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Vol. 11, No. 25 – Sept 12 – Sept 25, 2018 – Ojai News & Events

Robin Nahin, owner of Firestick Pottery, will visit the Ojai Library on Saturday, September 29, at 1 p.m. to teach a hands-on pottery workshop. This interactive workshop will allow participants to learn the basics of working with clay to create art.

Clay is a magical material—use it to turn your fantasy into a real piece of art. You can take your project home with you or go to the Firestick Pottery Studio to have it kiln-fired.

All ages welcome to attend. There is no charge, and all materials will be included. Space is limited, and you can make your reservation by calling (805) 272-8760 or by email at [email protected].

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146.

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Friends of the Santa Clara River celebrates 25 years with Silver Streams Gala Celebration

by Candice Meneghin, Friends of the Santa Clara River Board Member

Friends of the Santa Clara was formed in 1993 with the mission of protecting and preserving the biological and cultural resources of the Santa Clara River Watershed, which spans Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. The Friends have promoted all aspects of river health, including public outreach, water quality monitoring, wetland restoration, opposition to floodplain development, and advocating for the protection of several threatened and endangered species that call this watershed home. On Sunday September 16, we will be celebrating the Friends’ 25th Silver Streams Anniversary Gala and Fundraiser at Rancho Camulos in Piru from 3:30-6:30p.m.

Come immerse yourself in the heart of the Santa Clara River Watershed its beauty and its history, with appetizers and sustainably grown eats from our own Santa Clara River valley. Enjoy local wines and beers while perusing the silent auction. Meander beneath the majestic river valley mountain views to live music. We invite our friends – new and old, and watershed community members to come share in our history and learn about our future endeavors. Your support will make possible our ongoing efforts to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of this magnificent river for future generations. Tickets are available at https://fscr.org/25th-anniversary/.

We will be honoring our founder and outgoing board chair, Ron Bottorff as he hands over the chairmanship to Jim Danza after 25 years of service. We will also be celebrating the work of several watershed Champions that include: Ventura County Supervisor’s Steve Bennett and Linda Parks for their instrumental role as co-authors of the Ventura County Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources initiative, and its recent extension until 2050. SOAR is a series of voter initiatives that require a vote of the people before agricultural land or open space areas can be rezoned for development. Dr. John Puglisi, Superintendent of the Rio School District, for the new Rio Del Sol STEAM school on the banks of the Santa Clara River. The goal of the school is to integrate the STEAM framework into all Common Core subject to engage students in authentic learning experiences. We believe these opportunities foster a stewardship ethos in our community and give rise to the next generation of Friends on the Santa Clara River. Paolo Perrone, Trust for Public Lands, for the acquisition of the 51.4-acre Robin’s Nest property in Acton, CA, in the San Gabriel Mountains and 864 acres of Temescal Ranch, a 6,006 acre site, more than nine square miles of hillside terrain east of Lake Piru, that straddles the Ventura County line to the west and Los Padres National Forest land to the north. Two streams on the Temescal Ranch property drain into Piru Creek and ultimately the Santa Clara River downstream. The protection of these properties will allow for the restoration of land which contains tributaries, creeks, and the Santa Clara River, one of the few remaining free-flowing riparian systems in southern California.

Read our summer newsletter, Watershed News at: https://mailchi.mp/0827f9ac69a4/friends-of-the-santa-clara-river-watershed-news-summer-2018?e=945ee1de94. More information on Friends of the Santa Clara River can be found at www.fscr.org.

Ventura College presents “Dreamers Set Your Course” events

Ventura College will host Dreamers Set Your Course, a series of free and safe events for the community to learn about resources available for undocumented students. Topics to be discussed include the Ventura College admissions process, financial aid information, support services for students, and community resources available for undocumented students. The events are free and open to the public.

Ventura College continues to stand with the Chancellor’s Office in aiming to reassure students that our campuses will remain safe, welcoming places for students of all backgrounds to learn and we are happy to provide this forum educating Dreamers on Ventura College resources.

The events will be hosted at local high schools to encourage students from K-12 to attend college. It is important to remind the community that higher education is possible and of the valuable resources available to make the dream of higher education a reality.

