of time required to raise funds and to organize, and the fact that the board members who left all have other work and projects to attend to.

Shor and others have worked to build relationships in the past few years with the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, the city of Ventura, Brooks Institute and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in order to grow the festival. The hope has been that the festival would become more of a destination festival capable of receiving grants and of becoming self-sustaining.

“I want to work with winners,” Shor said. He adds in his written statement, “I, for one, hope that the positive impact our board had on the festival and the communities of Ojai and Ventura will continue and that the festival will be led by a capable and committed board.”

Monot said, “It’s just a tough year, that is all. We’re all hoping it survives. It’s just a sign of the times.”

Herbert Hemming, vice president of operations and secretary, said that not everyone left for the same reasons, or at exactly the same time. Hemming is one of three remaining board members, along with artistic director Steve Grumette and director Victoria Baldwin.

Grumette said, “There were different opinions about the festival and how it was run and this led to Chair David Shor, Bill Monot and Lori Wyatt leaving. John Bennett Perry is recovering nicely from an illness and hadn’t been active for some months. Sheila and Rinaldo may or may not leave. They have other things taking their attention. Rinaldo had announced an intention to resign after the festival this year.

“The festival is going to continue. New board members will replace the others,” Grumette said. “This cultural institution that has been evolving for 10 years will continue.”

Ventura County Firefighter Robert Ashby and Ojai Police Chief Chris Dunn await the arrival of the medical examiner following Thursday’s incident near 24 Krotona Road. Photo by Scott Wintermute

By Nancy Gross
Two men died Thursday when their single-engine Piper Tomahawk crashed at 24 Krotona Road Thursday afternoon. The Fire Department got the call at about 2:30 p.m.

Several people called 911 to report the incident, but no witnesses to the crash were on the scene when authorities arrived. One Krotona resident who declined giving his name, said he arrived at the scene and saw two men curled up against the windshield. He checked for pulses and did not feel anything.

“You can tell it was totally instantaneous,” he said. “I don’t know how they are going to get them out of there,” indicating that the plane wreck had trapped them. “It was a tiny, two-person, single-engine plane.” The wreckage was nearly unrecognizable as an airplane.

By that time authorities had set up caution tape and were not allowing anyone close to the downed plane. Multiple fire engines and ambulances were present. At about 3:15 the closest ambulance was backed down the road, and a rescue vehicle was moved into its place.

The impact shook up the usually peaceful neighborhood. “We only heard it,” said one resident. “We just heard a strange, deadening crash.”

Workers in Linda Lambert’s nearby home called her to report that they had heard what sounded like an explosion. “The ground just shook,” she said.

Despite these perceptions, authorities reported there was no explosion or fire related to the crash.

The Rev. James Voirol of Our Lady and All Angels Liberal Catholic Church lives quite close to the scene of the crash and quietly and inconspicuously approached the crash site to offer last rites. He did not want to comment.

A county medical examiner arrived on the scene around 4 p.m. to remove the bodies with the help of the Fire Department. FAA investigators were en route to gather evidence to determine the cause of the crash. As of this publication, it was not known from where the flight originated or its destination. Published reports later said the occupants, both Oxnard residents, were a 51-year-old flight instructor and a 19-year-old student pilot flying out of the Camarillo Airport.

Senior Deputy Jim Popp issued this statement late in the evening:
Witnesses reported the plane appeared to have some mechanical problems and difficulty maintaining altitude.  No structures were damaged and no additional victims were located as a result of the crash. The plane wreckage will remain at the crash site until tomorrow morning, when investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (N.T.S.B.) and Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) will return to continue their investigations.

Special election could cost more than $30,000

By Sondra Murphy
Now is the time for Ojai residents with opinions on local government to make their voices heard.

Now is the time for Ojai residents with opinions on local government to make their voices heard.

On Tuesday, the Ojai City Council voted 3-2 in favor of appointing a replacement for the position vacated by Joe DeVito, longtime councilman and current mayor, who submitted his resignation last month, effective Dec. 31. DeVito’s term would have naturally expired in 2010. His replacement will therefore only fill the position until  next December.

To qualify for consideration, one must be registered to vote in the Ojai city limits. Applications are available at Ojai City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St., or from the web site, ci.ojai.ca.us. Interested persons are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as well as make appointments to speak individually with the current council members, except DeVito, who will not be participating in the selection process. The city hopes to receive official nominations from council members at their next meeting on Jan. 12. Their contact information is also available on the city web site under City Government, City Council.

City manager Jere Kersnar and staff recommended appointment due primarily to the short time a newly elected council member would serve.

Several public speakers addressed the council on the issue. Of the speakers, three were in favor of appointment, while four wanted to see a special election, including Len Klaif, who had made it known for weeks that he would apply for the seat or run for election, depending on the council’s decision. Lee Fitzgerald, Jerry Kaplan and Meg Goodwin spoke in favor of appointment. “If you don’t appoint a temporary replacement for Joe, the potential for split votes will stymie the process,” said Kaplan. “I therefore request an appointment.”

“There’s no question that the selection of a replacement is cheaper and timelier than election, but democracy is not cheap,” said Klaif. “Another reason I urge you to go for special election is that you are doing more than selecting you’re giving that person a leg up. If they were to run for the position in November, they are running as an incumbent and that’s a huge advantage.” Pat McPherson, Suza Francina and Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Eicher echoed those sentiments.

“I know it would bring the council down for a short time,” said Eicher. “But listing someone as an incumbent, it implies that they were elected.” He added that 3-2 votes were rare in the history of the council, so the potential for split votes seemed unlikely.

Carlon Strobel, city clerk, said that any such person would be listed as “appointed incumbent” were they to run for the position next autumn.

