Ojai Monthly - November 2021

OJAI

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

THE HEMMINGS: MAKING OJAI THEIR HOME FIVE WINTER GARDENING TIPS FARMERS’ MARKET CHOWDER Cover Photo: Karen K. Lewis paintings at the Ojai Art Center, Nov. 5 to Dec. 1. See Page 18 Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

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CASA DE LOS ENCINOS

This grand, spa-like 5,931sqft 7br/5½ba Hacienda style estate on 2.35 acres in Rancho Matilija is walled and gated for maximum privacy. The main house has beamed ceilings, a grand foyer, a formal dining room, a spacious great room and multiple fireplaces. The gourmet kitchen has Wolf appliances, an indoor barbeque, and a walk-in pantry. The primary bedroom suite has a covered patio, an adjoining office and spectacular views of the Topa Topas. The 400 sqft primary bath includes a sauna, steam shower, a jetted tub, 2 walk-in closets and a patio with an outdoor shower. A 4-car garage has a bedroom, a bathroom and a private theater with luxurious seating. There is a 2br/2ba guest house with full kitchen. The pool/jacuzzi area has a fire pit, a covered patio with a cabana and BBQ. The beautifully landscaped grounds include an orchard and a private well for irrigation.

12147LindaFloraAveOjai.com $4,500,000

PAT T Y WALTCHER

25 years matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

FOOTHILL FARMS This beautiful, turn-key 1920’s Tudor Revival on the prestigious Foothill Road has been impeccably modernized, restored and expanded with close attention paid to preser ving the home’s historic character. The main 3-bedroom residence has dramatic pitched ceilings and includes a luxurious primary bedroom with separate his and hers baths and dressing rooms, a formal dining room, a large living room with a stone fireplace, an art gallery, a wood paneled office, elegant bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen and butler’s pantry.

Designed by noted architect William A. Edwards, it was designated by The City of Ojai as a Historic Landmark in 2020.

The property includes a charming guest cottage designed by Austen Pierpont, a separate studio, a detached garage and a pool.

1104FoothillRoadOjai.com $6,450,000

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 — November 2021

Lynn Goodman 805.573.5927

Ojai

Heather Erickson

805.798.3358

CA

Riley Becker

805.646.6768

928 Devereux Drive, Ojai - Listed at $849,000 / Sold for $1,014,160 Soak in the beautiful Ojai valley while relaxing on the front porch swing of this beautiful cozy California cottage. From the newly refinished wood floors, the renovated kitchen and bathrooms, the glorious studio/shed, and the fabulously updated lighting fixtures, you can feel the love that went into this very recent restoration. Other amenities include a main bedroom with en-suite bath, fresh exterior paint, copper gutters, whimsical window/flower boxes, luscious landscaping. and mountain views. Enjoy the lifestyle that harkens back to the summer days of old where you'd take in the fresh air - glass of lemonade in hand - and wave to the friendly neighbors passing by. Classic charm and craftsmanship meet contemporary flair - truly a must see home!

Sold!

1267 Chalmette Avenue, Ventura Sale pending

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

DRE# 01761150, 01859199 OM — November 2021

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2021

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Editor’s Note

11

Calendar of Events

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Featured Pros: The Hemmings: Ojai’s Brother-Sister Journey

18

All About Debt & Loans

20 How To ‘Halloween’ Your House

12

21

Ojai Founding Fathers & Mothers

22

Who’s Who in Real Estate

24

Dine Ojai — Restaurant Guide

25

Chef Randy: Orzo Pasta Salad

27

Sold In Ojai

29

Self-Propelled 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: Nora Davis, Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe Contact Us: 805.798.0177 editor@ojaiquarterly.com The contents of the Ojai Monthly may not be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher.

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OJAI

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

THE HEMMINGS: MAKING OJAI THEIR HOME HOUSE AND HOME WITH AJ DAVIS HIKING PATHS TO OJAI GLORY Cover Photo: Karen K. Lewis paintings at the Ojai Art Center, Nov. 5 to Dec. 1. See Page 18 Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

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DISCOVER

OJAI MONTHLY THE GREAT UNMASKING "A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can put on its pants.” — Winston Churchill

Bret Bradigan

There’s a consensus in Ojai that we mind our own business and yet we are all in it together. We live poised between those poles of self and selflessness. So when there’s a gross violation of the common good, we all feel as if our world view is threatened. The graffiti recently emblazoned across the school district headquarters, smack dab in the middle of downtown, is a good example.

