Ojai Monthly - June 2022 by Ojai Quarterly

OJAI 06 22 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide

FEATURED PRO: DEVIN FULTON, DANCER EXPLORING FINANCIAL OPTIONS AN EVENTFUL MONTH IN OJAI Cover Photo: “The Music Man” — June 24 to July 24 at the Ojai Art Center. Photo by Stephen Adams Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

Location is Everything The historical Foothill Road hosts some of the most beautiful properties in Ojai. The location is ideal, close to downtown as well as the many hiking and biking trails that originate at the Pratt Trailhead. This home includes 100% owned solar panels and raised beds for a kitchen garden. it is a perfect family home with ample room for kids and grandparents alike. Come take full advantage of the peace and solace of magical Ojai!

UPPER FOOTHILL FAMILY PARADISE

This beautiful family home on a private drive off the historical Foothill Road combines modern, spacious living with the exquisite natural beauty of Ojai. The park-like setting cradles the living space and large windows allow interior and ex terior to blend, drawing the gaze outdoors and bringing in the light. The 4br/4ba home includes a formal dining room, a cottage style sunroom and a gym/office. Two primary bedroom suites feature ﬁreplaces and luxurious bathrooms. The large kitchen has granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Crown molding and ﬂoors of wood and tile create warmth and charm. An expansive front porch along with an outdoor BBQ and a stone seating area in back offer many opportunities to entertain while enjoying the beauty and serenity of the lushly landscaped nearly 1 acre lot. 1464FoothillRdOjai.com

Offered at $2,750,000

PAT T Y WALTCHER

(805) 340-3774

pattywaltcher.com

ESCAPE IN A MOMENT

Share magical moments around the table, unwind with an enriched wellness journey, and escape in a moment with the Inn Crowd Card* at Ojai’s beloved 220-acre retreat. Monday through Thursday, local residents can enjoy 15% off at seven unique dining outlets, the award-winning Forbes Five-Star Spa Ojai, curated boutiques, and the Artist Cottage. Make your reservation today to delight in the rarified spirit of Ojai Valley. *The Inn Crowd Card, issued to local residents, must be presented at time of service to receive offer.

866.976.3538 OjaiValleyInn.com 2022

OM — June 2022

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TABLE OF CONTENTS JUNE 2022

Editor’s Note

Calendar of Events

Featured Pro: Devin Fulton’s Dance Fever

Spring Cleaning for Local Nonprofits

Ojai Founding Fathers & Mothers

Who’s Who in Real Estate

Dine Ojai — Restaurant Guide

Chef Randy: Grilled Corn & Peppers

Sold In Ojai

Reverse Mortgage Pros & Cons

Ojai’s Top Ten Hikes

Editor & Publisher / Bret Bradigan Uta Ritke / Creative Director David Taylor / Sales Manager Ross Falvo / Distribution Manager Cover: Patty Waltcher, LIV Sotheby’s Realty 805-340-5774 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. 6

25 OJAI 06 22 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

OM — June 2022

DISCOVER

OJAI MONTHLY WHO DIGS YOUR GRAVE? I spent six years digging graves, then another another six in the military before I set foot in a college classroom. I never felt like I missed much. Where I was once ashamed to have performed such lowly labors, now I am proud.