“If you go with the appointment process, it should be as transparent as possible,” Francina said. “People are thinking there may be more to this than meets the eye. As Lenny pointed out, you anoint the appointee. There should not be the feeling that this was your thought all along.”

“Any idea that I may have resigned so this council may appoint is as wrong as wrong can be,” said DeVito. “I didn’t realize that part of the decision to turn in a resignation at the end of this year would mean the council would go through all this. I didn’t think so far ahead as to how they would replace me.”

The council members acknowledged that the approximate cost of including a special election on the June primary ballot, estimated at $6,000, was not a lot compared with an individual special election. Strobel said in the latter case, the cost would likely be between $30,000 and $36,000.

Councilwoman Carol Smith said that by functioning for several months without a fifth council member, the cost of the election would be offset by other savings. “So it’s pretty much a wash,” she concluded. She added that she had initially been in favor of appointment until so many people had contacted her requesting election.

“Clearly this is a very important decision that we make tonight because every position on the City Council is important,” said Councilwoman Sue Horgan. “I hear the notion of democracy in action and I believe it in my very soul, but I feel strongly that we need to fill the position.”

She said that a June election meant that a new council member would not be sworn in until July or August. “We’re in the midst of several important projects: the Skate Park, Libbey Bowl, the housing element and last, but not least, we’re in the midst of an unprecedented economic time.” With the budget evaluation scheduled for the next several weeks, Horgan said that a full compliment of council members would be important to have.

Councilwoman Betsy Clapp called the election process “sacrosanct,” adding, “I think we can get along with four people.”

“You’ve got six months, if the election is held in June, then it’s not certified until the second council meeting in July. Then, the following week, they will have to take out papers to run again in November,” DeVito pointed out. “We have a number of important decisions that need to be made and everything will be done in the open. Applicants will be discussed at a public meeting.”

“I don’t really feel that we have a choice. We need to grapple with some of these issues coming up, especially budget,” said Mayor Pro-tem Steve Olsen. “If we wait until June, that person would not be able to participate in any of the discussions and we need input. I think we need to appoint the most qualified person we can.”

The council has until Jan. 31 to fill the position. In the event that no qualified applicant is found — or as Klaif said, all applicants seem equally acceptable — by January, the council will be required to order a special election for the seat. Meanwhile, time is of the essence for anyone who wishes to apply.

For more information, call 646-5581 and ask for Strobel.

Sheriff’s Department Press Release
Sgt. Bill Schierman

Sergio Ramos was sentenced this morning to 27 years in state prison for a shooting he committed in Oak View in 2008.  Ramos, an Ojai gang member, has been in custody since his arrest in June of 2008.

On 5-18-08, at about 0800 hours, deputies and investigators from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit were called to an address on Short Street where they discovered a car that had two bullet holes in it.  The area was searched and 7 shell casings were found more than 350 feet away.  It was later determined the shell casings had been fired from a semi automatic handgun.  Deputies also located a victim, Kyle Hoffman, who stated he was shot at during the early morning hours.  He did not report the incident at the time of the shooting.

Sheriff’s gang investigators developed information that Ojai gang member Sergio Ramos was involved in the shooting and obtained a search warrant for his residence.

On 6-20-2008, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit, along with deputies from the Ojai station, served a search warrant at Ramos’s residence, located in the 100 block of La Luna Street, Oak View.  Ramos was present during the search and was arrested for assault with a firearm and street terrorism.   During the search of the residence, ammunition was located that was similar to the shell casings found at the scene.  Ramos was booked into the Ventura County Jail.

Sheriff’s Gang investigators believe Ramos shot at Hoffman because Ramos thought Hoffman vandalized his residence.

In June of 2008, the District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Ramos; he remained in custody until his trial.   In October of this year, a jury found Ramos guilty of attempted murder and intentionally discharging a firearm during the commission of that crime.

California state law mandates that anyone convicted of a violent crime serve at least 85 percent of his or her sentence.  Ramos will be eligible for parole in 2032, at the age of 51.

Downards retain Christmas spirit despite cowardly act

By Sondra Murphy
A sure way to get on Santa Claus’ naughty list is to trash a neighbor’s Christmas decorations. That is what one Ojai Valley family woke up to Monday morning.

To make matters worse for the vandals, the house on Willey Street, home to Rick and Judy Downard, is a six-year venue for kids to visit with Santa

The Downards have lived in the valley since 1932, at the Willey Street residence since 1984 and their festive yard decorations make Santa feel right at home as he waits for people to come by for a chat and a candy cane — or dog biscuits for the four-legged friends. After Santa appeared at the Oak View Christmas tree lighting party on Friday, the Downards hosted him at their place Saturday to kick off the season.

“We really do this for the community,” said Rick Downard of the effort that attracts children of all ages each year. “A lot of it is word of mouth.”

It took four months of decoration building and seven days to set up the decorations. “Judy took a week’s vacation to get this decorating done. Monday was her first day back to work and to see that out the door was just heartbreaking,” said Downard. “It’s just devastating to have someone so low as to do this. It’s kind of like the Grinch stealing Christmas.”

Besides the many local families and groups that come for some one-on-one time with Santa Claus, Downard said many now-grown former visitors bring their children to the Willey Street Kringle stop — some from as far as Los Angeles.

“Here the Downards go out of their way to decorate so I have a nice place to visit everybody and then this happens,” said Claus when he learned of the incident.

Greetings City Watchers
I would liked to extend a special thanks to Joe Evans for all that he has brought to City Watch.  Joe, along with all of your help, has nurtured the City Watch program from it’s humble beginning of a handful of concerned friends to the thousands it now reaches throughout the Ojai Valley communities and beyond.  Joe believes, like all of you, that coming together as a team is the only way to fight crime and keep our loved ones safe.  Of course, someone who cares so much for his community with the depth of experience that Joe possesses is always in high demand.  For now, Joe has been called back to detectives to investigate major cases out of the Special Services Division.  He sends his very best and looks forward to catching crooks with you again.

