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129TH YEAR, No.39 OJAIVALLEYNEWS.COM FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 Mass meditation held to summon ET to Ojai Perry Van Houten “I really landed in the perfect place,” he [email protected] told the Ojai Valley News. Can extraterrestrials be contacted Sims saw his first ET in 2012 at a re- through global, synchronized medita- treat in Borrego Springs, as he was learn- tion? ing the contact meditation protocol. Organizers of a 10-day virtual mass He was skeptical, at first. “I had never experiment, the grand finale originating meditated in my life before this,” Sims from Ojai, say they can — and were — said. “It was on the fifth evening that a during a unique astrological alignment ship appeared above our group. I saw it this week. materialize out of thin air and it was in- The Harmonic Convergence 2020 is credible, and I knew that this was not a the brainchild of tech engineer, entre- military craft, like many people believe.” preneur and author Mark Sims of Ojai, The purpose of this week’s experi- the creator of a meditation protocol to ment was “to help usher in a new era of facilitate mass contact with ETs, organiz- world peace and to make contact with ers said. Photo courtesy THC2020 our star family,” according to organizer Sims was attracted to Ojai from Mich- Unify, a nonprofit that specializes in igan three years ago, drawn by the moun- Mark Sims of Ojai, the creator of a meditation protocol used to contact extraterrestrials, tains, Ojai’s spirituality and its people. leads participants in a Harmonic Convergence mass meditation in Ojai. ET: Page B8 Matilija reservoir drained Great white fright Photo by Simone Noble Ojai Junior Lifeguards hit the water in their ceremonial swim around the Ventura Pier. Perry Van Houten [email protected] Several young life- guards from Ojai got some excitement July 10 Photo courtesy Paul Jenkin, Matilija Coalition during their traditional BEFORE AND AFTER: Photos taken July 2 and 12 of the drained Matilija reservoir reveal end-of-session swim the evolution of the channel cut by flows through sedimentation from the Thomas Fire. around the Ventura Pier. The group of swim- mers was called back to shore after the reported spotting of a 7-foot-long great white shark in the ocean off the pier. The sighting came from three fishermen on the pier who reported it to a park ranger helping Photo by Brandon Seider to manage the swim, ac- Junior Lifeguards from Ojai start their swim around the Ven- cording to Ojai resident Carrie Johnson, who runs tura Pier July 10. the Junior Lifeguard pro- the lead instructor for the the kids over near where gram. group swimming over to a shark may have been The eight swimmers the ranger.” swimming.” from Ojai were the first to The instructor mim- The ranger, with the hit the water at approxi- icked a fin on his head, help of Junior Lifeguard mately 9 a.m., when they Johnson said, “and I knew swim instructors, quickly were called back to shore. right then that there was got the kids out of the “First of all,” Johnson said, a shark. It wasn’t showing water and safely back to “I saw the kids starting to any kind of aggressive be- shore. swim back, and then I saw havior, I just couldn’t put Great white: Page B3 VC reports increase Perry Van Houten hour period, the reservoir did empty,” WATER LEVELS [email protected] said Peter Sheydeyi, deputy director of in COVID-19-related On July 1, workers opened a 12-inch SEASONAL YEAR-TO-DATE design and construction for the Ventura RAINFALL TOTALS FROM OCT. 1 valve at Matilija Dam, releasing flows County Watershed Protection District. hospitalizations downstream and slowly draining the The decision to drain the reservoir Matilija Canyon 25.37” reservoir. was based on safety concerns identi- As of July 16, there The flush had nothing to do with the fied by the California Division of Safety were 4,968 people who Soule Park 16.85” planned eventual removal of the dam, of Dams, and liability concerns over re- ever were diagnosed Casitas Dam 19.12” but was based on safety concerns from cent increased recreational use of the with COVID-19 in Ven- Oak View 16.87” both state and county officials. reservoir and trespassers potentially tura County, and 2,245 Upper Ojai 16.92” Prior to the flush, the reservoir had hurting themselves on the property, active cases under quar- only 150 acre-feet of storage, less than Sheydeyi said. “The decision was made antine. LAKE CASITAS VOLUME 4% of the original storage. The middle of to go ahead and lower the pool to try This was an 84-case the