If there were to be a city motto for Ojai, I’d vote for Thomas Jefferson’s quote: ‘‘I don’t care what you do, so long as you don’t pick my pocket or break my bones.’’ The anti-vaccination crowd does both. By prioritizing their ‘‘freedoms’’ over the health and welfare of the community, they put at risk everyone, especially those with co-morbidities.

There’s also the trillion-dollar cost of such a major economic disruption, which goes well beyond statistics to a very personal tragedy for millions of us. As someone noted about the death of Colin Powell, ‘‘(he) didn’t die because he was vaccinated, he died because you weren’t.’’

The rapid and rampant spread of mis- and disinformation accelerates like a cyclone through the internet. No calm facts and reasoned risk can compete against the dumpster fire of innumeracy and bad-faith actors. Science can’t compete against hearsay and anecdotes that are so much more persuadable. That’s human nature. Your ex-boyfriend’s cousin’s dubious account trumps the Centers for Disease Control every time.

People who march to the beat of their own drummer seem to be on their way to Ojai. Oddballs and misfits are just friends and neighbors here. But those who deface our public buildings with four-foot high letter spelling out their angry grievances aren’t. I hope that the security cams lead to their arrests and that pissed-off judges exact a just toll for what they’ve done. It’s more than just graffiti, it’s symbolic of a breakdown in social trust.

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SEAVING SRNTR RA RRA & VENTURA COUNTIES

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

LOCAL

LEGACY PROPERTY | 6,500 AC RANCHO CAÑADA LARGA | $27,650,000

JUST SOLD | 10+ AC PIXIE ORCHARD MARICOPA HWY | OJAI | $1,275,000

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

NEW LISTING | RANCHO MONTE ALEGRE 2,900+AC | CARPINTERIA | $45,000,000

51 AC | RANCHO DEL CIELO AVOCADO RANCH | $1,150,000

121 AC | TORO CANYON PARK OFFERED AT $5,500,000

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.

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Now available at

frontier paint

227 Baldwin Rd., Ojai 805-646-0459

www.frontierpaint.biz CREATIVE SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

THERESE HARTMANN PROVIDING HOME LOANS FOR OVER 25 YEARS!

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

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— The Mistretta’s

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

(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

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In this season of Reflection & Thanksgiving, we offer

Gratitude & Blessings to each of you in our beloved Ojai community!

@flo u r i s h oja i W W W. F LO U R I S H OJA I .CO M

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

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NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS WEEKLY

art shows

Certified Farmers Market

(Image credit: Ivon Hitchens, Algerian Woman No. 1, 1948, oil on canvas © 2021 Artists Rights Society (ARS) New York / DACS, London)

Blind Boy Paxton will be among the storytellers in Ojai October 28-31 Mary Warner’s “Dusk” at Porch Gallery’s “Before the Wilt” show.

OCTOBER 14 – DECEMBER 12 Ivon Hitchens: “Nudes” Times: Thursday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Location: canvas and paper, 311 north montgomery street 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.

Contact: canvasandpaper.org NOVEMBER 4-14 Ojai Film Festival Times: Varies Locations: Varies. Contact: ojaifilmfestival. com The Ojai Film Festival returns in-person on November 4 with a free screening at Libbey Bowl. From November 5 to 8 will be the screenings and festival programs. Then November 9 to 14, all festival films will be available online through video on demand.

The festival kicks off on November 4 with a free screening of “Up” in Libbey Bowl. All festival films will be available for streaming November 9 to 14.

Contact: 805-640-1947 info@ojaifilmfestival.com

OCTOBER 7 - JANUARY 3 Before the Wilt: Works by Renée A Fox & Mary Warner Location: Porch Gallery 310 East Matilija Street Times: Thursday to Monday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Guest curated by China Adams Before The Wilt features the work of painters Renee´ Fox and Mary Warner. Both accentuate the flower through dramatic scale, rich color and Realism (in places verging on Hyper-Realism). Poised at either ends of the life-cycle spectrum, seen together, the work of Fox and Warner act symbolically to suggest a kind of bookending to the compressed floral life-cycle.