Randy

Reverse 911: Register your cell phone
One of the best ways to stay safe is to be well informed, especially during natural disasters or other emergencies that can reach across entire communities.  I would highly recommend that you take the time to register your cell phone.  This will add another way to warn you should an emergency strike your neighborhood.

The City of Ojai and the surrounding Ojai Valley communities are connected to the Reverse 911 system, a telephone-based community notification system operated by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES).  The system automatically broadcasts emergency messages to home and business landlines. Residents who wish to be notified by cell phone, TTY, VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) or e-mail must register for this service – and it’s free.

Visit www.countyofventura.org and double click on the “Reverse911” icon to register online.  Or send an e-mail message with your contact information to Reverse911@ventura.org .  For more information, or to register by phone, call OES at (805) 648-9283.

FROM ACCUWEATHER:
Two Storms to Descend on California
Landslides and Mudflow could be Disastrous in Burn Areas

Latest Forecast From National Weather Service

State College, Pa. – 4 December 2009 – AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark reported in his blog that a stormy pattern is descending on California, bringing two storms, one of Sunday through Monday, the other on Wednesday and Thursday.

Walter Einhart

Veteran newsman brings small-town
experience to bi-weekly publication

Effective Dec. 1, Walter A. Einhart Jr. has been named editor and publisher of the Ojai Valley News. Einhart has taken the helm as publisher of the newspaper, Ojai Valley Visitors Guide and all local operations. He is replacing Bret Bradigan, who has moved on to other ventures.

“I am pleased to have Walter with us because he shares my philosophy of what a small-town newspaper should be to its community,” said OVN owner Bill Buchanan. “We both see the newspaper as a semi-public utility. It is our goal to produce the best quality newspaper the community can support. With the operation of the newspaper, we assume tremendous responsibilities; first to the public that we serve, second to the employees, and lastly to the stockholders.”

Einhart is an 11-year publishing veteran who has spent most of his career working successfully with community newspapers. He moved to California in 2008 with his 5-year-old son, Walter Allan Einhart III. They will soon be relocating from Ventura to Ojai.

A New York native, Navy veteran and avid sports fan, Einhart said he traded previous hobbies for spending free time with his son. The move to Ojai gives him opportunities to focus on both his career and family.

“My family and I would often spend weekends in Ojai since moving to California last year and it became clear very quickly this was a unique place, with a rich history, filled with amazing people,” he said. “When the opportunity came up for me to become a part of that professionally, I had to jump at the chance.”

Following four years of active duty as a U.S. Navy avionics technician, Einhart began his publishing career in 1998. He has since been publisher for newspapers or military publications in the Tennessee and Mississippi areas. He was later promoted to vice president of BNI for four years, overseeing nine community newspapers and various specialty products. He has earned several news writing awards and was recognized for his work on news lead stories, columns and photos. Einhart was named Publisher of the Year for three consecutive years with BNI.

Einhart later served as vice president of the Suburban Community Newspaper Group, where he successfully created a unified classified publication, before accepting a position with Target Media Partners out of Los Angeles.

Lawyer questions Alex Medina’s ability to assist in his own defense

By Daryl Kelley
A Superior Court judge this week ordered the mental evaluation of Alex Medina after defense lawyers said they had doubts about the youth’s ability to assist in his own defense.

A competency hearing to discuss the evaluation was set for Jan. 8. If both sides accept the evaluation’s findings and conclusion, a full hearing would not be needed, attorneys said.

“If an attorney has a doubt of a client’s competency to stand trial, he has to bring it to the attention of the court,” defense lawyer Scott Wippert said in an interview Wednesday.

Wippert would not discuss what led him and his colleague, Robyn Bramson, to petition the court for an evaluation. But he said there are unusual factors when a 14-year-old is charged as an adult and tried in adult court, as is the case with Medina.

“In the case of a 14-year-old, there could be many different issues,” Wippert said. “It could range from a developmental disorder to mental issues. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to get into any details. But there are some differences when it’s a juvenile charged in adult court. That’s why we asked the judge to appoint experts.”

The Medina case is the second in the last year in which the same Studio City defense team has declared a doubt about the competency of a young defendant charged with murder as an adult. A judge declared Brandon McInerney, an Oxnard junior high school student accused of killing a gay classmate, competent to stand trial after an evaluation requested by Wippert’s law firm.

Two doctors evaluated McInerney, but Judge Edward Brodie ordered Medina evaluated by just one, as is required by law.

Prosecutors said the requests are unusual. But so is charging 14-year-olds as adults.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Department
press release from Deputy Ryan Clark

On 11/30/09, the Lockwood Valley Sheriff’s Sub-Station received a call from a local resident, who reported seeing a man in the process of abandoning approximately 12 puppies on the side of the road, in the area of Lockwood Valley Road, west of Mill Canyon. This location is within the boundaries of the Los Padres National Forest.  The resident stopped and confronted the man, telling him he could not abandon the puppies there. The suspect quicky retrieved the puppies and put them into the bed of his truck before driving away. The resident recorded the man’s license plate number and description, and searched the area. He located one of the puppies, which had been left behind, and took custody of it.

A Lockwood Valley Resident Deputy relayed the suspect information to surrounding law enforcement agencies. A suspect broadcast was made in the area of Frazier Park, where a Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy located the suspect vehicle soon after, traveling eastbound on Frazier Mountain Park Road, in the area of Monterey Trail. The suspect (later identified as Mario Cedillo) was stopped and detained by deputies pending further investigation. At the time of his detention, the suspect had no puppies in his vehicle.

