Ojai Monthly - January 2023

PALATIAL PERSIMMON HILL ESTATE

This magnificent 12,000 sqft, three-level, Mediterranean-style home, designed by Marc Whitman, has flowing curves, arched doorways, cathedral ceilings and 11,000 sqft of balconies, terraces and decks. Perfectly appointed on the 4-acre lot, it takes full advantage of the pristine natural setting and sweeping views. Every detail has been custom-designed and sourced with an emphasis on craftsmanship and quality.

Price Upon Request

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

DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL

This rare mixed-use property on 1/3 acre, zoned for both residential and commercial use, has two separate buildings and could be a live-in business, a gallery, a retail shop, a yoga studio, a healing center or anything you can envision. The main 1br/1.5ba building has a kitchen, reception area, showroom, and workroom. In back is a private studio with wood floors and clerestory windows. Includes 10 parking spaces and beautifully landscaped grounds.

Offered at $2,250,000

DISCOVER OJAI MONTHLY HOMES ON THE RANGE

"We're only three missed meals from chaos." — Attributed to Vladimir Lenin

Speaking recently on our podcast with Dan Parziale about his imminent Mesa Farm project, transitional living facilities on a 10-acre East End property, got me thinking about apparently insoluble problems. Homelessness certainly qualifies. There is a crisis of kids aging out of the foster care system into a world with little to no support. As he mentioned, the greatest predictor of a child ending up being homeless was having been homeless at some prior point in their lives.

Bret Bradigan

The vast gulf of privilege that separates us doesn't feel sustainable. It feels like someone, somewhere, must be sharpening the guillotine blades. Eric Hoffer made the astute observation that the people closest to the knife's edge of survival aren't the ones who start the revolutions. They are too busy trying to survive. It is those who are one rung from power, or those recently dispossessed of their power. The poor are, however, the ones who pay the highest cost for chaos.

Ojai has long been a place of inequality, as is any affluent place where most of the people who work here can't afford to live here. Affordable housing is another one of those seemingly insoluble problems; a Venn diagram of it and homelessness would show lots of overlap. So if we were to find a solution, it would solve several problems at once:

• Homelessness, first and foremost. Though any honest observer would understand that many factors contribute to homelessness, not just the lack of affordable housing. Addiction and mental health are twin, coinciding and self-perpetuating problems. Still, it is easier to start your trip down recovery road with a roof over your head.

• Traffic. Imagine how much more pleasant Ojai would be without the long lines of traffic coming in and out every day, if the people who staff our restaurants and hotels, teach our children and police our streets didn't have to commute in and out?

• Air quality. Again, fewer miles being driven means many fewer tons of carbon being spewed into our closed basin; the Ojai Valley is ringed with mountains and the air doesn't circulate well, as evidenced by our often-poor air quality index scores.

• Social infrastructure: Ojai is famous for our vibrant community life, the world-class events we host, our service clubs and volunteer spirit. This otherwise positive social identity could be even stronger if the people who worked here also lived here. When everyone has skin in the game, so to speak, the barriers between income, class and race fade or at least blur in a widely-shared sense of unity. We'd be building more rungs on the ladder of opportunity.

• Progress. Have solved one problem is the best predictor for being able to solve another. The sense of achievement perpetuates itself. As the aphorism puts it, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

No magic wand will create enough affordable housing units for Ojai. It will likely take a combination of things, some more popular and achieveable than others. Very few people are keen on density, the Californian love of sprawl is too ingrained. But judicious infill can be a big step, and be much more energy-efficient and easier on the environment. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are coming onboard in encouraging numbers. Voucher programs, emergency rental assistance funds, organizing community land trusts and tiny home parks, in combination, can go a long ways, too. Reducing requirements for parking also eases up the expense and difficulty of construction. As Jane Jacobs wrote, "The greatness of a city can be measured by how difficult it is to park." A little walking might be a good thing for us.

JANUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

galleries recurring events readings

DECEMBER 15 – FEBRUARY 5

“Paintings by Keith Vaughan”

Times: Thursdays through Sundays, Noon to 5 p.m.

Location: canvas and paper 311 North Montgomery Street Contact: canvasandpaper.org

A non-profit exhibition space showing paintings and drawings from the 20th century and earlier in thematic and single artist exhibits.Free admission.

JANUARY 31

Amartithi Open House Time: 12 noon to 5 p.m. Location: Meher Mount 9902 Sulphur Mountain Road You are invited to visit Meher Mount on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, for the Amartithi open house in honor of Avatar Meher Baba. The event is free and open to all. You are welcome to spend time at Meher Baba’s touchstones, enjoy the views, and experience the silence and beauty of nature. The Topa Topa Patio, which looks out at the Topa Topa Bluffs, is open for picnics. There is no formal program.

RECURRING EVENTS

Historical Walking Tours of Ojai

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

Location: Departs from the Ojai Valley Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue. Contact: 640-1390 ojaivalleymuseum.org

DECEMBER 11

“Ojai Cars & Coffee”

Time: 8 to 10 a.m.

Location: Westridge Midtown Market 131 West Ojai Avenue

Ojai Cars & Coffee events take place in the parking lot of the Westridge Midtown Market. The public is welcome to enjoy the mix of vintage classics, old muscle cars and luxury vehicles, and to talk with the proud owners.

Ojai Valley Improv’s Classes on Saturdays Times: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Mondays

Location: The Raymund Room at The Ojai Art Center, 113 South Montgomery Street Contact: 818-648-9540

Learn to own your power, embrace your feear, develop better listening skills, value collaboration, adapt and be agile.Build a great ensemble troupe.

Beginner’s Improv Classes are also available Mondays at Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio. Cost is $10 per session, first class is free.

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 lis-

ten, everyone is welcome! Drop in and join the fun. We read and discuss Shakespeare’s plays.

JANUARY 26

“Artists’ Critique Group”

Time: 7 p.m. Location: 238 East Ojai Avenue Contact: OjaiValleyArtists.com 805-646-5682

On the last Wednesday of each month at OVA Arts Gallery, Patty Van Dyke and Nancy Horwick lead the Artists Critique Group at 7 p.m. If you’d like some helpful discussion and comments, come to our monthly sessions.

THURSDAYS

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

BY ILONA SAARI

On New Year’s Eve day, in the midst of a cold Buffalo, New York winter, Joann Yabrof, nee Float, made her Baby Boomer entrance. At the stroke of midnight, horns sounded and confetti fell as her mom, Ruth Magdalene Mueller Float, a registered nurse, and her dad, John Wesley Float, a future anesthesiologist, were celebrating her arrival into the New Year. And older brother, John Wesley Float III now had a little sister.

Joann attended Public School #83 with its blacktop playground, high chain-link fence and “teachers not warm and fuzzy,” she recalls ... maybe due to the cold and blizzards that left ten-foot drifts. While still in grammar school, Joann’s parents sold their home and hit the road cross-country in an old station wagon, “camping out in national parks or staying with relatives and friends.” After a trip to Disneyland where Joann was

JOANN YABROF, BEING A DOCENT ON THE HOLIDAY HOME LOOK-IN AT THE HOME OF HAWK & MOLLY KOCH

JOAN YABROV AND BROTHERS: JOHN ON THE LEFT, JEFF ON THE RIGHT JOANN

enchanted, and a medical conference in San Francisco, the family headed home. Back in Buffalo, the family moved to the suburbs where Joann developed a crush on Mickey Mantle as he battled Roger Maris for the home run record in 1961. “It was a great year — I grew taller, lost my baby fat, and we could finally afford clothes that weren’t bargain-basement parochial school rejects.”