Thursday, September 13, 2018 – Santa Paula High School Cafeteria – 6:00—8:00pm

Thursday, September 20, 2018 – Ventura High School Cafeteria – 6:30—8:30pm

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 – Fillmore High School Library – 6:00—8:00pm

For more information please visit: venturacollege.edu/dreamers or if you have any questions, please contact Wendolyne Lopez, Financial Aid Specialist/ AB540 Liaison at [email protected] or (805) 289-6574 or Joseph Cordero, Student Outreach Specialist at [email protected] or 805 289-6584.

Vol. 11, No. 25 – Sept 12 – Sept 25, 2018 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Armed Robbery

On August 7, at approximately 4pm, the suspect entered a business in the 11000 block of Citrus Drve and approached the cashier. The suspect, who was armed with a handgun, demanded money and after receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, he fled the business. Responding officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

On August 30, at 5:30pm, 35 year old Santa Paula resident Jonathan Landeros walked into the Ventura Police Department’s front lobby and said he believed he was wanted for robbery. Major Crimes Detectives interviewed Landeros and confirmed he was the suspect that robbed the 76 gas station on August 7. Landeros saw a photograph of himself on Ventura Police Department’s social media site and decided to turn himself in. On August 30, at 10:45pm, Detectives executed a search warrant at Landeros’ residence in the 100 Block of West Main Street in the City of Santa Paula. Landeros was later booked at the Ventura County Jail for Robbery.

Attempt to Disarm an Officer

On August 25, at approximately 10am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a subject refusing to leave CMH hospital. The caller also told dispatchers that the subject was in possession of a knife. As officers arrived at the location, they were told by a victim that the suspect later identified as 31 year old Ventura resident Richard Rivera, threw an unknown object at the victim’s car causing minor damage to their vehicle.

Officers began canvassing the area and found Rivera in the 2600 block of E. Thompson. As the officers made contact with Rivera, he became uncooperative and refused to follow their verbal directions. When the officers started to place Rivera in custody, he began to fight with them and at one point attempted to remove an officer’s firearm from his holster. After a long struggle, the officers were finally able to get control of Rivera and handcuffed him. Rivera was transported to VCJ where he was booked for, felony attempting to remove a firearm from an officer, felony resisting a peace officer and misdemeanor vandalism.

In 2016 Rivera was arrested for felony possession of controlled substance, and in 2017 he was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing.

Traffic Pursuit with Arrest

On September 5, at approximately 8:30pm, a Ventura Police Patrol Officer attempted to stop a four wheel, off road “quad” for riding on a roadway. The driver did not yield to the officer and fled. After a brief pursuit, the suspect abandoned the “quad” and ran into the neighborhood. Officers and a police k9 searched the area, and after approximately 20 minutes, the suspect was located hiding in a shed in a backyard of a residence on Carr Drive.

The suspect, 26 year old Ventura resident Jose Cardenas who is on active parole for robbery, was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail on the charges of felony evading, violation of parole and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Violation of Restraining Order and Obstructing Arrest

On September 6, at approximately 8:30am, the Ventura Police Department was working a high risk incident in the 10100 block of Carlyle St. involving a suicidal subject. The SWAT team had been deployed and members of the Ventura Police Crisis Negotiation team were scene negotiating with the subject.

34 year old Jason Ordoyne, was armed with a hammer and threatened to engage officers when they arrived. Ordoyne was also at the residence in violation of a court order.

Ordoyne had barricaded himself inside and refused to come out of the residence. He was uncooperative with officers, and had made several threats that he was going to arm himself with a knife and come out to force officers to shoot him. Officers with the Ventura Police Crisis Negotiations team continued to negotiate with Ordyne and after approximately 5 hours, he agreed to leave the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

Possession of a Handgun by a Prohibited Person

On September 6, at approximately 4pm, officers conducted a traffic stop in the 2100 block of Harbor Blvd. and spoke with the driver of the vehicle, 39 year old Ventura resident Stephanie Paez. She was driving with suspended driver’s license and was also a Post Release Offender (PROs). Additionally, she was found to be in possession of narcotics paraphernalia. The passenger, 41 year old Ventura resident Disenia Paez, was also contacted. She was found to be on probation for weapons charges, and a search revealed she was in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Stephanie Paez was booked on the charge of possession of narcotics paraphernalia and a violation of her Post Release Offender status. Disenia Paez was booked on the charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Vol. 11, No. 25 – Sept 12 – Sept 25, 2018 – Opinion/Editorial

• Our readers will be happy to know (I think) that I will no longer be making comments regarding national politics. Will be tough, but I think I can do it.

