Ojai Monthly - May 2021

OJAI o5 21 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide

JANE WEIL: ON STAGE & SCHOOL BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GROWING PEPPERS HIKING AROUND OJAI Cover Photo: Donna Sallen, ReMax Realty • 805-798-0516, See Page 17 For More Information

Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

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Offered at $3,100,000

1571 Kenewa St

Offered at $3,950,000

Offered at $23,750,000

701 Del Oro Dr

Offered at $3,150,000

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1701 McNell Road

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Point Dume, Malibu

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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.

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PAT T Y WALTCHER

25 years matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

1437 San Gabriel St

$1,900,000

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 $2,875,000

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 — May 2021

Lynn Goodman 805.573.5927

Ojai

Heather Erickson

805.798.3358

CA

Riley Becker

805.646.6768

12251 Linda Flora Drive, Ojai - $525,000

Check out this gorgeous 2.03 acre parcel in Rancho Matilija, a quiet community located on the west end of town. Build your custom home, bring your horses, and enjoy direct access to the horse/biking/hiking trails. You’ll enjoy gorgeous sunsets, and if you’re up early in the day, stunning sunrises as well!

668 Spring Street, Oak View - $549,000

Enjoy light and bright beach vibes in this recently renovated bungalow! Perfectly situated between Ventura and Ojai, this stylish home is less than 10 miles to the Ventura Pier. Lovingly maintained and move-in ready with central air, fresh paint, newer stainless appliances, and numerous skylights.

Sale pending

330 N. La Luna Ave., Ojai

836 Monte Vista, Santa Paula

Sale pending

Sold for $925,000

144 Pasadena Ave., Oxnard

Sold for $1,700,000 P: 805.272.5218 E: ContactUs@TeamDeckert.com VenturaAndSantaBarbaraHomes.com

DRE# 01761150, 01859199

OM — May 2021

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TABLE OF CONTENTS MAY 2021

7

Editor’s Note

10

Calendar of Events

12

Featured Pro: Of Stage & School With Jane Weil

18

Property Ownership & Taxes

12

20 Beginner’s Guide to Peppers 21

Ojai Founding Fathers & Mothers

22

Who’s Who in Real Estate

24

Dine Ojai — Restaurant Guide

25

Chef Randy: Chick Pea Burgers & You

29

20

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: Donna Sallen / ReMax Realty Contact Us: 805.798.0516 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 o5 21 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide

JANE WEIL: ON STAGE & COURT BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GROWING PEPPERS HIKING AROUND OJAI Cover Photo: Donna Sallen, ReMax Realty • 805-798-0516, See Page 17 For More Information

Visitor Information

May OM.indd 1

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

4/28/21 3:22 PM

OM — May 2021

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21

DISCOVER

OJAI MONTHLY

THE DUTY OF POLITICS "Keep your face to the sun and the shadows will always fall behind you.” — Helen Keller

Bret Bradigan The cloud of pandemic anxiety is finally starting to lift. It’s feeling like one of those gloomy May days when the marine layer settles on us like a thick blanket, dampening down our spirits, then the sun breaks through, leaving vanishing wisps of clouds in the sparkling blue sky. The streets of Ojai seem lately to teem and thrum with energy, not just on the weekends. After what we’ve been through, the chatter of crowds sounds like a benediction.

However, there is yet a darkness at noon in local politics. Exhibit A: A paranoid scheming with an imputation of bad faith and self-dealing that manifested itself in a mean-spirited cartoon in the local paper, which I don’t really understand except that it was meant to satirize the local school superindentent. Judging by the hundred-plus positive, positively glowing comments on her Facebook reply, it was an epic fail. She must have felt like Tom and Huck listening from the balcony to the premature eulogies when they were presumed dead.

I’ve only ever lived in small towns, and I learned there’s nowhere you can go that isn’t essentially the junior high cafeteria. Malice and backbiting are etched into human nature, to deny it is to be like that proverbial king smiting the waves with his sword.

It’s a reminder that the work of bringing a community together is an endless task, thankless and frustrating, yet as necessary as breathing. To nourish our better angels requires rejecting the easy anger and impulses of anonymous trolling, and feeding them with the spirit of service, of all of us being in it together.

