Ojai Monthly - April 2024

FEAR & CAUTION, OJAI STYLE

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." — William Shakespeare

A lingering sense of unease about our economy still affects Ojai, despite much evidence that, nationally at least, we've had a soft landing. Two major shocks to the system will do that to you. First came the Thomas Fire's devastation in December 2017, then barely two years later, before we got our feet underneath us again, the Covid-19 pandemic created massive disruptions which we are still dealing with today.

Even through both of those catastrophes, we learned about ourselves. The #OjaiStrong movement kept us focused and involved with each other. Relationships were built and strengthened, giving us a sharper sense of community, where before it was an abstraction. Remember those charming signs that decorated our roads during the early days of the pandemic? "What if my teachers were right all along?" Or "Thank a first responder today." Even though we were quarantined from each other, we still found a way to celebrate our sense of community.

There is something compelling about natural disasters that brings people together. Rebecca Solnit wrote in her remarkable book, "A Paradise Built in Hell," that "At large in disaster are two populations: a great majority that tends toward altruism and mutual aid and a minority whose callousness and self-interest often become a second disaster.” We largely avoided the latter here, at least until the anti-vaccine conspiracies burbled up like a witches' brew.

We started the Ojai "Talk of the Town" podcast during the early days of the pandemic. My first conversations were with Johnny Johnston, our then-mayor, and Dr. Tiffany Morse, our school superintendent. The initial purpose was to create a chronicle of the local atmosphere during this global calamity — our fears, feelings, reactions and actions. It didn't take long before that solidarity was riven by conspiracy and misinformation. Shame. However, with close to 200 episodes under our belt, the podcast has become a way for me to learn about Ojai's people, and for us to learn about each other. This is all part of Ojai's "animal spirits" as John Maynard Keynes so famously formulated.

There's a stirring underneath the uncertainty; Ojai is on the rise again. It's not just the symbolic and very real value of Lake Casitas spilling over for the first time since 2005, it's the construction zones around town. The El Roblar Hotel will be the jewel in Ojai's downtown crown, along with the Ojai Playhouse Theater. You can ask any Arcade merchant, the local economy took a hit when the Oaks at Ojai Spa closed during the Thomas Fire and never reopened. The money from tourists circulating in our economy will have many positive downstream effects, including the social infrastructure that makes Ojai special — donations, volunteers and jobs for local youth.

We have been through a lot together since 2017, and if I were to make the safest prediction possible, we will continue to go through a lot together.

Bret Bradigan

FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS

While Edward Drummond Libbey is rightfully regarded among Ojai’s chief benefactors — having been behind the building of such Ojai landmarks as the Ojai Valley Inn, St. Thomas Aquinas Church (now the Museum), Post Office Tower and the Arcade — others have been very influential in shaping Ojai’s identity. Here’s a few:

Annie Besant. Free-thinker, feminist and noted Theosophist. Though she only spent a few days in Ojai, she brought Krishnamurti to Ojai, and helped buy hundreds of acres of property in Ojai, (now the sites of Besant Hill School and, along with A.P. Warrington, the Krotona Center) which she called “the smiling vale.” She is considered one of the pioneers of introducing Eastern mystical thought to the West, and was an early advocate of India’s independence. and the labor movement.

Jiddhu Krishnamurti. The spiritual teacher and writer, came to Ojai in 1922, sponsored by the Theosophical Society, though he later broke with that group (“The Leaderless Path.”) He gave talks to many thousands of people each year, in the Star Camps in the oak groves west of Ojai (now the site of Oak Grove School. He once held the Guinness Book of World Records for having spoken to the greatest number of people.

Weather in Ojai

Beatrice Wood. The famed ceramicist’s (“The Mama of Dada”) greatest work of art may well have been her life. The irreverent, avant-garde Wood lived and worked in Ojai for decades until her death in 1998 at age 105. She inspired two classic movies, Francois Truffaut’s “Jules et Jim,” and James Cameron’s “Titanic.” She attributed her longevity to “chocolate and young men.” Her autobiography was appropriately titled, “I Shock Myself.” Many of her distinctive, whimsical, luminous luster-glazed pieces are on display at her former home, now the Beatrice Wood Center, in upper Ojai.

