Ojai Monthly - February 2021

OJAI o2 21 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide

JOHNSTON: A LIFE IN SERVICE IS YOUR HOME READY FOR SPRING? BEST HIKES IN OJAI Cover: Team Deckert, Keller Williams Realty • 805-272-5218, See Page 5 For More Information Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

OM — February 2021

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Offered at $3,100,000

Upper Ojai Estate

Offered at $1,760,000

920 El Centro Street

Offered at $3,750,000

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1701 McNell Road

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1477 Foothill Road

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I match people and property. My goal is always to creatively solve problems so that everyone in a transaction is happy. I am proud to represent some of the grandest properties in Ojai and I specialize in unique architectural homes. I am equally enthusiastic to represent family homes, commercial property and buildable lots.

Building positive and lasting relationships is the secret to my success.

Offered at $1,160,000

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PAT T Y WALTCHER

25 years matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

403 Franklin Drive

Offered at $925,000

PEACEFUL OJAI OASIS On a 2½ acre lot with spectacular views, this completely renovated luxury home is a peaceful oasis ideal for family, entertaining or retreat.

The light-filled interior features wide-plank wood floors, French doors, high-ceilings, designer lighting and a modern palette. The completely remodeled chef’s kitchen opens to a dining room/living area with a large fireplace.

The master bath includes a steam shower, jacuzzi and an infrared sauna. A pergola covered porch takes full advantage of the view and a pool complex includes a spa, a cabana, and a covered outdoor kitchen/dining area.

There is an attached one-bedroom guest suite with kitchenette. The grounds feature mature oaks, citrus, rose and lavender gardens. Only minutes from downtown Ojai, this unique property offers Ojai living at its best.

11089EncinoDrOjai.com Offered at $3,100,000

PAT T Y WALTCHER

(805) 340-3774

pattywaltcher.com

DRE#01768956

YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUT YOUR HOME SELLING PLANS ON HOLD unless you want to. People are actively buying homes from a distance.

We are open for business and here to help you!

LET’S TALK.

805.646.6768

NextHome 307 A East Matilija Street

Jeri Becker 805.340.2846

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OM — February 2021

Lynn Goodman 805.573.5927

Ojai

Heather Erickson

805.798.3358

CA

Riley Becker

805.646.6768

172 N. Encinal Avenue - $699,000 Located in the heart of Meiners Oaks and close to local restaurants and hiking trails, you will find this charming and comfy 3 bed/2 bath, 1,235 sq. ft. cottage. Features include wood/tile floors, updated kitchen & baths, and 2 large decks for relaxing or entertaining.

12251 Linda Flora Drive - $525,000 2.03 acre parcel in Rancho Matilija with sweeping mountain views and gorgeous sunsets. Bring your horses!

611 Emily Street - $849,999 3 bed/2 bath, 1,562 sq. ft. home with updated gourmet kitchen, updated bathrooms and owned solar-electric

Sold for $880,000

8025 Camp Chaffee Rd. - $569,000 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,206 sq. ft. cutie with wood & beamed ceilings.

P: 805.272.5218 E: ContactUs@TeamDeckert.com VenturaAndSantaBarbaraHomes.com

Sold for $621,000

DRE# 01761150, 01859199

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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FEBRUARY 2021

7

Editor’s Note

10

Calendar of Events

12

Featured Pro: Johnny Johnston: A Life in Public Service

18

How To Keep Loan Fees Low

20 Preparing Your Home for Spring 21

Ojai Founding Fathers & Mothers

22

Who’s Who in Real Estate

24

Dine Ojai — Restaurant Guide

25

Chef Randy: Easy Chile Rellenos

28

Top Hikes Into Ojai’s Backcountry

Editor & Publisher / Bret Bradigan Uta Ritke / Creative Director David Taylor / Sales Manager Liz Spiller / Social Media Manager Ross Falvo / Distribution Manager Cover: Team Deckert / Keller Williams Contact Us: 805.798.0177 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 o2 21 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide

JOHNSTON: A LIFE IN SERVICE IS YOUR HOME READY FOR SPRING? BEST HIKES IN OJAI Cover: Team Deckert, Keller Williams Realty • 805-272-5218, See Page 5 For More Information Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

OM — February 2021

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21

DISCOVER

OJAI MONTHLY

FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS Bret Bradigan

“S orrow found me when I was young. Sorrow waited, sorrow won.” — “Sorrow,” The National Ojai will be a different community coming out of the pandemic than it was coming in. We shouldn’t mourn the changes — the new retail shops in the Arcade, the flourishing online lectures and the wave of new residents escaping the cities for their country idylls are breaths of fresh air — but we should mourn the loss of hundreds of jobs in the hotel and restaurant businesses, the deaths of dozens of our residents, including many familiar people who formed key parts of our social life.