It was around this time that baby brother Jeffrey James Float was born. Joann was thrilled and took on the role of big sister/second mother, “It was great training for

my highly successful babysitting business,” she muses. “Sadly, Jeffrey contracted spinal meningitis which left him with permanent ear nerve damage, rendering him legally deaf,” she continues. The family worked to help Jeffrey develop his communication skills, but “God bless Mrs. Ashford, his speech therapist! I think my later interest in phonics and linguistics was kindled by the experience,” she says.

A SIDE NOTE: Riddled with way too much energy, Jeff took up swimming and ended up being trained by Mark Spitz’s coach. Jeff, who once held the world record for the butterfly stroke, was scheduled to swim in in the 1980 Olympics. He appeared on the covers of Swimming World and Sports Illustrated and was predicted to break Spitz’s eight-gold medal win record. Then, Russia invaded Afghanistan and the U.S. boycotted the Olympics. Fast forward to four years later.

Jeff became captain of the U.S. swim team and won a gold medal “in what is considered one of the most exciting races in history. I got to be there! Yes, I’m a proud big sis!” Joann says with joy.

Once again, the family moved — this time to “no snow” country — Sacramento, California where Joann’s father completed his internship and residency. While in high school Joann was on the school’s drill team which won the state championship. That led to a cultural exchange trip to Veracruz, Mexico and the beginning of Joann’s many travel adventures. When the family hosted two girls from Bogota, Columbia, her interest and fascination with other cultures expanded.

As a student at U.C. Davis Joan met her future husband,

JOANN YABROF AT THE BASE OF JAPAN’S MOUNT FUJI

JOANN YABROF & FAMILY

Mark Alan Yabrof, at the end of her freshman year. “It was like at first sight,” she says. “When he hitchhiked (partly by private plane) to surprise me at Lake Almanor where my family was vacationing, I guess I figured there might be something more there.” They became engaged that fall. Later, when Joann graduated on a Thursday with a double major in History and German, it was followed by a rehearsal dinner on Friday, their wedding on Saturday with a one-night stand honeymoon, then on Sunday, she and Mark moved in together, and on Monday Joann started graduate school.

A whirlwind, life-changing week!

“I was fortunate to get into the first-of-its-kind program at Stanford where I got my teaching credential and Masters in teaching at the same time. However, there was a shortage of teaching vacancies at the time, but despite that, Joann found a pot-of-gold at the end of the job-hunting rainbow as a German teacher and drill team coach at the brand-new Cerritos High School. It was time to move again, this time to Southern California, “Mark’s old stomping grounds.”

After her first year teaching, she and Mark had saved enough money for a down payment on the “cheapest cracker box available in Rowland Heights,” as she describes it. Mark was in law school at night, and working as a paralegal by day in Ventura. On a “sparkling spring day,” she remembers, they drove over the Conejo Grade for the first time, and knew they had found “their” place. They bought a home in East Ventura and became parents to son Justin Scott in 1979, then son Bryan John in 1982. Mark working full time and going to school at night left Joann “feeling like a single mom wrestling two boys — which put a strain on our relationship,” she says. They made a commitment to work on their marriage. On both their ‘do together’ lists was scuba diving. They went for it. After certification, they dived into life together at some of the world’s top dive spots.

As the boys grew older, they decided to move again to a place with less traffic and found a “lovely gem” in Oak View, California. Joann went back to teaching, first as a part-time reading specialist at Topa Topa Elementary School, then a full-time 2nd grade teacher at Mira Monte. After the boys went off to college, she was the Ojai Unified School District grade level coordinator for 2nd grade teachers and was on the leadership team for the

California Reading & Literature Project, training teachers. She became “obsessed” with the study of Education Through Music (ETM) and was on the leadership team’s Classroom Literacy task force, and governing board of the Richards Institute of Education and Research. “We traveled to Japan every other year to share the ETM program with many teachers there.”

