The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 195

LOS ANCilil.HS TIMliS B2 MONDAY, MARCH 19. 1990 VC Ventura County News Roundup Cities Told to Justify LAWRENCE K. HO Los Angeles Times The Edwards Adobe in Saticoy, covered with clapboard for preservation, has as foreman of the 17-member grand jury to run for Ventura County Supervisor James Dougherty's scat. Dougherty pulled out of the race last month. -PSYCHE PASCUAL Public May Apply for LAFCO Vacancy The Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission is accepting applications from county residents interested in representing the public on issues pertaining to city boundaries.

Applications, including a letter of interest and resume or biographical sketch, will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday at the LAFCO office in Ventura. The commission usually meets on the third Wednesday of each month. It includes two members of the county Board of Supervisors, two members of city councils and a member representing the general public. The new member will be chosen by the other four LAFCO members.

Clean Air Is Theme of Poster Contest Students in Ventura County public schools are participating in a national poster contest to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. Sponsored locally by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, the theme of the contest is "Earth Day 1990: Care About Clean Air." Entries will be judged locally by the county school superintendent's office and a panel of judges, including Ventura County Supervisor Susan Lacey and Maureen Davidson, executive director of the Ventura Arts Council. Winning posters will be forwarded to Washington for the national competition. First-place winners will receive $500 each. 2 Youths Appointed to Attend West Point Rep.

Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) has appointed two Ventura County youths to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Kip Wilson, 17, of Simi Valley and Jeffrey Friesen, 19, of Thousand Oaks will begin their cadet studies this summer. "We're so excited," said Drina Wilson, Kip's mother. "He's a very patriotic kid." Kip attends Simi Valley High School and plays on the football team.

This year he won the team's scholar athlete award because of his grade-point average of 3.74. To earn his Eagle Scout rank, he organized anti-drug programs for Township Elementary School in Simi Valley and for his church. Friesen graduated last year from Westlake High School, where he was SATICOY House Regains Landmark Status The Edwards Adobe in Saticoy has again been declared a county historical landmark, but whether the deteriorated 130-year-old structure will ever be restored remains in doubt. The adobe, west of Edwards Ranch Road, was built In the distinctive Yankee clapboard style by William Dewey Hobson, called the "Father of Ventura County." County supervisors declared the structure a landmark this week, but there are no plans for the restoration, said Katherine Garner, administrative assistant to the county Cultural Heritage Board. Nor have there been any significant attempts at restoration in the past, she said.

"It's just been sitting there," Garner said. The present owners, Limoneira Associates, a Santa Paula-based citrus and avocado grower, bought Orchard Farm in 1985, which included the Edwards Adobe. The problem is that the adobe "is right in the middle of productive agricultural land," said President Jack Dickenson. "We're looking at options to determine what the best use for the structure will be." Restoration, he added, would be "very expensive." Garner agreed. "It would cost a lot of money," she said.

No estimates are available, she said. This week marked the second time Development Outlay The financially strapped Ventura County government has called on all 10 cities in the county to justify their spending of redevelopment funds. The county desperately needs tax money that is diverted to the cities to provide essential services, said Richard Wittenberg, county chief administrative officer. "Redevelopment freezes the county money for 40 to 45 years," Wittenberg said. "I don't know that people understand what that does to the county services for mental health, welfare, the county hospital, the jail.

It starves us." Under state law, cities can declare neighborhoods blighted. That enables them to keep property taxes from new development that would otherwise go to counties, schools and the state. More than $12 million has been diverted from the county since 1985 through the cities' redevelopment practices, a county report found. In particular, the county wants the cities to account for how they spend the 20 of redevelopment tax money that the law requires them to set aside for affordable housing programs. Officials in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Oxnard, which have some of the largest redevelopment projects in the county, say their cities spend their redevelopment money responsibly to help develop housing programs for the elderly and low-income residents.