It’s all in the telling of our story, Ojai’s story. The English language, as rich with influences and specifity as it is, does not have comparisons to useful words like the Japanese “wabi-sabi,” finding beauty in imperfection, or Urdu’s “goya,” the suspension of disbelief that happens when fantasy becomes real in the hands of a master storyteller. Among my favorites is “saudade,” the Portugese word that means the feeling of longing for someone you’ve lost. It’s all too familiar during our troubled time.

Whenever I stumble down a Youtube rabbit hole, I often pop up into the wonderland of “the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows,” a project by philosopher John Koenig to fill in those gaps with neologisms that describe the previous undescribable. His lexicon is often accompanied by haunting videos whose images powerfully convey the feeling of these new words. I encourage you to check them out at dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com. Here’s a couple of examples among many: Altschmerz n. weariness with the same old issues that you’ve always had — the same boring flaws and anxieties you’ve been gnawing on for years, which leaves them soggy and tasteless and inert, with nothing interesting left to think about, nothing left to do but spit them out and wander off to the backyard, ready to dig up some fresher pain you might have buried long ago.

Sonder n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own — populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness ...

Lilo n. a friendship that can lie dormant for years only to pick right back up instantly, as if no time had passed since you last saw each other.

You might agree that widening the range of expressions gives us more precise tools to find our way through the world, and can deepen the human experience. As Ojai has long been a place ofself discovery and wonder, I felt that you might find this tool, this dictionary, of use.

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EVENT SPACE Events: Receptions, Seminars, Weddings, Dinners Studios 2,400 sf: Production/Creative: with, without staff Covid Enhanced: Fresh Air, Social Distancing, Cleaning Gardens: Hip Vgn & EVO 3 600 sf Stainless Sculpture

EVENT SPACE

EVENT SPACE SaneLiving.com 316 E Matilija St. Ojai 806.646.6000

Stephen Adelman “Your Family Man Realtor” 805.640.5563 | www.ojailuxuryrealestate.com | DRE# 01786486

BESANT HILL SCHOOL CREATING AN INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN THE OJAI VALLEY SINCE 1946

BESANT HILL SCHOOL

DISCOVER THE

POW ER OF SMALL Our small class sizes maintain rigorous college preparatory curriculum whether on campus or online. www.besanthill.org 8

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Back to Top

THERESE HARTMANN PROVIDING HOME LOANS FOR OVER 25 YEARS!

C2 FINANCIAL CORPORATION IS THE # 1 BROKER IN THE NATION! MORTGAGE EXECUTIVE April 2019

MAGAZINE

“In the world of incessant document requirements and paper rotation, Therese Hartmann is the best and offers intelligent clarity. She comes with a lighter side to the working relationship as well. You’ll enjoy her demeanor.”

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EELLS

Gallery: OVA Arts, 238 Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA (805) 798-2158 | HEARTLOANS@SBCGLOBAL.NET | HEARTLOANS.COM

Collect Online at Eells.com Studio visits by appointment. • duane@eells.com

236 W. OJAI AVE., SUITE 105, OJAI CA 93023 This licensee is performing acts for which a real estate license is required. C2 Financial Corporation is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate, Broker # 01821025; NMLS # 135622. Loan approval is not guaranteed and is subject to lender review of information. All loan approvals are conditional and all conditions must be met by borrower. Loan is only approved when lender has issued approval in writing and is subject to the Lender conditions. Specified rates may not be available for all borrowers.

Rate subject to change with market conditions. C2 Financial Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Mortgage Broker/Lender. BRE #01048403 NMLS #298981

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In the midst of a popular Ojai family neighborhood, sits a beautiful, oasis-like custom home with mountain views and close to bike trails. For more details go to OjaiRe.com

Gorgeous townhouse in Ventura. Great location near mall and freeway access. The home is a spacious 1,550 sq. ft., has lots of light and is multilevel. For more information go to 1017 Portola.com

Rosario Falvo

DRE # 01504988

805-207-5094 ROSARIOFALVO@KW.COM

OjaiRe.com

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OM — February 2021

FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS WEEKLY

classes

Certified Farmers Market

Every Sunday Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Contact: 805-698-5555 Location: Matilija Street city parking lot behind the Arcade.

