We are dedicated to improving the quality of life in our community by promoting a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all residents. Our goal is to foster a strong sense of unity and enhance the value of our homes.
We are committed to protecting the community through proper insurance coverage and by safeguarding it from liabilities. We want future generations to love Bell Canyon as much as we do, and we are focused on making continual improvements within our community.
We are working tirelessly to rebuild the HOA funds and to repair essential parts of Bell Canyon, including the community center and our private roads.
Our Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated volunteers who are committed to serving the best interests of our community. They work tirelessly to ensure that our neighborhood remains a great place to live.
Over the past year, the HOA Board has truly shown their love for this community. They stepped in during one of the most difficult times in Bell Canyon’s history — facing $11 million in debt, a neglected community center that was no longer able to host events or generate rental revenue, and roads that had gone without proper maintenance.
Despite these challenges, the Board remained committed to transparency and initiated a full financial audit — and they delivered. Their efforts have laid the groundwork for real recovery.
Thank you, HOA, for the love and support you have shown to Bell Canyon. You are rebuilding the foundation for generations to come.
We host a variety of events throughout the year, including holiday parties, movie nights, the famous Halloween event, and so much more. These gatherings provide opportunities for neighbors to connect and build lasting friendships. Now that the CSD Board is on the up and up and the HOA is aligned, we’re excited to bring even more events and programs to the community.
Soon after the community center is fully repaired, we’ll be launching new initiatives to enhance life in the Canyon. One generous resident has offered to donate computer rentals, opening the door to exciting new programs. For example, we plan to offer classes for kids on video editing and other digital skills. With the incredible network of creative professionals living within our gates, we’re looking forward to uniting the community through innovative and inspiring tech-based programs.
Reflections
We have been residents of Bell Canyon for 44 years. Most of that time the Canyon was a great place to live and be part of a community. Our children grew up here and were blessed to "grow up without sidewalks" amidst wilderness and hiking trails.
Most of our time here we had a very quiet, no drama, HOA that took care of the essential business of the community. We were sound financially with adequate financial reserves and we had boards that were committed to the general welfare.
The previous administration has completely changed the atmosphere and the tone of the Canyon. Significant damage has occurred both financially and spiritually. The discord between the different factions reminds me of the national politics. We have lost the sense of community which has always made this a very special place.
My feeling is that our current HOA board, a core of members elected and/or appointed following the recall of less than two years ago, is on the right track to bring back the closeness that used to be our strength. We have our share of challenges, both internal and external, and the initial actions of the current board seem to be moving forward in a positive direction while trying to remedy what we can of the past. They have only held office for 1 and 1/2 years and have accomplished quite a lot by arranging for payment of our debts without a large property assessment, repairing the community center roof, arranging for a professional management service to run our business affairs, resolving 12 previous law suits, arranging for a difficult sale of a property that we owned, initiating legal actions designed to recover some of our losses, planning several successful and much needed social events, collaborating on a financial audit, and many other items that I have no knowledge of. All of this was accomplished under the duress of a very vocal and destructive opposition.
This is quite remarkable from a group of part time volunteers.
My vote is to keep the current board as they have demonstrated that they have our best inerests in their sights.
Sincerely,
Robert Solow
Richard Rubenstein
I have been a resident of Bell Canyon for 43 years. I have noted many directors and boards and the peaceful transfer of power and general respect for those choosing to volunteer to better our community.
It was not until Eric Wolf and his cohort of enablers that I witnessed an unprecedented level of divisiveness, discord, and a lack of fiduciary responsibility.
After the majority of Bell Canyon residents recognized the self-serving and financially unethical practices of Eric Wolf and his colleagues, we chose to recall the board. We elected new members to the board who genuinely had the community’s best interest at heart and moved forward with rebuilding the community.
Now, once again Eric Wolf and his current proxies are dividing this once cohesive community by telling half truths. blatant lies and “alternative facts” to confuse people and hide their own misdeeds. The idea of a politically motivated recall when so much progress is being made is illogical. Make no mistake, those behind the current recall are fully aligned with the “Wolf Pack” and are trying to get power back. If they succeed, their primary focus will be to prevent holding those accountable responsible for past misdeeds.