Bret Bradigan

My brothers and I have different recollections of our many hours spent digging graves. They remember our dad paying them $5 or so for their labors, usually 3-4 hours to dig a grave that was 7 feet long by 4 feet wide and 54 inches deep (the old saw about six feet deep is rooted in myth, anything deeper than the 4.5 feet is totally unnecessary). I never, or at least rarely, got paid; my dad must have realized he was already providing board and keep, what did I need the money for anyway? I think he thought I’d buy drugs with it. He was probably right. In November 1963, a young New York Herald reporter named Jimmy Breslin, shut out of the scree and scrum of reporters in the mad wake of confusion of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, found another way into the story, one that didn’t depend on “access journalism” of inside government sources cultivated over decades. He saw a grim, determined man named Clifton Pollard at Arlington National Cemetery, working with a spade and backhoe, and interviewed him instead. Look it up, “Jimmy Breslin’s Gravedigger Story.” Pollard said of the sad duty, “It’s an honor.” I know what he meant. It’s a classic feature that echoes through the years, while the breathless reports of JFK’s tragedy from the veteran reporters, the Beltway insiders with quotes from bureaucrats and campaign organizers, are now long forgotten, the next day’s birdcage liner and fish wrap. Gravedigging is hard, sweaty work. Toil in a biblical sense. The ceaseless shoveling. First with the sharp-edged spade around the edges of the red-painted wood template with the angle irons. Then rolling up the sod and placing those lumpy coils in a cool shady spot, then covering them with a damp shade cloth. Another half hour or more of hard work of shoveling away the top soil, which went either into our tractor’s trailer, or into a wheelbarrow where it was unceremoniously dumped over the edge of the cemetery into the raspberry bushes in the upper cemetery, or into the hardwood forest in Forestville’s lower cemetery. Then the main act, digging out at least two dozen wheelbarrow loads of dirt, to pile up to await the memorial service. If access allowed, the backhoe operator could scoop out the grave in minutes, and I'd only be required to clean up the edges with the spade. But he took half the fee, $75 of the $150 my dad earned, a lot of money in the mid-1970s, so it was always a tradeoff. Cheap labor was a key reason to have a lot of kids in those days. I learned more working in cemeteries than any classroom; it was where the human condition was laid bare. Ashes to ashes. I learned that princes and paupers share fate, that an honest day’s work is worth something for your character, to endure unpleasantness and pain and boredom. Because life will do that. Better to learn those lessons while young. Also that there’s an impeccable state of mind within reach, to perform one final act of service for someone’s mortal remains, to honor them and all humanity. To feel the succession of generations, of birth and life all flowing through your labor, the march of humanity from past to future. It was far from boring. There’s a quality to hard labor that frees your mind. I’m hardly the first to say so. Viktor Frankl, (“Man’s Search for Meaning,”) said it best. My resolve to make something of myself was forged in that sweat and heat and discomfort. It wasn’t quite the “why” that made Frankl’s "any how” possible, but it was a handy stand in. It started me on a journey that led to Ojai, so I'm grateful. Every year our Rotary Club does a service project, cleaning brush and debris from Nordhoff cemetery. It's an honor It's a familiar place to me, and I wonder about the local gravediggers, if they pause to reflect about the lives of the people they lay into eternal rest. I'll bet they do. I know I did.

OM — June 2022

Ladd & Kelsey, Architects - The Von Hagen Residence, 1975

22035 Saddle Peak Road, Topanga, CA 90290 Beyond the steel gated entry, a long private drive gracefully ascends through park-like grounds to a broad plateau atop the mountain summit. Like the adobes at Acoma pueblo, living and working spaces hug the ground, and flow naturally across the landscape. From this 13 acre site, the vistas can honestly be characterized as nothing less than exhilarating. From above Malibu, views sweep over the Santa Monica Bay, Catalina, Palos Verdes, Long Beach and downtown LA, and continue to the San Fernando Valley, across the Simi Hills and far beyond to the San Bernardino mountains. The residence incorporates 4 bedroom suites, a kitchen, butler’s pantry, living room, dining room and den. Every room has views and direct access to the outside via tall glass sliding doors, except the living room which adjoins the dining room that opens to the ocean view and the atrium and pool opposite. The master bedroom suite includes a fireplace, luxurious large bath, dressing room, 2 cedar walk-in closets and a kitchenette. One suite has its own living room with kitchenette. The 4-car carport is attached. Across from the residence is a 3,300 sf. accessory building/showroom/ garage that lends itself to multiple uses. It includes a workshop, kitchenette, laundry, 2 baths and ample storage space. Christina Hildebrand 310.890.3313

