Ojai Monthly - January 2019

DISCOVER

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MONTHLY Real Estate & Visitor Information

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Beato’s Sweet Side Chocolate Lover Commemorated

All that Jazz

Lola Haag Goes Underground Jan. 25

2018’s graceful end Small Acts Bring Great Joy

Visitor Information • Hikes • Events • Activities • Lifestyle Tips & Tactics — January 2019 See More AtOMOjaiHub.com

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25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MATCHING PEOPLE AND PROPERTY IN THE OJAI VALLEY

SADDLE MOUNTAIN LUXURY Perched atop Saddle Mountain, this solar-powered home has amazing views of the Topa Topas, Black Mountain and Sulphur Mountain. Almost 7,000 sq ft on 2 acres provides ample space for guests and family alike. Includes 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths, a sleeping porch, an office, a piano room, a pool room and a wine cellar. Outside there is a pool, a spa and a lighted paddle tennis/basketball court.

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OM — January 2019

LUXURIOUS DOWNTOWN TOWN HOME This sophisticated Mediterranean style town home has been upgraded with an eye for detail. The open interior ows through archways, pillars and gorgeous faux paint, illuminated by clerestory windows. Includes a stunning library with glass doors and built-in shelving, a landscaped patio with outdoor ďŹ replace, and a balcony with lovely views.

2 3 6 S M ontgomer ySt O ja i . com

PATTY WALTCHER

I will help you discover the home that brings peace to your mind and heart

(805) 340-3774 pattywaltcher.com

DOING OUR PART FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE California Solar Electric helping many make the switch from fossils to sun

As we look back on another eventful year overshadowed by more wildfires (i.e., utility fires), we at California Solar Electric wanted to take a few moments to say thank you to our 1,000+ strong community of locally minded customers who sought a cleaner, cheaper (and safer) way to power their homes with solar energy.

In our 18 years of serving the Central Coast, we’re even more committed now toward our goal of making the 805 region one of California’s first LOCALLY Sustainable Communities, one in which we’re no longer dependent on outdated transmission lines (some more than 50 years old) being piped in from faraway regions. One in which we are no longer living next door to fossil fuel production and all the resulting toxins. The more we commit to demanding and generating our own local clean power, be it on our home, business or coalition, we send a message to our utility that we’re done participating in their broken business model and short-sighted “green” programs.

In looking at the larger picture, California, the world’s 4th largest economy, has committed to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. And even more relevant to our 805 community, all new homes built after 2020 must have solar panels on the roof. This means the 1,100-plus homes lost in the fires and mudslides should mostly be rebuilt sustainably and include solar.

But with all that, it’s not enough ... so we need your help. Whether it’s seeing more and more electric vehicles on the street or solar going up on your neighbors’ homes we all need to encourage one another to do our part in accelerating adoption of local clean energy now rather than later. 2019 is the last year for the 30 percent solar tax credit. Switching your home off fossil fuels will be one of the biggest things you do for the environment in your lifetime.

We hope you don’t just take it from us — here’s one of our customers, Grant Ellison, who also happens to be a firefighter who saw the destruction first-hand and understands the opportunity in front of us to rebuild the 805 sustainably ...

GRANT ELLISON: “The decision to go solar has always been in my future but recent events have pushed me to do it sooner rather than later.

As a firefighter by trade and a lifelong Ojai resident I was astounded to see more destruction by wildfire in the last year than all my previous years combined.

It’s obvious that the wildfire environment is changing and we are entering a new norm. With this in mind I wanted to limit my dependence on an aging infrastructure and having solar decreases the load on an already taxed grid.

Last year I stood on my home watching the Thomas fire rage across the street, now your panels adorn my roof harnessing the sun’s fire. What a year of change.

Financially, going solar made good sense to me. Instead of sending my money to a utility I will eventually be sending it to myself. Couple that with a tax credit that may not be around for long, I wanted to get started on my quest for electrical independence sooner rather than later.

Protecting the environment by getting energy from a clean source while saving money in the long term makes good sense to me. As our community rebuilds I hope we can plan for the future. Thanks to companies like yours that work diligently to put the customer’s needs first, going solar can be available to everyone.”

— Advertorial —

Cheryl & Ray Deckert Broker Associates

Maria DePaola Sheryl Whipple Robert Perron Paul Johnsen Realtor Partner Realtor Associate Realtor Associate Realtor Associate

1003 N. Drown Avenue, Ojai - $849,000 Located in downtown’s highly sought-after Ojai Village, this 4 bedroom property boasts original, refinished hardwood floors, newer quartz counter tops and cabinets in the kitchen, spacious rooms, and partial mountain views. Behind the main home you will find a remodeled 300 sq. ft. structure (approximate) suitable for a studio, guest quarters or whatever your needs may be. All this on just under 1/2 acre!

402 N. Arnaz Street, Ojai - $550,000 Tucked away just one-half mile from Meiners Oaks Village you’ll find this 3 bedroom/1.75 bathroom Americana home. Inside you’ll find a comfortable living area with an updated kitchen behind it. The kitchen boasts updated cabinets with wood and glass doors, tile flooring, and all the creature comfort appliances you would expect. Don’t miss this one!

5 Valley Road, Oak View - $599,000 This 1,737 sq. ft., 3 bed/2.5 bath home will WOW the most discriminating buyers with its charm and fine detail! Upon entering you’ll notice high beamed ceilings, a warm, inviting fireplace and rich, tasteful flooring. Entertainment or family time is easy with the open floor plan design throughout the first floor, which continues to flow into the kitchen, featuring gleaming updated counter tops. The downstairs is rounded out with a full laundry room and half bath. Upstairs you’ll find two large bedrooms with a shared, remodeled bathroom and an oversized master bedroom with an en-suite remodeled bathroom and mountain views. Room for RV parking, too! www.BestBuysInOjai.com ~ Phone: 805.272.5221 ~ Email: Team@DeckertDePaola.com

DRE #01761150, 00780642, 01877842, 01962884, 02019595, 02018091, 01859199

OM — January 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS JANUARY 2019

10 7

Editor’s Note

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Featured Event: Lola Haag At The

Underground Arts Exchange

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Calendar of Events

22

Featured Professional: Emily Burson,

Beato Chocolates

28

Entertaining in Ojai’s Outdoors

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30 Stay Ojai — Hotels Guide 31

My Garden — Moments of Grace

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Eat in Ojai — Restaurant Guide

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Sold in Ojai

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Top 7 Hikes Into Ojai’s Backcountry

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Who’s Who In Ojai

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Ojai Facts & Founders

Editor & Publisher, Bret Bradigan Realtor/Partner, Ross Falvo Associate Editor, Sarah Howery Hart Contact Us: Ross Falvo, 805.207.5094 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.

