Ojai Monthly - December 2023

OJAI 12 23 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY

Real estate / home / Visitors

Holiday Greetings from Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company • OjaiValleyTrailRidingCompany.com • 805-890-9340

FEATURED PRO: ROGER’S PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

ECLECTIC INSPIRATION The design of Pink Moment Estate is inspired by historic Ojai Spanish Colonial style, playful Balearic Islands villas, and modernist principles.

Clean lines, natural wood, neutral palette, arched passageways, monumental glass windows, and high ceilings create a home that is beautiful and bold. The oversize arches, walls of glass, and expansive wood beamed ceilings provide an almost monastic experience while soothing beiges, chalky whites, and all natural building materials throughout give the home a warm and timeless feel.

DRE# 01176473

(805) 340-3774

Over 25 years of experience matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

© 2023 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

PINK MOMENT ESTATE

A luxury villa/vineyard estate providing the ultimate in architecture, design, craftmanship, and setting. Brand new construction of the 5100 sqft, 4br/5ba home is finished with the highest quality materials, appliances and fixtures. An H-shaped floorplan separates private sleeping areas from public social areas. The open living area includes a chef’s kitchen, a 2-sided fireplace, and a wine tasting room/library.

The grounds feature a 100% organic vineyard, pool/spa with epic views, and multiple courtyards and verandas to take full advantage of the spectacular natural setting.

2259McNellRoadOjai.com Offered at $10,750,000

I will help you find the home that brings peace to your mind and heart

www.pattywaltcher.com pattywaltcher@mac.com (805) 340-3774 DRE# 01176473

© 2023 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

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OM — December 2023

Whitman Architectural Design

Ojai Valley Homes For Sale ojaivalleyrealestate.com

805-646-4911 www.whitman-architect.com

Property Management Residential - Commercial Ojai - Ventura - Santa Paula

Providing the highest quality custom residential & commercial Architectural Design and Construction Services.

805-646-8485 “We Shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”

Winston Churchill

West Oaks

Property Management

OM — December 2023

Jessica McCrea 805-699-8645 DRE#01193756

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TABLE OF CONTENTS DECEMBER 2023

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Editor’s Note

11

Calendar of Events

14

Featured Pro: Vanessa Rogers

20

Ojai’s Top Ten Hikes

22

Tips for Living in Ojai Style

23

Ojai Founding Fathers & Mothers

24

Who’s Who in Real Estate

26

Dine Ojai — Restaurant Guide

27

Chef Randy: Wasabi Mashed Potatoes

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Property Purchase Pitfalls

Editor & Publisher / Bret Bradigan Uta Ritke / Creative Director David Taylor / Sales Manager Cover: Ojai Valley Trail Riding Co. Contact Us: editor@ojaiquarterly.com The contents of the Ojai Monthly may not be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher.

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OJAI 12 23 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY

Real estate / home / Visitors

Holiday Greetings from Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company • OjaiValleyTrailRidingCompany.com • 805-890-9340

FEATURED PRO: PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES Visitor Information

6

12

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

OM — December 2023

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21

DISCOVER

OJAI MONTHLY THE HIGH COSTS OF POVERTY "There are people in the world so hungry, that God can only appear to them in the form of bread."

— Mahatma Gandhi

Bret Bradigan

It's expensive to be poor. You can start with the vicious cycle of fees that come from stretching paychecks to the breaking point, accruing overdraft fees, inability to maintain minimum balances, usorious payday loans, creating the relentless cycle of debt. There are also opportunity costs, like not being to afford to stock up on goods and get the bulk discounts.

So the poor person is already on their back foot before they even confront the legal system, where a minor traffic ticket can spiral into a vortex of fees and penalties from which it can be extremely difficult to break free. Many cannot afford to post bail for minor offenses, leading to pre-trial detention and lost jobs, lost time with family, and lost opportunities for reversing the downward drift. Then there are the health costs associated with living in food deserts with few affordable highquality options for nutritious diets, as well people eating their feelings of despair into diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

These are only a few of the findings of the Urban Institute, which has been studying the effects of poverty on American communities since 1968. The Institute also marks the disparities that grow when access to affordable housing and quality education are denied or made scarce through insurmountable obstacles. The ladder to prosperity is slippery and frayed and filled with broken rungs.

