ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

Thanks to all the volunteers who gathered signatures in Ojai, Ventura and rest of California, our Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified an anti-cruelty ballot initiative for the statewide general election to be held November 4, 2008.

This statewide initiative was the effort of Californians for Humane Farms, a coalition of animal protection organizations, veterinarians, environmentalists, food safety organizations and concerned citizens. According to Californians for Humane Farms, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will provide the most basic protection to nearly 20 million animals confined in industrial factory farms in California: that they be able to turn around and extend their limbs.

Continue reading "Announcement from Rosie and Tillie: Anti-Cruelty Measure Certified for California’s November Ballot" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | author bio

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | author bio

(photo courtesy of Daly Road Graphics & Ray Smith)

On Tuesday afternoon, April 8th, members of "Stop the Trucks" coalition successfully testified before the Ventura County Board of Supervisors at their regular weekly meeting after a presentation by consultant Tom Berg, who had been hired to assess issues and problems at the county's Resource Management Agency which includes the Planning Division.

The Coalition stressed the need for monitoring and enforcement of permit conditions, particularly of gravel mine operations, a fact that was reflected back by four of the Supervisors to County staff at the end of the meeting.
The Planning Division currently is responsible for oversight of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) issued to the Ozena Mine and Gravel operation.

According to an article in the Ventura County Star by Tony Biasotti on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, Berg's noted that there are there are many ways in which the county could be more "transparent, predictable and accountable."
And, " the system has some problems."

Continue reading ""Stop the Trucks:" Expert cites problems in Ventura County's Resource Mangement Agency & Planning Division " »

Posted by Howard Smith at 07:18 PM | Permalink | author bio

In a news story written by Nao Braverman in Friday's Ojai Valley News, "owners of the Ozena Valley Sand and Gravel Mine and the Virgilio Family Trust filed a lawsuit against Ventura County last week, for allegedly changing the scope of their permitted operations without prior notice, hearing or environmental review, according to the lawsuit. They are also filing charges against the county for restricting the use of State Highway 33, which is allegedly in excess of the authority granted to the county, according to the legal petition."

Continue reading "STOP THE TRUCKS: Gravel Truck Owners Suing Ventura County" »

Posted by Howard Smith at 08:47 AM | Permalink | author bio

OJAI FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREES
Richard + Lauren Shuler Donner
and Ray Bradbury

Early Entry Deadline for Filmmakers April 15

(Ojai, CA) Ojai Film Festival has announced it will produce two Lifetime Achievement Awards programs to honor high powered producers, Lauren Shuler Donner and Richard Donner, Friday, Nov. 7 as well as an American icon, Ray Bradbury on Saturday November 8 as part of its ninth annual event set to run November 6 through 9, at the five-diamond resort – the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

Chairman of the Festival Board, David Shor enthused, “I am pleased and honored to announce, Ray Bradbury and the Donners' have accepted our invitation to be honored at the Ojai Film Festival with a Lifetime Achievement Award for their amazing bodies of work that have inspired and entertained so many people around the world. All the honorees have one thing in common – they can’t be categorized in any one genre. These are major developments for our festival.”

Continue reading "OJAI FILM FESTIVAL TO HONOR RAY BRADBURY AND RICHARD & LAUREN SHULER DONNER" »

Posted by Howard Smith at 06:25 PM | Permalink | author bio

A Yoga in the Ojai Valley DVD Review

EARTHLINGS
Nature Animals Humankind MAKE THE CONNECTION

Watch the movie here: http://freedocumentaries.org/film.php?id=119

Written, produced and directed by Shaun Monson.
Narrated by Academy Award Nominee Joaquin Phoenix.
Music by critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby.

This is the single most powerful and informative movie about society's treatment of animals! A must-see film for anyone who cares enough to know.
-- Woody Harrelson

The Humane Society calls EARTHLINGS "The definitive documentary film of all times that Americans don't want to see. "

If I had to name one movie that I want everyone to see, including my family, friends and yoga students, it would be EARTHLINGS . Then they would understand why I am so adamant that human beings must speak out on behalf of animals.