The resident witness was transported to the suspect, where he positively identified Cedillo. Cedillo was questioned and was generally uncooperative with the investigation. Based on the investigation, it was suspected that Cedillo was in the process of abandoning his puppies in the forest, where they were certain to die without care, when he was confronted by the resident. It was further suspected that Cedillo simply drove to another location, where he abandoned the puppies in a similar fashion. Cedillo refused to reveal the location where the puppies had been taken.

Cedillo was placed under arrest for felony animal cruelty and was transported to the Ventura County Jail, where he was further questioned. Based on his interview, the suspicions of abandonment were confirmed. Cedillo was booked into the Ventura County Jail for violation of 597(a) PC (Animal Cruelty), and 12500(a) VC (Unlicensed Driver). His bail was set at $15,000

Deputies and residents of Cuddy Valley mounted a search effort for several hours, which failed to reveal the location of the puppies.

On 12/1/09, deputies were notified that another Cuddy Valley resident, unaware of the initial search, had located 7 abandoned puppies at the end of  Cherry Creek 4×4 Camp road, situated on the Tecuya Ridge of the Los Padres National Forest, on the previous evening. The resident reported going to this rarely visited area for snow play when he encountered abandoned puppies in the roadway. The resident took custody of the puppies for the evening and turned them over on 12/1/09. Lockwood Valley Resident Deputies were notified of the find and took custody of the puppies as evidence. Based on the investigation, it was suspected these were the same puppies seen with Cedillo the previous day.

The puppies’ care was transferred to Ventura County Animal Regulation officers for immediate medical treatment. Their medical condition was found to be poor / serious.

Anybody with information relating to these puppies, or Mario Cedillo, is encouraged to call the Lockwood Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 245-3829. This investigation is continuing.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department encourages anybody who is experiencing difficulty in handling or caring for animals to contact your local Animal Regulation or Humane Society for assistance or advice.

Ojai Valley Defense Fund well on its way to raising $1 million

By Linda Harmon
According to John Broesamle, the Ojai Valley Defense Fund has raised over a quarter of a million dollars in funds and pledges from donors, hoping they’ll never have to use it.

“The Ojai Valley is pretty well guaranteed to face major threats in the coming years,” said Broesamle during a recent conversation. “Anyone living in or near the Ojai Valley knows that residents have repeatedly faced such threats to their quality of life in the past, including the proposed Weldon Canyon dump, the averted state plan to cut the valley in half with a freeway, a proposal to build 10,000 single-family homes in the Lake Casitas watershed, and even proposed open-pit uranium and phosphate mining operations. All of these situations would have fundamentally harmed our environment and the well-being of our citizens.”

After moving to Ojai in 1990, Broesamle grew increasingly aware of these past threats to the valley, an area he had grown to love and treasure. It was this awareness, as well as growing concerns over several new issues that caused him to found the Defense Fund in early spring of this year.

“I gathered a group of concerned citizens to create the Ojai Valley Defense Fund,” said Broesamle, of the nonprofit corporation.

“The idea is to build a ‘chest’ to help support various legal actions by other citizen action groups. We are not a political group. The Defense Fund’s purpose is to sit out there and hopefully discourage some of these big, outside players from even coming to the valley.”

Broesamle wants to get the word out that the OVDF is a very conservative, long-term organization. Its funds will be invested and will be conservatively managed.

Broesamle stressed that it is not an action organization and they will not support divisive issues.

“Any organization can apply for funds for legal assistance,” said Broesamle, “but to be successful they will have to have an issue that affects a majority of the valley’s citizens and their quality of life. It would have to be something that would discourage people from living here or cause them to leave.”

Broesamle and his wife, Kathy, have their entire family here, children and grandchildren.

“We intend to die here,” said Broesamle, who first intends to help circle the wagons to protect it.

Broesamle first came to the Ojai Valley with his grandparents who would picnic in the hills or along the creeks.

“We bought a house here while I was still teaching at California State University, in Northridge,” said the retired professor and author. “My parents and Kathy’s parents retired here. We’d come up on weekends and stay and then when my wife Kathy got a job with Ojai Unified I commuted until I was able to retire.”

After both retired, the two became very active in local environmental groups. Broesamle became a board member of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, where he was president from 1998 to 2000. He was an Ojai Citizen of the Year in 1999, named Ojai Living Treasure in 2001, and given the Environmental Defense Center Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Besides founding and heading the OVDF he currently volunteers for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Ojai Trees, and Topa Topa Elementary School, which his grandchildren attend.

“The founding members of the OVDF have raised a good financial foundation,” said Broesamle. “We’ve done that and we will open it up to donations of any amount in a future fund-raising campaign this spring. We hope to protect the future of this wonderful valley community and in the process maybe serve as a model for other concerned communities.”

To find out more go to ovdf.org.

Screenwriter back in jail to serve one-year
term after alleged breaches in inmate security

By Daryl Kelley
The work-furlough assignment of Oscar-winning screenwriter Roger Avary was suspended late Thanksgiving Day for alleged breaches in inmate security, and the Ojai Valley resident was returned to Ventura County Jail to serve a one-year sentence for felony vehicular manslaughter.

Avary, 44, who won an Academy Award for co-writing “Pulp Fiction” in 1994, was placed in segregated housing at the main jail in Ventura last Thursday evening after the county Probation Department concluded that he had violated security at the work-furlough nightly lock-up in Camarillo.

He is likely to stay in jail, not work furlough, until he finishes his sentence in July, officials said.

“They felt he had compromised security,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Ross Bonfiglio of probation officials. “I know it’s security related. It’s more than using Twitter.”

A Twitter site that was apparently Avary’s carried a commentary on his life while incarcerated from shortly after Oct. 26, when Avary began serving his time in the work-furlough program, which allowed him to leave custody during the day but return at night and on weekends.

“By drawing attention to his situation (through Twitter), that coupled with the security issues, led him to be transferred back to full custody,” Bonfiglio said. “It’s because of his behavior, absolutely. … His actions caused him to be transferred to 24-hour lockup. He had a lot more freedom.”