We are fortunate in Ojai for this natural beauty around us and the prosperity among us, but we are not immune to those high costs. Our local poverty rate was already on the rise from mid-5 percent in 2010 to 6.7 percent in 2020 — which doesn't seem like much, but that is nearly a 13 percent increase.

And it is nearly certain to have risen once the staggered costs of the pandemic are accounted for.

As they say in the self-help business, the first step is recognizing that there's a problem. That's especially important this holiday season, as we're surrounded by the media's mirages of plenty and prosperity, of happy families gathered and shop windows sparkling with visions of plenty.

Even taking a moment to be aware that nearly one in a dozen of our neighbors and community members are the wrong side of the standard-of-living bell curve, and likely struggling to keep from slipping further behind, would be more in keeping with a genuine holiday sentiment than an excess of stuff. As a local business owner myself, I also feel called upon to urge people to shop local, because it helps solve five or six problems at once. In this case, relevant to what I've been writing about, it keeps your money circulating in our community and supporting Help of Ojai and the Ojai Valley Family Shelter, who are on the front lines of these intractable problems. With those thoughts in mind, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Gratitude is a gift best shared.

OM — December 2023

7

CAPTURE YOUR LIFETIME IN WORDS

Photo by Andraz Lazic

YOUR STORY. PERFECTED.

Full Service Ghost Writers

Award-winning writers & editors

Ensure your story lives on – beautifully written, profoundly felt With us to help tell your story, your legacy becomes an enduring gift for generations yet to come

editor@ojaiquarterly.com

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OM — December 2023

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Chisum's Floor Covering 118 Bryant St Ojai, CA M-F: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sat: By Appointment Only Sun: Closed (805) 646-2440 www.chisumsfloor.com Contractor Lic. #242944 Ask us about special savings on select Hunter Douglas operating systems.

©2022 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. 18DUOMAGC2

OM — December 2023

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OM — December 2023

DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS exhibits

live music

podcast

MUSEUM’S ‘OJAI MYSTIQUE’ | TO MARCH 4 | OjaiValleyMuseum.com

MJ LENDERMAN & KARLY HARTZMAN | DECEMBER 9 | DeerLodgeOjai.com

OJAI PODCAST | THURSDAYS | OjaiHub.com

TO DECEMBER 10

Lenderman share a special duo performance at the Deer Lodge. Presented by ((folkYEAH!))) & Tierra Sol.

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.

Joseph Albers, Max Bill and John McLaughlin Exhibit Location: canvas and paper 311 North Montgomery Street Times: Thursday to Sunday.

Contact: canvasandpaper.org 805-798-9301 Free admission for this show of works by Josef Albers, artist and educator, who taught at Bauhaus and Black Mountain College, as well as Max Bill, Swiss polymath and minimalist pioneer John McLaughlin.

TO MARCH 4

Ojai Mystique Location: Ojai Valley Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue Times: Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact: 805-640-1390 OjaiValleyMuseum.org This special exhibit features 21 nationally renowned artists with their interpretations of one place, Ojai.

DECEMBER 9

MJ Lenderman & Karly Hartzman Location: Ojai Deer Lodge 2261 Maricopa Hwy Time: 8 p.m.

Contact: DeerLodgeOjai.com 805-646-4256 Karly Hartzman (of Wednesday) & MJ

DECEMBER 28 Nick Waterman

Location: Ojai Deer Lodge 2261 Maricopa Hwy Time: 8 p.m.

Contact: DeerLodgeOjai.com 805-646-4256 (((folkYEAH!))) & Tierra Sol present Nick Waterhouse, a modern American singer-songwriter who recently released his new album, “Fooler.”

— RECURRING EVENTS — DEC-JANUARY-FEBRUARY

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.”

DEC 10, JAN 14, FEB 11

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 OM — December 2023

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! Drop in and join the fun. We read and discuss Shakespeare’s plays. For beginners as well as lifelong enthusiasts.

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. With more than 170 episodes, the Ojai podcast has become an important part of the local conversation. Sign up at OjaiHub.com for a free newsletter of Ojai events, news, arts, entertainment, history and culture. And podcasts.

