Ojai Monthly - November 2022

natural beauty of Ojai. The park-like setting cradles the living space and large windows allow interior and exterior 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.

Offered at $2,475,000 1464FoothillRdOjai.com

PERSIMMON HILL LUXURY

This lovely 5br/4.5ba home in the prestigious Persimmon Hill community is situated on 3.5 acres and surrounded by spectacular mountain views. An over 4,000 square foot main home boasts sprawling great rooms, soaring ceilings, a formal dining room, a temperature controlled wine closet and a massive stone fireplace. The grounds include a spacious guest house and a gorgeous rock pool/spa surrounded by lush gardens and views the mountains. Viking appliances adorn a large, open kitchen, and there are owned solar panels and a water filtration system. This very private property affords the perfect mix of country living and the benefits of town, being mere minutes from all the amenities of Ojai.

420SaddleLnOjai.com

Offered at $4,050,000

PATTY WALTCHER

25 years matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

Bret Bradigan

MONTHLY

BLACK ELK HAS SPOKEN

"Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." — Margaret Mead

Ojai’s own Krishnamurti may have been the world’s most prolific public speaker, addressing audiences of hundreds, even thousands, several times a day for decades. My favorite of his many aphorisms is “It’s no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Think about that next time you feel down. Maybe you should have the blues, maybe it's a sign that you're not the problem. Instead, it's the system we set up and its perverse incentives.

Except for a year and a half in Denver, then another year in Boulder, I’ve only lived in small towns. Even during my four years in England — Mildenhall was fewer than 10,000. There’s a scale to small-town life that suits me. It is really the flow of life that happens, the ways in which people are known to each other. You can’t be as big a sociopath as you could in an anonymous crowd. There would be consequences. If you want to start a project, get a second opinion on something, join a club, host a party, if you are sick and need someone to feed your dog, all these small but measurable felicities are yours. Mostly though, if you struggle with the occasional spell of uncertainty, of dark doubts and depression, people are there to lift you up.

That’s why one of my favorite films, and I have a lot of them, is “Lars and the Real Girl,” where the townspeople of Ryan Gosling’s small town enter into his delusion about his relationship with a sex doll. They know, with the wisdom of our ancestors, that people will figure it out eventually. Confronting them on their nonsense is the worst possible strategy. Beware people who say, “I’m just being honest.” They are most often trying to disguise their meanness. Don’t fall for it.

Or better yet, by way of example, look at famous Lakota healer and medicine man Black Elk, of "Black Elk Speaks." He was fully grown before he clapped eyes on a white person. He fought alongside his cousin, Crazy Horse, then served in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Shows, performing for heads of state all across Europe. He returned to reservation life, only to witness Sitting Bull and another 250 to 300 of his friends and family massacred at Wounded Knee. Despite it all, he lived a full and fascinating life.

But when he was a youngster, he was beset with chattering voices in his head. Black Elk’s tribespeople, instead of trying to "fix him," worked hard to act out the visions of the voices, such as four horses of different colors riding off in different directions, drawing remembered images on the walls of the tepee, acting out the details of his dreams. Today, he would be diagnosed as a schizophrenic and either medicated to the gills or shuffling the streets, homeless and having conversations with people who do not exist.

That’s what small towns can do for you. Provide the final vestiges of the gatherer lifestyle. The Leavers versus the Takers of the cult classic novel “Ishmael.” That’s where I come down, on the side of the Leavers. We Bradigans lived on both sides of the line — probably 20 to 25 percent of our calories came from the gathering side, the hunting and foraging of deer and mushrooms, ramps and chokecherries, blackberries and wild rice. That was the most fun for me. It was rewarding in other ways, too. The idea that I could bang off a couple rabbits on my way home from school with my Remington Bushmaster .22 and provide dinner for my parents and siblings? That was a powerful affirmation of worth that I’m not sure many of my peers can appreciate.

Ojai isn't quite as wild as where I grew up, but with 7,600 residents, it is nearly the perfect size for a community. Even if we don't know everyone, we know someone who does know the people we don't. One degree of separation creates social cohesion and mutual aid. We might not be able to cure mental illness, but we almost certainly prevent a lot of it.

NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

festivals live music musicals

NOVEMBER 3-7 (in person) & 8-20 (virtual)

23rd Ojai Film Festival

Times: Varied.