Avary is still being held separate from the general jail population “because of his celebrity status,” Bonfiglio said. The location of Avary’s housing could change over the months to the Todd Road Jail, he said, but Avary will remain in segregated housing.

Karen Staples, director of the Probation Department, said she could not speak about Avary’s situation specifically. But she said that once inmates violate the rules of work furlough, they almost never are allowed to return.

“I can think of one or two” during her many years in the department, she said. “(But usually) that’s it.”

Inmates who violate rules also sometimes lose the “good time” they have accrued before they are “rolled up” and returned to the County Jail, she said.

“Work furlough is a privilege,” she said. “It is a low-security custody setting. There is a small library and a TV room. People are not allowed to have cell phones or laptops. They are given a set or rules and regulations … and they talk about safety and security issues.”

Bonfiglio said he didn’t think Avary would be reconsidered for work furlough.

“I’m not of the opinion that he will be going back to work furlough,” he said.

Avary is scheduled to be released in early July, “… unless he screws up again and work time is taken away,” Bonfiglio said.

Mark Werksman, who represented Avary in the manslaughter case, said he could not comment on the decision to transfer Avary back to the County Jail except to save that he was booked in on Thanksgiving night.

“There’s nothing I can say,” Werksman said.

The work-furlough program allows low-risk inmates to go to their jobs and return to custody in a barracks-like situation in Camarillo after their workdays. Inmates in the program pay the county a fee for their custody.

At sentencing in late September, Avary, and his wife, Gretchen, asked that the producer-director-screenwriter be placed in the program so he could continue to provide for his family while in custody. The jobs of hundreds of people working on two Avary-produced movies were also at stake, Werksman said.

Over the objection of prosecutors, Judge Edward Brodie directed that the work-furlough screening be completed to see if Avary qualified.

Avary was sentenced to one year in jail and five years’ probation for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, resulting from a late-night car crash in which Italian newlywed Andrea Zini was killed and Avary’s wife was injured.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Lief asked for a prison sentence for Avary.

“It had always been our position that Mr. Avary deserved to go to prison,” Lief said Tuesday. “And while 365 days in County Jail isn’t six years and eight months in prison, it’s a good start. It’s good to see him behind bars.”

Lief said that he was surprised that Avary apparently was not a model inmate in the work-furlough situation.

“I would have thought that he would have been smart enough to realize he had received a significant break from the judge, and would do everything he could to stay out of trouble and out of jail,” Lief said.

Zini, a 34-year-old mechanical engineer, was killed when an impaired Avary lost control of his speeding Mercedes sedan on a curve and smashed into a telephone pole on Highway 150 near Ojai Lumber.

Avary had just met Zini and his new wife that evening in January 2008, and he invited them to his home after sharing dinner and drinks with common friends. Zini’s wife was not in the car.

Avary admitted guilt to five felonies in August, and faced a maximum of 12 years and eight months in prison, or a minimum sentence of six years and eight months, if Brodie decided to send him to state prison.

During sentencing, attorneys announced that Avary had settled for $4.1 million a civil lawsuit filed by the Zini family, after hiring his own independent lawyer to press his auto insurance company for a swift settlement.

That factor, along with Avary’s clean criminal and driving record before the crash, were key considerations in his sentence, Judge Brodie said. Avary’s stellar life story, obvious remorse and the need for him to support his wife and two children, were also factors in his decision, the judge said.

Avary apologized for his admitted crime, and he and his wife tearfully requested forgiveness from the Zini family, who traveled from Italy to appear at the sentencing hearing to request a stiff sentence.

Avary pleaded guilty to felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and causing injury while driving under the influence of alcohol. He also admitted to three felony violations of the state vehicle code.

Prosecutors said Avary had a blood-alcohol level of .11, while a level of .08 or greater constitutes drunken driving in California. Prosecutors also maintained that skid marks showed Avary was driving at 100 mph and that his sedan crashed into the pole at a speed of 25 to 35 mph.

Defense lawyers acknowledge that Avary was driving faster than the 45 mph speed limit, but far slower than 100 mph. They also said that a blown tire caused the accident, and a dangerous road contributed to it.

According to Sheriff’s Department reports, 29-year-old Victor Sanchez is being held in the Ventura County Main Jail on suspicion of stabbing Ismael Montelongo, 39, of Mira Monte after the victim suffered a superficial shoulder wound at about 6 p.m. Friday. Sanchez was arrested at a residence in the 200 block of Lomita Avenue after he allegedly stabbed Montelongo at or near the corner of El Roblar Drive and Lomita Avenue. Sanchez was booked for felony assault with a deadly weapon by means likely to cause great bodily injury, with bail set at $20,000. Sanchez is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom 13.

After failing to allow rescue of 54 stranded fish, NMFS
working with Casitas, others to prevent further die-offs

By Daryl Kelley
Following a summer in which at least 54 steelhead trout died in dry pools in the upper Ventura River, federal officials who failed to launch a rescue effort are now devising a strategy that could save the endangered fish when they face death.

In a meeting last week, the National Marine Fisheries Service asked representatives from about a dozen environmental groups and local agencies in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties to provide their best information so teams to save the fish may be deployed as streams dry up next summer.

“Our goal is for (the rescue plan) to be ready as soon as possible after the first of the year,” said Chris Yates, who oversees the southern steelhead program from a National Marine Fisheries office in Long Beach.

“We’re looking at when and where and how to rescue the fish. There’s a sense of urgency on everyone’s part.”

The local advisory teams, expert on the nature of their watersheds, will monitor and identify potential rescue situations, Yates said. Then they’ll assist federal and state fish agencies in moving the fish to spots where they have the best chance to survive and prosper, he said.