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RARE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL/RENTAL

These 3 separate, adjoining legal lots in the heart of Ojai have amazing potential as income properties or future developments. One lot is the current location of the Love Café, another holds a residential duplex with 2br/1ba and 1br/1ba units, and in between is a vacant lot that currently serves as a parking lot. The total acreage is approximately .55 acres with the possibility of separating the lots. Let this once in a lifetime prime downtown opportunity just a block from the Ojai Arcade and the Ojai Playhouse be your canvas for a creative vision.

205-211NorthSignalStOjai.com Price Upon Request

DRE# 01176473

(805) 340-3774

Over 25 years of experience matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

© 2023 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

LUXURY DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING

This 3900sqft commercial building is in the heart of downtown Ojai. Fully remodeled in 2017, it includes 10 offices, lobby, conference room, kitchen, and 3 bathrooms.

The light-filled interior has high ceilings and accents include tile, wood floors, glass walls, and exposed beams.

Outside has ample onsite parking, a courtyard and a back yard. This unique building offers many possibilities: a large office, a business collective, a doctor’s office, a spa, a retail space, or a gallery. There is nothing else like this available anywhere in Ojai.

108EMatilijaStOjai.com Offered at $4,100,000

I will help you find the home that brings peace to your mind and heart

www.pattywaltcher.com pattywaltcher@mac.com (805) 340-3774 DRE# 01176473

© 2023 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

VANESSA ROGERS

BY ILONA SAARI

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES VANESSA ROGERS

DOWN THE ROAD OF LIFE In 1994, Vanessa Rogers (neé Hill), dressed in a waxed cotton coat, wool cap and goggles, the attire of the early automobile era, sat alongside her father, traversing country roads in Great Britain in a non-competitive vintage car rally called JOGLE. Backstory: Vanessa, the daughter of Phil and Alma Hill (nee Hedwig Baranowsk) was raised in sunny Southern California.

Alma, born in Kelme, Lithuania, fled the Russian occupation in 1941 with her family to Germany until 1950 when as a teenager, the family landed on Ellis Island, then settled in Arizona where she eventually became a revered high school German language teacher in Phoenix. In 1960 she met her future husband, Phil, while housesitting one summer in Hollywood California. When not accompanying Phil around the world for races and automotive events, Alma oversaw Vanessa’s and her older sister, Jennifer’s, (who is now a therapist and public speaker) and younger brother, Derek’s (a racing/stunt driver in the film industry) school and extracurricular school events, hosting family celebrations, and being an attentive mom.

Phil, raised in Santa Monica, California, was a successful sports

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OM — December 2023

and Formula One race car driver, winning the 1961 Formula One world championship, driving for Ferrari. “After retiring from racing, my father continued as an ambassador to motor sports and started an automotive restoration business called Hill and Vaughn which ultimately was the world I grew up around,” Vanessa says.

But her childhood home was also filled with music and musical instruments, particularly opera and classical piano. “Before I was born, my father had one of the largest collections of piano rolls for grand pianos… of which we had three in our home.”

Automobiles and Trains: After graduating from Brentwood High School in Los Angeles, Vanessa attended the University of Arizona in Tucson where her father’s passions for travel, automobiles and music led her to study art history and French literature “as a means to eventually end up living abroad,” she explains, beginning with her junior year abroad where she was able to study in the South of France.

After graduating the UofA, she spent a few years in the tourism business, taking groups of Americans to auto races and factory

VANESSA AND HER FATHER COMPETING IN THE JOGLE CAR RALLY

tours across Europe.

It was in her 21st year when Vanessa teamed up with her father and went on her JOGLE car rally adventure. “We took a special train that was transporting all the vehicles from London’s Euston station to Wick, Scotland, the end of the train line on Great Britain’s northeastern tip, which was roughly an 11-hour train ride.” The only father/daughter team, they drove for almost a week on Great Britain’s country roads in an open-to-the-elements 1907 Renault Vanderbilt Racer, along with 50 other cars from the era. A friend of her father’s in the rally, dressed in a modern racing suit and full-face helmet, driving a 1912 Mercer 35R Raceabout, asked her dad why he and Vanessa were dressed in old-fashioned coats and goggles. He was surprised that he was allowing Vanessa to

be on the trip without wearing a helmet.

