Brian J. Varela, Ventura County Star

Brian J. Varela

Ventura County Star

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Recent:
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Past:
  • Ventura County Star

Past articles by Brian:

Port Hueneme to cut costs for Little League, forgo temporary snack bar

Port Hueneme council members reduced costs for a local Little League instead of opening a temporary snack bar the group uses to raise money. → Read More

Baseball league for players with disabilities starts work on Friendship Field in Camarillo

Miracle League of the 805, a baseball league for players with disabilities, has started work on Friendship Field near the Camarillo Airport. → Read More

Demolition of former Camarillo Kmart part of shopping center upgrades

Crews are at work razing the abandoned Kmart building in Camarillo as the Central Plaza shopping center takes new shape. → Read More

Last chance to vote in Oxnard's special election for District 6 seat

South Oxnard voters on Tuesday have just hours left to vote in the special election to fill the District 6 seat. → Read More

Bandits' Grill & Bar in Camarillo closed

Bandits' Grill & Bar in Old Town Camarillo announced its closure Wednesday morning. → Read More

'He was an eternal optimist': Former Port Hueneme mayor, progressive advocate dies at 91

Murray Rosenbluth, a former Port Hueneme mayor and a champion of social justice, died Saturday at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. → Read More

Port Hueneme celebrates 75th anniversary

Port Hueneme turns 75 in March, an anniversary that comes with a longer - and larger - back story from Ventura County's earliest days. → Read More

3 candidates run in special election for vacant south Oxnard council seat

Three born-and-raised Oxnard residents are competing for the chance to fill the vacant District 6 seat on the City Council in a special election. → Read More

Finney's Crafthouse in Camarillo opens to a packed house

Hungry locals are welcoming the newest Finney's Crafthouse in Camarillo, the eighth site for the family-owned chain based in Ventura County. → Read More

Port Hueneme Teen Center to provide students with support, training

Port Hueneme and the Boys & Girls Club opened a teen center Wednesday to provide the area's students with support and training. → Read More

23rd annual memorial honors 88 victims of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crash

The 23rd annual memorial for Alaska Airlines Flight 261 in Port Hueneme on Tuesday, Jan. 31. 2023, honored 88 who died in the crash. → Read More

Hundreds seek out area's homeless residents in alleys, under bridges

Volunteers, Ventura County staff and law enforcement officers survey area's homeless population for annual count. → Read More

Camarillo's desalter plant begins supplying drinking water

Camarillo's North Pleasant Valley Groundwater Deslater started producing 1 million gallons of drinking water per day earlier this month. → Read More

Oxnard's top finance officer to depart after less than 2 years

Oxnard's chief financial officer Betsy George is leaving the city Thursday for a private firm as she transitions into retirement. → Read More

Over 200 volunteers needed for annual homeless count

The Ventura County Continuum of Care is looking for over 200 volunteers for the annual homeless count, which is planned for Jan. 24. → Read More

Freedom march, observance ceremony to mark 37th annual MLK event in Oxnard

The Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Ventura County is hosting is 37th annual event honoring the civil rights leader in Oxnard Monday. → Read More

Rainstorm brings tricky trash problem to Channel Islands Harbor

Rain water regularly flushes trash and debris into Channel Islands Harbor before it flows to the ocean. → Read More

Oxnard could restrict use of foam cups, containers and other products

The Oxnard City Council took the first step in banning the use of expanded polystyrene, or Styrofoam, cups and containers Tuesday. → Read More

No other options: Growing number of Ventura County residents adopt lives in RVs

A small but growing number of Ventura County residents are moving into recreational vehicles as rent and home prices push them out on the streets. → Read More

Patagonia, Amgen and the rest of Ventura County's biggest business stories of 2022

Amgen made a big purchase, Patagonia's owner made a big donation, and other top business stories of the year. → Read More