But there’s much to learn about whether the fish rescues are of long-term benefit, or whether they are simply Band-Aids that make people feel better but really have no impact on the survival of the species, he said.

“We need to learn whether these (rescued) fish are surviving,” he said. “Are we putting them in places that harm other fish? There’s a suite of things we need to work out. There are a lot of moving parts.”

Even with the new rescue schemes in place, Yates said he was not yet sure whether they would have prompted a rescue of the 54 steelhead that died last July in dry pools in the upper Ventura River near the Robles fish ladder, which was ordered built by the U.S. government to help save the fish from extinction.

With very few resources, public agencies can’t spend too much time rescuing fish in streams that have naturally dried up for hundreds or thousands of years, he said. His agency must consider the cause of the drying, and if that cause is man-made, try to lessen man’s impact on the natural process.

“We do feel there are times and places and reasons when fish should be rescued,” Yates said after the 54 fish died last summer. “However, we have to balance that. In Southern California, it’s very difficult to distinguish between what is natural or the result of human activities.”

He has just three or four employees focusing on steelhead issues for a region stretching from San Luis Obispo County to the Mexican border, Yates said.

“The bottom line is I am not inclined to build a broad, widespread fish rescue team,” Yates said then.

But this week, Yates said he had called last week’s meeting with watershed experts in Santa Barbara to prepare for rescues when they are justified.

Over the next few months, local experts have now pledged to provide federal and state fish agencies with detailed information about where steelhead are regularly trapped as pools dry up in the late spring and summer.

Those local experts, including marine biologists who are intimately familiar with the Ventura River watershed, will also recommend to the federal fisheries service and the state Department of Fish and Game the best places to relocate the fish.

Generally, those biologists stressed last week that the fish ought to be placed in year-round pools or streams in the direction of their migration, Yates said.

That would mean that the juvenile smolts that are migrating to the ocean should be placed in permanent streams near the mouth of the Ventura River, while the adult steelhead that are migrating to the upper river to spawn should be placed there.

Still, the rescues and final decisions on relocation would be made by the fish agencies permitted under federal law to handle the steelhead, Yates stressed. Under the federal Endangered Species Act, only agencies with permits may handle the fish. The southern steelhead was designated an endangered species in 1997 after the number of adults dwindled from tens of thousands to a few hundred, authorities say.

Among the biologists who will assist in rescue planning is Scott Lewis, a consultant for the Casitas Municipal Water District, said Casitas Director Russ Baggerly, who will work on the local advisory team for the Ventura River watershed.

“It was a very dynamic meeting,” Baggerly said of last week’s brainstorming session. “They were very receptive, and I think good things are going to come out of this. They’re going to give us a check list of data they need to have so they can make a decision on what to do before it is to late. Everybody wants to save the fish.”

What to do about steelhead trout as they become trapped in drying pools  has been an issue for years.

Last year, the federal fisheries service gave Casitas temporary approval to collect several steelhead trout trapped in drying water holes and move them toward the ocean, where the river has water year-round. It is illegal to move the endangered fish without a permit, and violators are subject to fine.

National Marine Fisheries then promised to develop a protocol for rescuing the trout. But as summer arrived this year, that plan still had not received final approval.

Now, that protocol seems to be moving forward.

Paul Jenkin, coordinator of the Matilija Coalition, which is attempting to restore the watershed to its natural state, attended the meeting last week. And he said he was encouraged, but will have to wait and see how the federal effort works out.

Jenkin argued last summer that allowing the 54 steelhead to die was not acceptable. Rescues should take place because fish are being trapped by man-made conditions, including over-pumping of groundwater along the Ventura River, he said.

But he said this week that the meeting was a positive step.

“Hopefully, it’s a good first step,” he said.

And he noted that the extent of steelhead die-off is often underestimated. For example, he said that about 140 steelhead had been detected near the Robles fish ladder before the 54 were found dead. Twelve had been relocated, but the rest probably swam downstream and ended up in other isolated and drying pools.

“My point is that if you see 140 fish in pools that are drying up, you should do something in May or June, before you reach a critical point,” Jenkin said. “Hopefully, this will evolve into something that works. I don’t want to see any more fish drying up this year.”

Lewis, the Casitas consultant, said last summer that the count of juvenile steelhead was way up in the Ventura River, and that perhaps 1,000 lived there.

Over one 100-yard stretch where Casitas counts juvenile steelhead, Lewis said his team saw 130 during a one-day session this year, compared with 13 last year.

Lewis said he can tell young steelhead trout from their rainbow cousins, which are not endangered, because the young smolting steelhead turns silvery in color and becomes skinny as it heads toward the ocean. And adult steelhead are generally larger than rainbows.

FROM: Detective Mark Burgess

Ojai Police detectives are warning Ojai Valley residents of an increase in reported vehicle burglaries and thefts from vehicles.  Most of the crimes are occurring during nighttime hours.  The suspects are targeting unlocked vehicles and locked vehicles in which property is in plain view.  Access to locked vehicles is typically gained by breaking a window.  The types of property stolen recently have included laptop computers, purses, and jewelry. The vehicles targeted have been parked in various locations such as driveways, streets, and parking lots.  They have been unattended for as little as 30 minutes.

Please be aware thefts and vehicle burglaries will increase as the holiday season approaches.

Here are some recommendations to protect yourself from being a victim:

Always make sure your vehicle is locked.  Double-check it before leaving.

If you are shopping, place all of your purchases in the trunk.  Do not leave items in an area where they can be seen from outside the car.

3.     Do not hide personal property underneath the seat. Lock your personal property in the trunk.

Even for short periods of time, do not leave your purse, laptop computer, cellular phone, wallet, backpack or anything else in plain view inside your vehicle.

Avoid parking in isolated, poorly lit areas.