Cover: Photo by Matt Alberts for California Solar Electric

DISCOVER

OJAI u ary 2 01

9

J

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MONTHLY Real Estate & Visitor Information

Cover Photo, Electric California SolarPage 4 See Story on

35

Beato’s Sweet Side Chocolate Lover Commemorated

All that Jazz Lola Haag Goes Underground Jan. 25

2018’s graceful end Small Acts Bring Great Joy

Visitor Information • Hikes • Events • Activities • Lifestyle Tips & Tactics See More At OjaiHub.com

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DISCOVER

OJAI MONTHLY

AMERICA’S SILS MARIA Stunning backdrop may be key to creativity

Bret Bradigan

For years Friedrich Nietzsche lived in Sils Maria, the Swiss spa town famed for its grand vistas.

It was where he did much of his best work, powerfully changing the philosophical discourse for generations to come. He was way ahead of his time, in ways both good (humanism) and bad (fascist strongmen). It’s likely no philosopher has been more misquoted and misunderstood.

He hiked a lot, putting his restless energy into vigorous climbs into the Alps. A favorite quote of his goes, “Only thoughts which come from walking have any value.”

It reminds me of Ojai, where we are justly famed for our creative pursuits and output. What town of 8,000 residents has a higher proportion of musicians, writers, poets, thinkers, artists, dreamers and doers? None I can think of.

I would argue that a lot of this tremendous output is due to our natural surroundings, the beauty of our own grand vistas from the Topa Topa Bluffs to the Channel Islands, where we can balance our interior with our exterior lives in a harmonious whole. We hike a lot in Ojai, as well we should with so many trails radiating outward into our backcountry like spokes on a rippled, chaparral-clad wheel.

It’s a big part of our mission at Ojai Monthly, Ojai Quarterly & Ojai Hub to reflect this inspiring lifestyle.

The January issue of Ojai Monthly, out next week, is the example at hand. Ilona Saari casts her characteristically wry look at chef and author Emily Burson. Her Beatrice Wood-inspired chocolate collaboration with Porch gals Heather Stobo and Lisa Casoni brings together several strands of Ojai life — food, fun and art — key components of a life well-lived. Lola Haag’s show at the burgeoning Underground Exchange on January 25 showcases a vocal artist at her prime, one whose listeners include Barbra Streisand. And Leslie Lippincott Hidley’s tribute to friendship in her My Garden column brings together the virtues and values of a community, where small acts of kindness add up to the majesty of sentiment and grace.

All this happens in our little town. Perhaps the most enduring holiday lesson of all is to slow down and reflect on our blessings with gratitude. What better place to do that than in nature?

Nietzsche, suffering from mental disturbances his whole life, found what little peace he could find for his brilliant mind on those long hikes into the Alps. He reportedly went mad in 1889 after he witnessed a drover beating a horse on the street of Turin, and threw his arms around the horse, wailing in anguish.

The philosopher was quickly shepherded away to his home by his friend and landlord, David Fino.

You could say Nietzsche suffered from an excess of empathy.

The philosopher was once been believed to have suffered from late-stage syphilis, but medical opinion now points to a slow-growing tumor. Syphilitics are lucky to live two years after severe symptoms begin to manifest; Nietzsche lived another 11 years – in anguish.

But we don’t have to be suffering artists or thinkers to enjoy the same solace that Nietzsche found on his long hikes. We only have to step outdoors. As we fully enter the holiday season, let’s take a moment to be grateful for the astonishing natural beauty that surrounds us. It’s the backdrop for all the artistry we create as a community.

OM — January 2019

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Ojai Valley Real estate Sales/Property Management/Notary

www.ojaivalleyrealestate.com 206 East Ojai Avenue (next to the Ojai Village Pharmacy)

646-4911 ovhl@west.net

221 East Matilija Street

(Across from the Sunday Farmers Market)

Great investment opportunity to own an active, fully occupied property on main street in Oak View. Two buildings including one with two suites and a ‘50s vintage service station. $575,000 Glenn Kuhr: 805-760-0366

Three-bedroom, two-bath, 2001 manufactured home with 1,344 sq ft of living space. Features include spacious kitchen with pantry and center island. Huge dining room and living room with built ins. $156,000. Heather Erickson: 805-798-3358

Rarely does Ojai’s top business location, in the heart of the downtown shopping district come available. The historic Arcade building located at 260 E. Ojai Avenue has approximately 1,380 sq ft, including front and back entrances. It includes bathroom and kitchen area and has the original vault from when the Bank of Italy and Bank of America were there. This is a rare and excellent business opportunity. $950,000

This Skyline Manufactured home with over 1,350 sq. ft. of living space is perfectly situated along the upper perimeter of the park with private yard and adjacent to the open preserve. The spacious kitchen with center island and laminate flooring offers ample cabinetry and dining area. Master suite presents wall-to-wall closet and an ensuite bath with a relaxing soaking tub and separate shower. $209,000 Heather Erickson 805-798-3358

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 Dale Hanson 805-646-7229

Amazing two-story home on a quaint Oak View cul-de-sac. This home is spacious, light and bright with lots of windows and cathedral ceilings. Cozy fireplace, newly remodeled kitchen with stainless steel appliances and expansive cabinetry. Bottom floor master bedroom with his and hers closets features large en suite with spacious shower and relaxing soaking tub. Twocar attached garage. $600,000. Heather Erickson: 805-798-3358

The Walbridge family name is well known and respected in Ventura County and is the namesake of the private lane leading to the 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom home and 5 acre grove. A spacious 2nd floor potential 2nd master suite with loft is a unique feature of this lovely property. Mountain views in every direction add to the outdoor enjoyment of this rare property. $1,399,000. Glenn Kuhr: 805-760-0366

**2018’ Never before lived in** Champion manufactured home in the Mira Valle 55+ Community. This home offering nearly 1,300 sq ft of living space is located on a corner lot with an open,light and bright floor plan. The kitchen and baths offer quartz counter tops. The kitchen also features stainless steel appliances, ample cabinetry, a large island with overhead lighting and wine shelf and all open to living room. $215,000 Heather Erickson: 805-798-3358

This is the largest home and largest lot in this price range. Located on wrap-around corner lot offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room with oak flooring and fireplace, central air/heat, family room with vaulted ceiling, detached two car garage and RV parking.

Double-gated driveway allows you to safely park the toys. Short commute to coastal cities. $495,000 Heather Erickson 805-798-3358

Dale Hanson 805-646-7229

Heather Erickson 805-798-3358

Glenn Kuhr 805 760-0366

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Extraordinary downtown living! This stylish, luxurious OH SO OJAI! This sparkling, modern Ranchette commands Tuscany townhome located conveniently in the highly sought-af- a superior downtown location in one of the most desirable ter Los Arboles enclave offers an exceptional lifestyle within communities in SoCal. This gorgeous property is conveniently moments of Ojai’s best dining, hip coffee shops. $820,000 located in the heart of Ojai, close to the renowned Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, restaurants, and boutiques. $835,000

JAN 25

FEATURED EVENT LOLA HAAG

The Ojai Monthly recently corresponded with local jazz vocal legend Lola Haag on returning from the road for a hometown show on January 25 at the Underground Exchange on Del Norte.

Ojai Monthly: You mentioned going beyond standards and deep into your repertoire for the Jan. 25th show. Why is important for you to sing these songs?

