Ojai Valley News · Ventura, CA
screenshotRendering of VenturaWaterPure at the corner of Olivas Park Drive and Harbor Boulevard across from the entrance to Ventura Harbor. Ventura’s Planning Commission unanimously approved numerous permits for the VenturaWaterPure advanced purification facility during a special meeting held Nov. 5.
Simi Valley Acorn · Oxnard, CA
Nearby: Oxnard, CACalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records identify 15 death-row inmates sentenced in Ventura County—14 men and one woman. They are: • Michael Angelo Morales — Convicted of raping and murdering 17-year-old Terri Winchell in San Joaquin County in 1981. His trial was transferred to Ventura County, where he was sentenced to death in 1983. The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in 1989. • Tracy Dearl Cain — Convicted of murdering William and Modena Galloway in Oxnard in 1986. Sentenced to death in 1988. The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in 1995. • Curtis Lynn Fauber — Convicted of murdering Thomas Urell during a robbery and burglary in Oxnard in 1986. Sentenced to death in 1988. The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in 1992. • Gregory Scott Smith — Convicted of murdering 8-year-old Paul Bailly in 1990.
Moorpark Acorn · Oxnard, CA
Nearby: Oxnard, CANearly two dozen dogs found at an encampment in Oxnard are now available for adoption through Ventura County Animal Services. The dogs, including several puppies, were moved to the Camarillo Animal Shelter on Nov. 2 following a coordinated response by VCAS, Oxnard Animal Control and Oxnard police. Despite living outdoors, the 22 animals appeared well-fed and in generally good health, with no apparent signs of mistreatment or neglect, according to animal services officials. The agency first received a report about the dogs just before 10 a.m. Oct. 23. An animal control officer patrolled the neighborhood that day but did not locate any dogs. On Nov. 2, Oxnard Animal Control requested assistance from the county in securing the animals. Responders arrived at approximately 7:30 a.m. and were directed by Oxnard police to the area where the dogs’ caretaker was living. Several puppies emerged from bushes and approached the officers, while the caretaker brought the adult dogs out to meet them.
Camarillo Acorn · Oxnard, CA
Nearby: Oxnard, CANearly two dozen dogs found at an encampment in Oxnard are now available for adoption through Ventura County Animal Services. The dogs, including several puppies, were moved to the Camarillo Animal Shelter on Nov. 2 following a coordinated response by VCAS, Oxnard Animal Control and Oxnard police. Despite living outdoors, the 22 animals appeared well-fed and in generally good health, with no apparent signs of mistreatment or neglect, according to animal services officials. The agency first received a report about the dogs just before 10 a.m. Oct. 23. An animal control officer patrolled the neighborhood that day but did not locate any dogs. On Nov. 2, Oxnard Animal Control requested assistance from the county in securing the animals. Responders arrived at approximately 7:30 a.m. and were directed by Oxnard police to the area where the dogs’ caretaker was living.
Camarillo Acorn · Oxnard, CA
Nearby: Oxnard, CACalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records identify 15 death-row inmates sentenced in Ventura County—14 men and one woman. They are: •Michael Angelo Morales — Convicted of raping and murdering 17-year-old Terri Winchell in San Joaquin County in 1981. His trial was transferred to Ventura County, where he was sentenced to death in 1983. The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in 1989. •Tracy Dearl Cain — Convicted of murdering William and Modena Galloway in Oxnard in 1986. Sentenced to death in 1988. The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in 1995. •Curtis Lynn Fauber — Convicted of murdering Thomas Urell during a robbery and burglary in Oxnard in 1986. Sentenced to death in 1988. The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in 1992. •Gregory Scott Smith — Convicted of murdering 8-year-old Paul Bailly in 1990.
Moorpark Acorn · Camarillo, CA
Nearby: Camarillo, CAREBUILDING—Leo Paulo is among the few homeowners rebuilding after the Mountain fire. His new home outside Camarillo –features concrete sprayed over foam core panels, making it safer against fire than wood-frame construction. Acorn file photo Two years after the Mountain Fire swept through neighborhoods around Camarillo and Somis, destroying hundreds of structures and upending lives, California’s incoming insurance commissioner is proposing a fundamental change in how homeowners are protected against natural disasters. Jane Kim, a former San Francisco supervisor elected Nov. 3 to oversee California’s insurance industry, wants to establish a publicly operated, nonprofit insurance system that would guarantee disaster coverage for every homeowner in the state. Her proposal, called Natural Disaster Insurance for All, would remove wildfire coverage from traditional homeowners policies and place it under a state-administered program funded by premiums paid into a common pool.
Camarillo Acorn · Camarillo, CA
Nearby: Camarillo, CAThe sounds of the season will fill the air Dec. 6 when the Camarillo Community Band strikes up a festive afternoon of holiday favorites, singalongs and perhaps a little Christmas magic. Presented by Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District, the band’s annual Christmas Concert begins at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Community Center Auditorium, at the corner of Carmen Drive and Burnley Street in Camarillo. Admission is free. From the jingle of sleigh bells to the familiar melodies of Christmas classics, the concert promises an afternoon of music designed to get audiences humming, tapping their toes and singing along. And don’t be surprised if a certain jolly fellow in a red suit makes an appearance. Santa Claus has been known to stop by the band’s concerts, taking Christmas wishes from audience members young and old. Leading the musicians will be conductor Zachary Borquez, an instrumental music educator at Oak Park High School since 2013.