Her father’s answer: “Bill, if we get into an accident at 80 miles per hour, a helmet isn’t going to do a damn thing.”

So ends the backstory… onto Planes: In the late ‘90s Vanessa moved to Monte Carlo and spent five years “working a handful of jobs in the Principality from covering European automotive events for a U.S. website, waiting tables at a TexMex restaurant to working on a production team for a global sporting event.”

In 2001 Vanessa was home for the holidays and went to a friend’s New Year’s Eve party where she became reacquainted with Davis Rogers, an acquaintance from her elementary school days. “I actually didn’t recognize him when I showed up at the party. That was 22 years ago and, after OM — December 2023

VANESSA & DAVID ROGERS, WEDDING DAY

trying a long-distance relationship, I ended up moving back to California where Davis was finishing up ROTC and a History degree at the University of California Santa Barbara.” As an Air Force pilot, his first assignment was training in Del Rio, Texas, home of Laughlin Air Force Base. They moved there in the summer of 2003. “Shortly after moving to Texas, I was recommended for a position at Christie’s Auction House as a specialist in the International Motor Car department,” she says, a job that had Vanessa traveling monthly to meet with car collectors, check on ‘barn finds’ and attend auctions all across the U.S. and Europe.

They married in Houston and after five years in Del Rio, moved from base-to-base in Arizona, South Korea and Utah, then put down roots in Salt Lake City. Now 15

busy with their two young children, Lela and Vaughn, Vanessa embarked on a new career training at the Midwives College in Utah to be a birth and postpartum doula, and spent her remaining time in Utah working in the birthing community. Davis served 11 years in the Air Force, flying jets and as an assignment instructor.

Salt Lake City is also the Delta hub, so after leaving active duty, Davis became a pilot for Delta. After two years, he transferred to LAX in Los Angeles. “It was only a matter of time before Davis and I hoped to be back in California. It was where we both grew up, me in Santa Monica and Davis in Carpinteria.”

Before marriage and children, Vanessa had agreed to go flying with Davis out of the Santa Barbara airport. “I had never seen a small plane and it definitely wasn’t on my bucket list … but it was early on in our budding relationship, so I was willing to set my apprehensions aside.” While it was a beautiful day flying over the Channel Islands, where they saw a whale and a giant sailboard, Vanessa couldn’t stop thinking something would happen and she’d have to land the plane. “Suddenly Davis closed his eyes and tilted his head back … to sneeze. But in that split second, all I could think about is OMG, he just lost consciousness … until I screamed his name over the headset. ” He responded, OMG, what? Her calm, cool and collected cover was blown. Years later, Vanessa flew with Davis again, this time with their daughter and

20 other passengers in a Boeing 757 from Paris to Salt Lake City.

She was much calmer.

Ojai: “Funny enough, I was introduced to Ojai in utero when my mother, the eternal student, attended Krishnamurti’s lectures in the oak groves in 1972.” Forty-five years later, it was Vanessa’s mother and brother, Derek (who lives in Ojai with his wife), who brought her back to this beautiful valley. “Shortly after my mother moved to the Ojai Valley, we left Utah after seven years. Career changes, children that grow at blistering speed and parents that started needing more assistance were all reminders we wanted to be close to family.” And Davis’s parents were now in Santa Barbara.

During her first year in Ojai she went on herb walks with Lanny Kaufer, learning about local plants and attended Carol Wade’s workshop where she made tinctures and balms from local plant material harvested on her herb walks. She enrolled in a two-year course in the foundations of medicinal herbal studies with Carol Wade at her gardens located in Ojai’s East End at the Krishnamurti Library Property, “that gives a foundation in herbal studies… including their preparations, uses, history and cultivation,” she explains.