What is it that you want to audience to hear?

requires a high level of musicianship along with an ability to collaborate and improvise on the melody. Working with a jazz vocalist is even more difficult, as the vocalist improvises, as well.

I’ve worked locally with a number of fabulous musicians, in various

Lola Haag: Performing for a small, attentive group of listeners gives the band and I the opportunity to perform more of what we would call “story songs”. We get the chance to surprise the audience with an emotional range of material that is not suitable for a larger venue or a dance club. This includes saloon songs to comical personality numbers, from sultry ballads to upbeat & rarely done blues tunes.

OM: You’ve been playing the same ensemble for how long? How did you get together with your crew, and what’s your process for learning new repertoire and rehearsing?

LH: My band at The Ojai Underground Exchange will again be the multitalented, Jimmy Calire on piano, Tom Etchart on bass & Dave Hunt on Drums.

These talented gentlemen have the extraordinary skill set for jazz which 10

configurations, sometimes as a duo, trio, four piece band, depending on the desires and budget of the venue or host of the private event, and if dancing is a priority. On some occasions, such as the grand opening of the Ojai Valley Inn ballroom, I appeared with an 18 piece orchestra. I also performed as a trio for the grand opening of the remodeled Ojai Valley Museum.

OM: Tell us about your perfect audience?

Who are they? Can you describe the OM — January 2019

energy that goes back and forth?

LH: We love it when the audience immerses itself into the adventure of the moment-to-moment experience of jazz. It is especially exciting when young people attend and are introduced to a genre of music that is brand new to them. I try to describe what the lyric of a song means to me and enjoy seeing new listeners find their own connection to the song. It is such a pleasure when someone discovers a song through our performance. At this point in my own life I am more retrospective of the life span and how songs connect us to the different passages within our lives.

My song selection is definitely more impacted by the range of my own life’s experience, the older I get. In addition, I am always adding to my repertoire of 400 songs. Each time I perform, I include 2 or 3 songs that I have never performed before. This keeps me continually growing and engaged.

OM: You’ve won Ventura County best jazz vocalist and entertainer of the year several times. What’s that like?

LH: County by the Ventura County Music Awards for several consecutive years and to win the honor in both 2015 and 2016! This was such a thrill. It still amazes me. I am humbled knowing full well that the hard work or many talented musicians, arrangers and my

LOLA HAAG & her Jazz Ensemble 01.25.2018 | 7:30 pm Ojai Arts Exchange | Underground Exchange

husband, John, who is my producer, made this possible for me.

OM: Who are your key influences? I hear Ella and Sarah Vaughan but also contemporaries like Madeleine Peyroux and Diana Krall. Any others you feel paved the way in the past, and others who are opening the future?

LH: My musical influencers include jazz, blues, Broadway & pop artists.

Sarah, Ella, Etta & Billie, of course, but also Mose Allison, Sinatra, Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson, Eric Clapton, Al Green, Eydie Gorme, Sue Rainey, and more recently, Karrin Allyson, Stacey Kent, K. D. Lang, Beth Hart, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Bonnie Raitt.

OM: You’ve been at the jazz game for awhile, a few months at least. How has it changed? What’s stayed the same? Is a new audience developing? If so, what’s bringing them in LH: When I began singing jazz, I got incredible encouragement from many of Ojai’s most wonderful people, including movie star, June Allyson, Andi & Mel Bloom and Ojai’s, David Mason, who loved saying he was president of my fan club. A fun story is that when Barbra Streisand would come into Tottingham Court for tea, Andi would quickly put my CDs in to play over the speakers just so we could jokingly say, “Barbra listens

to Lola.”

For the past 20 years I have been concentrating on recording and touring Jazz clubs from California to New York. A personal goal of mine is to help keep these fabulous songs from being lost. They are a major part of America’s musical past.

OM: What’s different for you from playing a hometown audience and playing on the road? The audiences, the venues, the repertoire, etc.

LH: The opportunity to perform in Ojai is a special treat for a couple of reasons.

I have lived in Ojai for a long time so my roots run deep in this beautiful valley, musically and personally. On January 25th we will also be performing a song written by Ojai’s Amanda McBroom. In addition, prior to my life as a jazz artist, I starred in many musical productions in Ojai and throughout the county. These include “Camelot,”“Gypsy,” “Guys & Dolls,” “The King & I,” “Anything Goes,” “Showboat,” “Brigadoon” with co-star, DeWayne Boccali, “Fiddler” with costar Bob Heller, and many others. I also directed a youth theater in Ojai called “Youth Drama Club” for over 10 years.

There are many fond memories of those years.

OM: Where can we hear more of your work?

OM — January 2019

Jazz recordings include 7 jazz CDs containing over 100 different songs, a Blues CD and a CD of classic Spanish songs. A YouTube video of my jazz version of Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” has more than 330,000 views. You can listen at http://www. lolahaag.com, Spotify, Pandora, iTunes, Amazon, Sound Cloud and several other streaming services around the world.

Alexa pronounces my name as “Hog,” however, I do not take it personally.

OM: Bernie (Larsen) and Cassidy (Linder) are really creating a sacred space at the Underground Exchange.

What are your thoughts on what they’re bringing to the Ojai live music (and performing arts) scene?

LH: Bernie & Cassidy are offering their impressive talents to provide a unique, eclectic venue in Ojai, The Ojai Underground Exchange. It is a relaxed and friendly listening room that provides a wonderful variety of performers with an amazing sound system. Here’s a bit of trivia. I recorded both my Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday tribute albums in this same studio location in the early 2000’s.

Ojai has nothing quite like The Ojai Underground Exchange. We are so pleased to have been invited back again on Friday, January 25th at 7:30 pm. talented musicians, arrangers and my husband, John, who is my producer, 11

OJAI UNDER GROUND EXCHANGE @THE OJAI ARTS

EXCHANGE

made this possible for me.

OM: Who are your key influences? I hear Ella and Sarah Vaughan but also contemporaries like Madeleine Peyroux and Diana Krall. Any others you feel paved the way in the past, and others who are opening the future?

LH: My musical influencers include jazz, blues, Broadway & pop artists.

Sarah, Ella, Etta & Billie, of course, but also Mose Allison, Sinatra, Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson, Eric Clapton, Al Green, Eydie Gorme, Sue Rainey, and more recently, Karrin Allyson, Stacey Kent, K. D. Lang, Beth Hart, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Bonnie Raitt.

OM: You’ve been at the jazz game for awhile, a few months at least. How has it changed? What’s stayed the same? Is a new audience developing? If so, what’s bringing them in LH: When I began singing jazz, I got incredible encouragement from many of Ojai’s most wonderful people, including movie star, June Allyson, Andi & Mel Bloom and Ojai’s, David Mason, who loved saying he was president of my fan club. A fun story is that when Barbra Streisand would come into Tottingham Court for tea, Andi would quickly put my CDs in to play over the speakers just so we could jokingly say, “Barbra listens to Lola.”

For the past 20 years I have been concentrating on recording and touring Jazz clubs from California to New York. A personal goal of mine is to help keep these fabulous songs from being lost. They are a major part of America’s musical past.