Contact: 805-620-7589 porchgalleryojai.com

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.

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.

community. Begin your holiday shopping with 50+ booths that will provide the perfect find for everyone on your list, including something special for you. Enjoy musical performances at the Libbey Park Gazebo. Create your own decorations at the Ornament and Wreath Stations. Silent auction of decorated tabletop trees and menorahs created by local artists, businesses, and organizations. The Holiday Home Tour will return November 2022!

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

NOVEMBER 13-14 Holiday Marketplace Times: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day Location: Libbey Park This event is a benefit for the Ojai Music Festival and its BRAVO education and community program, which offers free music workshops to the Ojai Valley public schools and the

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BY ILONA SAARI HERB - AS PHOTO EDITOR FOR AP IN NYC

When some people think of “siblings” they automatically think “rivalry.”

Not in this case! Ruth and Herb Hemming exemplify the ancient Vietnamese proverb: “Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet.” Together, but separate. Two parts of a whole.

Ruth Hemming was born in Chicago, Illinois. Brothers Ken and Herb followed. Their father, Kenneth Hemming worked for the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in office management. At an early age, Herb fell in love with trains.

“Guess that’s why I love Amtrak and have traveled by train throughout the United States and Europe,” Herb said.

Their mom, Dorothy, a homemaker after Ruth was born, packed up the family in 1955 after Kenneth accepted a promotion. She moved the family from their home in Peoria, Illinois to Pasadena, California. “I still have vivid memories of getting off the train in Pasadena, after a cross-country journey with Mom, brothers, and dog, and seeing palm trees for the first time in my life,” Ruth fondly remembers.

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“I had never expected to see California, much less live here.

Quite a treat after leaving Illinois in mid-winter.”

While Ruth dreamed of becoming a veterinarian as a child, she soon learned there were scarce opportunities for a girl to be accepted into veterinarian college. She reluctantly gave up that dream and turned to journalism, but she never lost her love for animals. While Herb was still in high school, Ruth raised and showed collies, commandeering her brother as her official handler in the ring at competitions. And, as an equestrian, Ruth rode, competed in shows, and bred miniature horses. Herb’s childhood plan for a grown-up career included being a doctor, then a professor, but after working summers during high school as a copy

THE HEMMING FAMILY RUTH HEMMINGS - BOSTON MARATHON

RUTH HEMMING - STEEPLECHASE RUTH WITH GLORIA STEINEM

boy for the Pasadena Star-News, he, too, caught the “journalism bug.”

Ruth worked on the student newspapers in high school and at Pasadena Community College. From there she entered U.C Berkeley and graduated with a degree in journalism, which led to an internship in the News Bureau at Mount

Holyoke College in Massachusetts, where she earned an M.A. in English. After working as a reporter for two years at the Pasadena Star-News, Ruth changed careers and relocated to Ventura, where she taught journalism and English at Ventura College.

One of Herb’s bosses during his high school job at the OM — November 2021

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Pasadena paper had attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri.

Herb decided to follow in his footsteps and earned his B.J. in journalism. Immediately after graduation, he began his career as a photo editor for The Associated Press in New York City.

He loved living in the city, working nights and, like so many journalists, enjoyed DESCRIPTION its night life in bars which were open ‘til 4 a.m.

Ruth continued to advance her career in education … she became a founding faculty member at Oxnard College in 1975 and was promoted to Associate Dean of Instruction/ Administration Services a year later. During her career she was named Dean of Continuing Education, was a Vice President of Student Services, and served for a year as Oxnard’s Vice President of Instructional Services. She served as Vice President of Administrative Services at Ventura College, overseeing its $24 million budget, then became the Interim President of Oxnard College. From 1997 to 2001 she was the Vice President of College Service at Moorpark College, Executive Vice President at Oxnard, followed by a position as EVP back at Moorpark.