Continue reading "EARTHLINGS" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (15) | author bio

A reader writes in. Let's find this dog his home. - tyler

A nice beagle was found at the Farmer and Cook on Friday night. He has a collar but it looks like the ID tag fell off (ring but no tags). He may have been recently neutered and seems well fed. We can't keep him, and if we can't find his owner soon, will have to take him to the shelter.

He wandered in to the Farmer while Fred Schmitt was playing on March 7, sometime between 7 and 9 pm. The owners could call Fred at 805-746-4566 to coordinate a return.

UPDATE: (from reader Lynn) Found the owners! Dog is named Duke and apparently he follows his nose, wherever it goes (maybe he should be called fruitloop?) Hound and owner happily reunited. Yay!

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (15) | author bio

What a week it's been!

Early Monday morning I got a call that two pot-bellied pig sisters, Rosie and Tillie, needed a home. Their rescue-mom had two more homeless pigs coming and there was no more room at the Pig Inn. I agreed to take them on faith, sight unseen.

That afternoon the sisters arrived in style in two large dog crates. Each crate was hoisted from the back of a station wagon on top of a child's wagon, in order to pull them into the backyard. The first one out was Tillie, who is black and looks like my old pig Rosie. ("Old" Rosie left her body three years ago.) Then came "new" Rosie, who is white. "New" Rosie does not resemble old Rosie so naturally, for the first few hours, I got "new" white Rosie and Tillie, the black-Rosie-look-alike, mixed up.

Within minutes of being released, the two sisters began happily rototilling the back yard and eating the delicious young spring grass and other goodies. Pig Heaven! So much space, rich mulch and soft earth!

Normally pigs naturally retire at sunset but these girls were too excited to sleep! I tried turning off all the outside lights and hoped they would go to bed like good little piggies. Around 8 p.m. I tiptoed into the yard to check on them. I could see their lumbering figures in the moonlight, one dark, one white, still digging and rooting. I tried luring them into their igloos with pieces of carrot and apple. Finally, somewhat exasperated, I sprinkled cereal into the back of their huts. When they stepped inside, I quickly tiptoed back into the house, turned off all the lights and went to bed.

Continue reading " Meet Rosie and Tillie, Ojai's First Spokespigs" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (14) | author bio

(Photo by Troy Harvey/Special to the VC Star)

In this Sunday's edition of the Ventura County Star, we see barracades divert traffic around a section of Maricopa Highway - Route 33 - about 10 miles north of Ojai that has collapsed into the North Fork of Matilija Creek.

Only residents and emergency personnnel are allowed to use northbound lanes. For all other vehicles, the CHP expects a long-term closure of the highway between Lockwood Valley to the north, where most of the gravel mines in dispute are located, and Matilija Road and the Ojai Valley to the south.

Continue reading "Stop the Trucks: Collapse of Route 33" »

Posted by Howard Smith at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | author bio

over-pass-work2.pdf

In today's Ventura County Star:
Saturday, February 23, 2008, from staff reports:

Bridge on Highway 33 Collapses: No One Hurt

A bridge support beam failure caused 130 to 150 feet of embankment along south-bound Highway 33 above Ojai to slide into the North Fork of Matilija Creek on Friday evening, authorities said.

The roadway was empty at the time of the collapse and no one was hurt, California Highway Patrol officials sad.

The bridge, located 10 to 12 miles north of Ojai, reportedly gave way about 6:15 p.m., according to the CHP.

Only southbound lanes were affected, officials said and northbound lanes remained open to residents and emergency personnel.

For all other vehicles, the CHP expects a long-term closure of the highway between Lockwood Valley Road to the north and Matilija Road to the south.

Caltrans crews worked to repair the roadway Friday night, authorities said.

Continue reading "Stop the Trucks: Highway 33 Bridge Collapses!" »

Posted by Howard Smith at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

Happy Belated Valentines Day!! Here's Hoping you
find your Soul Mate, Love Dvorah

Posted by Dvorah Adler at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | author bio

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 08:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (33) | author bio

Christmas in Ojai from Daly Road Graphics

On February 1, 2008 "Stop the Trucks," filed the following formal complaint against the Ozena Mine with the head of the Ventura County Planning Division, Kim Rodriguez:

Please consider this letter on behalf of Ojai residents, John Broesamle, Howard Smith and the “Stop the Trucks” coalition a formal request to re-open the investigation of possible C.U.P violations on August 14, 2007 in the operation of gravel trucks in conjunction with the Ozena Valley Sand and Gravel Mine.