Lola Haag January 25 7pm 12

OM: What’s different for you from playing a hometown audience and playing on the road? The audiences, the venues, the repertoire, etc.

LH: The opportunity to perform in Ojai is a special treat for a couple of reasons.

I have lived in Ojai for a long time so my roots run deep in this beautiful valley, OM — January 2019

musically and personally. On January 25th we will also be performing a song written by Ojai’s Amanda McBroom. In addition, prior to my life as a jazz artist, I starred in many musical productions in Ojai and throughout the county.

These include “Camelot,”“Gypsy,” “Guys & Dolls,” “The King & I,” “Anything Goes,” “Showboat,” “Brigadoon” with costar, DeWayne Boccali, “Fiddler” with co-star Bob Heller, and many others.

I also directed a youth theater in Ojai called “Youth Drama Club” for over 10 years. There are many fond memories of those years.

OM: Where can we hear more of your work?

Jazz recordings include 7 jazz CDs containing over 100 different songs, a Blues CD and a CD of classic Spanish songs. A YouTube video of my jazz version of Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” has more than 330,000 views. You can listen at http:// www.lolahaag.com, Spotify, Pandora, iTunes, Amazon, Sound Cloud and several other streaming services around the world. Alexa pronounces my name as “Hog,” however, I do not take it personally.

OM: Bernie (Larsen) and Cassidy (Linder) are really creating a sacred space at the Underground Exchange.

What are your thoughts on what they’re bringing to the Ojai live music (and performing arts) scene?

LH: Bernie & Cassidy are offering their impressive talents to provide a unique, eclectic venue in Ojai, The Ojai Underground Exchange. It is a relaxed and friendly listening room that provides a wonderful variety of performers with an amazing sound system. Here’s a bit of trivia. I recorded both my Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday tribute albums in this same studio location in the early 2000’s.

Ojai has nothing quite like The Ojai Underground Exchange. We are so pleased to have been invited back again on Friday, January 25th at 7:30 pm.

OM — January 2019

13

14

OM — January 2019

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FOOD IS DELICIOUS MEDICINE Ken Dorr is not only extremely knowledgeable, he’s also very affable and makes science clear.

The Sane Living Center is a true Act of Generosity, sorely needed in our current Age of Insanity.

Lauren Edie Simone Ken Dorr, master-chef and educator at Optimum Health Institute in San Diego, was nothing short of spectacular, inspirational, and packed with knowledge - if you missed it, you missed out! Kudos to Sane Living. We want more personal growth!

Christine Golden Thank you Aubrey for creating a place where we all can connect to grow consciousness Renee Wentela Roth Thank you Sane Living for inviting Ken. I learned a lot about nutrition on an important health adventure. Ken will be back; keep an eye out.

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OM — January 2019

15

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

“The Masks We Wear” at Porch Gallery, January 10 to 17

REOCCURING EVENTS

Contact: 646-5508 ext.103 Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue meditationmount.org Contact: 640-1390 Certified Farmer’s Market Note: Meditation Mount has been on hiojaivalleymuseum.org Date: Every Sunday atus since the Thomas Fire. Check their Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. website at meditationmount.org.

“Eating Ojai” Food Tour Contact: 698-5555 REOCCURING EVENTS Date: Call to schedule Location: Matilija Street city parking lot Certified Farmer’s Market Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. behind the Arcade.

“Third Fridays” Date: Every Sunday Location: Varies Open air market featuring locally Date: Third Friday of the month Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Contact: 295-8687 grown produce, plants, musicians and Time: 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Contact: 698-5555 venturafoodtours.com handmade items, including soaps, basLocation: Downtown Businesses Location: Matilija Street city parking lot behind the Arcade. kets, beeswax candles and olive oil.

Contact: 640-1390 Open air market featuring locally grown produce, plants, musicians and handmade items, including soaps, baskets, beeswax Morning, Guided and Full Moon OjaiVillageExperience.com candles and olive oil.

Meditations Historical Walking Tours of Ojai Date: TBD Date: Saturdays, October through June “Ojai Fiction Writing Workshop” Historical Walking Tours of Ojai Location: Meditation Mount, 10340 Time: 10:30 a.m.

Date: Every Thursday Date: Every Tuesday through Sunday Reeves Road Location: Departs from the Ojai Valley Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Time: Please call the Museum office to schedule 16

OM — January 2019

OPPOSITE PAGE: Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio (O.Y.E.S.) is hosting an ugly sweater party on December 13 at Topa Mountain Winery; Anna Kotula stars (Julie Harris pictured) in “Belle of Amherst”

JANUARY “Trial by Fire: Ojai Ablaze, 1917-2017” Dates: Through January 27 Times: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

Location: Ojai Valley Museum, 130 West Ojai Avenue Contact: 805-640-1390 ojaivalleymuseum.org “Chamber Music Concert With Yue Deng and Virginia Kron” Date: January 6 Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Ojai Art Center, 113 South Montgomery Street Contact: ojaiartcenter.org 805-640-8327

- a one-woman play about Emily Dickinson, on Dec. 21-23 and 28-30; THIS PAGE: Porch Gallery is hosting Guy Webster’s “The Masks We Wear” January 10 to 17.

“Unlock Your Intimacy — A Journey of Self Discovery” Date: January 17 Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Elemental Apothecary 201 North Ventura Street Contact: 805-798-9266 “Structural Anthropology with Claude Levi-Strauss” Dates: January 26 Location: Thomas Aquinas College,

1000 Ojai-Santa Paula Road Contact: 805-231-5974 agorafoundation.org “Peter Pan Jr. at O.Y.E.S. Theatre” Date: January 18 to February 10 Times: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Location: 907 El Centro Street Contact: Phone: 805- 646-4300 oyespresents.org

“The Masks We Wear” Dates: January 10 to 17 Times: Varies.

Location: Porch Gallery, 310 East Matilija Street Contact: (805) 620-7589 porchgalleryofojai.com “Grizzlies with Peter Alagona, Ph.D.” Dates: January 12 Time: 10 a.m. to noon Location: Ojai Valley Land Conservancy 370 West Baldwin Road, Building A4 Contact: 805-649-6852, ovlc.org

Location: Ojai Library, 111 East Ojai Avenue Contact: 640-6865 vencolibrary.org

Date: By reservation 48 hrs in advance Time: varies Location: varies Contact: 272-8102 or email ride@ themobshop.com or online at porchgalleryojai.com Ojai bike tour features agricultural, Mount artistic, culinary,Meditation cultural and historical hosts Full Moon Medlandmarks in Ojai.

“Ojai Seeker’s Bike itations. Check their Tour” website at meditationmount.org or call 646Meditation Mount’s Full Moon 5508 for more updates.

Meditations have been on hiatus since the Thomas Fire. Check their website at meditationmount.org or call 646-5508 for updates.

“Shakespeare Salon” Date: First and third Mondays Time: 7 to 9 p.m.

Location: Ojai Library,111 East Ojai Avenue Contact: 646-1639

OM — January 2019

17

WILL RISING RATES AFFECT REAL ESTATE PRICES?