Open air market featuring locally grown produce, as well as plants, musicians and handmade items.

4.22-26

workshops Agora Foundation’s “Words of Divine Love” Date: Saturday, February 6 Time: 12 to 2 p.m. ​From the “Songs to Zion” and “Where Will I Find You” by Yehudah Halevi and “Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward” by John Donne. Tutor: Zoe Appleby. Register to receive the login link.

"Anguish and the Absurd" - Part VI : Date: Saturday, February 13 Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Reading: The Master and Margarita (in four parts)

by Mikhail Bulgakov. Book One, Chapters 1-9 Tutors: Paul Herder and Andy Gilman Register to receive the login link.

Online Seminar: "Beloved," "Jazz," and "Paradise" by Toni Morrison Date: Sunday, February 14 Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Tutor: Patricia Locke Register at agorafoundation.org to receive the login link.

“Sage to Stage” Theater Workshop: Training dates: Wednesdays, February 17, 24, March 10, 17, 24 & 31.

Time: 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.

Showcase Date: March 31 at 7 p.m. (By Invitation). Workshop instructor Gai Laing Jones invites inexperienced or experienced actors, who celebrate being 55 and older, to a six-week theater acting workshop. Meetings happen on Zoom for

five sequential Wednesday afternoons and one evening Showcase.

"The Wisdom of Humor - Part III" Date: Sunday, February 21 Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Reading: Selections from Twain and Wilde Tutor: Karl Haigler Register to receive the login link.

"Herodotus - The Histories - Book One" Date: Saturday, February 27 Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Tutor: David Appleby Register to receive the login link.

"Stoicism - Part IV - The Encheiridion (Handbook)

by Epictetus" Date: Sunday, February 28 Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Tutor: Kevin Walker Register to receive the login link.

“Ojai: Talk of the Town” Podcast New episodes come out Thursday evenings through OjaiHub.com newsletter. Sign up at OjaiHub.com.

Recent guests include Eric Goode, creator of “Tiger King,” Sandy Treadwell, former Secretary of State of New York, Ojai Mayor Betsy Stix and astrophysicist/ surfer Dr. Jon Swift.

OM — February 2021

Monday, Wednesday & Friday “Somatic Stretch for Self Healing” Instructor: Meredith Sands Keator Time: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Location: Anywhere you can find a sturdy internet connection.

Contact: somaticsanctuary.com email support@somaticsanctuary Phone: 805-633-9230 Mondays & Thursday “Introduction to Somatic Stretch” Instructor: Sultana Parvanka Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Contact: somaticsanctuary.com email support@somaticsanctuary Phone: 805-633-9230 Wednesdays “Offerings with Sarah Grace” — Somatic Satsang, free community gathering and tools for resiliency Instructor: Sarah Grace Time: 7 p.m.

Contact: somaticsanctuary.com email support@somaticsanctuary Phone: 805-633-9230 Thursday “Awareness Through Movement” Instructor: Mary Jo Healy Time: 4 to 5 p.m.

Contact: somaticsanctuary.com email support@somaticsanctuary Phone: 805-633-9230 Every Day Farmer & The Cook Location: 339 West El Roblar Avenue, Meiners Oaks Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This popular farm-to-kitchen destination has reopened, with usual precautions in place to reduce exposure to coronavirus.

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ROBIN GERBER

A LIF

JOHNNY

JOHNSTON

A

high school girl friend at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach first sparked Johnny Johnston’s interest in student politics. The recently retired Ojai Mayor recalls, “I was like the Fonz in Happy Days, not the world’s greatest student. But the girl I liked was in student government. I figured out I would be more attractive to the girls like her if I got involved.”

Johnny brought home the papers to run for vice-president of his junior class. His father’s reaction? “My Dad said ‘what the hell for?’” Johnny laughs. “Dad said, ‘why aren’t you running for President? You can only lose once.’” He followed 12

OM — February 2021

his Dad’s advice, won the election and found a new kind of acceptance. Senior year, Johnny was considered one of those ‘most likely to succeed.’