ROGERS IN AN EARLIER CAREER, WITH RALPH LAUREN'S 1938 ALFA ROMEO

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OM — December 2023

INTERIOR OF NOTED, ROGERS' STATIONERY STORE

EXTERIOR OF NOTED, ROGERS' STATIONERY STORE

Following up on her doula training, “I reached out to the Secure Beginnings and started training as a Parent Care volunteer which focused on helping mothers in the tender time after birth.” And Vanessa volunteered at the Ojai Valley Museum in the Visitor’s Office for a year before the pandemic shutdown. “I am a concierge at heart having worked in tourism and hospitality for years. Helping curious visitors gave me great satisfaction and now having “Noted,” I am able to continue that connection with the community who have been deeply supportive and enthusiastic.

Noted: Vanessa has always loved paper in all its incarnations. It’s in her DNA (her grandfather was the postmaster of Santa Monica) — from her beginning writings in

THE ROGERS FAMILY DURING AN ACTIVE DUTY U.S. AIR FORCE POSTING

journals in elementary school to falling in love with her Filofax in high school. Blank paper fuels the imagination, be it drawing or writing, even if it’s just composing a grocery list or a week’s agenda, she feels, and is what led her to her present career, as the proprietor of Ojai’s stationery and gift shop, “Noted.” The shop is filled with beautiful paper journals, notepads, notebooks — wrapping paper and gift cards — writing instruments and fine art materials, all curated by Vanessa to help organize, create and share one’s ideas in her beautifully appointed store.

Like many avid readers, Vanessa is in a book group. Specifically, a mystery book started by three men “further down life’s road than I am,” who wanted to read mysteries. When Vanessa expressed an interest in joining the group, they took OM — December 2023

her in, for which she is forever grateful for their friendship and perspective.

“They probably don’t know this, but our occasional meet-ups for morning coffee and our monthly book club serves as an important reminder of what is important to me. The straightaways, the road bumps, the detours, can be met with levity and optimism while leaning on your community.”

After traveling the world in trains, planes and automobiles, Vanessa has settled in and used her extensive, eclectic background to become an exceptionally noted member of the Ojai community.

NOTED 423 E. Ojai Avenue Suite 102 Ojai, California 93023 @noted.ojai on Instagram 17

OM | HI K I NG MAP 1

SHELF ROAD 3.5mi EASY | Elev. Gain: 200 ft | Overlooks downtown Ojai.

2

3

4

VENTURA RIVER PRESERVE | 7mi EASY TO MODERATE | Elev. Gain:

PRATT TRAIL 8.8mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 3,300

GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi MODERATE | 3 mi to Gridley Springs

5

6

7

HORN CANYON 5.5mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 1,600 ft.

COZY DELL 2.2mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft |

MATILIJA CANYON 12mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft |

520 ft (Wills-Rice). Trailheads at end of Meyer Road, South Rice Road and Baldwin Road. Great for birding.

ft | Trailhead off North Signal Street. Goes to Nordhoff Peak. Clear day? See forever.

(Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft) 6 mi to Nordhoff Peak.

Trailhead at north end of Gridley Road.

Trailhead near Thacher School’s gymkhana field. Goes to shady stand of 80-foot tall pines.

Trailhead 8 miles north of Ojai on Maricopa Highway.

Short, intense hike that also connects to trail network.

Middle Fork. Trailhead at end of Matilija Road. First 1.5 miles of trail well-maintained, the rest a scramble.

8

9

10

ROSE VALLEY 1mi EASY | Elev. Gain: 100 ft

SISAR CANYON 22mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 4,800 ft to

SULPHUR MTN. 22mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 2,300 ft |

Trailhead at Rose Valley Campground. Leads to a spectacular 300-foot, two-tiered fall.

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Topa Topa Bluffs. Trailhead at end of Sisar Road. Trailhead on eastern side of Sulphur Mountain Road.

Only for experienced, f it hikers.

Views are unsurpassed.

OM — June 2023 OM — December 2023

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DONNA SALLEN

805.798.0516

OJAI COMPOUND $4,250,000 FOR SALE

Perfectly situated on just under four acres lies the historic and unique Casa de La Luna compound. Comprised of over 8,000 sq. ft, with 11 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, this magnificent estate is likely the best value estate compound available anywhere in California. The approximate 5,000 sq. ft. main house has 3 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, with limestone and hand-scraped wood floors, magnificent wrought iron doors, huge new gourmet kitchen, and numerous other upgrades.