Sherman Day Thacher. After coming West to farm and care for an ailing brother, the Yale-educated Thacher realized that he was going to need another source of income. So he founded The Thacher School in 1887. Now one of the most prestigious preparatory academies in the country, its founding creed was “teach a boy to ride, shoot and tell the truth.” Also, in 1896, his brother William founded “The Ojai,” the country’s oldest amateur tennis tournament. Among Thacher’s more illustrious students were industrialist, aviator and film producer Howard Hughes and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder, who wrote his first play while a Thacher student.

OJAI QUICK FACTS:

The name “Ojai” is believed to be derived from the Ventureño Chumash word ‘awhaý, meaning “moon.” In 1837, Fernando Tico received a land grant and established a cattle ranch. Thomas A. Scott, who had financial success with oil and railroads, bought the Ojai Valley in 1864 for oil exploration. By 1868, Scott, through his agent Thomas Bard, began selling properties to homesteaders. By 1874, R.G. Surdam plotted out the town he would call Nordhoff, renamed Ojai in 1917.

Ojai is about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 30 miles east of Santa Barbara. The valley is about 10 miles long by 3 miles wide, surrounded by hills and mountains; the rare east-west orientation with a slight southward tilt gives the valley an extraordinary sun exposure; Ojai’s citrus and avocado crops are highly prized. This orientation also gives rise to Ojai as a spiritual destination.

It was due to the resources and organizing energy of Ohio glass manufacturer Edward Drummond Libbey that Nordhoff was rebuilt and renamed Ojai, inspired by the City Beautiful Movement. By 1917, with the construction of the Arcade and Post Office Tower, the town took its present shape.

The city’s self-styled nickname is “Shangri-La,” based on the story that Ojai was the backdrop (later left on the editing room floor) from the 1937 movie as the mystical sanctuary of James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon.”

MUSEUM EVENT TO FEATURE BRYAN TWINS, TENNIS LEGENDS

April 26 Fund-Raiser at Ojai Museum Supports Local Tennis Programs

The Bryan Brothers are coming home to The Ojai where their storybook careers as the greatest doubles team of all-time began.

The 45-year-old twins Bob and Mike from Camarillo have been named Tournament Honorees for the 122nd Ojai Tennis Tournament, which will take place at storied Libbey Park and throughout West Ventura County April 24-28.

The fan-favorite Bryan Brothers will be celebrated on Friday night of the tournament, April 26th, at 6 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Museum with a special fundraising event with proceeds supporting the Ojai Valley Tennis Club, youth tennis programs and the enhancement of Libbey Park and local school tennis facilities, and The Ojai Tennis Tournament. Delicious food, wine and beer will be served and the Bryan Bros. All-Star Band will perform featuring Mike on lead guitar and drums and Bob on keyboards, among others. For tickets, go to TheOjai.Net.

Mike and Bob Bryan first burst onto the tennis scene in the 1990s winning five doubles titles, including the Boys’ 16s in 1993 and 1994, Boys’ CIF Interscholastic in 1995 and 1996 for Rio Mesa High and in 1998 while sophomores at Stanford.

“There is nothing comparable to playing ‘The Ojai’ as a young junior growing up in Southern California,” Bob said. “We always remember as little guys drinking the delicious orange juice and always taking extra cookies. We also found the grounds to be fun to explore when we were 5 or 6 years old when our parents played in

the event. The whole scene there was so magical for us.”

Mike Bryan recalled watching the Pac10 players like Jeff Tarango, Carl Chang, Jon Leach and Martin Blackman. “The park was so beautiful and majestic, and we were amazed at the large crowds that filled the stands,” Mike said. “And we always dreamed of someday playing there ourselves.”

The future Hall of Fame Bryan Brothers are considered the greatest doubles team of all time having won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles together, a record 119 ATP titles and 1,107 matches throughout their careers, including Olympic gold medals in 2012 and a Davis Cup title in 2007.