If we have disagreements with the present BOD, there are regularly scheduled elections to make our feelings known. Until then, the only logical path forward is to allow the current board to complete the work they were elected to do and vote NO on this preposterous recall attempt.
Ron Marks
Dear neighbors,
My wife Leah and I have loved Bell Canyon since the first time we saw it and have now lived here for almost forty years. During this period we joined various committees, including the Emergency Preparedness. We also joined the Garden Club and the Dinner Club. Through their activities, we had the pleasure of getting to know many of our neighbors. It was a very delightful time.
When an opportunity to lease an office in the Community Center presented itself, I took it.As a result of my proximity to the HOA office, I became acquainted with the manager and staff of the HOA and learned about how our HOA functioned. We also got to know each other.
Within a year or so I was asked if I would consider running for the position of Board Director. Because of my love for this community I agreed to do that and won. By the time I retired from the board, I had served for nine years.
During my time of service, I had coordinated the structural repair of the barns at the Equestrian Center. I also served as liaison to and then became a member of theArchitectural Committee and ended up as its Chair. As a result of serving I had the opportunity to meet many Bell Canyon residents.
Since I have lived in Bell Canyon many boards have come and gone. Some were better than others but in my opinion none had managed to come close to damaging the spirit and financial status of our beloved community as much as the previous board did. I had a front row seat to seeing the damage this board did. They went after and fired almost anyone who did not agree with them as to how the association should be managed. That included our long serving general manager and the Architectural Committee. This led to the law suits that were so financially disastrous for our community.
After a long hard effort the leaders of the old board were removed and a new transparent board has taken their place. This board has worked hard to rectify the damage done by the previous board, and succeeded in greatly minimizing the cost of the damage they had caused to the community. Had they not your HOA fees would have likely been much higher.
Now we have a group of people being led by those who were responsible for thedisastrous financial damage we have suffered, attempting to recall the current board whichis responsible for minimizing the damage and preventing new financial damage.
I personally know many of the current, as well as the past, board members, and it’s my opinion that the members of the current board are honest, qualified and hard working people that know how to run the board to the best benefit of us Home Owners. I thereforestrongly recommend that the current board NOT be recalled.
Do not be fooled, do not re-elect the same leaders that are responsible for the financial hole we found ourselves in. A leopard does not change its spots.
Dear Neighbors,
I want to introduce myself. My name is Mike Klein, and I am the co-president of the HOA board and the legal liaison. I want to share my thoughts. I am writing to you personally as a community member and as a homeowner who has lived in Bell Canyon for many years. The Recall Candidates sent a letter to the community stating, "No more lawsuits" We can all agree we do not want lawsuits, but then you have to ask yourself why they commented when they never said anything about this before?
Eric Wolf and Lisa Riccomini strongly support this group of candidates. Eric and Lisa, ex-board members, are the ones who oversaw all the multi-million-dollar lawsuits. I found the Candidate's letter calling for an end to lawsuits inconsistent with Eric and Lisa's years of suits. Worse, these candidates said nothing during these board members' years of getting Bell Canyon into its legal quagmire. Why didn't these candidates petition for a recall then, or even proclaim "no more lawsuits" when their key supporters ran the board? Their friends left the current board with 12 lawsuits?
Futher, the new board eliminated all 12 lawsuits during their first year. It wasn't easy, but hard work, creativity, and skilled negotiations by competent board members made it happen. Also, our community has had no new costly lawsuits since we have been on the board.
We have filed lawsuits against Eric Wolf and the two lawyers to recoup your money. Are the recall candidates trying to help their friends against the financial clawback that could return money to the community? That's what I suspect. Are these candidates all hypocrites? Are they so committed to their buddies to get them out of an 8.6 million dollar jam? Why don't they all take up a collection rather than stick it to our community? Why would two law firms take this case on contingency if there is nothing there? We have been taken advantage of, and one day this will go down in the annals of HOA history as to what not to do on a HOA board.