While a girl was Johnny’s motivation towards student politics, he also grew up in a house where his Dad was a community organizer, and had spent time on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Johnny’s father liked to tell stories from his time in the Capitol. He had gotten there by helping his former high school government teacher get elected to Congress. It was the new Congressman who invited Johnny’s father to join him in Washington, D.C. in 1934.

FE OF SERVICE JOHNNY JOHNSTON RETIRED OJAI MAYOR

A patronage job was arranged for Johnny’s dad with the now well-known Capitol Hill police. “My Dad was on patrol one day keeping people from driving cars up and leaving them in front of the Capitol steps.

“As the story goes, he moved a car and when he came back the guy gave Dad some lip, so he tossed him in jail.” Johnny laughs. “My Dad’s boss quickly let the transgressor out, and said to Johnny’s father ‘nice job Johnston, you just threw the Speaker’s brother in jail.”

Within a few years, Johnny’s father was back in Long Beach starting a family. People were always coming and going in the Johnston house, talking about running for city council, state assembly, or governor. His Dad loved managing campaigns and helped elect Pat Brown Governor of California twice. As a kid, Johnny remembers pulling a wagon full of brochures, and getting paid two dollars to hang them on doorknobs. Politics was a big topic of conversation in his household.

He says, “You weren’t welcome at our house if you didn’t vote. Citizenship was a big deal back then.” Johnny’s family was also greatly influenced by the times. He was born in 1942, OM — February 2021

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just after the Great Depression and during World War II. As one of six children, he spent a lot time with his grandparents. Johnny says, “My grandmother talked a lot about pulling our own weight, developing loyalty and trustworthiness, and doing our part in the world.”

Johnny continued running for office and working in service clubs right through college at Cal State Long Beach, where he met his wife of 54 years, Kitty. She encouraged him to get a degree in a relatively new discipline, public administration. “It was the New Frontier and President Kennedy had told us, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ There was lots of respect for public service,” he recalls.

Soon after college, Johnny got a job as Assistant City Manager in Compton, California. Johnny says, “The 1960s were dramatic times with social unrest including assassinations, both Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were killed in 1968.”

From Compton, he was hired as city manager in Artesia, California where he resisted some ethically questionable pressures that came dressed as a friendly reminders. He decided that he should send out resumes, including one to Ojai, where the previous city manager had resigned under pressure. By then he had married Kitty, had a couple of kids and two horses.

While he was waiting to hear about the job, he drove through Ojai, stopping at the old Hitching Post (now Sea Fresh) for lunch. “A young girl rode up, tied her horse to the post and got a sandwich,” Johnny remembers, “and I was hooked.” But he was only twenty-eight and was passed over for the job in favor of an older more experienced candidate.

A few months later, his secretary in Artesia told him there was someone waiting to see him. It was Bill Burr, the Mayor of Ojai. Johnny says, “There had been a parting of the ways with the guy they had recently hired and Bill wanted to know if I was still interested in coming to work for Ojai.

That was in the fall, 1971.”

Johnny didn’t run for City Council in Ojai until after his 44-year career in public administration was over. He had gone from Ojai City Manager to become Director of Support Services for Ventura County. In the 1990s he served as Deputy Executive Officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court returning to Ventura County where he retired as the County

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OM — February 2021

Executive Officer in 2008.

Life-long values, instilled from childhood, and Johnny’s experience had taught him that he enjoyed and believed in helping his community.

“I’ve always felt there are three things you’re obligated to do in a free society: vote, serve on a jury, and when the time presents itself, to serve in public office. You should do that.”

As we face a time when the fundamental basis of democracy, voting, is under attack, Johnny is clear-eyed about the continuing challenges we face.

“Democracy is our best hope for balancing individual freedoms with the community’s welfare,” he says.

Paraphrasing Winston Churchill, he laughs, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

The former Mayor laments that we seem to have lost the idea of the commons, the welfare of the community. He says, “Caring about police, fire, public schools, public health, which are all part of the commons, is not socialistic.

It is what makes a free society and a functioning government.”

Johnny emphasizes that there are many ways to get experience and help the community, even if someone does not want to run for office.

He’s full of ideas. “Be on a city commission, work for a nonprofit, join a service club and vote! Key Club, Kiwanas, Rotary, Lions Club are all good places to start. Then serve as an officer and learn leadership skills. Prepare yourself to get involved. Join Toastmasters to get over your fear of public speaking.” He adds that citizenship needs to be emphasized in school from an early age, so everyone understands their responsibility to make the community a better place.