The social media companies have banked many billions on the fact that we are motivated by outrage and hate, yet that doesn’t have to be us. As America’s greatest theologian Reinhold Neibuhr wrote, ‘‘Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.’’ It’s hard work building a community, it’s easy to tear one down. It just takes a few strokes of ink.

In Rick Perlstein’s brilliant new volume on the right-wing influences in American politics, ‘‘Reaganland,’’ he writes about Jimmy Carter’s troubled presidency, some of the troubles his own doing, some of those failures the fault of his most ardent supporters who expected magic-wand solutions to intractable problems that have plagued the American body politic for generations. Carter kept on his desk another Neibuhr quote: ‘‘The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world.’’ I would amend that for our particular village. In Ojai the work is not always so sad, since the sun shines on us so much of the time. The thing about sunshine, though, is that it brings the shadows into sharper relief.

OM — May 2021

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OM — May 2021

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(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

OM — May 2021

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CREATIVE SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

GALLERY

WORKSHOPS

POTTERY PARTIES

FREE TOURS

Explore Ojai Valley’s History, Art and Culture 130 W. Ojai Ave. 805 640-1390 OjaiValleyMuseum.org

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

F lourish Ojai

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” anaïs nin

w w w . f l o u r i s h oj a i . c o m

KEVIN MILLS

BYRON KATIE

The Ounce Project

The Work of Byron Katie 10

OM — May 2021

MAY CALENDAR OF EVENTS WEEKLY

exhibits

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.

Jean Metzinger @ canvas and paper

MAY 15 “Oceans and Underworld” - Purgatorio by Dante, Part One - Cantos 1-16 Times: 2 to 4 p.m.

Contact: agorafoundation.org Tutor: Elizabeth Reyes Register to receive the login link on website.

MAY 23 “Byron Katie & The Work” at Flourish Center Ojai Date: Sunday, May 23 Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location: Online: Registration: $22 per person Your zoom link will be available in your email after registering, or by logging into FlourishOjai.com. If cost is prohibitive, please reach out to us: team@flourishojai.com MAY 27 – JULY 25 “Paintings by Jean Metzinger” Times: Thursday – Sunday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.

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

MAY 29 “The Ancient City: A Study of the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome by Fustel de Coulanges”

Peter Fox @ The Ojai Art Center

Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m.​ Location: Free online seminar Contact: agorafoundation.org.

The Ancient City (La Cité antique), published in 1864, is the most famous book of the French historian Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges. Based on texts of ancient historians and poets, the author investigates the origins of the most archaic institutions of Greek and Roman society. Please join us as we explore this thought-provoking work through semi-monthly lunchtime meetings. Free Community Seminar Series

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.

exhibition of Ojai artists Mark Thompson, Carlos Grasso, Peter Fox, Bruce Tomkinson, and Gayel Childress Location: Ojai Art Center, 113 South Montgomery

MAY 29-30 “44th Annual Art in the Park” Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Libbey Park Contact: 805-646-0117 ojaiartcenter.org Ojai’s finest artists and craftspeople converge on Libbey Park for one of the region’s most popular arts and crafts events.

THURSDAYS “Ojai: Talk of the Town” Podcast New episodes come out Thursday evenings through OjaiHub.com newsletter. Sign up at OjaiHub.com. Recent interviews include Malcolm McDowell on the 50th anniversary of “A Clockwork Orange,” and Dr. Tiffany Morse on reopening Ojai’s public schools during a pandemic. Available wherever you catch your podcasts.

THROUGH JUNE 2 “Together/Apart” Dates: Tuesdays through Sunday Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 12 noon to 4 p.m. weekends Nine Ojai artists exhibit work made during 2020, and the put on display the effect this challenging year made on their creative process. A colorful, uplifting exhibit now through April 2021.

The Ojai Art Center is presenting a group

STAY TUNED Tierra Sol Institute’s “Muses on the Mount” The institute is curating shows for the benefit of Meditation Mount, which recently re-opened its doors after the Thomas Fire. Recent Muses on the Mount performances included RyX, Orpheo and Rachel McCord, and also painter Vera Long and sound bowl artists Trinity of Sound.

Contact: To be notified of events in April and May, go to tierrasolojai.org and meditationmount.org.

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RICHARD CAMP

JANE WEI L

“Tennis balls, my liege?” That was the comment from Henry V in Shakespeare’s history play after he was taunted for his youth by a gift of tennis balls from the Dauphin of France.