This is a historic year for The Ojai as it will be the last year the Pac-12 Championships will be played as the conference as it stands now will break apart following the 202324 season. The Pac-8 first began competing at The Ojai in 1951.

The Bryan Brothers are, of course, on The Ojai Wall of Fame among 91 other all-time greats that played at The Ojai before going on to win a Grand Slam. Players such as Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer, Billie Jean King, Pancho Gonzales, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Pete Sampras, Lindsay Davenport and Michael Chang are some of the other legends who have played at The Ojai.

Besides the Pac-12 Championships, The Ojai will once again serve as host to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships for teams and individuals that qualify. The Ojai’s Men’s and Women’s Open singles and doubles events will be contested with an overall purse of $20,000. The tournament also includes the Boys’ CIF singles and doubles tournaments, and more junior competitions with the Boys’ and Girls’ 14s and 16s draws, and a Girls’ 18s draw.

Players can enter The Ojai in the coming weeks once registration is open by going to TheOjai.net and clicking on the “Registration Info” button on the homepage.

“The Ojai Tennis Tournament is one of the crown jewels of Southern California tennis and we are excited this year to honor the Bryan Brothers as Mike and Bob are two of our great champions,” said Carolyn Burke, President of the Ojai Valley Tennis Club. "There is no other tennis tournament that can compare to The Ojai.”

Like The Ojai on Facebook at www. facebook.com/TheOjaiTennisTournament; Follow on Twitter @TheOjai and on Instagram at @OjaiTennis.

About The Ojai

The Ojai Valley Tennis Club, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1895 by William Thacher. In 1896, the Ojai Valley Tennis Club initiated its first valley-wide tournament consisting of a single elimination mixed doubles event and The Ojai was born.

APRIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS podcast

‘THE OJAI’ TENNIS TOURNAMENT

|

APRIL 24-28 | TheOjai.net

OPENS MARCH 28

“Tomatomania!”

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dates: Monday through Saturday

Location: Wachter’s Hay & Grain, 114 South Montgomery Street

Contact: tomatomania.com

Get expert advice, find rare heirlooms, classic hybrids and all you need for a successful season. Find more than 100 varieties. Tomato restock will happen in May.

APRIL13

Coffee & Cars

Dates: Second Sundays of the month

Times: 8 to 10 a.m.

Location: Westridge Market parking lot

Come check out classic and luxury cars from the area’s proudest collectors. Have a chance to learn from the owners about the history and importance of some of the world’s most incredible automobiles.

Ojai Pixie Month

Locations: Restaurants and shops around town.

Contact: Ojai Chamber of Commerce 805-646-8126

OjaiChamber.org

Looks for the pixie stickers on windows of restaurants and shops around town for a selec-

events

TOMATOMANIA!

| OPENS MARCH 28 | TomatoMania.come

tion of Ojai’s very delicious and versatile tangerine. From food to beverages to products, the town celebrates its homegrown fruit.

APRIL 24-28 2024

The 121st “The Ojai”

Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament

Times: Varied

Location: Libbey Park & Elsewhere

Contact: 805-646-7421

theojai.net

The country’s oldest amateur tournament, going back to 1896, returns with the PAC-12 championships and many other top matchups. This year The Ojai will honor Mike and Bob Bryan, the most successful doubles players of all time, winner of multiple Olympic gold medals and multiple Ojai championships.

APRIL 19-20

Besant Hill Spring Art Exhibition

Dates: Second Sundays of the month

Times: 8 to 10 a.m.

Location: Besant Hill School, Spring Art Exhibition. It is an amazing weekend where we celebrate all the arts on the campus, with a play, film screening, multiple visual arts openings, and a concert.

— RECURRING EVENTS — SATURDAY

OJAI PODCAST | THURSDAYS | OjaiHub.com

Historical Walking Tours of Ojai

Date: Every Saturday Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Ojai Valley Museum

130 West Ojai Avenue.

Contact: 640-1390

Come see why there’s so much historical hullabaloo about the “smiling vale.”

