The LC Blog

The Grunion Ran!

2008-07-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

In what may become an annual event on LC Beach, more than a few families ventured out late Saturday night for what turned out to be a great run of the grunion! Here are a couple of pictures (thank you Stephanie!)...

Family Fun in Carpinteria

2008-07-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

Wednesday evenings through August there will be outdoor movie screenings at Linden Field in Carpinteria. A few families made it to the first screening last night and reported back "a great outing for the entire family." In true LC style, many wore flip flops, which will most likely be switched out for warmer shoes next week (along with more blankets and some comfy chairs). Next Wednesday's movie will be The Sandlot. The show starts at dark (8:30 - 9-ish) with music beforehand. Refreshments are available to purchase at the show, with all proceeds going to Girls Inc. in Carpinteria. The movie is free.

One of LC's Youngest Shredders

2008-07-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

At four years old, and the youngest of the C-Boy clan, Calvin is on his way to being a world-class surfer. Here he is in action on his fish...

One Way To Green Your Pet...and Clean Up The Ground

2008-07-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

What do you think about a community dog poop composter?
(Thank you, Heidi, for the idea.)

Illustration by Thomas Fuchs

American dogs and cats creat 10 million tons of waste a year, and no one knows where it's going, according to Will Brinton, a scientist in Mount Vernon, Maine, and one of the world's leading authorities on waste reduction and composting.

Most of our pets' poop either winds up in a landfill purgatory, where it's embalmed practically forever in plastic bags, or sits on the ground until the next rainstorm washes it into the sewer where it can drift on down to rivers and beaches. You can compost the poop--just don't use it with your vegetable garden, because the compost doesn't heat up enough to kill pathogens such as E. Coli., which could contaminate your homegrown produce and land up in your (very unhappy) belly.

If you have room in your backyard, you can bury an old garbage bin (note: far away from your vegetable garden) to use as a pet-waste composter. Or check out the Doggie Dooley. The makers of the Doggy Dooley also sell an enzymatic "Super Digester Concentrate" for your backyard pet septic system.

Traffic Jam In The Tunnel!

2008-07-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

The Difference Between Girls & Boys

2008-07-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

What The Boys Do After Surfing All Day

2008-07-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

They call themselves "The Loaded Diapers" and enjoy band practice after surfing all day.

"The Loaded Diapers" take a break from Rock Band and enjoy some rootbeer floats...

Classic LC

2008-07-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

Trees = Cleaner Air

2008-07-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

Why take the existing landscaping out? Not only is it nice to look at, but it helps to cut down on air pollution from the 101. Here are some interesting papers I came across while researching trees and air quality...

Fine Particle Pollution Fact Sheet

Effects of Trees on Air Quality

Suggestions From Supervisor Flynn's Office

2008-07-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here is part of an email that I received from Supervisor Flynn's office regarding our issues with the railroad...

Re: railroad vs. trees numbers and summary to date
Date: July 07, 2008 08:25:33 AM PDT

As a suggestion get to know the local coastal plans Ventura County, Carpinteria if they have one. As a general rule anything near the coastline comes under the authority of the calif coastal commission...some projects must go for their review automatically if they are west of the nearest road, if they are east of that road they go to the commission if a person asks them through a certain administrative process if you indicate the action or project is violating the coastal plan. The coastal commission also has their rules that the aforementioned projects must comply with, which would include other items and are as a rule more stringent. Also CEQA could apply to some of the issues.

Jim Estomo

Office of Supervisor
John K. Flynn
5th District

It should be pretty hard for Union Pacific to take away our beach access (read section below from the Ventura County Coastal Plan)...

§ 30212
(a) "Public access from the nearest public roadway to the shoreline and along the coast shall be provided in new development projects except where (1) it is inconsistent with public safety, military security needs, or the protection of fragile coastal resources, (2) adequate access exists nearby, or (3) agriculture would be adversely affected. Dedicated accessway shall not be required to be opened to public use until a public agency or private association agrees to accept responsibility for maintenance and liability of the accessway."