We released the forensic accounting audit to the community, which is pretty shocking. If these candidates get elected, they will likely cancel the suits, thus eliminating the community's opportunity to claw back fuds, costing each homeowner thousands.
But do they even care? Has the Wolfpack ever cared about this community? Save me their preaching from on high when these recall candidates sat back when our community was virtually pillaged of all of our money. This recall is a scam.
If they prevailed, we would open a Pandora's Box with Irreparable harm. It could harm our community for years to come. It could trigger Recalls every 2 months. Based on Judge Walsh, the previous board "breached their fiduciary duty, and did not act in good faith." That ruling became the call to action to recall the board led by Eric and Lisa. Since then, as displayed in the forensic audit, additional corruption has been identified. It must be clear that anything specific past board members are associated with requires a deeper look, and their association with these Recall candidates is unsettling.
These Recall candidates are running on the guise of saving the fire department.
We appreciate the volunteers but NOT their leadership. Their leadership has taken our community's name and has put us all in financial jeopardy. Volunteers should be allowed to volunteer without being under the thumb of Eric Wolf and the other tainted players. The Ventura County Battalion Chief and other certified firefighter leaders explained last week that they are not a fire department and they are not recognized. Why does the "leadership" of the fire department have to have donations of over $500,000 from our community? Troubling.
I find the recall of the Candidate's association with Eric Wolf, Lisa Riccomini, and Richard Levy a problem. I believe they are not independent. Some led the BCA, CSD, and now two not-for-profit organisations. In each case, bad decisions were made, increasing legal fees were incurred, and community division and chaos followed.
From now on, we genuinely need independent people who will not feel their "friends" are more important than the community. We must demand that letters that have gone out to the community are no longer littered with lies. Most Bell Canyon residents elected "the new board" for a Fresh Start, and got it.
We have accomplished enormous goals to date. We made promises and kept them. With constant misinformation and letters intended to distract and discredit, the recall group has tried to make our daily efforts to improve the community for you as hard as possible. It's been nonstop, but as you can see, with your help, we will continue to make great strides regardless of their noise.
Our goal is for Bell Canyon to be the amazing community it once was. I have no doubt we will accomplish that goal and much more. Vote NO on the recall.
Thank you for listening, and thank you for being such great Neighbors.
If you have any questions
Please feel free to call.
Mike Klein 818 203-4888
Bell Canyon Community Members
Doing things right and doing the right thing is a difficult task when part of a diverse community. Finding community members willing to try to build consensus and willing to commit time and effort to the task is challenging. Fortunately, we have had 9 individuals that have been up to the task. Not agreeing with everything but willing to find solutions to significant issues we had been facing.
In as little as five years ago------
Who would have expected we would have been involved in major ligation involving millions of dollars and be searching for the best way to pay the costs.
Who would have expected staff turnover and board members to be called on to perform hundreds of hours of staff work.
Who would have expected payroll would be an issue when we had reserves of over $5,000,000.
The 9 directors did deal with those unexpected events and more.
In other words the current Board has still managed to settle the outstanding suits, stabilize the community center with the new roof and begin road repairs.
Do we agree with the solutions or direction? Certainly not on all but supporting the individuals willing to take it on is a YES without question.
Our by-laws provide for changing our board when there are significant differences between the community direction and board actions. Each year 3 of the 9 are up for reelection allowing continuity and/or change.
Recalls are disruptive and divisive preventing normalcy within our community.
As to several major issues of disconnect such as the volunteer efforts to provide woodland fire emergency response vs. the concerns of many regarding very real potential ligation arising from such action.
Maybe too much risk for the Board, in their fiduciary responsibilities --- but is it too much for the community?
Let’s vote NO on the recall and bring the “risk” to the community for consensus, and keep us moving forward.