Venues: Ojai Art Center Theater 113 South Montgomery Street Libbey Bowl, 210 South Signal Street Contact: OjaiFilmFestival.org The Festival returns with an exciting lineup of original films and in-person events.

NOVEMBER 4-6

Rodgers & Hammerstein in Revue - “It’s a Grand Night for Ojai”

Times: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday eve nings, Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Location: 703 El Paseo Road

Contact: ojaitheater.org

A musical revue of classic songs from the legendary songwriting and producing team. Tickets available 3 weeks in advance at www. ojaitheater.org. Featuring a cast headed by Scott White and Laura Dekkers, the revue is directed by Richard Camp and produced by the Ojai Performing Arts Theater.

NOVEMBER 12-13

“Holiday Home Look-In & Marketplace”

Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Four exquisite homes in the Ojai Valley will be professionally decorated in a holiday theme. The Ojai Holiday Home Tour celebrates its 25th anniversary with four never-before-seen properties in the bucolic Ojai Valley. We all anticipate the experience of walking through the homes, admiring styling, artwork, and holiday decor. The event proudly

presents homes to represent the eclectic and varied architectural and lifestyles of Ojai. From an elegant farmhouse, a contemporary Med iterranean to cozy small homes, you will find it all and more in this year’s selection. Hosted by the Ojai Festival Women’s Committee with proceeds benefiting the Ojai Festival and its BRAVO music education and community program.

Contact: OjaiFestival.org, 805-646-2053

NOVEMBER 12

“The Forest Table — A Wild Food Dinner Time: 6 to 9 p.m.

Location: St. Andrews Episcopal Church 409 Topa Topa Drive

Join local forager, herbalist and chef Jess Star wood for a seven-course wild food dinner, cele brating all that the season offers. Late autumn is the time for acorns and mushrooms, roots, nuts and seeds, spices and flavors of the local environ ment that you’ll find nowhere else. Vegetarian.

Contact: Herbwalks.com

NOVEMBER 12

“Nordhoff Cemetery Ghost Lore” Times: 2 to 4 a.m.

Location: Corner of Del Norte and Cuyama. Join ghost hunter and author of “Char Man,” Richard Senate, for a late-night walk through the historic Nordhoff Cemetery. Learn about the history of the old burying grounds and the story of her ghosts, including the Phantom Dog, the Ghost Girl, and the /shadow People. There will also be a lesson in Ghost Hunting and respect for historic cemeteries. Flashlights

will be provided, proper footwear is required, and cameras are encouraged.

Contact: Ojai Parks & Recreation 805-646-5581, OjaiRec.com

NOVEMBER 22

Bill Callahan in Concert Time: 7 to 11 p.m.

Location: Ojai Deer Lodge 2261 Maricopa Hwy

Tierra Sol presents Mr. Gothic Country himself, Bill Callahan, making his first ever visit to Ojai.

Contact: Tickets at www.FolkYeah.com

NOVEMBER

“Elf”

25 TO DECEMBER 18

Times: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays

Location: The Ojai Art Center 113 South Montgomery Street

Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilar ious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.

Contact: OjaiArtCenter.org 805-646-0117

BY ILONA SAARI

— Therese Hartmann

Therese moved to the mystical Ojai Valley when she was a year old, give or take a few months. Her dad, Larry Hartmann was an educator for thirty years, which included being a principal at Mira Monte school. Her mom is Georgia DiGuillo and stepmom, Patricia Hartmann. Therese’s first family home was on Topa Topa Drive where her dad taught her how to

ride a bike as he pushed her in the direction of Ojai Avenue. Oops! “I was smiling widely,” she re members, “until I realized I did not know how to stop and was heading towards traffic.” Instinctively, she crashed the bike before she was in jeopardy. Her first experience as a problem solver.