The Ojai “Stop the Trucks Coalition is comprised of the City of Ojai; Forestwatch; the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce; the Ojai Valley School District; the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors; and many hundreds of private citizens.

In your September 27, 2007 letter to Howard Smith (prepared by Pat Richards) and your January 8, 2008 letter to John Broesamle, the department denies both complaints of early morning and late afternoon CUP truck violations by citing the weigh tickets provided to the Planning Department by Ozena.

After an extensive forensic study of the weigh tickets turned over to the Planning Division by the agent for Ozena, John Hecht of West Coast Environmental & Engineering, “Stop the Trucks,” now firmly believes that the use of self-prepared weigh tickets, which appear to be the sole tool used by the division to monitor truck traffic, is not valid. It is a method in which the results can seemingly be manipulated at will by the mine operator; and/or the weigh master; the trucking contractor; and/or their designated drivers; and may result in fraud or misrepresentation of the facts. Clearly they fail the test as the evidentiary basis for any claims, pro or con.

Details of our review are in the “Analysis” provided both below and attached separately.

Continue reading "Stop the Trucks: Complaint Against Ozena" »

Posted by Howard Smith at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

My daughter Monica meets Wilbur...

For a larger view: View image

More images after the jump!

Continue reading "A Visit to an Ojai Pig Sanctuary" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 07:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (37) | author bio

Thanks to Peggy LaCerra for sending me this!

"The Best Peace Sign!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D85yrIgA4Nk

Posted by Suza Francina at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | author bio

Today is January 30th, 2008. It was on this day in 1948 that Mohandas K. Gandhi was shot and killed in Delhi, and it is on this date that we begin the Season for Nonviolence. This 64-day period between the memorial dates of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. (April 4th) and is used globally as a time for personal and community reflection on the healing and transforming power of nonviolence and the contributions towards Peace made by these two great leaders.

In this spirit the Ojai Peace Coalition presents our handy, consolidated, easily-printable, wallet-fittable, fun-to-foldable 64 Daily Reflections Card to keep with you so your commitments to Peace and Compassion are never more than a glance away. Enjoy!

Our first week of reflections are:
Jan 30: Today, I will reflect on what peace means to me.
Feb 01: Today, I will look at opportunities to be a peacemaker.
Feb 02: Today, I will practice nonviolence and respect for Mother Earth by making good use of her resources.
Feb 03: Today, I will take time to admire and appreciate nature.
Feb 04: Today, I will plant seeds--plants or constructive ideas.
Feb 05: Today, I will hold a vision of plenty for all the world’s hungry and be open to guidance as to how I can help alleviate some of that hunger.
Feb 06: Today, I will acknowledge every human being’s fundamental right to justice, equity, and equality.

Posted by evan austin at 01:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | author bio

In case you had any doubts about Fox News and you have 10 minutes to spend watching a video exposing their successful effort to squelch their own story about the dangers of bovine growth hormone, here you go......

Thanks to Lanny Kaufer for sending this!

http://www.blinkx.com/burl?v=_PA6ybzbJ9HjYZ8K4bupObjZCCNPvBOm

(I watched the whole thing while I did my morning shoulder stretches...it will wake you up!)

"In essence, the news organization owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, argued the First Amendment gives broadcasters the right to even lie or deliberately distort news reports on the public airwaves."

Posted by Suza Francina at 05:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | author bio

Submitted by Scott Smith:

Champion Mine Detection Dog to Visit Ojai

Place: Meiners Oaks Elementary School, 400 South Lomita Ave., After-School Program (back of the school)
Date: Thursday, January 17
Time: 3-4pm

The public is invited to see a free landmine awareness demonstration featuring retired mine dog Utsi, and the President of the Marshall Legacy Institute, General Perry Baltimore.