During her years in Ventura, Ruth earned an Ed.D. (Dr. Ruth!) and met her life-long partner, Joan Raymund, an English professor who taught literature and creative writing, specializing in poetry at L.A City College and Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Because of Ventura’s proximity to Ojai, they often explored the valley, and in 1986 decided to pick up stakes and move to Ojai. “Living in Ojai was a long-time dream of ours, and we moved here right after Joan retired,” Ruth said. She describes Ojai as “a combination of rural beauty, small-town vibe, and good restaurants — an unbeatable combination.”

After a five-year stint in Los Angeles for AP, Herb was back in New York City, but by 1979, he realized his drinking was out of control, quit the news service and returned to California. “I went from the supervisor of photo coverage worldwide to an assistant manager in the housewares department at Bullock’s. But you do what you have to do.”

In 1985 (now sober), Herb returned to AP which, over his career, had sent him to Mexico with President Nixon, and through Canada with Russian Premier Alexie Kosygin.

He covered the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, boxing matches (including those of Muhammad Ali), and several Super Bowls, World Series games, and political conventions. At an AA meeting, Herb met his forever partner, Edmund Andreas Arredondo, who worked for many years as 14

OM — November 2021

a hair stylist at Elizabeth Arden and Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Some of Edmund’s famous clients included Betty Ford, Rosalind Russell and Barbra Streisand. When Herb finally retired in 2006, he and Edmund followed Ruth and moved to Ojai.

At Joan’s urging, Ruth became involved with the Ojai Art Center where Joan served as the Chair of the Center’s Literary Branch for many years, holding weekly poetry workshops and producing yearly magazines featuring local poets. In 2004, after being life partners for more than 30 years, Joan passed away, but Ruth’s dedication to the Ojai Art Center continued to grow. She served on its Board for many years, was the Board’s President for a dozen years, and is presently its Vice President. The Art Center’s Theater was christened the “Ruth Hemming Theater” in honor of her years of service.

Herb and Edmund became involved in the Art Center Theater in 2007 as “dressers” for the two lead actors in a production of “Greater Tuna.” Wanting to do much more, Herb volunteered to run the box office and did so for over a decade, attending every show of every production, while Edmund began creating costumes for many of the shows. Herb also became a show producer as well as producer of many fundraisers with musical stars such as Mitzi Gaynor, Amanda McBroom and Lorna Luft. Herb has also served as Chair and Treasurer of the Theater Branch and on the Board of Trustees. In 2008, he was asked to be on the Board of the Ojai Film Festival and was its President and has been its Treasurer for the last few years. “I can think of nothing better when you’re retired than giving to the community and helping expose people to the arts,” Sadly, after 31 years together, Edmund passed away in 2018, but Herb has continued on as an important contributor to the Art Center and its theater, and has set up a scholarship fund in Edmund’s name at Ventura College for students pursuing a career in theater arts. When together, Herb and Edmund lovingly raised fox terriers and Herb is continuing that caring tradition by raising Josie and Katy, two adorable fox terriers.

Ruth was not only an equestrian but a runner, and participated in the Boston Marathon twice! She continues her athletic pursuits, enjoying golf at beautiful Soule Golf Course and playing a lot of tennis. “The Ojai Valley Athletic Club is my home away from home,” she says, and thoroughly enjoys playing tennis with women friends as well as with “the Cronies,” a group originally made up of men over the age of 65, but who welcomed her as their first female member and who “have always been kind, patient and welcoming,” Herb and Ruth continue to serve our community, supporting its nonprofits such as the Ojai Women’s Fund, and scholarship programs, including one they started together.

2021

Ojai Film Festival A Premier Collection of Independent Films from Around the World • Features, Documentaries and Animated Films • Screenplay Competition and Live Read • Seminars, Parties and Special Events • Diversity & Inclusion Mini-Festival • Environmental Focus Films • Celebrity Honorees OjaiFilmFestival.com

NOVEMBER 5-8 AT OJAI ART CENTER NOVEMBER 9-14 ALL FILMS AVAILABLE ONLINE

805.640.1947

ENRICHING THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH FILM OM — November 2021

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Donna Sallen

Enter through the gates of Rancho Matilija and instantly feel the majestic beauty of the area. Surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest, Rancho Matilija is one of the best-hidden secrets in all of Ojai. This neighborhood features estate homes that appeal to those who appreciate the tranquility and privacy of a secluded, gated community, in a country setting. Sitting perfectly on over two acres with gardens, meandering walkways and mature trees. Once inside you will be delighted with the open, spacious floor plan, vaulted ceilings, three fireplaces, cooks dream kitchen all the while showcasing views from every room. This home features five bedrooms and a separate guest quarters. Cool off in the pool surrounded by nature. The gardens produce an abundance of fruits and vegetables; all watered with your own private well.