Ojai is fortunate to have had years of public service from a resident as committed to the common good as Johnny.

His deeply held wish is that we cultivate new leadership, and represent the best of American democratic values. Emphasizing this idea, Johnny recites the famous quote from the religious leader and scholar Hillel,

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”

When you support our Wild About Ojai partners, you give back to local businesses and to Ojai’s open spaces!

Please consider supporting our partners during this difficult time.

A Taste of Ojai Alojai Creations BeCalm of Ojai Chamber on the Mountain

Jennifer Keeler, Hair Stylist at Bohème Lorraine Lim Catering Mary Nelson Skincare & Massage Studio

Char Man Brand Hot Sauce

Ojai Quarterly

Dogs Fly Design

Rowsie Vain

The Glass Man Professional Window Washing Company GoOjai.com

Sol Haus Design

Greyfox Investors

Tonya Peralta Real Estate Services, Inc

Tobias Parker, General Contractor

Photo by Nathan Wickstrum

Donna Sallen

WOW, Sitting on over three acres in the prestigious Persimmon Hill area of downtown Ojai. This five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom sprawling ranch-style home showcases open-beamed vaulted ceilings, a stunning great room with a massive brick fireplace, formal dining room, hardwood floors and a large master suite. The magical meandering pathways will lead you to an Artist’s studio where you can once again find your creative soul. Living off the grid is easy with your own private well and solar panels. This slice of Country living offers a prime location all within walking distance to Libbey Park, shops, restaurants, and the Ojai Bike/Hike Trail. Horses welcome.

There’s no place like home ...

Let me find yours.

A hidden little gem! Very private, quiet, respite right in town. Bright, light-filled modern turnkey home that features ease of indoor-outdoor living with a modern kitchen with Viking stove and Subzero fridge, outdoor shower, bike and surf shed, and ample shade from a multitude of fruit trees including persimmon, fig, mulberry, apricot, plum and pineapple guava. This home is zoned residential and commercial. Come experience this unique in-town Ojai oasis where views of the Los Padres and a sense of peace will surround you.

Beautiful, flat useable lot, just under an acre located in the City of Ojai. great views from this lot.

Zoned commercial — come build your dream!

If you are looking for a quintessential downtown cottage with a guest house ... then look no more. Located in the heart of downtown Ojai.

Donna Sallen

805-798-0516

w w w. D o n n a S a l l e n . c o m D o n n a 4 re m a x @ a o l .c o m

Located in the Golden West neighborhood of Ojai downtown, this incomegenerating home is very warm and welcoming. The backyard is a gardener’s delight.

The Best Rates?

Keeping Your Loan Fees to a Minimum

By Therese A. Hartmann

I often get phone calls from folks who are shopping around for the “best rates” asking something akin to “what are your interest rates on a 30-year fixed:?

Honestly, I wish it were that simple but interest rates and fees depend on a number of things to include credit scores, equity in a home (or down payment), loan amount, etc. Once we dig into things a little, usually within around 10 minutes, I’m able to provide a reasonable estimate.

The interest rate question is typically followed up with “what are your fees?” and this is where a good mortgage broker can break everything down for you.

Paying an origination fee is part of getting a loan and includes the cost of processing, underwriting, and financing a loan. The origination fees are separate from your down payment and usually part of your closing costs, all of which are included on a Loan Estimate. Here, in an easy-to-read format, are some of what an origination fee covers: • Loan processing — includes reviewing and scrubbing your application while

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preparing documents and working with escrow for a successful closing.

• Underwriting — lenders number crunchers who analyze and verify your income, title reports, review credit scores and appraisal and so much more.

• Loan funding — paying “points” that lower your interest rate, will be included as part of an origination fee.

Origination fees must be paid but not necessarily by the borrower. If it’s a home purchase, buyers might negotiate a higher price for the home and then have sellers pay a bigger portion of overall fees. Lenders too can cover origination through a credit to borrower. This is accomplished with a higher interest rate.

So, even while it’s less up-front money for borrowers, you would want to consider all options. This is something a seasoned loan consultant, like myself, can help you with. Leaving one question, why agonize over decisions when you can rely on a professional to help you navigate?