This demonstration will highlight the upcoming Legacy Of Hope Golf Tournament to be held at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa on March 10th. The purpose of the tournament is to raise funds to train and deliver six mine detection dogs to the country of Lebanon, and to assist landmine victims. Professional golfers Jim Colbert, Jay Sigel and Dave Eichelberger will be featured in this event.

More about Utsi, the Marshall Legacy Institute, and a shocking YouTube video after the jump...

Continue reading "Champion Mine Detection Dog to Visit Ojai" »

Posted by Lisa Snider at 08:33 AM | Permalink | author bio

Talia with her father Michael

On December 23rd, Talia's plane crashed on the southern slope of Panama's Baru Volcano. The crash killed Talia (age 13), her father Michael, and Edwin Lasso the pilot. Miraculously, Talia's best friend survived.

HERE TALIA'S ANIMALS REMEMBER HER:

Continue reading "PET PSYCHIC INTERVIEW - TALIA KLEIN'S ANIMALS REMEMBER HER:" »

Posted by Laura Stinchfield at 12:02 PM | Permalink | author bio

May this inspire you to new levels of possibility!

(It's really cool. Turn up your sound)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuuesBhOR9g

Posted by Suza Francina at 01:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | author bio

Not a new one, but still a good one. Click to listen:

Brett Dennen - They Holidays Are Here (And We're Still At War)

(Lyrics after the jump)

Continue reading "The Holidays Are Here (And We're STILL At War)" »

Posted by evan austin at 06:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | author bio

"If a path to the better there be, it begins with a full look at the worst."
--Thomas Hardy

It's a spectacularly beautiful day here in Ojai. Everything looks so fresh and clean after last night's rain. I just had to abandon my desk work to soak up the sight of golden raindrops sparkling on all the leaves. A friend and I took a good brisk walk up Foothill and let the dogs run free in a wide open field. All the while we enjoyed that invigorating feeling that comes after the rain, when the world feels infused with the force of life.

As a yoga teacher I know how good it feels to stretch my limbs. All human beings can understand the pain of being confined in a small space. We know that being out in nature, under the clear blue sky, lifts our spirit.

When I came home I opened my e-mail. The first message I read was from the director of Humane California. It contained an article published in The Reporter,

Continue reading "The Call to Mercy" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (19) | author bio

"The greatness of a nation...can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

It's Sunday morning, time to run to Farmer's Market to collect signatures. For the past two months, a group of Ojai citizens (in the yoga world we call these citizen volunteers "karma yogis") has been working with people in Ventura County and throughout California to collect signatures to put a Humane Farming initiative on the ballot next November. The Petition for the Humane Treatment of Farm Animals could greatly improve the lives of millions of animals. If you see one of us at Farmer's Market, or if someone approaches you and asks you to sign the petition, here is what it is all about.

Continue reading "Say YES! for Humane Treatment of Animals" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 07:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | author bio

From the Transportation Security Administration, next time you are traveling with your monkey helper (h/t Boing Boing):

# When a monkey is being transported in a carrier, the monkey must be removed from the carrier by the handler prior to screening,
# The monkey must be controlled by the handler throughout the screening process.
# The monkey handler should carry the monkey through the WTMD while the monkey remains on a leash.
# When the handler and monkey go through the WTMD and the WTMD alarms, both the handler and the monkey must undergo additional screening.
# Since monkeys may likely draw attention, the handler will be escorted to the physical inspection area where a table is available for the monkey to sit on. Only the handler will touch or interact with the monkey.
# TSOs have been trained to not touch the monkey during the screening process.
# TSOs will conduct a visual inspection on the monkey and will coach the handler on how to hold the monkey during the visual inspection.
# The inspection process may require that the handler take off the monkey’s diaper as part of the visual inspection.

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 09:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | author bio

It's a sparkling Sunday morning here in the Valley of the Moon!

These past nights of the Full Moon, looking down on the landscape from my favorite spot high in the hills, when all is quiet and buildings disappear in darkness, it is easy to imagine the diverse cultures that have lived in this valley over thousands of years. In my mind's eye I can see how the valley looked, even a hundred years ago, with trees, rivers and deer.