MONDAYS

Shakespeare Reading Salon — every 1st and 3rd Monday

Times: 7 to 9 p.m.

Location: Ojai Main Library, 111 East Ojai Avenue

Contact: Laurie at 805-646-3733

ojaibard@gmail.com

Join our lively reading and discussion. Whether you like to read aloud or just listen, everyone is welcome!

THURSDAYS

Ojai: Talk of the Town Podcast

New episodes come out Thursday evenings through the OjaiHub.com newsletter. Guests have included Malcolm McDowell on the 50th anniversary of “A Clockwork Orange,” and Sergio Aragonés on his 60 years as a cartoonist at Mad Magazine. Come join the fun.

SHARON SCOTT WILLIAMS

BY ILONA SAARI

HER STAR-CROSSED JOURNEY TO OJAI

Not actually born under a celestial star, Sharon (MaHarry) Williams, née Scott, came into the world in Roanoke, Virginia, where the Roanoke Mill Mountain Star, (a 100-foot-high illuminated steel and concrete structure) sat atop the mountain and cast its beacon of light over her arrival. An auspicious beginning for a newborn nevertheless.

Sharon describes Roanoke as a “beautiful railroad town, (I know it sounds like an oxymoron) nestled in the arms of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Her father, Conrad Scott, a successful insurance broker, fought in World War II and married Sharon’s mother, Mildred Frances Scott, right after he returned from the war. Sharon’s older brother, Larry, (who grew up to work in financial management, then became a mental health/suicide counselor), has “always been my hero.” Family life, however, was not idyllic because their mom suffered from a debilitating mental illness “and would disappear from my life for months at a time,” she remembers.

As a child, Sharon was given voice lessons by her grandmother, a church choir director, and studied dance until she was stricken with rheumatic fever. She embraced life at Cave Spring High School, participating in student government and singing in an all-state choir. She became Consul of the Latin Club and a flag majorette. Her honors English teacher, Mrs. Helen Overstreet, was a major influence at the time and encouraged her to be a writer. Mrs. Overstreet’s classes were “so tough, if you aced them, you were able to skip Freshman English Comp in college.”

After graduating from Roanoke College, life’s oyster began to open for Sharon as she entered the working world, getting modeling gigs and “on-camera talent, pitching everything from bank accounts to Chevrolets.” She also found time to use her childhood dance and voice lessons by dabbling in musical theater in college, then later by joining local community theater casts of “Babe in Arms,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” and her favorite, “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living In Paris,” in Virginia.

The Mill Mountain Star was shining over Sharon when she met a “crazy creative writer from New York” who owned a local ad agency. He “single-handedly changed the trajectory of my life when he taught me how to write ad copy ... My dad was quite relieved that I’d finally found an application for my English education since he had long since given up encouraging me to become a teacher.”

After writing and winning a few national

OPPOSITE PAGE: SHARON AND ANSON

THIS PAGE, TOP: SHARON WITH DAUGHTER LINDSAY AND THEIR SHIHTZUS AT THE TIME

RIGHT: SHARON (RIGHT) MODELING FOR THE GREENBRIAR RESORT

ad and commercial awards, (Mrs. Overstreet would have been proud), Sharon found herself living in Richmond and employed at a local advertising office. However, after only a year-and-a-half, a headhunter approached her with a job as a senior writer at the legendary Young & Rubicam (Y&R) ad agency. She jumped at the chance and was initially based in the Tampa Bay, Florida office. She was eventually promoted to Senior Vice President/Creative Director (“the first woman to fill that job,” she says with pride). At a Y&R creative directors’ conference in Tampa Bay, she met her

future husband, Bob MaHarry, the art/ creative director from the Rochester, New York office. She transferred to Rochester where they married in 1986 and, in 1988, their beautiful daughter, Lindsay, was born.

