Ojai Monthly - October 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.

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.

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

Privacy and Light

in

22 ACRE UPPER OJAI LOT

This 22 acre lot on Koenigstein Road presents a rare opportunity to build a fabulous estate or a private mountain getaway. With multiple buildings sites and ample usable land, the lot has unsurpassed, panoramic views of the Topa Topa Bluffs, the Santa Ynez mountains, and the entire Upper Ojai Valley. Graced with three seasonal streams, moss-covered, sculptural native boulders and a variety of majestic oaks, the land has a wild, magical quality that is immediately palpable. There is an existing private well and an additional one-third interest in a shared well. It has a paved driveway, easily accessed from highway 150 halfway between Ojai and Santa Paula, and lies within the Ojai Valley

Offered at $1,250,000

PATTY WALTCHER

25 years matching people and property in the

Valley

Bret Bradigan

MONTHLY BALLOT BOX BINGO

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."

— Philo of Alexandria

When the political class of pundits and commentators note the bitter divisions in our country, they often point by contrast to the 1980s' famous one-on-one bourbon summits between Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill and President Ronald Reagan, when people from the other party did not see each other as enemies, but as opponents, each representing their constituents in good faith. Differences were settled over cocktails and conviviality. As Chris Mathews said, "Reagan was fond of Tip and completely believed that Tip wanted to help the little people. He just disagreed about how to do it."

Tip O'Neill often told an election day story about his neighbor, Mary. She was pulling into her driveway as he was leaving. "Mary, did you vote for me?" She looked him over skeptically, "I don't know Tip." He was aghast. "What do you mean you don't know? You were at my christening, my communion, my wedding!" She replied, "Well, Tip, you never asked me."

As we round the bend into a contentious local election, we'd do well to keep those anecdotes in mind. Who is asking for our votes, and why? Who is able to bring people together and who drives them apart? These stories are also a reminder that a person's politics are about the least useful information about them when it comes to the kind of person they are. And that there is no reason for us to allow a few troublemakers to set the tone.

We are on unchartered ground locally, with four city council seats — including the Mayor — up for grabs, along with three out of five Ojai Unified School District seats. It's a complicated set of district maps that vary between the school district and city. We urge you to check your ballot on the city and OUSD websites — ojai.ca.gov and ojaiusd.org. Another useful resource is Vote411.org, which is organized by the League of Women Voters. Or go straight to the source at the California Secretary of State's website at sos.ca.gov and enter your information for specifics. Registration deadline is October 24th for the November 8th election.

After Franklin Delano Roosevelt won his landslide election over Herbert Hoover in 1932's dark days of the Great Depression, he virtually disappeared from the public eye until his inauguration. Then on March 4 (the last inauguration that late in the year, it thereafter changed to January 20) he launched the ambitious set of legislation which became the New Deal, launching jobs programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps, Tennessee Valley Authority and Works Progress Administration and banking reforms. During the quiet time, the story goes that he met with several prominent labor leaders, who, after campaigning vigorously against Hoover, came expecting their quid pro quo. FDR listened to them patiently and agreeably. The labor leaders began to rise, thinking the meeting over. "No, no," said FDR. "I agree with you. I want to do it. But now you've got to go out there and make me."

He meant that the hard work was just beginning, that they were tasked with creating the social pressure against which it would be impossible for the president not to follow through. That lesson from 90 years ago is more relevant today than ever. Election day is just the start of creating the Ojai we need and deserve.

SMALL BY DESIGN

Sunset Place Ojai, Ca

charmer is located in a prime location just a few blocks away from downtown Ojai. This home features original wood floors with an open floor plan. The large backyard is perfect for BBQ’s and get togethers! Come see this one before it’s gone!

GALL SCULPTURE

OCTOBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

art festivals events

OCTOBER 6

Ben Harper in Concert

Time: 5 p.m. Location: Libbey Bowl 210 South Signal Street Contact: libbeybowl.org

This three-time Grammy winner is known for his virtuoso guitar, vocals and electric perfor mances. The singer-songwriter spans blues, reggae, folk and soul

OCTOBER 8-10

Ojai Studio Artists Tour

Times: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Varied. Contact: ojaistudioartists.org

The 38th annual tour will feature a rare look at more than 70-plus artists in their natural habi tat. The Museum will host OSA artists in their exhibit “Perception & Persistence.” The tour is free, prior online registration requested.