I wonder how the rabbits, quails, snakes, coyotes and the multitude of creatures of the night are adapting as they lose ground with each passing day. I see rabbits darting amidst cars in parking lots on Bryant Street, possums scurrying down Canada, looking for openings in fences, and families of raccoons sitting by mailboxes on Signal Street. As we clear more and more brush away from our homes to prevent fires, we must not forget this brush is part of their habitat. How I hope they can survive!

I've been sitting outside, drinking organic coffee and browsing through this week's articles about the fires. When I see the images of families looking at the ruins of their homes, I wonder, "What does it feel like to have all your earthly belongings suddenly disappear?"

Yesterday I received a letter from my friends Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson, about their experience of their house burning down. Some of you reading this probably know them. They visit Ojai regularly and have presented workshops at Meditation Mount for many years. Since disasters can happen to any one of us, I thought I'd pass this on, even though I might not be quite as forgiving and philosophical as they are! They wrote:

Dear Friends--here is an article we wrote over 10 years about about our experience of our house burning down. I'm sending it to you in case it might be helpful to someone you know who lost their home in the So. Calif. fires--or in any tragedy or crisis. Let us all continue to hold So. Calif. in our prayers and meditations.

SPIRITUAL LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM OUR FIRE

Some years ago, while we were away for an evening, an arsonist burned our house to the ground. We lost everything but the clothes on our backs and our cars. Everything was in ashes in less than 15 minutes--furniture, clothes, office equipment, books, and most difficult of all--all our work, our writing, our research.

Continue reading "Spiritual Lessons Learned From the Fire" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | author bio

THIS WEEKEND OCTOBER 28TH 12-4 PM BUNS (BUNNIES URGENTLY NEEDING SHELTER) IS HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL BUNNY FESTIVAL. AT THE SUNKEN GARDENS IN SANTA BARBARA. IT IS WORTH A VISIT!

This is Bean. I found her hopping down the sidewalk of a main road. I was unable to locate her owners so Bean traveled cross country on an airplane to live with my friend.

Laura: What was your life like before your present home?
Bean: I use to live in a cage. It was a hutch in the yard. Many days and nights would go by before I would see my people. When my people came to see me they were nice to me. They would hug me and kiss me. I loved them.
My hutch was always dirty. It was hard on my feet because I would have to walk on wire and pee and poop through the wire. The wire was always disgusting. Sometimes my people would forget to give me water, but other times they would bring me carrots and lettuce.
One day, I opened the latch to my hutch with my teeth...

Continue reading "PET PSYCHIC INTERVIEW WITH BEAN THE BUNNY" »

Posted by Laura Stinchfield at 11:19 PM | Permalink | author bio

A few months ago I received a dinner invitation from the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, an organization for which I have the highest regard. The meal preference card said, "Kindly indicate whether you would prefer a poultry or vegetarian main dish."

I thought to myself, "Poultry? At a dinner to save the environment?"

Unless the bird comes from a small family farm where chickens actually run around outdoors and their manure goes back to the garden, I'm afraid a chicken dinner at an environmental fund-raiser isn't quite putting your money where your mouth is!

As Kenley Neufeld's article on Vegetarianism and the Environment (posted below) reports, in November of 2006, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization issued a report stating that livestock agriculture generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined.

The report projects that unless more people commit to eating less meat, the number of farmed animals will double in the next 50 years.

Have you ever wondered why our beautiful valley has no chicken farms or slaughterhouses?

Continue reading "The greening of Ojai--a chicken coop in every backyard?" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (22) | author bio

Jackson Browne, called the "poster boy of the Southern California confessional singer-songwriter movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s" by Wikipedia, will play a special benefit concert on Sunday October 7th at 1pm in Libbey Bowl, to benefit the Ojai Raptor Center.

The concert also features local acoustic pop sensations The Household Gods. Open lawn seating tickets are $40, and are available at Local Hero Books (formerly Table of Contents) in Ojai, and at Patagonia and Salzers in Ventura.