OM — February 2021

Therese A. Hartmann has 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.

Donna Sallen

Your Ojai life awaits in this 4,314 square-foot, 5-bedroom, 5-bath home amid the orange blossom-scented air of the legendary East End. With 2.38 acres, you’ve got plenty of room for gardens and projects. Perfect for entertaining and hosting friends and family in the guesthouse, cottages and writer’s studio, this two-story Victorian will open your sense of possibility and wonder.

Donna Sallen 805-798-0516 w w w. D o n n a S a l l e n . c o m D o n n a 4 re m a x @ a o l . c o m

There’s no place like home ...

Let me find yours.

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Preparing Your Outdoor Living Areas for Spring

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

As the weather warms and we move towards spring, it is clear that most of our entertaining still needs to occur outdoors.

And, even for those of us who may be holding off on hosting dinner parties, being at home this much over the past year has certainly resulted in wanting to spend more time outside. So, as we prepare for spring, here are seven things you can do to make sure your outdoor living areas are ready to be enjoyed by you, your family, your pets, and your guests.

1. Remove the clutter: Removing clutter is always the first step. Before you can prepare any space for entertaining or comfortable, everyday living, you must first remove unnecessary items and put away any clutter that has collected over the last few months. Now is a good time to clean out and organize your garden shed as well, since that can free up space for some of the clutter currently hanging out on your patio.

2. Check your irrigation system: Doing an overall check of your irrigation system allows you to prepare for spring planting and to make sure that there are no leaks or wayward sprinkler heads affecting your outdoor living areas. Prune bushes blocking sprinkler heads, walk your system while it is running to look for leaks, adjust sprinkler heads to ensure

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the most efficient spray patterns, and check your rain sensor to make sure it is working properly.

3. Clean your home’s exterior and gutters: When the rainy season comes to an end, it is a good time to clean the gutters again, remove cobwebs from your fascia and eaves, and spray down the exterior of your home. The rain may have taken care of any accumulated dust, but it also may have splashed mud on the exterior walls, so a quick spray with a garden hose is probably in order.

4. Clean your outdoor kitchen: If you are like most folks in Ojai, you have probably been using your outdoor kitchen almost as much in winter as you do in summer. As the weather improves, you will likely start using it even more, so take this opportunity to give your grill a good cleaning, clean out the fridge, and get your servingware organized before your next al fresco dinner party.

5. Clean your fire pit, patio fireplace, or other fire feature: Since you have likely been using your fire features throughout winter, now is a good time to clean them, make sure they are functioning properly, and check for safety issues before the spring entertaining season begins.

OM — February 2021

6. Refresh your patio furniture: Clean metal or plastic patio furniture by wiping it down with a simple vinegar-water mix and a damp rag. If that doesn’t quite do the trick, make a paste by mixing baking soda with water to create a mildly abrasive cleaner for tougher spots.

For wood furniture, use a wood cleaner followed by furniture wax to add a layer of protection.

If a good cleaning is not quite enough to bring your patio furniture back to its previous luster, it might be time to give it a new coat of stain or paint to refresh its finish.

7. Clean or replace patio cushions and dog beds: Between the wind and the rain, patio cushions can get a bit worse for wear over the winter. Take the opportunity to launder or spot clean them as we move into the spring entertaining season. If they are beyond repair, or you simply want to freshen the look of your patio, you might consider replacing them instead.

We mustn’t forget our furry friends when sprucing up our outdoor living areas. If you left your dogs’ beds out in the rain one too many times over the winter, it might be time to upgrade their outdoor living with new beds that match your patio cushions.

FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS While Edward Drummond Libbey is rightfully regarded among Ojai’s chief benefactors — having been behind the buildbing 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

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

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

Record High Year 115° 2018

Population:

7,461

Valley: (est.)

21,300

Record Low Year 16° 1990

Households::

3,176

Elevation:

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.

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 — February 2021

21

WHO’S WHO

IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?

TO BE LISTED HERE, PLEASE CALL ROSS @ 805-207-5094

22

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

Joe Davis Full service property management, residential • Commercial • Industrial JoeTheRentalGuy.com.

