Perry Van Houten

Pocatello

Senior Reporter at Ojai Valley News

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Articles

Help A Horse Day celebrates 25 years April 27

1 week ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

California Coastal Horse Rescue is marking 25 years of equine rescue, rehabilitation and refuge in the Ojai Valley. On Sunday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the nonprofit rescue at 600 W. Lomita Ave. in Meiners Oaks will celebrate Help A Horse Day, with live music, food and drink, and local artists and vendors. As they are every year, the stars of Help A Horse Day will be the horses of CCHR. The story of each horse will be displayed on their stall.
Special delivery: USA’s Smallest Post Office

1 week ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

A nature center just 15 minutes from Ojai will hold an open house and ribbon cutting on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.The open house at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center, 17017 Maricopa Highway, offers a fun, family-friendly day learning about the forest, while enjoying food, games and activities.
CMWD shelves deep-well plans for more water

1 week ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

Plans to drill a vertical water well 5,000 to 7,000 feet deep into the Matilija Sandstone Formation have been shelved. On April 9, the Casitas Municipal Water District Board of Directors voted 5-0 to reject all bids for the Matilija Groundwater Supply Project’s pilot well drilling on Casitas property near the Robles Fish Passage Facility. In 2022, the project received a $3.6 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources’ Urban Community Drought Relief Program.
Off-duty deputies arrested after apparent domestic incident

1 week ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

Two off-duty Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies were arrested and placed on administrative leave following an apparent domestic incident in Camarillo, authorities said. On March 30, shortly after midnight, two male deputies were involved in an incident at the El Rey Cantina, 2302 Ventura Blvd., in which a security guard intervened and sustained injuries, according to a news release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Ojai forecast: cool, drizzle, chance of showers

1 week ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

Southern California’s weather is making a U-turn this week, with cool temperatures, fog and drizzle, and even a slight chance of showers in the forecast. The early spring gloom is the result of strong onshore flow and a deep marine layer, forecasters said. “Plenty of night through morning low clouds and fog,” stated the National Weather Service.
Parade entries due by June 6

1 week ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

The Fourth of July is only a few months away, and the Ojai Independence Day Committee is reminding people that parade entry applications are available now and are due before June 6. The theme of this year’s parade is “An Old-Fashioned Fourth of July.”Grand marshals for the parade are Dr. Jim and Robyn Halverson. “We are excited to have many applications already for the fun Fourth of July parade,” said Patti Bagley, committee secretary.
Mountains 2 Beach marathon to include Ojai road closure

2 weeks ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

The second Ojai-to-Ventura marathon of 2025 is set for this Sunday, April 13. The 13th Mountains 2 Beach Marathon begins in downtown Ojai at 6:10 a.m., with runners crossing the finish line around noon at San Buenaventura State Beach Park. The course, offering both mountain and beachfront scenery, begins at just over 700 feet and gradually descends to sea level.
V.C. Fire Dept. leads state in providing emergency blood transfusions

2 weeks ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

Ventura County Fire Department has become one of the first in the state to introduce an emergency blood-transfusion program. At an April 9 press conference at VCFD Headquarters in Thousand Oaks, the department unveiled the groundbreaking program that will enhance emergency medical services across the county and could save lives, by equipping paramedics with whole blood. A driving force behind the pioneering program is firefighter-paramedic Edward Campana, who manages the whole-blood program.
36 volunteers honored for 5,238 hours at Los Padres National Forest

2 weeks ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

April is National Volunteer Month, a time to recognize people who give back to their communities. On April 3, Los Padres National Forest threw a volunteer appreciation barbecue and potluck at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center. Despite some rain, U.S. Forest Service staff from the Ojai and Santa Barbara Ranger districts and Los Padres headquarters in Solvang turned out to meet and thank their dedicated volunteers.
Take a tour on the Rewild side: Visit 16 Ojai native-plant gardens

2 weeks ago | ojaivalleynews.com | Perry Van Houten

A native garden tour focused on climate-resilient landscapes is set for Saturday, April 26. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ojai Valley Land Conservancy will host the second annual Rewild Ojai Native Garden Tour. The self-guided tour features 16 residential gardens across the Ojai Valley planted with native plants. “You can do them in any order that works for you,” said Tania Parker, deputy director with the nonprofit Land Conservancy.