Just sayin,
Peter Machuga
While I understand Andy Vorzimer’s request not to be tagged in posts, I believe it’s important to address the serious consequences of his recent actions. Andy attempted to post links directing people to Bell Canyon Strong—a Facebook page connected to individuals who inflicted lasting damage on our community—people who divided us during our most vulnerable moments.Andy claims he has never seen proof of wrongdoing. But he was active on Facebook when Eric and Lisa illegally halted the construction project I was managing for my widowed mother. The emotional, financial, and physical toll I endured for over a year is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I even posted a video of the Architectural Committee meeting where it was made crystal clear: Eric and Lisa had no reasonable justification for their actions.Let’s not forget the facts:
When I asked Andy for a recorded interview—with myself and Consumer Watchdog—to promote transparency, he declined, citing family hardship. I genuinely empathize. Andy nearly lost his home in the fires, and I understand what it means to carry that kind of trauma forward. I lost my own home as a child—not to fire, but in a way that changed my life forever. That kind of loss shapes who you become.But even amid personal hardship, Andy found time to write letters attacking the HOA board and directing people toward Bell Canyon Strong.What’s happening here is not just political—it’s deeply personal for many of us. Some are using past trauma, including wildfires, to manipulate this community and regain influence, ignoring the staggering $11 million debt we still carry.I was nearly sued for building a guest home for my mother, but I stood my ground. I caught them red-handed. After a full year, I finally got a hearing with the AC—and it validated everything. Not one reasonable restriction was found on my build.Let’s also talk about the Reingold lawsuit. What Eric doesn’t tell people is that he sued them. He halted construction on their home—just as he did with mine. He even stopped my geo-soils truck at the gate. I had to call the police. He threatened the company, saying they’d be blacklisted from Bell Canyon if they came to my property.This pattern of abuse runs deep. Board members were framed for crimes. Homeowners were handcuffed and accused based on baseless, fabricated charges—all to protect former board members. This is corruption, plain and simple.Yet some still ignore these behaviors—just to protect the BCVFD, hoping it will be there in the next fire. But safety doesn’t come from denial. It comes from preparation and integrity.We should be focused on rebuilding our CERT program, which is officially recommended by the Ventura County Fire Department. CERT can offer the same critical services—without the politics, grant misuse, or the growing liability risks tied to current BCVFD leadership.This issue goes far beyond a few individuals. It’s a network operating in the shadows, exploiting fear and goodwill. They even rebranded their Facebook page—from Bell Canyon Connections to Bell Canyon Strong—to capitalize on the emotional weight of wildfires and residents’ love for their homes.We’re launching a comprehensive website soon—full of documentation and evidence, including:
This isn’t about personal attacks or name-calling. It’s about restoring trust and rebuilding community. Let’s move forward—together—with facts, not fear. Vote NO
Stand for CERT
Reclaim our strengthTrue resilience lies in rebuilding—not repeating the past.
Let’s continue rebuilding—with honesty, unity, and a shared commitment to a stronger, safer Bell Canyon for everyone.
Mathew Perelman 101 Buckskin
My name is Norton Alderson, and I’m voting NO on this recall.
There’s a lot of noise coming from both sides, but after living in Bell Canyon for 20 years, here’s what I know: one side - the NO side - is working hard to move this community forward with a clear, constructive plan to improve the problems left behind. The YES side? Honestly, who knows what they really stand for beyond repeating “Save the Fire Dept.” That’s the extent of their message. How sad. I was here during the Woosley fire and can say that we had both multi-agency support, and individual neighbor support.
Over the past year, since the majority of the current board has been in place, we’ve seen real, measurable progress. I say this with confidence because for 19 years, I watched from the sidelines. I didn’t get involved before because the previous board fostered a hostile environment, often retaliating against anyone who raised concerns. Multiple lawsuits piled up. A million-dollar gatehouse was pushed through. It was toxic on every level including NextDoor, FB and in person.
I’ve been running a business for over 30 years, and between that, my wife, and my son, my time is limited. But after the recall of Eric Wolf, Lisa Ricomini (Garrett Clancy), and Richard Levy (who control both the BCVWFD and the Fire Safe Council), I realized it was time to step up. I ran for the Bell Canyon Community Center (BCCC) board and was elected!
I was told the role would be simple and a minimal effort. That wasn’t quite accurate! It's been an enormous commitment, but also deeply rewarding. Our team has taken on the long-overdue task of restoring the BCCC, a vital community asset that had been neglected for over a decade.