805-574-9774

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

Anne Williamson Keller Williams Realty Anneshomesinojai.com 805-320-3314

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

Marsha Kaye Home Mortgage Consultant Phone: 805640-0654 Cell: 805-7469055 marsha.kaye@ homebridge. com

Stephen Adelman Broker Associate “Your Family Man Realtor” LIV Sotheby’s realestateojai@ gmail.com ojailuxuryrealestate.com 805-640-5563

Kristen Currier LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-3757 thehoffgroup. 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 — February 2021

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

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

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

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

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

Therese A. Hartmann is a local loan consultant affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation, and is a Licensed Broker, California BRE #01048403. NMLS # 298291. For a free consultation, call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

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

OM — February 2021

23

AGAVE MARIA Fresh, wholesome Mexican food & drink 106 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-6353 agavemarias.com

JIM & ROB’S FRESH GRILL Mexican-American & regional favorites 214 West Ojai Avenue #100 (805) 640-1301 jimandrobsojai.com

AJ EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS Gourmet Chinese food to eat in or to go 11566 North Ventura Avenue (805) 646-1177 ajchinesecuisine.com

JJ’S SPORTS ZONE The go-to place for food & sports 820 North Ventura Avenue (805) 649-4655 jjssportszone.com

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY 331 Ojai Ave. (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878 TheOnlyGoodPizza.com OJAI ROTIE Rotisserie, sourdough, winebox 469 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9227 ojairotie.com

AZU Spanish & Mediterranean comfort food 457 East Ojai Avenue (805) 640-7987, azuojai.com

HIP VEGAN Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls 201 North Montgomery Street hipvegancafe.com (805) 669-6363

PAPA LENNON’S Family owned, original & Italian cuisine 515 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-7388 papalennons.com

BOCCALI’S Pizza & Pasta, from our farm to our tables 3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Road (805) 646-6116 boccalis.com

HOME KITCHEN OF OJAI Breakfast and lunch in a warm space 1103 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-5346 HomeKitchenofOjai.com

RAINBOW BRIDGE A community gathering place 211 East Matilija Street (805) 646-6623 rainbowbridgeojai.com

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

KNEAD BAKING COMPANY An artisanal family bakery 469 East Ojai Avenue (310) 770-3282 kneadbakingcompany.com

THE RANCH HOUSE An Ojai culinary destination for more than 60 years 102 Besant Road (805) 646-2360 theranchhouse.com

CAFE EMPORIUM Locals’ favorite breakfast and lunch 108 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-2723 ojaicafeemporium.com CASA DEL LAGO Ojai’s original Mexican restaurant 715 E Ojai Avenue (805) 640-1577 THE DEER LODGE An Ojai legend since 1932 2261 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-4256 deerlodgeojai.com

MANDALA Pan-Asian Cuisine 11400 North Ventura Road (805) 613-3048 THE NEST 401 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9035 thenestojai.com NO SO VITA Ojai’s social cafe 205 North Signal Street (805) 646-1540 nosovita.com

FARMER & THE COOK The best of organic Ojai 339 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-9608 farmerandcook.com

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

FOOD HARMONICS Nutritional Love 254 East Ojai Avenue (Arcade) (805) 798-9253

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

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OM — February 2021

traditional

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 SOULE PARK GOLF COURSE BAR & GRILL Patio & indoor dining with Ojai’s most tranquil views 1033 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-5685 soulepark.com Check websites for specific information, due to the pandemic, hours, offerings and on-site dining options may change frequently.

CHEF RANDY’S LIFE OF SPICE easy chili rellenos Chile rellenos, which translates to “stuffed chiles,” is one of Mexico’s most beloved dishes. They are traditionally made from whole poblano, pasilla, or Anaheim chilies that are stuffed with cheese, dipped in an egg batter, and fried until golden brown. During the 1800s, when the dish was originally invented, chile rellenos were stuffed with minced meat and didn’t have the fried batter layer. My version leaves out the meat and the fried batter. I think it is more nutritious. It is, without a doubt, super tasty and easier to make. Make the sauce ahead of time, and prep time is considerably reduced.

INGREDIENTS: 4 large poblano peppers (whole with stems) 8 to 10 ounces Mexican queso fresco Relleno Sauce (see recipe below*) Mexican Crema (to drizzle) Pepitas (toasted for garnish) Cilantro (chopped for garnish)

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.

Healthy

Quick + Easy

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

• Wash and dry the peppers. Place peppers on a sheet pan and place the pan in the middle rack — roast for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the peppers over. Return the peppers to the oven and roast for another 15 minutes or until tender. Remove the peppers from the oven and set them aside.

