Editor’s note: Reprinted by permission from the Ojai Valley News (www.ojaivalleynews.com) which has recently expanded to include West Ventura News.
By Perry Van Houten, perry@ojaivalleynews.com
The rebuilding of the Ojai Ranger District is underway with the U.S. Forest Service’s hiring of four recreation staff and the reopening of the front desk at 1190 E. Ojai Ave.
Since the pandemic, the district office had been closed to the public and staffed only by fire personnel, but incoming Ojai District Ranger Tim Short revealed plans to bring the office up to previous staffing levels.
Short has brought on Recreation Officer Steve Yamshon, Assistant Recreation Officer Andrew Jilani, Recreation Forestry Technician Maria Rosario and Recreation Technician Rosemary Sepulveda.
Staff Ojai Ranger District. Photo by Perry Van Houten.
Their positions had been unfilled due to past funding reductions, attrition and retirements, Short said.
The pandemic and the untimely passing of front desk staffer Mike Porter further limited the district’s ability to serve the public, but with the reopening of the front desk Thursdays through Saturdays from 9am to 2pm Short hopes the ORD can re-engage with the community.
“To us this is a really important step in reconnecting with the community,” Short said, “to help them better experience and appreciate their district that we help manage.”
Assistant Recreation Officer Andrew Jilani replaces Diane Cross, who retired in 2021. Jilani came to Ojai from Cambodia, where he was working on an international project. He joined the ORD staff in May. “It’s a lovely place,” he said of his new home. “Every weekend I go hiking, getting to know the trails. Slowly getting to know the community.”
For the past few months, Jilani has been helping with an inventory of district recreation sites and getting trained on the National Environmental Policy Act.
Rosario grew up camping, hiking and fishing in the National Forest. “For me, this is just a homecoming, because I grew up in the area, born and raised in Santa Barbara,” said Rosario, who gained plenty of experience working at large national parks, “where I helped manage some of the largest volunteer programs in the country.”
The reopening of the front desk has brought an enthusiastic response from the public. “It’s been a long time coming and it’s really great to be here and give back to our community,” said Rosario.
Many areas in the Ojai District remain closed while repairs are being made to trails and recreation areas hammered by powerful winter storms. “That work continues as we try to get things back into the condition we need them to be,” Short said.
Another issue is Maricopa Highway through the Los Padres, much of which may remain closed into 2024, according to the CA Dept. of Transportation. “Depending on how that unfolds we’ll be prepared to reopen facilities as we’re able,” Short said. “Highway 33 access is a core part of the Ojai District and some real popular recreation facilities.”