Joann and Mark celebrated their 30th anniversary with a motorcycle safety course and enjoyed jaunts on the open road — he on a Harley, she on a Honda Shadow. They continued to travel to dive destinations and enjoyed their empty nest time together, until Mark was suddenly felled by cancer at age 53. It was a heartbreaking time for Joann and her sons, but they had a great support system they helped them through it.

In Joann’s last five years of teaching, she worked at the University Preparation School at Cal State Channel Islands, then retired early from teaching at 62 to spend time with her sons and their families. Retired? Not so fast! She reconnected with a mentor from her younger days who had started EPIC Leadership Center, which mentored kids and families in a field workers’ barrio in East Ventura.

She became a Board member and volunteered for an

JOAN YABROV TRAINING TEACHERS IN NIGERIA

after-school art program.This involvement led to Joann training teachers in Nigeria in interactive teaching techniques. “It felt so good to pay it forward after I had had so many opportunities to learn, and I hated to waste all that hard-won experience.” After Nigeria, Joann and others were invited twice to Ethiopia to teach. “I realized that the learning tasks that I had labored to create were a ready-made doctoral project, so at age 65, I earned my Doctor of Transformational Leadership degree.”

Pre-pandemic, Joann was invited to lead workshops at a symposium in Belgium about Ojai’s community youth work and also about the Ojai Church of the Wild, where she and others worship without walls in a cathedral of nature under the sky. Speaking several languages has enhanced her world travel experiences as she’s traveled to every continent except Antarctica

Back in Ojai, she is currently on the steering committee of the Ojai Women’s Fund, is active in the Women’s Music Festival Committee and is deeply involved with its Holiday Home Look-In fundraiser. Still involved with the EPIC Leadership Center, Joann continues to be a Girl Scout leader and has volunteered for the Ojai

Storytelling Festival since its inception. And, as a resident storyteller for several day camps around the state, she started the “Granny Joanny” YouTube channel during the pandemic to record stories when kids were unable to go to camp. But home is her sanctuary and she has opened it up to provide free housing to women over the years who needed a chance to reset.

A few years ago, Joann decided to reenter the dating world to add some male companionship as icing for her very rich life-cake. On “Our Time,” a Match.com for seniors, she connected with a charming professor, David J. Whalen, Ph.D and “we are still keeping company.” They enjoy dining out, going to the theater and concerts when not playing word games or conversing in different languages.

“My merry widow life is very fulfilling!” she says and the Ojai community is all the merrier for it.

JOAN YABROV IN JAPAN EATING GOLD LEAF ICE CREAM

to this lovely Spanish Style Hacienda home located right downtown Ojai and sitting on just shy of half an acre. This home,

in 1997 and fully remodeled in 2007, (including electric and plumbing) has a flexible floor plan allowing for extended family or separate guest quarters — plenty of room for everyone. You enter into the living room which is open to the dining room on one side and large den on the other. The cook’s dream kitchen, with stainless appliances, granite countertops, wine refrigerator and breakfast bar, is big enough for family gatherings or just a cozy time with your morning coffee. The guest quarters, 1 bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom is attached to the main house, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Located behind the private gates Welcome to a rare find in Ojai. This lovely four-bedroom, three-bath home has vaulted ceilings and a spacious open floor plan. There is a fireplace in the living room which is open to the kitchen and dining room with French doors leading to magical gardens. A large library is off the living room with two offices upstairs. Perfect blend of indoor/outdoor living as there are many windows and plenty of light. There is a 2 bedroom,1 bath guest house and an artist studio on the property as well. All of this is sitting on 7.5 flat usable acres with some of the most incredible views of the majestic mountains.

Views, Views, Views! This lovely Spanish home sits atop a hill with stunning views of the Mountains and Valley. Tucked away up Tower Road on the East End of Ojai. This four bedroom, three bathroom home has gleaming hardwood floors and Saltillo tiles, two fireplaces, a cook's dream kitchen with top of the line appliances, custom cabinetry and breakfast bar. There are french doors leading to a large patio off the living room where you will want to spend time enjoying sunsets and sunrises. This home offers the perfect mix of indoor/outdoor living, lots of light and plenty of balconies off several bedrooms. Completely private and serene setting on 2 acres of natural landscape where the deer love to visit.