OCTOBER 15

Ojai Day

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Libbey Park Contact: OjaiDay.com

Ojai comes together to celebrate itself with events, music, vendors, exhibits, food and more.

OCTOBER 15

Judy Collins & Sophie B. Hawkins

Time: 5 p.m.

Location: Libbey Bowl

210 South Signal Street

Contact: libbeybowl.org

The joint bill features two of the country’s best-loved singer-songwriters. Judy Collins’ version of Joanie Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame, while Hawkins’ “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” burst on the scene in her debut album.

OCTOBER 27-30

21st Ojai Storytelling Festival Times: Varied.

Venues: Varied, includes Ojai Art Center Theater 113 South Montgomery Street and Libbey Bowl, 210 South Signal Street Contact: OjaiStoryFest.org

Some of the best practitioners of this art form will converge on Ojai for four days of events. Sheila Arnold will be the Master of Ceremo nies. There will also be music, shopping and other fun.

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 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 4-6

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

Times: TBA, Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday afternon

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.

SHARON PALMER

BY ILONA SAARI

SHARON AT THE FARMERS MARKET

That’s the kind of gushing statement people say to Sharon Palmer after she posts videos of her produce-filled green cart at the Ojai Farmers Market on her social media chan nels. This renowned dietician and cookbook

author loves the abundance of Ojai’s bounty and feels blessed that she lives in such a beautiful place that supports her love of all things food related. Her efforts give real meaning to the phrase, “farm-to-table.”

“I just want to climb into that cart and go home with you to eat what you’re going to make with that produce.”

Sharon was raised in Renton, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Her father, Glen Palmer, a trained draftsman, created the plans for the family home. Their backyard opened up to a forest with creeks, trees, ferns, mush rooms and wildflowers, as well as a range of wildlife, from bats to deer to chipmunks. Summer days were long and she and her friends and siblings would play in the woods until nightfall. Brother Jerry, the oldest, grew up to work at Lindal Cedar Homes, then at Keurig in the Seattle area. Sister Paula Tomlinson, the youngest, works at Blue Origin, also in the Seattle area, as Senior Manag er, Engine Avionics Software at Blue Origin, overseeing the computers that make rockets actually work.

Lou Palmer, Sharon’s mom, was born on an Arkansas farm during the Depression. Glen grew up on a farm in Minnesota and, as fate would have it, both their families moved to neighboring farms in Idaho where Lou and Glen spent their teen years. When Glen shipped off to the Korean Conflict, he and Lou fell in love through their wartime correspondence. Glen was a conscientious observer, and Sharon describes her father’s role during the war as comparable to Radar O’Reilly’s job on the TV show “M.A.S.H.” When Glen returned home, he and Lou eloped and headed for Seattle as part of the work migra tion to find good paying jobs at Boeing.

Sharon loved living in the northwest and enjoyed hik ing, camping and backpacking. Her parents, who were “very rugged and self-sufficient,” always had a large vegetable garden. Lou canned every summer and the family lived off those canned goods all winter, enjoying peaches, tomatoes, green beans, applesauce, jams, pre serves, and juices. They ate their homemade rustic bread before it was fashionable, and made their own granola. “Due to moral and religious reasons my parents were trying to eat a more vegetarian diet,” says Sharon.

(Blue Zones are the areas around the globe where people live the longest and are the healthiest and are often found in places with a mostly Asian or Mediterranean diet. Today, Blue Zones are popping up across America, with a plant-based diet of whole grains, greens, tubers, nuts and beans, and a limited amount of meat and fish.)

At an early age, Sharon gravitated to the food and nutri tion business. “I was fascinated about how food grows and nourishes people,” she says. She learned to cook for the family and started her studies to be a dietitian at Walla Walla College in Eastern Washington, finish ing her dietetics program at Loma Linda University in California which is well-known for its long-studied nutrition program. (Loma Linda is recognized as the core of America’s Blue Zone regions.)

As a young adult, Sharon ate a more flexitarian diet (a plant-based diet which includes limited amounts of meat), then moved on to a pescatarian food lifestyle which incorporated only fish, then vegetarian, and finally, for the past 11 years, became a true vegan.

