January 2026 OM for web

OJAI 01 26 D I S C O V E R M O N T H LY

Real estate / home / Visitors

Cover: Nora Davis, LIV Sotheby’s International Realty | 805-207-6177 | See Page 30

FEATURED PRO: HAADY LASHKARI SIX RESOLUTION’S FOR A HAPPY OJAI YEAR! SKIP THE CLICK: OJAI GIFT GUIDE Visitor Information

Events

Activities

Lifestyle

Tips & Tactics. See more at the OJAIHUB.COM

4 4 ACRE M OD E RN RA N C H Serge Ban du ra

40 ACRE O RG A N I C CI TRU S R ANC H

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$4,575,000

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DRE# 01176473 (805) 340-3774 patty waltcher.com

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Over 25 years of experience matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

© 2025 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. 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.

REPRESENTED BUYER AND SELLER

ULTRA LUXURIOUS EAST END ESTATE

SOLD

SOLD

Patty Waltcher

12293 Topa Ln

Pa tt y Wa ltch e r

Offered at $3,200,000

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REPRESENTED BUYER E rin Gerken

BUYER CA REPRESENTED SA DE LOS EN Sonya Fri s i n a CI NOS

SOLD

SOLD

2800 Hermitage Rd

Offered at $5,750,000

824 Foothill Ln

Offered at $3,095,000

REPRESENTED SELLER

REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD

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Er in Gerken

810 Del Oro Rd

Offered at $2,950,000

We will help you find the home that brings peace to your mind and heart

Se rge Ba n dura

1047 McAndrew Rd

Offered at $3,995,000

www.pattywaltcher.com pattywaltcher@mac.com @pattywaltcherrealestate (805) 340-3774 DRE# 01176473

© 2025 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. 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.

4

OM — January 2026

OM — January 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS JANUARY 2026

7

Editor’s Note

8

Ojai Founding Fathers & Mothers

11

Calendar of Events

12

Featured Pro: Haady Lashkari

19

Ojai’s Top Ten Hikes

22

New Year’s Resolutions for the Home

24

Who’s Who in Real Estate

26

Dine Ojai — Restaurant Guide

28

D.I.Y. Repairs, or D.I. Why!?

12 14

8

20

Editor & Publisher / Bret Bradigan AJ Davis / Home & Garden Design Cover: Listed by Nora Davis, LIV Sotheby’s Realty, 805-207-6177 Contact Us: 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

22

OM — January 2026

DISCOVER

OJAI MONTHLY

LET’S KEEP OJAI HUMAN January invites inventory. Not the kind taken by accountants — though those matter especially this time of year — but the quieter reckoning that happens when the lights dim early and the town exhales after the holidays.

Looking back across the past year in Ojai Quarterly and Ojai Monthly, one thing feels clear: Ojai is not short on beauty, talent, or good intentions. What we are short on — everywhere, not just here — is patience.

And patience, it turns out, is the hidden infrastructure of community. That is one thing I learned to recognize in 2025. And that I resolve to cultivate in 2026.

BRET BRADIGAN

Again and again, the stories we published circled the same truth: community is not something you belong to. It is something you practice. It lives in volunteer boards, trail workdays, unglamorous meetings, and conversations that resist the easy slide into tribal shorthand. It survives because people decide — repeatedly — not to opt out.

Ojai sits at an interesting crossroads. We are prosperous enough to imagine ourselves exempt from the stresses facing other towns, yet small enough that every decision still lands somewhere specific. That combination is both gift and risk.

Wealth can lubricate life, but it can also dissolve responsibility. When everything becomes convenient, nothing feels consequential.

Much of my writing this year wrestled with that tension: between frictionless living and meaningful participation. Trails erode when no one maintains them. Institutions hollow out when treated as scenery instead of scaffolding. Journalism weakens when reduced to clicks rather than context. None of this happens dramatically. It happens quietly and while we are manipulated by algorithms that monetize our attention.

The year ahead offers an opportunity to recommit to scale. Human scale. Civic scale. Moral scale. Ojai works best when we resist importing ready-made narratives — political, cultural, or economic — and instead respond to the place we actually inhabit. A town is not a brand. It is an argument we keep revising together.

That means more rooms where people sit across from one another instead of past one another. More local stories told with texture instead of heat. More patience with complexity — and less tolerance for those who profit from confusion without sharing its consequences.

If there is a resolution embedded in these pages, it is this: show up anyway. Even when it is inconvenient. Especially when it is inconvenient. Community does not fail because people disagree; it fails when they stop engaging in good faith.

Ojai’s future will not be secured by nostalgia or novelty. It will be secured by stewardship — of land, of institutions, of one another. That work is rarely glamorous. It does not trend. But it endures.

Here’s to a year of choosing depth over speed, presence over performance, and the long view over the loud one. Ojai is worth the effort.

OM — January 2026

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

Ave. Low Precip.

36 5.04 38 5.24 41 3.35 43 1.22 48 .47 51 .12 56 .04 55 .005 53 .2 47 .98 40 1.69 35 2.95 21.3

Year 2018

Population:

7,461

Valley: (est.)

21,300

Year 1990

Households::

3,176

Elevation:

745

Record Low 16°

8

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:

Average Annual Rainfall: Record High 115°

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.

OM — January 2026

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.”

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12752 Sisar Road | 2 Bedrooms | 1,601 sf | .25 acre lot Discover tranquil Ojai living at 12752 Sisar Rd. This 2-bed, 1-bath, 1,601 sq. ft. home on a quarter acre offers generous rooms, an open layout, and a yard surrounded by nature. With only five neighbors at the end of a quiet street, enjoy exceptional privacy and quiet. A 10-minute walk leads to a year-round stream, leading to longer hikes to the Topa Topa summit. Thoughtfully updated, the home blends rustic warmth with modern comfort. Improvements include a newer roof with fire sprinklers, upgraded exterior lighting, a security system,

refreshed interior and exterior paint, newer kitchen appliances, and remodeled kitchen and bath. Upgrades include flooring, HVAC ducting, and a tankless water heater. The property also includes three new outbuildings —two finished 12’×10’ Tuff Sheds with clerestory windows — ideal for offices, studios, or creative work. Updated landscaping, a private bedroom deck, and custom dual sliding driveway gates enhance privacy and function. Your peaceful Ojai retreat awaits.

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1 source for events in Ojai

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The

OJAINOW LIVE was born out of necessity. Our research showed that even longtime locals were missing out on great events happening right here in Ojai. So we built a better way to stay connected.

OJAINOW LIVE is your all-in-one calendar for what’s happening in town — from concerts and shows to fundraisers and festivals. You can search by date or category, map venues and directions, and even buy tickets — all in one seamless experience.

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OM — January 2026

Web: BestBuysInOjai.com

JANUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

(PHOTO BY DAN TUOZZOLI/WFUV)

NORA BROWN | JANUARY 4 | Ojai Arts Exchange

JANUARY 4

Nora Brown & Stephanie Coleman in Concert Location: Ojai Arts Exchange 616 Pearl Street Time: 7 p.m Contact: 805-340-7893 OjaiUnderground.com Nora Brown started learning music at the age of 6 from the late Shlomo Pestcoe. Nora plays old-time traditional music with a particular interest in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee banjo playing. Along with the banjo and guitar she also sings traditional unaccompanied ballads from southeast Appalachia and beyond, and is often accompanied by fiddler Stephanie Coleman.

JANUARY 22

Steve Gunn in Concert Location: Deer Lodge of Ojai 2261 Maricopa Highway Time: 8 p.m Contact: 805-646-4256 DeerLodgeofOjai.com According to Pitchfork’s Sadie Sartini Garner, “Steve Gunn plays guitar like people used to sign their names with quill and ink ... No matter the context— noisy improv, hearty indie rock, pastoral folk — his melodies feel like rags, like

STEVE GUNN | JANUARY 22 | Deer Lodge of Ojai

OJAI PODCAST | EVERY THURSDAY | OjaiQuarterly.com

something you’d hear barreling from a player piano. But Gunn tends to play this music at a luxuriating pace, expressing emotions that might otherwise be shadowed by virtuosity.”

Come see why there’s so much historical hullabaloo about this “smiling vale.” The tour, led by long-time locals, takes about an hour, and brings you into a deeper understanding of Ojai’s rich roots and heritage.

FEBRUARY 7

Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel Location: Deer Lodge of Ojai 2261 Maricopa Highway Time: 8 p.m Contact: 805-646-4256 DeerLodgeofOjai.com Broemel, formerly of My Morning Jacket, and Ramsey, formerly of Band of Horses, join forces for the album they’ve created together, Celestun, which drops January 15. “If there’s a theme to the record, it’s taking control of your life and taking responsibility for how it feels no matter how much the external world seems to be causing it all. You have a way to flip a switch and make it work,” Broemel said.

— RECURRING EVENTS—

Historical Walking Tours of Ojai Date: Every Saturday Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Ojai Valley Museum 130 West Ojai Avenue Contact: 640-1390 OM — January 2026

JANUARY 11

Coffee & Cars Dates: Second Sundays of the month Times: 8 to 10 a.m.

Location: Westridge Market parking lot Come check out classic and luxury cars from the area’s proudest collectors. Have a chance to learn from the owners about the history and importance of some of the world’s most incredible automobiles.

THURSDAYS

Ojai Podcast: Talk of the Town New episodes come out Thursday evenings through the OjaiHub.com newsletter.

Guests have included Malcolm McDowell on the 50th anniversary of “A Clockwork Orange,” and Sergio Aragonés on his 60 years as a cartoonist at Mad Magazine.

More than 280 episodes and counting.

Sign up at OjaiVortex.com for a free weekly newsletter of Ojai events, news, arts, entertainment, history and culture.

And podcasts.

HAADY LASHKARI

BY ILONA SAARI

WHEN CALLING MET COMMUNITY

The making of a civic-minded leader shaped by family, education & community trust

T

he road to the hospital was a circuitous one, indeed.

Haady Lashkari was welcomed into this world in Chico, California by his father, Hamid Lashkari, and his mother Fatemeh, who had moved to the U.S. from Iran “eager for an American education,” Haady says. His dad was working on obtaining his Master’s degree in engineering with the intention to return to Iran after schooling. Fatemeh studied English and textile design, with the dream of becoming a textile designer.

But, as often happens, life interrupted. In Haady’s parents’ case, 12

OM — January 2026

the Iranian Revolution shut down their dream of returning to Iran.

Hamid, who worked in restaurants to pay for his American education, decided to become a restaurant owner after he and Fatemeh chose to make America their home. They opened up a Mom & Pop burger joint, HiHo Burger, in Ventura where they had relocated after Haady was born. Years later, Hamid began investing in real estate. Subsequently, in 1979, Haady’s brother, Shahab was born at Ventura’s Community Memorial Hospital and grew up to be a software engineer. “He’s always been a ‘tech

HAADY AND ANITA LASHKARI WITH KAMRAN, KEEMIA AND KIAN. THE STUDENTS ATTEND MONICA ROS SCHOOL, WHERE HAADY HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR SIX YEARS.

“It wasn’t until I came to CMH (Community Memorial Hospital) as an intern in 2001 that I felt like I found my calling. It was the first time I got excited about a career that made me feel like I was positively impacting my community.”

— Haady Lashkari guy,’” says Haady. Shahab, and his wife Emily and their two sons, put down roots nearby in Camarillo.

Haady is the product of Ventura’s public school system and, after graduating from Buena High School, he became an undergraduate with a double major in sociology and communications at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he became an Associated Student Vice President working with the UC Board of Regents.

This steered his life into a totally different direction. “The work I did at UCSB was inspirational as it formed my desire to help people.” With his undergrad education complete, Haady went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at CSUN (California State University Northridge) and achieved his Fellow for the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Haady, like many young people, started working odd jobs in high school and continued until he was finished with his

schooling. The list of those full-time and part-time places of employment evokes a cavalcade of youthful memories for Haady. In his parents’ burger joint he learned the burger business from bottom to top, starting with bussing tables, cleaning trays, sweeping and cleaning the floors, to making drinks and bagging fries. He also worked as the cashier and, it’s most likely, devoured a lot of burgers!

Eventually, Haady moved into the kitchen to sling those burgers alongside his dad. But that was just the beginning of his extra-curricular career. He scored a gig delivering Domino’s pizza, soaked in the aroma of the sizzling steaks emanating from the kitchen during his time as a server at an Outback Steak House, dished out 31 flavors at Baskin Robbins, and worked various UCSB campus jobs. He also spent time as a floor stocker and cashier at Pier One, and as “security” at the Ventura County Fair. There was even a stint as a telemarketer (“not my proudest moment,” he recalls).

OM — January 2026

HAMID AND FATEMAH LASHARI WITH SONS HAADY

HAADY AND KEEMIA

(SEATED IN MOTHER’S LAP) AND SHABAB

None of these spoke to him as a career calling, and eventually, Haady needed to make a steady living. In 2000, he decided to get his real estate license. To give him a sense of purpose he began volunteering, and in 2001 he started interning at Ventura Community Memorial Hospital.

“For the first six months at CMH, I interned and observed staff in every department of the hospital ... I shadowed nurses, doctors, clinical lab scientists, housekeepers, physical therapists. I learned about the over 150+ jobs that existed in the hospital. I also came to understand how each of these positions plays a critical role in the patient’s journey and recovery.”

Marriage was also in his future, but when and where would that right partner would come along? Well, imagine you’re watching a movie.

14

Scene One: Haady sees a young

ANITA AND HAADY MET THROUGH A FORTUITOUS BLEND OF KISMET AND A MATCHMAKING AUNT

woman “across a crowded room” at a fundraiser. They lock eyes as “Some Enchanted Evening” plays in the background.

Scene Two: Next morning, Haady’s aunt OM — January 2026

and her friend host a Sunday brunch hoping to play matchmakers. He arrives and is introduced to Anita Rizi — and, yes, you guessed it, it was the young woman across the crowded room. In the movies, and now in real life, that is called a “meet cute.” But, as Haady says, “I think that qualifies as love at first sight.”

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Anita was raised in Seal Beach and Rolling Hills in Southern California. She became a student at Vanderbilt, but received her Bachelor’s Degree at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Business Administration, and worked as an ultrasound tech doing echocardiograms.

“Today she has her real estate license, runs our household, and oversees the kids’ sports, school and extracurricular ABOVE: MIKAEL IN 2025 calendars.

She’s also a 10-year member of AND MIKAEL IN 1988 the non-profit Ojai Women’s Fund and

ANITA AND HAADY WITH FAMILY ENJOYING PATIO DINING AT OJAI ROTIE.

sits on the Sunset PTA,” Haady proudly says. After marrying Anita, Haady gained an entire medical family of brothers and sisters a few stones’ throws away. Anita’s sister, Suzy, is a pediatrician and her husband, Rod, is an internist and live in Seal Beach. Her brother, Bijan, is doing a cardiology fellowship and his wife, Sanaz, is a dentist. They all live in Rolling Hills. No problem getting a doctor’s appointment in this family!

they have planted many fruit trees. “Ojai is an incredible community,” he says. “It’s a civic-minded community and Anita and I have been inspired by what the people of Ojai have done to improve life in our community. We’ve come across numbers of people that have had successful careers then move to Ojai to ‘retire’ committed to a life of service and volunteerism. I’ve often said it’s who I want to become when I grow up.”

In 2011, an opportunity arose for Haady to transfer from Ventura (where he and Anita lived) to Ojai for a position at the Ojai Valley Community Hospital. They couldn’t think of anywhere else they would want to raise a family.

But there is one group of community members he stays away from and hopes never to meet. “I hate snakes,” he states emphatically, then continues, “I’ve come to like King snakes (from afar), but thankfully haven’t seen any rattlesnakes.”

Yet.

For the first year, Haady commuted from Ventura, then he and Anita bought a two acre “fixer-upper” in Oak View in the Ojai Valley. He loves being outside and

Haady and Anita’s three children, Kamran (14), Kian (12) and Keemia (10) are students at the Monica Ros School, OM — January 2026

where Haady has served on that board for six years. He’s also a member of the Ojai Rotary Club and recently served on the Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Foundation.

From odd jobs in the restaurant business, through the myriad number of jobs many of us take before we find that one place in the world we belong, Haady finally found his niche as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Ojai Community Memorial Hospital.

“It wasn’t until I came to CMH as an intern in 2001 that I felt I found my calling. It was the first time I got excited about a career that made me feel I was positively impacting my community.”

The people of Ojai agree. The snakes haven’t been polled.

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

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12752 Sisar Road | 2 Bedrooms | 1,601 sf | .25 acre lot Discover tranquil Ojai living at 12752 Sisar Rd. This 2-bed, 1-bath, 1,601 sq. ft. home on a quarter acre offers generous rooms, an open layout, and a yard surrounded by nature. With only five neighbors at the end of a quiet street, enjoy exceptional privacy and quiet. A 10-minute walk leads to a year-round stream, leading to longer hikes to the Topa Topa summit. Thoughtfully updated, the home blends rustic warmth with modern comfort. Improvements include a newer roof with fire sprinklers, upgraded exterior lighting, a security system,

refreshed interior and exterior paint, newer kitchen appliances, and remodeled kitchen and bath. Upgrades include flooring, HVAC ducting, and a tankless water heater. The property also includes three new outbuildings —two finished 12’×10’ Tuff Sheds with clerestory windows — ideal for offices, studios, or creative work. Updated landscaping, a private bedroom deck, and custom dual sliding driveway gates enhance privacy and function. Your peaceful Ojai retreat awaits.

DRE# 01859199

DRE# 01761150

Phone: 805.272.5218

Email: ContactUs@TeamDeckert.com

Web: BestBuysInOjai.com

Whitman Architectural Design Offering expert project management services in the field of real estate development.

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OM — January 2026

Lauren Nichols, Owner 805-252-8706 lauren@nicholspd.com www.nicholspd.com

OQ | HI KI NG MA P 1

SHELF ROAD 3.5mi EASY | Elev. Gain: 200 ft | Overlooks downtown Ojai.

2

3

4

RIVER PRESERVE 0-7mi VARIES | Elev. Gain: ≤ 520 ft Wills-Rice Loop is the longest trail.

PRATT TRAIL 8.8mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 3300 ft | Goes to Nordhoff Peak.

GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi MODERATE | 3 mi to Gridley Springs (Elev. Gain: 1200 ft) 6 mi to Nordhoff Peak.

5

6

7

HORN CANYON 5.5mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 1600 ft | Goes to the Pines.

COZY DELL 2.2mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft | Cozy Dell Creek & Ridge.

MATILIJA CANYON 12mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 1200ft | North Fork.

8

9

10

ROSE VALLEY 1mi EASY | Elev. Gain: 100 ft Rose Valley Falls.

SISAR CANYON 22mi STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 4800 ft |Topa Topa Bluffs.

SULPHUR MTN. 22mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 2300 ft | Sulphur Mountain Road.

OM — January 2026

DONNA SALLEN

805.798.0516

EAST END MASTERPIECE

Views, Views, Views. This private, gated, home nestled amidst the trees and the mountains, radiates modern elegance with its thoughtful upgrades, abundant natural light, and seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living spaces. You are welcomed into the large living room with vaulted beamed ceilings, a fireplace and picture windows showcasing the mountains perfectly. Flowing into the dining room and open to the modern, remodeled kitchen with top of the line appliances and gorgeous cabinetry. Open and spacious, you and your guests will love to gather onto the large deck off the kitchen. This three bedroom, two bath home has gleaming hardwood floors throughout and brilliant light in all the rooms. There is plenty of room for your guests with the detached, guest studio. You will enjoy relaxing on the patio amongst the trees and the breathtaking views. The Santa Barbara smooth stucco finish adds to the modern elegance of the home. Bring your family

PROPERTY DETAIL

MOUNTAIN 4 BEDROOMS

3 BATHROOMS

VIEWS

w ww.donnasallen.c o m

GUEST HOUSE

3-CAR GARAGE

donna4remax@aol.com

Flavor so loud, its legendary

Smoky. Spicy. Uncensored.

Experience the flavor that breaks all the rules.

Turn it up to 11 and come dine with us!

new year, closer to home — By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela — According to Statista (statista.com), the most popular resolutions this year will be exercising more, saving more money, eating healthier, spending more time with family and friends, and losing weight. Though saving more money approached the top of the list for 2025 and 2026, these other top-ranking resolutions are essentially the same every year.

A recent Forbes Health survey (forbes. com/health) found that most resolutions are abandoned sometime in March or April. According to research published in PLOS One (journals.plos.org), we are more likely to abandon our resolutions when they focus on subtracting things from our lives and more likely to be successful when our resolutions focus on adding things to our lives.

With this in mind, here are six resolutions to consider that focus on abundance and bring positives into your life.

1. Get to know Ojai and Oak View better: No matter how long you have lived here or how long ago you were born here, there are always new things to learn about and try around the valley.

Maybe this is the year when you try a new hiking trail, go camping in Rose Valley, decide to try every restaurant in town, check out a different park, take the historic walking tour offered on Saturday mornings, or explore the Ojai Valley Museum to get to know your hometown better.

For example, did you know that Cluff Vista Park has six different gardens? I 22

didn’t, and I was born in the Ojai hospital 51 years ago this month. There is always more to learn and explore!

2. Increase your community involvement: This might include volunteering with a community organization, joining community groups, becoming more active in groups you are already part of, or supporting the local economy by shopping local and hiring local contractors.

3. Set up a monthly donation for a local organization: Monthly donors help sustain non-profit organizations so they can continue their important work of providing services, reOM — January 2026

sources, and assistance locally. Even with a regular donation of just $5.00 each month, you can help make a difference in the lives of people and animals with whom we share the valley.

So, if your budget allows, look for a local organization with a mission that is in line with your values. Some local examples include HELP of Ojai, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Turtle Conservancy, Secure Beginnings, and FoodShare.

4. Donate clothing and household items to a local organization: If decluttering your garage or closets to give yourself more space is on your list of

Focus on Adding Things to our Lives resolutions for 2026, you can clear your clutter and help your neighbors by donating clothing, tools, and household goods locally. For example, if you donate items to 2nd Helpings Thrift Store, you are helping increase access to lower-cost necessities while supporting the work of HELP of Ojai.

5. Expand your idea of self-care: Making more time for self-care is standard fare for new year’s resolutions, but if you are already pretty good about scheduling massages and remembering to meditate, it might be time to expand on the concept. Think outside of the spa and consider other self-care activities that could significantly improve your life.

Examples include protecting your peace and your time by spending more time doing things you want to do and less time doing things you just feel obligated to do, lowering your inbox stress by unsubscribing from all of those email lists, or starting a new tradition that brings you joy.

6. Improve natural disaster preparedness: Depending on where you live in the valley, you may be affected by fires, earthquakes, floods, or the occasional hurriquake. Improve the defensible space around your home to reduce the risk of wildfire damage, take steps to prepare your home for an earthquake, and get your go bags ready for you, your family members, and your pets. Thinking about the potential for a natural disaster is never fun, but, as the adage goes, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

FIRESTICK POTTERY Creative Workspace Open to Public OPEN 10-6 DAILY 1804 E. OJAI AVE 805 - 272 - 8760

GALLERY WORKSHOPS POTTERY PARTIES FREE TOURS

firestickpottery.com

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2026 be filled with love, good health, joy, and adventure for you and your loved ones!

OM — January 2026

WHO’S WHO

IN OJAI REAL ESTATE?

TO BE LISTED HERE, PLEASE CALL BRET @ 805-798-0177

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

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.

Jessica McRae Ojai Valley Real Estate 221 E. Matilija St., Ste J (805) 699-8645 jessica@ojaivalleyrealestate. com

Patty Waltcher LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Call me for your Real Estate needs.

805-340-3774

805-798-1998

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

Amy Hall | Realtor® LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Amy.Hall@SothebysRealty.com direct+1 805.444.7874 554 E Main Street | Ventura, California 93001 Cal DRE 01957427

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

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

Bob Kemper Broker, MBA Kemper Realty of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Bob.Kemper@ sothebysrealty.com DRE# 01356802 (805) 551-5121

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

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

Anne Williamson LIV Sotheby’s Anneshomesinojai.com 805-320-3314

GIF T GUIDE Curated with Love from Ojai’s Makers & Merchants

LARK ELLEN FARMS

PURELY SPROUTED

ORGANIC GRANOLA

SPROUTED SNACKS

Sprouted nuts and seeds in Snack Lovers

212-A E. OJAI AVE • 805-798-0177

Gift Box, $34.99

The Gift Variety Pack for $47 - Sprouted With

www.purelysprouted.com

Love in Ojai www.larkellenfarm.com

REVEL KOMBUCHA 307 E. MATILIJA ST. STE C • 805-272-0028 Bring locally crafted Revel to your holiday gatherings — delicious, festive, and enjoyable for all ages!

MUD LOTUS

MUD LOTUS

MUD LOTUS

305 E. MATILIJA ST. SUITE G

305 E. MATILIJA ST. SUITE G

305 E. MATILIJA ST. SUITE G

805-252-5882

805-252-5882

805-252-5882

Handmade embroidered silk crepe kimo-

Travel toiletry pouch under $25.

Cashmere shawls under $150, made in Nepal

no, under $175

Hand-block-printed cotton

with a fair trade designation.

FRIENDS RANCH 15150 MARICOPA HWY • 805-646-2871 Mail order is available online; fruit ships in the New Year. FriendsRanches.com.

Local citrus sells at $5+ per 2 pound bag

SUNDAY’S

307 E. OJAI AVE • 805-766-1366 Sustainable Gift Boxes. Our approach is to create high-quality, unique gifts that support the community. Thoughtfully curated & free local delivery

HEY BINGO! PET FOOD & ACCESSORIES 305 E. OJAI AVE • 805-798-1355 Give your fur babies a little holiday magic!

Whether it’s a cuddly plush toy or a delicious treat, stop by and spoil them this holiday season

This Season, Skip the Click. Stroll, Browse & Discover the Spirit of Ojai

WINTER 2025-26

“A Must See” The New York Times

AGAVE MARIA Fresh, wholesome Mexican food & drink 106 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-6353 agavemarias.com AJ’S EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS Gourmet Chinese food to eat in or to go 11566 North Ventura Avenue (805) 646-1177 ajchinesecuisine.com BOCCALI’S Pizza & Pasta, from our farm to our tables 3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Road (805) 646-6116 boccalis.com BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE Traditional American breakfast & brunch 328 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-0207 THE DEER LODGE An Ojai legend since 1932 2261 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-4256 deerlodgeojai.com THE DUTCHESS 457 East Matilija Street (805) 640-7987 thedutchessojai.com FARMER & THE COOK The best of organic Ojai 339 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-9608 farmerandcook.com YUME JAPANESE BURGER 254 East Ojai Avenue (Arcade) (805) 646-1700 JIM & ROB’S FRESH GRILL Mexican-American & regional favorites 214 West Ojai Avenue #100

(805) 640-1301 jimandrobsojai.com HIP VGN Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls 201 North Montgomery Street hipvegancafe.com (805) 669-6363 HOME KITCHEN OF OJAI Breakfast and lunch in a warm space 1103 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-5346 HomeKitchenofOjai.com JOPLIN’S Classic Barbecue with Sides 715 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9053 JoplinsOjai.com MANDALA Pan-Asian Cuisine 11400 North Ventura Road (805) 613-3048 THE NEST 401 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9035 thenestojai.com OAK GRILL @ THE INN Al fresco dining under vine-covered pergola 905 Country Club Road (805) 646-1111 ojairesort.com OJAI COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY Salads, sandwiches & superb service 337 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-4478 OJAI PIZZA COMPANY 331 Ojai Avenue (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878 TheOnlyGoodPizza.com

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY (Oak View) The go-to place for food & sports 820 North Ventura Avenue OJAI ROTIE Rotisserie, sourdough, winebox 469 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9227 ojairotie.com 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 ZAIDEE’S BAR & GRILL Patio & indoor dining with Ojai’s most tranquil views 1033 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-5685 soulepark.com

HOME REPAIRS

D.I.Y., OR D.I. WHY DID I DO THIS?

I admit it. I watch a ton of instructional YouTube videos that inspire me to try things that I wouldn’t have the courage to do normally. With a little patience, the right tools and a need for bragging rights, anyone really can handle the more mundane home projects. But SHOULD you?

Owning an old home like mine, you already know they are well built but like me as I age, things begin to wear out.

Last week, I did some basic carpentry, stained a fence and then got up on the roof to repair some shingles that had been damaged by a tree limb. How hard could it be, I asked myself ? And off to the races I’d gone, watching one how-to video after another. I was only slightly embarrassed when one neighbor walked by, and I swear was smirking at the fact that I was using a barbecue tool to lift off some of the offending shingles. But that’s rule #1, if you can’t find the right tool, you either make one, borrow one or improvise. I improvised and while it probably took twice as long as it would have, had I been able to find my pry bar, the fact is I completed the job.

(Who’s laughing now?)

There are some things you probably should always have a professional handle.

Electrical is one of those areas for me that I have always had respect for. Thank God I have electricians in my family. The bad news is that they are in hot demand so I can only usually get them to come by asking something like “is it supposed to spark in the wall like that”?

28

without having taken an official walk!

Therese A. Hartmann has more than 25 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.

Honestly, there are times when it makes good sense to try something yourself. You can save a ton of money and won’t have the frustration of waiting for a handyman who sleeps in until after 10 a.m. when their appointment with you was at 10 a.m. Yes, this DID happen to me this last week while waiting for a plumber. And there is no greater joy than empowering yourself by learning new skills.

Works for baking as well!

In my case, I inherited many of my father’s tools when he passed away and every time I pull them out, I think of him. When I finish a DIY, I can almost hear him saying “see, you didn’t need to hire anyone, did you? And as my grandfather used to tell us, there is no reason to have to pay for a gym membership if you’re working around the yard and house. I’m proving his point because at the end of most days, I’ve usually logged 10,000 or more steps OM — January 2026

Seriously though, what repairs are most worth doing yourself ?

• Painting walls: Instant gratification, minimal risk, and the worst-case scenario is a color you regret.

• Replacing light fixtures (noncomplex): As long as you turn off the power. Seriously.

Turn off the power.

• Fixing leaky faucets: Usually consists of replacing a washer or cartridge and yet, you get to feel like a plumbing wizard.

• Patching small holes in drywall: Spackle, sand, paint, admire.

• Basic roof patching: If it’s a small area and you’re comfortable on a ladder, this can be surprisingly doable — and satisfying.

Been there, done that!

• Replacing cabinet hardware: this is a super easy way to update the look and feel of your kitchen or bathroom While it’s not really a home repair, I also adore finding old furniture by the side of the road that needs a little love. It’s kind of amazing what you come across. Or finding things in nature like some driftwood I found at Rincon, bored into them, added tea lights and have some lovely homemade gifts for friends.

If you do venture into trying some home repairs, just remember that not everything goes perfectly all the time. But at least you will have tried and can still walk away with a good laugh, a new appreciation for professionals and maybe a slightly crooked shelf that you can now insist has “character.”

805-640-7225

www.downhomefurnishings.com

HOME DECOR

ART

CUSTOM FURNITURE WINDOW COVERINGS

UPHOLSTERY INTERIOR DESIGN

3rd Fridays Join us for Live Music, Community, Wine and Nibbles | Mon 10-5 | Tues-Thurs 11 - 5 | Fri 10-8 | Sat-Sun 10 - 6

Pamela Grau mixed media

Sharon Curtis jewelry

James Petrucci painting

Heidi Bradbury painting + books

Nancy Currey ceramics

Sandy Treadwell charcoal

Ted Gall sculpture

40+ Local Juried Artists 20+ Mediums

Handmade One-of-a-kind Bespoke Unique Orginal

Susan Guy painting

Jennifer Grasmere jewelry

Gifts

David Blackburn woodworking

Yolanda Bergman mosaics

Sherri Sanchez mosaics

Don Earl leather

Martha Moran rock sculpture

Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties’ Artists | 238 East Ojai Avenue Ojai CA 93023 | (805) 646-5682 | OVAArtsgallery.com OM — January 2026

We know Ojai.

Royal Oaks - 5 Bedrooms, Upscale Finishes Throughout, Media Room, Wine Cellar, Tasting Room, Gym/Massage Room, Pool & Spa, Putting Green, Well, Six-Car Garage, Bocce Court, Views, and So Much More RoyalOaksRanchOjai.com

Twin Palms Cottage – This private oasis features a three-bedroom main house with an electric fireplace, one-bedroom ADU with separate yard and entrance, two-car garage, and well-designed outdoor living areas with a swimming pool and spa, covered patio, gas fire pit, outdoor television, and low-maintenance landscaping. $1, 395,000

Rose Valley Land - Create an off-grid, country retreat on 40 acres with mountain views, trails, and a natural spring in Rose Valley in the Los Padres National Forest $1,200,000

1.25-Acre Lot in East End Ojai Bordered by Seasonal Creek with Topa Topa Mountain Views, Paved Road to Property, One Share of Senior Canyon Water, and Room for Horses or Hobbies $895,000

Nora Davis

BRE License #01046067

805.207.6177

nora@ojaivalleyestates.com

We’re lifelong residents.

Corral Canyon Ranch - 277+ Acre Ranch in Cuyama Valley with 5 Recently Renovated Houses, Equestrian Facilities, Fenced Pastures, Hay Fields, Riding Trails, Stunning Views Surrounded by Los Padres National Forest.

29443hwy33.com $4,950,000

Rancho Royale - 21-Acre Equestrian Estate with Main House + 8 Rentals, 7 Horse Barns, 20 Covered Corrals, 4 Arenas, 2 Round Pens, Hay & Equipment Barns, Panel Walker, Entertainment Barn, Archery Range, Mountain Views & More RanchoRoyaleOjai.com $6,500,000

.07-acre Lot at End of Street in Oak View with Electric Gate, Two-Car Garage, and Utilities on Property Close to Shops, Restaurants, Ojai Valley Trail, and Lake Casitas $525,000

3,000+ Square Foot Main House with Fireplace, Guest Studio, Swimming Pool, RV Parking, Room for Horses or Hobbies Close to Ojai Valley Trail, Lake Casitas, Oak View Shops & Restaurants, and Downtown Ojai $1,395,000

The Davis Group ojaivalleyestates.com

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR 520 FOOTHILL ROAD, OJAI • OFFERED AT $5,995,000 Set along Ojai’s coveted Foothill Road, this restored 1929 Tudor Revival estate blends historic charm with modern elegance. A designated Historic Landmark, the property features a 4-bed main house, barn, yoga studio, and enchanting gardens with mountain views. Moments from hiking trails, farmers markets, and the Ojai Valley Inn, its a rare chance to own a piece of Ojai history.

3541 THACHER ROAD • OJAI • $2,300,000

SOLD

GABRIELA & ELIAS CESEÑA 805.236.3814 | 805.640.5904 THE NEXT LEVEL OF REAL ESTATE SERVICES

gabrielacesena.bhhscalifornia.com

TRUST • INTEGRITY • RESULTS

DRE 01983530 | 02228705

© 2025 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. 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. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for your listing. Awards based on 2024 production of approximately 50,000 sales associates in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Global Network.

CAMARILLO, CA 3108 CALLE DE MAREJADA $2,997,000