Moorpark Acorn · Camarillo, CA
Nearby: Camarillo, CABIRD’S-EYE VIEW—Frank DeMartino, president of the Conejo Valley Audubon Society, scans the treetops for birds during an outing at Valle Lindo Park in Camarillo. SCOTT STEEPLETON/Acorn Newspapers Frank DeMartino is trying to have a conversation. Birds keep getting in the way. Strolling through Valle Lindo Park in Camarillo, the 46-year-old keeps eyes trained on the trees and an ear tuned to the chirps and calls coming from their branches. Yellow-rumped warblers, bluebirds and dark-eyed juncos are moving through the park. Somewhere in the distance, a persistent peep catches his attention. That’s a red-breasted nuthatch, he explains. For DeMartino, president of the Conejo Valley Audubon Society and compiler of the Ventura Christmas Bird Count, identifying birds is almost involuntary. “Once you get into this and do it enough, you can’t stop it, really. You can’t turn it off,” he said. That can make conversations outdoors a bit challenging.
Camarillo Acorn · Camarillo, CA
Nearby: Camarillo, CAThe opening of Camarillo’s new Costco on Oct. 30 marks a milestone for the city, but for local businesses, it need not be a moment of apprehension. After all, Costco is hardly a newcomer to the neighborhood. For decades, Camarillo residents have shopped at the Costco in neighboring Oxnard, a location that began life as a Price Club. Oxnard also has a Sam’s Club. In 2022, Camarillo estimated that 36,650 city residents had made nearly 387,000 visits to the Oxnard Costco during the preceding year. The new warehouse, less than five miles from its Oxnard counterpart, brings something residents already know and patronize closer to home. That distinction matters. When Walmart expanded into smaller American communities, independent merchants faced a difficult question: How could they compete against a retailer with enormous purchasing power and seemingly endless inventory? Some couldn’t. Others discovered that competing didn’t necessarily mean matching prices.
Camarillo Acorn · Camarillo, CA
Nearby: Camarillo, CAA closely contested City Council race remained unresolved this week as Ventura County election officials continued counting ballots from the Nov. 3 general election. At press time, challenger David Schlangen held a narrow lead over incumbent Martha “Martita” Martinez-Bravo in the District 5 contest, with just 43 votes separating the candidates in the first semifinal official results. According to the Ventura County Elections Division’s 4:39 a.m. Nov. 4 report, Schlangen received 1,886 votes, or 50.6%, compared with 1,843 votes, or 49.4%, for Martinez-Bravo. The margin could change as additional ballots are processed. Elsewhere, City Council incumbents David Tennessen and Susan Santangelo held leads in their reelection bids. Camarillo voters also selected representatives for the Pleasant Valley School District, Camarillo Health Care District and Ventura County Community College District.
Noozhawk · Carpinteria, CA
Nearby: Carpinteria, CAThe groups behind the 196-unit apartment complex proposed for a Carpinteria Valley parcel broke down the most recent project plans at a community meeting Tuesday night. The mixed income-restricted and market-rate project is set for 1101 and 1103 Bailard Ave., a seven-acre property located just outside the Carpinteria city limits. Currently on the site is a small farm. The proposal comes to the valley from the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara and Red Tail Multifamily. The Housing Authority, a nonprofit organization, currently houses 3,093 residents across 1,665 income-restricted units around the county. This project has been in the works for several years, but it has repeatedly drawn community pushback from city residents and the City Council concerned about the scale and scope of the development and impacts to the city. The parcel was originally owned by the Carpinteria Unified School District and zoned as single-family residential, with a small farm on the site.
Coastal View News · Carpinteria, CA
Nearby: Carpinteria, CAI have enjoyed being a resident and owner of a successful business here in downtown Carpinteria for the last 40 years and have witnessed many changes as the town has grown into what it has become, with our signature Avocado Festival, thriving local theatre, diverse shops, restaurants and local surf spots. The Surfliner Inn at the train station in the commercially zoned Downtown T makes very good sense. This is not the Bluffs. This is prime commercial downtown property that should benefit Carpinteria businesses while also increasing sales and bed tax revenue, which we desperately need.Carpinteria is an attractive town. It lacks attractive lodging. As a local business owner, I’ve believed for decades that Carpinteria is overdue for improving our lodging portfolio.The Surfliner Inn solves this issue. It’s attractive in scale and anchors visitors right where our downtown businesses want and need them. Once in Carp, they will frequent our shops, restaurants and attend local attractions.
Coastal View News · Carpinteria, CA
Nearby: Carpinteria, CAIt all began as a great idea: Let’s build a boutique hotel catering to train travelers in the parking lot at the old train station because it was unsightly and costly to maintain. A hotel would generate much-needed revenue. People would travel there and stay a few days, go dining and shopping and everyone would make lots of money. But something happened. What if there was no more rail service? The entire coast of California is rapidly disintegrating and posing a threat not only to the railroad but also highways and thousands of beachfront homes. In Carpinteria, over a thousand properties are at risk. The city has erected a 9.5-foot sand berm to protect some of those properties but does not guarantee it will hold. This El Niño has been described to be the most powerful in history. Our governor declared a state of emergency months ago in anticipation of the storms to come. Already they are having a devastating effect on our coast and the main storms have yet to arrive.