In under a year, we’ve transferred the gym’s financial responsibility back to the HOA, planned and installed a beautiful new roof on our 60+ year-old building, and we’re now actively working on Phase II of the renovation.
This is real progress. I hope you’ll join me in voting NO on the recall and allow this board to continue the hard work of improving Bell Canyon for all of us.
Below is some voting information. READ the instruction you get in the mail. Take a look and vote what you feel best for your family and your community.
Sincerely,
Norton Alderson
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS BARBARA & JONATHAN COFFINO. MR. COFFINO WAS A NEW YORK CITY VOLUNTEER FIREMAN:
To the Board of Directors:
We are beyond dismayed at the prospect of a recall election. We are well aware of the hours and hours of ongoing effort that our present board has to put in to get Bell Canyon moving in a
forward and positive direction.
From day 1 our Board has worked diligently and methodically to right the many problems you were faced with and we are so appreciative. To settle so many lawsuits you were presented
with, to make major strides in repairing the community center rather than year after year watch its continuing decay, to address repair of our roads, and to make so much progress in righting
the financial mess we were in - so much achieved in such a short amount of time - and we thank you.
We feel that our Board has worked for the good of ALL residents in a forward thinking and businesslike manner and wholeheartedly support our current Board.
We are definitely voting NO to a recall. We do not want Bell Canyon to move backward to continue on the very destructive path it was on.
Barbara and Jonathan Coffino
LETTER TO COMMUNITY FROM SARAH BERMAN:
To my fellow neighbors,
Let me introduce myself. My name is Sarah Berman. My husband and I moved here in 1983. We knew nothing about Bell Canyon. We soon found it to be a warm and welcoming community.
After a few years here I became active in Bell Canyon. I served on the BCA board for 15 years (President for 2. We had a time limit in those days), and on the CSD for 8 yrs (not simultaneously), I was also editor of The Canyon. I give you that information so you know I am aware of what it takes to serve on a Board.
The present Board has done an unbelievable job to get this community back in shape. They inherited a board that had left us in a deplorable state financially. Some people would have walked away in disbelief. Not this board. They immediately got to work. In a little over a year they have made major changes. We were on the way to getting back our old community
It took 12 years to pit neighbor against neighbor. A community that had few lawsuits was engulfed in needless litigation. Our community center was falling apart, our roads were neglected, our committees were gone, our money was also gone. Some people tried to warn us, but we wouldn't listen. That is when the present Board took over. We owe them more than we can ever repay them. They have faced nothing but lies from the very people who put us in this position.
Now people who appear to know nothing about running a Board want to stop the progress that has begun. Why? The group that put us in this mess wants their power back. It is all about control. Let the present Board continue the work they started. Contrary to what you are being told, they have been transparent. You just have to attend a meeting now and then.. Read the minutes and e blasts that are sent out. Times of meetings are posted. Be aware.
Allow Bell Canyon to grow again. VOTE NO ON THE RECALL. To the present Board, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBER & CSD DIRECTOR SHELBY LINKA:
I urge everyone to step away from their anger and frustration and focus on the facts surrounding the recall. The current board has done more for our community in the short period of time they have been serving than what has been done by the prior board in the past several years.
Please focus on the following tasks they have accomplished - community center improvements, road work, settling multiple lawsuits, and avoiding large homeowner assessments to repay debt incurred by the previous board. Our community is moving forward beyond the chaos, and despite the chaos.
There is no need for a recall as the current board has been handed a tremendous list to accomplish and has been doing a great job moving along the tasks to bring this community back to normal.
DON’T stop the momentum! VOTE NO ON THE RECALL.
