Howard Smith

Profile

Chairman of the Board, VCEDA

Howard J. Smith is Chairman of the Board of VCEDA, the Ventura County Economic Development Association, and was honored this year as one of the top fifty Business Leaders in the Central Coast by the Pacific Coast Business Times. A Past President of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, Smith has also served in an advisory capacity to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, the Ojai Community Hospital Foundation, the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation, the Wild Foundation, the Ojai Film Festival and numerous other community organizations.

He recently organized an exhibit at the Ventura County Maritime Museum; "When China Ruled the Seas, The Treasure Fleets of the Ming Dynasty." Smith is an active member of the Estate Planning and Planned Giving Councils of Ventura County as well as the Business & Technology Partnership at CSUCI. He taught for five years at UCLA Extension and has lectured nationally. A frequent Op Ed contributor to the Ventura County Star and the Ojai Valley News, his articles have also appeared in the Washington Post, Horizon Magazine, The VCEDA News, The Journal of the Writers Guild of America, and numerous trade publications. Random House published the paperback edition of his second book "Opening the Doors to Hollywood."

Posts

Stop the Trucks: It Can’t Happen Here – Or Can It?

by Howard Smith August 28, 2010

The recent tragic accident in Santa Barbara in which a Gravel Truck similar to the ones that traverse Route 33 – Maricopa Highway – up to fifty times a day, six days a week, has everyone wondering if the same type of accident can happen here.

The answer is, “It can.”…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

STOP THE TRUCKS – Gypsum Trucks Now on Maricopa Highway Overnight

by Howard Smith July 26, 2010

GYPSUM TRUCKS ARE HEADING NORTH OUT OF OJAI TOWARDS THE CUYAMA VALLEY AS LATE AS 7:50 PM FOR ROUND TRIPS THAT WILL TAKE OVER FOUR HOURS!

THAT TRANSLATES INTO 50 FOOT LONG TRUCKS DRIVING ON A NARROW TWO LANE MOUNTAIN ROUND THAT HAS A 30 FOOT ADVISORY IN THE MIDDLE OF…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Stop the “Gravel” Trucks: Complaint #115 Sent to the County

by Howard Smith July 24, 2010

The “Stop the Trucks” coalition and our legal representatives continue to be deeply troubled over what we suspect are continuing and ongoing violations of the current and “expired” CUP’s regarding trucks traveling through the Ojai restricted zone during restricted times and on Route 33 through the City of Ojai and…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Stop the “Gravel” Trucks: Ozena Signs Agreement: NO TRUCKS THROUGH CITY OF OJAI – BUT THE TRUCKS KEEP RUNNING

by Howard Smith July 22, 2010

“ON JULY 6, 2010, ALLIANCE SIGNED A COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT WITH VENTURA COUNTY BY WHICH IT AGREED TO CEASE CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS AT OZENA THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RESULTS IN TRUCKS TRAVELING THROUGH THE CITY OF OJAI.

THROUGH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL THE STOP THE TRUCKS COALITION HAS ALREADY INDICATED TO THE COUNTY…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Ozena Gets a Verbal Extension on CUP Renewal

by Howard Smith June 22, 2010

Following is a letter to the Director of the Resource Management Agency of Ventura County opposing the verbal extension of time granted for the Ozena conditional use permit renewal application.

Chatten-Brown & Carstens
2601 OCEAN PARK BOULEVARD SUITE 205
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA 90405
www.cbcearthlaw.com
E-MAIL: ASP@CBCEARTHLAW.COM

June 9, 2010

Via Facsimile (805 654-2630)

Mr. Chris Stephens, Director
Resource Management…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Ojai Rock Quarry Deliberately Filling Matilija Creek?

by Howard Smith June 21, 2010

In their attached letter, the Board of the Casitas Municipal Water District expresses their concern that the utility of their Fish Passage Facility at the Robles Diversion, is being undermined as a result of the unregulated activities at the Ojai Rock Quarry.

The Ojai Rock Quarry is on Route 33 just…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Stop the “Gravel” Trucks! Quiet, Isn’t it?

by Howard Smith April 21, 2010

IMG_5251.JPG
http://ovnblog.com/?p=2740

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Brian’s Song or why do people vote against their own interests?

by Howard Smith February 1, 2010

Political scientist Dr David Runciman, in comments made to the BBC, looks at why there is often such deep opposition to reforms that appear to be of obvious benefit to voters:
Last year, in a series of “town-hall meetings” across the country, Americans got the chance to debate President Obama’s proposed…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Hospital Auxiliary Needs Volunteers

by Howard Smith November 30, 2009

Help is needed at our local Hospital during the week in the Gift Shop (no patient contact) and on the floor (patient contact).
Opportunities are also available helping in the Continuing Care Center on Saturdays.
An identity check will be required as will an annual TB screening.
Applications may be obtained at the…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

Blogging The Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival

by Howard Smith November 5, 2009

2009_Poster.jpg
The opening night party begins tonight, Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, 905 Country Club Road.
It is to be followed by a 7 p.m. free screening, at the inn’s recreation field, of “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers.”
Afterward, Ellsberg,…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
Read the full post →

← Previous Entries