There’s no place like home ...

Let me find yours.

Welcome to this nearly 10-acre lovely property which is abuzz with bees making sweet honey, delicious duck eggs from nearly 40 beautiful ducks, and plenty of fruit trees and vegetables. Located on a seasonal creek, there are two houses, a hay barn with a loft, plenty of stalls, an arena and hiking trails. The main house which was built somewhere around 1936 but maybe earlier, has a massive stone fireplace in the living room which is a showstopper and used many many years ago as the ol’ dance hall for the oil workers in the fields. The main house is three bedrooms and two baths with a big dining room also with a fireplace. The second house has three bedrooms and one and three quarter baths and was originally built as the caretakers cottage; this square footage is approx. 1,800 per seller. The views from nearly every window showcase the mountains surrounding the property.

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

SKYLIN E ESTATES

"Best little art and gift store in Ojai" c SE S

Move-in ready 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath plus office on almost 1/2 acre, completely remodeled in 2003. Master bedroom with vaulted ceilings, large walk-in closet & ensuite bath with double vanity, steam shower & soaking tub. Living room with fireplace & sliding door out to resort style walk-in pool/spa. Separate fenced side yard with driveway access. Utilities ready for A.D.U, shop or RV pad.

$1,395,000 Tom Weber • Broker • 805-320-2004 CalDRE# 00805061 • TomWeber@ojaitom.com

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323 E. Matilija Street . Ojai, California OPEN DAILY 11AM - 5:30PM poppiesartandgifts.com 805-798-0033

Donna Sallen

Perfectly situated on just under four acres lies the historic and unique Casa de La Luna compound. Comprised of over 8,000 sq. ft, with 11 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, this magnificent estate is likely the best value estate compound available anywhere in California.

The approximate 5,000 sq. ft. main house has three bedrooms and six bathrooms. Limestone and hand-scraped wood floors, magnificent wrought-iron doors, huge new gourmet kitchen, and numerous other upgrades make this residence the focal point of the estate.

Guests and visitors can stay in the two-bedroom, two-bath guest house or any of the four other residences making this property perfect for a large family or an individual with an entourage. Private and gated, this property must be seen to be appreciated.

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.

Four Vegetables to Plant in Your Fall Garden

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

Right about now, you are likely harvesting the last of your spring and summer garden goodness and deciding what to plant next now that the temperature is dropping. To help you decide, here are four options that are easy to grow and do not take up much space.

1. Radishes: The weather is finally cooling off enough to get radishes in the ground. Radishes are incredibly easy to grow and reach maturity in as little as 30 days, so this is a great vegetable for beginner gardeners. You will want to use succession planting so that you can enjoy radishes throughout winter, so plant one row now, another row in a week or two, and another row a week or two after that. Keep that up to extend your harvest through winter and into spring. To plant, push seeds about one-half inch into the soil about one inch apart in rows that are about three inches apart. Once your radishes begin to sprout, thin them out to about two to three inches apart.

2. Lettuces: Lettuces are easy to grow and are the perfect addition to fall and 20

winter salads. They do not take up much space, and you can extend your harvest by sowing seeds every two weeks. Lettuce seeds are tiny and need sun to sprout, so you will push these seeds just under the soil about one-quarter inch or less in rows that are about 12 inches apart. Lettuce requires regular watering and a sunny spot, but that is about it. You can plant it pretty close together to save space and crowd out weeds and can harvest leaves as they mature.