Be It Hereby Resolved: Be Kind & Grateful

According to a handful of studies I looked at before writing this, somewhere between 80 percent and 90 percent of New Years resolutions are abandoned shortly after making them.

This is often due to goals being too ambitious, too vague, too much of a departure from our current lifestyles and interests, depriving us of something we really enjoy, or too focused on achieving a particular goal rather than improving our lives by increasing or reducing behaviors.

Life is difficult enough without us being hard on ourselves or setting ourselves up for failure by establishing unrealistic goals. So, this year, maybe we should all consider focusing more on progress than perfection, setting intentions instead of rigid goals, and sticking with resolutions that we can keep and that will improve

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

our lives, health, or community involvement at least a little.

One of the key components in making resolutions you can keep is making them measurable and being specific. For example, instead of a vague goal like “I am going to walk more,” try something you can easily quantify like, “I am going to walk three additional miles each week.”

Secondly, your goals are going to be easier to achieve if they help you live in line with your values. As I mentioned in last year’s New Year column, one thing that many of us gained in the pandemic is clarity regarding our priorities. We now have a better understanding of what is important to us and deserves our energy.

If your resolutions help you live in line with these values, they will be easier and more satisfying to accomplish.

Something else that will help you keep your resolutions this year is building on goals you are already achieving. An example would be expanding the water-saving efforts you have already fully incorporated into your life to gently push yourself to up your water-conservation game even more. This might include adding another rain barrel to your gutter system, expanding your drip system, or reducing your family’s meat consumption.

Whatever you choose for your resolutions this year, remember to be kind to yourself, grateful for the loved ones in your life, and committed to making time for self-care.

Here’s to the new year! May it bring you peace, joy, love, and prosperity however you define each of those.

FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS

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

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

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

Weather in Ojai

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

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

OJAI QUICK FACTS:

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

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

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

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

Ross Falvo

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

WHO’S WHO IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?

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

Dennis Guernsey

LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-1998

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

Nora Davis

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

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.

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

Vivienne Moody

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

Amanda Stanworth

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

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

Larry Wilde

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

Erik Wilde

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

Ojai’s Top Selling Team LivinginOjai.com 805.340.3192 805.350.7575

Don & Cheree Edwards RE/MAX Gold Coast

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

Keller Williams Realty Anneshomesinojai.com 805-320-3314

Kathy Hoff

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

sharing good thoughts about the year ahead

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

Joe Davis Full service property management, residential • Commercial • Industrial JoeTheRentalGuy.com. 805-574-9774

Now we are entering into the New Year of 2023!

New Years are always a new start of our life, as it was. Sometimes we review our thoughts, emotions, changes, and imagine the beginning of a new year, as it is somewhat a revival of ourselves.

Our review of our past year may contain a reflection of what is to be in the future. It could contain items of our interests, such as moving, connecting, and possibly changes in work or family life. Do you see changes in your partnerships, marriages, families, work space, or more?

The first of the year brings fresh outlooks on many items. It is an organizing time at home, a possible change of attitudes and good thoughts for the future.

I wish you all have the New Year’s positive thoughts to guide you into 2023!