However, Sharon’s mother’s health was declining, so the family decided to move to Roanoke to be near her. After Mildred died in 2002, the family then moved to the Ojai Valley, “an amazing little artist’s haven.” Bob’s daughter, Wendy, (a/k/a Abigail Cartright — the name she uses for her music and artwork) had discovered Ojai while living in Los Angeles when she

had a record deal with A&M Records, and “convinced the whole family to move out here.”

Sharon fell in love with the Valley but had no idea what they would do to earn a living. There were no ad agencies in town and commuting to Los Angeles was out of the question. They did some freelance work for a while, then Bob retired and Sharon decided to give real estate a try, which, she says, “turned out to be a good decision.” But when Bob passed away in January 2019, Sharon’s world fell apart. “Literally. I fell down some rickety steps while showing a house and crushed my tibial plateau (that’s in the center of your knee).”

After three weeks in the hospital, then two months in a wheelchair, she reconnected with a former real estate client, Anson Williams, to

LEFT: DAUGHTER LINDSAY WALKS HER MOTHER DOWN THE AISLE

ABOVE: SHARON AND ANSON CELEBRATE THEIR UNION

whom she had sold a house in 2011. On her first day using crutches, they met for what became a three-hour lunch at Azu, a former Ojai restaurant. Anson, who was still recovering from a battle with cancer, became her daily physical therapy coach, “helping me gain strength to walk on my own,” while Sharon helped him heal from his long cancer fight. “Needless to say, Anson and I fell in love.” On May 6, 2023, they were married “in the backyard of the house I’d led him to all those years ago.”

Sharon’s daughter, Lindsay MaHarry, now a journalist who lives in Ojai with her

husband, Sergio Gasca, walked her mom down the aisle.

Throughout her years in Ojai, Sharon has co-chaired the Women’s Music Festival Committee and worked on its Holiday Home Tour, the Committee’s annual fundraiser. She’s also President of the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors and, in her spare time, takes Mrs. Overstreet’s advice and writes books.

Encouraged by Anson, Sharon turned her book memoir about her mother, “Crazy Mama: A True Story of Love and

Madness” into a one-woman play. After standing-room-only readings of the show, starring Carolyn Hennessy and directed by Anson, in Ojai and LA, “Crazy Mama...” is scheduled to open on April 12 at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel Woods, New York (built on the land of 1969’s famous Woodstock Rock Festival). This production will star Lee Purcell, with music by Luke Wygodny, and directed by Anson. She hopes to open it at an Equity theater on the West Coast this fall.

Roanoke’s Mill Mountain star has bequeathed Ojai a light in her own “write.”

ABOVE LEFT: SHARON’S PLAY “CRAZY MAMA: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE & MADNESS” WILL OPEN APRIL 12 IN BETHEL, NEW YORK. ABOVE RIGHT: SHARON WORKS ON “CRAZY MAMA” WITH HER DOGS NEARBY

There's no place like home. Let me find yours.

ELEGANCE IN DESIGN

Located within walking distance to downtown Ojai, this elegant family home has it all. Light and bright, you will love the open spacious floor plan. The beautifully detailed kitchen and den open to a sunroom, with a massive rock fireplace, which overlooks the private backyard and swimming pool. There are four fireplaces, a large office, downstairs primary bedroom with a ‘spa-like’ bath, formal living room and formal dining room — all with incredible details, balconies and patios to bring the outside in. This property, just over an acre, has an art studio, garden sheds, meandering pathways, a bridge leading to a five star chicken coop, orchards, vegetable and rose gardens, wonderful mature trees, views of the mountains and, yes, a Tree House. There is a one bedroom attached guest quarters. Private and quiet and yet so close to shops, restaurants, and the Ojai Arcade.

This wonderful original Ranch Style home was built long before its time. You will enjoy the details this three-bedroom, twobath home has to offer. The spacious light-filled rooms and gorgeous gardens will draw you in and you won’t want to leave. This charmer is waiting for you to make it your own. One of Ojai’s hidden treasures you will not want to miss. Private and quiet, located on one Ojai’s most quaint roads.