JANE AND MARK WEIL AT THEIR WEIL TENNIS ACADEMY

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OM — May 2021

Jane, who co-owns the Weil Tennis Academy with her

husband, Mark Weil, and who is the President of the Ojai Unified School Board, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother, Rita Seiler was a teacher of music and theology at a Catholic high school. Her father, Joseph Seiler, was a podiatrist, the first in Missouri with hospital surgical privileges.

Jane’s earliest and fondest memories are her trips to the theater with her grandmother.

JANE WEIL PHOTO CREDIT SUSAN CONN ITALO

That may not have been the first merging of tennis and theater, but it wasn’t the last. Throughout the years, those two ventures have been matched in several Broadway plays and movies and now, Jane Weil has combined her love of tennis and education with her love of theater by adding C.O.O. of a major Ojai Theater to her resume.

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“My grandmother used to take my sister, my cousin and me to the Muny Opera in St. Louis every summer,” remembers Jane. “She had two season tickets and we would squeeze in – the two little ones sharing a seat and the third sitting on her lap. We saw a lot of Broadway musicals that way.”

After graduating high school from St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis, Jane attended Georgetown University for two years before transferring to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois so she could major in theater (GU had no theater program at the time.) After that, her life in theater grew in leaps and bounds.

“I have lived and worked in St. Louis, Chicago, Washington D.C. and NYC. Each home was a stepping stone to the next theater job,” says Jane.

She started at the bottom, loading in lights for shows that one of her professors was lighting professionally in the Chicago area. From there, she ran a follow spot at Playwrights Horizon in New York, where the stage manager asked her to assist on the play, “Substance of Fire,” by John Robin Baitz. (Ojai theater folks may know Baitz from the Ojai Playwrights Conference.) She then worked at the Goodman Theater in Chicago and at Lincoln Center in New York on several productions.

While working in New York City, Jane met the man she’d eventually marry, Mark Weil. Both were working on children’s theater productions. Mark was also the Founder and Managing Director of the Stillwater Theater Company. He says that when they first met she said “Hi” and blew right past him. (“I’m very focused when I work!” says Jane.) Later, Mark invited Jane to a birthday party and Jane says she spent half the party not knowing whether it was a date or not! Turns out it was. They eventually married, becoming “enmeshed” in New York theater, before an exciting job opportunity triggered a move to Los Angeles.

“I had been offered an Assistant Stage Manager position on a show that was going to Japan,” recalls Jane. “We had just been married and I couldn’t imagine leaving for a six-month tour. So we decided that Mark would go to L.A. and perhaps start a new theater company there, so he’d be closer to visiting me in the middle of my Japan trip.”

The Japan tour subsequently fell through, but they came to L.A. anyway, where Mark rekindled his early love for tennis 14

OM — May 2021

by working at an after-school and summer program at the Mountain Gate Tennis Club.

“Mark had always loved working with kids,” says Jane.

“He told me that having our son, Jack, influenced his decision to create something that was his own and that would support a family.”

That desire was magnified after a hiking trip. They were living in Los Feliz when friends invited them to Ojai for a trek on the Piedra Blanca Trail and they fell in love with the place. “I wanted to be a part of a community like Ojai,” says Mark. “In L.A., we did not feel a sense of community, and longed for that as a family, where we could make a positive impact, know our neighbors, and share life with a community who cares about each other.”

Mark was also finding his tennis work in L.A. quite limiting, and wanted the challenge of opening his own tennis academy. “What better place to do that than Ojai?” Jane thought.

“It’s close to Southern California tennis tournaments, but tucked away in a town with one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the country!”

They made their move in 1997, and Mark founded the Weil Tennis Academy, the first boarding school for tennis players established in Southern California, an achievement of which Mark takes great pride. “It’s a place where middle and high school athletes enjoy a college prep school that works around the needs of the athletes while they traveled to tournaments, which is a significant part of a tennis life,” says Jane.

Meanwhile, two more sons, Mitch and Pierre, joined Jack in the growing family, while Jane was also busy putting down roots in the community. “I was always one of those very involved parents at school sites — going on field trips, president of the PTA, treasurer of the band boosters, classroom volunteer,” she remembers. “I felt helping in any way helped the teacher, helped the school and helped my children have the best experience possible.”

Her continued dedication to the school system led to her current position, President of the Ojai Unified School Board.