Guests and visitors can stay in the 2-bedroom, 2-bath guest house or any of the four other residences making this property perfect for a large family or an individual with an entourage. Massive outdoor patios and cooking areas, two large fountains, indoor pool with gym and recreation center make this property feel like a mini Hearst Castle. Private and gated.

PROPERTY DETAIL

11 BEDROOMS

GUEST HOUSE

GATED PROPERTY

www.donnasallen. co m

16 BATHROOMS

donna4remax@aol.com

Growing Your Own Winter Greens

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

One of the many benefits of living in Southern California is that we can enjoy fresh produce from our backyard gardens any time of the year. There is a wide variety of foods that can be grown even in the coldest months, but winter is a particularly good time for growing lettuces and leafy greens for use in salads, juicing and side dishes.

Some varieties, such as kale, taste better when grown in cooler weather, while others are simply too fragile to thrive in Ojai’s summer heat and must be grown in winter.

Here are 10 tips for growing your own winter greens to get you started with this healthy hobby.

1. Raised garden beds are a great option that allow you to better control your soil content. While kale likes nutrient-rich soil that is not high in nitrogen, many winter greens thrive with a bit of nitrogen added to the soil, so amend your soil according to 22

the greens you are growing.

2. Leafy greens like their soil moist, which is another reason it is best to grow them during the rainy season to limit supplemental irrigation.

3. Avoid wasting water by growing your greens in shallow containers with plenty of soil for their shallow root systems, but no excess soil to soak up water.

4. Consider starting your seeds indoors if you are planting early when the weather is still pretty warm, or planting late and the temperature is already regularly dipping below 50 degrees.

5. Succession planting is the key to enjoying an ongoing harvest throughout winter and spring. Plant a few seeds each week to significantly extend your harvest.

OM — December 2023

6. You can also extend your harvest by taking only what you intend to use right away and harvesting leaves at the outer edges of the plant.

7. Growing winter greens from seeds is pretty easy; however, if your thumb is not all that green, you may achieve better results by starting your garden from seedlings from one of our local nurseries.

8. Another way to help ensure success is to choose easier-to-grow greens, such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard or rocket lettuce.

9. If you do not have room for a vegetable garden, grow your greens in containers on your patio, a vertical garden or in small pots on a windowsill.

10. Add a layer of mulch around the base of your plants to help retain moisture and protect the roots.

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

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:

Ave. Low 36 38 41 43 48 51 56 55 53 47 40 35

Precip.

5.04 5.24 3.35 1.22 .47 .12 .04 .005 .2 .98 1.69 2.95

Average Annual Rainfall:

21.3

Jan Feb March April May June July Aug. Sept.

Oct. Nov. Dec.

Ave. High (°F) 67 67 70 74 78 83 89 91 87 80 73 66

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.

Record High 115°

Year 2018

Population:

7,461

Valley: (est.)

21,300

Record Low 16°

Year 1990

Households::

3,176

Elevation:

745

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.”

OM — December 2023

23

WHO’S WHO

IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?

TO BE LISTED HERE, PLEASE CALL DAVID @ 805-798-0177

24

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

Clinton Haugan LIV | Sotheby’s International Realty 727 W. Ojai Ave. Ojai, CA 93023 C: (805) 760-2092 O: (805) 646-7288 chaugan@livsothebysrealtyca.com DRE# 02019604

Therese A. Hartmann is a local loan consultant affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation, and is a Licensed Broker, California BRE #01048403.

NMLS # 298291. Call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

Vivienne Moody LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-1099 vmoody10@ sbcglobal.net OjaiLifestyle.net

Larry Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde. com 805-640-5734

Kristen Currier LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-3757 thehoffgroup. com

Donna Sallen Remax Gold Coast Realtors Donna4Remax@aol.com DonnaSallen. com 805-798-0516

Amanda Stanworth LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Phone: 805-2188117 • E-mail: amandastanworth77@gmail. com Web: Rooney-Stanworth.com

Erik Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde.com 805-830-3254

Patty Waltcher LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Call me for your Real Estate needs.