While in college, Sharon fell in love with sunny Cali fornia and a Swedish engineer, Peter Javryd. At twen ty-six, Peter had arrived in Los Angeles from Stockholm with his student visa in hand, “to learn about business in order to take it back home to amplify his career … What he didn’t expect is that he would meet me during this journey!” she remembers happily. Sharon and Peter settled in Pasadena where she was the director of Food and Nutrition at St. Luke Medical Center after working as a clinical dietitian in hospitals. In 1995, they married in a romantic farm setting in Sweden then returned to the States to settle in Bradbury, California.

Peter worked as a Senior Account Executive for TRL Systems which provided security, communications and fire alarm systems for commercial facilities in Los Angeles County. Sharon served as a clinical dietitian in

“We lived the Blue Zones diet at a young age, even though we didn’t know it then!”

SharonPalmer.com sharon@sharonpalmer.com Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Pin terest @sharonpalmerrd; Facebook at Sharon Palmer, The Plant-Powered Dietitian

SHARON PALMER AND PETER JAVRYD

hospitals and started her own consulting firm, provid ing dietitian services to a variety of healthcare facilities in Southern California. She began a journalist’s career, writing over a thousand dietary and nutrition articles, blogging, and editing articles for magazines, as well as appearing on TV, film, radio, podcasts, videos, and social media. She also worked as a food nutrition and sustain ability expert with a variety of organizations such as Oldways, The American Institute for Cancer and the American Heart Association, and as a teacher in the MS Sustainable Food Systems at Prescott College.

Known as “The Plant-Power Dietitian” she’s vis ited classrooms in countries around the world to teach kids about nutrition, and co-founded the non-profit, Food + Planet (foodandplanet.org), with “a mission of empowering healthcare pro fessionals to advance sustainable food systems,” she explains. If that isn’t enough, she continued her desire to follow food science and, at age 55, went for her Masters of Science in Sustainable Food Systems at Green Mountain College in Ver mont.

Sharon’s first book “The Plant-Powered Diet” was published in 2012 and she calls it the Bible of plant-based eating.

In it, she walks readers through all the steps to eating a more plant-based diet, from flexitarian to pescatarian, to vegetarian to vegan — “there is a spectrum of plantbased eating,” she states. She also wrote, “Plant-Powered for Life,” which includes 52 easy steps to become a plant-based eater, along with her own recipes. Her third book, “California Vegan” is based on the plant-based movement in California which showcases beautiful “food-porn” photography and Sharon’s recipes. This

book even includes a chapter on the plant-based move ment in Ojai. Her next book will be about plant-based eating and diabetes and comes out in May 2023.

Sharon, like many Americans, learned of Ojai as a kid watching Jamie Sommers, (played by Lindsay Wagner) fight the bad guys from her hometown of Ojai in “The Bionic Woman.” But she didn’t experience Ojai in “real life” until years later when she was invited on a media tour to learn about how avocados grew in California. The Valley enchanted her and she told Peter that she had found the most beautiful place “ever.” They start ed coming to Ojai each spring, then got serious about making their dream a reality. “Moving to Ojai was a big dream that took me awhile to finally plunge into. I’m so happy I made that decision, as it is my true happy place.

Growing my own food in my small garden and orchard, visiting the farmers market (my favorite one in the whole world, and I’ve been to a lot of them!), getting to know all the people involved in our community’s food system — these are all amazing things in my life.” She marvels at the incredible supply of healthful, organic, delicious food that Ojai produces and sells locally, and all the amazing wine, olive oil and grains in the region. Sharon also found time to be part of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition and is a supporter of the Ojai Valley Women’s Club and Ventura County Food Share pro grams.

“Just like people do in the countries of the Blue Zones, such as Greece and Japan, we fill out cart with produce, and it’s gone by the next Sunday. Our diets are jam packed with all that healthy, delicious, seasonal pro duce. I am truly blessed.”

Let’s hope she continues to fill her green cart with food, and her community with pride.

SHARON IN A JAPANESE CLASSROOM

SHARON IN HER VEGGIE GARDEN

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

RANCHO MATILIJA

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.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

fireplaces, a large office,

formal dining room

all with incredi ble

over an acre, has an art studio, garden

house, orchards, vegetable and

Fall Gardening Ideas

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

Fall is my favorite time of year. While we may not enjoy the beautiful displays of entire forests of leaves changing color, it is nice to finally ditch sundresses and sandals for cozy sweaters and boots. It is also nice to be able to spend time working in the garden now that the temperature has dropped enough to actually enjoy out door activities. Here is some fall garden inspiration to help you get as excited as I am about getting back out in the garden.