FAMILY HOME FOR SALE

Located on one of Ojai’s most desirable streets and sitting perfectly on over half-an-acre, this wonderful family home is just waiting for you. This home features a spacious open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, Travertine stone floors throughout and light-filled rooms. There are two large living areas, both with their own fireplace, so you can enjoy the warmth of a cozy fire. Top of the line appliances in the large kitchen which looks out to the beautiful pool and backyard. The dining room opens to a large deck with lovely mountain views, a great place for entertaining. There are four bedrooms, three bathrooms with plenty of room for family and guests. The outdoor space is charming with meandering pebble pathways, lush landscape and mature trees. You will love splashing in the pool on warm summer days or soaking in the hot tub under the star-studded nights sky. With this ideal location you are close to hiking trails, shops, and restaurants. There is an oversized three-car garage with plenty of parking. Private and gated. Don’t miss this one!

PROPERTY DETAIL

Six Tips for Eliminating Odors (Naturally)

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

Commercial air fresheners will cover up odors for a while, but they are often laden with toxic chemicals and can exacerbate respiratory issues, cause headaches and dermatitis, and be toxic to pets.

Naturally fragranced candles, potpourri, simmer pots, diffusers, and room sprays all tend to mask odors without eliminating them. This is fine if you need a quick fix or for use with odor elimination options while they are working their magic. But to really get to the source of the problem and make your house smell better, you need to eliminate the odor, rather than cover it.

Here are six ways to naturally neutralize odors.

Windows and Fans: Airing out the space is a good first step for odor elimination. If the walls, floors, and textiles are holding the smell, this is not going to be a longterm solution, but it is a good start. Open windows and turn on fans to increase air circulation and air out the space.

Baking Soda: Baking soda has so many uses around the house that I always keep a big bag of it on hand. For carpets, rugs, up-

holstered furniture, and other textiles that are holding smoke, pet, or other household odors, baking soda is a great option to try. This natural odor eliminator can be sprinkled on carpet or fabric to absorb odors. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes — longer for more stubborn odors — and then vacuum it up and empty the vacuum in your outside garbage can.

You can also use baking soda in a bowl or box for deodorizing closets and refrigerators, sprinkle it in shoes to absorb odors, or add a cup to a load of laundry to help eliminate tougher odors in clothes and bedding.

If you are not concerned about animals or children getting into it, it is best to leave baking soda for at least 24 hours before tossing it out or vacuuming surfaces where it has been sprinkled.

Activated Charcoal: Small bags of activated charcoal can be placed in closets, shoes, drawers, cars, pet areas, and around the house to absorb odors. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and can be reused repeatedly after setting them outside in the sun for a few hours to release the odors they have absorbed.

Distilled White Vinegar: Like baking soda, vinegar is one of those household staples that seems to be good for everything. To allow it to work its odor-elimination magic, put a small amount of vinegar in a bowl and place it in the area that is need of deodorization. You can also mix it with water in a spray bottle to neutralize odors in the air.

Vodka: Fill a spray bottle with unflavored vodka to use as an air and fabric deodorizer. Vodka kills odor-causing bacteria, neutralizes odors in fabrics, and dries quickly. I have never had an issue with vodka causing discoloration or damage to fabrics and have never heard of this happening, but if you have a favorite garment or chair that you are concerned about, make sure to try it in an inconspicuous area first.

Some folks like to cut their vodka with water or to add a few drops of essential oil to the spray bottle. Cheap vodka works perfectly fine for odor elimination, so you can just buy the cheapest, unflavored vodka you can find. Of course, if you prefer to use the good stuff, I am not here to tell you how to live.