"Without redevelopment, it would have put a serious dent in our affordable housing program," said Jay Corey, Simi Valley's assistant city manager. "We've already put up $100,000 of money for homeless or low-income housing from our Ormond Beach redevelopment project," said Dennis Matthews, Oxnard redevelopment administrator. The redevelopment agencies have created their projects within the law and with the consent of the county, said Edward Johnduff, administrative services manager in Thousand Oaks. "The county has to balance its budget just like everybody else does," he said. "All the cities have to make tough choices." JOANNA MILLER Replacement Named to Head Grand Jury A retired Navy weapons system specialist has taken over as foreman of Ventura County's grand jury in the wake of the resignation last week of Bob Pegg.

Antonio Vasquez, 56, was appointed by Superior Court Judge Edwin M. Osborne to head the panel until Pegg's term expires in June. Vasquez took over Friday. Vasquez, a former data management specialist for the Navy, lives in Santa Paula. As grand jury foreman, Vasquez will head the independent committee that investigates government in the county.

Pegg, a Simi Valley resident, resigned SIMI VALLEY Test Drive Ends in Car Theft and Chase A 27-year-old man was in jail Sunday after allegedly stealing a gold sports car that he had taken for a test drive, Simi Valley police said. Jeff Sauer of Los Angeles was arrested Saturday after a high-speed chase; and was held on suspicion of stealing a 1983 Datsun 280-ZX from a car dealer in Simi Valley, Sgt. Ron Lompart said. Sauer was taking a test drive with a salesman when he suddenly said he could no longer drive the vehicle, Lompart said. When the salesman got out to take Sauer's place in the driver's seat, Sauer allegedly drove away, Lompart said.

Fifteen minutes later, police saw the car heading east on the Simi Valley Freeway. After police were led on a high-speed chase, the car crashed near Yosemite Avenue, Lompart said. Sauer tried to run away and was captured, he said. THOUSAND OAKS Crime Stoppers Seeking Donations Thousand Oaks, which boasts one of the lowest crime rates of any city in the county, is seeking donations from the community to replenish its Crime Stop- been declared a historical landmark. the county has declared the adobe a landmark.

It was first designated such in 1968, but the county revoked that status in 1977 because it had fallen into disrepair and restoration costs would have been prohibitive, Garner said. Supervisors this week reinstated landmark status as a preventive measure, Garner said. Because of its landmark status, owners may not deface, demolish, add to or alter the adobe without 180-day notice. "It's more of a courtesy notice so that interested parties can work with the owner to try to resolve the issues; hopefully restore the landmark, or document the historical significance of the structure," Garner said. Edwards Adobe, built in 1860, is a combination of Mexican and Yankee clapboard architecture and represents the last standing Yankee adobe in the county.

The two-story adobe was built by Hobson, who was a prime lobbyist for the creation of Ventura County in 1873. The term Yankee clapboard probably originated from the redwood clapboard siding that was used to protect the adobe, Garner said. A 1987 report by the Cultural Heritage Board said five adobes in Ventura County have landmark status. PEGGY LEE OJal Santa Paula Fillmore Oak View Casltas Springs Melners Oaks National Forest SESPE CREEK $1,500 Donated to Keep River Scenic A Ventura company has donated $1,500 to help encourage legislation to protect all 55 miles of Sespe Creek. Patagonia Inc.

donated the funds to the Keep the Sespe Wild committee, a group of environmentalists who hike in the Sespe and want to preserve the area in its natural state. The committee will use the funds to support legislation by Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif. a spokesman said. Cranston authored a bill that would place all 55 miles of the river into Wild and Scenic River status, which would preclude development of a dam on the river.

Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) sponsored a second bill that would preclude development on slightly more than half of the leaving unprotected two possible dam sites. Ventura Oxnard Camarillo PortHueneme PI. Mugu Saticoy Somis VENTURA Man Sought in Kidnaping Attempt Authorities searched Sunday for a man who tried to kidnap a Ventura woman from a parking lot this weekend. Wendi L.