The Ojai Raptor Center is dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of orphaned and injured birds of prey and to providing educational programs to teach about raptors and our shared environment. They are a non profit organization licensed by The California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The center takes in approximately 1,000 birds a year. ~ Your ticket purchase is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. ~

Jackson has played locally many times, notably for the Ventura Hillsides benefits. Songs you may recognize include "Doctor My Eyes", "The Pretender", "Running On Empty", "Somebody's Baby", and "Lives In The Balance".

Posted by evan austin at 09:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | author bio

...are not a new kind of underwear.

• Tomorrow (Oct 4) could be a busy day for the new parent with a love for the environment, pets, and jewelry: Hit up the first of six weekly baby-nurturing gatherings at the newly-opened Nan Tolbert Nurture Center from 11am-12:30, then pop over to Gem Quest Jewelers for their liquidation sale until 4pm, followed by a Blessing of the Animals at St. Thomas Aquinas from 4-6pm. Cap the evening off with a Green Coalition Waste Management Committee Meeting at 7pm!

>>read on for more!

Continue reading "Ojai News Briefs" »

Posted by evan austin at 06:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | author bio

Tyler Suchman named by Pacific Coast Business Times as one of their 2007 selections for top "40 Under 40" Business Leaders.

(Tyler Suchman, left; with Jerry Kaplan, right, at "Stop the Trucks" rally)

Tyler Suchman founded The Ojai Post and runs The Ojai Network, a collective of Ojai sites focusing on community and culture. His consulting company, Tribal Core, provides internet strategy, online marketing and search engine optimization services.

Continue reading "Congratulations, Tyler!!!" »

Posted by Howard Smith at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | author bio

What is it like being a Pit Bull?

"I truly like being a pit bull, but not always. When I was in the shelter, I heard someone saying that all dogs like me will bite. I would never bite. They also say that shelters put us to death more than any other breed. I don’t know if that is true but that scared me.

I like my body because I feel strong even when I am shy inside."

Do you think people treat you differently because you are a Pit Bull?

“Oh, yes. Most people have fearful eyes when they look at me. I use to get scared when

Continue reading "PET PSYCHIC INTERVIEW WITH PIT BULL DAISY MAE" »

Posted by Laura Stinchfield at 09:25 PM | Permalink | author bio

The heat is off, and the sixth anniversary of 9/11 has just passed. Today's common thread: Diversity.
Take a look at the variety of things going on in our Valley lately!:

• Wilma Melville, founder of locally-headquartered National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, receives a $100,000 Purpose Prize for her efforts to help the two- and four-legged, which will be used to build a centralized local training center.
See and hear her story here.

• The Ojai Valley Green Coalition drew over 125 people to its most recent meeting, the purpose of which was to organize volunteers into action committees for food and agriculture; alternative energy; building and construction; environmental health; waste management; transportation; and water and land use. Per the OVN, the remaining committee meetings are as follows:
- Food and Agriculture Committee will meet Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at the old Honor Farm, a.k.a. new Help of Ojai West Campus on Baldwin Road.
- Energy Conservation Committee will meet Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at a location to be announced.

LOTS more after the jump!

Continue reading "Valley of Diversity" »

Posted by evan austin at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | author bio

A Report from Tonight's City Council Meeting

The Ojai City Council met tonight per their regular schedule (second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, at City Hall), and i arrived just a few minutes before the published start time of 7:30pm -- just enough time to fill out my speaker card and find my seat.

After most in the room pledged their allegiance under god, the first order of business was Public Communications. i rose to ask the Council to issue a proclamation for the City's recognition of and support for the International Peace Day on September 21 and the local efforts being made to celebrate it. Council agreed to add this as an agenda item to their September 11 meeting. Dennis Leary had submitted the only other card, and used his 3 minutes to submit a Formula Retail Ordinance of his own drafting, using what he considers to be the best of the original City draft, the Planning Commission's recommendations, and the 600+ signature Citizens' Initiative drafted by Kenley Neufeld.