Click on the links below to view Ventura County's Coastal Plan in its entirety and to visit the CEQA site.

Coastal Area Plan of Ventura County

CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)

Thank you Mr. Estomo!

The "Day After" Beach Cleanup

2008-07-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the July 5th LC Beach Cleanup (and to those who organize each and every one of them). Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of this cleanup, but here are some from the April beach cleanup.

July Issue of the LC Reader Is Out

2008-07-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

Great job on putting together the local rag, Rob! For those of you that wish to share it with family or friends, just send them a link.

Click on each page to enlarge.

Trees Along The Train Tracks

2008-07-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

I find it interesting that the trees along the tracks in LC pose some sort of risk to the railroad, but the trees in the photos below do not. Hmmmm....

Harbor Blvd. & California Street in Ventura (Eucalyptus)

Harbor Blvd. & Figueroa Street in Ventura (Palm)

North end of Holly Avenue in Carpinteria (Palm)

Union Pacific vs. La Conchita

2008-07-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

Union Pacific doesn't think La Conchita is ugly enough with the new fence. They now want to take out the existing landscaping (not the weeds--just the grass, trees, and flowers). Oh, and they want to take away our beach access. Here's the official letter from them...

Click on letter to enlarge.

Children's Art

2008-06-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the children's art projects that were on display during the Rods+Roses Festival in Carpinteria. Some fun ideas for the palm fronds in town...

Jr. Lifeguards Program Begins

2008-06-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Jackson Hill and Cameron Lundy are participating in this summer's Jr. Guards program at Carpinteria Beach. The program runs for six weeks each summer, from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Monday - Friday and is open to kids ages 9-17. This is one of their largest turnouts with 178 kids participating. Their first competition is on Friday, July 18th if you want to come cheer them on!

Just Another Day At LC Beach...

2008-06-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

Coriander+Brandon+BradJ

Coriander+Luke+Brandon+BradJ

The Dog Days of Summer Are Here

2008-06-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

Is This A Family Dog Or What?

2008-06-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

How Well Do You Know Your Neighbor? Part II

2008-03-06T16:33:00.000-08:00

Photo by Paul Wellman

©2008 Santa Barbara Independent
By Ethan Stewart

Barfoot Snowboards Turns 30

Dropping In
Not long after calendars the world over were turned to 2008, a massive drought-breaking winter storm rolled into Santa Barbara, delivering several inches of much-needed rain and dropping a bit of ever-mesmerizing snow in our foothills. In the mountains behind Ojai, this same low-pressure system dumped several feet of the white stuff, creating a Winter Wonderland that many area residents and outdoor enthusiasts, especially those around Mt. Pinos, were calling the biggest snowstorm in decades.

In a turn of synchronicity lost on all but the most well-versed snowboarding historians, this snowy start to 2008 was a downright poetic omen for those who know and love Chuck Barfoot. Often overlooked by the history books, repeatedly finding himself on the wrong end of busted-up business deals, and a lifelong devotee of the ride — be it by land, sea, or snow — this snow-blessed 2008 (a recent excursion found a nearly 10-foot base up Mt. Pinos way) also marks the 30th anniversary for the Santa Barbara-born Barfoot Snowboard Company — the unsung, callused hero of a snow-sliding revolution.

Fifty-six years young, Barfoot has called the South Coast home for nearly 40 years. After relocating from the shores of New Jersey to the hippie haven of Mountain Drive in the early 1970s, the former high school wrestling champion and one-time Greg Noll surf team member has carved out a life for himself literally with his bare hands. From designing, building, and riding boards of all kinds to carpentry and house painting, Barfoot, at an age when many are eyeing the recliner-chair perks of retirement, still spends seven days a week in his Ventura factory making long-board skate decks, shaping surfboards, and preparing his soon-to-be released 30th anniversary limited edition Barfoot snowboards.