• The street at the new triangle project (231 apartments) off of Sanjon, which is being graded now, will be called Vista Del Mar Place. Since we already have a Vista Del Mar Drive, I think this will be very confusing. People living on Vista Del Mar Drive just say they live on Vista Del Mar. I assume, the people living on Vista Del Mar Place will also say the same. I’m sure many visitors will get lost trying to find their way to these streets when the project is completed.

• On this issue’s cover, we have an article titled “Ventura rebuilds”, written by City Staff. I know that some of you will disagree with this article, so I hope to receive your comments. I think Ventura is trying hard to work through an overwhelming amount of home plans to be checked and processed. Certainly, more than city staff can handle.

•The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled that prosecuting homeless people for sleeping on public property – when they have no access to shelter – violates the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The decision will protect the homeless in the Western United States.

The decision tells local governments that the key to getting homeless people off the streets is to provide housing, both short term and permanent, as well as treatment and services.

I know that Venturans are constantly blaming the Ventura Police Department and Ventura City Council for not dealing with our homeless situation. This is somewhat pointless because there is little that can be done about it until there is housing available. Our police and council are just as concerned about this and are working on providing some shelter solutions.

Many, many cities are struggling with homelessness brought on by rising housing costs and income inequality.

•Plans for new veteran’s housing in Ventura is proceeding with the City Council voting 6-0 to select a developer for the 122-unit project.

They chose Community of Friends/U.S. Vets Development Team to build the project on 9.6 acres that the city owns next to the existing 60-bed Veterans Homes of California. Combined, the two facilities will provide 182 units of veterans housing, still less than half of what was originally planned for the site.

• From the Ventura Police, stolen from unlocked vehicles:

Wallet, purse, money, 3 Nikon cameras, football equipment, cell Phone, $20 in cash, social security card, surfboard (from pickup truck bed), Apple mini iPad, Apple iPhone X, credit cards and $600 in cash.

So, lock your cars and even if locked, remove valuables. Be smart.

• These are the candidates for the city council elections in November (for our new city council districts) Irene Henry, Marcos Cuevas, Kevin Clerici, Sofía Rubalcava,

incumbant Erik Nasarenko, Spencer Noren, Ed Alamillo, Mike Marostica, Alec Gasca and Lorrie Brown.

There will be several opportunities to get to know them better (several are noted in this issue).

Very important that you vote so that you have a council member representing the district you live in where you live. Then, you’ll know who to complain to.

• Car manufacturer Bugatti has unveiled its stunning Divo super sports car – a vehicle that the French luxury brand is listing for $5.8 million. I was very disappointed that they would not accept my credit card as payment, but even if they would, they are already sold out.

• A very strange situation existed between Union Pacific and the Coastal Commission. About 5 years ago, Union Pacific installed some fencing on the east end of Vista Del Mar to keep people from crossing over the tracks as a shortcut to the beach. There have been deaths at this location (the trains always win). The Coastal Commission recently discovered this situation and requested that Union Pacific obtain permits for what they consider to be a structure.

The odd part is that the Commission is opposed to the fence because they want people to have access to the beach. Seems to me that there are other ways to get to the beach that aren’t dangerous. The fences have been removed which now provide a nice clear view of the awful graffiti on the buildings next to the tracks.

•A jury has found Plains All American Pipeline guilty of one felony count of causing the oil spill by Refugio State Beach in 2015 for failing to properly maintain its pressurized pipeline. The jury also found them guilty of eight misdemeanors by failing to immediately report the spill. The sentence has not yet been determined.

Glad to hear that. Too often the companies behind oil spills go unpunished.

•Ventura surfers (and others) can be very proud. On August 20, surfing became California’s official state sport. I was hoping it was tennis, so I could be proud of being a tennis player. Sure glad that our legislators have nothing better to do then waste time on this topic.

•Women can now drive in Saudi Arabia. This has upset many men there, especially the clerics. One cleric stated, “allowing women to drive would invite promiscuity and could damage their ovaries. Woman possessed only half a brain and half of that was used for shopping.”

I completed disagree – it takes at least ¾ of their brains to go shopping. I had better hear from you ladies.

Vol. 11, No. 25 – Sept 12 – Sept 25, 2018 – The Pet Page

Nanuk needs some special care and love.

•Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC) is in need of assistance for the care of Nanuk, an 11 month old male husky puppy with Megaesophagus. Megaesophagus is somewhat common for dogs. It is an enlargement of the esophagus—the muscular tube leading to the stomach—with decreased or absent motility. Motility the muscular activity that is necessary to move food and liquids through the digestive tract.

“Nanuk needs to be fed in a special chair in the begging position and then he must wait about 30 minutes for gravity to move the food down to his stomach,” said Nicky Gore-Jones, Executive Director. “While this is not too difficult to accomplish, it takes some time and patience to feed him twice a day. It is not practical for us because of the commotion in our environment and the number of other animals we have in our care.”

Nanuk is working with trainers this week to learn how to sit and be comfortable in his new chair. Other than the special feeding, this young pup can lead a relatively normal life and needs an active lifestyle. He loves to play ball and go for walks or hikes.

SPARC is seeking donations for his medical care and patient individuals with a calm atmosphere who are interested in either adopting or fostering the active young puppy. Donations may be mailed to the shelter or submitted electronically via the website at: http://www.santapaulaarc.org/donate.html.

Those who are interested fostering or adopting him should contact Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center at 805-525-8609. SPARC is a No-Kill, No-Excuses, 501(C3) city pound in Santa Paula where every single animal arriving gets a second chance at life

Buddy is in need of a new home and family.

• The good news is that JohnPaul and Karen are moving to Ventura. The sad news is that they aren’t able to take their dear 14-year-old English Staffordshire pooch to live with them. When Buddy came into their lives one year ago, they didn’t know they we were going to have to move due to some family health needs. They certainly didn’t know how difficult it was going to be to get a landlord who was willing to take their dear doggie, and couldn’t find one.

Buddy is a lover to the core. And he is so, so easy to take care of. All he requires is a lot of loving/petting, a couple short walks a day and time to sleep and be with people. He has a stronger bladder than any dog they have ever had. He can go up to 14 hours in the house without having to go out. His license and shots are current.

If you know anyone who would love to have a gentle, healing and loving companion, please let them know at 708-257-8732 or 708-603-4482 .

• Millennials are having a love affair with pets — so much so that they’re often putting their furry friends’ needs at the top of their list when shopping for a home.

Luxury landlords have been catering to this millennial trend for years, putting in dog runs on rental tower roofs and pet salons off lobbies. Now more millennials are buying homes, and seeking the same amenities.

A full 73 percent of millennials currently own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association. That is a larger share than any other demographic. For buyers it’s even bigger. A whopping 89 percent of millennials who bought a home so far this year own a pet, according to Realtor.com.

And once millennials purchase a home, they often put big bucks into upgrades for their pets. One owner put $12,000 into her row house, adding a higher fence so her pets couldn’t jump out and other pets couldn’t jump in. She also added a modern pet door and renovated the basement bathroom for Lucy, even though the basement itself is unfinished.

She just wanted her house to be pet-friendly overall, not just for herself but for her friends, most of who also have pets. “I think I tend to connect more with other people with pets because we can do pet-friendly things together,” she said.

By Diana Olick CNBC Real Estate Reporter

 

A 1035 Exchange, know the facts 

by Jayson Cohen American Legacy Solutions

A common problem faced by insurance and annuity holders relates to a need to upgrade to a better financial option without paying taxes on gains earned on the old policy. There are many legitimate reasons for wanting to upgrade. AAFMAA recommends a 1035 exchange to accomplish this objective. A 1035 exchange has a complicated set of rules established by the tax code that must be followed to qualify this exchange as a nontaxable event. Based on the complexity of the tax code and limitations placed on these exchanges, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a tax professional before moving forward to avoid possible tax complications.

Factors to Consider When Exchanging A Life Insurance Product

The main thing you must remember is that no cash can change hands for this exchange to legally qualify as a tax-free 1035 exchange. A life insurance policy can be traded for another life insurance product. The tax code also allows for the exchange of a life insurance product for an annuity. This type of transaction is referred to as a replacement. In all tax-free exchanges, the policyholder must remain the same.

It is prudent to exercise caution before moving forward with a 1035 exchange. Not all exchanges are tax-free. Remember that in the case of life insurance policies, if you surrender your policy early, you may incur surrender charges and taxes. Before any definite decisions are made, you need to research the marketplace to determine whether you are insurable. Your health status and age will significantly impact the cost and availability of a new life insurance policy.