By Therese A. Hartmann

Although I’m primarily a loan consultant, I often get asked where I think the housing market is going. Turbulence with the stock market, international trade and local natural disasters have all of us scratching our heads unless you analyze surveys from the National Association of Realtors and the Mortgage Bankers Association. Here are some predictions that you can almost bank on: 1)

Housing markets will continue to improve nationally, especially in metro areas where home prices will continue to rise.

Having said that, we are seeing a slow down in new home sales.

2) Interest rates will continue to climb in 2019. Most experts expect that the Federal Reserve will raise rates two to three times in 2019. They will, however, likely be minor adjustments, if they come to pass.

3) If current conditions continue, 2019 could become a buyers’ market. We have been experiencing a seller’s market for a number of years but with rising home prices combined with higher interest rates, affordability becomes an issue.

Having said that, beach areas 18

and resort towns get a bit of a “hall pass” due to good old supply and demand.

4) Refinancing will slow down.

Many borrowers in a position to do so, have already refinanced their loans. Those who could not (bad credit, not enough income, legal reasons) will still have a chance at a good rate if they act quickly. Check with a mortgage broker and get a quote.

5) Reverse mortgages will become more popular. Stats show that most baby boomers have little in the way of assets outside of the equity in their homes.

Introduced in 1961, reverse mortgages allowed seniors to use this equity and stay in their homes. Many iterations later, they are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and provide a viable option for seniors to refinance into or to purchase a new home.

As with all predictions — I remember when an Los Angeles Times journalist announced the movie “The Titanic” was poised to “sink again” — you always have to leave room for the unexpected. Still, as with your personal health, it’s time well OM — January 2019

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.

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Emily Burson

BY ILONA SAARI 22

OM — January 2019

In 2017 Emily Burson moved to Ojai and hit the ground running.

Well, golfing actually.

But more on that later. Emily is also a “foodie.” No, not a foodie who simply savors the flavors of gourmet meals and binge watches the Food Network, but a woman who believes in teaching children that there’s more to food than pizza and hot dogs.

As she tells it: “I chose the major of Sports Nutrition when I was in high school because I loved playing sports, but knew I wasn’t good enough to play at a professional level. This, combined with my interest in health, made for the perfect major, or so I thought. Coming from small town Visalia, California, I wasn’t exposed to the dining scene that Los Angeles offered, so when I had my first few meals in LA (one of them at the old Nobu in Malibu) my interest shifted more to the food and food management aspects of the field of nutrition. My professional and personal mantra became one of moderation while still enjoying all types of food.”

But, Emily didn’t stop there. With Cordon Bleu-trained chef Brandon Neumen and the rest of the SNP team, she created her debut cookbook, “A Chef Walks Into a Cafeteria,” that honors the culinary values of scratch-cooking and shares the keys to creating delicious, healthful meals that children and adults will enjoy making together. A couple of SNP’s signature dishes are chicken chow mein with fresh veggies and steak street tacos.

To learn more about SNP, check out: www.schoolnutritionplus. com (and don’t miss the chocolate chip cookie dough hummus!) or find Emily’s cookbook at FOUND 203 Studio located in town at 203 N. Ventura Street.

Armed with a degree in Nutrition from Pepperdine (where she also taught food service management), she was quite disturbed to find that managing kitchens often meant opening a box of frozen food and putting it in the oven. This inspired her to start School Nutrition Plus (SNP) which serves over twenty thousand (yes, 20,000) “farm to school” meals per day to local, low income public and charter schools in Southern California.

On his summer TV series, British chef Jamie Oliver would “invade” one public school at a time to teach the school’s reluctant kitchen staff how to shop healthfully while also teaching the students the difference between a tomato and ketchup. Emily, on the other hand, and without TV, exposes thousands of kids who live in a chicken-nugget/French fry world to delicious “from-scratch” food made with fresh ingredients. And, she does this throughout the school year. She also continues to lobby for healthier food choices in all schools.

With her experienced team of food consultants, dietitians and chefs, SNP delivers school lunches, “foodie style.”

OPPOSITE PAGE: Emily Burson with her School Nutrition Plus (SNP) Team.

ABOVE: Emily Burson with her book, “A Chef Walks into a Cafeteria.”

OM — January 2019

23

So what about golf? Well, Emily loves to play golf. So, with the support of Keith Brown, the new owner of Soule Park Golf Course and restaurant, she started a monthly ladies golf clinic the year she moved to town. Led by golf pro, Bob Garza, her goal is to help women of all ages be comfortable on the course and to increase the ladies’ community at Soule Park.

The clinic is called “Ojai Ladies Par-Tee” and is open to all levels.

The way it works is that the women pay $25 to Soule Park which includes the clinic and a glass of wine in the lounge. It’s an hour-long clinic with “getting to know you” wine hang-out time afterwards. A great way to improve your game and to meet new friends in the process.

In the spring, Emily plans to start “9 and Wine” outings where the group will play nine holes, then enjoy some wine time at the “tenth hole.”

Emily making Whoops Chocolates at Porch Gallery.

The clinics are advertised on the Ojai Community Network and through emails. Folks can call the pro shop Soule Park to RSVP or email ojailadiespartee@gmail.com to get on the email list.

You might say it’s the beginning of a true golf “club!”

Speaking of chocolate, Emily is very excited about her newest venture. To honor Beatrice Wood, the Mama of Dada (“Dada,” the first conceptual art movement founded in Europe in 1916), she teamed up with Heather Stobo and Lisa Casoni (owners of the Porch Gallery, Ojai’s exciting contemporary art gallery) to create their own homage to Ms. Wood with chocolates.

They named their chocolate line, Beato (Beatrice Wood’s nickname) Chocolates.

Their first concoction was poured into a mold of a Beatrice “moon face” sculpture which deliciously re-imagines the Dada movement by blending 72 percent dark chocolate with fleur de sel, French salt. Up next is Beato Whoops, a Dada version of Whoppers a childhood favorite.

You remember Whoppers, those delicious malt balls covered in dreamy milk chocolate that so many of us devoured watching a Saturday matinee in a darkened movie theater when we were kids, right?! You can buy this latest Dada influenced delectable morsel in the Porch Gallery’s new salon, as well as other Beato Chocolates or check out www.beatochocolates.com.

Emily at Soule Park with a golf clinic colleague.

24

OM — January 2019

TOM WEBER Broker

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Triplex within walking distance to downtown Ojai.

Two units are 2 bedroom, 1 bath with laundry and 1 car garage. One unit is 2 bedroom with office or third bedroom, 1 bath, 1 car garage,laundry, patio room and yard. Great investor property or live in one and rent the others. Village mixed use zoning allows for live/work use. Asking 949,000.

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OM — January 2019

25

Dale Hanson

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OM — January 2019

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OM — January 2019

27

Winter Outdoor Entertaining Tips

By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela Living in Southern California means there is not much difference between entertaining outdoors in the summer and hosting an al fresco gathering in winter.

However, there are a few things to consider to ensure you properly maintain your reputation as a consummate party host regardless of the season. After all, it might be cold, it is going to get dark early, and it might even rain (probably not, but a girl can dream).