SIBLINGS AND THERESE IN THE BACK

After graduating Nordhoff High, where she was captain of the girls’ tennis team, Therese enrolled in Ventura Community College, earning an Associates Degree. She then took business classes through Cal State University, Northridge and hit the job market, where, in her early 20s, she became the National Sales Manager for Flavia Greeting Cards, and also helped out doing odd jobs for

the original owners (Gloria & Carl Olmstead) of Rain bow Bridge. A favorite ‘odd job’ was helping to run the kitchen. “I learned quite a bit about cooking, including deconstructing recipes, getting to know spices and herbs and knife skills, understanding the benefits of using only healthy ingredients …”

THERESE HARTMANN

“I’m a little dyslexic, but belong to Mensa and have a thing for understanding how the body works,” she is proud to say. At age 14 she had asked her parents for Lewis Thomas’ book, “Lives of a Cell,” and considered becoming a doctor. However, when she learned that med school didn’t require classes on nutrition, she changed her mind and dreamed of a career in alternative medi cine and nutrition. By age 15, Therese became a vegetari an (and recently, even more plant-based). “I experiment quite a bit with adding and deleting foods, activities, ways of thinking and have noticed that with a vegan diet … I’ve gotten stronger.”

Therese was a teenager when her parents divorced, but despite her own sadness, she knew she needed to be there for her brothers, “and, frankly for my parents as well,” she remembers. What she learned was “that our flaws and hurts can, and often do, become our super-powers,” which led her on a path to help people in need. “I’ve broken up gang fights in LA, stopped four lanes of traffic on Sunset Boulevard to bring an old woman who gotten hit by a truck to safety…” She’s saved people from drowning and has helped accident victims. She may not have followed her initial dream of working in alternative medicine, but for reasons she can’t explain ... DNA? Ojai Valley’s mystical vortex? … the need to save others is ever present, not to mention that her “fear” gene is non-existent. She’ll just crash the bike.

“Moving away from high school let me share some of the people/events/places that have inspired me. I have

ended up in situations without my really trying. It has been more about following breadcrumbs as one would do in a good scavenger hunt.”

In 1978, after someone submitted her name for a summer course on Arts & Sciences and Indian Culture, sponsored by Sathya Sai Baba, (a Southern India holy man), she was accepted. Along with 200 other international students, Therese followed the bread crumbs laid out for her to India. One month turned into four in some very rural areas. Toilets were mere holes in the ground, bathing was by bucket, and rice and dal for most meals. After a bout of dysentery that lasted longer than it should have, she became more aware of the stark contrast of a culture so different from hers which forced her to abandon old beliefs as abso lute truths. More bread crumbs spread out before her. She stud ied with a rebbe for four years, learned to cook health foods from Geronimo’s multi-greats granddaughter (Gloria Olm

THERESE WITH RAM DASS, SPIRITUAL TEACHER

THERESE IN A CLASS IN INDIA

stead of Rainbow Bridge), swam and had dinner with Ram Dass, the guru of modern yoga, conversed with Gan gaji in the forests of Rishikesh, had lunch with the group of Carlos Casta ñ eda’s entourage referred to as Chac mools, spent time with a Mayan Shaman named Black Jaguar in Tikai, worked with Rajagopal (Krishnamurti’s guardian), and spent many years coming and going to learn from Sai Baba.

After many happy work experiences including teaching swimming, pruning trees, having a body wrap business and getting a real estate license, Therese’s path of bread crumbs led her to a regional sales manager position for Green Foods Corporation, a global Japanese health com pany, and one of the first companies to come out with a ‘green drink.’ Two years later, bread crumbs led her back to India for a year. Working with children (“...you real ly can’t help but smile when you’re around them”), she co-founded the non-profit NGO World Family Founda tion.

Returning to the States, she rejoined the Japanese company as its General Manager for many years. At a trade show, she was seriously injured and had to deal with a lot of pain. When surgery failed to help, she was put on permanent disability. Though her insurance would pay her manager’s salary for life, that wasn’t the path she was comfortable with and, with the help of a pain manager, she was able to get retrained. She became a mortgage broker and cancelled those insurance pay

ments. For more than 20 years, Therese has helped peo ple with their financial needs. She loves being of service and followed the bread crumbs on her path to be a part of the Ojai Women’s Fund, Ojai Festival Women’s Com mittee, Ojai Education Foundation, Ojai Valley Defense Fund, Stop The Trucks Coalition, and the Ojai Chamber of Commerce. Recently, the Rotary Club of Ojai honored her with the Fred Clapp Ethics in Business Award, which meant a lot to her.

“Like the film, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life,’ I often muse about the alternate outcomes that might have been, for myself and others,” she says. “To that end, I hope I will always follow my trail (of bread crumbs) and, rather than follow my passion, I will continue to carry my passion with me.”

