Former County Human Services employee pleads guilty to embezzling public funds
District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today that Ana Maria Castro of Oxnard, a former Ventura County Human Services Agency (HSA) employee, pled guilty to felony violations of misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement of public funds, public benefits fraud, and filing false or forged documents. Castro also admitted toe thefts involving of more than $200,000. Castro […]
Try engaging, not alarming voters on pensions
By David Grau and Dick Thomson There’s no single reason why Ventura County should reform its system of pensions and obligations to public employees. There are 100 million reasons. That’s because the county is spending $100 million more in 2014 to pay for pensions than just 10 years ago. That $100 million could […]
Making Waves: Save the Art Culture (S.T.A.C.)
By Sahhar Tashakori In the world of art and its culture, there are people who see it being neglected. Many of them are artists who know change has to happen to preserve what they love so deeply. However, there aren’t enough who are willing to put forth the effort to ignite an interest for their […]
Unmanned helicopter reconaissance squadron relocating to Point Mugu
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced that the Navy’s Unmanned Helicopter Reconnaissance Squadron ONE would be relocating to Point Mugu, effective immediately. “I’m pleased to announce the squadron’s move to Pt. Mugu,” said Brownley. “Naval Base Ventura County is critical to our local economy, and this move will further strengthen […]
Recipe of the Week – German Lentil Soup
Ingredients: 2T olive oil Smoked pork hock 1# sweet potatoes, peeled and cut to 1/4 slices 4 cloves garlic 2 red bell peppers, diced 2 carrots, sliced bite size 1 large onion, chopped coarsely 1 celery rib, sliced 1 28 oz. can Italian crushed tomatoes, with liquid 1 # brown lentils, rinsed 10 cups chicken […]
Libertarian Businessman Says Goodbye to California with the New Year
By Scott Shackford Libertarian businessman and park privatization advocate Warren Meyer is celebrating the new year by getting the heck out of California, like so many other businesses. He posted the many reasons why it’s so hard to do business in the Golden State, particularly in Ventura County, on his blog. Here’s a sampling of some of […]
Recipe of the Week- Almond Cake
Ingredients 2 sticks butter, shop softened, recipe more for buttering pan 1 cup sour cream, room temperature 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 ½ cups sugar 7 ounce tube of almond paste 4 egg yolks, room temperature 1 teaspoon almond extract Powdered sugar, for sifting over cake […]
Impact of Drought Emergency on one of Ventura County’s largest industries- agriculture
By John Krist Subject: Re: FOLLOW-UP Breaking News: Gov. Jerry Brown declares drought emergency The drought’s immediate impact is felt most acutely by our livestock producers, who rely on natural forage. Without rain, there’s no grass, and that means they must either buy supplemental feed or sell off their stock. For the irrigated agriculture sector, the impact […]
VCTA Endorses County Committee for Pension Fairness
Viewpoint Committee Files Initiative for Sustainable Retirement System VCTA Endorses Committee for Pension Fairness FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Newsletter of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association Today, sick representatives of the Committee for Pension Fairness filed a sweeping retirement system reform ballot measure for the November 2014 election known as the “Sustainable Retirement System Initiative”. This measure, the first […]
Ventura County Sides With Community Group in Oil Industry Dispute
By Bill Haff 12/08/13 Photo: Upper Ojai Valley Oil Rig – photo courtesy CFROG Tensions over oil industry practices surfaced in Ojai recently when a new community group called Citizens For Responsible Oil and Gas (CFROG) filed successful complaints against […]