Shelby Linka
Alyssa Milano has long been an activist, and many of the causes she’s supported—and the vision she holds for the world—are in line with my own beliefs. That’s why her letter is so deeply troubling to me.We all love and support the volunteers in the Canyon. My husband even expressed interest in joining the BCVFD and approached Eric about it—but was quickly shut down and dismissed. After the recall last year, which followed the $11 million debt, many of the so-called "volunteers" who were vocal supporters of Eric and Lisa suddenly vanished. My husband and I were volunteering and never saw any of them around. True volunteers show up for their community—not just for their friends or allies.Lisa and Eric have a long history of trying to control the narrative. They claim people don’t want to support the Canyon or volunteer, but the truth is, they only want to involve those they can control—those they hand-pick. It’s not about service; it’s about control.As for the fire department: of course we all want a personal fire department. No one has said otherwise. The issue lies with the way the nonprofit is currently structured. It’s attached at the hip to the HOA, and this presents a huge liability. If there were ever a $50 million lawsuit against the HOA, we would all be responsible as shareholders. The HOA simply asked the BCVFD to operate solely as volunteers and to remove the name “Bell Canyon” from the organization. That’s all.Alyssa, you’ve been a strong advocate for women’s rights, and you’ve stood up for LGBTQ rights as well. Are you aware that Eric and Lisa—leaders of the fire department—stopped construction on my widow mother’s ADU, which is fully protected by California state law? I purchased my home from my mentors, the Bergers. It was the third home ever built in Bell Canyon. My dad died in a tragic boating accident, and I’ve taken care of my mom ever since I was a young boy.I first came to my home in the Canyon when I was 8 years old, after meeting the Bergers’ granddaughter while riding the special education summer school bus. At the time, my family had just moved into an apartment after being homeless for nearly two years, shortly after my dad’s accident. That experience shaped so much of who I am. It’s why I was committed to building a home for my mother on my land—to give her the safety and closeness she always gave us. She was a remarkable woman, raising two young boys on her own with unwavering strength. Let’s not forget—I was just a kid growing up, watching you on TV during that very time, completely captivated by your shows. They weren’t just entertainment—they were part of my childhood.Do you know that BCVFD supporters laughed and cheered after my husband Luis Perelman was called a f*ggot at an HOA meeting? Do you know that a BCVFD member spread lies about someone killing dogs in the Canyon and falsely accused—and had—a woman arrested, when it was all a setup? That man remains with the BCVFD. Do you know how much harm was caused by that false claim? Do you know it was done to silence her from speaking out against their wrongdoing?Do you realize that the concerns about Eric and Lisa are not fiction? The community is $11 million in debt. At one HOA meeting, an elderly woman who has lived here for over 40 years said she’s now struggling to afford the higher HOA fees and assessments due to being on a fixed income. That’s heartbreaking.While the increased fees may not personally affect your family, I ask that you put yourself in the shoes of those who are affected—especially longtime residents and seniors who are now forced to choose between staying in their homes and affording basic needs. These decisions are painful and unfair.My brother is a local firefighter. He told me that the behavior of the BCVFD—especially the “Save the Fire Department” signs posted on properties like yours—is looked down upon by every local fire department. It’s inappropriate and misleading. Their election campaign undermines legitimate public safety organizations and paints a false picture of what’s really happening.I suggest you donate $11 million to our community to help restore the original HOA fees. Alternatively, support those who are fighting to expose and end the corruption that has drained our HOA finances—including the ongoing clawback lawsuit aimed at recovering funds stolen from this community.I also urge you to personally ensure that the Bell Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (BCVFD) has proper insurance coverage—because as it stands, the liability risk falls on all of us.Alyssa Milano — are you aware that a Bell Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (BCVFD) volunteer cheered on a man who verbally attacked CSD Director Judy Lantz? He screamed lies, cursed at her on Zoom, and later escalated the aggression in person at a CSD meeting. And when it was over, that BCVFD volunteer shouted, “Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!” — applauding the abuse.Alyssa, actions speak louder than words. It’s heartbreaking to see someone like you, who clearly comes from a good place, unknowingly support a group that has caused real harm to this Canyon. The so-called “United 5” claim they are independent. That’s a lie. My husband, myself, and many others have already been blocked from their Facebook group. The group you’re supporting doesn’t believe in free speech—they control the narrative, and that narrative is false. And now, they’re using your kind heart to further protect those responsible for this damage.
With Love,
Mathew Perelman
101 / 57 BuckskinVOTE NO - These are not rumors
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