So, let’s up your winter party-hosting game with these five tips for outdoor entertaining.

1. Consider your lighting: Those solar-powered landscape lights you installed were a great choice for the environment and have probably been meeting your needs just fine. However, the shorter days of winter mean that your lights may not stay on long enough to keep your outdoor living areas illuminated late into the night.

Know how long your solar lights stay on before the day of your party so that you can make other lighting arrangements, if needed.

Regardless of the type of landscape lighting you have, make sure the system adequately lights your main entertaining spaces. You might also consider adding festive string lights to improve the ambience and offer additional, soft lighting for your gathering.

2. Edit your guest list: Winter entertaining is often a more intimate affair. Unlike a summer barbecue where your guests mingle throughout your yard, winter soirees are more likely spent circled around fire features regaling one another with tales of your last ski trip or your holiday plans. So, plan your gathering with this in mind and cut your prospective guest list down to the maximum number of people you can keep warm without leaving some 28

of your guests out in the cold when the area around the fire pit gets too crowded.

If it is simply too cold outside, you might end up indoors for most of the night, so you should also keep your guest list down to the number you can comfortably accommodate inside your home.

3. Keep your guests warm: The main difference between summer entertaining and winter entertaining is that winter hosting duties include keeping your guests warm. The easiest and most popular way to do this is to use your fire feature as a central gathering spot for your guests.

Make sure your fire pit or fireplace is clean and in good repair, and stock up on the appropriate fuel for your fire feature before the day of your party. If you are planning a gathering larger than what can comfortably fit in the area around your fire feature, consider setting up multiple warming stations, such as your fire pit or fireplace, freestanding patio heaters, and an indoor space where guests can congregate.

Once you have your basic heating options handled, consider some fun ways to keep your guests warm, like supplying them with throw blankets and serving a festive, warm beverage.

Also, be sure to let your guests know beforehand whether it is an indoor or outdoor event, so they can dress accordingly.

4. Serve a signature cocktail and mocktail: Serving a signature cocktail – particularly one you can make in a large OM — January 2019

batch prior to the party — always makes hosting easier. This makes it easy for guests to serve themselves and saves you from playing bartender all night.

Along with your signature cocktail, you should always have an equivalent mocktail that allows your non-drinkers to partake and not feel left out of the fun or, even worse, singled out for not having an alcoholic beverage in their hand.

If you want to serve hot drinks to warm your guests on a cold night, consider setting up a self-serve hot chocolate and coffee bar stocked with Bailey’s Irish Cream, peppermint schnapps and Kahlua, as well as whipped cream, marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg.

For a cold beverage, consider sangria, which can be made in large batches beforehand and is easy to make in both spiked and virgin options. Another cold option is an elderberry or blackberry shrub, which you can serve with just sparkling water for a non-alcoholic version or with vodka and sparkling water for guests looking for a little more kick. If you choose a shrub for your signature cocktail, make sure you also have another option available, since not everyone appreciates a good sipping vinegar.

5. Prepare for rain: This is Ojai, which means it is probably not going to rain on your party, but there is a slight chance that it might. So, since our mothers have always told us it is better to be safe than sorry, be prepared – just in case.

If you have a covered patio that can accommodate all your guests, then you’re all set. But, if not, you might want to consider renting or buying a canopy to cover or expand your outdoor entertaining space.

Alternatively, you can just make sure your house is guest ready in case you need to move the party inside.

ojaihub.com

Ojai’s community website OM — January 2019

Events • News • Explore 29

BLUE IGUANA INN & SUITES Spanish-style inn offering rooms, suites & cottages with Southwest décor. Easy access to the Ojai Valley Trail.

11794 Ventura Ave | (805) 646-5277 blueiguanainn.com CAPRI MOTEL Hip, quirky option with retro rooms and cool pool scene.

Free Wi-Fi and breakfast 1180 East Ojai Ave | (805) 646-4305 hotelojai.com CARAVAN OUTPOST A beautifully curated garden of Airstreams, located in the heart of Ojai. Free wi-fi, nightly entertainment, dog friendly, complimentary bicycles, camp store.

Instagram: @caravanoutpost Web: caravanoutpost.com 317 Bryant Street I (805) 836-4891.

CHANTICO INN & SUITES Relaxed, cozy rooms in a Mission-style hotel offering free breakfast & WiFi, plus an outdoor pool.

406 West Ojai Ave | (805) 646-8100 chanticoinnsuites.com

30

EMERALD IGUANA INN Upscale inn with lush gardens, pool, hot tub, spa services, breakfast, & rooms with local artwork.

108 Pauline St | (805) 646-5277 emeraldiguana.com HUMMINGBIRD INN Lodge-like inn offering modern, casual rooms, plus free wi-fi breakfast, & an outdoor pool. Across the street from Soule Park Golf Course.

1208 East Ojai Ave | (805) 646-4365 hummingbirdinnojai.com LAVENDER INN Quaint bed-and-breakfast in an 1874 building featuring country-style rooms, plus a spa, yoga & cooking classes. In the heart of downtown Ojai.

210 East Matilja St | (805) 646-6635 lavenderinn.com

OJAI VALLEY INN & SPA Upscale Spanish-style hacienda with contemporary rooms & a spa, pool, golf & several restaurants. One of California’s premier destinations.

905 Country Club Road | (855) 6978780 ojairesort.com OAKRIDGE INN Functional budget hotel offering an outdoor pool, plus complimentary continental breakfast & WiFi. 780 North Ventura Ave | (805) 6494018 oakridgeinn.com OJAI RETREAT Serene, hilltop bed-and-breakfast offering traditional rooms, some with terraces, plus a buffet breakfast & yoga.

160 Besant Road | (805) 646-2536 ojairetreat.com

THE OAKS AT OJAI Serene weight-loss retreat offering 3 meals daily, plus a wellness spa & free fitness classes.

122 East Ojai Ave | (805) 646-5573 oaksspa.com

PEPPER TREE RETREAT & EDUCATION CENTER An oasis for the mind in a peaceful setting where individuals, couples and small groups can relax and enjoy the beauty of the valley.

1130 McAndrew Road (877) 355-5986 peppertreeretreat.com

OJAI RANCHO INN Borders Ojai Valley Trail, easy stroll to downtown. Hip, rustic-style inn offering country-chic rooms, plus free Wi-fi, a pool & a sauna.

615 West Ojai Ave | (805) 646-1434 ojairanchoinn.com

SU NIDO INN Artfully designed, Mission-style inn with traditional rooms, with stunning courtyard, an easy walk to downtown. Free Wi-Fi 301 North Montgomery Street (805) 646-7080 sunidoinn.com

OM — January 2019

MY OJAI GARDEN

BY LESLIE LIPPINCOTT HIDLEY

A

woman took her ten children to the park in the city where they lived and the children played until they were exhausted. And the mother, who was exhausted from playing with them and watching over them, gathered them around her and said, “This park is known for the presence of mother-stealers. So I am going to take a nap, and I want you to sit and guard me so no one snatches me while I am sleeping.” This was in the days before such things as babysitters. So the mother lay down on the grass and the children assembled themselves around her with their backs to her and glaring outwardly, looking fiercely in all directions, just in case….