Dawn E. Shook - Executive Officer, Ojai Valley Board of REALTORS

AGAVE MARIA

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

AJ’S EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS

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

BOCCALI’S

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

BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE

Traditional American breakfast & brunch 328 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-0207

THE DEER LODGE

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

FARMER & THE COOK

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

YUME JAPANESE BURGER

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

JIM

& ROB’S FRESH GRILL

Mexican-American & regional favorites

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

HIP VGN

Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls 201 North Montgomery Street

hipvegancafe.com (805) 669-6363

HOME KITCHEN OF OJAI

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

MANDALA

Pan-Asian Cuisine 11400 North Ventura Road (805) 613-3048

THE NEST

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

LO>E SOCIAL CAFE

205 North Signal Street (805) 646-1540 nosovita.com

OAK GRILL @ THE INN

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

OJAI COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY

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

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY

331 Ojai Avenue (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878 TheOnlyGoodPizza.com

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY (Oak View)

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

OJAI ROTIE

Rotisserie, sourdough, winebox 469 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9227 ojairotie.com

OSTERIA MONTE GRAPPA

Rustic menu of Northern Italian fare & seafood dishes.

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

PAPA LENNON’S

Family owned, original & traditional Italian cuisine

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

RAINBOW BRIDGE

A community gathering place

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

THE RANCH HOUSE

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

SAKURA OJAI

A locals’ favorite for Japanese food 219 East Matilija Street (805) 646-8777 sakuraojai.wix.com

SEA FRESH

Serving Ojai for 30 years 533 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-7747 seafreshseafood.com

ZAIDEE’S BAR & GRILL

Patio & indoor dining with Ojai’s most tranquil views

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

CHEF RANDY’S LIFE OF SPICE

Portobello MushrooM Wellington

The pairing of Portobello mushroom earthiness with fresh winter kale and the creamy goodness of Stilton cheese will delight both family and friends. Serve with a sparkling wine and this is a combination that can’t be beat. Here’s an added bonus: these puff pastry appetizers can be made ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to bake.

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

4 medium Portobello mushrooms

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 bunch fresh red chard (ribs trimmed, leaves cut into ribbons)

1 clove garlic (minced)

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste

4 ounces Stilton cheese (sliced)

1 package puff pastry sheets

1 large egg (beaten)

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

DIRECTIONS:

Vegetarian

Year-Round (But best in winter)

Heat grill to medium-hot (about 400 degrees).

Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and brush off the tops. Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan on medium heat and cook for three to four minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set the pan and the mushrooms aside to cool completely. Clean chard leaves under running cold water. Hold the stem of one leaf in your hand and

grasping the leafy part with your other hand, tear the rib away from the stem. Discard stems and cut leaves into 1/4-inch ribbons.

Place the pan back on the stove and add the other two tablespoons oil. Add the garlic and cook on medium-high heat for one minute. Add the chard to the pan, and then cook for two minutes. Remove from heat, add lemon, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Roll the pastry out to 1/8th-inch thickness. Cut out eight circles about four inches in diameter (depending upon the size of the mushrooms). Place four pastry circles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Top each circle with a quarter of the chard. Top the chard with a slice of cheese, then a mushroom, smooth-side up, and top the mushroom with another slice of cheese. Brush the border to each circle with egg, then gently stretch one of the four remaining circles over the cheese and press the edges together with a fork. Repeat three more times.

Quick + Easy

IN OJAI

Homes Sold Last Month

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT HOME SALES

97 Wild Oak Street, 4 bed, 1.75 bath 1,555 square feet, $759,500

11291 Oakcrest Avenue, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,910 sf, $830,000

322 South Padre Juan Avenue, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,236 sf, $880,000

1190 Camille Drive, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,311 sf, $920,000

302 South Montgomery Street, 1 bed, 1 bath, 520 sf, $950,000

1198 Woodland Avenue 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,311 sf, $992,023

851 Loma Drive, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,505 sf, $1,130,000

120 Alto Drive, Oak View, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,652 sf, $1,250,000

1214 Ayers Avenue, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,204 sf, $1,300,000

510 Pleasant Avenue, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,912 sf, $1,375,000

227 South Montgomery Street, 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,850 sf, $1,420,000

237 South Lomita Avenue, 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,374 sf, $1,749,000

254 South Pueblo Avenue, 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,095 sf, $1,850,000

1105 North Montgomery Street, 4 bed, 2.5 bath, 3,374 sf, $1,900,000

405 Palomar Road, 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,582 sf, $2,025,000

the wrath of Judge Judy

A Few Guidelines for Multi-Generational Living

By Therese A. Hartmann

My father was a fan of Judge Judy and he held her out as the highest-paid personality on television, in spite of her being a “little mean” at times.