reservoir was only about 4 feet deep. and remove the attractive nuisance of jump from the day be- Oct 1, 2019 100,573 acre-feet When the valve was opened the the facility.” fore and a 875-case jump July 16, 2020 102,713 acre-feet morning of July 1, flows downstream Just a year ago, an Oak View from the week before. Low volume 41.1 percent were approximately 30 cubic feet (225 Current volume 43.2 percent gallons) per second. “Over about a 36- Matilija reservoir: Page B8 COVID-19: Page B8 A2 Ojai Valley News • Friday, July 17, 2020 Obituaries Most VC schools will begin 2020-21 online; OUSD undecided With cases of COVID-19 ra County Dr. Robert Levin July basis. Nearly all of the school be best met. However, we can- surging in Ventura County and 15 explaining the school dis- districts and charter schools in not in good conscience reopen Christine Towne Drucker throughout California, most lo- tricts’ decision: “In recent weeks the county, as well as the Ven- all of our campuses at a time cal school districts and charter it has become increasingly clear tura County Office of Educa- when the coronavirus is surging Christine Towne Drucker, 72, schools have decided to begin that bringing students back tion, have jointly agreed this is in our state and our region.” passed on July 1st, 2020, peacefully the 2020-2021 school year en- to campus at the start of the the best course of action at this In addition to OUSD, Ven- in her home in Ojai, with her cat Oliver at her side. Chris lived a full tirely using distance learning, year — even on a limited basis time. Levin has endorsed the tura Unified, Moorpark Unified and fabulous life. Together with her without bringing students back — would pose unacceptable plan to begin the school year and Mesa Union school district beloved husband, Sanford Drucker, to campuses. health risks to both students with distance learning in the in- are still evaluating how they will she shared twenty-three years until However, Ojai Unifiedand school employees, many of terest of reducing the spread of begin the new school year and his passing ten years ago. Chris and School District still plans to whom are in high-risk groups.” the coronavirus. have not yet announced their Sandy were fixtures in the Ojai Valley hold in-person classes using a Ventura County schools Mantooth said: “Keeping plans. community. Sanford started the Ojai Living Treasures, hybrid system at this time, Su- had been hoping to begin the campuses closed is not a deci- The OUSD Board will dis- which was later adopted by the Rotary Club. Chris and perintendent Tiffany Morse told year with a mix of in-class and sion that any of us take lightly. cuss the latest plans for Ojai Sandy were Ojai citizens of the year in 2000. Chris was a devoted volunteer in the local Red Cross. the Ojai Valley News. distance learning, but the wors- We want nothing more than to students to return to school at She served the Ojai Music Festival as President of the Ventura County Super- ening coronavirus crisis has in- bring all students back to class its July 22 meeting. The agenda Board for the Ojai Music Festival Woman’s Committee intendent of Schools Stanley creased the risks of reopening where their educational, social for that meeting will be released and was a board member. She served as a docent at the Mantooth sent a letter to Ventu- campuses, even on a limited and developmental needs can by tonight. Museum of Ventura County; and she was also a board member and on the committee for architect selection for the museum remodel. Chris obtained her Ph.D. in mythological studies at SB police, VCSO mum on search for brandishing suspect Pacifica Graduate Institute. She was named a Living Treasure of Ojai in 2018. Chris’ red hair, her bright smile, Perry Van Houten block of North Milpas Street. the man in the Ojai area July told the Ojai Valley News that her insights and wisdom attracted everyone to her as a [email protected] After a short altercation, the 10, authorities said. detectives know who the sus- friend and a mentor. She loved academia, art, spirituality, A reported Ojai area man man left in a vehicle, accord- A VCSO official said July pect is but continue to search and ice cream. She will be missed. wanted for brandishing a ing to Santa Barbara police. 10 that the suspect, who may for him. He declined to pro- firearm at a Santa Barbara No shots were fired, but a have lived in Upper Ojai “is vide a description or the sus- restaurant last week is still loaded magazine was found not there anymore” and that pect’s name.

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