• Cut a slit in the peppers from the stem to the pointy end and, using your fingers, gently remove seeds. If the thin skins slip off, let them, but don’t worry about peeling them, especially poblanos. Their skins are quite thin so leaving some of the skin is perfectly fine. Carefully stuff the peppers with the cheese.

• Pour half of the sauce into the prepared baking dish to coat the bottom. Place the stuffed peppers on top of the sauce, seam side up. Pour the rest of the sauce over the peppers and cover with foil. Reduce the oven to 425 degrees and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

• Remove from oven and uncover. Drizzle with Mexican crema. Garnish with pepitas and cilantro. Bring to the table while still hot from the oven.

RELLENO SAUCE INGREDIENTS:* • 2 tablespoons butter • 1/2 yellow onion (fine diced) • 1 green bell pepper (fine dice) • 2 cloves garlic (minced) • 1 cup vegetable broth • 14 ounce can diced tomatoes • 1/2 teaspoon Anaheim (red) chile powder • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon (no chicken base) 2 tablespoons flour (dissolved in 1/4 cup cold water) RELLENO SAUCE DIRECTIONS: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, pepper, and garlic. Sauté for 4 minutes. Add vegetable broth, tomatoes (and their juice), chili powders, and bouillon. Stir to combine, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in flour/water combination and cook for two minutes more.

Let sauce cool. Pour sauce into a blender and blend until pureed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Fall/Winter

Vegetarian

See Chef Randy’s website for more recipes at: valley-vegetarian.com

OM — February 2021

25

CREATIVE SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

GALLERY

WORKSHOPS

POTTERY PARTIES

FREE TOURS

805 272 8760 www.firestickpottery.com Open Daily 10 - 6 Gallery Open to the Public 1804 East Ojai Avenue

Dale Hanson

Ojai Valley Real Estate (805)646-7229

B.R.E. 01229522 Notary Public

dale@ojaivalleyrealestate.com Call me for your real estate needs.

Residential, commercial, or business opportunity.

Great location for commercial business or restaurant. Large parking in back. The building is updated and very clean. Forced air and heating, 3 private offices. A bath room and small wet kitchen. Separate attached unit with 3/4 bath and private entrance and address. $775,000

26

OM — February 2021

Now available at

frontier paint

227 Baldwin Rd., Ojai 805-646-0459

www.frontierpaint.biz

Whitman Architectural Design

www.whitman-architect.com 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

Design and Supply for Your Living Spaces

OM — February 2021

27

OQ | HI K I NG MAP 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28

3

4

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

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

6

7

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

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

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 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.

9

10

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

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

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 — February 2021

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We know Ojai.

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2020 Remodel on 17 acres with gated entry, lighted tennis court, approximately 15 acres of avocado orchards, multiple outdoor living areas, outdoor kitchen, 3,000-square-foot shop, two fireplaces, multi-room master suite, amazing views, and much more. $5,900,000

Three-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom Golden West home remodeled in 2020 with two fireplaces, swimming pool, fruit trees, flexible spaces for home office or hobbies. www.1116DelNidoCourt.com $1,250,000

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nora@ojaivalleyestates.com

We’re lifelong residents.

Rancho Tranquilo is located on 5+ acres in Upper Ojai with five bedrooms, flex rooms, two fireplaces, pool, tennis court, caretaker’s quarters, horse facilities, solar, RV garage, views and more. www.12605HighwindsRoad.com $3,375,000

Country living close to town with four bedrooms, gated entry, arena, covered corrals, turnout area, on-grid solar, separate workshop, over-sized garage and mountain views. $1,595,000

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Four-bedroom, two-bathroom, remodeled home with laundry room, two-car garage, gated RV parking, oval soaking tub, dual-sink vanity, and amazing mountain and river basin views. $885,000

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805.798.0322

G a b r i e l a Ce s e ñ a T H E N E X T L E V E L O F R E A L E S TAT E S E R V I C E S Re a l t o r ® | L u x u r y S p e c i a l i s t Unwavering commitment to my clients’ satisfaction.

D R I V E N B Y PA S S I O N F O R T H E W O R K I D O !

805.236.3814 | gabrielacesena@bhhscal.com LIC# 01983530

Gabrielacesena.bhhscalifornia.com © 2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. 32

OM — February 2021