Tea Party Patriots Stay Active In Ventura County

By Susannah Kopecky | 09/03/09

The Tea Party Patriots are telling Washington insiders loud and clear, "don't tread on me!" Carla Bonney is one of the first Ventura County residents to get the ball rolling in the Tea Party movement, which began picking up steam around the Tax Day revolts earlier this year. Bonney has helped to organize and encourage residents to speak their minds and stick up for their principles as a troubling divide appears more and more obvious... read more »

Water Regulations May Affect All

By Susannah Kopecky | 08/21/09

Earlier this month, members of the California State Senate and Assembly came together to propose five new bills pertaining to water conservation and water use issues with the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Delta has been at the center of debate recently, as it is alleged that pressure from environmental interest groups caused the cut-offing of water from the delta, in the name of protecting an... read more »

Responsible Eoconomic Policies Help Ventura County

By Susannah Kopecky | 08/03/09

Ventura County is in plum shape, compared to both the rest of California and the rest of the nation. With a noticeably sterling bond rating of AA, the county is recognized as a borrower more likely to pay back its debts. There is a lovely, old fashioned feel to Ventura County, when it comes to general practicality and values. The planning that goes into county activities and ongoing financial and business activities... is simply... read more »

Locals May Decide Retiree Pension Rates

By Susannah Kopecky | 07/10/09

More power may be coming to the people in Ventura County, if a proposal is put into action which would require popular consent for government employees to have their pensions go up. According to a report in the LA Times, Ventura County supervisors are mulling over the idea of having county voters weigh in when the issue of pensions for retired government workers comes up. There are five district supervisors who make up the Ventura County... read more »

Stimulus Funds In Ventura

By Susannah Kopecky | 07/09/09

As the question of taxes continues to loom, and there is still a great vagueness of how exactly federal stimulus dollars are being spent, some money has already been allocated to Ventura County. According to Rep. Lois Capps's office, the city of Oxnard received over $1,100,000 to help prevent homelessness, via a grant program. The entire county of Ventura was earmarked in February to receive over $800,000, also in homeless prevention grant... read more »

Oak Park Still Offers School of Choice

By Susannah Kopecky | 07/07/09

It's July 6, and the Oak Park Unified School District is still a District of Choice, meaning enrollment is open to children living outside of the Oak Park area. What makes this Ventura County School District different from others? It needs outside students, and provides nationally awarded tools to do so. Earlier this year, Senate Bill 680 (SB 680) was introduced to try to extend the act which would continue the school district of choice program... read more »

School Choice Bill Comes Comes to Free Choice

By Susannah Kopecky | 06/18/09

There is a fairly new bill going through the State Senate, which will have direct consequences for Ventura County. Senate Bill 680 (SB 680) covers school choice and the freedom for parents to send their children to other school districts. This should be a very important issue for all parents, particularly those who do not want their children attending the school district in which they live. This also affects those living within the boundaries... read more »

It's a "Party" for Local Grassroots Group

By Susannah Kopecky | 06/09/09

Recall the iconic images of the Tea Parties across the nation on April 15 (aka Tax Day). The television media widely ignored them, but those who saw the crowds, realized that a popular groundswell was kicking into motion. The enthusiasm continues, as additional Tea Parties are planned across the great state of California and beyond, as the heavily tax-burdered California citizens rebel against the shackles of high levels of property and goods... read more »

Humor In All The Right Places. Thanks, "Red Eye"!

By Susannah Kopecky | 06/07/09

A friend introduced me to a great television show recently. A soap opera? Nope. An addictive primetime drama? Absolutely not. A hilarious primetime comedy? Getting warmer... The show I can't get enough of is "Red Eye," and it airs every weekday at 3 a.m. EST (12 a.m. PST), and weekends at 12 a.m. EST (9 p.m. PST) on the FOX News Channel. It stars Greg Gutfeld as a fast-talking, linguistically gifted,... read more »

Local Libraries Encourage Literacy, Sense of Community

By Susannah Kopecky | 06/04/09

This is not a political going-on, but I thought it was a great thing to mention. Ventura County libraries will be promoting literacy this summer by offering a plethora of fun activities, including "Music-Fests," craft days and a program to read to therapy dogs, among other offerings. The idea that the individual can better themselves (and potentially, those around them) by rising up past any circumstances, by simply educating... read more »