His hands are strong and worn, his face weathered from a life spent smiling in the sun and surf, his language peppered with words fit only for R-rated films, and his laughter, frequent and contagious, reeks of slightly dangerous fun. Spend even a short time talking with him and you are guaranteed stories at every turn in the conversation, ranging from nude wine stomps and barefoot hell runs on skateboards down Hot Springs Road to rock climbing chaos with his 90-pound dog Wakunda hanging off him and billy goats kicking rocks onto his head 40 feet up a rock face.

Barfoot is the type of person who, you suspect, should you encounter trouble on the trail or waves or snow, would put a reassuring arm over your shoulder, make light of the situation, and pass you a whiskey-filled flask to ease the pain. A self-described “big kid who likes to play a lot,” Barfoot, who has called La Conchita home since 1988, is a salty character from the lore of local surf culture on a par with the best of them — and that’s before considering his pioneering, hard-luck-riddled contributions to the birth of snowboarding. As one Rincon resident recently summed it up, “Love him or hate him — Chucky is an absolute legend.” Click HERE to read the rest of the article about one of our friendliest neighbors.

"We're On The Road To Nowhere..."

2008-01-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in getting this info out, but we're traveling through Mexico and won't be back until April. That said, the LC BLog will probably remain fairly static until we return. I'd love to keep it going though, so if any of you have something that should be posted, please send me an email with all the info and I'll get it out there. Thanks!

The Perfect Holiday Gift For Your Favorite Surfer Or Beach Lover

2007-12-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

www.surfrider.org

The Swell of the Year

2007-12-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Finally, some great surf rolled in--no doubt the best of the year, some even say the best in a few years. Here are some shots from last Wednesday at Rincon...

Our Front Yard...

2007-11-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

How Well Do You Know Your Neighbor?

2007-11-17T20:04:00.001-08:00

We usually see her pulling weeds, planting flowers, collecting our recyclables, and selling her hand-made knits at the local farmer's market. But did you know that Linda Merrill is a surfing legend? Yep...that's her on the cover of Surfer Magazine in 1964 (woo woo!). She was the first women ever to be on the cover and at least until 2002, there had only been five covers featuring women. It has been said that "Linda's surfing style incorporated ballet-like artistry as she danced from the tail to the nose on Hawaiian and Californian waves in the early 60s."

Here's a little peak into Linda's past...