Jacobs, 23, of Ventura was about to start her car at 5:45 p.m. Saturday after using an automated bank teller in a lot at 115 W. Main St. when a man opened the door on the driver's side, Ventura Police Officer Rick French said. French said the man threatened Jacobs, saying: "Let me in the car and take me where I tell you, or I'll kill you." Jacobs pushed the man away from the car and summoned help from nearby shop patrons, French said.

The man fled toward the Ventura River area, a known haven for transients, French said. Jacobs was not injured in the incident. Police searched the area without finding the man, whom they described as white, about 6 feet tall, medium build, collar-length sandy blond hair and light-colored eyes. OXNARD 1 Killed After Being An unidentified man died Saturday when he lost control of his car on California 1 south of Oxnard and was thrown out of the car, authorities said. The man, whose identity was not released pending notification of his relatives, was not wearing a seat belt, Tomorrow THOUSAND OAKS Reacting to Pressure The Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a seminar, "How to React Under Pressure: the Art of Quick 7:30 a.m.; Holiday Inn, 495 N.

Ventu Park Road ($20, breakfast included; information 499-1993). Intimacy Seminar Charter Hospital of Thousand Oaks is sponsoring a seminar on couples communication, "Creative Intimacy," part of its Women's Issues series; 7 p.m.; 516 Pennsfield Place (free; information 659-5821). CAMARILLO Support Group The Listening Post at Camarillo Health Care District is forming a therapy support group for parents of children with a chemical dependency; 7:30 p.m.; 3639 E. Las Posas Road 1123 ($5, $8 per couple; information 388-1952). MOORPARK Real Estate Class Moorpark College's Community Services Department is offering a two-session class, "Understanding Real Estate Contracts," worth six continuing education units for real president of the Varsity Club and co-captain of the track and cross-country teams.

He is a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, where he has joined the ROTC program. Simi Valley Thousand Oaks Moorpark Newbury Park Lake Sherwood Oak Park Bell Canyon pers Program, a police official said. Crime Stoppers funds have hit an all-time low and need to be replenished so the program can continue, Sgt. Kitty Hoberg, liaison from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, said Friday. The program the only one of its kind in the county pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 to informants who call in tips about crimes ranging from vandalism to armed robbery.

Hoberg said the program fund's current balance of $2,000 is the lowest ever. If Crime Stoppers does not get more money, informants would have to wait longer to be paid their rewards, she said. In January and February, the program was especially active, paying out $2,650 for information that helped solve nearly 50 crimes in the Conejo Valley, Hoberg said. Since it began in 1986, the program has paid out $8,275 for tips that helped solve 156 crimes and led to the recovery of $51,875 in narcotics and stolen property, Hoberg said. "It's a program completely funded by donations from the community," she added.

-PEGGY LEE Thrown From Car Claude Bell, a dispatcher for the California Highway Patrol, said Sunday. The man was driving south on California 1 about noon Saturday just south of Oxnard when he swerved off the road, hit some rocks and was thrown from the car, Bell said. Events of Tuesday estate license holders; 7 p.m.; Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road information and registration 378-1408). Suffrage Documentary The Women's Center of Moorpark College is presenting "How We Got the Vote," a historical video documentary on the struggle for women's suffrage; noon; Moorpark College library, 7075 Campus Road (free; information 378-1400). OXNARD Food Bank Food Share a Ventura County food bank, will hold an orientation meeting for new volunteer gleaners, truck drivers, office and warehouse workers; 1:30 p.m.; Food Share Warehouse, 4156 N.

Southbank Road (free; information 647-3944). OJAI Rent, Tax Assistance Help of Ojai is sponsoring tax and rent assistance to seniors; 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Little House, 111 W. Santa Ana Road (free, information and appointments 646-0144). Items for the Ventura County Edition's daily calendar of events should be received one week before the event. Please address Items to Tomorrow, Los Angeles Times, 5200 Valentine Road, Ventura 93003..