Plant an herb garden: Fall is a great time to plant an herb garden for you and your family to enjoy. Since our climate allows for year-round growing, you can plant just about any herb you would like, but you will have the best luck starting herbs that prefer cooler weather, such as mint, sage, rosemary, lavender, parsley, or thyme. Any of these can be used both as culinary herbs and as ornamental plants, so consider planting an edible border or incorporating culinary herbs into your flowerbeds. Remember that mint is a thug, so it is best to manage its growth by planting it in a container.

Plant leafy greens: Sweater weather is on its way, which means it is time to start planting our leafy greens. Variet ies of kale, lettuce, and spinach do well throughout fall and winter, so these are good choices for your fall garden. To extend your harvest period, practice succession planting by sowing seeds every two weeks. This will allow you to enjoy fresh greens from your garden well into late spring. If you have limited space, skip the lettuces, and opt for kale or spinach, which offer greater nutri tional value and more versatility in the kitchen.

Plant fall vegetables: While it is generally best to start your fall garden a bit earlier in the year, there is still time to plant cool season vegetables, like beets, broccoli, cabbage, radishes, peas, carrots, cauliflower, onions, garlic, and celery. Like with your leafy greens, you can ex tend the harvest period by practicing suc cession planting. With foods like radishes or beets, determining how many you and your family will eat each week will help

you decide how many seeds to sow for each round of succession planting.

Consider container gardening: If you have limited space for gardening or want to expand your garden beyond your raised beds, there are many food plants that grow well in containers. I like using fabric containers to expand my garden area so that I can fold them up and store them when not in use. I particularly like tall, fabric containers for growing pota toes and sweet potatoes, since this makes them easier to move around and easier to dump out at harvest time.

Home maintenance tip: It is almost time to start using our heaters, which means it is time to change our HVAC fil ters. The coming months will also likely bring some rain, as well as the Santa Ana winds, so October is a good time to clean your gutters to reduce the risk of water damage or gutter debris catching fire. If you need a professional to perform these tasks, remember to support our local economy by 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

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

Nora Davis

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

Dennis Guernsey

LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

805-798-1998

Kristen

Waltcher

Logan Hall Logan Hall Photography

Clinton Haugan

LIV | Sotheby’s International Realty

W. Ojai Ave. Ojai, CA 93023

(805) 760-2092

(805) 646-7288 chaugan@livsothe bysrealtyca.com

02019604

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

Team Deckert

Keller Williams Realty

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

Vivienne Moody

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

Amanda Stanworth

Sotheby’s

Larry Wilde

Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde. com

Dale Hanson

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

Erik Wilde

LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde.com

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

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

Kathy Hoff

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

Joe Davis

service

Industrial JoeTheRental Guy.com. 805-574-9774

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

AvocAdo ToAsT, EnhAncEd vErsion

Sometimes the simple things are the best. This is easy to make, nutritious and very delicious.

Quick + Easy

Vegan

Year-Round

INGREDIENTS

2 thick slices of French bread

1 large ripe avocado

1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Black sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS:

Lightly toast the French bread slices. Cut the avocado in half and discard the seed. Thinly slice the avocado and spread it on the

French bread slices. Drizzle olive oil over the avocado, then sprinkle the sesame seeds on top of that. Easy breezy!

Tip: I also like to sprinkle Trader Joe’s “Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend” on top instead of the black sesame seeds in the photo.