Exclusively Representing

in Southern California

$11,995,000

310.275.2222

William Turnbull Jr., FAIA - The Tatum Beach House, 1972

12 Potbelly Beach Road, Aptos, CA 95003 First Offering: Of the many reasons this ingenious structure won Architectural Record’s Record House of the Year, perhaps the most important in terms of its gifts to living is its consciously elemental nature. The honesty of simple raw construction materials, now weathered like driftwood, and its glassy openness, enhance the occupant’s direct connection to the powerful natural forces and elements of the beach environment. To quote Donlyn Lyndon in Buildings in the Landscape: “Bill’s approach to the landscape was not one of emulation, but of cultivation. The land, the family, the acts of building, the joys of inhabiting, all merged in Bill’s mind into homes for the imagination. They are buildings that honor human presence in the land.” tatumbeachhouse.com 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1,830 s.f., .29 acres Crosby Doe 310.428.6755

Crosby Doe Associates, Inc. 8645 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 DRE# 01844144

$6,000,000 Ilana Gafni 310.779.7497

JUNE CALENDAR OF EVENTS "The Music Man" - June 24 to July 24

AMOC at the Ojai Music Festival: June 9-12

events

WEEKLY Certified Farmers Market

MAY 19 – JULY 17 Ivon Hitchens: “Flowers” Location: canvas and paper, 311 North Montgomery Street Times: Thursday to Sunday, 12 noon to 5 p.m. Contact: canvasandpaper.org Free admission — canvas and paper is a non-profit exhibition space showing paintings and drawings from the 20th century and earlier in thematic and single artist exhibits. JUNE 9 to 12

Ojai Music Festival Times: Varies Locations: Varies, most in Libbey Bowl. Contact: ojaifestivals.org 805-646-2094 This year, the artistic directors are the ensemble group AMOC, the American Modern Opera Company, performing six world premieres, plus an exciting program of classical contemporary music. JUNE 18 Ojai Wine Festival Times: 12 to 4 p.m. Lake Casitas Recreation Area 11093 Santa Ana Road Contact: 805-654-1564 OjaiWineFestival.com The Ojai Wine Festival returns after a two-year hiatus. For 34 years, the festival has served as the primary non-proﬁt fundraising eﬀort of the Rotary Club of Ojai West Foundation and its numerous philanthropic endeavors. This

year, proceeds from the Ojai Wine Festival will beneﬁt local charities including HELP of Ojai, Secure Beginnings, Ojai Uniﬁed School District, and support the free Ojai Community Band concerts in Libbey Bowl in July and August. JUNE 24 - JULY 24 “Music Man” at the Ojai Art Center Times: Thursday - Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Ojai Art Center Theater 109 South Montgomery Street Contact: OjaiAct.org, 805-640-8797 Meredith Willson’s classic, directed by Tracey Williams Sutton JULY 3-4 Ojai Independence Day Celebration - Concert, Parade & Fireworks Times: Free Concert at 6 p.m. Parade: 10 a.m. Fireworks: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Locations: Concert at Libbey Bowl Parade: Ojai Avenue Fireworks: Nordhoff High School Contact: OjaiIndependenceDay@yahoo.com This all-volunteer, non-city-funded parade is considered one of the finest small-town parades in the country.

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. Ojai Community Farmers Market Every Thursday Time: 3-7 p.m. Location: Chaparral High School Courtyard

artists.org Select groups of OSA members artists open their studios to the public in this free event. Perfect for patrons, or just curious lovers of art. 2ND & 4TH SUNDAYS — JUNE 11 & 25 Ojai Cars & Coffee Times: 8 to 10 a.m. Location: Westridge Midtown Market 131 West Ojai Avenue Contact: IDriveSoCal.com Ojai Cars And Coffee events take place in a gorgeous setting in the parking lot of the Westridge Midtown Market. Come see beautiful collector and vintage cars and talk with their proud owners.