Therese no longer crashes her bike. She doesn’t need to. She knows how to ride now.

THERESE WITH GLORIA OLMSTEAD — THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF RAINBOW BRIDGE

THERESE HARTMANN

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Located behind the private gates of Rancho Matilija in Ojai, on over 2 acres, sits a Mediterranean Estate. This 5 bedroom, 5.5 bathroom home has a perfect blend of indoor/outdoor living. Wonderful vaulted ceilings throughout, distressed wood and terrazzo stone flooring, lovely granite countertops and hand-painted tiles. As you enter into the home, you are greeted with an impressive grand foyer, a handsome library/den, formal living room and dining room. The great room is magnificent with beamed ceilings, massive fireplace and open to the cook’s dream kitchen. The butler’s pantry, wine cellar and wet bar are perfect for entertaining. Each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom. Large guest quarters; perfect for friends, guests, or extended family. There is a refreshing pool, gen tleman’s orchard, owned solar with Tesla Battery back-up, and large outdoor cabana.

PROPERTY DETAIL

Two Houses; One Lot! Income Producing Possibilities! Welcome to this lovely Spanish-style Hacienda home located right downtown Ojai and sitting on just shy of half an acre. The guest quarters, (1 bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom) is attached to the main house, (2 bedroom, 2 bathroom.)

Views, Views, Views! This lovely Spanish home sits atop a hill with stun ning views of the Mountains and Valley, tucked away up Tower Road on the East End of Ojai. This 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home home offers the perfect mix of indoor/outdoor living.

Welcome to a rare find in Ojai. This lovely four bedroom, three bath home has vaulted ceilings and a spacious open floor plan. Perfect blend of indoor/outdoor living as there are many windows and plenty of light. There is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath guest house and an artist studio on the property as well. All of this is sitting on 7.5 flat usable acres with some of the most incredible views of the Majestic mountains.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Welcome to a rare find in Ojai. This lovely four bedroom, three bath home has vaulted ceilings and a spacious open floor plan. The sellers built the home in 1992 and it was designed well before its time. There is a fireplace in the living room which is open to the kitchen and dining room with French doors leading to magical gardens. A large library is off the living room with two of fices upstairs. Perfect blend of indoor/outdoor living as there are many windows and plenty of light. There is a 2 bedroom,1 bath guest house and an artist studio on the property as well. All of this is sitting on 7.5 flat usable acres with some of the most incredible views of the majestic mountains.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Located within walking distance to downtown Ojai, this elegant family home has it all. Light and bright, you will love the open spacious floor plan. The beautifully detailed kitchen and den open to a sunroom, with a massive rock fireplace, which overlooks the private backyard and swimming pool. There are four fireplaces, a large office, downstairs primary bedroom with a “spa-like” bath, formal living room and formal dining room — all with incredi ble details, balconies and patios to bring the outside in. This property, just over an acre, has an art studio, garden sheds, meandering pathways, a bridge leading to a five-star chicken coop, guest house, orchards, vegetable and rose gardens, wonderful mature trees, views of the mountains and, yes, a Tree House.

11 Tips for Growing Winter Greens

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

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

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

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

2. Many leafy greens like their soil moist, which is another reason it is best to grow them during the rainy season to re duce the need for supplemental irrigation.

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

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

4. Consider starting your seeds in doors if you are planting early when the weather is still pretty warm or planting late and the temperature is already regu larly dipping below 50 degrees.

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

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

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

8. Another way to help ensure success

is to choose easier-to-grow greens, such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard, or rocket lettuce. Most greens are easy to grow, but these are even easier, so they might be better options for beginner gardeners.

9. If you do not have room for a veg etable garden, grow your greens in con tainers on your patio, a vertical garden, or in small pots on a windowsill.

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

11. Consider a simple hydroponics system for growing leafy greens indoors. I grow leafy greens both in soil and hydroponically and would recommend either one for gardeners with any level of experience. Using a hydroponic system allows you to grow greens indoors all year — not just in winter — so that is a bonus. You can purchase an indoor hydroponics system that is complete with grow lights and a pump, but it is also possible to start with a much simpler and more afford able, do-it-yourself option, such as using the Kratky method, which you can easily learn with a quick Internet search.

FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS

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

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

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

Weather in Ojai

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

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

OJAI QUICK FACTS:

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

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

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

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

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

TO

Dennis Guernsey

LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-1998

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

Clinton Haugan

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

Nora Davis

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

Therese A. Hartmann is a local loan consultant af filiated with C2 Financial Corpo ration, and is a Licensed Broker, California BRE #01048403. NMLS # 298291. Call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

Donna Sallen Remax Gold Coast Realtors Donna4Re max@aol.com DonnaSallen. com 805-798-0516

Vivienne Moody

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

Amanda Stanworth

LIV Sotheby’s Inter national Realty Phone: 805-2188117 • E-mail: amandastan worth77@gmail. com Web: Rooney-Stan worth.com

Team Deckert

Keller Williams Realty

Ray Deckert, Broker Associate ContactUs@ TeamDeckert. com 805-272-5218

Dale Hanson Ojai Valley Real Estate

211 E. Matilija Street, Ste. J, 206 E. Ojai Ave. 805-646-7229 dale@ovhl.com

Larry Wilde

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

Erik Wilde

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

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

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

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

Anne Williamson

Keller Williams Realty Anneshomes inojai.com 805-320-3314

Kathy Hoff

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

the great annual chili cookoff coming!

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

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

Fall is officially here with beautiful days and cooler nights. This means the Ojai Valley Board of REALTORS Chili Cook-Off is coming soon!

We began the tradition years ago and hosted it in our office meeting room. Not exactly what we wanted it to be, however, it did begin our journey for our annual Chili Cook Off, as it is today.

We now have chosen to create our event in an out side setting, at a private home, with judges from our community who love chili. We set the Chili Cook-Off event up with long tables of many local agent’s and our affiliate representative’s home made chili which are in crockpots.

Each entry has a number so the judges are impar tial to the identity of each chili maker.

At check in, we sell wrist bands for unlimited tastings of the many chilis, and raffle tickets for fun prizes. This is our major Nordhoff Scholarship Fundraiser for next school year! We also have a coveted prize of the “Golden Ladle,” which is the “People’s Choice.”

All who attend may enter their ticket for the one chili they choose as the BEST. It is a fun event for us all and good camaraderie among the chili makers! Who doesn’t want to win the event? 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes medallions complete the event until next year, when we begin the competition again ... See you about town!

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

AGAVE MARIA

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

AJ’S EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS

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

BOCCALI’S

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

BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE

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

THE DEER LODGE

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

FARMER & THE COOK

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

YUME JAPANESE BURGER

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

JIM & ROB’S FRESH GRILL

Mexican-American & regional favorites

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

HIP VGN

Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls 201 North Montgomery Street

hipvegancafe.com (805) 669-6363

HOME KITCHEN OF OJAI

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

MANDALA

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

THE NEST

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

LO>E SOCIAL CAFE

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

OAK GRILL @ THE INN

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

OJAI COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY

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

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY

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

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY (Oak View)

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

OJAI ROTIE

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

OSTERIA MONTE GRAPPA

Rustic menu of Northern Italian fare & seafood dishes.

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

PAPA LENNON’S

Family owned, original & traditional Italian cuisine

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

RAINBOW BRIDGE

A community gathering place

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

THE RANCH HOUSE

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

SAKURA OJAI

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

SEA FRESH

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

ZAIDEE’S BAR & GRILL

Patio & indoor dining with Ojai’s most tranquil views

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

Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer and has been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for over 38 years. Chef Randy has written and published a series of seven cookbooks with original recipes developed over the period 1975 through 2020. He writes for the Ojai Quarterly, the Ojai Monthly, and the California 101 Travelers Guide. His vegetarian recipes are published in newspapers throughout Central California under the header, Chef Randy. He and his wife, Robin, live in Ojai, California, with their dog Cooper. Robin and Cooper are not vegetarians.