Architectural

SOLD IN OJAI

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT HOME SALES

609 Cañada Street #H, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,053 sf, $575,000

501 East Oak Street, 2 bed, 1 bath, 936 sf, $670,000

79 Barbara Street, Oak View, 3 bed, 1.75 bath, $675,000

125 El Camino Drive, 2 bed, 1 bath, 964 sf, $750,000

1159 El Centro Street, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,723 sf, $775,980

1186 South Rice Road, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,116 sf, $800,000

222 East Eucalyptus Street, 2 bed, 1 bath, 898 sf, $800,000

1122 Forest, 3 bed, 1.5 bath, 1,380 sf, $839,000

165 Olive Street, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,608 sf, $855,000,

917 Topaz Court, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,473 sf, $900,000

10470 North Karen Avenue, Oak View, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,389 sf, $930,000

217 Carrillo Road, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,282 sf, $950,000

1133 Capello Way, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,311 sf, $955,500

1224 Alviria Drive, 4 bed, 1.75 bath, 1,729 sf, $975,000

970 Larmier Avenue, Oak View, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,832 sf, $1,031,000

12668 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1,546 sf, $1,050,000

116 South Pueblo Avenue, 4 bed, 3 bath, 1,998 sf, $1,100,000

2340 Burnham Road, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,292 sf, $1,150,000

214 Topa Topa Drive, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,941 sf, $1,325,000

566 Avenida de la Vereda, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,606 sf, $1,350,000

165 Crestview Drive, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2,236 sf, $1,500,000

1211 Creek Road, 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,377 sf, $1,620,000

631 Palomar Road, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,602 sf, $1,875,000

1368 Farnham Road, 4 bed, 2.75 bath, 2,633 sf, $1,900,000

908 Serenidad Place, Oak View, 4 bed, 3 bath, 3,005 sf, $2,065,000

658 South La Luna Avenue, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,832 sf, $2,185,000

16001 Maricopa Highway, 5 bed, 5 bath, 5,331 sf, $3,100,000

1104 Foothill Road, 4 bed, 6 bath, 3,673 sf, $4,995,000

appraisals v. home inspections Covering Your Bases for Life Choices

By Therese A. Hartmann

I’m working with a first-time home buyer who has a contract on a property that is anything but usual.

Not a tract home nor even a unique home on one lot, this property has multiple attached and detached parcel and multiple outbuildings in an area where there aren’t a lot of comps.

So, we already knew going in, the appraisal was going to be a bear. I wasn’t wrong that the appraiser would be pulling his hair out on this one in order to find value by adjusting his figures to other sold properties that are somewhat similar. Not an easy task by any means and the cost was almost double because of the difficulty and scope of work! So, when I mentioned a home inspection to my borrower, he mentioned he might do his own thing, foregoing the cost of a home inspection.

That, my friends, is a HUGE mistake and here’s why…

While an appraisal will attempt to indicate value — and that is based on a number of approaches to support their estimate — a home inspection really gets into the nitty gritty of the property and all of its systems. Not only will it result in providing a sort of tour of and manual to the property, it will also provide estimates for anything needing to be repaired. An appraiser will not get into this, although they might note things like broken windows, missing sinks, dry rot, etc. Yes, it is an extra cost for a home inspection but here are some of what they cover:

• HVAC System: A state-licensed inspector will ensure the heating and air-conditioning system is in good shape by checking out the furnace, heat pump,

air conditioner, ducts and thermostat as included.

• Electrical: Fires often start due to faulty wiring so this system, in my opinion, is one of the most important to investigate. On top of checking on wiring, an inspector will make sure outlets and switches are working and will cite potential problems and irregularities.

• Plumbing: Here, an inspector will check water pressure and make sure drains are working properly. With ongoing leaks, there is a potential that there might be some past flooding and ongoing mold issues. In that case, the inspector might suggest a mold inspection.

• Roof: Let’s face it, I wouldn’t be able to tell the age of a roof or whether it was properly installed but an inspector can. They will check for missing or warped shingles, check if chimneys and vents and skylights are sealed properly as well. Roofs these days are $20k on up so it’s imperative that you know the condition.

• Foundation: Many homes in California, especially older ones, have cracks in the drywall and/or ceiling and usually it’s not a big deal. But, when it can be traced back to a faulty foundation, the problem could be severe and very costly to remediate. These are things an inspector can catch for you and save you a lot of expenses you weren’t planning on.

There is so much more that an inspection will highlight but these are the most important, in my view. The good thing about a home inspection is that they will almost always find something and that would give you, the borrower, an

opportunity to go back and negotiate the price or potentially get a credit back from the seller. The minor cost of an inspection will easily pay for itself in terms of price negotiations and in knowing what you’re getting into. For these reasons, it really is a must to hire an inspector.

Now that you know why you shouldn’t skip a home inspection, I hope you will feel a little more empowered to find the home of your dreams. When ready, be sure to call me and I’ll get you pre-qualified to start your search!

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.

VENTURA RIVER

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GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi

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Springs

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COZY DELL

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of Matilija Road.

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SISAR CANYON

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