"I was at a little surfing contest in Doheny one day," recalled Mike Doyle, "talking to Benny Merrill. Benny had been surfing since the early Thirties and was one of the San Onofre regulars I admired most. I knew he had done some tandem surfing back in his younger days, and I told him, 'You know, that tandem looks like fun. Some day I'd like to give that a try.'
"The next thing I knew, Benny had me out in the water on a tandem board with his daughter, Linda."
"Linda Merrill was about five-foot-two, with an hourglass figure. She was a very good surfer and paddler, and she was able to help me maneuver that big board into the waves. Also, she was a goofy foot, so when she stood up it was easy for me to reach around her arm and lift her into a shoulder swan.
"Linda and I had a great time that day, and we even managed to learn a few of the traditional tandem moves. The last event of the contest was the tandem, so Linda and I entered it. We finished dead last, but we didn't let that discourage us. We made a promise to each other that we would keep practicing tandem surfing together as often as we could."
"The next tandem contest Linda and I entered, we placed fourth, which we took as encouragement. By now I was beginning to discover how talented Linda really was. Not only was she extremely agile and graceful, but she was fearless. When she did one-legged shoulder stands, she kept her composure and trusted me to hold her. And when the surf got large, then we really excelled. In eight-foot surf, when the wave broke, she didn't panic; she would dive off, I'd ride the board through, then I'd come back to get her. So we were able to catch more waves than most tandem teams.
"I had a few natural talents at tandem surfing, too. I was bigger than most surfers -- about 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds -- which made it easier for me to do the lifts. I was a strong paddler, I appreciated the ballet-like grace of tandem, and I got along well with the girls. There weren't a lot of surfers my age who would compete in tandem contests. Tandem wasn't macho enough for them. But that's exactly what I liked about it. Tandem surfing was a good excuse to get away from the chest-pounding guys and go play with the girls for a while.
"Linda and I kept practicing our tandem surfing, and in our third tandem contest, at San Clemente, we placed first against top competition. After that, she and I won almost every tandem event we entered."
"In those days," continued Doyle, "top competition in the tandem meant Pete Peterson. Pete, who had a number of tandem partners over the years, was in his late fifties by this time. He was bald and very fair skinned -- neither are great assets for anybody who spends all his time in the sun -- but he was a brilliant all-around waterman. I really admired Pete, and it was my goal to keep surfing as long as he had. He'd been a legend as a surfer before I was even born and knew far more tandem moves than I could ever learn. The only way Linda and I could beat Pete and his partners was to rely on our youthful strength."
"Another great tandem competitor in those days," Doyle went on, "was Hobie Alter, who had a very successful surf shop in Dana Point. Hobie was a good friend of Phil Edwards, and was an important innovator in surfboard design. Hobie was a bit small for tandem, but he was wiry and strong. He could pick up girls as big as himself and press them over his head. Oddly, Hobie was a chain-smoker. In his van the ashtrays were always full and spilling over onto the console, seats, and the floor. He smoked Kents, the ones with the fiberglass filters. Just the smell of them reminded me of the sanding room in a surfboard shop. I couldn't believe anybody who made surfboards would inhale something that smelled like that. But Hobie was a great tandem surfer, and some people credit him with revitalizing tandem surfing in the Sixties."
~ LEGENDARY SURFERS
A Definitive History of Surfing's Culture and Heroes
By Malcolm Gault-Williams

I'd like this to be the first of many features on our fellow neighbors. Let's just see how well we can get to know them!

Peace on Earth (or at least in Santa Barbara!)

2007-11-17T18:40:00.001-08:00

An unusual trio--a dog, a cat, and a rat--all coexisting with one another. I was fortunate enough to see these peaceful beings while walking down State Street last week.

Driftwood Christmas Tree

2007-11-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

A note from our mayor...

Our Community Christmas Tree

It is with much regret that I have to inform you we will not be able to construct a community Christmas tree this year. If you will recall,
Union Pacific Railroad Company informed the community that we are to not trespass on their property.

Our tree last year was beautiful and a great experience for both the adults and children that assisted in the collection of driftwood, making ornaments, and decorating the tree. We received many compliments from residents and travelers that viewed our tree. We hope to resolve our differences with UP in the near future so our Christmas tree tradition can continue.

Mike

Fat Point?

2007-11-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

La Conchita by any other name? 'Fat Point'

For years, Mike Bell thought he was fighting for the residents of La Conchita as the head of its neighborhood council.

It turns out he was working for a different community.

That's because, to everyone's surprise, the seaside hamlet that made national headlines after a 2005 landslide isn't officially named La Conchita, but Punta.

Now the community wants to officially change its name to La Conchita. But the residents have been unable to do so because...(click here to read full story.)

Trick-or-Treating Pics

2007-11-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

What a cool community...

Click here to view/download pics from Halloween night.

Chili Cook-Off & Halloween Party Pics

2007-11-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Okay...I'm new to this, so I'm going to try another approach for sharing pictures. Click here to view and download any and all pictures from the Chili Cook-Off and Kids' Halloween Party.

Local Art Fair this Saturday!

2007-10-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

Island View Nursery in Carp will be hosting their 3rd Annual Art Fair on Saturday, November 3rd from 10 am to 5 pm, and the best part about it is that one of the featured artists is our very own Jodi Renz! What a great way to get started on some unique holiday shopping... Is anyone interested in getting a group together to attend?