CHEF RANDY’S LIFE OF SPICE arugula-Walnut Pesto salad

Arugula is available year-round and, with its peppery taste, is a nice changeup for an early fall salad. I like baby arugula because it is less bitter and more tender. If you can’t find baby arugula at your favorite store, try looking for it at a

INGREDIENTS

2 cups baby arugula

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 cup toasted walnut pieces (divided)

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

12 ounces farfalle pasta

3/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese

1/2 cup golden raisins

DIRECTIONS:

Whirl together arugula, zest, garlic, 1/4 cup walnuts, the

oil, salt, and pepper in a food processor until blended, scraping inside of bowl as needed. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving a scant 1/4 cup of the water — return pasta to pot and add pesto, stirring to coat. Stir in the remaining walnuts, cheese, raisins, and reserved pasta water.

Tip: for a vegan salad, leave out the cheese.

SOLD IN OJAI

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT HOME SALES

813 Williams Place, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,116 sf, $735,000

125 Gravevine Road, Oak View, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,411 sf, $825,000

405 North Ventura Street, 2 bed, 1 bath, 856 sf, $865,000

410 Church Road, #43, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,758 sf, $870,000

1189 South Rice Road, 3 bed, 1.75 bath, 1,181 sf, $920,000

1163 Lake Avenue, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,100 sf, $921,500

11325 Puesta Del Sol, Oak View, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,494 sf, $1,130,000

1188 Fierro Drive, 4 bed, 3 bath, 1,737 sf, $1,141,620

1340 Grand Avenue, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,700 sf, $1,480,000

2585 Valley Meadow Court, Oak View, 4 bed, 2 bath, 2,213 sf, $1,545,000

701 Cañada Street, 4 bed, 4 bath, 2,844 sf, $1,963,000

16084 Maricopa Highway, 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,720 sf, $1,979,000

Are We Entering a Buyer’s Market? Looking for the Likely Signs

By Therese A. Hartmann

If any of those of us in the real estate industry knew precisely when the market would take a turn, we would likely be in Mexico enjoying a margarita anticipating the correction.

With only four new recent listings for sale, there is still a shortage in housing and that will keep the market here somewhat strong. But how long will that last? And what else should we be paying attention to when trying to understand the direction the market will go? Finally, what defines a “buyer’s market”?

A buyer’s market happens when more homes are on the market than there are interested buyers. House supply outweighs demand, in other words. A sudden increase in the number of homes for sale in a specific area or a drop in interested buyers can cause a buyer’s market. Many times, the two events happen concurrently. During a buyer’s market, real estate values drop and houses typically remain on the market longer. In this instance, motivated sellers will consider increasing their marketing budget and/or lower their asking price to attract a buyer. Staging a home could be a consideration.

So, what are the signs of a buyer’s market?

Housing markets have a natural cycle to them that usually lasts 12 years, barring any

unusual circumstances. In order to know where we are in the cycle, you need to be aware of the following signs:

• Increased Inventory: More properties are listed for sale

• Lower Prices: You might start seeing more price reductions

• Incentives: Sellers might begin offering credits, flexible closing times and/or funds towards non-recurring closing costs

• Houses taking longer to sell: The average time on the market increases and there will be fewer offers made

• Relisted Homes: With extended days on the market, an agent might have their sellers temporarily take their homes off the market and then relist to create a sense of a “fresh” listing. After all, if a home sits on the market too long, it could cause a potential borrower a sense that something is wrong with the property.

When a real estate market starts moving from the sellers having leverage to a more balanced market, many different market signs will help tell if the transition is happening. In other words, if you pay attention to the market distinctions listed, you should be able to note a turn in the market. And yes, you too can do this from Mexico with margarita in hand!

Therese A. Hartmann has more than 20 years’ lending experience. She is a Licensed Broker, California Dept. of Real Estate #01048403, NMLS # 298291, affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation. For a free consultation, call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

OQ

1 SHELF ROAD 3.5mi

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

VENTURA RIVER PRESERVE | 7mi

EASY TO MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 520 ft (Wills-Rice). Trailheads at end of Meyer Road, South Rice Road and Baldwin Road. Great for birding.

HORN CANYON 5.5mi

STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 1,600 ft. Trailhead near Thacher School’s gymkhana field. Goes to shady stand of 80-foot tall pines.

ROSE VALLEY 1mi

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

HIKING MAP

PRATT TRAIL 8.8mi

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

COZY DELL 2.2mi

MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft |

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

SISAR CANYON 22mi

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

GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi

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

MATILIJA CANYON 12mi

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

SULPHUR MTN. 22mi

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

We’re lifelong residents.