Be aware of your surroundings.  Report suspicious activity to the police.

UPDATED January 26, 2010:
Fidel Duran was sentenced to nine years in prison for reportedly admitting to the charge of attempted murder. On Jan. 25, 2010, Rutilio Huerta was sentenced to six months in county jail for battery and criminal street gang activity.

By Lenny Roberts
Almost 11 months after a near-fatal stabbing incident on Waite Street, one man has pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and another has been arrested for his complicity in the crime.

No stranger to law-enforcement, 19-year-old Fidel Duran admitted last week that he stabbed 28-year-old Joshua Powers as he walked home from a New Year’s Eve party at 1:45 a.m. Jan. 1. Duran was arrested in June following a five-month investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit.

According to authorities, Powers was stabbed 17 times as he lay on the ground after being confronted by Duran and 20-year-old Rutilio Huerta, who was arrested last week. In a statement issued by Major Crimes Sgt. Bill Schierman, the suspects fled, leaving Powers lying unconscious. A short time later, an anonymous person reported seeing Powers lying in the street. Powers was transported to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital where he spent several days after nearly succumbing to his injuries.

Duran was booked for attempted murder and street terrorism. Special allegations of using a deadly weapon, causing great bodily injury during the commission of a felony, and the commission of a felony for benefit of a street gang were subsequently added.

Huerta was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on preliminary charges of battery and participating in street gang activity. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing.

Powers’ grandfather, Ojai resident Walter Powers, said his grandson has recovered well from his injuries, but has some remaining nerve damage in his hand. “We want to thank the city and people for supporting Josh,” the elder Powers said.

Walter Powers commented on published comments about his grandson being in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time:’ “We don’t have a wrong place or wrong street in Ojai. They were on the wrong street and now they’re in the right place — in jail.”

Darlene Mansfield with old rotary phone and cover of the 1954 Ojai Valley Directory.

Reprinted phone book puts nostalgia on speed dial

By Nancy Gross
Did someone say they were headed up Highway 399 to stop by the Deer Lodge for a drink, a game of shuffleboard and to pick up some ice and groceries? It is likely someone did, in 1954.

Darlene Mansfield, whose husband was “the whistling telephone man in this valley” has put out a reprint of the 1954 Ojai Valley Directory, published by the Ojai Publishing Company, its original publisher. Ojai Publishing had already been in business for 63 years in 1954. Some things change, and some don’t change as much, and anyone with an interest in Ojai history or general nostalgia will enjoy being able to compare the present to the time capsule provided by this reprint.

The Deer Lodge’s advertisement in the back of the book is under the heading “Taverns,” and reads, “Deer Lodge, Tavern, Dancing-Shuffleboard, Grocery, Open 7 days a week, Ice-Chevron gasoline, Maricopa Hwy., Ph. Ojai 464.” A map in the back of the directory shows that Maricopa Highway had the designation of Highway 399 in those days.

The Deer Lodge floor doesn’t retain any remnants of the shuffleboard courts, as far as employee Susie Augustsson knows though she remarks that owners Jerry and Lisa Kenton have their own stash of memorabilia on the establishment. “We have customers who come in here now who say, ‘Oh my gosh, my parents brought me here when I was little. They gave me a penny or a nickel to go into the little store while they would get a drink.’ There was something called the ice house,” Augustsson said.

Conversations like this are likely to be heard all over the valley and beyond, as residents purchase the 1954 directory both for themselves, and as gifts for family and friends who have moved away. It is available at Ben Franklin, True Value, and on ebay. “Many people are buying two copies,” Mansfield said.

“This book is really about the people who lived here — they were the nucleus of this community,” Mansfield said. “It shows who we were, what we did, where we went.”

“1954. That doesn’t seem old to me,” Mansfield said, who is brimming with memories related to the valley, augmented by the fact that her husband was more or less “the only telephone installer up here.” She has dedicated the reprint to his memory. “He met everyone who came here. After he retired, he would still get calls. He would go over in his old VW, fix the phone and come back with a plate of cookies.”

She points out the foldout map, where one can find Henderson Airstrip. “It was small, but it was a status symbol, we had our own airfield, mind you.” The sister of a friend of the Mansfields once landed a plane there that was in no sense “an itty bitty private plane.” When told she couldn’t do it, the woman had replied, “You don’t know my pilot,” and indeed, she did it.

Another feature that appears on the map at Woodland and Highway 399 (now 33) is long-gone Mirror Lake, where Mansfield’s mother’s 11-year-old brother used to ride on his bicycle to collect frogs and pollywogs. “He once saw a rowboat sitting there with its oars, and took it out on the lake and it capsized, terrifying him. But he wasn’t hurt, as the lake was only 2.5 feet deep.”

Mansfield grew up in Ojai and only left briefly when she was a young woman. “I went and worked for U.S. Steel in San Francisco.” Her boyfriend at the time was a quarterback for San Francisco State University, and he lost his balance and then lost his life in a serious fall.

Mansfield’s parents wanted her to return to Ojai, so she packed up so that her father could come pick her up: “It was the ‘50s. You didn’t leave home without your ironing board and your lipstick.” She hasn’t left Ojai since, and she married Don shortly after that.

Mansfield points out the three and four digit phone numbers in the 1954 directory. She also says, “We didn’t have a phone. We’d have to go to my grandma’s house. She had a 10-party line.”

The reissued 1954 Ojai Valley Directory is not altered from the original, and begins with an essay about the valley. “Entering the picturesque valley on State Highway 150 from Santa Paula, thousands of travelers pause each year at the summit of Dennison Grade to enjoy the beauty of this rolling citrus valley spread out far below them and surrounded by the nearly continuous range of mountain peaks which give it the appearance of an American ‘Shangri-La.’”