Directions to the Nursery from LC:
Take the US-101N toward Santa Barbara
Take the Santa Claus/Padaro Lane exit-EXIT 88
Turn right onto Padaro Lane
Turn left onto Via Real-go 1/2 mile
Turn right onto Nidever Rd
Island View Nursery is on right side of road

Pictures from Chili Cook-Off & Kids' Halloween Party

2007-10-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

The 1st Annual LC Chili Cook-Off was a smashing success. Thanks to all of you who cooked up a mean crock of chili, and a big thanks to Rob & Jim and the LCCO for putting this event together. After the cook-off, we headed over to Andreas' Haunted House for a night of dancing. Katie+Rob+Andreas did an AMAZING job of transforming their garage and driveway into a top-notch Halloween party setting. An awesome spread of food, drinks, and fun. They even had Super-DJs Brad J and Tara there spinning some cool cookies. Here's a little slideshow of the evening (sorry about the music choice, but if you were at Andreas' party you'll understand!)...

Are you ready for the Chili Cook-Off?

2007-10-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

If you're entering chili in the cook-off:

Recipe
Ingredients
Crockpot

If you're coming to eat & drink:

Appetite
$5 donation to LCCO

There will also be hot dogs for the kids, along with sodas and water.

For those of you who would like to save the paper and plastic, please feel free to bring your own bowl, cutlery, and glass.

Do you care about our oceans?

2007-10-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

If you do, you shouldn't miss the film SHARKWATER. It opens in theaters nationwide on November 2nd. I was fortunate enough to view a screening of it at the opening night of the Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival. It is a captivating documentary--inspirational, eye-opening, and full of action. As for children, I would guess that children age eight and older would also find this film interesting. Here's a trailer of the film...

Did you know?

2007-10-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

This news is a little old, but still very exciting for La Conchita. The Beautification Committee of LCCO was at it again...they applied for California Coastal Commission's Whale Tail Grant and one was awarded to them on February 21, 2007! Assemblyman Pedro Nava was very supportive of this request and wrote this to the California Coastal Commission:

"I write in support of the La Conchita Community Organization (LCCO) application for the Whale Tail Grant Program. The La Conchita Community Beach Project would maintain the beaches of La Conchita, promote recycling and respect for the environment, and educate community members on the importance of protecting our coast.

Due to the fact that La Conchita is an unincorporated area, it lacks many of the resources that beaches within city limits enjoy. Although community members occasionally take it upon themselves to pick up debris on the beach, an institutionalized beach cleanup program is needed to fully protect the area. After the devastation caused by the La Conchita landslide of 2005, this small community has come together to organize and create programs that revitalize the efforts of community members to protect their area, and the Beach Program is a means to that end.

Additionally, the creation of an Educational Learning Center for youth education on coastal zone animal life, tide facts, and beach responsibility, would serve a great purpose in the La Conchita community, education a new generation of Californians on the importance of a healthy coast."

For more information on the La Conchita Community Beach Program, just ask one of the Beautification Committee ladies. Thank you to Assemblyman Pedro Nava for being so supportive of our community and thanks to LCCO for all your hard work to make LC such a great place to live!

2007-10-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in entering your chili in the cook-off, just bring it in a crock pot by 3:45 pm on the day of the event. Electrical outlets will be provided.

Save the date!

2007-10-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

2007-10-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Wow...one of our neighbors is an angry person. Here are his comments from the Ventura County Star article on the lawsuits...