Now, I don’t really know why I am telling you that story because what I want to talk about is grace. If you know a connection, write and tell me.

The other day, I’d been sick for some time, was broke – had seven dollars to my name and a pack of Kools is eight bucks and change, plus the fridge was nearly empty and I was exhausted. I sent an email to a half dozen people who have jobs and things to do in the day and no likelihood of reading said email, asking one of them to get me a pack of Kools and some huevos rancheros from Jim & Robs. Naturally, my judgement being what it is, nothing happened. So I finally borrowed money from the butler and asked him to go to Joe’s Quik-Stop on Signal and ask Rami for a pack of Kools and some butter and made myself eggs and toast and smoked enough to raise my blood-nicotine levels along with my bloodsugar levels. Things started looking up.

But while I was waiting, I had a chance to think about grace – the saying of grace before meals, gracious people I know, God’s grace, the practice some Buddhist monks have of not eating unless food is offered. What if we forgot to offer?

There would be monks keeled over on the ground! It is important to share what we have.

So in the middle of the night, I woke up and came into the living room to see the fireplace mantel and buffet festooned with fairy lights in the darkened living room, due to the grace and courtesy of Peggy La Cerra and Wyn Matthews.

Isn’t it beautiful!

XXXOOO

OM — January 2019

31

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

JIM & ROB’S FRESH GRILL Mexican-American & regional favorites 214 West Ojai Avenue #100 (805) 640-1301 jimandrobsojai.com

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

JJ’S SPORTS ZONE The go-to place for food & sports 820 North Ventura Avenue (805) 649-4655 jjssportszone.com

AZU Spanish & Mediterranean comfort food 457 East Ojai Avenue (805) 640-7987, azuojai.com

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

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

KNEAD BAKING COMPANY An artisanal family bakery 469 East Ojai Avenue (310) 770-3282 kneadbakingcompany.com

BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE Traditional American breakfast & brunch 328 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-0207

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

CAFE EMPORIUM Locals’ favorite breakfast and lunch 108 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-2723 ojaicafeemporium.com

MARCHE GOURMET An European deli in Ojai 133 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-1133 marchegourmetojai.com

CASA DEL LAGO Ojai’s original Mexican restaurant 715 E Ojai Avenue (805) 640-1577

THE NEST 401 East Ojai Avenue Coming soon — follow Instagram @thenestojai for updates

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

NO SO VITA Ojai’s social cafe 205 North Signal Street (805) 646-1540 nosovita.com

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

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

FOOD HARMONICS Nutritional Love 254 East Ojai Avenue (Arcade) (805) 798-9253

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

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OM — January 2019

OJAI HARVEST RESTAURANT & BAR Farm-to-table organic fare 307 East Ojai Avenue (805) 633,9232 OJAI PIZZA COMPANY 331 Ojai Ave. (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878 TheOnlyGoodPizza.com OSTERIA MONTE GRAPPA Local fare, Northern Italian cuisine 242 East Ojai Avenue / (805) 640-6767 omgojai.com PAPA LENNON’S Family owned, original & Italian cuisine 515 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-7388 papalennons.com

traditional

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

RE-JUVE

S PA C E

Live younger from your inside out.

Sane Living Center offers Ojai’s most sophis?cated tech auditorium and workshop spaces to rent for your event.

SELF-HEAL Rely on nature’s system to do the work of healing.

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Body/mind/self connec?ons through holis?c retreats, workshops, talks, films, consulta?ons.

Ojai’s #1 vegetarian restaurant for 4 years is back, this ?me 7 days/wk for breakfast, lunch & soon dinner.

Corner of Ma?lija St & N Montgomery St. in the heart of Ojai Sane Living 805-646-6000 • info@saneliving.com

buena

tile | stone | design 1717 Palma Drive Ventura 805.650.1252 518 E. Haley Street Santa Barbara 805.963.8638

Visit our Honey Tasting Room 206 East Ojai Avenue, in the Arcade, downtown Ojai Ask us about our Honey Club! www.heavenlyhoneycompany.com | 805-633-9103

buenatile.com

OM — January 2019

33

SOLD IN OJAI Homes Sold Last Month

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECENT HOME SALES

Retired & Unstoppable 465 Santa Ana Boulevard, Oak View, 2 bed, 1 bath, 873 Sq. Ft. Listed $399,000. Sold $380,000 170 North Arnaz Street, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,040 Sq. Ft. Listed $525,000. Sold $494,900 136 South Encinal Avenue, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,127 Sq. Ft. Listed $520,000. Sold $515,000 10470 North Karen Avenue, Oak View, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,389 Sq. Ft. Listed $569,000. Sold $540,000 983 North Rice Road, 3 bed, 1.75 bath, 1841 Sq. Ft. Listed $899,000. Sold $711,000

425 Cruzero Street, 4 bed, 3 bath, 1,870 Sq. Ft. Listed $790,000. Sold $715,000 229 East Villanova Road, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,931 Sq. Ft. Listed $849,000. Sold $770,000 219 East Oak Street, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,922 Sq. Ft. Listed $1,195,000. Sold $1,172,500 310 McKee Street, 2 bed, 2.5 bath, 3,206 Sq. Ft. Listed $1,645,000. Sold $1,519,405 12490 MacDonald Drive, 4 bed, 6 bath, 5,972 Sq. Ft. Listed $2,299,000.

Sold $2,100,000

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Information provided by Ojai MLS 34

OM — January 2019

OJAI HIKES

7 WAYS TO GET LOST

By Bret Bradigan

1. SHELF ROAD Directions: From Ojai Avenue, head north on Signal Street until it ends. Length: 3.5 miles return trip. Difficulty: Easy. It takes about an hour at a brisk pace to walk the length of the trail and back between the trailheads at either North Signal Street or Gridley Road. This hike is perfect for visitors or residents to get “ the lay of the land” in Ojai. It is also one of the most “dog friendly” walks around.

2. VENTURA RIVER BOTTOM TRAILS Directions: From Highway 150, there’s a trailhead just east of the Ventura River bridge. From South Rice Road, there’s a trailhead just north of the intersection with Lomita Road.

Also from South Rice, take a right on Meyer Road to the Oso Trailhead. Length: Varies. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Three trailheads lead you into the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s 1,600-acre Ventura River Preserve. This three-mile stretch of the Ventura River offers a spectacular glimpse into old-growth oak canopy, splendid vistas from rocky ridgelines, deep swimming holes, lush fern grottoes, rare wildflowers and many miles of trails to choose from.

3. PRATT TRAIL Directions: From Ojai Avenue, turn north on Signal Street and drive about 1.2 miles until you see the Forest Service sign on the left. The trailhead is a further half-mile. Length: 4.4 miles to Nordhoff Ridge. Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. The Pratt Trail criss-crosses a seasonal stream through the backyards of private properties before opening onto a natural bowl formed by the slope of Nordhoff Ridge. Follow the signs through about two miles of dry and dusty switchbacks until you reach the ridgeline. From there, it’s another two steep, dusty miles to Nordhoff Peak, 4,426 feet above sea level.