The Consent Calendar (a-h of rather mundane items such as payment of warrants, approval of past meeting minutes, and authorization of projects) was approved in total in one motion, and we leapt right into the Public Hearing on the Ordinance for Formula Retail Businesses which had been held over from the Council's August 14 meeting. Since that time the Planning Commission, in a meeting still celebrated for its integrity and length (just over three hours), rejected the City staff's proposed ordinance, which prominently features the controversial Historical Commercial District.
(Get caught up on the whole issue - complete with maps - at the Ojai Post's Chain Stores Resource Page)

i'm certain that someone more well-versed on this issue and with more logged Council Chambers time than myself will flesh out the subtleties and projected outcomes of the hearing (i'd keep an eye on the OVN blog and the Ojai Post), but here are the main points as i saw and heard them (not necessarily in chronological order):

Continue reading "Chains, Drains, and Getting the Lead Out" »

Posted by evan austin at 12:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | author bio

Do kids really know where the animals are going
after they are auctioned off?

“We have enslaved the rest of animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond a doubt, if they were to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form.” --William Ralph Inge

Every year it's the same: Headlines that proclaim "Kids prepare to say goodbye during fair," " Lamb goes from parade star to auction," "Kids must sell their farm animals," and " Youth taking their livestock seriously." The same photographs of youngsters with their very own pigs, sheep, cows and other animals, competing at the Ventura County Fair. Year after year, the same story of how they got their animal when it was just a few weeks old, how much they love and care for the animal, and how hard they've worked feeding, cleaning, brushing, walking and training them.

These animals have certainly had a much better life than their cousins imprisoned on factory farms.

Alas, the ending of the story is also always the same: "part of the commitment of raising an animal is knowing that it's going to be butchered. The kids are a little sad, they know where the animals are going after they are auctioned off."

But, in reality, very few adults, let alone children, really "know where the animals are going after they are auctioned off ." In all the years that I’ve been to the Fair I’ve never seen a single display illustrating what actually happens.

Continue reading "Do kids really know where their animals are going?" »

Posted by Suza Francina at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (50) | author bio

Mike and Mika were rescued from Beirut, Lebanon. http://animals.beirut.com They are survivors of war. Here are what they have to say:

Laura: Mike and Mika what was war like?

Mike: The hardest part of where I came from was loosing my family and smelling burning flesh. Everything I knew to be safe became dangerous. Peoples’ eyes turn cold and the birds go silent.

Mika: I miss my children and the smell of my Lebanese mom cooking. I miss the smell of the earth and the laughter of my family.

Laura: How did you survive?

Continue reading "PET PSYCHIC INTERVIEW: MIKE & MIKA SURVIVORS OF WAR" »

Posted by Laura Stinchfield at 04:13 PM | Permalink | author bio

Having lots of fun taking photos here on the land where I live. I've limited myself to the property boundaries and as a self imposed assignment to soak in all of the beauty that permeates a small field of reference. This little guy was wandering across my driveway yesterday. Looks like s/he's smiling in celebration of Slow Food. Turtle soup anyone?.... aah just kidding.

Posted by Raymond Powers at 09:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | author bio

I am new to horses, having married into this particular passion. My first horse is a rescue, a former barrel racer named “Commander.” Lame and hurting from a degenerative hoof disease after being run into the ground by his former human, this beautiful paint horse was headed for slaughter when I bought him. With the skilled help of Doctor Carter Judy at the renowned Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, Commander has come back from the brink and can now run and play with his fellow horses.

Continue reading "The Commander Chronicles" »

Posted by Todd Miller at 01:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | author bio

At the very bottom of a recent thread, I found a video of dolphin slaughter in Japan. Like most Californians, I'm pretty fond of our oceanic neighbors. Unlike lots of people, I've had the opportunity to swim with dolphins in the wild - I was in a little boat and a pod of them showed up to play. These creatures are magical! I don't recommend watching the video - it is brutal. But, you can read a little more here

And if you'd like to do something about it that will take less than 2 minutes of your time, go here, click on "Help Save the Dolphins NOW" and then click on "Take Action Now" under Ted Danson's face. Fill in your name and email address and be on your way. That simple. This is the kind of action that has slowed whaling and killing baby seals for fur. You can make a difference.