Something we noticed is that so many arguments and lawsuits were based on roommates not getting along. In many cases, the lawsuits were between parent and child and we would both be annoyed by the level of entitlement by the child. In these situations, Judge Judy would often let the “ingrate” have it, shaming them in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers.

To be fair, it’s a tough situation for everyone when a child returns home, tail between their legs in many cases. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over half of young Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 are living with their parents today. That’s a historical high, not seen since the Great Depression! It’s only gotten worse with the pandemic and often exacerbated by student loans, high rents and the soaring costs of living. By moving home with the folks, there is some financial relief, but is it worth it and if so, are there ways to make for a peaceful co-existence?

Multigenerational living can vary from families sharing most or all living areas to having separate living sections under the same roof or property. There can even be separate entrances and multiple kitchens.

Bills and housework are often split among the employed, and parents benefit from having grandparents step in with caregiving when needed. Grandparents

also benefit by having their children and grandchildren available to take them to doctors’ appointments, shopping errands, and social events with their friends.

The pooling of finances is one of the top benefits of living in a multigenerational home as the mortgage is typically the No. 1 expense. Living together can also lead to building closer family ties (if done right), give opportunities for child care/adult care, camaraderie, etc.

Living with family members has its perks, but it doesn’t mean that conflicts won’t arise. Here are some ideas on how to make it work for everyone:

• Create separate spaces: privacy is important so creating separate entrances, installing kitchenettes and creating a private outdoor patio, are key.

• Create house rules: It’s always a good idea to get clear on expectations in advance. They should be written and thorough. Adding instructions above the laundry facility, for instance, help so folks don’t get tripped on assumptions.

• Show appreciation: If you’re moving home with your folks, realize they are helping you out. In some countries, when you turn 16, you’re expected to leave or to support the family. So, if your parents are giving you a helping hand, make sure you show your gratitude. This can be done by posting little notes, bringing flowers, making special meals or doing something you know they would like.

The other part of showing appreciation is that you save money while living at home, instead of believing you now have

more discretionary income. Make your folks proud and stand on your own two feet as soon as you can. If you think that living in a multigenerational situation is the right fit for you, please take all of the above into serious consideration. And please, please don’t be the kind of “ingrate” that will land you on an episode of Judge Judy!

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.

OQ

1 SHELF ROAD 3.5mi

EASY | Elev. Gain: 200 ft | Overlooks downtown Ojai.

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.

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.

ROSE VALLEY 1mi

EASY | Elev. Gain: 100 ft Trailhead at Rose Valley Campground. Leads to a spectacular 300-foot, two-tiered fall.

HIKING MAP

PRATT TRAIL 8.8mi

STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 3,300 ft | Trailhead off North Signal Street. Goes to Nordhoff Peak. Clear day? See forever.

COZY DELL 2.2mi

MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft |

Trailhead 8 miles north of Ojai on Maricopa Highway. Short, intense hike that also connects to trail network.

SISAR CANYON 22mi

STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 4,800 ft to Topa Topa Bluffs. Trailhead at end of Sisar Road. Only for experienced, fit hikers.

GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi

MODERATE | 3 mi to Gridley Springs (Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft) 6 mi to Nordhoff Peak. Trailhead at north end of Gridley Road.

MATILIJA CANYON 12mi

MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft | Middle Fork. Trailhead at end of Matilija Road. First 1.5 miles of trail well-maintained, the rest a scramble.

SULPHUR MTN. 22mi

MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 2,300 ft | Trailhead on eastern side of Sulphur Mountain Road. Views are unsurpassed.