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

2ND SATURDAYS — JUNE 11 Ojai Studio Artists Open Studios Date: May 14 Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Varied, check website at ojaistudioOM — June 2022

DEVIN FULTON BY AUBRIE WOODS

JUST AS THE MOON COMES PERFORMANCE

CONTEMPORARY DANCE TROUPE’S MYSTERY SHOWS SET FOR JUNE 10 -11 & 17-18

DANCE BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON DEVIN FULTON IN ACTION

We find ourselves at yet another moment in history, (when will it be herstory?) when we have a collective need to listen to the voices of women’s bodies. Devin Fulton is no stranger to listening to women’s bodies. At a recent rehearsal for Dev Dance Theater’s upcoming reprisal of their 2020 12

OM — June 2022

A DEV DANCE THEATER’S PERFORMANCE BY OCÉANE MCCORD

OM — June 2022

DEVIN FULTON

show “Just as the Moon Comes,” I met Founder, Choreographer, and Creative Director Devin Fulton energizing her dancers with grace and humor. “The joy of revisiting a show is that we have time to massage things,” she says as she adjusts her dancers into a sexier threesome tableau. “Oh, I love that position so much more!” Growing up in Ventura, Devin was born in a natural home birth to a mother who was one of Ventura County’s original and most beloved midwives, back in the day before that was “a thing”, and was raised in a house where valuing the wisdom in women’s bodies was the foundation of her upbringing. Like many young girls who began dancing at age three, Devin had an early emphasis on ballet. However, it wasn’t long before she had a love/hate relationship with her training. “There’s a lot of ickiness in traditional ballet, especially around how regimented it is, the eating disorders, the lack of freedom,” Fulton said. “Ballet is not tapped into the primal aspects of dance that my soul wanted to experience.” But her talent was evident, and she was awarded a scholarship to study at the prestigious EDGE Performing Arts

OM — June 2022

DEVIN FULTON WITH HUSBAND MIKE GOMEZ AND CHILDREN

Center in Los Angeles, boasting alumni who’ve gone on to choreograph for the likes of Britney Spears, Madonna, Shakira, Pink, and Janet Jackson. “It was a hellish year of regimented dance,” Devin admitted. Instead of letting it beat her down, she decided to dance to the beat of her own drum, and became a Founding Member of the LA Contemporary Dance Company, “Where I found my wings, not only as a dancer, but with my confidence to start my own ventures with my own artistic voice”. She went on to perform with State Street Ballet, Plexus Dance Theatre, the WB Network’s show “Angel,” and was featured in four commercials for American Apparel. She choreographed and was Creative Director on two music videos for hip-hop artist Samson (“Just For Now” & “Walk Slow”) and danced in the films “Zingdeed,” and “I Fell From Heaven” & “You Didn’t Even Care.” Additionally, Devin was the Founder and Artistic Director of The Pin-Down Girls from 2008-2014. The company’s performance credits include a debut at the Playboy Mansion, the Rooftop Bar at The Standard Hotel, (a private event for Dr. Jerry Buss, owner of the L.A. Lakers), countless fashion shows, and sold-out productions in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. They were

voted Best Dance Company of Ventura County two years in a row. And in 2017, she created Dev Dance Theater in Ojai, “to give female artists from various backgrounds a platform and a voice to express their stories.” In 2020, during the biggest shutdown of the entertainment industry, with all the odds stacked against them, Devin and her co-producer Natasha Heaszl united in their creative vision to provide an evening of meaningful entertainment to “help people feel and move though their feelings. Joy, love, sadness, horniness, all of it, the full spectrum.” Even the police officers who came to enforce curfew during the lockdown found themselves, night after night, in the audience transfixed in silence. Women in the audience have expressed the feeling as “ the comforting embrace of validation and solidarity in our experiences, a relief and release in witnessing our struggles in a manner so beautiful it’s pleasurable to look at”, but men reportedly pour backstage with gushing gratitude to the dancers for cracking them open to feeling what it’s like to be a woman in this age. Like the majority of her all-female, ethnically diverse and gender inclusive cast, Devin is more than an accomplished dancer, she is also a mother. Following in her mother’s example, she had her own natural home birth with her firstborn. But due to medical complications, her second child required a hospital birth and life-saving interventions in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. The stress of this traumatic experience left her with PTSD and postpartum depression. Statistically, women are more than twice as likely to develop PTSD than men (10 percent for women, 4 percent for men according to The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), which is attributed to women being more likely to experience sexual assault. Up to 75 percent of mothers also report postpartum blues, and a whopping 80 percent of mothers with children with pediatric illnesses report Traumatic Stress Disorders. With over 30 percent of children affected by chronic conditions, that’s a motherload of mothers out there dealing with mental health challenges. I should know, I’m one of them too.

After my toddler’s years-long fight on a life-support machine, I was the walking dead wearing my exposed nerves on my sleeve. It was through a local ecstatic dance class, that I danced myself back into my body, and back to life again. So when Devin confided the backstory of her challenges as a mother, confessing that the creation of the Dev Dance Theater was “a matter of life or death,” the tears welling in my eyes said, “I get it.” “This is for our mental health,” she told me, “To save us over and over again. When we heal ourselves, we heal each other. Self-healing ripples out into community building.” As Dev got herself out of her house, out of her depression and into her expression, she built a community, and a stage for others to get out of their heads and into their bodies, out of their silence and into their voices, out of their isolation and into their community. They’ve gone from a core group of volunteers raising money through “GoFundMe ‘’ to becoming a local fixture on Ojai’s calendar of events and a sponsorship under a non-profit called “Empowerment Works.” What an apt description for what Devin and her team have embodied for us to witness. When a woman in pain makes a conscious choice to be in her pleasure, she inevitably creates beauty that heals her community. Her empowerment works for all of us. As the rehearsal winds down, and Devin finishes running through one of her dance solos, she makes a crack about her aching body . “We joke about how we’re geriatric dancers, but we still kick ass,” she laughs. It’s riveting when a woman reveals her most vulnerable truth unapologetically. It has the power to melt your frozen pain, heal your hidden shame, cackle in your spleen, turn you on, and turn you loose, simultaneously. The original performance of “Just as the Moon Comes” stayed with me for days. It inspired a challenging and cathartic conversation, my tell-tale indication of art vs. entertainment. Yet entertaining it surely is, from its guest performances by pole-dancers who heat up the starry stage, to mystery locations on Ojai’s finest real estates, to surprise (and splashing) grand finales. This show delivers on all fronts, just like a woman.

Just As The Moon Comes June 10 & 11; 17 & 18. Purchase tickets at moonshow.eventbrite.com

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

FOR SALE 4 BEDROOMS

3 BATHROOMS

$4,200,000

GATED PROPERTY

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Gated and private, this beautiful Mediterranean-style estate is sitting perfectly on 2 acres in Rancho Matilija. Designed by renowned local architect, Marc Whitman, the special attention to detail can’t be overlooked. With a dramatic entry which leads you to the open spacious great room, you can’t help but notice the perfect mix of indoor/outdoor living where light-filled rooms blend with the lush landscaping. Perfect for entertaining with two outdoor kitchens, saltwater pool and spa and a private pool house or art studio. Back inside you will love the gourmet kitchen with commercial grade appliances. Vaulted ceilings, three fireplaces, a media room. There is a gentlemen’s orchard, an oversized three car garage along with lovely mountain views. This home is one of a kind and a must see.

DONNA SALLEN 805.798.0516 do n n a4 re m ax@ a ol .com

OM — June 2022

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

RANCHO MATILIJA GEM

FOR SALE

$3,500,000

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Welcome Home to this wonderful Ranch style VIEW home. Located behind the gates of Rancho Matilija, this home has some of the most magnificent views. Enter into the home and you enjoy the light-filled living room showcasing the mountains. The great room opens to the kitchen and leads out to the backyard. The views are breathtaking with pink sunsets and early morning sunrises. You won’t want to miss this home. Bring your creative touches and make this charmer your home for life. With the trail right outside your door, you can walk your dogs, take a hike or ride your horses. Horses are welcome on this equestrian property. Private and gated.

PROPERTY DETAIL

4 BEDROOMS

3,042SF

www. donnasa llen.c om

3 BATHROOMS

GATED PROPERTY

donna4remax@aol.com OM — June 2022

DONNA SALLEN

805.798.0516

DOWNTOWN OPEN FLOOR PLAN

FOR SALE

$1,650,000

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

You will love your downtown Ojai home with an open spacious floor plan, vaulted ceilings and gleaming wood floors. The kitchen has a large island and is open to the dining and great room. The living room is light-filled and has a beautiful rock fireplace. All the bedrooms are generous in size and the bathrooms have been remodeled. You will love the great room looking out into the very private back yard. Bring your finishing touches to the unfinished building in the back and create a dream space for your guests to come stay and/or Art Studio. Don’t miss this one!

PROPERTY DETAIL

3 BEDROOMS

ATTACHED GARAGE 3 BATHROOMS

ww w. d o n n a s a l l e n . co m 18

OM — June 2022

donna4remax@aol.com

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

OM — June 2022

Top Five One-Hour Home Improvement Projects By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

While most of us want a better backyard for entertaining or spending time with our families, far fewer of us have an abundance of spare time to dedicate to backyard improvement projects. Fortunately, that does not necessarily mean that we have to give up our dreams of having inviting, visually appealing outdoor living areas. We simply need to focus our attention on smaller projects that we can accomplish when we do find a little spare time in our schedules. To help get you started, here are five backyard improvement projects you can accomplish in around an hour: 1. Plant a tree. Trees might take some time to grow, but you can dig a hole, prepare the soil and plant a new tree in not much time at all. In fact, planting trees can be so easy and rewarding that you might find yourself dedicating an afternoon to planting a family orchard with pixies, avocados, plums and more. 2. Refresh your groundcovers. If it has

been a year or more since you last filled in bare spots with wood chips or gravel, you might be pleasantly surprised at how much this one simple task will change the look of your yard. To instantly improve your outdoor living areas, stop by a local retailer for gravel or bark — or have it delivered right to your house — and spend an hour refreshing your groundcovers. 3. Replace outdoor textiles. If your patio cushions have seen better days, or your outdoor rug has faded in the sun, it might be time to replace your outdoor textiles. This is a great way to bring color to your outdoor living areas or to give your patio a whole new look. 4. Light your walkways with solar lights. With no wires to bury or cords to plug in, solar lights are a perfect option for illuminating walkways and adding visual interest to your yard. They are an eco-friendlier option, can be placed anywhere that receives sun, and are a super quick home improvement project, since you can basically just choose where to

OM — June 2022

place them and stick them in the ground. 5. Tap into your inner crafter and make concrete garden stools. This is a simple, fun, seating option that fits any home improvement budget. All you need to do to prepare for this do-it-yourself project is to print out some easy-to-find online instructions and head to the hardware store for some concrete, a five-gallon bucket, a concrete form tube, duct tape and foam. Although you will need to let your stools cure before use, the act of making them is quick and easy. The key to fitting in small home improvement projects when you have spare time is making sure you have the necessary tools and materials on hand. This means your first one-hour project should be making a list of projects you would like to complete, and then making a shopping list for the next time you head to your local hardware store or garden center. This way, you will have everything you need when you unexpectedly find a little free time.

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 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 115°

Year 2018

Population: Valley: (est.)

21,300

Record Low 16°

Year 1990

Households::

3,176

Elevation:

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

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.

7,461

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 — June 2022

WHO’S WHO

IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?

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

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

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

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 — June 2022

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

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

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

going along for the travel memories

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

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

In May we had our first big travel experience in years. I am sure I am not the first to say that, after many years of being so wary of any travel .

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

It all began with a long overdue wedding reception, with my husband being the best man. Florida-bound we were, looking forward to some time in the sun, visiting friends, seeing relatives, and enjoying whatever we encountered on our trip. This trip actually took a month to organize, with dates and times, hotels, airports, car rental, maps, and with much discussion between my husband and me. I have to say, it was all worth it and we enjoyed the “ride!” Many of those good memories will stay with us for a long time. Mostly laughable, as we traversed some challenging routes from east to west Florida coasts and in between, meeting up with old friends and cousins. It was fun and challenging at the same time. We certainly are happy to be home in Ojai after our two-week adventure!

OM — June 2022

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

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 — June 2022

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 grilled corn with tri-colored peppers It was from the Native Americans that the first European settlers learned about corn. Native Americans had spent hundreds of years developing what we now know as corn from seed-bearing grass. Long before Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain, Native Americans were cultivating this grass in North, Central, and South America. Native American farmers in the Ohio River Valley had been growing corn for more than 1,700 years before the first white men crossed the Appalachian Mountains, and there is evidence that they used corn to brew beer before Europeans arrived in the Americas. Today, corn is important in the preparation of many recipes. But nothing can come close to Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer the timeless appeal of simple grilled corn on the cob. When paired with fresh bell peppers, and has been a lacto-ovo vegetarian it is elegant. It is colorful, nutritious, and a good accompaniment to any barbecue entrée. My for over 38 years. Chef Randy has recipe for corn and peppers is a great summertime side dish. 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.

Quick + Easy

Vegan

Spring / Summer

INGREDIENTS 2 red bell peppers 2 yellow bell peppers 2 green bell peppers 9 ears of corn (husked and broken in half) Extra-virgin olive oil ¼ cup unsalted butter ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh basil (chopped fine) Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400 degrees). Soak husked corn in a pot of cold water. Make sure ears of corn are completely immersed in the water. Set aside to soak for 15 minutes. Grill peppers until charred on all sides. OM — June 2022

Let cool in a large, closed plastic baggie for about ten minutes then seed and cut into ½-inch-thick strips. Set aside. Remove corn from cold water and pat dry. Brush with olive oil and break into two pieces each. Grill for 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred in spots. Transfer to large serving platter and cover to keep warm. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pepper strips. Sauté until heated through, stirring often, four to five minutes. Stir in ¾ cup basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon pepper mixture onto serving platter with the corn. Garnish with remaining two tablespoons basil and serve while still warm.

Dale Hanson

CREATIVE SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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.

GALLERY

WORKSHOPS

POTTERY PARTIES

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

Now available at

frontier paint

227 Baldwin Rd., Ojai 805-646-0459

www.frontierpaint.biz 26

OM — June 2022

FREE TOURS

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

SOLD IN OJAI

THERESE HARTMANN

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT HOME SALES

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

PROVIDING HOME LOANS FOR OVER 25 YEARS!

Homes Sold Last Month

42 Bundren Street, Oak View, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,503 sf, $615,000 802 Grand Avenue, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,030 sf, $799,000 3072 Matilija Canyon Road, 2 bed, 1 bath, $850,000 2187 Woodland Avenue, 2 bed, 1 bath, 952 sf, $895,000 1114 Alviria Drive, 3 bed, 2 bath, 900,000 276 Burnham Road, Oak View, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,641 sft $900,000 1303 Sunset Place, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,337 sf, $935,000 1039 South Rice Road, 4 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,311 sf, $950,000 605 Golden West Avenue, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,692 sf, $959,000

MAGAZINE

April 2019

415 East Oak Street, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,757 sf, $993,000 246 El Conejo Drive, 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,800, $1,060,000 1310 Drown Avenue, 3 bed, 4 bath, 2,231 sf, $1,300,000 106 East Eucalyptus Street, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,584 sf, $1,350,000 614 Red Hill Road, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,805 sf, $1,496,758

Offering reverse mortgages and so much more!

(805) 798-2158 | HEARTLOANS@SBCGLOBAL.NET | HEARTLOANS.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

Whitman Architectural Design

2100 Maricopa Highway, 3 bed, 3 bath, 1,867 sf, $2,400,000 1605 Daly Road, 4 bed, 6 bath, 4,987 sf, $3,100,000 1620 Foothill Road, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,937 sf, $7,000,000

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

OM — June 2022

reverse mortgages & the economy Explore Your Options to Weather an Economic Downturn By Therese A. Hartmann

Depending on the news outlet you might be following, most pundits agree that the economy isn’t what it was prepandemic. Threats of war, supply chain issues, rising interest rates, stock market volatility (among other things) all seem to point towards a flailing economy. In the last couple of months alone, there has been a 300 percent increase in hard money loan applications. At the same time, credit card debt is on the rise as folks look for a stop-gap measure to keep their lives going. We all want to believe things will improve but what we are witnessing is showing it just ain’t so. Now listen, while I don’t personally believe in living a doom-and-gloom existence, I feel it’s imperative to look at the landscape and make plans accordingly. From where I’m sitting, it’s pretty clear that now is a really good time to take inventory, patch any leaks in your financial boat and consider all options for navigating any coming storm. Cutting expenses, adding part-time work, stocking up on foodstuffs and materials that are likely to increase in price, are just some of the ways to try and beat inflation but sometimes it’s not enough. Getting a home-equity line of credit — which I covered in the May issue — can help temporarily but should really be used to improve one’s financial burden, not add to it. Hard-money loans are available to those who have equity in their home but the fees and interest rate

are very high and these loans will need to be paid back. So, what’s left? For some, a reverse mortgage could be the way to go. Ronald Reagan started the reverse mortgage program in the '70s to help seniors stay in their homes. I have personally witnessed clients go from leading frenetic lives, always worried about how they are going to survive and wondering if they can ever retire, to actually enjoying their senior years. Some things you might consider when looking at a reverse mortgage: • Non-recourse loan — This just means that even if your property value takes a dive, the lender cannot call the loan. Even if the value drops lower than the amount that is owed! • Purchase or refinancing — Yep, you can use a reverse mortgage to buy a property. A pre-determined down is required but, after that, you’re only on the hook for making property tax and insurance payments up front. • No tax liability — According to the IRS, money you receive from a reverse mortgage is considered to be a loan advance rather than income. This means the funds aren’t taxed, unlike other retirement income such as an IRA or 401(k). • You can stay in your home! Instead of having to sell your home to survive, you can keep the property and still get cash out of it. You don’t have to downsize or worry about getting priced out of your area.

OM — June 2022

Now each individual’s situation is different and reverse mortgages are not for everyone. Frankly, not everyone will qualify but if you’re looking for some options that might work, it’s one that is well worth exploring. There is everything right about preparing for an uncertain future. 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 | HI K I NG M AP 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.

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

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

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.

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 — June 2022

We know Ojai.

5 gated, private acres close to downtown with wrap-around porch, 5 bedrooms, media room, wine cellar with tasting room, library, gym/massage room, 4 fireplaces, pool and spa, sauna, family orchard, olive tree orchard with approximately 30 trees, Bocce court, putting green, volleyball court, chessboard, gazebos, pasture, private well, 150-year copper roof, copper gutters, RV parking with hookups, six-car garage and workshop, and more. $6,900,000 www.RoyalOaksRanchOjai.com

Nora Davis

BRE License #01046067

805.207.6177

nora@ojaivalleyestates.com

We’re lifelong residents.

Enjoy resort-style living at this luxurious, private, 10-acre estate in Upper Ojai boasting gated entries, seven-bedroom main house with two guest wings and three fireplaces, pool house, swimming pool with beach entrance and wading pool, spa, gym, artist’s loft, lighted tennis court, horse facilities, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, patio fireplace, family orchard, three-car garage + two-car garage, and spectacular mountain views. $5,700,000 www.RocaVistaRanchOjai.com

The Davis Group ojaivalleyestates.com

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

Ojai Monthly - June 2022

Articles inside

Editor’s Note

Calendar of Events

Chef Randy: Grilled Corn & Peppers