Posted by Heather McKenzie at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | author bio

Today a group of us humans and dogs hiked the Pratt Trail, one of the great joys of living in Ojai. It was foggy out, fabulous hiking weather, so green it felt like another country. Before we reached the point where the trail intersects with Foothill Road, we confronted a newly constructed wire mesh fence, hundreds of feet long, and a stone wall, close to the trail. The moment I saw these barriers, I asked myself, "How is this going to affect the movements of wildlife?"

Presumably, the fence and wall are part of a planned development, probably a private residence. (And maybe I have it all wrong, maybe I'm missing something). In any case, it was painful to see this new barrier in an area where I have hiked for decades.

When we choose to live high in the hills, we have a special responsibility to be sensitive to the needs of wildlife.
I ask the owner: If you must build a fence, please consider the impact it has on the original residents of this land. It's enough that we've taken over the floor of the valley, but building higher and higher into the natural habitat requires a different kind of thinking.

As I look at the land along the Pratt Trail, including this newly fenced area, flattened and cleared, with the most majestic views of our sacred valley, I can't help but think that the only construction that really belongs here is a tipi.


( I could not decide if tipi is spelled teepee or tepee. Turns out all three are legit.)

Posted by Suza Francina at 07:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (35) | author bio

TILLMAN IS A 1.5 YEAR-OLD BULLDOG. HERE IS WHAT HE HAS TO SAY,

I want to say that I love to skateboard. I dream of skateboarding all the time.

I am very smart. Way smarter than what anyone thinks. I like it when I eat hamburgers. It makes me skate better.

I like to go fast because it makes me feel like everyone stops and watches me. That is the best feeling and to feel the wind in my face. I want my kid to be able to teach me tricks. I want to be able to jump off the board and then back on really quickly, but I don’t know if I can run as fast as the board. I want a wider and longer ramp with obstacles I can weave through. Can they do that for me?

Continue reading "PET PSYCHIC INTERVIEW WITH TILLMAN THE SKATEBOARDING BULLDOG" »

Posted by Laura Stinchfield at 09:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (12) | author bio

This picture is courtesy of MB. It was taken on 12/7/06.

"WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING AN OJAI MOUNTAIN BEAR?" asks the pet psychic.

One answers, "We dont know what it is like living anywhere else, but I can tell you there is plenty of food and safe places to sleep. Our mom is teaching us about dangerous humans but we think they smell sweet. There is a woman we watch often. She moves like a graceful bird. She also talks to the trees like we do."

They are talking about an older woman who lives in an oak forest.

ARE THERE BEARS WATCHING YOU?

Posted by Laura Stinchfield at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | author bio

I made the mistake of visiting an LA animal shelter unattended recently, and surprised my wife when I returned with three beat up old dogs. My original mission was to rescue a Pomeranian, “Daisy,” scheduled for execution after outliving her welcome at the shelter. Daisy is a 12-year old who was dumped off at the shelter to die after becoming inconvenient to her human. Anyone with a heart who has visited one of these urban kill shelters knows well that this is an unconscionably cruel end to the life of a dog who has given unconditional devotion to its human companion. The shelters are physically barren, scarce on medical attention and comfort, pervaded by the smell of urine and an atmosphere of fear and terrible sadness. The animals have been abandoned. They don’t know why. They just know they miss their humans terribly, even monsters like the one that gave up Miss Daisy.

Continue reading "Errand of Mercy" »

Posted by Todd Miller at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (18) | author bio

Jasmine is looking for a new home. She is a four year old female cat. Here is what she has to say:

I never knew how much I loved the inside until I was here at this house. I wish that I could have a home that smells like freshly cut flowers. And a home that when ever my person is alone they sing inside their heart and sometimes they sing to me too. I use to be scared of people when they look at me. Now I realize that when people look at me they are just wondering why I am so scared.

I like people who read and sing. I like soft music and the sound of newspaper pages. I like fresh air. My person now can make her voice sound like many different people. I find that interesting and scary. I don’t need a lot of room. I like warm bedding. I love to sleep and I like the sound of plants moving in the breeze. I like to chase crickets at night. My people now don’t like me out at night because that’s when dangerous monsters hunt.

Continue reading "THE PET PSYCHIC TALKS WITH JASMINE" »

Posted by Laura Stinchfield at 07:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (27) | author bio