“One of the amazing things about OUSD is that it is such a tight community of people who really care about kids,” says Jane. “That is what makes OUSD unique. It is really possible

Throughout all her work in the tennis program and the school system, Jane has never lost her love for the stage.

Her theatrical experience caught the eye of Joan Kemper, CEO of the Ojai Performing Arts Theater (OPAT). “We were fortunate to use her expertise in several productions, including ‘On Golden Pond,’ which she stage managed brilliantly,” says Kemper. “When we decided to add a C.O.O. to OPAT, Jane was at the top of the list.

“Joan is an absolute powerhouse,” says Jane. “When I attended the “Joan Kemper Way” dedication, I just had a gut feeling that working with her would be the right way forward for me.”

Mark is thrilled for her. “I believe Jane could help raise the level of theater in Ojai to new heights,” says Mark. “I also love that Jane has come full circle, from theater professional to Mom, to helping me run a boarding school, to an active proponent of high quality education, and now, back to theater, her first love!”

That love has stirred a real passion in Jane. “I am really excited about the professionalism this core group at OPAT brings to the table,” she says.

“I believe OPAT can be as successful as the Ojai Music Festival in launching something unique and creative for the Ojai theater scene.”

Tennis, education, and theater … that’s game, set and match for Jane … and for Ojai.

WEIL FAMILY: MARK, JANE, JACK, MITCH, PIERRE

to connect to all those who are important for your children and their education. Working together is the only way we will achieve success.”

OM — May 2021

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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.

Views! Views! Views! Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in Skyline Estates, this lovely home is waiting for you. The great room has a double sided fireplace, vaulted wood ceilings and is open and spacious with plenty of windows to enjoy the majestic mountains.

The kitchen has lovely granite countertops, a large island and an eat-in bar area. There are french doors that lead out to a private backyard with stunning mountain views where you will enjoy the evening sunsets. Watch the early morning sunrises out by the pool in the front yard. Private and quiet you will feel like you are on top of the world.

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.

How Does Real Estate Benefit You? The Tax Advantages of Owning Property

By Therese A. Hartmann

A nurse, a client of mine, who clocks in an income of around $200k a year is looking at buying a home. I advised her to contact her tax preparer to understand the tax benefits and how it will impact her bottom line. Turns out her “tax preparer” is a bookkeeper and didn’t have a clue. Rather than check, she told my client there was no benefit.

UGH! Guess I should have told my borrower to Google the information. Still, since some folks are not aware of benefits, I thought I’d detail out the advantages, by property type.

In Ventura County, there are really four main property categories: • Personal residences: On your personal residence, you can look forward to mortgage interest deduction, mortgage insurance deduction, standard deduction, mortgage points charged, home office deduction, residential energy credit (if applicable) and more.

• Investment properties: With investment property, you’ve hit the jackpot and you are allowed to write off mortgage interest, property taxes, depreciation, property management, maintenance, capital improvements and more. Check with your CPA.

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• Mobile homes: While mobile homes are considered personal property, the IRS considers them as qualifying for the mortgage interest deduction. This applies even if the mobile home is a second home. In this instance, the IRS definition of “home” includes any property with cooking, sleeping and toilet facilities.

• Agricultural: Being able to take depreciation on ag land is one of the reasons you’ll see high-income earners become “hobby farmers.”

There are some distinctions regarding what is being grown, however. While you can’t depreciate the cost of the land, because the land does not wear out or get used up, you can get some benefit for certain types of crops. Specifically, taking straight-line depreciation applies primarily to fruit and/or nut crops which are perceived to have limited production cycles. Again, always check with a qualified CPA first.

As housing prices go up, people really need to take a look at the whole picture and tax benefits are key. Interest rates are still surprisingly low and sometimes, with those added tax advantages, it makes absolute sense to buy something, and yes, EVEN in a hot market!

OM — May 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.

Beginner’s Guide to Peppers

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

Peppers are incredibly easy to grow, which makes them a good choice for beginner gardeners and seasoned gardeners alike. You can grow them in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers on your patio. I even have some growing in my dining room in a hydroponic system. If you were inspired to start or expand your vegetable garden after last month’s column, now might be the time to consider adding peppers to your garden plan.

prefer hot peppers like habaneros, jalapeños, or serranos? You may want to grow a combination of sweet peppers and hot peppers to better suit your tastes. It might sound fun to grow a super-hot variety — like Carolina reapers or ghost peppers — but I don’t recommend these for folks new to growing peppers, since you need to adhere to safety protocols when growing some peppers that fall high on the Scoville scale.

Now is the perfect time to plant peppers, which can be grown as perennials in this area. This means that if you are not growing them in containers that you can move around, make sure you pick a spot where they can stay and provide you with fresh peppers for years to come. To make sure your pepper plants will be happy, choose a spot that receives at least six hours of sun per day.

Peppers can be easily grown from seeds or seedlings. Seedlings are always a good idea for beginner gardeners, since you get a head start on growth and can find varieties that you know will thrive in your area by purchasing them from a local garden center.

Once you have picked a sunny spot for your peppers, the next step is choosing which varieties to grow. Do you prefer sweet peppers like bell peppers, cherry peppers, or banana peppers? Or do you

If you are starting from seeds right now, you can plant them directly in your garden. If you live in an area that freezes, you will need to wait until after the last frost in future years. Alternatively, you can start the seeds indoors, and then transplant them to your garden in late spring.

To plant your peppers, mix compost into the soil and space the plants about 18 inches apart. I like to support my peppers with stakes or tomato cages, but this is not absolutely necessary. After planting, keep the soil moist while your plants get established. Once established, you should be able to give your plants one good watering per week in most cases.

Peppers grown in containers will need more frequent watering, and you will need to provide your plants with supplemental watering during the hotter weeks of summer.

You can help your peppers thrive by adding a few inches of mulch around each plant. This will help with soil moisture retention and blocking weeds that will compete with your peppers for water and nutrients.

When it is time to harvest, use garden or kitchen shears to cut the peppers from the plant. You can then store them in the refrigerator for about a week, or you can freeze chopped peppers for a few months.

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 — May 2021

21

WHO’S WHO

IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?

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

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

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

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

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

Dennis Guernsey LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

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

805-798-1998

OM — May 2021

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

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

welcome to ojai, our newest residents!

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

We are happy you have chosen us as your new neighbors.

Years ago my husband and I also found Ojai, and we were the new people in town. We both found new friends, and learned the “lay of the land”, so to speak.

Years ago, the first question a local asked a newcomer was: “How long have you lived in Ojai?”

Our answer of a “few days, months, and then years” set us apart from the locals. It was an ongoing question, we figured, and until we reached 25 years residency, we were still newcomers. Many people were born here, and were a bit territorial and wary as to why they had to allow newcomers into the fold.

Thank goodness they did. I can now say my son was born here, and now his children as well. So, as quirky, fun, and interesting as Ojai is, I am sure you will fit in perfectly and find your own niche here, as we did 41 years ago…

Oh, here is a priority in downtown Ojai: We all smile and say Hi! to everyone, as, yes, it is that kind of town. It makes other people happy, while passing by. Try it, it works both ways. Welcome to the fold!

I’ll see you about town and be sure to have a smile for you!

OM — May 2021

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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 — May 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 chick pea veggie burgers I like to make these for guests. Fresh, sprouted beans provide a number of micronutrients and are high in dietary fiber. They are also well known for being rich in iron. One cup, for example, provides 25 percent of your average daily iron needs. If you can’t find sprouted chickpeas, you can substitute two cans of garbanzo beans. Make the patties a day or two ahead of time, store covered in the refrigerator and cook when you need them for quick, nutritious meal. For a change, make them 2-1/2 to 3 inches in diameter and serve on a fresh mini-bagel instead of a regular hamburger bun.

INGREDIENTS: 2 1/2 cups sprouted chickpeas 4 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup fresh cilantro (chopped) 1 medium white onion (chopped ) Grated zest of one large lemon 1 cup alfalfa sprouts (chopped) 1 cup toasted whole-grain bread crumbs 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

D I R EC T I O N S :

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

Spring / Summer

Quick + Easy

Steam the sprouted garbanzo beans until just tender - about 10 minutes.

Combine the garbanzos, eggs, and salt in a food processor. Puree until the mixture is the consistency of a very thick, slightly chunky hummus.

Pour into a mixing bowl and stir in the cilantro, onion, zest, and sprouts.

Add the breadcrumbs, stir, and let sit for a couple of minutes so the crumbs can absorb some of the moisture.