What to Consider When Upgrading Your Annuity

When making a change from an old annuity to a new one in a 1035 exchange, you won’t have to pay taxes on your earnings. Immediate Annuities reminds clients that while your taxes can be deferred, it is important to realize that you still may have to pay surrender fees and penalties depending on the terms of your current contract.

After the exchange takes place, then you are free to change ownership. To qualify as a 1035 exchange, an old annuity can only be exchanged for a new one. An annuity product can’t be exchanged for a life insurance product to comply with the strict requirements.

General 1035 Exchange Guidelines

You can exchange multiple old contracts for a single new contract. The IRS code does not limit the number of old contracts that can be traded for a single new contract. This fact opens the door to many possibilities. As mentioned above, the rule about ownership consistency must be followed naming the same owner on all policies. For accounting and tax purposes the adjusted basis of the new contract will be calculated by totaling the adjusted basis amounts of all contracts exchanged.

Conclusion

There is a practical reason 1035 exchanges are so popular. Deferring taxes as long as possible is always a priority. There is no reason to feel trapped in your current life insurance or annuity contracts by tax ramifications. By using a 1035 exchange, you can take advantage of better alternatives while still deferring taxes.

Sources:

https://www.immediateannuities.com/1035-annuity-exchanges/

https://www.aafmaa.com/Decision-Center/Tools-Forms-Resources/1035-Exchange

http://www.finra.org/investors/1035-exchanges

Ventura College presents “Dreamers Set Your Course” events

Ventura College will host Dreamers Set Your Course, a series of free and safe events for the community to learn about resources available for undocumented students. Topics to be discussed include the Ventura College admissions process, financial aid information, support services for students, and community resources available for undocumented students. The events are free and open to the public.

Ventura College continues to stand with the Chancellor’s Office in aiming to reassure students that our campuses will remain safe, welcoming places for students of all backgrounds to learn and we are happy to provide this forum educating Dreamers on Ventura College resources.

The events will be hosted at local high schools to encourage students from K-12 to attend college. It is important to remind the community that higher education is possible and of the valuable resources available to make the dream of higher education a reality.

Thursday, September 13, 2018 – Santa Paula High School Cafeteria – 6:00—8:00pm

Thursday, September 20, 2018 – Ventura High School Cafeteria – 6:30—8:30pm

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 – Fillmore High School Library – 6:00—8:00pm

For more information please visit: venturacollege.edu/dreamers or if you have any questions, please contact Wendolyne Lopez, Financial Aid Specialist/ AB540 Liaison at [email protected] or (805) 289-6574 or Joseph Cordero, Student Outreach Specialist at [email protected] or 805 289-6584.

Ventura Shellfish Enterprise site selection

by Oscar Peña, General Manager

On September 12, at 7:00PM the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners will convene in Open Session at the Four Point Sheraton Ballroom, 1050 Schooner Drive, for its Regular Meeting.

One of the items on the agenda of special interest to the public is the Ventura Shellfish Enterprise (VSE) Site Selection Process. The Board of Port Commissioners will receive an Informational Report on the proposed site in federal waters approximately 3.53 miles from shore, northwest of the Ventura Harbor in the Santa Barbara Channel.

District staff and Seth J. Theuerkauf, Ph.D. with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will provide the Board of Port Commissioners with information about two alternatives for site selection in federal waters. This agenda item is on the District’s website for your review at www.venturaharbor.com.

The public is invited to receive information on the Ventura Shellfish Enterprise site selection process and provide public comment.

The project consists of twenty 100-acre plots (total of 2,000 acres) located in open federal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel northwest of Ventura Harbor. The closest distance from the growing area to the City of Ventura city limit is 4.5 miles and approximately 4 miles from the Ventura Harbor. The sites will be used for growing the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) via submerged long lines.

VSE Site Selection

The project was initially proposed to be located in waters of the State of California, i.e., within the 3-mile limit. The Ventura Port District, in collaboration with its key participants undertook extensive site selection public outreach that culminated in the decision to instead locate the project in federal waters so as to minimize conflicts with commercial halibut trawlers based in Ventura and Santa Barbara Harbors. NOAA’s National Ocean Service staff undertook a second siting study focused on federal waters proximate to Ventura Harbor.

The siting analysis represents an objective, data-driven approach to identify the locations within federal waters with the highest compatibility with the proposed project. The results of this siting analysis identify two alternative sites proximate to Ventura Harbor given equal consideration of existing use conflicts, including: