OJAI o9 21 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide
EDELSON’S RANCH HOUSE ROMANCE FIVE VEGETABLES EVERYONE CAN GROW LOST & FOUND ON OJAI’S HIKING TRAILS COVER PHOTO: CLAIRE HENRIKSEN CA Certified Massage Therapist #49626 • 805-827-0695 • ClaireHenriksen@gmail.com, @clairehenriksenmassage • Se e Ad Pa g e 10
Visitor Information
Events
Activities
Lifestyle
Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM
Pr ic e ng As ki Re du ce d
DEL ORO ARCHITECTURAL This architectural gem was designed by Zelma Wilson, a trailblazing Ojai architect. The park-like lot is extremely quiet, private, and walking distance from town. The house was designed to rest organically among the majestic oak trees and native boulders, where expansive windows draw light and the beautiful natural surroundings into every room. High ceilings and an open, flowing floorplan create an inviting spaciousness throughout the house. An enclosed porch with large operable windows, has spectacular views of the garden and creates an additional 200sqft of indoor/outdoor living. The oversize garage has windows, a surf shower and a bathroom. A separate studio space could easily be converted into an ADU. The property includes a chicken coop, gardening shed, and a whole house water softening/filter system. 909DelOroDrOjai.com
Offered at $2,575,000
PAT T Y WALTCHER
25 years matching people and property in the Ojai Valley
MEDITERRANEAN WITH VIEWS This multi-story, 3 bedroom, 2½ bath Mediterranean has sweeping views reminiscent of the hills of Provence or Tuscany. Nestled on a private street in Oak View, it has been elegantly renovated with gorgeous wood floors throughout, a modern kitchen, and beautiful bathrooms. Multiple verandas, off the spacious living room, bedroom and office, bring the the amazing view into the house which creates a feeling of light and space throughout the house. The completely enclosed yard has a shady, covered patio that is ideal for entertaining and a second patio for enjoying the California sunshine. Includes a three car garage, a beautiful fireplace, modern lighting, granite countertops and beautiful tiles throughout. 86ArnazDrOakView.com
PAT T Y WALTCHER
(805) 340-3774
pattywaltcher.com
Offered at $985,000
DRE#01768956
YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUT YOUR HOME SELLING PLANS ON HOLD unless you want to. People are actively buying homes from a distance. We are open for business and here to help you!
LET’S TALK.
805.646.6768
NextHome 307 A East Matilija Street
Jeri Becker 805.340.2846
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OM — September 2021
Lynn Goodman 805.573.5927
Ojai
Heather Erickson
805.798.3358
CA
Riley Becker
805.646.6768
96 E. Short Street, Oak View - $699,000 Newly renovated 2 bedroom/1 bathroom, 858 sq. ft. home (with attached bonus room) on a large corner lot. Improvements include resurfaced wood flooring, paint inside and out, newer A/C, remodeled kitchen and bathroom, and even space for RV parking - with hookups. Nicely spaced between Ojai and Ventura - come take a look!
607 N. Mill Street, Santa Paula - $825,000
5 bed/4 bath, 2,030 sq. ft. on .48 acres with pool! Claim your own slice of paradise with this lovely hillside home, located in one of Santa Paula's coveted neighborhoods. Spend days soaking in the sunshine by the swimming pool or sitting under the shade of the beautiful oak tree. The sizable patio is perfect for indoor-outdoor entertaining, enjoying meals al fresco, or simply relaxing and taking in the expansive views of the Santa Paula valley and mountains. Once inside you'll enjoy the warmth and character of this lovingly cared for home. Unique and appealing architectural details include corner windows, a claw foot tub, travertine floors, and vintage lighting fixtures. This home was clearly loved and is now ready for you to make it your own!
Sold for $805,000
Sold for $925,000
12251 Linda Flora Drive, Ojai - $525,000 Check out this gorgeous 2.03 acre parcel in Rancho Matilija. Build your custom home, bring your horses, and enjoy direct access to the horse/biking/hiking trails. You’ll enjoy gorgeous sunsets, and if you’re up early in the day, stunning sunrises as well!
P: 805.272.5218 E: ContactUs@TeamDeckert.com VenturaAndSantaBarbaraHomes.com
DRE# 01761150, 01859199
OM — September 2021
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TABLE OF CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2021
7
Editor’s Note
11
Calendar of Events
12
Featured Pro: Angie Edelson & The Ranch House Legacy
18
All About Debt & Loans
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20 Five Vegetables Anyone Can Grow 21
Ojai Founding Fathers & Mothers
22
Who’s Who in Real Estate
24
Dine Ojai — Restaurant Guide
25
Chef Randy: Portobello Wellington.
29
Self-Propelled Into Ojai’s Backcountry
Editor & Publisher / Bret Bradigan Uta Ritke / Creative Director David Taylor / Sales Manager Liz Spiller / Social Media Manager Ross Falvo / Distribution Manager Cover: Nora Davis, Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe Contact Us: 805.798.0177 editor@ojaiquarterly.com The contents of the Ojai Monthly may not be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. 6
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OJAI o8 21 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY Real Estate & Visitors Guide
HAMANN’S LIFE OF SONG & DANCE HOUSE AND HOME WITH AJ DAVIS HIKING PATHS TO OJAI GLORY Cover: Nora Davis, LIV Sotheby’s Realty • 805.207.6177 • See Page 31 For More Information Visitor Information
Events
Activities
Lifestyle
Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM
OM — August 2021
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Photo
by
Michael Chiabaudo
DISCOVER
OJAI MONTHLY
THOSE WE LEAVE BEHIND Bret Bradigan
Ojai is a peaceful place. The sun is radiant, the air is softly scented with sage and orange blossoms, peace flags are as common as jewels on a crown. It’s a stark contrast to the scenes of chaos and human horror as we evacuate America’s latest ‘‘forever war’’ in Afghanistan. If you want to understand the urgency that we evacuate the interpreters, the teachers, the women and girls who helped us benighted Yanks in our misbegotte mission, you must first understand the soldier’s mentality. During my five years and 11 months in the U.S. Air Force (the longest you could extend your enlistment without re-upping for another four-year-term) I was never really in harm’s way, though there were a few midnight mobilizations during the worst of the Cold War or the barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. Marines and sailors.. It was a reminder that you had signed up for something that carried weight and risk. What the military taught that is nearly impossible to learn any other way is that it’s all about the guy next to you. You don’t have to like him or her or feel any special rapport or connection to them, but you go about your day, your life, in the complete confidence that this person will give up their life for you, and that you will do the same for them. For a poor backwoods kid with nowhere else to go, this is a powerful builder of confidence. It is a baseline structure from which to build the rest of your life. It is why people endure such hardship, uncertainty and mortal peril to serve under the flag of their nation. There is nothing abstract, conditional or ironic about it. There’s a key scene in Ridley Scott’s ‘‘Black Hawk Down,’’ in which the soldier Hoot (well played by the actor Eric Bana) expresses this sentiment much better than can I: ‘‘When I go home people’ll ask me, ‘Hey Hoot, why do you do it, man? Why, you some kinda war junkie?’ I won’t say a goddamn word. Why? They won’t understand. They won’t understand why we do it. They won’t understand that it’s about the men next to you, and that’s it. That’s all it is.” Having lived through the Civil War, the great psychologist William James understood the positive lessons that can come from the terribly negative consequences of war in his famous ‘‘moral equivalent of war’’ speech in 1902. ‘‘It would be simply preposterous if the only force that could work ideals of honor and standards of efficiency into English or American natures should be the fear of being killed by the Germans or the Japanese. Great indeed is Fear; but it is not, as our military enthusiasts believe and try to make us believe, the only stimulus known for awakening the higher ranges of men’s spiritual energy.’’ He called instead for youth to be drafted into a ‘‘coal and iron mines, to freight trains, to fishing fleets in December, to dishwashing, clotheswashing, and windowwashing, to road-building and tunnelmaking, to foundries and stoke-holes, and to the frames of skyscrapers, would our gilded youths be drafted off, according to their choice, to get the childishness knocked out of them, and to come back into society with healthier sympathies and soberer ideas. They would have paid their blood-tax ...’’ What James recognized and what we often fail to understand is that martial virtues are worthy virtues despite the horrors with which they are earned. And to the extent that we can find a peaceful substitute, there will be fewer of us who ever feel left behind. OM — September 2021
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OM — September 2021
Dale Hanson
Ojai Valley Real Estate (805)646-7229
B.R.E. 01229522 Notary Public
dale@ojaivalleyrealestate.com Call me for your real estate needs. Residential, commercial, or business opportunity.
Great location for commercial business or restaurant. Large parking in back. The building is updated and very clean. Forced air and heating, 3 private offices. A bath room and small wet kitchen. Separate attached unit with 3/4 bath and private entrance and address. $775,000
CREATIVE SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Now available at
frontier paint
227 Baldwin Rd., Ojai 805-646-0459
www.frontierpaint.biz
THERESE HARTMANN PROVIDING HOME LOANS FOR OVER 25 YEARS!
C2 FINANCIAL CORPORATION IS THE # 1 BROKER IN THE NATION! MORTGAGE EXECUTIVE April 2019
MAGAZINE
“Therese is positive, always! Uplifting and inspirational around money! Great ideas and provides
GALLERY
WORKSHOPS
POTTERY PARTIES
FREE TOURS
support through the hard times. I recommended her to about 10 people, and will continue to do so. She saved us!” — Barry and Susan Wosk
805 272 8760 www.firestickpottery.com Open Daily 10 - 6 Gallery Open to the Public 1804 East Ojai Avenue
(805) 798-2158 | HEARTLOANS@SBCGLOBAL.NET | HEARTLOANS.COM 236 W. OJAI AVE., SUITE 105, OJAI CA 93023 This licensee is performing acts for which a real estate license is required. C2 Financial Corporation is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate, Broker # 01821025; NMLS # 135622. Loan approval is not guaranteed and is subject to lender review of information. All loan approvals are conditional and all conditions must be met by borrower. Loan is only approved when lender has issued approval in writing and is subject to the Lender conditions. Specified rates may not be available for all borrowers. Rate subject to change with market conditions. C2 Financial Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Mortgage Broker/Lender. BRE #01048403 NMLS #298981
OM — September 2021
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SEPTEMBER 2 Nd, 16TH, 30 TH
F
O
We invite you to join us for three in-person Inquiry Circle events in September with Celeste Gabriele, a Certified Practitioner of The Work of Byron Katie and a beloved community partner of Flourish O jai.
lourish jai
Unique Programs
Event Rentals
Livestream & A.V.
These events are free, but we do request registration. All are welcome! SCAN WITH YOUR CAMERA PHONE TO REGISTER AT FLOURISHOJAI.COM
Certified Massage Therapist #49626
“Claire has been serving the Ojai Valley in the private sector and in luxury spas since 2013 and is currently available for in - home massage services. She is certified to provide neurostructural bodywork, deep tissue, Swedish as well as pre and post natal massage.”
“Claire brings such a wonderful and calm experience to her massage clients. My husband and I have different massage preferences and yet we both love her style and techniques. After she is finished you will quickly want to book another massage session! She’s that’s good!” - Raylene Roberti
Book your massage with Claire today. ClaireHenriksen@gmail.com @clairehenriksenmassage (805) 827 - 0695
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OM — September 2021
SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS WEEKLY
exhibits
Peter Cook will be among the storytellers in Ojai October 28-31
AUGUST 5 to OCTOBER 3 “Drawings by Henri Matisse” at canvas and paper gallery Time: Noon to 5 p.m., Thursday to Sunday Location: 311 North Montgomery Street Contact: canvasandpaper.org canvas and paper is a non-profit exhibition space showing paintings and drawings from the 20th century and earlier in thematic and single artist exhibits. Admission is free TO SEPTEMBER 20 “John Millei - Works on Paper” at Porch Gallery Time: Thursday, Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: 310 E. Matilija Street Contact: Porchgalleryojai.com 805-620-7589 Millei has exhibited at galleries both nationally and internationally and been featured in many leading publications. SEPTEMBER 16 to 19 75th Annual Ojai Music Festival Times: Varies Location: Libbey Bowl and other Ojai venues Music Director John Adams is hosting a program that puts the spotlight on young composers. Artists include Samuel Carl Adams,
concerts
Rhiannon Giddens, photo by Ebru Ildiz
Timo Andres, Dylan Mattingly, Gabriela Ortiz, Rhiannon Giddens, Carlos Simon, and Gabriella Smith. Artists making their Ojai debuts include Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, Attacca Quartet, violinist Miranda Cuckson, and recorder player Anna Margules. Contact: 805-646-2094 Email: info@ojaifestival.org SEPTEMBER 23 to 26 Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s “2021 MountainFilm Tour” Times: 5:15 to 9:30 p.m. Location: Under the Open Sky event will take place Friday, September 24 at the Ventura River Steelhead Preserve. Contact: ovlc.org, 805-649-6852 The tour is back this year but it will be different. MountainFilm screenings will be offered Thursday through Saturday. Friday’s Under the Open Sky will feature a farm-to-table dinner and select films. You must be fully vaccinated to attend. OCTOBER 28-31 20th Ojai Storytelling Festival Times: Varies Location: Libbey Bowl and other Ojai venues Many of the nation’s most talented storytellers will be in Ojai. The lineup is as follows: OM — September 2021
Certified Farmers Market
Every Sunday Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact: 805-698-5555 Location: Matilija Street city parking lot behind the Arcade. Open air market featuring locally grown produce, as well as plants, musicians and handmade items. EVERY DAY Farmer & The Cook Location: 339 West El Roblar Avenue, Meiners Oaks Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This popular farm-to-kitchen destination has reopened, with usual precautions in place to reduce exposure to coronavirus.
Donald Davis, Bil Lepp, Robert B. Jones, Diane Macklin, Regi Carpenter, Bill Harley, Kim Weitkamp, and special guests, Kimberly Ford and the Dreamland Band’s tribute to Joni Mitchell and Debra Ehrhardt from Jamaica will be at Naughty Tales. Contact: ojaistoryfest.org Phone: 310-890-1439 THURSDAYS “Ojai: Talk of the Town” Podcast New episodes come out Thursday evenings through OjaiHub.com newsletter. Sign up at OjaiHub.com. Recent interviews include Rhiannon Giddens on her life work and first appearance coming up at the Ojai Music Festival, and Sergio Aragonés of Mad Magazine fame. Available wherever you catch your podcasts. STAY TUNED Tierra Sol Institute’s “Muses on the Mount” The institute is curating shows for the benefit of Meditation Mount, which recently re-opened its doors after the Thomas Fire. Recent Muses on the Mount performances included RyX, Orpheo and Rachel McCord, and also painter Vera Long and sound bowl artists Trinity of Sound.
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BY ILONA SAARI
ANGIE
A Date ANGIE & STEVE WEDDING
Angie Edelson (née Maria Angela Perna) was born under the
EDELSON 12
glorious Italian sky in the medieval town of Perugia, the Capital of the Umbria region, called the Green Heart of Italy. Music filled the air — Umbria’s jazz festivals brought musicians OM — September 2021
With Destiny from around the globe, and opera poured from an ancient theater built in the late 1700s where “La Forza del Destino” (The Power of Fate a/k/a The Force of Destiny), was probably performed. Art and craftsmanship filled the streets, and theater and education (Perugia is famous for its university) were highly regarded. Sereno Perna, Angie’s father, a “Fonzi good looking guy, leather jacket, motorbike and a big smile,” as she describes
him, was the personal driver of the Duchessa Pallavicini and travelled often to Rome and other European destinations. Later, he opened a butcher shop in town making his own salami, sausage, prosciutto, and his famous porchetta. The pork’s filling of pepper, garlic and spices, slow cooked overnight, filled Perugia’s air and townsfolk would line up outside his shop to buy his panino alla porchetta. As his business became more successful, Sereno bought property in the countryside with 1500 olive trees, fruit trees and OM — September 2021
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vineyards where he farmed until midnight after closing his butcher shop, setting a strong work ethic for his daughter. Her mom, Lina Magni, designed and made all of Angie’s clothes, as well as designed their home linens and accessories. Nonna Gilda, Angie’s grandmother, filled her small kitchen with mouthwatering aromas of fresh pasta and bread, further sparking Angie’s interest in food. But it was her Aunt Loredana’s (Dodi) visits from Milan that opened Angie’s eyes to high fashion. Dodi would bring bags of
vintage Valentino, Armani, Versace or Fendi clothes and accessories, which jump-started Angie’s collection of classic designer items and her “commitment to preserve and promote handcraft folklore and re-contextualize it in contemporary modern design.”
ANGIE EDELSON’S JEWELRY DESIGNS, LEFT, WORN BY A MODEL, RIGHT.
She had her first date with destiny at the age of eighteen when she was in a bad car accident and spent five months in bed. Unable to walk, she began reading about Buddhism and Indian philosophers and religions, became a vegan for two years and later a vegetarian for more than fourteen years. She attended Naturopathy and Anthroposophy schools, travelled to India and experienced the “New Age” in Rimini, the city of Fellini, all creating a more esoteric/holistic approach to life, which prepared her for her future. Angie’s design studies began at the prestigious Leonardo Cappiello Academy of Art and Design in Florence. Later she attended the advertising and media school at Perugia University. After she won a fashion accessory competition at the Italian Fashion Chamber in Milan and graduated “Brand Designer,” Angie entered an intense training program at the Material ConneXion New York-Milan Library, learning about innovative and sustainable materials and processes. In 2001, Angie started her own label, “Samodiva” and specialized in high-quality, handcrafted jewelry and accessories. Soon, she was collaborating with some of the greatest fashion designers and design houses in the world, including Calvin Klein, Chanel, Gucci, Fendi, Armani, Kate Spade, Vuitton, Max Mara, Ferragamo, Versace, Gaultier, and Saint Laurent. She designed handmade jewelry and accessories such as buckles, shoe clasps and heels, handbags and handbag clasps. Her designs showed up in “Sex and the City,” (and few years ago, attending an Alexander McQueen 14
OM — September 2021
exhibit at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, she was “sweetly surprised,” to see some of the designs she had created for him as part of the exhibit). Angie had a deep desire to expand her artistic passion for art and theater and, in 2006, she won a national competition as costume designer at the International Festival of Arts Santarcarigelo, designing handmade costumes of felt, lace, feathers, pearls, silk and leather, a contemporary take on Baroque femininity. Destiny reached out to her once again when she discovered and fell in love with the lustrous glazes and primordial pottery of artist, Beatrice Wood (Beato). Angie collected everything she could find of Beato’s work. She devoured online articles and read all her books and biographies. She even created some collections inspired by Beato’s art. “One day I will go to the Happy Valley to see her museum,” she told herself. In 2010 Angie stepped away from constant work and travel to have some “me time.” She went to Los Angeles to study
English and loved the presence of so many working artists and artisans. She researched the history of movies and costume design at The Margaret Herrick Library and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. After obtaining an O-1 Visa (for individuals who have extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, business, sports or education), she became a creative collaborator with local artists, designers, and directors. Unfortunately, she found herself struggling with
ANGIE EDELSON & ADRIANA GODDARD
hard times after trusting the wrong people, but learned to put her ego aside and persevered. “In my way, I believe we are all travelers,” she says, “the world is getting pretty small and we are like space cowgirls and boys exploring the universe and new galaxies.”
DESIGN WORN BY MODEL Ojai became Angie’s new galaxy when she interviewed with Adriana Goddard of Love Heals LLC, jewelry designs, an Ojai company, and saw that Adriana was wearing one of her buckles! Destino! Ojai’s topography reminded Angie of Italy and she temporarily moved to Ojai to work with Adriana. After several months staying in the Capri Hotel, she saw a man on a ladder in the lobby changing a lightbulb. He was the Capri’s owner, Steve Edelson, who excitedly showed her the new
lights he had installed to upgrade the hotel. “It was pretty funny,” she says, “but that was the first time we met, under a rainbow of lights.” They met again briefly at a Christmas party, but their relationship evolved with time, “naturally and surprisedly,” as love and respect for one another grew. Destino e amore!
Steve, a restaurant/nightclub owner and hotelier originally from Chicago, owned a variety of properties in Ojai. In 2014, he bought the legendary Ranch House, “one of the most romantic restaurants in the country,” which he gave to Angie as a wedding gift when they married in the restaurant’s garden gazebo in 2016. Now settled in Ojai permanently, Angie dreamed of fusing old-world Ojai and the culinary principals of original owner, Al Hooker, with a contemporary flair. Founded in 1949, the restaurant began as a vegetarian refuge for new age friends such as Beatrice Wood and Krishnamurti, then evolved into a groundbreaking farm-to-table (pre-Alice Waters) full-dining experience. The legacy continues today under Angie’s guidance and she enjoys working with her chefs creating exciting new twists on old and new recipes for the restaurant’s prix fixe menu, which has included her father’s panino alla porchetta. She is now planning her dream of having a post-pandemic calendar of al fresco classes, live music and poetry nights.
While still dating, Steve knew how much Angie loved art (but had no idea of her love for Beato’s work) and surprised her by driving her to the top of a hill in Upper Ojai to the Beatrice Wood Center. “I had a kind of déjà vu and goosebumps,” remembers Angie. “I recognized it from a photo in one of my books and remembered the promise I made to myself years ago.” When she met Kevin Wallace, the curator of the Art Center, she was “shaking with excitement and in tears, overwhelmed by emotions and astonishment by how bigger forces that we can’t understand work in unexpected directions to bring us to the right places at the right times,” she says. “That was also a sign for me that Steve was meant to be in my life.” As an artist and supporter of the Center, Angie has been allowed to use Beato’s studio and library and often takes the workshops there.
The force of destiny indeed brought Angie together with her work, her husband and her Happy Valley, creating a perfect galaxy for her in Ojai. OM — September 2021
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Donna Sallen
Enter through the gates of Rancho Matilija and instantly feel the majestic beauty of the area. Surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest, Rancho Matilija is one of the best-hidden secrets in all of Ojai. This neighborhood features estate homes that appeal to those who appreciate the tranquility and privacy of a secluded, gated community, in a country setting. Sitting perfectly on over two acres with gardens, meandering walkways and mature trees. Once inside you will be delighted with the open, spacious floor plan, vaulted ceilings, three fireplaces, cooks dream kitchen all the while showcasing views from every room. This home features five bedrooms and a separate guest quarters. Cool off in the pool surrounded by nature. The gardens produce an abundance of fruits and vegetables; all watered with your own private well.
There’s no place like home ... Let me find yours.
Welcome to downtown Ojai. Nestled in the hills, yet within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and Libbey Park; this home blends the perfect mix of indoor/outdoor living. As you enter through the courtyard you are welcomed into the home with lovely glass doors and windows which lure you to the outside. It has an open floor plan with vaulted and beamed ceilings, large windows and three fireplaces. This spacious home still feels cozy as it is surrounded by trees and has a nearly 1,000 square-foot veranda for outdoor living. There are five bedrooms, a nanny quarters, amazingly large garages and parking — all gated and private. The land is just over an acre with mature trees, majestic oaks, and a variety of fruit trees. Once you are here you won’t want to leave. You will love the grown-up tree house for those hot summer nights. Don’t miss this home!
Donna Sallen
805-798-0516
w w w. D o n n a S a l l e n . c o m D o n n a 4 re m a x @ a o l .c o m
SEAVING SRNTR RA RRA & VENTURA COUNTIES
Joe Ramos | Graham Goodfield | Mary Mormann | Kerry Mormann | Brad Berch
LOCAL
Kerry Mormann & Associates is the Gold Standard for Ranch and Lifestyle properties along the Central Coast of California. With over 75 years of experience, our team holds the highest level of hospitality, community relations and expertise in Ranch, Land, Agriculture, Residential and Luxury Real Estate. We are steadfast in our commitment to our clients with decades of regional knowledge and care.
LISTINGS
LEGACY PROPERTY | 6,500 AC RANCHO CAÑADA LARGA | $27,650,000
IN ESCROW | 77 AC N. VENTURA AVE | $2.9 M
IN ESCROW | 10+ AC OJAI PIXIE ORCHARD | $1,395,000
51 AC | CREEK RD | $1,150,000
21 AC | N. VENTURA AVE | $2.7 M
Buying or Selling? Contact us today: (805) 682-3242 | www.CoastalRanch.com DRE: 00598625
©2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. 18 OM — September 2021
Donna Sallen
Views! Views! Views! Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in Skyline Estates, this lovely home is waiting for you. The great room has a double sided fireplace, vaulted wood ceilings and is open and spacious with plenty of windows to enjoy the majestic mountains. The kitchen has lovely granite countertops, a large island and an eat-in bar area. There are french doors that lead out to a private backyard with stunning mountain views where you will enjoy the evening sunsets. Watch the early morning sunrises out by the pool in the front yard. Private and quiet you will feel like you are on top of the world.
Donna Sallen 805-798-0516 w w w. D o n n a S a l l e n . c o m D o n n a 4 re m a x @ a o l . c o m
There’s no place like home ... Let me find yours. OM — September 2021
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Five Vegetables Anyone Can Grow By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela
Over the last few months, I have written about tips for starting a vegetable garden and the basics of growing peppers. This time, I thought it might be nice to expand on this a bit and talk about five other vegetables anyone can grow. So, if you have been wanting to start a garden but are intimidated by the idea of actually having to keep things alive, or if you did start a garden and have not yet had much success, this one is for you. Starting with just a few easy-to-grow options allows you to build your gardening skills and confidence. It allows you to focus on really learning how to grow these few vegetables first before you expand your garden and increase the variety of food plants you grow. So, let’s get started with the first five vegetables you should plant in your garden. 1. Bell Peppers: Most peppers are easy to grow, but to help ensure your success even more, start with bell peppers and start with seedlings from a local nursery. You can start peppers from seeds, but bell pepper seedlings are inexpensive and easy to find, so get a jumpstart on your garden with starter plants instead. Pick a sunny spot, plant them about 18 inches apart, place cages to help support them as they grow, and water frequently until established. Once established, you can back off to watering once per week in most conditions. The plant tag will let you know
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when they will be about ready to harvest. For a more detailed guide to growing peppers, check out my column in the May issue, which is available online. 2. Radishes: Radishes are, hands down, the easiest vegetable to grow. They are great for beginner gardeners or for teaching kids about growing food, since some varieties go from seed to harvest in just three weeks. Plant your seeds onehalf inch deep in rows that are about four inches apart. Once you begin to see growth, thin them to about two inches apart in each row. Water once or twice a week, and simply pull them up when it is time to harvest. Radishes are also great for practicing succession planting for a longer harvest. 3. Kale or Chard: Kale and chard are equally easy to grow, so choose whichever you like best and think you will use most. Either of these options can be grown from seed or from starter plants from a nursery. Plant your seeds or plants about one foot apart, water frequently until established, and then water once or twice a week depending on how hot and dry it is. Once the plants are producing well, you can start harvesting the outer leaves to use in soups and salads and to encourage the plant to continue producing leaves for later harvests. 4. Carrots: Carrots are just as easy to grow as radishes; they just take longer to go from
OM — September 2021
seed to harvest. Plant seeds a few inches apart in rows about four inches apart — or, to make it even easier, lightly scatter the seeds in the area where you want your carrots to grow, and then thin them out to about three inches apart once they start growing. Water frequently at first, and then once or twice per week once they are growing well. The seed packet will tell you about how many days it will be from the time you plant them until it is time to harvest. When it is time to harvest, gently pull them out of the ground. This is another crop that is ideal for succession planting, so consider planting one row per week over several weeks to enjoy fresh carrots from your garden longer. 5. Green Onions: Green onions are easy to grow in containers, in raised garden beds, or in the ground. You can even grow them from the scraps of old green onions in a jar of water in your kitchen. If starting form seeds, plant the seeds about one-half inch deep and about one-inch apart. If you are starting from onion sets from a nursery, plant them about two inches apart. When planted in the ground or raised beds, you will usually need to water them once or twice per week. When it is particularly hot or dry, you will need to water them more often. You will also need to water them more often if you grow them in containers. They will be ready to harvest when the greens are about eight inches tall.
FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS While Edward Drummond Libbey is rightfully regarded among Ojai’s chief benefactors — having been behind the building of such Ojai landmarks as the Ojai Valley Inn, St. Thomas Aquinas Church (now the Museum), Post Office Tower and the Arcade — others have been very influential in shaping Ojai’s identity. Here’s a few: Annie Besant. Free-thinker, feminist and noted Theosophist. Though she only spent a few days in Ojai, she brought Krishnamurti to Ojai, and helped buy hundreds of acres of property in Ojai, (now the sites of Besant Hill School and, along with A.P. Warrington, the Krotona Center) which she called “the smiling vale.” She is considered one of the pioneers of introducing Eastern mystical thought to the West, and was an early advocate of India’s independence. and the labor movement. Jiddhu Krishnamurti. The spiritual teacher and writer, came to Ojai in 1922, sponsored by the Theosophical Society, though he later broke with that group (“The Leaderless Path.”) He gave talks to many thousands of people each year, in the Star Camps in the oak groves west of Ojai (now the site of Oak Grove School. He once held the Guinness Book of World Records for having spoken to the greatest number of people.
Weather in Ojai Jan Feb March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Ave. High (°F) 67 67 70 74 78 83 89 91 87 80 73 66
Sherman Day Thacher. After coming West to farm and care for an ailing brother, the Yale-educated Thacher realized that he was going to need another source of income. So he founded The Thacher School in 1887. Now one of the most prestigious preparatory academies in the country, its founding creed was “teach a boy to ride, shoot and tell the truth.” Also, in 1896, his brother William founded “The Ojai,” the country’s oldest amateur tennis tournament. Among Thacher’s more illustrious students were industrialist, aviator and film producer Howard Hughes and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder, who wrote his first play while a Thacher student.
OJAI QUICK FACTS:
Ave. Low 36 38 41 43 48 51 56 55 53 47 40 35
Precip. 5.04 5.24 3.35 1.22 .47 .12 .04 .005 .2 .98 1.69 2.95
Average Annual Rainfall:
21.3
Record High Year 115° 2018
Population:
7,461
Valley: (est.)
21,300
Record Low Year 16° 1990
Households::
3,176
Elevation:
Beatrice Wood. The famed ceramicist’s (“The Mama of Dada”) greatest work of art may well have been her life. The irreverent, avant-garde Wood lived and worked in Ojai for decades until her death in 1998 at age 105. She inspired two classic movies, Francois Truffaut’s “Jules et Jim,” and James Cameron’s “Titanic.” She attributed her longevity to “chocolate and young men.” Her autobiography was appropriately titled, “I Shock Myself.” Many of her distinctive, whimsical, luminous luster-glazed pieces are on display at her former home, now the Beatrice Wood Center, in upper Ojai.
745
The name “Ojai” is believed to be derived from the Ventureño Chumash word ‘awhaý, meaning “moon.” In 1837, Fernando Tico received a land grant and established a cattle ranch. Thomas A. Scott, who had financial success with oil and railroads, bought the Ojai Valley in 1864 for oil exploration. By 1868, Scott, through his agent Thomas Bard, began selling properties to homesteaders. By 1874, R.G. Surdam plotted out the town he would call Nordhoff, renamed Ojai in 1917. Ojai is about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 30 miles east of Santa Barbara. The valley is about 10 miles long by 3 miles wide, surrounded by hills and mountains; the rare east-west orientation with a slight southward tilt gives the valley an extraordinary sun exposure; Ojai’s citrus and avocado crops are highly prized. This orientation also gives rise to Ojai as a spiritual destination. It was due to the resources and organizing energy of Ohio glass manufacturer Edward Drummond Libbey that Nordhoff was rebuilt and renamed Ojai, inspired by the City Beautiful Movement. By 1917, with the construction of the Arcade and Post Office Tower, the town took its present shape. The city’s self-styled nickname is “Shangri-La,” based on the story that Ojai was the backdrop (later left on the editing room floor) from the 1937 movie as the mystical sanctuary of James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon.” OM — September 2021
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WHO’S WHO
IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?
TO BE LISTED HERE, PLEASE CALL BRET @ 805-798-0177
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Logan Hall Logan Hall Photography 805-798-0337 loganhallphotos. com
Clinton Haugan LIV | Sotheby’s International Realty 727 W. Ojai Ave. Ojai, CA 93023 C: (805) 760-2092 O: (805) 646-7288 chaugan@livsothebysrealtyca.com DRE# 02019604
Therese A. Hartmann is a local loan consultant affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation, and is a Licensed Broker, California BRE #01048403. NMLS # 298291. Call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.
Vivienne Moody LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-1099 vmoody10@ sbcglobal.net OjaiLifestyle.net
Larry Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde. com 805-640-5734
Kristen Currier LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-3757 thehoffgroup. com
Donna Sallen Remax Gold Coast Realtors Donna4Remax@aol.com DonnaSallen. com 805-798-0516
Amanda Stanworth LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Phone: 805-2188117 • E-mail: amandastanworth77@gmail. com Web: Rooney-Stanworth.com
Patty Waltcher LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Call me for your Real Estate needs. 805-340-3774
Team Deckert Keller Williams Realty Ray Deckert, Broker Associate ContactUs@ TeamDeckert. com 805-272-5218
Dale Hanson Ojai Valley Real Estate 211 E. Matilija Street, Ste. J, 206 E. Ojai Ave. 805-646-7229 dale@ovhl.com
Ross Falvo Keller Williams Realty “The Ojai Real Estate Guy” RossFalvo.com 805-207-5094
Dennis Guernsey LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Nora Davis LIV Sotheby’s International Realty OjaiValleyEstates. com 805-207-6177
805-798-1998
OM — September 2021
Erik Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde.com 805-830-3254
Don & Cheree Edwards RE/MAX Gold Coast Ojai’s Top Selling Team LivinginOjai.com 805.340.3192 805.350.7575
Kirk Ellison LIV Sotheby’s International Realty KirkEllison@ me.com 805-340-5905
Ojai’s
Hildegard Tallent CalBRE# 02047013 Keller Williams Realty, 109 N. Blanche Street Tel: 805-7981872 email: hildegard.tallent@ kw.com
locally owned and operated magazines.
By nationally award-winning writers and photographers.
OjaiHub.com 805.798.0177 OM — September 2021
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AGAVE MARIA Fresh, wholesome Mexican food & drink 106 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-6353 agavemarias.com AJ’S EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS Gourmet Chinese food to eat in or to go 11566 North Ventura Avenue (805) 646-1177 ajchinesecuisine.com AZU Spanish & Mediterranean comfort food 457 East Ojai Avenue (805) 640-7987, azuojai.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 CAFE´ EMPORIUM Locals’ favorite breakfast and lunch 108 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-2723 ojaicafeemporium.com CASA DEL LAGO Ojai’s original Mexican restaurant 715 East Ojai Avenue (805) 640-1577 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
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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 JJ’S SPORTS ZONE The go-to place for food & sports 820 North Ventura Avenue (805) 649-4655 jjssportszone.com HIP VEGAN 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
OJAI PIZZA COMPANY 331 Ojai Avenue (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878 TheOnlyGoodPizza.com OJAI ROTIE Rotisserie, sourdough, winebox 469 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9227 ojairotie.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
THE NEST 401 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9035 thenestojai.com
SAKURA OJAI A locals’ favorite for Japanese food 219 East Matilija Street (805) 646-8777 sakuraojai.wix.com
NO SO VITA Ojai’s social cafe 205 North Signal Street (805) 646-1540 nosovita.com
SEA FRESH Serving Ojai for 30 years 533 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-7747 seafreshseafood.com
OAK GRILL @ THE INN Al fresco dining under vine-covered pergola 905 Country Club Road (805) 646-1111 ojairesort.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
OJAI COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY Salads, sandwiches & superb service 337 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-4478 OM — September 2021
CHEF RANDY’S LIFE OF SPICE
Portobello Wellington Appetizers The pairing of Portobello mushroom earthiness with fresh winter kale and the creamy goodness of Stilton cheese will delight both family and friends. Serve with a sparkling wine and this is a combination that can’t be beat. Here’s an added bonus: these puff pastry appetizers can be made ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to bake.
INGREDIENTS 4 medium Portobello mushrooms 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch fresh red chard (ribs trimmed, leaves cut into ribbons) 1 clove garlic (minced) 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste 4 ounces Stilton cheese (sliced) 1 package puff pastry sheets 1 large egg (beaten) 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
D I R EC T I O N S :
Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer and has been a lactoovo vegetarian for over 38 years. Chef Randy has written and published a series of seven cookbooks with original recipes developed over the period 1975 through 2020. He writes for the Ojai Quarterly, the Ojai Monthly, and the California 101 Travelers Guide. His vegetarian recipes are published in newspapers throughout Central California under the header, Chef Randy. He and his wife, Robin, live in Ojai, California, with their dog Cooper. Robin and Cooper are not vegetarians.
Healthy(ish)
Summer / Fall
Quick + Easy
Vegetarian
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and brush off the tops. Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan on medium heat and cook for three to four minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set the pan and the mushrooms aside to cool completely. Clean chard leaves under running cold water. Hold the stem of one leaf in your hand and grasping the leafy part with your other hand, tear the rib away from the stem. Discard stems and cut leaves into ¼-inch ribbons. Place the pan back on the stove and add the other two tablespoons oil. Add the garlic and cook on medium-high heat for one minute. Add the chard to the pan, and then cook for two minutes. Remove from heat, add lemon, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Roll the pastry out to 1/4 -inch thickness. Cut out eight circles about four inches in diameter (depending upon the size of the mushrooms). Place four pastry circles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Top each circle with a quarter of the chard. Top the chard with a slice of cheese, then a mushroom, smooth-side up, and top the mushroom with another slice of cheese. Brush the border to each circle with egg, then gently stretch one of the four remaining circles over the cheese and press the edges together with a fork. Repeat three more times. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle thyme leaves on top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and cool on a rack for five minutes before serving. Serve with a side of gravy if desired.
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illage marketplace
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Whitman Architectural Design
www.whitman-architect.com Providing the highest quality custom residential & commercial Architectural Design and Construction Services.