3. Spinach: If you have limited space, I would recommend growing spinach over growing lettuces. Spinach is higher in nutrition than most lettuces and is much more versatile for salads, soups, pastas, sauces, and side dishes. It is also easy to grow, easy to harvest, and an easy way to cut down on plastic packaging if you are growing your own rather than buying it in clamshells. Bolting is an issue with spinach, so look for a bolt-resistant variety or make sure it is getting enough water and not too much heat or sun. To plant, push seeds about one-half inch into the soil a few inches apart in rows that are about 12 inches apart. To enjoy spinach OM — November 2021

throughout winter, practice succession planting by planting some of your seeds every two weeks. Harvest and enjoy as the leaves reach maturity.

4. Beets: Every fall garden needs at least a row or two of beets. This is another root vegetable that is easy to grow and does not take long to mature. Sow the seeds about two inches apart and one-half inch deep in rows that are about 12 inches apart. Once they start to sprout, thin each row so that the remaining sprouts are about four inches apart. Plant seeds every two weeks to extend your harvest. Be sure to harvest your beets before they get too big, since bigger beets can be woody. Also, don’t forget that beet greens are tasty and nutrition, so harvest them as well for use in side dishes, salads, and soups.

Once you have your fall garden squared away, don’t forget to change your HVAC filters and clean your gutters now that we are moving into the rainy season. If you prefer the help of a professional, support the local economy buy hiring local contractors.

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

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 — November 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 — November 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

Our Favorite Time of the year Kirk Ellison LIV Sotheby’s International Realty KirkEllison@ me.com 805-340-5905

Hello! Fall has arrived in the Ojai Valley! Crisp mornings, beautiful afternoons, with trees turning colors, and then, chilly nights. Almost time for a small fire in the fireplace ... remind me to remove the white birch logs from the fireplace before that, though. Placing birch logs in a fireplace was tradition on the East Coast, as we enjoyed their beauty, but did not burn them! Apparently, it is a “designer look” now. Who knew?

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

Colored leaves, hardy mums, round pumpkins, multi-shaped gourds and Halloween are drawing near as we leave October into November. My grandson and I bake each Wednesday, aka “Grandma Day.” Lately, we have been experimenting with pumpkin spices, like cinnamon and brown sugar, to create delicious treats for our family.

And, of course, I will be Trick or Treating with my grandkids for a fun Halloween this year, as I am sure you will be also.

November brings us Thanksgiving — my husband’s favorite holiday! He loves to cook, and each year, his baked turkey is the best yet! We do a traditional feast with homemade side dishes, and invite our friends and family to join us to celebrate. For dessert, we have pumpkin pie with whipped cream and homemade apple pie with French vanilla ice cream. Years ago, I taught my son to make apple pies, and now he is teaching his son to do the same. It is heartwarming to see this tradition, and I think their homemade apple pies are actually better than mine!

I wish you many happy times with your family and friends.

See you about town!

OM — November 2021

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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

L>OVE 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 VEGAN Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls 201 North Montgomery Street

24

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 — November 2021

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 SOULE PARK GOLF COURSE 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 farmers’ market winter chowder This is just the ticket for a late lunch or early supper after attending your local farmers’ market.

While corn and leeks are essential here, feel free to substitute potatoes or carrots for some or all of the sweet potatoes. If you don’t care for cilantro, try substituting fresh basil.

INGREDIENTS

4 large ears of corn (kernels removed and cobs reserved) 2 1/2 cups whole milk 2 cloves garlic (minced) plus 3 cloves garlic (minced) 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided) 5 medium leeks (trimmed and sliced) 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 cup dry sherry 12 ounces sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into ½ –inch cubes) 8 ounces green beans (cut into one-inch pieces) 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (chopped) Lime wedges

DIRECTIONS

Combine corn kernels, milk, and two cloves of minced garlic in a saucepan. Run the back of a knife down cobs to release milk into the pan. Discard cobs. Bring milk mixture to a boil then remove the pan from heat. Set aside.

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

Healthy

Quick + Easy

Heat butter and one tablespoon of olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add leeks, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add three cloves of minced garlic and paprika. Cook for 30 seconds. Stir in sherry and cook for another 30 seconds. Add four cups of water and remove the pot from heat. Set aside.

Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add sweet potatoes and sauté for eight minutes, or until browned. Transfer to the Dutch oven. Add remaining one tablespoon oil to the same skillet on medium-high heat. Add green beans to skillet and sauté for three minutes. Transfer beans to a plate.