Posted by lcguy on September 30, 2007 at 1:18 a.m.

im 20 years old and i have grown up in la conchita. ive seen plenty of changes in hillside behavior along with county behavior. no one from ventura city really cares, and thats fine. the hill HASN'T always been UNSTABLE. look back 20,-30-40 even 50 years and tell me how many slides there have been AFTER the ranch above put into place in 1974. i was 7 years old when the hill fell in 1995, witnessed it with my own eyes from my driveway as my dad helped me fix a flat tire on my bike. i was 17 when the hill fell in 05, and ran up my street to try to help/save people. i was the first to find a man named Graig, who was trapped 30 feet below debris. i lost ten neighbors, friends and my childhood memories that day and to sit here reading what people have to say about an article, which was written by someone who has NO IDEA of what they are actually talking about.-- the retaining wall, was total crap, and had a drain for run off--- weird that it was full of water 24/7- in the SUMMER before the hill even fell! it was the couny's job to maintain that run-off drain, BUT they didnt and if they had maybe they would have realizied, there was a problem with the hill.- you people of ventura would understand a little better if you came up and looked at the run-off water which is still coming out of the hill, whens the last time we had bad rains??? and no mr. ventura county geologist, its not a natural spring! its the damm irrigation Mixed with natural rain that made the hill fall in 05.-- to better everything since i can tell you all how it is to live and witness the ignorace of this county, Which is lead by people who most likley didnt even grow up in ventura county to bein with- im forth generation ventura county by the way..-- the shieff's they had here that day in 05 were a joke, i asked one to call for help for the man (graig) who i mentioned before, but all the nervous shieff could do was sit there and stare at me and ask me " what do you want me to do".... um maybe your job. protect and serve- call for fire rescue help or something DUMMY! it took 2 days to get rescue dogs into town.. if thats not a joke i dont know what is. the la conchita org. or commitee is also a joke, and the people who put it together DO NOT REPRESENT ME OR MY FAMILY. they are just as lost as the county officals.
anything to say back to me.. please come visit, ill give you a tour and show you the real facts.. its simple common sense.
AND just so you know and dont assume things, my family and i ARE NOT apart of the lawsuit anyway. its just sad how the COUNTY is the bad guy here and they write up what they want YOU to hear. live your lives that way, but dont comment something you know nothing about.

tkw

Posted by lcguy on September 30, 2007 at 1:34 a.m.

hey ed.fitzhenry,, you sure think you know alot dont you.. hahah come up ill show you around town,
how much do you really know about the new on and off ramp and tunnel for beach access.
-- ive been surfing here for years and i will have to say the tunnel, is a waste of time and money-- dont act like everyone in la conchita wants what you hear. the la conchita committe is a bunch of transplant peolpe for LA anyway.

La Conchita Community Organization

2007-10-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

The La Conchita Community Organization (LCCO) was formed on January 15, 2005 by a majority of the residents in La Conchita. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all-volunteer organization. The goal of LCCO is to restore La Conchita to a safe, livable community. They are working with County, State and Federal agencies to make their goal a reality--to stabilize the hill and remove the debris from past slides. The LCCO will accept grants, aid and donations of cash or services to help meet this goal.

A fund has been established to offset the costs of the LCCO and build a coalition of businesses, the railroad and the government to finance the project. Any donations made to this group will be used for supplies and services.

They need your support to get the job done. You can help by spreading the word, writing letters and making a donation to LCCO. Your donation will be tax deductible.

Please send your donations to:
LCCO
7015 Oxnard Ave.
La Conchita, CA 93001

All donations will receive a thank you note, receipt, and TIN # for tax purposes.

2007-10-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

Support the Surfrider Foundation and attend the Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival from October 19-21, 2007. Click here for more information.

Video documentary of landslide from Brooks student

2007-10-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

County off hook in La Conchita lawsuits

2007-09-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

© 2007 Ventura County Star
By Tamara Koehler

A judge has let the county off the legal hook for dozens of wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits filed in the wake of the 2005 La Conchita landslide that killed 10 people and destroyed 13 homes.

The suits, filed by surviving family members and residents of the beach-side community, could have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars if a jury found the county was to blame for the deaths. With the judge's ruling Wednesday, only property damage cases remain, which pose a much lower financial risk for the county.

"It's a huge victory for the county," said Robert Ceccone, the attorney representing Ventura County. "The court has found we are not liable for any personal injury. The court vindicated the county and found it acted reasonably."