At this point, you should have a moist mixture that you can easily form into one-inch thick patties. Robert and I like a nice, moist patty because it makes for a nicely textured burger. You can always add more breadcrumbs, a bit at a time, to firm up the dough if need be.

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium low and cook patties for 7 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms begin to brown. Turn up the heat if there is no browning after 10 minutes. Flip the patties and cook the second side for 7 minutes, or until golden. Remove cooked patties from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties.

Serve with a standard setup of lettuce, tomato and onion and don’t forget your favorite secret sauce! If you don’t have a good recipe for secret sauce, send me an email and I’ll send you mine.

Vegetarian

OM — May 2021

25

SEAVING SRNTR RA RRA & VENTURA COUNTIES

Joe Ramos | Graham Goodfield | Mary Mormann | Kerry Mormann | Brad Berch

LOCAL

6,500 AC | CAÑADA LARGA | $27,650,000

Kerry Mormann & Associates is the Gold Standard for Ranch and Lifestyle properties along the Central Coast of California. With over 75 years of experience, our team holds the highest level of hospitality, community relations and expertise in Ranch, Land, Agriculture, Residential and Luxury Real Estate. We are steadfast in our commitment to our clients with decades of regional knowledge and care.

LISTINGS

77 AC | N. VENTURA AVE | $2,900,000

21 AC | N. VENTURA AVE | $2,700,000 PENDING | 40 AC | CASITAS PASS $2,750,000

PENDING | 51 AC | CREEK RD $1,150,000

Buying or Selling? Contact us today: (805) 682-3242 | www.CoastalRanch.com DRE: 00598625 ©2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

26 OM — May 2021

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

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

OM — May 2021

27

DUETTE® HONEYCOMB SHADES

100

Rebates starting at

Increase your comfort and help lower your energy bills with insulating Hunter Douglas shades. Rebate savings available now. Ask for details.

$

*

on select styles January 9– March 22, 2021

SMART SHADES BONUS! Get even more energy efficiency plus a BONUS REBATE when you add PowerView® Automation.

Chisum's Floor Covering 118 Bryant St Ojai, CA M-F: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sat: By Appointment Only Sun: Closed (805) 646-2440 www.chisumsfloor.com Contractor Lic. #242944

Ask us about special savings on select Hunter Douglas operating systems.

*Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 1/9/21–3/22/21 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Bonus PowerView® rebate is only available when making a qualifying purchase. Rebate will be issued in the form of a Reward Card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim approval. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 6 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. See complete terms distributed with reward card. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. ©2021 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. 21Q1MAGDUC3

28

OM — May 2021

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.

3

4

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

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

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.

6

7

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

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

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.

Only for experienced, f it hikers.

OM — May 2021

Trailhead on eastern side of Sulphur Mountain Road.

Views are unsurpassed.

29

We know Ojai.

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. www.2871MaricopaHwy.com $5,900,000

Corral Canyon Ranch in Cuyama Valley is a 277+ acre ranch with five recently renovated houses, equestrian facilities, pastures, hay fields, beautiful views set against the stunning Sierra Madres Mountains. www.29443hwy33.com Price Upon Request

Three-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom with gorgeous views, laundry room, covered patio, breakfast bar, walk-in pantry, certified wildlife habitat landscaping. $749,000

2 BR + 1 BA private mountain retreat on approximately one acre with fireplace, vaulted ceilings and views just minutes from downtown Ojai. $529,500

The Davis Group ojaivalleyestates.com

Nora Davis

BRE License #01046067

805.207.6177

nora@ojaivalleyestates.com

We’re lifelong residents.

Marc Whitman design on approximately 7 acres with two master suites, five fireplaces, pool, outdoor kitchen, avocado orchard, RV parking, amazing views, and much more. www.1911MeinersRoad.com $3,485,000

ESCROW

Rancho Palo Verde - Contemporary four-bedroom home on 3.75 acres with security gate, privacy fencing, beautiful views, two master suites, avocado trees, fruit trees, chicken coop, great outdoor living areas. 1330SouthLaLunaAvenue.com $2,100,000

ESCROW

Little Creek Ranch offers four bedrooms, two offices, gated entry, arena, covered corrals, on-grid solar, separate workshop, oversized garage, and mountain views on one acre. www.9972CreekRoad.com

Kellye Lynn

BRE License #01962469

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 — May 2021