Bring mixture in Dutch oven to a boil, reduce heat low, and simmer for five minutes. Add green beans, and cook for four minutes more.

Stir milk mixture and one tablespoon cilantro into chowder.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro and serve with lime wedges on the side.

Fall / Winter

Vegetarian

OM — November 2021

25

illage marketplace

26

OM — November 2021

SOLD IN OJAI

Dale Hanson

Homes Sold Last Month

Ojai Valley Real Estate

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT HOME SALES

(805)646-7229

B.R.E. 01229522 Notary Public

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

Residential, commercial, or business opportunity.

203 El Plano Drive, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,414 sf. Sold $649,000

347 North Poli Street, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,327 sf. Sold $950,000

96 East Short Street, Oak View, 2 bed, 1 bath, 858 sf.

Sold $660,000

502 Crestview Drive, 3 bed, 1.5 bath, 1,333 sf. Sold $1,020,000

230 Monte Via, Oak View, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,049 sf. Sold $702,500.

2175 Valley Meadow Drive, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2,457 sf. Sold 2,457

713 Mercer Avenue, 4 bed, 1.5 bath, 1,846 sf. Sold $790,000

815 Oakwood Street, 4 bed, 3 bath, 3,136 sf. Sold $1,500,000

263 North Poli Street, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,069. Sold $805,000

2460 Valley Meadow Drive, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2,759 sf. Sold $1,550,000

506 Shady Lane, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,230 sf. Sold $810,000 208 North Ventura Street, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,600 sf. Sold $848,000 245 South Padre Juan Avenue, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,031 sf.

Sold $849,000 1157 Moreno Drive, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,317 sf. Sold $879,000 304 Shady Lane, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,434 sf. Sold $920,000

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

1406 Daly Road, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,481 sf. Sold $1,600,000 2249 McNell Road, 4 bed, 3.5 bath, 2,939 sf. Sold $2,527,583 415 Tico Road, 3 bed, 3.5 bath, 2,432 sf. Sold $2,600,000 8190 Sulphur Mountain Road, 3 bed, 2.5 bath. Sold $2,650,000

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OM — November 2021

27

limit data flow, now!

Tired of Having Your Data Sold? Fight Back!

By Therese A. Hartmann

Did you know that when your credit report is run, certain credit repositories (Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion) are likely to sell your personal stats? Yep, they can sell your data to entities who can solicit you via mail, email and phone.

bureaus. It’s not only common practice, it’s legal. What’s not legal is for them to sell your personal information to be used in direct marketing, leaving a lot of room for shenanigans and unsolicited attention.

Your credit score is a key indicator of credit worthiness and a good score can help you buy a home, get insurance, lease an apartment, purchase a car, etc. However, your name, date of birth, employment history and social security number are all included in a credit report making it imperative to know all the facts about this tactic.

Although the bureaus aren’t breaking the law, you do have rights. You the right to opt out and can do this quickly and easily by visiting www.optoutprescreen. com. There you will learn how to “optout” permanently. This will protect your information indefinitely.

Who do bureaus sell my information to?

Credit bureaus have the right to sell your information to certain companies offering “preapproved” or “firm” credit.

Essentially, every time you get an offer in the mail for a “pre-approved” credit card, this is from data sold by one of the credit 28

How do you limit data flow?

As a side benefit, you might stop receiving an endless stream of correspondence trying to get you to add another credit card. It might also prevent a shady outof-area loan officer from calling and using bait and switch tactics … something that can cause a lot of collateral damage.

If you have any questions about “optingout”, please feel free to call me for this and any other of your mortgage needs.

OM — November 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.

OM — November 2021

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

4 bedroom, 2 bathroom in charming downtown Ojai on .43-acre lot with brick fireplace, covered front porch, several upgrades. $1,495,000

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 $2,997,000

33+ acre retreat in Wheeler Canyon with amazing views, private pond, fruit trees, chicken coop, multiple outdoor living areas, jetted soaking tub, stone fireplace, and vaulted, exposed-beam ceilings. $2,495,000

Alviria Oaks - Three-bedroom, two-bathroom Oak West Estates home with office, detached garage, workshop, great outdoor living, patio kitchen, and mountain views. $879,000

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

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