The page after the essay offers a glimpse into the 1950s style of describing families and professions: “Your Ojai Valley directory lists the head of the family, the wife’s given name in parenthesis, occupation, address, mailing address, phone number and the names of minor children.” Apparently, if the wife had an occupation, that went into her parentheses as well, though most listings are without this.

A sample listing reads: “Bowie Wm (Hattie, dep cty clk) Ojai orng assn Grand av Rt 1 Box 17A ph 598-Mina, Bill.” And another: “Bjornstedt Arthur (Lerie, welcome wagon) survyr Cal Prep PO Box 678 Foothill rd ph 2438-Christina Erik.”

Congress is not healthy for children and other living things…or compassionate candidates.

By Peter Strauss
Unbeknownst to most people I recently made a decision not to run for Congress representing our 24^th District. I was approached in June and met in Washington with Democratic Party officials and White House political directors. Apparently they saw me as a worthy candidate who might have unseated the 22-year incumbent who is our Congressman.

The decision not to run, reached after days, weeks, and months of deliberation, has left me ill at ease. The problems ahead-health care reform, war, environment, immigration, the deficit and jobs among many others-did not deter me. We are, after all, a country of problem solvers. Nor was I dissuaded by the angry voices of extremists.

I felt secure I have political skills and the passion to devote myself to an idealistic and rational, compassionate philosophy. I was eager to hear and represent the voices of our district. I was ready to make a commitment that would have asked profound sacrifice on the part of my wife and family and to have terminated my career as an actor.

So why did I chose not to run?

Upon closer examination the landscape that lay before me was dour indeed. In fact it appeared completely compromised. What first sobered me was the amount of money I would have to raise to run a Congressional campaign for District 24. Early estimates were 2.6 to 3 million dollars! And therein was a dilemma: how does one accumulate that much money and not owe someone… somewhere…. something? Isn’t that the fundamental conflict of democratic principals?

But it was the perception of powerlessness that really alarmed me, as if Congress is oblivious, blind. I don’t only mean to the poor or those trapped in misfortune.

I mean… all of us!

The greatest crises confronting this country…as insidious an enemy as terrorism…but from within… are the growing power exerted by major corporations to affect any and all governmental decision making… and the devaluation of public education.

Congress has become an entrepreneurial venture.

There cannot be genuine health care reform when almost every politician who casts votes has accepted massive amounts of money from the very industry they are being asked to reform; there cannot be crucial Wall Street reform when Congressional members have accepted millions, yes millions of dollars, from the very industry they are being asked to reform. There cannot be any real reform when all members of Congress stand to enrich themselves and not the people they are pledged to serve; the system that funnels money into their “reelection campaigns” is vote buying. Period.

Are we to let Citi, Bear Stearns, Chrysler, and Blue Cross become the decisive factor in our children’s future??

But we, the people, would seem powerless to change that. Because there is an inherent problem when we turn to government to solve problems when they are responsible for the problems. It’s their game; the anemic compromises they unctuously announce are really “smoke and mirrors.” Fat on bailouts and bonuses corporations become even more brazen as they attempt to sway voters with massive capital investment in campaigns themselves. We are marketed, manipulated, and misinformed… but not fooled. We know this is not the essence of good government we ever subscribed to. Yet our representatives will point to their flag lapel buttons and assure us they are the true patriots. The defenders of capitalism. But when capitalism overrules the people America is not democratic.

Visit the website www.opensecrets.org and there revealed is Congress…in all its ugliness and corruption. Herein lies the real “stimulus” that motivates all Representatives and Senators to make choices regardless of the voices of the voters.

And what of education…that made America great? The dumbing down of America, the tone of coarseness that envelops us from media to sports to government coupled with reduced education funding would suggest a horror film plot of a growing menace. And yet…why do we allow government to feed itself while starving education? In our district students applied to CSU campuses in record numbers this year. Applications are up by 53 percent over last year, but the system is raising fees by 32 percent while cutting enrollment and classes. State funding is down by 7 billion!

This is as obscene as Wall Street bailouts and bonuses.

Under-funding education is shooting ourselves in the foot. It is education that enables us to compete globally. From it emanates the innovation that leads to technologies that foster industries like green and biotech technologies that produce…yup, jobs! That is the road to economic recovery!

Those denied education-especially those from minorities or poverty who need education as stepping-stones are particularly vulnerable and dependent on government protection. Left in limbo they are abandoned-as if unseen-on a precarious landscape that accentuates disparity. And it becomes dangerous. Look at the current divisive and angry tone.

If it is hunger, lack of opportunity, and the absence of education that produces growth in crime … then it facilitates the extremist’s sly demand for tough “law and order.” Unemployment of significant numbers and duration provides fertile ground for those fanning and focusing the fires of hatred-their sights set on immigrants, the poor, and social justice advocates. Add to that none-too-subtle racism and we are divided and conflicted as to the true identity of our American character, especially when we vilify those struggling to transition into their American dream.

The extremists do not reflect the America I love. America is not a “them” versus “us.” It is a “we.” And it is education that has always served to equalize us.

We, the people, must regain control of our government and away from corporate interference; we need to reclaim the fundamental principles of good governance. When we promote well-being for all, inclusion rather than exclusion, when we end inequities that cause suffering… that is the real American character.

So, problem solvers…how do we do that?

Ojai resident Peter Strauss is an actor and citrus grower. He was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ojai City Council.

Casitas wants impacts clarified by feds

By Daryl Kelley
The Casitas Municipal Water District has requested that a federal agency seeking to restore endangered southern steelhead trout in the Ventura River to sustainable levels provide more solid information and be more precise and realistic in its goals.

In a letter responding to an aggressive new steelhead recovery plan, Casitas directors agreed Wednesday to ask the Federal Marine Fisheries Service to further research the issue and investigate courses of action that could bring results without having so much impact on the 23 million people who live in Southern California.