Patty Waltcher LIV Sotheby’s

Donna Sallen Remax Gold Coast Realtors

Donna4Remax@aol.com

DonnaSallen.com 805-798-0516

Logan Hall Logan Hall Photography 805-798-0337 loganhallphotos. com

Kirk Ellison

LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

KirkEllison@ me.com

805-340-5905

Anne Williamson

LIV Sotheby’s Anneshomesinojai.com 805-320-3314

Bob Kemper Broker, MBA

Kemper Realty of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

Bob.Kemper@ sothebysrealty.com

DRE# 01356802 (805) 551-5121

Kathy Hoff

LIV Sotheby’s International Realty (805) 290-6907 thehoffgroup.com

Marsha Kaye Home Mortgage Consultant

Phone: 805640-0654

Cell: 805-7469055

marsha.kaye@ homebridge. com

Rachelle Giuliani Realtor 805-746-5188

DRE:02047608

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices rachellegiuliani@ bhhscal.com

AGAVE MARIA

Fresh, wholesome Mexican food & drink

106 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-6353 agavemarias.com

AJ’S EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS

Gourmet Chinese food to eat in or to go

11566 North Ventura Avenue (805) 646-1177 ajchinesecuisine.com

BOCCALI’S

Pizza & Pasta, from our farm to our tables

3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Road (805) 646-6116 boccalis.com

BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE

Traditional American breakfast & brunch

328 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-0207

THE DEER LODGE

An Ojai legend since 1932

2261 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-4256 deerlodgeojai.com

THE DUTCHESS

457 East Matilija Street (805) 640-7987 thedutchessojai.com

FARMER & THE COOK

The best of organic Ojai

339 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-9608 farmerandcook.com

YUME JAPANESE BURGER

254 East Ojai Avenue (Arcade) (805) 646-1700

JIM & ROB’S FRESH GRILL

Mexican-American & regional favorites

214 West Ojai Avenue #100 (805) 640-1301

jimandrobsojai.com

HIP VGN

Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls

201 North Montgomery Street hipvegancafe.com (805) 669-6363

HOME KITCHEN OF OJAI

Breakfast and lunch in a warm space

1103 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-5346

HomeKitchenofOjai.com

MANDALA

Pan-Asian Cuisine

11400 North Ventura Road (805) 613-3048

THE NEST

401 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9035 thenestojai.com

LO>E SOCIAL CAFE

217 East Matilija Street (805) 646-1540 nosovita.com

OAK GRILL @ THE INN

Al fresco dining under vine-covered pergola

905 Country Club Road (805) 646-1111 ojairesort.com

OJAI COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY

Salads, sandwiches & superb service 337 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-4478

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY

331 Ojai Avenue (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878

TheOnlyGoodPizza.com

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY (Oak View)

The go-to place for food & sports 820 North Ventura Avenue

OJAI ROTIE

Rotisserie, sourdough, winebox

469 East Ojai Avenue

(805) 798-9227 ojairotie.com

OSTERIA MONTE GRAPPA

Rustic menu of Northern Italian fare & seafood dishes.

242 E Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023 (805) 640-6767 omgojai.com

PAPA LENNON’S

Family owned, original & traditional Italian cuisine

515 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-7388 papalennons.com

RAINBOW BRIDGE

A community gathering place

211 East Matilija Street (805) 646-6623 rainbowbridgeojai.com

THE RANCH HOUSE

An Ojai culinary destination for more than 60 years

102 Besant Road (805) 646-2360 theranchhouse.com

SAKURA OJAI

A locals’ favorite for Japanese food

219 East Matilija Street (805) 646-8777 sakuraojai.wix.com

SEA FRESH

Serving Ojai for 30 years

533 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-7747 seafreshseafood.com

ZAIDEE’S BAR & GRILL

Patio & indoor dining with Ojai’s most tranquil views

1033 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-5685 soulepark.com

CHEF RANDY’S LIFE OF SPICE

creamy mushroom pie

I was looking for different comfort food recipes. I found a creamy mushroom and chicken pie recipe on the internet that sounded good to me (vegetarian) and Robin (omnivore). So, using my Creamy Mushroom Sauce recipe as a base, I created this recipe featuring frozen vegan Chick’n Tenders. I served it with a garden salad and a freshbaked baguette. Comfort food, for sure. I like to serve this with Naan or Bhatura bread on the side.

Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer and has been a lactoovo vegetarian for over 38 years. Chef Randy has written and published a series of seven cookbooks with original recipes developed over the period 1975 through 2020. He writes for the Ojai Quarterly, the Ojai Monthly, and the California 101 Travelers Guide. His vegetarian recipes are published in newspapers throughout Central California under the header, Chef Randy. He and his wife, Robin, live in Ojai, California, with their dog Cooper. Robin and Cooper are not vegetarians.

INGREDIENTS :

Makes 4 servings

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1-1/2 cups sweet onion (chopped)

8 ounces button mushrooms (remove stems)

2 cups vegetable broth

1/2 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon (no beef base)

4 tablespoons natural almond butter

2 garlic cloves (minced)

1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper

9-ounce package Gardein Frozen Chick’n Tenders (cut into 1-inch pieces)

2 frozen pie crusts

1/4 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring Chick’n Tenders out of the freezer and allow them to thaw before preparing the sauce.

Heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Sauté onion and mushrooms for five minutes. Add broth, bouillon, almond butter, garlic, pepper, and Chick’n. Stir to combine. Cook for three minutes more or until creamy. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Place one pie crust in a pie dish. Press the crust firmly against the side and bottom of the dish. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork and bake, unfilled, for ten minutes. Remove from oven and pour the mushroom filling into the pre-baked pie crust. Place the second pie crust on top and seal the rim by pressing the edges of the crust together. Make a few minor cuts on the top crust with a paring knife to allow steam to escape.

Brush the top of the pie with milk, turn the oven to 375 degrees, and bake for 35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for approximately ten minutes before serving.

revisiting FHA in 2024! Does an FHA Loan Make Sense for You?

I’ve been working with a young, newly married couple who wanted to buy their first home together with as little down as possible. They had good credit, steady jobs and a solid employment outlook. They have been everything you’d want in a client with clear questions, a commitment to see things through, tech skills and a sweet demeanor and loads of patience. We explored different routes and found that an FHA loan would save them hundreds of dollars a month with a fixed interest rate under 6 percent when a conventional rate, in their case, would have been over 7 percent. Please note, each scenario is different.

An FHA loan isn’t for everyone, but rates have come down considerably and are, once again, competitive. Here’s a little cheat sheet of what is required:

• FHA Approved: Complex must be FHA approved if a condo or PUD. If it’s not, we can often get a “spot approval,” as I did in this situation.

• Minimum Credit Score: To qualify for a down payment of 3.5 percent, loan applicants must have a minimum FICO score of 580.

• Debt-to-Income Ratio: To meet FHA requirements, your total debt load

By Therese A. Hartmann

Therese A. Hartmann has more than 25 years’ lending experience. She is a Licensed Broker, California Dept. of Real Estate #01048403, NMLS # 298291, affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation. For a free consultation, call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

percentage to your combined income must be 43 percent or less.

• Mortgage Insurance: There is a big up-front mortgage insurance premium of 1.75 percent that is added to the loan amount and rolled into monthly payments. For first time home buyers, not having to come up with the premium, at closing, is sometimes a lifesaver. Keep in mind there is also a monthly premium of .55 percent of the total loan amount if $726,200 or less. This changed from 2023 when it was .85 percent, giving yet another reason to

revisit FHA loans.

• Property Requirements: The home or condo you’re purchasing must be your primary residence. The property itself must be in good condition.

• Property Type: As long as you are owner occupying one of the units, FHA can loan on 1-4 units. This sometimes makes the difference in being able to afford the monthly payment as income from the rents can be used to qualify for the loan.

• Down Payment: With 3.5 percent down, be prepared to consider refinancing after you’ve built at least 22 percent equity in the property. You can do this through paying the loan down, building equity through improvements or home values increasing. When you refinance, the mortgage insurance will drop off. With 10 percent down initially, your mortgage insurance automatically drops off at year 11.

In addition, the monthly mortgage insurance premium drops to .5 percent from .55 percent.

Is an FHA loan right for you? It just might be! Be sure to consult with a good loan consultant who will take a look at all of your options with you.