The lawsuits claimed a public wall, built by the county after a similar landslide in 1995, was designed to protect homes from landslides. Instead, when the hillside fell again a decade later, the wall redirected tons of sliding earth into the homes of the victims, the suits claimed. The hill collapsed Jan. 10, 2005, after several days of heavy rain.

The county contended the wall, only 5 feet tall in some places, was never designed to hold back tons of fast-moving earth. Rather, the structure was built to keep stray debris off a road at the base of the hill.

Superior Court Judge Vincent O'Neil agreed with the county. O'Neil ruled the government is immune from the wrongful death and personal injury actions because the decision to build the wall, as well as its design and purpose, were "reasonable."

"This is a wonderful outcome for the county and the taxpayers," said County Counsel Noel Klebaum.

Anthony Murray, the attorney who represented the plaintiffs, did not return phone calls Thursday. Murray could appeal the judge's decision.

After this week's ruling, 29 plaintiffs remain who are suing for property damage. Those suits also allege the county-built wall is to blame for the path of the landslide and damage to their homes.

A trial is set for June. Unlike injury lawsuits, property damage cases are heard only by a judge, not a jury, Ceccone said.

In February, O'Neil dismissed a second set of lawsuits filed on behalf of 57 La Conchita residents who claimed they suffered emotional distress or loss of property value because of the slide. The dismissal came when the attorney representing those residents quit and another lawyer could not be found to take the cases.

Wrongful death, personal injury and property damage lawsuits are still pending against the La Conchita Ranch Co., which owns land above the bluff that gave way. Residents are arguing the ranch saturated the hillside through irrigation.

After the 1995 landslide, which destroyed nine homes and damaged others, residents also sued the ranch. In 1999, a judge ruled that the ranch's watering atop a hill was not a significant factor in causing that slide.

That class-action suit involved 146 La Conchita property owners. It was the second group to sue the ranch for damages from the 1995 slide. The first suit was settled out of court in June 1997 and netted money for 112 people.

Transportation Commission awards funds for La Conchita underpass

2007-09-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

© 2007 Ventura County Star
From staff reports

The last $34,000 needed to finish the pedestrian underpass to the beach at La Conchita was awarded Friday by the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

Caltrans has been working for months on a path under Highway 101, but with the $2.5 million project nearly complete, the agency discovered $34,000 in additional costs, according to a Transportation Commission report. Neither the state nor the county have money budgeted to finish it, so the Transportation Commission stepped in.

The commission shifted the money from its fund for bicycle trail maintenance. That account still has $104,000 left.

Mike Bell, a La Conchita resident often referred to as the hamlet's unoffical mayor, commended the commission on its decision.

"La Conchita residents have one legal option to reach the beach, and that's to walk across the 101," he said. Many residents use the illegal option, he said, which involves trespassing on Union Pacific railroad property.

"Day After" Beach Clean Up

2007-07-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the "Day After" beach clean up. It was definitely needed after all the crowds from the 4th of July. Great job, kids!

1st Annual LC Driftwood Tree Construction & Decoration

2006-12-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of the first annual driftwood community xmas tree. What a great tradition to bring the community together for during the holidays.

Beach Clean Up

2006-09-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

This was the beginning of a regular schedule of beach clean up dates brought to us by the Beautification Committee (thank you, ladies!). What a great way to get the entire community involved in caring for our beach. Thanks to all who participated!

LC in the New Yorker - fiction

2005-12-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

link

Jan. 10, 2005 La Conchita landslide

2005-01-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

At 1:20 pm the hillside behind La Conchita failed. Ten of our neighbors lost their lives in this landslide.

Jan. 10, 2005 - early am

2005-01-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

On the morning of January 10, 2005 we woke up to debris flow on some streets in town and two mudslides just north of La Conchita that covered the railroad tracks and all lanes of the 101 freeway.