805-340-3774

Team Deckert Keller Williams Realty Ray Deckert, Broker Associate ContactUs@ TeamDeckert. com 805-272-5218

Dale Hanson Ojai Valley Real Estate 211 E. Matilija Street, Ste. J, 206 E. Ojai Ave. 805-646-7229 dale@ovhl.com

Ross Falvo Keller Williams Realty “The Ojai Real Estate Guy” RossFalvo.com 805-207-5094

Dennis Guernsey LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

Nora Davis LIV Sotheby’s International Realty OjaiValleyEstates. com 805-207-6177

805-798-1998

OM — December 2023

Don & Cheree Edwards RE/MAX Gold Coast Ojai’s Top Selling Team LivinginOjai.com 805.340.3192 805.350.7575

Kirk Ellison LIV Sotheby’s International Realty KirkEllison@ me.com 805-340-5905

Hildegard Tallent CalBRE# 02047013 Keller Williams Realty, 109 N. Blanche Street Tel: 805-7981872 email: hildegard.tallent@ kw.com

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

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

Ojai’s locally owned and operated magazines.

By nationally award-winning writers and photographers.

OjaiHub.com 805.798.0177 OM — December 2023

25

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

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

BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE Traditional American breakfast & brunch 328 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-0207

LO>E SOCIAL CAFE 205 North Signal Street (805) 646-1540 nosovita.com

THE DEER LODGE An Ojai legend since 1932 2261 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-4256 deerlodgeojai.com

OAK GRILL @ THE INN Al fresco dining under vine-covered pergola 905 Country Club Road (805) 646-1111 ojairesort.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

26

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

OM — December 2023

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

traditional Italian

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 wasabi mashed potatoes Here’s a simple yet delicious recipe for these versatile lumps of starch. Despite their reputation as a source of empty calories, potatoes actually have quite a few health benefits: they’re a good source of fiber, gut-loving resistant starch, Vitamin C, potassium and an important part a plant-based whole-food diet.

Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer and has been a lacto-ovo 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: • 8 large Yukon Gold potatoes, washed, peeled and cut into one-inch cubes.

• 1 cup of whole milk • 4 tablespoons butter • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/2 cup chives, chopped

D I R EC T I O N S : Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for about 12 minutes or until potatoes are beginning to fall apart. Test for doneness by piercing with a fork. If the fork does not easily go into the potato, cook for another three minutes. Drain water from potatoes, put back into the saucepan, and set aside.

Heat the milk, butter, salt, and wasabi paste in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the butter is melted (do not boil). Whisk to combine, remove from heat, and set aside.

Healthy

Winter

Quick + Easy

Vegetarian

Using a potato masher or an electric mixer at low speed, beat potatoes until they begin to look mashed. Add milk/ wasabi mixture and beat potatoes until they are smooth and a touch fluffy.

Season with more salt, if desired, garnish with chives, and bring to the table while still hot.

OM — December 2023

27

property purchase avoid pitfalls: what to yes and know

By Therese A. Hartmann

I’m working with a young couple who have been saving diligently for the last ten years to buy a house. Thinking they might have missed the buying window, but not giving up, they were encouraged to find the perfect family home.

Despite high interest rates and low inventory, the house called to them. We researched the history of the property and the sellers along with the buyer’s ability to comfortably make a reasonable offer. The good news is that the work paid off and they have an accepted offer for about 10 percent under the listing price.

But now the work begins! Aside from documentation to submit to underwriting, this young couple will want to thoroughly check out the house. Here are red flags they will want to look out for: • Unusual Odors: Unpleasant smells could be a sign of hidden problems such as mold, mildew, pest infestations, or issues with the plumbing or sewage system.

• Patchy or Mismatched Repairs: Be cautious of walls or ceilings with uneven

or pest infestations. Look for signs of neglect in the yard.

• Visible Cracks: Small cracks in walls and ceilings are common and often harmless. However, be cautious if you notice large or jagged cracks in the foundation, walls, or ceiling, as these may indicate structural issues.

Therese A. Hartmann has more than 20 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.

patches, inconsistent paint jobs, or areas that look recently repaired. These could indicate past damage or ongoing issues that haven’t been properly addressed.

• Overgrown Landscaping: A beautifully landscaped garden can be appealing, but overgrown or neglected landscaping might hide structural issues, drainage problems,

• Unusual Layouts or Room Shapes: If a house has an odd or unusual layout, it might be a sign of past DIY renovations or additions that were not done professionally.

These could lead to problems with the home’s structure or functionality.

• Evidence of Water Stains: Water stains on ceilings or walls may suggest a history of leaks or water damage. Be sure to inquire about the cause of these stains and whether the issue has been properly resolved.

A home inspector will find some of the more glaring problems, but two or three sets of eyes can’t hurt. Be informed, look for red flags and avoid future repairs! And if you want to work with a loan officer who puts in the extra work, call me.

FIRESTICK POTTERY Creative Workspace Open to Public OPEN 10-6 DAILY 1804 E. OJAI AVE 805 - 272 - 8760

Krotona Institute of Theosophy Centennial Celebration April 2024 An international center dedicated to understanding, harmony, and peace among all peoples, comparative studies in religion, philosophy and science, altruism and the ideals of a spiritual life.

GALLERY WORKSHOPS POTTERY PARTIES FREE TOURS

firestickpottery.com

We must try to understand our own nature, that we may see the path which leads to the realization of the Self.

Annie Besant Library and Research Center Quest Bookshop School of Theosophy 2 Krotona St.,Ojai CA 93023 805 646­2653 • www.krotonainstitute.org

We know Ojai.

Roca Vista Ranch - Seven-Bedroom Main House on Approximately 10 Acres with Pool House, Pool, Spa, Outdoor Kitchen, Three-Car Garage, Two-Car Garage, Artist’s Loft, Lighted Tennis Court, Family Orchard, and Horse Facilities RocaVistaRanchOjai.com

Royal Oaks Ranch - 5 Bedrooms, Upscale Finishes Throughout, Media Room, Wine Cellar, Tasting Room, Gym/Massage Room, Pool & Spa, Putting Green, Well, Six-Car Garage, Bocce Court, Views, and So Much More RoyalOaksRanchOjai.com

Fully Remodeled Five Bedroom, Five Bathroom Mid-Century Modern with Spanish Colonial Influence with Brazilian Wood Floors, Pool & Spa, Two Primary Suites, Guest Quarters, Media Room, Amazing Views

Gated, Five-Acre Country Estate with Main House, Guest House, Workshop, Pool & Spa, Outdoor Kitchen, Sports Court, Two Fireplaces, Multiple Outdoor Living Areas, Orchard, Patio Fireplace, Solar Panels & Mountain Views 705RiceRoad.com $5,000,000

276RunningRidgeTrail.com

$3,685,000

Commercial Property with Great Ojai Avenue Location, Private Parking Lot, Four Office Spaces, Kitchen, Two Bathrooms, Garage 405WestOjaiAvenue.com $1,345,000

Ojai Commercial Property with Parking Lot, Showroom, Workshop, Office, Breakroom or Storage Room, Two Bathrooms, and Great Location in Industrial Area Evolving into Hip Entertainment District 907BryantPlace.com $1,950,000

Nora Davis

BRE License #01046067

805.207.6177

nora@ojaivalleyestates.com

We’re lifelong residents.

Rancho Royale – Historic, 21-acre, remodeled and updated equestrian estate with four-bedroom main house plus eight rentals, 18-stall barn, 16-stall barn, 5 additional barns, 20 covered corrals, four arenas, two round pens, hay and equipment barns, three RV hookups, Preifert panel walker, entertainment barn, archery range, mountain views, and so much more

RanchoRoyaleOjai.com

$8,199,000

Three Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, Huge Family Room, Hardwood Floors, Over-Sized Soaking Tub, Lots of Closets, Breakfast Bar, and Mountain Views $899,000

Two Bedroom, Two Bathroom Manufactured Home + Outbuildings on Flat, Usable, .81-Acre Horse Property Close to Lake Casitas and Oak View Shops & Restaurants $950,000

Upper Ojai Land - Build your dream home on 1.25 acres in Upper Ojai with 20-25gpm well, water meter, Edison drop, and beautiful mountain views minutes from downtown Ojai $739,000

Rose Valley Land - Create an off-grid, country retreat on 40 acres with mountain views, trails, and a natural spring in Rose Valley in the Los Padres National Forest $1,200,000

The Davis Group ojaivalleyestates.com