805-646-8485 “We Shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”
Winston Churchill
OM — September 2021
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All About Debt How Your DTI Affects Loan Approvals
By Therese A. Hartmann
Have you ever wondered why it’s important to have a low debt ratio when applying for a loan? The following pointers will help provide you with tips so that you’re in a great position to get approved for a home loan. What is DTI? Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is a ratio that compares your existing monthly payments with your gross monthly income before taxes. Depending on the mortgage program and your qualification metrics, two types of calculations are used in mortgage qualification: • Front-end DTI — looks at the amount you spend on housing as compared to your total income. • Back-end DTI — looks are installment and revolving debts The front-end DTI is used on specific government loans if you’re considered a bit more of a risk. For example, getting approved for an FHA loan with a credit score below 620 will require a front-end DTI no higher than 38%. A back-end DTI, however, is always calculated. What Is a Good Debt-To-Income Ratio TO Have? As a general rule, it’s best to keep your DTI at or below 43 percent. However, the exact limitation depends on other qualifications and the type of loan 28
you’re applying for. For example, with a conventional loan, you can have a DTI as high as 50 percent. However, Fannie Mae will also consider your credit card behavior. Someone who pays off most or all of the monthly balance is regarded as a lower-risk borrower than someone with an otherwise identical credit history and makes only the minimum payment on their credit cards. What Debts Are Included In DebtTo-Income Ratio? Not every payment counts toward your DTI. Typically, only the items that appear on your credit report will be part of your DTI calculation, such as: • Mortgage payments • Home equity loans or home equity lines of credit (HELOC) • Car loans • Student loans • Personal loans • Child support or alimony payments • Credit cards Items like utilities, cell phone, or cable tv bills may not show up on your credit report, but it’s still necessary to stay current on these payments. Late or nonpayments on these accounts can lower your credit score if it goes into collections. Also, if your car loan has less than 10 payments remaining, we can omit the debt. And, on a co-signed note, if we show twelve months of payments made by the other debtor, you’re off the hook. OM — September 2021
Now that you know more about your DTI and how it’s factored into your mortgage qualification, you’re ready to apply! Get started online or connect with me over the phone to learn more about
the best loan option for you! 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.
OQ | HI K I NG M AP 1
SHELF ROAD 3.5mi EASY | Elev. Gain: 200 ft | Overlooks downtown Ojai.
2 VENTURA RIVER PRESERVE | 7mi EASY TO MODERATE | Elev. Gain:
520 ft (Wills-Rice). Trailheads at end of Meyer Road, South Rice Road and Baldwin Road. Great for birding.
5 HORN CANYON 5.5mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 1,600 ft.
Trailhead near Thacher School’s gymkhana field. Goes to shady stand of 80-foot tall pines.
8 ROSE VALLEY 1mi EASY | Elev. Gain: 100 ft
Trailhead at Rose Valley Campground. Leads to a spectacular 300-foot, two-tiered fall.
3
4
PRATT TRAIL 8.8mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 3,300
GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi MODERATE | 3 mi to Gridley Springs
ft | Trailhead off North Signal Street. Goes to Nordhoff Peak. Clear day? See forever.
(Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft) 6 mi to Nordhoff Peak. Trailhead at north end of Gridley Road.
6
7
COZY DELL 2.2mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft |
MATILIJA CANYON 12mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft |
Trailhead 8 miles north of Ojai on Maricopa Highway. Short, intense hike that also connects to trail network.
Middle Fork. Trailhead at end of Matilija Road. First 1.5 miles of trail well-maintained, the rest a scramble.
9
10
SISAR CANYON 22mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 4,800 ft to
SULPHUR MTN. 22mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 2,300 ft |
Topa Topa Bluffs. Trailhead at end of Sisar Road. Only for experienced, f it hikers. OM — September 2021
Trailhead on eastern side of Sulphur Mountain Road. Views are unsurpassed. 29
We know Ojai.
2020 Remodel on 17 acres with gated entry, lighted tennis court, approximately 15 acres of avocado orchards, multiple outdoor living areas, outdoor kitchen, 3,000-square-foot shop, two fireplaces, multi-room master suite, amazing views, and much more. www.2871MaricopaHwy.com $5,900,000
Corral Canyon Ranch in Cuyama Valley is a 277+ acre ranch with five recently renovated houses, equestrian facilities, pastures, hay fields, beautiful views set against the stunning Sierra Madres Mountains. www.29443hwy33.com Price Upon Request
ESCROW 2 BR + 1 BA private mountain retreat on approximately one acre with fireplace, vaulted ceilings and views just minutes from downtown Ojai. $529,500
Rare investment opportunity — downtown Ojai triplex with three two-bedroom units. Close to shops, restaurants and parks. $1,199,000
The Davis Group ojaivalleyestates.com
Nora Davis
BRE License #01046067
805.207.6177
nora@ojaivalleyestates.com
We’re lifelong residents.
Marc Whitman design on approximately 7 acres with two master suites, five fireplaces, pool, outdoor kitchen, avocado orchard, RV parking, amazing views, and much more. www.1911MeinersRoad.com $3,199,000
33+ acre retreat in Wheeler Canyon with amazing views, private pond, fruit trees, chicken coop, multiple outdoor living areas, jetted soaking tub, stone fireplace, and vaulted, exposed-beam ceilings. $2,495,000
Alviria Oaks - Three-bedroom, two-bathroom Oak West Estates home with office, detached garage, workshop, great outdoor living, patio kitchen, and mountain views. $879,000
Kellye Lynn
BRE License #01962469
805.798.0322
G a b r i e l a Ce s e ñ a T H E N E X T L E V E L O F R E A L E S TAT E S E R V I C E S Re a l t o r ® | L u x u r y S p e c i a l i s t Unwavering commitment to my clients’ satisfaction. D R I V E N B Y PA S S I O N F O R T H E W O R K I D O !
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Gabrielacesena.bhhscalifornia.com © 2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. 32
OM — September 2021