4. GRIDLEY TRAIL Directions: From Ojai Avenue, turn on the Gridley Road.

Photo by Caitlin Petersen

Follow it to the gated end, about two miles. Length: 3 miles to the Gridley Springs, 6 miles to Nordhoff Peak. Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. Elevation gain: 1,200 feet to the springs.

This trail, at the north end of Gridley Road just to the left before the gates to Hermitage Ranch, begins with a steep climb, then follows an orchard road through avocado trees before making a northeastward turn along the rocky western flank of the mountainside. The trail winds along the steep flank of the mountain until it enters the cool, dense side canyon wherein lies Gridley Springs.

6. COZY DELL TRAIL Directions: Head east on the Maricopa Highway (Highway 33) for 3.3 miles. The turnout is on the left, just before and across from Friend’s Ranch packing house.. Cross the street to the trailhead. Length: 1.9 miles to Cozy Dell Creek. Difficulty: Moderate. The trail begins along a seasonal creek and quickly climbs about 640 feet in elevation along a well-forested and wild-flowered canyon to a ridgeline knoll with spectacular views of the Ojai Valley.

7. MIDDLE FORK OF MATILIJA CANYON Directions: Head east on Highway 33 for about 4.7 miles to Matilija Canyon Road. Follow the road to the end — about another two miles. Length: Up to 7 miles (14 miles return).

Difficulty: Moderate. Follow the trailhead at the end of Matilija Canyon Road through the gated property to the west side of the creek. The trail, more of a one-track road at this point, heads towards the gates of Blue Heron Ranch, a historic farm with orange and lemon groves. The trail then clambers through thickening chaparral scrub for another 1.5 miles until you can see tilted slabs of weathered granite and a long, green pool to the right. The trail descends back into the creekside sycamore and willow forest through a series of campsites, swimming holes and geologic marvels. The shifting and often-concealed trail eventually leads you to the fabled Three Falls of the Matilija.

OM — January 2019

35

WHO’S WHO

36

IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?

Stephen Adelman Broker Associate “Your Family Man Realtor” Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe realestateojai@ gmail.com ojailuxuryrealestate.com 805-640-5563

Patricia Ahrens Remax Gold Coast www.pattyahrens.Remax. net Yourbestrealtor 805@outlookcom 805-407-8585

Tyler Brousseau Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe 805-760-2213 ojaiforsale.com

Kristen Currier Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe 805-798-3757 thehoffgroup. com

Ross Falvo Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe “The Ojai Real Estate Guy” RossFalvo.com

805-207-5094

Dennis Guernsey Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe OjaiColdwellBanker.com 805-798-1998

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

Amy Hall Ojai Valley Real Estate Keller Williams AmyHallSellsHomes @gmail.com AmyHallSellsHomes .kw.com Making Your Dream A Reality 805 444 7874

Marsha Kaye Home Mortgage Consultant Phone: 805640-0654 Cell: 949-2339988 marsha.kaye@ prospectmtg. com

Kirk Ellison Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe KirkEllison@ me.com 805-340-5905

​ orina K Cardinali Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe KorinaCardinali805 @gmail.com 805-794-7963

Vivienne Moody Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe 805-798-1099 vmoody10@ sbcglobal.net OjaiLifestyle.net

Donna Sallen Remax Gold Coast Realtors Donna4Remax@aol.com DonnaSallen. com 805-798-0516

Amanda Stanworth Coldwell Banker Prop. Shoppe Phone: 805-2188117 • E-mail: amandastanworth77@gmail. com Web Page: Rooney-Stanworth.com

Erik Wilde Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe Wilde-Wilde.com

805-830-3254

Larry Wilde Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe Wilde-Wilde. com 805-640-5734

Anne Williamson Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe Anneshomesinojai.com 805-320-3314

Patty Waltcher Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe Call me for your Real Estate needs.

805-340-3774

OM — January 2019

Deckert / DePaola Keller Williams Realty Cheryl Deckert, Broker Associate Ray Deckert, Broker Associate Maria DePaola, Realtor Associate Team@DeckertDePaola.com 805-272-5221

Are You Ready For The New Year?

Nora Davis Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe OjaiValleyEstates. com 805-207-6177

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

Joe Davis Full service property management, residential • Commercial • Industrial JoeTheRentalGuy.com.

805-574-9774

Kathy Hoff Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe (805) 290-6907 thehoffgroup. com

Teresa Rooney Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe teresarooneyhomes@ sbcglobal.net 805-340-8928

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

Therese A. Hartmann is a local loan consultant affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation, and is a Licensed Broker, California BRE #01048403. NMLS # 298291. For a free consultation, call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

Hildegard Tallent CalBRE# 02047013 Keller Williams Realty, 109 N. Blanche St. #100 Ojai, CA 93023 Tel: 805-798-1872 email: hildegard. tallent@kw.com

Cassandra Vankeulen Realtor. Designer 01929366 805-798-1272 williamsonvankeulengroup@gmail.com

Lauren Vankeulen Realtor BRE# 01973956 805-798-2397

OM — January 2019

Dawn E. Shook - Executive Officer, Ojai Valley Board of REALTORS With the New Year upon us, there are lots of changes coming our way.

The New Year always seems to give us new hope and renewal of ourselves (New Year’s Resolutions!) our environment, our outlook on life, and many more new ideas for the New Year 2019!

For us at The Ojai Valley Board, it is time for a new President of the Board, a new Board of Directors, and more delegation of our volunteer jobs. Time to reflect the past, and move into the new direction we would like to see ourselves going as a Board.

I can feel 2019 is going to be a good year for many people, hopefully including yourself, as we all move forward with more kindness and empathy for others.

Choose one small thing you would like to change in yourself, and see where that takes you!

Volunteer more, smile more, praise others more, and see the happiness you can achieve one step at a time!

Count me in on that. See you about town!

37

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.

J 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.

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

WEATHER IN OJAI

Ave. High (°F) Ave. Low Jan 67 36 Feb 67 38 March 70 41 April 74 43 May 78 48 June 83 51 July 89 56 Aug. 91 55 Sept.

87 53 Oct. 80 47 Nov. 73 40 Dec. 66 35 Average Annual Rainfall:

Precip.

5.04 5.24 3.35 1.22 .47 .12 .04 .005 .2 .98 1.69 2.95 21.3

Record High Year 112° 1955

Population:

7,461

Valley: (est.)

21,300

Record Low Year 16° 1990

Households::

3,176

38

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.

Elevation:

745

OM — January 2019

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.”

Bordered by a long row of holm oaks & rose hedges, Villa Serena is a modern design residence located in the beautiful hillside of historic Assisi, Umbria, Italy.

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805.320.3314•bre#01448441

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805.798.1272•bre#01929366

805.798.2397•bre#01973956

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1.833.Buy.Ojai

COLDWELL BANKER PROPERTY SHOPPE • 727 WEST OJAI AVENUE, OJAI, CA 93023